Back to enjoying it

Well, this is all getting very serious now. I am back to enjoying the running after my Bronchitis and frankly, the weather has been great for jogging along the thames. I even got to see the olympic rings as they floated along the thames yesterday. I am sure, a cost well spent. I also ordered my entire kit list from Likeys. I wam going to be the absolute epitome of 'all the gear, no idea' as I jog through the atlas mountains. Contributions are still trickling in and there are still events planned to raise further funds on behalf of my chosen charity. I am even (although not hugely) looking foward to trying these dehydrated meals and seeing how they taste cold (I'm not carrying cooking gear around the course). I jsut have this horrible feeling that now I have all of this kit, I will have to put it to good use and do another of these events. Maybe not the same one again but something tougher (not sure what that is but we shall try and find something) I was also gratified to meet a lot of my fellow competitors last night in the pub (1 drink each before water lol) and find out that actually, I am one of the only people not carrying injuries and my distances are extremely comparable - thanks for organising Sally. Things are definitely looking up!!!

6 weeks left

So, just under 6 weeks to go until we fly out to Morocco and frankly, training is not going well. Having been struck down witha stinking cold last week, I am still fighting to get over the resultant Bronchitis that decided to attach itself to my lungs. Frankly, running at the moment feels like I have a pair of inefficient bellows strapped to my chest albeit, the sight of someone running along the thames repeatedly coughing their guts up as they go has given many of the London tourists plenty of amusement. I must look and sound like a terminal nicotine addict at the moment. However, positives. I am only a week away from a break skiing which will enable me to get some high altitude training (as, I intend to take my running kit with me and use it to the full) and then back to some really long distance runs. On a separate note, I decided to order my kit from Likeys (a company who I cannot recommend highly enough) and it came to a grand total of £500. Not an enormous amount in the grand scheme of things but certainly enough to sting. However, next time I climb snowdon I will be seriously kitted out and will make all those amateurs climbing it in trainers look very foolish indeed

I don't know if I have any regular followers and, honestly, I think it's unlikely. But just in case I do, here's an apology. I'm sorry it's been over a week since my last post. Frankly, I've been a bit under the weather which has seriously hampered my training schedule. However, I'm now back in the saddle (of shanks pony) and did my first run in a week. 2 observations:- 1) it's really not getting any warmer and 2) a week is a long time and boy can you feel it. However, it felt really good to be pounding the streets once more. One observation though. It's now February and back at the beginning of jan you could hardly get down the Thames path at lunchtime due to the number of joggers presumably trying to work off the guilty excesses of Christmas. That seems like a long time ago now though as frankly, the oath is now almost deserted apart from those really determined runners like myself or those who run with a certain amount if talent (usually sporting a vest with a town name and animal such as the tonbridge harriers or the Kent greyhounds denoting their ongoing dedication to a running club). These men and women may be faster, fitter, younger or even better equipped but I know that I trump them in one key area. I've got better taste in music.

The Polar Express

Now that the temperature has taken a slight turn for the colder, I really feel that I should invest in some thermal underwear. When your favourite appendage goes absent-without-leave two days in a row, it probably means that you need to take steps. noting the inclement weather and how that is the polar (every pun intended) opposite to the conditions in the Sahara, I can't help but ask what is the biggest strength sapper, the cold or the hot. I know that the hot weather (I've been watching the James Cracknell DVD - Thanks Martin) takes your strength away very quickly and saps the strength to the muscles. However, having just run in what felt like two degrees above absolute zero, I also felt the same effect of heavy legs and a difficulty in running. Qinetic, please supply an answer!!!!