Fat backside – Marathon J

It was time for the biggest run to date, the only day in the last two weeks the sun appeared in Jersey, it was like being back in the Caribbean! The first 11 miles were ok and I felt strong and my pace was under 9/mile. I stopped briefly at the 10 mile point to drop my holiday deposit into the travel agent for next year, well the weather has been so depressing that it’s good to look forward to something, in this case a National Geographic dive centre in the Indian ocean.

Anyway home was 3 miles away at this point so I needed a diversion, I diverted badly and started running uphill, which ironically is where I started going downhill. 13.1 miles came up in 1 hour 57 minutes and 57 seconds. But by this time I’d slowed to a crawl, at the 15 mile point I think I hit the wall, or at least a padded version, I broke out in cold sweats then hot shivers, really weird. I finally arrived home 2 hours and 31 minutes, totally spent.

Worryingly the Japanese flag had returned, big style. At the back of a cupboard I found some Sudocrem ideal for babies bottoms or treating minor burns, well this was a full on burn, I have to say it helped. So chatting to a good friend and fellow runner (who will remain anonymous at this point) about this problem, in between bands at Jersey Live festival, she said it was not uncommon. Men with large thighs often the same problem on the tops of their legs, and so from that she concluded I must have a “Fat backside and skinny thighs” and I should slap on some vaseline next time. JEANNIE WARD thanks for your wisdom……….!

Proof there was a summer in Jersey last week.

Picture courtesy of Crab cams St Ouen

1 MPHs – Marathon J

As is often the case I did not sleep on the flight home, I spent Saturday in a daze and went to bed early. 15 hours of sleep later I woke up, stretched and put my running shoes on for my long weekly run.

I ran down to the front and turned to head towards St Aubin then up the old railway walk and eventually arrived at Corbieres light house, the tide was out so I ran across the causeway touched the lighthouse and ran back.

At the end of my run some 2 hours and 20 minutes later I’d managed to run a mile for every hour of sleep the night before. Hence 1 mile per hour slept (MHPs)

Interestingly the 13.2 mile mark was reached in 1 hour 59 minutes and 50 seconds, some 5 minutes slower than my first half marathon.

One more Hilton – Marathon J

I moved on to my last stop of this trip, at 05.45 my alarm rang out, and the following view greeted me



Wearily I wandered to the gym and started to run, the view was not bad



60 minutes and 7 miles later I finished still feeling strong

A slight injury setback - Marathon T

Into my eighth month of training and I have now suffered my first serious training injury.

Monday last week:
As I was on holiday with the family for a week, I decided to run the 12 miles out to the beach in the morning. The run was fine – no dramas, it took me 1:40. We then spent the day on the beach and in the surf.

Tuesday:
After a full day on the beach I decided to run home – same route as Monday (but in reverse). The first two miles of the run were hard work as there are a couple of serious uphill stretches. After these there is a nice 3 mile section of gentle downhill. The run was going fine (I was a bit tired but nothing serious) until I got to the end. As soon as I stopped my right leg seized up and a pain shot down the outside of my knee. I hobbled to the house and grabbed an ice pack, for the next hour or so I was icing and stretching the knee in some pain. I spent the evening limping around and keeping the leg up.

The next day my knee was very sore – so more icing and rest (on the beach again) and I decided to lay off the running for a week.

One week later….

I went for my first run for a week on Tuesday, taking it very easy I ran 30 mins @ 8:34/mile pace. No ill effects, I felt a few twinges from the leg but put this down to paranoia.

Wednesday I decided to step it up a bit.

2 miles @ 8:34/mile
2.5 miles @ 8:00/mile
2 miles @ 7:30/mile

Total of 6.5 miles - bringing the two days to 10 miles.

Again, the knee had a few twinges but generally felt ok.

I now have to schedule in a long run this weekend, to test it out over an extended period. My Marathon training should be entering its final phase now (with only 5 weeks of serious work to go). I am getting concerned I don’t have enough miles in my legs at this stage, and I am going to struggle when we get past 20 miles. With this in mind I spoke to the old codger last night to get his view. He reassured me I would be ok based on what I’d told him of my training so far – plus I will have him there to keep an eye on the pace and let me know when it gets harder/easier etc. Still, for anyone who has not tried marathon training I can confirm it is a major commitment and remembering back to London in April – I have a new respect for everyone who was pounding the pavements (in whatever time) over 26.2 miles.

Marathon T

p.s. sorry no photos from far flung destinations – some of us work for a living (apologies Marathon J – low blow)!!

