Day 128 Monday 7th May 3 miles : miles to date 867.7 I'm not entirely sure what felt worse today. My legs were stiff and heavy from the weekends running and the head was a tad sore from last nights vino consumption. I was not overly keen to run but as always, it wasn't a case of shall I but when. This afternoons showing of Moby Dick from 1946 was strangely compelling and it did slow me down in venturing forth on today's little jaunt. I was eventually pushed out the door towing two dogs behind me. I rarely take our border terrier out due to the fact that I outrun her. We have been dog sitting all weekend and a bouncy labrador managed to persuade Daisy to pick her little legs up for once. We normally lap the woods close to us once and she went around five times as we clocked up the miles. She is now knackered and sitting in her bed snoring loudly. Apparently dog owners look like their dogs. Daisy has short, fat hairy legs, has a bit of a pot belly, has dog's breath and likes having no.2's in the woods. Nothing at all like me then.....

Day 127 Sunday 6th May 10.5 miles : miles to date 864.7

I made a rash promise a few days ago to Fi that I would join her today for a cross country 10 miler, despite covering just below 40 yesterday. Having made that declaration, she was keen to hold me to it. My legs were not overly happy as I pulled on the shorts and laced up the daps, asking instead whether it might be an idea to save the planet a bit more by staying in bed. I had been tempted downstairs by my first ever toasted bagel with peanut butter and jam. Very American I know, but boy was it good and I am now addicted!
We had arranged to meet Francesca Hardwick and head over the fields close to home. Frankie came dressed for one of my lets head off in this direction and see where we end up type runs, having been warned by Fi. We were soon jauntering off for pastures new and rather surprisingly the pins were fine, albeit a little stiff. Last night, as we finished the 40 miler, I didn't want to run another foot and yet less than 16 hours later the mind and the body had repaired itself to such an extent that it wasn't really a problem.
That was due to almost entirely to Team F who were helping me across the pastures, they being the fabulous fit and fast fillies known as Frankie and Fi. Ladies, if it were not for you both, I would not have done such a long way on tired legs. It was yet another run that simply flew by. There are times when you run to the clock and you measure seconds and distances. There are also times when you just run with friends and just enjoy, with no pressure of expectation. Today was the later and I for one thank the girlies for what was I hope, a great trot for us all.

Oxon 40 miler

Day 126 Saturday 5th May 39.3 miles : miles to date 854.2
Driving down to the run today, I passed a blue van on a quiet duel carriageway. As soon as I did, it started to speed up on my inside, so I went a little quicker. The van speed up, I went faster and my new found nemesis road warrior began hammering after me, following all the way into Henley when I found out it was James Handley trying to catch up to wave hello!! I knew then that the lad was going to be all about speed, so Richard Jones and I resolved to let him run fast on his tod and we would plod. We started off nearly last and worked hard to keep that position. I thought the rules said runners went off at 9.30am, so we waited until then. The rules in fact said to go off by 9.30am, but of course me and satnav didn't bother reading them properly, or unlike James, study the maps intently making notes of route changes. That's why the place was empty as everyone had left. James clearly wasn't bothered as he had designs on a quick time and cut off's were not going to be an issue for him. The lad was fresh and hadn't got any racing miles in his legs, unlike the two old blokes starting with him. There four lady flyers doing the 20 mile version and it was nice to see them at the start. After the first checkpoint, we pushed James out the door and sat back down for another cup of tea. Given in the last few weeks I ran a x-c 29 miler and came third in not much past 4 hours (did I mention that?) and a marathon with a new PB (did I mention that?) and satnav has also run two quicker marathons, we just wanted time on our feet, which we got. Coming in last at the second checkpoint, the helper mentioned we had only just made it by 10 minutes. We didn't have a clue, having stopped at the top of one hill to take in the magnificent views and have a chat with some locals! We then made the next two checkpoints by the same margin, hardly seeing a sole as we did. We eventually caught a women carrying a tyre. 26 miles into a hilly, totally self navigating and cross country ultra and all we could do was catch someone with a tyre tied to their waste with a rope and traffic cone jammed in the middle. No, we had no idea why and we didn't stop to ask. The second half was a lot hillier and muddier than the first and the tired ultra boys catch phrase of walk the hills, was put to good use. Almost the entire route was off road and totally different to the last two years events. It was also very quiet, partly due to the 20 mile option going an entirely separate route which was a bit of a shame. We did catch a few towards the end, but the last few weeks running took its toll. We meandered to the finish in 9 hours 23 mins, a full 1 hour 22 mins behind James who did a sterling job in his first ultra. We certainly wanted time on our feet and boy did we get it. The route was a tad short due to flooding, so we didn't duck out at any point. Honest. Steve James has been chuntering on about rest, which is a word used by idyll, good for nothing, devil worshipping non runners, otherwise known as cyclists and triathletes. We all know the phrase rest is for the wicked, so I for one wont be resting tonight in bed, snoring loudly and dreaming of beer. I also wont be resting until noon in bed on Sunday, oh no not me. I'll just be keeping the mattress warm to help with global warming. Somehow. Right, I'm off to rest, err I mean save the planet....

