A new Rob Record

I dropped Tracey to work this morning as I needed the car today, got back to watch England finish off the South Africans in the cricket and decided that if I was going to try the 11 miler, it had to be now...before I got too comfy on the sofa!!

When I started there was a light, fine rain which didn't bother me so off I went. After the usual catching of breath over the first mile and a half I settled in to the rhythm, counting down the half miles to the halfway point of the run. I got to the 5.5 mile mark fairly comfortably but then I had a decision to make, a decision that had been on my mind for the whole run so far. At the halfway point, I could either carry on the same road and be home in 2.5 miles or I can turn back and be home in 5.5 miles! I knew what I wanted to do...but I knew what I had to do, so I turned around and started on the 5.5 mile return run.

I've heard of the phrase "running on empty" and now I know what it's like to do!! By mile 9 I could have quit. I felt like slowing up and walking the rest of the way because I felt like my legs just could not go on. My breathing was fine, it was just my legs. I don't know how, but I managed to push on and finish the run, all 11 miles, without stopping or quitting...maybe it was because I promised myself a mince pie or two if I did it!!! Either way, 11 miles - done!

Getting back in the swing

On the 20th December I attempted the 11 miler...and made it about 250 yards!! The ice on the pavements was just too dangerous. So there I was, all spandexed up and sitting in the living room waiting for the thaw!! About an hour and a half later I tried again and made it further...about 50 yards further. It wasn't going to happen. Since then, the weather has kept me from pounding the streets...that and spending Christmas at my folks.

So today saw me back out and running, albeit for only 3 miles. I was going to do a 5 miler but as soon as I left the house it started raining again so I cut it short. It blew away the festive cobwebs though, which was the plan. Hopefully tomorrow, I will give the 11 miler another go. All being well, I hope to do a 5 miler on Saturday before another 11 miler on Sunday. Then next week get back to the original schedule...all weather permitting of course!

I.T. Department

Now you may be thinking that I have an IT issue and that my computer isn't working given that I haven't logged a blog since last Sunday...and you'd be wrong! I haven't had a run since Sunday until today because...well, because I have been a little lazy! We were visiting on Tuesday and Thursday it just seemed too cold to leave the house!! Shame on me!!

However, I was out today for a 5 miler when I got in from work and it was freezing! I was careful to not go A over T on a patch of ice or snow and for the first mile and a half or so the bitter cold air was like razor blades on in my throat but as usual, once my breathing was under control I managed the 5 miles in good time...if a little cold!

Hopefully, weather permitting, I will be attempting to run 11 miles tomorrow...for the first time ever! I only managed about 10 miles without a walk break when I completed the half marathon earlier this year so if i can manage 11 tomorrow it will be my furthest run to date...wish me luck!!

Attack...of the pigeons!

After a 5 miler yesterday evening, it was tough going to climb out of bed and do 10 miles this morning...but I did. I was up and out at 0740 and the spandex was required this morning as it was so cold. I even had the gloves out today!!

About a mile out, I was day dreaming about getting back home to the warm house when all of sudden a couple of pigeons flew out of a tree, hitting leaves and branches on the way out and frightened the absolute s**te out of me!!! It certainly got my heart rate up, that's for sure!!

I managed to make the 5 mile mark without any further incident, turned around and headed back. The knees started getting sore around the 8 mile mark today but I managed to make it back in one piece to a nice warm house...and a freezing cold bath! Oh joy!!

Anyway, it's another 10 miles in the running bank. Next week it steps up another gear with a 4 miler, 5 miler, 5 miler and then an 11 miler next Sunday.

Tis the season...

In the season of "Christmas Do's" I missed Thursday's run because of one! So I got in from work today and set off on a 5 miler. It was done in good time with no incidents to report and I'm about to sit down to a nice curry, all in preparation for tomorrow's 10 miler of course!!

Floating

An evening run was on the cards tonight as I value my morning lay-ins too much to give it up. So, in from work and changed, I was out for a 4 miler.

I started off absolutely fine, feeling fresh an ready to get the miles done. A mile and a quarter in and bang, it hits me...the smell of the takeaway!!! It was fantastic. For a short while I felt like one of those characters in a cartoon, that floats along on the smell of food!!

2 miles in and I turned around to come back and that's when it started to get hard. I couldn't get hold of my breathing properly and it started to rain a little. It wasn't the easy 4 miler I had expected it to be. Still, I got it done and it's more miles in the bank.

Double figures

I was up at 0840 this morning and surprise surprise...it was raining! I got myself 1 couple of slices of toast an decided to give it a while to see if it eases off as I couldn't afford to miss another big run. The rain stopped around 0930 so I got changed in to my spandex, got my bottle of water and got started on my 10 miles.

The bottle of water was annoying to carry so about a mile and a half in to the run, I left it on a garden wall! About two and a half miles in and the rain started again but it was just a light drizzle so no harm done. It only lasted 10 minutes or so, so I just cracked on with the run and made it to the 5 mile point fairly comfortably.

This was the distance that I ran when I injured my knee earlier in the year so I was a little nervous this morning, but this time around though the knee held out. About 2 miles from home I was gagging for a drink...and half a mile later I had it when I picked up my bottle of water again!! Perfect planning !!

So, 10 miles conquered (finally) and injury free. This coming week sees me go for 4 miles, 5 miles, 4 miles and then another 10 miles so it's as full on as ever.

It's now or...now!

What a nightmare of a week! Firstly I'm too knackered to run on Saturday, then rain stops me doing Sunday's run, again I'm too shattered to run on Monday, the footy was on Tuesday (although in hindsight my time would have been better spent running!) and then I wake up this morning with the fattest headache ever! Not good!!

However, even though two lots of headache tablets failed to shift my head, I decided that I couldn't leave it any longer before running again so I got home, got changed and hit the streets for a 6 miler. It was tough going to start with, given that I hadn't run in almost a week. Still I got the run done in good time and the plan is for a 4 miler on Friday before trying the 10 miler again on Sunday...weather permitting!!

Next week I hope to be back on the normal schedule and back in the groove!!