Now where did I leave my saddle?

Finally, and with due thanks to Mr Westcott Snr, I am able to tentatively start training again although for the time being I am restricted to short forays to see how the ITBs hold up. Have managed two 2km jogs with no problems thus far so fingers crossed for proper race pace and training distances in due course (despite those crafty geordies bringing the date forward to September).

Bizarrely, I have really missed running and am looking forward to the next competitive sojourn whether it be the Jersey North, the Great North or anything else that might pop up. I would never have thought I would feel so attached to such a ridiculous sport...!

The show must go on

Hello Large runner here.

Just thought i would let you all know that i am now training for next year anyone who wishes to come and join the fun give me a call. This morning i was up at 05:55 and running at 06:30. Start was Pisces gym to town and back a nice little 12ish miles.

Love

Uncle Rab

Banane Supreme

Hello Folks

I feel a little bit vacant not having anything to train for, which is a bit weird, and very out of character! I think I might have to enter a race to have something to do - there's a popular race round the streets of Geneva's Old Town in December that I think I am going to do, as a first step on my way to that sub-two hour half marathon next year.

I have also been so busy post GNR, I have not had a chance to scribble down what I made of it all. Here goes.

Firstly, Team Atko did good. We had great support from friends/family/Geordies cheering us on, great attitudes from the competitors, and a real feeling of being part of something bigger. The whole event was slightly surreal - we'd been talking about it for so long, training hard, and then all of a sudden you are running under a motorway flyover in the middle of the Toon with 55,000 like minded nutters. I failed to achieve one particular personal objective when I was overtaken by someone in such a complicated costume, I couldn't even work out what it was. I was later informed it was Mr Happy out of the Mr Men. The bloke inside it was, I am sure, far from happy. I got one back later on though, by overtaking the bloke running with Fred Flintstone's car on his head.

An amusing moment came on the never ending run in to the finish, when we were running with a bloke in a Scooby Doo costume. A voice of encouragement came out of the crowd "Gan on Snoopy, not far now....". I think that spectator didn't watch the same cartoons as the rest of us.

Mr Huelin was lucky to get some motivational music on the "Speaker Avenue" part of the course, when he had a bit of Eminem. Sam, Christina and I got the theme music from the Gladiators tv show, which gave us all a laugh, and made us forget we still had 4 miles to go. For about thirty seconds anyway. The problem is, it's been two weeks now and the song is still stuck in my head. I may need some sort of neurosurgery to get rid of it.

Thanks so much to all of you in Team Atko - you all participated and supported each other in a way which would have made Ian proud. I look forward to the next event.

What a Bloody miracle

AWAY Ya Nar,

To all in land of Geordie, thank-you for a fantastic weekend, and for the rest of you the FAT bloke did it!!!!!! 2hrs 29 and ran all of it!!

As Tom mentions we set of together and the pace was good, Thanks tom for setting me up at a good speed to Nail the GNR, i said to Tom i have to stop for a pee at which point he shook my hand and said "see you at the finish", it was like something out of Top Gun! Anyway after pee etc finished i overtook the likely lad and went for it, the worst part for me was missing the pub with free bevvy.

I am not going to thank everyone like my bed companion, (loved it)!! but i will say this.......

I felt part of something really special that weekend and the achievement from all was just overwhelming for me, i would not have done it had it not been for my team mates, and a bit of training, and of course remembering why i was there to haul my ass round the course.

Until next year then TEAM the beers cold the curries hot.....GO BIG OR GO HOME!!!!

Uncle Rab XXXXXX

Now The Dust Has Settled

It's now just about a week on and I can finally say that I'm back in one piece, physically at least!

What a weekend that was. So many memories, that i am still recalling them even now and will probably keep doing so at various times in the future.

Firstly, well done everyone, accross the line and all finished, what an effort. Though none of us should be surprised at that. There was absolutely, NO WAY of any of us not finishing. Crawling, limping, stretchered we would have crossed that line and I can say that because at some point we all felt it, be it a hard incline, tirdeness, muscle's shutting down, legs falling to bits, whatever, there was a low point. And at that low point I personally felt humble, I felt grateful for the pain, grateful that the bloody 11 mile mark would not - no matter how long I ran - appear, because I was there to feel it. It's been a bloody long year in many respects with Ian's tragic loss, Ollie spending 4 weeks in I.C. and many other personal hardships and that made crossing the line even more important.

So I shouldn't have been surprised that I was shattered, both physically and mentally. As I slowly came to and turned towards the t shirt's all that went BANG and I wept from there to picking up my goody bag, and it felt great.

Anyhooo, a few things to finish. Running accross the Tyne (Green!) Bridge with Dan, Cabosh making it to South Shields in time for the Red Arrows, Alice, Sam and Chris toughing it out together, Maggie's infectious warmth and enthusiasm, Russell's body not breaking, The Greek running powered by Peroni, Tom being hiself and Donna's unbelievable, unbreakable spirit will stay with me forever and teach me how to be a better person.

Mr Huelin, there will now be 10 runners next year, count me in and drinking water already!

P.S. A quick thanks to the folk in Russ' flat who remorselessly took the p out of me on Sunday night, 'cause if it hadn't been me sat there with no bottom to my world.....

Thank you

I know it is a bit twee but I really want to thank Tim H for all of his organisational work in getting us ready for the race and collecting the money this year; Donna for successfully herding us cats; Maggie and Roger for, amongst other things, the porridge; Sam for ensuring that yet again I got to share a bed with Cabot (always a pleasure never a chore!) and Michael particularly for getting me to the flight with my mobile.

Also big thanks to Dan for proving that vaseline is used by runners for a reason; Tim M for providing living proof of the need for appropriate hydration; Rach for 'leaning on' the restaurant manager; everyone else for making me enjoy the whole bloody experience; Paul the hovercraft pilot for showing me where the Yacht Club was and Lisa Rutter and everyone at the RNLI for cleaning, feeding, kneading and shipping us off!

Fawning over, go back to your work.

Job done

I got round in 2 hours 38 minutes!!

I always hoped and trained for under two hours, but through various bits of bad luck including being off work sick until the day before the race - sub 2 hours was never going to happen.

I set off with Rab and I trailed him for about 6 miles or so, then I lost him. He put in a cracking time!

2 miles in my blister started to do it's thing, but I decided to ignore completely until after the race.

At 7 miles a kind lady and her family who were standing outside their house watching us all plod past, gave me a couple of slices of orange which was a welcomed distraction from water.

I remember at 10 miles there was a line of speakers down the road as we ran past, playing music. Eminem, 8 mile was on and I really picked up the pace. I thought I was going to crack the course without walking. Then the speakers ran out, I slowed down and just before 11 miles I was absolutely done in. I was running, but not travelling forward very fast, and I got overtaken by an army bloke walking with a rucksack. That suggested to me that I should probably walk. When I stopped walking I almost fell over, I felt cold and had pins and needles in my arms.

Another spectator emerged from the crowd and shook my hand and gave words of encouragement - so I am guessing I looked pretty much how I felt!

Just after a little girl was handing out fun sized mars bars which was exactly what I needed at the time, followed by a small cup of juice!

I carried on walking for about 3/4 of a mile, listening to my ipod until the last water station, where I had a quick drink. Then I saw the sea over the crest of the hill, saw the red arrows start their display and felt it was time to get this thing finished! I started running again, past the 12 mile board, down the hill and turned left aong the sea front. The next thing I saw was the 800 metre to go board, then the finish line and it was all done. That last mile and a bit, for me, went the quickest of the whole race. I sprinted over the finish line, and the relief that it was all done and why we had done it was overwhelming.

What a day! The crowds are what got me round - especially my friend with the mars bar. Their support was incredible!

I can't say that the race was fun, I'm not sure even if I enjoyed it at the time (I probably did), but the sense of achievement crossing the line with the job done, given all of my set backs and the fact that I hadn't run for two weeks, I still find mind blowing. I ran 11 miles non-stop!

My legs were a bit on the weary side for a few days, but today I am good and back to normal.

I will be there next year, and this time I will do it in under 2 hours, and it looks like 9 members of team atko will be here too.

Running rocks!

Achy breaky parts....

Well that was a bit of fun wasn't it. Thank you Geordieland, you were a cracking host. I am honestly stunned by the level of support from the communities we ran through and from everyone 'oooop North' and by the marvellously generous efforts of the RNLI in looking after us post torment.

