T-21 - Kingston Breakfast Lard

16 Miles (397.3 Total) - 2011 - 274.4 miles
146 Minutes (60 Hours 57 Minutes)

DONATE: www.justgiving.com/jamie-ross
FOLLOW LARDY BOY ON TWITTER: @Rooster1972.  Please follow me on Twitter for additional Lardy Boy updates


Afternoon all


Well I have to say I dealt with that.  This morning was the 2 lap 16 Mile Kingston Breakfast run at 8.30 this morning.  I probably finished way over halfway down the field, most of the runners are pretty serious and most use the race as final prep for the London Marathon.


But where I finished wasn't actually particularly important, the simple fact is that I wanted to achieve 3 things this morning.


1.  Run very much in control but recognise that this sort of distance should be pretty straight forward for me now - Check!


2.  Beat 2hrs 30mins - Check!


3.  Run the second half of the race quicker than the first - Check!


I am a happy Lardy Boy.  It was also nice to get some support as Mrs LB, the kids, my mum and my father in law came along to watch.  This and also my Gullane roomie, Rob 'Baz' Hawkins ran too, all be it a wee bit quicker than yours truly!


Anyway delighted by the run and now joy of joys it is taper time!  Although the plan is to run more frequently than lately as the ankle seems better.  The mileage though comes down a lot as we are now only 3 weeks from the big day.


Have a great week
LBXXX

T-23 - Hot Lard!

5.5 Miles (381.3 Total) - 2011 - 258.4 miles
47 Minutes (58 Hours 31 Minutes)

DONATE: www.justgiving.com/jamie-ross
FOLLOW LARDY BOY ON TWITTER: @Rooster1972.  Please follow me on Twitter for additional Lardy Boy updates


Afternoon all


I wanted to get a short, sharp run in before the end of the week and the Kingston Breakfast Run on Sunday.  I must say I am pretty happy with the results.  My full mile times were:


8.11
8.39
8.41
8.40
8.36


Now for me this is bloody good, and if by some miracle this pace was to be carried out for 26.2 miles then I would knock off the marathon in 3hrs 42mins.  Now this is not going to happen let's be clear about that but it is nice to know I can fire up the after burners when I want to!


The other points of interest included how hot it was.  Blimey if it is like this on April 17th then it is going to be a right old struggle, still wonderful conditions for a quick 5 mile blast.  Also lots of people down on the towpath, cameras being set up etc for the boat race tomorrow.  Judging by the brewery lorries unloading at the pubs and marquees, tomorrow is going to be a big one!  Not for me though, abstaining tomorrow and hydrating ahead of the race on Sunday.


My targets for Sunday is a quicker second half of the race than the first and break 2hrs 30mins.  Simple!  Ha.


Have a great sunny weekend
LB
XXX

T-24 - Physio and Rest

0 Miles (375.8 Total) - 2011 - 252.9 miles
0 Minutes (57 Hours 44 Minutes)

DONATE: www.justgiving.com/jamie-ross
FOLLOW LARDY BOY ON TWITTER: @Rooster1972.  Please follow me on Twitter for additional Lardy Boy updates


Well this morning is hopefully my final trip to the physio.  The ankle feels just about sorted and I want to get back out there!  After Monday's 20 mile slog I am planning on doing a 4 mile cobweb burner tomorrow morning and then I have the 16 mile Kingston race on Sunday.  After 2 days of gorgeous spring weather expect it to piss down tomorrow when I go out for a run!


With luck I can get back to a fairly normal routine for the last 3 weeks of training by doing some quick short runs as I taper my training back ahead of the big day which is now only 24 days away!  Very exciting.  Depending on the race this weekend I might do one more long run next week but then focus on 5-13 milers for the last 2 weeks.


I will reducing the alcohol consumption for the last couple of weeks but refuse to abstain completely.  What's the point of punishing yourself with 20 mile training runs if you can't have a couple of drinks now and then!?  I have already given up crisps and ice cream for Lent, and only allow myself chocolate on running days (!)


Before Gift Aids I am close to £3k for Cri du Chat and including Gift Aids I am over £3.5k so thanks all for your outstanding generosity.  Still plenty of time for you to donate if you haven't though so please click the link above if you can spare some pennies!  


