Category: Jogging

London Heathside 5 race update

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I’ve never been to Finsbury Park sober before. I’ve only ever been to see bands there and know where the bands play, not where people run. So armed with my map of the park I set off in the direction of where I think the start is. After a while I see a girl dressed in running gear also looking at a map so I run over to her and say are you as lost as I am? She says yes, but the marshall said it was this way, so we carry on walking up the path and get to a main road. I say I don’t think it’s this far. We look at the map again and decide we’ve walked round to the other side of the park and see a man jogging down the path wearing a race number and ask him if he knows where the start line is. He says yes, it’s down there, you should see an orange line on the ground. We say we just walked from there, we didn’t see anything. He says you were probably a bit early. We walk back down and see some runners standing about and with only 5 minutes to go I stuff my fleece in my new rucksack that I’ve brought out for a practice run and turn on my Garmin. My Garmin still hasn’t picked up a signal when the starting gun goes off and I think bugger, I can’t run without my Garmin to tell me how much longer I’ve got to go but it gets a signal after about a minute. Yah.

My new rucksack is rubbing my neck so much I think I’m either going to get my neck sawn off or it’s going to look like I’ve got a lovebite, neither scenario being particularly appealing, so after a mile and a half, I stop and get my fleece out and put it on and aaah, relief, now my rucksack is comfy and fits better and I continue on my run but no one told me someone had broken into the park overnight and planted a hill. Bastards. I have to stop again and walk up the hill. Then I have to stop again and get my water bottle out. Then I stopped again and got my water bottle out. Then I stopped again and got my water bottle out and ran with it thinking why didn’t I just do that in the first place? Duh.

The marshalls weren’t as bouncy and happy clappy as the ones from last week but that was probably because they were mostly in their 50s, not their 20s, but they did start to smile on my third lap, probably because they thought to themselves thank fuck she’s almost finished, I can go home now.

When I got to the hill on the third and final lap I was determined to not stop and walk it but to run – however slowly – up it, but I failed miserably and walked up it again. I got to the final stretch and the marshall said only 400m to go and I thought yay but, fuck me, that 400m must be the longest 400m I’ve ever done, I almost had to stop and walk again. Might as well have done a sponsored bloody walk the way I ran today.

But despite the rain, my rucksack trying to kill me, my thirst getting the better of me and that bastard hill, I still enjoyed this run far more than last week’s race. Got a better t-shirt than last week too, here it is:

So I went off with my new t-shirt and asked a man if he knew which way was Finsbury Park tube station. He said that’s where I’m going, I think it’s that way. I said oh, I thought it was the other way, I’ll follow you then. He said have you just done the run? I said yes, have you? He said yes, how did you do? I said I think I came last. He said nooooo, you won’t have been last, there’s always someone behind you. I said but someone has to be last and I think this time it was me. We chatted on our way to the tube and then he gave me his phone number. Heh, result 😉

Stats:
Miles: 4.96
Total time: 53:57
Average pace: 10:52 minute/mile
Total calories: 438
Rucksacks trying to kill me: 1
Phone numbers: 1
Music:
Belle and Sebastian – Sleep The Clock Around
Catatonia – Londinium
The Cult – Rise
Daisy Chainsaw – Natural Man
Dandy Warhols – Everyday Should Be A Holiday
Divine Comedy – Becoming More Like Alfie
Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster – Chicken
Elysian Fields – Bend Your Mind
Franz Ferdinand & Scissor Sisters – Suffragette City

Race day again

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Yikes, what’s this, another early Sunday morning?  Must be getting old or something but I’m off to the London Heathside 5 today to go and run 3 and a half times round Finsbury Park.  I’ve checked the tubes are running to Finsbury Park this morning and according to the Transport for London Real-Time Map which bizarrely shows the working stations as the greyed out ones, the Victoria Line is running to Finsbury Park today.  Which means I don’t have to get on the peasant wagon.  Hurrah.

