A pacy race course run

Today saw me and Ian "The Coach" run 5 miles up to Newcastle Race Course and back. The first 2 miles were both at a very fast (for me) 08:30 pace with the whole run taking a PB of 45:13. This was a good way to end my running week. I hope I can continue the good work in the gym tomorrow and Saturday.

A sunny one up to Havannah Nature Reserve

Today's 8.5 miles to the Havannah Nature Reserve was accompanied by an unexpected bit of sunshine. Pictured right is me just before I almost collided with John taking the photo. The path in the photo was covered in snow this time last week. What a welcome difference a week has made!

Some new sponsorship has been pledged today and, as a result, the target has crept up to 32%. I can almost say that I've acheived a third of the sponsorship target. Almost!

As good as it gets (at 17 stone!)

Tuesday is the day when I run with a few of the fit lads from the gym. Today, we ran round the so called "Mark Allison Memorial Town Moor 6 miles" (pictured left). I thought I wouldn't beat last week's time of 55:30 so I decided just to take it easy and aim for a sub 58 minute time. The lads; Ian (aka The Coach), Pete, Michael and Mike, sporting a pair of baggy pants and a baggy top 3 sizes too big for him, set off at a good pace and it wasn't long before they were just dots on the horizon. That said, I knocked the first 2 miles off in only 18 minutes. The conditions were excellent for running today and when I passed my birthplace (3.75 miles) on 34 minutes, I knew I was on for a good time.

I ran the last 2.25 miles virtually flat out and finished, while trying not to sound like I was giving birth to triplets, in 54:30. This was a minute quicker than last week and not too far off my all time PB of 52:52. I doubt I'll beat that time at my current weight so as the pounds fall off over the coming months I'll be having a crack at a new PB before the big run in July. Meanwhile, the other lads finished in times ranging from 44 - 48 minutes!

I must say, I'm looking forward to the lighter nights when I can switch these longer runs from lunchtime to after work. From mid March, my aim is to be running home 3 times a week (17 miles), with 2 fast 6 - 8 mile sessions (a bit like today) and a couple of sessions in the Gym. This means that the next 4 weeks are the calm before the storm. I'll use this time to continue to fine tune my diet and get as much running in as work and family life allows. After that, it is all about the running!

The Route (Week 1 of 6)

I'll be publishing details of the John O'Groats to Land's End route over the next 6 Mondays. This week details the 1st week through the highlands of Scotland.

The only place names I recognise are John O'Groats and Dalwhinnie. And I must admit I've only heard of the latter because of the Dalwhinnie whiskey I've drank in the past.

Sponsorship landmark acheived

This year's fund has passed the £1500 mark, all thanks to a few new sponsors. There is still a lot of pestering, canvassing, begging and pleading to do before I reach the magic total of £5000. I'm quietly confident of reaching that total with 4 and a half months left before the big run. The aim now is £2000 before the end of February.

It is not until you remind yourself about the services that Hospices like St Benedict's provides, that you realise how important these types of establishments are and how important the funds raised are that go to support them. They have a very informative website (http://www.hospice.co.uk/) that gives an overview of the many services offered. The following is an extract from my old website. I wrote this a few years ago but it still holds true.

The staff and services provided by St Benedict's Hospice made my Mam's final days battling cancer more dignified and taught us both how to, what she and I called, "live with cancer".

My Mam attended the day care unit at the Hospice on a weekly basis for many months. It was during this time that the assessment and management of her treatment was undertaken by the specialist Hospice staff. It was certainly a bit of respite and relief for me, knowing my Mam was in good hands for a day receiving the kind of care and attention that I know she really appreciated. She often talked about the staff as if they were a bunch of her good friends. And it was through my Mam that I got to know Anne Oliver, the fund raising co-ordinator.

My Mam was admitted to the Hospice on the 27th December 1994. She spent a week there having her medication regulated and trying to get better and returned home with a renewed confidence to battle the cancer that she had and also support me while I did my 3rd year University exams. I passed with flying colours thanks to her support.

The 20th February 1995 saw her return to the Hospice. Her condition had worsened and there she stayed until her passing away on the 9th March 1995.

