SMASHED! Marathon after thoughts!

Just to let you all know I SMASHED my time last year in London by 17 minutes! I also SMASHED by PB by 7 minutes! And I have currently SMASHED my target sponsorship (so far) by 64%.

I thoroughly enjoyed the race (yes that was possible!) and so pleased by lots of things. To summarise a few bits;

Highlights - time, sponsorship monies, that I did not walk and that the last 0.2 miles was at 5 minute mile pace.....after running 26 miles!

Most Pain - when I went through a shower during the race and the sweat got in my eyes and I could not see for over 30 seconds (which seemed like eternity)!!!

Fly Man - following a man dressed up as a fly for 10 miles (before I overtook him!) and getting really annoyed as ALL the crowd were shouting FLY MAN, which seemed too much like Simon and therefore I could not here anybody trying to encourage me

Wish I had - given Vicki and Mum a hug on the way around (too worried too stop just incase I could not get going again!)

Will I ever do another marathon.....I guess so!

All the gear....no idea - race day tomorrow!

The finaly funny comment that I have (which I am told is not allowed to envolve another toilet story....which takes out lots and lots of stories!) is probably more for the runners;

I decided to buy myself an expensive Garmin running watch that did everything! So I wore it to to my first race and showed it to me running friends and they had comments like "wow", "look at that", "very impressive" etc etc

So I turned it on and.............the battery bleeped, then it turned itself off (yes I was right it did everything!). I did not realise that you had to charge it before using it!

Anyway, just had enough pasta to feed a family of 8 (and I still feel hungry) and I am shortly going to go to bed for the big day......THANK YOU FOR FOLLOWING ME FOR ALL THESE MONTHS. Hopefully tomorrow goes well

Lost keys in the woods - 2 days before the marathon

Firstly have to say today that my running club was last night announced by Runners World as the UK Best Running Club, so I now run for the Club of the Year!

Anyway other important matters, my 2nd funny story (this is my best so do not expect tomorrows to be better). Well here goes;

- One Thursday morning me and Andy went for a run in the dark
- I was doing a race on the Sunday, so I decided to drive to where I was meeting him to save me running the 3 extra miles
- I left my house key in the car (to save carrying it or losing it) and carried the car key in my hand
- For a change (!) I got "caught short" running and I had to go in some trees for a few moments
- When I came out, luckilyl still dark so nobody saw me, I realised I did not have my car key on me
- So I went back in looking for it, trying to mind where I was standing!
- A few minutes later Andy came back, as he did not want to watch me and we decided I would not be able to find it as it was still dark!
- So we ran off, then I realised I did not have access to a house key
- So then I had to run the extra miles home, then try to wake Vicki up, who turned out to be in the shower.....so I spent 5 minutes at the front door trying to get her to hear me
- She then had to drive me to the car (not happy!) and then as it was now light, I went back to find the other key!
- I walked in to the woods and realised that there was a bus stop opposite the woods (was there anybody there when I visited there 1 hour before I do not know?)
- So I walk in, 5 seconds later bend down, then walk out......they really must have wondered what I was doing!

It still makes me laugh today and Andy does still run with me, however embarrassed he is with me!

Should I shave my legs? - 3 days before the marathon

I was thinking in the shower yesterday of trying to put 3 funny running memories down in the 3 days running (!) up to the marathon. The first is the one that made me laugh a lot.........

I jokingly said to Vicki a couple of weeks ago, whether if I shaved my legs would it make my marathon time quicker and if so, by how much? With her being an ex-swimmer, I thought she would understand it (and she shaves her legs too!).

Then we went out for a curry that evening she told everyone that I was considering doing it. I went red, cringe that Vicki said it and all I wanted to do was curl up and not knowing where to hide as NOBODY believed that I was joking when I mentioned it! And I was.

Cricket Season Starts today - Sat 17 Apr 10

Today is the first game of the cricket season. Bit foggy (is it fog or volcano ash?) this morning but meant to be a nice day, so very much unlike the normal cricket season!

Unfortunately not playing today or tomorrow, to try to minimize chance of injury.

