Look Good, Run Good.... by jamieB

Alright? Okay? It has been a while and it's too difficult to tell you about how I've been since the GNR but things are getting better and you have to smile through it.  Now, let's get the puns out of the way. There are no puns, I have nothing that is SPOTTY but as tradition dictates I have to publish My SPOTY.  Not the heroes you see on TV but the heroes in my life, and maybe yours.  I'm not badwagon jumping, I've done this each year and although I've not been posting, I have been watching you.

So here goes....

Driver of the Year: AndyB

Andy dove me to Newcastle; picking me up very early; ran a very good half marathon; drove me back to Manchester.  He keeps on going, he has a good engine and he has stop/start technology.  He also put up with me for at least five hours in a car.  He deserves the first award of the night.

Superperson of the Year: TinaM

Much has been made of the lack of women in the real SPOTY.  Tina is amazing.  If you think of the hardest, toughest schedules you have done, then think again.  Tina seems to exist to train and her results show that hardwork, dedication and talent equals success.  Tina also wins the Overeas SPOTY for the fifth year running.

Run like you stole something: AlisonW

She didn't do it, she didn't take the bus and we lost her. She moaned like hell but she was only joking(?).  She harassed Gordon Burns and she always looks good (after running good) at the finish.

Celebrity of the Year: Sue Barker

In the continuing absence of TISM and Vicky Pendleton getting the restraining order, it has to be Sue.  She's in Salford a bit more and she loves me.  She asks me not to sing Devil Woman or Wired for Sound during our special moments.

The Simon Doyle International Simon Doyle award for Journalists: Simon Doyle

I just love what he wrote, what he said to me and how he sees things.

Never stop telling people they can do it award: JohnF

He comments and tells you you can do it.  An honest voice of Reason.

And so we come to the most prestigious award of the night, My SPOTY.  The award is modelled on my SPOTY and will be appreciated by my winner although each and everyone of you, in line with local council regulations, is a winner.  He's why he's My SPOTY:

"During times of deep disappear you are always there.  You dealt with things that I couldn’t deal with if they happened to me.  You encouraged me and everyone who knows you this year despite dealing with massive things.  You pushed me and asked questions of me to help me find myself and to run free once more.  You rubbed my back when I was sick at the GMR.  Despite what you had to deal with you did it with a smile on your face and you inspired the people around you to do better.  And to top it all you are doing it again in 2012.  I value your friendship and treasure our photo together, which I think, Alison took.  You are my hero and idol.  You are Mick6…."

So there it is.  I'm upset about there not being more women because I prefer women but I think someone in Salford got miffed that there weren't more men in the 2011 Great British Bake Off.

Have a great 2012.  If I didn't mention you, I'm sorry.  I still love you very much.  See you in 2012 for more fun...x

Newcastle seems a while back now and the plan (I never have a plan do I?) was to take a week off and then start trying to get into a habit of running three times a week for fitness leading up to the GMR2012. But it didn't happen.

There I was just letting myself get into the habit of eating and sitting on the sofa doing nothing.  However I have developed this weird obsession with 100 press-ups each day which must be doing some good.  No running though.  I have been thinking about it and thinking about what was good about GNR2011:

• It was the best run I have ever done, maybe not in terms of time, but I enjoyed it and I felt really good whilst running like I haven’t done for a long time.
• GNR2011 was 3 minutes quicker than GNR2010 although slower than GNR2008.
• It felt like I’d given it my best shot especially after losing Andy and running on my own.

On the down side:

• There wasn’t much training and August just seemed like it was lost. 
• There was no commitment until the week before.
• There was no thought into it at all.

As a kid, my Mother gave me a mug.  It said “THINK” in big letters on one side and then “It may be a new experience" on the other.  She’d had it a while, she collected that sort of stuff in the 1970s, and she gave it to me at a time when I wasn’t thinking too much.  But it was given to me to prove a point and it focused my mind.

So thinking about it, when was it all right?  My peak was between 2007 and 2009.  I think 2008/09 was good for me because I was prepared, I thought about it and I had really good winters.  When I mean good, I mean I trained and prepared for the following years running.  I didn’t do this in 2010 and struggled through, with an injury to the VLM2010 and it went wrong from there.

