TEN WEEKS TO GO!!!!!

OUCH! What a week that was! Thanks for all the nice comments from people who came to the Hellzaboppin gig. What a craic!

Ok Running. NONE!!! Only walking. It was my fault and I have learned a valuable lesson. I will be back up to speed by the weekend but until then the “light runs” will be replaced by brisk walks. I have a heart rate monitor so I'll keep the pressure up on the ol' ticker. 

I paid a visit to my friend and very good Osteopath on Friday. Talking the injury through, the wheres, whens and how the injury occurred, it was so bloody stupid. It started on Monday; I went out late (about 3.30pm) later than usual. I had 9 miles to cover and I was only half up for it. One of those runs when you force yourself out. (Other runners will know exactly what I mean.) Because it was late, guess what I didn't do? WARM UP properly. I stupidly thought better and started to jog almost immediately in a vein hope to get back quicker, (In aviation they call it “Get-home-itis**) it was a slow jog but soon I was into the run. Also I was trying out a different ear piece for my Walkman. A stupid thing to do on a long run. Finally, because I was late and in a rush, I grabbed the wrong gloves and picked up summer cycle gloves rather than toastie  winter ones.. All started ok though, well for about twenty minutes, and then I started to get tired earlier than normal. I usually go though an oddity early into long runs, I get tired after only thirty minutes or so, then it goes I am ok and I plod on. (I have recently found the cause of this and will be addressing it immediately) then at 4.15pm the temperature dropped like a stone. I was wearing lighter tights and my legs just froze. I started to lose interest. I was paying too much attention to my Walkman the weather, my cold legs and hands and not the run. As the interest had gone, I was stopping and starting, sorting out the music and new ear thingies. My hands were freezing and I just wanted to go home. I was a few miles out but I decided to, at least, get round. Having a drink I spilled some water on my hand and the water soaked into the glove and just stayed there. I took them off and my hands were cherry red. It was getting even more depressing. Since my injury last year, caused by running down hill, I had been taking extra care on descents . Yes, you know what's coming! A slight downward slope, cold hands, cold legs, somewhat cheesed off, not concentrating and BINGO!! Welcome one screwed up knee. I walked it home and the 9 miles took over 2 and a half hours. As I had broken into a sweat, I shivered like a new born puppy sitting on ice. I was Mr Frost from the Batman Movie! Only colder, and he didn't have a limp! 

Come in, you won't feel a thing

I gave it a couple of days, ice pack, anti-inflammatory tablets, bad language, sitting in circle of candles and so on. Wednesday I sat round a table with ladies in tall black hats, joined hands made contact and booked an appointment with Beelzebub. Better known as Devan, my “friendly” osteopath. His Holiness of Horror pinpointed the injury, explained it all then proceeded to “manipulate” the area. MANIPULATE? My arse!!! The pain was akin to my fall in December only ten fold with added nails and an oxyacetylene blow torch set to “melt stone!” I could only describe Devan's smile as “evil.” Anyway, I grabbed a crucifix from around my neck, shoved it in his face while shouting the name of our lord. After his eyes had glowed red and steam blew from his ears, he turned into green smoke and vanished! I still had to pay though! I wonder if the European Court of Human rights and International War Crimes Investigators are aware of osteopathy? They should be.

Saturday I went, or limped, to a seminar in London called “Meet the Experts.” This was a day long event with talks from current and former Olympians talking about all things running and put on by the powers at Virgin Marathon. My trip involved 175 steps at Bedford Square tube station because the lift was not working! I knew there was 175 steps as there was a poxy sign telling me! I bet, put there by an osteopath with an evil smile and long red pointy tail. I'm a frigging runner not mountain climber! Anyway I made the climb walking past just the two dead bodies and several cards stuck to the wall saying “Sore legs and back? You need an osteopath. High levels of pain guaranteed and your soul taken. Call Freephone 666! Telephone calls will be monitored so that we can have a laugh at staff training days and to help us make your life a further misery.”

It all Starts HERE!

Walking up to the entrance of The Institute of Education in Bedford Way, I had my first “well-up” or emotion of the day. A sign pointing out the way to the reception for the London Marathon event. This means it's happening mate, I'm in.

