Massage time...

The old legs have been taking a bit of a pounding recently, what with the increase in overall mileage, the increase in long run distances and the odd fast race(!)

So I booked myself in for a sports massage with Hannele, who gave me a thorough pasting last year when I was feeling wrecked, pre-marathon.

I knew exactly what I was letting myself in for from last year's experience, and also because Sam went to see Hannele a couple of weeks ago and got soundly beaten up for an hour for the princely sum of £30.

Tonight, Sam went first and I followed immediately afterwards, dearly hoping that Hannele would be worn out after an hour of pain extraction on the missus.

No such luck. Within minutes, I was yelping, gritting and grinding my teeth and swearing like a trooper. Hannele really knows what she's doing - identifying every knot and lump in tired muscle fibre and then smashing, kneading and squeezing it into relaxed submission. There is no way to describe the intensity of pain at certain points and, although you try to convince yourself that this is actually doing you some good, it's very difficult to remain chipper when someone's got their full weight channelled through their elbow into your arse cheek. And you're paying for the privilege.

Hannele also went to work on my sore shins, breaking down scar tissue and freeing up trapped and tight muscles to the extent that I was feeling light-headed and a bit abstract by the end of it all!

Anyway, I survived.

So, hopefully, we'll see the benefit tomorrow. Our dry run of the mighty Spen 20 awaits - we're meeting up with our mate, Rob Moon, down at club for a 9.30 start, so it's been a pasta-based, dry and quiet Friday night - who said rock 'n' roll was dead eh?!

Rob's (enormous) house happens to be on the route, so we'll have good access to water and energy drinks because we have to pass it twice. Might not bother trying to nick his best silver cutlery this time round - it'll only weigh me down and he'll probably hear it jangling in my pockets. (Rob - this is a joke if you're reading this. I know it's stainless steel and therefore worthless).

We're aiming for a very steady three hours, but you know what we're like!

I'll keep you posted - strength and honour!