Adam in Runderland

The third of my twelve marathons of 2019 took place on Sunday. This time I was back in north Kent, near Rochester running along the Medway valley. I say along, but it was more like up and down. 2500 feet elevation over a 27 mile route. This run was organized by Hit the Trail Running who also did the Lenham one last month. Some of the same people were there and the whole set up was excellent again. We started in Trosley Country Park at 9:30. The sun was out but it was cool - perfect conditions. There were 64 people doing the full marathon.I was running with fellow Bald Monkey John and he set off at a fast pace. I managed to ignore my competitive instinct that wanted to catch up and kept a nice easy pace for the first few miles enjoying the atmosphere and beautiful woodland scenery. The path was narrow and so we all arranged ourselves in single file. The first couple of miles was all downhill and included some very steep steps which I noted as I would have to come up them afte...

Nine weeks ago, a group of ten people who work for MAF UK volunteered / were coerced into entering a running programme. The Couch to 5K or C25K has helped many people start running. For some it is a new hobby, for others a personal goal to be achieved. I offered to coach the group over three lunchtimes a week for the duration. The programme can be found online and is also available on an app. We started with a 1 minute run followed by 90 seconds of walking for 20 minutes. Many of them had never run before and managing a minute was hard work but they managed it. We repeated this for all three sessions the first week before increasing the running part to 90 seconds in week 2, 3 minutes in week 3, and 5 minutes in week 4. Half way and everyone was pushing hard each session and stretching their ability. Breathing was the biggest challenge but by this stage it was getting slightly easier as there was less stopping and starting. On week 5 there were three different runs, 5 minutes...

“What are we going to do this weekend?” “I’m not sure. Fancy a run on Sunday?” “OK. There is that 20 miler in Lydd” “Great, book it!” Well that was the gist of how John and I came to be entered for an event on one of the windiest days of the year. With gusts of 86mph reported along the coast, it’s fair to say the weather was challenging. The Lydd 20 had been on our radar but, with a trail marathon in 2 weeks, we hadn’t planned to do it. However, there we were, with 1000 other runners, sheltering from gale force winds in a hut on the Romney Marshes. Just before the 10am start the marquee took off and had to be retrieved by a team of scouts and marshals. There were reports of fallen trees and seagulls were flying backwards above our heads. We headed off along the country lanes into the face of the gale. I used others as shields and echelons formed along the route. Just half a mile in and we came across the first tree blocking our path. Marshalls bravely held...

It has been another good month. I've managed to sustain the diet and exercise plan. Added to this I managed to smash my Folkestone parkrun 5k PB which had stood for 18 months. John and I managed to achieve another marathon - in fact it counts as an ultra by 1.3 miles! No injuries as yet although plenty of sore, tired muscles. The weather has been unseasonably mild with temperatures of 20 degrees during our lunch C25K runs. Enjoyable but strange. The group continue to run well and next month will all graduate by running their first full PB. Achievements 187 miles run No alcohol A balanced diet including fruit, seeds, vegetables and plenty of water Weekly progressive hill sessions Weekly 20+ mile long run 5K PB - 18:34 Lenham Cross Winter Marathon completed Daily 2 minute plank, 20 press ups and yoga stretches Good sleep Continued C25K at work up to 7 weeks. Goals 200 miles No alcohol A balanced diet including fruit, seeds, vegetables and plenty of water Wee...