Chapter 19: Post Paris & Going Global

So we’re in July and I have not posted since an article caught my eye  about the cathartic benefits of running (thanks Dean!).

Post marathon – especially a PB is a strange time. You want to get back out there but need to take things slowly. It is quite incredible how eager the mind is to continue to push yourself.

The painful (literally) truth is that you cannot run with any real zest for about a week and even then the spectre of your most recent race hangs over you so focus is most definitely lacking. You run because you want to – not because you have to.

Taking time off is never an option for me as the next race is just around the corner.

I read an interesting article that suggested that training for your next race is going to be compromised whilst the shadow of your most recent race looms large.

This is so true. It took a good 3-4 weeks to mostly eradicate the memory of Paris and start the pendulum swing away from that and towards my new goal of Loch Ness at the end of September.

I spent time basking in the knowledge that I had qualified for Boston and wondering whether I would take on that challenge.

In the end my wife and I discussed it and due to cost (we were about to undertake a major home project) I would delay my Boston exploits by a year and instead leverage my 3:11 time to gain automatic entry to London.

This would be my 3^rd attempt at London and I felt that it would be April 2015 where I would do my utmost to obtain a sub 3 hour time.

So where to start?

I had Loch Ness already planned, my original second marathon in late 2010.

Loch Ness was a turning point for me. The race where I knocked 30 minutes off my original London time (of 4:14) and realised that I could be quite accomplished at this mad endeavour.

I knew that I would need to be sensible with my aspirations.

3:11 was tough but I knew the areas where I could make up for lost time.

Loch ness would give me the opportunity to shave 5 minutes or so off my 3:11 and give me the psychological kicker to get to sub 3!

But things have to change – you can’t expect to obtain a significantly better time at this level without changing your programme.

I therefore used the initial couple of months to dive into a rigorous programme of cross training and fitness courtesy of Nadia Lismore, super personal trainer.

My focus on the road translated well in the gym and I relished the opportunity to try new things.

A significant fact was that I could most definitely correlate my cross training with an improvement in pace.

In late May I had the opportunity to take a dramatic career opportunity that would impact my work life balance (due to travel) but put me on the global stage.

I was appointed Chief Marketing Officer for Kodak Alaris. An amazing challenge to reinvent the company some 9 months after it had reformed post Chapter 11. Excitement levels were high and I negotiated a 4 day week for the remainder of my time at Motorola.

The wind-down period began with good intentions: I would do something physically demanding every Friday be it cycling, running or something else.

All went well and I was clocking up 25 miles per week on the running side, getting out on the bike and taking advantage of this lack of pressure to see old friends (I even went up to Manchester to see some of my old University buddies).

This release of pressure (after a continuous 4 year period of intensity) had an unforeseen impact on my health.

On the way back from Manchester, some 2 weeks before I was due to start at Kodak Alaris I started to feel off colour.

Then due to the travel I was going to have to be doing I was advised to get my inoculations up to date. I had 2 injections and it knocked me for 6.

Jetting off to France with my brother for a brief spell of R&R tipped me over the edge.

I started my training programme for Loch Ness with vigour and was enjoying running through the hills and fields near Toulouse, Aurignac and Sanguedenes ticking off 4, 6 and 10 miles whilst I was out there.

I thought I had been bitten by mosquitos on my hairline as lumps appeared on my scalp.

They got worse and significantly more painful and once I returned home I was fearful that I had been bitten by something nasty as the rash started to extend all across my hairline and down my neck.

A trip to the Urgent Care Unit in Harrow confirmed that I had shingles.

Shingles: One funny name but not funny at all.

I was in significant pain and had to go on pain killers and was on meds that I had to take 5 times a day.

Fortunately in 4 days the condition cleared up but my confidence had been knocked.

Was I not invincible?

My withdrawal from Florence had taught me that I was far from that but I could not stop. I was fearful that if I lost momentum it would be tough to regain it at a later date.

I continued but at a lower pace and slowly but surely got my mojo back.

I am now 3 weeks into the new role, am clocking circa 40 miles a week which I am managing to integrate into a hectic work schedule that has seen me take in Paris, Stuttgart and Rochester, New York.

New Job, new Countries, new runs.

I have run a maximum distance of 14 miles and this weekend will cross 16 miles.

I feel strong, confident and upbeat.

The rest of the summer will be challenging, balancing  increasing training intensity with family vacations and work commitments.

But so far, so good..I have not blown a gasket, no cold sores, no illness, no more shingles.

I need to maintain my health and positive outlook over the coming weeks so that I can triumph at Loch Ness and then seal the deal in April at London.

Challenges will be running in extreme heat over the summer in both South of France and Israel (providing the situation does not escalate)… This will be a new challenge but one that I am looking forward to embracing.