Decided to revert to the ol' electronic running log as well as the pencilled one on the wall! Figured that i was getting anti-social and lazy with my LJ so I may as well start some where.

So.

This morning was a 9.75 miles in 1:12.36. Broadway extension route.
Ran this bloke down and it turned out that he was building back up (reverse taper? I have heard of such a thing!Never felt inclined!) from the London Marathon. He ran it in under 4 hours which I reckon is reasonable really, good time.
Still didn't beat my half PB though....hee, hee!
Me?
Competitive?

Off to work now. Gonna be late for a meeting tonight so that i can go see about my new iPhone!! Will keep you posted texasts !

At the end of a bad 'working' session I'm perusing the 'Favourites' section of my YOUTUBE account...and I know I've posted this before, but I thought you may all need some smiles...this always works for me!

Looks like I'll be having an active Saturday night then...

Wish me luck?

Okay the Stratford Half Marathon in dangerously glorious sunshine (don't panic - I drank!).

I did not get the time I wanted....But I got a new PB...

1:33.38 for 119/1821 which put me in the top 6.5%

Photos to follow, including your friend from Penny Lane lafiorentina! How randomn was that - the Boss getting a pic?!)

So in an attempt to put off the dreads and fears of tomorrow, I took a ttrip to my newly becoming favourite music shop today.

I did some good byes and some welcomes....

Goodbye to my beautiful Strat...
 and welcome and hello to a new ukulele....

Now I know I have one or two of these amazing instruments within the Perox towers but this one is a little different.
It is a six string tenor Ukulele with a really nice pickup inside it so that I can be louder....as....I have been asked....to join a friend of mines band! Playing uke as well as singing a bit. A great learning experience for me.

The Ashbury was a reasonable cost for the instrument it was. You can see the BIG picture here...and find out more about bizarre string arrangements as well!

So to give it a run out I did this....


Which is not perfect, as the first comment reasonably stated, but a good time as usual. And it cheered me up!
The 6 string tenor is mainly a strumming, accompanying instrument not a finger picking one, which is what i found out at the start of the recording! Not to mention the bulbous veins and going blue in the face!!
So have a look, listen and do take a smile.

So I went ot the brother in laws this afternoon to help errect a swing contraption thing for my nephews 2nd birthday. Good times, good laugh and put up fairly quick.
Unfortunately thats when the drinking started. Had a beer or three deep now and being such a light weight these days I am struggling slightly to find the keys!Ha!

---

downloaded and amended the iPod today with a load of new music...

Listening to relics at the moment which goes rather nicely with my slightly lesss than coherent state! Looking forward to a Major ipod shuffle playing tomorrow on a long run of indetermined length!?

Am slightly obsessed with Hazards of Love at the moment as its not left the car audio for some time now...the Bowie is always a goood choice (back me up here texasts  ?) Pablo Honey is an album which I've never had (is it any good dr_rush  ?) The other bizarre claim is the jethro tull album that I DON'T have, so we'll see. All the better music being made around the time I was born. Simply a child out of time (like Mr Gillan said) I would have loved to have been a teenager/ young adult within the 70's rock music scene...would have been so cool! Mind you, probably wouldn't have appreciate dit at the time...

---

 Went running again with the kids yesterday after already doing 4.2 mesel. The Biggun is really beginining to surprise me with his stamina...the SM is not! He was just annoying yesterday! As usual, fancied the idea then was a pain doing it!

Anyroad, gotta go..had me summons....try to sober up perhaps..!?!??

I have a cold. Or at least the start of one.
This is 'man-flu- obviously, but more seriously its just come on this afternoon after I fell asleep in a draught post run. I seriously don't need this, this close to the Stratford race. I am determined to do well in the race and to run hard.
From experience I know I can train through this cold, and it is approaching taper time so no worries there. It's just the general feeling of 'crapness' that it brings on that concerns me.

If only i didn't detest oranges! And pretty much most fruit in general except the obvious god given fruit of runners - the banana!

Anyroad, gotta go...off to 'band' practice.
Yes.
Me.
Will explain more a little later, tomorrow perhaps.

But early days and softly softly!
*sniff!*

[7.4 miles at 55:27 Reverse Valley route - meant to be recovery!]
Bit fast today but not to worry. Did the course the easy way round so i suppose that in itself is a 'recovery' run! Had to wait for the most amazing thunderstorm to dissipate first. We had thunder, lightning the works in a big way.

After such a late night back yesterday I was determined to just stay in bed till i felt okay and ready to get up and run. So today I ran around 9.30am.

All good.

[7.89 broadway cut route for 58:53]
Struggled at the start of this. Add fried eggs to Indian food on the 'Things not to eat the night before you run a long way' list.
Apart from that...gotta go!!!

Tomorrow I am going to meet my Nephew for the VERY first time! I can't believe it!
I am VERY excited!

Mind, in a sobering moment I am gonna have to get up at the crack of dawn (she won't mind) run, then get petrol, shop for a pressie and sweets for the journey and then drive 183 odd miles up and then back again in a day...

WORTH IT THOUGH!

[Skip lane 15 miles at 1:50.49...PB by NINE MINUTES!]

So today I finally had company. Chris came along and rode his bike as I ran th 15 miles or so.
After all the heavy exercise yesteday (4 of us moved a 8x6 summer house/ shed thing, as well as digging the plot out, laying the dry mix, placing the flag stones, and doing an enoormous tip run to get rid of all the earth soil and sods.
Not to mention going to bed a little later as  we were watching the Dr.Who special, Also not to mention the delightful difficulty in not getting to sleep for a further hour or so.....hee hee!

