Robert Waiting's Marathon Diary

Thank-you

2006-08-17T10:21:00.000-07:00

A HUGE thank-you to all of the heroes who supported me in my attempt to 'run' the London Marathon. I raised a great deal for the Global Village project, which enabled 4000 children to come together from around the world to learn about the Millenium Development Goals. To watch videos about the project or read articles and newspapers about the aims of Global Village, click on the link :)

http://www.globalvillage2006.org/en/festival

Day 112

2006-04-27T12:26:00.000-07:00

And so the challenge is complete.... The endless training runs, the mountains of pasta and the motivational prep talks, all - eventually - paid off, as on Sunday I completed the full 26.2 miles of the Flora London Marathon in 4 hours 36 minutes and 11 seconds. However, it was not all plain sailing (or even running for that matter)...

On Thursday I managed to injure myself quite spectacularly and despite immediate trips to casualty, foot clinics and specialist physiotherapists I found myself on Sunday morning limping across the starting line, extremely doubtful of my ability to complete this awesome task. The first two miles were very painful and I seriously considered giving up. It seemed ridiculous that I was limping so badly so early on in the race. However, with the knowledge that you were all cheering me on - either from the comfort of your sofa or in the wet drizzle of London - I had to keep going. And that I did. Exhausted, hungry and mumbling primary school songs I soldiered on. Past dragons, Mr Men, runners with bare feet, the couple getting married and even the lady who use to present Playschool (Floella Benjamin). Eventually many hours, moons and light years later I reached the finish line and stumbled into one of those foil blankets, ready to be roasted in the oven at gas mark 6.

My foot was in a fairly bad state and most of my limbs had gone on strike but the suburban Everest had been scaled and the sense of achievement was great. I am slightly disappointed that I didn't run in the time that I wanted to but as Sir Steve Redgrave reminded me on the way round 'the colour of the medal is the same for everyone, so the taking part really is the key not the winning.' Perhaps because of this when I took my medal into school the following day the majority of children thought I had won the marathon and hopefully therefore they will be inspired by my success in the future. We shall see :)

To finish this epic blog I leave the final words once again to the very talented and articulate marathon poet laureate Tom Cantrell. His poem perfectly captures the pleasure and pain, drama and silliness of the event and accurately summarises what might take me another 112 days to describe in just a few verses. Enjoy :)

In the Long run...

You’ve won the wide eyed children cried!
The golden disk, alchemist’s delight
Swung, like pendulum, whilst a thousand round eyes looked on
This hypnotic runner,
Battle bruised,
But not beaten,
The hero of the two and six mile.

The night before, the agony, the heartache,
The good will gestures cutting deep,
The anxious wait, casualty queues everlasting,
Then the start, off with a wobble,
A hobble,
The three mile finish a mountain to climb….

But no parents to carry, no excuse to stop
With a cry and waddle, a limp and a hop,
Four miles, five, now eight, nine and ten,
The ankles’ better –now everything’s hurting again!
The cheers from the faithful, the friends in the crowd,
The wobble soon wavers, he stands up straight proud!

Past Redgrave and Ramsey and no Radcliffe to beat,
Past Jade Goody out cold –there’ll be no repeat,
At last to the finish, only Gebr-sellasie to beat,
Ignoring the pain and blisters on feet,

He speeds to the finish, eclipsing the rest,
And with gold round his neck, reclines for a rest,

So to the children in the playground, when they think he won,
They are right, he’s a winner…of a very long run!

Hero(es) of the Marathon Team
Alex B, Sarah J ,Tom C, Gillian and Christien C ,Toby L, Will H, Claire P, Kiera B, Kate N, Matt H, Bomi C, Rachel V, Lilly H, Janet H, Sue B, Tim W, Natalie, Gillian A, Penny F, Anna S, Ama O, Vicky B, Claire C, Sue D, Laura R, John L, Kirsty, Terri G, Sam S, Matt G, Lucy C, Keren, Justine, Deidre, Margaret, Sima P, Sara S, Jacob W, Fran J ,Anna S, Sandra, Fiona S, Sophie S, Julia S, My Grandparents, Elis and Sheila, Katie, Vincent Cable, Ray Gearing, Peter L, Alison F, Chaz Watts, Jon Mitchell, Ann Green, Amanda T, Katherine W, Lisa Lancaster, Charlotte D, Jon Makepiece, Jem and Judith, The Rees Family, Richard Souray, Sam Morris, Becky Ison, Sheila Townsend, Heather Avingdor, Perrin Wells, Ralph Blackburn, Rachel, Rosie and Richard Cantrell, Megan Harley, Jo Harley, Jess Harley, Jo Brown, Ben Ioannou, Trevor Cummings, Wendy Cummings, Jeremy Parsonage, Denise Goodier, Jenny Richards, Gill Grant, Verity Stephens, All of the Children in 5W, the Bower Family, Jennie Kraus, Miriam Allen, Lindsey, Andrew, Oliver and Ben Fielding, Pippa, David, Beth and Laurie, Ben Upson, Sarah Downey, Judith Janes, John Head, Rosemary Helm, Ellenor and Martin Henley, Richard and Rosie, Ben I, Jeremy P, Sheila T, Jo B, Verity S, Pat, Lesley and Charles and of course my family.
I would not have started the race if it had not been for all of these amazing supporters. You are heroes for evermore:

Day 111

2006-04-22T10:10:00.000-07:00

This is it...112 days of training... 500 miles worth of running... Three races.... Over 100 heroes of the day... countless energy bars.... numerous blisters... All for one marathon.
It has been an epic adventure, which would have been impossible without all the support and encouragement of the marathon team. You have made every step worth it. Thank-you.
If you see me honk your horn, cheer, shout and stamp your feet.

Or, alternatively, you can recount this poem written by the talented London Marathon Poet Laureate - Tom Cantrell

The Runner

The hours, the painful hours,
Step by step,
Aching limb by aching limb,
The wind and rain, heavy and inclement,
The clouds threatening, dark and pendulous,
We see a lone figure with new blister-enducing trainers,
Sweat band on blond locks,
Truding his way round Her Majesty's parks.

But woe betide any who shed a tear
A drop
For this shadow, this floating
Groaning Ghost.
For here is no 'also ran',
Some each way bet,
Oh no! For here, in the gloom, the tired feet
Is a champion, a first among men!

The grass gets greener
the wind wishes him well,
and triumphant bells ring out for the 23rd
not a bird
will dare stifle his song.
The hours of torment, the runs everlasting
flower like spring
so hail Rob, our Marathon King!

Hero(es) of the Day:

Alex B, Sarah J ,Tom C, Gillian and Christien C ,Toby L, Will H, Claire P, Kiera B, Kate N, Matt H, Bomi C, Rachel V, Lilly H, Janet H, Sue B, Tim W, Natalie, Gillian A, Penny F, Anna S, Ama O, Vicky B, Claire C, Sue D, Laura R, John L, Kirsty, Terri G, Sam S, Matt G, Lucy C, Keren, Justine, Deidre, Margaret, Sima P, Sara S, Jacob W, Fran J ,Anna S, Sandra, Fiona S, Sophie S, Julia S, My Grandparents, Elis and Sheila, Katie, Vincent Cable, Ray Gearing, Peter L, Alison F, Chaz Watts, Jon Mitchell, Ann Green, Amanda T, Katherine W, Lisa Lancaster, Charlotte D, Jon Makepiece, Jem and Judith, The Rees Family, Richard Souray, Sam Morris, Becky Ison, Sheila Townsend, Heather Avingdor, Perrin Wells, Ralph Blackburn, Rachel, Rosie and Richard Cantrell, Megan Harley, Jo Harley, Jess Harley, Jo Brown, Ben Ioannou, Trevor Cummings, Wendy Cummings, Jeremy Parsonage, Denise Goodier, Jenny Richards, Gill Grant, Verity Stephens, All of the Children in 5W, the Bower Family, Jennie Kraus, Miriam Allen, Lindsey, Andrew, Oliver and Ben Fielding, Pippa, David, Beth and Laurie and last but not least all of my family. Thank-you to you all :)

Day 110

2006-04-22T06:42:00.000-07:00

So here we are. With two days to go there is little more I can do apart from eat lots of carbohydrates and watch a lot of television - a good excuse if ever there was one.
For those of you coming to cheer me on I thought you might like a preview of my shirt and number, so that you can easily spot me among the other 35,000 runners. For those of you who can't make it, think of me and this shirt on Sunday.
Thanks for all the positive support and encouragement. It is incredible and I am so touched by all the messages. Bring it on...

