I was due to run this race last year but unfortunately it had to be cancelled because of heavy snowfall. Today was, therefore, the inaugural running of the Weston Super Half and James Cracknell company’s first ‘crack’ at managing a Somerset half marathon.
I’ve ran the Cheltenham Half, that ‘he’ also organised, a couple of times and those races had been ran efficiently and well organised if marred by a final mind numbing two miles around the famous racecourse. Conditions couldn’t have been more different this year. Bright sunshine and temperatures more in keeping with the early Spring day it was.

An unusual, for townies, Spring high tide meant to start had to be delayed until 10.15 to prevent runners floating out into the bay towards Barry. Fortunately Jonny Jacobs and his coastguard buddies weren’t required especially as Jon was running. The race started with a mile loop of the promenade before the Chariots of Fire trek along the beach to Uphill reminiscent of the Christmas Cracker. Then ensued a scenic journey southwards around Uphill along closed roads before heading along the beach back past the pier around 8 miles. I had ran hard and quite well to this point and felt a post cancer pb might be on but I had had enough and would have gladly pulled out there. The worst was yet to come, 4 miles out and back along Kewstoke Road. Although quite picturesque, I found the section quite tedious and a loop in town may have been better with more spectators but probably leading to more road closures. This couple of miles seemed to go on for ever before we were turned back towards Weston and the finish. It was here that Tracey Thomas easily passed me with a smile and a cheery wave, she was running vey well. Just as Matt Powell, who I later found broke the 90 minute mark, and Lauren Summers, who smashed a massive 10 minutes off her personal best.

The crowds were tremendous for the mile or so back along the prom to the pier where the cheering was loud especially BoS Harriers very own Sue and her pom poms. So it was quite anti-climatical to finish in the chaos at the end of the pier and then have to squeeze back past spectators and pier visitors to find friends and family on the prom. With the tee shirt, medal and seeing the organisation and road closures, it was very evident where the 30 odd quid of our entrance fee went. Great performances were also recorded by other Harriers Stuart Anderson, Jon Jacobs, Phil Strang and Tanya Boobyer. Regrettably Adrian Smith wheels fell off in the last 4 km. Would I run it again? Probably not. This race served as a Two Bays Tough 10 and Christmas Cracker 10k light combination and I think I’d rather run those two along with the fact the Big Cheese in Cheddar was being ran on the same day and that race sounded better. Maybe James Cracknell could have added a little parmesan.

As well you might know I am quite the history scholar and as we are entering Spring Marathon season. For those out there who don’t know the origin of the marathon I will try to enlighten you.

The Greeks won a great battle against the Spartans and their leader sent a runner out to get him chocolate to celebrate their great victory. Unfortunately Pheidippides, the herald or day runner, brought back a Marathon bar and the Head Honcho had a nut allergy and unfortunately he died which brought the USA into the Spartan wars and Marathon had to change it’s name to Snickers. Fact.

Robert Browning gave a version of the traditional story in his 1879 poem Pheidippides. So, when Persia was dust, all cried, “To Acropolis!
Run, Pheidippides, one race more! the meed is thy due!
Athens is saved, thank Pan, go shout!” He flung down his shield
Ran like fire once more: and the space ‘twixt the fennel-field
And Athens was stubble again, a field which a fire runs through,
Till in he broke: “Rejoice, we conquer!” Like wine through clay,
Joy in his blood bursting his heart, – the bliss!

This inspired Baron Pierre de Coubertin to include the Marathon in the modern Olympics. The distance of that first ‘modern’ marathon in Athens, 1896 was a mere 40km or 24.85 miles. The official IAAF distance is now, and since 1921, 42.195 km or 26.22 miles. The distance was first ran in the Olympics of London in 1908 because the King, Edward VII, wanted the race to finish in front of the Royal box. It wasn’t until the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles that women were allowed to compete. That first Olympic marathon inspired Boston to stage it’s first event in 1897 and generally regarded by runners as the most prestigious race. The Kenyans use it as their national championship. In 1967 the Boston Marathon was swamped in controversy when a race official tried to take the number and remove from the race Katherine Switzer. Her boyfriend, Tom Miller an All-American footballer and nationally ranked shot putter, pushed the official and sent him flying across the pavement. If you’re ‘brave’ enough to pick on a woman choose your victim wisely! Afterwards the Boston Athletic Association director Will Cloney commented “Women can’t run in the Marathon because the rules forbid it. Unless we have rules, society will be in chaos. I don’t make the rules, but I try to carry them out. We have no space in the Marathon for any unauthorized person, even a man. If that girl were my daughter, I would spank her”. Women were considered ‘too fragile’ to run marathons and it wasn’t until 1971 that women were allowed to legitimately compete at the Boston Marathon.

