Author: MarathonMannUK

It  wasn’t supposed to be like this!  After an amazing December, meeting my goal to do 100 miles by Christmas and then the brilliant experience of running the Boxing Day Chevin Chase in the dry, I was all set for another few weeks of adventure with the New Year double parkrun and the Temple Newsam Ten (mile).

Yet all of it was not to be since on the Wednesday following Christmas (three weeks ago today) I had a sweaty fever with a temperature and have been battling the flu ever since.  I remember a few years ago an episode of the X-Factor where a contestant was summarily ejected from the competition on the first night by an unexpected snap public vote (presumably done to spice things up a little).  When this hapless young man was asked by Dermot O’Leary how he was feeling, his response, which has alway stuck in my memory for being poignant and honest, was simply “I feel like crap” which is also a good summary on how I felt.  People bundle together colds and flu but anyone who thinks they are in any way related can’t ever of had actual flu!  I snapped at someone at work who used the term “man flu”, what do they mean by that?

Seriously, it really is rubbish!  When you are someone who is usually so full of energy, getting up at 5AM to do a 6 mile run and all that, having to lie down because you don’t have what it takes to move around too much isn’t very nice.  I missed the Temple Newsam Ten which was a real shame because for me, it’s a highlight race.

One thing that did cheer me up though was the December medal from Awesome Running Events, this reminds me of what things ought to be like.

So today I went out for my first tentative run for three weeks and I felt OK.  The plan now is to gradually get back into my stride because last time something similar happened, I did too much too soon and got injured.   I needn’t panic because the “big picture” is the Yorkshire Marathon which isn’t until October so a long and steady build-up plan is what I need.

‘Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.’  Matthew 11:28-30 NIV

One year ago to the day, I did two things, firstly ran the Chevin Chase Boxing Day trail race for the first time and secondly, published the first post of the Marathon Mann blog.   Today I ran the Chevin Chase again and am publishing my 117th post.

When I started the blog I it was just after entering the London Marathon and including that race, it’s been quite a year.  After a smooth start to my Marathon training I got hit with a nasty virus which effectively knocked out my programme for a whole month.  While London was an amazing experience, as far as my running performance was concerned it was a bit of a disaster, a personal worst!  Then, after months of training and not getting anywhere, I went to see my GP and got diagnosed with iron-deficiency.  Now, with my iron levels back to normal, I am running better than I have literally for years.  Back in 2012 I started to have heart rhythm problems which stunted my running ability until an operation in January 2015 and since then there always seems to have been something or other that cropped up.  That is, until now!

So, despite the tale of woe in the previous paragraph things are looking up.  Today at The Chevin, the challenge was 50mph gusts of wind which on one stretch in particular blew me to a standstill on a couple of occasions. Last year, if you recall, it was the floods and caused so much disruption to the region;  I wrote that it was the most extreme running experience I had ever had and I know with road closures it was touch and go if we would make it home.  Who knows which set of conditions are more hampering for running but, last time (in the floods) I was 474th out of 797 but today I was 487 out of 981 which is proportionally quite an improvement as well as knocking nearly 4 minutes off my time for last year.

For 2017, I have already set some goals which include running the Yorkshire Marathon in a personal best time.  However I cannot tell how 2017 will treat me so for the time being I am thankful that I am fit enough to be pleased with my running.

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”  Joshua 1:9 NIVUK

There was a TV programme featuring Nigella Lawson spooning industrial quantities of butter into some concoction or other.  She admitted that it possibly wasn’t the most healthy of dishes but it was OK because “it’s Christmas!”.

Yes, this is the silly season where anything goes and everyone has the right to do outrageous things – a licence to let it all out and have fun!  Fun for us this morning meant turning out at Wakefield Thornes parkrun with the running club dressed as elves, turkeys and even Christmas trees and then going for breakfast at the Holmfield Arms.

Helen and I ran together which finished off my 100 miles in December before Christmas and for Helen, it was a course PB, so yay us!  And finally, you could have fed a family of 4 with my breakfast but it was delicious!

Tomorrow is Christmas Day and we will be celebrating together with our friends at Church, we won’t be eating and drinking too much excess tomorrow because we are looking forward to the Chevin Chase on Boxing Day.  Last year it was floods, this year it looks like gales!

“Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”  Luke 2:11-12 NIV