A hectic day and a hangover it appears are all that it takes to throw me off my stride when it comes to my training schedule. But I decided to let today slide, because I can pick up on the 4 miles tomorrow, then do the 3 miles as planned on Tuesday and be back on track. Whether I do two days back to back on Saturday/Sunday or whether I do them Monday/Tuesday isn’t a huge issue.

So, I’ve broken my training schedule, but only by a day, so things will be back to where they are supposed to be. It’s all good, everything is fine, let’s not panic!!

Ryan Philllips – Marathon Training for the Dublin City Marathon 2010 – Day 83 – Sunday 17 January 2010

On the plus side, I picked up a double packet of Jammie dodgers before the match and we managed to console ourselves after it by eating most of them (and then I went home and ate the rest). Thinking about it now, in all likelihood, any calories burned off while playing badminton were probably but back on in Jammie Dodgers. Best not to dwell on that I feel.

It was another good general workout for my basic fitness level, and that’s still the basic aim of the game at this stage. After Christmas and into the new year, that level of exercise wont cut it on it’s own, but I’m still only 16 days in training, adn I’ve 13 years of no exercise to make up for, so I have to keep reminding myself that it has to be baby steps at this stage or I will just hit a wall and either injure myself, or give up, or possibly both!

It was Lucan that beat us by the way, and the average age of their players must have been at least 10, maybe even 15 years older than our team’s average age. I don’t mean to me ageist, but that really does feel like salt in the wound. I’m not sure why, but there’s something about being beaten by someone old enough to be your parents that is thoroughly demoralising!!

Mmmmm, Jammie

So today I decided to hit the squash court. I’ve just taken up squash, and played for the first time ever about 4 weeks ago. One of the things I like about it, is that it’s basically just you hitting a ball against a wall! I spent most of my childhood hitting or kicking balls against walls. Then it was Tennis (I was Pete Samprass most of the time) and football, and myself and my friend used to go to the handball courts in Salthill and just bash away, so playing squash takes me back a bit, particularly when you play on your own, as I did today.

I had no partner to play with (awwwww), but decided to get some practice and and some exercise at the same time. Because you’re returning every shot, I think you actually get more exercise to be honest, and look at the state of me at the end of it! I ran myself ragged for an hour, and got some really good exercise in. I also really badly bruised my ankle when I tried a showboating shot and it went horribly wrong!

Here I am looking sweaty and blotchy, proving my worth against myself on the squash court at Trinity College Dublin

You would, wouldn't you?

Being honest, I’m struggling with the second step to glory namely, eating less junk food! It’s been my vice for as long as I can remember. Anyone who knows me will tell you that. But in recent months I’ve cut down hugely, probably about 70% I would say. Unfortunately, me eating junk food at 30% capacity is still more than most giddy 10 year olds with a sweet tooth and soft parents would consume. Today, so far (at 6pm) I’ve eaten 1 bag of very low fat crisps, 1 bag of pop corn and 3 teeny tiny little choclate bars…. But it’s a bit frustrating because in terms of physique I’ve undone all the hard work from earlier, but in tems of general overall fitness, I still think today was a good day? Anybody?

Don’t worry, I will actually start running soon, but not until I’ve got some proper runners from those amphibian king chaps down in bray, where I’ll be visiting next week!