Swan Song

Today it’s the Ramathon, L’s 13.1 swan song. I’ve failed a late fitness test and won’t be competing. Actually it’s wasn’t that late, I’ve been hobbling all week. It was never looking likely.

So L sets off from Elvaston Castle for the first running of this event since 1996. It’s a hot morning, which won’t help the runners.

The route is very different to the old one and is centred around Elvaston, Shardlow, Ambaston but reaches almost to Alvaston. Hopefully the organisers intend to widen its reach as it becomes more established and take it into Derby itself.

Organisation is excellent, although perhaps a few more drinks stations might have helped in the heat. I could have done with one myself as I hobbled up to Ambaston Lane to cheer L though. The dogs were with me giving extra vocal support.

Then we hobbled back again and I went to the finish to see if I could pick up a race t-shirt. As I stood there, fully clothed, flashing my race number while the first few finishers lay gasping on the grass they were clearly impressed and asked how quickly I had ran. At this point I had to fess up and show off my limp. Got the t-shirt though.

The race t-shirt will be a bit too patriotic for most as it sports far too many references to Derby County. Sadly the many runners who have travelled from around the country (and from Nottingham) to be here won’t wear it become of that. So a marketing own goal there.

L isn’t as quick as she had hoped but has clearly left it all out on the road, as you should. Her post race treat, at her request, is Sunday Lunch at the New Inn in Shardlow which she then feels too faint to eat a lot of. The dogs and I assist.

She’s recovered by later though, after copious amounts of cheese on toast, and is knocking back the beer and wine as we head into Stapleford to the Horse and Jockey to celebrate the swan song.

(Sunday 8^th June)

Another Late Fitness Test

A policeman comes to work to tell us about the huge number of bikes being stolen from around the area and to ask if we’ve seen any undesirables around the place, other than the ones who work here that is. Great news, I’m not sure the insurance would believe me if we had another one stolen.

A late fitness test this evening, to decide whether I throw the towel in as regards Sunday’s half marathon. I jog the mile into Spondon and that goes ok, relatively speaking e.g the pain doesn't reduce me to tears. I then take the bus most of the way home and jog the remaining two miles or so.

I decide that the ankle really only hurts (as in a lot) when I go up hill and as the new Nottingham Half Marathon course is apparently ‘fast n flat’ I guess than means I’m in. It’s not going to be pretty though.

L and boys walk towards me to see if I need any help to hobble home. As Doggo tries to pull us all into one of the local pubs, I consider that anaesthetising the pain might be a good idea. On second thoughts though, we have stronger alcohol at home, as well as ice packs and if all else fails L can always take my mind off it.

(Friday 27^th September)

Doing A Half Marathon On No Training

The ankle is still sore. Walking and cycling are fine but I’m not sure about running which with the Nottingham Half this weekend is a bit problematic. At the moment I’m assuming I’m going to have to pull out unless I pass my late fitness test on Friday.

L seems to be chomping at the bit to take her understudy duties a bit too literally and to run in my place, not wanting to see the paid for entry wasted. That’s despite not doing any training for it of course, she’s even been googleing for websites on ‘doing a half marathon on no training’. Of which, there appear to be plenty.

It’s shame we can’t do it as a relay, we could probably just about manage that, but I think they might see it as blatant cheating. Not that we’d win or anything.

I also forgot to enter this year’s Turkey Trot when entries went live yesterday despite putting it in my diary. It’s full now. Probably for the best.

I spend a couple of hours on the phone to our insurers and they agree to replace L’s bike to the value of £649.99. I’m impressed. They’re going to post it, the bike, when we’ve decided what we want. So curly handlebars here we come or rather, here L comes and there’s also no need for her to sweet talk Santa now but hopefully that won’t stop her, Santa's receptive to that sort of thing.

Back home I replace the bar tape on the old war horse that L is considering using for work. I also dig out Son’s old D-Lock, which to my relief I eventually find in the shed. For a while there I was worried someone’s had nicked it...

(Wednesday 25^th September)