Week 15 - tapering down

Less than a week to go now until the big race and a big thank you to Nozza, Gav and Smig for sponsoring me this week. I'm just £300 short of the £2,000 target now with all the money raised going to the support the Leeds branch of the MS Society.

There are over 1,000 people diagnosed as having MS in the Leeds area who are supported by The Leeds Branch of the MS Society. The branch has about 150 members and runs a support telephone-line, a weekly self–help group and a monthly social, as well as a quarterly newsletter. They also provide a library of up-to-date information about all aspects of MS from dealing with specific health problems such as fatigue to advice about claiming benefits.

The branch has gone through problems recently with a lack of volunteers and funds. The money raised from the Marathon will enable them to provide grants to local people with MS for items such as wheelchairs, scooters and other essential equipment. They will be able to help with the cost of respite care, car adaptations and Motability deposits. Many of those who have MS are on low incomes due to their disability and are in need of financial help. Any money not given out in grants will be used to help research or to provide specialist MS nurses.

Running-wise, I have been tapering down this week in anticipation of the big day on Sunday, getting in plenty of rest and staying injury free. I will be setting off down to London on Friday to register at the Excel Arena before planning the best way to get to the start line on race day. Now all the training is out of the way and the sponsorship is nearly raised I am starting to look forward to it.

13th - 19th April
Mon: PM: 2 hrs off road (21 km)

Tues: AM: gym 1 hrs

Wed: AM: gym 1.5 hrs (6 km sprints) PM: Football training

Thurs: AM: 30 mins steady (6 km) PM: 30 mins steady (6 km)

Fri: AM: 1 hr gym

Sat: Football

Sun: AM: 50 mins steady (10 km)

Weekly total: 49 km - training total: 797 km

Week 14 - the final count down

A momentous week began with an enjoyable run with Gav and Jamie who recounted some highly amusing travelling stories, mostly about being caught short in various embarrassing locations which I'm sure Jamie will be able to add to when he gets back from trekking across India. Then on Tuesday I did a quick 10 km in preparation for Wednesday Cup Final at Garforth Town. 

East Leeds FC tried to psyche us out before the game with a load of drum 'n' bass music and it seemed to have worked when they took the lead through an early penalty.  We came firing back though and battered them for the rest of the half, going in 4-1 at half-time and with my name finally on the scoresheet. The second half was a bit tense when they pulled a goal back but two quick strikes put the score at 6-2 and the game was over. We gave away two sloppy goals in the final minutes but the cup was ours.

We returned triumphant to Cross Gates Club for a disco and Indian buffet kindly proved by Zak the goalkeeper and then into town where the celebrations continued long into the night (for more pics and info visit www.crossgateswmc.com ). That meant Thursday and Friday where pretty much written off but an 18 miler on Saturday and 14 miles round the woods with Gav at Temple Newsam today (Bank Holiday Monday) meant it was a pretty good Easter training wise. Just two weeks to go now...

6th - 12th April
Mon: AM: gym 1 hr PM: 1 hr 30 mins steady (18 km)

Tues:  AM: gym 1.5 hrs PM : 45 mins fast (10 km)

Wed: AM: gym 1.5 hrs PM: Cup Final

Thurs: Write off!

Fri: AM: 30 mins steady (6 km)

Sat: 2 hrs 30 mins steady (29 km)

Sun: PM: gym 1.5 hrs

Weekly total: 63 km - training total: 748 km

Week 13 - end in sight

Only three weeks to go now until the big day and I'm starting to really look forward to it. I received another pack from the MS Society explaining about the facilities on race day and a funky orange sweatband (see picture).

Training wise, the only problem has been a niggling knee injury which I picked up at football training last week and can be quite painful when I'm running. This meant I needed an extra days' rest on Tuesday and couldn't do as much as I would have liked later in the week, though I did enjoy legging it round the woods at Temple Newsam on Friday which is more enjoyable than just pounding the roads for miles on end.

I also fell off the wagon on Saturday night as my mate Jamie was back from travelling for a couple of nights and all the boys were out so I couldn't resist. My running mate Gav was on top form telling everyone his marathon stories. My favourite one was when he had a really bad hangover before the Leeds marathon and it took him four and a half hours. He had to have a sit down for twenty minutes after 18 miles and a chat with the St John's ambulance crew. This is from a man who has a personal best of 3 hrs and 5 minutes so I definitely won't be drinking anywhere near race day!

30th March - 5th April
Mon: Rest 

Tues:  Rest 

Wed: AM: gym 1.5 hrs PM: Football training

Thurs: AM: gym 1.5 hrs PM: 50 mins steady (10 km)

Fri: AM: gym 1 hr PM: 1 hr 15 mins off road (13 km)

Sat: Football

Sun: 50 mins steady (10 km)

Weekly total: 33 km - training total: 685 km

Week 12 - back on the road

Just four weeks to go now and only £500 left to raise before the £2,000 target is reached. A big thank you to Bill, Jack and Bella and Caroline and Nic at work who all sponsored me this week. 

Training-wise it started badly as I was still full of cold on Monday and Tuesday and had football training on Wednesday but I made up for it on Thursday and Friday before doing my longest run yet on Sunday. 