Hopefully there’ll be more people to run with this morning, as last week at the IC Marrow Fun Run in Hyde Park, I might as well have just gone out for a run on my own as there was no one near me for the entire 5 miles except for a couple of other runners in the distance who I was trying not to lose as they were helping me to not go the wrong way.

I will update later.

Today’s free gift

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I got up early yesterday and went to the Post Office on my way to work but my parcel from Start Fitness wasn’t there. Bah. I said to the man behind the counter but it’s been two days, he said I’ve been waiting for stuff to come back from last week, you can try later, we’re open ’til 7 today. I didn’t want to go back after work as I wanted to go to the gym and thought that my parcel from Start Fitness probably wouldn’t be back that evening anyway and so I ran up there this morning, hoping and praying on the way that I wasn’t going to have a wasted journey as I could have had a nice run round the marshes and up the river instead of a run up the road dodging chavs, buses and people spitting.

I got to the Post Office and joined the queue and everyone before me was getting their parcels so I thought my parcel must be in there too, everyone else is getting their parcels and I gave the man my card that said sorry I was out and he went off to look for my parcel and he was taking his time and kept wandering around looking at various shelves and I was thinking oh no, my parcel’s not here yet, bummer, but then he came back with a big grey parcel so hurrah, now I have my new stuff.

Here’s my new rucksack. It was supposed to be my new everyday rucksack, as the zips have broken on the last two I’ve had in the last six months but it’s not big enough for my gym stuff and breakfast and lunch containers and other various crap essentials I carry around with me but it’s also going to be my running commute rucksack when I make the plunge and attempt a run home so it should be big enough for that as I will be travelling light that day.

And here are my new gloves for the gym so I don’t keep getting blisters from the rowing machine.

And here’s my free gift. There is no way I’m wearing a baseball cap. Joggerblogger? You still want my free gift? It’s yours.

And while I’ve been happily spending away this month, I have forgotten that I’m going to Germany in two weeks and need to pay for that. Oops.

Stats:
Miles: 2.25
Total time: 23:24
Average pace: 10:23 minute/mile
Total calories: 198
New rucksacks: 1
New gloves: 1
Free gifts from Start Fitness: 1
Money I will have left to spend in Germany: About a fiver
Music:
Auf der Maur – Real A Lie
Muse – Sober
Pixies – Gouge Away
P J Harvey – Maniac
Power Station – Harvest For The World
Prodigy – Jericho
Prodigy – Out Of Space

Can’t think of a title

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Due to circumstances beyond my control, I had to cancel on NYE Bloke and when I got in, I went for a run instead and get some value for money from my new expensive running shoes. Maybe the man in the shop wasn’t lying when he said they’ll make me a better runner (although for those of you who think I was being serious when I asked the man in the shop if the expensive shoes would make me a better runner: I WAS JOKING) as tonight I ran 10:30(ish) minute miles. Hurrah. Ok, so there were only two of my 10:30(ish) minute miles and I did take the relatively traffic/side road free route down the market (after seven years of living here I’ve eventually found a benefit of living next to the crappiest longest street market in Europe) but still, my Garmin says I did 10:30(ish) minute miles so yay for me.

Which has marginally cheered me up after the news that I can’t watch Lost anymore due to Richard Branson not forking out 3p for Sky One. I suppose I’ll just have to download it from somewhere wait for it to come out on DVD. I don’t watch anything else on the telly and I haven’t got over Channel 4 axeing Brookie yet either. Woe is me.

And on my run I went past a man doing strange things (no, not those kind of strange things) in the green bit next to the bus garage and I nearly tripped over a woman who was dressed head to toe in black, kneeling on the ground with her hand outstretched begging for money. I thought about suggesting to her that she might be better off wearing bright colours and standing up if she wanted people to see her and then she might make more money but I thought better of it and continued with my 10:30(ish) minute miles.

