Four your eyes only !!

Like Bond "The Fox" is back seeking more excitement & danger on the banks of Windermere. He will do battle with Ice Cream mountain,Otter Bridge & the evil driveway !!

Assisted by Aly Knowles as M (the big boss lady - although of course much younger & hotter than Judi Dench ) Mac Knowles as Q - the man with all the gadgets (well the timing chips & a lap top !!) & Sheilagh as Miss Moneypenny

Sally Ford,Diane Shaw,Toks & Kaz step in to replace Honor Blackman,Maud Adams,Halle Berry & Ursula Andress as the glamourous Fox girls assisting in the pursuit of no.4.

My vehicle of choice a pair of Asics Gel Nimbus as the DB5 is in for it's MOT

So what can we expect from the latest installment ? Who will replace Andy Nice as "The man with the golden run" ? who wll step into the shoes of Ben Audsley as the ever helpful Felix Leiter ?

Can the fox withstand the vicious pumelling at the hands of Nicola,Lucy,Shonelle & the "evil" big G ?

Can he survive being lowered into freezing waters of sharks & crocodiles ?* (warning the ice bath may not contain Sharks & Crocodiles ?!!)

All these questions & more to be answered in the next thrilling istallment coming soon, but one thing for sure on day 10 the fox will be surrounded by beautiful women (from body Rehab) enjoying an ice cold bottle of Corona hopefully not shaken or stirred

Diamonds are forever, but slate is great.

The Fox
licensed to run !!!

Can i play with Madness ?

Actually asking myself that very question & not sure I can ?

I have battled through 3 editions of the Bratahy 10 in 10 (10 marathons in 10 days) & have had 26 fantastic days in the Lake District meeting some amazing people & life long friends along the way.

The problem I have is those final 4 days in May of this year, I have been offered a place for the 2012 edition of the 10 in 10, bt the problem is not sure I still have the mental capacity to get it done ?

When I think back, I feel proud of myself for battling through that final 4 days but the thought of putting myself through it again frankly scares me to death, why would I want to hammer my body like that again, what do I have to prove - nothing to myself that's for sure.

I'm enjoying my running at the moment but I'm not running marathons these days, in the past 5 days I have really enjoyed 2 x 5km races & winning my clubs 3.5 mile handicap in a PB time on Thursday. The thought of running 26.2 miles in such warm weather really does not appeal.

For alot of folks the 10 in 10 is a once in a lifetime event & if my first one had gone the way of my third one that would have been true for me too & I'm happy that I've got round 3 times but think now is the time to say goodbye to such a fantastic event ?

The problem I have is the the quest for history, I've never really achieved anything substantial running wise & whilst not one to go chasing records (I certainly can't from a time perspective - a 3.09 marathon PB puts me somewhere in the middle of the pack I would guess ?) only one person has ever completed 4 in a row & I would still like to add my name to a very exclusive list containing the name of just one person "The Godfather" - "Sir" Steve Edwards.

I really am torn at this moment, If I had to make a decision at this moment in time I would wish the other 18 well on their epic challenge & bid a fantastic event farewell.

I don't want to rush a decision & have to say whilst sad to see Rosemary have to pull out Matt "Emdee" Dunn's elevation into the team did give me a lift a couple of days back.

This madness is killing me mentally :(

Foxy

Sponsor me at http://www.justgiving.com/foxy10

November Rain !

Thankfully after floods during the week in Cornwall the rain stayed away for race day & the weather was good a bit overcast but dry although a little windy over Bodmin Moor.

