Sunday 2nd May to Saturday 8th May 2010

Saturday 8th May 2010
Not much to report. Put a load of stuff on Ebay for work - old PDA stuff and what have you. Played golf with Doug and John - played well again in windy conditions 41 points which including blobbing on 7th hole (taking no score) when lost a ball (pulled drive, then although I poleaxed a 6-iron bang on line I couldn't find the ball so it was either short and in the rubbish or long and in the field - still hit the ball really well). So reasons to be cheerful. Unfortunately not playing next week unless I give Andrew a ring and see if he can put me with anybody.

Friday 7th May 2010
Oh dear, Mr Cameron will be blubbing into his cornflakes this morning. Still, at least he won't need to roll his sleeves up and get grafting. Although, he might have to start working out if there's a way to prise Mr Brown out of no.10, I can't see him shifting in a hurry!

Me, on the other hand I was up early doors doing me emails then went out for a five miler as is again normal - tried to up the pace a bit and have almost got it down to 9 minute miles; details here

Thursday 6th May 2010
Went out for another five miler this morning. Steady if not quite as quick as I'd like - average 9:37 pace but I was right tired on the third mile and dropped down to 10min mile which was disappointing but was on the climb up the park which might explain it a little bit. Badminton tonight - played a bit on lawn with Lucy last night - she seems to want to smash everything at me which is competitive but not condusive to a knock-about in my opinion!

Wednesday 5th May 2010
Bit knackered still but did a five miler this morning - did a bit of fun running and footy with Lucy last night which hurt a bit (they don't half make footballs hard these days, don't they?). Did some more footy and running with Lucy again tonight then an awesome spin on the FCR1 where I just kept the average up nice and high and beat the virtual partner set at 15mph. Which for me is jolly respectable! See details here

Tuesday 4th May 2010
Stopped up til silly hours to get my name down in the London Marathon 2011 ballot, if I don't get in then I'll be hanging up the running shoes. In the meantime it means I'll need to keep up a reasonable level of fitness at least 'til October when I find out if am in or not.

Was so knackered this morning after chopping down the tree and getting to bed late (although I did watch Unforgiven on the box so that was a bonus) that I walked up town and ran back.

Also forgot to mention, played 9 holes last night which was okay again, checked out how I did in the May Medal on Saturday and came third - if I'd not three-putted on 13, not put a ball in the hedge on the 6th and if the putt on the 18th had dropped in instead of sitting on the edge of the hole I'd have won! That's golf for you.

Monday 3rd May 2010
I bought a mount for the Garmin 405cx watch so that it can work like a speedo/bike computer on the FCR1. Set it up this morning and then took it for a spin (details of which are here). I average 14.3mph which was okay as it was mighty windy if I do say so myself.










Rest of day was spent chopping down a Xmas Tree that was in a wooden tub for about 15 years and was bloomin massive. Of course the Tree had not seen the tub as being a limitation and it's roots had wrapped themselves round a paving slab and what have you so it took a good four hours or more to best it and I'm not sure I've won now! It's still locked into the tub with it's limpet-like roots. Hey ho.

Irrational (sort of) Purchases
Bought (sold a kidney for) pictures from MarathonFoto but since I probably won't put myself through 26.2 miles of pain again I thought get em. Anyway, some of which are below.

Sunday 2nd March 2010
A slow (cause it was damn cold) 8.5 miles this morning round Ashbourne. A bit tired after 7.5 miles so walked a bit and went for shortest route back home (as you do). Will do a bit more tomorrow perhaps if I fancy it or might go out on bike. We'll see.

Sunday 25th to Saturday May 1st 2010

Saturday 1st May 2010
2.5 mile up town and back to fetch papers. Pleased with Pace again. Going to do a few more miles tomorrow I reckon. Link to Garmin Connect.

Good Golf Miss Molly - went round in a very steady 86 off the white tees which included a lost ball after hitting out of bounds on the par three 6th - beginning to be my bogey hole that one. Anyway, that's best round for some time.

