Friday feeling

Things have gone pretty well this week but are my legs heavy or what? I did five miles on Wednesday night and they were like lumps of lead.

Hopefully they'll ease off. Maybe it's just a reaction to the increase in regular runs I'm doing, rather than a fundamental problem rearing its head.

The main thing is that there has been no pain from my shins. I've been icing and stretching every day, running or not, so this has probably been a factor. So too have my new running shoes.

Thursday night should have been a running night but I made it a rest night so I can do the Calderglen 5K trail race tonight. I have to say I'm slightly anxious about it in case it aggravates my shins but I'll give it a go.

Will it hurt?

Having said that I'd keep the running stuff to the diary on the "work" website, I've changed my mind. So, what's happening?

Last week went well, culminating in a long run (7 miles) on Sunday afternoon. Rather oddly, I've had a few aches after doing it, possibly because I was running more slowly than I'd normally go, even on a Sunday. It was very pleasant - along the river and through the woods on the Dalziel Estate.

I was up at an unearthly hour yesterday to take Sophie etc to Edinburgh Airport then to go down to London. Even though I wasn't home until after 9.30pm, I did my stretching like a good boy.

I'm slightly apprehensive about tonight's session - two fast 1.5 miles (11-12 mins) followed by five min jog recoveries. Hopefully by stretching off properly beforehand I'll minimise the risk of aggravating my shin.

Ah, the shin. Indeed. The latest explanation for the pain is an inflexible tendon linking my left big toe to my shin.

Sounds plausible but we'll wait and see.

It's here...

It's M-Day +1 ... marathon training day schedule plus one. In other words, Tuesday June 20.

Part of the weekend was spent in a cloud of despondency because of painful shins. My mind became a lot clearer after I decided not to do the East Kilbride half-marathon this coming Sunday. As much as I wanted to do it (it was my first half-marathon) I just know that it's the wrong thing at the wrong time. Commonsense has prevailed.

Part of my anti-shin splints strategy is to wind right back and almost start from scratch. Pretend I haven't run before. That way I won't go out and try to break records when doing SLOW runs of any distance.

Another part has been to get new running shoes. Deed done. Katie in Achilles Heel persuaded me to part with £93 for a pair of Asics Gel Kayanos. More padding, more support than the GT2100s which I'd had since last November.

I've attached a picture which I think sums up life at the moment.

Fiona's decided to enter the Glasgow 10K in September along with work colleagues. Nothing to do with me! So, she was kitted out with a pair of Brookes which should have cost £90 but nice Katie gave her them for £40.

The 15-week schedule began yesterday and my first training diary on the BBC Scotland news website was published then too. Here it is: Counting down to 'monster' run.

The first day consisted of a slow three-mile run. More in next week's training diary.

I've been knocked out by the kind words people have had to say about my marathon aspiration and the advice they're offering. Now all I have to do is maintain the training, stay injury-free and get over the finish line.

I'll continue blogging here but it'll be non-running stuff - is there any? The training diary will contain all the running stuff.

TGIF

It feels like it's been a mighty long week so I'm glad it's Friday. Last night was a good laugh - marshalling at the Cancer Research Race for Life women's 5K in Strathclyde Park.

This is us, looking very official with walkie-talkies and the like.

It did feel a bit odd, being on the "other side" so to speak. I was quite close to the start so I didn't have to shout too many positive things at the ladies as they went past. Those nearer the end did their bit though.

I've reined back a bit on the running after an increase in pain in both lower legs. Anyway, enough of that (not suggesting I'm ignoring the pain but positive thoughts only).

More to the point, my Garmin Forerunner has gone on the blink again. This time it's stopped emitting sound which is no good. That'll be another call to the retailer tomorrow.

The new hall floor is nearly finished thank goodness and looks a million times better. As I said before, it's been an expensive mistake.

Marathon countdown

If my head wasn't in marathon mode before, it sure is now.

I had lots of dealings with people taking part in the Edinburgh Marathon on Sunday and that really got me going.

Our (the BBC) interest in the runners' concerns about the temperatures seems to have had something of an effect: Runners set pace in city marathon

My greatest concern at the moment is the constant twinging of pain in my lower right leg. The speed sessions on Saturday mornings are going to have to stop because speed + increase in distance = sore bits.

Beyond that, life continues apace. It was five weeks on Saturday until we go to Florida - am I counting?

It's Friday... zzzzzzzzzz

Bloody hell, talk about having no energy. I'm knackered. The weather's been very heavy over the past couple of days. Very hot and sunny but at times very heavy.

I'm none too happy leg-wise though. I did four miles on Wednesday night and there was a lot of diffuse pain around my lower right leg. It felt like I'd pushed very hard on Sunday and this was a reaction to it. Hopefully that's all it was.

I didn't go out with Sophie this morning. It feels a lot easier this evening so I might try an easy session on the track tomorrow morning.

I've done a fair bit of work between Wednesday and today on the Edinburgh Marathon. The predicted hot weather has led to concerns about there being enough water: Here's out story and Reporting Scotland did it tonight as well. Better late than never for them!

The aftermath

I must admit to having had a rough old head yesterday morning. It must have been about 10 pints (or so, but who was counting?) on Sunday afternoon. Still, it was worth it and I reckon I deserved it!

Today was a scorcher weather-wise. The car temperature gauge said it was 25C and the data from my GPS watch said it was 75F when I did a few miles in the west end before going out with Sophie to Victoria Park. Fingers crossed it stays fine for the weekend.

She and I went to a book signing at the Fort. Julia Donaldson, of the Gruffalo books, has written a book along with John Henderson, called Fly Pigeon Fly. We bought it for Lewis and got them to sign it.

We also bought a collection of stories from Easterhouse and asked her to sign it for Maggie.

Envy of the day? Gary texting from Bute to say he was playing golf in the blazing sunshine. Roll on Florida.

Very very happy

Today is a milestone. 10K - 44.55. I'm knocked out. Carluke 10K. Loads of beer afterwards.

What's the time?

After several weeks of being watchless, I can now tell the time again. I haven't a clue what I've done with my old watch. All I know is that I had it before the Edinburgh 10K and I haven't seen it since.

It had given me plenty years or service and wasn't owe me anything. I'd been holding off buying another one because I knew that as sure as fate, the old one would turn up as soon as I'd chosen a new one.

I couldn't wait any longer though because it was becoming a real hassle to have to look at the clock on my mobile phone all the time so I bit the bullet today and snapped up a nice new Swatch watch.

It came from the same jewellers where I buy the nice Ola Gorie stuff for Fiona so I couldn't walk out without any of that. She's about to get a sexy new necklace thing. It's a very sunny, warm Friday evening.

It's the Carluke 10K on Sunday. I'm quite looking forward to it but I have a feeling I won't be cutting any more off my PB in this one. Can't manage it every time!!!