Janathon 2011

[marathondan]

Well, I think the game is up for me as regards Janathon. From the outset it seemed it wasn't really for me: I've already set myself a challenge (marathon training), so why set another challenge on top of that?

And surprise surprise, generating an RSS feed by hand isn't a bundle of laughs. Maybe one day I'll write a script to do it automatically. Until then, my posts won't be going any further than the walls of this forum.

So, normal service of ad-hoc reports is hereby resumed.

And the news is: there isn't much news. I seem to have justified my reputation for consistency thus far: 20 out of 21 planned runs completed, 97% of target mileage achieved.

This week was completed with two more rain-lashed surburban outings, 5 miles tempo and 8 miles easy (step-back). Lovely running conditions. Next week we step up a gear, 12 miles for the easy and 6 for the tempo.

The dominant activity this week though, which relates to running but also to many more aspects of my life, was Mrs MD's & my trip to Newcastle for the funeral of our friend Brian, who died from pancreatic cancer two weeks ago at the age of just 45.

I won't attempt to reproduce the fantastic eulogy provided by the vicar, who knew him well for many years, but suffice to say he was the very definition of a larger-than-life character; talented, generous and fun, and someone all who knew him would aspire to emulate in some way.

The committal service at the crem was family-only, so we didn't attend that part. But if I understand certain Facebook comments correctly, his mortal remains were sent forth to the strains of Disco Inferno (Burn Baby Burn). I think I need tell you no more about the man.

As soon as he was diagnosed last summer, Brian threw himself into fundraising for Cancer Research UK, hence my decision to run for them in Brighton and help his efforts. The last time we saw him he (actually his friend Paul) came up with the stick of rock idea. I'll be proud to carry a small part of his legacy on April 10th, by dressing up like a complete idiot, subjecting myself to considerable distress, and hopefully raising a few smiles.

Thanks for everything, mate.