A busy day at the office

09.00 hrs and the first phone call of the day was from a journalist who I know who, last year, covered our National Three Peaks Challenge to raise money for Help for Heroes. Once again Lewis wanted to write a story for the local paper to promote this year's London Marathon fundraising for MacMillan Cancer Support and Alzheimer's Society.

I'm raising money for MacMillan Cancer Support and Alzheimer's Society because I personally know two people who have recently received excellent support and care from these charities.

After conducting a telephone interview there was time to fit in some event fundraising admin, before going for an 8 mile training run. I'd arranged to meet up with a photographer from the newspaper, for a photo shoot, at 11.45. That meant that I'd have to break off from my run for a few minutes, on route, to meet the photographer and do the shoot.

Upon returning from my training run the phone rang again and this time I had to conduct an interview with another newspaper who wanted to run an article about the London Marathon. Hopefully all of this media coverage will help to raise more funds for MacMillan Cancer Support and Alzheimer's Society.

19.00 hrs saw me making a dash across town to attend a talk about the Alzheimer's Society, which was organised by fellow Adventure Fundraising team member and Saddleworth Runner, Howard Chambers. The presentation, which was given by a representative from Alzheimer's Society, was very imformative. I think all those who were present were very surprised and shocked to learn about a disease which is still little understood and a charity which receives very little funding, in comparrison to some other charities.

The talk generated numerous cash donations and made people much more aware of the debilitating effects of Dementia.

Chris M

Last Long Run

Yesterday (Monday) was my last long run before Marathon Day. With only four weeks to go it's now time to start tapering.

Yesterdays run was one of very few training sessions that have been conducted during day light hours. Most of my London Marathon training has been carried out under the hours of darkness, to be able fit my runs in.

I set out just before lunch time on what was a warm, sunny day with the temperature steadily rising throughout. Good preperation I thought for what, if past weather trends are to go by, will be yet again another warm day for this years London Marathon.

I deliberately kept the pace nice and steady throughout, at a pace slower than I hope to run on the day. Originally when I signed up for the London Marathon I said to myself I wasn't planning on aiming for a time but would just go out and enjoy the event. However, deep down inside I think I'd like to be able to complete it in 3hrs 30mins, though with my intentional lack of speed training, to avoid injury, and my recent dropping times, during training runs, I think I'm going to have to realistically look towards a time closer to the 4 hour mark.

After about my first 6 miles a beer swilling gentleman on a bike, who had just finished his lunchtime break in the pub, imparted his expert knowledge onto me and advised me that I should give up running. He told me that, "Running is bad for you. you should take up cycling or swimming. It is bad for your f...ing joints. You'll be f...ed if you keep it up!" I thanked him for his expert advice and continued to run past him, allowing him to finish eating his pastie while riding his bike (very slowly).

Over all the run went well and I had no real problems throughout. My training schedule was for a 23 mile run but with my left Achilees starting to pull a little I decided to limit it to 21 miles. I figured it was best to cut it short by a couple of miles rather than risk an injury at this stage and not be able to make it to London at all.

Chris M

Running Pack and Number has arrived!

Upon returning home from a weeks work I found my London Marathon Entry Pack and Running Number behind the door. Relief at last. Altough I had a garaunteed club entry, up until now I've been doing all my training wondering if in fact my posted entry had actually reached Marathon HQ and whether I had a place or not.

Over the past week my legs have felt increasinly tired and sluggish and my pace seems to have dropped off considerably. I just hope I've not peaked too early and now on a slippery slope, as Marathon Day is now only four weeks to go.

Sunday is planned as my longest training run (23 miles) before tapering starts in preperation for the big day.

Chris M

Edinburgh Running

I've just spent a week working in the beautiful city of Edinburgh. It's a city I always enjoy visiting, with plenty of history and a vibrant atmosphere.

All of my running this week was done through the city streets and around Holyrood Park. Normally when I'm in Edinburgh I run on the small but beautiful hills of Holyrood park. However, though tempted and almost sucumbing to the desire to be on those little hills my will power prevailed and I settled for doing circuits of the park instead. Whilst running on the roads around the park I would gaze jealously up to the hills and Arthur's Seat, watching the head torches of fell runners make their way around the many tracks and trails.

It was upon Arthur's Seat that I met, and ran with, Eddie Izzard when he was on his 'Marathon a Day' challenge to run around Britain raising money for Sport Relief. At the time, as we ran together and chatted, I had no idea who he is was. It was only later that evening that I learnt his identity.

Normally work commitments prevent me from being able to maintain a regular training routine. However, whilst I've been training for the London Marathon I've found that I've been getting in more quality training runs, whilst working away, than when returning home!

Whilst I had a garaunteed entry for the Marathon, through my running club, I have to say I'm getting a little nervous now about whether or not I've got a place as, to date, I have still received no confirmation that my entry has been received or had any joining instructions. I hope they arrive soon so that I can go ahead and make travel and accommodation plans etc.

Chris M

Late Night Runs

With only six weeks to go untill the London Marathon the date seems to be drawing ever closer at a quicker pace than I can run!

On the whole the training seems to be going ok, if not a little sporadic due to work commitments etc. All my training runs take place late in the evenings and on occassions it's not uncommon for me to be out running the streets at gone 11.30pm. The shorter weekly runs I'm managing to get in without much problem, however, I'm still keeping my longer runs below the distance I should be doing, at this stage, in a bid to remain injury free. I just hope this plan doesn't fail me on the big day! Being a fell runner I do very little road work these days, so there's always being the worry of getting injured as a result of switching back to the roads and trying to do high mileages on hard surfaces at a constant cadence.

Whilst I love running up in the hills I have to say that I've been pleasently surprised to find myself enjoying being back on the roads again, on a regular basis, after so many years absence. I had forgoten just how simple it was just to slip on your road shoes and step out of the door and go for a run. I vow to continue with regular road runs, as part of my training, after the Marathon.

One thing that has shocked me though is how much road speed I have lost through spending all my running time on the fells and neglecting the road work. I used to train at 7 minute mile pace and now find that my training pace has dropped to over 8 minute mile pace. I know I'm older now but I do think alot of it is down to the lack of road work.

Still can't beat being out in the hills though!

Chris M