Only 159km to go!

Firstly apologies for the lack of new posts and updates on how the running has been going, but both myself and TMM have been suffering from a lack of internet access. However, we have both now completed 41km of the '222 challenge' - only 159km to go. Following the half-marathon in Dresden a few weeks ago, TMM followed up with a 10km run in Athens, while I ran a 10km in Hosseringen yesterday. Considering I hadn't actually ran since Dresden (apart from a 20m dash across the road walking back to the car from the AWD Arena last weekend) my time of 55mins 36 secs was fairly acceptable, although well off my best time. As far as the challenge itself is concerned (200km, in under 20 hours, raising 2,ooo euros) the statistics so far for TRSG are: 41km run, total time taken 3 hours, 43 minutes 56 secs, cash raised nil. Obviously, I need to start working on my fund-raising, as well as getting back out on the road!

2 hours cracked - just!!

At long last, an 'official' time of under two hours for the half-marathon was finally achieved in Dresden this weekend. However, unlike TMM who smashed the two hour mark by over three minutes, my wait for an official time was more agonising, as during the race my Garmin stopped at 21km precisely with me having run 1 hr 59 mins and 3 secs, but not having crossed the finishing line! Not until we arrived back in Offen on Monday afternoon did I finally find out that I'd got under the two hour barrier by a massive three seconds!! The final 200m sprint and the (still) sore legs were worth it!! A cracking weekend all told, which included a sell-out footy game (29,000 for Dynamo Dresden v Hansa Rostock - not bad for a 3rd division game!), but if you ever decide to run in Dresden ... beware the cobbles!! Good luck to TMM in Athens. My next run on the '222 Challenge' is a 10km in a field somewhere in Northern Germany ina couple of weeks time. Keep on running!!

It's there!!!!

Finally the OOBs have done it!!

The 2 hour barrier has gone and in some style to.

TRSG broke 2 hours in Dresden on Sunday morning with a nail biting wait for his official time - 1hour 59 minutes and 57 seconds!!!

TMM smashed his previous best of 2hrs and 39 seconds by running under 2hours finally with a time of 1 hour 56 minutes and 28 seconds.

TMM is now the OOBs half marathon record holder and 10km record holder so the gauntlet is laid down.

TMM is now off to Athens to run the 10km race as part of the 2500year celebrations of the original Marathon. The race runs on part of the original course and ends in the original Olympic stadium.

Check out the details online at athensclassicmarathon [pop it into Google]

Keep running

TMM

This time its 5 and freezing!!!!

Seemed like a good idea - Do a few weights and then an easy 5km

Then it was dark windy and around 2degrees

Still the weights were warm inside and the 5k was not too bad - 25mins 18seconds

Less than a week to Dresden

The TMM is back!!!

After no running for four weeks since the Hannover night run and the magical sub 50minute 10k the TMM is back out.

A gentle 10k before the Dresden half 52minutes 30 which is my third fastest ever.

Maybe a longer run at the weekend now that TRSG has set the benchmark that bit higher

Welcome back Garmin!

Finally got round to getting a new Garmin which meant two things this morning. Firstly, I found out that the German road sign mileage isn't quite as accurate as it should be (didn't run quite as far as I thought last week!), but secondly, it does now mean my runs are accurately measured in time and distance again. With two weeks to go to Dresden, decided to run a full half-marathon this morning and ran a personal best of 1:53:25. Was a bit of a struggle (not quite sure what effect the chilli-based muscle rub stuff I bought in the chemist for 20 euros yesterday had - none methinks and I could be looking at a pair of those long socks worn with such great success by TMM), but hopefully it means that things are looking good for a first sub-2hour race in Dresden. Training will now taper down before Dresden, which shouldn't be too difficult as midweek runs have been virtually non-existent the past couple of weeks. Keep on running!!!

A new way to train!

Watch one of your favourite football teams lose at home, have a few beers, get to bed after midnight and then you'll be set up to run a scorcher - that's what happened to me this weekend. Had a real struggle to force myself out for a long run yesterday, but then ran 17km in 1 hour 25 mins! Really don't know how this running lark works - one day you struggle to run 5km without keeling over, the next you can run 17km effortlessly and feel as though you could have carried on for another 10km! Oh well, I'm not complaining as a similar effort in 3 weeks time in Dresden will surely see TRSG finally complete a half-marathon in under 2 hours. In fact, if I run anything like I did yesterday in Dresden I'll be unhappy with 1 hour 50 mins!!! Mind ou three weeks is a long time in this game - especially for an 'old boy' - so I'm not getting carried away. I WILL be very happy with any time under the two hour mark, with a long-term view to getting a good time in Prague in April. Keep on running all and well done Arsenal for producing yet another 'good possession, but we'll still lose' game against Chelski. Perhaps I should go out for a run???!!!!

