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Manchester (again) Week Nine

Oh Manchester, So Much To Answer For
Week 9

Well, it's that time once again and it only feels like Amsterdam was 5 minutes ago, but here we go again ...

The week in numbers ...
Miles ran: 0.00
Gym visits: 2 (Poly Gym)
Chocolate eaten: 2 bars
Alcohol drunk: 2 bottles of wine

Weight: Not weighing myself when I'm not running

Monday 23rd February

It's rest day, it's also injury rest day.

Hamstring still doesn't feel great, I'll do some more foam rolling today and light stretching and try not to give it too much thought.

Going to focus on my eating this week, if I'm not running I need to be sensible with what I eat and that means no chocolate and no sweets and no cakes and no flapjacks and no tasty things that I like eating. I'll probably just stick to dust.

The weather this week looks much better and I'm unusually quiet with work which is really annoying as usually that would mean daytime runs in the sunshine. I suppose I should go to the gym and do gym 'stuff' but I can't bring myself to do this.

I'm pissed off.

I have a glass of wine before bed.

Tuesday 24th February

Busy morning working and then got the afternoon off and planning to pop into Whitley to scour some charity shops.

I always buy some clothes from charity shops for the start of a marathon, cheap stuff I can then throw away at the start line and this year I've given the Manchester crew a challenge of who can find the weirdest, ugliest, stupidest outfit. This came about after the last couple of marathons I've done.

For Amsterdam I bought a jacket that was labelled as medium but when I put it on the morning of the marathon it turned out to be XXL and I could have fit 4 of me in it, it was bright yellow and very squeaky when I walked. For Manchester last year I got some trousers in my size, I got them home and washed them and then chucked them iny bag and on the morning of the marathon I put them on and the previous owner must have taken them up and they were about 3" too short for me. I looked an absolute tit walking to the start in them but then I also fit in well with the Manchester hipsters. I also still regret not buying the full Arriva Bus Driver uniform I once saw for a fiver, trousers, jumper and gilet all branded. I would have looked so good in that. I have my eye on a couple of nice outfit choices already.

Evening and it's track at the club and the Michigan session which I really want to do but instead I stand and watch and get very cold and then walk home cold and annoyed.

Massage booked for tomorrow, I'm hoping it helps ease things.

I have a glass of wine before bed.

Wednesday 25th February

I've got a half day off work, walk into Whitley early to meet my mum for a coffee and then home for a massage and then working.

Firstly, I'd like to apologise to every person that has been to me for massage and who has had my elbow driven deep into their hamstrings and glutes.

The pain was absolutely horrific, I may have sworn once or twice and I'm glad I was face down so my expression was hidden. One or two tears were shed as I grimaced in pain. I think I also dribbled quite a lot.

My worst fears were confirmed when I was told it probably was a hamstring tear, albeit a small one that is starting to heal. After an hour of prodding, elbowing, swearing and crying I then paid for the privelidge and lay on the settee with Murphy and tried not to think about worse case scenarios and just get depressed instead.

I thought about going to the gym.

I thought about eating some chocolate.

Instead I cleaned the house, cooked dinner for everyone and then had a glass or two of wine.

Thursday 26th February

Half day working and again no running.

Again I consider the gym and again I don't go.

Today I also took delivery of a new toy for the Cookson and Trail Runs. I have purchased a megaphone, a 200 watt megaphone with a 1500m range with a siren and voice changer built in.

Can you imagine just how much fun I had with this today? Can you imagine how much fun my dog did not have with this today? A siren blasted at 200watts in my living room is really loud. When I say really loud I may be somewhat understating just how loud. Murphy may never trust me again.

Let aleeping dogs lie.

Don't blast sirens at them.

Club in the evening, I go half an hour in the clubhouse gym and lock the megaphone in the cupboard. I can't be trusted to have this in my house.

Friday 27th February

I have a day off work!

So today I'm going to be selfish and do things for myself. I attempt a lie in but that doesn't happen when Gail's alarm goes off and Murphy decides to go outside and bark at the Spanish dogs next door.

If I haven't mentioned before Murphy doesn't like the Spanish dogs. He's very xenophobic, like a dog version of Nigel Farage.

I get up, have some breakfast and a coffee and take old Nigel Farage for a walk.

Then head off to North Shields to go to a new record shop I've wanted to visit for a while. I spend an hour or so perusing and come away with a Morrissey album and two Madonna albums. I was never a Madonna fan back in the day but she was one hell of a pop star and I'm a sucker for Like A Prayer.

In the afternoon I spend ages on vinted trying to find a new jacket, I spotted a Barbour jacket in the shops a few weeks back and it's been plaguing me ever since. A navy blue cotton waxed jacket with 4 pockets and a high collar, it was pricey so I'm trying to find a second hand one. I really like it and can't quite work out why I like it so much. Then today I realise why I like it so much. It's because I already have the exact same jacket, I purchased it about 16 years ago and it's still in my wardrobe.

I'm such a tit.

My brother once sent me a photo of some new purple Adidas he got himself, they were nice and I said how much I fancied some purple trainers. I spent hours looking for purple Adidas, eventually tracked down the ones I wanted and then even more hours on vinted and eBay looking for the exact ones in my size. Put in an offer on a pair and then realised I had no space in my wardrobe for them so thought I could sell the pink puma I rarely wear and that frees up a space. Went to check the pink pumas and right next them was a bright purple pair of Adidas. I have no recollection of ever buying these trainers.

I'm such a tit.

Saturday 28th February

No parkrun today.

My leg is feeling a lot better but not quite ready to run yet.

I'm hoping a few more days.

After 8 weeks of marathon training through 30mph winds, blizzards, ice, pissing rain and grey skies it decides today to be a glorious crisp, sunny, winter morning when I can't run.

Me and Gail have a day out wondering about some shops and buying stuff we don't need and then home for a bath and then watch the Brits with the kids and have a glass or two of wine. My reaction the the Brits as a 50 year old fella who's musical taste hasn't moved on massively from the early 90's. Some of it was awful, a lot of it was very entertaining, not my taste but I can see why people like it. Huge highlight seeing Bjork performing and then Ghostface Killah with Mark Ronson. The most horrifically awful part of the entire night was Robbie Williams doing Ozzy Osbourne.

Sunday 1st March

Today I should be doing Middlesbrough Half Marathon. 8 weeks of marathon training and I was in superb form and today I was going to smash it.

Last year I got a PB here, a PB I hadn't beaten since 2017 and this year I was way fitter and faster and I was aiming to smash that 1:30 barrier.

Instead I was walking round Aldi doing the big shop and eating a Lion Bar Duo.

Leg feels a lot better, I can bend fully without any pain and foam rolling feels much easier. I was told to give it a week and see if it's ready for a test run, I'm thinking another couple of days and then decide. I have very tentatively pencilled in a very slow tester on Tuesday, a mile or so and if it's okay I'll do a steady Grand Prix, or maybe not.

I hate being injured.

I have another bath and drink some more red wine.

I'm also still eating like I'm running 60 miles a week and I need to get a handle on that.