Fitness

Sounds like a business opportunity.

I did my first ever Park Run* today. It was fun and I'll probably try and do another at some point.

(*Omagh - 27:18)

I'm doing a half marathon this morning. I've not ran more than 9km in one go in the last six months and it's bloody hot. This isn't going to go well is it.

RIP Shady.

I did it but I'm too traumatised to discuss.

Full Radcliffe?

I doubt he had chance to stop in The Oak for breakfast.

So the event I did was the Sheffield Round Run. It's a half marathon around Sheffield, but split into 11 different stages. You beep in/out of each stage, and your total time is added up. You get between 4-20 minutes between each stage. The time between each stage is for walking from the end of the last stage, to the beginning of the next.

It was the worst event I've ever done. It was way too hot and really really hilly. A terrible combination. I'd also not trained enough, but even if I had, I'd still have been in trouble.

The stage approach meant I never got into any sort of rhythm. Maybe just about get my breathing settled and running nicely, then the stage ends, and you walk for 10 minutes along the edge of an A road to the next bit.

The gradient was horrible. I was either pretty much walking to get up a hill, or trying to slow myself down on a steep down hill. There was very little flat in the entire race.

There weren't enough water stations. Especially for the heat.

Near the end I started to feel like I was going to be sick and/or faint so stopped a few times (though was already walking at this point).

I started about 9am, and finished about 12:30. My actual chip time was 2:16. Though that seems weird to me, from experience I know what a 2:16 half marathon is, and no way was I at that pace. Felt more like 2:45. Though as said, my head was all over the place from the 1.5 hour mark onwards so who knows what happened.

Best bit was Little Miss Shady meeting me near the end and running the last 400m with me. She's delighted with her medal and is telling her friends at nursery this morning about her run she did yesterday.

Immediately after finishing I went for a piss and blood came out. Seems it can be a thing after strenuous exercise, especially running - "exercise-induced hematuria". Obviously freaked me out. Not been any before, or since that first piss. Pretty good sign you body is protesting at what you've just put it through!

PS: Did it in my Forest shirt and chatted to quite a few Forest fans during the event which was good. The random YOU REDS you get from supporters and fellow runners is good for spurring me on.

PPS: Total distance was about 25km with the walks added on.

Think I'm going to take the rest of the summer for cycling instead of running.

You should probably sit on your arse for a bit with a beer. Seems like you’ve earnt it.

That is what I'm doing. For Shady.

Hopefully Jim can mend himself, if we also drink to support him we should come up with some encouraging phrases.

Jim’ll fix it. Winner.

<Raises glass>
For Shady

Had a row with Mrs Shady last night, so watched a crap action movie and had 4 cans of various craft ale. Thanks for your thoughts.

Did she tell you to drop the bloody pissy attitude?

Because I had to help with the cluster fcuk move due to the movers dropping like flies. I walked the equivalent of over 22 miles. Not bad for an old geezer.

Then went back to work the next day first thing.

That was Thursday and Friday. Saturday I am working early and couldn’t get out of bed. I feel like I have jet lag. Trying to wake up but feel totally fcuked. I am guessing the air quality got better and I actually could sleep more than 4 minutes.

Chicago: working stiff