The Clearest Blue

Tents had an airing, wipe down, hoover and waterproofing today. Not much left to do now.

Spent yesterday jumping from band to band at Dot to Dot festival in Bristol. Plenty of good music, beer, walking and sun, perfect Glastonbury prep. Feels like the summer has properly started now!

I was at the final last night, it was a great night out! Felt like the whole of Liverpool really threw themselves into it, the atmosphere whilst walking round the city during the build up was incredible. Everyone was just having so much fun, by how rough I’m feeling I think I had a little too much fun!

Is it pronounced No Where or Now Here?

I’m Bristol based and at the start of the week the forecast was bleak with rain predicted everyday. Wednesday, yesterday and today have all been sunny and breezy with temps around 18, perfect field drying weather. Nothing to worry about yet.

Lots there for me, some good additions and probably means Hot Chip and Chris are my Friday & Saturday headliners

Thanks! That’s a good excuse to do another and try for a new PB haha. I’m already eyeing up the Cardiff half in October as a potential to creep below the 1:50 mark. I promised myself during the final 10mins I wouldn’t do another but now I really want to do one, it’s addictive this running!

Really boring but I’d be the festivals financial accountant, I’d put together the companies statutory accounts and just be the general numbers guy 👍

Birmingham Half Marathon went well! I was aiming for sub 1 hour and 50mins, so decided to run round with the relevant pacer. Unfortunately the pacer dropped his speaker about 16km in and when he stopped to pick it up I stupidly stopped too. He then shot off to make up the time and I couldn’t seem to keep up/catch him again, I gave it my everything over the final two km, my hands went numb and I thought I was going to vomit but I pushed on and nearly caught him! Official time of 1:50:19 so decided to take that and round down 😂

It wouldn’t be in my top 50 favourite beers or maybe even top 100, but it’s definitely an improvement. Also if I’m honest, the amount I’m usually drinking at the festival the quality doesn’t matter too much 😂

Did my last run of my taper yesterday in prep for the Birmingham half marathon on Sunday. Weather isn’t looking ideal but still feeling semi confident of a PB 🤓

And obviously Will Varley is brilliant!

Seen Tom A Smith before, he as subbing for someone but I can’t remember who! He was decent though, might of been Gang of Youths actually.

This will be my 7th Glastonbury and I’ve only ever got the coach. In previous years I’ve had failure and success with what I’ve taken. There’s been years where I’ve tried to carry in so much beer I’ve destroyed my back/shoulders/arms and it’s really impacted the rest of the festival with the pain I’m in. I now take mainly spirits, a sleeping bag, pillow from ikea (comes vacuum packed and I continue to use it after the festival so it’s not a waste), a roll mat, pop up tent, five ‘festival’ shirts, couple of pairs of shorts, pair of old running trainers, walk in in my boots and the minimum required toiletries. This year I’ve added one the ultralight camping chairs as five days sitting on the hard ground last year started to hurt my back. A friend is driving this year so I will give him some beer that I’ll collect from his car on-site which I’ve done before a few times, but this isn’t essential, I would just buy more on-site if someone I knew wasn’t driving.

I use these, take one in a pint of water before bed, definitely eases the hangover. After all a hangover is just dehydration and these tablets hydrate you!

Yes that’s the one, it’s quite low to the ground but it’s fine for what I needed/wanted it for

That’s the one! Although I got the slightly smaller one, with a lower back. It’s nothing special but it’s light enough to carry around on the Wednesday/Thursday before the music starts properly and is more comfortable than sitting directly on the ground.

If you search Urpro chair in Amazon you’ll find it, I can’t figure out how to send a link from the Amazon app and if I try to open an Amazon safari window it just opens the Amazon app 😂

Got camping chairs deliver, the small ones where the frame snaps into position, seem decent for resting on the Wednesday & Thursday between wandering. Also got a new double sleeping bag delivered as my old one had had it and I like to be able to stretch out.

Had a decent 20km run on Saturday, took it slow to try and make it easier but the last 2km were a real drain. Took me 1 hour 53 which means I need to gain a km and lose 3 mins in 3 weeks to get a PB at the Birmingham half. Hopefully with a good taper I’ll be up for it.

Vintage Trouble and Laura Mvula just rocketed up my want to see list, actually a decent announcement for me ☺️

Really like them and still haven’t managed to catch them live yet, hoping they might be on the farm but haven’t actually checked to see if their still a possibility yet.

Managed a comfortable 19km run last night, don’t think there’s much point trying to do any longer runs before my half marathon. Plan is to do a few more similar length runs and lots of interval training in between to try and get my time down and speed up!

Also Brewdogs Albino Squid Assassin is only £1.29 a can in Home Bargins at the moment and at 7.4% it’s a perfect festival beer!

Managed to get another 18km run under my belt last night, very slow in the wind and the rain but still helps build endurance I guess.