Hip Bursitis put paid to my New York plans after months of training – so the marathon eludes me once again.

We are travelling out to support my training buddy Rich in New York and then on to Boston for an extended break so we’re counting the days for that.

I failed to get a ballot place for the London Marathon next April but have approached SPARKS once again to see if they will offer me a place – still waiting to hear.

As for the training, it’s going well last week I managed a cumulative 9 miles on the tread, 80 lengths of the pool and four gym workouts – this week is looking similar but with slightly higher treadmill miles.

Intention is to carry on training for London until I hear otherwise. Long term the plan is to continue treadmill running midweek to save the joints and then do the long weekend run on the road.

Family are well – Toby is now at school!!

Take care,

Tez x

And I said NO Hal Higdon – I respect your ability to train millions of runners throughout the world – but today I feel like doing more!

So off I went determined to push up the mileage. All fine at six miles – and seven – and eight – and nine and I eventually arrived back home after completing 10.17 miles!

So really pleased with that at this stage – needed a bit of a confidence boost. I like Hals program but it does ramp up the mileage quickly in the final weeks and with New York under 4 months away I wanted to get into double figures again.

It was a slow old plod in 1:52:44 avg pace 11.04 but the route was cross country with quite a few gates to climb over so not too bad.

All well in the Lee camp – enjoyed the tennis at the weekend but glad it’s over now – spent too much time glued to the telly!

Last Friday we were at a works jolly – Champagne Tea at Claridges – very nice too! A glass of Champagne to start then sandwiches (no crusts dahlings!!) scones and cakes and more cups of tea than I’ve ever drank in one afternoon!! Highly recommend it though – just don’t have a drink in the bar before. We ordered 2 bottles of Champagne for ten of us – £200!!

Luckily we weren’t paying.

Have a great week.

Tez.

Did Tuesdays run and it was 84 degrees mid afternoon (sorry I still work in old language) and yesterday it was 86!

Decided to head out at 7am today but the sun was still really hot.

Anyway midweek update:

Tuesday – 3 miles – 30.40 – avg pace 10:12

Wednesday – 3 miles – 29.24 – avg pace 9.47 – with running partner

Today – 3 miles – 29.22 – avg pace 9:46

Now off to take Toby to spend two hours at his new BIG school!

Have a great day.

Tez.

Despite being distracted by the cake stall right next to the start line he managed an impressive second place. He was denied first place by his girlfriend Elise who he has since announced he wants to marry!!

All well in the Lee camp – slow but consistant. I’m a bit embarrassed to state my pace on here with the likes of Vicki and Keith “Clark Kent” Luxon posting 7 and 8-minute miles!

But here’s last weeks efforts:

Tues – 3 miles – 29.19 – 9.45 pace

Wed – 3 miles – 30.52 – 10.16 pace

Thursday – 3 miles – 30.20 – 10.06 pace

Saturday – 7.33 miles – 1:18:35 – 10.43 pace

This week is three 3-milers and 6 on Saturday – but I’m planning on stretching this a bit and have 8 miles planned.

Anyone know how you get the per mile splits on a Garmin?

All the best,

T.

All is well in the Lee camp – way too busy working when I should be out in the sunshine. Did manage to have a lovely Fathers Day and took the VW to Blenheim Palace along with my Cobb oven http://cobb-bbq.co.uk/  (everyone should have one of these!!)

Chilled out in the sun with Tracey and Toby whilst cooking a joint of pork which we enjoyed with a greek salad and some wine. So many people took an interest in the camper and the smell of the pork I should have started selling food!

Still managing to keep up with the Hal program with no runs missed yet!

Had three 3-milers in a row last week with another 3-miler on Saturday all completed in around 29 mins. This week it’s three 3-milers and 6 miles on Saturday.

Finally JUF the magic wagon is in primer and is looking much much better – pictured here with another VW awaiting paint.

Have a great week folks….

It seems like yesterday he was like this

And now he is the incredibly bright and intelligent oik you see below!!

Tracey spent much of the evening crying at the prospect of her “little” boy going to school and I started crying when I was handed the school uniform price list!!!

We were also given a list of what they expect all pupils to be able to do for themselves before September. I think our house will become boot camp for the next few months.