Jerk Chicken and Cassava – Marathon J

Lunch was locally prepared jerk chicken (from a Jamaican chef) with cassava and salad. I’ve never heard of cassava before today, it was nice, a little like potato so I’ve done a little research. It is a perennial woody shrub that is grown for its enlarged starch-filled roots; they contain nearly the maximum theoretical concentration of starch on a dry weight basis among food crops! The fresh roots contain about 30% starch and very little protein. The jerk chicken provided the protein. Interestingly the roots are prepared much like potato, they can be peeled and boiled, baked, or fried, however, it is not recommended to eat cassava uncooked, because of potentially toxic concentrations of cyanogenic glucosides (whatever they are) that are reduced to innocuous levels through cooking! Anyway unlike the monster burrito the jerk chicken and cassava did not repeat on the run but rather fuelled my performance. So if you are planning to run in Trinidad eat chicken and cassava rather than monster burritos.

So meetings over it was time to run, we were late on the roundabout and my training plan today has a 60 minute run, so the idea was to run three times round. I also had the distance confirmed at 2.25 miles per circuit. Lenny and I set off with the objective that he would run round twice and I’d go for three times.

In the beginning we were fresh and running hard, two bottles of water in hand.



After the first lap the heat started to get to me and I slowed down, then darkness started to draw in, fortunately the new Grenada prime minister was on an official visit so at the top of the roundabout was full of heavily armed police or the military, I did not stare too hard at the uniforms just the guns! That said there were still plenty of people running or walking, in parts the mood was starting to become lively, there were people with loud music and what looked like market stalls going up, party time...

6.75 miles and 61 minutes later I’d finished, this is a slightly faster average speed than when I was fuelled on burritos despite putting in an extra lap, conclusive proof that jerk chicken is better for you than burritos. The other thing I realized on this run is the that roundabout is far from flat, strangely there is a short shallow downhill section at the beginning followed by a long steep uphill section on the opposite side, how does that work? Maybe that’s why there seemed to be more people running anticlockwise than clockwise.

At the end of the run Lenny was done, "No more" he says.



The insects were starting to come to visit but we were too sweaty to bite.



Finally, were staying in the Hilton, which is a steep climb up the hill, what a way to finish.

Best Burrito in the Caribbean – Marathon J

There is a sports bar called Cuddy’s in New Kingston, Jamaica, it is owned by the most popular Jamaican cricketer Courtney Walsh, their Burritos are something else, if you ever go there try them, or the curried goat which is also fantastic. Today I was taken to Trotters, a similar style sports bar, in Port of Spain, Trinidad, it is slightly larger and more up market, they claim to have “A World Famous Monster Burrito”, so I asked Kevon (I girl, I guess her parents wanted a boy) if they were better than Cuddy’s and she of course who’s ever heard of Cuddy’s? So I ordered one, on my gosh when this thing arrived it was the size of a house, stacked full of steak, it was as though the cow had died and they had thrown some roja sauce on, wrapped it in a tortilla and fork lifted it onto my plate. My conclusion then is that, this is worthy of the title “Monster” but as far as taste goes Cuddy’s wins, sorry Trotters.

What has this go to do with running, well I started to devour the Monster Burrito at 12.30 so I must have finished just after 1pm. I was told that running round the roundabout in the centre of Port of Spain is very popular and safe whilst it is light and there are plenty of people about. I was told it was about 2.5 miles round. There is a video of it here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFrhu9xK98E&feature=related or search on a trip round the world’s largest roundabout, the centre of the roundabout is used for sporting activities and of course is where much of the partying happens during carnival season.

So at 5.23pm I set off, the first lap was not too bad and though the heat was tough, at least there was some breeze and of course things and people to look at as I ran round, rather than the dreaded treadmill timer, the second lap was much harder as I struggled in the heat, but worse to come was the Monster Burrito that started to bite back, I was sure I was going to see this thing again. Fortunately it only threatened a reappearance, though it did travel up my esophagus and back down a couple of times.

Most people were walking rather than running and the runners seemed to be going in the opposite direction to me, which was against the traffic flow, I’m not at all sure why but I plan to find out. Anyway, I finished at 6.06 some 43 minutes later. Given my running pace the time tells me it is not 2.5 miles round, I don’t think I was running 9 minute mile pace so I’d have the distance closer to two miles round.

Part way round

Port of Spain from the road in

Tomorrow is rest day my legs are tired!

