NEWSFLASH: Toe Nail Fell Off 2

5th December, 2009

I've been waiting for this moment for a while now.

The second toenail on my left foot - let's call him Fred - has been black since the Brussels marathon, threatening to fall off. For the New York marathon, I strapped him on with zinc oxide tape, but to be honest he'd already given up the ghost.

Not even a post-marathon pedicure at New York's uberspa, Townhouse could save him.








Nope, Fred had had enough of this world, he wanted to go.

Tired of being bumped about endlessly, sweated on and encased in a trainer, he dreamt of a more glamorous life, of Christian Louboutin, parties and pedicures.















And so, this Saturday, after a particularly intense dance class, Fred The Nail gave in, abandoning his nine brothers and sisters, jumping off, hoping for a better time in the next life. The nine remaining nails wait and watch in earnest to see if another nail will grow back in his place...

NYC: Post-Marathon

1 December, 2009

I know, I know. I haven't updated for ages. I've been busy and I didn't think anyone would notice. Some of you did and here we go, this is for you:

NEW YORK, After the marathon

After partying pretty hard on Sunday evening, wearing our medals, we woke up ridiculously early and ridiculously stiff on Monday morning.















I had come off pretty well, and had to cope with some pretty stiff quads, one blister, some rubbing from my sports bra and a very sore neck (the physio says the neck pain could be caused by the knee injury because "the body is like a train of dominoes").

We did some stretching and took a stroll across the beautiful autumnal Central Park to the Lexington Candy Store.






















On the way we picked up a copy of the New York Times, where we were both named in the Marathon Special pull out. There we sat, eating, relaxing and planning the rest of the trip, mainly around the shops, bars and restaurants we were going to visit. The rest of the trip passed in a blur of fun, with one of the highlights being a visit to the newly created High Line Park.

The High Line is a disused railway for short-haul freight trains which has been converted in to an elevated park. It's located on Manhattan's West Side, running from Gansevoort Street in the Meatpacking District to 34th Street, between 10th & 11th Avenues. It is beautiful and free to enter so if you are in NYC definitely take a look.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/nov/08/highline-new-york-garden-martin




















Back in Brussels, I was straight back to work and off to the thrilling Annual European Bond Conference at the Conrad Hotel. After sleepwalking my way through the two day conference, I rewarded myself with a weekend of culture and relaxing in Amsterdam.

I've had so many people say watching me train for the marathon has been inspirational, spurred them to go to the gym more, or made them think - just for a second - about running a marathon themselves, that I've decided to set up a running club, launching in the new year, to provide support and encouragement to people who already run and to show those that don't the benefits that can be derived from running and how easy it becomes if you put your mind to it.

The support and kindness and understanding I've been shown while training and while coping with the injury has been really humbling, but the biggest compliment I received came from a fellow reporter, a hardcore, scary Polish hack, who until now has barely spoken to me: "You ran a marathon, then from now on, I look at you with respect."