In the bleak-mid winter

Snow, lots of snow and therefore a run free day. I should be happy but would love to have got out today. It would have been frankly dangerous, so helped CB build a snow man and had a snowball fight - something all Dads have to do at some point. Must admit I was surprised at the accuracy of the snowball throwing of Bedders Junior but I suppose for kids it is in the genes. The dog has arrived and so far survived. CB is not entirely comfortable with the new arrival but not much longer to go before we give it back to it rightful owners.

Today braved the snow and went with NE (running partner) to the so-called best runnning shop in Holland. And it was very good indeed. Shame they wanted to try and charge me 30 Euros for a running analysis (free if you buy a pair of shoes) and even greater shame that they do not tell you this until after it is completed. Anyway, I bought a heart rate monitor Polar s200 so we shall see if this helps me train. (no good of course if it is snowing....)

My new shoes arrived from Road Runners in USA. I had ordered from them before and I have to say I find them excellent. Two days after confirming the order a brand new pair of NB arrive. Excellent webs site, great customer attention (I ordered by phone) and swift service. Would use them again.

Total kms so far this week 25 so must get out tomorrow and Sunday (New Year's day) for the long run. Nothing major planned New Years Eve so roll-on Sunday.

Out goes the hamster and in comes the dog

Just before I rush out in the sub zero temperatures for a 15km run I must report the demise of Lu Lu the hamster. Twas a sad day at the Bedders household yesterday because an hour before the dog came (we are looking after it for a friend for a week) KB informed us that the hamster had died. CB was very upset as it was her pet - and although she rarely cleaned the cage or indeed took it out and played with it, nevertheless it was a sad day.

Hopefully my calf will be OK. Will report back later.

Competition hotting up and we are only in January!

For the first time in about 3 years Mrs. B and myself went for a training run together on Christmas Eve. Now there are a few noticable differences between running with Mrs. B than with my normal training partner. Firstly, Mrs. B doesn't talk. Now, what's the point of going out on a run together if you don't chatter all the way round? Normallly we discuss football, gadgets, running and all sorts of everyday things, but Mrs. B prefers to concentrate. Nothing wrong with that but I am sure she was making mental notes of how I ran, my gait, my breathing patterns etc... so come April she has the competition well documented. Secondly she notices things that I don't normally notice. So when a lady ran past us, and Mrs. B mentioned that "she needs to buy a better sports bra!" I had missed the opportunity to make comment. Damm! I must be more observant next time. And thirdly, Mrs. B does not like me spitting. Now I know that sounds horrible in itself, but I don't do it every day and every sportsman I know, every now and again has to clear their throat. When we were 3 km into our run and I did, Mrs. B reacted " hmm. nice." and carried on running. She also reminded me to wash my gloves and hat when we got home......

We ran just over 8 km on Christmas Eve, and I actually ran just over 6km on Christmas day. However, I felt my left calf twinge a bit around the front of the leg (hope it is not shin splints) and so have taken a day's rest today before I attempt a long run tomorrow.

And just to make this a bit more Christmasy, here is a pic of the girls on Christmas morning around the tree.

Decision time - do I buy a heart rate monitor?

I've been thinking today that it is about time I invested in a heart rate monitor. I am not sure I know exactly what they do, or should I say how you use them but I feel that running at the moment, just looking at my watch is not really helping me improve. The questioon is, which one to buy. Also why is it that after you have submitted your Christmas list to santa that you think of a whole load of new things that you want? I have a Polar catalogue here that I am browsing as Mrs B has offered to take my "resting heart rate" in the next 20 mins and I am told that I need to be relaxed. Will run 9km today (a little later) which brings my weekly km total to around 34km.

Here comes Christmas!

Finished work until Jan 3, bought some more presents and it's beginning to feel like Christmas. Also ran 8km tonight with no apparant pain/aches etc.. Now comes the difficult period of trying to be festive but also restrained in what you eat and drink. Well forget the drinking side of it as I intend to be very festive in this area. But somehow last year I went through the whole of Christmas without eating chocolate. Can't see that happening this year.

Mrs B has decided to run the FLM for CF Trust. We will both raise money for this and this is actually one of the reasons I am writing this blog - so that people who donate money can see that I am taking training seriously and that I will, injuries aside, line up in April on the start line.

Big question for the moment is - will I find time to run Christmas day? I am sure I will feel a great deal better whilst eating Christmas dinner if I have run in the morning, but it just seems so not the right thing to do. We'll see what the Competition is planning and act accordingly.

Phew - found it again......this is all rather weird but hope you like the "new look"!

