How old are you?

This new Goggle inspired blog making program is pretty good. The only thing they seem to have not quite cracked yet is getting the age of the blogger correct.

I see in my "complete profile" that I am 250 years old. Even if I say so myself, I am looking pretty good for someone of so many years. Roll on my 251st birthday in February.

Patches after a long run

I know how she feels.......

Welcome back Patches

I have now moved this blog to the new format Google-inspired template. So if this blog disappears in the next few days then thanks to everyone for tuning in and I will be back. If it survives then please be assured of more running stories in 2007.

Anyway, so far so good for my Rotterdam training. I have religiously kept to the schedule but of course Hal Higdon does not recommend that each night over Christmas that his runners try and drink a bottle of wine. You see that's where his schedule and my will power become at cross purposes.

Nevermind, no point in having a New Year celebration if you cannot make a few resolutions (that you can break in early Jan) is there?

Forgot to mention that our new temporary family member Patches the Dog turned up over Christmas for her festive break with Bedders and Co (more Little Bedders, KB and CB than the author of this blog). But if you ask me, it Iooks as if she needs a few long runs........

All that hard work

Two days of Christmas eating and drinking and the weight goes up to above 80kg for the first time since.....last Christmas. The good news is that I have been able to complete a good two weeks of training so training week three, which is by chance a step back week is going to have to be a step up week for me if I am going to get rid of the excess.

Garmin update. Just when I need it it dies on me. Completely dead. So it's going back to Sweatshop in Reading to hopefully be exchanged for a new one. It irriates me somewhat that reading the Runners World threads on this topic, that Garmin seem to know that there is a problem with the 305's - but in true fashion, are still selling them without so much of a word of warning. If I thought about this too much I would get quite angry.

So I won't. Instead I'll go for a long Boxing Day run.

Not a happy bunny

A bit down at the moment but there is such a lot going on (more later) that I am struggling to focus on running - in fact, struggling to focus on much at the moment apart from work . The fact that Christmas is only around the corner is only another additional thing to distract me. And I love Christmas normally - the run up being the best bit.

As if my lack of motivation is not enough of a problem my Garmin decided to pack up today. After 800 kms of working well since May, it decided to black out at 9km today - lucky I had turned on a 16km out-and-back other wise I would still probably be running to make sure I did not short change myself. All the same, very frustrating.

Having had a common cold and deep cough all week and been out and back to Dubai on business, I think that what I need is a rest. But this is week 2 of the Rotterdam training program. Still if I can put in a good LSR today feeling as I do there is not much wrong really.

A one day Marathon Training plan idea

I am being offered to switch to the new Google blogger but have this fear that I will loose all that I have written. If anyone has done it, hassle free, please let me know.

Next week I begin my Rotterdam Marathon training program. Next week also probably begins the sub zero temps, wind and rain that seems to accompany such training plans. Oh well, nothing else for it but to out later tonight while it is still reasonably fine and run 900 km and do all the training in one go. That would get my weight down.

Curry, half a bottle of merlot and a 15km run

I could never be accused taking my training too seriously. Sometimes I wish I had the powers of others, but no. So, last Saturday night with friends over a fine curry and half a bottle of wine I agreed to run a local 15km race. Must be mad.

So arrived at 10.30, had the ubiquitous cup of coffee (tried to go to the loo but resorted to a couple of Immodium instead) and went to the start line. Looking for a sub 75 min 15 km on the basis that this was about as long as I thought I would last before I had to rush to the loo I finished in 73 mins. Probably a Bedders Short course record.

More impessive was the fact that I came in 6th place. Very proud I was too (but keeping it quiet that there were only 9 runners)

Starting to crank the mileage up - here comes a training program.

All a bit quiet recently as I have been busy with work but also I have kept my running to a basic minimum - trying to get out 3/4 times a week and seeing if I can run more than 30km but it is proving difficult. As I am not really training for anything then the blog kind of falls behind - it is a running blog after all!

Apart from my Garmin going dead and the weather becoming decidedly windier and colder it has been a few up-and-back-down-the-canel runs per week and once around the lake on a Sunday.

The next few weeks are important as I will definately find out if I have got a new fleece from those lovely people at FLM and more critically if I can motivate myself to train on my own for Rotterdam. The marathon training begins the first week in December. I have an eye on a half marathon in Holland on 23 Dec but will decided much nearer the time if I am up for it.

It's Rotterdam in April

Decision made. After hearing from a colleague of mine who had trained for New York, bought a place via a travel compnay and then two weeks before the run fell injured and failed to make the start line, I have decided that if I do not get the place at FLM then I will run Rotterdam Marathon in April.

There are a few more good reasons:

1. It will cost me 38 Euros to book a place - not 800 Euros itwould for FLM
2. If I get injured, then can't run, all is not lost.
3. Mrs. B, KB and CB can come an support me as it is only 15km away from where we live
4. My training partner has gone to UK and so I am not sure if I have the full motivation to train on my own for a marathon during the winter. Best to find this out before I commit to spending vast amounts of cash on a place in London
   
5. As my times are (still) getting quicker, best to get a quick course in for a PB before age catches up with me and the Rotterdam course is supposedly as flat as a pancake
   
6. I haven't yet run Rotterdam and it is reckoned to be OK with around 20.000 runners and plenty of drink stations
   

Did I get a ballot place in FLM 2007?

No posts for a couple of weeks as I have been waiting to see if I have a place in the FLM 2007. But, I don't know yet. I realise that this sounds a bit daft but that's the truth. My cheque was cashed on Nov 2 which probably means I do not have a place. But I cannot remember if I bequeathed my cheque or not.

So, I must wait until e Dec. I wish FLM would send out confirmation emails - would be so much better than waiting for a letter. On the other hand I imagine the organisers love the fact that thousands of runners don't know whether they are in or not...... gives them a power they would never normally have.

I really don't think I have a place, otherwise I think my cheque would have been cashed on October 31 looking at the various threads on so now I must decide if I want to try for a charity place (probably not) of if I buy a place through one of the Dutch travel companies.

Note to self - next time try and smile when you approach the finish

The secret of my Amsterdam success

I was so not looking forward to running Amsterdam due to a number of injuries, niggles and general lethargy that I think, by default, I have cracked the art of this running lark.

Total apathy before and during the race seems to have worked. Before the start I was at the ubiquitous exhibition for about two hours and whilst taking my time to get changed, was totally relaxed. In fact I was yawning so often I thought I was about to fall asleep. A quick coffee 30 mins before the race, a run to the loo and then off to the start line.

With about 10 mins to go before the start I decided on my race strategy - if was to get anywhere near 1:45 then I had to get the first 10km out of the way in under 50 mins. That would put me at least in with a chance. Knowing that I had not done the training mean't that it was more than likely that come the 18-20 km mark I would have very little left in the tank and as such would be running on air.

And that is exactly what happened. A 47:12 min first 10km.

So the plan worked. As I flaked out towards the end (I ran the 20th km in 5:30) I knew that the start had given me the chance to get under 1:45 for the first time. So onto the next challenge. A sub 3:50 FLM 2007 (now that would be something!). But I suppose I had better get a place first before getting too excited.

As for Mrs. B - well, what a performance. Myself. KB and CB all thought she had come in the top 10 as we could not see any more than 8-9 women in front of her. However, we are talking female runners here and as such there must have been a few women who ran past us who, not to be too impolite, looked more like men. You see, that's what happens if you train too hard.....

Amsterdam results

Quick post - more to follow this evening.

Bedders - Half Marathon - 1:44:42 - a new Bedders record smashing the previous best by nearly 3 mins.

Mrs. B - 10km - 43:24 - 21st women home - new Bedders family record

Overall a very satisfactory day..........

Running 571km burns up 68.900 calories.......

With Mrs. B talking about how she is going to reduce her mileage this week in advance of Amsterdam, it is as much as I can do to generate any enthusiasm for the event at all. I will run but am really in no shape at all. Ran 9km this morning (44:50 mins) but the thought of having to run a further 12km next Sunday is not a nice one. If it was in 6 weeks time I may have been able to get ready for it. But it's not.

Anyway, a little statistic to keep me motivated. Since I bought my Garmin on May 14 2006 I have run a total of 571 km, at an average pace of 5:16 per km, have burnt 68,900 calories (thats' the good figure) and averaged 141 HR. Just thinking how much worse I'd feel today if I hadn't done all that. Add that to the 110 km I have done on the bike and I think I feel a lot better.

