Anyone else glad that's over??

Hangover anyone!!!!!

This feels like ages since I have have added to this blog and in the fast moving world of 'social media' (it's in quotes for a reason and you all know why). My last post was a last look back on a sad end to dream of mine to run the NY marathon but more than that, it was a poignant reminder of our fragile existence on this planet and my one wish for the new year is that the inhabitants of NYC and New York state do not receive another tinsel covered turkey shaped turd for a while, at least until the sea defences can be built and the whole of the state can flick the bird to the next cuddly named natural freak phenomenon that comes along. Good luck New York

                                   So, dry old bird in desperate need of stuffing anyone???

                                         Yes I meant the turkey! This isn't bloody twitter!!!

We have successfully frozen our next 11 months of turkey rations and I for one am looking forward to pulling it's permafrosted remains out of the freezer periodically, to see if we can give the kiss of life with variable sauce options. We went down the turkey crown route this year instead of a whole bird and still took 6 hours to cook! It took so long in fact, we had to carve slices from it like kebab meat from one of those elephant legs you see rotating in kebab shop windows! Unless this gave us all bird flu, we escaped remarkably unscathed from the experience.

But enough of that. On to Paris!!

OOOLA LA

Too bring you up to speed quickly (very quickly). Forget christmas, we are now in January and I had been training up until a ski accident which saw me strain my medial knee ligament and stops me from training for 4 weeks!! in this time, I put on about half a stone in weight to go with the other half a stone I gained over Christmas. So, now back to my pre training weight, I have to try to get some distance in before April so early march, I try again. Disaster strikes again with another calf strain as I am trying to push it too much and this injury means I only do a 5k run on the Friday before we leave for Paris..........Daa! Daa! Daaaaa! Is the end of the dream again? Does he do it? Does he finish?!!! Well................read on and welcome to The Paris Marathon 2013!

That's me in the middle and these are my two insane, sorry, very good friends who came along to do their first marathon too and they are (left) Rob Comalie. Rob ladies is a single man with few hobbies and is embarking on a sports journey which will include triathlons in the future but this was his first attempt. Rob is currently available to meet any likewise thinking female for long term sporting commitment before he becomes one of those sad loners with cats and we have to shoot him. Mark (to my right) is an ex squaddie  London fireman who was talked into it by me while , as he puts it, in a vulnerable moment as he sat on the loo! So here we are, still quite jolly at this point as the realisation will only hit us on the start line in the morning. But first, the expo and then, some sightseeing. (Mark doesn't smile much as he has a rare condition which makes his face really tight and it is the only explanation I have for his constant moisurising!)

To be honest, once you have seen one of these you have seen them all. They all seem to be sponsored by asics and follow the same kind of formula, which is good in some respects as you feel sort of comfortable in the familiarity of it all. We have a mooch around for a bit and I pick up a top to run in and then we slip off to the Uncle Bens Rice party. Not so much a party, more of a staff canteen type affair. 

Party hard dudes!!

There were two choices on offer, mushroom risotto or chicken curry. The other lads went for the risotto and I went for the curry. This was a big mistake as the curry was was as dry as a camels lunch box. It was lucky they had water available as I went through 2 litres just getting it down. I finished off with a banana but it was not to be my last of the weekend?

Running numbers and goodie bags in hand, we wander off to do a bit of sightseeing and outside of the expo I  suggested that we take a tram as I had never been in one before and there was a terminal just outside the expo entrance. I just wanted to make that point  as what followed was probably not the best preparation for a 26 mile run the next day. We headed off towards the river (after my tram suggestion was poo poo'ed) and started walking uphill, until I suggested that water tends to run downhill to create rivers. This agreed, we spin around and set off again. Some hours later, we find the Seine and an very industrial route between us and the tower.

It's not small, it's very far away!

It took us about 40 minutes from the expo to get to this point and even then, I don't think we really realised how far away we were. So, we start  heading towards meccano central and through, what can only be described as, the wrong side of the tracks. We walked through industrial estates and railway sidings until we had a planet of the apes moment when we spotted this.....................

