JOB DONE

TC and I had to leave at 05:30am on Sunday 27th September in order to make the 7am registration in Limone for the 2009 Lake Garda Marathon. I was completely and utterly nervous and anxious leaving the Euro Camp site made even worse by the Italian (obviously) security guard who wouldn't let me out of the site because the

gate didn't open until 7am.

Me: But I have travelled all the way from the UK to run this Marathon and I need to be there in an hour and a half.

SG: It is not possible.

Me: But I really really need to leave now.

SG: It is not possible

And on it went for 10 mins until he eventually let me out. I hate that guy!

The drive was dark and we talked nervously about the race and how we were feeling. I was actually quite glad of the fact that we had to spend a few hours in the car before hand as it gave us time to focus.

We arrived in Limone on time and we both amazed as to how beautiful it was first thing in the morning. By now I was excited and ready to rock. The place was littered full of Italian athletes from all walks of life and ages. I was wearing a Welsh flag vest for the occasion which seemed to go down well with alot of people. A guy called Cerith came up to me and introduced himself as well. He is from Pontypridd and this was his 20th Marathon. He had been reading this very blog. I didn't get a chance to see him after so, " hello Cerith. "

Time was dragging and by 08:30 I could really feel the heat. By the time we made our way to the starting line TC and I were jumping up and down with excitement. Just before the starting gun went The Who's Baba O'riley came blasting out of the speakers.

It's strange but I can remember pretty much the whole race from start to finish. It was the most incredible, life affirming feeling. Although there were thousands of runners it was very peaceful. The sky was blue and the lake green and it was everything I had imagined it to be and more. Just thinking about it now makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

Everyone enters Marathon's for different reasons. For me it was to make a point. To prove to myself that I had turned a corner and that I was capable of completing something as epic as a marathon. I have basically been on the piss for the past 10 years and whilst that is all very well and good it doesn't really work for me anymore.

Our tactic was to stay behind the 4hours pace makers for the whole race and at 14 miles we actually over took them to the point that they were out of sight. A school boy error really cos by 18 miles I hit the wall.

I had never hit the wall before in my training and it left me pretty much unable to move. No matter how hard I tried to run my legs would not let me. I think at this point a little tear came down my face. I told TC to go ahead whilst I sorted myself out.

I managed to find the strength to carry on and ran the last 8 miles at various speeds. The truth is I was just not used to running in such heat. Someone told me that at one point in the race temperatures reached 28c.

What really picked me up was a stranger who said to me, " come on you Welsh warrior. lets finish the racer together! " I ran the last bit with him.

I eventually came down the home straight to find Deb and Noah and my Mum and Dad all cheering me on, which was beautiful.

My time was 4hrs and 20 and TC did it in just under 4hours, which was incredible really considering it was his first time. Well done!!

We had a pizza afterwoods and then had to drive for 2 hours back to where we were staying. We all went out for a beautiful meal in the evening and enjoyed my first beer in a month.

The weird thing is now I just want to do more. The whole experience has been so positive.

Thanks for all your sponsorship. Really cool that so many of you got behind me and I had a nice email from someone at Brake to say thanks.

What a fantastic voyage indeed.

Hwyl

Baz x

COMPLAIN COMPLAIN...

Cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough Cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough Cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough Cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough.

I have been coughing and complaining alot for about a week now. Much to the annoyance of those close to me. In fact all I have done is talk about how bad my chest is and how much my leg hurts and how this race is really " touch and go " now for me.

I am really excited though and the cough is starting to pass. We leave for Lake Garda @ 6am tomorrow and pretty soon it will all be over.

I have thought about nothing else since March and I have been amazed at how disciplined I can be when i put my mind to it.

So here's hoping that it goes well. I have done everything I can and I am gonna smash up Lake Garda on Sunday.

The money you have all been donating to brake has proved that you are all incredible, gentle, caring people and I love you all. Brake is a brilliant charity and they told me to tell you that they think you are very cool indeed.

I will let you know how i get on.

Cough.

Baz x

Flopsy

My training has been injury free for the last 6 months. Typically, less than two weeks before the race I am having pains in my right leg. Everytime I bend down to pick something up or walk down the stairs I get a shooting pain. It feels like I am being stabbed and I am starting to feel that sinking feeling. Again..

I remember the last time I had this " sinking " feeling. It was 1993 in Fairwater, Cardiff and I was sitting in a circle in my drama class. I was 12 years old and was enjoying being in high school. I was fascinated by a girl called Lee Anne Butlin who happened to be sat opposite me in aforementioned circle in my drama class.

I don't know why I wore boxer shorts on that day. But, as I sat crossed legged on the floor in Fairwater in 1993 I felt a strange sinking feeling as I realised that both my left and right testicle had " flopped " out to say hello, much to the amusement of the 26 children who were all pointing and laughing at me and them. From that day on all the girls in school called me flopsy.

No wonder I was a virgin until I was 20.

I have that sinking feeling again now, almost 17 years later. I am scared that there is something wrong with my leg and that I'm not going to be able to do the race.

I went to the doctor today and he said I needed to rest and not do any running for a while.

The race is next week.

Flopsy X

The schedule

They say that to succeed at running a marathon you need to be prepared. I have heard horror stories of people who don't put the miles in before the race and don't even manage to complete half of it.

To not prepare you would have to be a nugget and I'm not a nugget. A muppet for sure, but definitely not a nugget.

The schedule has been difficult. It has at times been joyful and fun and other times completely soul destroying/bad and nasty. It has been my everything since April and I love it.

Give or take a few miles here it is...

week number	week commencing	Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wed	Thurs	Fri	Sat	Total
1	4/5/09	3	4	Rest	3	Rest	3	3	13
2	4/12/09	7	Rest	3	5	2	Rest	0	17
3	4/19/09	7	Rest	0	7	5	0	3	24
4	4/26/09	0	Rest	3	6	4	Rest	4	26
5	5/3/09	4	Rest	3	Rest	4	Rest	4	15
6	5/10/09	8	Rest	3	6	5	Rest	4	28
7	5/17/09	9	Rest	5	6	6	Rest	4	30
8	5/24/09	9	Rest	3	7	6	Rest	5	32
9	5/31/09	10	Rest	6	8	6	Rest	4	34
10	6/7/09	12	Rest	6	8	6	Rest	4	36
11	6/14/09	6	Rest	4	Rest	4	Rest	4	18
12	6/21/09	14	Rest	6	8	6	Rest	4	38
13	6/28/09	16	Rest	6	8	6	Rest	5	41
14	7/5/09	17	Rest	6	8	6	Rest	5	43
15	7/12/09	6	Rest	5	Rest	5	Rest	4	20
16	7/19/09	20	Rest	5	7	6	Rest	4	42
17	7/26/09	14	Rest	6	8	6	Rest	4	38
18	8/2/09	7	Rest	5	Rest	6	Rest	4	22
19	8/9/09	12	Rest	5	7	6	Rest	4	43
20	8/16/09	14	Rest	6	8	6	Rest	4	38
21	8/23/09	20	Rest	6	7	rest	rest	3	36
22	8/30/09	10	Rest	5	7	6	Rest	5	32
23	9/6/09	16	Rest	5	7	10	Rest	3	36
24	9/13/09	10	Rest	7	Rest	5	Rest	4	30
25	9/20/09	10	Rest	6	Rest	4	Rest	1-2 Opt.	20-22
26	9/27/09	26.2	Rest	Rest	Rest	Rest	Rest	Rest	Marathon
									Week