I feel I owe St Benedict's Hospice a huge debt of gratitude. If I can help them, in any small way, to continue to provide the kind of services to other terminally ill people in the region, then I will. This isn't just something I intend to do for a short time. I'd like to think I'll always try and raise funds for St Benedict's Hospice. Indeed, 2004 will be the 10th year of fundraising activities. I hope, in years to come, my son Jack will also have a part to play in this. And hopefully the support of my family and friends will continue. It's their money that is going to the Hospice after all.

Training Summary (Week ending 11/02/2007)

Monday 5th February - Gym (90 minutes).
Tuesday 6th February - 6 miles. Town Moor Memorial. (00:55:30).
Wednesday 7th February - 8.4 miles. Havannah. (01:24:32).
Thursday 8th February - 5 miles. Race course (00:48:12).
Friday 9th February - 4 miles. Bridle Path (00:36:12).
Sunday 11th February - Tennis (singles). (90 minutes, 6-3, 6-1, 6-2 defeat).

A fast one up to Newcastle Race Course with "The Coach"!

What better way to spend a lunch break than to chase Ian (aka The Coach) up to the race course and back for 5 miles. Ian doesn't believe in a gentle jog. He instead chooses to run at a pace just outside my comfort zone. I'm not complaining because, during the last few months, he has managed to help me run at my fastest pace for about 3 years.

During the last couple of weeks, Ian has started to ask, on a daily basis, about my diet (or lack of one!). Only this week I was tucking into a packet of chocolate peanuts thinking "Ian is going to kill me when he finds out!". As a result, The Coach has recommended a nutritional plan which I'm going to follow next week. I'll also be doing the same runs as this week with a view to seeing how a better diet could be of benefit to me. I think the biggest miss will be my 2 regular 08:00 teacakes. I get these from the canteen at work. They've just started a "serve yourself" system. And lets just say, I've been a little bit too generous with the butter!

A cold one up to Havannah Nature Reserve

I was accompanied on today's sunny yet cold 8.5 mile run by Patrick and a tired John (who had ran the Torremolinos half marathon at the weekend). The route took us from Gosforth, up the Great North Road, along Brunton Lane and around the Havannah Nature Reserve (pictured right) before returning back via the same route. There was a small amount of snow on the ground and I surprising nearly fell only once.

This route has been one of my favourites this year. It's quite flat, allowing for a steady pace all the way round. Despite the distance, I never feel too tired afterwards.

There has been little sign of bird or wild life this winter in the reserve. In fact, the only "nature" I've experienced here lately was an impromptu toilet stop the other week. I'd like to say that it's quite embarrassing, but after 15 years of running it's something that I'm very much used to!

Pictured left, is me at the 4.3 mile point. The only thing I could think of at this point was the jacket potato I'd be eating an hour later. I'd bought one before the run and left it next to my PC to keep warm!

Tomorrow's run is a 5 mile route up to Newcastle Racecourse and back. Hopefully, the heavy snow, that is forecast to fall overnight, won't hamper my plans too much.

Getting better all the time!

Today's run in new shoes was done in very cold temperatures. I smashed last week's time of 58:30 with a best this year of 55:38. Not bad at all for 6 miles. I feel like I'm back to the fitness levels of 2003. With another 5 months of training left, there's no reason why I can't wind the fitness clock back even further. It's one thing talking about it though. Actions must speak louder than words. Roll on tomorrow's 8.5 mile run up to the Havannah Nature Reserve.

Could these be the trainers that carry me 900 miles?

After 600 miles or so, I've decided to get a new pair of trainers - Asics Gel Nimbus VIII. These should last me until June. If all goes well, these will be the trainers that I use to run from John O'Groats to Lands End.

The good thing about Asics shoes, in my experience, are the fact that they take no time at all to break in. They'll be making their debut tomorrow around what people now call the "Mark Allison Memorial 6 mile run". This is a route from Gosforth, through Fawdown, all the way around the Town Moor and back to Gosforth up the Great North Road. The 4 mile point actually goes past my birth place (the former Princess Mary's hospital). I bet my parents, back in 1971, would never imagine that I'd run past the place a few times a week while training for such an event.

The aim for tomorrow's run is to break an hour again and moreover try to get under 58:30 (This year's PB). I'll be running with the quite pacy Ian and Michael so I stand a good chance. Watch this space!