Friday 30th April 2010
Little 2.5 mile up town and back run. Bit of a sad wierd day today - Captain Channing and Carol Sherwin both retiring so lots of red eyes. Me, Dave and new start Chris Hall had to knock a tune up for the occasion so a lot of shuffling stuff about in shed first thing to deliver the drums and keep it a secret from Channo. All done though!

Thursday 29th April 2010 Evening Update
Went to Badmo with Lucy - good fun even if the young whipper snappers beat me somewhat.

Got some more pics from t'Marathon!

Thursday 29th April 2010
Did a couple of miles last night and 2.5 miles this morning. I know you shouldn't but I'm determined not to let the fitness slip and weight go back on like I did last year. See where I am at the weekend but I'd like to do a ten-miler Sunday morning all being well.

Some more pics from the Marathon!

My 2010 London Marathon Time!!

Wednesday 28th 2010
Getting better - ran up town and back okay. 2.5 miles at just under 9:30 pace. So not bad considering.

Did a bit of work on a video for Roberto
Grabbed audio stream off radio five live to enhance the video I did along with titles and captions. Banged it on YouTube

Tuesday 27th 2010
Back to work. A bit knackered but never mind. Did a couple of miles tonight - bit of walking but I bet I did a mile and a quarter or more of running. Felt it in the thighs though, oh yes.

Monday 26th 2010
Travelling back from London, no exercise and Quads absolutely killing me.

Sunday 25th 2010

London Marathon Day!
Woke up at 4:30, got up proper at 05:00, shaved and everything ready by 05:45. In Hotel Restaurant at 05:55, porridge and toast and ready to go by 6:30. On bus to trafalgar square at 6:36 and on train at Charing Cross at 07:00, waiting for Roberto at Blackheat Station at 7:33. Met Roberto at 7:50, walked to blue start for 8am ish. Got diverted from Blue Start to back of Balloons. Interview as 8:40. Over to Red Start for 9am. Met Julia and Liz. No Sign of Ailsa. Hammers it down with rain at 9:05. Still nos sign of Ailsa so we go in. Wait til about 9:30 still no sign of Ailsa. Stuff has to go on baggage trucks at 9:35 so that's that no pic at start which in a way was good as it was hammering it down. At 9:40 we're queuing up down the road for shooters hill, at about 10:05 we're off, Liz and Julia take off about ten mins in and we don't see them again until the finish! The Garmin 405 wasn't working at the start so it looks like my first mile was 12 minutes and something - this pi$$ed me off all the way round.

I stuck with Roberto for the first ten miles or so but Roberto was struggling a bit around 11 and didn't want me to miss getting my sub-5 hrs time so I left him a bit before halfway. He's an absolute star, Roberto and I reckon he'll be back to get a good time next year, bless im.

The rest of my race was best described as up and down. I'd wanted to put in a good time to Tower Bridge which is more or less half way but after dodging round folks for the first few miles I knew it wasn't going to work out. I was ten minutes better to half way but I think i spent too much energy going round folks walking or blocking the way which was major irritating to say the least. Anyway I got round in the end 4hrs 52mins 05secs which was ten minutes better than last year but the last five miles was run on vapours and absolutely nothing left in the tank - I was bit upset at the finish as someone shouted 'come on paul, you can get a 5:10' which as I wasn't trusting the Garmin was the last thing I wanted to hear but I finished strong as I could, I'd have liked to have been ten minutes quicker but it wasn't bad. Certainly better than never ever finishing under five hours.

Anyway, the stats are all here! and here

Pics from London Marathon

London Marathon 2010 Pictures

Finished final for me, Marathon in 4:51, so ten mins better than last year - had wanted 4:40 but will take this, ran non-stop, no loo break, no walking so a fitting way to close off you marathon career, I reckon.

These are pics from yesterday's Virgin London Marathon. Click on them to get a 1600 x 1200 zoomed in shot.

