Week Twelve - New World Record

Week TWELVE.

The response I had last week both in sponsorship and support was amazing. Friends, family, even randomers have all been so nice - my favourite moment of the week was when I returned to my desk at work one day and one of the facilities management people were standing right next to the pillar that I have my posters up on. He looked at me, realised it was my silly face on the posters and said 'It's you! I love this!" pointing at the posters. 

The sponsorship is edging close to the big five oh oh and there is still four weeks to go - thank you everyone who has sponsored so far.

In other news, I now know my number for the day, it's a catchy one...! NINE FOUR EIGHT SEVEN! Pretty determinedly making up some chants for this as we speak, obviously.

Run #34 - Monday 20th March

I'm relatively surprised at the level of recovery my legs are churning out at the moment. With doing the long run on Saturday, I didn't have to run until Tuesday, but a combination of a nice spring evening and feeling relatively fresh meant I decided to go out on Monday. 

I had a genuinely nice run cruising at well over nine minute miles and enjoying the sun setting. The first run of the week is getting gradually slower as the big weekend effort gets longer, and it was refreshing to get out. 

The one slight issue that reared its head once again is the return of those shitty little flies that come out when it is a bit warmer. In my eyes, in my mouth, on my face. 

SOD OFF.

Run #35 - Thursday 23rd March

Another week, another single member Run Club. Admittedly, I am becoming quite the diva in terms of when Run Club actually is. Soz. I've taken a liking to getting the monster run out the way on Saturday morning so that I'm not living in fear all weekend, which means Thursday is the day. 

(Never mind the fact that there are a few gins to be consumed tonight making the prospects of Friday Run Club pretttttty bleak).

Anyway, as I drove in the weather was horrendous. Very cold and very wet. Thankfully, the rain stopped and it turned in to quite a nice morning - especially the section through the University campus. 

I made a bold decision during the fifth mile of the run. Bad Romance is a top five pop song of all time. It is absolutely huge. It's true. I listened to it twice to be sure. 

BANGER.

I also worked out that I only have 100 miles to go until D-Day, 40 of which are in two runs. Sooo... it's starting to feel like the last big push.

Which is EXCITING.

Run #36 - Saturday 25th March

Nine months ago I ran 17 miles as I prepared for the Berlin Marathon. Unfortunately due to my naive and haphazard training plan, my body couldn't take it and it caused the injury that put me on the sofa for four months.  Until today, it remained the longest distance I have ever run.

Until today.

Today I ran NINETEEN MILES.

Whilst the plan said to run 18, I was spooked that next week I have to run 22. So running 19 this week makes that a little less daunting. I also learnt lessons from the misery 17 miles of nine months ago. That time I took no water and ran a pretty brutal, hilly route. I was in a BAD way by the end.

This time I took 2x energy packs for 6 and 13 miles, and dropped bottles of water off at similar distances beforehand. 

I also welcomed running hero Julie to Run Club to keep me company for the first hour. 

The weather was stunning for once and the first hour flew by. The second hour was ok, boosted significantly by having the energy packs and water. I asked my sisters to meet me around 16 miles so that was the next thing to aim for.

Last week we managed to raise £300 in 48 hours following the silly video that we did, so it made sense to do another one! 

The frustrating thing is I spent most of the second hour thinking of funny things to say... but after 16 miles your mind doesn't work as well and you certainly don't remember much. But thank you to both my sisters for coming out for this, it gave me a huge boost.

Going beyond the 17 mile mark was a big moment in this whole thing. That number has been a bit of a mental block for a long time so to get beyond it (and by two miles!) is huge. Dare I say it, I could have gone on beyond 19 as well - once you hurt that much you might as well just carry on which is good to know before the real thing. That said, I've still not hit the wall...

Somehow the pace remained around the 8.30 mark. The last five miles felt like I was barely moving but it seemed to do the job. It bodes well for the last seven miles in London (I hope!).

Four weeks to go, one big run to go and we are nearly there. Thank you to all the continued support, it means a lot!

Week Eleven - Live From The Campaign Trail

As this whole thing edges closer (five weeks GULP), I become more and more humbled by the support and kindness from the people in my life, be it someone close or someone I bump in to randomly.

