Just over a month to go and on my return from a so-so run along some quite windy Hastings and Bexhill promenades (and the cycle path that links them up over Galley Hill and Glyne Gap) I found a big envelope waiting for me. The envelope that reminds me properly what I’m setting myself up for. The envelope containing my race number and all other information for the Great North Run. As in previous years, and despite my knowledge that this will be a much slower run this year, I’ve been allocated a number in the ‘Orange Zone’ (albeit towards the rear of that area) which is the first of the four coloured starting zones (behind the elite runners – yes, Mo Farah is given a head start!).
So how have things been since my last, rather downbeat entry in this blog? Whilst I can hardly say that I’ve been setting the world alight and am suddenly back on 2006 form (far from it) I’m feeling a lot more confident again than I was then and think that with a good few week training ahead I should be able to finish OK.
As I suggested I was going to in my last entry here, I started out by getting back on the bike a bit and had a great 20 mile blast around Battle and Bexhill and home last Sunday. It was just what I needed to get the lungs opened up and get the legs moving after the previous leaden couple of weeks. I followed that the next day with an easy cycle ride to Bexhill station, a steady 3 mile run around Lewes Priory (one of my regular routes) and the 6 miles ride back again (at a good pace) from Bexhill to home.
Tuesday I had a day off work as I was heading into London in the afternoon to watch Surrey vs Somerset in the cricket twenty twenty cup quarter finals at the Oval. The result was rather disappointing, however before getting on the train I managed to complete a good 10.2 miles along the seafront from the Hastings branch of Argos (an inspiring place to start) to the De La Warr pavilion in Bexhill, and back again. It was slow and tough going but I made it. I had to stop to replenish my water bottle a couple of times along the way which I thought a bit odd at the time; however in the evening when I saw the sunburn I’d acquired under my lovely lifeboats running vest I appreciated how hot it had been and felt a little better.
Another few blasts on the bike to Bexhill and another, four minutes faster(!) run on the same 10.2 miles course followed that week and so far this week I’ve had another good few cycle rides (a new best time from the Eastbourne office to home) and another good few miles running this week.
I’m saving the next big run for next week – wish me well!
So in all its all going well but you know how I’m going to finish this blog. During the period written about here, Hastings Lifeboat have been out on another two shouts; one on the all weather boat to rescue a stranded yacht and tow it back into harbour in Eastbourne; and the other with the inshore lifeboat rescuing a dinghy in trouble on rocks by fairlight cliffs. Please therefore help me to help them and make a pledge at my Great North Run sponsorship page. You can find it at:
uk.virginmoneygiving.com/richmay
Thanks. Rich
