Give Peas a Chance

Should we be worried about education standards or should we just admire the wit of this bizarre piece of graffiti spotted adorned on a railway bridge above the M25 last weekend? I prefer to think it's the latter: having wrapped many frozen packets of the little green orbs around various parts of my broken body over the years, I've clearly not given the poor mites a chance to give pleasure on the dinner table where they belong, preferably pressed and mixed in with mashed potato alongside a nice piece of (batterless) fish.

It was on my way to a grand occasion that took me under the graffiti laden bridge. Of the four other clubs Ranelagh race every year in mob matches, Orion Harriers is much the youngest (Thames Hare & Hounds being the oldest, having been founded around 1867). Orion was founded in 1911, so are celebrating their centenary this year. Rather than the usual two teams competing, all five members of this elite club were invited to a mass mob match, with the extra celebration of sampling Orion's new clubhouse for the first time (some of us remember outside washing facilities from many years ago). Epping Forest was looking a true picture on a beautiful sunny autumnal day. More importantly, following an unseasonally warm and dry spell the usual quagmire conditions were nowhere to be seen. You cannot believe what a difference that made to an old crock like me!

As regular readers (surely there can't be any ...) will know, my training has been dire for two years now and the cumulative effect of this is really digging in, irrespective of what aches & pains are flavour of the month (for what it's worth, currently both Achilles, one shoulder and my left big toe, don't even ask, I've no idea). Having dropped Claudie off at East Midlands airport to visit her stricken mother, I took the opportunity to meet up with old friend, Andy Bradley, who lives nearby. This was just two days before the mob match so I suggested to Andy that we had a run before the far more pleasurable aspects of Derbyshire life, namely an old fashioned pub and a pint or two of Marstons Pedigree. After walking up the nearest hill from Chevin Road, we started our run on a lovely high level track looking across the Peak District, then ran down through some meadows and back alongside the River Derwent. It was a pleasant 45 minutes and gave me confidence that maybe another 'mob' was viable.

Winner and runner-up of the Chevin '5'

To the race itself: after a few team photos, speeches and traditional club cries, around 200 took to the one lap circuit through the forest. As anticipated I was able to run at a reasonable pace on the flat stretches but really struggled on the many hills. A finishing position of 73rd had very little merit other than being one of the few I've not previously managed over my 144 mobs (every position between 1 and 35 has been encountered at least once). Orion, of course, won the team race comfortably, which is at it should be. A commemorative mug and fine free tea spread was very welcome as was the beer at a local hostelry before the journey home.

Thanks to Orion's centenary I have to get my aching body through five rather than the usual four mobs this winter. Hopefully the rain will stay away all winter ...

Ed Whitlock

This man just becomes ever more amazing. Yesterday in Toronto Ed ran a 3.15.54 marathon ... he is 80 years old and broke his own world V80 record by 10 minutes, which in itself was another 15 minutes better than the previous best. Ed - seen here with me and Dutch friend Alex in Rotterdam five years ago - is a lovely self effacing character who just loves running.

I was pretty impressed to note last night that just a few hours after his great performance it had been updated to Wikipedia. Who does these things ...?

In the World Masters Championships in Sacramento, California this year Ed won the V80 1,500 by 90 seconds in 5.48; the 5,000 by 4 minutes in 21.32 and the 10,000 by 11 minutes in 42.39, all three times were world records of course.

He invariably wears his Ranelagh vest when racing even though his link with our club is relatively tenuous: he ran once or twice in the 60's before emigrating to Canada. He's come down to the club a couple of times in recent years and been royally treated. What a man!