When I began writing about it I knew there was a fine line between being interesting, engaging and bringing people along on the journey... and being a complete narcissistic bore. I think (hope!) I have got the balance about right - if you are bored, I am sorry, you only have five weeks left to endure!

(That said, I'm going to ramp things right up so you might as well just unfriend me now on the various social platforms we're currently pals on.)

This week marks the big psychological barrier of 'being-less-than-the-six-weeks-holiday' rationalisation of time. It's coming and it is coming fast. In the early hours of Wednesday morning I woke up, not from the usual nagging hip (cry me a river), but from a restless dream where I was convinced I couldn't do it. Not cool.

My mind is now edging towards 'pretty bloody scared' on the 'Oh God' pre-marathon scale.

In other news, I promised myself a few weeks ago that once I got Silverstone out the way I'd go see the physio and get a massage on my legs... to freshen things up for the last push. 

GOOD LORD.

Agony.

My calves were the worst. It was absolutely brutal. But hopefully it will do them good going forward.

Run #30 - Tuesday 14th March

Spent most of the last 24 hours limping around, not from the 200-odd miles I've churned out so far this year... no, no. From the brutal working over they had yesterday. 

So been stretching loads. Here's me and Molly doing some stretching.

Standard Tuesday run really, five miles at nines. Had an absolute rave on the playlist though. Shake It Off made a long awaited comeback.

Huge.

Run #31 - Thursday 16th March

First things first - apologies to the people I throw off kilter by moving Run Club to Thursday (four people messaged to say their day started in complete disarray) but I gots important suiting up for a Christening to do on Sunday. So long run Saturday, Run Club run Thursday.

For the first time in probably six or seven weeks Run Club was a singular affair. It's ok though, the excuses were somewhat reasonable from my brederen, but still... B- on the commitment scale.

I nearly changed up the route, but then I bottled it with the fear of getting lost and being in the showers at prime time 7.45 with all the finance bores. It was also a bleak grey morning. If it was Wednesday morning I might have chased the sun rise because it was beautiful then, but the standard route had to do.

Another 7.27 miles on to the totaliser and another hour in the legs. 

Run #32 - Saturday 18th March

A second stab at 16 miles before the realllllly big two training runs that are left (18 and 22) and by and large it was ok.

Regular readers of the blog will remember the close encounter I had with a goose a few weeks back. Thankfully I have steered well clear of those angry, flappy bastards since, however this morning I had a whole new situation to deal with.

It appears that gypsies have taken over Hilton with their caravans and their generators and four hundred children. They have parked all over the path and made it thoroughly difficult to get past for the casual passerby. Now, as I am an intrepid adventurer I was not put off and weaved in between the obstacles, through the mud, etc. Then a gypsy man came out of his house just as I was giving it my dirtiest, most withering look. I had my headphones on and I am no expert lip reader but I made out the following...

'WOT?'

Erm, you've parked in the way mate. 

Fortunately a confrontation was avoided by the fact I was, yanno, running. But still, a minor highlight of the first half of today's lol-athon.

As you know, I am at the forefront of the marketing world (lol) and my #BQneedsYOU campaign is well underway. The next stage of my marketing #offensive is the following...

***LIVE FROM THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL***

Huge thank you to my sister Sophie for humouring me and running along filming this, what lolzzz we had. I think I spent about half of the run giggling to myself about this, both before and after it, so that helped while away the time.

The run was ok by and large, I definitely felt more comfortable than the 16 miler the other week. The target pace was absolutely bossed which is good and it was only a torrential downpour for five miles this week, soooo we're all winners really.

When the rain did come (and it was big bastard drops too FYI), I was in need of a banger to boost my spirits. And at 13 miles the BANGER GODS delivered.

Rest assured, 500 Days of Summer dancing was included.

I came in at roughly 45 seconds faster than the 16 miler the other week which is umm... interesting? 

You might not believe it but the video we did on the run wasn't just for fun and lols - I put it on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram yesterday and I have been absolutely amazed by the response...

... £250 sponsored in a day and a half. 

Genuinely, wow.

Thank you all so, so much. I say it all the time but it means an awful lot to me and even more to Cancer Research. 16 miles, 18 miles, 26 miles, whatever. It's nothing really. In the grander scheme of things it is nothing. But I am very proud and hugely motivated to run for an such an amazing cause and for the people I know that have been affected by such a terrible disease.