All is not well

Too much travelling on business, a common cold and the niggly little calf injury that refuses to go away means that it has been a bit quiet on the Bedders running front over the last week. The Amsterdam half that I had such high hopes for is now a case of just trying to finish in a half decent time. Frankly if I can get under 1:50 I'll be pleased which is about 5 mins more than I had planned for.

What annoys me most is that there is no real reason why I should have this injury - maybe it's just my legs are fed up with running and want a rest. Last weekend I managed a 11km and a 10 km and found that yesterday back came the calf problem.

I'll go out tonight and give it a go for 8km - if all fails I 'll just stop running until Amsterdam (10 days away) and pretend it's a planned-for taper.

Running again

After enough numb bums for a life time I went out tonight for a run to test my calf. Anyone who has run after an injury knows that the first run back is like treading on egg shells - you are feeling all sorts of pains and trying only to find those pains that are familiar - and not the pain that lead you to have the rest in the first place. But running is so more relaxing than biking. No one to worry about running over for one.

Anyway, 6km and relatively pain free. Whether I will be in any shape to run Amsterdam is another matter. Travelling back to UK this week so will try a 10km tomorrow as I simply cannot face another hotel treadmill experience so I must get my weekly mileage in before Wednesday.

BTW well done RFC v Man Utd on Saturday. Fantastic result.

All pumped up

Back from a business trip to the Middle East this morning and very pleased to get back home. I love the Middle East and IMHO it is a region of such wonderful opportunity if you are prepared to put the time in. But the flight out was poor and KLM please take note that giving me a bottle of Champagne when I am just getting off a flight into Dubai as an apology for my video screen not working, is not really what you need. A free upgrade next trip? now that's more like it.

So, still nursing my calf, will try and go on the bike later this evening. Have not run a single km since last Saturday's calf- busting run so I am champing at the bit to get out later.

And Mrs. B has told me that she has just pumped up the bike tyres which means I assume that my bum when I get off, will not be quite so numb as the last time I rode it.

KB becomes a teen and Bedders goes biking

Sorry KB. I forgot to mention the fact that a few days ago you became a teenager. It only really dawned on me at 02:00 Saturday night/ Sunday morning when you and your mates were having a sleep over to celebrate and WOKE ME UP! Anyway, many happy returns........

With the Bedders left calf really playing up I have decided to stop running for at least a week and maybe 10 days. If I stand any chance of being ready for Amsterdam half in 4 weeks time I have to keep up the exercise - so, it's on with the clippy little shoes and off on the bike. See pic for proof.

Life on the ocean waves

After my 6km run yesterday under severe jet lag conditions I can confirm that indeed I have pulled my left calf muscle. It all started on the running machine at the JW Marriott in Asia - and while I thought I could run it off yesterday I wasn't able to. So a week of enforced rest with 4 weeks to go to Amsterdam. It's going to be close to get ready for my record breaking run. Oh well, at least it's not a marathon training schedule that has gone up the spout which would be very depressing.


So I can't join my running club tonight for the first time (maybe a blessing in disguise). While that will have to wait, pics of me on Sunday on the boat we hired for a day in Thailand (tagged onto the end of a business trip) can be posted.

Also I experienced a first on my trip home on KLM. Just as I and the rest of the passengers were getting their head down to go to sleep a lady a few rows away started shouting and screaming. All quite scary. Air hostesses ran out from where ever they were expecting a disaster to unfold in front of them when the lady in question woke up and apologised profusely .......she was having a nightmare. I must confess to waking up after having a nightmare on a plane, but can't recall waking up all the other passengers. As I say - it was quite scary. And very embarassing for the poor girl.

Back home

Quick post as after a week away, I arrived back in Holland this morning at 05:45 after an 11 hour flight back from Asia.

Hotel running machines continue to get bad press as I think I may have injured my calf while running on one last week. Anyway, as with all business trips I simply did not get the time to run as much as I wanted so it's back out tonight up and down the canal. I can imagine the local residents have missed me this week running past their windows pretending I am enjoying myself.

Nice pics to follow of a boat that Bedders and Veej took out for a day in Thailand yesterday - unbelievable day. More tonight on the blog.

Also I think I am about to join a Dutch running club. Was approached at the sign-in for the Vlietloop by a guy who either thought I had great running potential or felt sorry for me as he invited me to join the Voorschoten Running Club. Can't wait till club night tomorrow.......!

And the silver medal goes to........

Having been away from the computer for a few days and experiencing the joy that is to be had by flying in and out of a UK airport at the moment, it was a relief to get back to Holland. Yesterday was the Vlietloop (I got the name wrong on previous posts) and after waking up to dreadful weather Bedders and Mrs. B were the only two of the clan to make the start line. CB and KB decided that it simply wasn't nice enough to run and they had not put in enough training.

For what it's worth I ran the 10 English Miles (as it was described - which worries me as I thought a mile was a mile and there were no regional differences) and Mrs. B ran the 10km, which actually was 10.3 km as for some unknown reason they can't move the start line 300 meters forward.

Anyway, all you need to know is that Bedders ran the 10 English thingies in 1:19:09 which was slightly quicker than planned, and Mrs. B, surpassed even her own high standards and came second in the ladies 10-and-a-bit km. Yep, second place. The first podium place for a Bedders in living memory - in fact in history. The best bit was which was worth waiting for was the announcer's attempt at Mrs. B's name - it was all over the place and took him at least 15 seconds to get out. Can't wait to see the local papers this week to see how he had spelt her name on his "winners" list.

So off on a business trip this week and my attempt at running on those frightfully difficult hotel running machines in anticipation for Amsterdam.

Bedders World record attempt at the 800m - lightening assisted

It would have been comical if you had witnessed it as a spectator, but let me tell you tonight I ran my fastest km ever. Some athletes are drug assisted, some wind assisted but I was lightening assisted.

It was drizzling when I set this evening on a straightforward mid week run. Everything going to plan- nice low HR and averaging 5:10 for a km. Fine. But at 7km into the 8km run, the sky suddenly bacame as black as night and an almighty crack of thunder flew above me, well probably many kms above me, but nevertheless I did not feel like staying around to find out more. I flew as fast as I could for the last 800m back to Chez Bedders, along a tree lined road I hasten to add, in a Bedders record time of 4:20 for the last km. Mrs B opened the door to a breathless Bedders whose HR was 170 and probably still going up. CB knew things were bad and even came to the door with a glass of water (I must of sounded grim) before I could drag myself to the kitchen.

The Garmin graph of the run I downloaded looks hilarious. It is as if I took off like a rocket.

Then the heavens opened and I mean opened. Rain like I have not seen before. Goodness knows what we are doing to our planet with global warming and all that, but if I can't go out for a peaceful 8km in the evening then what is the world coming to?

Google interference.........again

Why has Blogspot suddenly been invaded by Google things - different login, Google analytics being downloaded etc. Everything was fine before and now it takes an age to publish a page, view own blog and infact do anything that previously took seconds. It is now a pain to use when before it was pleasant.

Google -you will soon be as unpopular as Microsoft. Don't forget that users are what matters and if you loose them, you loose pretty much everything.

Like father, like daughter

Sorry to report that our full house for all distances to be run by Bedders and family at the Voorschoten Loop on Sunday is under threat for two reasons.

• Who will look after CB (8 years) when myself (43 years), Mrs. B (4x years) and KB (12 but nearly 13) are running the longer distances (they start together)?
• And KB is following in her father's footsteps and is now reporting a dodgy Achillies tendon

This may of course be a recreational injury in order to only run the 2K (which means for a bit of pocket money, she can look after CB)

But she was limping a bit last night. Quick, grab the Deep Heat and get massaging or earn some pocket money instead on Sunday. Tough choice.

A long weekend

10km yesterday and 17km this morning and so far so good. My old running partner NE turned up yesterday for a short weekend in Holland and it was great running with him again. Time just flies.

This morning was tougher - I am not used to running LSR's on my own and quite quickly get bored with having the same discussion with myself. Nevermind, next week is the Voorschoten Loop. KB is running the 2km, CB the 5km, Mrs. B the 10km and The Big B the 10 English Miles. So, a Bedders full house.

Femail underwear and pace runs

I feel I may never get over this. I am told by a good source that if one is to try running in female underwear, one may run faster. I can't believe this and furthermore, at this point, not really willing to try. I would rather run a little slower I think.

Mandy, thanks for the advice. If I ever feel the need to improve my pace then I will be in touch - using my new Skype account!!

