Trouser troubles

I held on as long as possible but inevitably have succumbed on the trouser front. I've been a size 32 for a long, long time and in late 2008 / early 2009 had to tighten my belt (literally rather than figuratively) as my heavy training meant size 30 was the order of the day - I know, I looked emaciated but I was as fit as I'd been in 20 years and could eat and drink all I wanted! Claudie went shopping last week and brought back two pairs of size 34. I wanted to hold off in the vain hope that I could shed some lbs, but it's not going to happen; I have to say it is good to be able to have trousers that now fit.

Since deciding not to drink in January, I've hardly touched alcohol (plan was to refrain for one month only). I've become virtually teetotal which is a great worry, not least given the thought of all those wonderful wines maturing in my cellar (aka cupboard under the stairs). I guess the only good thing is that the decent clarets will get time to properly mature for real depth of flavour rather than be tasted too young - all assuming I start up again. Otherwise, keep your eyes open for an exciting auction with bargains galore.

Not much happening on the running front, apart from working hard in helping out a few people, although am getting out for a few easy 15 minute potters just to break up the day at work. Adductor muscles in particular just won't ease. Will see how Jeremy B gets on following his dosage of pamindronate administered in January. I'm not really inclined at my age to go down this avenue (see 7 Feb blog), especially as Dr Rod Jaques made it clear that the evidence of improvement is only really anecdotal at present (and with younger, healthier athletes?), but if Jeremy, a sensible guy and decent athlete, genuinely feels that it has helped him then I may go down the same route.

As not much happening and this is a running blog, which I want to keep going (not least because of some interesting feedback from some very unlikely sources all over the world), I will talk next time about my training routine in the 80's. I warn you it was pretty unscientific (coaches were unheard of and my knowledge only evolved later) but mighty effective, involving, as it did, lots of miles and lots of pints! Life was good.

Best of luck to all those in heavy training for a spring marathon. Hopefully the hard work has been done and you are now nursing yourself through to the big day, perhaps with some shorter sharpening up runs (DH, in your case, perhaps it's time to start building up the mileage!).

PS David R, if you read this, rest assured I haven't forgotten you want to borrow the LM '87 video. I'll bring it up next time I'm in town.

Cavin Woodward

I was saddened to hear of the death last week of Cavin Woodward. He was only 62. Woodward was a legend in the ultra distance running world in the 70's & 80's. Although I didn't know him that well, I came across him sometimes in races and remember taking the best part of 10 miles to catch him in the brutally tough Isle of Wight Marathon in heatwave temperatures in 1985, a race I eventually won by five minutes in 2:32. He had the unique gift of going off at an apparently suicidal pace in even the longest races and holding on to win them. His opponents were usually dumbfounded - especially quality foreigners brought across to race the big ultras - as they didn't know what to do: follow & blow up or be patient and watch victory disappear into the distance. Woodward won the 55 mile London to Brighton classic a few times but is probably best remembered for an awesome performance at Tipton in 1976 ...

... this was a 100 mile track race and the organisers had brought together a top quality field with the hope that the existing world record of 11.56.56 could be broken. Woodward ran the first mile in 5.19! He then went through 10 miles in 56.27, 20 miles in 1.54 and the marathon in 2.31. He still had the best part of three more marathons to complete. He inevitably slowed but broke three world records: 50 miles in 4.58.53 (that's sub 6 minute miling), 100km in 6.25.28 and the magic 100 mile record with 11.38.54.

He was by all accounts a lovely man and was a great stalwart of Leamington AC, as have been many of his family. A great loss to the sport.

I watched the Bath Half Marathon this morning in crisp sunshine and with a gathering bitter wind. The course consists of two laps plus a mile or so at the start & finish. It was great for spectating as even an old, unfit & injured cripple like me could just jog across the bridges over the Avon and spectate in four places. When the leaders went through the 8 mile mark on the second lap they were already lapping literally thousands of runners who'd just gone through two miles. It was an amazing sight and one that Woodward's generation from 30 years ago would not have believed possible. The sport has changed a great deal in that time; sadly standards have dropped alarmingly whilst participants have increased massively. Many run for charity and raise thousands of pounds, which is commendable in itself, but it is such a shame that more of those in the middle don't believe that they can run faster, especially as they appear to put in so much effort.

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It is, of course, easy to measure the general decline in standards over the years in running events - you just compare ranking lists. But in other sports this is not so easy to do, the obvious example being the national game: football. Pundits and the public alike appear to think it natural to assume that England should be challenging to win the World Cup every four years. We were good enough in 1966, why not now? I can think of many reasons why 2010 won't be the year, the obvious one being the domination of foreigners in the Premier League, but nobody seems to take into account the drop in standards in measurable events such as distance running and transfer them to team sports such as football. I've just seen today's Davis Cup tennis result, losing to Lithuania rather supports my argument. I rest my case. Does hosting the 2012 Olympics enhance or otherwise the prospects for the nation? I know my answer to that and it is not the former. Something to think about over your Sunday evening drink and roast before sitting down in front of the tv or the pc ...