On my way to Newcastle, weather forecast is for a storm tomorrow, lets hope it pushes me along 

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 4 days to go then Great North Run! Training going not too great but hopefully improving. Opened my running pack today and have been given an Elite start number based on my estimated time given months ago! The London Marathon I got to start with the Camels, Gorillas and a few mankini's and I wanted to start with the good for age elite. Now I need to start with the Camels and Gorillas and I ha...

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  Its been a tough 4 months since finishing the 30 marathons in 30 days! A lot of injuries, some following the running, some caused by relaxing, trying to be normal and being an idiot doing water sports with my daughters and their very athletic friends!   A long one short, I committed to run the Great North Run for the Hospice of St Francis and although only 5 weeks from rupturing my ...

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  Day 30, last day The Virgin London Marathon 2013   I did not expect to sleep much last night but with dad not there to wake me with his various sleeping noises, I thought I would get a solid sleep. No, four in our room and although a large room, a blocked nose and forced breathing noises travels! Two hours sleep and up at 4:15! A navigated hobble across the room to the bathroom...

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  Day 29 20th April, Ascot to UCLH Euston   Good nights sleep after a few pillows thrown at dad across the room to get him to move and stop the new loudest snore and the yawning while asleep routine which I have never heard before and would not have thought possible! Up at 6;30, calf/achilles not good, hobble, shower and to breakfast. I waited for dad as it was not the easiest to navi...

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  Day 28 19th April 2013, Devizes (was Chippenham) to Hungerford Route re planned last night to try and avoid hills! Iced through to midnight, called it a day and went to bed. Struggled to sleep due to too many thoughts about what ifs and some very strange noises from dad. Managed to turn all the rads in the room off last night and open all the windows so at least the room was not overheat...

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  Day 27 18th April, Caldecote to Cardiff General Hospital   I was away this day last year and missed my visit to pay my respects to Neil Sullivan who died in a car crash 14 years ago today on his 36 birthday. Thinking of you and still hear you saying "everybody happy" will be about next year.   To bed a bit late, struggled to sleep, dads noises, room too hot and my worries pre...

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  Day 26 17th April 2013, Frome to Bristol Royal Infirmary Eventually to bed with washing done and almost dry, hottest bathroom radiator in the world! Dad and me in one room tonight, dad making the odd rhino snore following another torch winding up session! Up at 4:30, things and a few pains on my mind plus the snoring got to me! On and off sleep and up at 6:30. Right calf low down is this ...

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  Day 25 16th April 2013, Southampton University Hospital To Salisbury Very nice meal last night, chicken, peas, green beans and tagliatellle, spot on. Very tired so up to the room, washing done, TV on could not believe what I was watching! Why would anyone would want to bomb a group of people raising money for all types of charity, remembering loved ones and from all different backgrounds ...

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  Day 24 15th April 2013 Bourne College, Southbourne to Southampton FC A bit late up watching the conclusion of the Masters, good but short nights sleep, coughed a bit though and up at 6:30 feeling tired but good apart from right thigh! Hobble to the bathroom, shower and now feeling more human. No time or inclination which I know is wrong, to do my Joel warm up so down to breakfast. Still f...

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  Day 23 14th April Brighton Marathon   Not a bad nights sleep, up at 5:45, legs very sore from yesterdays hills! Very excited about today, want to have a good run but do not want to push too hard as I have to run to Southampton tomorrow! Quick stretch and hobble to the bathroom. Unfortunately all my clothes have not dried, no radiator just a very poor air con thing! Compression ...

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  Day 22 13th April 2013 East Grinstead to Brighton Pier Great nights sleep after a rumbling stomach due to a bit too much to eat! Up a bit late, weather foggy, legs stiff, could have turned over and gone back to sleep. Down to breakfast, very nice, porridge fruit and toast, back to the room, shower, prep and kit on. Bit of a rush at the end, checked out, met some very nice people who said ...

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  Day 21 12th April Wembley Stadium to Royal Marston Sutton   I was right, today was tough! Up early, good nights sleep, on the laptop to do my watch downloads and everything I did not do last night. Eventually done, breakfast in my kitchen again felt wrong some how but good breakfast of porridge banana, 3 toast and a pastry consumed my 8am. Packed everything back up trying to r...