I have spent ages playing around with the Nike+ thing on the results website comparing runs with the others and the best runners in the whole thing etc and am really chuffed for the whole team because we did it, every last man jack of us, proving how far we can push ourselves when we are working for something, or in this case someone, that really means a lot to us. I am fairly certain that none of us went home but we all went big!

p.s. If my feeble pins do recover I can feel a repeat performance coming on 'cause now I am determined to lose those pesky three minutes and go sub 2 hours.

Bonjour fellow idiots, sorry, gallant runners.

'Tis I, the excuse generator...well no more. I reckon that between the twenty of us we must have at least 10 complete spines, 33 working knees, enough ibuprofen swimming in our blood streams to down a large water buffalo and a fetching collection of bruises, twists, strains and twinges and yet still we find ourselves readying for the planes, trains and automobile journeys and the inevitable blistering. cramping, muscle pulling and dehydration (and I know that the seriously injured or expectant parents would be with us too if circumstances were different). I think that says it all.

"I'll see you at the races.",

Russell

Come on Sunday Hurry up!

Morning All....Large one ere,

Well a bad last week for me both physically and emotionally. I have been out with a rather bad back injury and have hit the pills to release the injury. For those of you that don't know me of old in the team. When i was a much younger and energetic chap.......some time ago i used ti enjoy the fruit of cliffs and ropes. And then one day whilst out i fell landed on the back and after going to the Hospital and being x-rayed etc was given the all clear. However over the years an injury has reared its head in the form of a crumbling disc or a hip problem. And guess what the f****r could not have timed it better. In bed with pills, On the brighter side of life the abuse i would have received from Atko would have been immense and in training for this Sunday the weight loss has done me more good than most. The doctors cannot believe that since my last medical i have gone from................................................Wait for it.....................................137kgs to 98kgs.


That's not a typo either.

Am looking forward to Sunday and am also really nervous, have not stopped shedding a tear this week whilst telling folk why i am doing this ( In a Winston Churchill style) But i will succeed i will complete the event and my dear channel islands are also to be freed......

See you all guys at the event and for those who have pulled out through injury etc, guys you are still part of TEAM ATKO the closest bunch of friends, nutter's etc that i have ever been associated with, and for that if you run or not your support is enough and for that Thank -you.

So for next year its me and Ed so far..........BRING IT ON!!!! THE FAT RUNNER VERSES THE MIDGET WITH TROUSERS ROUND HIS KNEES......X

Love to all there or not on Sunday

Uncle Rab xxxxxxxxxx

I think this is the picture Pete talks about...

Gutted

Well according to Tim's count down thing above, there is a little over two days left until the run. It is with much regret that I have deferred my entry to the race until next year - Gutted, really Gutted. But bump is really comfy where it is and i know that as soon as i put my backside on the plane to Newcastle someone would make their way into the world (although i think Ian would see the funny side of that!).

Like a lot of people here, the training became a real focus and over the last year, after a crap day at work going for a run was a real release, a reset and a time to think about why we are all doing this. But i know that when you all get round you'll all know how much of a good thing you have done. and I’m looking forward to be able to do that next year!!

As most people here will agree this last ten days or so have been hard. It's scary to think that Ian hasn't been around for a year now. and I miss him every day. That Sunday, as the surf was crap, i sat on his bench for a long time and thought about all the fun we had at long beach. I put up a picture on my hall wall the other day of Tim, Simon, Ian and myself at Tim's wedding and i cried like a little girl. I thought I appreciated my friends before we lost Ian, but i see now, by everything all the boys and girls have done over the last year, that i don't appreciate them enough! You all are wonderful friends, and i think Ian knew that and that's why he cared for us the way he did - even giving Macready that headlock outside Raffles!

To all who are running on Sunday, I am really proud of you, your commitment and all the money we have raised for this great cause. J and myself (and maybe even bump) will be watching for you on Sunday morning. Good luck to you all and don't forget

GO BIG or GO HOME

there's a Peroni waiting for you at the end!!

BBC 1 Great North run trailer

A year ago tonight...

...on the evening of Ian's funeral, I came up with this plan for me and Roger to enter the Great North Run.  I had no idea at that point how big this would turn out to be.  We have raised well over £11,000 and I am still staggered by it.  The money continues to pour in.

The race is getting so close you can almost taste it!

The team overall seem pretty excited, but there are also some nerves kicking about.  It is a funny thing, because this is such an enormous event in it's own right, add to it the reason why we are doing it, who we are doing it with and the fact that people have seen fit to sponsor us over £11,000 - the whole thing is quite mind blowing.

I have just booked the last taxi for the team and all of our arrangements are in place.

The BBC got in touch earlier in the week and they want to interview the team as part of their live programme on BBC 1 between 0930-1330 this Sunday.  There are also a couple of points on the race with BBC crews where we can stop off for a chat, to let 'em know how we are fairing.  

Quite a few of us plan to do that, so we might make quite and appearance on the tele.

Runners on the Telly

This time next week it'll all be over...

I've got my last long run under my belt and I've just booked a sports massage for Wednesday to unknot all the resulting kinks in my calf muscles. All in all, I'm feeling pretty optimistic about Sunday - I might not run it all, but I'm fairly confident I can get round in one piece. For some reason I managed to get placed in Zone B (honest - not my own choice!) but I think I will drop back to the more realistic Zone F and run with Simon and Chris. I think its important to enjoy the race (as much as possible, anyway), rather than pushing it too hard and hating every second of it.

"In running, it doesn't matter whether you come in first, in the middle of the pack, or last. You can say, 'I have finished.' There is a lot of satisfaction in that." -Fred Lebow, New York City Marathon co-founder

Just think - this time next week we will have finished a half marathon!

Ah... takes me back!

Everyone has a comedy treadmill incident they don't talk about!

Checklist

Running shoes...check
Running gear...check
Bin bag...check
Safety pins...check
Gammy calf...check
Sore sinuses...check
List of extra excuses (on request)...check
Sense of foreboding...check
Fingers crossed...check

What a load of old bullion

Salut Bloggeuses and Bloggeurs

A good week training-wise - well there had to be at least one! Total distance of 29km covered, in three runs, which according to Wise Uncle Tom (yes, the same Wise Uncle Tom who said "wanna do the Great North Run?") that should be enough to enable us to get round all the way, like.

Its a beautiful day in Geneva today, which was handy as we had earmarked today for the big push (or more accurately s**t or bust). Christina and I did just over 15km, in 2 hours 7sec at a steady pace. (The 7 seconds were very important to Christina, for reasons best known to her...)I reckon if we can repeat that on race day we should get round the course, which will do me just fine thanks very much. This was a great achievement for Christina in particular as she only got the green light to train again 3 weeks ago after a month off due to a ligament injury. Luckily, we had built a good foundation before her foot went bang, so we weren't starting from zero with three weeks to go.

If we can just arrange it so that the weather is nice and sunny next week, that would be canny.

This week, I will be mostly stretching and trying not to think about the run too much. I'm getting nervous about it - the last time I was anywhere near 55,000 people it was probably at a music festival, so next weekend is going to be way different. I'm made up we did the 10 grand for the RNLI - great work everyone, lets see where we end up with the fundraising. I reckon some of my Swiss banking colleagues must have some gold bullion stashed away somewhere thats not doing anything....

Hang in there Team Atko, nearly there.

Try Try Again

Hello from the Large one,

Anyway just thought i would bring you all up to speed, Considering this crappy knee that cannot decide if its working or not i have managed a combined total of probably 8 miles this weekend so far. Two of these running non-stop and the rest walking at 6ft3 speed (Quite quick).

Anyway i am going to attempt a run/walk this pm again hopefully around 5-9 miles and see how the knee holds out. The 2 miles this morning came out better than expected considering i had not run for nearly a week!!!

Anyway troops less than a week now, and this time next week i will be half way to the start line hopefully running, but if not i will walk it. Anyway keep going guys and gals, hopefully will report that i am running like a train in the week.

Love Uncle rab. XXXXX

Don't need an excuse but....

My brief return to regular training exited left pursued by a bear the moment the youngest Davies came down with some reaction to something and started doing a passable imitation of Superted's best mate. No nursery, no free time, no training to speak of. Irritating this close to the race but will do my best to at least make sure I am mobile this week although we all seem to be struggling with a mild stomach bug too so someone somewhere clearly doesn't want to make this any easier than necessary. Am quite looking forward to the run now so I shall just keep chanting: Positive mental attitude, positive mental attitude, positive mental attitude; and hope that that is enough.