Another box ticked

A 20km weekend - 8 km yesterday and 12 km today with another box ticked. I have run in a thunderstorm. It is as miserable as it seems - and you have an overiding feeling of just wishing you were anywhere but running. I know the chance of being hit by a lightening strike are small but it doesn't seem that way when you are out in it. Temptation is to find a dry place like under a tree.....
and wait till it passes.

The other point about running in the rain is that once you are wet, then you stay wet. In fact if it is possible to have degrees of being wet, then this morning I was extremely, very wet.

Still another 40km plus week so roll on two week time and the Voorschoten 10 miles.

Error message

After coming in from a rather pacey 7km last night I felt confident enough to jump back on the scales and check how my attempt to loose weight was going. As we have one of these trendy electronic jobs, it's not just a case of standing on them and watching the dial fly up past 80kg. This one has to think about the weight before it flashes up in front of you.

However, for me last night the scales didn't show a weight but came up with the message: "Error"

How motivating.

You've been Beddered

Goodness me. How my blog did not get into the Time's 50 coolest web sites (especially in the Timewasters section!) I don't know.

Likewise I was interested to see that the good folk at Google don't want people to keep "googling" things. Oh dear. Well I will send them a letter insisting that I will "stop Googling things" if they promise to respect the word Bedders and not use it as a verb or use my trademark on any fashionable running clothing. The Bedders trademark needs to be protected.

Almost forgot to mention I ran 9km tonight and felt great. Ave HR 142 and finished in 41:22. Perfect.

Why, oh why.....

As anyone who reads this knows, I take my rest days seriously. In fact unlike my running days I am yet to have ever missed a rest day. So after yesterday's 17km I am resting as only Bedders know's how. That normally means a glass or two or vino tinto.

I have a question that has been niggling me for the last two weeks. Why does it take only 10 days to put on 3 kg but over two weeks to loose just 1kg of that?

Everything back to normal

With myself just having run a very satisfactory 8 and 9km in the last two days and Mrs. B asking the Little Bedders if we have bought her anything for her birthday which is next Saturday, all is back to normal at Chez Bedders. (best go out and buy her a nice new bell for her bike, or something similar as she has entered a run-bike-run event in a few weeks time).

So the mileage increases as we get nearer Amsterdam. In fact whilst I have run 30km this week, the mileage needs to increase a lot quicker than it currently is but I put it down to end of summer holidays blues. I have lost a few kgs which is great news as I can now run without having to breath in the whole time. Couldn't believe the cost of Amsterdam - 37 Euros and I have my own chip!

Granny P and Grandad P turn up tomorrow if EasyJet allow them. CB and KB are very excited - delighted to see them and get a little spoiled perhaps.

Flora London Marathon 2007 application

After spending the last two evenings watching friendly football matches in Holland between ADO Den Haag and Sheffield United, and Sparta Rotterdam v Blackburn Rovers, I am of the opinion that the second love of my life, Reading FC have nothing at all to fear in the premiership this season.

Furthermore not only have I been at footie matches, I have also been keeping up with my Amsterdam schedule and running to plan - two 8km in the last two evenings.

The Flora London Marathon magazine is now out and once my copy lands in Holland I'll be applying again. I am still not sure if it is better to apply from a UK address or a foreign one - but on the basis that last year I got a place in the ballot using my UK address, I'll try the same again. Actually it probably doesn't matter either way. If I do not get in thru the ballot I will buy a place via a Dutch travel company at 700 Euros according to last year's prices. Frankly I would love to do a charity place again, but the effort to go back to the same people to ask for money is too daunting. I'll give them a years' break before doing that again.

PS well done to CM on a fantastic fourth place in the recent Geneva Triathlon. See, that lung-busting run three weeks ago at 07:45 along the coast was worth it after all! Great result.

Stop press - Bedders tries cycling

Having sold my bike a few months ago at a car boot fair for the outrageously over-inflated price of 15 Euro, I jumped on a real racing sort of bike this afternoon in an attempt to get to enjoy cycling. I do not understand where my aversion to cycling came from. I can only think that my parents used to make me cycle all the way from home every sunday am to play table tennis and it was forever against the wind when all the other people got a lift from their parents and I therefore hated it. As that was nearly 30 years ago it was time to move on and try again.

Not a great deal has changed apart from the bike itself, the gears, the brakes, the saddle and the clippy little shoes that you now have to wear. And although I only cycled a few kms I really enjoyed it. Tour de France never, but tour de Vlietland lake - maybe.

Have run 45 km this week. Biggest week since Flora London Marathon and all wrapped up with a 12km at ave HR 133 today. The afternoon was spent in the boat negotiating our first Dutch lock. Nothing to it......

Cold showers

Thanks to everyone who has supported my attempts to get back to a decent weight over the week - including Mrs. B who has produced a damm good salad a couple of nights this week to eat for supper. I am now signed up for the Amsterdam Half on October 9 and trying to get motivated to keep up with the Hal Higdon Half training program.

This week has gone well. I have felt pretty grotty after running, but have kept to the schedule which in itself is a victory. Have run 3 times and each time felt like I have been pulling a large truck behind me such is the excess baggage. However, on Wednesday I did manage an 8km in 39:15 with HR at ave 140 so must be getting better. And the scales last night said 79.3 kg.

The week would have been a whole lot better had our hot water boiler not broken down resulting in much swearing and cold showers for Bedders post-run. Grandad Brian was not impressed because we did not have one of those awfully expensive but frightfully sensible service contracts in place. You live and learn.

Anyway, with my weekend running partner having run off (literally) to the UK I am now thinking about joining a local Dutch running club - the Leiden Road Runners. I have no experience of such clubs either in UK or NL so am a little unsure as to what kind of group I will be joining. I know that it will help my motivation (and my Dutch) but just not sure what these clubs are like. Best try it for a few weeks and report back - anyone got any views on running clubs generally? Will I be forced to wear their Club colours when I run?

Forgot to mention - going back to a post sometime ago when I said that everywhere I ran, someone in a car tries to stop me to ask directions to a place that I don't know, well, can you believe it, it happened in Chamonix in France. I ask you - do I look french? "Je woon niet in de ville" - was my awfully quick and completely double Dutch/French reply when stopped. That will teach them.

A slightly larger Bedders returns from holiday plus latest news

What a superb holiday. Many, many thanks to T, C and l & m for a wonderful time in France. Such lovely company, such great weather and truely one of the nicest breaks we have had. We then spent 4 days in the Alps in Chamonix where I spent the whole time trying to dig deep into my memory of my geography degree and explain to KB how and what glaciers were. She must have been so bored by the end of it - more like a school trip than a holiday.

But, moving on, I just knew it. My experiment to prove that you cannot eat 3 croissants per day together with copious amounts of pate and cheese, drink a bottle of wine and exercise only once every two days worked. I am now lumbering around at 82kgs and time has come for the experiment to end.

In Chamonix I decided that the fact I was out of breath running for 5km was down to altitude. Having stepped on the scales last night I can confirm that it was sheer weight of body.

My Garmin tells me I have worked off over 8000 calories in the last 2 weeks which means my calories intake must have been fantastic. I think I deserve a pat on the back for eating and drinking so much without actually exploding.

So some DRASTIC ACTION IS NEEDED:

1. Apply today for my start number for Amsterdam Half on 9 October
2. Apply to run the new 10 mile distance at the Vlietloop in Voorschoten on 3 September
3. Find a few 10kms in the next few weeks

Also stop eating so much. Target weight 77 kgs by October 9.

Latest news - finished a 11.5 km run today in an OK time for a biggie (59 :45) and felt dreadful.

Latest, latest news - said good bye to my training partner and mate NE with a farewell curry and bottle of wine, who tomorrow travels to the UK to start a new job. All the best in UK. I hope you and E and T settle in quickly and keep in touch. Sad to say, but running will not quite be the same again.

The return of Patches the dog

Those who follow this blog will know that I do not like dogs. Well that's OK - dogs don't like me either. The same bloggers will also know that CB and KB aren't that fond of dogs (however Mrs. B loves them), so this weekend, against all odds, Patches the dog returned to chez Bedders for a couple of days, while Mr. and Mrs. Patches were away. Actually this time around, compared to last time at Christmas, when CB spent nigh on a whole week standing on the armchair for fear of being eaten or something, I can confirm that Patches has was warmly welcomed - after being bitten and licked a few times, you tend to get used to it.

In fact CB and Patches are now best mates. See pic.

BTW I also ran 11km yesterday and 12km today in quite breathtaking heat. In fact I was stopping after 5km each time to take on a drink (as usual at the moment I am carrying 1 litre SIS Blackcurrent/water mix). I as so pleased that this summer I am not training for an Autumn marathon. Tomorrow I will register for the Amsterdam half - nice and easy.........for all those training for Sept/Oct marathons, you have my admiration this year. Last year was a grotty summer - perfect for marathon training!