Tomorrow I have to try and get up early and go and retrieve my parcel from Start Fitness from the Post Office. Start Fitness‘s advert in the Runner’s World magazine says that you get a free gift with every purchase, and I got a free gift last time, but Joggerblogger didn’t. I hope they don’t forget my free gift this time.

Search engine query of the day: I want to be a fitter for b&q

If I ever have kids and I hear them utter those words, or I see them type them into a search engine, they’re getting a slap.

Stats:
Miles: 1.99
Total time: 20:58
Average pace: 10:32 minute/mile
Total calories: 185
Men doing strange things on the green bit next to the bus garage: 1
Women begging in the dark dressed head to toe in black: 1
Music:
Toyah – Voodoo Doll
Simian – We Are Your Friends
Pixies – Velouria
Wasted Youth – Caveman

Rush hour running

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Fuck me, and I thought the Central Line was busy tonight.  Despite it being cold, windy and raining, because I am hardcore/a serious athlete/couldn’t wait to try out my new running shoes [delete as appropriate] I went out and battled against the population of Walthamstow.   I cut my run a bit short and turned off early down a side street, away from the people and the traffic who got in my way every few feet, and returned to the peace and solitude of my house.  Aaah, bliss.

Still, although the entire population of Walthamstow have wound me up tonight by being in my way every few feet, I have got new running shoes, hurrah.  I went to Runners Need up the road from work and said to the man behind the counter hello, I need some new running shoes.  I said I bought my last pair here, they were Saucony ones.  The man in the shop said do you know which kind?  Did you buy them here?  I said I don’t know what kind but I did buy them here, about a year ago.  He said do you know what kind of gait you have?  I said the girl said I over pronate a bit.  He got me some shoes and I went on the treadmill and he filmed my running style and said I was near enough neutral, perhaps slightly over pronating on my left foot.  He went and got me some shoes and yay, pulled a pink pair of Sauconys out of a box.  I like pink.  I tried them on but damn, they were a bit tight and didn’t feel very comfy so I tried on the other pair he brought out which were orange, which I was v. pleased about, as orange is one of my favourite colours (despite it being the colour of B&Q) and blimey, they were comfy.  I said to the man, it’s like not having shoes on at all, they’re really light and comfy.  He said yes, they are good shoes but they’re a bit more expensive.  I said how much are they?  He said ninety nine ninety nine.  I said ONE HUNDRED POUNDS?  And he said yes but you get what you pay for.  I said my other ones only cost sixty five pounds.  He said do you know what they were?  I said no.  He said did you buy them here?  I said yes.  I didn’t say you’ve already asked me those two questions and I wasn’t lying the first time, honest.  I said do you have any other shoes.  He brought out a blue pair, as he must have known I don’t like blue and fortunately for the shop’s profit margin they weren’t very comfy either so I said ok, I’ll have the orange ones, they’re very comfy but if I get the orange ones, will they make me a better runner, and he said of course they will.

Here are my new comfy orange running shoes.  Oh, they’re Asics Gel Nimbus VIII.

 

And my cat, being a cat, likes the box.

So I took my new running shoes out for a little run tonight and the man in the shop must have been lying when I asked him that if I got the expensive shoes, will they make me a better runner and he said of course, because they didn’t improve my running tonight at all.  Hmm.

Stats:
Miles: 3.58
Total time: 41:47
Average pace: 11:39 minute/mile
Total calories: 333
Weather: cold, drizzly and windy
Music:
Belle and Sebastian – Sleep The Clock Around
Stereo Total – Do The Bambi
The Prodigy – Out Of Space
Toyah – Vision
Baby Bird – Wave Your Hands
Muse – Sober
Manic Street Preachers – Archives Of Pain

