Storm Erik

Monday morning, I get up early and drive to the gym to do 5 mile run. When I arrive at the car park, gym is not yet open. I promptly fall asleep and miss morning run.

Tuesday, I am nervous all day. It is track tonight, and last week I got dropped by the squad. Once is fine, it could be a ‘one off’, or a ‘blip’. But what if it happens again? Then it becomes a loss of form. Question marks arise, doubts, and who needs that noise?

I arrive at track, tired as always, and it is a nasty evening. I hang on shamelessly to the guys in my group. Even though the cold rain is being whipped into our faces by the gale-force winds, I am smiling, because I am not getting dropped tonight.

Theresa May has her ‘red lines’, and I have mine. I am currently building up for Brighton Marathon. Whilst in marathon mode, I insist on the following:

• Track Session on Tuesday
• Long Run on Sunday
• 100 miles a week

This week has been very complicated. I have been squeezed from every angle. A combination of; not having a treadmill, storm Erik, several other engagements, have left me with only 50 miles covered during the working week.

I get so tired and bored of excuses. Nobody remembers them. All people remember is what you achieved.

“It’s results that count” – Harry Wilson (coach to Steve Ovett)

If you want it badly enough, there is always a way. So I set about the daunting task of running 50 miles over the weekend. I turn up at the gym on Saturday morning, having already slept through my parkrun date with Tom (my dad fixed my van and my drone, and we went out for a rare few pints Friday). Mile 6, and the stupid gym treadmill conks out cos I dropped sweat on it. Imagine!? Sweating on a treadmill! I go downstairs to get my towel, and when I return there are 4 girls on the 4 treadmills. They are walking and holding on to the handlebars and chatting away.

I want to go home.

But you can’t leave your run at 6 miles. You will just have to run outside.

But all I have is my vest and shorts, which are soaked in sweat. I will freeze out there in the high winds.

Well you have been cold before. And you can have a nice hot shower after.

My GPS watch has run out of batteries.

A perfect opportunity to run by feel, no pressure at all.

But people KNOW me in Porthmadog, I will look stupid running around in this weather dressed like this.

Russell Bentley you bloody idiot. Do you really think anyone cares about what you are wearing, and what you are doing on a Saturday morning? Take your delusions of Grandeur and get your arse out there right now.

I go out and run another 3 miles.

Non-Running Highlight Of The Week:

Take the kids swimming. Talking with Jim in the showers after…

Jim: I’m going to tell you everything that is scary; Monsters, Dragons, Aliens, Snakes, Steam-Rollers…

Me: Steam-Rollers aren’t scary

Jim: They are if they roll over you!

Best Thing On The Internet This Week:

This is the second video I have watched from On Running teammate, Phil Beastall, and this is the second time he has had me blubbing like a baby. I can’t handle anything to do with mums.

Thing I’m Digging This Week:

Brilliant movie in amongst a lot of rubbish movies around at the moment. Slow starting, but really ramps up. Cowboys in space, what’s not to love.