Simon Peevers is fundraising for British Heart Foundation - JustGiving

Simon Peevers is fundraising for British Heart Foundation - JustGiving

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Peevo's Got A Brand New Hat! or Dexy's Marathon Runners!

Pic caption: My aching feet after three hours. Pic posed by model.


Regular followers of my travails may remember that I mentioned my trusty running hat had become quite disgusting by last week and in fact had become stiff with weeks of sweat and grime.
So while Amy got the tongs out and put it in the washing machine, I went down to MOTI on Whiteladies Road and bought myself a brand new hat. It was a good move even if, as it was pointed out, it does look like a swimming cap. Which is true. I only went in to get some new headphones after failing at Panasonic.
I don't know why I believe the crap that sales people tell you, I fall for every time. I've been looking for headphones to stick in my iPod which is an essential bit of kit, my current ones don't fit properly.

So the guy behind the counter recommended a certain pair for £15, which he swore had the best sound quality and fitted comfortably in your ear.
As soon as I got out of the shop I tried them on and after hooking them round my lugholes like a couple of hearing aids, my heart sank as the sound quality was woeful and I could have heard more standing next to somebody else and listening to the tinny sound coming from their headphones.
In a fit of peak I snapped them and huffed towards MOTI where the service was much better as I was at least allowed to try before I decided to buy, although at £36 I should think so. I can't really believe I paid that much for a pair of headphones, but while I was there I realised I needed the new hat and went off home to get ready for my run. Before I get into that though, what the hell is wrong with this city/country that I have to drive around all day looking for a garage that has a working car wash and air for tyres. I can't believe I live in one of the biggest cities in one of the biggest countries and that simple service evades me at every turn.
It's the third or fourth time I've tried to get my car clean and tyres pumped, but every time the clueless nerk behind the counter just shrugs his shoulders and says 'sorry mate, it's not working. I don't know when it will be working again, we don't operate it you see, it's another company that deals with that'. ARRRRGHGHGH.
Anyway, instead of punching somebody I channelled my rage and frustration into going for a run and somehow managed to go for three hours and three minutes, covering 14.3 miles.
I wanted to do a decent long run today, because I worry that it's only 2 months and 24 days until the marathon and I feel I should be able to run for three or four hours by now, because I want to get used to that ahead of the marathon.
On the masterplan I was due to 60 minutes, so have done three times that, which I guess is good but may mean I can't do much else all week, so perhaps I should have stuck to that. The plan for next week is about five running sessions in seven days.
I felt it was important to push myself just to see if I could cope with it and as a result ended up running further than I have ever run and for longer than even my slowest half marathons.
The route took some thinking about, as I keep having to invent longer runs. Started at my house, went up Cranbrook Road, up the hill through the lights, turned left at Texaco up North View past Up & Running, onto the Downs but straight down Coombe Lane. Then through Coombe Dingle, skirting Shirehampton before dropping onto the Portway where I turned right for half a mile or so, then turned back on myself and went all the way along the Portway into the city centre. At the Centre I turned back again and went the other way down the Portway until going right up Bridge Valley Road, up past the zoo and back onto the Downs, down along the edge of the Downs until going right down North View again and down Cranbrook road all the way home.
It was amazing to run all the way, and I did neck an isotonic gel half way round which was a good idea, but I felt really buggered by the end of it, I won't lie to you, I was properly knackered.
I've never felt quite as utterly ruined and in as much pain as I did hobbling up to my front door at the end of the run. If I'm honest pretty much the whole of the last hour was an horrific painfest, particularly as I had to get my ass up Bridge Valley Road, one of the steepest hills in Bristol, which is saying something for a very hilly city.
That wasn't really running in the actual sense, my feet were barley lifting off the ground long enough to count, but they did keep pumping away and I definitely didn't walk.
I nearly phoned for a medi-vac, or Amy as she's known, to come and rescue me as I crawled up the hill. But once I got back onto the flat I was able to find a bit of strength again and Breaking Down the Walls of Heartache, Dexy's Midnight Runners' version came on at that point and gave me a timely boost. Other tracks that got me home included Oasis single Lord Don't Stop Me Now and You Got The Love, by the Source, of course.
My feet really ached from the constant pounding and I generally felt like I'd been bundled into a huge washing machine for a spin cycle.
I had the best Radox-heavy bath of my life while I stuffed bananas and chocolate into my mouth to replace all those minerals and sugars that had sweated themselves into my new hat. And I went for a protein rich dinner as well to help my joints and muscles recover - burgers in pitta bread.
I know I will sleep well tonight.