As the day was basically “schooling” they gave it a Hogwarts theme. Harry Jogger was the link pin and the School was Jogwarts. It was fun. More importantly it was nothing short of excellent. Our own former world record holder at 10,000 meters, David Bedford gave a couple of talks about everything to expect on the day, right down to the details of the sticky road next to the Lucozade Sports “filling” stations, to the great piece of advice: “Don't take old people with you on the day.... they won't be able to carry you back to the train!” All this helped along with more than his fair share of poetic licence. He is naturally funny, a sporting legend and nice bloke. I had the pleasure of meeting him briefly and I was star struck! During my music career I have met a large number of “famous” people and played drums for a few too. In the music industry you need talent, you need to put in hard work but also you need a lot of luck. Mr Bedford, however achieved his goals by pure hard work and dedication. He didn't get his place in an Olympic final because someone preferred him over the little bloke with blond hair, a cute sister and a puppy called Patch, he got there because he earned it. The feeling I had when I shook his hand will be in my arsenal when I need that little extra push on marathon day. Thank you David, you are a gent, a talent and England should be proud. I don't think he has ever been on Top Gear as a “Star in a Reasonably Priced Car” but he should be on there. I am going to start a Facebook campaign to get him on. Please join me.

Q&A
David Bedford, Liz Yelling, Nick Bitel,
John Brewer, Sam Murphy.

GB Marathon Runner Liz Yelling gave a good talk and so did a host of other people “in the know,” including Runner's World's Editor Andy Dixon. Sam Murphy author of the book Marathon, for me, (David Bedford's brilliant goofing about aside) was the talk of the day. So much so I bought her book. Follow the link to Amazon, honestly it's fantastic. If you are doing a marathon or half marathon, in training, starting or so on it really is worth a read. No I am not getting a cut!

Marathon and Half Marathon by Sam Murphy

Kerry last year and back for more!

It was a pleasure meeting some of the Breakthrough Breast Cancer Runners at lunchtime, good to have a chat with Kerry Burton too. She ran last year and is back for more! Emma Cornish was there from Breakthrough's running team, doing a very good meet 'n' greet. Nice little buffet too. Then I popped down to the Adidas shop for a look-see and grab a free Lucozade goodie bag. (Well.. you just have too don't you?”)

Sadly on Sunday my knee was beyond a run so I sent a message to Mike. I will be out this week on walks, I have another visit to Hades and Dr Evil on Tuesday. I'm taking a wooden stake, gun loaded with a silver bullet and ten pounds of garlic wrapped round my neck!

I will catch up with you all next week.... maybe from the "other side!"

** Get home-itis

A rare condition experienced by some pilots whereas they have been delayed by weather, repairs and so on. They get the nod that they can leave and shoot off without carrying out vital checks; ooo let's say fuel, weather en-route, have they glued the engine back properly, have I got an up to date map? and so on. They find out the error at the most inconvenient moment and they make the news!!!!!! 
Planning Phil! Planning!!!!!!

Vodafone World of Difference!

I am so very pleased to announce that I have been chosen to represent Breakthrough Breast Cancer under the Vodafone World of Difference scheme. Over 11,000 hopefuls applied for the 500 countrywide places and I have gone and got one!! I was short listed to 750 a few weeks back and I received the news last week that I have been selected. However, due to Vodafone's press release program I had to try and keep quite! Today, though I can shout from the rafters!

The program starts officially in March and runs for two months, in the middle of which I have a marathon to run! However, me being me I started on my project a few months back. I presented an idea to Breakthrough about raising awareness of breast cancer in both men and women. This I also presented to Vodafone and in essence is the scheme that I will be championing. Being under the very watchful and experienced eye of Breakthrough during the program, a couple of changes have been made but by far these are for the better. Details will be posted on here as well as my website www.pipwilson.co.uk in the next couple of weeks. Plus there will be a stand alone website.  Meanwhile we have press to contact and lots of noise to make.

"Behind very great man is a great woman" is a slogan we are all aware of. You could also say "Behind every breast cancer patient is a supporting man." As in the original slogan, there will be exceptions to this rule, however supporting a friend, wife, mother, auntie, daughter can be a very stressful period, extending for many months even years. I know I have done it. Sometimes feeling alone, lost, even, at times, helpless. In a few cases the gender roll is reversed as is explained below.