We will DO IT.

I am plastering the link everywhere (soz) but here it is if you would like to donate. Thank you!

Five weeks to go. Next up is EIGHTEEN MILES.

Week Ten - Getting Serious

Week ten klaxonnnnn.

I'm aware I have said this before, but it's getting serious now kids!

So much so that the BQ NEEDS YOU marketing campaign has begun. Phase one consists of plastering my face around work (my favourite one is right above the microwave so everyone warming up their lunch has my face right in front of them, ha), whilst phase two is likely to be a cake sale the week before the marathon itself. I am in talks with the very best bakers at work to get them involved and spare the masses from rows and rows of my banana cake.

Such a persuasive marketing message has already bared fruit and, as ever, I hugely appreciate all the support I am getting. It would be a million times harder without you. Trust me.

The page can be found here or just search 'BQ Run Club' on Just Giving - YOU DA BEST!

Run #27 - Tuesday 7th March

Relatively speaking, after the 16 miler on Sunday, my body has felt pretty good. A bit slow getting up and about but what's new? I had a day off yesterday nominally on puppy watch, but it was nice to lie down most of the day (watched Titanic - what a film, btw) and eat chocolate. It turns out those chocolate digestives balls are like crack once you've opened the bag.  

Once I had spent about an hour stretching my legs in to something remotely capable of anything resembling running I went out for a very steady, nine mile, daylight drenched five miler.

All good.

Run #28 - Friday 10th March 

Talking of daylight drenched, look how light it was at 6.33am this morning! Pow. Hello spring. Today was an important edition of Run Club as it brought up the 200 miles for the year. Hence the peace signs in the photo. I'm all for peace too, obvs, but this was all about the big two-oh-oh. 

The run itself was fine, a nice hour warm up for Silverstone on Sunday at a tick over seven miles. Not much more to say on this really, other than the fact I had scrambled eggs and a fried egg on toast for breakfast after this - if you think this is 'strange' or 'wrong', I am afraid it is you who is missing out #doubleeggsyaaaaassssss

Run #29 - Sunday 12th March (Silverstone Half Marathon)

So today was my first Half Marathon since June last year and eighth overall which is all a bit mad when you consider I was a right fatty who didn't move quickly anywhere three or four years ago.

Today was very much a 'dry run' for London - the distance is three miles less than I ran last week so it was more about running at the target 8.30 per mile, getting used to consuming more fluids as well as the gel packs. I have been hitting the distance at around 1hr 53 over the last few weeks so I knew what sort of time I was looking at. 

In terms of the key parts of the 'dry run', I had a bit of a mare. For some inexplicable reason my watch decided for the *first time ever* to flick in to kilometres rather than miles. 

YOU WHAT?

WHY? WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS TO ME?

No idea. But I rely quite heavily on the watch to keep around the 8.30's so this was a problem. I am not good at maths, this is a well known fact, so trying to convert it to kilometre's was completely out of the question. Turns out finding the setting to change it to miles is ridiculously tricky. Especially when running in the middle of hundreds of people. By the one mile marker I had worked it out. 

Cheers Garmin.

Secondly, I massively ballsed up on the playlist. I made a new, updated version last night - happily updated my phone but didn't select it on Run Keeper. Idiot. I'd always check this normally so no idea why I didn't. Good job the original playlist was there still and 100% bangers.

But still - good things to remember on the actual day. Check the watch. Check the playlist. Don't be a knobhead.

Great to bump in to avid reader of the blog and old Uni housemate Chris just before the race. Welcomed him in to Run Club, gave him his membership card and everything.

I reckon our five-a-side team circa 2008-10 would be a lot better for the increased level of fitness the two star men of the team now have.

The course was weird. The time spent on the actual track was probably about six miles and pretty good, the rest was d-u-l-l weaving in and out of the centre of the course and out back behind the grandstands. 

There was a lot of standing water on the track which would definitely have called for intermediates, whilst the rain didn't really stop until mile nine or ten. But it was fine and would you believe it... a 1hr 53, so great work on the pace and something that I will continue to work on in the next few weeks. 