It was a glorious day in sunny Leeds so I packed up my essentials (see picture) and headed off round the ring road. It took a little over 3 hours with a few refreshment and toilet breaks so it was quite a good pace on a hilly course. It was also my penultimate long run before the marathon itself so I feel like the finish line is now in sight and I'm confident that I can handle the distance.

23rd - 29th March
Mon: Rest (ill)

Tues:  Rest (ill)

Wed: AM: gym 1.5 hrs PM: Football training

Thurs: AM: gym 1.5 hrs PM: 50 mins steady (10 km)

Fri: AM: gym 1.5 hrs including interval training (10 km) PM: 50 mins steady (10 km)

Sat: Football

Sun: 3 hrs steady (35 km)

Weekly total: 65 km - training total: 652 km

Week 11 - got your number

My pre-marathon pack arrived this week with a magazine explaining the logistics of 40,000 people running 26 and a bit miles at the same time round a notoriously busy capital city and it all seems a bit daunting. First you have to register in the week before the marathon at the Excel Arena with proof of who you are before collecting your race number and your 'Champion Chip' timing system which you attach to your trainers to get an accurate final race time. I have been allocated number 41,388 which means I start in the red area in Greenwich Park (the pros start in blue and there is also a green one), with the 3 routes converging after about 3 miles.

It is going to be an early start as the race gets underway at 9.45 am and you obviously need to eat a few hours before and get to the start in plenty of time. Plus we are staying in St. Albans so will have to work out how to get there on the day and meeting up with family and friends afterwards is also a potential nightmare (you can hardly run with your mobile and there won't be a signal at the finish anyway) but I'm sure with enough planning it will be fine.

Running wise, I have not had a great week as I started coming down with a cold mid-week so wasn't well enough to do my long run on the Sunday which was really frustrating but hopefully I will get rid of it soon and be able to step up my training again next week to compensate. I also need to raise another £700 which is a bit of a worry so I'm going to have to start pestering people who haven't sponsored me yet (sorry in advance!)

16th - 22nd March
Mon: Rest

Tues: AM: gym 1 hr PM: 1 hr 50 mins steady (20 km)

Wed: AM: gym 1 hr

Thurs: AM: gym 1 hr + 30 mins interval training (7 km)

Fri: AM: 30 mins steady (7 km)

Sat: Football

Sun: Rest

Weekly total: 34 km - training total: 587 km

Week 10 - staying the course

I have been busy again this week, running my own charity bookies at work to raise over 100 quid for Comic Relief and get everyone excited about the Cheltenham Festival (one of our clients is a leading bookmaker so it is classed as important research!) The most successful punter over the 4-day festival won a bottle of champagne and the coveted TBH Top Cheltenham Tipster trophy (see picture - it's a thing of rare beauty).

Running wise, it was pretty hard work, especially Sunday's 20-miler with a dodgy stomach (my apologies to Tesco on Roundhay Road and the Streets of Leeds pub). Thanks to Smig for donating his camel pack to me over the weekend, I found it to be easier to carry than the bottle belt (will put a picture up next week). I also managed to stay away from the booze (apart from a solitary glass of wine on Saturday night) despite another disappointing defeat at football but we will hopefully bounce back next week.

9th - 15th March

Mon: PM: 1.5 hrs gym

Tues: AM: 50 mins steady (10 km)

Wed: PM: gym 1 hr 

Thurs: AM: gym 1 hr PM: 70 mins varied pace (13.5 km)

Fri: AM: 50 mins steady (9.5 km)

Sat: Football 

Sun: 2 hrs 50 mins (32 km)

Weekly total: 65 km - training total: 553 km

Week 9 - taking on the elements

Firstly, a big thank you to everyone who sponsored me this week including my cousins Melanie and Steven, Aunty Cath, Anna Hughes, Dave Hamilton and most of the Crossgates Working Men's Club football team.

Following on from last week's post, we won the semi-final 1-0 (it would have been 2-0 but for my goal being wrongly disallowed for a push and the heroics of their goalkeeper who plucked one out of the top corner). Unfortunately, the exertion and post-match celebration had a negative effect on my running schedule as I could barely move on Sunday (for both reasons!) so I moved the long run to Monday night instead. I then did a steady 10 km in the rain on Tuesday night with Evo and a quick 10 km at race pace on Wednesday before what turned out to be an eventful weekend.

On Friday I left my car at a colleague's house and had my last beer before the marathon (that's the plan anyway!) so had a steady 9 km jog at half 6 on Saturday morning to retrieve it. I then played in another semi-final for Crossgates but this time we lost 3-2 despite outplaying the opposition for most of the game. I was also disappointed to be brought off on the hour but it meant I could save my legs for Sunday's long run. 

I needed all the energy I got from my new pre-race meal of porridge followed by honey on toast (with gorgeous home-made bread) and a banana for a gruelling 18 miler in the rain and sleet with Gav (see post-run picture) that was a real mental and physical test. 

Next week promises more of the same so I just hope the weather improves along with my will power...

2nd - 8th March

Mon: (did Sunday's run!)

Tues: AM: gym 1 hr PM 55 mins steady (10 km)

Wed: AM: gym 1 hr PM: 45 mins quick (10 km)

Thurs: Rest

Fri: Rest

Sat: AM: 9 km PM: Football (semi-final)

Sun: 2 hrs 20 mins (28 km)

Weekly total: 57 km - training total: 488 km