Hero of the Day
Vincent Cable - the Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Twickenham since 1997 has joined the marathon team. Mr Cable is a strong supporter of the Woodcraft Folk and has backed many of their campaigns in the past. On hearing about the work of Global Village, he was keen to offer his personal support and consequently offered to sponsor me. I am very grateful for his encouragement and very proud to have him on the marathon team :)

Day 109

2006-04-20T12:05:00.000-07:00

With just two days to go until Sunday my excitement is really beginning to build. It is perhaps how Santa Claus feels the night before Christmas... I have a large task ahead of me, which I have been focusing on for an awfully long time and I am now eager to simply get on with it and deliver the goods. Fortunately, I don't have the perils of chimneys to fret over...

In this post, I hope to offer a comprehensive guide as to where I will be on the course at what time. I am not promising this to be a precise account of my whereabouts on the course - I've never been one for puncutality and still believe that being 'fashionably late' is fashionable - consequently if you are coming to cheer me on please do not take see these times as fixed:

Mile 1: 10:00 - Carlton Park Lane: very crowded with runners not a great place to watch
Mile 2: 10:10 - Ha Ha Road: still very crowded with runners
Mile 3: 10: 20 - John Wilson Street: still very crowded with runners
Mile 4: 10: 40 - Woolwich Church Street: a potential viewing point but not the best
Mile 5: 10: 51 - Woolwich Road: a potential viewing point
Mile 6: 11:01 - Trafalgar Road: a bit more space and certainly quite a popular spot
Mile 7: 11:11 - The Cutty Sark: a great view and the Greenwich Foot Tunnel means you can also watch the 18-mile point but it is extremely popular, so get there early
Mile 8: 11: 21 - Venlyn Street: A potential viewing point with a pub in close proximity
Mile 9: 11:32 - Surrey Quays: A possible viewpoint with lots of pubs
Mile 10: 11:42 - Salter Road: A possible viewpoint
Mile 11: 11:53 - Brunel Road: Close to Rotherhithe Station, a potential viewpoint
Mile 12: 12:03 - Tower Bridge: A great spot but popular. You also get to see the runners as they come back past the Tower of London after 22 miles. Encouragement would be useful here.
Mile 13: 12: 14 - The Highway: Halfway, again a double viewing spot. Good but popular.
Mile 14: 12:24 - Arrow Stret: Still an opportunity to see twice - a good viewing point
Mile 15: 12:34 - Westferry Circus - a good point and with a short walk you can get to mile 19
Mile 16: 12:44 - Westferry Road - crowds thin here, so you can get up close
Mile 17: 12: 54 - East Ferry Raod - crowds thin here, so you can get up close
Mile 18: 13:04 - Marsh Wall - A potential viewingpoint
Mile 19: 13:14 - Canary Wharf - A good point but again it is quite popular
Mile 20: 13: 24 - Poplar High Street - A potential viewing point, encouragement needed
Mile 21: 13: 35 - Butcher Row - all those at Mile 14 can now see me twice
Mile 22: 13: 46 - East smithfield - a huge amount of pubs, so come and cheer me on
Mile 23: 13: 56 - Lower Thames Street - a good vantage point
Mile 24: 14: 06 - Victorian Embankment - lots of people but a good atmosphere
Mile 25: 14: 16 - Westminster - a good vantage point
Mile 26: 14: 26 - St James' Park - An amazing atmosphere but amazingly busy

And that's it. You can get more advice on the London Marathon Website (see link to right of screen). Anyone who is coming to cheer me on, I would be so grateful. It really will help to get me round and I have been promised that it is the most incredible experience to watch. I will look out for you all...

Hero of the Day
Elis Matthews - a great friend and comic genius has joined the marathon team. Elis' is one of those unique individuals who manages to get on with anybody and everybody. His willingness to have fun, be silly and laugh is always inspiring and makes him excellent company. Our trips to the theatre, our escapades in Venice and our performances on stage live long in my memory and I continually look forward to more epic outings and adventures. He is an extremely talented actor, a fantastic orator and most of all a great friend. It is a pleasure to have him on the team :)

Day 108

2006-04-20T10:35:00.000-07:00

Day off :)

Hero of the Day
Deirdre Inman - possibly one of the finest teachers to have entered the profession in the last few years. Deirdre's energy, enthusiasm and creativity know no bounds and understandably therefore all children within the school look forward to having her as their class teacher.
I have been particularly fortunate, in that the support and advice Deirdre has given me throughout my first year of teaching, has significantly helped to make the challenges a little more manageable and the day-to-day routine a little more fun. I am also grateful for her invaluable marathon advice and experience. From the beginning of the training process she has offered her top tips and suggestions, helping me to prepare both mentally and physically for Sunday. She is a star :)

Day 107

2006-04-19T12:23:00.000-07:00

And so we get ever closer.... with just four days to go, the countdown (rather than the count-up) can now truly begin and I can focus myself mentally on the huge task ahead. Consequently, tonight I trained hard on my times tables and long multiplication methods and then took a break and played football.
However, I must admit that my role in the football match was rather minimal, as I took on the all important role of a goal post. My friends suggested that this would be appropriate just in case I injured myself but I do wonder if they are trying to tell me something about my ball skills!

Hero(es) of the Day
Teddington Studios - such a fantastic number of people have supported me at the studios, that it seems only appropriate to honour the institution and the fantastic shows that it has created. Remember Rainbow, Button Moon, The Benny Hill Show? - perhaps more recent hits - Pop Idol, The Office, even Trisha... All have been made at the Studios and many more hits continued to be produced and acclaimed.
This continual success can only be credited to the very dedicated and talented staff who work at the studios. Many of whom have been involved with productions for the last forty years and continue to pass on their experience and wisdom to future production crews. I feel very privileged to have their support and encouragement. The all-stars TV team are listed below:

Peter Lawes
Alison Fearn
Chaz Watts
Jon Mitchell
Ann Green
Amanda Jade Tyler
Katherine Weikop
Lisa Lancaster

They are all winners :)

Day 106

2006-04-18T10:59:00.000-07:00

Today felt really good... After the disasters of yesterday, I was back with a bang or at least with a bit of energy and determination to run for more than five minutes. In an attempt to improve my fitness before the big day, I had my final gasp at fartlek training. It still continues to perplex me (the idea of running as fast as you can, then resting for a minute and then running very quickly again) but I can now do more than one sprint and rest, which is an improvement.
I also had a race with my shadow today. My shadow won on the way there but on the way back I was the champion. It was a fairly even race because as soon as I slowed or speeded up so did my shadow...Very strange.
My shadow has promised to make an appearance at the marathon as long as he's not catching up with Peter Pan. We wait to see...

Hero of the Day
Katie Linstead - a superstar and great friend has joined the marathon team. Katie and I met on the Student Union at College where she was busy inspring students with her artistic designs and her amazing collection of music. Immediately welcoming and supportive, she was perhaps the most effective and effecient member of the union that year and certainly spent a lot of time (working) in the office... She has remained a great friend and our regular meet ups are always full of fun, silliness and entertainment. She is a star and a worthy hero of the day :)

Day 105

2006-04-16T09:37:00.000-07:00

With a week to go until the big day I thought that it would be a good idea to stretch my legs, burn off some excess energy and show all those in Bushy Park how much my fitness had improved since January 1st. I pictured a glorious sunset, a slight breeze and me, charging through the grassland, jumping obstacles and singing to passing deer, with spectators and young children questioning whether they had just seen a bird, a plane or a highly trained, olympic athlete dash majestically past them.

Frustratingly but inevitably all that was managed was the slight breeze, as the ramblers of the park were treated to nothing more than a tired and slow jogger stumbling around the park. At a time when my fitness, according to the London Marathon experts, should be at its peak, I found that if anything my energy has significantly deteriated and I am hardly ready to run a 5 kilometre race, let alone a 26 mile marathon. I am hopeful that this was simply a one off and by tomorrow I will be back with immense amounts of energy and enthusiasm once more. Fingers crossed...