So what are the solutions then?  I didn’t enter the Ballot so there’s no pressure there; I’m rubbish at lotteries anyway so I didn’t have that to think about.  Plus it seems you have more chance of winning the Lottery than getting in.  I’m very pleased and proud of Mick and the others I know who managed to get it though and I’ll support them as best I can.  I still want to run a good half in 2012 and I’d love to go back for the GNR2012.  I have the GMR2012 to focus on but I feel I want more especially if I can get my act together.

It starts here then.  Today saw a two miler, planned down to where I would run to and then turn at the half way point; what I’d wear and what I’d be doing before and after in turns of stretching, eating and drinking. I let myself go and for once pushed myself knowing it was only two miles.  The first mile being 7:53.85, the second being 8:18.27. For this, I have aching thighs and calves plus a wheeze and tiredness. 

So think! When was the last time I completed a plan? I’ve realised that you can’t cheat yourself and you can’t cheat the road or the clock.  Hopefully, winter will be good for me and I know you could “say I believe it when I see it” but I plan to get the commitment back from 2008 and try a little harder.  That’s thinking for you....

In June this year, I got a message via Twitter.  It was a time when I'd just had a knee operation and was being made redundant. The message offered me a free place at the GNR if I wanted it.  I was unsure but after a few days took it.

This kindness from GreatRun.org was followed up by Andy_Bee who offered to drive me to Newcastle on the day thus saving the annual fleecing of runners by local hotels.

As you know preparation is key and, following on from my last post, there hasn't been much of it for the GNR.  The thinking was that I knew the course, knew it would be slow and was at least rested for it so stood a chance.  My Love felt it was all a bit stupid but gave her blessing as usual and did what she could to help preparations on Saturday.  I'm really lucky to have her in my life.

Sleep didn't come easy especially knowing the alarm was set for 4:30am, you know the thing, waiting for it to go off and then actually getting up at 4am just to make sure.  They still show rolling Ceefax on BBC2 at this time (for those of you too young to know what Ceefax is, please click here) which is funny and low tech.

What I love about Andy is that he is specific, plans stuff and makes things work when he says they will.  He arrived at mine when he said he would and we set of into the night, a long drive ahead for the Bee, for which I was very grateful. We stopped off a couple of times (men over-40 do this) and saw a few runners.  Usually this is a great experience, part of the excitement and the buzz as you approach the start.  At the service station we stopped at, I think it was Wetherby, the first person Andy tried to chat with just completely ignored him.  Luckily we did speak to a few other runners who were friendly and chatty, asking directions and one who thought we looked fitter than we thought.

Anyway, we got there and drove to South Shields, parked up and hit the Metro.  We arrived on time, maybe a little too early, with Andy glad he could get a bit of peace and quiet from me talking all the time.

You forget how big it is and how much work goes into it all.  Arriving early gives you the chance to soak it up and appreciate it, to not queue for the toilets and to take your time.

At this point you would usually get a blow by blow account of it all, the great things and the not so great things.  Getting a free place let me feeling less critical about everything.  I honestly couldn't complain about anything.  It was the best event for a very long time and despite not breaking any records it was the best I've ever run with no pain, no issues and was a great overall experience.

Anyway, here are the highlights from yesterday:

• The man running with a fridge on his back - class, everything that is good about Britain, doing yourself damage for charity and smiling.
• Tony Audenshaw basically being Mr GNR.  Running as a robot and then enteraining the crowds. He's a Legend so why hasn't her got a OBE or MBE?  He deserves it - Realbuzz, start the campaign now.
• Andy's run.  I lost him at about five miles and tried to look for him.  He finished it and looked great after.  His driving was exemplary.
• Almo - I ran behind him at the end trying to catch him - yes he beat me- but he ran great especially in the weather and entertained the crowd.
• The weather - very hot for the first five miles which prompted a quick strip and then wet followed by a beautiful blue sky and sunshine at the finish.
• The Red Arrows.  It was poignant because of Red4 but it still makes me feel like the first time I ever saw them fly, the Airfix kit, sitting in a Gnat when I was ten.  We got them at the start, over the Tyne Bridge and at the beach.
• The crowds epecially the kids low-fiving, low fiving across the Tyne Bridge, kissing a Georide lass and a lass from South Shields.  Seeing an Irish flag at the end.  The guy with the hosepipe on the bus shelter - hopefully they will put a blue plaque up for him at that spot.
• Finishing it without many issues.  You know I didn't dedicate myself to it over the last four weeks so I'd also salute my luck.   The last three miles up the hill at 10 miles were going to be the worst but I felt like I powered up it, passing other runners.  Getting up that slope, which just goes on and on felt like an achievement.  It just looked like utter carnage in the rain with bottles, rubbish, rain and people walking and saving themselves for the beach.
• Laura's run which was the performance of the day.  I love everything about her and the way she has become another of my world class, elite running mates.

