Weapon of Choice - Fat Boy Slim

I was really amused on Costco in Cardiff today when I saw an instore demonstrator with quite a beer belly and chunky bum wobbling on a core exercise machine, like a jelly on a plate. I heard him say 'all you need to do love is 10 minutes a day on yur and you'll soon be toned up'... Hmm... He wasn't the best advert IMO and her £249 could be far better spent on dietary advice and a few running sessions with yours truly. Well it made me giggle anyway...

To keep me in shape tomorrow I am running and marking the Tribesports London Ultra tomorrow with Jenny so I think I will give the above core machine a miss for another time. If he's still there in a week or so, he'll be lovely and toned, no doubt!

More tomorrow from the course...

Name of the Game - Abba

We have seen a Morgan, Keaton, Mason and believe me not, even a d'Artagnan (no doubt spelt Dartagnan) today in my 'Terrible Names for Children Part II Blog'. What is it with people and these AWFUL names for kids? It makes me cringe! My extensive research shows that the 'chavier' it gets, the names get worse!

Taylor and Harrison as you know are pet hates for any child and their middle initials of ADH and D seems to be a natural progression for these poor kids.

I am not sure where these names even came from, perhaps they are Brittany and Ryan mutations? I wish they would go away, along with the Madisons and Paris' of this world. It's time to have tighter government control on having stupid names for kids and make sure that names are spelt correctly and are only chosen from an approved list with the obvious exceptions.

More tomorrow...

Day Tripper - The Beatles

No wonder the nation is in crisis, especially at the Passports Office as I saw the worst case of their personnel usage by them having an employee pointing people to the next available position at Bristol Airport today. I mean are people THAT STUPID?

Even the Post Office have worked out the 'Cashier Number 1 Please' or 2 or 3 etc... I think they ought to get someone in to sort them out...

As do easyJet with their 'Speedy Boarding' ... which was far from 'Speedy' and gave the people who paid (we didn't but claimed for Speedy on Salter's dodgy feet) for the privilege a massive 30 seconds start up the steps onto the plane... talk about a dismal experience.

Let's hope that some Christmas cheer shines thru the gloom of December... and hopefully someone will give me my own Room 101 for Christmas where these as well as good old Lenny and Dawn will become no more...

Here's hoping...

Roundabout - YES

I said I wouldn't do a track marathon again this year or more like EVER but tomorrow's 24hr Track Race in Barcelona gets me doing just that, what was I thinking and how did I get conned into this one? Anyway it will be a lot easier for me jogging away 42.2km in 4 to 5 hrs than Jenny's task of 209km+ to get a qualifying place in next year's World Championships. Yikes!

And warm it's not and actually it's a bit brrrreezzzyy to say the least in the quietest city in Europe... if we think the shops are quiet in the UK, they are incredibly dead here.

The other thing I have noticed is that I am very TALL here! The locals are quite a lot smaller than me... it's more like Lilliput than Catalunya or is it my heels.... Anyway...

How we both fair from tomorrow midday to midday Sunday, well no-one can guess as we have done bugger-all training but then again that might be a bonus as we are both totally chilled as far as a Salter can get before a race. She'll be going for it for sure anyway and I will encourage her as much as her backside can take the pounding of my size 11 to get her over the 210km she needs.

It would finish off a great year for her... and her Coach :-)

Who are you? - The Who

I am pretty much on the pulse when it comes to Music and Entertainment but I am surprised that some of the so called entertainers we are being exposed to this Christmas leave me very cold and also are really quite useless.

The first case is Michael Buble or Michael Bubble as I call him... he is just so cheesy and who can say that they actually likes this guy?

And my second exhibit is Justin Bieber, who looks about 12 years old and hopefully has a career that finishes the day he starts shaving... Simon Cowell must have bought all of his records personally to get him this far.

The problem is that whilst we are being exposed to new artists like T-Pain singing 5 o'clock with Lily Allen (possibly the worst song I have ever heard), Bubble and Bebo will continue to rule the airwaves.

Are Coldplay the best we can offer in return?

Haircut 100 - Fantastic Day

I thought the 'Combover' hairstyle was long gone but I saw umpteen today at Hopwood Services on the M42 when a wrinkly bus turned in and a grey tidal wave of men busily coiffuring their locks in the strong winds with combs, pulled up.

Some of them were not really worth having as they contained just a few strands of hair that I think Robert Robinson would have approved of.

Thank heavens Bobby Charlton finally saw the light and went for the clippered look, I know 'cos I met him and I am going to keep my hairdresser (Jenny) with the clippers firmly set on number 1. It's certainly not for me...

Do you know anyone that has their armpit hair scraped up & over? Bet you do...

Cold - The Pines

Thank heavens for Lemsip I say... as the colds and coughs seem to be coming to the ULTRArace Team, (more Jenny really as I am a lot, lot tougher of course!!!), it's been time to reach out for the all remedy cold answer.

I reckon you could do major operations and cure many other common complaints using these bad boys, and yes I know they only have paracetamol and some flavouring in them but somehow, they seem to work and make the world a better place.

Anyone else got any good cold and cough remedies?

Plastic Age - Buggles

When did the plastic things on the Supermarket conveyor belt become the from? And why on earth do we need them? It's a bit like those adverts on petrol pump nozzles telling us there's a 'meal deal' on Coke, Crisps and a High Fat Sandwich at your local petrol station...

It's so funny how things become the norm and I can remember going to Chicago in 1999 and going into Starbucks for the first time being stuck on what the hell to order as all I wanted was a coffee... not a frappacheeserbollockacanainabrownwhite16ozmediumlargetogodrinkinaddyourownmilkandwaitforsomeonetopaywithableedingcardtypeway!!!

Breathes in... We are making life far too hard... a simple coffee or a tea like it used to be and shops that sold one type of thing was a lot simpler and kept the economy going. At this rate there will only be the dreaded 'T' shop left and we will then have to put all our worldly goods between plastic dividers and we will all be on Tescoffee for ther rest of our days...

More tomorrow... I'm off to down the corner shop...

Tiger Feet - Mud

Not so Tiger Feet and more Mud actually as we went out on the new 'Canton Canter' fact finding mission today. I can't say that I was too enthused at the start of the run but we were quickly running alongside The Millennium Stadium and out through the docks passing The Welsh Assembly buildings. The new developments along Cardiff Bay are simply stunning and make a great impression on me early on in the run.

From there past the lovely Penarth, with some of the best and worst houses in Wales and it was uphill for AGES until we hit more hills and MUD, quagmires of the darn stuff and then more hills until we found a newly marked footpath which was also on our OS map but blocked off by the M4! We did a 180 here and found our way round to connect again with the planned Taff Trail route back to Pembroke Road and a warm bath.

It's a tough run... in fact, a very tough run and maybe I have to consider people's ability before taking my clients out on it.

More tomorrow from Yaaarrrrrrkkkkkkkksshire. Yes I get around you know...

Cuddly Toy - Roachford

I saw the 2012 London Olympic Games Mascots today in town and ended up asking how many 'Wenlocks' had been sold in good old John Lewis ... after looking on their computer, the assistant said 21... to which I am amazed as it's a bit rubbish really. The other one is called Mandeville, if you were wondering...

Looking at it, it's hardly a World Cup Willie from 1966 or a cuddly Russian Winter Olympics 2014 Mascot, Cheburashka. Un-endearing is how I would describe it and possibly only Lord Seb thinks it's a good idea... let's hope I don't get one for Christmas as I can't possibly ever get to an age where they are worth a fortune on Ebay in the future...

Although having only sold 21... it might already be worth a bomb...hmm, I am off to John Lewis to get me a bargain.

Bet you want one now?

More tomorrow...

Son of my Father - Chicory Tip

Thirty years ago, I saw Tangerine Dream at The Assembly Rooms in Derby. It really was THE place to see bands in the East Midlands - well there and Rock City anyway. Today George (son of mine) is on that same stage with his band Toxic Federation . Back then I could never have for seen anything like this ever happening and I sure am one proud Dad today.

George and the lads really deserves the accolade... they have worked SO hard to get to where they are. That's right on the cusp of making it. Their next album is in HMV on pre-order for release on October 17th.

Let's hope it happens for them!

More tomorrow post Mablethorpe Marathon.

Snowbound - Genesis

During an Indian Summer when it's best part of 28 degrees... what's making the news, yes winter snow. Plymouth Council are saying that their gritters are on standby from October 1st this year and that they are fully stocked for the bad winter ahead, whenever it comes.

Couple of things left out are, at what cost and is Devon a snowbound problem area of the UK. Maybe Glencoe but I bet they are fully stocked and ready up in Scotland and don't need to broadcast a load of crazy news to substantiate council tax payments.

As we say so often here - Has the world gone barking mad!

Let's hope I won't need a snowplough to get to Mablethorpe on Sunday for the marathon eh?

Forever Autumn - Jeff Wayne's War of the World

What crazy weather in September eh? and what a great day out for a run with MdeS hopeful Shane Benzie who is taking on 'The World's Toughest Footrace' next April. It was my first run since The Robin Hood Marathon and it actually felt very good. Obviously the Ireland break didn't take too much out of my running...

