Nipple Tape

There must be a method to taping the nipples. Just put some on and it was hurting - pulling the hairs. Had to take it off and start again. Ouch! Then put some more on talk about fafing about.

Just waiting to drive accross to the start (Getting a lift from Norma) bit nervous - Could be tough finishing this race.

Energy Drink

I did not know just how gopping some energy drinks are. Last year in the Marathon de Beaujolais there was an energy drink next to the water at the feeding stations. I tried tt and decided it was not for me. Some kilometers down the road there where people vomiting, not sure if it was the energy drink, maybe some wine or simply the run.

Wednesday, I bought an energy drink from the local running shop. The temperature was rising and if I carry water with me this weekend, it might as well have a few calories in it. Got it home and tried it out. Foul. Way worse then in the marathon. [X-Treme Power Drink] Don't buy this if you value your stomach contents.

I thought, what the hell, will drink it anyway. Today I chickened out and bought some Isostar. I know I can drink that stuff. Made myself up a bottle just now to make sure. Fine it will do.

More on Taper

My taper this week just keeps getting better. Todays exercise will be watching England for 90 minutes this after noon.

I did do some hard graft this lunch time. I scoffed 1 extra large meal from Macdonald's and then augmented with an extra burger. Plus of course the obligatory full fat coke. That really got the heart rate up there!

Gardening

Tapering is fun when the weather is not so good, but today, it is a nice temperature, clear sky and a breeze. However, I compensated by mowing the lawn (Needed doing after the constant rain followed by sun)

It struck me while mowing that "Space Hoppers" given to kids on a soft lawn make great flattening devices. No need for tedious and heavy rollers. Just gives the kids some food and direct them to lumpy bits of grass. They enjoy it more when lumpy as the space hopper have some inbuilt instability.

Calorie Count

I just compared what my Garmin says for the number of calories burned running and biking. (after Karl had pointed it out)

It gives about 3000 for running the Beaujolais marathon, while my ride from Friday also 42km as 2200.

I have not at all looked at this statistic before (Calorie count) If I consider it a a measure of effort, I suppose it is in the ball park. I was certainly not hurting like I had done a marathon after the ride.

Taper

I am not sure the best approach to tapering. Should it be just a reduction of kilometers or stop running. Either way I am now into a taper for the Cross.

To start then, Friday the neighbor invited me for a short bike ride. Turned out to be 42km with 1000m climb built in. He is a far better cyclist than I am so whipped me soundly (especially on the steep parts) but I was very happy with the ride in that I recovered quick. A mixture of weight loss and fitness helped in that I hope.

The next day was "Step Aerobics" for the whole day - We painted the main room (well 2/3 of it) Cecile in the morning was complaining about sore buttocks from climbing on and off the steps.  That evening we compensated for the exercise with Frogs legs and Bresse Chicken in a restaurant in the Domb. The bottle of wine slipped down very nicely.

And as it was a birthday weekend, Sunday we had Champagne aperitif followed by Roast Beef at the inlaws. Clearly this was because the English where doing sooooo much better than the French in the world cup!

Is that the right way to start a tapering? Ha ha, will see, enjoyable all the same (well maybe not the painting)

Franchevill'Trail 2010

This weekend was the Franchevill'Trail

Nice weather nice course BUT really badly ran. Fun learning?

Have you noticed, there are lots of people telling you what to do when running, but not so many describing complete desasters.

• Do NOT go for a run the day before and get dehydrated (I lost 2kg on a 10k in 30 degrees)
• Do NOT turn up just in time with family and be disqualified from entering the kids run because you are late (Note, we took part in it anyway see a following post - quite fun)
• Do NOT leave the house not ready for running, otherwise you may end up running (kids race) in a pair of sandals (England top was by design, both me and Joanne had one)

• Do NOT forget the water/food/spare clothing for kids and family (Left at home). They will suffer in the heat too.
• Do NOT give up your water bottle to the family while you do a 17km run without water in heat.
• Do NOT run 17km after eating only sushi for dinner. You need the carbs.

This is what happens when you do all of the above wrong. You die at 13km. I walked for quite some time feeling both hungry and thirsty. After having 4 pints of water, I still measured 78kg. A loss of 2kg on the day, and 3.5kg in 2 days.

I still came in somewhat respectable (140 from 450 entrants, but not really Stella - like normal) In fact I could have continued running where I had stopped but the brain saying no and injury likely, I thought it better to conserve body parts.

So nice

So nice that my blackened toenail has cleared up. I can wear my old dogs (TIVAS) and walk bare foot without war wounds from running showing them selfs.

Snakes

Well, the Voodoo must have been the good sort. I managed to keep the pace down (running tomorrow) and just enjoy the weather, which has been crap for a couple of weeks. The back nor the legs where any problem at all.

I saw one of Karls hexes in the form of a dried up snake on the trail. I stopped to pick it up, I thought Joanne and Owen would get a buzz from it. Unfortunately, it was stinking. Might go back later to see if it is still there.

Voodoo

The last race was what 11km? And I had an average of 13.5kmh. On Tuesday I went for a very nice 8km near the house (I am starting to really love that run). I decided to give it a bit of welly to try and match the speed the previous Sunday. Normally I am just under 12kmh on it (pretty tough run in that it has a long uphill near the end) anyway, on the way round I thought, "I must be on cocaine" because I felt I was up there in the 13's. But no Karl's voodoo doll of me had worked.

Moving Time:	00:39:01

Avg Speed:	12.6 km/h

You win some, you lose some

Now on my second day free of Achilles Tendon problems.... I really wanted to go out for a run and check out the new legs. Unfortunately, the second day of pain free legs coincides with the second day of a back strain.

It is not a big deal, it is now just a bit stiff now. Hopefully will be gone by the morning. I don't know how I got it, probably creaked it getting out the "pubelle" - the name Joanne calls my car. Will take some Advil to be sure I get a decent nights sleep with it.

Weight

All a bit weird concerning weight. Seems like since mid last week I have been putting on weight. Maybe a kilo. But my trousers are getting more room around the waist.

Maybe adding muscle, maybe water. Not concerned at the moment, the running is getting better and the legs are certainly "fixing themselves". 

With uncertainty of 2kg, I would say I was weighing in at 81kg at the moment

Result from the La 12 du Beaujolais

The official time was 50:03 and I came in 32nd (12 V1)  The first male was just under 10 minutes in advance of me (V1) which is allot, the first female just under 2 minutes behind.

I enjoyed it quite allot, I love running on the trails between the vines. Something you simply cannot do in the UK. My time gave me a 13.4kmh speed, which is great, normally over the same type of terrain I just make 12kmh.

I noticed although I was strong on the hills and gained ground, I lost more on the easier flat(er) sections. I think think this is a simple matter of percentages. i.e. you are moving faster on easier sections, if you are 10% slower, you will lose more time than if you are 10% slower on the hilly sections.

Le parcours de la 12 km 11.3km est vallonné (210 m de dénivelé) sur petites routes et chemins (50% environ) à travers le vignoble du Beaujolais. Il ravira aussi bien les compétiteurs avertis de part ses difficultés sélectives, que les coureurs occasionnels qui apprécieront des paysages et points de vue exceptionnels. Le circuit traverse à mi course le nouveau « Golf  du Château de La Salle » où les coureurs pourront apprécier un rare moment de convivialité, pour ceux qui souhaitent s’y attarder quelques minutes