Bad knees?

Did a few miles through the woods at lunchtime. Was troubled by pains in both knees. Hope it's not going to be long-term as has been the case when I've been training for other marathons. The run-up (!) to this one has so far been almost trouble-free. Just need to keep it like that.

Good news from Capricorn is that they've got planning permission to add new housing for the animals in their care. Sounds like the money I'm raising might be helping to fund a new cat and kitten unit.

On the strength of that, here's a photo of Bunty, described as 'a very lucky little cat', because - paralysed from the waist back - she was dragging herself along the middle of a main road when a kind soul picked her up and took her to Capricorn. Apparently she now walks well, with just a slight limp on one hind leg.

 






Photo courtesy of Capricorn

Too much work

Hoped to run today, but pressure of work made me think again. Instead, I did 13 miles on the exercise bike. Just 29 mins, so far less time-consuming, even with a shower afterwards. If I can finish the work I'm currently doing, I should be able to run tomorrow. And the weather's getting better ...

Abandoned

This is Bryn, one of the dogs rescued by Capricorn. He was found tied to a telegraph pole on a main road. He was very thin and had a damaged hind leg.

Said to have been in agonising pain for about a year, Bryn is described as a wonderful young dog who's now full of life - and always hungry!

Photo courtesy of Capricorn

Three weeks to go

In three weeks' time, the Marathon will be over. And I'll have beaten my target of 3 hrs 40 - or not.

I'll also have raised some money for Capricorn - though not as much as I'd like, judging by the poor response so far. I'm particularly annoyed that I've not even managed to recoup 20 quid that I spent on putting a flyer in delegates packs at a conference I was involved with.

Fingers crossed that donations pick up after Easter ...

That's better!

Did 13 miles in the hills. Bright, sunny, cold and very windy at times. Also very, very muddy in places and still some patches of snow. Took me 2 hrs 15 mins, but that was okay, cos it was just about doing a long run and not about speed.

Felt amazingly good afterwards- so different from last Sunday, when I was wrecked after 17.5 miles. Maybe eating a Zipvit energy bar rather than using gels helped?

Same again ...

Another four miles through the woods. Very wet underfoot and dangerously slippery in places, so lots of concentration needed to stay upright.

Weather so far today has been glorious, with sunshine and blue skies only now giving way to cloud, though no sign of rain. Just a few days ago, the forecasters were telling us today would be a washout. So wrong again, as they so often are. If weather forecasters were on performance-related pay, they'd struggle to make ends meet. Too many of them seem to think their role is to entertain us. Just focus on giving us accurate forecasts. Please.

Mud, mud ...

Did about 4 miles through the wet, windy and very muddy woods. Didn't bother with the Garmin, so don't know exact distance. Just used my trusty old stopwatch (bought as a souvenir when I did the 2006 London Marathon). Thought I'd enjoy the run more without constantly worrying about pace and distance - and I did! Great to be out. Hopefully that sets me up for something similar tomorrow and then a long run on Sunday (when the weather is supposed to be better).