Cross training - But why?

TMM is on his bike and off the road

After the amazing results from the Hannover night run TMM has given up the road and is now on the bike

To work and back from work which is over 10k every day

Impressive hey!!! --- Not really - the TMMs car is off the road waiting for it's BFG which is the MOD equivalent of an MOT

Still different excercise.

4 weeks to Dresden so the trainers will have to come out soon.

Get out and get a life.

Comments can now be published so get typing

See Tummys comment linked to last weeks post.

Running Records - Again

The TMM is on fire! - For an old slow bloke

The Hannover night run provided the TMM with two new records - The 10km course completed in 48mins 33 seconds - the magic breaking of the 50min barrier with km averages under 5mins a km.

The last 5km lap completed in 23mins 50 seconds - once again a new record.

Rest day today after taking m school year group on a trip to a Bare Foot Park followed by a swift trip to watch H96 loose to Wolfsburg - normal service resumed!!!

PS - Posting a comment is now enabled for all viewers so have a try.

Keep running - TMM

222 Challenge Begins!

New PB for 10km in the Hannover Nachlauf last night - unofficial time of 48 mins 54 secs! Unofficial as I forgot to hand in my chip at the end of the race so not sure if I'll get an 'official' time!! Credit to TMM who also ran a personal best of 48:31. Credit also to one of our 'followers' - the 'Junior' Memeber who rain 19:40 for the 5km. No doubt TMM will be on later to give all the details of his run, but in terms of my own, I got off to a good start although the first 5km was probably too fast as I suffered a bit in the latter half of the race. Still, can't complain about a PB. A fantastic way to kick off the '222 Challenge' and now it's on with the training for the Dresden half-marathon in October. Footy this afternoon as the 'Offen Roten' are off to Wolfsburg to cheer on the mighty Hannover 96 and give Steve McClaren some stick - "96 Ole!"

Rainy day in Offen

No school today due to an electrical fault, so surprisingly nippy round the Bollersen Loop tonight as fatigue was not its usual factor, plus I had to get back home to look after 'GGG', so mummy could collect No.1 son from Cubs!! Only downside was the rain which has persisted all day, as well as the strange phenomenom of wind in your face no matter which way you run the loop!!! By the way 'GGG' stands for 'Green Glitter Girl'. After a slight disagreement over what time she needed to be indoors last night, my darling daughter got her own back by putting green glitter in my side of the bed!! Happy I wasn't!!!!!!

Records Records Records

TMM is on the case

TMM has been out this morning for the first time this week. .......... And it is records all around.

Fastest 2km - 9minutes 45 seconds

Fastest 3km - 14 minutes 30 seconds

Fastest 4km - 19minutes 40 seconds

And yes he has finally done it for the first time in his life.....

Under 25minutes for 5km

5km in 24minutes 31 seconds

So now its off to football and shandy for TRSGs birthday bash

Get out and get runnng!!

Shagged!!

Unfortunately no, not what you're thinking, merely a reflection of how TRSG feels at the end of the first week back at school! Its been four weeks away from the blog due to holiday in Florida and no internet connection, but can now get down to some serious blogging as the first 222 Challenge appears on the horizon. Glad to see TMM has been keeping the world up-to-date in my absence and even more impressed that we have our fifth follower - let's hear it for the Leicester supporter!!!! TRSG has been training hard - sort of. Ran home from school last night. Hard work at the end of a school week, especially as a few extra km's were added to the route, but worthwhile. Still no Garmin, so distance and times are a bit vague, but am looking for sub-55 minute 10km at the Hannover night run next Friday. Anything under 51 minutes to better last year's time would be a huge result!! Off to 'Die Roten' this afternoon (Hannover 96 top of the league by the end of the day anyone?????) and then out for a few beers to celebrate turning 45 tomorrow. Life is good!!!!! Finally, must speak to TMM about adding a bit of colour and variety to his blogs!