Anyway have a fabulous Thursday and I will report back tomorrow on physio and a run with luck


LB
XXX

T-27 - The Last Long Lard

20.3 Miles (375.8 Total) - 2011 - 252.9 miles
203 Minutes (57 Hours 44 Minutes)

DONATE: www.justgiving.com/jamie-ross
FOLLOW LARDY BOY ON TWITTER: @Rooster1972.  Please follow me on Twitter for additional Lardy Boy updates


Afternoon all


Well I heaped a ton of pressure on myself with another last minute decision to try a 20 miler.  I really have not exactly prepared myself for these but I appear to have got away with it to a greater or lesser extent!


I had originally planned to do my last 20 miler tomorrow morning early but an opportunity came up in the diary so I headed out at 11am this morning instead.  There were a few reasons I did it:

1. Not having to get up at 4.45am tomorrow
2. The sun was out and I do loads of running in near darkness and cold.  Given that it could be bloody hot / warm on the day I thought that some sunny practice would be a good idea
3. Running at the right time in the day.  The marathon starts at 9.45 and most of my runs have focused earlier, getting the body clock right is very important!

Well the first thing to go wrong was having too much kit, the Helly skin I was wearing was bit much for the conditions so I overheated a touch.  As a result I think I was pretty dehydrated for the second half of the run which really didn't help!

I wanted to do 2hrs 10mins for the first 13 miles (10 minute miles) and then see how I felt, and try to pick the pace up for the last 7 miles.  The good news is that at the 13 mile mark I was 20 seconds ahead of schedule (!), hows that for pace?  The bad news is that things started to unravel around mile 16 and the last 4 miles were brutal!  I had a new gel to try that is loaded with sugar and caffeine, it was a difficult to swallow and I took it a bit late so a lesson learned for the big day.

The good news is though that I ran through the wall and by the time I was back in Chiswick I think I was coming out the other side.  The time was not what I wanted but beggars can't be choosers and there is no doubt that when it comes to running I am a beggar!

Now I am planning rest with physio on Thursday, then the Kingston 16 mile run on Sunday.  Then joy of joys I have to taper my mileage so the last 2 weeks before the marathon I will run less!  Marvelous!

Anyway I am at 250 miles for my 2011 challenge, just the 750 miles to go!


Have a great evening


LB
XXX

T-30 - Half Lard Full Pace

13.3 Miles (355.6 Total) - 2011 - 232.6 miles
120 Minutes (54 Hours 21 Minutes)

DONATE: www.justgiving.com/jamie-ross
FOLLOW LARDY BOY ON TWITTER: @Rooster1972.  Please follow me on Twitter for additional Lardy Boy updates


Afternoon all,


What a strange 24 hours.  Yesterday afternoon I penciled in a 20 miler for Saturday morning.  By the time I went to bed I thought I might go this morning instead, I then woke up in an odd mood.  I decided therefore to can the morning run and tweeted as much.  I then got a motivational kick up the arse by my old boss (from 20 years ago!).  I am a very obedient person to work with (shut up anyone who has worked with me) and always listen to my bosses so thought I should get out today instead.  A gap created in the diary meant that a late morning jaunt was planned.


The 20 miler was not going to happen, you can't just slap the trainers on and chime out a 3 hour run you know!  I therefore decided to hit a half marathon and try to break my 20 year duck on a sub 2-hour half.  My official half marathon time of 1hr 58mins has left me rather smug and happy.  I don't think that there is a cat in hells chance that I can put 2 of these together on April 17th and do a sub 4hr marathon.  I am planning on pasting my 2006 time of 4hrs 46mins though!


More on big race strategies the other day. 


I got some nice feedback from people about my blog yesterday about top tips for the big day.  I now have another couple to add:


15.  If it's raining don't be shy to make like McEnroe and get a headband on.  The sweaty rain that fell off the head and into my eyes was a bit unpleasant to say the least.


16.  Don't put anything about vasoline in a blog and send it to your mates


The ankle update is quite positive.  It is definitely on the mend although still a touch sore.  I will need to look after it in the next 4 weeks.


My training plan for the next 7 days is very simple.


Monday at 5am I am planning on a 20+ mile run, armed with a gel that should apparently help with my wall issues (thanks Rose).  The plan is to get as close to 3 hours as I can but not kill myself trying


Then nothing for the rest of the week because.....


