Nice weather for Ducks

The only thing that has been consistent in my running over the last two weeks has been the rain.  Rain which seems to never end and actually becomes heavier when I go out for a run.  The weather aside, last week went very well with two good sessions and my biggest mileage week of the year so far (58 miles).

I had planned to do 20 miles on Sunday but a couple of painful twinges from my left calf towards the end of the run persuaded me to take a short cut home, with the result that I only did 19.  Mindful of having only just recovered from calf strain, this week has consisted of easy running with the view to being able to pick things up again over the weekend and into the early part of next week.  Before easing down to race on Bank Holiday Monday.

Last night I was watching Question Time on TV and the general theme of discussion revolved around the austerity measures we are having to endure as we hit a double dip recession.  This being Olympic year it reminded me of a book that I have had lying around the house for some time but only just started reading, The Austerity Olympics by Janie Hampton.

A history of the 1948 Olympic Games in London.  The austerity was due to different reasons, with the second World War having recently ended, areas of  London still a bomb site and food rationing still in place.

The entire budget for the Games was £760,000 (I think the original budget for this years games was in the region of £4.2billion) and the Games were sponsored by a cigarette manufacturer.

Visiting country's teams brought their own supplies of food and competitors were taken to their events by London Bus or caught the Underground.  With many of the British competitors using their annual leave from work in order to compete.

But spectators were treat to famous performances including the Mens 10000m and 5000m where Emil Zatopek  won gold and silver and in Womens 100m, 200m, 80m hurdles and 4x100m relay where Fanny Blankers-Koen won gold in each event.

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