First one is Roberto Enrui who was Slimming World's Greatest Loser and Man of the Year. He ran the marathon in just over 6 hours carrying an abductor injury. Not bad for someone who's lost 25 stones over the last few years!!!

Me and Roberto with us medals, gimme a medal, Mutley!


Roberto being interviewed by Radio 5 Live - I've got video of this too but it's massive!!!



Paul and the gals from the team - Liz (4:42), Ailsa (4:13) and Julia (5:22)



The gals on their own.





Virgin Marathon 25th April 2010 The Slimming World team took on the challenge of running miles for SMILES with great aplomb and a gleam in their eyes. The day varied from heavy rain before the start of the race to very hot in the latter stages of the race so all the runners were tested by the conditions. As usual though, the crowd help boost them along with the unique atmosphere the London Marathon has and all the team were pleased to complete it.

Ailsa Park finished in a very good 4:13:58
Liz Ferris completed the marathon in 4:42:41
Paul Siddall in 4:51:05
Julia Males in 5:22:04
Roberto Enrui completed the marathon in 6:03:05

Sunday 4th April to Saturday 10th April 2010

Saturday 10th April 2010
Got up at 5am, took Phil to work, went back to bed. Start again.
Got up at 9am, brekko, filled a hole in the cavity wall that blue tits were using to remove cavity wall insulation for their nests, the little buggers. So was hanging out of Lucy's bedroom window with a handful of filler! Ace.
Golf at 12:12

Golf was certainly a game of two halves. Front nine played really solid - out in 40, back nine lost it and came back with 52 coming in. Still, I got a two on the 14th so should get my stake back at least. Irritating though, we let a two-ball through on the 10th and it kind of went to hell in a handcart thereafter unfortunately. Such is life.

Friday 9th April 2010
Garmin wouldn't give me the data back this morning but seeing as I'd been watching the masters til midnight I set my sights a bit lower this morning and only ran three and half miles BUT with a nippier pace of around 9:15/mile. Which was okay. Not going to even mention how much of a weight gain at last night's group but will endeavour to resolve it for next week!!


Thursday 8th April 2010
Did nowt yesterday and still feeling mighty tired this morning. Did five miles though which was okay but a bit slow at 10:20/mile
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/29346700

Tuesday 6th April 2010
Weather was given best out of the days I had available so went for the big run this morning. Dropped the missus car off at Pentagon Ashbourne to have rear shocker sorted and then set off towards Derby! Then headed North for Bradley and then Across to Hognaston and then over to Lea Hall and picked up the old route back to Tissington then ran down Tissington Trail to Ashbourne and home. Absolutely knackered but not too disappointed really - there'll be next to no hills in London so I ought to do better all being well.
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/29163323






Easter Monday 5th April 2010
Just a little 3.5 mile trot up town and back. Steady pace which would be around 9:30 if had stopped clock when I went in to get papers. Okay stuff, off shopping with missus shortly, should be fun.


http://connect.garmin.com/activity/29020047

Sunday 4th April
Played Easter 4ball BetterBall with John, Doug and Dave yesterday. Steady enough, we got 36 points off three quarter handicaps which wasn't too bad 17pts front, 19 points back, sneaked a 15 foot putt in on the last to just scrape. Nothing special apart from some good approach irons here and there.

Sunday 28th March Marathon Training 18 miles

Sunday 28th March : Marathon Training

Bit disappointed, 18 miles in a 3 and a half hours which I suppose is about 5 mile an hour'ish. Thought I was doing quicker than that but hey ho. Set out quick and wasn't far off 10 min miles for first 8 miles so definitiely faded somewhat after that.

Sunday 21st March 2010

Sunday 21st March - 21 mile Marathon Training Run
Set off at 7:45am got back just after noon so about 4hrs 15ish. Knackered this week but the miles have got to get done. Todays run was hillier than normal instead of turning down Newton Lane I carried straight on for a change and it was lovely but uphill! Still it's good to get out, if you do the miles you can do the big run on the day; that's what I learnt last year!

