Finding things to do

Went to see the boss yesterday. Had a good chat about this and that, how I was feeling what did I want to do when I came back that sort of thing. We talked about the amount of e-mail I'd have when I came back. He had a simple solution - get IT to delete my entire inbox. If there was anything really important people would send it again or talk to me when I'm back. To use his favourite phrase "That Works!"

Bumped into my friend that gave me the warning about overdoing the running. Told her I hadn't run for 4 days because of my cold. She said good, I felt like throttling her!!! I'm not doing a fantasticly large amount of running, I'm too sensible to jump up the miles but it does add a bit of structure to my day. The days are drifting by without any real purpose, which makes me feel worse at times. I've fixed the kitchen aerial, changed the defective light under the kitchen cabinet, ordered MrsW Christmas presents. What else do I do?

Was reduced today to going to the school and signing all the Christmas cards being sent out by the governors. All 51 of them. The worrying thing is I found it a struggle, kept on misspelling Christmas, a sign that my concentration levels are not what they should be.

On the bright side my cold has cleared to the extent that I can resume running, though the rest of the week will be gentle runs to be on the safe side.

Plan of attack

The past 2 days have been better. I've started taking the medicine, though reading the list of possible side-effects was a little duanting!

Came down with a cold so running is currently off the agenda. Sneaked into work on Saturday morning to collect a few things from my locker and leave my sick note on the boss's desk. Proceeded to spend the rest of the day watching rugby at my parents house, while the small W's did their own thing. Spent today watching Big W playing a local rugby derby. Unfortunately they lost, but he did get one of his typical "I'll take the ball off you and crash through the backs" tries. I'm taking him to see some real rugby at London Irish next weekend. We are both looking forward to that.

Did some research on the Web about returning to work after a prolonged period of absence and came across a useful publication from the Health and Safety Executive. They make some useful recommendations and observations. The overall idea is that it can be very benifical to allow someone on sick leave to attend work part-time to allow them to feel valued and build their self-confidence and companies should actively support this. Armed with this info I've pinged an e-mail of the boss asking him if I can make the occasionaly visit into work, just to see everyone. i then want to get back doing some hours, may not be a lot, but would be a start.

Batten down the hatches

Went to see the Doc yesterday, hopeful that I was going to be OK to return back to work. While sitting in the waiting room I was getting quite anxious. Had a good talk to her but as the consultation went on I realised I wasn't OK. I finally said "I'm not fit enough to go back am I?". She was honest and said that she had reached that conclusion but I had to realise that myself.

Net effect is I've been signed off for another couple of weeks, but I've also been perscribed medication. This bothers me because you hear stories about it and I need to take it for at least 6 months. I've got the pills but haven't actually started taking it yet.I suppose there is an underlying worry in that it could mean I'm in this for the long haul and that it potentially could be a rough journey.

Overall yesterday was a bad day. It is however now the past and I can't change that I must look forward to the future.

The Visit

Another cold start this morning, but then what's new this week. Went for the 3 mile half-mara pace run with a mile and a bit either side for warm-up and down. Still very diappointed with my fitness at pace. Even opting for a conservative 7:30 pace left me struggling at the end of the 3 miles. Ended up covering the 3 miles in 22:06 with an average HR of 168, pity the last mile was averaging 176! Recovery run tomorrow.

On to the main event of the day my visit to the counsellor, for the sake of the blog I'll call him Q. Interesting experience he uses a bit of run down office space in town, the entrance to which is simply a door sandwiched between 2 shops, very easy to miss. Not a plush place at all, but I didn't mind it serves it purpose. He asked me what I wanted out of the session. I didn't really know. I said "I know I'm broken but I don't know what I need to fix". We talked about all sorts of things, relationships with my family, work and even running. He wanted to know if I run alone or as part of a group. Difficult one to answer, I run with a variety of different people depending on what I have in mind that day, but the long haul is on my own.

