84 Days To Go

First race completed today. God it was cold and tough, never known a course have so many hills. The old boy at the start said add 5 mins on to your best and that is what you will get. I did it about 3 mins slower than my PB so am really happy with that - and that still allowed me time for walking down some of the hills as it was to icy and dangerous to run down them and also to pick a fellow runner up of his arse just before he got squashed by a milk tanker. I felt good going into it and still had a bit left in the tank after finishing so could probably have gone a bit quicker.

Somebody made a comment about this course defying the laws of physics as it is uphill almost constantly for 4.5miles but you still manage to get back to the same starting point. It was by far the toughest course I have done but probably the one with the best views. When you run as fast as I can up some of them hills you get time to have a good look around.

Take a look at the link, www.flamingphotography.co.uk/photo4342376.html, 2 hats and 2 pairs of gloves was enough - i have never and wasnt about to start this weekend and wear tights to race in.

No t-shirt or medal after this race - a damn nice scarf instead.

Looking forward to my first half marathon of the year next week now that i have the race bug in my system.

1st song on Ipod - No Ipod on race day

wii fit BMI - 25.67

No of Runners Seen - 269 - 95 in front of me the others all behind.

Run 31 miles this week - short due to the race.

www.justgiving.com/davidmcnamara2010

85 Days To Go

An easy 5 miles run today - it felt good and was quite a good morale boosting run. Kept to an ok pace and felt alright afterwards. The day off yesterday has worked wonders.

Looking forward to the first race of the year tomorrow to see how well I am doing against last year. We will have to see what the course is like though as last year in Dewsbury was quite an easy route.

1st Song on Ipod - Hue & Cry - Guy on the Wall

wii fit BMI - 25.96 - really are stuck around this level now.

www.justgiving.com/davidmcnamara2010

86 Days To Go

No run today and it felt great.

Also a nice lie in the jacuzzi and sauna.

www.justgiving.com/davidmcnamara2010

87 Days To Go

Loads better today, 5 miles done with a fast 3 miles in the middle. It was tough but went well, a massive difference from yesterday. There seemed to be a bit more energy in my legs.

Prepping for my first race this weekend and I might even wear my new trainers, if my wife lets me. Even after this up & down week i am looking forward to it. It will be a good test of how i am doing.

I did a 10k this time last year so we will see how i am fairing up against last years training.

It has also been the quietest week i think ever on the road. I havent seen a single other runner whilst out.

1st Song On Ipod - Simple Minds - Street Fighting Years

wii fit BMI - 25.90

www.justgiving.com/davidmcnamara2010

88 Days To Go

An absolutely awful run today. It was just crap. The warm up was crap, the middle stretch was crap, the cool down was crap the drinking the water after the run was crap. I did the 8 miles my schedule said but i didnt enjoy it one bit. I just couldnt get into it. I had been up throughout the night coughing my guts up so i am putting it down to lack of sleep and therefore tiredness.

We will get up again tomorrow though and try again.

1st song on ipod - Blur - The Mark of the Devil

wii fit BMI - 25.86

www.justgiving.com/davidmcnamara2010

89 Days To Go

A good run today, 7 x 1/2 mile fast runs - 6.5miles in total. Only missed 2 of my targets so really pleased with that. Was full of energy and was properly up for it.

Less than 3 months to the big day - I think it should be ok - feeling a lot fitter this year than i did this time last year.

First race of the year this sunday a 10km run in Meltham, never done this race before so not sure what to expect. I know some of the area and it can be hilly so we will just wait and see.

8 miles planned tomorrow, will need to find a new route as i have gone over the same stretch for the last week and half and it is getting a bit montonous.

1st Song on Ipod - Athlete - Wires

wii fit BMI - 25.96 - fatty

www.justgiving.com/davidmcnamara2010

90 Days To Go

No run today should have done 4 but didnt have the energy to get up.

www.justgiving.com/davidmcnamara2010

91 Days To Go

A good run today - did still feel a bit crap but got on with it and in the end it wasnt too bad. Just short of 15miles done at a good pace as well. This is the longest i have run since the marathon last year and it doesnt get any easier. The miles start flying up from here. Did 3 20mile runs last year, checked this years and its 6. A bit of the motivation and determination came back as well which is good as it was going to be a tough old few months to try and train if it wasnt there.