Hero of the Day
My Grandparents - possibly the most heroic people that I know and worthy winners of today's and every day's title. Undoubtedly - and this is not only based on today's run - they have far more energy than me and if challenged could probably race around the course quicker than I will on Sunday. Their support for all of my endeavours is always tremendous and their enthusiasm always astounding. I know how fortunate I am to have them on the marathon team and will attempt to corner Sue Barker and the television cameras on the day in order to let them know :)

Day 104

2006-04-16T03:37:00.000-07:00

Day off :)

Hero of the Day
The Sutherland Family - Anna has already been honoured on these pages and so it is now only appropriate to highlight the other superstars that make up the Sutherland Family. Fiona, Julia, Ian and of course Anna have long been members of the Woodcraft Folk and it is their energy, enthusiasm and commitment to the organisation that continue to make it what it is.
As far back as I can remember, the Sutherland's have been great family friends and are always fun to be with. From our days at Collis to our most recent camping adventures, they always manage to add a bit of sparkle and silliness to our adventures and my summers really would not be complete without their company for a week. The Sutherland's are also Global Village enthusiasts and Anna is central to the organisation of the project. Their support therefore is incredibly motivating and will keep me going on the big day :)

Day 103

2006-04-15T13:28:00.000-07:00

Day off :)

Hero of the Day
Jacob Walton - has added his support to the marathon team. Possibly one of the most entertaining and humorous friends that I have, he manages to create laughs and smiles wherever he is. He can impersonate many characters to the delight of both children and adults and consequently my summer is never complete without enjoying his company for a week. He has been a member of the Woodcraft Folk for years and is a loyal supporter of Global Village and consequently deserves his title as hero of the day :)

Day 102

2006-04-15T10:41:00.000-07:00

Although my legs were still reluctant to run, I felt it important to at least burn off some excess energy and consequently spent most of the day walking and occasionally running in London. This 'run/walk' technique is much publicised by marathon runners, who believe that it is far easier to complete long runs if you build in breaks after every few miles. The idea being that the distance is then less insurmountable and more achieveable. Personally I found the technique very effective but I am sure that I was walking more than running and possibly had misunderstood the balance between the two. Next time I'll run a few miles and then walk one mile which could be more effective than the other way round.

Hero of the Day
Fran Jacks - a life-long member of the Woodcraft Folk and Global Village enthusiast, Fran has joined the marathon team. Always full of energy and creative ideas, Fran has offered me valuable advice about the teaching profession and shown me that it is possible to be a good teacher and still have a life outside of school. Her ability to use drama as a way of exploring issues with children in order to entertain and educate them, is always inspiring to watch and highlights her teaching talents. She's a winner :)

Day 101

2006-04-15T09:33:00.000-07:00

Day off :)

Hero of the Day
Sarah Steer - has added her support to the marathon team. Sarah is one of the most creative teachers you are likely to meet. She is always full of good ideas and solutions to teaching challenges and her colourful classroom inspires both the Year 2 children working in it and teachers looking for effective displays. The effort she put into the ArtsMark award, highlighted her commitment and dedication to the school and her desire for art to continue to be a specialised area of the school. She is a deserved hero of the day :)

Day 100

2006-04-15T08:08:00.000-07:00

It feels quite a momentous occasion to finally reach Day 100 of the training schedule. After months of bruised and blistered feet and probably about 500 miles of training runs, the epic journey is almost over - albeit with the hardest hurdle to still complete.
At the moment I'm feeling slightly exhausted from my snowboarding exersions last week and consequently today I took it easier with a short game of football. This saw me make a few half-hearted attempts to run but generally I stood in amazement at the levels of fitness of my friends compared to me. It is clear that some people are simply naturally fit and energetic and others aren't. I'm still trying to work out which group I fall into.

Hero of the Day
Justine Bateman (Hyde) - is getting married in Cornwall today and so it seems only appropriate to honour her heroic status and welcome her onto the marathon team. Justine was exceptionally kind when she allowed me to complete my teaching placement in SMSP last year and since then she has been continually supportive and encouraging. Her efficiency, commitment and enthusiasm for the school have helped to make it such a successful and enjoyable environment in which to work and it is not surprising therefore that everyone - parents, teachers and most importantly children - are always smiling. She is a star and has our best wishes on this big day :)

Day 99

2006-04-11T04:57:00.000-07:00

Day off :)

Hero of the Day
Sophie West - has joined the marathon team. Hooray. Sophie is, quite honestly, one of the kindest and most thoughtful people I know. Her smile, energy and enthusiasm are always salient and her creative ideas and sense of fun and silliness always make our summer trips to the country memorable. She is a superstar and a worthy hero of the day. I think she is amazing :)

Day 98

2006-04-10T13:24:00.000-07:00

The Snowboarding Spring Training Camp - All is well, the snowboarding trip is over and I am fit, healthy and looking forward to the marathon. This, however, makes it sound as if my 'intensive cross training' was more pleasure than pain, which it really wasn't. I love snowboarding and am so pleased that I went to France and took some time off from racing around the streets of London. However, I am relieved that I have returned home safe and well.
The last day, really was amazing. It snowed whilst we were at the top of the mountain but the sun was creeping out as well and consequently the views were spectacular and the pistes were ideal. It is a truly awesome experience rushing down a mountain at speed, carving up snow and making little jumps and consequently I am sure - even without participating in a marathon - that I will conduct another snowboarding spring training camp but perhaps for slightly longer.

Hero of the Day
Ray Gearing - A family friend and television guru has joined the marathon team. Ray has worked and helped to make some of the most popular and entertaining television shows in recent years, such as 'Men Behaving Badly', 'Pop Idol', 'My Hero', 'My Family' and many more. If you look at the credits for the majority of significant, mainstream television shows his name will be there. He is skilled but also generous and I am grateful for his support of Global Village 2006.

Day 97

2006-04-10T13:02:00.000-07:00

The Snowboarding Spring Training Camp - A much better day, with far less aches, pains and worries than yesterday. Once again the sun was shining and consequently it was more t-shirt and short weather than heavy ski jacket and salopets. However, with lots of water and watches strapped to both wrists it was fairly perfect...

Hero of the Day
Sue Buckley and Family - great friends have joined the marathon team . Having known the family since Primary School, I'm really grateful for their continued support and encouragement. It really will help me to complete those final few miles. Thank-you :)

Day 96

2006-04-10T10:16:00.000-07:00

The Snowboarding Spring Training Camp - seemed like a good idea at the time: an opportunity to stretch all the muscles, throw a few snowballs, see some mountains and most importantly of all take a rest from running the roads... However, as I stood at the top of Mont De La Chambre (about 3500m high) I began to question whether this really was a sensible decision. I mean how many runners competing in the Flora London Marathon go snowboarding - a sport renowned for its danger and potential mishaps - two weeks before the race? Few I imagine...

Fortunately, though Day 1 passed without incident (but only just.) We had beautiful weather, fresh snow and empty mountains and consequently confidence rose and energy increased. Unaware to us though, time was passing and when we next looked at the clock we realised that the lifts and gondalas were shutting and we were still on the wrong side of the mountain. We raced back but got caught on lots of 'blue runs,' which were flat and even uphill.
These routes, surprisingly, are very challenging because unlike on skis, snowboarders have no poles to pull themselves along and so on a flat piste it becomes necessary to take the board off, walk, put it back on and board again until speed is lost once more. Having repeated this process more than thirty times I was exhausted. I had taken very little water in and so was heavily dehydrated and was also extremely hungry and overwhelmingly hot. I was ready to collapse or cry ( or probably both). Frustratingly, we then missed the gondala to get off the mountain and had to get an expensive taxi ride home.

