Born to Run

I am pleased to say that the marathon playlist is coming together and I've got nearly an hour's worth of music now. which is good, so keep your suggestions coming in.

Fund raising is coming along well too, so thanks to everyone who has donated money it is most appreciated, by me and the girls at the FSI who do so much for small charities. In support of this, I am arranging a Race Night on March 6th in Sheffield, this is where you show a series of horse races up on the big screen, people get to have a bet, have a drink and hopefully a really good time, and we can raise some brass for charity while we are at it.

So feel free to come along if you are local to Sheffield, but don't worry if you are not, there will be a Race Night 2 in London, coming soon!

Training has been tough recently, 12 miles last weekend, the running is fine, its fitting everything in around a busy time at work etc, but I will get there. Its weird when I'm doing the long runs:

The first couple of miles are fine,

Then I start to think about how far I have got to go

Then my brain tells me I am getting tired

Then I do this kind of self-diagnostic:

• Feet: Fine
• Legs: Fine, not hurting (and still going)
• Breathing: Fine (as in not that out of breath)

So this convinces my brain that I am ok, and that actually, I am going to finish this run. Then I go into a kind of serene state where all I have to do is keep going and everything will be ok. I think about life, work, football, looking for somewhere to live, whatever, and cruise along until I am finished. I might notice a pain here or there (sometimes my foot goes numb) but I am not affected by this in any way.

Then when I get back I need to eat a lot of food immediately!

Its snow joke...

Snow and marathon training do not go well together.

I have only been out once this week, stuck inside due to the snow. My problem is I am really paranoid about getting injured so i'd rather stay in, or build a snowman.

Thanks for everyone who has sponsored me and nominated songs, I have lots more on the playlist now. If anyone wants to nominate 'world in motion' by New Order then that perosn would be a legend.

I had a great birthday last week, I got up at 6 and ran 10 miles in 85 minutes, ate a full english and then went to Wivenhoe Town vs Dereham Town in the Ridgeons Premier. Wivenhoe are managed by West Ham United legend and my all time personal hero, Julian Dicks.

I met up with my mates at 12 had a pint at Chelmsford, 2 cans on the train, a couple more pints at Wivenhoe Station, where a local farmer and his dog befriended us and took us to the ground in his 20 year old Renault 11. There were 5 of us in the car, all big lads, and the dog sat on my mate Dave's lap. The old Renault was literally groaning under the strain of all of us on board.

It was the coldest match I have ever been to, so we spent quite a large portion of it in the bar. Unfortunately we couldn't bring Julian any luck and Wivenhoe went down 5-2.

We went back to Chelmsford and had a skinfull, ended up in a cheesy nightclub, where I bumped into Mr Garrett, my olf art teacher. It was a quality day and night, so thanks to my mates for making it a good one.

Cheers,

Ollie