Soccer AM

Tom and James: kitted out

The London Marathon is just over three weeks away and Soccer AM is down to just one runner!

James and Tom had bravely put themselves forward to run the whole 26.2 miles, but this week came the shocking news that injury had forced Tom to pull out!

Tom

The verdict is in... deep breaths everyone... I'm out of this year's London Marathon... and it hurts sooo bad!

I'm pretty disappointed because I've actually put a lot of time and effort into my training and I was really getting into it, but injury has got the better of me.

I haven't decided whether or not I'll go through it all again next year, but I've decided to carry on my keep fit regime.

I can't run at the moment so I've bought myself a nice new shiny mountain bike to keep the good work going! Luckily for me James is still flying the flag for Soccer AM, and I'll probably be going along to support him... as long as my diary is free that is!

My Week

SATURDAY:
For a second week running I have to sit out football, so I go out for lunch with my girlfriend instead and then watch England take on Ireland in the Six Nations.

There are no sweeter words in the English language than 'free bar', which is why I jump at the chance to go to a wedding in Kent with said bar!

SUNDAY:
A few too many shots from the night before mean I wake up with a stinking hangover, but today is the day that I get my new mountain bike! Best of all it only cost me £90 off a popular internet auction site!

I cycle down to the pub on my new bike and meet the guys, but my Sunday lunch is ruined after I accidentally order vegetarian sausages! Trev finds it hard to contain his laughter.

MONDAY:
D-day! After two weeks rest I go for my first run to decide once and for all whether or not my Marathon Dream is over. I've got my new trainers on and I'm pretty optimistic that today is going to be a good day...

About five minutes into my run and the impact of running is causing too much pain and I realise it's OVER! I hold back the tears and limp home, as old men walking their dogs try to work out what is wrong with me.

TUESDAY:
I decide to go shopping to cheer myself up. I buy a dehumidifier for my room... it's about as exciting as it sounds.

WEDNESDAY:
The dark clouds above my head have cleared and I have a new master plan... I'm going to take part in September's London Duathlon!

Cycling into work each day has been brilliant and this way I can follow in the footsteps of two of my heroes in one event; Lance Armstrong and Paula Radcliffe!

James

I'm pretty annoyed with myself this week because after last week's good work I haven't really progressed at all. The weather has been so bad that the only way I can go out is if I put my leggings on.

Don't get me wrong I look great in them, but they're just really really uncomfortable. Vaseline has been my best friend in recent weeks to counteract all the chafing, but even that only goes so far.

Worst of all I've had a look at the weather forecast and there's a chance it might snow this weekend as well... I mean what is that all about?! I thought spring was supposed to be around the corner!

Having said all that I'm still aiming to get around in about five hours and I'm still really looking forward to the actual day.

My Week

SATURDAY:
I was feeling a bit rough after work so I didn't make football this week, but it must have been one of those 'five hour bugs' because I felt great by the evening and was ready to hit the tiles!

SUNDAY:
I was going to play for my other footy team but my quarter-final was cancelled, which I was actually pretty annoyed about because I was looking forward to it.

I wasn't in great shape though from the night before and spent most of the day recovering before heading to the gym in the evening.

MONDAY:
My Big run of the week. I use the word 'big' very loosely here because it wasn't nearly long enough. Slightly more worryingly is the fact that I don't seem to be able to run without the aid of a TV in front of me!

Last week it was Family Guy that kept me going during my two hour stint on the treadmill and this week it was some awesome Ricky Gervais stand-up.

I would be panicking about how I will cope on the actual day at this point, except I just realised that my new ipod touch plays videos! You can see where I'm going with this...

TUESDAY:
Tom drops the bombshell that he is out of this year's London Marathon! He hasn't been able to recover from the injury which has kept him from training for the past two weeks and so his marathon is over.

A few weeks ago news like this would have turned me into a nervous wreck because to put it simply all the pressure is on me now, but even though it hasn't been a good week I know I'll make everyone proud!

WEDNESDAY:
A week without football is too much, but I manage to get some 5-asid action in which is always good, it's also probably the most running I've done this week!

This time next week I will have completed at least 18 miles... I hope!