Brighton Half Marathon +600 Yards

Sunday the 19th February Race number 2 a half marathon this time the whole build up is completely different to the first race back in October. whilst this is a stand alone race and a new further distance its still part of the training plan for the Virgin London Marathon. Trying to separate this has been hard and has been a excellent learning experience.

The race distance is in dispute and we are still waiting for the official line from the race organizers they are investigating as I write this blog all I have to say is that if this is the case I feel felt down as this was my first half marathon but we move on its only a race there will be others.

As most of you know I ran the race with Becca Jones we also did the GSR and will be doing the Virgin London Marathon (With Dawn Walton) the British 10k and this years GSR This is part of our journeys that we are sharing together all be it that training is done separately and recorded on our facebook and fitpod page groups. Our mantra is to complete these races to push and test ourselves but to complete them the time really does not matter its how we feel on the day did we do the best that we could in the conditions on the day, if the answer is yes then we have won. So far we have won twice.

The weather for the day was just perfect a little cold in the build up but once we got started the first warmth of the year from the sun was welcome and a few cold gust's along the way was great as well. We started off a little to fast in the first two miles without realizing how fast we had gone we adjusted and were ok after that we must make sure we do not go that fast in the marathon, great lesson learnt and logged. The race ran its coarse 5 mile and 10 mile splits were good. From mile 11 onward's  both Becca and myself had a little niggle mine was a little cramp in my legs I had another gel and was fine after that another lesson learnt always listen to your body it knows best you don't Becca had a hamstring problem which we dealt with by walking longer and running less. The bigger picture has to be more important and that's London in April.

I need to write about my observations about training and running as I lose weight and do more training so my times and distance's improve. As my training has gone on I have clearly thought that I was better and faster than I thought, this was an eye opener as the race progressed I am in no way upset or disappointed by my time or where we finished (we finished in a race that plenty did not). Just that I will not get carried with fast times in training nor will I get upset with slow(bad) training. Just that what my training will do is get me round the coarse in one piece with something to spare in my legs because I have trained the best that I can for that race. Please do not ask me what time I will run the marathon in I don't care, what I can tell you is I will be nearer the back than the front I will be happy and so full of pride you will never know. There will be no regrets.

I am now officially a 10 mile and half marathon runner and I love the sound of that, me that short fat round guy from last year a proper (slow) runner and athlete.

This is the link to the new updated chip time and position from The Brighton Half Marathon
www.raceplus.co.uk/raceplus-index.php?event_id=BRHM12&show_type=Individuals&old_race_id=38780&criteria_change=1&competitor_individual=&race=38780&show_type=Individuals&search_competitor_1=Darin+Mccloud&competitor_1=5974&search_competitor_2=Rebecca+Jones&competitor_2=3887&search_competitor_3=&competitor_3=0&search_competitor_4=&competitor_4=0&search_competitor_5=&competitor_5=0&search_competitor_6=&competitor_6=0&bib=&club=&category=&gender=&Submit=Submit

My run is here http://connect.garmin.com/activity/151101582

As you can see from the picture above I am running for a charity called Look http://www.look-uk.org/ have a look and see what they are about the support network appeals to me as no matter what problems we encounter having a support network makes life so much easier. As I have said before I need to raise £1500 this is such a large sum for me to raise I really need help from family and friends,work and ex work colleagues. My just giving page is http://www.justgiving.com/Darin-McCloud1 You can also text a donation To: 70070 LOOK47 £ ANY AMOUNT. Your support would be very welcome as I have the chance to push my boundaries and the chance to help others who need help and support when they most need it. 

Week Fifty Two One Year On

One Year on from meeting Sandra and Trevor at http://www.ThinkingSlimmer.com  and boy has it been an eventful year, so many positive things have happened both big and small. In one way which is the weight loss/lifestyle journey at times it has gone painfully slow but I am so happy to be standing here one year on a new man (not the finished article but a new man none the less) In terms of my life the years seem to go quicker and quicker as we get older. I will try my best not to repeat to much of what has happened in the past year I will try and highlight the important bits to me, I'm sure I will miss some things out that does not make them any less important but shows my weakness at composing a blog (I know my limitations its not that I am stupid) If I could turn the clock back and ask for just one thing it would be for an ability to learn and understand things and the chance for a better education.

I will start by thanking people now rather than at the end of this blog because its important to me to thank people  In no particular order as you are all equally important to me. Sandra, Chris and Trevor and all the Thinking Slimmer staff I will always say this Thank You for Saving my Life, Lorraine Albon (Dr) (for creating the running monster) and for all the support, Penny Mordaunt MP, Kris Mayer, Delta Team at work, Dawn Walton and Becca Jones my running buddies my inspiration my heroes and my support (you two will never know how much you have kept me going when I felt like I could not be bothered) My Mum and Dad I hope I've made up for the years of disappointment and under achievement (I know you both love me even you you grumpy old git but I'm sure I have exasperated you many times over the years) My daughter Alison I love you so much and am so proud of you, my grandchildren Bradley, Oakley, Mason, Sonnie, Bailey got to love kids I have earned the right not to be called fat granddad they do tell the truth and I know I'm not fat any more because they told me I'm not. And lastly to Hazel she has the short straw and live's with me and that's not easy. Thank you to you all.

