25 Days to go....

Hi folks, just a quick note to say I am still about and still training I didn't get out Sunday because I only had 3 hours sleep Sunday morning courtesy of the clocks moving forward, and my date with my stand at the West Country Wedding Show on the Sunday.

I got out tonight and ran at pace with no after effects, it was interesting actually as I followed someone who was a lot younger and fitter than me and then bounce past someone who was about where I was about 6 months ago.

It is time to start the fundraising in earnest now, if you not sure whether I'm making an effort that justifies a little donation to the FSI, in September last year I was just short of 3 stone heavier than I am now and ran the Bristol Half Marathon in 2 hours 43 to running the Silverstone Marathon in 2 hours and 2 minutes. The hard work for the London Marathon is the preparation and the day is the reward, so please dig deep and donate to help the small charities.

Don't forget if you're anywhere near Plymouth on Thursday night pop into the Admiral Stopford Arms on Devonport Road, Stoke and join us on our charity karaoke night. Fun starts at 8.30

Cheers
Snooky

Sport Relief, but no relief from training

1 Month and 3 Days (5 weeks) to go.... Today was Sport Relief Mile day, my daughter had signed us both up to do the 6 miles without realising how far that actually was. The Plymouth 6 miles was just 6 laps of the Hoe, Fiona managed to run the whole of the first lap and then walked the back stretch and only ran for cameras and when running across the start/finish line. I found this incredibly frustrating especially when we got overtaken by a cow twice!!! When Robin Hood came past the second time saying "keep it up, you're doing well" I wanted to scream at him "I'm a 9 minute miler, it's not my fault!"

Anyway we completed in just over the hour and I then ran home, I was so frustrated that I got home faster than I have before 6 more miles in 50 minutes, the difference being 4 of the 6 miles on this particular route are up hill.

I don't know if you can over train but I think my body is starting to tell me to ease up a bit, I got a really nasty eye infection with a ulcer on my cornea on Wednesday, which is causing a lot of pain and leaving me struggling to keep my eyes open. I am also feeling really tired and I can't see where the next break is coming from.

I think I really need a boost and would love to see some money coming into my justgiving account as the big day rapidly approaches.

Cheers
Snooky

Silverstone Half Marathon Joy,,,,,

1 Month 10 days to go...

Today I ran my first competitive race of the season, the Adidas Silverstone Half Marathon, It was also the first time I was running "with" my brother prior to the London Marathon. The weather was great, a slight cloud cover and quite mild considering recent weather. We were in the pen for quite a bit of time before the start and as soon as we started my brother started off at quite a fast pace and then had to make a quick "pit stop" and I left him to it. I thought I was being a ambitious by picking up a 2 hour pace band, but I really wanted to go for a personal best today. So mile 1 and I did an 8 minute mile, so I reined it back a bit because that scared me and I worried about burning out, I managed to get a good rhythm going and keeping pace with others around me, at every mile marker I always seemed to be that 1 minute ahead of pace and very comfortable.

I had lost Paul right at the beginning, and there were a couple of times where we were running back on each other, the first time I couldn't see him and got a little worried about him, but the second time around the 7 mile mark I saw him and gave him a high five as we passed, at that point he was about 1/2 mile behind me. Between miles 10 and 11 my pace started to drop and I noticed I had lost a minute on that mile, between 11 and 12 another minute lost, after the 12 mile marker I tried to pick up the pace again and went for it. The finish was in sight as my watch clicked over the 2 hours, and as I reach the 13 mile marker the realisation hit me I was about to take 28 minutes off my personal best, I filled up and then started to struggle to breathe as I was blubbing!!! I pulled myself together as I crossed the line (2:02 on my watch, still waiting for official time) for the photo's and then started again as I collected my goodie bag. I then waited 20 minutes for my brother to limp across the line! He did well for his longest distance so far, but he is suffering now!

Bring on the London Marathon and aiming for 41/2 to 5 hours finish!

Anyway this on one very happy chappy signing off.

