13 miles of trails

I had a great 2-hour run last week, pace was nothing exceptional but the distance was 13 miles/20k and the scenery and trails on the way were well worth the effort.

I've mentioned before the desire to reach the furthest available hill, my usual routes have a "beacon" hill on the horizon that has been calling me, "siren-like" for as long as I can remember and today I decided to reach it, one way or the other.

I got lost twice, ended up running through private property and seeing a deer. I asked a bus driver and a dog-walker for directions and used google maps (thanks iphone) to locate a public footpath, but eventually I made it.

A five minute stop and a 9-bar (nutrition, not cannabis) later I ran a whole different way home.

Using the new Nike+ app is a change having moved from adidas micoach. I find the Nike app much better, it allows gps recording when iphone is worn on the arm, has better music management and some other very cool elements.

What I liked most about this run was that I did it myself, without a need to get somewhere, no other competitors  or target pace, I gave it 100% on the hills and reached half marathon distance along the way.

 I think every run teaches you something.

Sometimes the lessons are learned afterwards when you get back and realised you could have gone further.

Other times you realise as you lace up your running shoes that you have dedication where others do not.

This run taught me that anything is possible if you can imagine it. And I know how stupid that sounds, but I have come a long way in under two years.  I've run to the horizon and made it back alive. I've entered competieions that I wiould never have though possible and in six months alone I've lost two stone of fat which has haunted me (ghost-fat?) for years and have got others interested in running along the way.

The question then isn't what can I achieve, but "what can't I?"

What an amazing day!!!

When Jake and I signed up for a run at the zoo nearby I was a little bit worried.

For starters taking three kids anywhere is like planning a military operation, especially when one is four  months old.

Secondly, this would be my first "proper" run of the year, with other people and a big scary clock.

Thirdly I had all of the concerns about Jake running his first ever race and I know how he heaps pressure upon himself.

I can't imagine where he gets it from

Now all my previous blogs will attest to the changes I have made in my life in an attempt to improve myself and my running. And the more bizarre ones suggest those two things are somehow entwined.

But after losing over 20 lbs, getting the right kit, reading all sorts of training techniques and training my arse off on trails I was hoping for a good performance.

My previous PB for a 10k was 49.08, which was on the trails,but I'm equally slow/fast on road/trails so any improvement on this would have been good.

I concentrated on form today.

I checked my pace regularly, I kept my back straight and head up, I was light on my feet and smiling as I went.
I used the first of three laps to identify features and ascents/descents for the following laps and relaxed on the way down. On the way up the hills I took smaller steps and sped up my pace.

I constanttly concentrated on maintaining form and an amazing thing happened.....

I smashed every record and PB I have had, finishing the race in 43.03, better than my planned time and faster than I would have hoped for.
I also set a new PB for 5k, fastest mile and fastest kilometre.

Next up was Jake's 2k race. He was nervous on the start line, but set a really steady pace. After a few people went past him as they set off too fast, he slowly started to carve his way through the field.

He overtook people older than him and was one of the youngest there.

He kept a good pace all the way round and when he saw the finish line, he sprinted the last 300 metres.

He finished in about 13 minutes and made us all very very very proud.

A great day all round.

Strangest part of the day was me not being able to finish a McDonald's for the first time in my life. I'll say it before you do....

I've changed.

Fwd: Why run?

Why run?

I've lost count of the number of people who have asked me this or the number of times I've asked it of myself. The truth is I have no idea.

It all started one day when my brother asked me to go for a run, as he was training for a charity event and wanted some company.

My first thoughts were, in no particular order;

Why the hell is my brother running if he's not being chased?

Why the sudden fascination with running when his car seems to be working?

If he's doing it could I?

After a few tentative runs of slowly increasing distance I discovered lots of benefits to running. I was losing weight, I was looking better and feeling well. I discovered whole parts of the local area I never knew existed and a whole community of runners across the world, more than willing to share tips and secrets. More over I found a sport which was open to all, wasn't expensive and didn't have pre-conceived ideas of what a typical runner should be.

All of these benefits were apparent but none of them ever answered the question "Why Running?"

Why not another sport, why not join a gym or take up football?

The question rings loud in my ears with every footfall of a long run and it's met with nothing but the echo of my footsteps in response.

