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 Last weekend's runs went well ...... in that I did them.  When the alarm went off at 5.55am on Saturday morning I didn't exactly jump out of bed and go "woo hoo, 25miles to run this morning".  But I got myself ready and out the door for 6.30 and onto the Thames Path at Hampton Court Bridge; it was nice to run along the river and watch as the sun came up for the start of a new day.  I ran along the towpath to just past Kew Bridge and then back the way I had come, it was interesting to see how busy the Thames was by this time as there are a lot of Rowing clubs in this area and plenty of boats out on the water.  I also noticed a few more runners out at the weekends, no doubt a few of them training for the London Marathon (good luck to them).  When I got home at about 10.30 I got my son to take the above picture, he thought it was funny how dirty my legs were, although strangely I have just noticed the left leg is a lot less dirty!

Went to a party at friends house on Saturday night, this involved a big spread set up by the local curry house(I went round twice!), along with a good few beers, mojito's and a late night.  I also had the good fortune to speak to Debs (a Mum from school) who is very keen to use her PR skills to publicise the 4 in 24hrs attempt, watch this space. Needless to say I awoke Sunday to the glorious feeling of a stonking headache. I like the drinking, not the after effects.  Sundays 12 miles was therefore put off until late in the evening (9.30pm), when I trudged round, probably not the best quality run, but one that got the mileage up when I wasn't feeling 100%.

Note: Internal oblique muscle strain is still a concern (that's what I have self diagnosed!).

Back on the road

After some sort of illness put paid to any running this weekend it is good to be back out on the road. Now i know i only missed 2 runs total 18miles, but it is not long until the Thames Trot 50miler on the 5th Feb, and more ominously only 3 months until my BIG challenge (Running the London Marathon 4 x in 24hrs). So i am aware i can't afford to miss any training as i need to be in the shape of my life come April 16th. So 12miles last night and 12miles tonight have put things back on track, hopefully get 60 - 65miles in this week, which will make me feel a bit better (worry less).

Also, great news that another ultrarunner (Rich) has volunteered to run a Marathon with me when i take on the 4 in 24hrs, so with Jerry also doing a mara and the big guy (bobban) being crew chief, things are starting to take shape. I am very lucky to have such generous people lend there support.

4 x Virgin London Marathons in 24hrs!!!!!

David Hegarty is fundraising for The Shooting Star Children's Hospice

I like to do the odd long run! in aid of The Shooting Star Children's Hospice, and this year is no different. Having supported Shooting Star since 2009 when I ran from London to Brighton this will be the 3rd year I will be supporting them and I am very proud to be able to do so. Each year the scale/distance of the challenge I have set myself has increased (2009 – 56miles, 2010 – 87miles), but this year I think I have actually set myself something so tough that I am quite nervous about the whole thing.

What am I doing (attempting)?
The 2011 Virgin London Marathon, which is a big challenge in its own right, but I am going to attempt to run it 4 times in 24hrs. To put this into perspective this is 104.8miles, or the same distance as driving from Central London to Leicester!!!!
Please click the link above for more details and to be taken to my justgiving page, if you are able to sponsor me a pound or two it would be greatly appreciated.

Feeling Unwell

Just my luck, on an easy mileage week and i seem to have picked up some sort of illness (no, not man flu).
Started feeling unwell around lunchtime yesterday (headache, body aches, general tiredness) so an early night with only some toast for tea and not up until 9.30 this morning. So probably no run tonight but hope to be ok for 10miles or so tomorow, but in the bigger picture, if i don't get out at all it is probably best to get 100% and start next week feeling better.
On a seperate note i also have a bruised side just below my ribs, how did this happen i hear you ask, well, by falling onto the hard edge of my sofa while playing Jedi's with my son and his light sabres!!! This may stop me running more than the illness as it hurts to breath deeply and when i bounce, both of which feature heavily when running, oh well.

ultraBobban is on the mend

My friend Rob (ultraBobban) fell over in the ice aout 6 weeks ago and sustained a triple fracture to his lower leg/ankle. This was obviously a big setback for him and from a selfish point of view also for me as i had planned to attack some pretty big ultras this year with the big guy. I am pleased to say he has healed at such a phenomenal rate that he has been given a weight bearing cast well ahead of schedule as he had been told he would be on crutches for 6months!!!!!! I am really pleased for him and he has ben extremely positive throughtout (Rob is known for his positive mental atttitude or PMA) and updating his blog with no sense of self pity. His blog (http://ultrabobban.blogspot.com/) is well worth a look, and his love of photography means some really great photos (unlike my blog!!).


I look forward to hitting some trail marathons and ultras with him in the not so distant future.

Midweek update

Well training so far this week has included the run home from work and then the run in the following morning (9.2 to 10miles each way depending on route). I havn't done this for a while now and when i start to do so it usually means a step up in mileage for the week, which is also an indication that an event is coming up, which it is on 5th Feb. Had meant to run 5 to 6 miles of this mornings run at Marathon Pace but unusually for me i wasn't in the mood and just ticked over at about 8.15pace. Got to work and was told there was no hot water, which meant a very quick shower!!!

First Post

Well, i have finally got round to setting up a Blog page. No doubt the layout will change once i can work out how the functions i have at my disposal work (this may be a while!!!).
Really looking forward to updating it and keeping everyone up to speed on training, events, pictures etc.

David