Alive and Thinking

Not quite as planned!

2007-04-23T10:38:00.000+01:00

With my emergency training schedule complete, I was all set for a run of around 3hrs 20mins, which would have been a little bit quicker than 2002.

But on Friday, I felt like I was getting ill. By Saturday night my arms and legs were aching and I was shivering. It was a painful choice, but I decided that if I didn't feel any better in the morning I wasn't going to run. Running a marathon isn't easy, running a temperature isn't easy. Running them both is stupid!

On Sunday morning I did feel a bit better and decided that I was going to get to the finish, no matter how long it took. I left home to get to the start 45mins before the race began. Unfortunately there were heavy delays due to a broken down train. Eventually we were turfed off our train leaving us with a 2mile walk to the start. Well, the marathon just isn't long enough on it's own!

Arriving late at the start, we had to join the back of the queue behind the slowest of the slow. I did try and weave my way through but it was impossible to run with any speed or rhythm - not much fun really. This proved to be no bad thing though as I was feeling pretty ropey by about 23miles (I think the paracetamol had worn off) and I decided that, although my legs were still working, given the heat and my state of health, I would run/walk the rest, eventually crossing the line just inside 4hrs 15mins.

So it wasn't much fun as a run, but then that's not why I did it.

And finally, a big thank you to everyone who supported me in various ways.

Sponsor me at www.bmycharity.com/runformum

Pride comes before a fall

2007-04-20T10:34:00.000+01:00

I completed the formalities of registration yesterday, collecting my race number and 'ChampionChip' as well as getting my name printed on my running vest. This should generate some extra support from the crowd, as long as the second 'O' doesn't fall off.

The ChampionChip will record my exact time, i.e. the time it takes from when I cross the start line (probably a few minutes after the first athletes) to when I cross the finish line. You attach it to your one of your shoes and as you run over mats on the ground your presence is felt. Of course, for those who are really interested in their time it is important to work out which shoe is likely to cross the finish line first.

At the registration centre they have a big exhibition - lots of stalls where you can buy sports stuff, sample the latest energy bar and so on. Fuller's had a stall and they were giving away London Pride (?!). Also you can go and listen to coaches giving advice and answering really interesting questions from the audience, like "should I double knot my laces?"

The exhibition is open to the public, so go on, what's stopping you?

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Seeing red!

2007-04-16T12:13:00.000+01:00

I completed my last training run of any significance on Saturday. A leisurely 20km at marathon pace (hopefully) wearing my race gear - a dress rehearsal limits the chance of discovering irritant seams on the day.

Now my race number is 34764, and this means that I get to use the Red Start. And everyone knows the route from the Red Start is longer. I'll check eBay for some Green Start race numbers.

Sponsor me at www.bmycharity.com/runformum

Imperial nonsense

2007-04-13T12:01:00.000+01:00

It's fairly common to sponsor a marathon runner £26.20 - everyone knows that a marathon is 26.2 miles long. WRONG! Marathon distance is 26 miles and 385 yards, and that's almost 26.22 miles. This must be costing charities millions of pounds each year.

And everyone knows that a mile is 1.6 kilometres. WRONG! A mile is almost 1.61 kilometres.

So what?

Well, all of this imperial nonsense means that the marathon is about 275 metres longer than I thought it was. Of course it's too late to put in the extra training required, so I'm off for an extra creme egg.

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As sure as eggs is eggs

2007-04-08T18:28:00.000+01:00

Well, we're halfway through the cricket and England have managed to throw away a good position against Australia again. So I did a Google search to see if any miracles have ever taken place on Easter Sunday. It wasn't a very successful search but I did find one.

The Gospel of Mark records how the man crucified by the Romans actually was seen alive again a few days later. Now that is definitely worth investigating.

Short talk: Why Did Jesus Rise Again?

Good Friday

2007-04-06T13:15:00.000+01:00

The headlines have been made this week by brutality from Roman authorities directed towards English football fans.

The Gospel of Mark records an incident nearly 2,000 years ago when an innocent man was beaten and killed by the Romans. A good teacher? So why did they kill him? And why was Jesus willing to die?

Short talk: Why Did Jesus Die?

Eat like a horse, look like a horse?