...........I nearly sunk to my knees and cried ' You maniacs................'!!! 




until I realised of course, that this is just a replica of the one in New York! Oh the irony! There I was. In paris. Now facing the most iconic symbol of The United States and especially New York City. I travelled 3000 miles to see this, to get, probably, as close to it, due to the island being shut. I really didn't know this existed and if we hadn't have strayed from the tourist path, may never have found it.
           Onward we push. Now, I don't know how many of you have visited Paris and how many have tried to make it around on foot but it seems to me like the pedestrian is not a welcome species. The car seems to have right of way almost everywhere, including on the crossings, which require you to launch yourself into oncoming traffic to force drivers to stop. You could just wait there of course, by the side of the road but you will be there forever if you do. The reason I mention this is due to the pathways? Tell you what, you be the judge.

They put all the trees in the middle?

Anyway. To get to the chase. We walk for about 5-6 miles in total and end up in a small cafe near the base of the tower and have the best and most expensive coffee we have ever had. For 6 coffees and 3 crepes, it came to 49 euros!!!! That fecking tower is made of pure gold for some shop owners I can tell you. Was good coffee though. 

We have time to visit the Arch De Triumph, which is our start point for the marathon, just to trace our route back to the hotel for the return journey the next day (it made sense to us). Very clever I hear you say. Only problem is, the metro (tube train) is packed and we end up walking all the way back to the hotel which we estimate at another 3 miles. All in all, we walked about 8 miles in total and were knackered. I even got a blister from my trainers which is not great preparation at all!!!! 

The Triumph was, building it on such a busy roundabout I think?

So an early pizza and one beer (yes, only one) and off to bed. The hotel had kindly arranged for breakfast to be served at 6am instead of 7am for us runners and we need to be up early and get organised (3 blokes! That will happen) 

Surprisingly, we all rise around ten to six and get stuck into a good carbo laced breakie of bread and jam and the usual French pastries. Our start time was around 9.30 am ish? So no real rush as we are informed that the Metro is all running and we get there in plenty of time.

Bag drop off.

This area was probably the only area with any sort of segregation from the rest of the course and we (ultimately) got ourselves at the wrong end of and had to walk back the whole length of it to find the entrance.

He was going for my toupe I think? No, I am not raiding the bin!

Bags deposited and off to the start line area. We decide to warm up with a little jog and during which, we do impressions of our running styles after 42km! Funny at the time. Madly ironic now and scarily accurate!

Rob cut his hair the night before but the clippers went flat before he finished! Can't tell, can you?

Obviously, I bought the jacket above in NY in November and an American lady actually apologised to me for it being cancelled? We had a quick chat about how they (NYRR) tried to do the right thing by putting a brave face on things at the time but we both agreed that it should have been called off straight away. It was nice of her to apologise but I did point out that it was not at all necessary. 

One last photo op before the off

We had to wait outside of the heras fencing near our starting point as it was so busy. There was a gap in the fence and we made our way through and the crowd started to move forward. They staggered us by group but before you knew it, you were breaking into a trot and then you were running. Over the timing stripes and away you go! 

As this was my first actual marathon, it was good to hear that they provide you with water en route as well as  some sustenance in the form of oranges, bananas, dried fruit etc. This was great for topping up the energy levels but not too great when faced with the prospect of running the next 100m through the various discarded peels.

 This was a real worry and a real danger as one slip and you were not getting up. Thank goodness for Gatorade that's all I can say, as................ they like to think you look like this...............

Add caption

                                        ..........................when the reality is actually this!

I actually saw this happen but it was the blue variety!!

The upside of all this spillage was that it made the road really sticky which counteracted the slippery fruit skins somewhat and saved many a competitors blushes. Speaking of which. There was a huge amount of people who had obviously gone mad with the hydration before the start as there were hundreds of people diving for lamp posts or trees. My running mate Mark, had a similar calling around the 5k point and as soon as we spotted a suitable green area, we were off over there like a shot. To my surprise however, as we approached the bushy clump of woodland, I was confronted with a figure squatting down behind a shrub. to my surprise, this turned out to be a woman! I for one had never encountered this before as I thought the ladies too self conscious to be seen in public relieving themselves? How wrong I was. The female runner is not one to let natures call get in the way of a personal best. Quite right too.  