The experience was fairly tough and I believe it was harder than the marathon will be. I certainly found it physically draining and mentally exhausting but hopefully it will have improved my fitness for the big day and the spring snowboarding training camp will therefore have served its purpose. Hopefully tomorrow will be a bit easier :)

Hero of the Day
Kirsty Bangham - A key member of the Global Village organisational team has joined the marathon team. Kirsty is a fellow teacher and marathon runner and therefore knows how hard it is to spend a day at school and then motivate oneself to go on a long run on a cold, wet and windy night. However, she gets on with it and remains incredibly enthusiastic about it. There is a lot that I can learn from her and consequently I will be attempting to follow her tracks on marathon day...

Day 95

2006-04-05T08:53:00.000-07:00

After still feeling the strains and aches of Sunday's Breakfast Run, I realised that I needed to keep up with my training but perhaps find a different form of exercise that would be less painful to my bruised and blistered feet. Consequently, I decided to escape to my exclusive training resort in the 3 Valleys in France, to conduct a bit of 'low-impact cross training.' I'm not entirely sure what this means but basically I'm snowboarding for the next few days, rather than running the roads and am confident that this will help with all areas of my fitness. Consequently, the updates might be a bit minimal for the next few days but if I get to a computer I will share my progress and of course honour another hero :)

Hero of the Day
Sue Davis - a fellow teacher who has covered for me numerous times this year. Sue's creative ideas and energy really are impressive, as she always manages to entertain a class whilst also educating them. A skilled practitioner and an important member of the marathon team :)

Day 94

2006-04-05T08:17:00.000-07:00

Day off :)

Hero of the Day
Sandra and family - are to some extent the reason I decided to apply for the marathon. Sandra is one of those truly incredible people who manages to work, look after a family, bake her own bread and still have time to go out running. She showed me that within a busy lifestyle, it was still possible to train for a marathon. You just had to get out there and run. So, that's what I did and now four months later I find that I'm almost ready for the big race. Fortunately, Sandra has continued to support me throughout this time, offering her experience and enthusiasm and also occasionally supplying me with fresh bread - great carbohydrates. She is now a valued member of the marathon team :)

Day 93

2006-04-05T04:14:00.000-07:00

Day off :)

Hero of the Day
Margaret Irwin - a highly talented and experienced teacher has added her support to the marathon team. Always full of creative ideas and teaching tips, Margaret is one of those unique teachers, who can teach any class and any age group but always command their respect.
She is also a football fanatic and in the past has taken school groups on trips around Wembley and to England home games. Understanadably therefore, she is one of those teachers who the children always remember.
I am very fortunate to have spent my first year of teaching working with and learning from Margaret. She has offered me many practical strategies for coping with the demands of teaching but she has also reminded me of the importance to have a bit of fun in the classroom. She is consequently now a valued member of the marathon team.

Day 92

2006-04-05T03:53:00.000-07:00

Day off :)

Hero of the Day
Sima Patel - the school finance extraordinaire, has joined the marathon team. Able to be supremely efficient and consciencious but at the same time make everyone smile and laugh, she is an absolute star. I am very grateful to Sima for making me feel so welcome in the school throughout my first year of teaching and know how fortunate I am to have her support and encouragement for the marathon :)

Day 91

2006-04-03T08:25:00.000-07:00

And so I'm back... After countless days off, numerous tubs of ice-cream and the occasional jog for the bus, I have finally remembered that I am meant to be training for a marathon. Consequently, top of my 'to-do-list' today was to go on a jog or, more bluntly, to complete a 'long run' (two words which when brought together terrify any non-runner).

Today was the famous pre-marathon race, the 16 mile Kingston Breakfast Run. It was not entirely as I had anticipated. One assumes by the name of the race that you are treated to cereal, eggs, fried bread, beans, mushrooms and a fresh cup of coffee with just a dash of milk. Unfortunately, it is instead just a very early morning run around the streets of Kingston, so that the runners avoid running into the Sunday morning shoppers. However, I still found that men with prams and women loaded with shopping bags were overtaking me by the end of the race. Admittedly these could have just been athletic runners, looking for the next challenge after running the marathon in a rhino costume.

Anyway, I completed the 16 miles in (drum roll) 2 hours 17 minutes 39 seconds. I was very pleased with this time as I had always aspired to complete the distance within 2 hours 17 minutes and 40 seconds.

However, by far the most challenging aspect of the race was eating something to keep my energy up. Perhaps it was just the false hope that I would be given food or simply the fact that I would usually be eating at the time, that I became incredibly hungry and so reached for an energy gel. Now, these are not the normal delicacy that one would opt for on feeling the pangs of hunger but I have found through experience of trying to eat ice cream whilst running that more can often end up around your mouth than in it. Consequently, gels come in an 'easy to use' tube and you simply squirt the unappealing goo into your mouth, pat your stomach in pleasure and then magically have the strength of Hulk Hogan and the running capabilities of Forest Gump. However, it didn't quite have this impact on me. I followed all the steps but instead of patting my stomach found that I was clutching it. I had serious indegestion and felt as if the goo was turning itself into a small alien and was about to burst out of my stomach. Fortunately, this never occured but I would recommend that all potential runners out there stick to using gel on their hair rather than as substitutes for missed meals...

A good day nonetheless and my running schedule is now back on form :)

Hero of the Day
Keren Wilson - thoroughly deserves her title today. She kindly put her arms around me as I stumberled over the finish line and, despite my hideous appearance and smell, helped me to remember my name and why I was in Kingston.
Keren was there to meet her daughter, who had completed the race in an incredible time of 2 hours 4 minutes, but kindly Keren realised that I was the one who needed a bit of help to stand upright. She is for this reason and for the fantastic support that she has given me throughout my first year of teaching, a true hero of the day. She's a winner :)

Day 90

2006-04-01T12:57:00.000-08:00

Day off :)

Hero of the Day
The Ashmore Family - Good family friends since our days at Collis, the Ashmore's have joined the marathon team. Always aware of a good cause, the Ashmore's have generously supported Global Village 2006, thus giving me greater motivation to get round the 26 miles. Thank-you :)

Day 89

2006-03-31T11:07:00.000-08:00

Day off:)

Hero of the Day
Lucy Chester - a fellow runner and teacher. Lucy knows how hard it is to spend a day at school and then motivate oneself to go on a 5 mile jog on a cold, wet and windy night. However, knowing that there are other people out there doing it like Lucy, make it that bit easier :)

Day 88

2006-03-31T10:31:00.000-08:00

Day off:)

Hero of the Day
Sam Smith - has joined the marathon team. Sam is perhaps one of the most loyal football fans you are likely to ever meet. Willing to travel around the globe to watch his beloved Arsenal Football Club, he adds a new meaning to dedication...

Day 87

2006-03-29T11:38:00.000-08:00

Running is such a slog. Every training session you have to push yourself to go a bit further and consequently it is only rarely that you get to feel satisfied and triumphant.
Tonight I completed a lap of the park and even though the birds were singing and the sun was setting, it was difficult to appreciate it. My feet ached, my knees hurt and my mind was elsewhere. I am sure that this is because it is the most challenging point in the marathon training schedule, as the weekend runs are so long and there are no enthusiastic crowds to spur me on. Perhaps it will continue to be uphill from here onwards but I really would prefer it if the roads were not undulating and the effort was minimal...

Hero of the Day
John Logan - is the headteacher at the school in which I work and it is a pleasure to welcome him onto the marathon team. John has been supportive and encouraging, throughout my first year of teaching, and has made the challenges of the job more manageable. He has a natural ability both with children and puppets and consequently Monday mornings are always that bit easier when John is bringing to life the Biblical Donkey to the delight of 450 children. His willingness to participate in all school events (he dressed up as Mr Bump for World Book Day), listen to everyones concerns and even share school meals with children (by this I do not mean that he takes food from their plate!) highlights his commitment and belief in the school he leads. It is not surprising therefore that everyone involved in the school - parents, teachers and most importantly children - are always smiling :)

Day 86

2006-03-29T10:49:00.000-08:00

Tonight I ran up a mountain, jumped over a ravine where there were crocodiles snapping at my laces, fought a dragon, somersaulted through a ring of fire, hopped through squick-sand, sprinted past a cheetah and arrived back home without even breaking into a sweat.
It was a fairly typical run and although I probably won't do it every week, I guess it made a change to running around the block...

