The Usual

Another bike ride achieved, no rain and no learner drivers.

The usual Friday night in tonight, L is resting up for a race tomorrow when I'll be doing my favourite thing. Supporting. Whether that means she’ll be hydrating with wine or Leffe flavoured sport’s drink I’m not sure.

(Friday 17^th October)

Some Things Just Have To Be Done

The knee is improving, slowly, at least it's a lot better than it was. All the same I postpone tonight’s squash game. That'll shock L.

I was also well vindicated in bringing forward cycling from today because it’s bloody windy. When we go to the pub at lunchtime it’s a struggle, we can barely stand up in the street. Yet somehow we get there, some things just have to be done.

L seems to think that means I won’t want to meet her for a quickie in the Navigation after she’s done her Sweatshop run. Pint + pool water + pint = a lot of fluid sloshing around but it’s not much different to consuming lots of sports drink.

It’s a bit of rush, heading to DFS to collect the lamp table I’ve ordered then home to collect the dogs who I haven't ordered but I think they might like to come swimming with me. Clearly they have to stay in the car as I do my swim and then we head to the pub. Although I fear that L might be now dipping out of the pub because it’s been raining quite heavily, so she’d probably be soaked after her run but no, she vows to give it a go. Some things just have to be done I guess.

(Thursday 5^th December)

Money For Old Rope

On the bike again today but this time it was bloody windy. I cycled all the way to work with it against me.

At the pub over lunch I finally take the plunge and risk the Roast beef, mushroom and Stilton baguette. I’m not expecting anything to be wrong with it, it’s just that when it takes them an hour to deliver a ham sandwich I thought steak was asking for trouble.

In the end it comes punctually and very nice it was too.

Derby County are to rename Pride Park the ‘iPro Stadium’. Not that anyone knows what an iPro is. Turns out it’s nothing to do with Apple and it's a new sports drink company. That’s an already crowded market so I’m not sure they’ll see out the 10 year sponsorship deal but I guess that’s their lookout. I quite like that it’s a company nobody has ever heard of and probably never will. Money for old rope really. Nobody except the media ever use these new names anyway and there’s a simple reason why the ground is known as Pride Park because that’s where it is.

Another poor game of squash from me. During which L walks the boys home in an attempt to wear them out. One of them in particular. Last night's training seems to have had no effect on MD’s energy levels at all. He’s really got it on him at the moment. 

(Thursday 14^th November)

Complex Mathematics

This was the first running of the Worcester Half and Full Marathon, so a few minor teething problems can be forgiven but as it was put on by an experienced ‘events’ company, Threshold, I’m not sure why they fell down on as many things as they did. Right from the off directions to the venue were a bit basic for a non local. There weren’t any. Just a venue, with a post code I suppose, but not even a sign from the nearby motorway.

The promised the 'small' parking charge turned out to be a hefty £3. Small = 50p. This caused a major tailback that backed up all the way down the dual carriageway as everyone had a whip-round in their pockets to find the cash. If you are going to charge for parking then either add it to the entry fee or at least disclose the amount to us in advance.

We were early enough to avoid the worst of the queue and could take advantage of the facilities at the Sixways Rugby Stadium. It was nice to have proper facilities as opposed to the usual portaloos.

The result of parking debacle was a delayed start by 15 minutes and a problem trying to keep warm. The start was on a very narrow country lane that presented little in the way of warming-up opportunities, nor vantage points for spectators but my father hadn’t made it to this one.

Once we started the route turned out to be pleasant enough. Scenic countryside with a few playful hills. In fact they took us up one almost straight from the start, which was a nice touch. At least, as I know we do this bit again in reverse, the finish will be down it. We were soon past the 13 mile point... Blimey that was a short run, about 12 minutes, a PB and a world record or is that sign just for the full marathon? Yes, some 200 folks are going to go around this course twice.

The route took us through villages and past local pubs, where there were plenty of spectators cheering everyone on but none of them were offering beer. Only sports drink in cups as well as water in bottles. Although I would have liked water before 4.5 miles and on the information sheet four drinks stations were promised but only three were delivered.

The weather was good, it started out chilly but soon warmed up. Well I warmed up, I’m not sure L did but then she’s a girl.

Although billed as the 'Worcester' half, we didn’t appear to go anywhere near the place. Perhaps in future it would be nice to take in some of it, if that’s possible and perhaps a stadium finish? As a first attempt though, it wasn't bad, a good turnout and a nice friendly feel.

They told us before we started that the 11 and 24 mile markers had been stolen, what they didn't mention was that miles 6, 7, 8 and 9 had gone AWOL too, along with the associated marathon distances. The organisers seem to think this was a ‘targeted removal’ rather than a prank, perhaps by the impatient driver who tried to mow half the field down. The roads weren't closed to traffic but most drivers were patient and considerate, some weren’t but that’s normal.

I was aiming for steady-ish but not too steady 8 minute miles, the lack of mile markers stuffed this as I continually tried to average my time out over more and more miles until my head exploded at the complexity of the maths of it all.

I also got blocked by a car on the downhill finish that I was so looking forward to it. Then it was a surprise to be diverted down the canal towpath at the end, which was a bit narrow, making overtaking difficult as people lifted their pace towards the finish. At least I didn't wobble into the canal.

The 26 mile marker also seemed well adrift from where it should have been, good job it didn't apply to me but it should have indicated .2 to go. Although us ‘halves’ had to do an annoying final loop around a cone, it still seemed well out of place.

Oddly there was no clock at finish line but my time of 1:49 isn’t bad considering, although I had targeted a 1:48. I’m handed a rather nice T- shirt. Yay, in cotton, so I can go out to the pub in it tonight. I’m a bit sick of technical t-shirts. They even seem to have enough in smaller sizes, which is a first because although I pick up a ‘small’ for L and she picks up a ‘medium’ for me there are still plenty of ‘smalls’ left.

The massages are outside and the two masseurs look a bit evil, so I skip that and rescue the dogs from the car instead. We wait for L, who does another decent time. Not as quick as Reading but this was a lot hillier and we did both run yesterday.

In the evening we do a mini pub tour on the ‘wrong’ side of town:- Vat and Fiddle, Canalhouse and the Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem ending up at the Laguna Tandoori for a well earned curry. A very good night.

(Sunday 15th April)