by james -

10 miles – man, I like hills but that was ridiculous + longest run ever

Well I just ran for 2:07hours (around 10.6miles apparently)!! :)Unfortunately I got lost and ended up going the wrong way down a private road in the dark, hoping to end up on Coombe Lane but ended back on Kingston Hill and decided to stop after getting to New Malden for the sake of my own health and safety!!  I wanted to run 10miles and so I headed up to the common, heinously Richmond Park was closed. Here is the route I roughly took. Although pls note, at Tibbets corner I cut into the common and skirted round the back of the cemetery and through the playing fields back onto the main road where it forks up Kingston Hill – man that is one crazy hill esp after tons of other hills on the common! this may make my route slightly longer and certainly more punishing! I waited 5mins for the 131 bus then noticed there was a 152 which stops outside my house, so I devoured a quarter-pounder in New Malden McDonalds  and caught that back here.
 
 
Running notes: Am still experimenting with speed, today I perhaps stupidly pushed it quite a bit during the first 3 miles and when I going up the crazy Kingston Hill, as my knees preferred that. I didn't run the entire way though, at times I walked a short distance just to give my legs a bit of a rest, this is definitely the best combination at the moment. Will keep experimenting me thinks.
by james -

Training – Ran slow 10km over common

Ran slow 10km in 1:06:12 to see if my legs could take the distance and a bit more and essentially not be entirely knackered the next day.

Hardest part was actually running slower than I wanted to. Usually I can cover 10km sub-50mins fairly comfortably, but I like to push myself and this is not a good idea when there's 3 times that distance to cover. Despite being dark I ran on the common ground, not only because it is nicer on my knees, but also there had been a lot of rain and there were tons of puddles and mud and so it forced me to slow things down a lot. Also the cars coming towards me on the road were a bit scary sometimes.

I'm fairly confident I could run at least 8 miles now at this kind of pace. I've also heard of people who run and then walk parts of the 26 miles distance and this is sounding more and more sensible to me. hmmmm.

by james -

Rainforest Trust give me a call

The Rainforest Trust gave me a quick call today and confirmed that I have a place in the London Marathon!! :)

I haven't officially said yes, as I've been contemplating putting it off until 2012 – you know what with the Olympics and everything. Also after Googling 'marathon in 3 months training' and reading that 'yes you could probably do it, but you probably won't be unable to walk for a month afterwards', I was somewhat concerned I'd need a few more weeks. Most regimes say you need 16-18 weeks instead of 12.

I sent an email to my running expert friend Nico who's run a couple of marathons now and will wait to see what he says…Nico replied asap, he's hoping to run a sub 3 hour this year and said he reckons I should be alright to finish it. thanks a lot Nico you've really helped me a lot on this one.

by james -

James’ Most Excellent Ham Noodle Stir Fry!

I was really in the mood for something quick and preferably noodles. I didn't have any peppers or bean sprouts, but thought I'd try see what I could cook up anyways. I also used a non-stick saucepan instead of a wok! Turned out to be delicious, perhaps even better than with the bean sprouts.

James' Most Excellent Ham Noodle Stir FryIngredients (names/specifics are only here for reference, you can use what you like):

olive oil
1 small onion chopped
1 clove organic garlic chopped
half an organic carrot chopped
small dollop of tomato puree
some water 😉
1 x nest sharwoods noodles
1/3 lemon's juice
Blue Dragon oyster sauce
Blue Dragon soy sauce
Schwartz ground ginger
unrefined cane sugar
2 slices Morrison's carvery cooked ham
1/4 pack Morrison's simple side salad (endive, radicchio, carrot and cabbage).

