If you are training for a marathon THIS is the race for you!

The Rhayader 20miles round the lakes race took place on Saturday17th March 2007 and I participated for the first time yesterday. Truly this is an awesome race, not only the distance , the cameraderie of a long distance race, but the sheer outstanding beauty of the Elan valley. I want to record here a great big 'THANKYOU' to the organisers for giving me the opportinuty to run through some of the most beautiful parts of the United Kingdom, as part of a great race with well organosed support. Thanks.
Running a long distance race depends on many factors atitude & determination, training & fitness , support and of course the weather. To these usual factors one very important addition is the good fortune to meet like minded people to run with, to chat with, to encourage each other, to marvel at the wonder of nature and support each other. And yesterday i had that good fortune to meet my new running pal Ig- South African Swansea Runer ! Thanks Ig you kept me going for around 15miles until my thigh pain held me back. Then you had to go on alone -amoungst 400 runners.! But hey; we ran 'mountaintops' together - the summit at 6.2 miles, and the views of the reservoirs.
In later parts of the race, plodding along with my mp3 player, i can thank the music makers Robbie Williams, Tina Turner, Katherine Jenkins, & the Trelawnyd Male Voice Choir.

Running long distance means burning a few calories - & my Garmin says 2469 calories burned.

Probably that or more was replaced yesterday by the dried fruit, the lucozade, the peices of mars bar (big thanks again to organisers), then on the way home the pie & chips from the chip shop by Newtown traffic lights- oh and a banana or 2, a cadbury's turkis delight; and the bottle of Guinness.

Guiness being my long distance tradition started at the trip to Dublin for the marathon in 2001.

Nightingale Hopice Hospice Fundraising

The Nightingale House Hospice is not only the Hospice for Wrexham , but as you can see on its website at the link above it serves Nightingale House serves a people from across Wrexham, Flintshire, East Denbighshire, the A494 corridor down to Barmouth, and the borders including Oswestry, Ellesmere, Wem and Whitchurch.

I cannot describe easily the value of a Hospice to a locality but please have a look at its website linked above.

And to my friends colleagues, family -anyone who has sponsored me for this years London Marathon - a big thanks.
To anyone else please have a look at my fundraising website linked here or the full url is www.justgiving.com/robrunslondon07
So far we have passed half way in my target of raising £1,000 thanks.

Rhayader 20 miles - part 1 a video on another bog

For part 1 of my postings on this race from Rhayader see this amazing video on 'mad runners blog'.

Intervals - first time for weeks & weeks !!

With Buckley Runners tonight i tried out the interval training for the first time for weeks & weeks.
Just under 1k intervals in
4min 09
4min 17
4min 19
4min 25
then a slow one of 4min 53.
Dedicated with thanks to all those speeding by, and Tracy pushing me.
What next ? perhaps a run Thursday , perhaps the 20mile Rhayader ?? on Saturday.

Happy Training , happy exercising folks.

Gobeithio fydd hi ddim yn rhy boenus!

The above is the message from Robin my 'brawd yng hyfraith' (ie brother in law if i have the spelling, translation, & mutation correct)
- hoping that the marathon is not too painful.

Marathon running IS painful. Mind over matter. And think of the Guiness afterwards.

Back on track 2 ?

Back on track with the training
and
back on track - running on an old railway track - the Wirral Way.


The emotion of running and training for the London Marathon.
Yesterday -depression ; today a high.

Yesterday Saturday - depression, though weather was great here in N Wales i didnt run cos of a slight ache in my left foot, thinking it may be the strain or something which took 3wks to heal in January.Today Sunday - awoke -determined - if no ahes to go for a long (for me) run .

Today is a great day .
I ran 13.5 miles on the Wirral Way. 6 miles west & North from Willaston then return , and a 3/4 miles or so south and back.
A slow plod around 11 min miles - but that included looking at map & getting lost & avoiding the very big puddles.
A big thanks to Libby who recommended this route.

Please donate to the Nightingale House Hospice

This year i am once more raising funds for the Wonderul Nightingale House Hospice which serves the counties of Wrexham Flintshire & south Denbighshire .
please see the fundraising page at
www.justgiving.com.robrunslondon07
many thanks
Rob

Slowly back on track for LONDON 07

at last- yes i am getting back on track for this year's London Marathon. Following last Thursdays 6.5 mile circuit- i ran a slow steady 9 miles - with radio 5 live for company last Saturday - and no major ill effects . tThe former foot pain is gone - IT IS NOT A STRESS FRACTURE. Great- 6.5 miles to night with Buckley Runners - and planning for a 13 or 14 mile training run at the weekend.