Right. I like animals. I really do. Wild, farm, pet, dinner...I love them all. Really.
So, why don't people just clean up after them.
Today 3.91mi
This Week 14.04mi
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Monday, July 16, 2007
Great Captial Run
I figure the race is worth a post.
This was my first 'big' race in some time. It was much bigger (obviously) than the local 5k from a few weeks ago (155 finishers). It was much more dynamic and therefore had lots more interaction with the 10,000 odd people they announced were starting the race.
I have to say it was great fun! Crowds, music, watching the elite runners screaming by in the other direction past 7k while I was trudging towards 3k (or what ever the exact distance was). OK, so that last bit was more humbling than anything, but I've never had any illusions about my running ability.
I was more than pleased with my time. I bested my 11 year old PB* by 3 minutes which gave immense personal satisfaction. I ran the whole race with one of my running mates from work which was a big morale booster especially when we both got slowed by cramps in the middle of the race. And it was great to have the family there cheering me on at the end.
Can't wait to run another!
Sunday: 6.22 miles
Monday: 3.91 miles (nice slow easy recovery run)
Tuesday: some time on the rowing machine...
This week: 10.13
*Full disclosure: number of 10k run between previous PB and this race: 0.
This was my first 'big' race in some time. It was much bigger (obviously) than the local 5k from a few weeks ago (155 finishers). It was much more dynamic and therefore had lots more interaction with the 10,000 odd people they announced were starting the race.
I have to say it was great fun! Crowds, music, watching the elite runners screaming by in the other direction past 7k while I was trudging towards 3k (or what ever the exact distance was). OK, so that last bit was more humbling than anything, but I've never had any illusions about my running ability.
I was more than pleased with my time. I bested my 11 year old PB* by 3 minutes which gave immense personal satisfaction. I ran the whole race with one of my running mates from work which was a big morale booster especially when we both got slowed by cramps in the middle of the race. And it was great to have the family there cheering me on at the end.
Can't wait to run another!
Sunday: 6.22 miles
Monday: 3.91 miles (nice slow easy recovery run)
Tuesday: some time on the rowing machine...
This week: 10.13
*Full disclosure: number of 10k run between previous PB and this race: 0.
Friday, July 13, 2007
The End
Although I didn't post yesterday I did run. The run itself was nothing particularly special, just a standard lunchtime stroll through the local housing estates. Not particularly fast. Not particularly long. Not particularly scenic. Just another run in the week before the 10k in London.
What made it different was that yesterday was the last run with my last normal running partner.
Adds a little touch of sadness to it, but I can't complain too much. Having running friends can, as I've learned, be a great thing. Motivation, a little competition and some serious cajoling when required. There were three 'regulars' who ran at least three days a week in almost any weather for the last year. Around this small group were about three or four others who joined on an 'occasional' basis. They became a bit of a marker. When we started, most of the 'occasionals' were a bit faster than I was. Quite a bit. In the 5k last week, I finished about half a minute ahead of one of them. Little things that warm your heart. (Of course, the other member of our regulars who ran beat me by several minutes so I'm not claiming too much of a victory.)
So, it's up to other things to keep me motivated to keep running. I'm moving myself soon (when and where is another story worthy of its own blog). I'll have to work much harder to maintain motivation. Any suggestions?
---
Today's run was fine. A short easy run along the waterfront: beautiful weather, not too crowded. If it weren't for the 10k on Sunday it would have been perfect whether for a long run.
Good news is, both feet feel fine.
---
By the way, found a lovely feature of Runners World's website. The online training log. This may solve my workout tracking problem. We'll see.
---
Kit: New socks. Wore a new pair of Nike FITDry running socks. Honestly didn't care for them too much. (Although it was just one run.) I found that they were too thin and altered the feel of my shoes, almost made them too big. I'll have to try another new pair of something else. (I've been directed to purge socks: holes, worn through, no elastic left...so I needed to replace some.)
Yesterday:3.82mi
Today:2.54mi
This week:16.0mi
What made it different was that yesterday was the last run with my last normal running partner.
Adds a little touch of sadness to it, but I can't complain too much. Having running friends can, as I've learned, be a great thing. Motivation, a little competition and some serious cajoling when required. There were three 'regulars' who ran at least three days a week in almost any weather for the last year. Around this small group were about three or four others who joined on an 'occasional' basis. They became a bit of a marker. When we started, most of the 'occasionals' were a bit faster than I was. Quite a bit. In the 5k last week, I finished about half a minute ahead of one of them. Little things that warm your heart. (Of course, the other member of our regulars who ran beat me by several minutes so I'm not claiming too much of a victory.)
So, it's up to other things to keep me motivated to keep running. I'm moving myself soon (when and where is another story worthy of its own blog). I'll have to work much harder to maintain motivation. Any suggestions?