I am not entirely sure what is going on here. But, suffice to say the Blog returns. I am no technical wizard, but I had a cut out for the last 24 hours. I am not running tonight as we have guests but to keep up with the program, here is yesterday's post that didn't seem to make it.

So, day two and I ran 6km tonight. Decided that my Tuesday night run would be run at pace - although I ran the distance tonight in 30:20 so hopefully I can do better than that after a few months training. I spent the first 10 mins of the run finding I had new aches and pains that previously did not exist (especially left ankle). I put that down to the fact that this is the first week and after a few mins all was nearly well again.

As most people who know me will tell you I am not found of dogs and they are the bain of runners. How many times has a dog bounded up to you when you are running, snarling and looking generally agressive only for the owner to appear from behind a bush with one of those zip-wire dog leads that don't work and a long plastic smelly thing that holds a ball, and say something like "oh, don't worry. He only wants to play" well go and play with someone else mate!!! Running in the dark just increases the fear of unwanted attention from a dog as the shadows play games and I swear tonight I saw at least half a dozen coming for me!

Next week Mrs B has accepted the offer to look after a friends' dog for a few days. Ah, how lovely..........as long as KB and CB walk it, talk to it and keep it way from me. I am sure it is a lovely animal but me and dogs do not see eye-to-eye. Some bright spark, dog owner type always says," ah, you see, that is the problem - they can sense you're scared of them and that's why they react in the way they do towards you" Too right I'm scared!!! Anyway, roll on next week. Cute pic of dog to follow.

Help I've lost my blog!!!

It's official - the FLM shop in Covent Garden is a let down

Having mentioned on this blog last week that I thought the stock in the FLM shop in London was rubbish I now see that this has been taken up by someone on the Runners World FLM forum. I am not alone in what I thought. It's got such a great location and name it is a crying shame that they cannot get the stock.

Ran 12km yesterday morning with my running partner, so felt good about that as I drank my 4th glass of wine last night. It was a beautiful winter morning - nice and icey underfoot. So, it was slow, but no damage done. As I have said before, I intend to build up slowly............

Had an intelligence report this morning from The Competition that the old leg injury was threatening to flare up again. I really hope it doesn't as Mrs. B so much wants to run. Maybe it's the old physcological mind-games starting but it's a bit early for that isn't it? Also we now have a "which charity shall I run for" dilemma. Basically Mrs. B has been accepted by two - how do you decide?

My Hal Higdon 18 week training program starts today. Here we go with the serious stuff - only 17 long runs left before the big day.

Windy 10km

If anyone ever doubts why there are so many windmills in Holland then this morning would have been a perfect time to explain. Sooo windy mixed with a little bit of sleet and snow just to make it ever-more pleasant. It has to be said though that there is a great satisfaction in getting back home and into a warm shower after such a run. But it was moments like this that reminded me that one of the reasons I have not to this point entered a Spring marathon is that one has to train through the winter. Summer nights and running in shorts and t shirt seem a distant memory. It wasn't so long ago that my running partner and I were debating whether to go out early from our Sunday run so that we would not be running in the heat of the day! Oh, to have to make that decision today!!!

Sum total this week of kms is around 30km again. Long run tomorrow and assuming the weather is not blowing another gale will try for 14km before the serious stuff starts next week.

Another quick 6km up-and-back the canal

After a 3 hour flight tonight, got back home and went straight out for a run. Only 6 km again but felt pretty good. I find that the 2-3 hour flights are worse in many ways than the longer ones when you can really relax. Now, credit where it is due. KLM have started to give out quite decent lunchtime food on their flights - a cold pasta salad and a pizza stick. Not to everyone's taste I know but better than their previously tasteless sandwich. In fact I am finding it difficult to fault them today. The staff were happy (that is unusual), the food OK and the flight on time.

I am pleased that my dreaded Achillies tendon has not yet become a problem. For over 18 months I suffered badly from achillies tendonitis. I will write more about this tomorrow as I consider myself to be an amateur expert on the topic and having subjected to my family to nearly two years of running commentary, I feel it only right and proper to explain my cure on this blog.

Next Monday, and the start of the "official" 18 week FLM training program is nearly upon me and whilst I am somewhat apprehensive I will be pleased to get underway. April sounds so far off but I know that it will come around far quicker than I expect.

A day's Christmas shopping then a 6km run. Must be mad.

Well actually feeling pretty good tonight as I had a very early get up to catch a flight to London, had a whole days' Christmas shopping and then came home and ran 6km. I am sure this early keenness will wear off but until it does long may it continue (if that makes sense).

