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.

Sportswear range launched - press release

So after some IT work this afternoon, we can now show the Go Bedders! range of sportswear - well the running shirt at least. This is clearly just the beginning of the development of a successful range of sportsgear that no serious marathoner will be able to do without. More details about pricing and availablity to follow. Bedders commented "we are delighted to be able to offer such a strongly branded product to the fashion concious runner who not only demands high quality product but also a well know brand name such as Go Bedders (tm) to be associated with". Paula Radcliffe unfortunately was not available for comment. Bedders also added that this range of products has been patented and that FLM 2006 will see it's debut.

LSR gets quicker - an oxymoron?

So, the long slow runs are getting quicker meaning it must be pretty close to FLM. Ran 32km today in 3:20:08 with Av HR 130. Now even I was impressed with the heart rate figure. I was even more impressed in that we ran, talked and even stopped to buy some water, and still came in 7 mins quicker than our last LSR. Most importantly we finished in the car park both agreeing that we could have run on. Well that's encouraging as there is no point in stopping in London after 20 miles and saying to people, "well, that's how far we normally run on a Sunday" is there.

Frustratingly I cannot begin the "go bedders" sportswear advertising campaign tonight as for some reason the site will not upload my carefully crafted creatives. So, we shall have to wait for tomorrow. Oh, how exciting....

Go Bedders! runningshirt launched

After a wonderful run-free two days, it's back to the tarmac tonight with an 8km followed by a tricky weekend schedule ending with a 32km on Sunday. I am just hoping that the weather at least looks as if it is trying to get better on Sunday but the forecast looks bleak.

My latest attempt to develop the Go Bedders! brand commercially has taken great strides forward as I took delivery today of the first Go Bedders! running shirt, especially designed for the Flora London Marathon. After months of planning and decisions about material and colours, it rather cleverly has "Bedders" on the front and "go bedders!", in lower case, on the back. Of course the only flaw in my product development plan is that only people who have the nickname Bedders may wish to wear it. But I am not put off as I am sure Calvin Klein thought this when he took delivery of his first pair of boxer shorts. And now look how successful he is.

Check out this new range of clothing which will be officially previewed on Sunday April 23 at around 08.00 where there will be a large running party somewhere near Blackheath (details to follow). I am expecting around 30.000 people to turn up so if you have not got a ticket by now you will, I am afraid not be able to take part.

Can't run - won't run!

For the first time in nearly 4 months I have decided tonight that even though I should be running I am not going to. It's not that I am in any way lacking motivation, more to the fact that I am away from tomorrow till late Saturday night in UK and I just fancied a night off. Add to that the fact that it is still so cold and that my leg, while not hurting is probably not going to feel any better if I run, then tonight is a night off. It is pure decadance but with 5 weeks to go I know that missing tonight will not make a noticable difference to my time at London. I have missed about 4 sessions in total since December so I can hardly feel under trained. No, tonight is a night in. I have read Pony Magazine with CB and have talked to KB about what she has done at school for the first time in weeks as I have the time.

And I have had a glass of wine. Lovely.

Back running Friday night.

Flying high on caffeine

With Mrs. B walking around all day moaning and mumbling about the instrusion on her privacy by the paparazzi during her run on Sunday, I arrive back from Kiev and after a near 3 hour flight get out and run an 8km. Clearly something to do with the amount of coffee I drank on the KLM flight, I ran 8km in 38:12 av hr 154. However, in doing so I hurt my thigh so must be a little bit careful for the rest of the week. Wouldn't want to miss a nice 32 km run next Sunday would I ?!!

Only a away for one night but KB in her attempt to help me carb load (a little early but who am I to complain) produced a superb homemade chocolate cookie and CB tells me that she has moved up to Group Three in her spelling.

Mrs. B in shock training pic - exclusive to Go Bedders!

It's a bit like those rather blurry pictures of cars that photographers take, while they are being test driven and then get bought for thousands of pounds by the sunday newspapers. Well, here is a sneak pic of Mrs. B in training. I hope I don't get sued - you know these celebrities don't like to be photographed without a layer of foundation on, but, on the other hand, it is in the public interest. (Mrs. B is wearing the black get up, shadowed of course by a 6 foot 7 inch minder).

No pics of me running my 11km today (59:03, ave HR 140) as I sneaked out of the house early.