Seeing that the temps are predicted to be 35 + degrees in Holland over the next week, Family Bedders are off to cooler climes - south of France, to bit a bit of cool climate training.

Paparazzi and all that

With the help of KLM I returned back late yesterday from my altitude training camp in Mexico city (aka a business trip of three days) and I can report that my red blood cell count is now very high and I am anxious to find a race in the next 24 hours that I can run to show my new found fitness levels off. Unfortunately I am not sure it quite works that way and so my 2 x hotel gym treadmill runs of 45 mins each will have to go to waste. But there is no doubt that during those runs it was very easy to get out of breath. And I blame the altitude.

Am still trying to loose another 2 kg before I go on holiday next week. Looks like I'll just have to take some extra large t shirts with me and hope no one notices my girth. I will have to swim only after the hours of darkness

Can't wait to get away with some lovely friends of ours in Holland who have a fantastic house in France. So a week of great company, great b-b-q's, great wine and a whole lot of fun. KB likes it for celeb spotting as well......I hear that Mr and Mrs Rooney are nearby this week so just missed them, but roll on the real celebs next week - Bedders and Mrs. B!

...........don't you just hate all those paps?

High altitude training

Sitting here in Mexico in my high altitude training camp makes Holland seem a million miles away

Clowning around

KB centre

Better late than never

It always happens to me. Guaranteed. Put your life savings on it. A dead cert..........if I have to get back home from a long run at a certain time, I get lost and end up being very late.

I know that sounds stupid, but no more stupid than how I felt this morning when I looked in the mirror. "Time to go for a long run", I said to myself (how do you loose 3kg in two weeks anyway?). So armed with a litre of SIS Blackcurrent drink (if you have not tried it, please do, it is lovely) I set off, felt good at 4 km and went to try and find a new route home.

Fatal mistake. You know that road that you have seen from your car 100 times that looks like a good stretch to run? Well, when you are running, why does it seem to cease to exist? So I end up charging home through the local undergrowth, risking calf and achillies, arriving 15 mins late with Mrs. B standing outside the front door (had she been brandishing a tea towel, it would have reminded me of when I was about 8 years old and dragging myself away late from a football match with my mates, with my mum waiting for me because I was late for my tea). I mean, it's not as if I do it every night and I thought at 43 years old I could stay out as long as I wanted, but KB needed to be picked up from a party and Mrs. B had to go out spinning or something.

So Olympic record speed shower (you know, one of those when you get out of the shower sweating more than when you got in) and off to pick up KB.

Did she mind that I was 10 minutes late?...... not at all in fact I am sure she would have appreciated me arriving at least 20 minutes later!

Ever felt that you were in one of those situations when whatever you did you were never going to win? I think I will go off to the bottom of the garden for a quiet drink (see pic) before it rains.

Spring time marathons have their attractions

I know come December I will look back on tonight's missed run with incredulity (if that is how you spell it). It was simply too hot to run. Too humid, too hot and that's it. For all my blog friends training to run Abingdon, Singapore, Berlin and a little later Chicago and then New York, you just have to grin and bear it and get out at the crack of dawn. I reckon past 10.30 in the morning and that is it. I am so glad I am not having to stick to a marathon or half marathon schedule yet as I think I would be well and truely behind. (Abingdon- Singapore- Berlin has a kind of ring about it doesn't it)

Also am I the only one in the world who gets extremely irritated by kids toys and stuff appearing at home, on the floor, in the lounge? Designed to cause injury to unsuspecting runners. With CB and KB having more room than I know in which to throw their junk why does it always appear under my feet in the one room in the house that Mrs B. and I have some claim over? And why do kids always leave their stuff just where they want? The concept of tidying up is alien.....and if I see another felt tip pen on the floor, abandoned, then I swear I shall not be responsible for my actions.

Oh well, must have been a bad day at work - no run and kids c**p to contend with. Roll on tomorrow.

A BLUE FELT TIP PEN HAS JUST APPEARED - must go

We are never happy......too hot, too cold....

Running today 12km was more difficult than running FLM in April. With the temp at around 25 degrees and it being humid I really did wonder at about 6km whether I was going to get round. This being a 12km loop I had no other option but to continue. After my experience in Chicago last September I am so careful to run and keep asking myself if I feel the same as I felt then If the answer is yes then it's stop time. Thankfully I ran with water but it was tough. Now I know why I prefer to train in the winter for marathons. I know in previous blogs I have moaned about the cold weather, wind and rain, but frankly I think I prefer that. The altneraive is to do what NE and I did last year amd get up at 06:30 for the long runs in the summer. But it is still difficult.

Having spent most of yesterday outdoors, today is the same. So ahoy there shipmate, it's time to cast away, get on the boat and join the rest of Holland on the canal this afternoon.

London + 1.5kg

After the sad demise of the Bedders bicycle last week and a bit of travel on business, this has been a practically exercise free week. I have only ran twice and I must say that last night I began to feel for the first time since London a little less than fit. I did weigh myself and found that I had put on just 1.5kg since FLM which I guess is not that bad. Ran a pretty standard 8km last night and would have been in quite a good time if the bridge that I run over had not been lifted up for a boat to go under. Each bridge lifting exercise in Holland takes between 1:30 - 2:30 mins depending on how many boats eventually go through. But as I say with the heat and the fact that I am ruinning less, then it just did not feel easy.

But I have proved one thing. The less you run the fewer injuries you get. Since running London and after my 4 week post marathoin run-free period, I have tried to run at least 30km per week or alternatively burn 3.000 calories. This is the first week since FLM that I will not have done that.

Two weeks to go before I start my half marathon training program for Amsterdam, so I guess enjoy it while it lasts.

Bye bye bicycle.....

I am not sure what is more painful - watching England play football at the moment, running 8km in the heat or standing in the rain all afternoon at a car boot fair. So I did the lot today and reckon that watching England wins.

Car boot fair was helped by KB who told me that I was in danger of under pricing things. But what price do you charge for a kids bike that only just works and a bike that last night nearly sent me headling into a canal due to dodgy brakes? In fact my bike is a standing joke here and all was well until last night I decided that it must go. Funny thing is that I have only cycled around 100 km on it (at a push) and it is a wreck. Teach me to buy British in Holland (it was a Dunlop bike - they should stick to Green Flash training shoes if you want my opinion)

My biggest fans

Because I am not running to a particular schedule at the moment, my body seems to be totally shocked and disturbed when I go out for a slightly longer of faster run than normal, Hence my 11km pace run two nights ago took some recovery. And it is clear to see the HR higher now than it was two months ago. Nothing for it but to get into a training pattern and plan a few races in the next few weeks to get me back on plan.

Pic of me and the girls on Fathers Day (sorry about the socks!!) Amazing how the girls are looking more like Mrs.B every day.

Too much travelling

Now back in Holland, hayfever seems to have disappeared completely (bit like my running schedule) and am back in my own bed after sleeping 4 consecutive nights in different ones - Somerset, Holland, London and Prague. Amazing how comfortable your own bed is compared to beds in hotel rooms.

Running tonight and have just noticed that the Amsterdam Marathon (or half marathon in my case) will be on October 15 - so, best check out the Hal Higdon Half Marathon training plan.

Received an email from NY Marathon today offering me a place if I raise charity money. Having just done that for London I just don't think I can go round again with my begging bowl - shame, but however you do it, it is difficult raising charity money first time around let alone trying again 6 months later.

Hayfever and running

Don't read this post while you are eating.

I can confirm that there is nothing quite as horrible as having a hayfever sneezing bout and trying to run at the same time. Even worse than that, all this happens whilst I am running with Mrs. B whom we know from previous posts frowns upon the clearing of ones throat whilst exercising. Heaven forbid if you innocently try and clear your nose.

So, I must have sneezed about 20 times on the bounce (twice) whilst running through the pollen laden lanes of Somerset yesterday. As if running and sneezing is in itself not enough of a challenge, (you tend to veer violently to the left as you sneeze I found), try that whilst at the same time defing yourself the luxury of clearing your nose. It's horrible. Not for publication before the watershed. Because you end up with hayfever-snot flooding down your shirt. See, I told you it wasn't pleasant. I got to the point, in 28 degrees of heat where you simply cannot breathe any longer through your nose and as such, you become so thirsty it gets beyond the point of fun.

Breath through your nose and start sneezing or breath through your mouth and suffer dehydration.

