Thursday, 28 January 2010
1, 2 miss a few...
Just a quickie tonight as I completed my 3 miles after work without too much fuss. The weekend runs wont happen this weekend as I'm away so the next run will be on Tuesday before I try and tackle a big old 15 miler next weekend...oh dear!!
Tuesday, 26 January 2010
7 up
After Sunday's 13 miler, my legs have recovered in time for tonight's 7 miles quite well. I got in from work and hit the road around 1830 hours. It was cold enough to get the spandex on again tonight and I'm starting to do distances where chaffing is becoming a problem!!
Anyway, the run went without too much hassle although running after work is harder than the weekend runs...even though they're shorter!!!
Anyway, the run went without too much hassle although running after work is harder than the weekend runs...even though they're shorter!!!
Sunday, 24 January 2010
Wooah we're halfway there...
And I am living on prayer, that I make it through the 26.2 miles!! Today, I tackled the dreaded 13 miler for the 3rd time...and this time I made it!! Yes, the 13 miler is done at last. All I have to do now is the same again one after the other, plus a little bit more (as my Dad reminded me!!)
I set out around 0800 this morning, having had a slice of toast and a few sips of lucozade. Like last week, I made it to the 6.5 mile mark comfortably although my breathing felt heavier than usual for the first couple of miles. The split time was 1:06 for the first half of my run which was pretty much what I was aiming (hoping!) for. The key then, was to not just make it back the rest of the 6.5 miles but to try and do it in good time too. I turned back and started on the homeward journey, counting down the miles until I had done 11. This was the point where it went wrong last weekend as I only made it another half mile before the legs gave in, but this week it went to plan and I completed the 13 miles in 2hrs 14 minutes 14 seconds and I was a happy, if a very tired, man.
Justgiving are offering the added incentive of £500 for the London Marathon page that succeeds in getting the most people to donate over the next 8 days (until 1st February) You only have to donate £1 to count (but obviously, if you could donate more, then that would be even better!), but I would hugely appreciate it if you could take a moment to visit my sponsorship page wwwjustgiving.com/thebigone2010 and make a donation (regardless whether it's a big or small one) to give me the best chance possible of getting the extra £500 for CLIC Sargent.
It will take you less than 5 minutes to do but make such a massive difference tot he children and families that benefit from the care offered by CLIC Sargent.
I set out around 0800 this morning, having had a slice of toast and a few sips of lucozade. Like last week, I made it to the 6.5 mile mark comfortably although my breathing felt heavier than usual for the first couple of miles. The split time was 1:06 for the first half of my run which was pretty much what I was aiming (hoping!) for. The key then, was to not just make it back the rest of the 6.5 miles but to try and do it in good time too. I turned back and started on the homeward journey, counting down the miles until I had done 11. This was the point where it went wrong last weekend as I only made it another half mile before the legs gave in, but this week it went to plan and I completed the 13 miles in 2hrs 14 minutes 14 seconds and I was a happy, if a very tired, man.
Justgiving are offering the added incentive of £500 for the London Marathon page that succeeds in getting the most people to donate over the next 8 days (until 1st February) You only have to donate £1 to count (but obviously, if you could donate more, then that would be even better!), but I would hugely appreciate it if you could take a moment to visit my sponsorship page wwwjustgiving.com/thebigone2010 and make a donation (regardless whether it's a big or small one) to give me the best chance possible of getting the extra £500 for CLIC Sargent.
It will take you less than 5 minutes to do but make such a massive difference tot he children and families that benefit from the care offered by CLIC Sargent.
A quickie
I didn't get a chance to update my blog yesterday but I did my 3 miler as planned, even though my legs did feel quite heavy considering it was a short run.
Thursday, 21 January 2010
What I should've done
I know I said I was going to run 6 miles on Tuesday but I didn't, because I forgot I was giving blood on Tuesday night! Therefore, instead of running 3 miles tonight I did the 6 I should have done earlier in the week.
My legs had life back in them this evening after Sunday's gruelling effort so the 6 miles went OK, even though I did think to myself after about half a mile that I just want to turn round and go back home to the warm! However, the mince and onion pastie I had waiting for me when I got back made up for being out in the cold for an hour!! I am looking forward to taking on this elusive 13 miles this coming Sunday, once I've had a little run out on Saturday morning.
My legs had life back in them this evening after Sunday's gruelling effort so the 6 miles went OK, even though I did think to myself after about half a mile that I just want to turn round and go back home to the warm! However, the mince and onion pastie I had waiting for me when I got back made up for being out in the cold for an hour!! I am looking forward to taking on this elusive 13 miles this coming Sunday, once I've had a little run out on Saturday morning.
Sunday, 17 January 2010
Unlucky for some
After a week and half being unable to run due to the adverse weather, today saw me take on 13 miles for only the 2nd time in my life. The first was last year's silverstone half marathon and that was wrecked by injury, so this time I wanted to conquer it...but I fell short again. Two weeks ago I got through 11 miles and then the snow came to hinder my progress, so getting through 13 miles today was always going to be a big ask.
