Buffalo 'Turkey Trot' on thanksgiving day

Thankgiving day in Buffalo for runners is all about the Turkey Trot - the Buffalo version of this is oldest run in USA, and did its 115th continuous stint yesterday. Its a shorty, only 8km, but stll, it takes a lot to wake up for the 9am in the freezing cold and wind (and sometimes snow). The idea is you do the run to burn off all the calories your about to load on for thanksgiving dinner that night.

As for me, i went to sleep about 10.30 the night before. Kind of turned over a bit about 8, and slept soundly through the whole frozen escapade. It was oversubscribed anyway, but certainly next year ill give it shot. Hope it was good guys.

Some guy who looks a bit like yours truly, in intense fitness training today at breakfast time(photo credit H Goral)

The weather here isnt helping my training. It's bitterly cold out right now with the wind biting right through even guys with tights on. I've therefor decided to postpone my running until i get back to Scotland on Sunday.

Goat Island, Niagara Falls

I'd love to tell you how i woke up early yesterday, and ran along a beautiful track along the Genesee river from Downtown Rochester, New York, south past the University and back, a really scenic 15km. But instead I banged at my alarm clock until it almost broke, and then turned over and slept until 8.30am, too late for the run. However, it looks like a GREAT little run.

But to make up for it, last night i ran round Goat Island, at Niagara falls, i think one of the most beautiful runs ive seen - Goat Island is probably (i didnt check) about 2km round, so you can do the circuits past the roaring Niagara Falls, which at dusk right now, in fall, is pretty amazing.

I can feel the backpack training beginning to pay off though, but i'll keep the weight down to 5kg (ie my 5 books in the backpack) and strenghten those little legs until December.

Men in Tights

I got up early this morning in Buffalo, USA, and had my first run around downtown in this lovely (but freezing) city. I ran down main street, which is pedestrianised for a mile or two, then up it again to Delaware park area, then across to Delaware Street, and down again to the City Hall. I had a light backpack on, as per my promise to always do that, and it was actually pretty pleasant despite the cold (it was about zero)

I was however prepared. Last night i bought a pair of 'combat pro' running...er...tights. They are plainly called 'combat pro' to reassure american buyers that they are not gay just becuase they are running around in tights. A bit like speedos in US (have you ever seen a shop selling speedos in US?) Although it is totally normal in Europe, if someone in USA sees you running around in either speedos or running tights (or especially both) then there is a strong message that you must be European, which of course means you must be a socialist, which of course means you are likely to be a tree hugging, pro-tax, anti-american homo who poses a threat to their great freedom (not that they ever do anything with that freedom)

Anyway, what did i care this morning. i got a few smiles from naughty old ladies, since the tights allowed my ample meat and 2 veg to be exposed there for all to ogle (now i know why these ballet dancers put socks down there!) I made sure to think some less pleasant thoughts as i ran past the 'Rightous Babe' church on Delaware and Tupper St - whoever thought of nameing a church after a female superhero? (i just made that up, but i can just imagine a hotty cheerleader with a bible in her hand, saving the world from Satan)

Ok and i think my cold is gone, finally. It was never really bad anyway so ill go back to running now regularly. The tights really helped in the cold weather actually so i think i can run pretty much anytime anywhere now, so no excuses. The pack gave a little pressure on the legs and knees but i can feel them strengthening a bit, so ill keep it gentle up until christmas, then start increasing the weight.

I think im comfortable enough in my own sexuality to continue wearing tights while running in minus temperatures. If i start seeing guys in Indian, Fireman, builder and Cop uniforms runing after me making YMCA signs then i know its time to go back to indoor tracks....

Doubling the challenge accidentally deliberately

I need to buy a book on discipline and general health and how to murder unscrupulous landladies.

This month so far, I had an argument over my electric bills and so the lovely landlady changed my locks on my flat, with all my stuff in it. As a foreigner in the 3rd world i think being ripped off is seen as fair play here, which is crap but ill use it as motivation for running. Challenges can always be used positively-  The removal guys decided to put most of my stuff i need for running into storage instead of my new flat. I still have the cold after 2 weeks, and i havent ran any meaningful distance for 2 weeks, so...win win, i've automaticaly made my life and training twice as hard!

But fear not running fiends, in my head im still an Ultramarathon star, and thats half the battle right? Ok, its zero degrees so raining snow every day, its dark most of the time, and slippy, and i go to USA on monday for ten days. But at this eleventh hour, i think its the time when guys like me actually begin to function (ie when its pretty much too late) Im sure im not the only guy who thinks 'shit she may dump me i'd better buy her flowers' or 'yeah isnt it that Maths exam tomorrow? better get a look at those books then'. You could, if you were an optimist use the view that im simply 'training efficiently' ie training just almost enough and no more.

Realising i have just over 4 months to become a superathlete from a currently chubby slob, ill do another 10km tonight with a backpack on. I have moved temporarily to Kopli, so there is a 80% of being relieved of my backpack by some Russian gentlemen, so maybe just stones in there could be the answer, or lighterfluid for the muggers to drink. Sunday i plan to move to an 'as long as i can do it' run with a backpack on, to see how far i can actually go without feeling tired. This may be 500metres.

