h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I registered recently for the first proper, organised race event I've done since...since school days, now that I think about it.

Anyway, in my enthusiasm, I think I registered a bit too early. They've just sent me my race number: 1.

This calls for more conscientious training. I couldn't cope with the irony of limping over the finish line in last place, all battered and bedraggled, with a big bold "1" stamped on my chest.

It is clearly an ohmen.... that you shall* be "1". first across the finish line! you can't back down now... all out, to win!

I know a man who knows a man who, for the right price, could see to it that you don't come in last, if you know what I mean

Middle of the table is really all I'm aiming for, at this stage. And I reckon it's at least a halfway realistic goal.

(If, by some outworking of a cross between Murphy's Law and chaos theory, I did actually come first I'd feel a bit bad about it. Some people structure their lives around running, and let it govern their lifestyle and diet. I just run because I like to. )

to you!

have fun!

I once won a joggling (juggling while running) race simply because I knew the town and was the only person to go the intended route - the pack leaders all charged off around a massive church rather than along the alleyway beside it!

Oooh, send everyone else the wrong way! That is a devious idea, but an appealing one, I cannot deny!

Speaking of running, I was tickled by the title of a blog post I read today. Someone was describing one of those races you sometimes get that are plagued by mishaps - running out of water, the water stations running out of water, sore legs, old injuries playing up, the works. Anything that possibly could go wrong, did go wrong.

But the title? The title was a masterclass in accentuating the positive and looking on the bright side: "At Least I Didn't Shit Myself..."

I had race number 1 for the Lisburn Half-Marathon last year!

Oh well, it can't be that unlucky then!

No running for a day or two though I suspect. I messed up my neck this morning and every move is agony. I'm on my way home looking for the superstrength painkillers the prescribed yonks ago.

Along with them came warnings of addiction, destitution, loss of reputation and all kinds of mean and nasty things if they were used unnecessarily, but for once they are called for I think.

If I post in the next six hours I might make even less sense than usual...

has decided he wants to start running again. This is the guy who was part of a squad that ran from Krefeld (near Düsseldorf) to Leicester (twin town) in the 80s, entered the Biel/Bienne 100km run twice (that was a laugh and a half... "hey do you want to do ten 10km runs? one right after the other..." - I was his support team) and so on.

He hasn't done much sport for ages and ages and ages, although he does ride his bike to the station every day (10km round trip)

Anyway, he has decided that it's boring to do it alone, and although I have "officially retired" from running ... I have to go with him on this journey.

And have dutifully ordered a Couch to 10k in 14 Weeks book.

hope your neck feels better soon.

You did the colour run not long ago, so just think how easy it will be *without* people pelting you with paint powder!

haha - that was last July!
I guess running won't be a huge problem over the fact that it is deadly deadly boring and I don't have much time for it

and we are looking to do the next colo(u)r run

>>loss of reputation<<

Exactly. *What* reputation?

It's all been refreshingly painless since dinner, and before that it was just normal sore, not maniacally sore. Maybe I'll squeeze a run in tomorrow, because Thursday I've other things to do, and most of Easter weekend too, probably.

I think we're going to have good weather, so I think I'll avoid the obvious places nearby, as they tend to get swamped by crowds on sunny bank holidays.

Luckily I know a few secret spots nobody thinks of!

Good luck!

I'm doing the Wolf Run next weekend. It's one of these obstacle races - Wolf stands for Woods, Obstacles, Lakes and Fields. There's a 60m lake swim!

For a view of what I'm letting myself in for (great video) see http://www.thewolfrun.com/

That's quite impressive. Do you run daily? with that. I think finishing it would be an accomplishment.

Thanks! No, I don't run daily. I started off (with an ok level of fitness) running once or twice a week but have increased it as we get nearer.

And you don't mind getting muddy? I am not a runner---I think I have slow twitch muscles so I can't do it very well.

I don't mind as a one-off!