When the day is done - Books on Running

Probably the best book on endurance running is 'Slow Burn: Burn Fat Faster by Exercising Slower' by Stu Mittleman. It gives the classic advice 'run because you enjoy running, and for no other reason' because we (as human beings) are born to run, and only stopped in the last 100 years or so.
It has completely changed my attitude to running - instead of struggling along panting furiously and determined to go faster, I accepted a slower pace for much more enjoyment. I've sped up since that initial dip in speed but now I enjoy the countryside flying past and the challenges of dodging branches/ leaping puddles.

Yanni advised me to run barefoot, because I have a tendency to turn my toes out. Rather than face the cold ground, I found another book recommended by Stu: Pete Egoscue's The Egoscue Method of Health Through Motion. It's fantastic! Very simple diagnostic of what might be wrong with your posture (whether standing, walking or running), then simple exercises to strengthen muscle groups to put the diagnosed problem (and probably a whole lot of other problems) right. Really very good.

Running is so much more enjoyable!

Christmas Inspiration

The long holiday (4 days) means I've caught up on sleep and I'm ready to run. Actually today's blood donor day but I'll get a short run in as well. You've no idea how quickly I'll finish that London Marathon!

Christmas decorations

Windy and wet out so I joined a gym - would you believe the gym is still pretty much empty until January!
But the christmas excesses have started; add your own contributions
Hugo

DR Congo crisis - help us respond

05 December 2008 - from the Christian Aid web site
Thanks to your support, Christian Aid's partners are helping people caught in the bitter conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Over 250,000 people have fled their homes losing family and possessions on the way. Many are becoming reliant on support from other local families for shelter and food.
Christian Aid's local partners are helping in lots of ways:
distributing food supplies
improving local water supplies and sanitation facilities and providing seeds and tools to help people grow extra food for their families
supporting people to earn vital income and find new livelihoods
providing mobile voluntary HIV testing and counselling
urgently lobbying the UK Government to use their influence to bring peace and civilian protection
Britain must act
Christian Aid needs your donations to respond to this crisis and is also urging the UK government to use its influence to help secure peace in the DRC as escalating violence threatens to plunge the country back into war. Christian Aid believes the British government, as a major donor to the DRC and Rwanda, has a vital and unique role to play in securing peace for DRC and the wider region.

Another beautiful morning

Still icy underfoot but winter has its compensations, when the days are dark the leaves are off the trees meaning you can see by moonlight

Christian Aid in Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe: 'a wounded people'
Bishop Levee Kadenge - the national convenor of the Zimbabwe Christian Alliance - says the cholera outbreak has crippled the nation and that his country is ‘under siege and full of distress.’

‘We do not deserve what is happening,’ says Bishop Kadenge. ‘We are demoralised, we have problem after problem. But we must remain faithful to the idea that Zimbabwe will have a good future.’

A message of hope for us all - there is a better future: built with our hands (the hands God gave us), reached on our feet, seen with our eyes, told with our mouths.

The time for action is NOW

In sunnier times

The icon of the North East from a training cycle ride in November. It was cold, but the angel didn't seem to mind

Winter Training

It's cold out, and icy. I checked the temperature yesterday - 8 degrees! Signed up with my Golden Ticked (Christian Aid) so I'm in the race at last.
Slippy - Only just got to the railway station without falling it's so icy! To avoid injury I'm doing indoor training. Keep thinking of me (no, I'm not completely mad)
Hugo