Out on the bikes

Today TMM and TRSG went out on the bikes for a change

No time or distance measured

Just a leisurely trip in celebration for the end of the week 'nearly'

Get out and enjoy the weather

TMM

Busy Busy Busy

Hi there

Its been a while since a post but now I'm back

TMM ran once more last week

A cross country 4km for the first time in over a year - 22mins

What a difference the terrain makes to time and rhythmn!!!

Still apparently it means you work 26% harder so good news.

Back to work tomorrow so let's see how that affects training.

Keep running

TMM

The distance goes up

TMM running 8km - and it is still raining

On Sunday TMM ran 8km in the wind and rain in 42mins 54seconds.

Training for the Hannover Night run going well.

How are you doing?

Let us know with a post.

New 5km record for TMM

TMM went out yesterday for an attempt at a sub 25minute 5km.

This did not happen but a new quickest time was acheived.

25mins 45 seconds.

Watch out in the coming weeks for attempts on the 5km and 10km records.

Weather becoming colder and wetter - maybe this helps.

Get running.

Athens is on!!!!

TMM in two races in a week

Tonight TMM has booked to participate in the 2500year anniversary of the original Battle of Marathon 'Marathon'

He is enrolled in the 10km race which goes along part of the ancient and original route.

Exciting hey!!!!!

TMM

Day off and treatment

Barefoot park therapy

A day off for TMM with the family.

We went to a local barefot park where you walk around in various natural items!!!!

Great mud therapy and a walk thrown in to.

More than a few km covered.

I can recommend a visit, check it out at www.barfusspark-egestorf.de

TMM

New 3km record for TMM

Quickest ever 3km for TMM

In celebration of Man City's fantastic win over Liverpool TMM decided to attempt a quick run to beat his previous 3km record.

3km in 14min 34 seconds is his quickest ever and an average of 12.4km/h and 4min 52 seconds per km.

Time for a cup of tea to celebrate.

TMM

Back out again

TMM is out after 2 days rest

5km in 27mins 14 seconds on a wet windy day is not too bad I suppose

Just over 2 weeks till the first part of the challenge and so the next week or so may see an increase in distances

Keep running

6 in 7 and Hannover win

TMM took Tummy out for an attempt on his 3km record yesterday evening.

With some interesting coaching methods from TMM Tummy was able to beat his previous record by 15 seconds.

If you fancy a coaching session with the OOBs then let us know.

As a bonus Hannover 96 won their opening league game of the season 2-1 against Eintracht Frankfurt.

Watch out for our sister blog opening soon linked directly to the football.

TMM

5 in 5 and 2 in 1!!!

TMM in double run day

TMM today ran 5km with guest runner Tummy and then another 4.25km with TMMm

{The Monty Madman's Mrs.}

That makes 5 runs in 5 days [no run yesterday]

Also a swim today.

Guest runner from UK - Tummy

Follower joins the runners

Tummy - our UK follower is over in Germany at the moment and came out with TMM yesterday for a 4 + 1km run.

If you would like to run with the OOBs then just post a comment and we will get back to you.

3 in 3 for TMM now so let's see if he can go out again today.

TMM

2 out of 2 and football is bleak

TMM on 2nd run of return

27.22 for 5km today slow first 4 k and then a sub 5 minute last km

Arsenal salvage a draw so TRSG won't be so Grumpy

Guest runner arrives tomorrow so watch this space

Another possible run is the Athens Classic - A 10km race on the same day as the Marathon [sold out for spaces] on part of the original course 2500years since the event - watch this space.

TMM

Hannover out of cup - again!!!

Hannover start season badly again

The OOB quest to see a German cup game will have to wait another season as for a second season in a row Die Roten are beaten by a fourth division side !!!!

MMM is back

Back and out we go!!!

The Monty Madman is back from Crete.

Yes the crazy horse returns and goes straight out for a 5km run to take over from TRSG.

Weather on hols was hot hot hot but well worth it.

I would recommend a trip there BUT not for training - swimming apart.

5km in 27mins 30 today - gentle jog around the village

City draw with Spurs - good result considering.

Watch out for a guest runner for the OOBs this week.

Prague and Disney here I come!

Well this will be the last post from TRSG for a couple of weeks as I'm off to Disney with the 'bh' and the TRSG 'juniors'. So for the next couple of weeks it will be over to TMM who returns from his hols tomorrow.