In the UK 45,000 people, on average, are diagnosed with breast cancer. A huge majority, as we all know, are women, as gender is the biggest contributory factor, and shout about it we should. Breast cancer is the largest single cancer in the UK. It is a little known fact that about 300 men are also diagnosed with breast cancer each year in the UK and the fatalities match that from testicular cancer. In 2008 70 men lost their battles against testicular cancer and 69 against breast cancer. More men were diagnosed with testicular cancer (about 2000) showing a very promising early detection and full recovery rate and one we should very be proud of. More awareness about breast cancer in men has to be out there and it will be one of my tasks during my two months with Breakthrough to help raise this profile too. (And beyond!! You should know me by now!!)

My campaign will be called Project 350. In Kent there are sadly 350 fatalities to breast cancer. Behind them are 350 husbands, dads, partners, countless sons, daughters other family members and friends. These people need support, it gets very lonely sometimes.
In parallel  with the awareness campaign, I am launching a new localised fundraising effort.

People of Kent please stay with me, I will be looking for volunteers to help run and partake in the fundraising efforts. We will be rolling out the fundraising campaign first in Kent (my home county.)

If you live in Kent and fancy a challenge of raising a very achievable £350 in twelve months please email me and I will send you pre release details. These will include fundraising ideas incorporating ready prepared sports quizzes covering football, rugby, formula 1, MOTO GP, super bikes, cricket, golf and many others. Fundraising will never have been easier. PLUS I will be looking for the Arm Chair Sportsman of The Year! Just ask about this one, you'll love it and not even break a sweat. All money raised will be going to Breakthrough Breast Cancer to help them carry on their work in research, education and campaigning for a world free from the fear of breast cancer. Come on people of the Garden of England sign up!
Meanwhile if you have any questions about breast cancer visit Breakthrough's, very comprehensive  website.
Any questions, press or otherwise, connected directly with Project 350 please email me directly at Breakthrough Mid Kent.

Jan 2011

It's been a while since my last blog, two reasons: Not much running has been going on, due to my bum and back giving me grief since the well documented fall in December. Then there was Christmas, and I have a laptop on which I was going to write my last blog but this has died and I have lost about three hours work. Don't you just love technology? Well that's three reasons. Counting never was my strong point. (I am a drummer!)

Hayley & Sarah

Not one of Becky's better landings!

Christmas was busy, went up to Worcester to visit Sarah's dad for his birthday and got stuck up there in the snow! Managed an interesting jaunt across the country in the snow to visit the ever smiling Hayley Mitchell, had a gig cancelled due to the snow and my daughter got stuck in Wales (She lives there) and prevented a surprise visit to see me, so a very mixed and frustrating few weeks. I must congratulate her on her one hundredth jump from an aeroplane, she has been hooked on free fall parachuting since a charity jump a couple of years back. Well done Becky, see you soon. My son Alex has picked up some nice lighting jobs. He is off to a variety of countries as a lighting engineer and designer for The Engine Ears and engineering assistant with The Friendly Fires, plus other bits and bobs. He loves it and, though I say it myself, is very good at it!

A very snowy Cock Hotel

While we were up in the Midlands we carried on down to Stony Stratford. We were going to stay there after the gig in Milton Keynes but still went even though the gig had been cancelled. Chance for a beer with Marc (Bass player with MUD2) and relax. We stayed in the Cock Hotel. Those of you unfamiliar with English sayings, there is one “A Cock and Bull Story” basically an exaggerated report, generated by visiting too many pubs and getting off your face! The Cock and the Bull in Stony Stratford are the venues in this rather important piece of English history. They sit right on Watling Street, an old Roman Road heading south to London. These days called just the A5!! Nice night though, Marc was on form and I met up with a few old friends.

Now, though, things are getting back to normal. Snow's gone, bum's better and I have been out running and working through my program set for me by my coach and friend Mike Baron. I managed ten miles last Sunday, a record for me. (Click here for a map of my "record trot") The problem around here is the blooming hills! They are not that steep in most places, but they add to the effort and my times are slow. Not that I am after a “time” for the marathon but it just kills my knees going down them. There are a couple of steep ones and I walk down those for safety. Thanks to the Running Bug website I have now been plotting my runs as the site shows elevations. I now get taken to a start point in the car by Sarah and work a route around flatter ground. This avoids the steep slopes near where I live. There is a slight downhill towards the end, I just take a little more care trotting down there and there is a last minute uphill slog at the very end to my finish line, which is a bus stop!