The lowlights? Not much:

• People walking from very early on because of the heat.  I am not one to criticize anyone not being prepared and walking but walk on the side, think about the 13 miles and the little clue, RUN.  If you are going to walk it, don't wear a "Born to Run shirt".
• People wearing iPods and the like.  I find it disrespectful to the crowds and other runners, especially when they don't know who's around them and next to them, stepping out and cutting people up.  I know some people need it but listen out, don't zone out.
• Carnage at the water stations.  People not thinking about it and darting around thinking they won't get any water, banging into people.
• Runners who don't get out the way of an ambulance, mostly because they are listening to One Direction or Olly Murs on their iPod and because they are okay and nothing matters.  Please...

It was excellent though and you tend to expect the above don't you?  I can't fault it and in a way I am disappointed in myself for mentioning the above so I'll scrub it all.

Since I was a little boy, I've always liked Sue Barker, so when there she was in the box, reading through her notes, I saw her, I had to say hello.  It was like the Victoria Pendleton moment all over again. 

Anyway, Andy got me home safe and sound.  I experienced that hangover sort of feeling after the run itself and woke up with it this morning.  But it was all worth it.

I'm going to give this to Carol, the Asthma nurse who helped me feel a little better after this post.  The future?  I don't know.  Hopefully I will do something but at the moment I just want to thank Andy for everything as well as Mick6, Tina, Paul and Alison (not forgetting GreatRun.org)  who never seem to give up on me and give me so much.  I love you all but Sue was my lady yesterday...x

Sometimes you can't make it on your own so thanks....

Take a look at the date on the last post.  It says 2nd August 2011.  Yes, the second day in August, Vin's birthday so where did it all go wrong?  Well, if you look at my other blog Look Good, Bike Good, you will notice that I have been biking, not much, although I did complete the Manchester 100.  However, I did miss the Robin Hood Half last weekend for three reasons:

1. Firstly, I have been suffering from CBA although I've combined this, if not attributed this to, with a bad throat and generally feeling rough for a couple of weeks.
2. The Manchester 100 left me shattered .  I was okay for a couple of days and then it hit me like a punch in the guts. 
3. It wasn't the same without Vin although I literally dropped out at 5am on the day.

The problem is I have the GNR on Sunday.  My holiday in Ireland, despite a bit of running, left me with CBA due to chips and fine dining.  The plan always was to run the GNR and maybe miss Nottingham so in theory I am still on track but where was the running? 

I ran 10 miles last night.  It was tough physically but mentally I just wanted it. In fact, I wish I'd kept going for the 13.  I was slow and felt aged, like the Chelsea midfield, and had a fall just after 7 miles due to a bad bit of pavement.  The pleasing thing was that there was a real sense of urgency to get up and keep going despite a hole in my tights and a graze on my knee together with a roll on the floor.  Remeber if you fall, forget the injury, try to fall good, look good.

So where did it all go wrong? Technically it didn't but it's not the best preparation for Sunday.  However,the very kind Andy_Bee has offered to drive  me there and hopefully I can keep up with him for an extra 3 miles. If not, then I've asked him to drop me off at the hospital/Funeral Directors on his way back.

* This song includes rabbit in the lyrics.

I just need to hope, have hope in my heart and trust in myself and those around me.  I think Lady Luck also needs to help me on Sunday and I still need an outfit, not a chicken suit. And yes, please feel free to use words such as tw@t and w@nker in your comments...