I have not spat out my dummy

No I have not spat out my dummy so why have I not been writing? Easy - the writing was always about running but, when you’re either injured or running crap, it’s very hard to enthuse running merits. I always TRY to think about what I am writing so even saying your racing’s crap can have some thinking your being big headed because your crap would be a gourmet meal for them.

It has been a long road back, pardon the pun, but it has been tough. I don’t live in the past, I don’t expect to run the times I ran at my best, but I have do have goals. My best times coincided training with better runners but if you can’t keep up with them in training what do you do?

Injuries, you never know how bad they affect your life style until you get them. The injuries, as bad as they, are only come second to the depressions they bring.

I have now been running for a few months but, up until recently, it has been a struggle. If I could put my hand on the reason it would be ideal but it is probably a combination of things that affects me. My job has never helped as I work nights and the lack of sleep accumulates leaving me feeling very tired most of the time. The injuries make you wary when you finally start training again. You feel and notice every twinge. Non runners think I am thin as I weigh 13½ stone. This weight rises rapidly when I stop running, then, when I start training, the extra weight slows me down - the vicious circle!

Somewhere in the middle of all this depression little cracks of light appear; those lights can be anything. With me they are always other people. Strangely they are usually of the female persuasion. I don’t why.

The hill races at Wigan were an unexpected joy mainly because I was doing something that I thought I hated. Cross County, in my many attempts, had put me off off-road racing so I assumed the trail races and hill races would be the same. How wrong could I be? Unlike XC there was no running round football fields bored to tears. Parbold opened up something new to me - proper off road running through real countryside; climbing over gates, running through woods, running up hills and never over the same ground twice. I was still ‘pants’ at it but it was great fun and something that has been amiss for so long. Somewhere within all the political nonsense of road running the fun was draining out.

I had someone keener that me to share this new experience, Sarah. Whatever the opposite of “in your face” is that would describe Sarah. She had me on my back foot over my now infamous ‘chunky legs’ comment. She played me like a kipper with her deadly combination of brains and looks. She kicked my arse big style going up Jeffrey Hill as I followed those legs until they were too far to be seen.

I loved the Horwich week though I really struggled ‘off road’ but it was all about challenging me - nothing else. I really enjoyed it all even the so called XC which, if we had another boring lap, half the field would have lapped me.

I drove up to Windermere to support those brave souls who ran the Marathon and wondered why I lacked the bottle to do another one? Soul searching can be very humbling. I made a decision 4 months ago that I would attempt to be the runner I want to be and not someone who lives in his past exploits. I did not hold back, I just gradually tried a bit harder every time. I went out after 18 months of frustrations and I had to take it easy. Running with people you’re not used to being surrounded with was strange at first. One thing that never changes is the competitive side; they are just as keen at 42 minutes as they are at 36. So, over the last few weeks things have improved dramatically.

One of the big helps was Helen Jolly’s speed sessions on a Wednesday night. Organised, friendly training sessions are a great way of improving your fitness. At these another couple of glints of light appeared Tanya and Emma. Tanya was wary of me as my reputation had preceded me and Emma was, like me, trying to get back where she wanted to be. The best run I have ever seen by a local girl was when Emma, running for Serpentine, did the hardest leg at the Welsh Castles. Some things will always stick in your mind and that run, that day will always be there. Now here she was, hoping for a 39 at the Wesham 10k, (which she got).

Mud sticks and I sometimes feel like the guy they dug up on that peat bog. Somehow Tanya has seen the person beneath the mud and we now plan to head off to New York if we can get in for the Marathon!

A big surprise was having my name drawn from the hat for the London Marathon place. I was totally shocked as I never win anything so, at 22 miles, I will remember those who also wanted that cherished place and that will keep me going.

I now wait to see if Caroline and Tanya get their club places for the Marathon. Caroline ticks all the boxes so fingers crossed for Tanya. If I am doing London I will need people to train with and who in their right mind wants to train with anybody but them?

Written by: George Kennedy

Submitted: 2^nd January 2008

Edited by: Brenda J Earnshaw WRR Editor