I like my flat European City centre marathons in general. Florence,Amsterdam & Berlin topping my list, but there are 2 beautifully scenic races in the UK that really capture my imagination - Windermere & The Cornish, both are hilly & challenging (the Cornish much more so than Windermere) & i love 'em both :)

East Cornwall Harriers put on a fantastic event every year, a field of just 200 but made it a friendly sociable occassion, I could say I loved every minute of it but that would be lying !!

i set off with my few mates Paul & Colin but within 2 miles realised that 7.50 min miling was gonna be too quick for me & eased back to 8.10's for the first 8/9 miles & then the course starts to really bite & there are some tough long hills, I dug deep & worked my way up them at a reasonable speed but then paid for that effort as the course flattened out over a windswept Bodmin moor En Route to Jamaica inn & those 8.10's became 9's, became 10's & even as bad as a 10.30 min mile over the half way point.My hamstring really tightened after working up the hills & I started feeing rather sorry for myself & just wanted it to be over :(

Reaching Jamaica Inn at 14 miles, coming off the moor & realising a sub 4 hour marathon was slipping away I realised I needeed to stop my internal whing pull my finger out & get going, I sped up a little (aided by a gentle downhill & I was back to 9 min miling, My mate Michael caught & passed me but I kept him in eye sight as long as I could & was subsequently joined by "Pikeman" Stephen Young & we chatted & wiled away another 4 or 5 miles before he disappeared into the distance too (I would catch him later).

I reached 20 miles in 3 hours & knew 10 min miling would get me home sub 4, but with the adrenaline flowing I sped up & averaged 7.25's over the final 6.2 miles, not sure where I found that kind of speed ? but started ticking off the miles in the hope of breaking 3.50 but with 2 to go I suddenly thought I have a shot at sub 3.45 & put my head down & went for it, the final mile was run in 6.45 & 1.20 from the 26 mile marker got me to the line in 3.44.57 - I'd done it by the skin of my teeth - so close I didn't even get chance to get the airplane out of the hangar.

The reward at the end was a Pasty, cup of tea & lemon cake from "Cornish Eva" (yes she really exists !!) & a bit of detective work meant we even found the bar which was very secluded & tucked away.

Today's champagne moment goes to Stephen Young for picking me up & helping me along when I really needed it, many thanks for your company out there :)

thankfully the November rain held off & everyone seemed pleased with a good day at "The Office"

keep on "sprinting" lol ;)

Foxy

Greased Lightning !!

A huge cast of runners turned up not exactly the T-birds & Pink ladies (but close - lol )for the MK Enigma track marathon.

Stars of the day were indeed Greased Lightning - Danny Zucko (Adam Holland) who romped home to win in an amzing 2.37.00 & Sandy (Jen Salter) led the pink ladies home in 3.13.34. Both the winners set PB's with Adam slashing 12 minutes of his & looking amazingly fresh - bloody kids !!

The day went well, better than I could ever have imagined, I met many friends old & new & finally put faces to some of my "cyber" friends. The sun came out & we couldn't have wished for a better day (on Friday whilst eating pizza with the rain pouring down outside I had my blog title sorted Guns n' Roses "November rain" but it wasn't to be but "Paradise City was a bit of a stretch !!)

We started a little later than expected but everyone comfortably made the 6 hour time limit & there was possibly some clarification on the car parking situation required. (although those parked in the wrong place didn't have their vehicles broken into - sorry about that Brian :( ).

The awards seem well received by the 6 recipients

1st - Adam Holland (tango)
1st Lady - Jen Salter
1st Male Vet - Dave Ross
1st Lady Vet - Sarah Thorne (sarah1)

Enigma man of the year - Rob Bishop (Foxsake) & also fastest Fox !
Enigma Lady of the year - Lisa Barry.

Personally I started on roughly 3.30 pace but faded, i didn't really calculate my pace or work my time out but eventually broke out the wings to fly home in better style than Quantas, crossing the line in 3.50.07 (had i looked at my watch i'd would have made sure i got home 7 seconds quicker but c'est la vie.Still more than happy to log my 69th sub 4 hour marathon & reach 28 marathons for the year eclipsing last years total by 2 with two more left in 2010.

Todays champagne moment has to go to Tango, 12 mins off your PB is one thing but at the sharp end time wise it's astonishing - hats off to the pride of Devon.

Alternative titles & suggestions were - the Motown classic "the tracks of my tears" the more recent offering from the sugarbabes of "round round" & "dizzy" by Tommy Roe / Vic Reeves.

As Wallace & Gromit might say it was indeed a grand day out

Keep running around & around

foxy

Return to sender ?!!

I do hope that won't be the case when the first batch of charity calendars go out in the post tomorrow !!

