Mon 30 Sept 2002

Monday is traditionally a rest day, but after skipping my 12 miler yesterday, again, I could hardly claim to need, or deserve, a rest. More than that, on the train home this evening I actually started to look forward to a run. I felt sort of coiled up, and needed stretching out a bit.

So I ran 4.5 miles along tiny back lanes in total darkness. And it was quite exhilarating. I felt... invisible. No sound apart from my breathing and my footfalls. Just the occasional rustle in the hedge, and the distant clatter of the Newbury train to remind me of some parallel universe to which I must sometimes belong.

Usually when I run I moan like mad to myself. Why aren't I doing something sensible like sitting in the pub watching the football? But tonight was one of those rare reminders that despite the inconvenience and the effort, the discovery of running was the discovery of a great secret.

Tues 1 Oct 2002

It's here. October. Marathon month. Hot damn...

After the success of last night's run I decided to seek out some more dark, quiet lanes for further, flotation-tank-like contemplation. I started out on the canal towpath which perhaps wasn't a great idea. The path is just too narrow and too uneven to run in pitch blackness. But at least I had a good excuse for taking it very easy indeed. It was another 5 miles under my belt, and I'm beginning to stop feeling anxious about having missed Sunday's long run.

Sat 5 Oct 2002

Haven't run since Tuesday. Too much work to do. Working 12 hours a day including Sat and Sun, and dining on Burger King, cans of beer and giant Mars Bars.

Wish I was joking. It's pretty grim when you have to look forward to a marathon for relaxation. But I'll get there. Tomorrow, Sunday, I'm working but hope to get a run in in the morning. I need to. 8 miles only, but if I can do it I'll feel much happier.

Sun 6 Oct 2002

What a day. Up at 6:30 to get out for a final longish run. Only 8 miles, which doesn't seem like any great feat at this stage of the game. It's too late now to worry. A week from now I'll be lining up in Grant Park, sandwiched between Lake Michigan and the forest of skyscrapers that's the Chicago Loop, wondering what the hell I've talked myself into this time.

The Great North Run happened today. Sounds like a dramatic event, and has to be on my list for next year. Ian Painter has a good write-up as always.

Important that I don't return to the semi-permanent vegetative state that I lived in for a quarter of a century up till the end of last year. The plan is to have a year of half marathons next year, with perhaps another marathon in 2004.

I read the other day of a guy who's just spent 3 weeks running between all 20-odd English Premiership football grounds. He ran 36 miles a day for the whole three weeks without a break. Erk....

This morning's run was easy enough. Two circuits of the usual run, with a bit added on at the end, amounting to about 8.5 miles. I took it easy, though I noticed later that I'm running about a minute per mile faster now than I was just before London.

Breakfast, shower, then I drove the 50 miles to Waterloo to work. Still trying to finish off this project before we leave on Friday. I didn't get out of the office till 10:45 pm. Madness, but at least it gave me the chance to drive through central London late at night, which I've not done for years.

It's my kinda town.

Next week >