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  Day 20 11th April Berhamsted to the Emirates Stadium   Struggled to get to sleep last night, not the best nights sleep and up at 6am to start all over again. Tough getting motivated and focused after yesterday, that felt like the end should feel! Still got to keep on keeping on. Right calf a bit strange this morning! A click feeling low down as I moved my feet made today's...

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  Day 19 10th April Letchworth to Hemel Hempstead   Very hot bath last night took me too long to cool down but very nice. Up at 6:30, gentle stretch and hobble to the bath room! Slow Joel workout complete, quick shower and down to breakfast, actually along to breakfast we are ground floor! Mid breakfast, phone went BBC 3 Counties radio for a live interview! Completely forgot but ...

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  Day 18 9th April 2013 Bedford to Cambridge Addenbrooke's University Hospital Alarm set for 7am woke at 6am! Gentle stretch, into the bathroom, all washing done last night still soaked! Towel rail goes off when bathroom light turned off! Light on and hope a few hours might do the job. Legs feeling sore and stiff generally with left thigh lump still there and sore. However I think I have a ...

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  Day 17 8th April Daventry to Milton Keynes Heart Radio   Up at 6:30 after a good night's sleep. Left thigh still sore and with a lump! Still feel knackered but I ate loads after yesterdays run, also last night and will fuel up as much as possible this morning. Joel workout, quick shower and to breakfast. Just me and dad again today but I hope dad has sharpened his navigati...

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  Day 16 7th April 2013 Birmingham Childrens Hospital to Royal Leamington Spa Up early, lump on thigh, unfortunately a tear! Hobbled around showered, Voltarole applied and down for breakfast. Struggled to eat again! Managed half a bowl of porridge and 2 toast. Back to the room, kit on and off with Jan and Karen to BBC Radio Birmingham for a chat on the Ed Doolan show! Job to find but got th...

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Day 15 6th April Nuneaton to Birmingham Royal Orthopaedic Hospital   Iced both legs until 11:45, too late to bed I know but legs needed attention! Up at 6amdown to Gym for half our walk and Joel wake up stretch. Back to the room, shower and down for breakfast.   Today is a special day, 3 years ago today a great person and friend passed away. He was the reason this started a...

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  Day 14 5th April 2013, The Nottingham City Hospital to Leicester Royal Infirmary Up at 6am after a late night doing the washing! Legs stiff and tired with my left knee as my main problem. Gentle stretch, Joel work out, shower and down to breakfast by 7:15. Porridge and toast plus a bowl of grapefruit consumed and back to the room. All packed up, checked out and van loaded by 9am, a new re...

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  Day 13 4th April 2013, Darley Dale to The Nottingham City Hospital Terrible night, up at 7am struggling to move, general aches due to yesterday plus back of left knee big problem! Could not do warm up, down to breakfast, bowl of porridge, packed up, loaded van and left. Thanks to The Kenwood Hall and Essential, you are keeping me together! Quick drive to Darley Dale and the start of marat...

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  Day 12 3rd April 2013 Disley to the Hallamshire Hospital Sheffield Great nights sleep, no more strange noises. Behind left knee is now a real problem, struggling to straighten leg. Up late no Gym so Joel warm up in room complete, shower and down for breakfast. Back to struggling to eat! Could not eat more than 2 spoons of porridge, so went for 2 toast, a few beans a sausage and an egg and...

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  Day 11 2nd April Frodsham to the Cristle Hospital Manchester   Great meal last night, best sea bass dad has ever had, Its been a while! Enjoyable night and back to our separate rooms, washing and icing and in bed by 11:30, too late but too much to do! Good night up late, no time to do morning workout so down to breakfast. Ate a bit more than recently and felt ok. Normal routine...

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  Day 10 1st April  The Alder Hay Hospital Liverpool to the Clatterbridge Hospital   Up late after a noisy night with a bit of a cough. No time for first workout so shower and breakfast at 7:30. Still struggling to eat especially my main fuel Porridge! All done back to the room struggling to tune in. Weather is grim and cold, route does not look too good and I want to go bac...

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  Day 9 31st March 2013 Vincent Southport to The Alderhay Hospital Liverpool Lost Hour! Up at 5:30 got an email saying I had an alarm call at 6:00 relieved I went back to sleep, no alarm call up late at 6:30! No one outstanding problem and feeling ok. Good nights sleep after a lovely hot bath in a sit only deep type of bath which is a first. Slow stretch and down to gym. Could not get in th...