---
Today's run was fine. A short easy run along the waterfront: beautiful weather, not too crowded. If it weren't for the 10k on Sunday it would have been perfect whether for a long run.
Good news is, both feet feel fine.
---
By the way, found a lovely feature of Runners World's website. The online training log. This may solve my workout tracking problem. We'll see.
---
Kit: New socks. Wore a new pair of Nike FITDry running socks. Honestly didn't care for them too much. (Although it was just one run.) I found that they were too thin and altered the feel of my shoes, almost made them too big. I'll have to try another new pair of something else. (I've been directed to purge socks: holes, worn through, no elastic left...so I needed to replace some.)
Yesterday:3.82mi
Today:2.54mi
This week:16.0mi
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
The Agony of the Feet
Just a relatively normal lunchtime run today. Did the Lido Alternate return and a relatively leisurely pace (46 min and change).
I'm trying not to over due it this week for two reasons. First I have the 10k this weekend and don't want to over due it this week. Second, neither of my feet is doing particularly well. I strained my left foot about a month and a half ago (either 5-aside football or overuse or some combination). It led to a 2-week complete layoff and 3 weeks of limited running (replaced by time in gym on the cross-trainer, rowing machine and bicycle). And to top things off I stepped on a piece of glass in the kitchen with my right foot two nights ago. The good news is, neither one bothered me today. Hopefully it will stay that way.
I went to the doctor for the glass. He basically said, it probably won't show up on an X-ray if they took one (although he scheduled one for me anyway). The basic plan was just to watch it and make sure it doesn't get worse. There's no indication there's any glass still in there, just some pain if you push on it. In socks and shoes, there wasn't any pain today. We'll keep watching.
As the lovely wife would likely tell you, I missed the running while I couldn't do it. I'm not sure what I missed more the running itself or the camaraderie. I'll (unfortunately) probably find out which it was as the weeks progress. I ended up running alone today as my normal partners are now essentially gone.
Today: 4.90
This week: 9.65
I'm trying not to over due it this week for two reasons. First I have the 10k this weekend and don't want to over due it this week. Second, neither of my feet is doing particularly well. I strained my left foot about a month and a half ago (either 5-aside football or overuse or some combination). It led to a 2-week complete layoff and 3 weeks of limited running (replaced by time in gym on the cross-trainer, rowing machine and bicycle). And to top things off I stepped on a piece of glass in the kitchen with my right foot two nights ago. The good news is, neither one bothered me today. Hopefully it will stay that way.
I went to the doctor for the glass. He basically said, it probably won't show up on an X-ray if they took one (although he scheduled one for me anyway). The basic plan was just to watch it and make sure it doesn't get worse. There's no indication there's any glass still in there, just some pain if you push on it. In socks and shoes, there wasn't any pain today. We'll keep watching.
As the lovely wife would likely tell you, I missed the running while I couldn't do it. I'm not sure what I missed more the running itself or the camaraderie. I'll (unfortunately) probably find out which it was as the weeks progress. I ended up running alone today as my normal partners are now essentially gone.
Today: 4.90
This week: 9.65
Monday, July 9, 2007
New Website, New Run
In the process of setting up this blog, I've already discovered a couple of things that have helped. As I mentioned in the first post I mostly run at lunch. This is normally fine, but it does lead to running the same routes over and over again (The Dockyard, The Lido...). Last night I 'discovered' a new website www.mapmyrun.com. Not only does it give the ability to measure out runs, you can search for runs in your area that others have saved. We found this run right near work and decided to give it a go: 3-miler. Of course, we don't work on the route, so we had to add a bit of distance onto the front and back so it ended up at 4.75 miles.
The run was interestingly different. Despite both of us working in Portsmouth for at least a year and a half, neither of us had been in this area of the city. The route is also more 'urban' than we're used to. Our normal routes are off of the main streets and on running/cycle paths most of the way. The on-street time is almost entirely residential. This route was different.
I think we timed it perfectly for the lunch hour. The pavements/sidewalks were busy. There was a lot more lateral movement than on our other runs and I managed to successfully test my 'crash-back' maneuver when a parked car door opened immediately in front of me.
There's benefit here too I think. I mentioned in my last post that I had run my first race in a long time last week. The Portsmouth Athletic Club Promenade series 5k. I had forgotten how much running in traffic can affect how you run. I figure this was good practice for the next challenge: The Great Capital Run this Sunday. the 5k had about 150 runners. I suspect the 10k will have a few more.
I thoroughly enjoyed the 5k and have good memories of my last 10k. (Yes if you follow the link it was a long time ago.) I found I had some difficulties managing my pace. I suspect it's pretty common to get carried away with the crowd and start off at a faster pace than you can maintain. I missed all the distance markers before 3 and 4. But overall I had a good time.
My time was nothing that's going to win any awards, just over 24 minutes. