2009 - Autumn

[El Gordo]

Good running so far Andy (and Plodder too... although he probably doesn't need me to tell him that!)

Sometimes I wonder whether you actually realize what you achieve... most 50-year olds I know couldn't even run for a bus...5k...10k...marathons... dream on! If I had a small portion of your guts (oops, no pun intended) I'd be breaking world records.

I'm waiting for that sub-60 minute 10k.. or rather I'm looking forward to the write up!!

Thanks BB. 50 is a fast-receding memory, I'm afraid. 52 and a half these days.

I'm genuinely more excited and positive about the next few months than I think I've been since I started running. Regarding the age thing, I've finally woken up to the fact that it's only going to get harder, so this is as good a time as any to get more serious. Getting into the gym/cross-training habit over the past year has helped a lot by offering an alternative to excessive running, which is never going to be the right answer as you get older.

As I've said, the real key is shedding weight though, and getting well beyond the normal point where I start to take it easy (about 200 lbs). If I can push on through that point, I still have about 20 pounds to lose before I even get to the start of what's supposed to be my healthy weight. That 20 pound area is an undiscovered country, and I'm certain that's where the sub-60 10K and the sub-2 half marathon are hiding. I'm totally confident about the former milestone which is very close to my PB in any case. The New Year's Day 10K in Hyde Park is the intended venue.

Sub-2 half is much more challenging. Need to lose about 20 minutes off my last half (Reading) and about 11 minutes off my PB. Almeria will tell me a lot about my chances. If I can dip under my PB there, I reckon I can get my sub-2 later in the spring, ideally at Reading. Connemara will be a bit too undulating.

You'll be sick of hearing it, but I'd still love to get out to your neck of the woods for one of those quirky races of yours. Just need to build a bit of momentum. How's your running going? You've been understandably quiet recently, but I hope you are getting back out there. Remember that 'Running is the Answer' for most things.