Whilst it's never nice to see people struggling near the end and walking it is a good boost to me to be able to glide past them and feel pretty good still. I know I will hit the wall, and hit it hard - but it won't be at 13 miles. 

I spent the last mile or two fuming at the knobheads who did have to walk (completely fair enough), but WHY DO YOU INSIST ON WALKING ON THE RACING LINE? Get out the way you dweebs.

*Rant over*

This week's 'absolute-banger-when-I-really-needed-a-boost' is this at about nine miles, somewhere off behind the grandstand in the puddles.

HEY!

I had a great drive back where I took on my energy supplements...

... and began to start thinking about the next three big runs. 

Sixteen.

Eighteen.

Twenty Two.

It's getting really, really serious now.

Week Nine - Big Puddles

Those great, schadenfreude loving guys and girls at London Marathon HQ dropped this bomb on Friday.

Oh good.

Week nine marks the end of CHUNK TWO as the training focuses on the cranking up of the longer Sunday run.

As the mileage has gone up over the weeks, the average pace has gone up too - thank goodness. It's a bit mad to look at some of those distances. Not only because they are genuinely quite big distances, but it reinforces how much further I've got to go.

Anyway, since the 14 miler on Saturday in week eight I've been aware of a little twinge in the danger zone of my knee. I don't think it is anything more than my mind on overdrive thankfully - just got to remember it is ok and perfectly normal to be a bit sore and stiff after nearly two hours of repetitive impact on the roads, and that wear and tear is a thing too.

(Shut up. You're fine!)

After last week I am determined to steer clear of any potentially angry flappy birds, so no canal routes this week please and thanks.

Apologies in advance for the gradual increase in shameless plugging for sponsorship (wait till you see the posters...) but the wheels are in motion now and with 18 and 22 milers on the horizon I need all the help I can get.

Still no big rush, but the page can be found here or just search 'BQ Run Club' on Just Giving if you are so inclined!

(Thank you!)

Run #24 - Tuesday 28th February

SLOWWWW. 

No alarm bells with the knee which is a result. Impressed at managing to go slower than I did last week at 9.07's for 5 miles. Drifting along.

(No geese).

Run #25 - Friday 3rd March

At one point this week Run Club was going to be four people strong. Then I received a sick note and a no-can-do text, leaving me and Kev to stay strong for Run Club and all its fans. 

Thankfully there was no Doris making life hard this morning and within a mile or two it was pretty much fully light. Again, thankfully, now that we chat our way round there is no ludicrous pace going off. Steady 8.22 min/miles for an hour to bring home a tick over seven miles to add to the totaliser.

As a slight aside, the showers were even more weird than normal. Why are people having ten minute conversations in the shower? It's always awkward, but when the only spare shower is the middle of the three and they continue the conversation over me... IT'S WEIRD.

For want of a better phrase, get in and get out as quickly as possible.

Run #26 - Sunday 5th March

Today is a biggun. And the weather is nothing short of a joke. 

After 14 miles last week, a further two miles were required today. SIXTEEN MILES. Gah, it's a long bloody way. I had a great curry last night though, which I am pretty sure is the best meal to have before running this far.

Same route, more or less, as last week just with the added fun of two more miles. The first eight or so miles drifted by without any dramas with the pace coming down from 8.52 to about 8.30 which is all good. Mentally, the step up to 16 was tough. To have to run for seventy minutes before it's even half way is a hard, so it was very much a case of trying not to think about the distance and just settle in as best as possible.

I had a slightly different reaction to consuming the energy gel at about 10 miles than I did last week. Now if you don't know what 'adverse reactions' these sort of supplements can have, well... I'm sure you can hazard a guess. Let's say I was pretty worried for five minutes or so but things thankfully settled down relatively quickly and it did it's job. Definitely good to get the body used to it now rather than having big problems in London.

Once I got past the half marathon distance it suddenly felt like I was going very slowly even though I wasn't. The legs were heavy, and the mind was heavier still but I got to the big one six in 2hrs 17 at 8.34's which I am very happy with. It's the second longest distance I have ever ran and, unsurprisingly, right up there in terms of the hardest too.

Oh, and shout out to the three knobheads who drove through huuuuge puddles as they passed me. You da best, lads.

This weeks very-timely-BANGER was this just before the 15 mile marker. About the same time that Dad passed by on his way to pick me up. Celebrations ensued. 