2007-04-06T11:12:00.000+01:00

Following my lack of training in March, I'm now over a week into my emergency schedule. The last time a long run is recommended is three weeks before the marathon, so yesterday I ignored this advice and ran 21½ miles. Actually, it went pretty well, indeed much better than my 22½ mile run two weeks earlier when I seized up after the run and was unable to reach my feet to remove my trainers.

Some have asked whether or not I will be running in fancy dress. Well, obviously not - wearing an athlete's outift will be sufficiently incongruous.

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Don't forget your laces!

2007-04-02T16:38:00.000+01:00

It's official!

Last week I received my registration form along with the race programme. Not only is the programme full of helpful information such as where the start is, but attached to the front was a pair of shoelaces.

There is a map of the course, with water stations, Lucozade Sport stations and pubs clearly marked.

And there is the advice that by now, all the hard work should be complete and it's time to wind down for the race. Hmmm! Well, after a couple of failures, I did complete a long run/walk a couple of weeks ago (22½mi) and I'm going to try to squeeze another one in on Thursday morning, and then I promise to cool off and rest the legs.

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Quiz answers

2007-03-05T08:20:00.000+00:00

(1) Blankety Blank - 23nd Feb Nipple

(2) Sierra Oscar Sierra - 25th Feb Rocky IV

So it's on with the NipGuards for the long runs now. Highly recommended, they come in packs of 10 pairs (sorry Scaramanger) and if anyone wants to try them out, let me know!

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A dog ate my trainers!

2007-03-04T16:58:00.000+00:00

Okay, so the 21½mi run didn't go quite as planned. So which of the following best describes what happened?

(a) A dog ate my trainers;

(b) I was abducted by aliens. They were going to demand a large ransom, but I told them a few jokes and they released me immediately;

(c) I arrived at the tube station to find it was shut. When I eventually got to Hyde Park, the toilets were locked. Uncomfortably, I set off on my run and availed myself of some more accessible facilities after about 4 miles. Sadly, my tense running style over those first few miles took its toll and I ground to a halt after about 17 miles.

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The Wall

2007-03-02T19:14:00.000+00:00

After three short runs totalling 17 miles, I'm finishing the week off tomorrow with a 21½mi run.

Now there's only so far you can go before the glycogen stores in your muscles run out. Then the body tries to burn fat and this doesn't work so well. This change happens somewhere around the 18 mile mark. Pain follows and it's called 'hitting the wall'.

The way to avoid the wall is to take on extra energy just before and during the long runs. Lucozade Sport is provided roughly every five miles of the marathon and it's a good idea to practice drinking it on training runs. Jelly beans are another good suggestion, but in training for 2002 I found that I couldn't eat them and breathe at the same time. Not good! It's really important to do any experimenting in training rather than on race day.

Sponsor me at www.bmycharity.com/runformum

Ask Uncle Chris - February postbag

2007-03-01T08:35:00.000+00:00

Another full bag this month, and I must say a big thank you to all the support I have received in the wake of the Ofblog report (Strike One - 2nd Feb). As usual, here are some of the highlights:

Q Your second child is due only a few days after the race. What happens if the baby arrives early? Will you run? If not, will we get our sponsorship money back?
A Well, Tiger and I discussed this at great length (Tiger Woods that is, not my wife, although obviously I discussed it with her too) and as a result Tiger has decided to miss the Open if it clashes with the birth of his child. Likewise, I will not run the marathon if it clashes with the birth of our child, and all sponsorship money will be refunded by me (not Breakthrough).

Q Can we have a photo on the blog of your feet please?
A Definitely not!! My feet are a little off colour and out of shape at the moment, no longer the prettiest things in the world! But rest assured, life doesn't grind to a halt every time I break a nail!

Q Uncle Chris, how much weight have you lost since you started training?
A Hahaha! I've actually GAINED 2.3kg (5 pounds in old money), but I'm still lighter than when I ran in 2002.

Q How much does it cost to enter the marathon?
A If you get a place through the ballot, it costs about £30, but if you enter with a 'Golden Bond' charity place, it costs the charity about £300.

On top of that, if you follow a fairly light to moderate training schedule like mine, then you'll end up running about 500 miles over 16 weeks. This works out at an average of two extra days of food per week and one pair of trainers - roughly £200.

