It takes more than a cold to hold me back.
Just did a rather nice 5.6 miles (just over 9ks) is 49 minutes. Very pleased. OK it is not as far as I was hoping, Sundays are supposed to be the days for my long runs as part of the training for the marathon, but it is better than nothing. But I did vastly improve my pace from the last few runs from around 9 1/2 to around 9 minutes per mile.
It does mean that I have to make up more miles over the next few weeks after missing out on a few valuable runs over the last 4 days but it is good to know that it is not too much of a set back.
It was obviously a good night for running - plenty of other people out and about - obviously a more sociable time than 5.30. Oh and I ditched the woolly hat and gloves - regretted the decision about the gloves for the first mile or so, but not for long.
It is good to be back
Sunday, 24 January 2010
Saturday, 23 January 2010
I have had a cold
Unfortunately I have not been able to do any running since Tuesday as I have caught rather a nasty cold. I dont want to risk a bigger set back by running when ill so given myself a break to fully recover.
I will be back training in the next few days
I will be back training in the next few days
Tuesday, 19 January 2010
I must need my head read....
A quick update - was up at 5.30 for a 40 minute run this morning and I am not going to lie to you - it hurt!
At 3 miles my ankles seized up it felt like I was running with two small children clinging on to my shins.
Still I managed 4.2 miles in 39 minutes. But boy did I feel it when I got back!
Just something to share - when doing an early morning run assessing what to wear is always a challenge. You have not been out and about to have an idea of the temp, wind or rain (you can check online / phone app of course but it does not give you the level of detail you really need) so you have to make a judgment call. Too many layers and you will obvouisly get too hot, too few and you will freeze. I opted for gloves and woolly hat this morning with layering of t-shirt over thermal top and long running tights I think I got it about right, but the gloves came off after 15 minutes. They may just be kept in reserve for those very very cold days.
Other people out at 5.30 in the morning - not a lot. 2 dog walkers, 3 people waiting for a bus and a few cars. But apart from that the streets were my own!
At 3 miles my ankles seized up it felt like I was running with two small children clinging on to my shins.
Still I managed 4.2 miles in 39 minutes. But boy did I feel it when I got back!
Just something to share - when doing an early morning run assessing what to wear is always a challenge. You have not been out and about to have an idea of the temp, wind or rain (you can check online / phone app of course but it does not give you the level of detail you really need) so you have to make a judgment call. Too many layers and you will obvouisly get too hot, too few and you will freeze. I opted for gloves and woolly hat this morning with layering of t-shirt over thermal top and long running tights I think I got it about right, but the gloves came off after 15 minutes. They may just be kept in reserve for those very very cold days.
Other people out at 5.30 in the morning - not a lot. 2 dog walkers, 3 people waiting for a bus and a few cars. But apart from that the streets were my own!
Sunday, 17 January 2010
Training Log. 17th January (97 days to go)
Basic stats:
Distance: 8.1 miles (13 km)
Time: 75 Minutes
Weather: 7 degrees / Slightly windy / dry but damp underfoot following all the snow and rain so had to watch my step on verges
Time: 3.45 - 5.00pm
Start location: Home
(I will work out how to upload the stats from my Garmin which gives more details on gradients etc)
Terrain: Road / Footpath
It had been a while, following injuries, silly illnesses and a bit too much snow to safely get around on it felt good to be able to kick off the training.
So how did it feel? FANTASTIC
I had not done a run like this since September 30th so to get round 8 miles in that time well I was delighted with it. I was not really watching my pace and just did what felt good. When it was still light enough to see the Garmin some times I was running sub 9 minutes per mile, other times 11 minutes + per mile. Averaged out about 9 and a half minutes a mile. This is where I was back when I had to stop over 3 months ago.
I was not the only one to take advantage of the break in the weather, I must have seen at least another 12 runners on my route this evening. It is good to feel that you are not alone.
Being my first run in a long time it was important that it went well - a bad run at the beginning of training can leave you dreading your next one and puts you in the wrong mindset from the beginning.
There is still a long way to go - but moving in the right direction. Just ask me again in the morning how fantastic those 8 miles feel in my legs.
My Charity - Prostate UK
I am running the London Marathon to raise money for Prostate UK.
http://www.justgiving.com/LaurarunsLondon2010
http://www.prostateuk.org/
Prostate UK is a charity that deals with raising awareness of all diseases that affect the Prostate. I am particularly keen to raise awareness of Prostate Cancer. It is the third most common cancer in the UK affects 35000 men – of this number 10000 cases will be fatal (cancer research UK). Prostate UK works to raise awareness of both the public and GPs of all diseases of the prostate to encourage screening which will assist to make early diagnosis which is the most effective weapon against cancer.