Not sure I got anything out of today which I didn't already know, but at least Q knows about now as well. Something for us to discuss next week....

I'm running up that hill

I must be mad - Out my own free will, without a trianing plan and in the cold I did hill reps. Don't know what posessed me. Well I do actually, even the slightest bump on a run gets my HR up and I'm unable to get it back down. Its obvious I need to do hill training!!!

It wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be, but then I was only playing with it. 3 reps of about 400 metres, times of 1:31, 1:36 and 1:34. Not bad spread I thought. Need to watch my mileage though. As I rearranged last week in 5 solid days of runs with Monday as rest I've now done 37 miles in 7 days. The 7 day figure has been graually growing to 30, but a jump of 7 miles is a bit much. With a 6 day running week planned for this week, that 7 day total is going to remain a little high until Saturday when I do my step back run.

Talking of Saturday did my first double digit run since 26th June on Saturday. Felt that was an accomplishment, it also brought up my first 30 mile week since the end of June as well.

What's been happening out of the running shoes? Saturday afternoon was spent watching Big and Middle W do their orange belt karate grading. I'm pleased to report they both passed. Grandma and Grandpa W offered to take the kids on Saturday night, which is quite fortunate as I got a phone call from a friend asking MrsW and I if we wanted to go out for drinks, would have been rude to turn the chance down.

I've made an appointment to see a counsellor on Wednesday to discuss things. Don't know what we are going to talk about but I'll let him probe around in a hope that it will help my recovery.

Wish me luck

Pudsey Bear and TV aerials

Thanks to everyone that's been dropping notes, skyping etc etc. It means a lot to me

Big and Middle W did a fantastic job with the Pudsey cookies today. Between school and Cubs, they raised over £40 selling out at both venues. In school the demand was so great they came home with a list of people ordering cookies for next week! They are so pleased, the look on their faces was fantastic :-)

Sorted out the kitche aerial. That was a slog. Up into the loft break into the coax, add plugs and sockets then go downstairs to check the TV picture is OKNo-onene else in the house to look). It wasn't back upstairs, redo all the connections, back downstairs ahh that's better. Put the splitter in, back downstairs to double check, the pictures gone to rats. Need a powered splitter oh no power in the loft need to think about that one, in the meantime take the splitter out and continue to lay the cable. Finally get the cable into the kitchen, put the coax plug on and put the cable into the TV to see how bad the picture is. To my surprise its not bad considering its only 25 metres of coax not attached to anything, better than with the internal aerial. Mrs W is impressed, if need be now the cable is in place I'll add second aerial in the loft.

It was cold this morning when I was out running, but it was again another wonderful relaxing run. Went down a road that is blocked off to cars so lovely and peaceful. Even has fields on both sides with the whole scene finished off by the white frost, Fantastic. Of course I could take all this in because it was a recovery run. Stats are:

1	09:23	138
2	09:25	143
3	09:06	142
4	09:59	148
5	09:17	145
6	09:43	154
6.1	00:40	148
57:36	09:29	145

Coffee Shop Culture

Went for a steady run this morning or it was supposed to be steady. Made the mistake of just taking off at steady pace instead of gently warming up. Not a good start, the climb in miles 2 and 3 didn't help the matter either. Completed the planned 4 miles but the HR was well over the top of where it should have been. The stats are:

1	08:11	159
2	08:11	163
3	08:10	170
4	07:54	171
Ave	08:07	166
Total Time	32:31

Had a lunchtime coffee with a friend who has had the same problem as I'm having just now. She has convinced me that I need to make use of the One on One counseling that is available, just need to bring myself to make the appointment. She also gave me an interesting warning. Don't overdo the exercise. Exercise produces serotonin which helps my problem, however if I do too much I may end up just masking the underlying problem to the extent that I may be passed fit to go back to work, but not actually be better.