I've struggled with weight and personal image for as long as I can remember. And it's strange because looking at photographs of my past I was never as big as I thought. I guess (or I hope) that everyone has those voices in the back of their mind telling them what they can not achieve, or how useless/stupid/fat/ugly they are. The problem is I'd listened to them so long I could only identify myself by their descriptions and despite the good stuff going on in my life, I still felt like the loser they described.

In running I found a sport which allowed me to test my own self perceptions and my own limitations. I wasn't being compared to team mates or peers, it was just me and the road. And I could push myself as hard as I wanted. Over time a strange thing happened.

I got better.

I began pushing myself to the limit in order to find what I was capable of and the response wasn't a voice telling me that I don't look like a runner, or another telling me I'm too fat to run and chasing me down.

The response was my footfall on the pavement, the rhythmic beat that showed I wasn't slowing. I was moving forward. Literally taking a step and doing something positive.

It was me doing something more than most.

While others sat in and vegetated I was on the road or in the gym and I was running and accomplishing something.

So where am I now?

I'm 20+lbs lighter than I was six months ago and feel ten years younger I'm faster than I've ever been and have taken part in some amazing events and met some great people through running. I have a more positive self image. The voices are still there but now when I run, it's not to get away from them, it's to shut them up and show them what I can do.

And on the long runs, either by street light or in the sun, the beat still goes on. I keep moving one foot in front of the other and I keep running.

Why run?

I've no idea, but the answer is just over the horizon and if I keep running faster I might just catch it.

www.therunningman-ayearinrunning.blogspot.com

The above picture is where I found myself about three miles into a ten mile run I completed today. Deciding to take the road less often travelled lead me to a whole new set of trails and a new target for training runs.

The map below shows the route I took but doesn't tell the whole story.

The ten miles was done in a steady pace, with rests for water and with no intention of setting a blistering pace or beating a record. And it was awesome. Just being out there, in the sun and being part of  the environment gave that feeling of adventure that I've been craving.

The route started on road for about two k before taking a turning onto a public footpath which was single track but pretty smooth. When I emerged onto a busy road, I figured I was in for a couple of  miles of exhaust fumes and roadkill but along the way I saw a small gap in a hedge and another public footpath sign. The sign indicated a narrow track through some farmland and over the horizon (see image above) and pointed towards the target of my next decent run. The beacon hill in Ivinghoe. I reckon the round trip on trails will be about13 miles and very hilly.

I decided it was too far to go on this trip so found an alternative and equally rambling route to get home, finishing the last 2 k over the bottom of the Chiltern Downs.

A great run that made me realise that a lot of what I love about running is the sense of exploration and discovery.

I think I shall entitle my memoirs "The road less taken".....


On the subject of weight loss, as this blog was supposed to be about that as well), my new diet continues wto work with weight currently coming in at 12st 4lbs, the least I've been in eight years.

My diet works and has introduced me to new foods, but sucks for the very reasons it work..
* No bread
* No sugar
* No pasta
* No rice
* No alcohol.

Hard work but working, so I guess it's worth it.

The metaphorical crossroads

Over the last few weeks I've put in some good runs, but my mind has been elsewhere

I had a great 10 miler last Sunday out in the countryside which I completed in 1hr 20mins, which is faster than my half-marathon pb.

As well as a few smaller runs and a forty minute Fartlek session this morning, I can happily say that I'm in the best shape for running I have ever been. An injury I got at work has slowed me this week, but I'm well on the mend.

On top of this my new diet, inspred by a guy who competed in Marathon-des-Sable this year has seen the weight really shift off me. I'm down twenty pounds from new year and have passed my original target weight. I've lost 5% body fat as well.

While all of these things should make me happy I can't help but feel like I've plateau'd.


I have entered the VLM2012 ballot and have applied to run Thunder24 with MenRunning. I have a ten k in two weeks in Whipsnade and I have runs planned for September October and November.

I'm reading a great book at the moment called Born to Run by Christopher McDougall, a truly inpsirational book about the sinmple joys, pleasures and human need to run.

But it has left me wanting to push the boundaries of my running, to go further and on different trails.

It's taken me eighteen months to get competent at running and now I find myself at a crossroads.

How good could I be if I really pushed myself? What could I accomplish if I dedicated myself to running? And where could running take me if I'm good?

While the running continues, my mission for now is to answer these questions.

