Going gr8

0615 seems even earlier on a Saturday!! I rolled out of my bed, brushed my teeth, got the spandex on and left at 0630 for my first 8 miler.

It was just starting to get light and was fairly mild weather wise this morning which was good, but 8 miles is still a long way to run before breakfast!! Anyway, I got to the halfway/turnaround mark with my bottle of Lucozade still in the waistband of my shorts and started the 4 mile journey home. After last weeks 7 miles, I thought that that's as far as I can go without a drink, hence the lucozade this week. However, I was that knackered that I couldn't actually run and attempt to drink at the same time and therefore ended up drinking it when I got home...so I just took it for the run!! The last three and a half miles saw me running back in the rain...but then there was not a huge amount I could do about that except just keep going!

Anyway, off to Mum and Dad's this afternoon with my pimped pumpkin for a Halloween party before finishing the week with a 3 mile run tomorrow!

Night runner

After a stonking migraine yesterday evening, I decided to stay in bed this morning as opposed to running the 4 miles before work. The extra hour in bed was worth it!!

So I got through the day without another headache and went out this evening, at 2000hrs, for my 4 miler. I took the same route as I do for the long runs so I thought the logic would mean that as I only have to go about half the distance I normally do on this route, it will be easy...guess again!! At one point, I went past the Chinese takeaway and I nearly ended the run there and then because the smell was tremendous!! But I didn't, I kept going and got through the 4 miles in one piece. Although I have got a pack of peas on my right knee at the moment as it's aching slightly. I don't know if that is because I didn't have my cold bath after the run - I forgot to do it before I went out!

Anyway, another one done...and more miles in the bank. I'm going to switch my weekend runs over again this weekend as I'm at Mum & Dad's on Saturday night / Sunday morning so it'll be 8 miles on Saturday before work followed by 3 miles on Sunday when I get back from Mum & Dads.

Coach Adams!

After a 12 hour day at work yesterday, there was no way I was getting up at 0600 to go running this morning! Instead, I got in from work this evening and got changed to go for my 3 mile run, only this time I had coach Adams with me...on her bike! Yes, Tracey jumped on her bike and followed me round the 3 mile route just to make sure I did it!!

Again, I didn't enjoy it tonight because I'm not a fan of running in the evening but it's done and I still have a 100% training record so far. I even managed a little sprint finish over the last 100 yards in a race with Tracey...which I lost! Then it was back home to a freezing bath which I'm starting to get used to now.

Next on the agenda is my first mid-week 4 miler on Thursday which I will do in the morning, but for now, my feet are up and that's where they're staying!

Hands are shaky and my knees are weak...

I don't know whether it was the long run yesterday morning or all the dancing last night...but my legs were killing me today!! I'm so glad I switched the two runs over because there was no way, after the food and drink (and dancing) at the wedding, that I would have been able to run 7 miles today.

We got back from Eversham this afternoon and after a little rest and watching the football, I took myself out at 1800 hours for my 3 miler. It was quite a pleasant evening for running...if that isn't a contradiction in terms...although I did nearly go 'a' over 't' at one point when I turned my ankle, but it was nothing serious and I managed to style it out without looking too silly.

I got home to a freezing cold bath to ease my aching bones and I'm looking forward to a day of rest tomorrow before I step it up a gear next week. I have 3 miles on Tuesday and Saturday, Thursday moves to a 4 miler and Sunday moves on to 8 miles, although I may well switch Saturday and Sunday again as we're out again on Saturday night.

I done a bad bad thing!

After what can only be described as a shite ending to the working day, Tracey decided to take me out for something to eat last night to cheer me up...and I ended up having garlic bread, pizza and a cheesecake to finish...all washed down with a beer - Not good the night before a 7 mile run!! I could hold my hand up and say I could have ordered a pasta dish without the starter or dessert...but I blame Tracey for leading me to temptation!!!

Anyway, I bought forward the 7 mile run due for tomorrow as we're off to the wedding of Matt & Rhiannon this afternoon and I can imagine it will go on late in to the evening, so the last thing I want to do tomorrow is my long run. I was out at about 0750 this morning and about half a mile in it started to rain...and it continued to rain until I got home just over an hour later!

