The man with no name

Having written last time about a report on how regular running increases life expectancy, was brought back down to earth with a recent article stating that "marathon runners have been warned that extreme exercise can damage the heart, with 'scars' found in almost one in 10 athletes."  In an article that triathletes in particular should read carefully, the author Dr James O'Keefe from Rochester, USA, stated that "exercise is one of the most important things needed on a daily basis, but extreme exercise is not really conducive to great cardiovascular health.  Beyond 30-60 minutes per day, you reach a point of diminishing returns."  This is a really interesting statement which we should all note, especially the last bit from a pure fitness regime point of view ... and the health aspects are quite scary.  I know a number of long term runners who have current heart issues; it's clearly a subject about which we still don't know enough.

Ran the Fairford Festival 10km in a last minute decision as I reckoned [correctly as it panned out] that not only were Cirencester likely to win the team prize but also a number of absentees would allow me to make the team.  My only other reason not to run was some fence painting to do at home; the torrential downpours soon put an end to that idea.  The course encompasses a lot of my lunchtime training routes so was very familiar.  Usual slow start - I couldn't go off faster if I tried - then got into my stride, literally so after 3k where I kicked hard down a steep gradient, as is my wont, to break up a little pack.  Gradually picked off some fast starters and despite a chronic 4.07 6th km up a long climb I finished strongly with my fastest four km splits.

As going up to London to see Natalie, decided to have a run out at Ranelagh's Richmond 10k, taking in the towpath at times on a flat but slippery surface.  A 9am start for a race 90 miles from home meant an early start but it was worth it to meet up with some old friends and be relatively competitive.  Despite (or because of?) chip timing I was missed off the results for a few days, what with wearing my Cirencester rather than Ranelagh vest I was truly under the radar.  Beers in town and a lovely walk on a sunny but blustery Primrose Hill made the day worthwhile.

Blogs are becoming so 'yesterday' so I think I'll probably stop posting for a while unless I feel that I have something I think the world needs to know.  (Or I get desperate pleas from my vast readership not to cease this inane rubbish.)  Have a good summer and enjoy the Greco-Roman mud wrestling ...