I must say it was just wonderful to be out in the warm sunshine of an Autumn day and I am looking forward to be back on the case on Friday.

More tomorrow...

The Long and Winding Road

Ged, Russell, Stanley & Chris

It's dark now just outside of Longford in Central Ireland and all of the runners are nicely tucked up in bed after their 31.6 miles out on the road. It was a tough day both with the weather and with the winding road thru some of the roads in Longford. Going thru the larger towns is quite tricky in places as our runners' routes avoid the one way systems following the shortest route which means they don't see some of the road signs that help them navigate the way.

Passing some of the fast food restaurants for some was also a real challenge as they are on task to get to the finish asap...

Ged was here first in 4:31:11 and reports that his ankle is no worse than yesterday. The duelling Chris and Russell both did 5.55 but Chris dipped a two second advantage on the line. Rick had his best run day and would have been quicker if the R397 had been on his radar as would Tony and Michelle who were close behind him. All three celebrated with a physio session in Longford afterwards!

Stanley and Claire were in close together in under 7 hrs and Bethany had a much better day to finish under 9 with Anita following in 9.16. Q finished in a remarkable 9.26 considering the state of his feet and Lizzie with new man on her arm Ade brought up the rear in 9:43 both in high spirits.

Tomorrow's another day as they say and it's Day 5 of M2MUltra - Ireland's Toughest Footrace...

Celebrate - Kool and the Gang

Well, with just Anita, Q and sidekick Lizzy to come in, we are all ready to celebrate not only Ged's fantastic win but also his 30th Birthday. To add to that it's the Seckers 25th Wedding Anniversary and we have a huge cake and dinner celebrations planned for tonight.

They will need it as they went to hell and back out on the road today and their inner limits were certainly tested in the hard running conditions.

Morale is high though and tomorrow's stage is not on their minds right now.

More later...

www.ultrarace.co.uk home of Ireland's M2M Ultra.

Quentin

Quote of the morning... 'Today is all about chafe limitation'... Well that's how Quentin sees it anyway.

He says he got a few words in with Liz yesterday and hopes to do better today...

Good luck mate!

ULTRArace.co.uk - The Home of ULTRArunning.

Good Morning - Day Two

There are some stirrings this morning and I can smell breakfast being cooked already for the 14 runners and crew as Day 2 starts to break.

It will be interesting to see how they run today. There were a few achy legs last night and red faces from the bright sun we all enjoyed.

The first runners are off in 59 mins so it's time to get the show on the road. More then.

ULTRArace.co.uk - The Home of ULTRArunning.

Checkpoint 2

Everyone is through CP1 now and we have just passed through the field on our way to CP2. The sun is now shining and all our runners are in awe of the spectacular countryside. Stanley and Chris have taken an early lead and Stanley is happy that 'he is winning'!

We are waiting at the 19 mile point for their next refreshment stop. The good news is that we have first class facilities tonight at Bready Cricket Club with state of the art showers and a bar that opens at 7pm - that should keep them smiling:-)

ULTRArace.co.uk - The Home of ULTRArunning.

Stormbreaker - Deep Purple

Wow, what a day and what a crossing! Talk about rough... Jenny was in pieces to say the least. The M2M ULTRA will hopefully be a lot easier than the Irish Sea was on us for our competitors. First into camp was Michelle Fookwe from South Africa who has been very much looking forward to her first trip to Ireland. Shesays she's delighted to be here with us at long last.

I must say we've already had some great banter amongst us and this is the crew's third event of this type together so it's just like old times for us.

We pick up the other 13 runners tomorrow from Dublin and Belfast before our journey up to Malin Head.

More tomorrow from the journey ...

www.ultrarace.co.uk home of Ireland's M2M Ultra.

Simply the Best - Tina Turner

Well I live with a Running Superstar and I'm most proud today of Jenny's and new Marathon PB of 3:11:22 - I know it takes real bottle to have a go at a marathon at any time but on the way onto a 24hr is totally amazing. Three last weeks of running have produced a 5km PB, 12hr PB and now a 42.2km... she's just awesome - and now resting - Coaches orders.

It goes to show you how proper endurance training can make a massive difference to one's running... couple that with her having the determination as well as the win at all costs frame of mind have really given her the edge.

Hopefully, our M2M ULTRA runner's will draw inspiration from her over their 11 days of running...

I know I am going to!

More from our trip Ireland tomorrow...

ULTRArace the home of ULTRArunning...