2007 - June

[El Gordo]

Thanks re the birthday, BB.

Different people run for different reasons, and I guess we all have to do what seems right. I've determinedly done no walking in two marathons (Zurich and Chicago, I think), though as you rightly say there were times when you wonder what the difference is between the two states. Towards the end of a marathon, that 'survival shuffle' that some of us fall back into does seem to be some sort of hybrid. In road races, running all the way is a good enough target on its own for me, but you're right about hilly races where some judicious walking seems to be accepted by all. I did once try to run-walk a race from the start as a strategy. The Bramley 20 in Feb 2006. I walked one minute every mile. If I'm honest, I didn't really notice a difference. I ended up in a lot of pain, though that may have been becasue I spent the last half of the race listening to some Rickie Gervais podcasts. Laughing can hurt a lot.

Sweder - thanks re CPW. I agree that it's how problems are dealt with that's important. These people have been truly terrible. I've decided I'm going to go all the way with it. If they take me to court, I'll go and contest it.