Eager to get out again and push myself.

Saw a massive 8 runners today and 1 during the week so its been a busy old time out there on them streets. Did make a bit of a mistake and show off as I overtook someone, unfortunately did it just as I turned to head up the hill which then meant I had to keep up the pace all the way. I couldnt let the old dear overtake me after that could I. A couple more pretty boy runners out today who looked as though they had just stepped out the front door and were going for a 1 mile jog. I think i am actually an angry runner or i go into the 'ZONE' and I just dont like certain runners who dont look as though it is hurting as much as it is me.

I havent many photos to put up yet so i took one of my nice new trainers which my wife wont let me wear yet for some reason.

1st Song on Ipod - Simple Minds - Big Sleep - something i could do with

wii fit BMI - 25.65 - Its flying off me now

Thigh Muscle - 23.75 ins - growing

Beer Belly - 39 ins - shrinking

I have done a 108miles so far so thats KC Stadium, Hull ticked off as well

www.justgiving.com/davidmcnamara2010

92 Days To Go

Should have done 5 miles today but still felt like crap so have had to bottle out.

15 miles planned for tomorrow so hopefully will feel like it and will be back on track.

www.justgiving.com/davidmcnamara2010

93 Days To Go

No run today - day of rest and boy was it needed.

Had a sit in the sauna and jacuzzi which was like heaven on the muscles.

Still feel like crap though.

www.justgiving.com/davidmcnamara2010

94 Days To Go

5 Miles done today at a good pace. It was tough though and I missed my target pace by about 15/20 secs per mile.

The nice suggestion by my wife to train for a quicker time is proving to be quite hard. Was a bit demorilised by missing my target again but we will percevere and see how it goes.

Legs are hurting, got a sore throat, feel like crap as well so motivation is quite low at the minute.

A day off and a sit in the jacuzzi at the gym as weel tomorrow so hopefully will feel a load better after that.

1st Song On Ipod - U2 for the second day running but cant locate which song. This Ipod needs bining

wii fit BMI - 26.11 the weight is piling on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

www.justgiving.com/davidmcnamara2010

95 Days To Go

7 miles run today at a nice easy pace, it was a bit of a non-event in a way just putting the miles in. I can feel myself getting to that point that it really is just about doing more and more miles. 5 steady miles to do tomorrow which should be ok, though the legs are feeling a bit tired.

Forgot to put my tights in the wash so had to go out in my shorts and it was cold, I never thought a nice bit of tight lycra would keep you so warm.

1st Song on ipod - U2 - All I want is You

wii fit BMI - 26.00

www.justgiving.com/davidmcnamara2010

96 Days To Go

The legs still felt as stiff as anything this morning, I knew it wasnt going to be a good run when I struggled to match the warmup pace. Planned 4 x 1 mile fast runs but in the end it turned out to be a 4 x 1 mile a tiny bit quicker than normal run.

Just need to percevere and do the miles and it will come soon.

For those who are new to my blog the reason for the all of this is my aim to complete my 2nd London Marathon in aid of the National Deaf Childrens Society.
My eldest son Evan was born 15 weeks premature on Christmas day 2004, one of the drugs my wife was given to try and keep Evan tucked up inside a bit longer had possible side effects that could damage his hearing. When faced with Death or Deaf its a no brainer. Coupled with various other issues as a result of his prematurity Evan has learning difficulties, one of the main things holding him back however is his communication and the help and support we have received from the NDCS has been tremendous. All this has helped Evan to start a 'normal' school this year and he is flying, he even spelt his first word - tomato - to me last night. You will not believe how that felt.
If by putting myself through 16 weeks of shite it gives someone else the chance to even just experience what i did last night, hearing your son utter letters for the first time in 5 years then getting up at 5.00am 6 days a week and running hundreds of miles is more than worth it.

