Ten reasons why you should vote in the 2015 General Election:

1.       Because it is your democratic right: we live in a democracy, not a dictatorship so make your voice heard! 

2.       Because this will be the closest election in decades:  so every vote counts! 

3.       Because there is a clear difference between the parties: vote for the one who you agree with the most. 

4.       Because Russell Brand is wrong: quite simply, if you don’t vote then you don’t matter.

5.       Because every vote matters – even if the candidate/party you vote for doesn’t win then simply by voting for them you are influencing political opinion. 

6.       Because you can vote for a candidate not a party – you can forget about politics and vote for the candidate who you like the best! 

7.       Because it is easy to vote: you can even vote by post, you just need to register. 

8.       Because you can vote on local issues – vote for the candidate who supports the local issues you care about the most. 

9.       Because we love voting so let’s vote about something important: forget about the X Factor and vote for something that has a meaning! 

10.   Because it is easy to register to vote and today is the last day so do it now!

https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote

 

Running Man: Six Weeks Half Marathon Training, Week Two 18.71 Miles

Week one of half marathon training had gone well and I was determined to continue my progress by upping the miles in week two. Because of my unique situation of trying to cram enough training into 6 weeks but also building up slowly having had 6 weeks out with injury, I had dismissed the many half marathon training plans I had looked at in favour of creating my own as I go along. My plans for this week were do about 5 miles on Tuesday and Thursday at medium effort, do a 5k as quickly as possible on Saturday and then do a slow and steady 9 miles on Sunday.

I got off to a good start on Tuesday by doing 5.6 miles at a fairly good pace of 9:16 minutes per mile. I continued my route of running up and down the hilliest part of Downham Market, running up to and then doing 4 laps of my Bexwell Road/Howdale Road circuit before heading back home. I felt strong and could notice my stamina improving – 5 and a half miles seemed fairly easy now.

I was going to repeat this on Thursday but a text from my physio Howard reminded me that I had a follow-up appointment that evening, meaning no time for running. He checked that I was still doing fine and noticed that my right hamstring was still weaker than my left and that my glutes were not as strong as they should be so gave me some more core strengthening exercises. I’m meant to do these every day and I know that I need to and that they’ll make me stronger and improve my running but they’re not fun and quite hard to do! I really do need to do them regularly though so will make an effort to do so next week.

Whist waiting for Howard in the reception of Advance Performance in Peterborough I listened to a conversation between a girl in her twenties and one of the shop assistants. She was talking about how she was doing the popular couch to 5K routine and had thought about getting some proper running shoes. I thought ‘great, well done, that’s really good of you to push yourself and get into running; you’ll feel great for it.’ That’s not what I first thought though; my first thought was ‘you’re training to run 5 kilometres? You amateur!’ That’s the thing about running – on one hand all runners are part of a community supporting each other, on the other they all want to be better than each other.

Saturday was my quick 5k day and what a better place to do a 5k than at the 100th Parkrun in Chantry Park at my hometown of Ipswich with one of my oldest friends who has also got into running this year. I got up a 6:45 bleary eyed but excited about the morning ahead. After getting ready I made myself a banana and blueberry smoothie for the journey and set off towards Suffolk, the roads clear and the sun shining strongly.


When I left my house I hadn’t realised that it was the 100th Ipswich Parkrun that day and I was pleasantly surprised by this landmark occasion. The crowd was bigger with about 100 more runners than my previous Parkrun in Kings Lynn and the atmosphere was great. The race organiser got things going by completing an ice bucket challenge and then we all stood in the formation of a 100 to have our photo taken and be filmed by the drone camera they had to record the event – a really nice touch from the organisers.

Image: The 100th Ipswich Parkrun. I’m bottom left of the middle zero wearing a white Ipswich Town away shirt from the 2000-2001 season.

My old friend Dan and I set off at a comfortable pace before speeding things up a bit and overtaking some runners. I soon realised that this was a completely different proposition to the wide and flat paved surface of Kings Lynn Parkrun – the Ipswich Parkrun at Chantry Park was a mixture of gravel paths and grass tracks, with twists, turns, narrow sections and worst of all steep hills! There were two that really slowed me down – in the middle a very short and steep climb, and then at the end with a longer but equally steep climb up a grass bank to the finish.

It was quite cruel finishing the race with a climb up a grass bank but it certainly added another element to the event. I finished in 26:01 at an average pace of 8:23 per mile – a minute and a half slower than my best 5k time but that was done on flat roads whereas this was on challenging trails. Dan beat me in 25:50, breaking 26 minutes for the first time, as I had expected him to. It was great fun, a good atmosphere and an interesting and challenging route and I will definitely do it again when I’m next back in Ipswich. I ran quicker than I had done for 2 months and my time was still pretty respectable considering the bumpy terrain.

I had hoped for a good sleep after a long week and a long day and early start on Saturday but woke up early on Sunday morning dreaming about running! I was on some sort of survival course, eating berries from bushes and practising running by pretending to run from wolves, I was joined by people I went to school with and people I work with. So I got up, had breakfast of Weetabix and coffee, and wrote some of this blog.

Sunday was long run day and this time I wanted to do 9 miles. I had roughly planned a route into town and then around some of the roads that form part of the Ipswich Half Marathon route before heading back east towards my mum’s house. I took a bottle of Lucozade Sport with me again and also an energy gel in case I needed it this time. After a 10 minute warm up walk I headed into town, the route downhill and so the first mile was done at a fairly decent pace of 8:26.

Bounding along and feeling good I headed uphill along Westfield Road towards Christchurch Park and then through the park itself before turning right onto Henley Road and then onto Valley Road. From here I headed back eastwards onto Woodbridge Road, through Rushmere and past the Heath and into Kesgrave. I knew at some point that I’d need to turn south and somehow managed to find the correct road that would take me towards Foxhall, past Foxhall Stadium and then onto Foxhall Road for my final leg back to my mum’s house.

The route had included quite a few hills which was good training for my upcoming half marathon but at 8 and a half miles in, the miles and the inclines were starting to take their toll and I was running out of steam. I had just finished another hill section and was starting to feel the effects of my efforts – my right knee, right heel and left hamstring were all starting to give me discomfort and for the first time I questioned whether I could do the distance. So I pulled out the Science in Sport energy gel from the small zip pocket in the back of my Asics running shorts, teared it open and slurped down the sticky goo.

Whilst it was no Popeye eating spinach transformation, it did give me some extra energy and I was able to keep going. I got back to my mum’s house at a distance of 9 and half miles so decided to do a lap around the block to make it a nice round 10.Mile 9 was my slowest at 10.33 but the energy gel had seen me home and helped me to complete the last mile 15 seconds quicker.