Man Flu

I am off work with a dose of Man Flu, which is preventing me from doing anything in the way of training. With 8 days to go, Im not sure that I will get out for another run.

You can only imagine the frustration of having yet another bit of bad luck to set me back!   

The highlight of the Team Atko week however, was that we reached our initial fundraising target of £10,000 which is an awesome achievement and a great thing to carry to the start line!

See you soon team!!!

Finish the damn race, finish the damn race, finish the damn race, finish the damn race

Too Good to be True

Hello from the big chap,

After a year of training troubleish free! I have an injury to my left knee, arse! I have been able to walk and cycle but when i try to run it is quite painfull. Anyway i am going to attempt a small run today and see what happens, but never fear i will be at the start.

If you think i have lost all this weight and dropped a dress size and sort of stopped drinking and eating for nothing, your all wrong!

P.S. Thinking of you Fluff.

See you all at the start Team.

Rab XXXX

Just another day without Fluff

Yesterday was a year since Fluff left us.  I find that it has all gone incredibly quickly.  

Our son was only a a few weeks old when all of this happened and if ever there is a reminder that life goes on, it was our two boys to care for.

In under 2 weeks, 18 of Ian's friends and family ( 4 out due to back injuries or imminent fatherhood), will travel to Newcastle for the run.  It has been a year in the planning and a year worth of training for most of us. We are all getting a bit battle weary with it now and will be relieved when the job is done.

I am really grateful to my mates for sticking with this.  I didn't realise when I came up with this rather barking plan that it was essentially what I needed.  Ian never came to Newcastle, so being up here and him not around, wasn't too unusual.  That made it very surreal.  Team Atko, the planning and the training has reminded me daily of what has happened and why we are doing this.  It has helped me enormously.  

Yesterday, to celebrate Ian's life I had a plan to go and run 8 miles, listening to Foo Fighters and generally doing it Ian-like.  I was supposed to Go Big, tick off another training run and be on top of the world, reflecting and making sense of Ian and his life.  It didn't quite go that way. 4K in, my calves were feeling super painful and I inadvertently stopped and walked the last 1K home, fearful that I was about to rule myself out of the race.  This was the first run where things actually really hurt. 

I stretched my legs, sat in a cold bath with a Peroni and realised that it had been just another day without Fluff around.

Tim

ps The bath works a treat, and the legs are functional again!

My get up and go, got up and went.... but it's back now!

What a sad day today. My love and best wishes to everyone, hope you're all holding up ok.

A tough week of training for Simon and I, but things are really starting to improve. As Simon has mentioned, I had a bit of ligament trouble in my left leg which stopped me from running for a month. I did other sports to try to keep my legs strong and cardio fitness up, so fortunately I didn't have a terrible shock when I returned to running. I'm delighted to report that my bad leg seems to be holding up just fine. Fingers crossed the good health continues.

Today I ran my first 10k since hurting the ligament. Simon and I ran to France and back! Really - the French border is 5k from our flat. There were lots of other runners out and about, and I am delighted to report (for the sake of my ego) that I seemed to be back in the club. There were lots of "bonjours" and a couple of "courages" from my fellow runners today. Our time was 1 hour 13 minutes, which I was delighted with (although I'm sure that a couple of our Team Atko pro runners will be almost finished in that time).

I am nervous about the actual run. With my history of injuries and lack of any natural sporting ability, I know that I'm not going to get a super duper time. But getting this far with my training over the last year and being able to take part is something I would never have thought possible. I'll be delighted with crossing that finish line.

Good luck team, keep up the good work and I'll see you soon.

P.S. Simon finally got the super duper polar watch working, which is how I know how far I ran today. The watch has also just made me a cup of tea!!!!

Getting there in fits and starts

Bonjour Bloggeurs and Bloggeuses

Less than two weeks to go, and things in Geneva are looking up a bit. I have had a good week running-wise, although getting up at 5am to train is still no fun. Christina has been able to increase the intensity of training, and so far, her foot is taking the punishment ok. We aim to carry on training for the next 10 days or so, building up the distance gradually so we minimise the risk of injuries. Then we'll pack it in, rest up, and hope that the atmosphere on race day will get us round.

I will be glad when the race is run. It's been a long old slog just to get this far and my slightly haphazard training plan has seen me running in Geneva, France, Monaco, Nairobi, Istanbul, Izmir, London, New York, Washington and Jersey (of course!) The coming week was looking disastrous from a training perspective - I was supposed to be in Beirut for 2 days, London for one day, and then on to Jersey for 2 more days. As it happens, no Jersey, no Beirut this week and I can cope with a day in London! Hopefully Christina and I will have a solid week's training to set us up for the event.

Time has passed very quickly and it doesn't seem like a year since Ian left us and Tim had the idea of doing the run. A fair bit has happened in the interim - babies, weddings, funerals, injuries, hefty medical bills, learning new words (still not sure what overpronating means), creative excuses and loads of gripes. Ian would not have let us get away with the last two on that list.

Team Atko is made up of lots of different folks with one thing in common - we all think Ian was a top bloke. It is for him and because of him that we're prepared to put ourselves through this, for the benefit of a cause that really meant something to him. As race day gets closer (thanks for the countdown thingy Tom!!) its important that we stick together, train hard, and help each other to the all important finish.

I am pretty sure that Ian is keeping an eye on our efforts, and I am also pretty sure that he finds them a good source of amusement....

Keep Going Troops

G'Day from the large chap,

Sam i feel for you honey i went out and did 8 miles today and am cream crackered, I am trying to run everyday and it was only today that i settled into a pace that was comfortable and that i could manage. Anyway a bit of advice to all from the large bloke's running club.


We are all here for one thing the geezer on the blog site. Uncle Fluff, Atko, Ian and all other names as he was known.

It is not important if you finish in 1hr 30 or whatever time, it is the doing it that counts. I came to that conclusion at that start of this challenge that i was never designed to run and am not an athlete.

At the end of the day we are a TEAM and all of us will have given exactly the same time and effort to complete this. The feeling at the end on the finishing line will be overwhelming. I know now that i will certainly shed a tear thinking if Ian was with me there would be some serious sweaty man hugging going on then abuse from him, "C'mon fat boy to the bar, it was only a little run" and things along those lines.

We have all different thoughts of Ian and i am sure that these memories are the medicine and strength we need to carry out this event. Anyway enough of all that, i am getting to soppy in my old age.

Keep going and see you at the start troops.

Love Uncle Rab. x

And it was all going so well...

I must admit the past couple of weeks have been particulary frustrating. After getting back into training regularly again and starting to build up the mileage, I found that when I went out running it was like I was trying to get through quicksand. My legs were permanently knackered and just didn't seem to recover, even when I knocked back the mileage. Somewhat reluctantly, I booked an appointment for a sports massage yesterday morning - which as expected turned out to be a pretty uncomfortable way to spend an hour! My calves were really tight, I have the early stages of shin splints, an injury on one of my hamstrings and I apparently also have one leg much stronger than the other. Berge seems to have done the trick though as they feel a lot better today - and he also sponsored us as well. Top bloke!

On top of that though, I have picked up a cold from the guy I share an office with. He'd be in serious trouble, but he's wisely taken this week off sick... I'm reluctant to go out training in case I make it worse and take longer to recover. At the same time though, Tom's little counter at the top of this page is starting to make me paranoid that time has well and truly run out for serious training... any advice?

Anyway, I've more or less given up on hitting any of the times I've had in mind over the past months and am just hoping I can do enough to finish the distance.

Yee, and indeed, ha.

Today I ran 11 miles. This concerns me.

As previously stated I have no electric equipment with me which means the brain wonders. It occurred to me that that is the furthest I have ever run, anywhere, in one sitting. It's also a bloody long way. My beloved home Island is only 9 miles wide (so I'm told, not been through the tunnel in years so can't confirm, Rab?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) and I would never run from St. Peter to Grewville as I would get lost.

All in all I'm quite chuffed but am still wrestling with wether or not I actually like running. I started to think that I don't like running but do like the sense of achievment, which has many equals that teenage boys could concur with, like having a wash. Before I get any smut, they like being clean but hate washing.................

Then I thought when am I going to hit 'the wall' but as I don't know what that is, ignorance is bliss(ters).

