Month: February 2003

Heard a good Freudian slip on the radio today. A senior Metropolitan Police Officer was being interviewed about their decision to put more police back on the street. “The great majority of police officers will be happy not to use cars”, he said. “They much prefer community beating.” Decided against running today, donating the saved energy to the Silverstone fund instead.… READ MORE.... …

Another hard, hilly six miles in the West Berkshire countryside at lunchtime today. Bright sunshine, more dead foxes, and a crow eating a pheasant in the middle of the road. This run has become a weekly habit, and it does me good. It begins with a flat mile, followed by four sizeable hills, and a few other undulations, before looping round and finishing with the same flat mile.… READ MORE.... …

An average pace of less than 10 minutes a mile goes down as a tempo run in my book. So that’s how today’s three miler can be classified. Working from home today, so once again I’ve had the pleasure of a run in the strong, late winter sunshine. I’m distressed to see so many people mooching around in their gardens, digging and scraping, interfering with the smooth operation of Mother Nature, and generally making a nuisance of themselves.… READ MORE.... …

I’ll spare the detail, but will mention that Friday evening and Saturday saw us get through around 36 pints and 5 bottles of wine between the two of us. It wasn’t pretty, but it had to be done. Some fairly unhealthy eating to report, too. In addition to the obligatory couple of fry-ups, Saturday night was crowned with an extravagantly hot curry at the Himalayan Hotspot.… READ MORE.... …

My brief illness seems to be on the way out, and I felt well enough to do my hard, hilly 6.5 mile route at lunchtime. Felt knackered, but much better for it. The appearance of a few hills in my schedule has done me good. My legs feel different. Stronger. Having said that, my calf muscles and shins are sore this evening.… READ MORE.... …

Feeling slightly better, even managing a stuttering three miler at lunchtime. Needless to say, no speed records were in danger. It’s been bitingly cold, with the wind-chill taking the temperature down to something like minus three degrees. Just when you think Spring is here, Winter jumps out of a bush and bites you on the bum. I’m beginning to get fed up with feeling like this.… READ MORE.... …

I feel terrible. Streaming cold. One blocked nostril. Deaf in one ear. Head filled with cotton wool. Constantly sleepy. Can’t think straight. Wow — this is what George Bush must feel like all the time. But apart from that interesting insight, the landscape is pretty grim from where I sit. At least it’s a reminder that I’m rarely unwell. I usually run on a Tuesday, but thought better of it today.… READ MORE.... …

Last night, I tossed the influenza coin in the air before turning in, not knowing how it had landed till I opened my eyes at 7am. The news was reasonably good. Throat still a bit sore, head fuzzy but after some dry toast and Lem-Sip I passed a late fitness test and was on my way. Only eight miles to Goring, but it was my first visit.… READ MORE.... …

Latest Medical bulletin: It’s about twelve hours to the start of the Goring 10K, and my mild flu is still evident. It’s annoyingly indecisive. Does it disappear altogether, as it’s threatened to a couple of times? Or should it explode into full-blown, life-rattling, bed-ridden influenza? It hasn’t yet decided. At the moment I feel I could probably run it, but I’ll have to see how I feel when — indeed if — I wake tomorrow.… READ MORE.... …

Two days before the Goring 10K, and it’s touch and go whether I’ll make it. I’ve got flu symptoms – a rare experience for me. I’ve been snorting paracetemol all evening (that is what you do with it I presume?), which is gradually closing down my senses. The race looks like a well-organised, friendly affair. And it’s local, so I really don’t want to miss it.… READ MORE.... …