Back on Track

This is a long overdue post; a lot has happened since the last time I wrote.

South Downs Marathon (marathon number 6!)
This was a fantastic run. The scenery was inspiring, the route was amazing, and the people incredibly friendly. I will definitely be going back.
For the overall day, this has been my favourite marathon of the year so far.














June
June was a weird month. I had a couple of bad weeks - with Glastonbury to blame for no running for 5 days (as well as a lot of drinking!); but the fortnight since has been pretty good, and I'm on track to run over 50 miles this week.
I also had some pretty good experiences during June:
- Mark Hines talking about ultra marathons! His trek across the Yukon was incredible, as is the ultramarathon through the Brazilian jungle
- Barefoot Ted was incredibly funny. He spoke to us (Peter joined me for this talk) about his story of getting into barefoot running, before taking us on a jog around Green Park. I've never seen so many Vibram wearings in one small place before...!
- Sean Conway was my favourite talk. Organised by the amazing charity My Million to One, Sean gave a hugely inspiring, and incredibly motivating, talk about his experiences cycling from Lands End to John O'Groats, cycling around the world, and of his plans to swim from LE to JO'G - which is now underway. Also, and perhaps most importantly, he's ginger.

To top off June, I've won 2 competitions! Primal Lifestyle ran a competition to win a pair of new season Vibrams. They enjoyed my story about how I got into barefoot running so much that they gave me the prize, which arrived today! The second was entry into the Ultraks marathon in Zermatt Switzerland in August, organised by Men's Running. It's going to be a crazy race - 3,300 meters of climb and the same descent around the Matterhorn mountain range. Wish me luck!

My final note is to say yet again that I love running around Hampstead Heath. I had a great 10 mile run yesterday with my running club, the Mornington Chasers, and tonight I ran a further 11 miles with Peter up around the woods and down through the extension. Good fun.

Oh, and I've decided that doing the aeroplane across the finish line of a race is a good way to end a marathon :-)

Lost: Running Mojo. If found please return to 12-Months 12-Marathons...

Mojo, where did you go?
Was it because of the Edinburgh Marathon?
Was it because my knee hurt this week?
Was it because I had my prized Garmin stolen?
Surely you're not getting tired of running marathons already? We're not even half way through the year!

Whatever the reason I'm pleased you're making a return - I've missed you! This week has felt stressful without you.
Perhaps all you needed was a 9 miler around a sunny Hampstead Heath this weekend. Perhaps you just needed an early night? I know the incredible kindness of Peter, who bought me a replacement Garmin, helped a lot. He's an incredibly selfless individual.
Maybe I just realised that the only way to find you again is to go for a run?

In any case, I have a treat for you. A Chi running session with Gray Caws tomorrow evening, and perhaps a session at the track on Thursday (watching, not running) while some fasties leg it around at breakneck speed.
Then, on Saturday I have marathon number 6 for you. So soon you ask? Edinburgh was only a week ago?! Yes, but the South Downs Marathon is a trail marathon - you like trail marathons.
Then, as if that wasn't enough, the day after you've got a City Trail event run by Salomon, featuring on hand help from Mark Hines - the explorer you're going to see on the 17th June.

If that doesn't bring you back, we're screwed.

Hampstead Heath in the sunshine this weekend. Can't not love it.