Inspired after running the New York Marathon, former first 4 minute mile pace maker and British Olympic steeplechaser Chris Brasher came up with the plan for a marathon in London to rival the ones in Boston and New York. As an athletics journalist he wanted to raise awareness of the race to improve the standard of distance running in Britain. The first London Marathon was staged on Sunday, 29th March 1981 and the British running boom was born. Future Race Director, David Bedford participated in the first running as a result of a bet the Saturday night before. Nightclubbing, drinking and a curry on the way home didn’t help him run a good time. Nutritional sports science was in it’s infancy. Bedford did win his bet of completing the race and won the princely sum of £250. Since then 1,042,960 competitors have finished the race and millions of pounds have been raised for charities.

My first marathon was in September, 1997 and was the Robin Hood Marathon in Nottingham. I had been running with my club, Tewkesbury A.C, for nearly a year and had a solid block of about 20 months of running behind and this prepared me pretty well, or so I thought. Being an Autumn marathon it meant those long 20+ mile long run were to be during a hot, late Summer so I took off every Sunday at around 6.00am to avoid the heat of the day and on one occasion getting lost between Tewkesbury and Malvern! I say I thought it prepared me but nothing really prepares you for that first marathon. The old sages at the club kept telling me “twenty miles is halfway”. I listened but you have to experience it first.

I tried to aim for sub 3 hours as that is regarded a good club runner’s time and I thought I was a good club runner after a number of good times and placings. The Robin Hood Marathon is accompanied by a half and the marathon was in a figure 8 course meaning the marathoners passed the finish to continue. I followed the example of an older, experienced marathoner by copying his breakfast. I set off determined to allow a fellow club member pace me as he wished to finish in 90 minutes and I figured it’ll be a good guide. I passed mid point just over an hour and a half and, with plenty in the tank, was confident of mission success. Most the runners were running the half so the second half was quite lonely. At eighteen to twenty miles the wheels were coming off. I felt quite depleted. My pace slowed and I just wished I was somewhere else, anywhere. I passed the Boots sports and social club and a chubby bloke from Stoke caught up with me. “How many marathons have you ran?” he quizzed. “This is my first. How come you seem to be running so well?” I replied. “Gels” he said, “You’re doing great” and with that he sped off. Cheers, mate.

I passed the County Ground of Nottingham Forest thinking of all the famous players who had played there, and of course Brian Clough, and why I could hear the commentator at the finish and yet so far away. I would have gladly thrown myself into the Trent and float off to ignominy. Well, I finished. My finisher’s photograph sees me with a grey face and hollow cheeks. I was completely knackered. I put everything into that run and had nothing left. The time was a hugely disappointing 3 hours 14 minutes. I was gutted and believed I let my club down, my family down and myself down. Another club member was running his first and had ran more and harder miles than me in training and finished over 4 and a half hours which made me a little feel better. I didn’t like him much! It wasn’t until many years later that I realised it wasn’t all that bad a time but I was always very hard on myself and never made excuses for a bad run. I remember on the journey home we stopped at a service station for a Maccy D’s I and just sat outside giving it the Paddington stare.

Little Timmy Byrne is running his first marathon this weekend and I’m positive he’ll be great and will run a tremendous time maybe not this one and definitely one time. Stevie Wilcox is running London on a club place. I think it’s his first but more about London later. That’s got you salivating.

I had the best running day possible today. Tracey Thomas, Cheerleader Sue and myself embarked on a road trip to Seaton in Devon to compete in the Grizzly Cub very multi terrain race. Very multi terrain? Yes, shingle beach, road, wood, single track hills, more hills, stream crossing, shingle beach, more single track hills, road, more single track wooded hills, mud, steep inclines and steep declines. It was the best fun I’ve had with my clothes on! Joined by Ian Booth, the three Harriers ran the shorter 9 mile Cub rather than the 19 mile Grizzly mainly due to training time scale but I for one would have gladly attempted the full Grizzly and it’s probably the first time I was sorry to finish a race so soon.