Sunday 16 mile Kingston Breakfast Run, for a final race before the big day.  Well I say I am running it but I have no race number yet so we will see.  The plan is to break 2hrs 30 mins for that.


Then it is taper time, which in my language means sitting on my fat arse more.  This is something I am good at!


Thanks again for the donations which keep coming in.  I have upped the target to £4k, including gift aids we are now up to £3,400 which is fantastic. Thank you all very much, it means a lot!


Have a great weekend
LB
XXX

T-31 - 1 Month to Go

0 Miles (342.3 Total) - 2011 - 219.3 miles
0 Minutes (52 Hours 21 Minutes)

DONATE: www.justgiving.com/jamie-ross
FOLLOW LARDY BOY ON TWITTER: @Rooster1972.  Please follow me on Twitter for additional Lardy Boy updates


Right then.  1 month today is the day, the big one.  I remember when I did the London Marathon that the last month was unbearable, I just wanted it over.  This time is different though, with the 1,000 mile target I am just considering it the longest training run I will do and I feel strangely calm!


Anyway there is a bit of a Twitter community building which is great.  I have decided to write down a list of things for first timers to watch out for.  Clearly this is not for those seasoned pros, but I remember being very nervous on race day mainly because I didn't know what to expect.  If this blog helps 1 person feel better about things then I will be happy. 


Hopefully those who aren't running will still get something out of it, the day itself is an amazing experience, one to be savoured.  So if you are not running please read anyway because I think it gives an insight to the day.


PRE-RACE DAY
The collection of race numbers etc at Excel is a bit of a pain but go sooner if you are a Londoner rather than later.  It is very busy there on the Friday / Saturday


Don't change your plans, clothes, running shoes or anything else just because you read it somewhere.  Trust the training you have done and the gear you have done it in.  Nothing in the last 2 weeks helps you on the day.  So taper no last minute cramming, it is not an exam!


RACE DAY
1.  Get there early but not too early.  Apart from toilets and getting your kit bag on the trailers there is not a lot to do.


2. You get given a bag with string pulls on to pack your gear in.  This gets taken to the finish for you to collect.  Carry everything in a more comfortable sports bag and then transfer everything into the string pull bag (including your sports bag) before loading onto the trailers.  Much more comfortable that lugging the string pull bag around London on your way to Greenwich.


3.  Just because there are 1,000s of people there should not stop your normal routine.  Take in all the water you normally do and stretches etc.  Don't just stare at everything in awe, it is amazing but you are there to do a job!


4.  Drugs! I took an Immodium, that's all I'll say on this one!  The queues at the various toilets at the start and at mile 2/3 were horrendous!


5.  If it is cold take an old top that you don't mind losing.  You can wear it up to the start then get rid of it.  Better that than being cold at the start.


6.  Trust your target time, and go in the right pen.  Don't be tempted to put yourself forwards because you will get sucked along too fast at the start.  Also don't put yourself too far back or you will get stuck in traffic.


7.  The pace setters are your friend, use them but still check you are happy with the pace.  Just because the sign says he/she is a 4h 30min pacer doesn't mean that they are going to stick to it!


8.  The race starts at Mile 16 not Mile 1.  Take it steady at the start.


9.  This is an important one.  At Cutty Sark (although not running around it this year) and Tower Bridge the crowds are awesome.  The noise I remember was astounding.  The problem is you get a big adrenalin rush, then you feel very low straight after.  I am not ashamed to admit I was in tears crossing Tower Bridge and I was not even half way!


10.  Think of half way as one third way.  Miles 18 - 24 for me were terrible, but hang in there.


11.  There is no such thing as too much Vasoline!


12.  Jelly Babies should be illegal because they are soooo good from Mile 16!  Without them I would not have finished last time I am sure of it!


13. There is no better personal achievement (apart from kids etc!) than finishing so make sure you do.  Don't go off too hard then have to stop, finish first, time second!


14.  Enjoy the day.  I didn't take it all in last time, I intend to this time


This weekend I am probably going for one more 20 miler, till then....