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  Day 8 30th March 13 Leeds General to Halifax (in the end)   Great accommodation but still struggling to sleep! I did get a bit of sleep yesterday afternoon when we checked in. Karen took dad shopping in Harvey Nics! Dad has not been to any Harvey Nics for a good few years maybe decades and was non stop moaning about the price of everything especially a pair of Alexandra McQueen sand...

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  Day 7 29th March 2013 York Cathedral to The St James's Hospital Leeds Up at 6am not a good night, the room was too hot! Right leg tight and aching just a little bit more than everything else. Great meal last night, soup, steak and chips followed by a feranginpan? Karen and Jason joined us last night and will be with us today giving much needed support. Dad and Jason are staying in the sam...

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  Day 6 28th March 2013 Rags Bridlington to Castle Hill Hospital Hull An unsettled night, bed lovely, room perfect temperature but body sore! I could not get comfortable or stay comfortable, everytime I moved I woke! Up at 6am, warm up in room, set sat nav for today's route, quite straight forward using A roads, Dad happy. Great breakfast, porridge, toast and jam, omelette and a bacon sandw...

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  Day 5 27th March 13 Newcastle, The Great North Childrens Hospital to Hartlepool   Up at 6am, worked on the route, did my morning workout exercise in the room and in the corridor. Down to breakfast feeling hungry, a good sign I think. Porridge, bowl of fruit, omelette, beans and tomatoes, two toast and jam and one pastry also 2 cups of tea and a glass of grapefruit juice. Now fe...

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  Day 4 - 26th March 2013 Hexham to the Freeman Hospital Newcastle Up at 6am after an ok night, fantastic bed and room but far too hot! Right knee now rising to the top of the pain list! Down to the gym, 20 minute walk and run on the treadmill, 7 incline to raise the heart rate. New warm up stretch routine complete, movement range getting better apart from right hamstring, followed by 30,20...

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  Day 3 - 25th March 2013 Glasgow Beatson Hospital To Carluke Great nights sleep only interrupted by the odd Rhino snore from dad. Up at 6:15, hobbled to the bathroom for the first and no doubt not last time! My left thigh has tightened up, I am sure it is fatigue and not a tear, my lower back is remaining a problem so slow movement is required. I must look ridiculous and certainly no athle...

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  Day 2 24th March 13 Falkirk to Royal Sick Childrens Hospital Glasgow   Up at 5:45, body unsurprisingly felt like I had run a marathon yesterday. Left thigh tight and sore, back very stiff. Kit on and down to the Gym. Only 15 minutes on tread mill, walk 5 run 5 walk 5 at 6 incline to get my heart rate up. New warm up done, surprisingly tough, 30, 20, 10 sit ups and press ups fol...

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  Day 1 Edinburgh to Bo'ness 23rd March 13   Slept well after a good meal of Pasta and Chicken. Great to see the Gullans and the Sounesses last night. Up at 5:40, steady stretch and kit on for a quick gym session. 20 minutes on the treadmill, walk run warm up followed by my new core warm up and muscle kick start routine. Took about 15 minutes followed by a few press ups and sit u...

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  Up early feeling good, no running but very busy day. 7:30 to Joel for a stretch and light core session, felt good after. Home tried to sort out route maps and get them on to sat nav, no success! 12:30 over to Premier Osteopathy in Bushy for acupuncture and general back treatment. Great session but back felt very sore after, so back home and 30 minute ice session!  ...

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  Up at 3:45 after a very short but good 3 hour sleep. Good breakfast of Porridge, banana, 2 toast a Berocca and a cup of tea. Good warm up and light stretch, Tiger Balm and Voltarole applied, kit on and ready to go by 5:45. Interesting morning ahead, BBC 3 Counties coming to my house to interview me then as requested I run from here to their studio in Luton whilst t...hey follow and update ...

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  Complete day off! Went to the Royal Albert Hall for the first night of the Teenage Cancer Trust concerts, Beth Orton and Ryan Adams very good. The star turn of the night was a personal appearance from Charlotte along with some bloke called Noel Gallagher. Charlotte was diagnosed with Ewings Sarcoma when she was 21 and studying law at university. Lovely person and ver...y touching story abo...

