Celeb runners

The Londonpaper has printed some celebrities' target times for Sunday's London Marathon.  Here they are:

Johnny Lee Miller: 3:15

James Cracknell: 3:35

Ronan Keating: 3:30

Gordon Ramsey: 3:45

Ben Fogle: 4:00

Kate Lawler: 5-6 hours.

I believe Ronan Keating was on GMTV this week saying the longest he had run in his training is 6.2 miles. And he wants to finish in 3:30?  We'll see which one of these is true.  

A massive thanks

I've now topped my sponsorship goal. Thanks to everyone who has sponsored me.  And thanks to my boss's, boss's, boss's, boss's boss, even though he does want some pain for his money.

3 day weather forecast

We may have had bright summer sunshine over the last few days but the BBC forecast for Sunday still has the Black Clouds, Sunshine and, now, Two Drips of rain on it.  I just hope the rain comes after 4pm when most people have finished and have been cheered home.

I'm also still hoping that like the last few days that the forecast is wrong and the Weatherpeople will be changing the signs to a Sun and a Fluffy Cloud on the Day.

JB's Paris Marathon Part 2

...And here's how it ended.

Mile 14 – It’s getting serious now as we follow the river Seine past Notre Dame, with the Eiffel Tower coming into view in the distance. It’s the start of a series of tunnels, which finish with uphill sections into the fresh air. My left knee starts hurting, this isn’t good.

Mile 15 – A really small woman overtakes me - I reckon she’d give R2 D2 a run for his money in the height stakes – either I’m slowing down or she’s sprinting! We go through to Alma tunnel where Diana died although Royal history is the last thing on my mind at this point. It’s time to put Editors on the I-Pod.

Mile 16 – I get a few strange looks from fellow runners after shouting, “come on this is massive” in a loud voice. Not sure why I did it but with just 10 miles to go I was searching for anything to get me going.

Mile 17 – I’m really feeling it now and struggling to stay concentrated, this is the crucial time because the furthest I’ve ever run is 18 miles.

Mile 18 – My will power breaks and I start walking for a few yards then jogging and walking for a few yards before jogging again. Hopefully this won’t last long, it feels like I’m being overtaken by hundreds of people and ruining my chances of getting a good time. There are plenty of other people struggling but R2 D2 woman must be f**king miles away by now.

Mile 19 – A guy with John written on his back goes past and I decide to use him as my pacemaker. Suddenly an old guy runs past John and shouts “come on don’t let a old bloke beat you.” I accept the challenge.

Mile 20 – The old guy disappears into the distance.

Mile 21 – I think this is what they call the wall but it shows no sign of letting up. I’ve totally lost energy, it’s hard to concentrate, negative thoughts start creeping in and I can’t even come up with my all time worst Leicester City 11. Time to put the Charlatans on the I-Pod. A man on stilts overtakes me - this is getting ridiculous.

Mile 22 – I’m looking for anything to restore my energy so I grab dates, a sugar cube and an orange slice from one of the refreshment stands. Two hours ago kilometres were passing in a flash now they feel like they’re going on forever. I select Martin Hodge in goal but that’s as far as it goes. The man with the huge inflatable ball on his back overtakes me.

Mile 23 – I’m getting desperate for energy now and grab a cider from a stall on the side of the road. You can take the boy out of the westcountry but you can’t take the westcountry out of the boy.

Mile 24 – Finally there’s some light at the end of the tunnel and as I can feel the finish line getting closer I pick up a bit of pace. An attractive woman shouts my name.

Mile 25 – Everything hurts but I can hear the buzz at the finish in the distance, no way I’m going to stop running now.

Mile 26 – It feels pretty emotional as I get see the finish line but it still feels miles away. The road widens into a huge straight and I run close to the crowd to spur me on to the end and finally after 4 hours and 30 minutes I’m over. I’m pretty disappointed with the time but relieved I didn’t let anyone down by not finishing. I feel dreadful physically but getting my hands on the medal perks me up – it’s all over. Now where’s R2 D2 woman?!

JB's Paris Marathon Part 1

As I wrote last week, my mate JB ran the Paris Marathon on Sunday. Here's part one of his take on how it went. Please note that what you are about to read isn't exactly going to be like Radio 4's From Our Own Correspondent...

