Ouch - dont read whilst eating your dinner !

Well after many weeks of pain whilst running and visits to the docs and hospital it was finally diagnosed that I had a double hernia !

Working in Melbourne and trying to get it operated on became a logistical nightmare so a trip back to the UK and a few days with the good people at the Alex Hospital in Cheadle and here I am sat, unable to hardly walk let alone run, but I am assured that I will be running within three weeks, pain free and raring  to go - we will see !

Just when I thought...

... I was getting fitter and fast again, I get hit by injury and this time a real injury.

After scans, blood tests, urine tests, prodding and poking I have been diagnosed as having not one but two inguinal hernias !

More doctors have held my testicles in the past few weeks than in a long time - the good news is I am still allowed to run but gently - if I run too hard I could end up like this....

Time for some hard work

Well the one thing working away gives you is time to do stuff - eating, drinking, sleeping etc soon though the 'be sensible' part of the brain kicks in and you want to do the good stuff, running, sight seeing and just general nice healthy stuff.


the weather getting warmer here in Melbourne means outside running is a must and the excellent trails make route choices easy.


I've decided due to try and get back a bit of speed - a 5k time trial I did for myself recently showed that age, weight and lack of focus means I am at least a minute a mile slower than I was two years ago and theres no need for it - so with the help of Jackie Newton from runbritain.com and one of their excellent schedules I am to get down below 20 mins, hopefully below 19 minutes and who knows how close to 18 mins !

Viva Englandia

Mount Famine 2010

Well 7 months without a race and then I decide to do 3 in 3 days as part of the Hayfield May Queen festival - so far its 2 down one to go and both have resulted in PB times which feels bizarre as I certainly don't feel in shape.

Perhaps the future is drink more eat more, run less !

Viva Englandia

This story is not really running related although most of the band are athletes and two of them just recently completed marathons in amazing times - Tony in fact is now in the Guinness book of records for his run at last week London Marathon.



Anyway back to the chase - White Van Man have cut what we feel will be this years World Cup song - there have been many memorable and not so memorable ones over the years but this one is the best I have heard so far in 2010 (I have listened to 12 altogether and would you believe there are 110 England ones out there)

 So now lets feast you ears and eyes on this one





And if you like it then let the lads know

I like Viva Englandia !!!

Lillehammer or bust - bust !

Well after a many weeks of running through snow and ice the better weather came and long runs could once again resume properly - however within two weeks of this happening I was 'posted' to go and work in Sweden and Norway where the snow is deeper, colder and stays much later in the year than the UK.


Although Lillehammer is a beautiful place its not a place you can go do a long run out on the streets in two foot of snow - so reluctantly I have decided that there will be no London Marathon for me this year (first one I will miss in 5 years).


Its a weight off my shoulders to be honest and I can concentrate on being a human again for a few weeks - only a few weeks though !


I will be gutted on the day but knowing that many friends and fellow athletes will be giving it their best shot will help me through it !!


I have skied for the first time ever though and although my style was somewhat unorthodox (mostly on my arse) its something that I enjoyed and will try again very soon - in fact hopefully next week in Norway again.