Weight I have lost six stone, did I really thing I would lose that much weight? No. Am I disappointed its not more? Yes I am but I think that'a a natural thought but its not eating away at me I WILL reach my goal there is not nor ever was there a time limit. This is a lifestyle change and my key word is Patience (easy to say hard to do). 

Exercise I am an athlete more importantly I would say a long distance runner my training and track record suggest  that 10k 10 mile and half marathon are where I am comfortable at (did I really just say that wow) I am finding the training for the Virgin London Marathon hard not the running although its a challenge I mean in the time I have to find to do the training I've gone from running between 4 -12 miles a week to 25-40 miles a week. That's a big commitment for anybody with a job and a family (this is not a moan just a realistic observation) this may be my first and last marathon. 

Depression how I ended up on anti depressants I will never know I always vowed never to go on them but I did and they did no good what so ever to me. The first bonus of the slimpod was lifting my depression and making me feel normal that was not on the tin when I met Trevor and Sandra and I am so grateful to be free from depression I still have bad days but not that many and I can see the danger signs and deal with it and come out the other side so much quicker. I do need to say that I am not fixed on this front I still hate myself when I let myself down make bad choice's act differently I so want to keep my composure at all times when this fails I feel I fail. I hope I have explained myself well enough?

Education the second bonus of the slimpod being able to take control, learn new things and know that when a bad day comes along (and bad days do come along) that you take stock of what's happened see why its happened, try to make sure it does not happen again and then move on(right that's happened i'm aware of it now move on) this is such a powerful tool to have and the thing I love the most about Thinking Slimmer.

Future Goals I want to give back to others I love being a proper role model or an Inspiration to people and I wish to work down those lines in the future (not to make money but make a difference) there are many paths we can take in life when looking for help having the right information is key in that goal, if people do not have all the information that's available they may not make the right choices that does not make them wrong choices On that note to everyone in the slimpod facebook group and the fitness group as well each and everyone of you amaze me with your journeys and inspire me to keep going and making the right choices.

To celebrate my one year anniversary (just by luck) I ran the Brighton Half Marathon with Becca Jones it was a challenge its was fun it was informative for the Virgin London Marathon we reached our goal of completing the half marathon in 2:39:50 we are both very pleased happy and proud of this massive achievement. I will blog later about the run.

Here's to the next 12 months of this amazing journey of mine I now plan to just write a monthly blog with updates in between as required. Thank you all for your support. xxx  

Week Fifty One Midweek Update

I need to write this down for me a few things have happened in the last few days that need to be addressed, they are to do with how I make a wrong decision and then the wheels seem to fall off and then my head explodes and  I go back to the old Darin. I have just been scared beyond belief yesterday by myself so much so that I could not even blog yesterday I had to wait until today to do so, Ok so what has happened to rock my world upside down in a few days?

I will try and do this in order of how thinks have happened so the timeline of events can be seen on there own they are minor but unconsciously added up together?

In doing my training for the marathon I have increased my carbs  this I really need to do, some carbs are better others BUT! I have had a flirtation with bread for two weeks (can you hear the alarm ringing) I can but I did nothing about it I lost all control over the bread and it controlled me, this can only end one way and that's badly.I have put on close to half a stone (I have failed everyone by not doing something before now)all because I'm having more carbs. My jeans are tighter I have felt the extra weight in running both yesterday and today, why have I allowed myself to allow this to happen?

I spent the day working on Sunday on my own it was freezing cold and it went right through me and I never got warm all day, I was planning to run 6 miles after I had finished work but when I got home I was cold and tired and the thought of getting changed and going back out into the cold was not appealing, I made another bad call by not going out running, so now we have the bread issue very bloated overweight and now not going out on a training run (I live in Portsmouth not else where in the country where people are out running in worse conditions than down here.) My thinking was don't panic you can run Monday after work and I have two rest days on Tuesday and Wednesday to run before resting foe Brighton on Sunday.

So I finish work Monday get changed get the new belt on loaded with drinks and gels and off we go. Disaster  the belt is not fit for purpose my head is now going in to melt down oh my god I've spent £30 on a belt and it won't stay on it has completely ruined my run (God the old Darin is loving this misery and trying to gain control of the new me that's how it seems to me)  I've wasted all that money I am not worthy of this why don't you just give up and let me take control again think of the the food you can eat again. I get home in a fowl mood good bless Hazel for putting up with that if only for a short while even I hate myself like this and am embarrassed of myself. We sort out the receipt for the belt I take it back to the shop and they are really helpful and sort me out with a little rucksack. So all those bad thought for what?