Lining up on the Champs Elysees the nerves really start to kick in - Everyone around me looks a lot more prepared with packed utility belts, race plans and snazzy kit but after a quick look behind me at the Arc De Triomphe we’re underway to the tune of Chariots of Fire on the PA system.

Mile 1 – It’s really hard to keep a slow pace with the adrenaline really kicking in, especially when you’re running past thousands of cheering crowds and loads of TV cameras – I give one of the cameras a wave but then spend the next mile worrying it may have looked like a Nazi salute. There are dozens of discarded jumpers and bags so everyone’s being really careful not to slip over – that would be embarrassing...

Mile 1 (contd) – Nearly slip over.

Miles 2 – We’re past the cobbled section and into the really busy Paris streets. I was told the public here don’t get enthusiastic about the marathon but they seem really up for it and it’s a real buzz being cheered on.

Mile 3 – A little kid shouts “Allez John” from the pavement. For a minute I wonder what’s going on but then I remember he’s seen the name on my shirt. I decide to see how many attractive women I can get to shout my name.

Mile 4 – No attractive women have shouted my name.

Mile 5 – No attractive women have shouted my name.

Mile 6 – A Trevor Mcdonald look-alike shouts my name. I give him the thumbs up and shout “merci” – beggars can’t be choosers!

Mile 7 – We pass the 10km and I give the inflatable marker a little punch – my ill thought out race plan is to split the race into 4 10km blocks so one down three to go – I’m just behind the 4 hour marathon pace.

Mile 8 – Pick up a bottle of water at the drinks stop – it’s a bit of a scrum and you have to dodge other runners and bottles as people throw them on the side of the road. Getting one of them in the head would really hurt.

Mile 8 (contd) – get a bottle in the head.

Mile 9 – Things get a bit more challenging as we leave the city and head into a huge park where the crowds are a lot thinner. I decide to pass the time by coming up with my all time Leicester City best 11.

Mile 9 – I controversially choose Mike Whitlow at left back.

Mile 10 – I see a runner having a poo next to a tree and I’m relieved that I didn’t have that second banana at breakfast. It’s hilarious seeing all these people sprinting into the woods.

Mile 11 – I sprint into the woods for a quick pee!

Mile 12 – My legs are starting to feel a bit tight but I’m feeling ok coming up to the halfway point, it’s time to eat one of my gels – blueberry – nice!

Mile 13 – Over halfway, heading back into the city and the crowds are really beginning to grow. I overtake a man wearing a huge inflatable ball on his back. He’s really struggling so I give him a pat on the back and shout “bon courage.” I’ve done the half marathon in two hours, which could be a mistake!

In part 2...watch out for when John next sees the man with the inflatable ball and the R2D2 girl.

5 Day forecast

Today, the BBC weather forecast has a dark cloud with rain at the bottom and a bright sun in the top right hand corner for the London Marathon on Sunday.  I don't actually think this means much especially as today's forecast, yesterday, had the same symbol until the sun came out and the BBC weathermen (or women) changed it. The max temp is predicted at 11 and Min is 3 degrees C. Last year temperatures topped 21.

Final week is on track

All day I've been under a cloud of depression. People have been asking if I'm excited or worried and, to be honest, I have no feelings about the marathon at all.

I've just got home from a long tube journey without my usual run home from London Bridge to break up the monotony.  Marathon or not, running home is the way forward.  There's only so much stink, sweat and sullen faces you can take in rush hour. I finished off The Guardian from this morning, read both London free papers, and scouted around to see what other people were reading as I had left my Ipod to charge at home - girl opposite, The Kite Runner; bloke next to me, Alastair Campbell's Diaries; and a bloke standing up was engrossed in Heat.

The two freebies both had marathon tips in them.  They were talking about tapering and what the week should entail.  One said you should have a marathon plan and stick to it.  Now,  I've had a plan which has been steadily developing since January.  Although, sticking to it will be the difficult part.

Here it is:

Mile 1. Start off slowly and run a 10:30 mile.

Mile 2-5.  Run 10 minute miles.

Mile 6- 18.  Get into a rhythm that will enable a 9:30 pace but with 30 seconds of walking at each mile marker to take in water and PowerBar gels.

Mile 18- 26. Sprint finish.  Well, er, no, not really,  but no particular planned stops just run as far as I can with as few walking breaks as my withering, failing body will allow.

Mile 26 - 26.2(Finish).  One last push.

Now, Unlike the rest of the day, I'm getting a little psyched for Sunday.