Nice choice.

That and turning up home after the run at the in-laws to find that everyone has had tea and left you little to eat sums it up as a tough run.

Does it ever get too hot to blog?

Just wondering.

Never happy

Never happy are we? To cold to run in the winter and too hot to run in the summer. Having said that anyone who enjoys running in this weather needs to book themselves in and have a check over. Went out on Sunday evening (probably around 30 degrees) and it felt as if I was never going to finish. I am slightly nervous of running in the heat after my experience in Chicago 18 months ago, but how people can run in hot climates and train for marathons etc is beyond me. The only way to do it is to get up very early (not for me) or go our very late (not for me either).

This Sunday is the local Leiden marathon. I bet the organisers are praying for rain and cooler temperaturs otherwise they may have a medical nightmare on their hands. Ice bath anyone?

Mrs. B and CB went out on Sunday for a 3 hour hack on horseback. Expecting to be fed and watered (horses and riders) they stopped after about an hour and were given half a cup of 7 Up. See, we should be thankful for the hundreds of water stations that are manned each year by volunteers when we run!

If the temp falls below 25 degrees then I will be back out tonight. I am still keeping up my mission to run off just over 3.500 calories per week, but I reckon the copious amounts of white wine I am drinking to stave off dehydration mean that I should really double this. Roll on the winter!

Who invented speed sessions?

I have always felt that I am a one-speed runner - quite happy to run along at a comfortable pace. Feeling tired after a run, but never really pushing too hard and deep down knowing that there was more in tank if I needed it. But on the back of the fact that I want to get my half marathon and ultimately my full marathon time down to 1:45:00 and 3:45:00 respectively, I decided to try something a little different. In my quest to develop an ever changing and varied training program, last night I tried a speed session for the first time in ages.

My summary is that whoever designed these sessions as supposed fun was either a serial sadist or purely out to cause as much physical misery to runners as possible. It was tough. Maybe my target was too high or perhaps I am not fit enough to give one of these a go, but nevertheless it was tough. I ran only 7km but was doing 800m fast with a 200-300m jog in between and it never felt like it was coming to an end. My Garmin graph summary of the run (if you know what that means) is all over the place.

And did I feel any better? Nope, just knackered. Can't wait to next week's session (see, we have such short memories).

Smoke gets in your eyes

Just back from a 10 km run which is slightly worrying as the Sunday run should be my long slow run and I am afraid it was neither long nor slow. I really must get myself booked into a race to get the motivation going. Still my Garmin tells me this week I have run 33 km, have used up 3.800 calories and my av HR was 140. Not bad I suppose if you add to that the fact that I have had a practically alcohol free week in my "new me" attempt at keeping fit. Amazingly I have also not grabbed too much chocolate either, so all in all a bit of a success.

Went out to the Blue Tram restuarant last night in Voorschoten as a kind of last minute thing as the people we were going to meet up with called off due to food poisioning. Whilst I was quite happy to stay indoors, Mrs. B reminded me that it was last August since we actually went out for meal togther on our own, so, feeling extremely guilty and with my head held low we went to the restaurant - and it was so good we have booked it up again for this Thursday. It is one of the few restuarants we have found that has a smoking free area in which to eat. All restaurants should have this as requirement in my view - why should I have to suffer other people's smoke while I am eating?

More techie stuff and a 5km run

I really am getting back into this running lark slowly after the London Marathon. Ran 5km on a hotel running machine yesterday and as I got back reasonably late from a trip tonight did not go out at all today. I need to book myself into a half or full marathon asap to get some focus. It seems that the Sunday run is the one run in the week that I religiously still do. Thankfully that is also the long run. But I must try and get back to 35-40km a week otherwise I can see my girth slowly expanding. Not a pleasant site.

Also I was pointed today towards a great internet site that audits your PC. You name it, it checks it for you - IP addresses, security patches, internet speed etc.... A fantastic if somewhat scary site. In the next few weeks I am going to embark on an SEO (Search Engine Optimization) execise for this blog and will let everyone know how it goes. Sounds good in theory. We shall see.

The DELETE MY BLOG button

Playing about tonight on this blog and I went to the SETTINGS TAB to change my profile.

Can the people at Blogspot be aware that I was about half a centimetre away from the DELETE MY BLOG button, when in fact all I wanted to do was SAVE SETTINGS.

I wonder how many have actually deleted their blog without wanting to and whether it is retrivable? Can you imagine that.

BTW it's still raining in Holland.

Would all Business Class passengers board at their leisure

OK so a 17km run yesterday in my New Balance 1221 and all is (nearly) forgiven. They are not as bad as my first review underneath suggested. Still a little bit tight and a small blister started to appear around 15km but the shoes are redeemed for the time being. And as for my new toy, then blimey, these Garmin 305's are damm good. I know they look a little bulky on the arm but what they don't do isn't worth doing! The best running gadget I have seen. The next development must be a microchip that sits neatly in your ear and just reads out your pace, time, HR etc...

NE and myself are still discussing whether to do NY and buy a place through one of those International travel agents. One of the key deciding factors will be whether the travel company flys with KLM or not. You see I am not prepared to fly back from NY economy class after having run halfway round Manhattan. I am prepared to put up with the dodgy hotels that these companies choose for you, even prepared to share a room (only with NE) however, call me fussy, but if the travel company flys KLM then we can use our airmiles to upgrade to business class. If not, then no go. I may be able to fly economy out to NY but coming back, knowing how ropey I felt after Chicago there is no way I am flying back in anything but business class. Anyway, it shouldn't be called Business class as I so rarely see people in it doing any business - it should be called Bedders Class, something for the discerning traveller. Soft pillows, fine wines, full English Breakfast on demand and nobody who snores allowed on.

Anyone out there cabbed a Delta?

You know when you are becoming a nerd when you feel up for a debate on the merits of the New Balance 1221 v New Balance 857's. Sadly I have reached that point. Knowing that I feel an expert in this feels a little like declaring that I used to go trainspotting or even worse that I once went bird spotting. (But I have cabbed a Delta so anyone out there who wants to discuss the merits of the Delta v the 125 need look no further.........oh dear)

Anyway, now I have two shoes to compare then I am going to bore you and give you my "just had two glasses of wine" review.

New Balance 1221 - look good, feel narrow on the foot, good cushioning and feel pricey (if you know what I mean). However, not that comfortable and a tendancy to start rubbing on the foot arches. Blisters quite possible,

New balance 857 - less cushioning, not as soft as the foot hits the ground, but wider and no tendancy to rub. More of a stability shoe than cushioning but gets my vote over the 1221 and is considerably cheaper.

So after swearing blind never to use anything other than New Balance 1220 ( 1999 model) I declare the 857 my fav and therefore future marathon shoe.

BTW I wish it would stop raining. If UK is short of water then come over and set up a hose pipe here back to the UK and all your problems would be solved. We have water by the canal load.

New York marathon but not this year

Have just received my email from the NY Marathon people and was told that I had not succeeded in getting a ballot place. I am not sure whether to be upset or pleased. One of the main reasons for doing it would be to complete one of the "top 5" marathons of which I NE and myself have already ran 3. On the other hand, do I really fancy a third summer of marathon training?

Probably not. So, let's move the goals. A half marathon Bedders-record-attempt in Amsterdam in October followed by another Flora London Marathon in April 2007.

That sounds better........

Mr. and Mrs. B on Tower Bridge

Well worth a post I thought as although Mrs. B and I started on different start points for FLM, we actually met up on Tower Bridge (see post below). A kind photographer from marathonfotos just missed capturing the moment. But if you look carefully, on the extreme left hand side of the photo, you can just make out Mrs. B in a bright yellow CF running top. The chances of us meeting up were about 1:35.000 and the chance that we would be photographed together even less. Just in case the pic is too small I am the rather fit and hunky looking runner with the name Bedders on the t shirt looking as if I am leading the way. Check out here for more marathonfotos

It's back!

After a few weeks of resting the legs and resting the mind the Go Bedders! blog is back.

Quite a lot has happened in the last four weeks - in fact it's safe to say that just over a month ago I could never have predicted the roller coaster I would have been through. One day I'll blog it, but until then, I am pleased to say things are quickly getting back to normal.

In readiness for the next marathon I have spoiled myself and bought two new pairs of running shoes (I don't actually like either pair yet) and a new Garmin 305 watch that is just a great running toy. Nothing more and nothing less than a toy to put on your wrist and marvel at. A must for any runner who wants to know everything about the run they have just been on.