Apart from that its the first time for a long time that I have just sat down and chatted to someone over coffee for the sake of sitting down and chatting. I found it quite fun looking at the different people in the Coffee Shop, Pensioners having a bowl of shop, office workers with their Pannini's and even some girl having what looked like a job interview.

The Little W's are all excited. Big W is selling Pudsey Cookies tomorrow in aid of Children in Need (the kitchen has been a Pudsey Cookie factory for the past week). What's getting them excited is that they got an mention on the bottom of the screen of Blue Peter yesterday!!! How cool is that for a 10 year old.

Just hope he sells them all now - Middle W should be able to help. He could charm the pants off a Nun and sell Eskimos Ice.

Aren't kids great :-)

Off the front line

Went to see the Doc today, she said that work and I shouldn't mix for at least 2 weeks. I was a little taken aback by her diagnosis but it seemed to fit. Spoke to the boss afterwards to let him know and he was great about it. Told me to relax and take it easy. Though he did say I needed to hand my VPN (Virtual Private Network) token (little keyfob with changing numbers) to MrsW for the duration, just in case I was tempted to have a sneaky little look at my e-mail.

So what have I done with myself today? Not an awful lot, made a point of walking to and from the Doc's just to out the house for longer, got a Mocha from the new Cafe Nero in town. It had to be a Mocha to hide the taste of the Soya milk I have nowadays. Lounged around the house and of course to cheer myself up I went for a run.

MrsW advised me that it was cold outside, very cold. Nothing for it but the running tights (good job it was dark by the time I was going out). I had the most enjoyable run, recovery run but because it was dark I didn't pay too much attention to the electronics and just ran. What I needed really. Total of 6.18 miles in 1hr and 55 seconds with an average HR of 145.

While I'm off work I need to keep myself busy. So far the list has got

Run
Sort out an aerial feed for the kitchen
Run
Organise some electrical work - not doing it myself I hasten to add.
Run
Tune up the bicycles
Run
Sort out MrsW christmas presents - No its only November, thats a job for the last week before Christmas.

I may even dabble with some new computer languages, but that is a bit too much like work and I've to avoid that.

Struggling

Sorry for not writing anything sooner but I've got problems to deal with. I'd rather not go into them in public but if any of the regulars want to chat you know where to find me.

Still managing to get the runs in, perhaps they are the only things keeping me going. Went running on Friday morning to work up an appetite as it was a help yourself cooked brekkie in the hotel, this was the regulation recovery run.

Saturday's run was the long run, managed to get upto 9 miles which is a 1/3 of my weekly total, just about right I'd say. It was a good run relatively consistent times (most where within 10 secs of each other) and an average HR within the target, can't be bad.

Which is more than can be said for today's run supposed to be a tempo run, the HR said it was fast enough, but the Garmin didn't agree I also blew apart towards the end of the 3 mile tempo section.

So what else has been happening? Got a new Hamster after poor Emma's demise back in May. Another girl this time by the name of Georgia. Middle W named her after his favourite girl at school. The Hamster has already nearly escaped after making a jump for freedom, pity it jumped straight into the box we were going to put her in.

Different day, Different hotel

Felt much better this morning after a good nights sleep, was planning to go out for a run before I had to leave for my meeting but thought it would be easier if I didn't. Wise decision I feel, used the time more productively making MrsW her cup of tea and overseeing the little W's breakfast.

Went to my all day meeting (the one where I'm supposed to stay overnight less than 10 miles from home). Its been a reaonably productive meeting bit heavy on the management rubbish in the morning before some useful technical discussions. I must not complain too much about the management, they are paying for this in fact I think the bar bill is coming out of the managers own pocket.

Managed to sneak in a run between meeting and dinner, revisited some of the routes I used to runner when I was in Portsmouth Joggers. Absolutely pancake flat which has its advantages as I was able to run a very consistent HR and pace. I would give you the details but I'm sitting in the lobby just now and my running electronics are in the bedroom.