Last week on a my ten-miler I reached a (literal, not metaphorical) crossroads and took the path less taken, I added distance to my journey, quickened my pace and loved every minute. I pushed myself to achieve what I knew I could if I tried and I set a better pace than usual and finished feeling like a million dollars.

I wonder, if I take the same attitude with life in general, and running in particular, what could I accomplish?

Running is a metaphor

I love to run. It's official. As I've mentioned before, it's all about the adventure and the challenge for me; taking the path less taken and going out when no other bugger would.

I went out this morning on an interval session which went on just long enough to let the mind wander and the time fly by. As I entered the time-bending state of mind something occurred to me.

Running is a metaphor for life.

Sometimes you are ahead and sometimes you are behind.

You can make your journey as easy or as hard as you like, but if you always travel the same route, you will always end up where you were.

The enjoyment is in the journey, not the end. Treat every step as an achievement and an adventure.

It is far too easy to berate yourself and the hardest part is sometimes saying, "I did well".

The trick seems to be having long term goals and looking at the bigger picture instead of getting caught in the moment.

And it's sometimes gritting your teeth, getting your head down, working your arse off and thinking "fuck it". I may not be the best or the fastest but I'm giving it my all and doing a lot more than most.

Training continues for upcoming runs, I'm looking for more and hoping to complete four this year. I've entered the VLM ballot and fingers crossed I'll get a place.

Loving seeing so many runners on the road and that more people from work are getting into it.

So Terminator could be real?

This week I put my life back in the hands of Adidas MiCoach to arranger and plan my running. This great app runs symbiotically with the website and give a full training programme tailored to your fitness and goal.

I've currently set mine up for the Whipsnade 10k in June which I'm running. I'm really excited that Jake is running his 2k on the same day.

This week also saw the week that the Terminator said that Skynet would go live and become self aware and start it's offensive on mankind. It seems to have missed the news but I think that Skynet is trying to kill me through MiCoach. Four runs in a week, five hours on my feet with a lot of fast stuff in there. Last Sunday to celebrate VLM I did a ten miler in the sun along the A5. I'm getting back knackered. And it doesn't care that I'm on a hill, just tells me to go faster.

I'm guessing Skynet ran out of money and rather than sending cyborgs back, they're just gonna kill fit people by over training them.

I'm blaming Arnie for this.

Pace this week was solid and consistent, not fast yet, but I've been doing lots of trail and hills recently so my pace has dropped. I'm training for a 40 minute 10k, but I'd be thrilled to see anything under 45 minutes. I don't have a PB for a road ten k. My last one was trail running and took 49 minutes.

Training continues and in the eternal words of Sarah Connor "There is no fate but what we make, the future is not set."

A great run yesterday afternnon, inspired by an article in Mens Running, I decided to take on more of a challenge and ask myself some big questions..

How hard do I really push myself on some runs?

Could I take on that ridiculously steep hill?

What happens if I take that turn instead?



WHat followed was a 10k run that took in my some of my favourite route including a new hill challenge, a run through some woods and taking I'd never done before.

The diet continues and this morning I weighted in at 12st12lbs, total weight loss is now 1 stone and 3lbs since January and more over 6 lbs in the last two weeks as runnig has increased again.

Taking on more of a challenge lead to me discovering a few things. Firstly a nature reserve and secret path to the tree cathedral (not nearly as lord of the Rings as it sounds), I suck at steep hills and my sense of direction is not as good as I thought.

The route was a challenging 10k taking 55 minutes but that included five minutes lost in the forest, a few drink stops and a bloody steep hill.

Back in the twelve's

I've been thinking a lot about running this week. As I've found it harder to get out recently, it's made me think more about why I run and where I want it to take me (apart from around the block and back home).

For me running is a release from the norm, from the grind. The wind and the sweat scrub away the stresses that we all collect on a daily basis and the release you get from finding your running pace alongside a good tune is almost transcendental.
It's like finding yourself halfway up a mountain and looking back at the vista below. Or finding a deserted road on your motorbike and nailing a series of corners before emerging at the other end, upright and breathing, ready to do it all again.
And I think that's it for me. It's the feeling of having accomplished something that most people don't; better than most people do.
While other's are content to be sedentary or go to the gym, I'm in the minority of people who go out and experience a run rather than just finish one. I'm no the best, but that's OK, because at least I'm doing it.