IC marrow fun run report

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I’m back. Yesterday I did check that the tubes were running today and I could have sworn it said that the Victoria Line wasn’t running between Finsbury Park and King’s Cross but that didn’t matter to me because I was changing tubes at Finsbury Park but they must have been fibbing because today everyone got off the train at Seven Sisters and I was sitting there thinking why has everyone except me got off the train and so I got off the train and asked a man why has everyone got off the train? But he didn’t know and went and asked a station staff man and he said we had to get the replacement bus to either Manor House or Finsbury Park. Eek. Me and Bernard had to get the replacement bus to Manor House from Seven Sisters last year when we went to the free festival in Finsbury Park and that bus ride was the WORST EVER bus ride in my life. But today it was ok. Hurrah. Maybe because it was a Sunday morning and not a Saturday afternoon but the bus was empty and free of annoyingly noisy kids and other annoying people and the road was free of traffic and the replacement bus got me quickly and safely down the road to Manor House tube where I got on the Piccadilly Line to Hyde Park Corner.

When I got to the park, I went to the bandstand and I went to the van that had lots of goody bags in and said to the girl there are you Charlene? She said no. I said oh, Charlene said I could put my bag in the van, is she about? The girl said she’s around somewhere, she’s wearing a black sleeveless puffa jacket. I went up to a girl wearing a black sleeveless puffa jacket and said are you Charlene? She said no. I resisted saying, why are you pretending to be her then by wearing a black sleeveless puffa jacket and just said oh, she said I could put my bag in the van but if people are leaving them here then that’s fine, and I left my bag on the ground with all the other bags.

I’m going to have to stop getting to races early because a) I get v. bored standing around and b) I was BLOODY FREEZING. I wanted to get there early because a) I wanted to find Charlene and her van; b) I thought there might be a huge toilet queue; and c) I’m always early for everything.

Eventually everyone moved off to the start line. The 8k runners with numbers up to 350 went first, then the rest of the 8k runners, then the 3k runners went. I was in the second lot of 8k runners. Everyone sprinted off leaving me for dust.

I eventually got some feeling back in my left hand at about 2 miles (should have worn my free gloves that the nice people at Start Fitness gave me) and the wind stopped at 3 miles and at 3.5 miles I thought I vaguely recognised a feeling of enjoyment but I think I might have been mistaken as I didn’t enjoy hardly a footstep of the whole run. Although there was a comedy moment when I nearly fell over a pigeon and a marshall saw me and started laughing. I thought the pigeon would get out of the way but it just stood there and I could envisage a pigeon-based football incident happening, but I managed to get out of its way. I saw a squirrel too. Didn’t see any cows though.

I eventually saw the finish line and thought to myself thank fuck that’s over.

Over until next week anyway, when I’ve got another 5 mile race 🙂

Today’s race was supposed to have a superheroes theme and some people did make the effort and dress up. Here are the Musketeers. They won the prize for the best dressed.

There were some incredible hulks too and they looked v. cool but I’d put my camera away by the time they turned up. Shame. It wasn’t a huge turn out as you can see from this pic. People must have been put off by the cold and the rain. Lightweights.

In fact, there seemed to be more ambulance crew than runners.

The ambulance crew were also strategically placed around the route. Also strategically placed around the route were lots of marshalls. I would like to thank the marshalls for the brilliant job they did today. Not only did they stop me from getting lost, but each and every one of them had a huge smile on their face and cheered everyone on. Thank you 🙂

Here’s the route.

Stats:
Miles: 5.29
Total time: 54:43
Average pace: 10:20 minute/mile
Total calories: 461
Weather: bloody freezing
Music:
Rolling Stones – You Can’t Always Get What You Want
Peeping Tom – Don’t Even Trip
My Bloody Valentine – Feed Me With Your Kiss
Mansun & 808 State – Skin Up Pin Up
Manic Street Preachers – Damn Dog
Sex Pistols – Who Killed Bambi
Ian Brown – Lions
Toyah – Masai Boy
Stereo Total – L’amour a 3
Goody bag:
Bottle of Tropicana
Bag of Haribo Starmix
Completion certificate
Flyer for a 10k in Hyde Park in March
Two Anthony Nolan Trust leaflets

Race day

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Ok, I’m up. I woke up about 7 listening to the rain going drip drip drip. Inside the house. Waa, I thought the roofer had fixed the roof? I might have still been half asleep though as I can’t see any evidence of it raining inside the house. I was considering staying in bed and not getting up at stupid o’clock on a Sunday morning to go out to run five miles round a Central London park when most of the population are sleeping off their hangovers . But I knew I’d be pissed off with myself if I didn’t go so I got up. Yay.