So i was not expecting great things from this run. I just didn't want to walk, I knew that! And i didn't. Did take half a gel before and rest at 10 miles. Had half a shot blok and a bottle of Powerade, so well stocked up for it, but I, ME still have to run it.

And run it I did...NINE MINUTES OFF the previous time! I like these sort of things!

Anyroad, as usual, off to 'muscle soak' as they are feeling SORE from all the exercise -delightful or otherwise!

Happy Easter all !

[Dartmouth, RH, Dartmouth for 5.8miles in 41:20]

After a very enjoyable evening I was really in a Johnny cash frmae of mind this morning. So Folsom Prison accompanied me round on my, er, 'rounds!'

I have to confess that I did a lap less of the park (about .9 miles) as I was feeling the long (enjoyable, more later) day yesterday, the late night (more later) and the heavy milage week.

But complete with newly aquired 'Aldi' running jacket (£10 what a bargain, I had 2!), the old battery mp3 player, I didn't get wet and it all went okay; apart from skimping on the laps.
But I console myself with the thought that I have a potentially HEAVY day today *groan* so its probably a good thing.
rest day tomorrow and 17.91 on Sunday again, but hopefully without the walk!

[Valley for 7.40 miles in 54:00 faster pace]

Hurray - no perverts in the Valley! Always good in my book...
Hurray - 'Hazards of Love' the Decemberists first listen was excellent!
Hurray - Run went well exactly at race pace (small 'but' - it does need to be faster on the 26th!)
Hurray - it didn't rain.
Hurray - no walking.
Hurray - I remembered to make my fave iso Cranberry drink and put it in the fridge..it goooooood.

I have a lot to be thankful about...

(Any intentions on copying excellent celebratory post layouts from cadona  are entirely meant to be flattering!)

I have it! I have it! I have it! I have it! I have it! I have it! I have it! I have it! I have it!

The Decemberists' 'The Hazards of Love ' is here!

First listen tomorrow morning around 7.4 miles!
Night night!

So yeaterday I pressure washed the back patio. One huge back breaking, cack filled job that took the best part of 3 hours. then I cleaned the back windows...4 seperate times (soapy,clean,windolene,polish-I know, anal!)...after that I cleaned the bathroom and then collapsed to watch a DVD.

The Boss had gone to help dr.agon with some tiles and I suggested to her that she pick up some fish and chips on the way back. There went the healthy runners diet outta the window (at least they were clean).
So She eventually arrives back and the F an C were delicious! They were battered chips as well, a rare delicacy. I also had a bottle of Stella Artois lager with the food.
Now amongst my friends etc Stella is known for giving you 'Stella Head' ie drink one/6 beers and you get a pounding headache the next day. But this Stella was free..but...go guess...???

So when the alarm went off this morning for running my head was belting. So I went back to sleep to try and let it subside somewhat. It didn't so i decided to get up drink some water and just go for a 'recovery' run.

Reverse 10k route 6.2 miles in 50 minutes - slow and steady

got back and as I type this, recovering and dripping (lovely picture for you there), the headache is still there so off to the shower, breakfast and then tablets cos I am not sticking this in me holidays!

[So today it was  9.75 Broadway, Bescot loop for 1:12.47]

Had a lie in this morning as I'm on holiday at the moment for Easter. Mixed blessings this. It does mean I can go to bed later (a whole 1/2 hour - woo!) but then when I do get out the difference in an hour to the traffic is really REALLY annoying!

I run almost completely within an urban environment and of course I have road ends and traffic to compete with. Most times I take a calculated assessment of how much attention I pay to the traffic. ie. if its a small residential road end chances are nowt much is gonna be pulling into it from the main road then run across care free, the more major junctions - be careful!
And yes, I kow this is a bit careless, and yes I was caught out once...and that really was my fault for not looking properly, and yes it did bruise!

But it still surprises me how many people don't voluntarily give way at junctions to me crossing over.
Are they that late to get to where they're going?
Don't they know it upsets my rhythm having to start and stop all the time?
Don't they appreciate what a berk you feel doing that stupid little prance-on-the-spot dance to maintain leg movement? I feel for this reason alone all cars etc should give way quickly to me!

Why is it...Number 478...

The one 'grunts' all the time and the other thinks that 'silence' is a myth?

Anybody want 2 children for the Easter holidays?

*sound of hair being torn out!*

[17.91 miles in 2:18.18 Route:Newton/Broadway/Sutton/chester/College/Aldridge/Home]

It was a glorious morning for it at any rate. Pity it was an ABSOLUTE killer of a run! I took some home made iso with me and its just not enough to get me round. I find I run best on Lucozade Sport. Only on the Looooong runs. The rest of the time I take plain water and thats fine.
Today The iso was making me more thirsty I think what with the salt in and all. The Shot bloks were a great rescue again and I ate  2 halves and they really help. Big fan and worth every penny I feel personally.

So the run was just tough I'm afraid. nothing of note, no company, no naff dogs (thank Goodness!) there was a fire engine on the edge of the park but it weren't clear why...

Music was okay. I've had my periodical clear out of the iPod and completely cleared it and put new albums on it, well stuff I haven't heard for ages - Muse, Manic - Send away the tigers, 24 Carat Purple (classic) and Vegetrarians of Love Bob Geldof's excellent album.

Yesterday i bought mesel some 'Black Pepper and Ginseng' Radox Bath Soak...so guess where I'm headed!?