Male cancers do not get the publicity other cancers do, and prostate cancer is the second biggest killer of all cancers in the UK.
I am honoured that Prostate UK have asked me to run for them.
http://www.justgiving.com/LaurarunsLondon2010
http://www.prostateuk.org/
Prostate UK is a charity that deals with raising awareness of all diseases that affect the Prostate. I am particularly keen to raise awareness of Prostate Cancer. It is the third most common cancer in the UK affects 35000 men – of this number 10000 cases will be fatal (cancer research UK). Prostate UK works to raise awareness of both the public and GPs of all diseases of the prostate to encourage screening which will assist to make early diagnosis which is the most effective weapon against cancer.
Male cancers do not get the publicity other cancers do, and prostate cancer is the second biggest killer of all cancers in the UK.
I am honoured that Prostate UK have asked me to run for them.
The beginning of it all
So I am training to run the London Marathon - it is 14 weeks away and a good friend has just pointed out that this means only 13 weekends left to train. So what made me decide to put my body through 14 weeks of gruelling, painful and lets face it anti-social running which will take me out on the streets of Stevenage and London no matter what the UK springime weather will bring?
It all started nearly 3 years ago....
My son was getting on for 18 months old and I was running out of excuses for carrying excess baby weight - I am 5'6 and weighed 13 stone. Liking my food too much to ever take a diet seriously I agreed to run a Race for Life in July 2007 remembering that I had enjoyed running in my 20's. One 5k later and I was hooked again. I then joined forces with my Dad and Brother and entered a half marathon raising money for Kids Kidney Research. I trained hard and it was difficult, but I ran the Great West Run in my home town of Exeter, my first half marathon in 10 years in 2h10 minutes in May 2008. I did a couple of other shorter races and kept on running as a fitness thing. I loved it, I got grouchy if for whatever reason I missed a run, I ran the Great West again in May 2009 and got my time down to under 2 hours.
The weight loss benefits paid off and I reached the size I was aiming for, so running was no longer about weight loss and I needed a new challenge. So after watching the London Marathon in April last year I knew what I needed to do...
I have had set backs, I am the worlds clumsiest person so have hobbled with strappings on twisted ankles after slipping on mud or tripping over my own feet . Recently I had niggling illness after niggling illness and inability to run outside due to the coldest weather in 30 years. But I love running, I see myself as a runner, its in my blood.... which is why I coped with those first few difficult months where I did not look like a runner, I did not feel like a runner and certainly did my best to avoid anyone seeing me run.
So that is how it all began - but this is a log of my training for a specific race - the greatest race - The London Marathon so enough with the past, lets deal with the hear and now and look to the future
It all started nearly 3 years ago....
My son was getting on for 18 months old and I was running out of excuses for carrying excess baby weight - I am 5'6 and weighed 13 stone. Liking my food too much to ever take a diet seriously I agreed to run a Race for Life in July 2007 remembering that I had enjoyed running in my 20's. One 5k later and I was hooked again. I then joined forces with my Dad and Brother and entered a half marathon raising money for Kids Kidney Research. I trained hard and it was difficult, but I ran the Great West Run in my home town of Exeter, my first half marathon in 10 years in 2h10 minutes in May 2008. I did a couple of other shorter races and kept on running as a fitness thing. I loved it, I got grouchy if for whatever reason I missed a run, I ran the Great West again in May 2009 and got my time down to under 2 hours.
The weight loss benefits paid off and I reached the size I was aiming for, so running was no longer about weight loss and I needed a new challenge. So after watching the London Marathon in April last year I knew what I needed to do...
I have had set backs, I am the worlds clumsiest person so have hobbled with strappings on twisted ankles after slipping on mud or tripping over my own feet . Recently I had niggling illness after niggling illness and inability to run outside due to the coldest weather in 30 years. But I love running, I see myself as a runner, its in my blood.... which is why I coped with those first few difficult months where I did not look like a runner, I did not feel like a runner and certainly did my best to avoid anyone seeing me run.
So that is how it all began - but this is a log of my training for a specific race - the greatest race - The London Marathon so enough with the past, lets deal with the hear and now and look to the future
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
