Chapter 3 - 200 Days to Go!
Today I have to run 12km and try to stick to the diet plan, so it is cereal for breakfast, fruit and a sandwhich at 11am and then run time. Nothing incredible happens. Actually, I feel really quite tired, my splits are nothing special and by the evening I am starving. On the way home, it is too much and I am unable to resist one of the stalls on the station and tuck into a hotdog covered in chips and mustard. It actually turns into a blessing in disguise as we are one of 3-couples invited to play poker and there isn´t much food. Unfortunately, one of the wives doesn’t play so the husband, who usually blows his money in the first couple of hands, starts to occupy himself with her wellbeing. This is particularly annoying for three reasons. Firstly, she seems quite happy looking at what the other two wives are doing. Secondly, whilst distracted he slows down play and then promptly asks everyone else to speed up when it is not his turn and thirdly, he is winning. For us two remaining males it is a long frustrating night. Rubbish after rubbish and the little time we get something we are thrashed by Gaby. I have been in this situation before hence the reason very little cards are now played at home. I am not sure what it is about sports and cards and luck in general but there are certain people against whom you just cannot lose and there are others you cannot beat. When Gaby is on a run, she is unbeatable and when the opportunity arises we both go all in and lose horribly. This leaves her facing off against the remaining male and the result is a foregone conclusion to all except him. He refuses the opportunity to go home with his winnings and insists on playing until there is only one person standing. In hindsight I could have been a bit more sympathetic but having suffered all night from crap cards and torrents of abuse, I find it particularly satisfying when having gone all in with a straight he is obliterated by Gaby’s four of a kind. Saturday, 24th April At 8am I am in the gym with Claudia who is guiding me through an exercise routine before finishing with a gentle jog that leaves me outside my house. It is a gorgeous day. Autumnal in origin, with the leaves deciding whether to turn or not and nothing indicating what was to come. At 9.30am I take my eldest to rugby practise and Gaby takes the moment to go for a run. For 33