Date Set

I’ve decided on the date that I will run my fifty miles for my 50th birthday. Saturday 29th May. This is a Bank Holiday weekend. My birthday is not until the end of June but between then I have a summer break and the missus doesn’t want me to be training when I should be doing an impression of a tourist. What she doesn’t know is that I only do an impression of a runner (and James Mason but with a Midlands accent). I’ve had a great response from friends, colleagues and family wanting to join me. They range from people wanting to run just a couple of miles to one or two wanting to join me for the whole fifty. I’m as mad as a bucket of fish. What’s their excuse?

I’ve added a mile on to the start by the way. The start is now just on the border of Stoke On Trent but I’ve taken a mile off the end to finish at the Vine pub. Here we can all meet, runners and non runners and have a pint or two and bite to eat. Well that’s the plan so far.

My cold is almost at it’s end. I was going to go into more detail about phlegm and snot but I don’t think most of you would like me to (but one or two would, I have strange friends). I managed to run to work this morning in 58:52 and back again this evening in 56:23. I was a little sluggish and the whole distance is hill after hill so all considered I’m pleased with my time.

Tomorrow I’m going down to the running club. I’ve decided I like the company and that I’m going to pay my fee to join.

I’ve also applied for Cycle to Work vouchers. For those who don’t know. The Cycle to Work scheme is set up by the UK Government to give incentive to get to work by bike instead of car. So I understand, this will increase my Tax Code, which means I will pay less tax and will end up paying around two thirds of the total for the bike. You can claim for any accessories too like a helmet, lights and clothing too. I have the rest of the gear because I already own a MTB which I rarely use. The bike I’m going for is a hybrid rather than a full-on road bike. I want something I can ride the canal paths with as well as ride to work. Plus, the distance isn’t that great and I only want it for cross training for my running. So, I don’t think I can justify a road bike or paying any vast sums for the hybrid.

At the moment, I will cycle one day and run another. I now realise after cycling to and from work on my MTB a few times, that use definitely use different muscles to running! I dread to think what state I would be in if I didn’t run though. But, when I’ve become a little more used to it, I will mix it up and run on the same days as when I’ve cycled to and from work – I think. I will be keeping in mind the over-training and will be careful. I don’t want the injuries I’ve had earlier this year training for Hadrian’s Wall all over again.

So, there’s my update. I welcome any comments and advice. If, as I suspect, I’m only writing this blog for one reader. Could you please make several comments and make up different names to make it look like I have more than one reader (which I suspect is my niece).