Family Bedders update - CB still loves her horse riding and KB has just finished a series of school tests. See pic of KB and fav. horse. Do you notice that they both have the same hair style for a fringe?

BTW KT has a new design for her web and it is great. Abit modern for me, but wait a few weeks and I am sure this blog will look similar. Click through here to see it

Due to a current lack of a marathon training program on the back of the fact I am not down for one yet, this blog may stray in to areas previously unchartered.......so let's hope I can find a marathon quick before everyone is bored to tears with my ramblings.

Go Bedders!

Official FLM result (including splits)

Results for:	Bedders

Runner No.:	11059
Nationality:	GBR
Club:
Position (Overall):	11295
Position (Gender):	9372
Position (Age group):	1786

Splits
KM10:	0:55:44			KM20:	1:50:21
HALF:	1:56:17			KM30:	2:47:31
KM40:	3:46:46			FINISH:	3:58:39

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New shoes

It is said that after a marathon you are at your most vulnerable to catching sore thoats, coughs and colds. Well I seem to have contracted two of those which has put paid to my run today that I had planned. I suppose the threoy is that after taking so much out of your body for a marathon your immune system is less than perfect and hence you are more like to catch something. Shame that I am speaking at a conference on Tuesday and Wednesday in London but I am sure a few Strepsils and I will be fine.

So this gives me good time to plan for the next bit of equipment I need, namely a new pair of running shoes. It never ceases to amaze me how worn out a pair of running shoes become with the training and running of just one marathon. For the last three years I have run with New Balance 1220 and now that the only way I can get them is via the internet from USA I think a change is needed. Being a creature of habit this will not be easy. But best to change now rather than mid way through a training program. It is Queens Day in Holland today where, for just once in the year the Dutch people let themselves enjoy themselves................ and get drunk. Just like a normal Saturday in UK but a special day in Holland. Hence few running shops are open and hence I will not buy my new shoes until next week.

So what's next?

Now I can walk properly and I don't need help getting downstairs, the next period of time allows me to focus on the next challenge. I have already applied for a place in the New York Marathon in Nov. But as the chances of getting into this are small I have now worked out a contingency plan. If I don't get a place at NY I will attempt the Bedders Half Marathon record in October in Amsterdam. At the moment this stands at 1:47 so should be a doddle to beat that (full of confidence you see after I broke the 4-hour mark in London!). It also means I only need to do a 12 week training program rather than the 18 week Hal Higdon for a full-on marathon.

In fact the next marathon I run (either NY or London again) I am going to look for a new training program. No real reason, just that I have used his program (intermediate 1) for three marathons now and it is time for a change. So any ideas would be gratefully accepted.

Also, I think the next barrier to get through is to try and run a 1:45. That would be cool.

And to make things a little worse it looks like my all - time training partner and mate is leaving Holland to new challenges in England. So I will also probably be on the look out for a new LSR partner. Anyone reading this and who fancies getting up early most Sunday mornings for a nice long run, you know where to contact me. Somehow I think there won't be many takers which will be a shame. Perhaps I'll have to poress gang someone. Hmm, I think I know who......

OK. Back to the sofa and, all being well, I'll be back out on Saturday for my first post FLM run. And in truth, I can't wait.

When the going gets tough........

Difficult to know where to start but I think I will do two versions - the "non runners" version and the "runners" version, so take your pick.

Non runners version - well it was a great atmosphere, lots of runners and terrible weather. Anyone out there reading this, who has thought about doing the Flora London Marathon or has thought about doing any marathon, then please read this. So many people are increasingly thinking " hmm, I could do that. Lots of celebs, lots of large type people and well, I can walk all the way if I need to. I think I'l give it a go". When I started this blog I said " If just one person reads this and take up running then I think I will have succeeded". But please, seeing so many people on Sunday falling (literally) by the wayside makes me think that with marathons generally having such a high profile, many, unfit, unprepared people think they will just give it a go. That is fantastic but please, please train for it. If you do train and run a marathon, you will never experience anything like it in your life. You will learn a great deal about yourself and feel that nothing can top the feeling of crossing the finish line.

Runners version - anyone who has run a marathon knows that feeling in the pit of the stomach when you are standing on the starting line and waiting to go. You cannot describe it. It's even worse of course when it is raining. As it was on Sunday. Do I wear a cap? Do I wear a rain jacket? But the weather at FLM was in hindsight perfect for running. Wet, drizzly and overcast with no wind and very little sun.

Once the gun went it was a real relief. I had worked out that for every km of marathon I had to run I had trained 21 km. That gives you a tremendous sense of confidence. My splits were bang on until 30km when I started to get tired.

I am not going to bore everyone with the fine details - suffice to say the crowds were brilliant (no chance of walking with a "come on Bedders! being shouted at you"). Two incidents worth noting.

Mrs. B and I started at different points - me on Blue and the Mrs. on Red. So it was highly unlikely that we were ever going to meet. However, running over Tower Bridge I saw Mrs. B, ran over, gave her a kiss (to the amusement of the crowd) and asked how she was getting on. "My right leg is really painful" was the reply. So, now I had the big question. Do I run on and try and hit my sub-4 hour time or do I stay with Mrs. B? Well, after about 50 metres Mrs. B said "and when I get back to hotel make sure you are finished in the bath" which, coded, mean't "off you go".

Then a few km's down the course in Docklands I saw a guy wearing the Bedders logo - mis spelt as "Beders" but nevertheles a blatant logo coyright infringment! I made the point, as I past him, that he had mis splet the Bedders name and as such was infringing copyright........cheek!

So I ended up at 40km on 3:46:46 knowing that sub 4 was possible. The last 5 km were spent focussing on the blue line in the road and (sorry Mrs. B) but a lady's lycra behind as I tried to think about anything but the pain I was in. I am sure she thought I was stalking her! (I wonder if anyone was following my lycra behind at any point?)

So, Bedders finishes in a PB 3:58:39, Mrs. B hits 4:11:39 and my training partner NE who deserves a massive thanks for helping me get through the LSR's on a Sunday ran an superb PB of 3:54. Well done mate. I am really going to miss you when you move.

And what did I learn about myself? I learnt that whatever your body is telling you at 35km you can, with positive thought and sheer determination, over ride that with sheer mental power (otherwise known as sheer-bloody-mindedness)

And does the blog continue? Of course it does!. I have applied to run the New York Marathon in November and will be back on the pavements in a weeks time. This last week has been difficult for me for a number of reasons and the one thing that I have tried to show is that with a positive mind you can achieve more than you perhaps think you can. We can only do our best and with the support of everyone around us in times of adversity stick with it and see every challenge as just another one of life's hurdles to jump over (easy to say and more difficult to do. I know that). But, with that thought, then this blog will continue. Never stop believing.

STOP PRESS: Bedders 3:58:39

Just back from Flora London Marathon after my first sub-4 hour marathon. I am delighted. Thanx for everyone's kind wishes.

More detail to follow later today - much more detail for those who can stand it.

Flora London Marathon Expo opens tomorrow

Well it is officially all getting a bit close to the Big Day. The marathon expo opens tomorrow which means it really is countdown. This is the point where I find it tremendously hard to concentrate upon anything else apart from Sunday. One more day at work then, off to London on Thursday to sign up and get my race number. I can't report any running activity today for the simple reason that I did not do any. I did walk to the shops tonight but that was it. Not only am I trying to avoid running but anyone with a cough or a sneeze gets a very long stare from me at the moment. They must wonder what is wrong with me! In an effort to keep bug free, I have had more Vitamin C in the last 5 days than I think I have had since February.

Tonight I started to pack my bag. This list of what it contains is endless. I can't begin to go through it and as such will have to re pack tomorrow and bin half of it. I am determined to keep it as hand baggage on the plane as I don't want KLM to loose my running gear for me, so will have to pack more sparingly.

One final great big thanks to everyone who has so generously sponsored us and donated to CF Trust. You are a real inspiration and when the going gets undoubtedly tough, the fact that so many people have sponsored us will give us that extra kick we need. We have raised nearly 3.000 pounds (click here for more information - it is not too late to sponsor us!) and we are truely grateful.

Please try and watch a small part of the race on TV - I know that it is being covered live by BBC - not so much to see myself and Mrs. B but more to marvel at the other 35.000 runners who have all been out training in all sorts of weather for the last 4 months just to be able to get to the start line.

And if you do see us, give us a shout. Indeed if you are there at the marathon and see me running past, give me a "go bedders" and a kick up the backside as I'll probably need it!

I am hoping to post before Sunday but if not, thanks also for following the last 18 weeks on this blog. It's been so much fun.......................a bit like Sunday eh? And come back Monday/Tuesday to see how we did.