A quote, ('cause it seems fashionable), "Effort only fully releases its reward after a person refuses to quit.", and another one because I Love Winny Churchill, "We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give."

Room for improvment

Hello from the large chap....

Well not long now and i am really still not enjoying this running lark until Dan took me down the front last week the were loads of rather fit young ladies, can't see how people do it for fun but this is someone who up to a year ago had about much go as a tortoise after a couple of jars. Anyway not a bad weekend have been out and done a bit everyday since last Thursday including running to the brother in laws with a rucksack full of birthday presents and bottles of Vin for his do, something i didn't realise would be so difficult. All in i guess i have put in just under 20 miles or so, However i have a rather annoying click from my left knee that's just come out to play. Should the knee do 360 degree turns is that normal??????.

Until the next time.

Love Uncle Rab xxxx

Thoughts from the bottom of a lamp post

I am now on my third pair of insoles and I must say they are still not quite right.  I am starting to bore myself with this topic so I can only imagine how tiresome it is for the readers of this blog!

I rattled round 6K today without a problem and I have changed my sock brand of choice which has eased the blisters.

My right calf is now quite stiff, but not painful and my knee feels a little weak, but again no show-stopping pain. I go through various contortions 3 times a day to stretch myself out.

The plan is just to keep on cautiously stepping up the miles, trying to find the right balance so that I don't get injured, but I also cover enough miles to run the race.  It is all desperately last minute and it feels like I am competing in a race, to get to the race.  It is on my mind all the time.

The race atmosphere seems to be building in the city.  There are a few Great North Run banners up and there seems to be more runners than ever out and about - even in the rain - which is not actually as an unpleasant an experience as I had once assumed.

What is an  unpleasant experience is stopping to tie your shoe laces near lamp posts.  The stench of dog piss is vile, especially when breathing deeply after a run!!

Another inspirational quote for the pot:

"The will to win means nothing without the will to prepare."

  - Juma Ikangaa, Tanzania

Like the tortoise...

Slow and steady but progress is being made...managed thirteen and a half km today in an hour and a half by doing circuits up Welly Hill and down St Saviours then round the one way system up Welly Hill again and down Mont Millais. Managed that flaming thing four times before my sanity took over and pointed me homewards. I think I have my race strategy about right in my head so fingers crossed.

Zone K - clearly the organisers believed me when I told them I was lamer than an ITV sitcom. Still, less pressure in the cheap seats! Anyone else three miles from the start line or are all of you RNLI scroungers in G or higher?

And finally two quotes: one motivational and one that just tickled me a BIT;

"Failure lies not in falling down. Failure lies in not getting up." (traditional Chinese proverb)

"It's not something you can just run away from like a hotel bill or a crying baby..."

Heroes

As you would expect (unless you have never met me I guess) my heroes are pretty much confined to the sporting arena. Much like the erstwhile Mr R Davies I love nothing more than a BBC montage set to a suitably inspiring track.

Growing up I was in awe of Carl Lewis, Steve Cram, Steve Ovett and Daley Thompson in the athletics world. Ian Rush, Graeme Souness, The King Kenny Dalglish and oddly enough scruffy old Neville Southall were fottballing gods to a young me.

These days I look around and see too many people described as great, but surely people like Shane Warne, Freddie Flintoff (though he doesn't actually like his nickname!), Sir Steven of Gerrardshire, Martin Johnson and Usain Bolt are worthy. It's amazing what these people will inspire you to do.

On the strength of that I am a huge, massive fan of Paula Radcliffe and as a result when I finished me 8.4 miles today I happily jumped in a freezing cold bath for 15 minutes. It's amazing what a role model can do for you!

Right, I'm off to walk the boy down to the village, wonder if he wants to go for a pint......

Memo to self...

Wellington Hill is for driving up not running up.

On the plus side having felt really awful for several months and failed to go much beyond 5km my sinus problems have started to clear and the remnants of my recent illnesses have been getting quieter and being able to breathe allowed me to manage 11km in an hour and 2 mins yesterday including the above mentioned hill and felt okay. I also read the GNR magazine which told me that if I can't do 8 miles comfortably that I should defer until next time...d'oh! Tempting though that option is them plane tickets ain't gonna refund themselves now are they so I'll guess I shall still see you all there.

If I am feeling brave I may post a pic of me a la Rab in my RNLI vest but I am not sure it will encourage any sponsorship.

Another reminder

Hello from the big Runner,

It's arrived in the post the pre-race pack including number................I can't quite believe i am about to try and attempt a half marathon, anyway there was some concilation i spotted Wickham in his RNLI vest yesterday.......Its Catching! Oh and i am starting in Group G thats not right at the back so should get overtaken by a few. Might take my ski poles to keep them at bay. Whilst i think of it a few quotes i found.

"Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up. It knows it must outrun the fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning in Africa, a lion wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the slowest gazelle, or it will starve. It doesn't matter whether you're a lion or gazelle - when the sun comes up, you'd better be running."

"The man who can drive himself further once the effort gets painful is the man who will win."

"There's no such thing as bad weather, just soft people."

And finally..
"If you ever get a second chance in life for something, you've got to go all the way."

Keep going troops. We will succeed.

Rab x

Definition of motivation

The extra burst of speed you get when you realise the Alsation charging at you, barking its head off, isn't actually tied to anything...

Gizmos

Should be confined to 80's movies.

Can't get me head around my shoes talking to me or listening to pumped f f f fresh beats remixed by Groove Jaxx while I run, so I don't. Just me, me ascics gelly babies and the elements. Which brings it's own set of joys.

I get lots of time to think about what I should have done in the house and need to do when I get back. I dream up crazy ideas for work and even subject them to the little dears from time to time. I try not to look smug at the (what's the P.C. phrase for lazy fat gets?) weeble type blokes smokin' a faaaaaag outside the pub (who look at me like I should be shot before their partners see me and subject them to........). I think about my family here and in Jersey, how the little chap has survived his scare and the inspiration that provides. I think about my friends, like how much faster the Greek would be going, or how many times I would have lapped __________ (fill in your own!) and the sheer effort that some are going through just to complete the damn thing in one piece, which again keeps me going.

You could say I think too much, and you'd be right, but I have found the road to be a peaceful place where I appreciate a lot of things, a lot more.

Keep going folks because it's going to be amazing at the finish line.

Nike+ 10K Human Race, with extra envy.

Today was the nike + global 10K race which I had been banking on being able to achieve.

I set out in the rain, with lucozade and strapped up in the heel department with a few inserts in my shoes to get me moving again, but 5K was all I could achieve. I was starting to get a blister on the other foot this time, so enough was enough.

I enjoyed it, though deeply frustrating, and as Tim Macready said tonight, it's another 5K in the legs.

The podiatrist is lined up for Thursday, and I really need him to weave some magic on my feet because without it the Great North Run is going to be somewhat problematic.

I never would have believed that I would be here, watching people running in the rain on a Sunday afternoon in August, and be deeply envious.

Choc Milkshake has never tasted so good.....

....and nor has a cold bath felt so refreshing (did the hot/cold shower thing after...).

So - 10 mile run accomplished and feel better for it (oddly) - ran 1h12mins which am happy with for training run and first attempt at 10 miles for years...

Negatives...(a) couldn't feel my right foot from 4 to 7 miles....odd feeling - bit like pins and needles! Never had that before! Put it down to way I was running, different from morning runs. (b) didn't warm up - silly! (c) didn't have any water during run - careless! But (b) and (c) were due to circumstance and won't be repeated during the Great North!!

So - 1h 30 is now target (realistic) which I'll be more than happy with.

No niggles (apart from foot issue!) so shall rest up tomorrow then go for light run Sunday, and back to morning/evening routine next week. Maybe in two weeks I'll repeat the 10miler....

Cheers to all.

Starting to worry.....

So, received the number (Zone B??? What was I thinking??) and the ChampionChip (never had those in my day!) - and starting to sweat without even running.....just remembered how tough it is running longer distances as opposed to 'skipping' along the Avenue and up to the Fort.... Gulp...

So, have decided this week to push myself on runs to/from office until Thursday afternoon, catch bus in Thurs evening/Fri morning then do long run on Friday evening...10 miles seems like a good marker....

that will:

(a) Give me wake up call (though what distance work I can get into legs is questionable)
(b) fill me with confidence (very doubtful)
(c) make me re-assess what time I should be going for - the years of no distance work/cycling have taken their toll!