"Ask them if they have any paper"

Toilet break over, we get our heads down and have the halfway stage as our major milestone as it is further that Mark has run before (I know!) and the furthest I will have run for a long time due to injuries of one kind or another. Just to get passed this point, unscathed, seemed like a miracle two weeks ago. We are looking good though. My legs are holding up and Mark is comfortable. We are not setting the world alight with our pace however as we are a steady 7min/km at this point. The reason behind it is for longevity if nothing else. 

The ten mile marker comes and my running buddy is now in unknown territory (I Know!) but we plough on and before you know it, 13.1 miles is covered. Just passed the ten mile area, Mark develops a tightness behind the knee and requests a stop for a stretch at the halfway point. This would be the last time we run any such distance again in one go as this tightness hampers him for the rest of the distance. We soldier on regardless as time is not a concern anymore, we are just going to finish and if that means walking, then so be it. The distances between runs gets longer and longer and at 30k there is a chance for medical aid for Mark in the form of a paramedic station where he gets a welcome massage of the affected area. This seems to perk him up a bit and we continue our running, which has become a painful experience for both of us now as every time we stop and walk, the process of running again is agony. Another stint of walking gets us to the 35k barrier and with 7k to go I suggest that we try to complete the run and try not to stop. We agree that if Mark has to stop, he will shout out if I am getting away (he has the habit of running behind me?). The call never comes and I trudge on at the only pace I can muster at this point but when I look back for Mark, he is not there and like the good friend I am, I just continue without him as the thought of stopping again was far more painful than I could bare. It was a lonely jog from that point on and I seemed to be the only one running (I use the term quite loosely) and I pass hundreds (600 places between me and Mark) until my legs are done at 40k. 

Nothing in the tank and legs of oak I do try to put on a show with 1500m to go but this lasted about 100m and I soon walk again. It is only with 500m remaining that I have to give it one last push for the line and this I do. I allow myself a MoBot for the cameras on the line and that is it folks, I am done. 

The sense of relief at the end is immense as it is an extraordinary long way and to have completed it (even though not running it all) was quite something as two weeks before, I was only going to be the support driver for the other two.  

I meet up with Rob as he is wandering down the baggage reclaim to the finish line. Now you are probably wondering why I haven't mentioned Rob too much so far? Well. As the youngest and fittest, he had trained correctly and abandoned us old people just before our 5k wee stop and we didn't see him again until the end, where, he takes great pleasure in informing me, he has had a nice nap while waiting for us. I don't have the energy to lift my leg to kick him up the arse so I let it go. 

Mark wasn't that far behind to be honest and not too upset with me leaving him behind (as you can tell). What we all need now though is some grub and a beer and in that order so we head off into town to find a bar and a well deserved sit down.

Ok. Not a great photo but which of these two will be doing another marathon do you think? I didn't look much better I can assure you but I had the camera. Sorry Mark.

So there we have it. After a year of training and trying, I have finally completed a marathon. It is not how or where I intended but the monkey is of my back now and I can let it be for a while. I will continue with the running to keep fit and will do the odd half marathon and 10k to keep interest up but another marathon? I have toyed with the idea of London next year as it was always my intention to add it to the list of New York and Paris so we will see. A massive thanks to all that had sponsored me for New York and Get Kids Going for their support and also to my two mates, who entered into this folly with me and were great company along the way. 

It has been a nightmare of injuries and fly swallowing from the outset and my poor wife should get the medal, not me, for her outstanding patience as this whole mad idea took hold of my life. 

I dedicate this to the fine people of Staton Island in NYC who's lives were turned upside down last year and my hope is that the inhabitants can retrieve their lives from the wreckage and the city can put on a show this year to erase the bad feeling and confusion that surrounded last years event. NYC, I salute you.

Until next time folks.

Thanks for reading

Andy Rouse

Marathon Runner

Have they got the crane of Damaclese down yet?



Taken from the top of the Empire State Building. I only went up the Empire State to see this!

Sad but true. The landmark I was most interested in seeing during my trip was this crane, hanging from a tower block on 57th Street in Manhattan. Before we flew to NY, we were glued to the storm predictions on the TV and one of the few images that kept being shown was this crane being blown over by the high winds. Gladly, no one was injured by this and being in the trade, I was fascinated by, firstly, how it stayed up and secondly, how they will get it down? My theory is that they have build another crane to get this one down or some kind of A team inspired helicopter claw device?? If anyone has details, please let me know. It is strange to see things on the TV and to be next to it three days later. 