I started this blog looking to improve my running and lose weight, today sees me back in the twelve stone bracket for the first time in years. That's over a stone in three months. I'm not usually one to congratulate myself but screw it, I'm having this one. I've done well. :0)

Bum bags are the way forward.

An email this week reminded me that I have six weeks to go until my five-mile trail run in May around the shuttleworth estate (http://www.dirtrunners.co.uk/).
With a new job and a new baby I've let my running go totally, so I have treated this email as a reminder of the need to run. I'm not worried about covering the distance, but I look back at previous posts and realise I was aiming to set a decent pace and at the moment, the only way I'll get to the end is on a St. John's stretcher.

So I'm back on a calorie controlled diet (and hungry already) in order to lose 12 lbs in 6 weeks and went out interval training this afternoon. 25 minutes of sprintervals was a good kick start to this training programme using the ITGO app on iPhone agin.

Latest bit of kit I've bought is the inov8 Elite3. It got a good rating in the TrailRuning magazine and I bought it for a bargain on http://www.wiggle.co.uk/. while I'm not a fan of the phrase "bum-bag" (as it brings back fashion faux-pas's from my past) you can't argue with how useful they are. This one holds a 500ml bottle tightly enough that it won't fall out, has a storm/waterproof pocket and will also hold a load of other kit.

I'm looking at advertising some runs over Dunstable Downs in the near future as a few people at work seem interested in doing the Black's event in October. Should be good training and interesting to get others off the road and onto the trails.

Weight 13st 4 lbs (04/04/11)
Body fat 20.5%

Target weight = 12st 8lbs.

Spring is here (again)

Despite earlier claims that spring had arrived it really feels like it has this week. I have seven weeks and a handful of days until my next organised run (shuttleworth) and I need to get training.
James seems to have settled into more of a pattern and I can hear my trainers calling.
Outside right now, the sun is rising over the town, the morning fog is lifting and it looks like it'll be a good day.
Also have a fitness test coming up soon and looking to drop sone body fat. I got my fat-monitoring scales last week and need to work out how to use them now.

Sent from my iPhone

First run in a while...........

Things have been a little busy recently(to say the least). On the 7th of February, my new son James (see below) was born so I've been struggling to get out and run. Instead I've been doing my homework on training plans and looking at what I want to achieve this year in running.

Being tired and and being busy have meant that I have lacked the time or motivation to get out. But, I started my new job at the weekend which has freed up more time for me so today I got out for a run.

My plan is to work on speed for a while and start running faster miles. As a result I've signe dup for a 5 mile (8k) run in May (15th) through www.dirtrunning.co.uk. It's fairly local and I'm aiming to bring my average mile time down to 7.5 min/miles so the run would take 37.5 minutes.

There is another run in November where I'll aim to improve performance.

In order to do this I'm going to do interval training, a speed sessions and one long run each week along with other exercise. The aim is to build more strength and speed while maintaining the stamina required to put that pace down for 5 miles.

I started using a new app called ITGO on the iPhone. It allows you to set interval training plans with linked music. I used it on a 20 minute interval session today and was knackered by the end.

I'll increase the length of the session next time and slow down more between intervals because it did get tough at the end.

I've struggled with eating properly for all of the same reasons above but am back onto the eating plan now and weigh ins will continue once each week.

Reading some good articles recently on NLP, it helps to have very specific goals and lots of them so in no particular order, mine are:

1) reach target weight of 12st 5lbs.

2) complete 5 miles in sub 35 minutes (7 minute miles).

3) raise some money for charity again.

4) run for fun as well as performance.

An unexpected day off work lead to a good run!!

After my car refused to start, I took a days leave to get it sorted and ended up with the afternoon free once car was finished. The sun was out, the streets were dry, I have weigh-in in the the next couple of days so a long run seemed in order.

Just under 8 miles in 1hour 8 minutes isn't going to set any records but in the sun and for an afternoon run it felt pretty good.

Strangest sight was two intact birthday cakes by the side of the road in an industrial estate but I'm kind of proud that I didn't pick one up and try it (the old me would have!!!). You do see some odd things when you're onm the path less trod.

A couple of low-8 minute miles seems good for a middle distance run, especially as I've not done one in a while.