Sunday 31st January to Saturday 6th February 2009

Saturday 6th February Marathon Training
Got up at 6am, big run day. Set off at 6:45 got back about 9:20 and did a smudge under 14 miles over hilly terrain (see gradient profile below) not displeased, it's coming back

Friday 5th February
Up at 5:20, bit of a drag to get up but this is the path I have chosen. Anyway, fetched missus motor up from garage as usual (managed to put a tiny scratch on it last night which was a bit of a bugger - got to get some touchup paint sorted now). Anyway, got up this morning but it was persisting it down with rain so have left it to 6:10 to see if was going to stop, it wasn't so just did a short three miler straight up straight back to newsagents. Some folks have friday as a rest day when training for marathons so am going to look at it that way!!

Thursday 4th February (evening of)
Popped into Janet's group on the way home, quick weigh-in - just a pound this week which was a bit disappointing but such is life. Badminton at 7pm, an hour of punishment from the whipper-snappers but, and it's a good but, am getting something like and giving em a run for their money. Lost 21-20 to one of em but probably ought to have won.






Thursday 4th Feb
Another day another five miles. It's getting to be a forced habit. Badminton lessons tonight. All good.

Wednesday 3rd Feb
Couldn't get out of bed - totally knacked! Still did the daily five miles regardless - damned frosty this morn - gloves and hat stuff.

Tuesday 2nd Feb
Up early doors, another day another five miles.

Monday 1st Feb
Up at crack of dawn, five mile run as usual considering me legs are still aching from saturday I went like a seriously fast train.

Sunday 31st Jan
Nothing to write home about - thrashed at golf in v. wintry conditions, sorted garage out for missus big motor, talk lucy to badminton and they said it was the wrong day. Ho hum, off to bed for 9pm!

Sunday 24th to Saturday 30th January : Marathon Training

Saturday 30th January
Got up at 5:10am, took Phil to work, went and fetched Missus new motor from Hilton. She's well pleased with it. Job done.

This afternoon did the week's big run. 12 miles up Dovedale took me a good 2hrs 20min but was tired from the start which doesn't help - might add a rest day but need to lose weight too so no rest for the wicked?

My edge gps tracker is knackered so am entering the route into bikeroutetoaster.com which uses google maps. Not fit enough for the route today am hoping to see an improvement as we get closer to the big one. Anyway as you can see from the elevation chart below there were some serious hills which consequently meant some walking. All in all though am quite pleased. In total this week (which has last week's big run in it from Sunday) I've done forty five miles which is not bad at all. Will see how much there is in next weeks the big run drops on the weekend day that I'm not playing golf. This weekend golf is tomorrow at 9:50 so that means big run today!

Friday 29th January
Got up dead early at 5am, set off two loafs for the Haiti Appeal at work (did a carrot cake last night as well). Have already bought a couple of fitness books from work as well. Fetched missus' car up it's tickety boo now am giving it a couple of miles each time to get it warmed up.

Five miles on the road this morning - bit walky runny today, probably the worse run of the week but legs v tired today which is not a good sign as I'm aiming to do 10-12 miles tomorrow.

Thursday 28th January Update
Went to group after work, another 2lb getting back to where I was before the Xmas setback! Badminton lesson at 7 o'clock, definite signs of improvement particularly in the cross-court shot.



Thursday 28th January
Fetched missus' car up first thing, five miles standard run again. Am wondering if I could do three days in week where I'd do five in the morning then another five at night. Combined with the big run at the weekend that'd pip fifty miles every week which'd be good as I read when you're doing 50 miles a week you can eat what you bloody well like!

Wednesday 27th January
Similiar shenanigans to yesterday with missus' car - it's going on Saturday so not for much longer!! Then a quicker five miles round town picking papers up on the way. Forgot to weigh in with the WiiFit that's how rushed I was this morning. Set a facebook group for the Slimming World Marathon Team last night like we had last year.


