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.