Thankyou for all your support and I look forward to collecting all your sponsorship.

1st Song on Ipod - Corinne Baily Rae - Trouble Sleeping - Proper running tune!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

wii fit BMI - 26.24 - oh its all going wrong I am getting bigger and bigger

www.justgiving.com/davidmcnamara2010

97 Days To Go

No run today due to being at Head Office early doors, I dont think 4 hours in the car and an all day meeting helped the muscles recover from yesterday as I was as stiff as a board when I got home.

www.justgiving.com/davidmcnamara2010

98 Days To Go

A good old run today - 13 miles - which is the longest I have run since last years training. It felt ok, managed it alright and hit my target time to perfection.

Was also my first day of training with just 1 hat and 1 pair of gloves and a pair of shorts, it was positively tropical out there.

Another reasonable turnout for my peers with 7 others out and about. A couple of very 'experienced' runners along the route who looked like they could keel over at any moment. Also two seen on my own street which is a first.

Also a morning for stupid women drivers - running along no problems, cars passing by quite happily, have a look around, turn back and the silly bitch - no appologies for the terminology, she was - has decided to aim her car straight at me as there was another car parked 40 yds away. I think the old boy walking his dog got a bit of a fright as i leapt straight in front of him to avoid certain death and then proceeded to let the woman know just what I really thought of her. It really isnt that hard to drive in a straight line and it really isnt hard to see a 6ft 2in bloke in a skimpy pair of running shorts.

Have changed my challenge, I am going to see if I will run enough miles during training to have done enough distance to visit all 20 Premier League Grounds. Starting in Sunderland then Hull, I will wave at Dirty Leeds as I pass it, then over to the North West. I have worked out roughly how many miles I should do during training. I have set up a poll on the left for you to see what you think. I am going to follow running routes not driving so no motorways. Over the first 2 weeks I have run 74.5miles - so i have made it all the way to North Grimston, N Yorks. Should be in Hull at the end of next week.

1st Song on Ipod - An Emotional Fish - Summertime

wii Fit BMI - 25.92

Beer Belly - 39ins - its going

Thigh Muscle - 23.5 it aint going

www.justgiving.com/davidmcnamara2010

99 Days To Go

Oh well the family trip to the 'Pantomime' didnt quite go as planned. Musical Theatre was probably more accurate and Evan lost interest after about 5 mins. So we got the hell out of there as quick as we could as i dont think folk were too impressed with all the noise we were making.

It did however mean we got home earlier than expected and I managed to get a sneaky 5 miles in. It was a good controlled run as I felt well and had to actually put the breaks on at certain points to stay within my pace.

1st Song on Ipod - Earthbound - Connor Reeves - No idea who it is.

wii fit BMI - 25.82 - This is the same as a week before the marathon last year.

www.justgiving.com/davidmcnamara2010

100 Days To Go

Suprisingly hard this morning, only 4 miles, 2 easy 2 fast - 7min mile pace - unless it was just the legs feeling a bit tired I 'm not sure and the lad has an eye infection so no swimming which means no laying about in the jacuzzi and sauna for me.

Not sure whether I will get a run in tomorrow as a family trip to the pantomime is planned and i aint getting up at 5.00am on a saturday.

1st Song on Ipod - Ipod went a bit crazy and I cant remember

wii fit BMI - 25.84

www.justgiving.com/davidmcnamara2010

101 Days To Go

A big thankyou to Phyllis who was the 1st sponsor for the second year running - xxx.

I crossed the line of no return today and got out of bed when there was still a 4 on the alarm clock (4.50am). I must now be getting really into this training lark or just totally loosing it.

Absolutely nothing of interest happened today, didnt see a single sole either walking or running. It was a bit nippy and a few 'Dancing on Ice' moves were carried out along the route but no perfect 6's

6 miles done at a fairly good pace and felt alright after it. Unfortunately no day off tomorrow due to yesterday so will just have grin and bear it.