Hilton and Alesha Dixon – Marathon J

Unbelievable I’ve disconnected the phone and now they are banging on my door to give me a Tobago Rum cake of all things, I’ve just told them I’ve eaten, and it was nice, no I did not have desert because I was full, on localy caught wild boar, I do hope they leave me alone now, it’s time for bed!

Moving to pressing matters, rereading one of Marathon T’s post, I believe he has let the side down a little, as evidenced here:

http://jerseyrebels.blogspot.com/2008/07/another-triumphant-weekend.html

I was extremely disappointed upon closer inspection of this blog that Marathon T managed to follow Alesha and not photograph the posterior he was raving about, how can that be? So I set about putting the record straight, it was not easy, but eventually we arranged to meet at the Brits, I mentioned our blog was missing the money shot and being an avid reader she naturally was very happy to oblige.

Rest day in Trinidad – Marathon J

As often happens a 2 ½ hour flight has taken all day, this according to my running program is a rest day, however, I managed not to train whilst travelling a couple of days ago so I decided that despite my failed ½ marathon attempt yesterday I would sneak a few more miles in the Hilton Trinidad gym. The gym is smaller than the one in Curacao with mirrors for a view, instead of the sea, so not a pretty sight! The room was cooler than in Curacao so I hit the running machine Karno style. The first 20 minutes were good, and fast, I was considering going for another half marathon attempt, but shortly after 25 minutes something stopped working, I was struggling to breathe whilst shivering and over heating at the same time, so I slowed down, at 45 minutes I knew the ½ marathon attempt was not on, I was just hanging in for an hour run, I slowed the machine down again, the waves of shivers continued, I wondered if it was because I’d only eaten some breakfast cereal and a packet of cheese and spinach biscuits on the flight all day? To compound matters the gym had no bottles of water so I was without hydration, in Curacao I drank 1.5Ltr on the 2 hour run. Eventually the clock ran down to zero and into a 5 minute cool down, heaven, but with only the last minute of the 5 minute cool down remaining I realised I’d almost covered 7 miles, so I cranked the speed right up and sprinted the last minute. My legs felt like led, really, they were so heavy, I now know what it feels like when people say that, regardless I pushed hard and as the end of the warm down stopped the belt I had covered 6.99 miles. Legs trembling I left the gym walked up to the pool removed my shoes and top, and jumped in. I decided to pound out some lengths, but after only a handful the chlorine in the water was so strong I thought my eyes were going to bleed so I got out and dried myself. Sitting by the side of the pool, it was now 6pm I noticed I was wet again as my body was still perspiring trying to cool me down. I read or rather dripped on the Sunday Express (Trinidad’s version) that somebody had left behind, apparently there has only been 400 murders here this year! I think I’ll eat at the Hotel tonight. I have just returned from the Hilton buffet, I tried the locally caught wild boar, I think they managed to catch it because it was 100 years old, tough as old boots, they did say I’d need sauce with it! Fortunately the beef, fish and vegetables I had with it were much better. There were 5 people in the dining room and twice as many staff, they pestered me with overpowering service to the point I was glad to get away. But having returned to my room I'm still being pestered by staff asking me if I'm happy with the room, the food, the service, I'm also now invited to the managers cocktail party on Tuesday, and have a discount on my internet charge. I'm begining to wish I had not complained the last time I stayed here, though the room was truely dreadful then, thankfully this refurbished room is much better, I think I'll disconnect the phone for some peace.

Back to my new hero:
Karno, after covering 198 miles, non stop for two days, he put in a 6 minute mile for the last mile, I think I have some way to go to be an ultra marathon runner, I can’t do a 6 minute mile for my first mile let alone after 7 back to back marathons.

The Japanese flag part II – Marathon J

I have found a cure for the Japanese flag syndrome, the problem was traced to the nylon inners of my running shorts, whilst designed to let everything breathe it seems my sensitive parts are not happy with the standard lining provided by Reebok so I’ve cut them out and now run with cotton boxers instead, whilst they absorb the sweat rather more than the old liner, the bottom line (forgive the pun) is that the Japanese flag has yet to be flown again! If this is not making sense see the previous blog entitled Japanese Flag, if you dare.

Running short modifications - the white bits are the remnants of the inner liner

Also I’ve had a pair of custom fit trainers made from Pro feet London, they analysed the way I run and concluded I pronate and supernate (the opposite) in the same stride, or put in layman’s terms I’m awkward. My ankles move sideways, they should not, this loads stress on my knees, hence some of the pain I have, but on the positive my hips run true. So I’ve been running with my new shoes and inners for the last couple of weeks and now my ankles hurt when they never did before, but my right foot which used to blister at about 6 miles (for pictures refer to my half marathon blog) does not blister anymore.

