Building up to the VLM.

During the following weeks recovery after my Watford half marathon consisted as usual with an hour rub down from Chris, my Physio catching up, sharing tales, and soaking as much knowledge that I can from this wise old owl. This still had me thinking ahead to Aprils Virgin London Marathon. I do use the Watford half marathon as my build up and preparation. I know a lot of people use the Silverstone Adidas half marathon but that’s in March and I’d panic if I ever ran this and got myself injured that I couldn’t run the London Marathon only four weeks later. The adidas marathon is obviously bigger and more popular than Watford but now is the time my mind plays games on me as I try not to get injured and glare at people who even dare to cough or sneeze over me when I’m trying to stay germ free and be physically and mentally fit!! I know people do and have to pull out from the London Marathon but seriously, I do not want to be (ever)put in that dilemma! (A little selfish I know )

Next on my agenda is to look at new trainers (New ones!! i only bought a pair last month?!?) because for me the Asics Kayano’s are a complete joke. This is a trainer that surprisingly costs £120(£80 from sports direct). Obviously it suits others hence the bulk purchases but spending this much  I thought I was getting the Rolls Royce for trainers, clearly far from it, and it saddened me I had to put them on eBay and sold them for £45

Now, on my way too or from work i ventured regularly into Sweatshop, runners need and Asics back to Asics, runners need and sweatshop asking question after question and getting several different answers each time from these shop assistants? How can buying trainers be so hard or am I just being a complete div?? I would like a size 9 maybe 9 ½(allowing for extra space as I do not want trophy’s of black toenails) in a shoe for very slight over-pronation. I watched and analyzed each of my gait tests like a hawk and oddly my left leg lands and pushes off perfectly indicating I need a neutral shoe but my right leg slightly over pronates. As I run a lot due to training and race in half and the odd full marathon it’s been advised and seems to be safer for me to have a little support, so what could possible be the confusion in a shop for a light over pronating shoe? In the end I was getting the right hump and one day stormed into sweatshop with the “Just give me the asics 1150’s” and lets get this over with attitude all because I used and loved last years 1140’s.

I had a month to get used to them and wear them in before the London Marathon and first reaction on a ten mile run was that they’re not as good as last years 1140’s... I actually was well gutted about the 1150’s as they seemed firmer with no spring or bounce that the 1140’s had? Why the dramatic change Asics? BUT read the magazine reviews the 1150’s get editor awards for most improved shoe?? EH??? I could absolutely not believe this and disagreed seeing the Editors award logo plastered next to the picture of the 1150's. My only assumption was that every other 2010 must be awful if this trainer got such a high rating? I then started a mini campaign running through St James's Park or Hyde Park to see how many other runners had Asics 1150's... I spotted one other person so i thought "there" i rest my case.