LB
XXX

T-34 - Speedy Gonlardes

11.3 Miles (342.3 Total) - 2011 - 219.3 miles
102 Minutes (52 Hours 21 Minutes)

DONATE: www.justgiving.com/jamie-ross
FOLLOW LARDY BOY ON TWITTER: @Rooster1972.  Please follow me on Twitter for additional Lardy Boy updates


Morning all


For all manner of reasons I am a happy Lardy Boy this morning.  I was up nice and early this morning to prepare for my first proper weekday run for 2 weeks.  Thanks to the ankle injury I now have a pre-run routine that seems to take an age.  It goes something like this:

1. Wake up, get out of bed (5am!).  The first steps on to the dodgy ankle, feels sore but not too bad
2. Get dressed into running gear in the dark trying not to wake Mrs LB
3. Downstairs, turn alarm off trying not to wake the sprogs
4. Tea
5. Cod Liver Oil
6. Jointace Glucosamine & Chondrotin (!)
7. Water
8. Gel
9. Sort out iPhone strap
10. Fill water bottle and put in the orange energy powder type stuff
11. Ablutions
12. Ibuprofen Tablet
13. Ibuprofen Gel on Ankle
14. Stretches
15. Out and off on the run

This morning was an attempt to run 11 miles as hard as possible, and the results were great.  If I had carried on I would have broken the 2hr half marathon easily.  Bearing in mind I was on my own, at stupid-o-clock and not in race conditions I am delighted.  On this particular route this was 5 minutes under my previous PB.

The first 10km (about 6M) was a PB of 52 minutes.  My slowest mile was 9.14 and my quickest 8.35, for me this is bloody brilliant.  Pretty average in the context of all runners but for someone who is carrying a fair few more pounds around than most, I am delighted.

My ankle was absolutely fine but I mustn't overdo it.  I will probably do a half marathon this weekend.  Next weekend is the Kingston 16 Mile Race.  I might try one more 20 mile run in early April then taper for the last 2 weeks.

Not that all was sweetness and light.  I managed this time despite dropping my water bottle twice (idiot).  Mind you once wasn't really my fault.  You see I had my usual encounters with the 4*4 drivers that barrel down the back road from Chiswick Bridge to Riverside Health Club.  I can only assume that there is some kind of Moron & Fuckwit Convention on there this morning.  Honestly I am surprised that people aren't regularly killed by these idiots.  What can you possibly be in such a rush for at 6.30 for goodness sakes.  I know that there are more important and terrible things going on in the world currently, but I am quite a small minded person. I would love some one to one time with these idiots.

Anyway much to do this evening and then drinkies with my old Disney buddy Cristina Scavizzi.  She will be the recipient of her free glasses of wine and I suppose I had better have a couple of beers to keep her company.

Have a great day all

LB

XXX

T-38 - The Longest Lard

21 Miles (330.2 Total) - 2011 - 208 miles
200 Minutes (50 Hours 39 Minutes)

DONATE: www.justgiving.com/jamie-ross
FOLLOW LARDY BOY ON TWITTER: @Rooster1972.  Please follow me on Twitter for additional Lardy Boy updates


Morning all


First things first, it appears to be a bit of folly writing about a fat bloke running around West London given what happened in Japan overnight.  However I will persevere....


Well what is there to say about the run this morning other than it was a bloody long way, and it took me a bloody long time.  I will not run further again until April 17th and I probably won't run further than this ever again to be honest!


For me once I reach 17 miles everything just goes a bit woo to be honest.  I find every step painful, I get bored and it really isn't fun at all.  That said up to 17 miles the run was superb fun. The weather was perfect, I set out at 5:30 so was treated to a brilliant dawn, there was very little wind, perfect running weather.  My route was the same as last week with an extra loop around Chiswick at the beginning to take the mileage up.  This led to some ridiculous mind games I played on myself.


The first 3 miles (around Chiswick) were treated as a mild warm up, the next 6 to get me to Kew Bridge having run around the whole of Kew Gardens considered the main warm up, then the river to Putney and back the main race.  To try to convince your body that after 9 miles you are only just starting is a little difficult but it does work to an extent.


The ankle was painful to start with however as last week when everything else starts to hurt then it subdues slightly.  Ice is being applied as I type.  I now need to rest for at least 3 days to manage the injury properly.


After 17 miles though was a different story.  I had ticked over at 9min 35 average up to this point and then it all became extremely painful.  Each step hurts, you think the run will never end, the pain is unbearable and the likelihood of barfing increases 100 fold.  All round a rather nasty last 4 miles took me back in to Chiswick and FINALLY home.


