Marathon Mann

What are you supposed to do if you don’t go running?  It might sound like a stupid question but when your established Wednesday evening routine is to go out and run say, 10 miles and you’re not at home, it’s surprising how much time there actually is!  Going to the gym is a bad idea because that doesn’t really count as resting and I’m not only shattered but quite achey.

In the hotel room there’s a painting of some bloke on a horse in front of Bolsover Castle, it’s the same in every room.  What I want to know is what’s that got to do with Newcastle? It’s these sort of questions you start asking when you’re “resting”.

Eat, well there’s a good idea, I am entitled to eat on expenses so evening part one sorted!

Then there’s Game of Thrones, with a bit of luck, my Sky subscription won’t have stopped working yet and I’ll be able to access it on my iPad – fingers crossed.

Then call Helen, she’s doing some 10K somewhere and I ought to be jealous but I’m so shattered I’m quite glad I don’t have to do it.  I hope she has a nice time!

200 miles in June! Who’s stupid idea was that?

“Laziness brings on deep sleep, and the shiftless go hungry.” Proverbs‬ ‭19:15‬ ‭NIVUK‬‬ http://bible.com/113/pro.19.15.nivuk

We live half way up a hill which means that in general we either have to start or finish a run from our house by going up hill.  Furthermore, because our area is in general, quite hilly, a run usually has a variety of ups and downs.  If I want something quite easy I have to keep close to home and go through a few housing estates, literally round the houses which is what I did this morning.  It was a beautiful morning and while the sun was out it was still quite cool and I got a great view of the Leeds skyline.

This evening with the running club, we did the other thing that enables you to do “flat” round here; the canal towpath network.  Problem is (and I can’t complain because it was my idea) we did sprints which, in this heat, was rather extreme.  The other catch is that the jog back to the clubhouse takes us up a road that we have come to know as B@$*@*d hill, you get the picture!

Never mind, the two runs today take me to 49 miles in the first 7 days of June and I’m happy with that.

“Every valley shall be filled in,
every mountain and hill made low.
The crooked roads shall become straight,
the rough ways smooth.” Luke 3:5 NIVUK

Has anyone ever tried one of those “30 day plank challenges”, which reckons to help you hold a plank for 5 minutes by the end of the month?  I did once and found myself giving up because after a certain point, I just couldn’t keep up with the programme.  Later, I discovered a much better strategy was to plank just 2-3 times per week and using that method, I was able to build up to 5 minutes.  Since I have been neglecting my upper body strength recently I decided to start to plank again so I started by doing 2 minutes a couple of weeks ago and I have now done 3 on two occasions (including at the gym today) so while being constant at the moment, I hope to increase the time soon.

It reminds me of the legend of Milo of Croton, an ancient Greek wrestler who supposedly started by lifting a young calf every day and then carried on doing so until it was a 4 year old bull.  I have a feeling that although he was undoubtedly a great athlete, this story is probably “bull”.  I think that in any journey of athletic improvement you have to be patient, take rests and increase what you do ever so gradually.

Next time I do a plank, I hopefully will be able to increase the time but I’ll be happy to do 3 again.

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.” Ephesians 6:10 NIVUK