Hero of the Day
Matt Grimsy - a great friend has joined the marathon team. I have known Matt since our 'golden days' at school and despite his passion for Manchester United, we have played a great deal of football together and had a lot of laughs. Matt has been a great supporter of the charity that I am running for (Global Village 2006) and even listed it on his website, so it seems only fair to now offer a link to his - www.mattgsplace.net :)

Day 85

2006-03-27T10:34:00.000-08:00

Day off :)

Hero of the Day
Teri Gumpie - is a truly generous and encouraging supporter of the marathon team. Part of the notorious 'Champagne Duo', she has - with her partner in crime - committed to the good cause. Her kind words over the weekend were essential in helping me to complete 20 miles and post April 23rd I look forward to experiencing one of their 'bubbly' nights out....

Day 84

2006-03-25T13:29:00.000-08:00

Day off

Hero of the Day
My mum - there is only person who deserves to be a hero today and that is not simply because it is mother's today. Admittedly I may have forgotten to send the large bunch of flowers or booked the table for Sunday Lunch at the restaurant, but as anyone who has been a hero of the day knows, the honour is far greater than any of these commercial extravagances.
It is fair to say that my mum is a hero of the day everyday. Her praise at my efforts is constant, her support is permanent and her guidance is invaluable. She always put my needs before her own, to the extent that she has even offered to run the marathon for me. She is a super hero. However, I must admit that as the lengths of my runs increase, her offer is becoming more tempting...

Day 83

2006-03-25T12:45:00.000-08:00

Running is hard work... Anyone reading this blog, thinking that they might have a bash at trying to complete 26.3miles on foot, please reconsider. There are plenty of other sports out there, which are less demanding and more rewarding - like snap or chess. Yes, there is the potential to get a slight hand injury with these 'sports' but that is nothing compared with the agony, exhaustion and pain of running a marathon. Please heed the advice and in a few years time you could have a perfect pair of feet, rather than one covered in blisters and bruises.

Frustratingly, I chose to ignore this advice and instead assumed that if a man running in a rhino costume can do it, then anyone can - including me. How wrong I was...

Today I realised that running really was not a sport for me. Compared with football or rugby there is no competitive edge (unless you're very good) and also there is no time limit. As much as I may like a whistle to go at 90 minutes it never seems to come and consequently I ran for a full 3hours 41minutes today and that still isn't enough. Obviously when I say 'run' I use the term cautiously, as once again I found people crossing the street in fear.The experience reminded me of the 'Swimathon' which I participated in when I was 10. Admittedly my swimming is as good as my running and consequently I had high hopes when I entered the competition. Unfortunately, after two of my forty-eight lengths, the life guard asked me to stop because instead of swimming in the lanes, I was splashing diagonally across the pool, terrifying other competitors.
I imagine if there had there been a police officer, or any form of road protection adviser there today, a similar situation would have occured.

Anyway I think I managed to complete about 18 - 20 miles and certainly enjoyed battling through the rain and wind. It gave me that 'professional athlete' look or more likely the 'drowned rat' look :)

Hero of the Day
Anna Slssinger - a fellow Portsmouth fan, who deserves her title as hero of the day just for supporting the greatest football team in the world. However, Anna is also a great friend, who endures my attempts to distract, confuse and pontificate in lectures. She is always smiling, even though she has to travel four hours to attend each lecture. Now that's commitment and will power, which I really could do with borrowing on April 23rd...

Day 82

2006-03-25T12:29:00.000-08:00

Day off :)

Hero of the Day
Vicky Barker - has joined the team. Vicky is my 'critical friend' which means she is there to support and guide me whilst working on my MA thesis. However, at any early stage in the course we agreed that the relationship would be more focussed on friendship than criticism and consequently since then I have been inspired by her wit, energy and creative ideas. Frustratingly, I have offered her little in way of return, apart from monotonous stories about the marathon. Hopefully therefore when the marathon is through I can be a true friend. For now though she have to make do with being a hero of the day :)

Day 81

2006-03-23T13:21:00.000-08:00

Day off :)

Hero of the Day
Ama Osapanin - Pure energy and enthusiasm certainly define Ama. Her smile, sense of silliness and willingness to entertain are always prevalent and were salient today when Ama sparked a spontaneous game of parcel the parcel in the middle of an MA lecture!!! Able to create laughter and fun wherever she goes, she is certainly part of the team and a deserved hero of the day.

Day 80

2006-03-22T13:46:00.000-08:00

Tonight was one of those magic feelings where I began to believe that I could actually run a marathon. Admittedly, I only ran for about 40 minutes but as the sun set, the birds sang and I athletically dashed across the park, I began to enjoy myself. It was a strange sensation, as usually, my feet are hurting and my back is acheing and that is only when I am tieing up my shoelaces. However, tonight it felt good and long may it continue...

Hero of the Day
Tim Wright - a master with his feet and his hands. Tim is a craftsman by trade but a potential premiereship footballer in his spare time. Like all the greats - Ronaldino, Zidane, Figo - Tim has scored some wonder goals but also made some great defensive saves. He has an intuitive understanding of the game and consequently is another proud owner of the Elms Richmond First Division League Winner medal. At training he always manages to out pace me and I often wonder who is preparing for the marathon. Fortunately his presence motivates me to run and consequently he is now an important member of the marathon team...

Day 79

2006-03-21T12:34:00.000-08:00

Football training - lots of standing, lots of shouting, lots of shooting but inevitably little running. It is questionable how long I can continue to pretend that running up a mini five-a-side pitch is sufficient training for a marathon...

Hero of the Day
Claire Clark - a truly dedicated and energetic teacher. Claire, is one of those amazing individuals, who never seems to stop. At the end of the day - after completing the mountains of marking, assessment, etc - she goes to the gym, looks after the family, fits in a bit of ceroc and still has time to socialise. Her energy knows no bounds.
However, Claire still manages to make time for everyone and, throughout my first year of teaching, she has continually supported and encouraged me. Guiding me through parents evening, advising me on literacy work and motivating me on miserable, Monday mornings. She has been true hero and I am fortunate to have her on the marathon team!!!

Day 78

2006-03-20T13:56:00.000-08:00

And so I return.... after numerous days off, many fattening fry-ups and lots of sleep, my running schedule has begun once more. Admittedly it was very nice to spend a whole week with my feet up but unfortunately it is now time to put them firmly back on the ground and inform you that I have been on a run, rather than taken another ' day off :) '.
Tonight I completed my usual five mile dash across the park. By saying 'dash' I like to imagine that I am the small child in the film The Incredibles. However, I think it was more of an unsteady stagger for four miles than a glamorous glide. It took me 31 minutes 30 seconds.
I must admit that even though I have now completed a twenty mile run, I still find the shorter distances just as tiring. As I stand panting and gasping at the end of the course, running companions always ask nervously 'how the training is going?'. I mumble that I think I am improving but I guess we'll have to wait until April 23rd to see...

Hero of the Day
Natalie Lambracos - a legendary RTOS member, who continues to wow audiences at Richmond Theatre. Natalie is an expert in history, an authority on English literature, a specialist in History of Art and now journalist extraordinaire. Her talents have no boundaries.
She is one of the most genuine and sincere people that I know and her company always brings fun and silliness. She is a great friend and now an important member of the marathon team :)

Day 77

2006-03-20T13:30:00.000-08:00

Day off:)

Hero of the Day
The Holt Family - our great family friends are now part of the team! The Holt family (Andrew, Janet, John, Thomas, Dan) have supported me in all manner of ways since primary school - whether that be recorder classes, the occasional Latin lesson or even company on days off school - they have been there and are still doing so today by supporting me in my efforts to run the marathon. My most sincere thanks to them all :)

Day 76

2006-03-20T10:57:00.000-08:00

Day off :)

Hero of the Day
Penny Frost - A highly enthusiastic and intellegent lecturer has joined the team!!! Penny proves that you can be both an academic and a practising teaching simultaneously - even though it can be quite time consuming!!!

Day 75

2006-03-18T07:14:00.000-08:00

Day off :)

Hero of the Day
Natasha Zikic - working very hard in school and completing an MA at the same time, deserves a great deal of respect, but to do this with enthusiasm and energy qualifies you to be an absolute winner. Hats off to you...

