"What A Difference A Day Makes"

What a difference a day makes
Twenty-four little hours
Brought the sun and the flowers
Where there used to be rain

My yesterday was blue, dear
Today I'm a part of you, dear
My lonely nights are through, dear
Since you said you were mine

What a difference a day makes
There's a rainbow before me
Skies above can't be stormy
Since that moment of bliss, that thrilling kiss

It's heaven when you find romance on your menu
What a difference a day made
And the difference is you

What a difference a day makes
There's a rainbow before me
Skies above can't be stormy
Since that moment of bliss, that thrilling kiss

It's heaven when you find romance on your menu
What a difference a day made
And the difference is you

Stood Up

I have been  persuaded to join my daughter in a sponsored bike ride. She is raising money for the (Russ Foundation, known in the UK as the Good Foundation.). Problem is I don't have a bike so I borrowed a swish mountain bike from a friend. Obviously like a big kid (or is that a senile old git) I decided to try out some "mountain" riding.

Day 1 I came down a slope and tried to turn to sharply skidded and was partially unseated. Suffice to say its a good job I don't want any more kids!!!

Day 2 I whiz off to Felsted along the Flitch way , about 6 miles away, and I am hacking making sure I am home in under an hour. I am tanking up a bridge over the A120 and I see a pigeon sat on the balustrade so I decide to try to catch it. Whoa big mistake! Its dry and gravelly and the bike slides away from under me and I arrest my fall with my hands, knee and shoulder.  Ouch no skin on the heel of my right hand, no real problem feel a bit foolish as there are some people walking towards me - ignorant so and sos didn't even ask me if I was ok.

So I decided to get a "bike mentor" as it seems I have forgotten how to ride a bike despite the well known saying. (Personally I blame all the fancy suspension and gears and stuff for my demise.) Any way I am sitting chatting to my "mentor" and his phone rings. afterwards he says "Sorry can't come for a bike ride tomorrow, I have a higher calling."

What do you mean?" I enquire
"I don't want to name drop but have been invited to dinner with my old boss, Prince Charles" he replies. Well who am I to make a fuss about that, but really he should have said do you want to come to meet my old boss don't you think?

Any way you  can donate here to the Russ Foundation and you can find out about the Russ Foundation here. They look after orphans and widows in Madurai in India.

Did you know?

If a woman contracts HIV in India she is often ostracised by her family even if it is her husband who infected her.

Female infanticide is still practised in some parts of India as girls are considered less valuable than boys

Its been a long time

Thinking I need some new trainers after approximately 1800 miles the soles are so thin its like running barefoot

Its About Time

Ok so it is about time I updated people about the London Marathon which was over 2 months ago. Firstly if you sponsored me thank you very much I made £340 for Kate's Namibia trip and £195 fort he Russ Foundation (Good Foundation in the UK)

Yes I did run and I did finish in a disappointing 4 Hours 32 minutes despite a very good water and lucozade strategy. I was 19632nd the 15039th man and  2043rd 45-49 year old to finish. The total number of finishers was 36549 so I was in the second half.

I was very disappointed with my time as I was hoping to go under 4 hours but I started too fast. I was running next to the 8 minute a mile pace maker for the first 10 miles when I should have been doing more like 9 minutes a mile. I felt strong and comfortable but at 10 miles I "hit a wall" and just got slower and slower. I actually took over 13 minutes to do the last mile.

It is ok when young men overtake you. You can rationalise young women overtaking you but when elderly ladies start overtaking you it is quite disheartening. Then all the fancy dress people overtake you. A soldier carrying a full pack - well he is young fit and has trained to do this kind of thing so I can cope with that. But when a man dressed all in yellow and almost completely round and looking just like a butterball over took me I wanted to lie down and die. It must be something to do with male ego but I was sure I was better than that - delusional thinking of someone who has been around for almost half a century.

I felt a bit like Steve Redgrave at the end "if anyone sees me near a marathon again shoot me!" lol. Guess what I entered tha ballot for next year. There is unfinished business here. I have a sub 4 marathon in me. Thats what my head says but may body may have other ideas.

As I was running independently and not for a recognised charity I had to change in the public change area. Bear in mind I had run almost to a standstill, my knees, thighs, ankles etc ached like hell. We had to climb up a flight of about 60 steps then go down into an underground carpark. Going up was bad enough but going down hill was agony. We were then greeted by the least salubrious changing room ever (and I played rugby at Eton Manor once). Basically a section of car park was tarpaulined off. No seats,  hooks or anyting and the floor had not even been swept. London Marathon organisation is phenomenally good apart from the changing area - I wouldn't have minded if only I didn't have to go up and down to get there.

