I started running back in 1984 after watching one of the very first London Marathons and the thought of the challenge of running 26 miles really excited and motivated me. I started within days running round my local park in Greenford, Ravenor Park and around the local streets with my neighbour of 5 doors away and Greenford High School friend Billy.
We arrived late by car at our first 10-mile road race in Surrey only to find out that the runners were just about to start. After a Starsky and Hutch parking of the car and a Superman change in the car we joined the other competitors at the back of the field. We completed the run finishing midway in the field, Billy finishing ahead of me, to find out that we had entered a Club run with club runners and not a fun run for those like ourselves. This fact encouraged me to run and train more and I began a phase of running Half Marathons, which I enjoyed immensely.
My preparation for the London Marathon has started. On Tuesday night I did 20 sit-ups and 10 press-ups. Felt OK afterwards. This however is a start but much more needs to be done. Within the next week or so I plan to start running with my good friend Steve, I hope to join a Gym and in January I plan to return to playing football regularly on Saturdays for Southern Amateur League club, Old Lyonians.
Back in 1986 I played football twice a week, on Saturdays for Old Greenfordian’s Football Club and on Sundays for a Pub team whose name I cannot remember at the moment. The Pub, I think, was the Swan in Northolt / South Harrow. I football trained once a week and went running 3 times a week doing two 5 mile runs and an 8 mile run. I hope this time round to be motivated enough to get out and run when it is dark, cold and wet and after a days work and putting the children to bed.
In 1986 I would look in the mirror and would see a well-formed 6-pack, today I look and see a small barrel. That will have to change if I intended to complete the 26 miles distance in 4 and half hours.
Got on the scales today and unfortunately I have put on 1 pound (1lb) in weight, so I’m now 12 stones or 168 pounds or 76.20 Kilograms. My weight is going in the wrong direction. I’ll have to start training soon.
Information: 1 pound = 453.59 grams = 0.45359 Kilograms. 14 pounds = 1 stone
Managed 20 sit-ups and 10 press-ups prior to going for a run with Steve. We decided on a route, a course of about 2 miles around Greenford Ravenor Park. We completed the distance in 21 minutes and 37 seconds.
I decided to try to complete 2 half marathons before competing in the London Marathon in April 2007. The Watford half marathon in February 07 and the Silverstone half marathon in March 07 will be preparation for the London Marathon.
The new Adidas running shoes I brought from JJB’s at a reduced price were comfortable and nice to run in.
I start this day knowing that I am one year older than the year before and one day older than day before. I could look at this in one of two ways.
1. I am one year older and I and my body is, one year further from my youth, one year closer to being worn out and being used to fertilise some field or patch of ground..
I could continue with a string of negative things, but no, that’s not me. My glass is always half full and not half empty.
2. I am one year old and I and my body is, one year wiser and maturer, like a good wine, one year closer from being renewed to something that no mind could ever perceive or contemplate, one year closer to being “raised in glory”.
20 sit-up and 10 press-ups completed before going running.
Ran with Steve the same course and route as 2 days ago and manage to knock off 9 seconds of the previous time, a time today of 21 minutes and 28 seconds. Nine seconds to do something with, if you are like me and like to fill up every millisecond of time. Not necessarily the best way to live. I’m constantly trying to find Rest, maybe I should have another drink of water to quench may thirst.
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