BHF Santa Run in Basingstoke

This morning I took part in the British Heart Foundation (BHF) Santa Jog in Basingstoke. I can be sponsored at the following web page http://www.justgiving.com/santasherwood

Which this was a fun event which you could jog or walk round multiple 1km laps of a park. You could do 1 to 5 laps it was up to you. The only compulsory thing was the Santa suit, which in the cold was good to keep warm and must have made some good photos as due to the frost/ice on the grass.

There was also a group performing Christmas songs at the start.

I started a few rows from the front where the mayor of the town started the race. he must have been cold and keen to start walking around as it started 5 or 6 minutes earlier than planned. Not that I am complaining as within 100m I was in the lead!!!

I ended up doing the rest of the lap in the lead even though the marshals were not that helpful with the directions and this was the first time that I was in the lead of a race.

After completing the first lap in the lead a slowed down a bit as I did not want to get an injury the week before a marathon, due to the pace and that some of the paths were icy.

I am not sure if it is good race etiquette to overtake the mayor in the finishing straight but another Santa was trying to out sprint me so I had no choice to pick up the pace.

There was no timing or places but I think I was comfortably in the top 10 at a good pace considering I was wearing a Santa suit. I was glad of the bottle of water at the end due to how warm I had got with running layers underneath the Santa suit.

Norwich Half Marathon

Last weekend I did the Norwich Half Marathon. It was very cool and kept dry for the race although it had rained over night. The two lap course was based on the county showground. I was using run/walk method although increasing the run lengths to 6 minutes and at a fast pace, which I estimate about 9 minute mile pace.

Despite being 200 miles were I live there was another runner from a local club just 15 miles away. I was chatting to him as I went round as we yo-yo passed each other due to my run/walk breaks. In the end he was just ahead of me at the finish. I ended up completing it in 2:10 which was pleased with due to the lack of training for this event. My calf's were aching and cramping at the but I could not stop due to the kit I was wearing,

As it was just a week before the big local "old farm" derby I decided to wear my Ipswich Town football shirt and hat, which I got a few comments as I went round.

Miltary Football Match

A couple of weeks ago I was an assitant referee in a womens league match between the RAF and Army. Apart from the traffic problems getting there and then getting through the RAF Base security the game was only late starting by a few minutes.

It was a good game. The second half I got a bit more a speed work out as we stayed the same sides of the field of play (pitch) and therefore had the other team. I was glad of this as it was a bit cool an evening.

Afterwards they had some food for us (both teams and officials) and present the match officials with a medal each. That's my first military medal although not first football medal.

Weekly Weigh-in

This week I have gained 1 lb (0.5 Kg) with my % body fat increasing by 0.5%.

This is mainly due to an increase in food intake at the weekend and reduced exercise. This week I have a race but the rest of the week looks like it to be too cold and icy to train outside. So hopefully next week there will not be another increase.

CRAP Breakfast

Last week I had a CRAP breakfast.

Cranberries
Raisins
Apricots
Porridge

That had more different fruits in one meal than I would have in total most weeks.

It was quite a nutritious breakfast with various vitamins and minerals.

Long Run in the Cold

Tonight I did a 10 mile (16 km) run in the cold 2 C (35 F).

This was my longest run without regular walk breaks, I had one walk break to have a gel. This was two 5 mile loops one before running club and then at the running club. The loops were the same apart from being anti-clockwise and then clockwise both had a couple of decent hills.

I had a few layers on, with only my head, hands and forearms being single layered.

The pace I was doing how I felt and then trying to keep up with some other people. By the last few miles I was struggling to keep up and I was feeling the effects of the pace.


After I had finished I saw the highway road gritters were out spreading the rock salt or whatever they use.


This was my last long run before the half marathon on Sunday. As I have a marathon just a few weeks after this I will be taking it at an easy pace just to build up my endurance and will be using the run/walk method that I used a month ago at Dublin Marathon but with increased run time and hopefully run the last few miles without any walk breaks.

BHF Santa Run

I have now signed up for a BHF Santa Jog, which is only up to 5km.

I have done one of these before in Liverpool city centre (was world record) which was quite strange to see 5,000 Santa's running down the road. It was a fun event.

I have created a sponsor page to raise money for BHF.



Plus we all know Santa is a Tractor Boy , as there is a big game on later that day.