Elephant! In Nantes.

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Recently we went on holiday to France. It was great! The highlight, for me, was Nantes, which seems to be a really quirky, fun little city. I loved following the green line and finding all the art installations and exhibitions that were going on. In fact, I almost want to run away and start my own little bijou animation-design studio business out on the island, but, (A); I am the world’s worst business person, and (B); I am also the world’s worst speaker of French. I can’t even speak Breton. And (C); I probably wouldn’t get any work done, because I’d be too busy trying to get a ride on the elephant.

Anyway, I digress. I really enjoyed exploring Nantes, and I think everyone’s favourite bit is Les Machines de l’ile. I couldn’t afford any of the expensive tourist tat though, so I’ve decided to draw my own.

My Marathon Kit

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I’m running in the London Marathon tomorrow. To try and calm my nerves a bit, I’ve been drawing some of the things I have to take with me.

I’m running for National Deaf Children’s Society. Massive thanks to everyone who has sponsored me – I never expected that I’d be able to raise the amount I have. There’s still time to donate if you haven’t already.

Either way, you’re more than welcome to point and laugh at me tomorrow, puffing my way around London. 

The Latest, in a Very Occasional Series of Interesting Posts About My Exciting Marathon Training

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It’s less than three weeks to go to the London Marathon, for which I have been training since November. This should be the start of my tapering, but I’ve actually been on a sort of involuntary tapering programme now, for the past 3 weeks, due to mashed knees.

I’ve decided to transfer most of my remaining training sessions to cross-training in the gym, to try and give my knees a chance to heal in time for the marathon start. I’ve also read on the internet that aqua-jogging is supposed to be quite good as well, so I went and spent 30 minutes jogging on the spot in the local swimming pool this morning. It’s like a poor man’s equivalent of Mo Farah’s underwater treadmill. It does feel quite silly.

I hate going to swimming pools, mainly because of the logistics of it all, and the having-to-remember-stuff that goes with it. There’s always something I forget, be it towel, trunks, goggles… Today it was 20p for the lockers, which I had to scam from the lifeguard. So humiliating.

Anyway, here’s a quick sketch of me attempting to aqua-jog. Please sponsor me here: https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/JamesMerryTenMillion (if you haven’t already!) 🙂