I took delivery on Wednesday night under the cover of darkness, plain brown packaging of course ;)

the 38 pre ordered calendars will be flying around royal mail sorting office over the weekend, i do hope the models won't get dizzy ?!

It's proved to be a busy time on the fundraising front but pleased to see the funds rolling in for the excellent work of Brathay Hall trust.

The calendar is a limited edition of just 75 & if you haven't ordered yours don't wait too long & miss out !!

In some ways the fundraising stuff has been a welcome distraction from my poor running form & injuries but just Like Arnie "i'll be back !!

Big thanks to the fantastic fetchies brave enough to bare all for a fantasic charity & to all of them goes today's champagne moment - Santababy,flying leek,PaulaMc, Wine Legs, Binks, Pink-kat-lady,Plodding Hippo,Cabbey & Gooner - cheers guys or should I say "bottoms up" literally in some cases ;)

You can leave you hat on !!!

foxy x

The wheels on the bus :(

Those wheels fell off today at 18 miles & was a painful run/walk to the finish :(

The game plan today was to run with Heather a fellow 10 in 10 runner for next year & in the hope of getting her into the exclusive sub 3.30 club & for 18 miles I was able to keep an even pace 8 min miling but I was pushing it to run at that pace but didnt want to let my mate down.

The final 7 miles were a combination of running & walking & the finishing time wasn't as bad as the performance.

Chatting afterward to fellow runners it was a split decision many folks had fantastic days & PB's Stuart, AJH (another 2011 Brathay entrant),Chiefy & Colin to name but a few on the other side of the coin I struggled & sadly my mates Allan,Lee & the legendary Mick & Phil had to pull out :(

I was a bit emotional at the end - dissapointed with my performance but also relieved it was over.

Was great to see so many fetchies both old & new today, even some who have had the "priveldge" of running with the Fox ;)

So I hear you asking what about Heather ? Well I've saved the best to last to congratulate her on todays champagne moment - 3.28 a shiny new PB & exclusive membership of the sub 3.30 club (i can only dream of those times nowadays & reminise about when I was younger ! Lol !)

Keep on hobbling

Foxy

Hurts so good !

a bit of John Cougar Mellencamp today to celebrate a day of blood, sweat & tears around the streets of Nottingham.

I met up with a variety of folks from this wonderful website, my own club Milton Keynes Lakeside Runners, a great selection of 10 in 10 runners past & present & of course the guys already members of the 100 marathon club.

I was joined by mates Dave,Mel & Malc all dressed as naughty school kids & we briefly did "battle" with the Sparta army & took a few great photos before someone's big mouth meant I got interviewed live on local radio !

Race wise Nottingham seems to get hillier every year & yet the course has hardly changed in the 5 times I've run it ! I struggled out there & whilst getting through halfway in 1.58.58 sub 4 wasn't looking optimistic as my knee was giving me a lot of pain so I settled for 4.30 but met Rory Coleman with 7 miles to go & he was going for sub 4 & so i thought I'd keep him in site & try to eat up each mile in 9 minutes & it really hurt but I just wasnt prepared to give up on it & kept pressing on overtaking quite a few as I went.

I finally went past the 26 mile sign in 3.54 & knew I'd have just enough time to get my wings out & fly home even blowing a kiss to the mad fetchies in the granstand screaming my name :)

I couldn't hold back the tears as I finished - I was happy,hurt,bleedding (blister) & relieved to have finally reached my holy grail of running 100 marathons. It's been one hell of a journey & one that has changed my life.

I celebrated with a few drinks & my good friend Dave Ross made a speech involving our race excursions into Pole dancing clubs in Bratislava & gay bars in Barcelona - cheers Dave ! Lol !

I got my medal & couldn't wait to pull the 100 marathon shirt over my head - the most expensive shirt I'll ever own !

A truly fantastic weekend with some fabulous friends & I want to say huge thanks to you all

In the words of Kenneth Wostenholme "they think it's all over............. It is now" :)


Honoured to belong to Fetcheveryone, Milton Keynes Lakeside runners, the 10 in 10 club & now finally a full member of the 100 marathon club :)

Keep or running & running & running.......


Foxy