I was exhausted when I got back and it was not surprising – in one hour 35 minutes and 22 seconds of continuous exercise I had burned off over 1200 calories. Taking my time to do my stretches I then gulped down my protein shake, ate a sandwich and a banana and then drank a pint of squash. I then reflected on my achievement: TEN MILES. Just over 5 months ago I started running and wondered if I could do a mile, I could now do ten. Double figures:  it’s another big step in my running adventures.

Running Man: 6 Weeks Half Marathon Training, Week One, 18.94 miles

When I was out with a hamstring injury I had thought that I’d be able to start Half Marathon training as soon as I got back – I was wrong as had not factored in recovery – I needed another 2 weeks of running, slowly increasing the miles and pace until I could run 7 miles without stopping. This distance was a benchmark for me as it was not only the longest distance I had ever ran but also a test to see if I had the stamina to be able to run for long distances and to see if my hamstring held up fine.

My legs ached after my efforts the previous day and I knew that if I was going to keep putting my body through so much exertion then I needed to do more than stretch and drink water afterwards. Recovery means getting the right nutrients in your body as soon as possible to speed the healing process so that lunchtime I decided to by some protein shakes. I went for 2 bottles of Dunn’s River Nourishment Active, and also picked up 2 bottles of Lucozade Sport, a jar of peanut butter, a jar of 3 nut butter (cashew, almond and peanut – tastes amazing), a bunch of bananas, 2 Science in Sport gels and 2 Science in Sport chews. Quite a shopping basket! As well as recovery, I knew I was going to need something to sustain me further on my increasingly longer runs, hence the Lucozade and Science in Sport products.

                                        Image: a selection of runner’s groceries!

Monday was a rest day, which was a good job as my calves, particularly my left one, were incredibly stiff after the previous day’s efforts. I had planned to go on a leisurely bike ride with my girlfriend but a raining evening prevented that, which was probably for the best. The next day after a healthy dinner of hearty home-made soup we went for a gentle 4 mile bike ride. When we got back it was getting dark but I knew I needed to put in a run so head off into town on my new planned route up and down the few small hills that there are in Downham Market. I ran up the hill into town, then up Bexwell Road to the A10 roundabout back down to Howdale road and then 2 laps down Howdale Road and up Bexwell Road before heading back down the hill through town and then home. I didn’t enjoy running in the dark and I’d rather have eaten after I got back (the soup starting to repeat on me half way through my run) but I felt good that I’d ran up and down hills – 3.98 miles at 9:27 pace – not a bad start to my training.

After another day of complete rest on Wednesday I was ready for my next run on Thursday. My claves were still stiff and ached as I walked for 10 minutes to warm up. I wondered if I would even be able to complete my run and if I was pushing myself too hard. I set of slowly but soon got into a good pace, helped by the fact that I saw 4 other runners who had also navigated to the only hilly part of town for their running.

When I run, as soon as I see someone else I want to look good so my pace and posture instantly improves. This is even more so with other runners – I want to look strong and not that I am struggling. 3 of the 4 runners replied to my hellos as I passed them (the one who didn’t was a man who was quickest and strongest looking out of all of them) and I enjoyed these brief moments of camaraderie with my fellow Downham Market runners. I did 3 laps of my new route before heading back home again and felt strong during my run (4.46 miles at 9:05).

When I got home I drank one of the protein shakes and the next day I felt the benefits – my calves finally lost their stiffness. I had a wedding to get ready for on Saturday so was pushed for time and settled for 2.5 miles at a quicker pace of 8.26. When I run I want to feel like I am having a really good workout and the best measure of this is by how much I’m sweating – if the sweat isn’t pouring off my face then I know I’m not putting in enough effort. So I went for it and made up for the short distance by putting in my quickest post-injury pace.

Sunday I had planned my long run – after last week’s 7 miles I wanted to try doing 8. I had thought of not drinking at the previous day’s wedding but that would just make me a boring bastard so instead I did my best the next day to get over my hangover as quickly as possible. I did this by eating and drinking loads – a first course of coffee and wholemeal toast, followed by porridge and a pint of squash and then finally a homemade blueberry, banana and honey smoothie. Since enjoying cocktails on holiday I’d got back into blending again and was using my blender every morning to make breakfast smoothies for myself and my girlfriend. Another pint of squash, a multi-vitamin pill and 2 paracetamol followed, I then tidied up the house as a way of warming up before I was finally ready to head out on my longest run to date.

I had planned a circuit route along the riverside, north up to Stow Bridge, then west before heading south through Barroway Drove and then back east to Downham Market. I figured it was about 8 miles but wasn’t sure if it was slightly less or more. I started off where it all began – running along the grass bank of the river near my house. It was great to be back on the route that had started my running adventures and I felt great as I took in the beautiful scenery around me: swans bobbing in the river, dragonflies and butterflies dancing in the sky, and fluffy tailed bunny rabbits hopping along the river bank. Not a bad place to go for a jog! But whilst I enjoyed my surroundings, I didn’t enjoy the uneven surface and was annoyed at constantly having to readjust my footing as I ran along the bumpy ground.

2 miles later I was at Stow Bridge – 5 months ago that was a massive achievement, now I had hardly broken sweat. I continued over the bridge, powering myself up the incline and then into a settled stride as I headed west. I passed farms, fields, churches and some large country houses, as I was warmed by the August sun and then cooled by the strong winds that batter open these Norfolk roads.

I was using this run to try out a new method of fueling and instead of my running bottle with water or squash I had taken one of my new half-litre bottles of Lucozade Sport. In my jacket pocket I had one of my new gels and had planned to take it about halfway. The Lucozade seemed to be doing the trick though as the sugars and carbohydrates replenished my depleted energy. At just over 5 miles I was feeling strong so went as hard as I could for the next mile in the hope that I could break my 10k record of 57 minutes. In the end I was about 30 seconds out, which wasn’t bad considering I had a hangover and had done the first 2 miles over bumpy ground. I knew then that if I had a proper warm-up and ran on a flat surface then I would break my 10k time.

Despite the disappointment of not getting breaking a speed record, I continued to feel strong and was determined to complete my run in the best time possible. Sips of Lucozade Sport every mile had kept me going and I didn’t feel the need to try the energy gel. It was only by mile 7 that I started to flag a bit but continued to push myself back home. I took my phone out of my pocket and looked at it for the last half a mile to make sure that I had completed exactly 8 miles, and I had, just a few metres away from my driveway – not a bad guess after all!

I walked through the door, my whole body dripping in sweat and collapsed on the sofa before then stretching and having another Dunn’s River recovery protein shake. I ached but I felt great – I had just run my furthest distance to date, 8 miles! I felt amazing – full of positivity and confidence. The sugary Lucozade probably helped but the best thing was how good I felt. I didn’t feel troubled at all during the run and my brain, heart, lungs and legs all felt good – none were crying out for me to stop.