Popped out last night for a couple of pints (of squash!) as Vicki is away.....all the sacrifices I have gone through for this one 26.2 mile race!

Anyway its just after 7am and better get on with studying for some exams I have next week.......I really do hope the next 8 days do work out VERY well for me!

Taper time now - Sun 11 Apr 2010

Now its proper taper time. Gentle 16 miler this morning and now "training" is best part of over.

Now just need to stay fit as in 2 weeks this whole marathon journey will be over.

Over £5k raised now. Will not bring Mo back but it is amazing all the support I have got. Thank you

9.15 am, 21 miles done! Sat 3 Apr 10

Early start but great that the run is out of the way for the weekend by 9.15am....result and highly recommend to "get it out of the way!"

Now lots of time to relax and I hope you all have a good weekend too

Another PB and LOTS more money for SANDS - 28 Mar 2010

Me and Andy ran a 20 mile race today after "2 too many" beers on Friday night and then only 4 and a half hours sleep on the night before the race.

However we both smashed our PBs (Andy by 8 minutes) in doing 2 hrs and 4 minutes which we were funnily enough, very pleased with indeed!

Last night was Scottys Dad, Barrys, 60th birthday party (hence the lack of sleep). He kindly asked for donations to SANDS instead of present and was given well over £600, which after gift aid will nearly be £800. You are a top man Barry and no doubt the charity will be very happy indeed with the monies

Marathon PB - Sun 21 Mar 10

I went on a gentle 20 mile training run yesterday with Andy and I topped and tailed the run and ended up doing 26.2 miles in a NEW marathon PB of 2.58.18! I know it does not really count but in my head and marathon preparation it does to me!

I hope the London marathon is similar......especially if a dog comes to bite me (like it did yesterday), I hope Andy is there to let his shorts take the teeth of the dog.

However I would not believe a dog owner again (who obviously could not control his dog!) if he said his dog never bites and is not capable of biting you!

However ripped shorts could be the proof in this!

PB - hooray!

Team Jackson - 20 Mar 10

Team Jackson (me and Vicki!) won our 2nd team triathlon event at our gym today. This time there was no BMWs for 2 weekends but a David Lloyd bag! But we won!

I was first out on the run (5k) by over 1k! And was still leading when I got off the bike (10k) and passed the baton over to Vicki and she kept our lead through the swim (500m) to allow us to win the race easily. Big pat on the back to our Personal Trainer (Leanne) who came 2nd on her own.....not like me and bottling doing the whole event!

Well done Team Jackson and hopefully we can make it 3 out of the 3 in the next BMW Challenge in June at the gym!

20 odd mile run tomorrow morning.......

Scotty is a LEGEND

My mate Scotty, did his half marathon on Sunday. He had never run before and within less than 5 months he has only gone and run a half marathon in 1 hour and 46 minutes. What a legend......

And he also did it for SANDS Charity after what happened to us and raised over £1000 already http://www.justgiving.com/scott-rouse.

His Dad has also asked instead of 60th birthday presents for money to be given to SANDS too (thanks Barry).

Scotty said, training and running the half marathon was his BEST achievement ever and after running with him, I was so proud of him (especially when he said he was thinking of Mo over the last few miles) . I just hope he keeps running now as he definitely has a talent.


THANK YOU THE ROUSES

6 months on - 1 Mar 10

I thought Id update you all with how well my training is going (touching wood!)

January - 161 miles running for 16 hours and 15 minutes!
February - 194 miles (Stevenage to London!) running for 22 hours and 8 minutes (nearly a WHOLE day!). My longest run was on Saturday morning which was 21 miles, which was tough (after a skinful on Friday night) and something I could not have done without Andy. Cheers mate

Not bad for a 34 year old......that just makes me feel so old!!!!

Also last week our Little Man would have been 6 months old. It was a very tough week, a day never still goes past without me thinking of him and looking at pictures of him last week made me more emotional than I had been for months.

This morning when I went for a run (at 5.15am), I was thinking of him and I looked up to the heavens and I saw a shooting star! I was told after I should have made a wish, just wish I knew that before!