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  Slept well, up at 5am, kit on, warm up and steady stretch. Freezing out so wrapped up in thermals! Set off very steady for hopefully a decent but not fast run. Legs a little stiff but ok, nice run through Kings Langley, Hemel and Berko. Out to Nothchurch and down Dudswell Lane to the canal. Ran on the tow path towards Tring, started well, good and level unde...rfoot, deteriorated quickly t...

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  Up early, good breakfast, lads turned up at 7am, all piled into the van and off to Finchley. Good show from Gade Valley Harriers, although a few of us not quite 100%! Weather held up until the race started then deteriorated quickly. Legs felt ok on the 1st lap of 5 miles, back stiff but no pain approx 32 minutes, not fast but not slow. 2nd lap started ok but... right lower back/buttock tig...

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  Planned to run a steady marathon today. Up long good breakfast, weather terrible, head not keen! Left it until mid morning, put it off until 12 noon, long one short did not run! Felt tired and thought a days rest would be better! Finchley 20 mile race tomorrow, hopefully a better day.

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  Up at 5am, stomach, legs and back aching from core session. Good warm up and steady stretch, kit on and ready to go by 6:30. Ran from home through Kings langley to Hemel. Avoided hills, but not the rain. Very enjoyable and fairly pain free 12.1k run in 54 minutes. Good stretch off, shower and on with dry kit and off to Joel's for another core ...session! Feeling pooped and very sore from t...

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  Thursday 14th was a complete rest day, felt too sore from core work to do anything!

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  Sorry completely forgot to write my blog today but did run 6.5k on my own & then session with Joel.

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  Better night up at 5:30, very sore throat! TCP gurgle not nice, good warm up and stretch, kit on and off to the woods. Colder than yesterday, I set off quicker to try and warm up. Hardly anyone around for this beautiful crisp morning. Pushed a bit quicker than I have lately and very pleased with 10.1k in 44"55. Not record pace but getting better. Good stretch, home..., shower new kit on an...

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  Up at 5:30, back feeling a bit better. Steady warm up and stretch, met Tony at 6:30 and off to Whippendell Woods with the dogs. Absolutely freezing! We ran the normal route at a steady pace, met a few other runners and the Army Fit group being put through their paces. Looks good, I will try that one day. Lost the dog for the complete run, found him as we finished lying by the truck! He obv...

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  Breakfast consumed as early as possible, Berocca first followed by Porridge, Banana and one granary toast and jam with a cup of tea. Unfortunately followed by an Ibuprofen! Pain level a bit high to run without. Quick warm up and gentle stretch, tiger balm and Voltarol applied, kit on bag packed, van loaded and off to pick up Vince a little late due to stomach being... a bit lively! All goo...

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  Long night short sleep! 7am stretch and gentle warm up, kit on, Barney and Ace in the truck and off to Whippendale. Garmin Watch on waited for signal, watch went off no battery left! Started slow, warmed up nicely and although still restricted, enjoyed a good 10.4k run in 46 minutes timed from truck due to no Garmin! Back in the car park I met Malarkey McBranagan, ...now in his late 60's e...

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 2 weeks tomorrow! Actually today as it is 3am Saturday morning! No training to record, this is more of a status report! Status not good, Acupuncture and Osteo earlier today was good, much more mobility but still only about 50%. My family's chest cough seems to be beating all my efforts to fend it off with Berocca, oranges, as much fluids consumed, non alcoholic, as... humanly possible, I a...

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  Cough and chest getting worse! Back getting better which is good, no morning run which was not good. 6:30pm kit on and off to the GVH, not ready to run fully but I prefer running with people so we set off about 7pm, I ran with the lads for about 200 metres then they pushed on and I was on my own, good while it lasted! I pushed harder after the first few miles, not f...luent but felt like p...

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  Up early, back again improving but cough has turned a bit worse and chest wheezing! Steady stretch, kit on and up to the woods. Set off very slow, picked up in the middle to a steady pace and very pleased to get 10k complete in 55 minutes. Well behind planned distances required but very pleased to just be running.

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  Back still very stiff, slow steady stretch off, kit on met Tony at 6:30 and off to Whippendale with the dogs. Desperate to run! Very steady 6k complete in 36 minutes. Great to get out again, not as comfortable as I hoped but not bad enough to make me stop. Good stretch off, home and back on with the ice.