I can only hope that the excitement of the big day will negate all the crap and I will be left with a breezy run around London (yeah right).


The weekend now opens up with no runs until at least Tuesday.  Having to manage the injury is a little frustrating although as I sit here if I was told I couldn't run ever again I wouldn't be bothered to be honest!


I am now over 50 hours of running, please do donate if you can.  I will be sending out another update email to all and sundry today.  Anything you can do to spread the word would be hugely appreciated.


Have a great weekend
LB
XXX

T-40 - The Good, The Bad and the Lardy

2.8 Miles (309.2 Total) - 2011 - 187 miles
24 Minutes (48 Hours 19 Minutes)

DONATE: www.justgiving.com/jamie-ross
FOLLOW LARDY BOY ON TWITTER: @Rooster1972.  Please follow me on Twitter for additional Lardy Boy updates


Morning all


Well this morning was my first run since Saturday's 20 mile long run.  I wanted to do 6 miles, after 150 yards I realised that not all was well with my ankle, after 300 yards I thought sod it let's just do a quick sharp run.  I am quite pleased in that I managed nearly 3 miles at 8min 20sec pace.  This is 3hr 40 marathon pace, I have no bloody idea how people can run this fast for so long!  Holy crap after 3 miles of it I was really struggling.


As for the ankle, I tried this morning's run without any pain relief and that was in some ways a big error. but good also.  Walking around I actually felt as though the ankle was getting better.  I now know there is a long way to go.  I now realise that the physio is spot on by telling me to focus on the long miles at the weekend and worry less about the weekday stuff for now.  By not running much in the week I am putting pressure on my 2011 mileage however that is the price to pay to make sure the London Marathon gets done.  For now that is the priority.


On that note I am off for my second session of physio tomorrow.  All being well I might do a long run on Friday then another on Sunday.  We will see.


In other news I am now over 2 days of non-stop running which doesn't sound like much until you actually think about it for a minute or 2!


Also it is Lent time.  I am not a religious man but like the idea of being abstemious once in a while.  I have steered clear of my main addictions, beer and Twitter, but have given up Facebook, Chocolate, Crisps and Ice Cream for the next 40 days.  The marathon is actually a week before Easter this year so I might struggle on the chocolate front after the big day but determined to keep it going until then!


Have a great day
LB
XXX

T-43 - Lardy Boy 1 : iPhone 0

19.6 Miles (306.4 Total) - 2011 - 184.2 miles
185 Minutes (47 Hours 55 Minutes)

DONATE: www.justgiving.com/jamie-ross
FOLLOW LARDY BOY ON TWITTER: @Rooster1972.  Please follow me on Twitter for additional Lardy Boy updates


Today's blog is a bit long and a ramble, apologies.  I am a bit excited!


I ran longer than my iPhone could handle this morning.  About a mile from home it gave up, ironically enough it was at that point that I began to hallucinate, feel sick and feel very faint.  Yes I reached the dreaded wall!  More on that in a minute.


The news that Steve Job's finest iPhones can't hack 20 miles never mind a marathon is a little disappointing, if not exactly a surprise.  I am very fond of my little Runkeeper app.  The lady with the annoying voice telling me every mile how slow I am running with that patronising tone will not be with me on the big day.  The reason is she can't hack the bloody pace can she?  iPhone batteries are shit.  That is the secondary new of the day however.


I wanted to do an 18 miler this morning and ended up doing my longest training run ever (I never got this far last time pre Marathon) racking up near as damn it a 20 mile training run.  On a dodgy ankle.  At 6am.  In a neon yellow top.  As you can imagine I am one happy bunny.  The past few weeks have been a collection of frustrations mixed in with some nice runs.  The thought that the marathon is very nearly with us and I think that I might just be able to do it.  Happy days.  To be honest if at the end of the run a bloke told me to run another 6 miles I probably would have punched him in the face but I could do it though.  This is excellent news.


Another piece of good news is that I experienced the wall.  It is the second time that this has happened (the other being the LM in 2006).  It is really an horrific experience and quite difficult to put across in words but I will try.  For those you haven't experienced this, imagine that feeling you have after being on the pop when your head hits the pillow and the room starts spinning.  Add to this the need to regurgitate everything in your stomach.  Sprinkle running in what can only be described with a comic pissed bloke gait.  I might have been tempted to get through it and do another 2 miles to experience the weird elation you feel when you get through the wall.  I was however a mile from home and was beginning to feel a bit cold and 5th March is no day to be a hero.


