Sometimes a run just jumps out of nowhere and ambushes you. Today, after spending all morning and most of the afternoon lounging in front of a computer, still in my dressing gown, I glanced out of the window and saw the first signs of darkness. With some reluctance, I decided that a short run would be a good idea. I can barely bring myself to confront the calorific calamity that lies in wait for me tomorrow. Perhaps if I can go into the day with some kind of calory defecit from today, it might help, I thought. The plan was to do a quick three miler before M returned home. If the timing was right, I could do just enough … …
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golly, that 6 miler yeshterday morning was ard. I vanshed into the fog at eh, 10 o’clokk it seems and retorned they say an hour later or thereabuuts. It remined me of th first 6 miler I did ths toime last year when id just started running. SIX MILES! Cara-blody-rammba. the first time id done htat distnace, and my bllomin quads were aching. yarterdya yeah i was runnin like a gioodun along the canal for choofin yonks and the the problem was id been to the pub the night befoore so imagin runnin fo rlike 6 miler withj a barrel of brakspears on the shouldr and you;ll ubnderstand what it was like, its togh atthe top i woud say. Hmm, … …
No run today. Instead, I took the beer and crisps road. Tomorrow I’m looking to do 6 miles.… …
I’ve publicised my wager (see yesterday), and currently have a taker for £55. UKBTS will be the beneficiary if QPR beat Brentford and Wycombe in their next two games. If we fail to win both, I’m giving my season ticket away, and will take a break from it all for a year. Did a huffy-puffy 3+ miles at lunchtime today. Much as I enjoy the opportunity to run in a pleasant park, during the day, when it’s bright, it’s frustrating not knowing the distances. I can only go by my watch. I ran for 36 minutes which will be just over 3 miles. Not much to report, apart from two attempts on my life. First, I was nearly brought down … …
It’s that New Year resolution time again. Here are mine: Give up football. Probably. Give up alcohol. Probably. Keep on running. Somehow maintain the will to live in view of the first two. I’ve realised that I waste half my life watching, listening to, reading/writing/talking about, and listening to others talking about, the occasionally beautiful game. It’s way too much, and an obstacle to real life. The reason I say “probably” is that I think the decision should be as arbitrary as the game itself. My team, Queens Park Rangers, have two home games left before the new year. If we win them both, I’ll soldier on with the curse of obsession. If we don’t, I’ll give my season ticket … …
A sprightly 35 minute run this evening. I’ve resolved to avoid — where possible — running in the dark this winter, but today I had to. It wasn’t easy, going back out into the cold void in my running stuff, having got home late from work. But some things have been experienced too often now to be able to ignore or deny. Among these truths is that however unappealing a run might seem at the outset, I always end up glad that I did it. In fact, the more unappealing, the more enjoyable they tend to be. Why? I don’t know. Perhaps with low expectations, the reality can only be a pleasant surprise. Not murderously cold tonight. Perhaps 5 degrees … …
No run today. Instead I’ve been studying this recipe for a Christmas cake that my sister sent me: Ingredients 1 cup of water 1 tsp baking soda 1 cup of sugar 1 tsp salt 1 cup of brown sugar lemon juice 4 large eggs nuts 4 bottles of port 2 cups of dried fruit Method: Sample the port to check quality. Take a large bowl, check the port again. To be sure it is the highest quality, pour one level cup and drink. Repeat. Turn on the electric mixer. Beat one cup of butter in a large fluffy bowl. Add one teaspoon of sugar. Beat again. At this point it’s best to make sure the port is still OK. Try … …
This throbbing knee is beginning to worry me slightly. It was painful enough to make me consider not running at all today, though eventually I decided to do my usual 3.67 local circuit, just to keep the blood flowing. When I run, I can’t feel the knee aching at all; it’s only when I stop that it appears. Little to report. It was a cool, damp morning. Grey and uninviting. I felt a little fitter again today, and did the distance in under 40 minutes. Not fast by most standards, but a full 5 minutes faster than the same run ten days ago, so that has to be a good sign.… …
I ventured into the Promised Land today. This is the section of the park on the other side of the dual carriageway. Not sure why I called it that. It just appeared faintly mysterious and enticing on the few occasions that I’ve run past the small suspension bridge and glanced across at the Other Side. Today… today I made that journey. The pain in my right knee was flickering all morning, but I risked it. In the light of my recent experience, I upped the ante in the garb stakes today. Not only my Ron Hill leggings made their seasonal debut, but a woolly hat as well. Yes, of course I felt like an idiot. It was hard to make … …
No run today after all. That twinge in my knee was muttering to me all morning, and I thought it best not to risk it. Now then, I know what you’re thinking, and it’s just not true. It was bitterly disappointing not to have another out-of-body, out-of-mind potter round my deep-frozen lunchbreak. In any case, I made up for it this evening by doing 40 minutes on the little-used exercise-bike, transfixed by the sight of Gary Rhodes’ cooking as I did so. I must have put on a couple of pounds just watching that programme. I’ve rediscovered the kitchen in the last couple of weeks, partly because food becomes much more interesting when you’re trying to avoid it, and partly … …