New shoes with customer inner sole, photo taken on the hotel the carpet, it is a dreadful colour.

Dean Karnazes – Marathon J

Move over Marathon T my new hero is Karno, Marathon T gave me this book: Ultra Marathon Man Confessions of an all night runner. It is insane. You simply have to read this book, I settled into it as my legs relaxed after the failed half marathon, I could do nothing else until I’d finished it.

I love this quote:

Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming: "WOW!! what a ride!"

The book and my legs after the failed half

Bon Bini Curacao Marathon J

Yesterday

I had to run my first half marathon of this training program or 2 hours which ever came first, since I’d run my last half marathon in 1 hr 55 min on the roads I felt sure I could match that on a machine, no hills to climb and it is easy to set the correct pace rather than running as do on the road with my heart, or more specifically as fast as my heart will let me. However, I had not factored three things, one I’d trained for 5 months for the half marathon, albeit from a standing start, and today I was only 3 weeks into my training program, two the weather was perfect for the half, whereas I was about to do this in a gym in Curacao, and finally three, I had Marathon T’s secret fuel cells to munch on the way, here I had only water.

The running machine started out well enough, but after about 30 minutes the heat got to me, the only way I could continue was to slow the pace down, well below my desired 9min/mile. At an hour my body ached to give up, at 90 minutes I almost did give up, the timer on the running machine appeared to be going backwards, I hate running machines, with 5 minutes to go I had covered only 11 miles, I backed the speed down to walking pace and walked the last five minutes to complete 120 minutes. Exhausted I got off the machine, the picture says it all.

View from the running machine

Close to collapse after 2 hours

Training for Amsterdam - Marathon J

9 weeks ago
My name is Marathon J, I am a runner, I’ve not run seriously for a couple of months but I’m starting today to train for a marathon, I have 18 weeks to the race.
My name is Marathon J and I like a drink, I’ve not had a serious drink since yesterday, but I’m about to run a marathon so I’m giving up today.

I analysed several training programs eventually narrowing it down to two that I vacillated between for a while, these were the Runners World training program and the Asics training program, eventually I choose the Asics program because it allowed me to put a training program together set against a 4 hour finish time, which is my goal as it is twice my half marathon time. Some would say this is optimistic, others impossible, I call it my challenge.

8 weeks and 6 days ago
Ouch my back hurts, I booked a visit to my chiropractor.

3 weeks ago
After one hundred and fifty pounds invested in a chiropractor my back is better(ish)…... Lets start again……..
My name is Marathon J, I am a runner I’ve not run for a couple of months plus 6 weeks! But I’m starting to train for a marathon, I now have 12 weeks to train
My name is Marathon J and I like a drink, I’ve not had a drink since yesterday, the last six weeks were tough hence I did not give up, but I’m about to run a marathon so I’m giving up again.

2 weeks and 6 days ago

I reviewed my 18 week training program with a view to starting at week 12, rather than dive straight in at the Monday “week 6 run” I sensibly, very sensibly for me, thought I’d have a gentle 4 miler to break myself back into training, and then move into the Tuesday week 12 run.

So a gentle 4 miles to get me going was in fact 40 minutes of torture, it was extremely difficult, I could not understand why, at that point I realised the marathon training was going to be harder than I thought. What happened to the fitness I had during the ½ marathon, where had that gone? Seeking advice from my hero Marathon T he simply said give it two weeks and you will be fine. I was almost 1 stone heavier than when I ran the half and subsequent runs were to prove even harder. I needed to re think my strategy. The obvious thing was to go back to runners world and Ascis websites and re input the training with only 12 weeks to train. Non runners need to understand at this point is that a 12 week marathon program has 2 weeks of tapering at the end (tapering is not running much allowing your body to recover and build strength for the race) so a 12 week program is actually only 10 weeks.

The Asics website encapsulated my dilemma succinctly, “There is not enough time to meet your goals”. The Runners World site was similarly unhelpful, so I played with the Ascis site parameters, mainly because it gives you some flexibility and eventually tricked it into giving me a program in approximately the timescales I needed. Now all I had to do was train according to it’s regime.

I’m not sure this is possible!

6 days ago

During a long Saturday run, 7 miles I happened upon a baby Hedge Hog trying to cross the road I was running down, silly little fella, I picked him up, wow they are prickly, carried him to the field he was attempting to reach and hoped he did not try to cross back again. I ran on happy with a spring in my step for the next mile, safe in the knowledge I’d probably saved him from coming to a premature squashy end.