A run bright and early this morning with MMD means that the pre-Disney training has been about as good as it could be - hopefully I'll still be the better side of 100kg upon my return!!! Another step towards completion of the '222 Challenge' was also taken with entry to the Prague Half-Marathon on 2nd April.

Fingers crossed for 'Die Roten' and 'The Gooners' while I'm away. Keep on running!!

Hoodies, cross-training and new Scrabble records!!

Well they finally arrived this morning - the OOB 'hoodies'. Unfortunately both were size 'medium' and as much running as I've done over the past few days I wasn't going to be able to shed the 18st needed to get me into one of them this side of 2015!! However communication with the manufacturers has led to the promise of an XL at no further cost - 'Three cheers' for the 'TShirtStudio'!! Let us know what you think of the hoodies and look out for further items in the near future.

No running today, but knocked off 35km on the bike. Half of that completed this morning after dropping the car off for a service, the second half this evening to let off a bit of steam after a disagreement with TRSG junior - the male one! Great to get out on the bike for a change and even better to come home and sink a cold beer!

Will finish today's entry on a note of disappointment. News has arrived from Crete that TMM has shattered the OOB scrabble scoring records with 86 points for a single word and 100 points for the turn. The big question now is do I go all out to beat these scores or do I concentrate on 'Yahtzee', which I downloaded yesterday??!!

4 out of 5

No eight in a row as there was no run yesterday, it being Sunday, a day of rest and all that, along with the fact that the ankle was a bit sore too after three consecutive runs. Still, back on track today with a good run out on the 'Bollersen Loop'. The OOB hoodies still haven't arrived, so it could be that it will be up to TMM to take photos and post them on the blog when he returns from his hols. TMM has been taking his training seriously while he's been away and has notched up a new OOB record score of 337 on i-pod Scrabble. Whilst TRSG's best is only 329, I do lay claim to the OOB highest single word score of 76, scored laying 'fraying' as the opening word. Not sure if this is a bit of a cheat though as the 76 did include 50 extra points for using up all seven letters??!!

3 in a row, strange training methods and a reminder!

A third consecutive day running, although not such a good idea to go out at midday in the sun! Still, three down and five to go and the challenge will then be on for TMM. Finally we have some video of TRSG and his strange training methods. This one was taken up after watching the gibbons at Hannover Zoo. TRSG is the one in the yellow t-shirt, being followed by TRSG junior. Just in case you are a new follower of this blog, the whole purpose of it is that over the course of the next school year (Sept '10 - July '11) TMM and TRSG will be attempting the '222 Challenge', that is to run 200km in under 20 hours (over the course of several different races) with the aim of raising 2,000 euro each for a variety of different causes. If you feel the need come on board and join the challenge yourself!!

Introducing TMM!!

Finally cracked the video editing software, so here's a little clip of 'The Monty Madman'. A short clip of a strange training run by 'TRSG' will be posted soon.

A new follower!

Another early morning run with TRSGbh (The Real Slim Grumpy's better half) and MMD (Monty Mad Dog who is now a follower of this blog - and possible future contributor?) and is not to be confused with TMM aka 'The Monty Madman'! Best way to remember the difference, MMM has four legs, TMM only has two!! Awaiting the postman with baited breath, surely the hoodies must be on their way soon???

A blank in Leipzig!

Unsurprisingly no running in Leipzig, but back on the running trail today with Disney and those huge American servings only nine days away. Lovely run this morning with Andrea and MMD ('Monty Mad Dog'), which will hopefully be followed by a run each day until next Friday when we depart for Frankfurt before flying to the U.S. on Saturday. Sadly no OOB clothing has arrived from the UK yet, but hopefully it is winging its way here (with my Disney tickets????) as I write. Still haven't mastered the video editing software yet, but keep checking because photos and video could be added when you least expect it!!

TRSG

A slack day for TRSG - having a bit of a rest prior to three days in Leipzig with my better half. However the running shoes will be packed, so the training might well recommence in the old East German city if there's nothing better to do - nudge, nudge, wink, wink! As TTM will be away on his summer hols I'll be taking responsibility for updating the blog upon my return from Leipzig, so look out for photos of the OOB athletic gear, which should be arriving in my absence and also for some video footage of TTM and TRSG providing I can work out how to do the editing!!

Run three of week one

MMM has made three in a week!

Third short run of the first week of training before the break!

20 minutes 30 for 4km in Sunshine and thundery showers.