Tuesday 26th January
Cream crackered this morning on account of missus losing some keys last night so was looking for em til gone 11. Up at 5:20, missus bleedin car won't start so battery out and on charge. 5:55 on road for five miles back at 6:50, battery charged (knackered battery methinks), car okay, breakfast, shave, shower etc. into work. 18 miles so far this week so ticking along nicely. WiiFit says a pound off. We'll see. Found the MOT and the CV5 certificate for the missus' car tonight as well so that's in the bag for Saturday!

Monday 25th January
We went and bought a motor yesterday for missus; 58 plate Zafira which should be handy for going camping etc.etc. Got up nice and early this morning and did a load of small jobs then ran five mile round town on the usual sort of route dropping off the missus prescription and picking up the papers and stamps on the way. All good stuff. Got to find missus motor V55 and MOT certificates tonight, picking it up Saturday morning all being well.

Sunday 24th January

Marathon training week 1 (I think). Did 35 miles in total last week which was a good start considering I didn't know I'd be doing the London Marathon. This morning it said 1hr 30mins which I did a little bit more than but such is life. Did 8.25 over some hilly terrain in about 1hr 32mins which was okay, not particularly quick but a starting point.

Week of Sunday 26/04/09 to 02/05/09

Saturday 2/5/09
Four miles on slow but heavy bike. 5 miles and 93 shots of golf off white tees in afternoon. Just Can't play golf, it has to be said! Am considering going a run tomorrow morning. Plenty of blisters still but if don't get back in the saddle (so to speak) I'll not get running again.

Friday 1/5/09
Really tired this morning, it seems to be catching up on me now. Did three miles on slow but comfy bike to fetch the paper. Did loads of weights last night and some again this morning. Am going to do my best to get into gym before the day's out. Have got a second wind of motivation. Weight was 15st 8lbs yesterday which is 1st 3lbs above my bottom weight in 2007, I want to get all that back before 2010 Marathon which is only 11months and 24 days away!!

Ebay purchase - some entrepreneur has pressed red button on BBC and recorded the finishing line on the London Marathon for four hours and is then selling an hours worth on DVD for £6.50 on Ebay. Seeing as buying pics from the official photography partner for London Marathon involves selling a kidney I reckon £6.50 for video of me pounding the last 385 yards and over the finish lines got to be worth every penny!

Thursday 30/4/09
4 miles on bike in morning so far.

The only pic my missus got and it's the back of me (she's always been happy to see the back of me)! Am in this shot running with my Marathon Guru Kathryn, not going to tell you exactly where but am in it. Look for the Slimming World logo!



Wednesday 29/04/09
Five miles on the bike this morning. Gradually creeping up again. Hoping to be running again at the weekend! We'll see.

Back in the Gym - 4 reps of bicep curls, vertical bench press, horizontal mid-row, triceps pushdowns etc.etc. 20 mins on rower no probs!

Tuesday 28/04/09
Not much to report today - been showing medal off at work as you'd expect. Did four miles on slow but comfy bike in the morning. Nothing more. Have signed up for the 2010 London Marathon ballot - will see what happens.

Monday 27/04/09
Recuperating a bit - lot of folks in the hotel looked far worse than me so that was reassuring for someone carrying a stone too much weight after his first marathon. Visited science museum and natural history then made our way back to Derbyshire in the afternoon.

Sunday 26/04/09
Sunday was the big run of course - 26.2 miles in 5hrs 1min 21secs. A good start to marathon running I like to think and a grand day out. I must write up everything I can remember about it at some point as my memory's like a sieve at the moment.

More Marathon Madness

Kathryn said it'd happen, but there's more to it than it being a simple addiction. Have signed up for the 2010 London Marathon by entering the ballot this morning. Sounds like madness but I want to have a four hours something time for the 26 miles, need to lose some more weight, enjoy the running while listening to the mighty pink floyd so why not?