So the marathon was cancelled and we tried to do some voluntary work on the Sunday but we had no information to go on and our only thought was to get to Staten Island and join in. We arrived in Staten about 11am and followed a group from a running club carrying armfuls of bottled water and various other essential items to hand in for the relief effort. They too were short of info and our hopes that their plan was better than ours was quickly extinguished. With no real direction or info at the ferry bus station, Jill and I decided to head into town as we had no idea what bus to take or to where. We didn't walk too far before we came across the Staten Island Borough hall

We noticed it was open (we didn't notice the lines of armoured cars in the road though) and strolled in to ask for directions or any info on what to do. I ask the security guard on the front desk and he informs me that if I turn left and go to the end room, that FEMA were based in there and they could certainly help me.

Now those of you that are unfamiliar with FEMA, they are part of the Department of Homeland Security and it stands for Federal Emergency Management Agency. What it means is: If a situation arises that is beyond the natural scope of a particular state or region, FEMA step in (on the order of the President) as the Federal Government's resources are greater and deemed necessary, to compensate the state and facilitate a quicker or wider response by freeing the state from financial constraints. (I think that is correct). Which not only helps in the short term but also with the long term rebuilding effort.

In that room, (pictured above) were about half a dozen FEMA people all busying themselves with stuff. Most were on the phone organising or getting information. There were two men who had spread a large map out on the floor, one was wearing army fatigues, the other was in a FEMA jacket, both planning logistics in an area of Staten called Midland Field. We know this because we were introduced to Heather Smith of FEMA, once we explained what we were trying to do. She was very helpful and gave us a map with Midland Field highlighted on it as it was, as she put it, ground zero for operations on the island and our best bet if we wanted to help out. with some further assistance from another helpful lady (sorry, we didn't get her name) we were furnished with the correct bus information and we now headed back to the ferry terminal to pass this on to all we had seen with the same lack of a plan. The bus was 28S I think and it would take us right to the drop off point for aid which was New Dorp High School.

The bus ride took about an hour and we felt very guilty during most of it as we had seats and it was very crowded. We did feel as though we were taking places of locals just trying to get around. This feeling of getting in the way continued once we arrived at Midland Field too. It was about 1pm by the time we rock up and what we found was, pretty much everything calm and organised. There was no real sense of panic or anxiety, just people coming and going for bottled water or clean clothes or whatever was available. You could even get a Dunkin Donuts coffee from a concession waggon. This is not to make light of a bad situation but we got the feeling that this had just become the norm here, after one week post Sandy, and people had adjusted, in part, to the realities of what was where and how to get it. The biggest demand on the island now was fuel. The queues were for miles and the National Guard were even distributing from the back of a pick up for people filling fuel cans. It is only in situations like this when you realise just how big American cars are and how much fuel they must use. I can't imagine the contents of a two gallon petrol can lasting very long in a 5 litre SUV. We got talking to a cab driver who told us he had waited in a line for over four hours to fill up and the gas (petrol) he got would only last 10 hours of a twelve hour shift. To counter this, he was doing a 24hr shift to make his money back from all the down time. It's not as though you can even sleep in a line for gas is it?

By now though, time was getting on and we decided that the best thing we could do now was get out of the way of the professionals and of the people just trying to get on with their lives the best they could. We head back to the ferry terminal, our mission a failure. We would have been more use making tea and sandwiches for the FEMA lot back at Staten Island HQ!! Never mind. What is it they say? Fail to plan. Plan to fail?  That we did. We even took a packed lunch so we wouldn't be a burden on resources. We failed to eat that too!

My previous post was very critical of the attitude of many of our group for their lack of compassion at the time but we were amazed at how many running groups were in Staten to give whatever they had to help out. Many clubs organised expeditions to the worst areas, to give people even simple things like batteries for torches etc.

 There were still a few sad cases of people running the course, despite the need to respect the local people in their darkest moment. There was, in particular, a young fella with an Exeter Uni shirt on, I am ashamed to say, at the ferry terminal with his dad I think, who stood out to me and I can't quite imagine the thought processes involved, to continue to run a course the whole world has agreed would be in very bad taste to run? But the actions of a small minded and witted few were eclipsed by the amount of runners and clubs actually out there doing some good. My only criticism being that if you wanted to help out, there was not really much information available but as we realised, some things are best left to the pros.