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  No training, no running but acupuncture at 5:15, interesting! Now back to the ice, watching Caroline Quinton's Cornwall. Hope to run a bit tomorrow.

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  Happy Birthday Louise Well, another non training, training record day! Bad night again, stretching session trying to get dressed, socks took about 10 minutes! Berko Half today, unfortunately could not run it but thought going to watch and support the lads would be better than staying in again. It did, very good event, very well organised and good numbers running. M...et Cliff King at his ...

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  Not a lot of a training record today. Bad night, back felt a bit better when I got up until I sat on loo! Struggled to stand up, get showered and dressed! Finally in the van and to the osteopath at 11am. Andy agreed with Joel re dehydration being a problem but my lower back now seized and its own problem! Very sore session that ended with me worse than I st...arted. Back home, ice on and a...

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  Bad night, up at 5am gentle movement, kit on, Tony came at 6:30, dogs in the truck and off to the woods. Very steady start deteriorated into a very uncomfortable walk. Strange as it sounds but I enjoyed the fresh cold air and run walk with the dogs, Tony had a broken run but managed a lot further than my 2k covered in 23 minutes! Now back and getting ready for a ses...sion with Joel to wor...

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  Legs ached through the night, up early legs still a bit stiff and heavy. Straight into work no time to run, two missed morning runs on the bounce! Busy day, feeling stiff so hot shower at 6pm then 30 minute warm up done. Felt much better, tiger balm and voltarol applied, kit on about to leave, bent across to pick up my keys and got a shot of pain across my lower... back! Felt ok after a fe...

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  Late night, early up, unfortunately with a cough and the sniffles. Intended to run with the dogs but started work and avoided the run! Very busy day, late to meet Mark Jewel for our planned Half Marathon. Kit on in seconds, no warming up, remembered Vaseline though, and off we went at 6:30pm. A bit rushed and a bit too quick, legs feeling heavy, we settled in to... a steady pace after 5k, ...

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  Up at 5am, dogs ok, legs feeling it, no long run today! I took my mum and dad to the Airport at 5:45, dad is having a warm weather training few weeks readying himself for his navigation challenge! Back home, kit on, met Tony at 7am, dogs in the truck and off to Whippendale. Legs objected for the first few kilometres but loosened up by the end, quite a few runner...s and walkers around. Ver...

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  (26 days to the start) Nice relaxing Sunday afternoon of dozing and icing then an early night. Up at 4:30 legs tired, sore and tight, hobbled down stairs, quick Barroca consumed, kit on, did not do a warm up, I think it would have taken too long! Let the dogs out of the utility room, unfortunately Barney had been a touch unwell in the night so gloves on and clea...ned up! He is getting a ...

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 GVH 17 marathon training day. Up early, grazed through a good breakfast of Porridge, Banana, 2 toast and Nutela and a cup of tea. Proper hot shower to try and remove the stiffness in my legs from yesterday, Tiger Balm massaged in, kit on and off to the club for 8:30. Very well organised and very well supported event, a good 300 I would say. A few photos taken o...f Me, Simon and Mark, all r...

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  4 weeks today! Up very early feeling good. Vince, Matt and John due at 7:45 to head off to Black Park in Slough for my first ever Park Run. Feels good to be doing stuff for the first time at my age! Warm up run of 5k first, nice and steady but all of us feeling aches and pains, probably fear! Bit of a rush change into just shorts, T shirt and gloves and to the ...start, now snowing! Very ...

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  Programmed to run with Cliff king from Leighton Buzzard to Berko via Wing and Tring, unfortunately work got in the way and I could not make it! So, out on my own for a quick run to Nash Mills on Station Road and back on the old A41 through Kings Langley Village. Legs heavy from the GVH run last night but an enjoyable steady 6.7k in 29 minutes. Rest day now, spot on!

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  Up at 5am, feeling tired but not so rough, mind not strong! 1st run put off and back to bed until 6am, up, quick wash and brush up and a Barocca, kit on and ready for Tony and our woods run at 7am. Freezing cold wind but no frost. Lovely run, plenty of runners and walkers about and all happy! 6.5k in 39 again. Felt great after, quick stretch off, not in o...ur normal part of the car park, ...

