Well...not quite the next day. Managed about 2 miles before the leg started to ache so cut the run short. Running out of itme now - only 3 and a half weeks to go and not many long run opportunities remaining. Managed 10 miles on a grass towpath last weekend and it felt fine. Am planning to try 15 miles this weekend and another in next weekend before starting to taper. A bit of cycling in between should hopefully do the trick. I'm pretty sure I'll get around the Marathon course but I'm starting to think a new PB isnt going to happen. But hey, its as much about raising as much money as possible and that seems to be going well. We're up to near the £8k mark now and I'm still hopeful that £9.5k is achievable.
Still cant believe last night's Arsenal Barca game - there's no way Arsenal should still be in this tie...

Back on it

Evenin - is there anybody out there? Havent been on for a while. Went for a 20 miler three weeks ago oand after 10 miles started feeling an ache in my left shin. I've discovered over the weeks that all sorts of aches and pains come and go during a long run so I carried on regardless. I finished the 20 miles within my target time but found that when I stopped I couldnt walk! Andre gave me a lift home on the back of his bike and I sat on the sofa fearing the worst. Food then rest, leg strapped up, ice for 20 minutes every 2 hours and the next morning it was just as bad. Off to the physio I went to be told I had a &&*%$£^%& itis (a very technical name I cant remember) - commonly know as a shin splint. So I had to take a week and a half off with no exercise at all (incredibly depressing) and then started back with easy cycling in the gym, cross training and then short easy runs on the treadmill. Last weekend I did a 5k easy run on Saturday and Sunday then a quicker 6k yesterday. Tonight I'm going to put it on the line with a speedier 10k and see what happens. Fingers crossed it'll hold and I can get back to proper training in the remaining 5 weeks. Physio's orders are to reduce from 6 days a week to 3-4 with more rest. Will blog tomorrow to let you know how it went. Matt

Feb update

Hello my followers - you are now 3! A big thankyou. I havent been very good at keeping this updated reglarly but the training has been going much better than the blogging. Did my weekly long run of 20 miles yesterday and managing to keep to the programme pretty well. A bit sick of the cold weather though - treadmills are pretty useful things, if you can stick the boredom. Week 8 of 16 starts today and (touch wood) injury free so far. How long can it last?? Next Sunday is my first half marathon race - aiming for a new PB. Feeling pretty fit now! :0)

Morning Followers! All one of you :0) Might be overdoing it a bit as constantly tired and stiff. Still sticking to the programme and up to 165k for January. Have signed up for two half marathons in the coming months - determined to break that elusive 3:30 marathon time....seems a long way away... when is it going to get warmer??

January update

No blogposts for a while sorry but the training is well underway. The snow has tried hard to put me off but I've managed to pretty much keep to plan since 1st Jan. 70km so far in Jan, another 8 tomorrow and a big 18 on Sunday. Christmas weight is falling off!

So, a blog, this is new.
Day 1 - hungover. Time to start training........