I've switched my diet to include more protein and less carbs and increased my fat intake on the advice of a nutrition articel I read. I may have dropped too much dietary fat as I was lethargic and struggling to recover post-exercise. So eggs are back in and olive oil on salads to balance out low-carbs. Aiming for weight loss of 3lbs tomorrow so I'm keeping fingers crossed for 13stone 2 lbs.

Result as new issue of Mens Running out today. Interested to read about interval/fartlek training app.

Achievements to date

I use the micoach app on iPhone, which handily records performance, distance, calories etc. I've used it since last June I think.

I use it 90% of the time (not on events or wet runs so this data is not exact but impressive all the same...

Time running - 45 hrs. 10 minutes 40 secs
Distance - 282.03 miles
Calories - 40844

The first signs of spring (nearly)

The first sunlight of the year looked likely today but decided to hide away before I got out for a run. So once again, it  was freezing.

1k on the green lanes,

1k on the roads through Totternhoe,

1k of woodland running parallel to Tring Road (see below)

top of the downs after hillclimb

After the woodland I crossed to the Downs and proceeded with the hills session. Very steep and slippy again. The sky looked like polished marble, grey and white from horizon to horizon. Looking back down the hills I'd just beasted gave a sense of satisfaction. The short break of sublght that came through the clouds afterwards was even better.

A fast run back to civilisation followed. Good pace at 7 minute miles down the hills back home.

Total distance was four and a half miles, total climb 440ft.

A good weekend, no major distance covered but god runs all the same. Lots of hill work and uneven surface so leg strength and stability is improving, but if I do decide to do the mkhalf in six weeks I need to start thinking about doing some distance.

Is that the sun out??????

Sent from my iPhone

Saturday 29/01/11

After a loooong week at work I was desperate to run today, but a hideous circuit session on Thursday left me with abs (ab in my case?) that were killing.

Jake got me up early for some ps3 so I got out at 11am. I knew it was cold but was shocked at how bloody cold. Puddles were frozen and the mud was rock hard.
Did a three miler along Tring road, through Totternhoe and back up the hill.
A short run but good pace and quite hilly. Hoping for fairer weather soon. I like to run outside but it is freezing!!!!! Route took 25 minutes flat.
Good news for the week as I return to pre-Xmas trousers. Weigh in yesterday was 13/5. Aiming for 3 lbs wright loss this next week.

Speed session

A short run last night but a good one.
Got in from work, it was dark, wet and cold but before dinner I got changed, warmed up and dragged my arse out on a fast three-miler.
I set a good pace to start with, struggled a little at the two mile mark but dug in for the last stretch and managed a 22.07.
Averages out at just over 7min 20sec/mile which is a good pace and somewhere to start for the two 5-mile runs I'm planning to run this year.
No pictures today and no music. I can't take my iPhone out in the rain!!!!

50 minute run over some crazy hills and very muddy today.
It started well up until my path was blocked....



After I got past the angry sheep, I got a chance to look back at the path I'd just taken. In the picture below, I'd run along the very crest of the hill you can see. Where it drops down at the end (left of the picture) is the first hill I'd met today.

But what goes up....

....must come down. The sign didn't bode well for what was to come. And after much slipping, arm waving and accidental man screams I made it to the bottom of the 300 foot descent.

The trail back home was muddy to say the least.

Over all a great run.

Weight loss so far is -6lbs in a week. A combination of diet and exercise but still happy with the result.

This was a 4.93 mile trail run, very hilly and muddy.

727 calories and 52 minutes giving pace of 10.37 min/miles.

Not fast but notbad considering the terrain.

Earlier long run this week had a good pace of 8.28 min/miles on the road, so getting back to PB pace.

For anyone starting running or looking to improve endurance (and with an iPhone) check out Adidas MiCoach. I used it to record my run today.
8 miles
1158 calories
Average pace of 8.28 min/miles was slow but a few sub 8 minute miles in there felt good.
Crap weather though and a mixture of main and side roads. Windy and wet.

Planned runs for this year.

So excited to get email today from dirtrunners (http://www.dirtrunners.co.uk/) for two more trail runs this year and both local. Shuttleworth in May and Ashridge in November. Both short at 5 miles but trail running and good off road sections. Come pay day I will be signing up for both and trying to get my brother to do them too!!!

Only other consideration is the MKhalf in March. A friend of mine has offered me a transferred place as she can't run. It would be rude not to accept it.

