Brand new trainers!…22 miles this week

New trainers Nike Pegasus +27'sBought some new trainers on Friday from Blacks. Nike Air Pegasus +27's. Was getting a bit concerned with my dual pair of Nike Air Max Internationals – on both of them, the right one seemed to be playing my foot up, mind you, I've had the things for 3+ years, so was probably wear or something, amazing the air bubbles have lasted really tbh. Chose the Pegasus' after reading that they "cater for the more neutral runner or even slightly under-pronating runner", but most importantly they were a cool green colour!

Trialed them in a 10km up the common and back, took it moderate pace this time, incredibly light shoe, thought the Air Max's were light, but these are even more so, also seem to fit my feet and running style better(so far) and was surprisingly faster than last time by about a minute.

Planned and done 16.5mile route to Epsom and back!!

Sheesh! just back from 16.5 mile run to Epsom and back, man that was a long way!  took 3:30hrs but had a break at Epsom to re-fuel with surprisingly excellent Boots Energy bar + bottle of Gatorade (only rehydration drink that has no artificial sweetners[evil aspartme], flavours or colours) + there were so many flippin hills it was nuts ;( Think I must've subconsciously planned route with as much hills as possible, was like fell-running at points. Still Nonsuch Park was very pleasant despite the mud and I've cycled the route and driven it numerous times and it's one I like. Down London Road, waving at where the Sarah and the Rose live :P then past Modern Park (where used to hang out and do stupid things as a teenager ) then onto North Cheam and eventually Epsom.

Fitness Note: Legs/self haven't felt this way since I used to play tennis with Wiltshire, Georgi and co for 6 hours a day back in the sun of 2006!!

Now munching on pasta + ham, tomorrow going to be interesting!

Planned route 16.5miles click below – slightly different really cos got lost in Nonsuch Park and took Cheam Road in Ewell village by accident, better route anyways.

http://tinyurl.com/68jw2pc

Another 10km

Me running in leafy SW19Clocked up another 10km today, 51mins run time, at steady pace, including leap-frogging over posts during half-way stage, finished with a bit of a sprint. Happy cos did this despite having a touch of the sniffles.

UPDATE: woke up and legs pretty much normal, recovery times must be speeding up, felt like could prob run another 10km today, but due to being so wanted by all and sundry, didn't, prob for best as will help get over this cold better. Ah well will wait til next week now

The Googling Cat

There is a ginger cat that lives in my house called ‘Grahamina’ – she is a special cat because she likes to interrupt my breakfast and use Google to produce amazing results such as the one below! 🙂

The Googling Cat
The Googling Cat
Grahamina Googlewhack
Grahamina Googlewhack

 

Another long run – nicer this time through Richmond Park

Just back from another 'long' run of 2:02 hours – apparently about 12.3miles, which gives me hope that a half marathon is now within my grasp!

For once it was light, since I left at about 1:30pm, ran up to the common and took a detour through Richmond Park. I thought this would be more pleasant than running up Kingston Hill like last time, which was tough going, but even on the grass it wasn't that much easier, bit more green and less cars though. I was a bit disappointed not to see any deer or squirrels or even birds though :( though I did overtake a woman on a bicycle going up the rather steep hill there, lol, she overtook me on the way down and straight though. The Park also was a good option since it saved getting lost round the private estates of Kingston Hill like last time and made a nice run back into Raynes Park along Coombe Lane.

Legs aren't quite as tired as the last long run, seemed a bit more steady today, whereas I pushed it quite a bit at the start last time, am sure I could've (just about) made another mile or so, then I'd have hit the milestone of the teens! :P

Click here to see a 'rough' route map of today. I did cut down Chase Alley which Google doesn't know about.