That said, have got the 'bug' again - am enjoying the morning/evening runs; enjoying racing (and annoying) the cyclists (need more head winds!) and pushing myself through aching calves/thighs and 'niggles'.

Oh, and in keeping with the start of football season, am starting to play mind games with myself.....using 'recovery tips' to aid performance/consistent training:

(a) Chocolate milkshake.....taken straight after exercise it aids recovery, more effective than sport drinks (eg lucazade) - don't ask me why, I have a report on it by Australia sport if anyone really interested

(b) two mins cold shower, two mins hot....and on and on....allegedly works (better than ice bath) - again don't ask me why - just something I've been told!

Not sure if either work...thinking (a) will last longer in my training than (b)!!

Back on the bench

Damn you look good Rab!  Far better than my training plan which now lies in tatters.  I am sidelined again.

This blister thing was starting to get a bit annoying and wasn't showing any sign of improvement so after closer examination of the orthotic insoles and an inspection by my neighbour who knows about this sort of thing, she reckons that the orthotic needs a bit more tweeking.  

Earliest tweeking appointment with the orthotic tweeker is next Thursday, so until then, and potentially until new insoles are made up,  It's no running for me.  I would soldier on but I have been warned that blisters can lead to achilles problems, so I will take the advice and give it up for now.

I am going to see the evil gym man in the morning to create a training plan for the Great North Run that doesn't involve running. 

Under two hours is still the plan on race day, and now I'm getting angry!

Keep smiling

And it was a XL size!!!!!! Have a good laugh....

Rab.....XXXXXXX

Not bad for a fat bloke

Bon Soir fellow runners,

After my last blog of a weezing horse i thought i would report back with an update, my dear wife and myself went to a bbq on Saturday apres midi, whilst the wife travelled in her brothers car i decided i would run the 5 miles to their house, so we both left at the same time, brother in law set his timer and sped of up road as quick as you can in a 1981 Ford Capri (very Quick plese) and i set of on foot. Anyway i ran to my surprise, this was the first run with background music and it took the weezing horse away much to my surprise.

I completed the 5 miles in 53 mins and since then have done a 4 miler yesterday to keep pains at bay and a couple of cycle rides......However i can relate to the injuries as alas i will not be injury free for this gathering either. Never mind i will turn up run to a fashion (probably Gay) and cross the finish line as promised. Boy would i love to be on the receiving end of Ian's abuse if he was there to see my running!!

Rab. xx

P.S. I will try to put a picture of me in latest running attire if i can work out how.

General Frustration and Corporal Punishment

Salut Bloggeurs and Bloggeuses

It has been a while, I know, but the two key ingredients of happy blogging have been absent - these being

1) Time and access to a working computer
2) Inspiration

All has not been well in the Geneva sub-division of Team Atko - Christina has damaged ligaments in her left foot which means no running for at least two more weeks. Not good timing. Her very helpful doc has issued her with all sorts of painkillers and special creams and something called an "Air-Cast". This makes it sound very lightweight and non-cumbersome, but in reality it is two big lumps of plastic velcroed together in a cumbersome fashion. Christina has spent the last two years trying to get her left leg sorted out in one way or another so this is a real ding to the motivation. But, to her credit, she still aims to be on the start line and her top goal, which is still achievable, is to run all the way round. The training will be intense, but physio starts soon and an alternative training plan using the bike & swimming should keep Christina's fitness levels up until she can run again.

For my part, I was back in Jersey last week and between visiting my very ill Grandmother in a residential home, supervising plumbers/carpenters/letting agents, and trying to find a tenant for our flat, I managed a couple of runs. I ran from Georgetown to La Rocque and back only for my right calf to try and seperate itself from the rest of my leg.

To try and ease this, I went for a shorter run round the athletics track at FB Fields - allowing me to calibrate our new Polar watch doohickey footpod gubbin (as its known in the trade). A slim lady in well coordinated running gear wandered over and invited me to join in one of their training sessions at FB. I was going to politely decline, and when I saw her t-shirt had "Team GB Commonwealth Games Athletics Squad" printed on it, I knew that it was more prudent to run round in circles on my own.

I've just run 7km with Sam and the damn calf muscle is still awry. I have attacked it with one of those spiky ball things that looks like it should be attached to a stick with a bit of chain and then be wielded by some aggro Knight. That seems to help, strangely. Apart from the calf muscle, the running itself was ok, no cardio problems, the rest of me hasn't fallen apart, so I just need a replacement right calf muscle to be fitted, and I'm good to go.

Pest control

I went out three days a go for a run and it went well, I was running quick, I could breath and their was no pain - apart from "Pest" which now has another blister in a slightly deeper layer of skin to keep it company.  If these two blisters stop me running I will loose control!

I went on to t'internet to work out what to do, and the following morning went to boots and bought all sorts of cushioning, plaster, tape sort of stuff, vaseline etc.

Annoyed, I went to the gym.  It is quiet on a Friday night so I got on the bike and decided to ride the length of the great north run course bare foot.

40 minutes later I felt much better.

Pest 1 and Pest 2 seem to have settled down today so I might go for a wee bimble tonight.

No race chip in the post yet, I guess they are working there way through the 52,000 entrants and Wickham and Macready are further forward than me!

Olympic hangover

My training has now hit pretty much rock bottom (talk about peaking three months early!) but I provide my current training programme for your perusal:

Left, right, left, right, ow, left, right, left, right, wheeze, left, right, left, cough, ow. (Repeat until knackered i.e 10 minutes).

All positive goodwill and feeling I basked in during the heady days of easy 11km runs etc has gathered up all of its belongings, stashed them in a neat wheely suitcase and toddled off to gate 8 in search of its winter flight to Timbuktu leaving my knackered frame to kick its heels at security whilst I just undo my shoes so that some dog can have a sniff and tell me unsuprisingly that I am not a terrorist operating in the Jersey Al Quaeda sleeper cell.

Sod the drinks I am booking a taxi round the course and have done with it.

It's not looking good!

Hello Large one here.... Whilst you lot sound like athelete's i sound like a horse with a really bad cough. I just can't seem to get enough of that stuff they call oxygen into my lungs when i need and therfore can't manage to run more than 5 minutes in bursts, so based on that it looks like i will have the most expensive round of the day.

Rab XXX

What the hell!

Got the number, chip and starting zone (as did a lot of other people) today and now can't wait. Training back and just knocked a minute off Tuesday's time - as I told Wickham the other day, form is temporary, class is permanent. Although he did point out that the last time I was in form I was about 14 years old!

When it's hard on the road, show the road what yer made of!

"What I deserve, I earn" - discuss

Louis Smith won a medal at the Olympics at the weekend on the pommel horse.  It is the first time in over 70 years that a Brit has won a medal in anything involving a horse and a pommel at the same time.  He is designed specifically for the event with long oversized arms and 'ickle legs and someone said that he was grown in a jar somewhere south of Coventry.

Across his shoulders he has tattooed "What I deserve, I earn".

Now I rather fancied doing this half marathon in under two hours.  Training went well, then I had a number of set backs - knees, hips, shoulder thing, followed by a hacking cough and finally a blister, which essentially won't heal (b-doom, tish) before the race and it will accompany me on every step of every training run and every step of the race itself, causing discomfort.  I might give it a name, like "Pest" or something. I think that I deserve to be able to run the whole thing, but I need a bit of luck to keep sickness and injury at bay to enable me to continue the work to do this.

This morning I was driving to work in the dark and the rain - proper Geordie rain that gets you wet, cancels the cricket, stops summer in it's tracks and sends it scurrying off to somewhere in Europe. At 0554, I saw a bloke out running, wearing a Great North Run 2008 t-shirt!  I wanted to shout "courage!" like they do in Geneva, but I wasn't sure if he would understand.  I thought about "Gan on meeaaate" but I thought he might think I was taking the piss, so I said nothing and drove past.  He was out there doing it and it was miserable.

Then my thoughts turned to poor old Paula who soldiered on in bits to finish the marathon. She poured herself into training for Beijing and she picked up an injury and got bitten by a spider in France (which sounds like an excuse for not handing in your homework if you ask me) and she sadly, despite an enormous effort to win the marathon - well, she failed.

Or did she?  When I'm feeling cream crackered at the 11 mile mark somewhere south of the river,  I might just think of poor Paula hobbling and wobbling her head and find something from somewhere to nail the last few miles, just as she did.  That would keep me going.  