I made it through the 7 miles with the only real issue being a stitch in my shoulder from about halfway which niggled at me through to the end. But the end result was another decent 7 mile run under my belt and getting one step closer to the big one.

Boo!

0617 and I was out of the pit and in to my kit for today's 3 miles. Not only was it dark and cold, but the big man decided to let it rain a little this morning too - Oh good!!

My legs felt like lead today for some reason and I did struggle to get going, even though my breathing was pretty much under control from the start...that was until I had the fright of my life about a mile and a half in to it. Part of the run is alongside a fairly busy road so it's quite noisy, even at that time of the morning. There I was, in my own little world, dragging my fat backside round the route when all of a sudden this shadow appears to the left of me...then a body appears to right of me...I nearly ended up in the tree it made me jump so much!! It was the paperboy on his bike doing his round...the little shite!! I didn't hear him coming...a new set of shorts were nearly required.

Anyway, the run was done without any more drama so next is my 7 miler on Saturday before I strut my funky stuff on the dance floor at the wedding!!

Ding dong the bells are gonna chime

0610...I hate that time of day! I say 'day' very loosely as it was pitch black this morning so in theory, in my eyes anyway, it was still the middle of the night!! I should have been tucked up in my nice warm bed. Instead, I was putting on my shorts and hitting the streets for the latest 3 miler of my full-on schedule.

I felt relatively comfortable, if very cold, during the run this morning so I'm obviously making progress - which is always good to know! Thus far I have completed 35 training miles, which would have been 37 were it not for a trapped nerve in my neck on day one, so the miles in the bank are definitely starting to build up.

The rest of this week should see me do a 3 miler on Thursday and Saturday followed by 7 miler number 2 on Sunday. I will probably end up switching the Saturday and Sunday runs over, as I am at a Wedding on Saturday afternoon/evening and cant see myself being able to do a 7 miler the morning after!! Still, as long as they're done that's the main thing. I may well try and re-introduce the ankle weights next week for the 3 milers...we'll see!

Breath easy

Mum & Dad stayed over last night so I wanted to get my run done nice and early today so I could shower and get ready to spend the day with them and Tracey. So 0800 rolls around (far too quickly!) and I'm out of bed to get my gear on. My nose was blocked this morning and I thought the last I need is a cold, more commonly known as Man Flu! Believe me though, 2 minutes out this morning and it's amazing what a blast of cold air does. It was freezing today so the spandex made it's first appearance of the training schedule!! However, the cold air cleared my airways and I was able to get going with today's 7 miler attempt.

After my first 6 miler last Sunday, the schedule is continuing to push me on - no time to sit back. So to get through today I got it in to my head that I would do the extra mile in the middle of the run e.g. using the extra half mile on the way out before running bit back. Then I just told myself that I was back to where I was last week with 3 miles to go and I managed to run back from there so there's no reason why I cant do it again! To be honest, I didn't feel too bad when I got home having done the 7 miles without a break...until I walked in and my Mum said "are you supposed to look like that?"!!! I didn't know if she meant in general or because I was hot and sweaty!!

3 is the magic number

I woke before my alarm at 0659 this morning and added another 10 minutes to it before it went off. I rolled my fat, tired self out of my pit and went for the latest 3 mile installment. This morning felt extra cold to start with. Most of today's run was spent thinking about my 7 mile attempt tomorrow...and I'm not looking forward to it!! The plan is to get up and be out by 0830 so I am back home, showered and done by 1000...that's the plan anyway!!

I got through today's 3 miles unscathed and had my usual freezing cold bath when I got back to ease the legs in preparation for tomorrow. Fingers crossed it will be a magnificent seven!

Remedial Class

Yesterday saw my first big sponsorship, from AMIKA Nightclub in Kensington, who also supported me during my silverstone half marathon earlier in the year. You'll find a link to the club website on the side panel of my blog. With a very generous offer of £10 per mile, it takes care of £260 of the £1,500 I'm aiming to raise so a massive thank you to the man behind the sponsorship, I'll save his blushes by not mentioning his name! Get yourself down there at the weekends and if you mention that you know me, they'll let you in for the normal price!