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  Up at 4am, took my daughter to the Airport at 5am, back home at 5:30 ready to run at 6am, felt rough, ached all over not from running, sat down and fell asleep, woke feeling worse with a tickely cough and a head ache now too late to run! In to London all day, back home due to run 10 to 15 with Mark Jewell at 6:30pm, Mark whimped out and I was relieved! Enforced rest day, filled up with Vit...

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  Restless night, legs ached and knees hurt! Up early, -3 so even more kit on! Fantastic morning, thick frost clear sky and early morning mist, very special. Still no energy but much more enjoyable r...un than yesterday. Absolutely freezing through the park, the run felt easier and faster but the time was the same? 6.5k in 39 mins. Good stretch off, back home hot shower and good breakfast. G...

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  Monday morning, no energy and sore legs! Two runs planned, morning run with Tony and evening run on my own. Kit on, lots of it, very cold out, in the truck and off to Whippendale Woods. Usual 6.5k run to the park and back, very steady and very workmanlike 39 minute run. Felt good to get it done and felt better than before we started. No such thing as a bad run, just tough ones and easy one...

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  Late night, good sleep and up at 5:30! 3 slices of granary toast, 2 with Jam and 1 with Nutella, made a change, plus a cup of tea. Too early for bowl of porridge! Quick rub down with TB, kit on quick warm up and off in the van to pick Vince and Matt up. All done and up to Guys by 7:30. Rich met us there, at this point I realised the weather forecast I loo...ked at missed the point about be...

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  Up at 7am no sleep late night, cheers India! Quick warm up, kit on and off for a run with Tony. Wrapped up well, nice run at a good pace round the normal route. Two lots of Military Training groups being put through their paces in the Park. It looks good, I would like to try it one day! On with the run through the park across the water and up through the ...Golf course. Met an old friend, ...

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  Rest day. Very tired from last nights hard session. Kit on and out with the dogs for a very steady and very short morning run. Lovely day, a bit colder than I thought and a very nice 6k run completed in 32 minutes. For the first time I think I can remember, I did not see another runner! Back home hot shower and on with the day. No training until tomorrow.

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  Legs heavy following last nights run, looking forward to a day off tomorrow. No time for morning run, unfortunately my daughter Jemima's rabbit died last night, shame he was actually a nice little lad. Anyway, I had the duty of digging out its final resting place! Tough going ground was full of flint so I still had a good workout! We said our goodbyes to ...Peanut and got on with the day. ...

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  Up early, legs tight and sore and no time to run! Horrible outbreak of work again! 6pm Met Mark Jewel at my house for a Half'ish Marathon. Mark is running the London Marathon, his first, for Framework Foundation raising money for Teenage Cancer Trust. Freezing cold and now raining we set off towards Hemel. Very enjoyable steady run to Hemel train station..., up to Chaulden, Warners End an...

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  Feeling a bit better this morning, up normal routine and out for a run at the woods. Cold and wet but enjoyable 6.9k, 34 minute run with the dogs. Legs still tight so good 15 minute stretch off and home for hot shower and good breakfast. Busy day, quick warm up and kit on and off to the club for 7pm. All of us still a bit sore from the weekend, no change... in planned session though, 1.5m...

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  Needed day off after a tough weekend. 4:30pm out for a jog with my Daughter India. Very nice 39 minute steady 6.4k run through the woods and the snow. Dogs loved it.

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  Another good evening icing, up early, normal routine and off to pick up Vince at 7:15. Met Guy, Rich, Matt, Jamie, John and Bill at Ashridge, now rain persisting down, at 7:30 to do the 7 mile loop training run. The lads have done this many times before but it is all new to me. A good early pace established, a bit quick for me but I kept with it, my legs ...tight but ok. A few early hills ...

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  Good nights sleep, up early for a good breakfast. Really want to run for Gade Valley Harriers today in the last Cross country of the season in Wing. If I can run it, I will have completed my first e...ver season running in every race! Anyway, breakfast consumed, a bit of work done, tiger balm applied after a very hot shower, kit on plus loads of layers to keep warm, in the van and off to p...

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  No running! Hamstring feeling tight but not as painful following another marathon ice session last night and again too hot a bath! Met Carolyn and Katrina from Teenage Cancer Trust. Very good but very long meeting and now very nervous! It all seems to be on top of me now and the pressure has gone up a notch I think made worse due to my current injury list...! All good though. Made me focus...