Louis and his tattoo seems a bit nicey-nicey to me, but Paula?  She was out there doing it, in pain, not going to win, not going to get what she wanted, not going to get what she worked for and deserved.

So as has been said before, no matter what, finish the damn race.

A little Motivation

Understanding that there was great impetus (or beer to give it it's simple name) to sign up for this, motivation should never really be a problem.

However, what with injuries, layziness and end of school year (teachers excuse to get lashed about three/four times a week for a month) things have been poor.

Add to that the arrival of my son, currently living at Burnley General, it's all a bit pear shaped. However, all thoughts of being able to run with (near to ish) the Greek having vanished with the injury, I am now determined to run with Dan. With that in mind I finally got back out on the road today and it wasn't too horrendous. Went back to the short route to get going again and on the uphill realised I had been just looking for excuses to not run.

A little motivation, the fact that I will run in memory of my friend and for my family.

P.S. - Wiggy, I'm gonna get you!

Thirteen miles of stupidity.

Now I know I’ve had the odd stupid idea or two in my time but this one's special even by my standards. Training for me has been fairly mundane, trudging round lakes in Milton Keynes, a 10k circuit I’ve worked out at home, and a triathlon of run/drink/sleep deprivation during Alderney week. However with only about six weeks to go before the big day I decided today was the day to see if I could come anywhere close to my aim time of 1 hour 40 minutes over the full 13 miles. Now I must say at this point the time I went for is not based on any previous p.b. Or a statement of current fitness level, its more to do with my dislike of running and just wanting to get it over with as soon as possible, that and just wanting to get to the bar before the rounds get too expensive. I failed; miserably, and now have to work out how to lose 15 minutes an hour. It’s not that I can’t run it’s just I just don’t go very fast when I do, the only point I picked up my pace was running to the St Peters border but I guess that was just instinct kicking in, when I crossed back into St Ouen I slowed down again. Normally, with the Internet at my disposal, making an hour or two disappear isn’t a problem, but I don’t think cyberspace can help with this one. All I can do is hope the little piece of motivational advice from Tim puts a spring in my step, “looks like I’ll be running with you then Wiggy”. People avoid the two hour mark at all costs. I know I can do better, you know it makes sense! Little Tim might mean some one else now but it’s not worth the risk.

Dan.

P.S. Is anyone doing the 10k on the 21st of September?

We're Steaming!!!!!! (and not in the way we want to be)

Our training seems to be progressing well at the moment, although the weather in Geneva never seems to be on our side. It has been either far too hot or raining cats and dogs! Simon and I went for a run today by the lake and I think we would have been drier if we had jumped in!!!

We drove to the base of the Saleve mountains last week for one of our early morning runs (5.30am - aaaaaaarrrrrgh). A change of scenery does slightly ease the intense boredom I experience when running. The run was in better conditions then usual because it was a lovely day and the heat hadn't kicked in yet. When we finished the run, we were steaming! Really - there was steam!!! I was also delighted when another early morning runner shouted "Courage" at us.

I have recently purchased a super duper Polar watch which, amongst other things, tells you how far you have run, your heartrate, works out training plans, makes the dinner...etc. Unfortunately, the watch is still in the box at the moment because I have to figure out how to make it do all the super duper things it is supposed to do - all the gear and no idea springs to mind.

I'm attempting my first 10 km this weekend and will let you know how it goes.

New Blogger, Old runner

So - thought I'd better get blogging and training since there are two months to go and I haven't done enough of either. Impressed by the commitment and distances that people have been covering - all bodes well for the run. As for me, Touch season over which means I can concentrate on running again (as opposed to cycling and Touch) - pre Touch training I was up to 30 miles a week, which sounds impressive but really just necessity in getting me to/from work every day - so basically 10 x 3 mile 'sprints' - still puts miles in the legs and it'll be interesting now to see if I'm anyway near the PBs I'd set back in May....

Apart from that to look forward to, I've no major injuries to report (unusual for these blogs!) having overcome groin tear mid season, dodgy (blackened) toes and thigh strain.....I have just realised however that the last Half marathon I did was a fair few years ago when I was approx 2 stone lighter....worying times!! Good luck to all for the training....Nick

Two steps forward...then ouch!

The orthotics are in the neutral shoes, talk of "medial collapse" and such like are now a thing of the past.  Mark has done and excellent job in sorting me out.  My new friend is this little fella on my heel!

A Good Day's Training

Hello from the Large Runner.....

Well today i thought nice coolish day for a marathon or a half one ish!! I accompanied by my better half who decided she would come because she is fitter than me as she attends a gym three times a week, headed off from home. On arriving at the bay of Greve de Lecq the sun came out the clouds cleared and the wind dropped....................Arse.! Well not put off by this we entered the cliff path up towards Grosnez castle and carried on and carried on with the occasional look over my shoulder to see if Kaz was still with me, only just we clocked up 4.3 mph on the uphill according to the watch at which point Kraen came out with the funniest thing ever. " Iam so sorry for ever saying you are not fit... why do i pay to go the gym when i can come on a little walk with you dear "! Anyway 9.5 miles later in 2hrs 50mins and we where home.

Onwards and upwards troops not long now........

Rab XXXXX

So blooming near...

Yesterday I took part in the Dinosaur 10K - a 10K road race in Deal - on what felt like the hottest day of the summer so far. I have to say I was a bit worried going in to it, mainly as I'd had a dream the night before where I'd missed the start of a race and had to run to try and catch up with everyone else which proper freaked me out. Everyone was really lovely though - even though they were all 'proper runners' and I felt totally out of my depth! And yes, I did get overtaken by someone old enough to be my grandad who made me look like I was standing still - at least he wasn't in a banana costume though!

I finished in 1 hour 1 minute and 1 second, according to the official results - just outside my target of under 1 hour. Although I was a bit gutted that I missed my aim by such a small margin, I'm still pretty pleased with the way it all went considering there was a never-ending hill in the course and even the spectators were sweating buckets. And I have never been so grateful that the Great North Run is held in October and (barring freak weather) should at least be slightly cooler than yesterday was!

Its not all That Bad!!

Hello from the Large Runner,

I say large but actually not so large anymore, when i signed up for this mission nobody told me i would be able to fit into my old clothes that i used to fit! So consequently i am having to wear stuff from Karen my wife;s wardrobe. Nothing new i hear some of you say. (only joking). I thought i would blog for you lot that are down and despondent. Tom you will do it because you are doing it for the same reason as me, Fluff. After seeking advise from a athlete they have told me i will probably not be able to run the whole amount before the actual race, so what i have had to do is plan into my training schedule that the race itself will be the last run of my schedule, if that makes sense.? Saying that it the last two weeks i have managed a 6 mile walk at 4.4 mph cos the training watch tells me speed over distance etc in around an hour and twenty, that includes stopping to chat to various people on the way.

To all you Team Atko members just remember this:

Some things in life are bad
They can really make you mad
Other things just make you swear and curse.
When you're chewing on life's gristle Don't grumble, give a whistle
And this'll help things turn out for the best...

See you all on the 1st for a drink....PS its my B/day.

Love Uncle Rab x

Kneely over

I have been out of it for far too long now. It has taken a while to sort out this knee thing of mine, which is actually a hip fault rather than my knees. In fact it might be my feet, no one seems to be entirely sure.

I have been to see 3 physiotherapists, I now have Orthotics (insoles) made up, but now I need some neutral shoes for them to fit in. Mark did a video gait analysis on me and it seems I am running like a prawn, so he has sent me off for a few days to sort myself out and get rid of my muscle memory, and when I have settled into short runs with my neutral shoes, the insoles will go in and I should be off again... finally.

I also have been doing some odd looking hip stretches 3 times a day.  When I signed up for this I thought it was just a case of running about looking sweaty.

I did a couple of 2.5K runs in Jersey last week. My left knee gave me no discomfort, but the right was still a problem. My only interest now is getting back up to 10K, from there I am confident I can keep training and make the distance on race day.  I will run the whole way.

On 31st of August I have entered the NIKE+ 10K HumanRace,  You can run in 25 cities around the world, or like me, you can run where you like. I will be running the Newburn circuit in the Tyne Valley which is just over 10K, so that is my short term target.

