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.