On the journey down, Tracey’s car was rocked from side to side by a very intense wind and the clouds before looked full of rain, at least, but we were not deterred and were looking forward to what the day had for us. After all, last year the race had snow as well as all the other challenges. We were lucky, for a change for Tracey, with the parking. Not too early to be ushered into a car park half a mile away but not too late not to get any parking and we were ushered to the seafront a short walk from the start. We met Ian for the now obligatory Harrier team photo.

The route was well supported by locals in Seaton, where the weekend seems to be a festival with many events being staged, Beer and even on the hill tops where children were offering confectionery and high fives. Smiling faces and good wishes everywhere. It was a carnival of running, walking, wading, walking, running. The secret to a good time is definitely started higher up and being positive to get pass other runners to avoid slowing up on the single track climbs but to be honest I would happily jog around and soak up all of everything that the race offers.

I’m happy to report we all finished admirably and ran very acceptable times. Tracey and I were not sure what time we would complete it in but as it turned out we all ran well are and very keen to return. I would love to run the full Grizzly next year and make a weekend of it.

The story begins in April 2014. I fell off my bike cycling to work and broke my elbow. The break caused nerve damage and rendered my right arm and hand pretty much useless, we couldn’t pay our mortgage so we had to move to somewhere to buy outright. I always wanted to move to the seaside and we randomly chose Burnham-on-Sea, or Burnham chose us. I was determined to continue my interests to make new friends so I immediately joined Burnham-on-Sea Cricket Club and the Harriers. Sue and I moved in October so my first involvement was with the Harriers. To keep myself sane during my months off work in Tewkesbury I walked over many of the running routes I used to cover and I even started to run them so when moving to Burnham I felt confident of restarting my running habit.

Tuesday, 14th October 2014 6.00pm I rocked up at the Bay Centre to start my Harrier life. I don’t remember who was there only Tracey Benton and Kev Clements. We started slowly but I was really struggling and couldn’t keep up. I fell off the back and had to walk most of it due to cramping in my calves. Kev was my ‘Minder’ to ensure I didn’t get lost and put up with my apologies like ‘this hasn’t happened to me before’ (sic). I turned up most of the following weeks with the same result and Tracey recommended a physiotherapist at Vine Cottage. He checked me over and suggested new running shoes (yippee). Nothing changed but I did finally admit to having bloody stools and by now I couldn’t walk upstairs without getting out of breath. I saw a doctor in January 2015, he stuck a finger up my bum, took some blood and referred me to Bridgewater Hospital for a flexible sigmoidoscopy, basically a colonoscopy light. Before the scan and two days after my ‘violation’ he rang to tell me I was severely anaemic and prescribed iron tablets.

The nurses at Bridgewater were very nice and friendly but as soon as the procedure started they, and me, saw something on the screen and their demeaner changed to concerned and motherly. I felt the change like the icy blast up my hospital gown and the box was ticked. Blood tests later revealed my worst worse suspicion, cancer of the bowel. I walked back to the bus stop smiling at every stranger, Well, I was having a shitty day why spoil theirs. After talks with Dr. Mackay, my consultant, about my treatment, I was booked for stay at Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton commencing Tuesday, 5th May. I was gutted. I would miss Somerset’s cricket match against the touring New Zealanders.

To say I was scared was like calling the Gherkin in London ‘tallish’. Fortunately I was first on the table but it meant a 6.00am train to Taunton. It was a beautiful, serene morning. I walked to Musgrove via the cricket ground and sat for a moment there taking in the chill of the sunrise and thinking of what lay ahead. Was it all a crazy dream? After a short wait in reception, I was greeted by a nurse who offered to give me an enema. How could I refuse! I was then taken to surgery. I woke up in room which looked like room in a newly built house before the plaster had been put up thinking it must be the waiting room before you’re taken to Heaven or Hell. The nurses appeared to be floating like Angels and told them so. Good stuff that Codeine! The Angels realised I had come round and a porter, whose hobbies must have included Formula One, whisked me away to my room. A room! I thought I’d be in a ward like Carry on Doctor full of men wearing striped pyjamas with smuggled in bottles of whisky.

