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For Cancerbackup

I'm running in the 2007 Marathon for Cancerbackup.  This charity provides information, advice and support to people diagnosed with cancer.  It also helps the friends and family of cancer pateients who often are the key people in the battle or survival.  If you would like to sponsor me please visit www.justgiving.com/conal4backupPlease take a look and thanks.

Conal Stewart ● 7216d17 Comments

Good on you Conal.

Edward Fitzgerald ● 7216d

Doesn't feel so good today after running 20Km on sunday.  Thats just under a half marathon.  Its early days yet but its hard getting used to these distances.  Was thinking of starting a blog on this.  Still I'm lucky I think, I get to run a decent route from my house in Brentford down to kew bridge, down Strand on the Green to Mortlake Bridge then cross to the other side of the river and take the tow path all the way to richmond. Then, crossing the river and up through Isleworth through Brentford back down to Mortlake again then back home via the towing path once again crossing Kew bridge and along the high street home.

Conal Stewart ● 7215d

Doesn't feel so good today after running 20Km on sunday.  Thats just under a half marathon.  Its early days yet but its hard getting used to these distances.  Was thinking of starting a blog on this.  Still I'm lucky I think, I get to run a decent route from my house in Brentford down to kew bridge, down Strand on the Green to Mortlake Bridge then cross to the other side of the river and take the tow path all the way to richmond. Then, crossing the river and up through Isleworth through Brentford back down to Mortlake again then back home via the towing path once again crossing Kew bridge and along the high street home.

Conal Stewart ● 7215d

Well done with the 20k Conal.  I got up to 10k on the treadmill (thinking it was 10 miles - :-(  - I don't think in metric) but that was walking, running is a wholly different kettle of fish.

Sarah Felstead ● 7215d

Aah Sarah its all good, the baseline for good health is supposedly 3x30min per week of vigourous exercise.  Not sure it includes killing yourself three times a week for a marathon though.  Eleven weeks to go and I'm shattered.

Conal Stewart ● 7215d

Its pissing it down and i have to do 20Km today.  My heart sinks.

Conal Stewart ● 7210d

How did it go, Conal?

Sarah Felstead ● 7210d

Ran all the way along the river to Hammersmith Bridge, down through barnes to Kew, back onto the riverside along kew gardens to Richmond Lock and then up through isleworth and syon park to Brentford. Thats 13.75 milesI was tired and sore, did my stretches. Then went to bed. Woke up at 6pm and wasn't fit for anything. Expected to be sore as hell on sunday morning and wasn't so bad.  Back down to 4 miles tonight and then slowly build back up through the week to 15 miles om saturday.

Conal Stewart ● 7208d

Well endured Conal.That 26 miles target is quite massive isn't it..but hopefully you will make it in April.My son did the London Marathon a few years back..and he trained diligently around the local footways..especially encouraged by a lady housemate..who ran with great dedication. Training with others must help..but I see many people doing it alone.My son and his supporter started off on shorter runs..then 5 miles, then 10 miles, then 15miles etc etc.  The joy of running with thousands of others through the crowds of onlookers must be worth all your sacrifice!  The cameras will catch you too!Yes I'll donate in a week or too..even though my Charity Pot took a big depletion over the Xmas period..for very worthwhile causes too.

Jim Lawes ● 7208d

Never worry about it Jim, just get the message out there if you can at all.I'd set up a blog about this trying experience if I had the time. Don't think I do.  Life has become a sudden battle between work commitments, running, getting sleep and studying at night class.  Come 23 April, I can return to normal 3X30 exercise regime and all will be well.