That gives me 8 weeks to get my distance back up to 13+ miles.

Late pic of my winter run.

Testing the eblogger facility.

Hardcore hill session.

Short but sweet tonight.
500 calories, 4 miles 32 minutes.
Hideous hills and plyometric session which left me dirty sweaty and knackered. But glad I went out.
Diet went well and wii scales are much nicer to me than those I used on Saturday. They showed me at 13st 9lbs on sunday.
Checked again today and minus 2 lbs already.

You have a choice. You can throw in the towel, or you can use it to wipe the sweat off of your face.

Bad start.

I'm not sure how this happened but my weight has shot up to 14 stone 1 lb!!!

This is a lot more than I thought I would be and spurred me into a run this afternoon.

42 minutes, 4.74 miles, 681 calories and an average pace of 8:51 min/miles

My speed hasn't dropped off but I need to shift some serious weight and quick.

2011 ===> The way forward (but 15 days late)

After the last run and with Christmas coming and work getting manic the training tailed off a bit.

I haven't lost the holiday weight I was hoping to despite some good distance runs, on and off-road over the Christmas period and with no events coming up I'm finding it hard to get motivated and get out.

So I decided to keep a journal, in blog format of my running this year. The events I do, the charities I hope to run for. My achievements and weight loss and my targets as the year goes on.

If it gets followed great. If it makes someone else want to run excellent. And if it helps anyone who runs realise they are not alone in finding it really difficult to keep going I'll be very pleased.

2011 is a long year (well they all are) and I have alot of running to do.

Thanks for reading and please, please hold me to account. When I say I'm going for a run, make sure I do!!

The rest of the year was a blur!!!

After Joe's performance at the London Marathon I went on to do two more events without him.

First was the NorthFace 10k http://www.blackstrailrun.co.uk/ . My first trail run event over the Downs in Dunstable. All of a sudden the running made sense, I was faster than a lot of people and it was off road and muddy and cold. Trail running was the way forward for me.

 Supported by friends and family, the route (below) covered 10 k of hills, descents, mud and track.

I was proud to put in a time of:

(at last, a half decent running picture!!)

The actual time was ten seconds faster as measured by my tag. I came in the top 20 per cent and loved every minute.

Trail running lead onto an off road half marathon in November.

The Leighton Buzzard half marathon http://www.dirtrunning.co.uk/ trail run took me 1hour 48 minutes and 1 second. It was gruelling. Hills that went on forever, across fields that were waterlogged and laong five miles of canal towpath either end of the dirty stuff.

As I reached the end, legs burning, lungs aching and massively dehydrated, I realised two things.

One, I am mad.

Two, running makes me insanely happy.

(and Three, I like shiny medals.)

What next?

Next thing I know I'm running. A lot.

Four times a week I voluntarily put trainers on and get out in the sun and rain to run. I wasn't sure what I was doing, everyone has an opinion on running. What to eat/run, when to eat/run, training sessions, rest days, trainer types; the list is endless. But I was enjoying it so when a second half-marathon came up neaby I jumped at the chance.

Training continued into June and I ran the NSPCC Half Marathon. A different (and harder) route than the last one, my time had dropped by five minutes in a few months.

Again, Joe and I ran the same event, which was great.

I've always looked up to my older brother as one of my heroes, I think most little brothers do, but as well as training for a marathon and doing "halfs" easily, Joe was getting more and more people into running.

Last year's achievements.

Last year I started running.

That's not to say I haven't run before.

I ran away from my brother when I was younger, I ran the pub as I got older and I ran to get fit enough to join the police when I was 20. But up until last year running was a chore I did to allow me to eat/drink what I wanted.

So what changed?

Firstly, my brother Joe signed up for the London Marathon 2010. A guy, who as far as I knew had never run, was doing something amazing and going for 26.2 miles with less than a year to go. Along the way, he raised a shedload of money for a great charity and inspired me and others to run.

Secondly, I realised that I wasn't doing enough exercise to keep up with
a) my kids and
b) my diet.

So when Joe asked me to run in a half Marathon in March 2010 which he was doing as a trainng event I figured it would be a good idea.

(not a great picture but seriously I was nervous as hell!)



 So in March, Joe, a few of his friends and I met in MK and did the mk half and to say I was bitten by the bug is an understatement.