Home I ran an ice bath, Mrs LB made me toast and coffee and I took a dunk in the bath.  I made sure the kids were at a safe distance.  The language was brilliant.  Screams, F-bombs, W-bombs were being dropped all over the place.  You are supposed to stay in there for at least 10 minutes.....  2 minutes later I was out.  It was a far worse experience than running 20 miles to be honest.


Almost forgotten in all the excitement is the small matter of the 300 mile mark being broken, I am also 5 minutes off the 2 day mark, and I am approaching 200 miles in 2011 (so nearly 20% towards my target).  Including gift aids I also passed the £3k mark on fundraising this week, but remember I want to get to £5k so please visit the site and donate if you can.


Ankle dependent I will get out for a run on Monday hopefully, we will see.


Until then enjoy your weekends
LB
XXX 

T-45 - Physio Lard

0Miles (286.8 Total) - 2011 - 164.6 miles
0 Minutes (44 Hours 50 Minutes)

DONATE: www.justgiving.com/jamie-ross
FOLLOW LARDY BOY ON TWITTER: @Rooster1972.  Please follow me on Twitter for additional Lardy Boy updates


Right then.  Nothing to write about run wise today, so no inane drivel from Lardy Boy about overtakes, bodily function malfunctions, or crap running.


This morning was the long overdue visit to the physio to try and sort out the ankle.  The physio was a good bloke but was annoying in the sense that he has run a 2hr 45min marathon despite having to 'stop a few times because I was cramping up'.  Honestly how do these people do that!?


Anyway after various poking prodding and agony the conclusion is something like medial ligament damage to my ankle.  Like a Grade 1 sprain or something.  If it reads as though I don't know what I am banging on about then you are very perceptive.  The good news is that he is focused on the important thing which is making sure I do the marathon and finish it.  The fact that this was his first point was very encouraging.  The bad news is that I am running (or not) out of time to rest and recover properly before the big day.


The plan is a simple one, focus on the big miles and reduce the number of runs a week.  This will help me get the mileage in my legs but give the time to ice, rest etc to keep the swelling down on the ankle and allow the following week's long run.


Now I am sure that nearly all of this is really not of great interest but I have to say this is going to be very difficult for me to do.  I have really been enjoying the running and fundraising.  Bloody hell I have changed!  I am being asked to do LESS but am UNHAPPY about it.  What the very arseing hell has happened to me!


Anyway so the plan is simple.  Rest til Saturday morning then do a long run.  I want to get to 18 miles, but the physio says aim for 12 and then see how you feel.  18 it is then!


Till then 
LB
XXX

T-46 - Good Lard Bad Lard

4 Miles (286.8 Total) - 2011 - 164.6 miles
37 Minutes (44 Hours 50 Minutes)

DONATE: www.justgiving.com/jamie-ross
FOLLOW LARDY BOY ON TWITTER: @Rooster1972.  Please follow me on Twitter for additional Lardy Boy updates


GOOD NEWS
1.  After some late night texting I have another bidder for a Lardy Dinner who has matched the previous bid so there will now be 2 Lardy Dinners raising £300 to the charity!  Thanks to Rose from Chiswick Bootcamp (go if you're local she's awesome!) who is now the dubious winner of a dinner for 6 cooked by yours truly.


2.  I have only just realised that my just giving site only counts donations and not the gift aids.  Therefore I am very close to the £3k already but now am even more determined to get to £5k.  So please keep donating!


BAD NEWS
1. This morning's run was originally supposed to be 10 miles, then it became 7 and ultimately ended up as 4!  I wanted to test the ankle so I went out with no pain killers or Ibuprofen gel applied.  Big mistake.  I am getting a bit worried to be honest.  There are only 6 weeks and a bit to go.  I am happy that without the dodgy ankle I will be able to do the Marathon however it is clearly not good.  I am off to physio tomorrow though so fingers crossed that he can sort it out!


That's all for today, will blog about physio tomorrow.  Depending on physio I am planning a big one on Saturday (18 miles)


Cheers
LB
XXX