Munro's grrrrrr

Day 125 Friday May the 4th be with you 3 miles : miles to date 814.9 I almost crashed the car coming home tonight. A lady on drive time mentioned a mountain in Scotland called Schiehallion which has a famous conical appearance only apparent from across Loch Rannoch . The very name brought me out in a cold sweat, I became dizzy and I was only able to maintain control of my hurtling motorised adult perambulator due to the smell of fish and chips next to me. I came across this munro on the Heart of Scotland 104 mile ultra two years ago, at around the 24 hour mark when the last thing I wanted to see was a huge mountain to climb with snow on the top at the end of May. It just went on and on and on. My two pals Robbie Craig and Richard Jones will no doubt have the same shivering feeling when they read this post. I have recovered due to the f&c, but it was a close run thing. In contrast to that race, I only did a swifter three miles today just before work. I partly wanted to test Calvin the calf and partly to get it in so I didn't have to do it tonight with the inevitable delay on the food front. Calvin hasn't cleared but I cant let satnav Jones do Saturdays 40 mile race on his own, as the poor lad will end up doing at least 46 miles. James Handley is raring to go as well and is as keen as mustard on what will be his inaugural ultra race. Don't worry, we will soon whip that out of him.

I love tights....

Day 124 Thursday 3rd May 5.3 miles : miles to date 811.9 The calf niggle persists, despite wearing tights for the last four days. Not of the denier female type but rather tight compression socks. Everything I have read about compression gear suggests that the benefits are greater post exercise rather than during it. This week I have spent most of my time in court and under the pinstripe suit the socks have been keeping below my knees quite warm. I would wear compression pants, but I'm too afraid I'll get hit my a bus and when they cut my clothes off at the hospital, they will find this weird and wonderful gear under the outer layer of respectability. It's all right, I imagine I'll whisper, I'm a runner before I slip back into unconsciousness. But what if I cant whisper that and they cut my gear off. Ohh no, horrible thought. So, me and Calvin the calf decided to miss the clubs new 5k time trail around the outer ring of the under construction Centre Parcs near to Flitwick. I turned up early and ran the course anyway, albeit slowly dodging the hugggee puddles and trying not to fall down rabbit holes. I helped with a bit of marshalling after to cheer the crew on. I feel inside as though I am just bursting to start again on the speed training, but I have got a 78 miler in three weeks time and need to concentrate on distance. With a bit of luck, Calvin might just let me do Saturdays 40 miler, but I'm not yet convinced. It doesn't help that last night I watched the greatest ever sports film, called Unbreakable the Western States 100. The winner covered 100 miles in 15 hours 6 mins, which on the course they ran, was just breathtaking. I cant quite believe its possible to run that far, that hard on those hills and in that heat. I have spent the entire day waiting to come home to watch it all over again. Hopefully my cross examination didn't suffer as a result? A new lad joined us tonight, so I freaked him out and asked if I could have a photo of me and him in the woods. Not sure he will be back.

Meatballs anyone?

Day 123 Wednesday 2nd May 3 miles : miles to date 806.6 My meatballs impinged on my running performance tonight. For clarity, I don't mean my unfeasibly large testicles in a Buster Gonad type way (Viz readers will understand that one), but rather actual meatballs purchased from a well known retailer. I shall refrain from naming the said multinational until my request for sponsorship has been authorised and they stop sending legal letters warning me to stop writing to them. Until then, I am not going to mention Costco. Dooohhhhh. In an effort to try to keep a balance, I came home and had dinner with the family before trotting off. There was hardly any delay and the food swayed around inside like a ship lurching in a storm. Luckily, I was only doing a plod. The calf strain has eased slightly though it is still there and it led to me having to do another short slower run. I guess that's not a bad thing given I ran a PB marathon on Sunday and should be resting, not running every day but the challenge is what it is. I am sticking rigidly to at least 3 miles a day, now matter how slow or uncomfortable. My worry though is that I may not be strong enough to run in the Oxon forty miler this coming Saturday. I have done this race with my ultrateer matey Richard Jones and it is a great event, in stunning scenery around the Henley area. Some chap called Orlando Bloom was even spotted on the course two years ago, albeit walking his dog and not in the event. I gather he is some sort of actor type. The Oxon isn't a target race for me and I am intending to do it as a training run with Jonesy and James Handley in preparation for the real target of running the whole of the John Bunyan trail in 3 weeks with the lads and hopefully a few more friendly faces from the club for sections of it. It is still an important stepping stone and all I can do is cross my fingers that the calf clears. Time will tell. Luckily, I don't have to run again until Thursday...

One third of the way

 Day 122 Tuesday 1st May 3.2 miles : miles to date 803.6
Woooo hoooo. I cant quite believe that I have reached one third of the current year into this running streak lark. Without wishing to talk about me too much, which is a bit hard when these posts are about me running every day, I cant quite believe I have made it so far. I know this does not mean that I will make it for the rest, but it has made me pause for a moment and reflect on what I have achieved so far. This includes :- 1. I have got faster and picked up a new and recent marathon PB; 2. I have developed a reputation in my club of being fixated with No.2 stories; 3. This has helped to deflect the inevitable stereo typing of me as a Welsh man loving sheep in an unnatural way: 4. Me and Dolly have been allowed to get on with our lives peacefully and without persecution; 5. I have come third in a small ultra: 6. I have so far covered over 800 miles; 7. I have run with people who I am proudly (apologies for this one) able to say are my friends, and Richard; 8. I now know the meaning of life: I run, therefore I am; 9. My bulls*** meter has gone through the roof; 10. Even my beliefs in what is possible in running terms have expanded; 11. My literary skills, have gone, like er crap. Innit. 12. Most importantly, I have helped guide Fi into being a runner and not a jogger. Nothing at all wrong with the latter, but to be a runner you have to enter a whole new world of obsession and she has the potential of being my greatest ever creation. Ha ha harrrrr ( you have to read that in a Boris Karloff type way, with the Hammer House of Horrors type music in the background). As for the run, the calf strain persists, so it was a very gentle trot, before hooking up with the running club and mainly watching the session from the sidelines once my work had been done.