Fetcheveryone Member of the Month
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Interview with Big Al Widepants


Big Al Widepants says: Hi, thanks. When you live in Scotland, you tend to dream about warmth. So I'd like to run a 10k or half in New Zealand. It's like Scotland but warmer and there's no places like Cumbernauld.

Big Al Widepants says: Oh mate, I think that's one that should stay "on tour". Put it this way folks, there's a farmer in East Lothian who's very lucky he wasn't out in his tractor that night.

Big Al Widepants says: Thanks Dio, my best run was my half marathon pb. It was (obviously) some years ago at the Loch Leven half. I had a target of sub 1.40 and made it by 13 seconds I think. The last 5k was torture but for once I dug in and made it. Quite proud of that one. Worst was the Dublin marathon 2006. Just the most horrible last 10 miles. The woman taking my timing chip off was nice to me and I started blubbing. Most memorable was the Santa Monica 10. I was on holiday and thought I'd give it a go. There were only about 50 people running and it's my only podium. Strangest was forgetting my kit during the streak and having to run in boxers and bare feet in a hotel gym treadmill. Funniest was that run in East Lothian that I'm not going to tell you about...Oh, and evening is best.

Big Al Widepants says: Cheers Steve, not sure it does


Big Al Widepants says: Thanks. I love musicals esp G&S and my missus is a singer so I think I would do a part in a show with her. Maybe the Duke and Duchess of Plaza Toro. Oh, and I wouldn't mind being good enough to play (a bald) Romeo


Big Al Widepants says: Hi, cheers. Truth is I don't stay injury free (just ask Santababy). It is true I don't get many serious injuries which is probably down to the glacial speed I run - and luck. Quite often I just run slowly through the injury. (not really to be recommended.)

Big Al Widepants says: Hey Tikka, thanks for all your support. There's a wee battle going on between wanting to not do the run - that's a daily fight - and thinking "I don't want to give up just because I didn't feel like it". The toughest period without doubt has been the last 6 months. Even now, I'm thinking the end of the year might be it. (Probably won't though


Big Al Widepants says: Hi Andy. I wore flares to work and was known as BAW at that place after that fashion faux pas.


Congratulations, Mr Widepants

Big Al Widepants says: Hi BMcS. Food - some kind of seafood like they do in Singapore. I lived there for a while and they do this amazing pepper and chilli crab. They put what looks like a tablecloth on you to cover up your clothes and then keep bringing the delicious little nippers until you say "STOP". The book would be the bible. It's got blood and guts stories, history, poetry and amazing deeds of bravery and faith. And I'm a Christian so it would be rude not to


Big Al Widepants says: Thanks Night Owl. I like wee 2 milers at the moment but if I ever recover, I do like my stock 7.13 miles along the Union Canal towpath to Longstone and back on a summer evening with my son (although he is much better than me now and would definitely drop me in the last mile (it would always be a race!).

Big Al Widepants says: Hi, I don't really know what

Big Al Widepants says: Hi Chris, I was thinking about this and I did run 15 months of at least 200 miles. But I think for general pleasure at having done it, I did 148 days of at least 6 miles a day this year when feeling pretty rubbish with breathing and so forth.

Big Al Widepants says: Hi SallyKate. I had a bad ankle injury when I got run off the road in Dalmeny Estate. The 4 miles after that on the same night were pretty tough. Also the 4 miles on a treadmill in August this year with pneumonia while I was on holiday weren't nice either.

Big Al Widepants says: Hi Corrah. Post race I never feel that hungry right away. But I can usually murder a curry later on. As per after The Hebden this year. Nice cup of tea. Although I have been known to neck a beaker of wine.


Big Al Widepants says: Hi Happy, thanks for your support. Truth is my kids are a little older now and two are off at uni. The other doesn't need the same kind of ferrying around so finding time is more straightforward than it used to be. Also, when you're only doing 2 a day minimum, there's always time

Why is harder. I just suppose I know how deep-down lazy I am and I'd do absolutely nothing if it wasn't for the tyranny of the streak.

Big Al Widepants says: Hi. I started my streak on New Year's Day 2009. I had an old friend over for Hogmanay and we both thought it would be good to blow the cobwebs away with a run. I thought that since I started, I'd see how long I could go that year before I didn't do a run. If I get out today it'll be day 2856. That adds its own momentum. I have little thoughts about 8 years or 3000 days. I'd rather I just stopped without being forced to by injury or illness. Sadly I'm down to 2 miles a day but frankly that's close to not running at all so I don't see me stopping any time soon.

Big Al Widepants says: Hi BCRB. I'm hardly running, what do you think?

Big Al Widepants says: Hi McGoohan. I'm not as busy as all that - I'm answering these questions after all


Big Al Widepants says: I don't think I said that but for sure, I don't feel like a Cup-a-Soup all that often but I do remember an ad for the stuff which had marathon runners stopping at a feeding station and trying to tear open the sachet, boil a kettle and make the thing whilst tripping over the lead and pouring the soup down their top. Other criminal food - the list is quite small as I like most things but here goes: Tarasamalata. It's fishy, it's creamy, it's pink. Just like a criminal. NO. Iceberg lettuce: there is actually zero point. Minestrone soup. Esp Minestrone cup-a-soup. Too many bits. Wholemeal quiche: surely no-one likes that? Oysters: snot on the half shell. Quorn, Elmlea, okra, american cheese, brawn, fruit tea, sugary bread, margarine, tripe sausage (had it in France - I have quite a strong constitution, but that had me on the semi-boak.
Top pre-run. I hate eating anything but I have been known to force down some porridge pre-race. I am Scottish after all. Post-run, that's a different matter. I quite like getting the carbs and fat in a one-er. So, beer battered fish and chips, mushy peas and a lager. Or Vogel bread toasted with avocado, parma ham and those really nice vine tomatoes that actually taste of something x2 (or 3....). I'm editing this now that I'm a Peskyvegan. Nearly everything feels faintly criminal in that I open the fridge and it screams "you shouldn't be in here. Get over to the walnut, linseed and tofu section." All I can say is thank goodness coconut milk is not on the banned list.