1st Song on Ipod - Blondie - The Tide is High - Just the tune to motivate at 5.00am

wii fit BMI - 26.00 - aagh

www.justgiving.com/davidmcnamara2010

102 Days To Go

Supposed to do 6 miles today but after running late last night there was no way the legs would allow it. So had today off and will do todays tomorrow and tomorrows on friday. Oh and it has just dumped a boat load of snow on the village so it will be fun again in the morning.

103 Days To Go

The worst training run I have ever done. My big lad was up a lot of the night so I was to knackered to go in the morning so went at 8.00pm. It was bleak, cold, miserable and truly unenjoyable. Plus too many folk about, and these car things which just dont exist at 5.00am. I'm even expected to look when crossing the roads ?????????

A few odd looks as to what this wierdo was doing running on such a miserable night. They certainly wondered what was going through my head when i did a short lap and ran past them a second time.

Its the first time i have run in an evening for about 8 months and as daft as it may seem i would take 5.00am any day of the week.

I did 9 miles which included 3 x 2 mile fast runs and again thanks to my lovely wife for suggesting I train for a quicker time, the fast runs were FAST. Missed my target on 2 of the 3 but not by too much and the miserable conditions etc etc etc etc may have aided that. But for all the moaning above I was glad i did it and felt good afterwards.

1st Song on Ipod - Bob Sinclar - I Feel For You (Original Club Remix) - Dont mess about with boring versions

wii fit BMI - 26.00 - It really is looking like 26 is going to be the barrier to break.

www.justgiving.com/davidmcnamara2010

104 Days To Go

No run this morning - little lad was a bit grumbly as I got up so had to bin it. Happy enough though as the legs felt tired for the first time which I kind of knew they would.

Just checked my run for tomorrow and was not pleasantly suprised to find it is 9.5miles with 3 x 2 mile fast runs - get in!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

www.justgiving.com/davidmcnamara2010

105 Days To Go

Just another 15 weeks to go until the DAY


First long run done - 12 miles - felt ok. I just wish I hadnt totally underestimated the climb from 6 - 7 miles - it never seems quite as steep when you are in the car.


Due to climbing Mount Everest halfway round I missed my scheduled pace by about 10 secs/mile but dont feel to bad about it, it's the quickest I have run at this distance in quite a while so I am very pleased with it.


A massive total of 6 runners seen this morning which considering I hardly saw any last year is a good turn out, and they all said hello which is unheard of, even the prancing one in his shorts who sprinted past me as if I was going to be impressed. 8 miles down, freezing cold, running uphill and my Bingo Wings (Google it if you dont know what I mean) rubbing like shite on my sides, the last thing i was ever going to do was be impressed by someone who had probably just fallen out his front gate.


Just sorting my race calender out as well, Meltham 10k on the 31st January, Central Lancs Half on the 7th Feb. Was going to do the Spen 20 again this year but it is on Mothering Sunday so really not quite sure about that one. East Hull 20 on the 28th March and Blackpool Half on the 11th April. All races are open for entries so please feel free to join me.


I have run a total of 34 miles this week, starting off in Leeds and heading for London I have got to just south of Jct 34 on the M1 - I have set myself a challenge to see if I can run from Leeds to London back to Leeds and then down to the start line by the time I have finished my training.


1st Song on Ipod - Blur - All We Want


wii Fit BMI - 25.92 - never to cross 26 again.


Beer Belly - 40ins - will now be a weekly measure as it aint going anywhere fast.


Thigh Muscle - 23.5ins - as above


www.justgiving.com/davidmcnamara2010

106 Days To Go

A nice workout in the snow today. 4 miles done along country lanes which with this depth of snow certainly gave the leg muscles a good test.

Quite a few stares from the disbelieving public that someone is stupid enough to run in this weather.

First long run of the year tomorrow - 12 miles so will see how that one goes.

1st Song on Ipod - Eels - Susans House - absolutely no idea - will need to ask the wife about this one.

wii fit BMI - 26.09

Beer Belly - no change still a nice round 40ins

Thigh Muscle - 23.5ins

www.justgiving.com/davidmcnamara2010

107 Days To Go

A day off - no run - just a sauna and a jacuzzi to sort the muscles out.

www.justgiving.com/davidmcnamara2010

108 Days To Go

Oh my god how cold was it this morning. It was minus 3.5 the other day and this morning absolutely battered it. I think i finally got a sweat on as i came back into my street at the end.
The folk on the bus certainly had a good old stare at the silly idiot in his tights in the snow.