I am now out running or training four times a week with a variety of runs. This week, for instance, I have a 35 minute run, a 30 minute run, a 4km time trial and a 9 mile long run. Next week I have some speed work too. I am pleased with how things are going and I am really starting to feel like a little bit of a runner. Hey, I even look good!!! (Sloat!!) I Picked up some black and yellow tights and a yellow top as my short runs are finishing in the dark so I like to be seen. Not for vanity but the simple fact that if I make an error I want to be visible and not splattered all over a lorry..... (or “Truck” seeing that I am writing country songs now). Sarah has entered this years' Race for Life in aid of Cancer Research UK and she bought herself some running shoes too. These bits we got from Sweatshop. Best service in the sports world I have ever had. Thank you to Lucy at the Milton Keynes Branch. Quite brilliant.

Saturday I am meeting other Breakthrough London Marathon runners at the ‘Meet The Experts’ day in London. Olympic stars David Bedford and Liz Yelling will be giving seminars and sharing advice. I really am looking forward to that.

On Sunday morning I have my first running “Event.” The delayed Christmas Caper at Mike's running club. I think it’s 6 miles but the rush of “Event” flowing through my veins may drag me along a little quicker. All runners get a Christmas pudding! Bang goes the diet!! I know, I don't have to eat it but IT'S CHRISTMAS PUDDING!!!! Then on Sunday, after the Christmas Caper, I am going to the Dancing Dog Saloon in Bobbing for a jam. I will be taking the guitar for a sing song. Busy weekend me thinks.

Tracy, TV and "The House"
(Photo: Me!)

I have a website!! It's taken time and it needs loads of work but if you fancy an early peek it’s www.pipwilson.co.uk I have a stack of photos to go up. You will see a band page called Busted Truck. Yup I'm going all country! Well, not “going” country, I have liked the music for some time, in fact my first steps into the world of professional drumming was with a country act. I have been working on singing and getting Bernard (My guitar..... err long story) up to a level that I am happy with. Ok, I only know six chords or so but there are some brilliant songs with only TWO chords, so why not? I have sorted a set of great bouncy songs and it will be a right laugh. I have a very good lead guitarist (Tim) and a very steady bass player (Terry) I am now just looking for a solid steady drummer. I will keep you posted. I have also had a go at writing songs!! I have three in the bag and a few other ideas all with a country vibe, after all I do live in the South and my dog has actually died!

I should hear soon about the Vodafone World of Difference scheme. As soon as I know I will let you all know.

STOP PRESS Following the charity bag scam, we have a result. Thanks to the work of Tracey Crouch MP, punishments are going to be increased for the scumbags involved and the law is being tightened up. More to follow. Story

My kit armed for Jump Jive 'n' stuff

I must say hi to the Hellzaboppin guys. I had a gig with them in Stony on Saturday What fun!! Two sets of jump jive, great brass section and Marc M leaps about like a front man in need of the loo. (Bathroom for my American readers!) I get to over play and goof about. The pub was smaller than most of the stages the MUD2 lads play on but we did have fun. I hope to get some photos for the next blog or at least my website. On Saturday March 12th I will be in Hamilton near Glasgow working as  compère and representative for Breakthrough Breast Cancer. Breakthrough supporter, fundraiser and survivor Palma McKeown is staging Breakthrough's Big Night Out an evening of cabaret with dinner at the lovely   Avonbridge Hotel.  Arrivals 7.00pm and the evening will go on until a respectable 12.30am. Look guys, I'm flying up on a low cost airline so if you live in or near Glasgow and Hamilton please feel sorry for my over-worked legs being tied in knots and squashed into an aluminium tube like a potato piping bag, the least you could do is go along! (I will be taking my headset, map and pilots licence in case I have to fly the thing as well) There will be great live entertainment, raffle and other exciting "stuff!" Then there will be me trying to hold it all together on the night! All in aid of the work of Breakthrough Breast Cancer.

Please note:
B&B rates are going up soon at the Avonbridge Hotel, but they've kindly agreed to hold the current price for guests attending this event who want to stay there that night - that's £57.50 for a double room and £47.50 for a single. Their telephone number is 01698 420525, just say you're attending the Breakthrough charity night.

Pre order tickets for the event via Palma's Facebook or drop me a line at info@breakthroughmidkent.org.uk For rooms please go direct to the hotel.

Anyway, sorry this blog is a tad short but I am about to get ready for a run out. The sun's shining so it should be nice. I only have 35 minutes to do today so an easy one.

See you again soon.