Just back from a weekend in Blighty

After an Easter weekend training camp in Somerset (well, in-laws really) am now making myself a couple of pieces of cheese on toast then off to bed. Have kept up the running schedule until today when I did not go out as was having too much fun with Bedders Juniors on the Playstation. More updates tomorrow as I can smell burning from the kitchen......

I name this ship "the good ship Bedders"

After an uneventful 8km last night when I neither felt as if I was going fast or slow, today was a typical Friday rest day. All the runs this week completed so I went and collected my boat. CB and KB were given the stressful task of coming up with a name for the boat but couldn't agree. So I decided to name it after me - Bedders. There, that should cause a few arguements.

Anyway pic above (ignore the tree!) and no damage yet thanks to the fact that TK my neighbour helped me sail it back from the boat yard. So shiver-me-timbers, aye-aye-skipper and ahoy-there-ship-mate to everyone.

LP's do sound different from CD's - confirmed

In my extremely scientific experiment tonight I can confirm that vinyl sounds different to CDs'. Not sure why, maybe it's the scratches but there is a definate difference. So tonight listened to John Miles - Stranger in the city, OMD - architecture and morality and Pam Hall - Dear boopsie. Enough of this indulgence for now. My choice was influenced by the fact that I will try and listen only to those LP's for which I have not bought a CD replacement. And there's a rip off if ever there was one. Artists complain about illegal downloads but don't complain that over the last 15 years I have most of my record collection on vinyl, cassette and CD! Three times I have bought the same record! Not counting videos and DVDs of live concerts of which I have the LP etc.....Now it's my turn.

Ran 8km tonight. Nothing exceptional really to report apart from the fact that I do run through some lovely countryside and seeing those new lambs bouncing and running around makes me feel less likely to eat a roast this Sunday. Well, perhaps beef.

Just in case

This taper week feels like being in some kind of twilight zone. Sitting here at my desk, I really do not feel I am any fitter than when I started this London Marathon training program, although I have ran over 800km since December and used up around 85.000 calories. I have lost around 4kg in weight and look a bit trimmer, but, as I say sitting here, I do not feel fit. Hopefully when the start gun goes in 12 days time I will find out of course that I am in good shape. Actually I think I just feel tired.

I started to get my FLM kit ready last night. It takes me an age to get ready nowadays (not actually 12 days but damm near!) and I am sure that is a function of age. Why is that that the older you get, the more you seem to pack when going away "just in case"? Just in case it rains, just in case it is windy, just in case it's hot, just in case it becomes cold .........the list is endless. When I travel on business I can normally pack quickly and efficiently. Pack for myself and I am all over the place.

Family Bedders left early yesterday for a few weeks in UK. So as the house was quiet last night I dived into my LP collection which I probably do once a year. If you read this and do not know what an LP is then you are too young to be on such a site with such adult material. I won't embarass myself by telling here which LP's I played but I had an hour of so much fun. Well, on second thoughts I may do it again tonight and confess tomorrow.

The best things come in threes

I am feeing rather pleased with myself if the truth be known. Firstly NE and I have just finished a 19km run (1:55:07, ave HR 130) which went so quickly it was fantastic. It was a good pace for a LSR and felt good, even though we were nearly run over by millions of cyclists who think they own the cycle paths in Holland.

Secondly, I made sushi last night for the first time and it was really good. Easy to make and tasted great! I will be doing it again as soon as I can.

And finally yesterday morning I got up and in a flash of inspiration decided to open up and account with Ladbrokes on the internet and have a flutter on the Grand National. I couldn't believe how easy it was - and couldn't believe that I backed the winner at 12/1 and walked away with Euro 130.

Wonder what I'll do with the winnings?

Memo to self - don't rub your eyes during a run after you have recently applied Deep Heat to an aching leg.

Bedders training plan v Hal Higdon

I'm taking this tapering lark very seriously. Eating a (small) chocolate egg, having a glass of wine and planning to round off the evening with a tot of whiskey. Yummy. I think if Hal Higdon followed my plan then he would get a great deal more people to accept it.

Ran 9km tonight - nice and quick because KT was home from a school trip and I wanted to see her, catch up on the gossip and generally find out what went on.

Family Bedders excluding Bedders himself (me) are off to Blighty early on Tuesday for a final pre FLM training camp with Granny Pat, via Granny Mary.

Runners group 6 at Mudchute

10 km up-and-back the canal tonight as the length of runs thankfully gets shorter (51:35 ave HR 134) and the temptation is to get it over and done with as quickly as possible.

The other day I applied to run in the New York Marathon in Nov 2006. Don't ask me why but it seemd at $9 an opportunity too good to miss. It just happened and I know that if I wait until after the ballot, which is about a week after FLM then I would never apply as I'd be feeling too tired after London. Mrs. B applied to so, hopefully plenty of good, solid blog material to look forward to if one or either of us gets in. I am told we have a 1:4 chance.

Mrs.B cancelled her appointment with Sparky the Physio this morning so we can all rest assured that our electricity bills are not going to go up next quarter due likelihood had she have gone, we would have seen a nuclear excessive use of power. Infact it is quite possible, based on last weeks entertainment that she might still be there. I do hope the physio doesn't read this as I actaully think he is one of the very best around. Just that Mrs. B doesn't.

BTW found out I was being supported by Support Group 6 at Mudchute at FLM. This is organised by Runners World formunites who are not running and is brilliant. Beanz who I know has read this blog is also in the same group. Great co incidence and obviously we have been chosen for our good taste in blogs (rather than our ability to run)

Long hard period of tapering begins

It must be getting close to the marathon because a few people at work have been asking me "have you run that marathon yet? ". They must think I sit here and write this blog for my own good. Maybe I need to do more marketing and to be honest it's nice that people remember so I'm not complaining.

Mrs. B resorted to the long-hot-bath treatment today to sort out the dodgey legs. Still walking with a limp and a shuffle, but put it to music and it would look quite "with it". Today blamed the fact that her legs were not any better because of all the standing at the ironing board doing my shirts. I thought that may have been theraputic but apparantly not. Had trouble keeping a straight face today as she told me that she has another session with Sparky on Thursday morning. So, if your lights begin to flicker and dim, you know it because Mrs. B has been wired up.

Another 8km up the canal, but this time stopped off on the way home at the supermarket and bought a bottle of wine for tonight. Celebrating the first week of Taper (sounds like a religious festival and it very nearly feels like this has been a religious journey!)

Pure indulgence

One man and his boat. Picture by CB who did a fine job. David Bailey watch out....shame about the boat.

Mrs. B. LSR update. Mrs. B has just walked out of the house to go work (well less of a walk, more of a shuffle really) using the following words in a very random order - thighs, run, aching, again, never. Looks like she is in need of another physio session with Sparky the Electrician.

Wind, rain, cold, 32 km and 8 jelly babies.

Did you have a good weekend? Yes great. Went out for a 3 hour, 22 minute run along the sand dunes and sea front in north Holland in a howling gale. 32 km later, cold, wet, hungary, thirsty and generally stiff, it ended. What did you do?

Well, that was the last LSR before FLM and am I glad of that. It wasn't quite as bad as I made out above, for the whole run, but for the first 16km (we run out and back) I have to say that I simply did not have anough swear words to cope. Every step was horrible and much more of a mental test than sticking an arrow into my throat ( if you saw the marathon training reality program on BBC you will know what I mean). But when ne and I turned to come home, wow, wind at our backs and we flew.

32km, 3 hours:24 mins and 8 jelly babies sacrificed. Ave HR 137.

I am still trying to extract all the details of Mrs. B's LSR, but I am not getting very far. Words like s**t, c**p, h*****le and n*v*r a*a*n have been uttered, but it's all a bit unclear. Update to follow when she has calmed down a bit.

Just keep going - nearly there........

After yet another 8km last night in a reasonable time, I can still feel something in my hamstring (problem is that is is not there all the time) so will not run today and kick on tomorrow for the last 32km LSR. What is annoying is that it is not a consistant pain - as I say, more a twinge and so close to FLM there is not point in pushing now. The schedule this week since Sunday was to run 55km and I have managed 37km so not altogether bad. Add tomorrow's 32km to that and you get near 70km for the week. Makes 42 km marathon seem quite straighforward really.

Oh dear, here comes a marathon!