The next morning Dr. Mackay and his team came to visit, no flowers or grapes or chocolate but to admire their handiwork or butchery. The dressings were stripped off to reveal some quite neat work. No stiches it was glued. It was swollen, bruised but neat. After a couple of days the wound burst open and I was rushed back to surgery. It didn’t look neat then. My stay lasted over 3 weeks. I hardly slept preferring to watch the seagulls fly outside, listening to the nurses doing their rounds, changing shifts and then breakfast. I hated meal times. The smell made me feel so sick and the noise of trolleys and cutlery clattering. I hardly ate. The Doctor told Sue to bring in crisps for me to eat to increase my sodium level. It would take me two hours to eat a small, multi pack packet. The tubes, oh yes the tubes. I had them coming out of everywhere. The constant cannulas the thought still makes my stomach turn, injections, blood tests, X-rays and scans. I had no tv in my room but Sue brought in my laptop and a selection of Elliot’s, my son, must watch dvds. I binged on Breaking Bad. I even had the company of a nurse to watch football on Sky Go. Sue was great. She visited every day. She didn’t have much to say as she was always with me and I didn’t much to say as I was in hospital. But she always had a BLT sandwich, which I couldn’t eat, and used my toilet, which I couldn’t us. I was fortunate that I wasn’t the other side of the corridor as my view would have been of a cemetery! One of my colorectal nurses was a runner and every day said would say about how she ran the previous evening or ran to work in the morning. She was sickening but it inspired me to get back running. As I remember she was more of a hash runner. The nurses were absolutely fabulous apart from the one who removed the tube from my nose into my stomach. She told Sue that I looked like I would kill her.

A Walter White quote which has stayed with me is ‘It’s kind of funny. When I got my diagnosis – cancer – I said to myself, ‘Why me?’ And then, the other day, when I got the good news, I said the same thing’. My post cancer care was okish. I was lost on the system for first year so I don’t know if I caught up but I needed some sort of counselling. I felt, and still feel, guilty for not dying and I think it was unfair to get it in the first place. It really hits me hard when I hear of people I met and know who die prematurely.

I really appreciated the support I got from the Harriers, especially Tracey Benton. I reread the fb messages we exchanged and I felt teary. Our Trace is a good sort. When I eventually returned to Tuesday nights Kev and Jayne BJ were brilliant but I was glad to run again and at least start to prove I was a runner.

Life is a minestrone
Served up with parmesan cheese
Death is a cold Lasagne
Suspended in deep freeze

We may be soon to lose Nissan and Honda from these shores but one thing we have gained, or can gain, from the Japanese and keep is ‘Shinrin-Yoku’ or ‘Forest Bathing’. The idea is simple: if a person simply visits a natural area and walks in a relaxed way there are calming, rejuvenating and restorative benefits to be achieved. Of course runners have indulged in this practice since forever whether running a coastal path, through a wood or forest, or up and down Brent Knoll. Running has an easy repetitive action which allows you to focus on your surroundings, so why not. The feeling I always get is one of reconnection with nature and now, as a more mature and social runner, I like to spend a moment during races to appreciate running in a beautiful county. Carl Jung said ‘Whenever we touch nature we get clean’. This may all sound like tree hugging veganism but the benefits have been scientifically-proven and they include:

• Boosted immune system functioning, with an increase in the count of the body’s Natural Killer (NK) cells.
• Reduced blood pressure
• Reduced stress
• Improved mood
• Increased ability to focus, even in children with ADHD
• Accelerated recovery from surgery or illness
• Increased energy level
• Improved sleep

The results that we are experience as we make this part of our regular running practice are too good to miss:

• Deeper and clearer intuition
• Increased flow of energy
• Increased capacity to communicate with the land and its species
• Increased flow of eros/life force
• Deepening of friendships
• Overall increase in sense of happiness
• Escape

What’s not to love about being a runner. Weight loss, fitness, and if you get away from the concrete and tarmac, all the above. The charity MIND use this as a basis for their Ecotherapy treatment to improve mental health. Obviously the benefits are too good to ignore as ‘hippy’ nonsense.