Silverstone half marathon next week, 48 days to go.

Week Eight - Angry Goose

Week eight means one thing. We are half way there!

Whilst that still means some 200 miles to go before lining up on the 23rd April in London, it's a good hurdle to have overcome. 

Now there are a decent amount of miles in my legs, it's time to really crank up the milometer. 

Interestingly, I only have seven runs over ten miles left . 

YAAAAAAAASSSSSS.

In other exciting news, I received an email from someone at work the other day who wants to join Run Club. That will take it up to FOUR members. I'm already in talks to make it an evening thing to attract more members in the summer as I continue to take steps towards becoming king of the run clubs.

*Shameless weekly plug for the sponsorship page klaxon here*

(Thank you, thank you!)

Run #21 - Tuesday 21st February

Changed it up a bit today due to my presence being required for victory at bowling after work, so I ran down the canal by the office. It was raining and there was loads of people around so I didn't take any heavily posed photos as is the norm for this blog. The run was pretty uneventful - apart from nearly being flapped in to the water by a very angry goose.

Not sure what his problem was. Big flappy bastard. 

Anyway, steady 8.37's overall for five miles which was fine. Legs were pretty sore from Sunday, the mark up in distance at the weekend is definitely having a longer hangover at the moment.

Run #22 - Thursday 23rd February

Crikey, it is all change this week. Friday Run Club has had to become Thursday Run Club due to having important things-to-do on Sunday morning (suit fitting, yaasss) which has in turn moved the long run of the week to Saturday. All this is great, until you look at the weather forecast and Storm Doris is set to arrive about ten minutes in to Run Club. 

Bloody Doris.

So Kev and I, intrepid adventurers that we are, braved the conditions and set off. We got drenched for the first five miles or so and then endured a comprehensive blow dry by the pretty hefty winds after that.

I'm not sure if it was the conditions or my legs just hurting, but the first mile was 8.59 followed by 8.40 for the second - I was the proverbial ball and chain for Mr. just-did-a-half-marathon-in-one-hour-thirty-two. But we got it down to 8.23's over 7 miles in the hour so not too bad.

Run #23 - Saturday 25th February

Well, I said things were going to start getting serious and I can safely say that FOURTEEN miles this morning is serious. For a bit of context, it is the third longest run I have ever done - and yet there is still another 12 miles to find. 

Gulp.

After blister-gate, I bought some new socks which arrived in time for this and they performed admirably. Ages ago when I was just getting in to half marathons, I used to take these energy gels to have half way round for a bit of a boost. Over time I got used to not needing them and have since left them at the bottom of my drawer. Now, there's running for an hour and forty or so, then there's running for three hours and forty or so. 

So, I'm pretty keen to do anything I can to help. I dug one of these out today, the slight problem being it was 18 months out of date. 

Worth a go though.

Thankfully it was full of amazing strawberry banana goo that seemed to help for the last forty minutes or so, rather than something resembling toxic waste that caused problems in my stomach  - whether it was simply a placebo, who knows, but it was good and I'll continue with it.

The run itself was fine, just very, very long. I try to approach it mentally as blocks of 15 minutes rather than a shit ton of miles. 15, 15, 15, 15... I'm an hour in and 7 miles done. Getting past an hour makes a difference too. Then 10 miles. An hour thirty. The half marathon. Then we're done. 

Praise Jesus.

The pace was good throughout - an average of 8.28 which would be a 3hr 41 marathon. I'm expecting some harder moments which will slow it down but it's a good guide. My three quickest miles this morning were miles 12, 13 and 14. Which is nice to know.

Week nine and sixteen mile Sunday await next week. 

I'll sign off for this week with the song I played twice at 12 miles, because it seemed to give my legs some new found energy and it's fun to sing out loud in the middle of town.

BANGER.

Week Seven - Blister Club

Nineeee weeks to go!

We're really moving now. Week seven now, things are getting serious. Sunday Run Day is 12 miles this week, then 14 next week and 16 the week after. 

(Holy moly)

Now we're approaching being just two months out, it doesn't feel so far away all of a sudden and I am able to begin firming up plans for the weekend. The working plan is currently as follows...

