The first day of the rest of my running life plus... Good News, I'm really fat!!!

So there it was, the first London Marathon training run is squared away and the 10 miles places me in Rotherhithe according to the FLM map. I suppose you want to know what happened?

Well, in Horsham the day dawned clear and bright with a forecast high of 19 degrees. Oh , bugger that's Horsham, Victoria (I thought I was under dressed). No seriously, it was overcast, damp and mild and if that's a harbinger of the training weather to come then I will be a happy bunny. Unfortunately we all know it can't possibly last. Anyway it was a nice introduction to the new regime and I made it round 1hr 38min for the 9.8 miles. Mind you after last night's rain of the "cats & dogs" variety one had to be careful not to step in too many poodles.

I also received a compliment from Mary (bless her), "Ooohh, have you lost weight?" Well thank you Mary, now you mention it I have. In fact the other day my decreasing girth prompted me to check my BMI (as you do) and for the first time in years I am no longer Obese, I am officially only very fat instead!!! Happy days. Mind you if you apply the BMI to Muhammed Ali in his prime he was obese too, it's just that everyone was too scared to tell him. Although maybe that's what George Foreman did just before Ali opened up a can of "whup-ass" on him in Kinshasa but I digress.

I have decided to introduce a new weekly performance/confidence index which I shall call FGI (Feel Good Index) which operates on a scale of 1 to 10 with 1 being Jade Goodie and 10 being Paula Radcliffe. Today I am going to give myself a 7, Nell McAndrew (i wish).

Finally I thought it would be nice to sign off with a motivational quotation so I trawled my memory (and t'internet) and couldn't choose between these two so just pick whichever suits you best.

"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."
or
"Act like a horse. Be dumb. Just run."

See you all on Tuesday for more fun and frolics (ooohh, the endorphines must have kicked in).
N

28th December - Leonardslee Run & Piiizzaaaa!

Hello all,

If you're reading this I guess you survived the festivities too, if you're not reading this I told you to go easy on the Yule Log but you just wouldn't listen, would you? Anyway it's time to turn your attention to the 28th so here's the plan.

9AM Run at Leonardslee
Get in your car and head out from Horsham on the A281 towards Brighton, through Mannings Heath, past the Cisswood Hotel (don't worry I'm getting there) and after another 1/2 mile you will approach a sharp RH corner at the entrance to "Leonardslee Gardens". Turn Left at this junction and after 200 yards you will see a village hall on the left, pretty isn't it? Park here, get out of your car, put on your shoes, eat a banana etc. etc. Must I do everything for you? Follow this with 7 miles of cross-country heaven which is usually v. muddy but as it's been pretty dry this past week maybe not too bad, shame. Probably not a good idea to wear those shiny new shoes you got for Xmas though, no matter how comfy they are. Maps provided but bring your own oxygen.

8PM Pizza Express?
Nothing booked, no time fixed but this is my best guess. Maybe meet B4 in Bar Vin/Black Jug/Doom & Gloom*? Once again it's probably not a good idea to wear your shiny new shoes albeit for a different reason (we'll all take the pi55 out of you and if you go in the Doom & Gloom you will end up standing on bricks). Any feedback?

N
*Doom & Gloom = Horse & Groom
I was being ironic about meeting in there, jeeez some people

Ssshhhh, the B Group Lurkers might be listening.....& Xmas thanks

I've recently heard rumours that some A & B Group members are keeping a clandestine eye on our blog. I ask you, is nothing sacred?

Well I have given this some thought and as I'm feeling particularly generous at the moment I have decided that if you are one of those racing snakes I am prepared to grant you temporary "lurking" rights over this festive season.

Furthermore you are welcome(ish) to join us on one of our D-Group X-country mud-fests that I am planning for the morning of Thursday the 28th. This will be 7 miles around the back of the Leonardslee estate (Lower Beeding) of which 90% is on footpaths and bridleways. We did this run last year and it is CHUFFING HILLY* with almost 800ft of ascent. I will post times and where to meet shortly and I will provide maps on the day. So, tell your friends and if you don't have any friends tell a jogger.