After 6 weeks out and then 2 weeks to get back into it again I’m now fitter than I have ever been. I’m looking forward to continuing my increased mileage as I work my way up to 13.1 miles and then when the half marathon is over getting back to running 5k and 10Ks and smashing my times. For now though, I’m just relived that I’m running again, that I’m still enjoying it, that I’m getting better and that despite the odd dull ache and twinge, my hamstring is still holding up. Bring on week 2 of half marathon training!

Running Man: Rehab & Recovery

As I sat back on my sunbed reading the latest Irvine Welsh novel, I glanced out to the beach and saw another toned American jogging their way by the beautiful Caribbean Sea. I didn’t feel envious anymore, just resigned to the fact that it would be another 2 weeks before I could start running again. When I booked my holiday to Mexico I had planned to be one of these beach joggers but my injury had put paid to that and had to settle for swimming and walking as a way of maintaining fitness: well, there are worse places in the world to recover from injury!
                          

                          Image: A beach jogger, something I had planned to be on holiday

Then finally after 6 weeks the day had come: the day that I would start running again. My running shoes, which had previously had pride of place under my kitchen table, had since been shut away in the shoe cupboard under the stairs. Some runners wear their running shoes for walking but I had purposely put them away when I got injured; getting them out again after 6 weeks felt like a ceremonial act. I felt good to be back in my running gear again: running shoes, running socks, running shorts, running t-shirt and a new addition of a compression support on my right thigh to protect my recently healed hamstring.

I set out tired from the previous day’s travelling home from Mexico but determined to start running again. I had thought about what sort of run I should do for my comeback and decided that the best thing to do would be to my usual 5k run so that I could test my fitness against what I could do before I got injured.  I was nervous – would my hamstring hold up? Would I be able to run a simple 5k without stopping?

I set off at a comfortable pace and soon got back into my rhythm. It was good to be running again. I was slow (29.01, 4 minutes 20 seconds slower than my previous and quickest 5k 6 weeks ago) but steady and felt good that I at least managed to get round without having to stop. The 10 minute walk back home (part of my cool down routine) was hard though: I felt dizzy and exhausted, like I was drunk. I didn’t know if it was the jet lag, the heat or the shock of running again but I didn’t feel good and staggered home.

Promisingly I felt no pain in my right hamstring the next day so decided to set out on another 5k run. I had been reading a lot about running whilst I was injured and had noted that it is better to run with the palms of your hands open rather than with your fists clenched. I was used to running with my phone in my left hand and my water bottle in my right hand so had always been clenching my hands. So I tried out my arm band phone holder for the first time, freeing up my left hand.

It was another hot day and as well as draining my energy, the glare of the sunshine meant that I couldn’t read my pace on my phone. I’m used to constantly monitoring my pace so that I can push myself or hold back, depending on what my goal is. Without being able to monitor my pace I decided to go at a comfortable pace again, unsure if I was quicker or slower than my last run. I was slower (29.53) and felt exhausted again afterwards.

The next day I really felt it in my legs – both calves were heavy and sore, my heels hurt, my right foot hurt, and most worryingly I could feel a twinge in my right hamstring. Had I overdone it? Probably. The reason for wanting to get as many miles in as possible is because I have signed up for the Ipswich Half Marathon. I have 8 weeks from my comeback run until the event and want to put in as many miles as possible. It’s a balancing act though – I need to push myself to get fit enough in time for the half marathon but also need to build up my recovery slowly.

I have looked at various half marathon training plans and even the simplest (an 8 week beginner’s training plan) demands that I run 4 times a week. This would not have been a problem 6 weeks ago but I know that I won’t be able to do it this week. One of the most important running mantras is listen to your body; I did and it told me that there was no way I should run my planned 4 miles on Tuesday. So instead I decided to do a slow 2 miles on Wednesday.

I set off at a comfortable pace again and felt good. I decided to use this run to concentrate on my technique, putting into practise everything I had read about running technique in the last few weeks. I tried to ensure I had my head held high and was looking straight ahead rather than down, that my back was straight, my arms were swinging, and that my feet were falling underneath my body rather than in front of me. I even tried a few metres of strides (high knees and quick arms).

Despite this being my slowest (average pace 9.53) and shortest run for months, I felt great afterwards, the best I had felt since I had got my 5K P.B over 6 weeks ago. I felt refreshed and energised; it was great to have that buzz back again. When I got home I did the best stretching session I’ve ever done, really working my calves and hamstrings as much as I could.

My next 2 runs were in Ipswich, which gave me the opportunity of running up hills, which are all too rare in flat West Norfolk.  I went slow again (3.31 miles at 9:55 average pace per mile and 3.78 at 10:09) but was pleased that I managed the hills OK and my hamstring held up. My fitness was slowly improving again and by Tuesday I felt the benefit when I managed my best run (4.14 miles at 9:02) since my comeback. I felt strong and the 4 miles didn’t feel like too much of a challenge – I knew I had more in me.

My right hamstring, whilst holding up to my increasing miles, was still troubling me and I could feel a constant stiffness and twinge in it that I didn’t get on my left leg. I wasn’t causing me any pain but I could notice it was there, so I decided that I should see a physio and made an appointment to see Howard from the Sports Injury Clinic in Peterborough. I thought I was going to be in there for about 15 minutes, for him to say I was OK; a waste of both of our time, but what actually happened was a very professional and thorough examination of not just my hamstring but my gait, flexibility and strength. I was impressed with Howard’s expertise and went away knowing that I was doing the right thing and that there wasn’t too much wrong with my lower body other than a weaker right hamstring. I was given some hamstring strengthening exercises that would also strengthen my core – my core strength isn’t great – and was told to come back in 2 weeks.

I followed this up with a good 5.34 miles at 9:19 on Saturday and then I knew I was ready for my next challenge – could I run a 10K again? Being able to run 10K without having to stop to walk is seen as the benchmark for anyone who is thinking of begging training for a half marathon – if I could do that then I knew I was ready, if I couldn’t then I may have to consider cancelling my entry.

Variety is the spice of life and I’m now trying to vary my running routes as much as possible rather than sticking to my familiar flat country road route. I need to get used to running up hills as part of my Ipswich Half Marathon training as the course has quite a few hills so need to move away from the flat country roads near my house. So on Sunday I got my girlfriend to drop me off at Ten Mile Bank, a couple of miles from her parent’s house and I ran the rest of the way home. Along the Ouse Valley Way I went, the river on my right, up to Denver sluice and then through Denver and Downham Market and then home – 7.09 miles in total at a steady 9:49 pace, the longest distance I had ever ran.

