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 |
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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......
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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)
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!)
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.
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.
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.