Anyway, easy Hal week this week – 3 miles yesterday in 30:34 and the same today in 29:13 so all going to plan.

Also going well is progress on my other little baby – JUF the Magic Wagon – who is about to go into primer before being painted.

Happy Days!

Well hardly surfing as I spent most of the holiday hauling Toby back onto his bodyboard!

Anyway back from a fab break in Cornwall despite a bad start to the week when the VW camper nearly burst into flames and had to be recovered and brought home!

A faulty fuel pump decided to pump fuel over the manifold resulting in huge clouds of smoke but luckily (and amazingly) no flames!!

So our journey continued in two cars – but the sun shone, the waves were good, plenty of food and wine was consumed and we met Jamie Oliver on the beach at Watergate Bay.

He was there for the graduation of the current crop of Fifteen students. Also had some cracking fish and chips at Rick Steins washed down with a few pints of Chalky’s Bite – carb loading you understand! 

Most importantly – Hal would have been proud as I stuck to my running schedule throughout the week:

Tuesday – 2 miles – 20.32

Wednesday – 3 miles – 29.37

Thursday – 2.5 miles – 25.20

Saturday – 6.35 miles – 1.07.02

Finding it hard to get motivated for work today – but an easier running week ahead with just four 3-milers to do.

Take care,

Tez. 

Bertie the camper is through his MOT and ready to go. We’re cheating a bit as we are driving in the VW but staying at our friends holiday home – so by day we’ll look like hardened surfers but by night we will be curled up in the comfort of a stunning new cottage www.rockhavencottage.co.uk

As well as cooking local fish dishes myself we’ll be sampling what Rick Stein has to offer and are also planning a trip to Jamie’s Fifteen at Watergate Bay for breakfast.

Training has been great this week and I’ve just completed Hals three-in-row runs:

Tuesday 2 miles – 19:19 – 9.38 pace

Wednesday 3 miles – 31:12 – 10.23 pace

Thursday 2.5 miles – 24.14 – 9.40 pace

Next run is a scheduled 3 miler somewhere in Cornwall.

Also entered the ASICS British 10k on July 12th – debating whether to give the Elvis outfit its first outing!!!!

Take care,

Tez.

My dream hemi-powered barbecue!!!

Saturday was my five miler with Richard – my New York partner – he was nursing a hangover and we didn’t set off until 11am. Stupidly I ran in my long leggings and long sleeved top so needless to say I was hotter than a jalopeno in a heatwave!

Don’t know why but I was nervous about the run – pacing around the house and just couldn’t wait to get it done. Richard has run New York before and I think I was just concerned about keeping up with him. Anyone else get nervous before a run??

In dog terms he’s a whippet and I’m a St Bernard so I was pleased that he stuck with me at my pace!

Anyway all went well – 5.1 overheated miles in 53.41

Saturday evening we were out at a friends party which was great fun and yesterday Toby was at a friends 4th birthday party so I sneaked to the gym for an excellent upper body workout.

This week is Hals dropback week so nothing too taxing – I’m just back from today’s 2 miler – done in 19:19.

Three miles tomorrow and 2.5 Thursday and just a 3 miler at the weekend.

Take care,

Tez.

Went to a charity ball on Friday evening with Tracey’s work at the Europa Hotel – famously known as the most bombed hotel in Europe!!

It’s now a very plush place and we had a great night there before moving to the Culloden Estate and Spa on the other side of Belfast – a much quieter but equally stunning hotel.

Saturday was my planned 3-miler and I hopped in the car to find a suitable route. Purely by chance I spotted a sign for the Crawfordsburn Country Park and right in the car park was a sign for an Adidas approved 3-mile trail!! So that’s what I did.

It was a hard trail but lots of fun dodging around the lanes finishing with a nice run on the coastal path. 3 miles in 33 minutes so I felt like I had earned my Guinness.

Sunday was spent at the Giants Causeway which was incredible and yesterday we were at a family fun day at Stormont which was sponsored by Tracey’s company.

Here we are at the Belfast Wheel on Saturday.

Anyway back to this week and the plan is 2 miles today, 3 tomorrow, 2 Thursday and 5 on Saturday.

All the best,

Tez.