I had done it; despite having a hamstring injury and not being able to run for 6 weeks, in just 2 weeks I had managed to build my fitness up to the level where I could run constantly for 7 miles. I was now ready to start half marathon training!

Running Man: Getting quicker and getting injured

It was all going so well: I had ran over 100 miles in 3 months, was loving running and it was making a huge difference to my life. I was full of energy and positivity, was feeling great and was looking forward to my further running progress. I had thoroughly enjoyed my first Parkrun, had just taken my 5K time down to 24:37 and felt that I soon would be able to go under 24 minutes. I was feeling so good that I decided to show off my running ability by challenging my 10 year old nephew to lamppost to lamppost sprint races down the road. I was giving him about 15 metre head starts and then sprinting after him to overtake him, having great fun and feeling great.

And then I stopped feeling great. About 10 meters into the third sprint race I felt my right hamstring ping. The pain was immediate and I had to slow myself down by running into a hedge. I knew straight away it was a bad injury because I could hardly walk. This wasn’t something that would be cured by a bit of stretching and a hot bath. Later back at home and my foot was up with an ice pack underneath my right hamstring.

For the rest of the first week I followed the RICE principle – rest, ice, compression and elevation. The only exercise I did was walking from the car park to my office and even that was a struggle to do for the first few days. By the end of the week I was massively frustrated and massively fed up. I had gone from running 4 times a week to not being able to exercise at all. What’s worse was that the weather was good – perfect for getting outdoors and enjoying the English summer and there I was stuck indoors with my foot up, at least I had the World Cup to watch. Driving to work every day I passed morning runners and looked at them with the jealous envy that a lonely singleton gives a happy couple.

IMAGE: View of my foot up with compression bandage on my right thigh

By Saturday morning I’d had enough of being inactive so I rubbed my thigh with Ibulieve gel, put on my compression bandage and headed out for a 4 mile walk around town, stopping off  on the way back at my favourite charity shop to buy books. The gentle exercise did the trick and I felt better than I had done all week, which considering I’d been feeling pretty low wasn’t very hard!

The next day I did some swimming which further helped to maintain my mood and fitness. A week later and I have just come back from a 12mile cycle ride in the rain, which despite getting soaked was good fun. I was pleased that not only had I seemed to not have lost too much fitness I also found it easier than when I had last cycled 3 months ago and was able to go faster in a higher gear, finishing my route 5 minutes quicker than previously. I was feeling rubbish before the bike ride and as I write this upon my return I’m feeling much better again – it really is amazing how much a bit of fresh air and exercise makes to my mood.

I’m not ready to start running yet but I’m slowly seeing the progress of my recovery. I can walk, swim and cycle without pain and I can touch my toes again. Just with the tips of my fingers for now but with the progress I’m making I should soon be able to put the palms of my hands on my feet again. I know that when I do eventually start running again it will be hard but I have to give myself time to recover properly and not rush into it. After reading loads about hamstring injuries and their recovery I have diagnosed myself with a grade 2 injury (minor tear), for which the recommendation is 6 weeks out.

That seems a long way away – another month to go before I can even start running again. It’s going to be hard but I will follow the advice strictly because the most common cause of injury is from a previous injury that hasn’t healed properly. I’m trying to turn this into a positive experience – getting injured is common with anyone who does a lot of regular exercise and the frustration that has come with it has made me realise even more how important running has become to me.

I need a new challenge and I need something to focus on and work towards. The Ipswich Half Marathon is in 3 months’ time and I am seriously considering signing up for that. One more month to fully recover my hamstring and then 2 months to train for the race. Twice the length of my longest ever run and I can’t even run at all at the moment – that sounds like just the sort of challenge I need!

Running Man: From nothing to a sub one hour 10k in 11 runs

Just over 2 months ago I wrote a post praising the joys of cycling and mentioned how I thought that I couldn’t get into running. 5 days after writing that post I decided to give running a try and went on my first run for over 6 years. 2 months and 11 runs later I can now run 10K in under an hour. This is how I did it and how in the process discovered a new love – the love of running.

Warm Up: January – March, walking and cycling

I’d had a great New Year’s Eve, fulfilling a lifetime’s ambition by DJ-ing my 80s and 90s dance and indie record collection at my brother’s house party. I had carried that positivity into the New Year and was feeling great, full of ambition for the year ahead. After the excesses of December, I like millions of others in the Western world decided it was time to be healthy again.

So whenever possible I stopped taking the Tube from work and instead walked for 30 minutes every day back to King’s Cross; it also ticked another resolution of saving money so I was more than happy to sacrifice being squashed on a Tube for that. The winter was turning out to be a mild one so on weekends I started getting out and about more, walking by the river where I live and also going on 12 mile circular bike rides. I was shedding some timber and slowly getting fitter. I felt that I was ready for a new challenge.

Run One: Sunday 16^th March, 5.17 miles, one hour 16 minutes 35 seconds

It was a sunny Sunday in March, I’d been on an enjoyable bike ride the previous day and wanted to get out and do something again. So I thought what the hell, I’m going to give this running lark a try. I’d already downloaded the Nike + running app from my previous aborted attempt at giving running a try and was now ready to use it for the first time.

I got my running gear out – a holiday t-shirt, 6 year old Adidas shorts and Nike running trainers, bought at the same time as the shorts from Sports Direct in Peterborough. I knew that I would need to stretch my stiff body so spent nearly half an hour going through every leg stretch I could think of. I filled up a bottle of water, put my headphones on, loaded up the Nike + app and put my phone in my shorts pocket.

I walked from my house to the riverbank (didn’t want to rush into it!) and climbed over the stile and onto the riverbank itself. Inspired by the emphatic scene of David Beckham speeding down the Thames in a speedboat during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics, I had chosen the music that had accompanied that event as the first song to listen to during my run – the magnificent I Heard Wonders by David Holmes.

I took a deep breath and then I was off. I was lucky that I’d had such an idyllic setting for my first run – glorious sunshine, a gentle breeze and nature in abundance. It felt like the first day of spring and it looked like it too as mating butterflies danced together in front of me. I got into a fairly good pace and felt positive – I can do this! Then I started feeling my lungs as they struggled to keep up with the rest of my body and the lactic acid starting to build up in my legs. I was determined though – I was not going to give up! Then the Nike + woman spoke to me: ‘one mile completed, time, ten minutes, 45 seconds, current pace…’ I didn't know that this was a feature of the app and instantly felt more motivated – I wanted to keep going and for her to say 2 miles completed!

A few minutes later I was struggling again so I remembered the best piece of advice I had been given about running – that running is mental. You have to use the power of your mind to take control over your body and make it do things that it does not want to do. Then I saw a bridge in the distance in front of me – it was Stow Bridge, a bridge that I cycle over on my bike rides. I thought about how amazing it would be if I could run to that bridge.

