In April 2014 Commando was running his second marathon, in Manchester. We’d travelled up on the train the day before and checked into the Premier Inn at Deansgate Lock, an area bursting with bars and nightlife on the surface with the Rochdale Canal hidden away below street level. After a little rest we went out to stretch our legs and have a look around. Continue reading The Manchester Marathon – first published 6 April 2014
18 October 2015
The hotel restaurant had barely opened when we went down for breakfast but, with the marathon starting at eight forty five, far earlier than most, we had to eat early. The only other diners were also runners. Back in the hotel room Commando put on his shorts and Itchen Spitfires running shirt and checked his bum bag one last time. Outside the window a row of blue and yellow portaloos had appeared overnight and I could see the start line a little way up University Avenue. We stood in front of the window, using the view as a backdrop for a pre race photo of each of us and then tried to watch some TV to take our minds off the day ahead. Most of it was about the Blue Jays second loss in the series. I hoped this wasn’t an omen for the race. Continue reading A very chilly start
27 January 2015
Commando took up running almost four years ago. He’s always been slim and fit. He used to teach martial arts but it’s a dangerous occupation even if you do have black belts in several disciplines. There were injuries, broken ribs, black eyes and any number of strains, sprains and assorted bruises. Throw working nights and lack of time into the mix and it became harder. Something had to give. Continue reading the common and another lucky escape
5 January 2015
It’s hard to believe that four whole days have passed without me taking a single photo. This is, in part, because I’ve been obsessing over old photos. My Mac has somehow accumulated fifty three thousand of them covering the last few years and, for Christmas, Commando got me a mobile drive to transfer them to. Slowly I’ve been going through discarding the rubbish and saving the ones I can’t bear to part with. It’s a little like walking down memory lane without the actual walking. Continue reading plans afoot and a whole lot of photos