I have also got some strange hacking cough which is starting to irritate me.  It has a rattle like TB and my voice sounds  a bit 0898.  It doesn't seem to stop me running 2K, but I hope I can get well soon and hopefully I will finally be back on my feet!

Will let you know.

Back on track?

Last Sunday, I took part in our local Race for Life 5K, which I completed in a fairly respectable 32mins. Not too bad (for me, anyway), but I was hoping to come in under the half hour. I'd probably blame it slightly on the traffic - I understand if people need to stop for a walk, but do they really have to stand in a line across the path??? It was, however, the first time I'd completed this race comfortably, thinking I could really have run it faster, so I'll take something positive from that anyway! Usually the race for life was an event we almost forgot we had signed up for, then went out in Canterbury on the night before in spite of. I have very fond memories of the girls rocking up to Herne Bay with assorted hangovers to do their bit for charity.

I have now signed myself up for the Dinosaur 10K - the local road race organised by the Deal Tri club which starts about 5 mins walk from my front door. The aim is to finish in under an hour, which only gives me a couple of weeks to get back into running and sort my pace out. This race is actually run by proper runners, rather than fun-runners (if that makes any sense?) so I'm a bit terrified I'm gonna show myself up - I have mental pictures of me wheezing at the back 5 mins behind everyone else - but I'm hoping that fear will also keep me on track with my training schedule... Keep your fingers crossed for me!

Running through the vines

Hot! hot! hot!

I had been struggling with the arrival of summer. Not the sunshine, which I adore, but the heat. Running is so much harder when it is really, really hot. As you all know, old injuries have proved a challenge for me and new injuries have cropped up. I think my body was in shock at the extra work I was putting it through, particularly as I am now embarking on an actual half marathon training program.

The hardest thing I have had to learn is the difference between pushing myself enough and pushing myself too hard. I do need to push myself hard otherwise I would still only be able to run for about two minutes before stopping. This running lark does involve a lot of trying to push myself that extra bit harder all the time, so that I can improve. But there is a line and I have to be realistic. One lesson that I have learnt is that it is better to rest an injury instead of running on it and taking even more time to recover. That was a hard lesson. Ouch!

It has also been hard realising that I do have a life and there is going to be the odd missed run. I've got to stop berating myself when runs are missed because of other genuine commitments. But I also need to remind myself on a regular basis that Eastenders isn't a genuine commitment!!!

It has been really tough to date. But Ladies and Gentlemen, something strange happened this week. I had my FIRST EVER good week of running. The first week where I have felt that I could actually do this half marathon. I actually enjoyed some of it.

I'm sure there are plenty of lows to come, but it is nice to report a big high for a change.

I'm very proud of how we are all doing. Look at where we started and how far we've come. We've still got a long way to go, but the time has come to take a look back at what we have achieved so far. The most important thing to remember is that, even on the bad days, we're not giving up. Go us!!!!

"If you are going through hell... keep going"

The high of 10K in 57 minutes now seems a distant memory.  I have been struggling with core work in the gym,  and my knees are still far from ok.  I only managed 2K on the treadmill last week because of the discomfort.  I have been told to lay off the running until we find out what the problem is.

It seems to be an issue with hamstrings, still lugging around excess weight (despite loosing a stone and a half), and possibly feet requiring a custom made sole for my running shoes.  It is all enormously frustrating.  My 12 week training plan starts on the 13th of July so I am hoping that the physio has good news for me on the 14th when I go to see him.

I am quickly beginning to realise that you can't blag your way through a half marathon.  I am committed to covering the 13.1 miles in the fastest time I possibly can and I will put in the work to do it.  The fact is that despite my enthusiasm I am still paying the price for sitting on my arse for the last 10 years.

Winston Churchill said "If you are going through hell... keep going".  

Naturally things are not really hell-like, but those words seem to sum up what is required at the moment!

Slow recovery...

After a period where things had been going pretty well on the training front, its all come crashing down around my ears now. Last week was spent at Glastonbury - which was hugely awesome - and as a result of the lack of sleep and consumption of vast quantities of pear cider, this week has been spent trying to get back to normal, rather than running.

Luckily, I'm running in the local Race for Life on Sunday morning, so I'm hoping that will kick me back into training mode - all of a sudden, October doesn't seem that far away anymore!

Tick, tock, tick, tock...

Another training week lost due to sickness throughout the family. I spent the first few days looking after t'Mrs night and day as she evacuated her body of all liquids then young Ms D got an ear infection and now I have taken up close residence to the bathroom so please excuse me if I have to go suddenly. Hopefully I will be able to train next week but I don't feel very good right now and am severely deprived of sleep.

Now, pass me that bucket if you would be so kind...!

Back in the Saddle

Weeks of nothing have now started to cease as I am cycling to work! Ankle seems to have mended so am trying to get back into exercise again, even my running shoes were getting bored. It is quite amazing how damaging an injury can be to confidence and motivation, so I think I have far more understanding of what some people have already gone through.

As a result I have officially given up playing footy until the run is done, some would say I should have given up years ago but then they'd.....be right I guess!

Hope not too much training was undone at Dan's barbie......

Highs and Lows

The good news is that I have managed my first 40mins of non stop running.

The bad news is that everything hurt last week and motivation was at an all time low. After the high of finishing 40mins nonstop, my next run was a disater and my confidence then hit an all time low. I also managed to hurt my foot, but after lots of ice packs and heat patches (15 mins of each, the heat straight after the ice - this was recommended by my trainer at the gym and really works) my foot appears to have decided it is back in the game.

At least my husband/running buddy has finally returned and will be staying put for the next month. Early morning running is very eerie sans mon mari.

An albatross about my person...

My daughter has decided that I am not training hard enough and now thinks that it is her duty to sit on my back and make me do press ups all the time shouting "Come on Daddy, hurry up!" Bloody slave driver keeps insisting that she doesn't want to go to nursery either but would rather "go running with Daddy. I am very fast." this is usually followed by a sudden burst of speed down the corridor/across the lounge etc. I haven't got the heart to tell her she can't come because she would show me up. I think I have got away with it, just, so don't anyone tell her okay.

Hopping Mad Cow and coff-knee morning fund raisers

Salut

Well, like Rus I have been seeing limited improvement of late, partly due to being on holiday in Jersey and not getting around to it and partly because my training plan kicks in 12 weeks before the race, which is... ummm... some time soon, but not yet.

I have also had dodgy knees which Nelson, the air traffic controller, diagnosed immediately as a problem with my ITB.  Not wishing to doubt Nelson I checked with a physio who confirmed this and I now have a load of stretches to do which seems to be helping.  I knocked out a 5K run and 10K on the bike without pain today.

It almost came to an end at the weekend however, as me and my eldest, Tom where charged by a cow on the Town Moor, and it happened like this....

The Hoppings is the local fair that comes to town and parks itself on the Town Moor at this time of year.  I don't frequent fairs of any kind anymore, since adult logic and reasoning at some point suggested that entrusting the safety of your very being (and that of your offspring) to the engineering ability of a bunch of people of no-fixed-address, who swill cider and live in caravans is probably not the most sensible of plans.  With this in mind one would feel very silly flying of "Disco Phoeba" in a sitting position because someone had omitted to tighten the sprocket lever bolt on the whizbang inducer that connects the Iliotibial band to the hooge-hadge.  Added to which the locals always talk of stuff "going missing" at this time of year.

The upshot of the Hoppings visit is that it has freaked the cows and whilst they normally bugger off as soon as you get within 12 feet, on Saturday one particularly narked one took exception to Me and Tom and stood it's ground.  Tom was on his bike and I was running behind and we had a bit of a pace on.  We stopped about 3 feet away which irritated it (in a female hoof stamping type way).  Whilst considering a Crocodile Dundee type move she ran towards us.  I picked up Tom, who didn't let go of the handle bars, and we ran!  

It was at that time, for the first time, that I have seen the benefits of being fitter, leaner and stronger and the last 9 months of training came in quite useful!  Through extensive and creative explanation Tom doesn't seem to have been scarred by the event.

And Finally... my in-laws, Pat and Bob are today setting out the tables in the communal room of the apartments of which they live in Weymouth, to host a Team Atko coffee morning fundraiser.

Pat has got 30 or so neighbours to turn up and has also contacted a similar development in Dorchester and 16 or so are heading over in a mini bus.  It's £1 to get in, coffee is free, and there is security on the door, but trainers are allowed.  Pat has been baking and they have got some raffle prizes and a bring and buy stall.  