A PLACE AT LAST!! HOORAY! 10km to celebrate

I finally have a confirmed Virgin London Marathon 2011 place at last! :) I phoned Adam Brown from Save The Rhino and he kindly gave me a place. I have to raise £1250 for them and any more over that target will go to the Rainforest Trust. I have to say that is less than the £1800 the Rainforest guys wanted me to raise so I'm not complaining one bit! On with the training then…

Ran 10km at reasonable pace on usual common route up to Tibbets Corner and back, tried listening to music this time, haven't done that for a while, but I was tired and felt like it, had to stop numerous times to sort out the headphone lead and trainers (may need new pair). Finished in about 52mins, hence lot faster than usual. Interested to see what my legs will be like tomorrow after pusing it a bit today.

Rainforest Trust meeting – hmmm

Well after an email on Monday from Matilda at the Rainforest Alliance, it turns out it could be a two way run-off between myself and a lady called Carol for a place in the marathon ;(

Anyways had a 'marathon meeting' with the Rainforest Alliance folks near Kentish Town tonight after a hectic day at work. Met a couple of guys doing the Brighton Marathon and the other 7 or so of us are doing the London. Matilda gave a nice presentation, didn't know Sting set this thing up, plus gave us some fund raising ideas.

UPDATE: Got a call from Matilda and was told that she had to draw straws between myself and Carol (she was a very nice lady and very enthusiastic + she'd done the Dublin marathon back in 1996) and she won the place. Must admit I'm wasn't entirely surprised, BUT Adam Brown at Save the Rhino does have a place for me an expects a call!

Saw The Hoff at Wimbledon Theatre

I'd seen the posters around and resisted so far, BUT it wa too much, my hero Michael Knight was starring in the pantomime at Wimbledon theatre! Yes, the star of my fave TV programme as a kid Knightrider AKA Mitch from Baywatch AKA David Hasselhoff was visiting my hometown and this might be a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see him! :P so I went along for the Wednesday 1:30pm show! It was Peter Pan with The Hoff as Hook and Louie Spence from Pineapple Studios as the Cabin Boy (named Roger lol). These two made an unexpectedly brilliant combination. The Hoff's very-English announcement of the start of the show, hinted to me that he may have actually grasped what the very British institute of panto really is, which is most impressive for an American! 🙂 After curtain up, came the songs, the dances, the jokes and even the story, which was wonderfully told and acted out by all the cast involved! Louie Spence was flippin hilarious and what a dancer too! The dude playing Peter Pan was excellent too, had a real quality for being a nice guy and luring the audience in with the traditional BEHIND YOU and OH NO HE HASN'T routines too! 🙂 Top marks to both him + the lady playing Wendy, you guys got the characters 100% right + the funny pirates ruled (esp the bit where Louie got them doing a caberet).

What I loved was that rightly there were references to everything – Baywatch, KITT (best car ever if you don't know), the talking watch, Pamela Anderson (who was at the theatre last year), they even had a bit introduced as singing 'live from the Berlin Wall' (oh yes, all you Germans out there, who remembers Hoff sitting on the Wall singing Freedom in 1989). The delighted shouts and laughs of what sounded like thousands of kids around me along with adults and a large number of pensioners alike, made a great atmosphere.

Got a txt from a friend earlier saying that the Daily Wail had slated the show, I really dunno what version the reviewers saw but this was EXCELLENT STUFF! the best panto production I've seen and certainly better than the last one I went to a while ago. Even had a fab DISCO INFERNO ending!

Was also very lucky having a great seat about 5 rows back from the front and happened to be sitting next to a very pretty blonde, who people around obviously thought I was with, Spicegirl Emma Bunton being one of them, as she + her man + kids were sat behind us! Turned out this girl was cool and knew the guy playing Peter Pan and loved the show too, her squeals everytime Louie said something, are gunna be a lasting memory 🙂 So, a most splendid Wednesday afternoon.

P.S. WISH I'D KNOWN WHEN KITT HAD BEEN OUTSIDE THE THEATRE, WHY DON'T THEY ADVERTISE THESE THINGS???!!