Are you keeping up?

MMM

Shocking but not surprising!!!

Hannover 1 - 2 Valencia

The new kit didn't help and the same frailities exposed to a good passing side.

Still the girls enjoyed the day and saw the right team score at the end.

Training now suspended for 10 days as the MMM goes to Crete.

TRSG is now in charge of proceedings!!

Madman gets going again

This time its 5km

Today its 5km for the Montmadman.
No record but some off roading and a gentler pace
26 minutes and 30 seconds is around 11km/h so good if the pace can be maintained over 21km.
That is the big question.

Tomorrow is the first OOB football visit and the first football match for MMMs two girls so watch for a post tomorrow.

Mmm

Time for the Madman

Get Running

Time for the madman to get out again this week!

The Real Slim Grumpy is setting a great pace in training with 4 runs this week to the madman's one.

If like me you can sometimes lack the motivation to get started then see if you can keep up with my attempts.

Let us know how you are doing by posting a comment.

MMM

Better running anywhere else??

A great 11km run this morning through the quiet villages and fields of northern Germany. I'm really not sure if there are many better places to go running first thing in the morning??!! Eagerly awaiting the arrival of the first item of 'Offen Old Boys' athletic apparel. In the meantime will attempt to post a video of TMM!!

Registration starts!

Things are 'officially' getting underway with TMM and TRSG now registered for the first 31km of the challenge - the Hannover Nachtlauf (17th Sept) and the Dresden half-marathon (24th Oct).

Animal Training

A break from training - But more tiring

Today the team took a training break and went to Hannover Zoo with the young runners section of the club.

A great day - check it out at

www.zoo-hannover.de

Tomorrow back to training and then watch out as the runs get booked up.

Possible '222 Challenge' runs??

The first official run of the '222 Challenge' will be the Hannover Nachtlauf on the 17th September 2010. Other runs under consideration for the challenge are ... Oct - Dresden half-marathon, Nov - Braunschweig 10km/half-marathon, Dec - Machsee Run 6km, Winsen Aller Silvesterlauf 10km, March - Celle Wasa Lauf 10km, April - Prague half-marathon, Berlin half-marathon, May - Berlin BIG 25, Hannover half-marathon, June - Hamburg half-marathon, Uelzen 10km. Definitely not on the itinerary for this challenge are the Midnight Sun half-marathon (still paying for this year's run!) and the Funf Seen Lauf 15km in Schwerin, unless the temperature is significantly below this year's 35 degrees!! Anyone who knows any other great runs in Northern German or further afield (within economic reason) please leave a comment!

New record time in training

Sub 20minute 4km by Montymadman!!!!!

First training session of the challenge brings new record time of 19min 56 seconds and an average speed of over 12km/h and sub 5minutes per km

The gauntlet is laid down for The Real Slim Grumpy and other challengers

Explanation of the 222 challenge

222 Challenge

The 222 challenge is now confirmed

2oo km in races between September 2010 and July 2011

20 hours in total to complete the challenge

£2,000 is the aim to raise per person for a variety of causes including local schools and the MOD charity 'Help for Heroes'

Fancy joining? email 'Montymadman' at

duncandtara@t-online.de

The training begins!

The first training sesion for TRSG this morning, a 6km jaunt through the woods with Monty - the dog that is, not the 'Monty Madman' - and not a beer in sight!

The Training Begins!

First '222 Challenge' training session held at the 'Rosenhof' last night - all three bottles of Erdinger consumed painlessly and no injuries sustained!! Seriously, now the school holidays have arrived the team will start hitting the streets again to get ready for the first run of the challenge - the Hannover Nachtlauf on the 17th Sept.

New member to team blog - the phenomena grows

New member joins Offen Old Boys blog!!!

Today Mark Whines aka The Real Slim Grumpy has joined the team.

Watch out for his first contribution and maybe the first video upload!!!

More details of the 222 challenge over the weekend.

The 222 challenge

THE 222 CHALLENGE

The official launch of the challenge will be in September but here are a few pointers

• 
  
  200km


• 
  
  20hours


• 
  
  £2k

Interested? Then let me know

Picture above a bit random - just trying it out

A brand new start

Well Hello. Here we have the first entry on the blog for the old boys in offen.

Over the coming months this will be linked mainly to running and the 222 challenge but I am sure that some football will join in along the way.

Montymadman aka Duncan Kirwin