0600 and the alarm goes, but this morning I open my eyes and my head feels like it's going to explode off of my neck! I have a thumping headache so reset my alarm for 0715 and decide to run after work, when hopefully my headache has gone.

Two lots of of tablets later and my head cleared - thankfully! I got home from work at 1930 and got straight in to my shorts and T-shirt before heading out for another 3 miler. If I ever need an incentive to get out of bed at 0600 to run, then I shall remember this evening's run. I went passed the first corner and could smell a fish and chip supper. Further down the road and there is laughter coming from the pub. I felt like everyone was enjoying their down time and there was me, in remedial class, doing extra work because I didn't do it earlier!! Evening running is not as much fun as a morning run. In the morning I feel like I have a head start on everyone else, I'm up before them, I've done my run before them and I'm ready for my day before them. I don't like the remedial class!!

Weight, not yet

0600 hours and the bloody alarm goes...I hate training mornings!! Rolled out the bed at 0612 and straight in to my shorts, T-shirt and trainers before going downstairs to get my trainers on. This morning I thought I would try something new to push on in my training...ankle weights!

As my midweek runs are currently 3 miles, I thought that if I could add some ankle weights during these shorter, week day runs then it will help me push on with my Sunday run which is the longest run each week. So I took my 5kg ankle weights, removed 2 kg, and strapped the 3kgs to my ankles. Then I went in to the kitchen to get a glass of water before the run and with the weight shift on my legs I nearly went arse over tit before I'd even started!!

Anyway, composure regained, I had my glass of water and left the house for my 3 miler. I got 50 yards down the road before turning around and coming back home. Bugger the ankle weights...I'm not quite ready for them yet!! So, with the weights off, I started my run again and got round the 3 miles without too much hassle. The usual erratic breathing for the first half mile before settling down to a good steady run. 3 more miles in the bank with 3 more to come on Thursday morning. I'm starting to get back in to this running lark and dare I say it, even starting to enjoying it a little!! I've attached my training schedule so you can see what's in store for me.

60 minutes later

The alarm went at 8:15 this morning and I afforded myself another half hour lie in before getting myself ready for my biggest challenge of this training schedule so far...6 miles. I took a slightly different route this morning and when I left the house it was raining slightly which wasn't a great start!!

On my previous runs this week, mentally I have been getting through each stage of the run counting down the mile markers until I make it round. Today though I started off by getting it in to my head that I would be going out for about an hour, covering 6 miles, as opposed to counting the mile markers. That way, I felt better prepared for the 6 miles. I got through the first 3 miles, catching control of my breath after about a mile, and at that point told myself that if I can get to the fourth mile then I can afford myself a walk break.

During that fourth mile, I started to get a 'stitch' through my shoulder and the blisters on the soles of my feet started to feel like they were burning. I made it to the 4 mile marker and kept going. I didn't think of it as still having 2 miles to go. Instead I thought, I have two straight roads left until I'm home - so I kept going. Just past the 5 mile marker and I was on the home straight, the road that was going to take me to my front door! I kept the legs going but my breathing started to get erratic again, like at the start of a run, but I kept going. I made it to the 6 mile mark, my front door, without any breaks in running - Job done. Albeit the time wont break any records, but that's 15 miles in the bank for the week, and just think it's only another 20.2 miles further than I did today for the actual race...piece of cake!!!

Change of direction.

Another three miles in the bank today without too much hassle. During the run this morning, I was thinking about tomorrow's 6 miler and thinking that the easiest way to do it would be the 3 mile route and then just turn around and go back, but that wont be happening! It just goes to show how much running, and sport in general, can be won or lost in the head before you even start.

Throughout my 3 mile route, which takes me in a loop back to my house, I have different markers which I use to keep myself going, with the hump bridge the final hurdle to overcome. I know, that once I am over that bridge I am home and dry. Then I thought, when I get through the first three miles and get over that bridge, am I really going to be able to turn around and go back after being used to finishing at that point? Answer - No!

So a new route will be undertaken for my six miler tomorrow...watch this space to find out how it goes.

CLIC Sargent

After a 15 minute lay-in this morning, I was up and ready for 3 miler number two. It was cold and dark this morning but 3 miles had to be done regardless, so off I went. The aim of today's run was to get through the 3 miles without any walk breaks - and add more miles in the bank.

