The Shrub’s latest plans for Wales

The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy teaser trailer for the movie being released next year.

Not much to look at, unfortunately. No footage, just a simple animated teaser.

Well, the provisional results are in. My time is officially 2:47:14 and I came 434th out of 1670 finishers. I don’t feel so bad about that. The winning time was a regular Tough Guy runner who finished in 1:37:42 (and I believe that he went on to do the Last Man Standing too.) The final finisher came in with a time of 4:43:36.

There were, apparently, about 2500 entrants. Some definitely didn’t finish and others may have only done the first lap. The important think, though, is that they had a go.

I feel better about this. I was feeling stunningly unfit because so many people had passed me (and yes, I know I keep saying it wasn’t a race but what can you do - I had a number on my chest and running shoes on my feet!) But the fact is that I managed to come in the top quarter(ish) of the finishers.

Would be nice to say that I’m going on holiday but I’m not. I have loads to do and will be away for a couple of days doing best man’s duty at a wedding. So it’s going to be quiet around here for a couple of days.

I will try to add more to my training diary about what Tough Guy. In the meantime, I recommend the following:

The Ninth Gate, directed by Roman Polanksi, starring Johnny Depp, Channel 5, Wednesday, 9pm. No idea if it’s any good or not but a few people have said it’s worth watching and is an underrated classic. It’s also got the gorgeous Emmanuelle Seinger in it too. Who can forget the classic scene of her pulling on that rubber dress in “Bitter Moon”?

The heavy cover of “Blue Monday” by Orgy. New Order with industrial guitars - fantastic. I also rate Fear Factories heavy cover of Gary Numan’s “Cars” too.

It took me 2 hours 47 minutes and 11 seconds to complete the Tough Guy course yesterday. I can safely say that it was one of the most challenging events I have taken part in. But then again, that’s why I did it!

We were quite lucky with the weather for the most part. Despite the glorious day on Saturday, yesterday was overcast and there were several showers but little to no wind - perfect weather for this event. Still, towards the end it would have been nice if it was a little warmer as the chills started to set in.

Physically, I found it demanding. I’m glad at this stage that I finished it as that was all that I was aiming to do. But I’m sure there were people who had finished probably an hour before I did - which makes me feel quite unfit and out of shape. Still, the fact that my game plan went out of the window in the first 20 seconds that I sprinted away from the finishing line, caught up in the excitement and atmosphere o f the day, meant that I could have done it quicker if I hadn’t tried to do 6 minute miles for the running part of the race!

I managed to stave off cramp until at least the end of the first lap of the obstacle course but by the time I was finished, my legs were dead. I have utmost respect for anybody who went on to do the “Last Man Standing” race - as many laps of the obstacle course as they can manage (the record is six) - because I know I couldn’t have gone on any more.

Despite all that, I haven’t been feeling as stiff I or as knackered today as I thought I would. I do ache and my legs are covered in scratches and scrapes from running though brambles and crawling through tunnels.

Unfortunately, I don’t have many photos at the moment owing to a slight technical hitch. However, all that will hopefully be remedied in a weeks time. And there might even be some video footage as well!

I will write more about the event, what I’d do differently and about the course itself later on. But for now, I’m just glad I’ve finished!

Well there’s a turn up for the books! The title for the last Star Wars film has been announced at Comic Con in San Diego. Frankly, it’s surprising - but only because it’s not as crap as the first two and because it is, actually, quite predictable. Anyway, if you want to know what it is check out the Star Wars website. Otherwise, move along and let us geeks geek out for a bit.

The last obstacle! Or at least, the last obstacle in this list! This is a series of vaults over concrete pipes. I’ve seen a picture with at least 3 in them but there could be more. It’s not a difficult obstacle but coming this late in the event, tired limbs and exhaustion are going to be what make it difficult.

But once over, that’s it - the end of the course.

Only another lap to go before stopping though!

INT. CAPITALIST TOWERS - LATER

Dragon is attempting to do some work. The phone rings again. He hesitates before answering it.

USER
General Dragon. Many years ago you helped my supervisor roll out a new application. Now, in these dark times, I come to you in need of help. I swapped my user ID with a colleague and logged in as him. But now I can’t access my email. Help me Obi-Wan Dragon. You’re my only ho…

Dragon presses a button on the phone, cutting the user off in mid sentence, and then dials another number.

DRAGON
Hello, Fucking Stupid User Police…

FADE OUT.

INT. CAPITALIST TOWERS - DAY

DRAGON, an intrepid and adventurous, not to mention tall, dark and stunningly handsome, computer geek is trying to look busy playing Text Twist.

The telephone on his desk RINGS loudly. He answers it.

DRAGON
Dragon! How can I help?

USER
Hi. I have some functionality issues with an application.

DRAGON
That sounds serious. What seems to be the problem.

USER
I can’t delete any documents.

DRAGON
Okay. Let me have a quick look at your access level. Right - it appears you’re not an administrator and only administrators can delete documents. Your supervisor should be able to help you with that.

USER
Okay, thanks. Also, it tells me that I need to press the “Save & Exit” button but there isn’t one.

DRAGON
Isn’t there? Oh. There should be. What buttons can you see?

USER
Only one.

DRAGON
What does it say?

USER
Save & Close.

DRAGON
…

Dragon replaces the handset and sends an alert through to the FUCKING STUPID USER POLICE. He turns his attention back to the game to discover he’s only 10 points short of his all time high score and only has two seconds left on the clock.

In the distance, he hears the sound of SIRENS and muffled YELLING. A single GUNSHOT rings out and it all goes quiet.

With a resigned sigh, he presses the “Try again” button.

I had quite a hard rugby training session last night and that was after intense weight training on Monday. I don’t feel fit at all (although did manage to bash out a 3 mile run up the local hills on Sunday) but I’m sure it’s just nerves.

I’m not doing any more now until the day of the race. Stretching and mobility exercises (and maybe a light jog on saturday) but that’s it. Except for walking the dog.

Saturday is going to be a relaxing day - just a matter of getting my kit together and making sure I eat lots of carbs (an evening meal of pasta is on the menu) and drink lots of water so that I’m hydrated for Sunday.

I am definitely getting nervous now.