Cheers
Snooky

1 Month and 13 days to go...

Hi, gotta tell you about a couple of days training, far too busy to update on Tuesday.

So Tuesday night, I took my 13 year old daughter out for run with me, she is preparing for the Sport Relief 6 mile, so 30 years my junior, how did she get on? she did quite well for the first mile and half and then she stopped and walked, I managed to get her running again, but she kept stopping and struggling, I obviously didn't get as good a work out as I would have liked.

Tonight was a short steady run, in preparation for Sunday, the weather is really good again, cold but dry. This Sunday I'm running the Silverstone Half Marathon and I'm hoping to achieve a personal best this weekend. I am lighter than I have ever been since I started my running addiction, and I;m feeling really comfortable with my running at the moment too.

I have organised a couple fund raising events over the next couple of weeks. The first next week, on Thursday we're having a fun quiz night and on 1st April I will be running a karaoke night. Both events will be at the Admiral Stopford Arms, in Plymouth.

Anyway just catching up with the bosses latest tv appearance, so better go.

Cheers
Snooky

Comfortable at 13 miles...

1 months and 17 days to go until the London Marathon, only one week until Silverstone. Quite ironic, my wife is a massive F1 fan and I'm making her miss the opening race of the season to take her Silverstone the home of the British Grand Prix, to watch me run around the hallowed tarmac. Maybe one day I may be able to take her when Lewis and Jensen are at home!!

So today's run, it was shorter than the last couple so that I can have fresh legs next week. I was a pleasing run as I was really comfortable all the way around, even enough for a fast finish. It was a run of two climates, on the open country roads in the direct sunshine it was warm and calm, in the town where it was shaded, it was bitterly cold and windy.

Another uneventful run along an amazing coast road, lots more people out and about this week, but didn't bump into anyone I know. The key things from today's run was that the climb to Saltram house was definitely easier and up the Hoe was really comfortable.

I was under strict instructions to be home early today so I picked up the pace and what a day 13 miles in 2 hours and 3 minutes, the fastest yet. this bodes well for next week. Bring it on.....

Speak to you soon.

Cheers
Snooky

Hills are becoming irrelevant

1 month 20 days to the VLM 2010 or just over 7 weeks to go... tonight was a nice steady 50 minutes run. Although tonight was the same old run as the last few Thursdays, but tonight it felt fresh and the great thing was where hills on the run are normally a chore, they were ok just made me breath a bit harder, but I managed to keep the same pace.

I got out a bit earlier tonight so bumped into loads of other runners once again all going in the opposite direction.

It's got to the time where I have to start thinking about why I'm doing it, thinking about the support the money I raise can help the small charities. I need to start getting some sponsorship money in. Please visit my Just Giving site or drop me an email msnook@a4e.co.uk alternatively watch this space to see where I will be running a charity quiz night (next couple of weeks) and the charity karaoke night (early April probably 1st). I will be confirming the dates and venue tomorrow.

Oh I forgot to tell you on Tuesday I lost 4.5 lb weeks last week, which is now 2 st 6.5 lb since I ran Bristol, the weight lost is coming off great. I should start the London Marathon about 1 1/2 stone lighter than last year, the difference being I intend not to put it back on after!! Hence why I have signed up for the Plymouth half and Bristol Half later in the year.

Anyway better go.

Cheers
Snooky

1 Month and 22 Days to go

A great night for running, mild, calm and quiet. Tonight's schedule was another interval training session, 15 minutes easy run warm up and then 6 x 5 minute full on sessions with 90 second breaks. This led to my normal 4.5 mile route being extended by a mile as I used the bridge for 3 of the intervals, 5 minutes each way.

Quite late out tonight so didn't really meet anyone this time. So not much to report tonight.

I'm looking to hold a couple of fundraising events, a quiz night in the next couple of weeks and a Karaoke night on Thursday before the Easter break, venues to be confirmed. If you can't make it please help by visiting my Just giving site.

Cheers
Snooky