Still a bit galling to think after all that I'd have probably another three hours to go. What the hell am I doing this for again?

Four stone down

Good news fat fans as I have now lost four stone in total since my heaviest point in September 08 when I was a chair-breaking 18st 11lbs. This morning I weighed in at 14st 12lbs, and that's more than three stone off since I started this damn fool mission.
I'm very pleased as I can't remember the last time I was 14 st anything and it's been without the aid of laxatives or a gastric band, so far.
It's not exactly been easy, but I always knew that would be the case. I have to fight very hard against my natural inclination to lose all patients with this project and just down a bottle of slimming pills or book in for a stomach pump, although I'm not sure that will do what I think it will.
The sense of satisfaction is immense because I do feel like it has come off at a sensible rate and that it will be more manageable than just starving myself to hit a target, only to blow up like a knackered airship when I get hungry again.
I do wish it was summer though as it makes salads more genuinely appealing. I did treat myself to a Twirl bar tonight, as a little reward but also because it had less calories than a granola bar. Granola shmanola if you ask me.
I still feel I am a way off losing eight stone by the time I line up the marathon at the end of April, but even if I get down to 12st that will still be six in total, which will have been a third of my body weight lost in 12 months, which ain't bad.
I made another discovery this evening, less edifying, which is that little woolen running hats do need washing after a while, otherwise they actually become rigid with all the sweat they've absorbed when the dry out. Quite gross. Think I might just throw it away, but it has been a loyal garment, a bit like R2D2 for Luke Skywalker at the end of the first Star Wars film, by which of course I mean episode IV, the ORIGINAL AND BEST. And now it's stiffened up it offers added protection as well.

What a difference a week makes!

Seven days ago I was plodding along, on my own, through the dark of Clifton on my long weekend run having just been given notice on our flat, not knowing where the next lot of work was going to come from and seriously worried about the fact there is only three months until I'll be running in the LONDON FLIPPIN' MARATHON!
I have to say it wasn't the happiest hour and 40 minutes of recent times. I wondered if this year was going to be a big shit sandwich and I'd run out of bread.
But spool forward a week and I was bouncing along, in my new Asics, of course, through the streets of Bristol like an ginger gazelle with a fair wind to carry me as I racked up my second two hour plus run of my training schedule, and I've managed to score a freelance part-time contract to keep me in ralgex for the next six months!
Suddenly I feel 100 per cent better about everything and feel like this year could be the greatest ever, especially as I've also managed to slip a sparkly ring on Amy's third finger on the left.
Still not found a place to live, but that will happen, I've not doubt.
So it was with a new-found sense of optimism that I headed out on my run on Sunday night, accompanied by the fire-haired Martin Booth, which was really great to have some company. I planned to do a two hour run and we came home in 2 hrs and 4 mins, just a minute off the last time I did the same route.We scaled Cranbrook Road up to the Downs, headed down through Coombe Dingle, skirted round Shirehampton before dropping onto the Portway, where we really got into the zone, and then really had to find the energy for one big slog up Bridge Valley Road, past the zoo, over the Downs again and back home. Getting on for ten miles in all.
Compared to the monsoon that I battled through last time the conditions were perfect. There was a bit of a nip in the air but other than that it was dry and not really any wind to worry about.
I was only down to do 100 mins on the schedule, but I want to keep doing more than it says on the plan because I feel I have to compensate for being as heavy as I am. Don't know if that's true but it's helping to get me fit anyway.
The best bit was that I did genuinely feel that I could have gone on, even after two hours, so I know I've got more in the tank. And I don't feel like an arthritic 90-year-old today, so those cod liver oil tablets must be working.