Day 74

2006-03-16T07:54:00.000-08:00

Day off :)

Hero of the Day
Anna Sutherland - as Anna turns 18 today, it seems only appropriate to have her as our hero. A great friend and loyal member of the Woodcraft Folk, Anna is doing her upmost to ensure that Global Village is a success for the thousands attending. She is constantly putting the needs of others before her self and because of this always seems to be involved in some form of charity or voluntary work. Her smile, energy and enthusiasm are always salient and this will undoubtedly spur me and many other runners on at the marathon. She is a Birthday hero...

Day 73

2006-03-15T09:02:00.000-08:00

Day off :)

Hero of the Day
Lilly Henley - it is always a challenge to attempt to capture someone's personality and character in a few paragraphs but with Lilly this is almost impossible. There is simply so much I can say about her kindness, enthusiasm and generosity that I could honestly write volumes about her legendary status.
Lilly has shared everything with me. From our earliest days as toddlers to our most recent outings as post-graduates, she has been there. Every Birthday has been remembered and nearly every new year has been seen in with her. Her company - even after twenty years of friendship - is refreshing and her smile has always been contagious.
With Lilly's support the challenge of a marathon no longer seems insurmountable. Having a friend who patiently listens as I complain for the 650th time about going on another jog around the park is undoubtedly a hero and I know how lucky I am to have her on my team. She is very special...

Day 72

2006-03-15T07:47:00.000-08:00

Football training - 1 hour. Still very stiff and sore and consequently the rest of this week will be spent recovering rather than running :)

Hero of the Day
Rachel Vizard - a fellow MA student, who effectively endures my attempts to distract, pontificate and entertain throughout our evening lectures, has joined the team!!! Her superior historical knowledge and enthusiasm for teaching is always visible and it is therefore a pleasure to always share her company.

Day 71

2006-03-14T12:00:00.000-08:00

Day off :)

Hero of the Day
Bomi Cooper - a truly entertaining friend, who always puts the needs of others before himself. He has been a great mate since our days on the SU where he would wow all onlookers with his unique sense of style, in particular the size of his platform shoes. I don't think I shall ever forget our trip to Carwash (see picture below)...
Bomi has retained his sense of fun and is now entertaining the crowds 30,000 feet in the air. For many the turbulance and challenging situations might be too much, but for Bomi, his smile remains and I imagine that he is the most reliable and reassuring figure to have in the air. For today he is the captain of our heroplane :)

Day 70

2006-03-13T11:32:00.000-08:00

I have been trying to write this post for the past 24hours but the energy to communicate my thoughts has been insufficient and my strength to focus severely lacking. Any motivation has been consumed and any liveliness (if ever I possessed this) has been replaced with weariness. It is doubtful whether I will now ever be able to climb staircases without gripping the banister or wiggle my toes without whimpering. This, I guess, is the 'pleasure' of running a marathon...

The reason for this fatigue is because of the Finchley 20. This is not, as some have suggested, a news story about a notorious gang of 20 bank robbers but is instead a 20 mile road race around the glamorous town centre of Ruislip. It is by far the hardest and most arduous physical task I have ever completed. At many points I thought that my legs might give up and at the end of the race I was sick from my exertions. It was truly exhausting...

However, this reaction was triggered by the fast pace in which I ran the first half of the race. I completed 5 miles in 39mins / 10 miles 1hour 21minutes / 13 miles 1hour 48minutes / 15 miles 2hours 10 minutes / 20 miles in 3hours 22 minutes.
The last time I ran a 10 mile race I completed it in 1hour 37 minutes, which means that in 5 months my fitness for this distance has improved by 16minutes, which I think is something to smile about (even if it hurts my muscles).

I recognise though that for the marathon I should probably take it at a slightly slower pace and also eat something on the way round. I was desperate for an energy boost by the end and feel that my last five miles would have been a lot quicker had I taken carbo gels or jelly babies.

At this point, I must also offer my sincerest gratitude to everyone who supported and sent me motivational messages over the weekend. Without your encouragement, the last five miles would have been insurmountable. I am indebted to you for keeping me going :)

Hero of the Day
Mighty Matt H - a skilled footballer, a talented musician and Mogfest extraordinaire, Matt is all things mighty. Not only does he organise and participate in his beloved, annual Birthday festival but also unites friends and strangers for Christmas sing-a-longs and the legendary Mighty Handful gigs. Despite his passion for Manchester United, he has also proved that he knows a thing or two about football, as he was part of the successful Richmond and Twickenham Elms 1st Division Winners Team Winter 2005! Now there's something to aspire to...
He's a winner!

Day 69

2006-03-11T11:47:00.000-08:00

Day off :)

Hero of the Day
Kate Narewska - an absolute winner, has joined the team.
Anyone stumbling over the pronounciation and meaning of her surname should refer to a dictionary as there it clearly states Narewska (na-ver-aska): 1. a combination of qualities that delights the senses 2. very good, pleasant or remarkable 3. likeable.
Synonyms: entertaining, satisfying, nice, good, affable, friendly, good-humoured, winner.
This is an accurate summary of Kate's character but it does not mention her intelligence and ambition. She will in a few years probably me the most knowledgeable person on museums and yet will remain perfectly modest and level-headed. Newcastle snapped her up for her MA and she will undoubtedly wow the North, just as she has in the South. She is a true hero...

Day 68

2006-03-11T08:56:00.000-08:00

Fartlek training was back with a bang tonight as I raced across the park (about four miles) in a time of 35minutes and 24 seconds. As mentioned in a previous post, Fartlek involves running towards a definite object, landmark etc at a steady pace and then recovering at a slower pace for a minute. The purpose of this is supposedly to improve fitness but in reality it just seems to scare people. Let me explain by using Runner A (apologise if you have read this before) .

Runner A is conducting Fartlek training. He sights what he assumes to be a tree far off in the distance. As recommended, he steps up from a steady pace to an intense sprint and begins to pursue the object. To his surprise the tree begins to move. However, not to be outdone by a moving tree, he again increases his pace. It is at this point that the moving tree also becomes a screaming, shouting, moving tree. Runner A realises his mistake, mumbles an apology and instead goes chasing after a bollard which later turns out to have antlers.
Perhaps it is time to give up with these fitness sessions...

Hero of the Day
Kiera Barrett - A fellow teacher who completed her final block of teaching experience in SMSP. She brought energy and fun to a very challenging Year 6 class and gave us all insights into the teaching of PE.
Kiera will undoubtedly agree that I was influential in helping to broaden her knowledge and experience. A number of times I attempted to give her tuition in the art of sharpening pencils and educate her on the most effective angle to position a table, in order to enhance learning. I am certain that she is indebted to me for this and consequently she has now repaid me in full with her sponsorship and encouragement. She is a star *

Day 67

2006-03-09T14:13:00.000-08:00

Day off :)

Hero of the Day
Claire Parker - a fellow MA student, who endures my attempts to distract, pontificate and entertain throughout our evening lectures, has joined the team!!! Her constant smile and ability to clarify and simplify concepts that are alien to me, highlights her patience and proves that she is a natural teacher. She will be an asset to any school when she leaves St Mary's...

Day 66

2006-03-08T14:28:00.000-08:00

It constantly surprises me that, although I can now run for long distances, I'm still exhausted after the shortest of runs. Tonight I completed a short lap of the park (about 6km) and found that after running for only half an hour I was quite tired and ready to stop.
One wonders what will happen on the day of the marathon. It may take me at least half an hour to get over the starting line at which point I may be ready to go home and yet still have five hours of running ahead of me. Fingers crossed the crowd will carry me around (literally).

Hero of the Day
Will Henley - I have always said that 'where there is a Will there is a way' and this somehow tends to be the case. Whatever challenge or task Will faces, he always seems to have the ability to come out of it in the best possible circumstances. He rearranged his degree, so that he could spend parts of it at USC (University of Southern California), he somehow ended up working alongside David Blunkett at the Home Office organising Visas and only recently, he won a travel scholarship enabling him to spend a year exploring Brazil and India. He has the golden touch but remains entirely modest and level headed.
Will has already suggested that I start the marathon with an A-Z and attempt to lead the runners on a short-cut via the underground. If I was Will, there is a fair chance that I might be able to achieve this. However, as it is, I think that I would probably end up getting the Central confused with the Metropolitan, take everyone to Amersham and then discover that I had insufficient change to pay for the 40,000 travel cards...
With a bit of Will power though I stand a better chance :)

Day 65

2006-03-08T08:07:00.000-08:00

Football training - I have managed to limit myself to one session a week and have started to call it my 'aerobic session' to make it sound more meaningful. However, even after 65 days of a marathon training scedule, I am still lacking in fitness compared with some of my team-mates. Perhaps fartlek training calls once more...