So I imagined that the bridge represented everything positive in my life and that I just had to get through the pain to get to it. Then just as the power of my metaphor was running out I saw a female jogger running towards me – instantly my pace and posture improved! I smiled at her as we crossed paths, she smiled back, and I felt good. I ran all the way to the bridge and then stopped to take a picture of my view.

IMAGE: View from Stow Bridge towards Downham Market taken on my first run

I drank from my water bottle, walked along the bridge and over to the riverbank on the other side. I walked about a third of the way back until I could breathe normally again and then started jogging. I jogged all the way back to the road and then, feeling great, decided to continue back to my house. Finally stopping at my front door I felt the best I had felt for years; not only was I feeling great from the buzzing serotonin effects of exercise, I felt great that I had just done something that I had never done before, something that I thought I couldn't do.

Run 2: Friday 21^st March, 5.16 miles, one hour 10 minutes 49 seconds

I had warmed down quite a bit after my previous run (albeit not as vigorously as my warm up), drank loads of water and even had a hot bath. I thought that would help me recover but the next day I could hardly walk! Every part of my body from my hips to my toes seemed to be hurting, even the sides of my legs were hurting – I didn’t even realise I had muscles there! I looked up a map of the muscles in the lower body and identified them from where I was feeling pain. It took me 5 days before I felt that I could go for another run, the most exercise I did in between was going on lunchtime walks around the City of London where I work.

It was a sunny Friday and the first day of my much needed 10 day break from work. I decided to do the same riverbank circuit but wanted to see if I could spend more time running and less time walking. I did and the 6 minute improvement motivated me to run again; I loved the sense of achievement in breaking my previous time and wanted to get quicker and quicker and have that feeling over and over again.

Run 3: Thursday 27^th March, 6.33 miles, one hour 41 minutes 34 seconds

I was in Villeneuve Loubet, staying in an apartment with my brother and visiting my French family for the first time in my adult life. I had packed my running gear with the idea of going for a run along the beach whilst I was there. I woke up early on Thursday morning and after doing my stretches and grabbing a bottle of Evian I ventured out into the fresh morning air. The Cote d’Azur is famed for its fabulous weather but on this morning it was all cloudy skies and cold wind. I ran down the hill to the beach and found the recently renovated promenade. I ran in the direction of Nice and into the nearby seaside town of Cagnes-Sur-Mer. I ran constantly for about 2 miles, passing many dog walkers, rollerbladers (so European) and joggers. It wasn’t hard to tell that I was the only English person on the beach that morning – despite the cold I was wearing shorts and t-shirt, whilst my continental counterparts were typically wrapped up in lycra, hoodies and gloves!

I was experiencing two of the many great things about running: exploring your surroundings and using the solitude to think. I love exploring – whenever I go somewhere new it’s not long before I’m investigating my surroundings. I needed to make sense of the emotions of the previous day and to prepare myself for the day ahead.

I stopped to take many photos along my route but continued all the way through Cagnes until I left the town. I then walked for about 10 minutes before picking up the pace and jogging again. Feeling good I continued jogging and made it back to the apartment, but I felt that I still had something left in me so decided to jog around the nearby roads. Perhaps unsurprisingly I got lost but when I eventually found my way back to the apartment and stopped I was pleased to hear the Nike + woman tell me that I had run my first 10k! I think of distance in miles so wasn’t sure quite how many miles there were in 10K but despite the stopping for photos and 10 minutes of walking I had just ran, or at least jogged 10k. I felt great - I can do this running lark!

Run 4: Monday 31 March, 6.44 miles, one hour 22 minutes, 49 seconds

I was in Ipswich for Mother’s Day and had the Monday off work – the final day of my 10 day break. I decided to celebrate by going for a run from my Mum’s house to the nearby Rushmere Heath, around the Heath and then back again. As I set off down the road my headphones kept falling out of my ears, a problem I had on previous runs but for some reason I couldn’t seem to resolve that day. Despite trying to squeeze them in at various angles they kept falling out so I gave up on the music and shoved them in my shorts pocket.

I haven’t had them in since and I much prefer running without headphones. I enjoy the meditative effects of getting into a rhythm and listening to my pace – thud, thud, thud, thud. I enjoy listening to my breathing and feeling my heart beat quicker. Because that’s another of the many great things about running for me – it makes me feel alive.

I made it around the Heath and then back towards the roads near my Mum’s house. Looking at my phone in my hand I saw that I had done over 5 miles without stopping or walking so wanted to keep going to see if I could run (or at least jog) constantly for 10k. Despite my experience in France I was still confused over the distance again – I thought that 10k was 6.44 miles so kept going until I met that target. I didn’t mind the extra .22 miles – I had just ran nearly 6 and half miles without stopping! My longest run to date and the first time I had done one with no stopping or walking – yet another reason to feel great.

Run 5: Saturday 5 April, 6.23 miles, one hour 11 minutes 21 seconds

Inspired by my first run without stopping or walking and an improved understanding of the metric measurement of distance, I decided that I was ready to do a quicker 10k. I told a running friend that I was aiming to run 10k in under one hour 15 minutes – it seemed like a challenging but achievable time. I planned a route running along the country roads near my house, up and past the nearby village of Barroway Drove and back again.

It was my first run constantly on roads and I haven’t run on any other surface since. I love walking on grass but for me it’s a lot easier to run on tarmac. I don’t have to constantly adjust my footing and can just concentrate on my rhythm.

There’s little traffic on this route so I felt safe as I took in my changing surroundings – farms, fields and the sounds of birds singing. I made it to the halfway point, touched the road sign that marked that point and turned around back. The return leg was harder but I kept going, whenever I was feeling like my body was about to give up I repeated my favourite affirmation – ‘I CAN DO IT!’ (I might have added an expletive between the words can and do). And I did it, nearly 4 minutes quicker than my target time.

Run 6: Saturday 19 April, 3.11 miles, 31 minutes

I was really enjoying my running progress but then, like everything else it seems, the realities of life got in the way and for various reasons it was a fortnight later until I was able to have the time to go for another run.

I wanted to do another 10k but was pushed for time that Saturday so settled on half the distance. All my running friends can do 10k in under one hour and now that was my target. I knew that in order to do that I first needed to be able to run 5k in under 30 minutes. I chose to do half of my previous country road route. Again the weather was good and I made a decent pace, breaking my times for one mile, 1k and 5k. 31 minutes exactly – just one more minute to shave off my time!