Steady Eddie running


Was pleased with my pacing throughout the marathon, set off with Kathryn aiming for about 11 min miles, the heat put paid to that and we were doing 11:30min/mile for the most part and dropping as low as 12:08/mile at the 35km point, that said, I finished strong with the last mile plus at 10:28 (which was when I though I could break 5hrs).

Mission Accomplished - Impossible is Nothing

Job done - completed Flora 2009 London Marathon yesterday in 5:01:21 which was 1:22 seconds slower than I hoped for, bit like losing weight 15st 13.5lbs is so much better than 16 stone. But putting it in perspective I told folks I'd run it in about 5 hours so not far wrong at all really. Kept with Kathryn for much of the race but lost her at about fifteen miles I think and if I'm honest apart from the last mile and a half I can hardly remember any of the last ten miles. I know it was a grind, toes are blistered up, quads killing, I do stairs about as well as a dalek but still happy. What makes it so different from any other run is the high fives of the kids, the "come on Paul, nearly there" (which some youngster said at about six miles which was rather sweet, bless him) and the fact that it's either finish or die!!

I saw the timing at 25 miles and thought if I could do the last mile in 11 minutes then I'd get in under 5 hours but wasn't to be, the good thing was that even overweight as I am I was still running the last mile and a half in good pace when all the fit looking young uns were walking, ha ha! Well pleased at the minute when I get the official pics I'll be banging em on!

Marathon training pics and stuff from Monday 23rd Feb

Was pleased with yesterday took about 4 hours or so to do 20 miles which was okay. Motionbased says something ridiculous like 5 hours but it didn't take that long. There's tons of hills involved so I'm pleased to average 5mph/12minute miles. There were patches that you couldn't run in any case like the climb over the other side of Bradbourne Ford towards Knivetonwood. Anyway, I'm happy. Need to lose some weight before the big day but can do that if I apply myself. Had some top tunes when running yesterday (bought myself a 12GB Fuze mp3 player which is bloomin great and was just £50 from Play.com) - anyway, started with Anberlin's Cities album, next on to both discs of Pink Floyd's Delicate sound of thunder which seems to be right sort of pace for my marathon running, slow bluesy sorta stuff in the main, then finished with some live Simple Minds stuff which was a bit of a blast from the past. All good.



This is another pic of Bradbourne Ford - my mum stalled my dad's car when she was learning to drive - it's never been forgotten but begs the question as to why he thought driving through a ford was a good idea for a learner driver?? Maybe a rites of passage thing for Vauxhall Viva drivers!


This is a pretty little valley running alongside the road to Fenny Bentley.

This is a picture of Minninglow in the distance taken from up above Bradbourne Ford towards Tissington.

This is the screen from motionbased - I'm sure it did not take 5 hours plus - was more like 4.5hrs including stops to take pics, change mp3 player etc.

First pic I took was from Mappleton looking towards Thorpe Cloud.

This pic was taken from up the hill from Bradbourne Ford looking towards Fenny Bentley I think.

This pic of village of Thorpe with Thorpe Cloud in background was taken from the killer hill out of Mappleton that I've taken to walking up!

This pic of a cheap tractor (according to Phil, apologies if it's your tractor!) going through Bradbourne Ford (we used to know it as Tissington Ford but Tissington's a couple of miles further on really).

This is me at top of hill before you drop down to the ford, yes I know I'm carrying too much weight but by gad, am happy with things at the moment.

This is a pic of Minninglow in the distance taken from the lane between Knivetonwood and Kniveton.

This pic has Thorpe Cloud in the distance as was taken about a mile from finishing the run. It's taken from the hill between Snelston and Clifton.

This picture is of Osmaston Village Hall, when I got married a million years ago we had the night do here! Cool eh!

Between Moorend and the Osmaston junction on the A52 is JCB's proving ground. I do like what they've called it - the Proving Ground, says all you need to know about JCBs, shame they're struggling at the moment.

In the background is a tractor which a chap I used to drink with up at the Cock Inn is driving: Les Bull. Top man.

Moorend - I always though this place was called Hole-in-the-Wall cause of where that car is, but I was wrong!!).