#VLM2013 - First 4 weeks of training complete

I've just completed the first four weeks of my Virgin London Marathon training schedule. I've covered 120 miles in 20 runs and managed to stick to my plan so far. 

Some thoughts;

• The recent snow was a real pain but it did make me focus on time on my feet rather than the pace I was running at. Due to the ice, it was impossible to run fast, which actually trained me to enjoy running slower.
• Buying some new running shoes was well overdue. I went back to Nike Pegasus +29 and now have about 40 miles covered in these. My heel pain in my right foot has eased and I'm much more comfortable in these shoes. I'm going to get a second pair on pay day and alternate them over the next 12 weeks and pick the ones with the least mileage for the big day.
• Twitter has proved great. I've been tweeting my runs with the #VLM2013 hash tag and have hooked up with loads of other fellow VLM 2013 runners. What is great about this, is I can share my marathon thoughts with fellow marathon runners, rather than boring the hell out of my work colleagues, family and friends. It's great and really helps with motivation when you can check on people round the country going through the same training.
• I love the planning. I don't suffer with OCD but I do plan things in detail, I've got a schedule on the nobo board in the kitchen. I mark off every session and mark how many runs I have left until the 21st April (58 in case you were wondering). I find breaking the training down into a visible plan and make sure it is on view so the family knows what I am doing, works a treat. 
• Hydration and food. I've borrowed a hydration belt and have started trying gels. All of which have worked really well, though I'm only taking one gel halfway through my 14 mile runs at the moment. I'm going to step this up to one gel every 5 miles once I go up to 18 miles. I also want to try some gels with caffeine in them.
• Running solo is dull, running in a group is great. This is a bit of a no brainer but really does make the miles fly when your are running with friends. Luckily I know quite a few members of my running club who are also in training, so I am able to post a run on the forum and to date have had people join me each time. 

So based on the first four weeks I am motivated and enjoying it. Lets see how I feel in another four weeks and start to step up the mileage even further.

I'm raising money for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, so if you would like to sponsor me, you can from the link below.

http://www.justgiving.com/andrewbyrom

HISS GOLDEN MESSENGER - LORD I LOVE THE RAIN

To kill some time before the release of the new album Haw in April, MC Taylor has expanded this previously limited release into a full album. It was originally part of the release of the magnificent Poor Moon. There were three options to purchase the album, where you could also receive downloads of Lord I Love The Rain and Plowed: Live In Bovina if you placed an early order of the vinyl edition. Of course I bought them all at the time and really enjoyed them in that form. 

Having said that, the expanded vinyl version (limited to 600) blows the download away. The album is expanded by the addition of several tracks which were not on the original download. It's also sequenced wonderfully and flows great across two sides of vinyl. 

The killer though are the two covers; The Revenant (Michael Hurley) and Tell Everyone (Ronnie Lane). If I hear a better track than The Revenant this year I'll be a lucky man. Truly this track is the definition of sublime, it is just magnificent. 

As ever on a Hiss Golden Messenger the themes are religious, honest, and built around acoustic guitar. The atmospheric recording is fleshed out by a distant passing freight trains whistle blowing, chairs creaking, bird song, you name it, it's all there. 

Michael asked via Facebook for fans to post video of the album playing, so he could understand where the album was now residing. I wish Michael would do the same and video some of his recordings, because the image I get is a country scene, a wooden shack with a guy playing a guitar on the deck, maybe a sleeping dog at his feet. I'm fairly certain this is how much of the album was recorded and all the better for it. 

As I said the full scale new album; Haw is due in a few months and hopefully Hiss Golden Messenger will be back over for some live dates this year.

RICK REDBEARD - NO SELFISH HEART

This is the debut solo album from Phantom Band lead singer Rick Anthony, released on Chemikal Underground on 28th January 2013. I'd recommend going for the heavy weight vinyl edition with the free CD, because this vinyl pressing is SUPERB.

The songs are a collection of tracks that Rick has had lying around for several years and finally decided he had something that would work as a cohesive group of songs. Really intimate, whispered and delicate, with minimal instrumentation, but all the better for that. The chair creaks the logs crackle in the fire place and it all adds to the wonderful atmosphere. 

It's a strong set of songs with Now We're Dancing lifted from the limited split 7" single with Adam Stafford from April 2012 (Gerry Loves Records have hadful left if you are quick). I was instantly drawn to Cold As Clay (The Grave), which after listening too the first time, I replayed half a dozen times. A stunning song which covers sex and death in equal measure. 

In fairness I'm struggling to find fault with anything on this release and it really bodes well for the new Phantom Band album if the strength of these tracks is anything to go by. In equal measures in reminds me of Hiss Golden Messenger or even early less produced Bon Iver. 

An early candidate for my top ten of 2013 list.