4 miles done at a good pace, didnt quite do the pace on my schedule but I will excuse myself due to the conditions.

After many many days last year of never seeing anyone out running in the morning, i finally see someone this year on the coldest day ever.

Day off tomorrow - lovely.

1st Song on Ipod - Blur - Globe Alone

wii fit BMI - 26.37 - 2lbs on though i have had my dinner.

Beer belly - 40ins - aint going anywhere

Thigh muscle - 23ins - a little increas - will check the tape measure tomorrow

www.justgiving.com/davidmcnamara2010

109 Days To Go

Today was fun and games in the snow, tomorrow is going to be even better. Shed loads of the stuff has fallen today.

Probably had my closest dice with death today as the nice truck driver decided that even though there was no chance of him and the gritter passing each other he would try anyway and chose to swerve straight at me from about 10 yards away. Having to jump of an icy road into a small snow drift that you dont know what its covering is a bit nervy but not quite as nervy as seeing his wing mirror sweep past your head from what seemed about 6 inches. Took a minute or two to calm down after that one.

5 miles run and it was ok, nice and easy, tomorrow has the first real test in that the new faster schedule properly kicks in and I have a 4 mile run at a pretty fast pace, so we will see how it goes. If I can get off the drive!!!!!!

1st Song on Ipod - The Levellers - The Boatman

wii fit BMI - 26.09 - boringly the same as yesterday

Beer Belly - 40ins

Thigh Muscle - 22.5ins

www.justgiving.com/davidmcnamara2010

110 Days To Go

The big guy upstairs was certainly looking down on me this morning - it wasnt as cold as yesterday and the silly white stuff didnt start falling until I was safely back inside the house. Tomorrow should be a good old laugh trying to get through 8 inches of snow.

Did a good 4 miles at a good pace and even after only a couple of days I am starting to get the bug again.

1st Song on Ipod - Smalltown Boy - Bronski Beat - Google it you youngsters out there!

wii fit BMI - 26.09 - starting out OVERWEIGHT

Beer Belly - 40ins

Thigh Muscle - a cool 22.5ins

www.justgiving.com/davidmcnamara2010

The Sequel - 111 Days To Go

Firstly all sequels are crap compared to the original and this next 111 days will be no different. I have tried to con you all into thinking it will be something new and great with an amazing colour shift from black to white but it will be the same rubbish that I type as last year.

I have at this moment in time thought of absolutely nothing new and exciting to put on so we will see what happens.

The boring running stuff first - I was going to start with a lovely picture of Paul Swift at yesterdays Central Lancashire Half Marathon - the first race of the year but it was cancelled due to ice. But a big up for Swav who still did 13 miles - in his shorts (I did 5 - in my shorts).

The first day of this years training went well minus 3.5 degrees when i checked after finishing but it felt a lot bloody colder - 2 hats and 2 pairs of gloves and my tatty old tights and it was freezing - i thought my thumbs were going to drop off at one point. 4 miles done - first 4 of about 500.

I would like to thank my wife for encouraging me to aim for a quicker time this year and thus download a quicker schedule. What was last year a 'brisk' pace is now this year classed as an slow pace. I am so looking forward to some of the fast runs in the next few weeks.

De ja vu strikes with this years first run photo - it is exactly the same as last year with a good load of snow on the ground and it has just started snowing again now.

1st Song on Ipod - Dont know as Itunes has disappeared and Ipod battery run out.

wii fit BMI - 26.31 - loads better than this time last year but well over a stone in weight put on since the marathon last year.

Now something for you guys to feel proud about -

Size of Beer Belly - 40ins - this is going down this year.

Now something for you ladies to think about -

Size of Thigh Muscle - 22.5ins

Lads please feel free to post your sizes as I know you will all secretly measure to see how you compare to a MARATHON RUNNER.