Eat more cake

In one of the weekend supplements recently I read an interview with the universally popular Michael Johnson - why can't all sports tv commentators say what they really think rather than what they feel viewers want to hear? - about his daily routine. In a move that may lose him a few admirers, he stated that both when he was an elite athlete and now that he's a relative couch potato, he eats a lot of burgers. Shock, horror! Today's 'new' runners will be amazed that an elite athlete did such a thing. Steve Cram was the same, loved his burgers. One of the great US marathoners of the 70's (either Frank Shorter or Bill Rodgers) came out with the great phrase when interviewed that he was on a seafood diet: no, he wasn't a Rick Stein fanatic, but such was his hunger that when he could see food he would eat it! The point being that to sustain big mileage and hard training he had to put fuel back into the engine, thus lots of protein, carbohydrates and calories, nothing scientific. You cannot be an Olympic marathon champion on carrot sticks alone.

I was in the local garden centre recently on a midweek day off and stopped off with Claudie for a coffee. On the counter were cakes and pastries perfect for a runner (so not for me!), but I couldn't resist and got stuck in to both mine and half of Claudie's. Brought back memories of lunchtime training runs in London followed by a couple of pints and a big salt beef sandwich in the pub, before dropping in to the deli on way back to the office for a couple of buns. Happy days.

My 'running' went back on hold in early August when my left 'good' Achilles popped and I had to abort a three mile run halfway through and walk back. Six weeks off completely and I'm now back with some gentle jogging. For the first time I tried Kinesio taping, as seen on a lot of athletes these days (Lisa Dobriskey was covered in the stuff at the World Champs), and although a bit of a cynic I have to state that the pain eased a lot quicker than I expected and certainly quicker than ever before. Time will tell if there's real improvement.

Finally, I read a very sad story in the paper this weekend and one that all we runners should take note of. Bill Smith, a 75 year old veteran member of Clayton-le-Moors Harriers (Ron Hill's club) and a well known figure in fell running circles (he'd written a book on the subject), was found dead in a peat bog on Saddle Fell in the Trough of Bowland. The area was so remote that his body wasn't discovered for three weeks - he'd apparently fallen whilst on a training run. Two things: when going out running alone, particularly if off road, tell someone your planned route (the fell may have been particularly remote but I can think of plenty of places within five miles of my home where I've run and never seen a soul); secondly have some form of identification on you. You just never know ...

Summer of sport

This is a running blog intended to chart my experiences in this great sport. Sadly there have been precious few running happenings over the last two years hence big gaps in my musings. There is little that can be written about Parkruns, the only events I've partaken in; they are the ultimate fun runs with usually 99% outside 20 minutes.

Anyway, following on from last year's July odyssey following/supporting athletics/athletes around Europe - Cork, Paris, Barcelona - I have been to a trio of big events in recent times, although only one was outside the UK and they were different sports. I started with an excellent day on Wimbledon's Centre Court (Murray; Nadal v Del Potro; Williams, V) with Claudie, courtesy of tickets from running mate Andy Bradley; then forayed down to the French Riviera and a new country for me, Monaco, for the Diamond League athletics meeting; finally to the Cheltenham Cricket Festival for Glos v Surrey. All three were played out in glorious summer sunshine, a real bonus in our fickle weather cycles.

Add to these big events the incomparable Tour de France, superbly compered by ITV4 (athletics broadcasters take note), the ever enjoyable British Open and some exciting Formula One races (I walked through Monaco's F1 tunnel, quite an experience) and you have the usual wonderful summer of sport with still the World Athletics Champs to come.
Whilst both the tennis and cricket were enjoyable, the fitness levels of the male tennis players being of particular interest, the highlight was Monaco. The Diamond League is certainly well marketed - it clearly helps when Usain Bolt is participating - and has to be the best value for money in sport with our tickets, in row one just after the finish line, a mere €6. (I doubt that this week's Diamond League at Crystal Palace will be quite such good value but Monaco was clearly priced to ensure a full house.) The super cool Phillips Idowu was on our plane, he's certainly not the archetypal travelling international athlete, dressed more like a break dancer.