It's not the long runs that do you in...

It's those buggery 30 minute jobs the day after a two hour slog that I find really hard work.
Had a great run on Sunday, 1 hr 40, and felt like I could have gone on if I'd had to.
So when the plan said 30 mins easy for Monday night I thought it would be a doddle, just a quick trot up and down Cranbrook Road, Waitrose and back. But no, it was a fricking nightmare.
My legs were stiff from the night before and I was wearing my new running shoes for the first time which I guess need a little wearing in, so the brisk half hour felt like a half marathon.
I even had to stop half way and walk a bit, which is crazy as I quite happily trotted my way round six or seven miles without pulling up the night before.
I did manage to keep it in perspective and not pull tantrum as I understand the body needs time to recover and all of that so I know I can go at it again at the weekend and hopefully get close to two hours on my feet.
I nearly jacked it in by it's funny how motivating a couple of women runners going past you can be...

Good run Sunday

Had a good run tonight. Was due to do 90 minutes, according the The Plan, I had wanted to do two hours, but felt probably wasn't worth overdoing it, so I did 100 mins.
Nice run from Bishopston, up to the Downs, through Clifton, over the Suspension Bridge and back. Totally amazing to have that kind of scenery to run past, it makes me feel very proud to call Bristol my home, what a great city.
I left my new Asics at home, they will get their debut tomorrow night as I'm for a 30 min run. Might wear them to the office I'm working at to wear them in a little. Is that allowed?

Born to run?

Running shoe porn, my new Asics.

I haven't been this excited since I got the Millennium Falcon for my birthday and skived the day off school to play with it all day.
I am in possession of a brand new pair of Asics Gel Nimbus running shoes, which may not sound very exciting to most people, but I'm cock'a hoop with joy I must say.
Getting the right running shoes is crucial as everyone knows and I have found that Asics have always given me the right balance of comfort and support. Anybody from Asics out there want to give a retrospective discount? Thought not. They aren't cheap at £105, but I figure I've saved far more than that by abstaining from booze these past few months.
I had heard they are in short supply so I was very pleased to hear that Up & Running in Westbury Park had them in stock. I bumped into legendary long distance runner and Olympian Nick Rose while I was up there who sounded genuinely interested in my progress, which was nice.
At Up & Running they examine your gait to make sure the shoes fit right, as they do in other specialist running shops.
I pulled on the new pair of shoes and knew immediately they were perfect, but went on the treadmill so they could check I wasn't turning my feet in, or out, as I run. I was told that I was 'very neutral', and means my feet are pointing straight and forward when they hit the ground, which is great and it means I hopefully won't be so prone to injury.
As I skipped away with my new purchase I got it into my head that I had a natural gait suited perfectly to running. Then I allowed myself to progress my fantasy to believe that in fact I must have been literally born to run and that I am finally fulfilling my destiny. And if only I hadn't been so unfit and overweight all these years I could have been the next Steve Cram, or indeed Nick Rose.
Well perhaps, but probably not in all honesty, there's too much chaffing for my liking.
I'm off for a two hour run later, but I'm advised I shouldn't wear the new shoes for that as I need to wear them in on the short runs, which I know is right but a little disappointing. It's a bit like having a new Ferrari in the garage but having to take out the old Citroen Xsara.