Hero of the Day
Toby Loughton - a loyal friend whom I have known for nearly twenty years and who continues to inspire and amaze me daily. He can juggle with fire, create a symphony with pots, pans and wooden spoons, cook amazing meals and probably do all three of these things simultaneously.
He is a natural athlete, who could probably complete the marathon in star jumps faster than I will run it but he is always encouraging and motivating and is therefore a very valuable member of the team. He is a winner!!!

Day 64

2006-03-06T13:49:00.000-08:00

Day off :)
(my knees are still recovering)

Hero of the Day
Laura Roberts (or Ms Roberts as she is known to her Year 1 class) - has joined the team!!! Her desire to be 'Hero of the Day' was quite emphatic this morning, as she pushed all other potential applicants out of the way to claim the top blogspot. Her enthusiasm and perserverance to be crowned a hero has now set a precedent and consequently we may now see 'hero reservations' or friends taking pseudonyms, in order to retain their title for longer than a day.
Over the next few weeks, I am hopeful that the determination shown by Laura will continue to impact on me as the physical preparations decrease and the mental challenges of the marathon begin i.e. at mile 24 keep running / moving / staggering towards the finish line...

P.S Laura also gave me another title for a movie I might enjoy (see profile). Any other suggestions are always welcome :)

Day 63

2006-03-05T07:05:00.000-08:00

Day off :)

Hero of the Day
Gillian and Cristen Caine - two of the nicest and most genuine people have joined the team!!! Full of fun and happiness, they are already crucial members of the 'marathon squad' in motivating and reminding me to enjoy the experience.
Their comments and encouragement make the monotony of training for a marathon (running miles each week with no one to see you do it), seem invigorating and meaningful and I truly value their support. They will provide more strength than any energy bar on the day and I know how fortunate I am to have them willing me on. True heroes...

Day 62

2006-03-04T12:53:00.000-08:00

My feet are sore, my knees feel battered and bruised and my ankles ache. However, once again I can feel triumphant, as I have just run 15 (or more) miles.
This weeks excursion, as you can see from the picture above, took me through Teddington, into Richmond, once around the park and home in time for tea. In an impressive time of (drum roll) 2hours 47 minutes and 3 seconds, I not only went further than last week but also smashed my three hour time. Perhaps I really am getting fitter.
If you look at the above map closely, you will see that occasionally the yellow line (marking out my course, rather than illustrating the restrictive parking in the area) dips into the Thames. Please do not be alarmed at this point, I was not attempting to begin a triathlon or imitate a dolphin, it is simply that my hand slipped whilst marking out the course. So, if you are a potential runner, eager to follow my routes and schedule, then please do not follow it to the letter.

Hero of the Day
Gillian and Cristen Caine - two of the nicest and most genuine people have joined the team!!! Full of fun and happiness, they are already crucial members of the 'marathon squad' in motivating and reminding me to enjoy the experience.
Their comments and encouragement make the monotony of training for a marathon (running miles each week with no one to see you do it), seem invigorating and meaningful and I truly value their support. They will provide more strength than any energy bar on the day and I know how fortunate I am to have them willing me on. True heroes...

Dat 61

2006-03-03T12:40:00.000-08:00

Day off :)

Hero of the Day
Tom Cantrell - has joined the team!!! A talented actor, experienced explorer, mastermind businessman and ultimately a great friend. Tom has been incredibly generous in his pledge to support Global Village. However, his offer comes with terms and conditions. On his request, tasks need to be completed around the 26 mile course, including:
- On the starting line, mention to a fellow competitor 'god this half marathon will be tough'
- At mile 26 pick up an egg and spoon from a friend in the crowd and cross the finish line pretending to have completed the longest ever egg and spoon race.

As one can see, Tom is the entertainer, whose ideas and jokes will make the gruelling 26.3 miles far more manageable. His efforts are certain not only to bring a smile to my face but also to the thousands of runners around me. A true hero...

Day 60

2006-03-03T11:39:00.000-08:00

Football Training - Despite my lethargic state of mind, I dragged myself from my chair to participate in my last football training session on Thursdays. It is time to focus on the running and as much as I like to pretend that this counts for one of my 'marathon sessions' I am doubtful. It is time to motivate myself and attempt to go for at least more than two runs a week :)

Hero of the day - Sarah Jones
Another running enthusiast, Sarah has offered her support (despite the mountains of student debt) to the cause. She too is preparing for a marathon and studying for her finals, and yet she has still found time to offer me her encouragement and training tips. She is a true friend, whose support really will encourage me to go that extra mile...

Day 59

2006-03-01T08:54:00.000-08:00

I have now been in training for exactly two months. I have run about 250 miles (I ran four today), been through three pairs of shoes, had copious blisters, eaten numerous energy bars and consumed gallons of isotonic drinks, but I am still going...

One reason for this is because I am running for a charity. Thus far, they have had little attention in my blog, as my focus has been on documenting my training but now I feel, with only 1month and 21 days to go, that it deserves some necessary publicity.

I'm running for Global Village 2006 (see links on left of screen), which is a project aiming to create a large scale youth forum in the fields of Kent this summer. It aims to bring 5000 children from around the world to collaborate in a large scale informal educational project focusing on raising awareness of the Millenium Development Goals (MDG). The 8 goals were established six years ago including aims to eradicate extreme poverty, promote gender equality, reduce child mortality and ensure environmental sustainability by 2015. The project hopes that it will motivate participants through practical, first hand experience of projects and activities which represent good practice in tackling the MDG challenges. Obviously, it also gives children the opportunity to have fun, cooperate and learn from each other on an international level.

If Global Village is to achieve these aims it will need a great deal of funds, which is one of the reasons that I have volunteered to run the marathon. Fortunately, friends and family have already promised their support and consequently I am going to use part of my blog each day to acknowledge each persons generosity. If you think you can support my efforts in any way please email. Thank-you :)

Hero of the Day:
Alex Berkley - Only recently has Alex graduated from Cambridge University and consequently he is steeped in four years of student debt. Despite this, he has offered an enormous wodge of cash to help instigate my sponsorship efforts. A maths genius, a croquet
champ, a radio 4 addict and a true gentleman. I salute him!

Day 58

2006-03-01T08:47:00.000-08:00

Football Training - Once again I fear that all this exercise (I have taken the last two days off) is making me less energetic and more legthargic. Tonight saw me attempting to run the length of the pitch, only to give up around the half way line, as I was already knackered. One really does begin to question whether I will simply make a big effort to get pass the starting line on marathon day, only to give up before the first mile...I'm confident that this won't happen (well at least not until the second mile).

Day 57

2006-02-27T13:31:00.000-08:00

Day off :)

Day 56

2006-02-26T11:19:00.000-08:00

Day off :)

Day 55

2006-02-26T11:01:00.000-08:00

Another huge run was completed today. Measuring exactly 13.84 miles I ran to Richmond Park, completed a lap (in a clockwise direction, just to make things slightly different to last week) and then returned home triumphant.
This onerous task took me a total of 3hours, 1 minute and 24 seconds, which means I was running a mile every 13 minutes. My marathon time would therefore be roughly around the 6 hour mark. This raises the question as to whether I will actually finish the race whilst it is still taking place. It might also be argued that my walking pace is now faster than my running time.
It looks like I still have a lot of work to do before I can begin thinking about 'running' a marathon...

Day 54

2006-02-26T10:59:00.000-08:00

Day off :)

Day 53

2006-02-23T15:28:00.000-08:00

To re-focus and motivate me I felt it necessary tonight to brave the elements and venture out for a short jog. I covered the usual 4 mile park route in 41minutes 24 seconds. This is the longest it has ever taken me to run this route, but as the majority of the pathways were flooded I feel that I have some sort of excuse. Either that or the more I run the less fit I become - quite possible!