Fortified by my goody bag - drinks, crisps and chocolate I donned my new "Lon done It" T shirt and went to try and arrange a meeting with Louise and Esme who had watched the race. Louise did actually see me run past but I didn't see her as I was trying to pose for a TV camera but I didn't get on TV despite my good looks and athleticism (not). I headed for a tube but he queue of competitors and supporters was so long that it took almost an hour to get to the train and we met up at Liverpool Street. I was so knackered I couldn't even drink my free can of beer (London Prid) after the race.

When I got home I hobbled around but I found stairs almost impossible. The power of the human body though next day I was almost back to normal (Louise would dispute that I was ever normal)

The blue start 

 Blue Start pen- as you can see the forecast hot weather didn't materialise and it was actually raining at the start and note especially warm

They must of known some old git was running!

At least I started ahead of these but most overtook me.

No More Running for A Day or Two

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I have been trying out this health drink this week as part of my preparation for the Marathon - actually it is a rather pleasant beer Sign of Spring from Stonehenge Ales which tastes a hell of a lot better than it looks. But actually beer can be good for you. Check out my article Beer is Good For You. 

With 3 days to go to the Marathon I have got to the point in my taper where running has pretty much stopped altogether. I am really looking forward to Saturday when I can stuff my face with carbohydrates all day in preparation for all that energy I am going to use on Sunday. I haven't been able to train as I planned for the last month but I am still planning for a personal best. Ever the optimist.

The bad news is that the weather is going to be summery on Sunday - great for spectators but not so great for us runners. It also throws up a new challenge - sun protection. For those with limited thatch it also means head protection. It should make for a great day as there will be loads of people outside the pubs enroute. This is the time I start to wish I wasn't running a a marathon.I just have to remember the London Marathon motto "Impossible is Nothing"

Battle of Wounded Knee

Actually the real Battle of Wounded knee was a massacre where the US army killed 300 Sioux including women and children in 1890. It took place in the little valley in the photo on the right. That was the year that the first white settlers arrived in what is now Zimbabwe. But that little ramble has absolutely nothing to do with this blog.

I have been suffering from a damaged knee cartiledge and I have been unable to run for about 10 days. That is certainly not ideal preparation for a marathon which is now only 14 days away. Right now I should be hitting my peak training period before "the taper". I damaged the knee on a 20 mile run and not allowing enough recovery time afterwards. As an old git I have to allow for rest after long runs and I didn't running 7 days in succession afterewards culminating in a 14 mile run and then and enforced rest.

I had a complete rest for a week whilst taking Glucosamine and omega 3 supplements. Then i started swimming. Funny how I started getting cramp afte 40 odd lengths on the Monday, 48 on the Wednesday and on the 60th length on the Thursday. Why is is I can run for 3 hours with no cramp but after 20 minutes of swimming I get cramp in my calves and the arches of  my feet.

 I have to rant about the cruisers in the swimming pool. Mostly old people who swim slowly up and down line a breast instead of line astern. So you can't get up and down the pool without the risk of crashing into someone. It would be easy to set up a clockwise swimming lane to eliminate the hassles but the management at our pool are hopeless and customer service is a foreign language phrase to them.

Back to the running. I started with a gentle 3 miler yesterday with no adverse reaction. Then today a did 5 miles at a good pace and as yet no reaction so it looks like the marathon is still on in a fornight's time. The only issue is that the weather has warmed up considerably which is not ideal for a marathon.

There was a TV program yesterday investigating the London Marathon finances. The London Marathon income is a staggering £18+ million per annuma and they give £5 million to charity and staffing costs are £1.5 million so where does the rest go. The answer, well only London Marathon and their accountants actually know. If they were more open it wouldn't be an issue but as they won't say it makes you wonder.

By the way please fill in the form on the left if you would like to sponsor me or message me on Facebook

Training Update

Training is going ok without being spectacular. The most amazing thing is the change in the weather, a month ago it was freezing with ice and snow around now it is warm (well up to 10 or so ) and damp. There are daffodils in bloom and the birds are getting frisky but my speed is not increasing. Whats more it  is even light in the evenings up to 6;30 or so which allow sme to run round the fields if I am home early.

Two weeks ago I did 14 miles in 1 hour 50 or so which was quite easy and I suffered no after effects. Last week I managed 20 miles in under 3 hours. I found the stairs very difficult after that. So with a month to go to the marathon I am on for under 4 hours but 3 1/2 hours looks unlikely.

I am still looking for sponsors so if you have a spare 50p, £1, £10 or £100 please send it over to me Thanks