Still Alive - Sun 14 Feb 2010

I am still alive! Sorry for going missing for a few weeks but things have finally started getting a little bit better! So what has happened in my life!

24 Jan – came 3rd in race, yes 3rd! Awesome smashed my 10 mile PB. Happy and won a prize too!

25 Jan – Vic started a new job

2 Feb – won a holiday to Argentina. Very happy indeed, cant wait till March

14 Feb – not lots of cards (1) but did a PB in a 20 mile race and did not get murdered by my wife for leaving at 7.45am and getting home at 2.30pm on Valentines day! Also Rousey did a PB in the 10 mile race by 8 minutes.....not bad for a non runner!

Lets forget the fact that I find out this week if I still have a job but running and things for Vicki seems to be going a little better.

I am 34 next week, so I suppose not EVERYTHING is great!

Good news at last - 22 Jan 2010

Things are starting to look better. Vic starts a new job on Monday and with more pay than before too! She has done really well getting back to work so quickly and getting the 1st job that she went for and it is doing exactly what she wants to do. I am so pleased for her.

Also I have managed to do most of my New Year plans. I hoped to go to Vic's birthday weekend without drinking or eating chocolate, which I have now done.....so tomorrow night I am going thoroughly enjoy the amber nectar and wine, possibly with a bit of chocolate!

The only thing I will fail to do (tie is still being worn) is at least 1 track session a month......and I guess everyone thought the running 1 would be the easiest for me!

Mate Running & New Year Res Update - 17 Jan 10

My mate, Rousey, did his first ever running race today. He did 10 miles after not being able to run 3 months ago! He is also raising money for SANDS (http://www.justgiving.com/scott-rouse) by doing the Silverstone Half Marathon in March. He did superbly today, did it in less than 90 minutes (including getting lost!!!) and in doing so did his longest run in time AND distance ever - well done mate.

Also my other mate, Andy Patterson, (that does sound like I only have 2 mates!) did the race today with a hangover, did a PB and was the fastest runner in the race. Brilliant effort too and proves that you can eat, drink and do whatever before a race and it makes no difference! I need to remember this!

I raced too, today and did exactly the same time as Andy! I however went out last night, drank water in a pub and looking back I should have been on the beers! On the talk of alcohol, I still have not drunk or eaten chocolate this year! I think that will stop on Mrs Jacksons birthday next weekend!

6 and a half days in! 7 Jan 09

Good news, the New Years resolutions are still going strong! 6 and a half days of no chocolate, no beer (or alcohol) and I am still wearing a tie at work!

Snow is a bit of a pain, again, at the moment. This morning (minus 9 in Stevenage I was told!), I ran to the gym (3 and a half miles) with a ruck sack (with all my work stuff in it, including a laptop).

It was actually quite fun, good for the core muscles (hark at me!) however it was the hardest run I can remember doing - good on all the army guys who run with proper backpacks on!

Anyway, better pop out and get an apple or something, as this is my normal chocolate time (not beer time before somebody comes out with a funny comment!)

Proper Marathon Training – 2 Jan 2010!

Happy New Year.

The proper marathon training has now started with 113 days to the marathon and £4365 of sponsorship money behind me! At 7am this morning, still dark and minus 3 degrees I went on my first proper long run (14 miles).

I have read some marathon training articles over Christmas and I stuck to what they said and felt bloomin brilliant after and I could easily have done more miles and gone quicker too.

2009 was a rubbish year however I did do 2 races between Christmas and New Year which made not a bad finish to the year. A 10 miler which I was really pleased with the time and then a massive 10K PB on New Years Eve in a race that included a GB Triathlete and a GB Female Cross Country runner (yes she did beat me!)

I have set myself a couple of New Years Resolutions, which I doubt Ill keep but I thought I would share them;

- No beer (yes!) in January
- Cutting down massively on chocolate and puddings (I have a very very sweet tooth)
- At least 1 Saturday track sprint session a month
- Wear a tie at work every day

No chance Ill do all these but Ill give them a go!