I go out today for a run with the rucksack and it works a dream I can carry drinks gel keys etc for my longer runs without now worrying about how I am going to achieve this, today's run is slow and hard I feel so unfit and overweight but I got round and did the 4 miles today tomorrow I will go out and push myself that little bit more, I will not panic about Sunday because I will be running with someone very special and I refuse to let her down because my head has taken a small opportunity and gone off on one. Today was a day when having a running partner would have been beneficial to keep me going when I struggled.

I will keep on with the carbs but I need to be very watchful and again I have to admit defeat with the bread and stay away from it sorry Hazel back to hiding it. I have gone from a fit athlete to an overweight waste of space old Darin that I truly hate in 2 weeks, the good news is that Thinking Slimmer has given me the tools to see the danger signals even if on this occasion it took a little longer to realize the danger signals. I am worried about the old Darin coming out because I thought I was past this stage clearly I need to be on my guard and process the danger signals quicker.

I hope this makes sense and I have not repeated myself to much I now have to put in the hard miles all over again to regain what I have just lost that is incentive enough to stay on track its hard enough doing the training the first time but having to do it a second time when you don't have to is bloody crazy and no fun what so ever. My two runs can be seen on the links below.
  
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/149528203

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/149528191

Week Fifty One

One week for my one year anniversary and my first ever half marathon that was just luck and not planned, but for me to do a race just add's something to the week. As you know I am also running the Virgin London Marathon in April this year (really can not believe how much I am pushing myself) in a positive way.

The last week has been hectic and given me lots of new information to learn and also to not see the training plan as rigid plan that must be followed exactly being ill for a week gave my body time to recover from the hard training and with that the confidence to change my long run to mid week. That was a new longest distance of 13.5 mile's which I ran at a steady fast pace(for me) for all of it. Just when you think that you can not surprise yourself something happens that blows your mind. http://connect.garmin.com/activities?cid=3467744

Today I spent the whole day at work in the cold no van to keep me warm, I was planning on doing a run after work, when I got home I was still cold and could not face getting changed and going back out in the cold again. Does this count as a failure? I don't thing so and I will tell you why, having spent the day with Becca at the meet the experts we chatted all day and this week have messaged each other as well about not being rigid on the training so that we can do what we planned to do which is to push ourselves and enjoy running the Brighton Half Marathon I will do some tapered runs this week to keep ticking over and then after next week back on track for April. 

Week Fifty

As I wrote last week, I was at the start of an illness that has lasted all week resulting in me having to take the week off work and unable to train, I'm not sure if this had anything to do with lack of carbs in the end, on Wednesday I gave in and made an appointment for the Doctor, I had to supply a stool sample which was not that easy to do(I really will spare you all the details) I was offered no treatment other than to wait for the results which should be Monday or Tuesday I'm fine with that just frustrated as I don't know whats wrong with me yet. It could be food poisoning or a bug?

So no training during the week, luckily for me I had some injuries during my training for the Great South Run so I am aware of the benefits of resting this made things a little easier for me. I had to make a decision about Saturday as I was booked in for a day in London at a Meet the Experts day for the Virgin London Marathon for me this was very important and something I really wanted to do, to show how much as a season ticket holder at Portsmouth FC I don't miss matches unless pre booked holidays clash when the fixture list comes out. Being an all round good guy I gave my ticket to a friend who in return only has to put up two pictures for me (I am useless at this stuff and they would fall down and break) whilst in London I heard the game had been postponed my first thought was great I don't miss the game my other was to check the contract I had entered into with my friend to make sure the picture's go up!!!!!!

My day in London was great and spent with Becca Jones who ran the Great South Run with me, we are also doing the Brighton Half the Virgin London Marathon and the British 10k together, we learned a lot from the day Becca wrote a blog about the day and far better than I could ever have done. spref=fbhttp://fromsnickerstomarathon.blogspot.com/2012/02/meeting-experts.html?spref=fb
I even brought new trainers as well! As I left London I also left the snow behind and my thoughts turned to Sunday whilst not feeling 100% I needed to run and I had already arranged to run with Lorraine Albon my Diabetic Doctor and her friend Carol the original plan was to meet up for a run off road the weather put paid to that  but the weather in Pompey was good no snow, so a 7 mile run was agreed whilst a little worried I enjoyed the run and having running partners as well,so I managed to get a little run in and back to work tomorrow even though I don't know what's wrong with me and have to wait for test results. The new me is happy being positive and proactive rather than the old me lounging around feeling sorry for myself doing nothing and taking more time off work sick. THINKING SLIMMER LOVING LIFE.

The link to my training is http://connect.garmin.com/activities having mention the Virgin London Marathon its good to mention the fundraising I need to do its a great little charity that will make a big difference to the lives of people that need them Please sponsor me if you can any amount no matter how big or small will make a difference http://www.justgiving.com/Darin-McCloud1 the Charity page is http://www.look-uk.org/