True to form, never a KLM flight goes by without something interesting happening. This time I was told off at Schiphol for not checking in at the right self service counter - "are you in Business class and are you a Platinum Elite ++ member - if not please do not check in here again and in future go to balie 13 (the other end of the airport)" Actually I was flying on Airmiles in Economy and I guess rules are rules. But it was 06.20 in the morning and the airport was empty. Can't wait to see their faces tomorrow when I try the same check-in balie and answer yes to both questions. They'll probably ask me their final killer question, like " are you related to the Dutch Royal family?" then ask me to check-in, in future in the dreaded balie 13......

Anyway, went to the London Marathon shop in Covent Garden expecting to be surrounded by FLM 2006 goodies only to be told that they weren't in yet. Well why call yourself the London Marathon Running shop if 85% of your goods are available in Niketown? Maybe this is harsh, but when I have been there before I have always been disappointed in the stock they have. Couldn't they have some retro gear in that I am sure would sell while they wait for the new stock? The service on the other hand was excellent and they tell me that the 2006 gear will be in before Christmas. Must say that the
video running on their screens of the FLM 2005 got me quite excited.

Travelling again tomorrow so will take an enforced rest day as I am overnight somewhere very cold.

The competition, (Mrs. B), starts reading Runners World - 2004 edition!

After my 10 km run yesterday and feeling pretty pleased with myself, I walk into the kitchen to find Mrs. B secretly reading a copy of Runners World. Nothing wrong in that I think, until I see that it is an issue from July 2004! Not only is she seeking out old copies that have headlines like "do you want to have sexier looking legs" *no thanks - sexy enough* but she is clearly scouring all the old copies for that extra training tip that will give her the advantage in April. So, not to be outdone....... I intend to hide them. There, that should do the trick.

Yesterday, without divulging the extent of my training plan we kind of decided as a family we would run The Hague City-Pier-City race in March. For anyone who has not run it, then take a look. It's a great race with over 16.000 runners in the half, great timing for FLM and as many I think running the 10km. Yesterday we agreed that CB would run the 2.5km, KB the 5km (if she can find a few mates to run with her) and Mr B and Mrs B would run a very uncompetitive 21km. I would like to make the point now that I see this race as a mere training run and I am not, repeat not, aiming for a particular time (sit on the shoulder of Mrs B for the first 20.9km then sprint at the finish should do me!!!).

Today is a rest day. Typical as we have blue skies, beautiful sun and no wind. Bring on the rain and sub zero temperatures tomorrow.

This is what a Christmas elf looks like (the one in the green!)

So, now you know. Following yesterday's post, here is KB looking pleased with herself after having seemingly successfully confused the lad in the bottom right of the picture!

True to form this Sunday morning CB woke up bright and early so it looks as if I might as well go for a run. 10km will do. Then relax in front of the fire this afternoon ................just what Sunday's were made for.

A quick 8km then off to the Christmas fair

Similar cold and foggy conditions today but a quick 8km never hurt anybody - unless of course it is you that is running it. I arrived back home after my typical run-out-and-back down the canal with ice on my running hat when I had finished (there must be a better name for my running hat but I can't think of one). Anyway, quick shower and off to the Christmas fair at the school where KB (daughter 12 years) was an elf all day, helping Father Christmas. Makes you proud doesn't it! But importantly she gave up the whole of her Saturday to help and that makes me feel good. She looked great in her elf uniform and really enjoyed herself. Go KT! Big decision tomorrow - normally Sunday is the big run day if you are training - but officially I do not start my 18 week FLM program for a week yet. So, do I lie in bed and enjoy one of the last lay-ins that I will get until May 2006 (!) or get up and go for a run? Depends on the following:

1) If I am woken up by CB earlier than 08.00
2) The weather

oh, I almost forgot, it also depends on how much I drink tonight....just a couple glasses of wine...

.........heading for a lay in!

The Chicago story

30km in total this week. Came back late from Schiphol - nothing to report on my KLM trip today as the service was pretty average - staff all a bit grumpy and a lady pilot (nothing wrong with that, but just throught I'd mention it) but as I say, average - and went out straight away when I got home for a 6km run. As it was cold and foggy, not that pleasant but I may as well get used to it as I am sure it will only get colder and foggyier (is there such a word?) as we go thru' the winter. Once you get going however it's not so bad.

