Raccoon Tapir and the end of crimbo

My first post predicted that I wouldn't keep this up and so it's proved until now.   I'm back!   Now in the final days of taper prior to the Edinburgh Marathon on Sunday.   My last post, back in early March (yikes), was in the midst of injury frustration.  Training that month was seriously curtailed.   Like a bad dress rehearsal it all came good on the day with a trouble free Reading Half Marathon and in an unexpectedly good time (1h 37m 34s).  Felt the lack of training miles in the week after though.

Since then training has gone to plan although the weather hasn't.  Hot March followed by the wettest April for a century and  the country was still officially in drought.  May has been cold until today when the temperature has rocketed and the sun blazed. Just in time for a marathon at the weekend.

The oddest thing has to have been meeting a raccoon, out walking with it's owner. Same night big dead fish.  Looked like a bream, on the path. It was by the river. And the river had flooded (drought remember) but even so, all a bit strange.

The geese are about again having kept their heads down over the floody drought period.  Even got a guard of honour one night, with two particularly smart geese standing to attention astride my path.  First time I've saluted on the run.   Lots of goslings about now.  They certainly grow fast and some ASBO material there to be sure.  Except the government announced today that ASBOs are going,  to be replaced by CBOs or CRIMBOs or something. Or was it that Crimbo is banned.  Is Cromwell back?

So Edinburgh approaches.   Goal this year is sub 3h 30m and, with the usual caveats, should be achievable although in all three of my previous marathons I have run quite a bit slower over the second half and it could well be hot.

Velcro, Mary Poppins and the Others

Grim times.  Another attempt at running last week led to a quick abort and walk home.  No problems cycling so did 20miles on a lovely sunny afternoon.  Last night thought I'd give it a try again and, although a bit tight, held up well and this morning felt a lot better.  Full of confidence I trotted downhill this evening for 1km, nice and easy and as the road levelled off: rip, the sensation of separating Velcro accompanied by pain. Turned around and walked home. After plentiful applications of ice it doesn't feel too bad, so maybe I've just completed the injury and it will get better now
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To make the day complete then noticed my bike's back tyre was flat.  No wonder it was hard work cycling home, I thought it was the wind.  The really annoying thing was that having taking the back wheel off, disentangling wheel, brake pads,chain, derailleurs and lord knows what,  I discovered that the inner tube was half inflated but not punctured at all. I think some blighter must have let my tyre down.  Man or goose?

Finished reading Storm of Swords: Blood and Gold   (Book 3 part 2) of George RR Martin's Song of Ice and Fire.   Brilliant ending.   Couple of times while reading it I have fallen off my chair in shock or astonishment.  About to start the next part (Feast for Crows) and the second TV series starts soon (still called Game of Thrones I assume).

So life's not all bad.   Except Cameron is still Prime Minister and looks like Looney Lansley's Health Bill is going to become law.   Lunatics and Asylums. 

Only one thing left to say:  Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.  

Always Beetroot To Yourself

I suppose I've been lucky so far, but it still comes as a shock.   Out on Thursday and after about 2km became aware of a soreness in my right calf.  Probably should have aborted and gone home but carried on for another 14 km.   Two days rest and had to get out today but went for time not distance, half walking, half jogging, very slow.  Kept to the grass where possible which helped.  Still sore but it will settle. Frustrating though. Foam roller ordered.

Greatest discovery last weekend was beetroot tarte tatin, sprinkled with feta, courtesy of my daughter (from Hugh Fearnley-Whatshisnames recipe.  Unbelievably delicious and had to have it again last night.  Slept badly so maybe beetroot has some side effects (other than everything coming out a funny colour), although in every other way it is a superfood.

Been thinking about that dog (see last post). Suspicious.   I'd seen him running alone across a field and then next thing he nearly runs me over driving a JCB.  Checked the news but couldn't find anything about one being stolen.  Have to wait for Crimewatch on the tele.  I'm sure I'd recognise his photofit.

Now  the weather's improved I'll go goose searching again this week, assuming my leg will let me.
Off for an icepack.

A Weekend in the Country

Training has been slightly disrupted this  week.  Went out on Thursday evening in early celebration of my birthday, so no time for a run.  Travelled down to Kent for the weekend so no run Friday either.  Managed 13k, yesterday on hilly country lanes in Kent Land.  Traffic a hazard on those narrow lanes.  I'd gone about 500m when I was suddenly aware of a menacing presence behind me.  A quick glance revealed the front bucket (extra wide - I could easily have lain flat out in it) of a JCB.   As if that wasn't enough of a surprise, having leaped aside to give way,  I realised it was being driven by a dog.  A terrier.  Well that's not strictly true, it was actually being driven by two dogs.  The Freelander driver following had a passing resemblance to a guinea pig but the tinted windows may have deceived me and no, I hadn't been drinking. 

