Spring 09 - the run-up to Boston

[El Gordo]

Thanks all.

Suzie -- sounds like you may have strained the hamstring. A pull would be very bad news at this stage, and would probably have stopped you moving much. Still, a strain needs looking after. You know what to do. Sounds like you're turning in some impressive long runs though, so you should be fine.

Nick -- the calf is in a semi-permanent state of mild soreness but not bad enough to feel too worried about it at present. I'm stretching daily which I'm sure is helping. My quads are more painful at the moment but I think that's to be expected after Sunday's hills.

MD -- It's a very old race so I suspect that it used to be run in Finchley and sort of moved around a bit as clubs and organisers came and went and police restrictions changed. If precedent is anything to go by, it will probably end up in Milton Keynes with Nick.

Sweder -- aye, the de/hydration problem. It's another reason I prefer winter running. Warm weather running gets complicated with the if/when/how much of fluids. Like you, I'm amazed to see people happily glugging litres of sports drink in the minutes leading up to the start of a race. It's a mistake to make once or twice but no more.

When I'm organised (:RFLMAO I drink loads of water in the days leading up to a long race, then almost nothing at all on the morning unless I have 2 or 3 hours for it to naturally exit before I get to the start. That said, I got it wrong on Sunday. I just forgot about it, and also I suppose I didn't expect it to be such a warm day. I haven't got used to the fact that we are out of the winter now -- or hadn't until this morning, when I had a glorious 4 mile canter through the lanes at 7 a.m. Still a bit fresh at that time, but the sunshine was fantastic.