Living here in Burnham-on-Sea I’m lucky to have running in nature on my doorstep and one such opportunity presented itself recently with a race in Weston-Super-Mare called Two Bays Tough Ten. Unfortunately the race had to be cancelled due to foreseeable road closures but the Harriers decided to use the route as a long training run. The ten mile route consisted of many of the Forest Bathing/Ecotherapy elements: coastal path (well, road), beach, hill and woods and when ran with friends at a gentler than race pace was thoroughly enjoyable. Conditions were excellent with no wind and a mild temperature which added to the conviviality of the occasion. The organisers had made the generous gesture of awarding medals at the finish point underneath the pier and as a result many local runners from many local clubs ran a training run with a reward. The event finished in a local Wetherspoons where beers, soft drinks, coffee and more beers were used to quench thirsts. The ending of a perfectly satisfying morning.

Not many opportunities to race in January therefore I trained hard and prepared as much as is possible for the Humdinger Half Marathon this period coincided with a introduction of speed training with the Harriers. There seemed to be, for the last few months of 2018, a desire for some runners to try and follow a specific ideal to run faster. After all, it’s only natural after training and racing for a year or so, to try and push yourself harder and to another level. Also, added is the increased competitiveness with the Somerset Series of road and multi terrain races and the club championship.prepared as much as is possible for the Humdinger Half Marathon this period coincided with a introduction of speed training with the Harriers. There seemed to be, for the last few months of 2018, a desire for some runners to try and follow a specific ideal to run faster. After all, it’s only natural after training and racing for a year or so, to try and push yourself harder and to another level. Also, added is the increased competitiveness with the Somerset Series of road and multi terrain races and the club championship.

Kev Clements and myself alternate every Wednesday night and hope our combined knowledge and experience may help others to reach their goals. Using the following sessions I hope we cover the basic elements of run training. Speed, hill/interval repetitions, long run and recovery run. Train hard and rest well and the results will come. It’s a classic simple formula that works. The secret is to keep it easy, repeatable and fun and using the acronym SMART –

Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time Based

This kind of kind of training regime served me well years ago and was popularised by, legendary New Zealand coach, Arthur Lydiard. Training has also benefitted with the introduction of Garmin, Polar, etc devices giving feedback which can be very useful but also technical. Results may not always be the most accurate but if used regularly with one device they give you a figure or benchmark to go by and indicate periods of fatigue or the onset of illness, such as colds, and extended rest would be required. Hopefully the participating Harriers enjoy, benefit and spread the love of these sessions.

Sunday was the first race date of 2019. The Humdinger Half Marathon was probably the toughest of all the seventy odd halfs I’ve ran. Maybe it was the toughest race hq to find as well because poor Steve Wilcox drove around nearly every street in the area and asking every pedestrian where it was. GPS can be vague. Climbing up and down from virtually the first step Over 1300 feet of climbing and the same descending. Hard work for quads, hamstrings and calves.

Harriers put in great performances in this race and it’s little brother, The Hurtle. Special mentions to Matt Powell, first Harrier home, Tracey Thomas, 6th lady and Super Sue Nicholls, first over 70 lady vet.

So I treated myself……..

After 31 consecutive days of running (well actually, it was 34 as I ran after Christmas), I have covered over 150 miles mostly around the well worn roads of Burnham-on-Sea and including some miles somewhere nearby in Somerset that I haven’t a clue where I was thanks to Kev Clements, Steve Wilcox and Tracey Benton. Most of the time I ran after work which was particularly hard after a 10 hour shift and thought many times that a night off would be beneficial. My times and average minutes per mile were pretty much as before but my active and resting heart rate reduced significantly meaning when I do race I can put more into it, hopefully. As the month went on, my ability to raise my slack ass and run got better thus meaning my fitness had improved. I didn’t race at all during January but am looking forward to my planned races in February. The forthcoming races are undulating and technical so I reckon the benefit, if I continue training regularly, will come in May and June with the 10km races and if I can bring those times down all others will follow. I don’t mean to go on about but since having cancer I see this as a bit of an achievement. I’ll cherish this and the medals and tee shirts I gain from races.

The calendar ticks over from January to February and how many people are still continuing their New Year’s resolutions of running and exercise? It can be difficult to suddenly decide to making a life changing difference on a given day, Jan 1, and continue with it. Once the initial momentum has slowed and the ground is full of ice and the clouds of snow and icy rain. What next? Towns and cities have an alternative of a plethora of fitness studios, gyms and leisure centres but the advertising of these disturb me. It seems they only want to attract the leanest, fittest and most attractive of people who clearly don’t need their facilities to at least boast their fitness prowess, who knows there many be other reasons. How would a person with depression, anxiety, negative body issues, low self esteem, etc react to the advertising below.