Highlight of the meeting was Mo Farah's superb 12:53 UK 5000 metre record. As is his wont these days, he lay well off the fast pace in the early laps, which I thought a little dangerous given the quality of the field - all the top Africans bar Bekele, plus Rupp, Lagat and Solinsky from the USA - but when the pacemakers pulled out the field concertinaed as the lap times dropped a few seconds from the 62s that were being churned out. Farah then took charge and looked dominant as he outsprinted Lagat down the home straight whilst the other two Americans both tripped over African legs and dropped out of the race, Solinsky taking his anger out on a pot plant and an advertising hording with his fist / foot (not the first fight of the night either ...).

Is Farah's breakthrough this year all down to his move to Alberto Salazar's group in America? I don't think so; it has clearly helped, not least in lifestyle in comparison to Kenya for him and his young family. The breakthrough was coming anyway: I was in Barcelona for his superb win in the European 5000. As with all running, development takes time as conditioning kicks in (club runners be patient and learn!). I just hope that the famed hard task master Salazar gets the balance right and Mo doesn't get tipped over the precipice. Interesting times ahead for the little guy.

The Monaco meeting built to a wonderful crescendo with Bolt and local hero Christophe LeMaitre on the start line of the 100m at the same time as France's other hero, Renaud Lavillenie was attempting 6.07 in the pole vault at the far end of the stadium and right in front of us, the amazing diva Blanka Vlasic was going for 2.01 in the high jump. Then instead of the steeplechase being 'after the Lord Mayor's show' it was an incredibly fast three way race with Brimin Kipruto (Kenyan of course) missing the world record by 0.01 of a second in 7:53.64. Wonderful stuff all for €6 and we got fireworks at the end. I highly recommend Diamond League meets, this was my second, they make for a great weekend away. In a little under three hours there is non-stop track and field action from the finest athletes in the world and there are no interruptions for inane talk from Colin Jackson & Jonathan Edwards - yes you actually get to see field and longer track events develop.

... and the fight? At the end of the men's 1500 and again right in front of us, two French team mates of North African origin, Mehdi Baala and Mahiedine Mekhissi, squared up. First Baala head butted his adversary then they both threw an avalance of punches at each other. There was nothing about that in the programme.

Gavin Jones, World Champion

Yesterday my old Ranelagh chum Gavin Jones, who now lives in Rome, won the World Masters V50 marathon in Sacramento, California in 2.40.12. It was close, he only won by 25 seconds. Really chuffed, especially as I suggested last year that he should enter; my last words to him a few days ago were "you can win this".

Gavin's pictured at the bottom of this blog: he's the one with hair in the Ranelagh centenary picture and without hair 25 years later!

As I had to be in Swindon on Saturday, I had a pleasant potter around the Parkrun, smashing the 20 minute barrier in the rain and wind. No damage appears to have resulted. Picture shows strength of the wind as well as the work still needed to be done: have I really already lost 1½ stone?!

Another setback

Time to join in the general haranguing of LOCOG about the dire organisation of the Olympic ticketing set-up? After all I got no tickets at all ... it has to be stated that I didn't actually apply for any so this could have had a bearing on the absolute zero achieved. So, was it an almighty cock up? Frankly, no. If the gullible British public were willing to put up hundreds of pounds on their credit card (Visa, of course, Mastercard not accepted as they are not sponsors of the Olympics, that great amateur sporting event) on the off chance of getting tickets for nondescript morning heats of athletics or Greco-Roman wrestling, more fool them. Don't complain if you got the tickets you didn't want (why apply?) or none at all, that's life. What is the whole thing about wanting tickets, any tickets? Surely you only go to watch something if you are interested in it. What is the point in someone going to the high diving, a very technical event, if they know nothing about the sport other than the fact that some spotty teenager from GB is a medal contender? By the very nature of the event there are not many seats so an outsider buying a ticket means that someone with a great interest in the sport can't get in. That's wrong and is the same in all the sports. Why are people willing to pay hundreds of pounds for the 100m final, an event that lasts less than 10 seconds? It's beyond me. Presumably it's just to say, 'I was there' and impress their friends.