Maybe it's me. Maybe I am just highly strung. But I am sure I become more bad tempered and short of patience the nearer I get to running a marathon. OK. I am not an expert having only run two but blimey, if I ran anymore I would have been in a constant bad mood for the last 3 years (no change there then some may say). But this is already getting me down. Three weeks to go and I have already got into that grumpy, don't-wind-me-up-because-don't-you-know-I-am-a-highly-trained-athlete syndrome. What a LOAD OF NONSENSE. Bedders, chill out.

Junior Bedders are keeping their distance and Mrs. B is going out for a night out with the girls. Things must be bad.

So, deep breaths and lots of counting to ten - BUT WHATEVER YOU DO, LEAVE ME ALONE!!!!!

......................only 23 days to go. Unbearable.

A sideways glance

Now I know that anyone who reads this is just going to love the following story. Whilst I am the first to admit we shouldn't get pleasure out of someones misfortune, check this out. Mrs. B has a twinge in her leg. We all have twinges in our legs so close to the marathon, but Mrs. B has gone one better and has them in both legs. But that 's not the good bit. Apart from her going to the physio this morning and him seemingly wiring her up to a frankinstein type machine and going to attend another patient, it seems he forgot about her and some time later returned to find a shaking, wobbling, Mrs. B not knowing whether she could get home in time to get Bedders Juniors to school in time. She had probably had more electricity sent through her in 30 mins than that provided to an average family via the national grid in a day. But even that is not the funny bit.

Mrs B played tennis today after this extraordinary physio session and has decided that running the marathon in a straight line may be too stressful on her legs. Running sideways is fine, but running in a straight line, not so fine. So she discussed the fact tonight (with a worryingly serious face on and before she had touched a drink) that it maybe better if she ran the London Marathon sideways, as this doesn't hurt her legs. Brilliant! Mrs. B doing a sort of "crab" for 26 miles in April will have TV cameras the world over clamouring for an interview.

BTW ran 10km tonight when I was not supposed to. Nevermind. Feels OK.

Don't go Bedders!

Oh dear, here we go. Went out tonight and came back after 5km. They say it's not worth running if the run isn't going to be worthwhile and that was the case tonight. Too many reasons for not wanting to run - a strain in my leg that I am sure I can feel one minute then not the next, typhoon strength wind that made running nigh impossible and the fact that it is getting close to marathon day and I wish it was tomorrow. So no more running this week until Thursday. In fact no more thinking about running till Thursday and if anyone sees me running between now and then please tell me to go home. Will run this week Thursday and Friday to catch up.

Curl up on the sofa tonight and watch footie........after having suffered another dose of Eastenders that all the other Bedders seem to revel in. Not good enough just to watch it, we have to record it as well. And check out a website for advance warnings of what is going to happen (so why watch it?....or is this just man's logic). And watch BBC 3 for old versions and talk about it over breakfast next morning.....sometimes I feel like we live on the Eastenders set I know so much about what is going on. In fact I feel like I'm in it some days.

Delighted to report that I live in country of the cleverest people. However I wonder if the IQ of the nation has been significantly increased by the expat population from the UK coming to Holland - especially the men? (hence of course the lower UK ranking because all the clever men are over here). Nothing contentious there then.

4 weeks to go so it must be injury time

Ran a cracking half marathon on Saturday and have to say that I felt the best I have ever felt in a road run. Lots of energy left and the time literally flew by. So yesterday I went out for a 10km run - no pace, just av HR 125 but have come back with a hamstring pull. To be honest, it's not really a pull more a niggle (getting too technical am I?). I think it was some pretty agressive treatment I received from my favourite physio last Thursday am which did it, but we shall see. Only 4 weeks to go so I can afford no long term injuries now. I had another appointment for Wednesday am booked up but Mrs. B who has a thigh prob has taken it. This is pretty symptomatic of getting near to finishing the training I think but neverthelss a worry that I did not need. The body has just about had enough. So rest tonight anyway, and may hold back tomorrow before going out on Wednesday.

Big thanks to all those who know I support Reading FC and who have called, emailed and shouted out to me over the last 24 hours. It only happens once every 135 years.

Good half marathon preparation for London Marathon

As the weather was nearly perfect yesterday, and after a bout of pre race nerves from Mrs. B (she knows what I mean), we finally found ourselves running City-pier-city half marathon in The Hague. Starting right at the back of the field (great because that way you only overtake people throughout the whole race) Mrs. B and I crossed the start and finish line together. Not exactly hand in hand. In fact I was hoping Mrs. B might slow down a bit during the last 3 km but no. Finished in 1:49:49, Ave HR 145 and felt great at the end. Really could have gone on. This was more than 4 minutes inside my split needed for London so I was delighted. Not so pleased that we had to then run for the train to get home but other than that, a great day.

I am pleased for Mrs. B in that she has come back from a pretty miserable injury that has really kept her out of running for nearly 12 months so it was a great run yesterday. But I still didn't give her any of my jelly babyies - far too precious.

Why is it, and it has to be said, especially in Holland, groups of people who do sport together (running, cycling, squash) feel it necessary to wear exactly the same clothing? (normally pink, orange or yellow). Then when running decide that they must run 5 abreast on the road and with this air of arrogance, feel it their duty to not allow you to pass (probably because you are not wearing their ridiculous team colours). Prats. Oh that reminds me, where has that bizarre new sport of "Nordic Walking" appeared from? Don't people realise how daft they look dressed up in ski jackets and walking along with ski poles in bright sunny weather? Not a snow flake to be seen? Worryingly it seems to have taken off so expect to see a group of them protesting to the Olympic association for it to be included in London 2012 as an Olympic event. Not wanting to generalise (but I can because it is my blog!), but I think that from what I have seen you have to either have a beard, eat lentils or wear open toed sandels to be considered as a Nordic walker.

Also this post would not be complete without saying a big "well done" to Reading FC my club for over 35 years for getting promoted to the Premiership yesterday. URZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!

Here we go again, up and down the canal........but a bit quicker

Seemingly today was "muck spreading day" in Holland and everywhere smells appropriately stinky. Really stinky if you live near farms. So the canal run tonight was reasonably fast due to the fact that there is only so much of this kind of smell that one can stand. 8km, 41:20, av HR 137. This Saturday is The Hague Half Marathon but the weather prediction is dire. Very windy and rain. So a decision will be taken on Satuday morning as to whether it is worth doing. Worth doing meaning that if it involves getting very wet from the start line to finish in thunderous winds then frankly I'd rather not. Especially so close to London.

KB was messing about with the camera the other day and asked CB to pose for her. Here's the result - they both did quite well didn't they.

Also a massive thanks again to everyone who has sponsored us (and a gentle reminder to those who haven't but intend to). Mrs. B and I (more Mrs. B to be honest) have reached over 2.000 pounds and have now less than 500 pounds to go to hit our target. Please click here or see the link on the right of this blog for the sponsor site. Looking at some of the messages I know already that April 23 will be quite an emotional day. Can't wait!

Only 74,000 calories burned since the start

Back to the near normal 8km up and down the canal last night ( 42:34 ave HR 142) and feeling brave I did not wear my hat and gloves - silly move. Still windy, still cold and still wonder why I do it. Actually I am now beginning to wonder what I am going to do once I finish this training. My training partner told me last night that since he started this 18 week program he had used up over 74.000 calories running. I wonder what that looks like in "food"? A few hundred hot dogs perhaps? How much ice cream? Anyway the point is, what size would we be if we hadn't eaten up those calories. Scary. So, it looks as if I will have to carry on running and training or risk being invited to Celebrity Fit Club. I feel an attempt at a Bedders half marathon record coming on in the Autumn. Somewhere around 1:44 would do it.

Roman Day today at the British School

I nearly forgot to mention that it is Roman Day today for all of Year 3 at BSN. Thankfully CB has just tried on her costume and it fits. That was lucky! Perhaps I should get the Go Bedders New Business Development team to see if we can get the Go Bedders logo onto this somewhere. Well, any promotion is good promotion isn't it. Having said that branching out into retro Roman gear so soon after launching the running shirt maybe too far, to soon.

New look for Go Bedders with 30 days to go!

A new look to the blog as we are only 30 days to the Flora London Marathon and I thought I would freshen things up. Bit like how I feel today - in need of freshing up. A rest day after the LSR is always so welcome - and the thought that there is only one more 32 km run to do means that we are pretty close. Next week a half marathon warm up at City-Pier-City in The Hague. I hear that around 15.000 runners in total will be there so should be a good event.

I worked out today that by the same training week last summer (week 14) for the Chicago Marathon I had run 460 training kms, and at the same point today, after 14 weeks, I have run 630 km - so big improvement and therefore hoping that, as I have said before, that I finish at least upright.