Hello Traction My Old Friend

I could never live in the Arctic, or Lapland, or anywhere else as snowy and bleak like that.
Not only would I get very bored very quickly with having to cut a circle out of the house and dangle my fishing rod in the icy brine below every time I wanted my dinner (although it might be good for the diet), it would drive me mad slipping and sliding all over the place, like a new born calf skidding across the farmyard.
I have been out running three or four times since the Siberian blast turned this place into a picture postcard from Snowsville, (although Canadian friends are pi55ing themselves laughing at our supreme inability to cope with what they would regard as little more than a shower), and I have to say it has been getting rather tedious having to watch every step of the way in case I suddenly broke into a Rudolph Nureyev move and split myself akimbo on the on the Clifton Downs.
So tonight I had one of the best runs for ages. Thankfully the snow and ice melted quicker than Heidi Fleiss sat next to a three-bar fire today and when I went out for my scheduled 50 minute run, I felt like I'd pulled myself out of an Austin Allegro and got behind the wheel of an Aston Martin and so sped off up the road suitably.
I'm glad I got those few little runs under my belt during the snow, but they were such hard work because of all the sliding around and worrying about doing myself an injury. But tonight it was like a scene from a film as I strode magnificently through the streets of Bristol, each step gripping the pavement beneath my feet and propelling me forward.
I was so pleased with how I was going, and the fact that I only had to wear shorts, t-shirt and thin yellow jacket as the temperature was postively balmy, that I decided to extend my run and ended up doing 1hr 15mins. Just because I was having so much fun! Jeeesus, it has come to this. My idea of fun on a Friday night is adding 25 mins to my training run in the cold and dark. It's a long way from 'drink til you puke' sessions down the Punchbowl after work, ending up in some cheap nasty club, still wearing my cheap nasty suit, just because the bar is open and the idea of caring about anything had long since given up and gone home.
I do feel better for it these days, but just sometimes, like when I was watching Gavin and Stacey the other night and Smithy was getting hammered in a bar, I think about the old days and miss them a little bit. Well a lot. But every morning I'm reminded how precious life is as I look at the eight inch scar that runs down the middle of my chest and without saying a word tells me that I need to be a good boy.
It also reminds me that I need to raise £3,000 pretty sharpish for the British Heart Foundation: www.justgiving.com/simonpeevers

Video diary, running in the snow

New video diary of me running in the snow:
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xbtt7y_running-in-the-snow_webcam

Bloody hell it's cold outside

New year, same old regime, except I've managed to pile on more than half a stone in ten days over the festive period, so getting back into training has been something of a struggle these last couple of days.
Here's a top tip for training, don't eat three poached eggs, four fried rashers of bacon and four pieces of toast just a couple of hours before going for a 60 minute run. I enjoyed one last indulgent fry-up on Sunday and really paid for it on my scheduled run. I was huffing and puffing like a knackered First Bus and by the time I got home I felt ready to throw up.
But, I managed 60 minutes without too much trouble. However tonight I was scheduled to do 45 minutes and I have to say I'm lying on my sofa, barley able to raise the strength in the my fingers to type this as I feel like I've been stamped on and beaten with baseball bats.
I don't want to go on about the cold, as it's really my choice to train through the winter, but it does feel like I've managed to choose the coldest, longest winter for generations. Typical.
I discovered today that the marathon is just three months and 20 days away and it feels like it has come round much quicker than I thought it would. Funny how time flies when you're having fun.
I don't know if I'm going to hit my target of losing eight stone in 12 months as I managed to stall around 16 stone for so long. Now down to about 15, not counting the temporary festive increase, but I think it's a bit of a tall order to lose five stone in less than four months, maybe it's not even healthy to try it.
I am of course totally committed to my training plan and can't wait to be there on the day in April, but I do think I this winter training malarkey isn't a lot of fun and if I ever do it again I may have to choose a marathon that takes place at the end of the summer, New York perhaps?
The other challenge is of course reaching this £3000 fundraising target, so if anybody's reading this and fancies sponsoring my marathon effort please go to www.justgiving.co.uk/simonpeevers