Thinking about a 10 miler this Sunday, probably from my house. 50/50 split on/off road. If anyone's interested leave some feedback or text me.

Finally I want to adopt my serious & humble persona just for a moment to thank and congratulate all in D Group for your performances in 2006. To all of our new members who have joined and excelled all through the baking summer months and freezing winter nights I say "bloody well done". It has been a pleasure to run with you and count some of you as my friends. Individually and collectively the year has seen some determined performances from the group, you know who you are (take a bow J,T,Wx2 et al) and I have personally taken great joy and pride from seeing you improve and excel. Whether your target has been to run non-stop for 30 minutes, run a 10k, run a half-marathon or simply to run to enjoy yourself I hope that we have helped you to fulfill you aim. In a short time the group has progressed from an ill-disciplined shambles into an elite athletic outfit (sorry, slipped back into character for a moment there).

So if I don't get a chance to do this in person, have a Merry Xmas and an athletically successful New Year. Final reminder that Marathon training begins on the 31st at 10 miles. Go on, look me in the eye and tell me you don't love it!

N

*Authentic UK Athletics race category, look it up if you don't believe me.

Long time no blog & Xmas D group pizza

Shocking lack of updates since the 10th, je suis desolée.

My recent sojourn in Paris put paid to any running but i managed to fit in some core stability training with a couple of Brazilian dancers on the river Seine so it wasn't a complete washout.

New lesson learnt, never trust the fast runners. Paul Aylett said Sunday's run would be 10 miles but on our return he confessed that it was 11 and a bit (plus a bit more). Thanks to Jean for keeping me company and thanks to Rebecca and the Aylett minors for the mince pies and refreshments at the Roosthole.

And so to the future. I will be at BBH this Tuesday, who fancies 7 or 8 miles? Don't all shout at once. Come on you lot, where's that fabled PMA. Anyway you all need to earn your calorific burn surplus prior to all that Turkey and Xmas Pud (is J still experimenting with cheesecake I wonder?).

Ref Xmas D Group day of celebration it looks like being the 28th then. Run 9/9:30 AM around Leonardslee estate (it's a bit like a Sierra estate only muddier) and Pizza/Ruby in the evening. This will be the final bun fight for me prior to the proper FLM training so you have been warned, it could get messy.

N
PS Congrats to Karen
"Get your motor running,
head out on the highway!"

Sundays, PMA & a lucky penny

Well colour me pink and call me Cecil, Sundays will never be the same again. I arrived at this mornings handicap race with expectations pitched no higher than being on the receiving end of a cup of tea and one of Eileen's sublime flapjacks. It just shows how wrong I can be (very occasionally mind!).

The marathon draw odds of 14-1 were subjected to an onslaught of PMA (Positive Mental Attitude) by some of those in the room and hey presto the 4th and final place goes to yours truly. Cue ungracious smug grin and overwhelming relief. To those who voiced their pleasure I thank you. There I've said it. Rest assured normal service will be resumed on 31st December whereupon this blog will be renamed "Nick's Marathon Odyssey".

Pennies from Heaven indeed.

N

Tuesday 5th December & D group crimbo pizza

Another sterling effort last night team, 6.1 miles in 1hr 5min. I should be there this Thursday but I'm away on Tuesday 12th. Jean will be looking after you all.

More importantly we need to fix a date for our Xmas run & pizza/ruby murray. I am off between Xmas and New Year so can do most days but I am thinking either the 27th or 28th. I will take a run in the morning around the back of Leonardslee Gardens, it's a lovely run if the weather's good and if you're lucky you might see some of the Leonardslee wallabies, altogether now "aaaaaaaaaahhhhh". I suggest we follow this in the evening with either Pizza Express or a ruby (though not the one in London Road, 2 words "Japanese Flag").

So please leave your suggestions here and we'll try to reach a concensus. Failing that I'll just tell you all what to do.

N