Sponsor me at www.bmycharity.com/runformum

Fartlek

2007-02-26T07:49:00.000+00:00

Yer what? Quite! What is fartlek?

(a) A character from a Tolkien novel;

(b) An enemy of Doctor Who;

Well, the correct answer is (c), a Swedish term meaning 'speed play' - otherwise there wouldn't be much point introducing it into my training regime.

It's time to increase the schedule to four runs a week. My extra run will be a fartlek session.

"Here’s how a typical fartlek session would work. After a steady warm-up, simply pick a landmark – for example a tree, lamp-post, or phone box – and run to it hard, then jog until you’ve recovered. Then pick another landmark, run hard to that, recover and so on."

"If you want to add an unexpected element to fartlek training, run with a friend and take it in turns to call the next fast leg."

Anyone want to be my friend? I promise you a great night out!

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Sierra Oscar Sierra

2007-02-25T14:50:00.000+00:00

Yes, I'm sending out an S.O.S. This is one of my worst jokes ever. Okay, I was invited to a pre-Oscars party last night. You had to go as a film, not a character from a film, but a film. So what film is this? Answers by email to Uncle Chris.

Oh, I suppose it might help to know that what I'm wearing is a wedge of cheese - art & craft was never my strong suit.

A level maths question

2007-02-24T14:03:00.000+00:00

This week Uncle Chris went running three times. The distances he ran were 15km, 22.6km and pkm. The total distance that Uncle Chris ran was 52.8km.

(a) Find p. (6 marks)

(b) If Uncle Chris had been able to run at 30km/h, how long would his shortest run have taken him? (4 marks)

(c) There are approximately 900kcal in a tube of cheese pringles. If Uncle Chris burns approximately 90kcal for each kilometre that he runs, how many tubes of cheese pringles did Uncle Chris eat whilst running this week? (10 marks)

(Total 20 marks)

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Blankety Blank

2007-02-23T18:36:00.000+00:00

"Our Uncle Chris has been training for the marathon. He's been pretty fortunate with injuries. Last Saturday he went out on a 17½ mile run and all he came back with was a sore left BLANK."

Please send entries to Uncle Chris, and remember, the clue is in the question. The winner will go through to the Supermatch Game.

Sponsor me at www.bmycharity.com/runformum

Is God a delusion?

2007-02-18T19:52:00.000+00:00

First, a reminder that the week of talks (If eternity is at stake... - 4th Feb) begins next Sunday evening, the 25th February. Please let me know if you want to come along with me to any of those talks.

As yet there have been no takers for the evening of Tuesday 27th February, so maybe the following event is more appealing:

Is God a delusion? John Humphreys will chair a debate between Professors Bill Craig and Lewis Wolpert at Westminster Central Hall at 7.30pm, Tuesday 27th February. Entrance is free. Let me know if you want to come along with me.

Blog a Jog Week

2007-02-18T18:55:00.000+00:00

Half-term is upon us, so in a bid to improve the nation's health and literacy, this week (traditionally 'Bob a Job Week') has been rebranded as 'Blog a Jog Week'. Thousands of youngsters will be out running and then telling the world about it!

The government has enlisted the help of many of the country's top runner-writers to assist with the project, and thanks to the recommendations of many of my readers, I was overlooked. For me, this is simply one of those headline grabbing nonsense ideas that surface from time to time, destined to be remembered as a damp squib (who is going to read all this stuff?), and I feel fortunate not to be associated with the project.

Yes, I suppose it's possible that this is just sour grapes, but one of the problems with the internet is that it allows absolutely any old Joe Bloggs to publish a whole load of rubbish!

Anyway, I predict total chaos in the parks and long queues outside web cafés, so I have decided to get away from it all and return to my training camp for the week. While the nation runs and writes, I'll just be running.

Sponsor me at www.bmycharity.com/runformum

Condition, Confidence, Control

2007-02-17T15:19:00.000+00:00

It felt really weird this morning as I dealt with 17½mi like it was a walk in the park! And there was a bonus - a milk delivery at Kensington Palace gave me the opportunity to cruise past a milk cart - that pace car had better watch out!

For the next seven weekends I'll be alternating between shorter runs (½M - 15mi) and longer runs (20mi - 22½mi). For the last couple of weeks, I'll cut the distances down and that should get me fresh and ready for the race itself.