So we have to say goodbye to New York. Sadly, I didn't run a marathon through this great city but we were here at a very difficult time and that has just added to the memories we take with us. The people were freindly and all willing to talk to you. There was a real 'business as usual' attitude, despite the problems and that is what this city likes to do well. Everyone involved at the highest level seemed to have there head screwed on and whenever i heard them talking about the issues, they were knowledgable and resolute, Mayor Bloomberg, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie but especially.........................

................. this fella, Andrew Cuomo. Andrew is the governor for the State of New York and, in my opinion, a shoe in for future President!! What a sensible, articulate and amiable bloke he is. When he was talking in the press conferences, you had to listen and I mean, you stopped and listened and there are not many politicians who make you do that. I don't know what happens in the election process in the US but you tend to pick showbiz over substance. This fella here has definetely got the X factor and from what I have heard, he is almost universally liked. If a utility company has procrastonated or under achieved, if an insurance company has dithered or been obstructive over this crisis, you get the feeling that they will get a visit from this guy, in person and the problem will go away and only because he has talked some common sense into them. Watch this space, Cuomo for president 2017!! You heard it here first!!  

So on to another chapter of this saga. I wont be back next year so I have to find another avenue for my marathon apirations but I hope New York gets back on its feet and puts on a great show next year.

lets just hope it is not destined to suffer further freak weather conditions as it is the iconic capital of the USA, if not the capital and needs to be preserved and protected.  

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
(I've drawn a line under the whole thing :))


What now, I hear you cry. Well. It's Paris next! Oo La La! Mon petite chou! I have signed up for next year so put it on the calender, April 7th 2013. Why Paris and not London you ask? Well, to run the London marathon requires a minimum financial comittment which I could not guarantee to cover and to be frank, this oddessy has cost me enough as it is, so it is actually cheaper to run in another country? Go figure?

So you can expect some more iconic landmarks, many more grizzles about injuries and my inevitable transformation into a human fly / jelly baby hybrid creature by then 


                                    You cut me up when i'm running and I'll slap ya!!

What you will all get though is closure. Can you imagine the relief of not having to read this rubbish any more. Finally! He's bloody gone and done one!! What I will get is a medal for running a marathon and not just for turning up. I didn't mention that did I? We all got our medals for New York and I have already seen them on ebay (please check it out if you don't believe me) I wish I had known that before hand, I could have saved a fortune!


                       This is an ebay one.

So there you go. Get yourselves one of these and you too can fib to your grand children in years to come that you ran the New York marathon in 2012 (assuming Google has gone bust by then and Apple own all the internet and they can't make it work to call you a liar).

It fells like I am starting all over again from scratch. I have a new plan now and I starts it on Monday but the buzz has gone from it really. I was in New York people. I now have to go to France. That's where the French live, and if any Americans think New Yorkers have a fearsome reputation, the French make them look like Care Bears!  What has cheered me up however is the addition of some running buddies, hoorah! I have talked some mates into doing this with me (nothing to do with a free trip to Paris for the WAGS of course) so misery gets some company at last. I will try to get them to guest write some stuff for this as there are differing levels and ages so it will be interesting to hear the opinions of other people for a change. So here's to Paris and another Eiffel creation, so the two cities have that in common at least.  

Bonne Chance!

http://www.redcross.org/

http://www.nyc.gov/html/fund/html/home/home.shtml

135 days to go!



The new windy city

Hurricane Sandy gives New York a run for it's money and ends my marathon oddessy!  

There are, however, worse things out there that could happen to you.!!



My problem with giving names to hurricanes is that they don't really describe too well the true nature of the beast. Hurricane Sandy? Conjures up images of a favourite old Labrador that your uncle used to have but may occasionally poop on the rug because of his advancing years?! Hurricane Shit Bag however (I renamed it by the way) took a major poop all over the state of New York last week and has destroyed the lives of hundred of New York residents.



When we arrived here on Thursday, we were driven through Manhattan and were witness to the better end of the disaster which was half the city without power. It was bizarre to then drive through Time Square, which was aglow, literally, with neon signs 100 feet high and shoppers everywhere. It did seem that this was a tale of two cities. Or tale of three if you wish. The haves, the have not's and then, the have nothings.