Run 7:  Saturday 26 April, 6.22 miles, one hour 5 minutes 10 seconds

A week later, the Saturday before my 33^rd birthday, I was back on my country road route, this time with enough time in the day to go for a 10k run. Inspired by my 5k time I wanted to get as close to an hour as possible. With the time ticking and the miles counting down I knew that I was in for a good time so upped the pace for the last half a mile to see how quick I could go. I sprinted at the end but couldn’t quite do it in under one hour 5 minutes. It was a time that I was really happy though – as beginner I was enjoying the experience of getting quicker each time and the motivation that comes with that.

Run 8: Wednesday 30 April, 3.11 miles, 30 minutes 12 seconds

It was the day after my birthday, a sunny evening and I was feeling positive. I felt that this would be the run that I would do 5k in under 30 minutes for the first time. So I set off out of my house and then heard the annoying sounds of the sirens of the railway line barriers closing. I had planned to do my half country road route again but needed to cross the railway line to get there.

So instead I turned the opposite way, ran through the small nature reserve near my house and onto a housing estate that’s full of bungalows and pensioners. I ran up to London Road and then turned north up to the cricket pitch and then back down through town and towards my house. Holding my phone in my left  hand (as I have done since I ditched the headphones) I saw the miles adding up, I was getting closer to my time and I felt I was going to do it. Sprinting again, determined to do it in under half an hour I was disappointed when I came short by 13 seconds. It was a new best time though and I was getting closer to my target.

Run 9: Monday 5 May, 3.40 miles, 37 minutes 2 seconds

It was Bank Holiday Monday evening and it was getting late, I had promised myself a run that day but hadn’t got round to it. As I watched Ronnie O’Sullivan loose the Snooker World Championship, I decided to take my disappointment out by going for a run. The sun had set and I had no high vis running gear so decided to repeat my previous route of running through the nature reserve and then around the town.

My previous run had been another best time but one mile in I knew that I was going to struggle to get anywhere near it. Whether it was because it was late and I was tired or because I had eaten a heavy meal (Carbonara – one of my favourite dishes) 2 hours beforehand, or because it was dark, I just didn’t have the energy inside of me to tackle the run at the pace I needed to. When I knew that I would get nowhere near my previous 5k time, instead of stopping on exactly that distance and walking back to my house I decided to carry on jogging back; I thought I might as well add a few more points of a mile to my Nike + total instead.

Run 10: Friday 9 May, 3.11 miles, 28 minutes 43 seconds – first sub 30 minute 5k

I was in a bad mood. I’d had a tough week and nothing seemed to be going right for me. My hangover from the previous night’s drinking had not helped my mood or my day. Full of frustration, I decided to use that energy and take it out on a run. With the evenings staying lighter for longer I had enough daylight to do my favoured country road run. Fuelled by the disappointment from my previous run I was determined that this would be my first sub 30 minute run. I started quickly, running my fastest mile and 1k so far  and was wondering if I could keep up the pace.

The further I ran the better I felt; I could feel the stress evaporating and my mood improving as I kept up the pace. When I knew that I was going to break 30 minutes for 5k for the first time I felt amazing. It was a great run; everything seemed to click into place. The only trouble I had was drinking along the way – every run I take half a litre of water with me and I didn’t have a sports bottle this time so was using a Lucozade bottle instead. My faithful Adidas shorts were also unavailable so I was wearing my AS Cannes football shorts – lighter but without pockets. With no pockets, my phone held in my left hand and my Lucozade bottle in my right hand I struggled to uncap the bottle top, drink from it, keep hold of my phone and keep running at the same time! Somehow I managed it, only splashing about a quarter of the contents of the bottle on me.

I had done it, my first sub 30 minute 5k!

Run 11: Tuesday 13 May, 6.22 miles, 58 minutes 46 seconds – first sub one hour 10k

I hadn’t planned to go for a run that evening; instead I was meant to be playing football. I love playing football and had recently started organising kickabouts with workmates over Regent’s Park. We did it for a few weeks and it was great fun; it was especially enjoyable for me to see how fitter I was to when I had last played a year ago. Whereas previously I was one of the unfittest on the pitch, now I was one of the fittest and that felt good. Sadly my footballing skills weren’t much better though! The last couple of weeks had been cancelled due to people dropping out so I was determined that there would be a game tonight. Unfortunately the weather got in the way and I had to cancel because of the unrelenting rain.

On the train home I was doubly determined that I would go for a run instead. So when I got home I put my running gear and rain jacket on and set off thinking that I’d just do 5k. I got to 2.5k was feeling good and the rain was starting to stop so I decided to keep going. At 5k I was going at a good pace and felt that I still had some energy left in me so kept pushing myself to see if I could do my first sub one hour 10k. When I had a mile left I knew I was going to do it and the feeling was amazing, I was about to achieve something that seemed a long way off just a few weeks ago.

I had done it: my first sub one hour 10k. From nothing to this in the space of 11 runs!

Warm Down: Starting to get serious

My next run was on Saturday 17 May – 5k in 28 minutes 48 seconds. Just over a week ago I would have been overjoyed with that time but now I felt disappointed. I hadn’t beaten my previous 5k time and what’s more I just didn’t have the mental energy to push myself to do the 10K run that I had planned and had to stop half way and then walk back – the walk of shame. I hadn’t slept much the night before and it was a really hot day, the hottest I had run in so far. The lack of sleep, the heat and the lack of fuel (no breakfast beforehand and I ran out of water at 5k) meant that for the first time I just didn’t have anything left to draw upon. I was crushingly disappointed by this but consoled myself by putting it down to experience.

A running friend had praised the benefits of having a decent pair of running shoes and recommended that I invest in a pair, so on Monday I went to Advance Performance, a specialist running shop in Fengate, Peterborough. I was a bit apprehensive beforehand but they were great and spent an hour with me in total.

First I got changed into my running gear, then the woman in the shop spoke to me about running and then I had a gait analysis. She got me to run on a treadmill in my knackered Nikes and videoed me as I ran. Playing the video back to me she pointed out that my left foot was neutral but that my right heel came down at an angle as I run, this may be why I was having pain in my right hip after running. Next she looked at my posture and noticed that my right foot naturally points outwards as I stand; the reason why it doesn’t come down quite properly when I run. Next I was put into a pair of neutral running shoes that showed the same problem with my right heel.

She then tired me out in various brands of shoes that were designed to correct this flaw and it was amazing to see what a difference it made. My right heel was now coming down correctly, just as my left one did. I had 3 pairs to choose from in the end and was surprised when the woman in the shop then told me to try them out for real by doing 2 laps of their car park in them!

The first pair (Brooks) felt bulky and my shins hurt as I ran in them so they were a no. The next pair (Asics) felt like a perfect fit so they were a yes. The next pair (Mizuno) felt very comfortable – like I had a pillow underneath my feet so they were also a yes. Unsure what to go for, the woman in the shop told me to take one Mizuno off and put one Asics back on and do 2 more laps of the car park in odd shoes! She advised me that I should go for the ones that I noticed the least and as soon as I started out in odd shoes I knew that it was the Asics. I noticed the Mizunos but didn’t really notice the Asics – they felt like they fitted perfectly, as they had been specifically designed for the shape of my feet.