However it has hit me now that 'backpack is king' for this particular race - its actually no big deal if i can knock out 80km in x time, becuase ill be running in 50 degrees heat with a heavy pack on - if i can run with ski clothes and a heavy pack, for 40+km at a time then actually getting a decent time will just be a bonus and reward from my good training.

Ok more later in the month, im not thinking about the fact that we are about to hit snow and minus temperatures. It could be perfect desert training. At least it will be too cold for muggers. (Kopli in fact isnt that bad, but i feel that its both good fun and tasteful to poke fun of poor areas)

Suicide Charity

I thought i was immue to colds but now after running yesteday in the cold, i have a fully fledged snotty nose and cough. Does anyone have any tips on how to avoid colds while running long distances in cold wet drizzly weather?

I plan a long run tomorrow with a backpack as well as yoga so ill spend today stuffing myself with lemons and honey and ginger (and not drinking wine or entertaining fast company) Relevantly, i have finally set up a webpage so people can donate to the suicide charity, Papyrus  - its www.justgiving.com/alan-findlay1 so please give some money!

NOVEMBER TRAINING SCHEDULE (OCTOBER TRAINING TARGETS - FAIL)

So now its the end of the month, i should have my Chi-Running technieque perfect. i Should be looking in the mirror at a chiseled torso. But of course i havent and i ament. My discipline and focus is horrendous. I ran 10km with a 8kg backpack on today and while it didnt really slow me down, I could feel that to go a long distance with a pack on, id need to develop my leg and lower back muscles - totally inconsistant with chi-running of course. So what to do? I suppose now next month, ill run all month with a lightish pack on, and try to build up the long miles that way. November isnt the warmest month in Estonia. In fact is downright depressing, and doubly so if your the kind of guy who needs to spend 67% of his spare time running in minus 3 with a backpack on.

Im making some 'to do' list for this month -

1. Run more than once or twice a week.
2. Run with backpack every run.
3. Eat normally (healthily will come in January - normally i mean like fruit and veg and not a Glaswegian diet) Try to avoid fish and chips, vodka and beer.
4. continue to improve technique

My aim at the end of this month will be to complete either this 80km ultrmarathon in Wales, without a backpack or, if im in USA on business, to do the las vegas marathon, with a backpack on.

I noticed nowadays the running road is pretty quiet - i see a few smug looking beanpoles running and overtaking me sometimes but when im going back for the next lap they are gone - part timers, one and all, i got this feelig they are the type of people who stop eating so they look thin, then run 5km fast and think they are athletes. Total tourists. mental note  -  future targets for being tripped up when im in better shape

NUTRITION, TECHNIQUE AND DISCIPLINE (WOULD BE GREAT IF I HAD ANY)

I’ve spent considerable time reading about how good nutrition affects running performance, and how a good diet is the cornerstone of any athletes life. Avoid sweets, fried and processed food, eat lots of fruit and veg. Avoid tea, coffee, don’t eat or drink too many dairy products.  Anyway my discipline sucks, here’s what i ate today.

8am breakfast of 2 x Weetabix, milk and honey (Nutrition Brownie Points – 7/10)

11am elevenses – smoked salmon on a white roll, 2 coffees and white sugar (NBP – 5/10)

2.30pm lunch – fish and chips, tea with milk and honey (NBP – 3/10)

11pm – large bag of smoked bacon crisps, half a bar of chocolate, spoonfuls of honey (NBP- 1/10 may as well have had a beer)

Anyway i’m going to write down what i eat every day now in a little journal - I think by exposing myself and writing down exactly what crap i put in my system every day, then i will force myself to a healthy diet. No, pervert reader,  I didn’t mean that kind of exposing myself.

Tonight, despite still aching legs from Sundays Yoga (I kid you not!) and after my fish and chips digested, i thought i’d do a stint in the freezing rain with a half marathon. I focussed on going slow and getting the technique correct, and although theres a lot of room for improvement, i think it started to work towards the end, or at least it either wasn’t sore or I was through the pain barrier. At this distance though, I could feel I could have done with some sugar to keep my energy levels up but that’s a small issue – I always take a little bottle with water and honey  (a true superfood and something that must make up 80% of my diet) but next time i’ll try adding some jelly babies which I hear are perfect for giving you a boost.

This month I plan to focus on diet, and technique. After this I don’t even know which country I’ll be living in so that will decide if I do this 50miler or just the Las Vegas Marathon in December.

50miles, well it’s easy to talk about when your’ sitting in your living room watching TV, but the reality is, there are all sorts of new issues come out – regulating your temperature, all those niggling pains from bad running technique and of course dehydration, hypothermia, and the other potentially fatal illness that comes from lack of sodium can make these ‘Ultramarathon’ races quite dangerous.  Anyway, now I have a task for the month, watch this space!