This first mile wasn't so bad but the cold air was tough on the lungs. I got to the point that I stopped at on Tuesday and kept going...the first hurdle was over. I challenged myself to keep going and get to the point where I took my second break, without stopping. At checkpoint two I told myself that 'I'm on the home stretch. Get to the end and it's mission accomplished for the day'. As I get to last bit of the run, I have a little hump bridge to get over which, when walking, is just a little hump bridge, but when at the end of a 3 mile run in the first week of a 29 week training plan, it felt like a mountain! I reached my 3 mile check point without stopping

My challenge had been met full on and I had a nice, ice cold bath to look forward to when I got back in the house. As much as I hate the initial bit of getting in, it really does relieve the muscles in the legs!

Next on the agenda is 3 more miles on Saturday before I attempt a 6 miler on Sunday. The feet are already getting blisters which, if last years training is anything to go by, should start to disappear the further in to the training I get...roll on, because they are killing me!!

As some of you may know already, last year I raised money for the MS Society. This year my chosen charity is CLIC Sargent, helping children with Cancer and Leukemia - and it's not because their running vest is pink! Well, it's not the only reason!! Every day, 10 families are told that their child has Cancer. As the UK's leading children's cancer charity, CLIC Sargent offers them all round care and support because they are with them every step of the way.

The aim is to raise at least £1,500 so please please take a moment to click the 'sponsor me here' link at left hand side of my blog page (http://www.thebigone2010.blogspot.com/ for those of you reading this on facebook) and please give what you can. You saw my determination earlier in the year with the half marathon and you will see it again next year for THE BIG ONE!

Account opened!

After a visit to Kevin the masseuse last night, my neck is sorted and a fat muscle knot has been removed from my shoulder so I was fit for a run this morning...finally!

6am and the alarm went off. The first thought that went through my head was re set it for 7 and do the run after work! The second thought was nope, get your fat arse out of bed and get running...you gotta a marathon to train for! So up and out in the pitch black for a 3 mile run and it was tough! I had two 6o second walks during the three miles to catch my breath but the main thing for now is getting some 'miles in the bank' so 3 miles completed is a good start. The 60 second walks were both a help and a hindrance because it let me catch my breath but my legs felt twice as heavy when I started running again!

Next on the agenda is another 3 miles on Thursday morning, hopefully this time with no walk breaks...but miles in the bank is the key.

He's off...no he isn't!

Up at 8am and ready for my first 3 mile run in preparation for the big one and a mile in to it...bang - I trapped a nerve in my neck and had to stop! Gutted. I remember starting out a bit like this last year when training for the Silverstone half marathon. I'm hoping it' s just to do with my posture whilst running and something that will sort itself pretty sharpish, as it did last year. Doesn't stop me feeling like I've just had a false start though. The training is going to be fairly intense if I am going to be ready to run 26.2 miles in 29 weeks' time so each mile under the belt is essential - I can do without silly niggling issues such as these but I had to stop today as it was pinching sharply in my neck and through my shoulder and continuing today would have only done more harm than good.

I think a visit to Kevin, the masseuse, is in order to sort out the tension in my back and shoulders which will then hopefully sort out my posture...hopefully! It's going to be a long 29 weeks!!

It's on!

The 2nd October 2009 will go down as a big day in the history of me, Rob Adams - because that was the day I came home from work and found a letter had been delivered that I had been waiting for for over 4 years...my acceptance letter for the LONDON MARATHON 2010!!

After 3 previous 'No's this was completely unexpected! I was expecting 2 more 'No's before a guaranteed place in 2012. I haven't really trained since running the silverstone half marathon in March and that's because of 2 reasons: 1. To rest my knee after the injury that hampered my training for that run and 2. I couldn't really get my arse in to gear! But all that is gonna change as of Sunday morning.

I celebrated the news tonight with an order of garlic bread and pizza...my last 'bad' meal for a few months because from hereon in it's all about the marathon - the training, the diet and the dedication. I've always wanted to say that I have run the London Marathon and 2010 will now bring me that chance. I've worked out my training schedule which will be going on the fridge and as with my last training plan, each session will be blogged in here until the big day arrives so watch this space.