Keen to try my new running shoes out the next day I went for another 5k run. Tuesday 20 May – 5k in 26 mins 35 secs. The woman from Advance Performance advised me that instead of doing loads of stretching, the best way to warm up was to go for a 10 minute walk first. I needed to break my new running shoes in a bit anyway so it seemed like a good idea. So instead of spending ages doing stretches, I just stretched my calves a bit and then went for a walk. 10 minutes later I was ready to get going.

I set off at what felt like a comfortable pace, unsure of how much a difference my new footwear would make. A few minutes later I looked at the Nike + app on my phone in my left hand and noticed that I was doing a sub 8 minute mile pace! The strange thing was that I didn’t seem to be putting in any extra effort. Later in the run as my pace dipped over 9 minute miles I felt disgusted. It was incredible – just a week ago I’d have been delighted to run at a 9 minute mile pace but now it seemed like a disappointing time!  I did my first kilometre in 4 minutes 59 seconds, my first mile in 8 minutes 9 seconds and then finally 5k in 26 minutes 35 seconds – over 2 minutes faster than my previous time! I was amazed what a difference it made having the right pair of running shoes.

When I got home I felt even better than I normally do after a run. I felt exhilarated, the best I had felt since coming back from my first run 2 months ago. I was buzzing, the serotonin flying around my brain, and the positivity felt from running fast.  Whereas previously I had focused more on warming up than warming down, the woman in the running shop had advised that warming down was the time to do serious stretching so I spent a good 15 minutes going through every lower body muscle stretch I could think of.

Whether it’s my improving lower body muscles, the new running shoes or the better warm down, as I write this on the train the next day, my lower body and my right hip in particular hardly hurts at all. I’m feeling great, the best I've felt for a long time, full of positivity and energy. I want to go for another run but won’t have time this evening; I’m definitely going for a run after work tomorrow though.

So what’s next? I want to be able to run 5k in under 25 minutes and 10k in under 50 minutes; that seems like a long way off but then so did a sub one hour 10k at one point. I want to get quicker and keep doing things that I didn't think I could do. I’m the fittest I’ve been for years and don’t want to go backwards now. Running is addictive and I’m loving it!

20 Years Ago Today: Parklife Anniversary Review

20 years ago today, on 25 April 1994, my all-time favourite album Parklife was released. It’s the album that became a jewel in the crown of the Britpop movement that Blur had helped to kick start with the release of their second album Modern Life Is Rubbish the previous year. It’s so much more to me though – not only is it my favourite album, it’s also the first album I ever bought.

My music epiphany happened when I watched the Brit Awards in February 1995 and saw Blur clean up winning best band, album, single and video. Not only was the music great but the band looked cool too – I distinctly remember drummer Dave Rowntree having DAVE written on his face as a parody to the SLAVE protest that Prince had across his cheek at the time. I was hooked.

The next Saturday I took the bus into town (20p child fare) and walked into WH Smiths in Ipswich and bought the album on cassette for £10 – all paid with one pound coins that I had being saving up. I’m showing my age with that sentence but I think there’s something quite magical about saving up for something and then going off on an adventure to buy it – clicking ‘buy album’ on iTunes may be easier but it certainly doesn’t have the same charm.

I mainly listened to the first side of the album as that’s where all the singles were; my 14 year old brain wasn’t quite ready to deal with the weirder songs on the second side. At the age of 16 I bought the album on CD, something I’ve done twice since; once because I broke the CD as a result of it being left amongst the chaos of my teenage bedroom floor, and again when I bought the Blur 21 box set 2 years ago. The only format I haven’t owned the album on is vinyl but if I ever saw it for sale on vinyl then I’d definitely buy it – a 12 inch glossy version of the famous album cover would look great on my wall.

Image: The iconic Parklife album cover

I have listened to the album hundreds of times over the last 19 years of my life and I know every lyric and every note off by heart. It’s an album that brings back many fond memories and that has also helped me get through tough times. Song by song, here is my take on the 16 tracks that make up this great album:

1.       Girls & Boys

The stomping album opener and indie disco favourite, Girls & Boys is a song that sums up what Blur were all about in the 90s – Graham’s crunching guitar fighting against Alex’s amazing Duran Duran inspired bassline, the result being one hell of a tune. I remember around the age of 19 when I wanted to be in a band and at the first practice session in my tiny box room in my mum’s house, my mate Mark (the bass player for our as yet unnamed band) massively impressively me by being able to play the Girls & Boys bassline note perfectly. I was blown away; my mate could play my favourite bassline!

The other thing I associate with Girls & Boys is the extra-large Girls & Boys t-shirt (the only size they had, it looked pretty ridiculous on my skinny teenage body but I didn’t care) I used to own – it had Blur written on the front in the style of the Durex logo and had Girls & Boys written on the back. I bought it aged 17 from Our Price Records in Ipswich and proudly wore it to the Friday night indie club nights at the Corn Exchange that I loved going to at the time. Armed with my Girls & Boys t-shirt and packet of 10 Superkings (a cheap way of getting a head rush and of course an attempt to look cool and grown up!) I would jump around like a lunatic in between trying to snog as many girls as I could. From a period from the age of 16 to 18, Friday nights at indie club were like heaven for me.

2.       Tracey Jacks

The story of a man having a mid-life crisis and a mental breakdown, Tracey Tracks is also a great tune and a live favourite. The Kinks inspired track is pretty upbeat but has some pretty dark lyrics in the verses (‘...but he’s getting past forty and all the seams are splitting’) and of course the triumphant sounding but lyrically sad chorus (‘everyday he got closer, he knew in his heart he was over…’). This contrast of an upbeat tune with some pretty serious lyrics is what makes it such a great song.

Listening to this song now, I am transported back to the best concert I have ever been to – Blur at Hyde Park on the reunion tour in 2009. I had seen them 4 times previously (V97, Reading 1999, Singles Tour 2000, Think Tank Tour 2003) but I can’t remember them playing this great song previously. At Hyde Park in 2009 they absolutely smashed this song (as they did with every song they played that day), the best bit being when the crowd sang the refrain at the end – never has the phrase ‘oohh, oooh…’ sounded so good!