Cooking The Dish

  1. heat non-stick saucepan with small amount of olive oil
    add onions + garlic to pan, fry for 3mins
    add 1/3 of the carrot
    add a small amount of tomato puree (hey it was to hand) and mix
    add some water and reduce heat to level 1 (quite low)
  2. boil some water in another pan, add rest of carrots and when boiling, add noodles
    cook noodles for 4mins 
    meanwhile remember to keep stiring the onions/garlic to stop them burning.
  3. drain noodles/carrots and add them to the onions/garlic, 
    turn up the heat to max! 🙂
  4. stir liberally until onions are mixed in with noodles
  5. add a good tbsp oyster sauce and stir, adding water if it's getting a bit dry
    add tsp of ginger, stir
    add tsp soy sauce, stir
    add half tbsp cane sugar, stir + add some water
    add in 1/3 lemon's juice
    add bit more oyster sauce and some water and stir til it's all hot again
  6. add 2 slices ham, stir 🙂
  7. add handful salad mix for 1minute, stir again and stir/cook for one minute
  8. serve!

TA!DA!
P.S. I say tbsp/tsp but personally I just chucked it in the mix, guessing.

by james -

Ran first 10km for a long time and ran into a friend!

Despite not being (sure about) being accepted to run in the marathon yet, decided I had to get a bit fitter anyways and at least 'wake up my legs' so to speak, so went for a 10km run over the common. It's been a couple of months since my last run and probably a year since I ran a real 10k. Luckily as I'm blessed with supreme athleticism as well as good looks, I hoped I'd be able to cover the distance still. There was a light rain when I set out at about 3:30pm and wearing my finest track suit bottoms and green army cap I set out. By the time I got to the common it was getting rather dark. I happened to run past a couple holding hands and caught a sense of a glance from then, as it turned out, incredibly it was my friend Kathryn whom I hadn't seen in a while. I should point out it's more amazing she spotted me in that army hat than anything else, perhaps it was my distinctive running style of something. Anyways had a nice chat with her and caught up a bit…and after being inspired by that I finished the 10k in around about 50mins, which was surprising since it's been so long, even did a major sprint at the end.

When I got home, I had some food and with leg muscles starting to kick in, I immediately headed down David Lloyd (where I've conveniently signed up for their December £5 12 day membership) and happily made full use of their sauna, steam room and jacuzzi spa, to relieve my now 'woken up' legs! :P

by james -

Rainforest Trust send me London Marathon email!

Got an email today from the Rainforest Trust about London Marathon places – "would you like to run it for us?" – they're some charity I ran a 5km round Battersea Park for (well my friend Dom and his wife Pip asked me if I'd like to run it and I said yes) and a 10km for them a couple of years ago round Finsbury Park. Anyways I replied and said Yes I'd be interested. Wonder what will happen now…:)

 

by james -

Slideshow of Me and Some People/Things

 

 

by james -

Evita At Wimbledon Theatre!

Went to see 'Evita' at Wimbledon Theatre last night. The smash hit musical of the remarkably interesting life story of Argentina's first lady Eva Peron was an excellent production and thoroughly enjoyable! The lead, along with the guy who played her husband Juan Peron were superb, her rendition of the timelessly emotional 'Don't Cry For Me Argentina' was thrilling as well as enthralling. Ché Guevara was pretty cool too, this guy did an incredible job as narrator for the story and was endlessly entertaining. I won't say too much on these three, as you prob get the picture, the performance from the rest of the cast was flawless too from their dancing to the group singing. Evita's first boyfriend was a class act too and I must look up who Juan's mistress was, she was only in it a short time but her "So What Happens Now?" piece was stunning, with a unique voice like that she could have a career to follow. hmmm.

Only thing is I'll have to read up on Mz Peron now, can't believe she died at only 33, rising from literally nothing and nowhere at 15 to national celebrity and wife of the president by the time she was 26. Apparently after her death her body left Argentina for 17 years only returning after Peron re-entered politics there. Tim Rice stumbled randomly upon the story and the rest is history.

Top marks  again Wimbledon Theatre!

by james -

The Book of Fate

The Book of Fate by Brad MeltzerA shooting, an assassin, an ex-president, an intriguing conspiracy. Half way through so far…

No wonder Brad Meltzer thanks George Dubya Bush in the beginning, he clearly has more knowledge of the secret service and US presidential aides than pretty much anyone on the planet. This story turned out be rather interesting and exciting one with well described and sympathetic characters and a good ending (for once), a most enjoyable read.

The Book of Fate by Brad Melzer