I will let you know the fundraising total as soon as word comes in but Pat is hoping for £50.  

A big thank you in advance from me!!

Mojo not working

A handful of peaks (which sounds like fun now that I think about!) and a whole lotta' troughs this last week of training. I seem to be able to put in one half decent run a week and then a bunch of Bellozanne-tastic short jaunts the rest of the time. I am trying to vary my routine etc. but am not making any significant progress which, to be frank, is a bit depressing.

Hotel Gym (be the death of me)

Salut Bloggeurs and Bloggeuses.

Have been a bit mobile of late - last week in London, this week in Istanbul, now in Provence, and next week in Kenya. Fun fun fun - and explains the limited blogging. But, I have managed to stay out of the hotel bar and get in the gym, and did my first ten k run this week, for which I am 'appy.

Good to hear from RSRD and The Large Runner on the blog, and loved the photo of Tom and Edd at Radio Jizzy - they both look suspiciously at ease... Good work troops, keep gannin'.

We are at my folks' place in Provence, and we're off to see Radiohead in a Roman Amphitheatre in Nimes tonight. Just had a good run through the vines with Christina and Sam - it is a seriously beautiful place down here. We have some photos of the Morris Sub-division of Team Atko , and if I (or more likely Sam..) can work out how to do it, we'll post them on the blog.

I was toying with the idea of doing a Zola Budd and running in Kenya with no trainers on, but on reflection decided that this might be a bad idea. I doubt very much that a six foot, skinny ginger bloke running around the streets of Nairobi will attract any attention at all - I'll just blend in! I think I'll just stay in the Hotel Gym, again.

The Roaming Runner

Yikes

Am most impressed Mr C...I have gone in t'other direction and am struggling with even the shortest and least demanding of runs now. I am trying not to worry too much about it but even so it has not been a good development. Any suggestions for inspiration?

I'm Still Here!!

Heloo from the big runner,

Despite the lack of blog i am still here, would have loved to have been with all you guys on Liberation Day etc, but unfortunately someone has to show the donkey's how to run their airport!! I very satisfying task from a Jersey boy's point of view and one Uncle Fluff would have loved to have been involved in I'm sure!!!

Anyway back to the important stuff..... I have had a action packed weekend of walking, running and cycling not to the pub as some of you are thinking although i did have a couple of "lite" refreshments on Sunday.

I went out and covered the hand some total of about 17.8 miles all in of which i am chuffed. I was with a chap who is about to embark on the itex and he commented on how brisk my training pace was...how's that for a fat bloke? ( I stopped kissing and thanking him after half an hour)!

Anyway the bikes out and been used regularly and i am starting to see bits disappearing from me not sure that was part of the contract.

Keep up the good work troops, only FOUR (4) months to go till i cross the finishing line with another twenty odd like minded nutters and sup a well deserved drink. First ones on me by the way if i finish...so now you will all have to make sure of that!!!

RAB.

xx

Red eyes

You aren't suffering alone, Russ. I've just been out for a run this morning down by the beach. I don't know what is flowering down there but I've spent the last half hour frantically blowing my nose, rubbing my eyes and searching for the antihistamines I know I should have left over from last year.

Plus for the next hour at least, I'll be constantly asked if I'm ok because I look like I've been crying. Joy.

The joys of summer

Hayfever has come again and now running out in the wild is even less fun than it was before what with the streaming nose, weeping eyes and the rash down one side of my body from running too close to the pre-branchage fields. I will be switching to the treadmill for the forseeable or else I fear I may fall back even further in performance terms.

Have run out of drugs to try and vaseline around the nostrils and glasses aren't helping much so short of running in a big hamster ball (which may be a bit warm!) I am out of ideas.........

Je suis une Rock Star....

Cats and dogs and RNLI open days...

I am delighted to report that the early morning runs have continued. Well, I'm not delighted about having to get up at 6am, but I am pleased that I am fitting an appropriate amount of training in each week as a result.

Up until recently, I have been very much a fair weather runner. Running in rubbish weather isn't much fun and I am so accident prone that the risk of slipping on a wet pavement has seemed too high (a long time ago I actually broke my ankle walking down the street - I rest my case!!!).

This changed last Tuesday morning. Having made a huge effort to haul my lazy backside out of bed that morning, I looked out of the window and it was raining cats and dogs. Having already made the effort to get up and bearing in mind that the weather in Newcastle in October could be less than perfect, I decided to continue with the run. It was miserable and I returned to the flat looking like a drowned rat (a strong look!). But hey, at least I did it. In fact, I have had to run in bad weather a couple of times since as the weather in Geneva has been horrible. It was either that or no training at all because falling off a treadmill seems like a bigger risk.

My fair weather running attire seemed inappropriate and I got really hot running in a water proof. So team, any tips for running in the rain?

I felt a bit sad on Saturday. Simon and I would have loved to have attended the RNLI open day to have a nose and get our picture taken with the team. We also heard that Tim and Mr E did a fantastic job with the Radio Jersey interview that morning - well done boys. To add insult to injury, I was at work that morning which did nothing to lift my mood. But we were with you in spirit and I look forward to reading some posts letting us know how it went.

Simon and I went for a run on Saturday afternoon and it went well - I can now run for 30 minutes non stop, which is a huge improvement from the two minutes I could manage when I started all of this. I've still got a long way to go, but onwards and upwards...

Media Stars

Having spoken to Tim H last night, the two of us are being interviewed on Jersey Radio tomorrow morning ahead of the RNLI open day.

not sure about the aerly start, but fell free to tune into Radio Jersey 88.8FM (http://www.bbc.co.uk/jersey/bbc_in_jersey/index.shtml) at 7:35 to hear us talk about Ian and why we are doing the run!!

right; must recall not to swear on air...

Be different, Be positive and Go Big

A thought struck me today.  It is almost 4 months until the start of the race!

Now that's not long, and it's a long way to go!

Fundraising wise we are doing okay.  We have passed the £2,000 mark, but it is still a fair way to £10,000 - and let's hope we can do better than that.

Training-wise, having leapt forward, it now seems to be getting tricky again.  It seems like hard work and slightly less enjoyable recently.  I often think that all this training would have been great fun with Ian, and that fact irritates me.

At times like this it is always worth considering how Ian might have gone about things, and so I herby give you a few snippets from a few emails that Ian sent me, word for word. This should give you a flavour of the man (if you didn't know him) and will surely put a smile on your face if you did.

Oh - After great thought, I have had to sensor one bit of it by cunning use of the letter 'F'.  I would like to post you the last email that I received from Ian but it really would be a random nonsense of jumbled F's and code - so I won't.  It is very funny though.

Here we go...

3 April 2006 - Proposed night out in town at a real ale pub:

"Uncle Fluff will be there. There's nothing more amusing than asking for any form of drink in the Lamplighter that doesn't come in a 13,000 year old silver casket, have froth on the top and resemble the strainings from the devil's jock-strap. Call me fussy but to be honest I can't bring myself to order a pint of 'old shitstain' just to fit in with the locals. I always go in there and ask for Babysham, just to see the look on the barman's face.

Might even try Nick the Greek's Jedi mind trick (to be spoken in calm tones whilst waving the right arm in a Jedi-like superior manner): by denouncing that "We don't need to pay for those drinks". Priceless.

Anyway, see you all there, unless you won't be there, in which case I bloody well won't.

Don't bother responding to this email as I don't get to check my hotmail emails very often and I'll probably just delete it anyway.

Atko"

13 March 2007: A thank-you from me for dinner at the Atko's

"Bonjour, aloha, hello please

Even more stoked now that you came to see us when you were over. How's tricks me old whizz bang?

Atko's a bit stressed at the moment - plagued with work, training is knackering, the club is driving me chicken-oriental, and I've started studying. Weather's beautiful though, so I don't really care.

Up yours"

30 May 2007 - another night out in town:

"It's not often I speak up, as I thoroughly enjoy watching all the banter from afar - unless Al starts spouting, in which case I feel that it is my responsibility to remind him of his effeminate side.

Nevertheless, BIG RESPECT to Russ for getting his dFFF out of his doughnut and coming out to play. Gutted that I can't be there - I will be representing the Island, our national pride, and the future of international democracy at the Island Games in Rhodes. Ie giving it large in Faliraki.

Atko the self-professed legend"

So there we have it.  Be different, Be positive and Go Big.  

Simple really.