I don't normally make political statements but I will end this entry with one. I am so glad that the MP's stood up to that arrogant man that currently has the title of Prime Minister. I simply do not believe that the Police would need to hold someone for 90 days before they are able to find enough evidence to charge someone. And to claim that they would have help prevent the July the 7th attacks is a quite indecent claim to make. The security services weren't even aware of these people let along thinking about arresting them.

Long live democracy

Tired

I don't know which is the harder work spending 2 days in London or a week in the States. Today I came to the conclusion its the 2 days in London. Early rise yesterday morning (5:30) to get ready and walk down to the station to catch the train, then a full day of quite intensive work followed by dinner with work colleagues and eventually getting back to the hotel gone 11. Then an awful nights sleep more work then a packed train journey home. I'm absolutely shattered and need my bed.

Enough of my whinging I've got a marathon to train for. Received my confirmation I'm number 90,so as some people are engaged in elbow to elbow running at FLM I'll be wandering round the wilds of Scotland with the occasional runner and sheep for company!

Since I last made a blog entry I've managed to get in 3 more runs. My long distance build up continues adn is back to 8 miles, did another Yasso session 6 reps and went for a very gentle plod round Central London. Took in Buck house, green park and Pall Mall - still brings back memories that last couple hundred yards. Not quite the same with no cheering crowd, only lots of crush barriers and some anti-chinese demonstrators.

Where has the time gone?

Work is bordering on going absolutely mental. A major piece of work that we where under the impression wasn't going to be needed for a couple of years, now has top priority, so everone is running round like headless chickens. Meanwhile I've been asked to go up to London for a couple of days next week to review someone elses project. Oh then I have to go to a 2 day off-site meeting and stay overnight. What's wrong with that, well I live less than 10 miles from where the meeting is! Fortunately MrsW sees the funny side as well.

Been carrying on with my training with a gentle run yesterday, though I got absolutely soaked. spent the rest of the day with wet feet as I swapped a damp pair of orthotics into my work shoes - lovely. Today continued with the Yasso build-up, now up to 5. For some reason today's felt easier, until the last one anyway but that's the purpose of a gradual build-up.

Did something really stupid this afternoon. Sent off an entry for Lochaber and MrsW doesn't know yet. Thought it wise considering I'm aware most of next week.

Back again

Has it been over a week since I last wrote something here. So what's been happening?

Managed to sneak out last Tuesday for a plod before getting ready to go to Glasgow. Flew up from Southampton Airport, so the boys got a great view of all the Aircraft landing and taking off, tehy were really excited about flying. Must admit I was a bit apprehensive as the wind was a bit strong and Dash-8's aren't that big so they can get kicked around a bit by turbulence. Need not have worried climbed up above the cloud and a fairly smooth ride up.

Took the kids to a few things Glasgow Science Centre is a really cool place if you've got kids. Lots of interactive displays. The football museum at the new Hampden Park was OK and the tour was interesting enough though a bit long. Transport Museum is a favourite of mine, normally combined with a visit to the Kelvingrove Art Galleries which is worth a vist for the building itself. Sadly the Art galleries are currently closed as they are undergoing a major refurbishment.

Not sure if the boys had more fun with the transport than the places we visited. Middle W said his gfavourite bit was the flying, while LittleW thought the Subway was fun, though he struggled with the concept that you could be in Glasgow nad Scotland at the same time. BigW just enjoyed the lot.

Friday brought some news , my cheque wasn't cashed so I won't be running FLM 2006. Fell into a mini fit of depression so skipped runs on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Then a seed of an idea began to form - Flybe offer some very cheap flights to Glasgow, Train to Fort William, couple of nights B&B and of course a short run, something like 26.2 miles in and around Lochaber perhaps? Some serious buttering up of MrsW and Gran and Grandpa W required.

Oh yeah woke up out of my depression today and managed a steady 5.4 miles, easy base run tomorrow.