Life in the Taper

Well it's under two weeks before I set out on my first Marathon and the first part of my Worcestershire Triple.  This close to the event I am in what is known by pros as the taper - a period ahead of the event when the training eases off in preparation for the big event.

For us rank amateurs of course it is just a period of blessed relief when we can justify cutting the training mileage down and keep eating in the name of carbo-loading.

For my last long run I decided to have a go round the Worcester Marathon course.  Or least one lap including the "extra loop" that the Marathon runners have to do.

The race is to start at Sixways (home of the Worcester Warriors Rugby Club) and knowing that the Warriors had played away on the Friday (at Leicester Tigers where they were thrashed), I expected a quiet morning run.  Wrong. Very Wrong.  The place was heaving with a junior rugby tournament. 

Take 2.  Scurrying up a nearby lane and parking in a convenient lay-by, I started the run a few hundred metres down stream, so-to-speak.  Map in hand I set off alongside the Worcester-Birmingham canal and then up Smite Hill, Climet's Hill, Huddington Hill, past Hill Court, up Neight Hill and on, up, to Goosehill Green.

Mmmmm.  Something about this route was beginning to niggle. What could it be?  Could it be all those places with the word hill in their name?  I think the usual euphemism is "undulating" but who are they kidding.  The route is rollercoaster lumpy and then there is need to do two laps.  And the second lap has an extra loop making it longer than the first lap.  That is just plain sadistic.

At this point all my long training runs of up 21 miles in the countryside in the Severn Valley seemed a tad in-sufficient in the face a 16 mile lap of incessant undulations.  Even the bridge over the canal near the end of the lap goes up and down at an obscene gradient guaranteed to trigger cramp 23 miles in.

So now I know what's in store in just over 10 days time.  Until last Sunday, I thought I was ready.  Now I'm not so sure.  But too late now so the taper will continue ready for the big day on April 15th.

Please don't forget to sponsor me here.

Worcestershire Triple - This time it’s for cash!

Triple Madness

After doing nothing particularly insane since last July’s triathlon, I figured that in 2012 I needed to re-engage with the inner loony and do something special to honour the London Olympics. 

So earlier in the year I took the plunge and entered my first marathon. Not a big city marathon (mores the pity) but the inaugural Worcester Marathon. Not content with that I also entered the full Olympic distance Upton triathlon and I couldn’t miss my annual 10k outing in the small Worcestershire Village of Crowle. 

So in the matter of a couple of cold January weeks I had committed myself to three events all before Usain Bolt had book his flight to London for a couple of 10s cameo jogs in East London in August.

Given that level of insanity I reckon that it is only right and proper that I raise some cash in these credit-crunched days for a couple of really worthwhile causes that do not usually appear on the logo-ed running vests at most big charity races. 

 

Both of my chosen charities work with children and their families suffering from forms of auto-immune inflammatory diseases; Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) and uveitis. This is very close to my heart since both of my children have experienced these conditions.

 

Arthritis is not just a disease of old people.

 

Unfortunately about one in a thousand children in the United Kingdom suffer from Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA). Uveitis means inflammation of the uvea, the inside of the eye and up to 80% of childhood uveitis cases are linked to pre-existing or yet to be diagnosed JIA. 

 

Being diagnosed with Uveitis and/or JIA is bewildering for children and parents alike. Believe me. I’ve been there. Most of us have never heard of these diseases until the day a doctor tells us that we have one of them. It takes some time to understand what is happening; that in many cases, your child’s immune system, something in part donated by us parents to our offspring, seems to have taken leave of its senses and attacked our children’s joints and eyes. Both conditions can strike at any age, and take one of several forms, but what is similar about the disease, is the pain and frustration that affects the child, and the feeling of disbelief that affects the whole family.  

The Good Causes

The Children’s Chronic Arthritis Association (CCAA) is the leading charity run by parents and professionals to provide help and information for children with arthritis, their families and professionals involved in their care. They offer emotional and practical support to maximise choices and opportunities and raise awareness of childhood arthritis in the community.

Olivia’s Vision provides a voice for uveitis sufferers to be heard and takes action on behalf of every uveitis patient, campaigning to prevent avoidable sight loss, and fund raising to support research into the causes, treatment and potential cure of uveitis.

So this spring while you are all laughing at my ongoing Canute-like battle with middle age, help me to help these two unsung charitable organisations that are doing their bit to ensure children with arthritis and uveitis have, in turn, their future chance to do insane things in their middle age.

Please sponsor me at my Virgin Money giving page and why not triple up the donation:

Worcester Marathon 15^th April 2012 (target 4:30);

Crowle 10k 13^th May 2012 (target a PB);

Upton Triathlon 14^th July 2012 (target 3:10).

Performance Bonus

 

Why not give me a reason to beat my targets by offering a performance bonus (cash only, no shares)? A proper reason to beat proper targets.

I’ll let you know how things are going and follow the training via twitter @aastill.

Time to train!