My club, Burnham-on-Sea Harriers, recently started an extra weekly training session to compliment the social Tuesday night jog and the Sado/Masochistic Core training on Thursdays. We have several quick and potential quick runners in the club and it was an idea to do some speed running sessions to sharpen up and maybe shave some seconds per mile in racing and produce personal records and some friendly competition. Of course it doesn’t end with those as all are invited and enticed to run a little quicker. It’s been well attended by members of all abilities, which is of great encouragement to me as I was one of the instigators.

So far we’ve had some threshold running, fartlek and point to point fast running using a Strava segment and Kev Clements has ‘promised’ us some hill work this week which is a necessary evil especially as we have a hilly half marathon this weekend. ‘In my day’ (old man!), I wouldn’t necessarily run intervals. I sometimes ran ladders on the track, like 400m, 800m, 1200m and back down, occasionally but found it boring. What I loved was the threshold run. I would do this at least 3 times a week of distances between 4 and 9 miles but adequate rest is essential. 10 minute mileing gets you nowhere if you always do it and it feels great to really push yourself. The endorphins turn you into a beast. Hopefully, Kev and myself, and any others who wish to get involved, will get our heads together and formulate a plan for all those more rapid 10kms in May, June and July. Needless to say next week I’ll be bragging over how I owned the Humdinger Half or not and I’ll probably say ‘does the finisher’s tee shirt come in a large?’.

Keep on Running

I first started running on Boxing Day 1996. Obviously I had ran before. Tag, British bulldog and kiss chase at school, and later cricket and football (and honestly, you do run playing cricket). This was the date, coincidently, after Christmas I decided I should exercise more and lose weight. I was a bit chunky and I wanted to lose weight and get fit for pre season cricket training that was about to start some three weeks later. I was also worried because my mum had had a stroke, she was overweight, and I wanted to prevent having the same fate.

Seven thirty that evening, in the dark and avoiding Emmerdale, I took my first tentative steps. I ran in the dark and around the local cemetery to steer clear of people, all people, people I know, judgmental people. I knew I was unfit. I knew I’d be gasping for air. I knew I was a bit of a wobble bottom. And, I knew I was a bit scared. At first I ran a bit and then walked and then ran a bit more. Gradually I ran more and walked less and when I first completed an hour’s running I was overjoyed. The weight also seemed to just slide off and I quickly lost two stone (pre-Brexit). During these early days, my runs were always time based as opposed to distance due to my lack of training knowledge and technology. Later I would use an ordinance survey map and a piece of cotton thread. I entered the Tewkesbury Half Marathon for May 1997 and my addiction was complete.

My running clothing was rather basic at this period. Wearing heavy cotton joggers and sweatshirt, I looked more like a 1950s boxing heavyweight rather than the gazelle like 60 minute runner. That Tewkesbury Half Marathon I finished 149 out of 475 in a time of 1.33.05 which I thought was okay. Sue worked with a lady who also ran and I began training with her and her husband. I say training this was a weekly Sunday morning 12 mile run but it convinced me that a weekly long run was the basis of any running routine. The arrangement was giving on both sides. I made them run faster and they gave me lifts to races. The next one was Gloucester Half in July. This race proved a significant improvement and the breakthrough of a sub 90 minute half. I finished 79/315 in a time of 1.28.33 and I was beyond chuffed and the die was set. Getting to the next level meant joining a club which would lead to friendly rivalry and the chance to enter more races.

Proper running gear now. View From vest, Nike shorts and Saucony shoes.

Some folks have being coming up to me and saying ‘Hey Clive, what’s all this Red January all about? and can you get me some strawberry jam?’ so I’ll try and explain. I make jam and I hate January. Although the days are lengthening, it’s still always dark, it’s cold, Christmas is long gone and Easter is a long time away. The only sunshine seems to have no warmth in it. Not much going for it really. This year I thought that I would attempt Red January, The Red being run every day.