Lovely morning today and that really confirmed to me that I eventually have to settle in the country, with a view across green countryside.   I could happily spend the rest of my days with the views of this weekend and watching birds feeding on peanuts and seeds.  Mainly Tits so not so different from anywhere else I've lived, but Blue Tits and Great Tits are much more appealing than Chav Tits or  Beer Tits.

The real treat today, though,  was the woodpecker.  I have seen them before, as brief flashes of colour like a meteor.   Today, however, I spent fully 20 minutes watching a green woodpecker on the ground rummaging for food not 50 yards away (stunning through binoculars).   And even better, for some of that time there were two of them.  Simply beautiful.

Ice Baths and Squatters

Miles building week by week now.  Relieved to have a bit of a thaw today as the novelty of snow and ice has long gone.    My weight has  come down a little and my body fat was less than 20% this morning.  Great thing is I can still stuff my face because I've burnt off 2000+ calories running today.   Having said that I find I don't want the rubbish now or as much red meat  or alcohol.  Started liking green tea. What have I become?

I have my limits though.   Training and running a marathon is a big commitment and at times involves significant discomfort and even pain.    I will not however ever succumb to ice baths or even cold showers.  Tried getting into a cold bath (no ice) a few months ago and  got my feet in, but it was unbearable.  It hurt. It was horrid.  I couldn't even manage a minute.  Cold showers may be less severe but, let's be honest, are still exceedingly unpleasant.   Andy Murray is welcome to them.

Geese have gone into hiding.  Saw a couple of Canada Geese (Canadian geese?) shacked up with a few ducks, swans and a coot at Foss Islands, but the usual gaggle (are they Greylag Geese?) are nowhere to be seen.  I suspect they have a network of underground tunnels and bunkers with full mod cons under the banks of the Ouse to which they have retreated.  Either that or someone is in for a surprise when they get back from the Canaries tonight and find a few dozen geese squatting in their flat.

  

Snow on Venus

I saw snow on Venus yesterday. Not a common occurrence.  Actually I saw snow on a gobstopper sized sphere representing Venus (and several other planets too for that matter).  My regular long run is down the cycle path towards Selby.  The solar system is laid out en route, with all the planets to scale and at the appropriate scale distance to the sun.   The sun is big globe 4 or 5 feet across and then  you run past a pea size Mercury and then Venus and Earth in about a 100yds.  Mars a little further on before a big gap to football sized Jupiter, a bigger gap to Saturn and then bloomin' miles to Uranus,  Neptune and Pluto (which of course has now been stripped of it's planetary status. Just like Fred Goodwin and his knighthood).  I have to run 6km to get the sun, so no wonder it's so cold as I live at the orbit of Neptune.    Not sure when the planets were last all lined up together like that, but no doubt some astronomer somewhere will know.

Bit of soreness in the backs of my thighs today.  Not surprising after yesterdays run on the snow.  Don't want that hamstring to start playing up.  Probably go gently tomorrow and save the speed session for another day

Who's for coffee?

Proper winter up north today.  Fun to run last night in the snow, although somewhat unpleasant with the small snowflakes stinging the eyes.   Today, the sun was shining, the sledges were out and even a few cross country skiers around.  The plan today was 21km with 13km at marathon pace.  Managed the distance and certainly put in more than the required effort, although the pace was inevitably slower with 3 inches of snow.  Averaging 5m 30s per km actually pretty quick in the conditions.  Hard on the legs though.  Used my microspikes which work really well for running on snow and ice ( http://www.kahtoola.com/microspikes.php )

Going to experiment with caffeine pre long runs. Hadn't realised that the benefits of caffeine are reduced if you take it in the form of coffee. Will try out tablet form. Also need to reduce my general caffeine intake as the benefits are diminished as you build a tolerance.

Disappointing but unsurprising to see the Russians and Chinese veto the UN move to try and do something about Syria, even if only words.  Feel like imposing a personal boycott of Russian and Chinese goods.  What do I buy that's Russian?  Probably gas but I guess I need that with the current sub zero temperatures.  Boycott Chinese goods?   May as well try and not breathe for a week.

Good and unexpected to see England beat Scotland at rugby yesterday. Don't quite know how.