48 days to go...

They think it's all over...  well it fells like it may be to me at the moment.  I took the train over to Brighton this morning as planned and all started ok(ish) but as I reached Portslade the pain got too much.  So I then started walking until the pain subsided and interspersed jogging and walking until nearly Shoreham when I found myself in so much pain that I had to walk... and walk is exactly what I did until I got home, fed up, pissed off and fit to quit.

The fact of the matter is that there's 48 days left and because of my knee I haven't been able to train or prepare anywhere nearly properly and despite spending ton of money on physiotherapists, acupuncturists, specialists and advice I feel worse now than I did 3 months ago.  The best I can probably hope for is to have to walk 20 of the 26.2 miles but even that's going to be a major undertaking.

I've got an appointment with a knee specialist this week so will make a decision on the marathon after I've seen him but at the moment it looks like I'll have to put off the marathon until 2012.

50 days to go...

Ah... so the weather is changing for the better (for now) and after a low point last week when I did my back in again (don't ask) I'm starting to regain confidence.  It all started at a last minute trip on Saturday to my wife's acupuncturist and the "miracle" that they performed.  Less than an hour of treatment and I was pain free for the first time this year.  Half of what the woman said I didn't understand (very thick far eastern accent and definite language barrier) but she did seem to comprehend that I've only got a very small window of opportunity to train left so booked in again yesterday and again tomorrow ahead of my planned long run on Sunday.

I was told way before I started all this training that running was the "cheapest sport you can do".  To date I've spent more than £500 on trainers, clothes and treatment alone!!  Ah well, I'm sure that it'll all be worth it in the end!

I've also booked my hotel stay in London the night before the marathon which I think also includes a coach to the start by the organiser, which is a bit of a relief as I'd left it a bit late.

Right so all eyes forward to Sunday morning and my attempt at 12+miles - wish me luck!!

63 days to go...

Oh... My... God...  Ok so now I'm starting to realise just how far this marathon lark really is.  Today I got an early train over to Brighton and then ran home.  Alright, so when I say I ran home it was more of a mixture of jogging and walking.  I wanted to run all the way but my knee wouldn't let me.  Still, 2hrs 30mins on my feet has to be good training.  Mind you, some of those roads just go on and on...

After all that I still haven't even hit the half marathon mark and considering how wearing I found today the full distance just daunts me even more!

Distance: 11.7712 miles
Route: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=4286076
Conditions: Dry and calm
To sponsor: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/StuartSpicer

65 days to go...

It's the 10th Feb, 65 days to go and I wouldn't say that I'm getting hysterical but reading some of the posts and blogs surrounding the London Marathon is kind of driving me crazy... "ran 15 miles on Sunday" says one... "felt great on my longest run so far, can't wait for April 17th" writes another...

Me?  Well I did a gruelling 2 miler a few weeks back...  I'm not going to go on and on about my knee and the problems I've been having.  Instead I'm going to concentrate on the positive aspects - I'm doing the marathon, it won't be in record breaking time but I will finish it.  To get a few miles under my belt I'm taking the train to Brighton early on Saturday morning and then run/jog/walk my way home.  Who knows it might even be what my knee needs!