Malcolm's running diary by malcolms

OK so it’s a bit late (no, make that very late) but life is busy.

Two half marathons on consectutive weeks and  they couldn’t be more different.

Basingstoke half on Oct 2^nd was a hot and hilly affair. I met up with Kim  (Kizzi)at the start and then lost sight of her. It was the first running of this half and it didn’t need the 26 degree heat at 11am. (Remember that weekend?). There was a rather wicked hill at the 7/8 mile point then down hill over the last few miles. We ran through some very pretty villages who inhabitants kindly turned their hoses on us poor laggards at the back. A few too many people lying prostrate by the side of the road exhausted for my liking. Somewhere on the way the garmin reset itself and then at the end my running chip didn’t register. It registered at the start for some reason but not at the end. Not that bothered as it felt like a personal worst!! To give you some idea how well I coped with the heat, I weighed in at 13st 2 when I got up in the morning, when I got back home and showered again, after drinking 500mls before the race, 3x 300mls during and another 500ml after the race, I weighed in at 12st 10 !! I do  not do hot days !

Yesterday was the Salisbury half. Much cooler. Much windier. Much quieter. I had run the course last year and there only seemed to be about half the number this year. Naturally all the keen people turned up and the plodders stayed at home. By about mile 8 I was running on my own.  Discussing my performance after with Martin the mentor (over the internet) we agreed that spending Saturday on the allotment digging up the rest of my spuds didn’t help the heavy aching legs. (Delicious spuds though...) Faster than last year but not a PB. Boo hiss.

So there we are, 3 half marathons in 4 weeks.

Problem now is that next April I need to do two in one day!!

Lots of lessons learned, principally about fuelling and resting in the run up to races.

I have the Great South to look forward to now – a mere 10 miler with my son who is slowly getting up to speed, and then Downton half at the end on November. Then the real challenge of Marathon training will have to start.

800 miles for the year to date.

I raised just over £1000 for the BHF in the Great North – many thanks to all who sponsored me and as I have a ballot place I am now being quite mercenary about who I run for in London – who has the best post race bash and best training support – any suggestions welcome!!

Off to catch up with some of your posts.