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  Restful evening, well done England. Up with alarm at 5am, felt terrible, re set alarm for5:45. My aim was to do a 10k then meet Tonyat 6:45 for our nice steady morning run with the dogs. 10k got shelved, kitted up at 6amand applied the Vas to unfortunately still sore parts, very cold so loads of layers on and my hat. 15 minute warm up and light stretch, in the Truck with Ton...

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  Iced both calves and both knees up to midnight, very hot bath, too hot I am sure I was sweating under water! Good 5 hours sleep and up at 5:30. Calves felt ok but I did not fancy the morning run one bit. Took my time getting ready, went through my Tiger Balm and Voltarol routine and completed a very laboured warm up. 6:20am left for at least a half maratho...n. Very cold wind woke me up a ...

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  6:45am met Tony, loaded dogs in the old truck and off to Whippendale Woods for a steady 6.5k. Very steady and very enjoyable, felt great and dogs loved it. 7:00pm Running club ready for 90 second 5k pace followed by 90 second marathon pace! Again, none the wiser I just followed and tried to hang on. Probably the toughest rep session I have ever done! Very pleased to have stuck with it and ...

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  A bit tight but not bad and due to an unfortunate outbreak of work, I had no time to run! Another training day missed! Another ice evening endured!!

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  Meeting James at the start of the race to give him my number and chip, received a text at 9:30 from James, can't make it got very drunk watching the rugby! I kitted up, applied Voltarole and went to the start. I have run with injuries before and no doubt will do again during the coming challenge so today would be a good test. Calf felt tight but ok, after ...the first hill up to the back o...

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  Calf sore, another rest day. Gave my entry to James from GVH for the Watford Half on Sunday! Disappointed, another training day gone!

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  Leg sore and stiff from mammoth ice session last night. Did no exercise in the morning but kept moving all day. 5:45pm massaged in Tiger Balm to both calves, did a very gentle warm up, kit on, lots of it, compression socks and leggings, thermal top plus sweat shirt plus thin jacket and hi vis vest, also hat and gloves just to make sure I kept warm. All goo...d to go, I set off unsure how f...

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  Up early, still amused about last night but not about my calf! Physio workout planned with Joel Llande of Body Management this afternoon. Busy day with no running, calf feeling sort of ok. Physio workout session endured, calf not feeling so ok! Diagnosis, slight tear/scar tissue, treatment painful massage, ice and calf raises to build strength. Joel also noticed weak muscle in quad around ...

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  Up at 5:30, calf not good enough to run but better to walk on. Enforced Rest Day!!!!!! No more training but I had the pleasure of being asked to address the Bedford Young Farmers at Shuttleworth College. All went well, a bit strange to be addressing a lecture theatre but hopefully I did not send too many people to sleep! At the end I was asked to have a f...ew photo's taken, nice I though...

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  Going home at 12:30 and training at Gade Valley Harriers this evening, so only 6.6k run down to the coast and back. Clear blue sky and very warm at 8am. I will miss this! Quick warm down and stretch, shower, pack and off. Landed, home quick bit of food and kit on and off to the running club. Legs felt heavy but I felt great. 8 x 800m runs at 2'50" marathon... pace! We left the club, a bit ...

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  Rest day Blue sky's and wispy cloud. 9am - nice and steady run down to the coast along Luz Bay, through the village and back up to Espiche and home. 6.6k in a very calm 32 minutes. Good stretch off for 15 minutes and exercise done for the day. Perfect.

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  Up at 7am, took Matt to Lagos train station at 8am for the start of his journey back to New York via Lisbon and Geneva! Back home, quick cup of tea and a bit of toast and Jam, only an hour until today's run with Joaquim, so too late for a big breakfast. Into Burgau, quick warm up and we set off at a steady pace west along the coast road to Boco da Rio. Fan...tastic views of the cliffs, sea...

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  Great afternoon, great meal in Don Sebastian, very late night. Up early, feeling knackered! Legs very heavy and tight, glad today is going to be a steady 10 mile recovery run just to get the legs going. Porridge and banana consumed, quick warm up done, Tiger Balm applied, kit on and ready to go. Met Joaquim at 11am, plan changed! He felt he needs to test h...is legs on a long run as he had...