• Head down to London on Friday night on the train
• Go to the London Marathon Expo at the ExCel to pick up all my gear, race number, etc. I may even have a session with a physio to patch my legs together as best as they're going to get
• Drink loads of water
• Have a pasta/carbs party somewhere in London in the evening
• Drink some more water
• Have a terrible sleep
• Up early doors, force myself to see off some Weetabix and a banana
• Get to the start line
• Run
• Run
• Run
• Finish
• Cry
• Eat and drink everything
• Have a shower and come home

As you can see, it's a fool proof plan. 

I am so very lucky to be building my own support team who are going to be with me for the weekend and strategically placed around the course to chuck jelly babies at me and keep me going.

If you fancy joining the party, the more the merrier, I'd love to have you there.

In other news, the great people at Cancer Research have sent me a nice sponsorship pack. I'm thinking about doing a cake sale at work and the sweepstake thing too (3hr 48 is where the money is kids). It's nice that it's starting to feel real now and isn't just my life being consumed by running in the dark and the cold.

Inspired by this, I have opened up the Just Giving page and have set the target at £1,000. As always, no pressure at all on this... if you want to donate then I love you. If you want to donate but things are tight, don't worry, there is still ages to go, and if you don't want to donate, well... you can just chuck me a pack of jelly babies instead.

Every little helps.

The page can be found here.

Run #18 - Tuesday 14th February

Happy Valentines day kids, fairly slow recovery five miles (8.52's). Dead interesting how the other week I only had to do seven miles on Sunday and then was able to bomb round on Tuesday. Do ten miles the other day and it's a whole different ball game. Makes sense I suppose. 

#Recovery

Run #19 - Friday 17th February

Well, Run Club was down to two this week as an unnamed member decided he fancied a lie in instead. Life is all about choices boys and girls, and it seemed a day with the kids during their half time was deemed a higher priority - crazy, I know. Anyway, this run was groundbreaking for me as it is the first run ever that I have just merrily chatted all the way round. Until now, I have steadfastly refused the concept of conversation on a run - mainly because I thought I'd not be able to breathe. Turns out I can breathe and it's actually a really good distraction. Before I knew it we were 45 minutes in and nearly home. Great days. 

It also meant I could say 'slow down knobhead!' so it didn't descend in to the seven minute mile madness of last week. A good 8.13 miles at 8.09's which was fine for such a distance. 

Generally the body is holding up pretty well, I've got a developing blister situation but got some of them magic Compeed thingy's so hoping that boxes that one off.

Oh, and absolute incredible timing in the god awful showers meant there was no one else in them. JACKPOT. 

It was like being at home.

Run #20 - Sunday 19th February

So today marks the start of the big 'uns, and at 12 miles, this is the longest distance I have ran since 25th June last year. One of the most complicated things for this distance is working out a bloody route, but mapmyrun.com has saved the day. Some strong negotiation skills with Mum and Dad to drop me off and pick me up 12 miles later and we're away.

I was really determined to make an effort on the pace today, I can't be burning up eight minute miles for the long runs otherwise I'll just fall apart, so I targeted 8.20-8.30's and it went really well - only the last frigging mile out of that time frame, and it was an 8.18!

*monkey hands over eyes emoji*

I actually think it is easier to get my head in the right place for longer runs - you've got to run for ages, shut up, ignore the distance and just keep going. Having a good playlist helps of course, and now I know I can hold a conversation whilst running I have taken to SINGING out loud. Which is quite good fun and keeps the spirits up when tanking up some ridiculous hill. 

WE CAN'T GO ON TOGETHER, WITH SUSPICIOUS MINDS

(SUSPICIOUS MINDSSSSSS!)

Now, I gotta tell you kids. Training for this and the fun of Run Club... it isn't all glamour, you know. I alluded to a blister situation on Friday. I want you to come on this journey with me, I really do, but with all the highs there are some... well, trickier moments. 

Soz.

I'm pretty sure a) I need some new socks and b) I'm running out of skin to go through. But it is ok, week seven is in the bag, 135 miles in to the training plan and only nine weeks to go!

14 big bad miles await next Sunday, where the hell am I going to go for that?

Week Six - Seventy Days

Ten weeks to go, kids!

Week six marks the start of the second chunk of training. The miles are going to go up fairly steeply from here on in - in seven weeks time I am slated to run 22 miles on Sunday run day.  

