Why I'm Running For Whizz-Kidz

Last Saturday I took part in a 15 mile training run around Hyde park organised by Whizz-Kidz. Afterwards there was a talk about fundraising and a speech by one of the beneficiries of what the charity does - buy motorised wheelchairs for children.
A young woman called Arunima told us about her life when she was 14 years old. Trapped in a manual wheelchair she couldn't even go out to the shops or post a letter let alone play with her friends. She had no privacy and felt cut off from the world. Hearing about Whizz-Kidz and getting given a motorised chair changed her life completely. It gave her independence and hope and suddenly her horizons were unlimited. She went on to excel at school and go to Cambridge University and is now working for a law firm.
Arunima's speech was such an eye opener to what a huge affect a charity - especially a charity like Whizz-Kidz who do something so straightforward and tangible - can have on the lives of individuals.
At the end of the day we were shown this film:

Blood On The Tracks

Went running down at Parliament Fields running track today. I like going there. I can pretend I'm an athlete, running round and round in circles drinking my weight in Lucozade. It's where I've been doing my interval training, which is a vital component of my training - basically you push yourself as fast as you can, then when you do your normal pace it seems easier. Well, in theory.
It's a funny place to be in the wind and rain. Very exposed and a little bit bleak but I really like that. There's no dogs to trip over or people to slalom around or puddles to leap, just relentless track.
Alot of novices and beginners don't bother with the running track. Like I used to they possibly imagine that they are populated by elite athletes. nothing could be farther from the truth. It's usually a couple of old fellas shuffling around the outside lane. I saw someone shot putting once - that's it. and it's dirt cheap. like £1.30 cheap. or free most of the time cos no one can be arsed to take your money. Find info on your nearest track here.

Running Playlist No.1

Here's LET'S GO RUNNING - the first in a series of running playlists on Spotify for the London Marathon. This one's a bit of an alt-rock special for runners of the indie persuassion. Music really helps keep me going - unless the ipod accidentally skips to Nick Cave, which'll make me put my head in my hands and cry in a gutter somewhere - and has given me some magical moments. When it all syncs together and you're feeling good it's ace… although I don't want to sound like Alanis Morrisette who in the most pretentious interview of all time says: "There's a vulnerability when I'm running. I feel like such fertile soil when I'm working out, so what I'm listening to almost takes on this whole other level of importance."
Bleeeeeurgh…
If you want a Spotify invite let me know as I have a few left.

Aches And Pains Update

Left leg's happy, right leg's a bit grumpy.

16 Miles In The Rain and Snow

Well, I did it. I ran 16 miles, which is further than anyone called Johnny Dee has ever run. Probably. Highlight of this delightful jaunt through the parks of North London was a sighting of a green parrot on Hampstead Heath. Urban legend is that the London parrots are the descendants of some birds that used to belong to Jimi Hendrix that were set free after his death. About five minutes after spotting one, up near the ponds All Along The Watchtower came on my ipod.

Return of the Blog

Well this is quite a long gap between entries! I guess I'm not much of a blogger. I did carry on running though after my Half Marathon in 2008. In fact, now, somewhat unbelievably I find myself training for the 2010 Virgin London Marathon. It is a very scary prospect indeed but i am slowly getting used to the fact that I am actually doing it. I've always found the London Marathon the most awe inspiring sporting event there is so to actually take part is wonderful.
To motivate me I'm using the marathon as an opportunity to raise some funds for Whizz-Kidz. They're a charity that helps disabled children lead more active lives thanks to some remarkable specialised wheelchairs.
The main reason for re-starting this blog is to let people who've sponsored me know how I'm getting along and possibly to get some sponsorship from people I don't know - hey, you never know!
I'm already six weeks into my training plan and things are going really well. Started off slowly (that's me in the picture above) thanks to a pulled calf for being over-keen and then the snow halted me for a bit, but it's been going great last few weeks. I shan't bore you with the intricacies of my training - although I may go back on that promise to satisfy my own boring nerdyness - but basically I do three runs a week under ten miles (one slow, one intervals and one fast) and then a long run at the weekend building up slowly to the big 26.2 on 24th April. Eeeek! Tomorrow's long run will be 16 miles, which will be the furthest I've ever run.
I'll shut up now then.

Well, I Did It!

Wow! What a great day. Yesterday I ran in the Half Marathon race I have been training for all this time - The Royal Parks Half-Marathon. It wasn't the painful ordeal I imagined it might be all those months ago when I entered it on a whim. It was actually great fun, really enjoyable and the odd ache aside not too painful.

I am so glad I had run the distance before - in training on Hampstead Heath - because come the big day I wasn't phased at all and knew I'd do it no matter what. The fact that I'd been sponsored so much money - thank you everyone - meant there was no way I'd quit. Damn it I would have slithered home on my hands and knees if necessary.
The setting was brilliant and the route was incredible. With the roads closed to traffic it was a brilliant new perspective of touristy London - Buckingham Palace, House of Parliament, Westminster Bridge, London Eye and of course Hyde Park (which the last 7 miles looped around). Typically because it was a touristy route there were lots of bemused tourists who had no idea what was going on and occasionally lurched into the road but that was one of very few grumbles most people had about the whole race. It was really well organised and the only real issue was lack of loos at the start which manifested itself in loads of people darting off behind a tree more or less straight after the start - including some desperate fella doing a "Paula" in full sight of everyone.

I didn't listen to music for the first time ever while running but although there were a couple of occasions when I could have done with the lift only Eye Of The Tiger can provide I mainly didn't need it. What really gave me a boost was seeing Holly and Annie with their homemade signs during the course - nearly brought a tear to my eye it was so lovely.
I didn't go mad pace wise and kept it easy and in the end I finished exactly - more or less - as I thought I would in 2 hours 12 minutes - just an hour behind the winner Kenyan superstar John Muriithi who was dressed as a rabbit. I'm chuffed with that and especially with the fact that out of the 12,500 who ran I finished in the top half (5268th).
It was all worth it for the feeling you get crossing the line.
And man did that pastry taste good afterwards.