My Chicago experience deserves a mention as it goes some way to explain why I was less than enthusiastically waiting to hear about whether I'd got a London FLM 06 place. Let me say that the Chicago marathon was a fantastic experience - brilliant crowd support and a good flat course (as well as superb medical staff at the end). I had trained well with my friend and running mate Neil, and pushed myself during the race for a sub 4 hour time which was well within my grasp. All was going well until around 35km. I had not stopped, had ran thru' but drank at every water station but at 35km the legs really felt heavy. To cut a long story short I finished and collapsed 5 meters after the finish into the arms of a medic. I remember her saying to me "Hey, are you OK?" to which I replied "No, I don't think so". The next thing I knew it was 20 mins later and I was looking up from a camp bed at 3 nurses, with a saline drip in my left arm thinking "Ummm. I'm in trouble here" My problem was that I had suffered heat exhaustion and was told that my temp was 108 degrees (42.5). As I now know this is pretty unpleasant and marginally dangerous to say the least. To this day I do not know what caused it - the ambient temp was around 16 and I was well hydrated and had taken good carbs and gels during the race. Anyway, the medics, who were absolutely fantastic literally covered me head-to-toe in ice - you name it and they stuffed ice down it, around it and practically in it! Now normally, put your hand in a bowl of ice and 5 secs later, you wish you hadn't. But to me, this was pure heaven!. After 20 mins they got my temp down - from 108, to 103 then to 100 and finally to 97. Phew! I remember cramping up badly and they called a pysio for me. In summary after around 40 mins I was ready to go back to the hotel and get my flight home. I must say again that whilst I do not remember the names of any of the staff that helped me, they may remember me as I was told that I held the Chicago Marathon 2005 record - for body temperature at the end of the race. They were superb. All of them deserve a massive thanks and for all of us who run these races, we never really think of all the support staff around the course who make the day possible. If any of you guys who worked on me in the medic tent at Chicago read this, my number was 6142, many, many thanks for what you did.

And my time? 4 hours and 21 secs!! Dammmmmmm......

As we got the airport to fly back to Amsterdam I turned to Neil and said, " that's it - I've run two marathons and after today's experience I have run my last. I bet I now go and get a place in the ballot for London!" (you have to apply for London well in advance of October) Sure enough here I am with a place in London and planning to run......I must have a very short memory. Or perhaps there's another reason......

Carol concert gets in the way of training run

One occupational hazard of having children is the ubiquitous Carol concert that should be attended once a year. Actually I love Christmas and CB (daughter, 7 years) has her concert tonight which is normally great. So, no training run tonight. Thankfully the serious stuff hasn't started yet but I am going to start a km reckoner which at the moment stands at 25km for this week. Not bad considering but the thought that the full training program needs around 900km to be run makes this week look a little light. Never mind - all the books say "build up slowly" so that is what I intend to do . Actually for Chicago I ran around 800km in training in 18 weeks so 900km doesn't seem so bad.

Anyway, must go as Mrs B is rounding up the various children getting shoes on and putting on coats to go to the concert. Back tomorrow. Let's call today a "rest day"

The only half decent picture I could find 

OK, so the easy bit was getting the place in the ballot....

So here we go. The first post of many in the hope that will allow you to share the pain and pleasure of training for and running the Flora London Marathon in April. If just one person reads this and becomes motivated to get outdoors and run, then I will think I have been successful. I truely mean that.

To kick off with a bit about myself - I am a pretty regular 42 year old British male, 1.75m and 79 kgs (must loose some weight before April) living in Holland who for some unknown reason, after promising himself never to run a marathon again after Chicago in October this year recently received the coverted letter confirming that I won a place in the FLM 2006 ballot. Hurrah! The fact that I had forgotten that I had even entered the ballot shows you how expectant I was. But there is probably a reason for this, which I will expand upon later.

I am not a great athlete but I run regularly (am regularly injured of course) and have competed in two marathons in the last two years - Berlin in 4:13:38 and Chicago 4:00:21 (damm!). I'll keep my ambitions for my FLM time to myself just in case the competition (Mrs B.) is reading this.......

Anyway here I am, getting ready to start my 18 week (!) training program which I reckon I need to begin on Dec 19. Still a couple of weeks to indulge myself in eating and drinking whatever I want before the serious work begins. I will follow a Hal Higdon training plan Intermediate 1. I'd love to try the Intermediate 2 but feel that with the demands of my job I would just never be able to follow. That, by the way is the first and last reference to work on this blog although I may mention KLM in the next few months as I spend a great deal of my time on KLM planes and am not happy with what they are up to at the moment......

But as always to any story there is more to it than just me and a marathon. My wife, Mrs B. is also running FLM 2006 and I am not saying that she is competitive but there has been a sudden and dramatic interest in my training program in the last few days. Mrs B has a charity place and I have offered to help raise funds as well - more of that later. She is also on past records faster than me.

So there we have it - the first post of many. Lots to tell and lots to share. Stay with it.