Let's go.

A few weeks ago (Week Three, blog fans) I mentioned that now I finally had a bit of confidence in my knee not blowing up, I was able to start thinking about a charity to run for. Whilst there are a number of intrinsic reasons why I want to run a marathon, it’s also a hell of an opportunity to raise money for something. Most people’s reaction to running 26 miles is on a similar level of repulse to finding a spider in your cornflakes, so it’s an easy sell to get people to spare with a few hard earned pounds to boost the totaliser.

(As an aside, I might make one of those massive thermometer-sign-thingys and stick it on the front of the house and/or the big pillar next to my desk at work).

But what charity? That is the question.

It’s so important to find something that means something, that you can draw the last ounces of motivation from when it gets really tough.

Over the last few weeks I have spoken to a number of people about charities that mean something to them. One such person suggested Cancer Research. Now, of course, such a charity is always an option such is the devastating effect cancer has on people every day all over the world - but it isn't a charity I have ran for before. So immediately, it was a real potential.

Then, that very night I watched episode 11 of the third season of The West Wing. Now for anyone who knows me remotely well, I will tell you that The West Wing is the finest television ever made and is my go-to watch at all times. 

This particular episode revolves around President Bartlet’s State of the Union speech – an annual event where the president reports on the condition of the nation and outlines the agenda and priorities for the year ahead and beyond. 

'Over the past half-century, we’ve split the atom, we’ve spliced the gene, and we’ve roamed Tranquility Base. We’ve reached for the stars, and never have we been closer to having them in our grasp.'

'New science, new technology is making the difference between life and death, and so we need a national commitment equal to this unparalleled moment of possibility.’

'And so, I announce to you tonight, that I will bring the full resources of the federal government and the full reach of my office to this fundamental goal: we will cure cancer by the end of this decade,'

That episode is from 2003. Obviously it was a fictional television drama and obviously cancer wasn't cured by 2010. But President Obama announced a similar initiative in January last year, a $1bn 'moonshot' to cure cancer, and assuming good ol' Donald J. Trump doesn't siphon it off to build his big wall, then why can't cancer be cured one day? 

Let's be honest, running a marathon isn't a challenge. It's what fit and healthy (albeit somewhat mental) people do as a hobby, or for a sense of personal achievement. Facing up and fighting against cancer is the challenge - they are the truly amazing people. 

So let's run a marathon and raise as much money as possible to help cure cancer as soon as possible then. Yeh? Great.

Run #15 - Tuesday 7th February

Tuesday run went up to five miles this week as things begin to ramp up a little even on the recovery run. A jaunty 8.12 min/mile pace and more actual daylight at 5pm. Good stuff.

Run #16 - Friday 10th February

Friday Morning Run Club is taking over the world, one person at a time. Steve was back for week two, whilst marathon runner Kev joined the party too. It was cold and it was snowing, but now that run club is an actual thing you've really gotta embrace it and drag your sorry state out of bed at 5.30am. 

Now, Kev is quick. I knew this. So made sure to have a conversation before, running for an hour, probably around 8's I said.

'Yeh, sure mate, happy to go at your pace.'

May I present Exhibit A.

Kev is a liar.

7.18! I haven't ran that fast since last JUNE! 

But it was good, and further confirmed the theory that running is better with others. As always, Friday Morning Run Club welcomes new members and I will continue the peer pressure campaign to those already beginning to wobble...

Oh, and 100 miles up for the year. Bazinga.

Run #17 - Sunday 12th February

Well, surprise surprise it was a) cold and b) raining again this morning - the weather has been pretty shit this week. But alas, no problem. Ten miles in the bag at 8.07's. It's still too quick but I think once the longer 12, 14 and 16 mile Sunday run days kick in that pace will drop back to 8.30's. Felt good though.

In terms of an aches and pains update, my knee is really good right now, whilst my 'overactive glutes'/hip misery continues despite stretching more than Stretch Armstrong. Oh, and I've got a beaut of a blood blister on my foot (soz) thanks to a worn out pair of socks. They will be disposed of, don't you worry.

I'll set up a Just Giving page in the next few weeks, but thank you for the ongoing support. See you at Week Seven Run Club.