Day 52

2006-02-23T15:27:00.001-08:00

A deserved day off (perhaps).

Day 51

2006-02-23T15:27:00.000-08:00

Football training - very cold, very wet but I was making some sort of effort to run.

Day 50

2006-02-23T15:25:00.000-08:00

I am sure that I should probably do something momentous today as it is my 50th running day. Consequently I decide to take the day off...

Day 49

2006-02-19T14:43:00.000-08:00

A deserved day off :)

Day 48

2006-02-19T14:26:00.000-08:00

My longest run ever!!!
Yes, today ladies and gentlemen I completed a HUGE 12 mile sprint(?) around Richmond park. To the delight of the crowd I completed this amazing feet in about 2hours 20minutes and then continued to run(?) for another fifty minutes. It was an awesome feet, performed by two of the hardest working ones.

I ran from Teddington to the lock (about two miles), then from the lock to Ham gate (about three miles) and then once around Ham gate (about seven miles). With the help of a small chocolate bar and an 'isotonic' (I'm still not entirely sure what that means but it is running jargon, which makes me sound vaguely impressive) drink I managed to keep going for most of the run. Although I found myself staggering and frequently being overtaken my small children on those tiny, silver scooters I kept going and I was hugely impressed, particularly as I had taken quite a number of days off over the past week.

However, I lacked the energy to run the 5 miles back home and spent the next hour walking / trudging and falling into people's gardens before I made it safely home. Next week though I will achieve this aim (to run around the park and back home rather than fall in people's gardens).

To infinity and beyond (well perhaps not that far, just 26 miles will do).

Day 47

2006-02-19T14:22:00.000-08:00

Speed work in the park. However, it was raining and cold and consequently it was less speed and more trudging through the mud. I gave up after doing four sprint / recoveries. It is so much easier to motivate oneself with others around.
Long run tomorrow :)

Day 46

2006-02-19T14:19:00.000-08:00

I completed Monday's 4 mile jog - as I had missed it earlier on in the week.
It was a strange experience running in the park by myself - Eerie but magical. I could only see about ten feet ahead of me and yet I felt perfectly content. However, saying that it took me almost 40minutes to run the same route that I have completed in under 30minutes.
I am pleased I've joined some running groups...

Day 45

2006-02-19T14:12:00.001-08:00

I'm back. Tonight I completed my first run in my new shoes. Admittedly, I got a bit excited, ran very fast, felt a bit ill and then my feet began to hurt. However, it was great to be running again and I am now more determined than ever to complete the marathon.
Tonights adventure was an organised speed session. 1 minute sprints with 1 minute recovery for 40 minutes. I was exhausted at the close but full of confidence. It is strange how much I seem to complain about running but when I stop doing it I miss the physical exertion. Perhaps, as I have always hinted at, I have the potential to be a world class athlete....
I'll continue to hold onto this image to keep me going.

Day 44

2006-02-19T14:12:00.000-08:00

Day off:)

Day 43

2006-02-19T14:11:00.000-08:00

Day off :)

Day 42

2006-02-19T14:09:00.000-08:00

Another day off to help my feet settle in to my comfortable, clean and sweet smelling new trainers :)

Day 41

2006-02-19T14:08:00.000-08:00

Day off:)

I have a new pair of shoes. Great excitement. Are my running ambitions about to change? Woohoo.

Day 40

2006-02-19T14:07:00.000-08:00

Day off:)

Day 39

2006-02-19T14:06:00.000-08:00

Taking time off to let my feet recover.

Day 38

2006-02-19T14:04:00.000-08:00

10km run through Teddington, Hampton, Kingston. My shoes are really beginning to hurt. Should I change them even though I have spent so much on them?

Day 37

2006-02-19T13:55:00.000-08:00

Football training

Day 36

2006-02-19T13:53:00.000-08:00

Usual 4 mile dash across the park. This weeks time - (cue drum roll) 30 minutes 57 seconds
I'm not sure how I ever managed to get under 30minutes!!!

Day 35

2006-02-19T13:52:00.001-08:00

Day off :)

Day 34

2006-02-19T13:52:00.000-08:00

5km race - 24minutes 06 seconds

Day 33

2006-02-19T13:51:00.000-08:00

Day off :)

Day 32

2006-02-19T13:50:00.000-08:00

Football training - Can I legitimately still call this a running session?

Day 31

2006-02-19T13:49:00.000-08:00

4 mile run / jog / walk. I have to change my shoes...

Day 30

2006-01-31T14:53:00.000-08:00

Football training. Very sore and tired but will keep on going. Come on!!!

Day 29

2006-01-31T14:52:00.000-08:00

30 minutes 42 seconds for my park run. It was hard work but well worth it when I get this time :)

Day 28

2006-01-31T14:50:00.000-08:00

Day off :)

Day 27

2006-01-31T14:49:00.001-08:00

A long run of 15k. The birds were singing, my feet were moving and I was enjoying it!!!!

Day 26

2006-01-31T14:49:00.000-08:00

Day off :)

Day 25

2006-01-31T14:48:00.000-08:00

Football Training once more. Does this count as training for the marathon?

Day 24

2006-01-31T14:47:00.000-08:00

A quick dash around the park. I think it was about four miles but I am the eternal optimist.

Day 23

2006-01-24T15:11:00.000-08:00

Football Training - 1 hour

Day 22

2006-01-24T15:03:00.000-08:00

Tonight I covered the usual 4 miles distance (I'm clearly becoming a more confident runner by making bold statements like that). However, my watch stopped half way at 14mins 32 seconds. I like to imagine that I would have finished in 28mins 64secs but seeing as I had to stop on the way back as I was so tired, I think it is probably unlikely.

It seems to be getter harder not easier...

Day 21

2006-01-22T13:23:00.000-08:00

Day of rest :)

Day 20

2006-01-22T13:17:00.001-08:00

The longest run that I have completed since the Cabbage Patch 10. A full 11 (probably more like 9) miles was managed in a time of 1hour 38 minutes (it must have been 9 miles). Teddington, Twickenham, Richmond and Kingston were all covered in this monster run. I was also covered in mud by the end of the run but I guess this gave me the masculine, athletic, 'I've been for a run' look - which I am always striving to achieve. Keep on running :)

Day 19

2006-01-22T13:17:00.000-08:00

Day off :)

Day 18

2006-01-22T13:15:00.000-08:00

Football training (1 hour) - impressive that I managed any form of exercise after such a long day. Keep it up Rob!!!

Day 17

2006-01-22T13:11:00.000-08:00

8 short reps followed by 8 recoveries.
I think I probably got this the wrong way round and should have done a rep followed by a recovery but I'm hoping it will still have the same influence on my fitness. We wait to see :)

Day 16

2006-01-22T13:10:00.000-08:00

Football training (1hour) - more vocal than physical but still fun :)

Day 15

2006-01-18T05:23:00.000-08:00

Day off :)

Day 14

2006-01-15T14:46:00.000-08:00

Tonight saw another attempt at 'Fartlek' training - a Swedish technique whereby you run at maximum effort and then after a few minutes (or in my case a few seconds) move to an easier pace before returning to maximum effort once more. Again it was not entirely successful, particularly because I had a large audience watching me as I had chosen to run at the St Mary's University running track.
I'm not entirely sure whether I was allowed to do this but at the time it seemed like a good idea. I imagined a sort of 'Water-Boy' moment whereby one minute I was simply a passer by and the next I was overtaking the other athletes on the track and being encouraged to join the Olympic Athletics Team. As one might expect (particularly if they have been following this diary) things did not turn out entirely as planned.
I seemed to spend the majority of my time getting in the way of the other athletes, particularly when I stopped in the middle of the track half way round to do up my laces. I also occasionally found myself breaking into the slow motion, Baywatch running, to impress all the spectators cheering (possibly jeering) me on. I really hope that this doesn't happen on the day of the marathon because there will certainly be a lot of people watching and I really can't spend ten hours running around London.

Anyway I kept going for 28minutes, which seems quite good for a Sunday evening :)