It’s difficult to measure distances when different mapping sites offer different guestimates, but this run is between 12 and 13 miles. Only 15 days to go so starting to taper down the running distances and do a lot of short and sharp runs to keep me ticking over.
OK, so running has been going well in the grand scheme of things…the trend is on the up despite some occasional blips. The humidity has made it pretty tough to grind out anything above 5 miles, but my max distance is up to about 8 or 9 now, which is roughly where I’d want to be with 6 or so weeks to go.
The main thing I’ve realised it that to be an effective runner, you need to be lean and fairly wiry. This is not going to happen to me, I seem to put on muscle incredibly easily, and with it fat. Either way my weight can fluctuate wildly and always has. Nevertheless, between now and the day (19 Sept) I’m planning to hone my diet to fuel myself but at the same time try and shed any unwanted fat, ultimately to make the run a bit easier on the knees and less of a struggle to shift all 14-and-a-bit stone of me.
Having read various articles on wellbeing, everyone always underlines the fact that diet is 80% of the battle against fat loss, and that exercise acts as a catalyst. I’d have to agree from my experiences. I’ve actually put weight on whilst training, some of which will be muscle, but I don’t feel I’ve lost a tremendous amount of fat with it.
It unfortunately is the case that to a certain point you don’t have to be ‘thin’ to be ‘fit’, and what you put in your mouth doesn’t get burned off anywhere near as much as you’d think.
Anyway, as a result I’ll be concentrating on leafy greens, low fat protein and water intake to make myself a bit more spritely over the next weeks.
Running on my Thursday run to work (the second of the working week and thus the harder of the two), I was making decent time and negotiated Sloane Square well before striding out with my eyes set on Victoria.
With my aim to make my 5 miles in about 45 mins, the final stretch post-Sloane Square is always when I need to dig a bit deeper and keep my head up. Big mistake. When I’d rounded the corner I was dramatically flagged down by a bearded American man in his 60s clutching a map (before flapping it around in my face like his wife had just collapsed round the corner). Being a good samaritan I stopped and, taking deeper breaths took my earphones out expecting to either have to give directions or be told I’d dropped something essential behind me. No.
“Stretch your fingers out like blades….they cut through the air and you don’t waste energy”, he said, with a sage grin spreading across his face.
“Thanks for the tip”, I wheezed, before angrily sprinting off past Eaton Square. Of course what I meant to say was ‘Fuck OFF you old buffoon, the last 4 miles had gone well enough, don’t EVER stop me in my stride again’. Still, I should be grateful for the top tip from someone who clearly meant well.
This is the view from Barnes Bridge at the halfway point of my 7 mile run.
A lot of people have asked me how Eddie Izzard ran his 43 marathons in 51 days, and I have no idea. My conclusion is you actually have to be a bit mental. Not only that, but his stupendous feat makes a half or even a whole marathon seem pedestrian, which is hugely unfair, especially on those running the London marathon next weekend and have been training for a year!
I’m in awe of what he’s done, have no idea how he did it, but it should take nothing away from someone who has but in a massive shift in preparation for running 26 miles.
This is a new 7 mile run along the river from Putney to Barnes, which maps out at 3.5 miles there and obviously the same back. The route actually follows the length of the Varsity Boat Race, which was the inspiration for the run. It’s quite a rugged terrain (not paved) which can get annoying when running on what is essentially rubble.
I’m trying to stretch my run to increase the distance now, and will be putting together a proper plan to increase distance over the next couple of months. Eventually I’m hoping to run to Barnes and back before running to work, which will total approx. 13 miles.
Well, today I went to have my running style analysed for my new running shoes. Being a born cynic I was waiting for this to be bollocks, but seeing as it was a free service and the guys in the shop are all great I was keen to see what it would do.
It’s amazing - especially when you’re as bio-mechanically deformed and abnormal as it appears I am - but the difference the right shoe can make when it comes to your foot hitting the ground in the right way, is enormous. Essentially you have to run on a treadmill for 20 seconds with each shoe while they take a close up video of your feet hitting the ground. When you slow it down and analyse it, it really is enlightening.
As I’d said, I’d had trouble with my right ankle, and still do to a certain extent. The video showed how my right foot impacts the ground at such an angle that my joint is twisted and put under extreme pressure…everytime I put my foot down…everytime I run my 6 mile runs and eventually up to 13 miles.
This is all very boring and personal to me, but it does show how with the right advice, the correct footwear can make a huge difference. I debuted my new shoes today on a leisurely jog along the river to Barnes and while I can’t feel the difference, I hope my ankle doesn’t hate me as much now.
When running cumulative distances, it’s important to make sure you have the right footwear for your running style (or so I’m told). Not only would this be the next stage of my preparation anyway, but I’ve learnt this the hard way. Having done a few sessions and a couple of 6-mile runs on the route I detailed in my last post, I managed to sustain a mild ankle injury which has put me back. Having consulted a few people I didn’t subject it to any extensive running until it felt 100% better. Instead, I’ve substituted the running with interval cardio training (ergo and bike) and weights as I usually would throughout my week.
So my next step is to get my running style fully analysed to find a shoe that will support my body in the right way. The idea is that in the long term, it avoids injury and makes you run ‘smarter’. In the next week or so I’ll be going to Runners Need in Victoria (round the corner from work) to get on a treadmill and have an expert opinion. Of course, in return, I leave with a lighter wallet and a new pair of shiny running shoes.
This is a standard route straight to Westminster and then around St James Park from my house in Putney. It’s about 6 miles give or take. I’ll be doing this on Sunday morning and then working up to running to work on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
I’ll aim to put some more generic London routes up as I expand this run.
