June 2009

[El Gordo]

Och, don't beat yerself up about it laddie....

I am similarly splodged out at present, and indeed probably a fair bit worse in shape, fitness, weight, diet -- you name it.

Admittedly, Bewl this weekend is something of an inconvenience for a man in your position, but putting that aside for one moment, I think it best to just regard this as downtime. If footballers can have a close season -- a time to holiday, party, rest, recharge the batteries, BBQ, drink too much beer, and eat all those things that athletes are warned against -- then why can't we?

June and July is the close season for runners as far as I'm concerned. Not that anyone who is so inclined (like the admirable Glaconman, and the 10K-running Marathon Dan) should be dissuaded. If you find running in the heat of summer not just possible but enjoyable, then go right ahead. But for many of us, there are few things worse in the running universe than to plod aimlessly around the lanes under a cruel sun, lips like sandpaper, throat like a drainpipe abandoned in the desert, scorched by desperate breath, eyes filled with stinging sweat. Oh god -- need I go on? Which funnily enough, is what I say to myself if I try going for a run in these conditions.

So my solution is simply to regard it as earned downtime, and not to fret about it. In fact, coaches recommend it.

My experience in the gym leading up to Boston has given me a useful insight into the benefits of alternative cardio-vascular exercise, so from next week, I plan to ease myself back onto the rails with a couple of gentle weekly workouts, and perhaps a bike-ride or two, in the hope that when I finally feel able to get out on the road again, it won't be too much of a shock, and my weight will have started to come down again.

In summary -- it doesn't matter. Enjoy your break. If you're missing the hills, I'm sure the dogs would appreciate a long walk a couple of times a week early in the day, before the sun climbs too high.