Conal Stewart ● 7205d

bump

Conal Stewart ● 7199d

How is the training going, Conal?  I found myself sandwiched between some very fit runners on the treadmill again, and thought of you!I have decided that I definitely don't 'do' cross trainers - they definitely 'do' me.  I have touched on the serious stuff on the serious looking machines, and whilst I realise Ben Nevis is going to probably be Box Hill, I did make it up the Monument after the Chinese New Year celebrations - all 311 steps.No, you may not ask how many times I stopped; it is enough that I have the certificate, thank you  …  …            ;-)

Sarah Felstead ● 7199d

Hi SarahWell last week was a good week and sure enough it has been followed by a sticky week.  I went to the gym on Tuesday with the intention of running six miles and I just felt I hadn't got it in my legs. So I resorted to the bicycle for 25 minutes and that seemed to loosen me up. So I was able to go yesterday and run 11km which is just under 7 miles.  Today I will bike and run (20 mins each) at the gym and see if that helps again.  Rest friday and then do 17 miles on Saturday.I hate having a hard week, but it is bound to happen every so often. Sounds like you are doing well though. And steps are never pleasurable. Making myself go up the full length of the two escalators at Holborn Station drains me.

Conal Stewart ● 7198d

We went off to London Town with the Ramblers at the weekend and I walked up all the escalators after reading your comment Conal – phew!  Our above ground walk went from Charring Cross through Covent Garden, Bloomsbury, Regents Park, Grand Union Canal (Little Venice) to Paddington.We stopped in Regents Park at the Café for lunch and found a geezers wallet lying on the ground.  A rummage though the wallet to check if it might need returning to its owner showed a number of reasons why he might want it back.  The notice board suggested contact numbers for the local Parks Police (which didn’t connect anywhere even after we translated the 0171 into current numbers) and mention of a Police station in the park – which was closed when I found it.  I left a message on the Police contact phone outside the closed Station having been told by the Police station in Plumstead (!) that as I was in Regents Park, I shouldn’t have been put though to them.  This was established at the end of the story and 10 minutes later, of course.The group had all settled into a sedentary totter to allow me to jog to catch them up.  Anyhow – the wallet belonged to a very grateful Barrister who popped over to our house that evening to pick it up – and I was able to ring No1 son to say that his Mother had been very trendy and had been 'Sunday jogging' in Regents Park  …  …  ;-)Where about do you do your jogging, Conal?

Sarah Felstead ● 7194d

Anyone?

Sarah Felstead ● 7194d

Mostly stick the the river around here.  The thames path is if nothing else away from cars and carbon monoxide free for the most part.  The one thing thats shocks me is that there are some selfish snobby richmond types who are usually to be found somewhere near the Richmond Lock who insist on walking their dogs off lead.  Its actually against the by-laws of the thames path to do so.  One womans dog ran into me despite me trying to avoid it.  She screamed at me "watch my dog" and i yelled back at her to put it on the lead and she swore at me in a plummy voice.The wallet saga sounds very public spirited of you Sarah.  Most people would not be bothered.  I found one of those very expensive mobile playstation handheld games in Cafe Nero on sunday in chiswick.  Handed it to the barista and he said he'd let me kow if an owner game forward.

Conal Stewart ● 7194d

The route you describe is very nice – we drive to Richmond Weir bridge and park – sometime hubby walks from home but I cannot afford to fall over on Hounslow’s damaged pavements again as I have damaged my knee and may have done something to my hip as well.  What we have found is the speed that the cyclists ride at is quite frightening!  None appear to have bells and they are riding their bikes at the same speed they would be on a fixed machine in a gym.  If a pedestrian steps the wrong way as the cyclist shoots up behind the family groups walking along, they will be under their wheels without any chance of applying the brakes.  You must find this even if you are running at speed?The wallet – well I think that you always hope that if you lost your purse or wallet that somebody would be honest – and nobody in the group questioned the sincerity of trying to find the owner.  There were a number of very personal identification documents inside it which would have been a pain to duplicate or cancel.  The first time I looked I didn’t see his business card but later when I did find it we were able to text him our contact details via son at home.How do you find the pavements on your runs?I have invited a number of people to come and check the area around here with me - the first person to accept was our MP - Ann Keen.  I will write something up about her visit  (I asked her permission).  She came quietly, on her own, and we had a good general chat about a number of issues.  It was a pleasure to meet her.

Sarah Felstead ● 7193d