Every runner worth their salt (y sweat) knows of the benefits of running. The improvement of strength, stamina, cardiovascular system, burning Christmas chocolate calories, the important time away from partners, time to think, and mental wellbeing and it’s the mental wellbeing that Red January wants to bring to greater attention. Mental health issues are nothing new. Ancient Greeks and Romans wrote of it, even Socrates but why a Brazilian footballer would I’ll never know. These issues take many forms anxiety, depression, post traumatic stress disorder, panic attacks, obsessive compulsive disorder and the symptoms are crippling. Amongst the symptoms are feeling hopeless, irritable, restless, worthless, frustration, tiredness, trouble sleeping whether too much or too little, self harm, and worse of all suicide. There may be more but they are pretty much what I suffered. My worst moment was about 7 or 8 years ago when on a weekend away at Butlins Minehead I decided I was all of the above and went for a walk. I intended to walk out into the sea and by the time I was found it’ll be too late and I was free but I didn’t because I didn’t want to get my new adidas trainers dirty. How irrational. Little did I know that Sue, my wife, her sister and her husband were worried sick and the Police were looking for me, and this time in a good way and not Milan, Sue will tell you!. Incidentally I was in fancy dress and looked like Axil Rose from Guns n Roses so what they thought when the Police asked for my appearance God only knows. Another thing was trichotillomania. A form of self harm which is pulling hair out and I frequently had bald patches above my ears and eyebrows.

My biggest phobia was and still is social occasions. I deal with them much better thanks to the ‘happy pills’, which doesn’t actually make me happy but keeps me on an even keel and not another statistic. Cognitive behavioural therapy can also be prescribed by the NHS but the waiting list can be many months. CBT teaches the patient to think differently and turn each ‘fear’ around and look at the positives but it didn’t do much for me. I try to use humour as a way of getting through but that can be subjective and I can appear to be an ass so I apologise. Running can help in a big way but not just the endorphins that a produced during it. Joining a club or park running on a Saturday is a great way of turning your life around. When I started running back in 1997 I appreciated the surroundings, nature and the things I took for granted so much more. When you do something that gives you a respite from misery, it’s hard not to get addicted.

I hope the few who may read this will look upon me favourably and not judge me too much. Robert Burton wrote in his 1621 book The Anatomy of Melancholy ‘What cannot be cured, must be endured’.

Keep on Running.

2018, eh, that was a year. I raced over twenty times and I haven’t done that for at least 12 years but this was during my ‘wilderness years’. Moving to Burnham-on-Sea 4 years ago brought me out of retirement. When moving to a new place, I thought, the best and quickest way to make friends would be to join the local running club and I was right. The Harriers welcomed me with open arms, and with so many people joining during 2018 they must feel the same.

The new club championship, won by Tracey Benton and Phil Hobbs (congratulations both), has encouraged everybody to get out and race and the yellow Harrier top has dominated many races this year. Me, I like bling and finisher tee shirts and to prove I can still rock n roll after cancer. The spare room is a shrine for my racing numbers.

The picture is of the HMS Victory and people instrumental of her restoration during the 1920s one of which was my Grandfather. Very proud!

Now for the bests of the year;

Best race: I thoroughly enjoyed The Old Downs Estate 10k in July. Off road, great views and technically challenging. And Sue can make herself heard all the way to the Severn Bridge. Honourable mention to Quantock Beast which I also loved and thanks to the marshals I didn’t get lost.

Best bling: The medals mean so very much to me now. Each one represents a positive step to health and fitness from my personal hell.

From the left Battle of Sedgemoor 10k, Brean Down Santa Scramble 10k and Tewkesbury Half Marathon but they all mean a lot

Memory of the year: Just has to be the Crewkerne 10k incident where an intoxicated woman drove dangerously up the final 200m of the course, was dragged out of her car, she started fighting with a bloke who had to sit on her until the Police arrived. Thanks to Mark Benton who bought me an ice cream after the run.

The new year of 2019 has now commenced and I wish all my fellow runners, especially Harriers, health, happiness and pbs. Special mention for all embarking on their first marathon. I’m sure I’ll write a post about marathons nearer the time. But what about my aims:

My biggest wish is for race organisers to disqualify all those wearing ear phones, ear buds, head phones, whatever. They are told not to wear on their email/posted race instructions and before the race but still wear them. Kick the buggers out I say, it’s dangerous. They can’t instructions from marshals, traffic and meander across in front of other runners. I seldom make New Year resolutions because the should be SMART ( specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and tangible)but I hope to get more sleep during the working week and run more frequently with the 7.00pm group.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYBODY XXX