3.       End of a Century
I love this song – not only because of the great lyrics (‘end of a century, it’s nothing special…’) but also because of the music – it is the perfect song with and intro, verse, chorus and ending. So many bands don’t bother writing an ending to a song – fade outs annoy me and I always appreciate it when a band has made the effort to write an ending to a song. A song of Damon and Justine Frichman’s love at the time (‘we wear the same clothes because we feel the same’) it’s another live favourite. Again, when I listen to it now I am transported back to Hyde Park in 2009 shouting back the brilliant last line to Damon – ‘…IT’S NOTHING SPECIAL!’).

4.       Parklife
The famous title track of the album and another live favourite, Damon was inspired to write the lyrics to Parklife whilst he was living in Kensington Church Street near Hyde Park and reading London Fields by Martin Amis. I’ve enjoyed this song live many times with the accompaniment of Phil Daniels; probably the best performance I’ve seen was at the Olympic Closing Ceremony Concert at Hyde Park in 2012 where Harry Enfield bizarrely wondered onto the stage dressed as a tea lady during the song. The other thing I associate with Parklife is the brilliant video that I have watched dozens of times – as a teenager dreaming of being in a band I saw how much fun the band were having in the video and wished that could be me.

5.       Bank Holiday

The token Blur punk song on the album (see also Chinese Bombs on Blur, B.L.U.R.E.M.I on 13 and We’ve Got a File on You on Think Tank) Bank Holiday is a fun, if throwaway song. Listening to Bank Holiday I think back to a Bank Holiday (Easter Monday 2000 I think) that I spent drinking all day. I’d got very drunk and then had to face the consequences of reality the next day when it was ‘back to work…A.G.A.I.N!’

6.       Badhead

And after a Bank Holiday drinking all day and having to deal with the consequences you need a hangover song, and there is no better hangover song than Badhead. The music is comforting and the lyrics are so true to the introspection that comes with a hangover (‘and I might as well just grin and bear it, ‘cos it’s not worth the trouble of an argument…’).Not just a great hangover song, Badhead is simply a great song.

7.       The Debt Collector
Save for Graham’s spoken word intro to keep time (‘one Mississippi, two Mississippi…’) this is the album’s first instrumental track. A waltz, the song is inspired by Music Hall and is very catchy. There is something about the 3/4 time signature that I love (Blue Danube Waltz by Strauss and Rebel Waltz by The Clash are two of my favourite songs ) and one of the many reasons why I love Blur so much is because they’re also fans (see also The Wassailing Song and Anniversary Waltz). The Debt Collector is one of those songs that can make you forget about what you are doing; it’s the soundtrack to a daydream.

8.       Far Out

Alex’s song on the album, Far Out is inspired by his love of space. The child-like lyrics (‘I spy in the night sky, don’t I…’) points to his youthful wonder of the world and outer space in particular. A fun album track, it’s simply a song that just makes me smile, a bit like Ian Brown’s Straight to the Man on The Stone Roses’ Second Coming album.

9.       To The End
After the previous few album tracks it’s time to bring back the big guns and To The End is certainly that. The dreamlike opening and climatic chorus (‘well you and I, collapsed in love…’) are enhanced even further by the French backing lyrics by Francois Hardy. When I listen to this song I am transported back to when I first heard it – at Hylands Park in Chelmsford at V97 in the dark with a glitter ball descending from the roof of the stage – here was the band I love performing the ultimate indie love song.

10.   London Loves
One of my favourite songs on the album, London Loves has been an inspiration to me over the years. When I was a teenager I read Alex James’ Soho Diaries in N.M.E and I dreamed about living in London. It was a dream that sadly never came true but was something I really wanted. I had promised myself that the moment I moved to London the first song I would play on my CD player would be London Loves.

 It’s such a great song and I was delighted when Blur played it as their second song at their Olympic Closing Ceremony concert at Hyde Park in 2012. Damon introduced it perfectly (‘this song is called London Loves…and we love London!’), it was the only time I have seen them perform this song live and I loved the performance so much that I just listen to the live version now. I love Damon’s triumphic ending to the song (‘YEAH!’) in acknowledgment that they had just smashed that tune.

I’m such a fan of this song that I borrowed the title for my London LovesLunchtimes blog. In a soundtrack to my life this song would definitely accompany my nearly 4 year period of working full-time in London.

11.   Trouble In The Message Centre

One of the songs that I would have regarded as too weird when I first listened to the album at the age of 14, nineteen years later this song has definitely grown on me. It’s a great song for describing the stresses and strains of the workplace (‘I am a manager, I am in control, as the local delegator…I offer no guarantee at all…’).

12.   Clover Over Dover

Again, upon hearing a harpsichord in the intro for this song when I first listened to the album, it was another song that I dismissed as too weird at the time. Unlike the previous track on the album this hasn’t grown on me as much and for me is probably the weakest song on the album. It’s usually a track I skip, so let’s skip onto the next track…

13.   Magic America

After two more esoteric songs, it’s back to the killer Blur formula of the perfect indie pop song. The story of the Americanisation of England in the 90s, Magic America is also a great tune, with its Kinks inspired observational verses and catchy ‘la,la,la,la,la’ chorus.

14.   Jubilee
The story of a 17 year old boy born in the Silver Jubilee of 1977, almost every man can relate to being a Jubilee at some point. The brilliant chorus (‘he dresses incorrectly, no one told him, talk to girls, but he’s just too spotty’) is one that many men can painfully relate to. By the age of 17 I was going out to indie club so would like to think that I was less of a Jubilee then but I certainly was just a couple of years previously. Listening to Jubilee reminds me of a photo of me on my sixteenth birthday – long curly hair, bum fluff moustache and wearing a Star Trek t-shirt – no wonder I didn’t have a girlfriend then!

15.   This Is A Low

The album’s standout track, an absolute 5-star classic, This Is A Low is regarded by many fans and critics as being Blur’s best song. For me it is certainly up there with my other Favourites – Sing, For Tomorrow, End of A Century, Beetlebum, Tender and Out of Time. Damon’s best vocal performance to date, it was recorded just before he was about to have a hernia operation, so the physical pain he was feeling at the time is likely to have contributed to the emotion of his vocal performance.

The lyrics were inspired by a handkerchief depicting the shipping forecast areas of the British Isles that Alex had bought Damon for Christmas. The link between a meteorological depression and a mental depression is very clever and is definitely one of Damon’s best lyrics. The brilliant chorus (‘this is a low but it won’t hurt you’) has been comforting to me throughout many hard times over the years, and for me it’s up there with ‘everybody hurts, everybody cries’ by R.E.M in terms of its beautiful succinctness.

16.   Lot 105

The band didn’t want to finish the album on a low and after the draining emotional experience of This Is A Low comes the throwaway Music Hall fun of Lot 105. Named after the auction number of the organ that features in the song, Lot 105 finishes the album off with a cheeky smile. The lyric at the end (’18 times a week love’) references the response that the band gave a fan at the time when she asked them how often they had sex!