Roll up, roll up. Just 22 days left until one of the best 'town' halfs on the race calendar.
Who's doing Reading this year then? Me and Antonio are definitely in, and Sweder and Seafront Plodder were strongly rumoured to be up for it. Anyone else?
Unfortunately if you'd planned to do it but not entered, it's too late. The race is now full.
So Reading-ites - make yourselves known....
El Gordo
Great things are done when men and mountains meet.
I think Reading is on the same day as Hastings Half, a popular and extremely tough race here in the Sarf East. However I am still on (and in) for Reading, although the thorny subject of Phoebe's 10th Birthday has yet to be fully explored in Swederville . . .
The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph
A fascinating graphic to illustrate your predicament, Sweder. So the thought of coming to see her dad finish in the Madejski stadium wouldn't thirill her then? Perhaps combined with a trip to nearby Legoland on the way back....?
El Gordo
Great things are done when men and mountains meet.
Yep, dodgy hamstring or no I'll be lining up in Madeira Drive this Sunday.
I'll be wearing a horrible turqoise vest with 'SWEDER' emblazened across the chest (last years' JDRF vest - this year we have a nice blue colour).
See you there.
The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph
You can call them to find out if your stuff's been sent out. If it hasn't or if it's been lost in the post, I can collect your number next Saturday when I collect Antonio's (if this helps).
The teeshirt's a nice techie one. I'm the envy of the neighbourhood.
El Gordo
Great things are done when men and mountains meet.
First, I've been along to the hotel today, and they've agreed to a 6pm checkout on the Sunday, so you'll be able to leave your things there till after the race, and have a bath/shower.
Second, the race teeshirt was available to buy after the race in 2002 and 2003, so I'm sure it will be this year too.
Sweder/SP - Are you rushing off after the race?
El Gordo
Great things are done when men and mountains meet.
Muchas gracias, Andy. I expect to finish the half marathon a little bit earlier if I can since I have had some discomfort in my right heel which made me unable to train for one week and I had to go to my physiotherapist two days this week. Apparently I have tenosynovitis.
I went for a little run this morning in the river because the terrain is softer and I felt better. I also went on a short bicycle ride but this afternoon I felt a little discomfort again.
Hi Andy. I think considering it's Mothers Day and Phoebe's birthday I'll be planning a daylight exit. Still, if any more bits drop off I may need SP to pop me into a rucksack and carry me around . . .
I guess we need to figure a few things out.
I got my fabulous (genuine sentiment - I am impressed!) runners' shirt and pack last week. Also various offers of pre-paid parking. Thought I'd check with the main man on where to park, where to meet up, what time etc. Suspect SP and I will be travelling together (unless he's planning an overnight Guinness fuelled pillage of Reading).
Cheers. Ps: Blew out on Richmond Park completely. Lewes is buried under snow this morning, my back's still sore, hamstring dodgy (fades to indeterminate whine . . . )
The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph
I'll give this some thought. I need to try to gather together a lot of variables and come up with a plan.
The variables/complexities include
- different finishing times
- the finish in the Madejski stadium which will be more crowded than the Almeria finish
- far more runners/spectators, making it harder to see people
- start and finish are not very near each other, making it tricky to decide on best parking place
- no pubs very close to the finish
- the, er, personal hygiene issue
The sort of thing I have in mind is to think of a pub to meet up in afterwards, even if this is a bit away from the finish, then take it from there.
My weekend running plans are also a bit awry, Sweder. The original plan was for 20 miles Saturday but then various domestic commitments started to get in the way, so I thought I'd shift it to Sunday (today). I did a few hours of hard digging in the garden yesterday, and at dusk suddenly felt like a quick run, and ended up doing a very brisk 7 miles followed by a few pints of excellent ale in the pub next door.
All this adds up to not great preparation for a long run today, especially as I've more digging to do first, before collecting and laying 20 large paving slabs in the garden.
Hmm. At least I can regard the work as a form of cross training. Seriously, why not? I feel like I had a great workout yesterday. I'm going to do this work, then go out for a slow plod later and see where it takes me, though 20 miles is out of the question. I'm not going to get upset about it. I haven't had a step-back week since the start of the training, and as I say, I've been doing a lot of physical stuff so it's not like I've been lazy.
Anyway, this is all supposed to make you feel a bit better. If your hamstring is still a bit sore I wouldn't worry about not doing the Richmnd Park thing.
It makes me feel better too....
El Gordo
Great things are done when men and mountains meet.