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  Up at 6am feeling quite good after another fantastic home cooked delight! Tried my Portuguese Porridge with a banana and a cup of tea, spot on. Another cup of tea and a Bounty Bar, strange but I fancied it. Now 8:30 and very heavy rain falling, kit on and off to Burgau to meet Joaquin for 3 laps of the village, approximately half a marathon. Started with a... waterproof running jacket on a...

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  Up early, legs heavy and feeling low on energy. Kit on, weather not good, still warm though 16 degrees. After yesterday I intend to do a short loosener this morning and a 10k late afternoon hopefully a bit quicker. I did the same route as yesterday down from Luz Parque to the bay, I cut off a bit of the village and back up the hill and over to Espeche, left ...on the N125 and left again to...

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  2 months today! Up at 7am, feeling better than yesterday. Kit on, just T Shirt, jacket and shorts. Fantastic morning, set off at 8am for my morning warm up run. I ran to the main road and down to Luz Bay, bright blue sky, rough sea and still a bit chilly. Ran along by the beach, through the village, all cafe's setting out tables and chairs and the bakers ...smells great. Up the big hill t...

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  Up early, 15 min general work out and stretch, shower, pack and off to the airport. Unfortunately on my own as my daughter is not well, flu! Karen has stayed with her. Good mother. Still, the idea was to train for a week in warmer weather whilst meeting friends that live there and some coming from America! I will make the most of it, not a good cook though...! 1hr delay sitting at Luton du...

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  After a good weekend I decided on a short steady run with my daughter. Nothing to do with the freezing weather. All good, 6.5k through the woods, golf course and Cassiobury park as normal. No pit stop for India which was good and a very enjoyable morning run in the park complete in 44 minutes. Good stretch off then back home and on with the day. Intended to go in the evening but lacked ent...

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  Up early for porridge and banana, adjusted the planned route due to the forecast of snow, now 26k, about 16 miles. Kit on, not as much as yesterday and off to meet Vince and Rich Coles at the Boxmoor Church. All good to go by 8:30 and off along Boxmoor High street and up Northridge Way. Very cold start but the hill got the heart going and warmed us up nice...ly, although my hands remained ...

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  A good nights sleep, up at 5:45, a bit of a sore throat and tickley cough so quick Barrocca then 3 granary toast and a cup of tea. All consumed by 6:45. Not looked out yet, I hope it has not snowed ...too much! Kit on, looks like it has not snowed during the night so all good. Truck took a bit of warming then off to Bovingdon to meet Guy. Decided on wind proof top over running kit with woo...

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  Rest Day. Up at 5:45 feeling surprisingly good after another rough night! Only doing my morning run with the dogs today unfortunately on my own as Tony has to do the school run due to the weather forecast. No snow at the moment so I got ready to run, taking my time trying to judge how cold it was and if it was going to snow. My daughter wanted me to drop h...er off at work so her car would...

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  A better night, up at 5:45 after a few hits on the snooze. Cup of hot water, still feeling a bit dodge but mainly weak not ill. Freezing out so kitted up like the Michelin Man, dogs loaded and off to the woods for a steady run to see how I feel. Temp gauge in the truck showing -7! On my way nice and steady, met a couple of older gents with their dogs at t...he end of their walk and they lo...

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  Day 23 - Training Blog16th January 2013Unfortunately my night was not great! My feeling unwell resulted in a very rough night not feeling great and visiting the bathroom on more than one occasion. Up at 5:30 not feeling as bad as last night but very weak and dehydrated. A cup of tea and a walk outside deciding whether it was a good idea to run or not. I am afraid I decided against running ...

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  Iced back of left knee through evening and fell asleep in bed with ice pack on! Ice burn not too bad and a better nights sleep. Up at 5:30, knee still not feeling great and I am still feeling pooped. Quick cup of hot water, wash and brush up and off to get ready for my morning run with Tony. Quick warm up and massaged in Tiger Balm to behind and to the inside of my knee. Tony turned up ear...

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  After a tough weekend I felt a bit dodgy yesterday afternoon, a bit light headed and no energy! A bit of a sleep late afternoon and an early night and hopefully good to go this morning. Up at 5:30, Snow! Not a shock as it was forecast and is not too bad. Unfortunately I feel shattered, my legs are dead, behind my left knee is sore and cramps when I lift my heel up! Right knee and IT b...

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