Movember 2012

[Sweder]

Two runs to report since Saturday's fast laps. Yesterday, as thousands flogged themselves along the Brighton seafront in the Brooks 10k, I took on my own Downland version. My hamstrings hummed from Parkrun, ever on the edge of whinging. I covered the course in a shade under 59 minutes, starting slowly, turning up the gas on the run for home, clocking 6'40" pace in the last few hundred metres.

After a hurried shower and foolishly failing to eat, I dashed off to the Pan Siro. My second stint as Ass Man (Assistant Manager) saw the Rookettes host Chichester City in a Sussex Challenge Cup quarter final. A tricky tie on paper, this. CCLFC have been flying in the South East Combination league, right in the mix for promotion. Lewes Ladies have been on the end of miserable misfortune, losing back-to-back fixtures they really should have won. As someone once said it's a good job football is played on grass, not paper. After a fiery briefing about 'letting the visitors know where they are' and 'giving no quarter' the ladies raced to a 4-0 half-time lead. England's Naomi Cole opened the scoring with a cool finish from 25 yards, lobbing the stranded keeper with aplomb.

I paced up and down, bellowing instructions, mostly quality cliches like 'squeeze!' 'No time, no space!' and 'switch on!' at set pieces. The second half saw more of the same and another three goals, leaving me with a record of played two, won two, 21 goals for, none against. My next appearance on the touchline will be in February for the semi-final against Crawley.
Can't wait.

This morning I nipped out for a swift three miler. Strong sunshine had half-set the mud into a sticky mash, sucking away at my Mizunos as I hauled my tired limbs up the hills. November has a firm, icy grip, the breeze cutting up from the town to chill my flesh. Not yet cold enough for leggings but by all accounts a proper freeze is on the way.

At today's pre-run weigh-in I clocked 90.4 kilos, a loss for the week of over half a kilo. Pleasing, especially as I'm still in recovery. I hope to echo that this week and finally dip below the magic 90 marker before heading off to Amsterdam for Intermodal. That'll test my mettle, all that creamy Dutch food and enticements to imbibe. Get thee behind me, Cloggies.

On, on.