The London Marathon: The Great Suburban Everest!

A peak that every man or woman might aspire to, just about anyone can conquer the distance, but in reality relatively few are prepared to make the effort. For those that are it almost invariably hurts - and hurts a lot!

Which isn't surprising given that during the course of 26miles, 385yards, or 42,195metres, the average runner's feet hit the ground over 30,000 times. And each step sends a shock the equivalent of 3 times your body weight through your legs, your thighs and your spine!

Bizarrely over 35,000 people (including one or two friends of ours) decided the pain was worth it and once again provided a great sporting spectacle and one of the best examples of city-life at its best in the process. Well done Jonny, Garry, Paula, Kevin and Chick! 'You ran with perseverence the race marked out for you!'

I must admit that my enjoyment of the whole thing (which has to be experienced to be believed) was a little tempered by the fact that injury had prevented me being on the other side of the barriers, but still, there's always next year?!

Empathy - a defintion and an unfortunate experience

empathy em'pa-thi, n the ability to share someone else's feelings or experiences by imagining what it would be like to be in their situation.

Let's just say I can 'empathise' with how Paula Radcliffe felt when she had to take an impromptu 'pitstop'?!

32,187 steps later

Twenty miles is a fair way to run and two and a half hours gives you a fair chance to think, listen and observe - especially when you're shuffling around early morning London.

Things I saw... someone sleeping on a bed in the middle of the street, a discarded condom (thankfully these two were not linked?!), and the biggest rat I've ever seen!

Things I heard... Big Ben chime 7am as I turned into Parliament Square, DJ Spoony's last 'Early Doors' club on Radio 1 (a real pity as he's kept me company on most of my long runs), and Ozmosis' awesome track 'Imagine the dreamer' - check it out.

Things I thought... why?! Is this what a heart-attack feels like? I really need to find a toilet - quick!

A good point?!

This morning as I dragged myself around the Isle of Dogs at some unearthly hour (I perhaps should state that I was jogging, I wouldn't want anyone thinking I was actually dragging myself in some Opus Dei style of self-flagellation!). Anyway I digress...

..as I shuffled along, a vigorous and indepth medical debate ensued on the Chris Moyles show. Split, perhaps predictably, down gender lines, discussion focused upon the potency of 'man flu' - a phenomenon much maligned and scoffed at by those incapable of ever really knowing - namely the female half of the human species.

You can imagine the nature of the chat, which was considerably invigorated when one brave (foolish?!) male suggested that suffering from 'man flu' was like having a baby! Naturally enough this brought a firm rebuttal from the feminine side of the argument. But as her co-presenter pointed out since she had neither experienced 'man flu' or indeed child birth she was unable to offer any credible critique. Encouraged by this obvious weakness, the 'man flu' advocate pressed home his advantage by highlighting the fact that even those ladies who have produced a painfully large child from an obviously too small 'area' are unable to undermine the claim as the clearly are unable to experience 'MAN flu'!

A good point - well made? DISCUSS. I dare say it depends on your physical 'make-up', but while us men will 'never know' what it's like to give birth, 'you' women will never know what it's like to have 'man flu' (and whatever song and dance we may make about having it, we're unlikely to blame you for our predicament, break the bones in your hand, or swear uncontrollably!)

BLOGGING CAVEAT: it goes without saying that my wife (Captain Hanover) did none of the afore-mentioned things!

Beware the moose!

While in Canada I had to keep training for my impending marathon. Given the hilly nature of where we were this was not something I particularly relished especially as I was unsure as to whether or not I'd be likely to run into any Grizzlies! Yapping dogs were the least of my worries, but it seems my fears were misplaced, it was not the bears I had to look out for, it was the mighty moose!

According to one report I read...

'...on average there are 651 accidents every year involving a moose resulting in 133 injuries and 5 deaths!'
While I can't confirm that any of these incidents involved joggers I wasn't taking any chances - I took heed of my mates advice - 'BEWARE THE MOOSE!'

Jesus, pride & the humility provider

When Jesus was walking about the place he once chatted about the fact that it's really hard to hide a city that sits on a hill and that you'd be daft to light a lamp and then stick it under a bowl (or some similar covering?!). In 'running speak' I'd paraphrase that to mean 'if you run a personal best time, you'd be daft not to blog about it' (in passing you understand!). If I've got this wrong, please forgive me and ignore the following...

It was Lisa'a fault anyway! She was heading into town with Joshua as I was setting off for a 5 mile run. Conscious that she was watching on I probably set off a little quicker than normal(!) and I guess things just carried on from there. Besides, last one back home was on the teas! A race is a race! And I 'won' it in 28:58. Which is, so far, for me, a PB for 5 miles.

Needless to say, on her return, Lisa was suitably underwhelmed!! Don't wives just keep us humble?!