In the bleak-mid winter

Snow, lots of snow and therefore a run free day. I should be happy but would love to have got out today. It would have been frankly dangerous, so helped CB build a snow man and had a snowball fight - something all Dads have to do at some point. Must admit I was surprised at the accuracy of the snowball throwing of Bedders Junior but I suppose for kids it is in the genes. The dog has arrived and so far survived. CB is not entirely comfortable with the new arrival but not much longer to go before we give it back to it rightful owners.

Today braved the snow and went with NE (running partner) to the so-called best runnning shop in Holland. And it was very good indeed. Shame they wanted to try and charge me 30 Euros for a running analysis (free if you buy a pair of shoes) and even greater shame that they do not tell you this until after it is completed. Anyway, I bought a heart rate monitor Polar s200 so we shall see if this helps me train. (no good of course if it is snowing....)

My new shoes arrived from Road Runners in USA. I had ordered from them before and I have to say I find them excellent. Two days after confirming the order a brand new pair of NB arrive. Excellent webs site, great customer attention (I ordered by phone) and swift service. Would use them again.

Total kms so far this week 25 so must get out tomorrow and Sunday (New Year's day) for the long run. Nothing major planned New Years Eve so roll-on Sunday.

Out goes the hamster and in comes the dog

Just before I rush out in the sub zero temperatures for a 15km run I must report the demise of Lu Lu the hamster. Twas a sad day at the Bedders household yesterday because an hour before the dog came (we are looking after it for a friend for a week) KB informed us that the hamster had died. CB was very upset as it was her pet - and although she rarely cleaned the cage or indeed took it out and played with it, nevertheless it was a sad day.

Hopefully my calf will be OK. Will report back later.

Competition hotting up and we are only in January!

For the first time in about 3 years Mrs. B and myself went for a training run together on Christmas Eve. Now there are a few noticable differences between running with Mrs. B than with my normal training partner. Firstly, Mrs. B doesn't talk. Now, what's the point of going out on a run together if you don't chatter all the way round? Normallly we discuss football, gadgets, running and all sorts of everyday things, but Mrs. B prefers to concentrate. Nothing wrong with that but I am sure she was making mental notes of how I ran, my gait, my breathing patterns etc... so come April she has the competition well documented. Secondly she notices things that I don't normally notice. So when a lady ran past us, and Mrs. B mentioned that "she needs to buy a better sports bra!" I had missed the opportunity to make comment. Damm! I must be more observant next time. And thirdly, Mrs. B does not like me spitting. Now I know that sounds horrible in itself, but I don't do it every day and every sportsman I know, every now and again has to clear their throat. When we were 3 km into our run and I did, Mrs. B reacted " hmm. nice." and carried on running. She also reminded me to wash my gloves and hat when we got home......

We ran just over 8 km on Christmas Eve, and I actually ran just over 6km on Christmas day. However, I felt my left calf twinge a bit around the front of the leg (hope it is not shin splints) and so have taken a day's rest today before I attempt a long run tomorrow.

And just to make this a bit more Christmasy, here is a pic of the girls on Christmas morning around the tree.

Decision time - do I buy a heart rate monitor?

I've been thinking today that it is about time I invested in a heart rate monitor. I am not sure I know exactly what they do, or should I say how you use them but I feel that running at the moment, just looking at my watch is not really helping me improve. The questioon is, which one to buy. Also why is it that after you have submitted your Christmas list to santa that you think of a whole load of new things that you want? I have a Polar catalogue here that I am browsing as Mrs B has offered to take my "resting heart rate" in the next 20 mins and I am told that I need to be relaxed. Will run 9km today (a little later) which brings my weekly km total to around 34km.

Here comes Christmas!

Finished work until Jan 3, bought some more presents and it's beginning to feel like Christmas. Also ran 8km tonight with no apparant pain/aches etc.. Now comes the difficult period of trying to be festive but also restrained in what you eat and drink. Well forget the drinking side of it as I intend to be very festive in this area. But somehow last year I went through the whole of Christmas without eating chocolate. Can't see that happening this year.

Mrs B has decided to run the FLM for CF Trust. We will both raise money for this and this is actually one of the reasons I am writing this blog - so that people who donate money can see that I am taking training seriously and that I will, injuries aside, line up in April on the start line.

Big question for the moment is - will I find time to run Christmas day? I am sure I will feel a great deal better whilst eating Christmas dinner if I have run in the morning, but it just seems so not the right thing to do. We'll see what the Competition is planning and act accordingly.

Phew - found it again......this is all rather weird but hope you like the "new look"!

I am not entirely sure what is going on here. But, suffice to say the Blog returns. I am no technical wizard, but I had a cut out for the last 24 hours. I am not running tonight as we have guests but to keep up with the program, here is yesterday's post that didn't seem to make it.

So, day two and I ran 6km tonight. Decided that my Tuesday night run would be run at pace - although I ran the distance tonight in 30:20 so hopefully I can do better than that after a few months training. I spent the first 10 mins of the run finding I had new aches and pains that previously did not exist (especially left ankle). I put that down to the fact that this is the first week and after a few mins all was nearly well again.

As most people who know me will tell you I am not found of dogs and they are the bain of runners. How many times has a dog bounded up to you when you are running, snarling and looking generally agressive only for the owner to appear from behind a bush with one of those zip-wire dog leads that don't work and a long plastic smelly thing that holds a ball, and say something like "oh, don't worry. He only wants to play" well go and play with someone else mate!!! Running in the dark just increases the fear of unwanted attention from a dog as the shadows play games and I swear tonight I saw at least half a dozen coming for me!

Next week Mrs B has accepted the offer to look after a friends' dog for a few days. Ah, how lovely..........as long as KB and CB walk it, talk to it and keep it way from me. I am sure it is a lovely animal but me and dogs do not see eye-to-eye. Some bright spark, dog owner type always says," ah, you see, that is the problem - they can sense you're scared of them and that's why they react in the way they do towards you" Too right I'm scared!!! Anyway, roll on next week. Cute pic of dog to follow.

Help I've lost my blog!!!