These longer runs are crucial for at least three reasons:

Condition - most people can't just get out of bed and run a marathon;
Confidence - it's really helpful to know you can finish;
Control - you must learn to stick to a pace you can cope with.

Now 17½mi might be two-thirds distance, but come race day, get this far and the mental battle will have barely begun. The key is to remember what the tortoise taught us and to start slowly. It's much easier to cope with the last few miles if you're passing all the hares.

Sponsor me at www.bmycharity.com/runformum

Altitude training

2007-02-15T08:49:00.000+00:00

A thousand apologies blogfans (that should be enough to go round), but I've been away training at altitude. My chosen camp is situated on the edge of the National Forest, about 150ft above sea level. Communication is difficult, with patchy mobile reception and no broadband - blogging is for blumberjacks.

Sporting my new grade-two haircut (I am always looking for that edge over the competition), I completed a 10½mi run on Monday. Fortunately the weather was warmer, and so I was also able to ditch my lycra layer, which was attracting far too much attention anyway, mainly from men. The only downside was running past the pig farm three times.

I'm back in London now though. A 6km sprint last night and now two days rest before 17½mi on Saturday. Time to start the serious training!

Sponsor me at www.bmycharity.com/runformum

The hare and the tortoise

2007-02-10T12:29:00.000+00:00

It was cold and wet this morning, so the only disappointment was the lack of wind. I took the precaution of travelling on the Metropolitan Line to get to Regent's Park - I think if I had used the Circle Line I would have been tempted to stay on it for two hours, jogging on the spot.

Anyway, another 15mi completed, and much easier than the last time two weeks ago. A much more sensible pace saw me complete the first 9mi a minute slower but enabled me to run the last 6mi seven minutes quicker. I think it's all beginning to come together. Next Saturday, 17½mi - Hyde Park the venue.

Sponsor me at www.bmycharity.com/runformum

Snow joke!

2007-02-09T10:01:00.000+00:00

Suddenly the whole enterprise was in jeopardy! The intention was to do 6km last night and then 15mi tomorrow and then down came the snow.

My trainer was obviously worried for my safety - here he is inspecting the conditions - but not that worried, as he told me to clear off and do some exercise.

It turned out to be an ideal opportunity to start breaking in my race day spares, which gave me that bit of extra grip. And it looks like everything will be fine by tomorrow. You see, I'm not looking for excuses not to run. I'd rather take my pain now and enjoy the race!

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One hit wonders!

2007-02-08T07:42:00.000+00:00

I woke up to a bit of a shock yesterday morning. Apparently there were 18 visitors to the site on Tuesday and 11 of them were from China. Do they really consider me to be a medal threat for next year's Olympics? Anyway, back to normal yesterday - 1 visitor. Hey, if you were one of the people that never came back, can you let me know why. Just click on the comments link below.

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Happy to be running

2007-02-06T21:34:00.000+00:00

Yes, that's right Ofblog, I've done some more running (although it's been a bit parky!) - ¼M on Sunday night and another 9½mi tonight. One more run this week (a 6km sprint) and then another crack at 15mi this weekend, probably Saturday morning in Regent's Park if anyone wants to join me?! Come on you crazy kids! Just think of the serotonin release!

Hopefully we won't encounter any more jesters. These are the people that think it's a really smart idea to jump in front of you, waving their hands, sporting a daft grin. I simply return the grin and turn the speed up a notch, at which point their grin usually disappears along with the rest of them.

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If eternity is at stake...

2007-02-04T14:16:00.000+00:00

It is not unthinkable...

that God is the answer to the question of existence, why there is something rather than nothing;
that a God who created us would want to communicate with us;
that the most effective way that God could communicate with us would be to become one of us and live amongst us;
that if God has communicated with us, it would be worth listening to what he said;
that if we are to believe in life after death, God would have demonstrated this to us.

If eternity is at stake, it's worth spending some time on it.

So why not come along to one of the following talks with me at
St Helen's Church:

Sunday meetings with questions to the speaker
25th February (6pm)
4th March (10.30am)

Midweek meetings (booking required - so let me know)
Tuesday 27th February
Wednesday 28th February
Thursday 1st March

7.15 for supper at 7.30pm
8.20pm talk, followed by dessert and coffee
9.15pm question time