It is the have nothings that really grab the attention here. When we left the UK information was sketchy at best. We heard of the damage and loss of life but it was (what seemed to be ) on a small yet manageable scale. How wrong we were. Our only source of info was the TV over here and as we watched, we were, not only surprised about the scale of the issues but how desperate the situation was for more than we were led to believe.



As we were being constantly told, the marathon will go on. This was to show that this very special state will not bow and will not bend in the face of adversity or threat. This very admirable stance was given a real test, with the job of convincing New Yorkers that it was really in it's best interest that this sporting event be allowed to continue in the midst of chaos and so much misery.



As you all know by now, this folly of mine has seen me go from couch, to now, sitting in a Manhattan hotel writing this blog in six months and I have a lot to thank it for. I am understandably disappointed but the decision today to cancel it, is of course, the correct one and for the right reasons. The biggest grumble from various factions though is that the decision to cancel could have been made earlier? Maybe yes, maybe no. I really do believe that the Mayor wanted this to be a light in the darkness and show again, the resilience and the spirit of the people of this city. This was never going to be easy however and the sad discovery of further bodies in the rubble of Staten island today was the final nail in the marathon's coffin..
 I have also learned today however that there are some very shallow and self centered runners out there who are now, somehow, the victims!!? Excuse my French but get over your fucking selves people!! I even heard the line today from one particularly odious woman, that they had been deceived somehow and demanded to speak to someone?! Who? the fucking Governor of the state perhaps!!?? The President!!?? Maybe she would like to go down and meet a few victims, who would be glad to comfort her I am sure. I am not going to bang on about these bunions on society as a lot is is said in haste and in the heat of the moment but some of the reactions have been pathetic and a real eye opener into the lack of humanity of some and pure childish petulance by others.



So this is the end of the road people. I feel as though we have unfinished business here but this was a one hit wonder for me and I can't see how I could return again to complete the job. Not good enough!! I hear you cry and you would be right. We have been offered the chance to do an alternative event and my immediate thoughts are to do the London Marathon next April and I will discuss this with the charity as I need to do this now and you need closure too or there is no happy ending for anyone. The charity have also organised a couple of runs to burn off all those carbs (if nothing else) and are really trying hard to keep the spirits up but I do feel for them as it is a thankless task. I will not be running however. I have had injury problems as you know but Jill and I will be going to Staten Island to volunteer instead as it just seems like the right thing to do with our time. If we can't help, so be it but we want to try to do something.

With that in mind, there are recovery funds opening up now and here are a couple of sites that will be happy to take donations. FEMA and the state have responded now but it is a slow process and many people are without homes, let alone hot water or electricity.

http://www.redcross.org/

http://www.nyc.gov/html/fund/html/home/home.shtml

I am off to drink a lot of beer now and plan my next marathon challenge, for you as well as me.

Thank you all for following this from the start and watch this space for more on this as the saga will continue.

Cheers

AR

1 day to go (well it would have been)

Countdown has begun!!!

So, this is it. The big countdown. Only 2 weeks to go. After nearly six months of training and hundred of kilometres the worst possible thing has happened as I have strained my right calf muscle, not once but twice in three weeks. Funny thing was (funny weird that is), I went to the running track on Saturday to do a proper warm up on the bike and rowing machine, which was fine, got out on the track with the intention to just bimble around for 10k.
Sorry, I am rattling on and have forgotten to bring you up to speed on to why I would need to bimble in the first place? Well. On the 30th of September I ran a 28k run (17 miles), which was hard but without major incident. There were the the normal grumbles from my shin splints but nothing too bad. After the run, I did the cold bath thing again, much to the amusement of my kids but again, no real problems. It wasn't until a week later that during a 5k warm up run and at exactly 4k into it, that my right calf went pop and I pulled up to a slow walk. Now I am a grown man and not accustomed to crying in the street and certainly not surrounded by traffic but it was as if the whole thing was now in real jeopardy and a real low point for me. This was a pretty devastating turn of events in my mind and as I trudge home, my biggest fear now was that I would let everyone down. The outlook was pretty bleak. This injury had now robbed me of the biggest training day of the whole plan, the magic 20 mile marker, as I was due a 32k run which would be the race simulation test for the big day. This was not going to happen now and I was really quite upset by this and more than I thought I would be. At the start of this whole thing, I was really anti running but as time has gone on and after six months of training, I find myself addicted to it. Not the running part as such but just the sheer challenge of running further and further without stopping. The pay off being, when you do complete it, just to be able to say to yourself, 'I never thought I could do that'. Psychologically of course, the 20 mile barrier is massive but it also sets the body up to understand this distance to be ready for it again on marathon day and not be a total shock.