I got through the the first half of the run quite well, turning at the 6.5 mile mark outside a hotel advertising a big fat steak with chips...how I didn't stop and go in I do not know!! Anyway, I turned on my heels and started making my way back. 7 miles, 8 miles, 9 miles and still feeling good. I got to 10 miles and my legs started getting heavier. Just short of 11.5 miles and they gave in completely. I ended up walking the last 1.5 miles because I just couldn't run anymore, my legs were done.
Next Sunday should see me tackle 14 miles but instead, I'm going for a 13 miler again and hopefully it will be third time lucky! Before that though I have a 6 miler on Tuesday and 3 milers on Thursday and Saturday to get through.
I got through the the first half of the run quite well, turning at the 6.5 mile mark outside a hotel advertising a big fat steak with chips...how I didn't stop and go in I do not know!! Anyway, I turned on my heels and started making my way back. 7 miles, 8 miles, 9 miles and still feeling good. I got to 10 miles and my legs started getting heavier. Just short of 11.5 miles and they gave in completely. I ended up walking the last 1.5 miles because I just couldn't run anymore, my legs were done.
Next Sunday should see me tackle 14 miles but instead, I'm going for a 13 miler again and hopefully it will be third time lucky! Before that though I have a 6 miler on Tuesday and 3 milers on Thursday and Saturday to get through.
Tuesday, 5 January 2010
The weather outside is frightful...
After recovering from Sunday's 11 miler, I got in from work tonight and got ready for a 5 miler...which I didn't really want to do! I prayed for snow on the way home so I would be house-bound and unable to run, but it didn't happen!! So I got ready and checked my schedule on the fridge and to my delight I saw that I only had to do 4 miles tonight and not 5...awesome!
I left the house and it was freezing so I got a shift on and got through the 4 miles as quickly as possible...mainly because I knew there was a shepherds pie waiting for me when I got home, after my shower of course.
As I write my blog tonight, it seems my prayer for snow has been answered...a couple of hours too late!!
I left the house and it was freezing so I got a shift on and got through the 4 miles as quickly as possible...mainly because I knew there was a shepherds pie waiting for me when I got home, after my shower of course.
As I write my blog tonight, it seems my prayer for snow has been answered...a couple of hours too late!!
Sunday, 3 January 2010
Not 1 Weetabix, not 2 Weetabix...
The alarm went at 0815 this morning and I then spent the next 15 minutes thinking of why I shouldn't run today! Too frosty...too cold...I'm too tired...my knee is sore...the list went on and on until I got up, brushed my teeth, got spandexed up and left for my 11 miler...no excuses.
The previous 11 miler was completed but I really struggled over the last 2 miles, but not today. It was tough, I'm not denying that, but it wasn't a struggle over the final period like last time. I made it out the 5 and a half miles to the halfway point before turning back for the journey home, counting back each half mile...6...6.5...7...I got to the 9 mile mark and expected my legs to start to give out but they didn't and I kept going. I actually told myself that if I make it back the full 11 miles I will reward myself with an extra 2 Weetabix for breakfast!! I was starving and that was all the incentive I needed!! Just under 2 hours after setting off, I made it back home after completing my 2nd 11 miler in 5 days...not bad for someone who had never run that far in one go before hey!
From hereon in the pressure is really on as each Sunday the mileage is cranked up a mile ever week, starting with 12 miles next Sunday. Between now and then, I have a 4 miler, and two 5 milers to complete first.
The previous 11 miler was completed but I really struggled over the last 2 miles, but not today. It was tough, I'm not denying that, but it wasn't a struggle over the final period like last time. I made it out the 5 and a half miles to the halfway point before turning back for the journey home, counting back each half mile...6...6.5...7...I got to the 9 mile mark and expected my legs to start to give out but they didn't and I kept going. I actually told myself that if I make it back the full 11 miles I will reward myself with an extra 2 Weetabix for breakfast!! I was starving and that was all the incentive I needed!! Just under 2 hours after setting off, I made it back home after completing my 2nd 11 miler in 5 days...not bad for someone who had never run that far in one go before hey!
From hereon in the pressure is really on as each Sunday the mileage is cranked up a mile ever week, starting with 12 miles next Sunday. Between now and then, I have a 4 miler, and two 5 milers to complete first.
Saturday, 2 January 2010
The Big One...THIS YEAR!
Well 2010 is upon us already and I can now say that I am running the London Marathon THIS year!! Scary!!!
The plan was to get up around 0800 and go for a run to get it out of the way. So I woke up at 1040 and ended up leaving at 1100...close!! I only did three miles today as I intend to do 11 miles again tomorrow and given that up until 4 days ago I hadn't run in 10 days, two 11 milers in the space of 5 days is a big ask so I wanted to leave enough in the tank for it.
Watch this space to see if I make it through tomorrow!
The plan was to get up around 0800 and go for a run to get it out of the way. So I woke up at 1040 and ended up leaving at 1100...close!! I only did three miles today as I intend to do 11 miles again tomorrow and given that up until 4 days ago I hadn't run in 10 days, two 11 milers in the space of 5 days is a big ask so I wanted to leave enough in the tank for it.
Watch this space to see if I make it through tomorrow!
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