It’s all going runningly…

1 02 2008

If you had told me a month ago that by February 1st I would be running several miles a day before 8.30 a.m I would have choked on my breakfast Mars Bar.

My marathon preparations began on January 2nd when I weighed in at 15st 3lbs and the only walk that didn’t involve a rest was the one to the pub. Today I weigh in at 14st 3lbs exactly. I have not only lost a stone but found an unexpected ability to challenge sloths to running races.

Back on the 15th January I wrote a post about my frustration at slowing to a walk when encountering a steep hill. This morning I not only ran happily all the way up, but continued for a further five miles.

The human body is amazingly resilient. I have thrown pies and alcohol at mine for years and its only protest has been to indignantly increase in size. Now suddenly after 46 years of weary acquiescence to excess, my body is being asked to run, swim and more agonisingly go without beer, pastry or chocolate. And to add insult to injury it is being asked to cope with a large and entirely alien intake of vegetables and fruit.

However, I am under no illusion. I have a lot more work to do if I am going to get anywhere near to completing the 26 mile marathon course in April, which suddenly seems so close. But at least I can now see the light rather than the cellulite.

My shedding pounds is all in add of raising pounds for the RNIB so please dig deep. You can support me by clicking on the text underneath the Sponsor Me tab to the right of this page.





What is up must come down

15 01 2008

I’m sitting on the other end of the emotional seesaw this morning.

Only two days ago I thought things were getting easier and was actually enjoying running.

Today came pain. Every step of my four mile run this morning hurt and it hurt everywhere. It was possibly the least enjoyable experience of my life.

Around two miles in I reached a 1 in 4 hill and I walked the last 50 metres of it. Yes walked. My will folded like paper.

And for the first time I questioned why I am putting myself through this experience. A question I should probably have asked myself before I optimistically put my trainers on for the first time.

Currently I am running 10 minute miles, and that is over 4 miles. I have to keep that up for 26 miles if I am going to come in under my target time of four and a half hours.

And if the first testing hill I experience breaks my spirit, how will I cope with true adversity in April?