Back up to speed.

Right. Catch up time as I stopped updating the other blog while I considered my move to a new site.

I have currently signed up for three events this year, mirroring last years chosen races quite closely. First one is the 16.3 miles of the Kilomathon on the 14th March. Last year I started out with the Ironbridge Half Marathon in March having never run that distance before, and just like last year I am hideously under prepared this time. The winter has not been particularly conducive to getting out there to train and just like my first half marathon I have not yet run the distance.

Next event on my calendar is the Great East Swim on 19th June in Alton Water. Last year I signed up to take part in the Great North Swim on a whim because of an email and I thoroughly enjoyed myself, I thought that this year I should try a different part of the country for an outdoor swimming event.

And then lastly in September I have been lucky enough to get another free ballot place on the Great North Run. Last year I had a fantastic time and the experience of fifty odd thousand people all running the same race was brilliant. This is a something I am really looking forward to again.

My 2010 training has not exactly been a glowing example to all so far. Since Christmas I have managed to put on a stone in weight, and have developed shin splints again, training has been limited to a couple of short runs which were not particularly enjoyable and a few games of squash each week. I think the squash has been aggravating, or at least prolonging the recovery from the shin splints so I have now called a halt to all games until after the Kilomathon so I can concentrate on being fit enough to run. After that I intend to focus on my swimming, before switching training back to running. I will scatter some games of squash, kayaking and cycling in amongst there as well.

The reason why I started all this in 2008 was to take part in the 125 mile Devises to Westminster kayak race. This is an event I desperately want to do but I set myself too big a challenge. I am a competent kayaker but I haven’t really sat myself in a slim and tippy racing boat, and when I have I have dedicated my entire effort to not to falling in. I then chose a crewmate who has done considerably less paddling than I have and who works unfavourable hours. The one and only time we went out in the two man racing boat, saw us swimming. My new plan for the DW is a slightly toned down and less difficult to organise affair. I now plan on taking the slightly easier 1 man race which will see a camp stop each night, rather than paddling the 125 miles in one sitting. I also intend to source a more stable boat that will still have enough speed to enable me to complete the distance. The Pyranha Speeder is the boat I think will suit my purpose and I have made arrangements to take one for a test drive very soon.