It’s raining though and I’m going to look like a drowned rat and I’ve got to travel back on the tube. At least I’ll probably put off anyone sitting next to me. Yay.

The start and finish line is at the bandstand in Hyde Park again. Just like at the Savitri run last year when I went the wrong way. This year I should have lots of people to follow. Unless I’m at the front. Hee hee.

I will update later. Fingers crossed I don’t get injured/go the wrong way/fall over a football. 4th time lucky?

Here’s a pic of my race number, I will post more exciting pics later.

Oh, and in case you’re wondering where the updated blog is with the new pages, etc., I spent about six hours getting stuff together to send to the B&Q arbitration people. I worked out I made approximately 53 phone calls to B&Q/their criminal fitters and took 61 phone calls. That’s a lot of phone calls for someone who doesn’t like being on the phone.

I got a letter from B&Q yesterday about the forgery. They said that it’s unclear whether the signature belongs to me but the fitters don’t work for them anymore so they feel appropriate action has been taken in this case.

What does that mean? That they sacked the fitters over the allegation but they’re not admitting anything or that because the fitters don’t work for them anymore, they’re not going to bother chasing it up any further?

And once again they apologise for any inconvenience and hope that I will continue to be a valued customer at B&Q.

One foot in front of the other

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As I haven’t been running for 10 days, haven’t been to the gym or had any exercise at all, not even my usual daily walk from Liverpool Street to Chancery Lane, I thought I’d better get outside and see if I can remember how to put one foot in front of the other because I have a race tomorrow and Joggerblogger says I have to do it, and I don’t want to look stupid at the start line, just standing there thinking, um, what do I do? So I went to the park and did 2.5 miles, so I can remember how to do it, yay. I just need to double the distance tomorrow.

I’m going to do up the blog later. Not changing the theme as I like this one, but I’m going to add new pages with all the crap essential running accessories I have bought and other pages with races and routes, etc. Not sure what the etc. is, I haven’t thought of it yet. Might not be an etc.

But first I have to write to the B&Q arbitration peeps and tell them to sort B&Q out.

Actually, I lie. First I have to have a (veggie) bacon and mushroom sandwich.

Stats:
Miles: 2.5
Total time: 27:22
Average pace: 10:57 minute/mile
Total calories: 215
Weather: quite warm
Music:
Edie Sedgwick – Martin Sheen
Muse – Falling Down
Rachel Stamp – Agony
Stereo Total – Comme Un Garcon
PJ Harvey – Sheela Na Gig
Young Knives – Tailors
Kasabian – Club Foot
Sex Pistols – EMI

Who stole my energy?

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I think someone broke in overnight earlier this week and stole my energy because it appears that I now have none.  I haven’t been out for a run (or to the gym) all week and it’s looking unlikely that I’m going to make the race on Sunday unless I get some energy stores from somewhere.  Don’t want to waste my seven English pounds though.  Although it’s already partly wasted as they sent me a large t-shirt when I asked for a small one.  I can’t even wear what they sent me to the gym, it’s faaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaar too big.  No one is that large, not even large people.

And when I got the race pack, in the letter it says they can’t be held responsible for any personal belongings so I emailed them and said does that mean there’s no bag storage and if so, I won’t be able to come as I’m coming on my own and no one to look after my stuff and they wrote back and said there’s no bag storage but I’m welcome to put my bag in their van which will be in the park and locked.  Which is very nice of them, but what if they forget my bag’s in their van and drive off with it, or I can’t find their van?  And what if everyone wants to put their bag in their van, how will they fit 500 bags in their van?

It’s too confusing.

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