I once sprinted home from a bar. I turned a final corner, out wide, passing parked cars one by one. Next, a door to one of the cars opened, which I fell onto at full top speed, the corner of the door got me right in the man-boob. I fell down, chest bleeding, and the only think I could think to do was get up, shake the man's hand and apologise, before heading on my way again.
What the fuck.
Running these days is far less painful, and though I still sport the scar which I apologised for, I've upped my running to 4 times (or roughly 15-20 k a week) without injury. I love doing it too.
Seriously, it's taken a year and a half of running more or less every week (to two weeks!). I've experimented with routes, a bit of nutrition here and there, and entered a few races. Nothing special, no better, or faster than anyone else, but I'm enjoying it more than ever.
As a result I've lost about a quarter of a stone in weight and after a horrendous hill (or Primrose Hill, which is about as much of a vertical challenge as I have in West London) I can recover on the move. And I enjoy it. I think that's tangible evidence that running is worth the slog.
So, next is the BUPA Great North Run. Half-marathon in September from Newcastle to South Shields.
I'm running three times during the week, completing a 5k circuit as quickly as I comfortably can, and then indulging in slow long runs on Sundays. Peasy.
I've tried getting into fads and diets. That's a lie, I watch videos about fads and diets. The truth is, I don't like being told what to do over the internet. And neither should you.
However, there are some very successful runners peddling all sorts of ideas on diet, training regimes and footwear.
Stick to whatever works for you. These guys are running serious mileages, in places I would dream of running. Yet some of them are raw-food vegans, barefoot/minimalist runners, in their early twenties, late forties, all smashing their personal goals and getting people out onto the pavement to run:
Anton Krupicka - Hipster, minimalist runner from Boulder, Colorado. Prolific trail runner - cuts the soles from his running shoes. He's been running marathons since 12 years old, and now runs 100 mile races like I waddle to the fridge in my dressing gown.
Mike Arnstein - fruitarian millionaire jewelry dealer from New York. Check this little hardass out, competing in this year's Spartathlon. Oh, he only eats raw fruit and veg, and runs 15 miles to his office each morning, and 15 miles home. 30 Bananas-a-day.
Scott Jurek - Another spartathlon veteran who seems also to be on the raw vegan diet, smashing 50-100 mile races around the world, and has just released a book about his life through the lens of eating and running.
Barefoot Ted - runs long distance races in sandals. Co-owner of a company producing minimalist running sandals, with Scott Jurek.
Kilian Jornet - mid-twenties running up and down mountains, champion mountain and endurance runner.
DurianRider - (Harley Johnstone) Cyclist, runner and possibly triathlete - video blogs about the benefits to your body and mind to be had from a high carb raw food diet. I don't think I'd want to try the diet , but he's great entertainment.
Otherwise, it's Friday night and I need to sleep.