All this makes me want to write about the total lack of awareness about athletics from within athletics clubs these days, but that can wait for another day.


So, my setback has nothing to do with the Olympics. As previously reported I've been building my running up incredibly gradually and with real patience, so what happened last Sunday was very frustrating. I went out for an easy 20 minute potter around town; it was going perfectly pleasantly with no issues until in one stride I felt my left Achilles 'pop'. All my problems in recent times have been with the right Achilles so this was out of the blue and for no apparent reason. Of course I was at the furthest point from home, namely 10 minutes, so struggled home before applying ice. Next day was hobbling about something rotten. It's eased in recent days but I have absolutely no confidence in going out running again. It seems my body is telling me something: broken body, broken mind. Time to stop.

"a writer (runner) has a quiet, inner motivation, and doesn't seek validation in the outwardly visible." Another corker from Haruki Murakami in his philosophical tome What I talk about when I talk about running.


Anyway, off to Wimbledon tomorrow. Lucky enough to get Centre Court tickets so will see Andy, Rafa & Venus amongst others. Never been to this hallowed turf - other that to play cricket at the adjoining Aorangi Park many years ago (memories: big defeat, lots of beers, major thunderstorm over corrugated iron shed bar around midnight) - although just missed out on being a ball boy as our school provided such youngsters. As I was in school cricket team I couldn't be spared on Saturdays (something to do with my wicked inswinging yorkers it appears) so missed out. Looking forward to the tennis: Murray is a fascinating character and gets a mixed press but I admire his honesty and dedication. There are a lot of similarities with running, the only way to succeed is to be single-minded, ruthless and tough. Murray (& Radcliffe in running) have this attitude, so many others who are far more talented than these two don't have it. As I've said so many times to people, it's all about dedication over the long term.


Finally, it's July this week and the bi-annual world masters athletics champs in Sacramento, USA. I ran in the last version in Finland two years ago, my last proper race. I have high hopes for my old Ranelagh chum Gavin Jones (no. 80 in picture), British but living in Rome, to come home with a gold medal in the V50 marathon. Would love to be there myself but Gavin's the man and gold beckons.

Race for Life

Went for a run yesterday and got as far as Cirencester Park. With regular runs throughout 2011, I'm at least building some sort of base without overstretching myself: started with five minute jogs then a couple of months at 10-15 minutes a couple of times a week; now can manage up to 30 mins although mostly easy runs around 15-20 mins only. No real change healthwise as everything hurts from head to Achilles, but weight still dropping slowly and it's so lovely just to be able to run.

In the park I stumbled across a mass of pink as (mainly) ladies gathered for the 5km Race for Life. One small group of half a dozen were congregated behind one of the park's many stone follies; as I reached them I realised they were having a smoke before the race. Killing themselves whilst trying to save others, a juxtaposition if ever there was one. My first reaction was what idiots they were but then I decided that their outing was pretty impressive and deserved of praise. Would like to know what time they ran and what state they were in at the end, mind.

Talking of smokers, a promised mention for Sue Soar, the aunt of one of my oldest mates Rob Wise (I once took 5-14 as we skittled his U14 school team out for about 30, although he insists that he cover drove me to the boundary, about as likely as Rob managing to run as well as he talks about running [he's a scholar on the sport and would make a great coach]). Sue was born in 1939 and although she's run for many years, was a smoker until just three years ago. Since turning 70 she has run two marathons - both in her home town of Brighton - ranking top FV70 in the country in 2010 with 4.23.36 and to date 2nd nationally this year with 4.35.16 on a scorching hot day. As with Ed Whitlock in Canada (see previous blogs), Sue's running is based on lots of lsd (long steady distance) either on Brighton's seafront or on the beautiful South Downs overlooking the town. That's the way to do it.