I choose to rest the leg now for what turned out to be 10 days in total but also had no physio on it (it's very expensive you know), this would prove to be a costly mistake (oh the irony, or is it a paradox?).
This brings you up to speed to Saturday the 20th and my first venture out on, what I thought was, a rested and ready to go calf muscle. It was my birthday too so, feeling pretty good,  I went to the gym at the running track and.......well, to follow on from what you already know, this is where my bimble run turned sour, as it went pop again just two laps around the track! I walked off the track and just sat on a bench with my head in my hands for what seemed like hours before I limp off to the shower. As low points go, this was a real peach. To make things worse, the shower wasn't working properly and was more of a drizzle than a shower but was an opportunity to use my new shower gel and smellies my children had got me for my birthday. I was depressed but at least I was fragrant.



So smelling good but feeling crap, I head out of the door to leave the stadium and as I do, my eye caught a sign for the Pod Plus running shop underneath the stand which would you believe it, had an offer on 4 massage therapy sessions! It was one of those signs that swings in a frame on the pavement and it was waving at me! This is no coincidence I thought and in I go like a shot and have a 30 min session right there and then. During the explanation of the injury and about the marathon in general before start of the massage, the physio threw out a comment, that would be a like a life jacket to a drowning man, which was, 'At least we have time'. Now this may not sound like much of a reassurance to anyone else but it was the best thing for me to hear just about then. I know this injury will need some kid gloves and careful preparation but just to hear those words from a professional was encouraging and some welcome relief from my gloom.


My training now is to be radically different for the next week and a half. I have to keep my cardio work rate up but keep off the calf. This will involve a lot of gym cycling and rowing machine (as long as it doesn't aggravate it) and this all starts on Monday. This training however, may be without my new running shoes! I went back to the asics shop and got re tested for a new pair, as suggested but since I did, I have had all these problems!?

We will just call them the enemy

Now these issues might well be unrelated but in my head, there is no smoke without fire and as a result, I will not be using them in anger again for running (for this anyway). A very expensive decision I know but to keep my head in the right place, I need to remove all elements of doubt.  I have a mission now to still be ready, however it is achieved, and my mood has improved slightly from the dark place I was in over the weekend and been replaced with a good old British resolve to just get on with it.
I would like to take this opportunity to apologise publicly to my family as I have been no fun to be around for the last three weeks, so to Jill, Ollie and Hattie, I am sorry and I love you all. Sniff, hang on, I've got something in my eye.



















OK. Only positive thinking from now on folks I promise. I don't care what else happens now, I will run it or walk it or crawl it if I have to so no point being miserable about it, I mean, it is still New York after all!!!!
I have received some guff from the marathon organisers this week and my running shirt from the charity. I can proudly announce that my race number is 60681. There is a website that you can track this on race day which is http://www.ingnycmarathon.org/  so this is for any sponsors out there who would like to make sure I do actually crawl over the finish line, I know I would.




Some of you will be familiar to the layout of New York and some, like me, will not. Here is a street map of the route which goes through some very iconic areas. It's all very exciting!!



Here's looking forward to some good old New Yorker hospitality
























This only leaves the race report really. Thank you to all my sponsors and here's hoping for some more and don't forget, every little helps. It would be really good to fill that thermometer so please share with all who will listen.

I have a text number set up which people can text in a donation through the Vodafone Just Giving website and a Virgin Giving website for larger web donations.

Please help if you can

 

Text Donations: To: 70070 (UK only)

Then Type: WASP99 (followed by) £1 (or any amount)

Or visit my Virgin Giving page at 

www.virginmoneygiving.com/imustbecrazy

 

Thanks for reading folks. Next issue will be from NYC!!

8 Days to go!!!!!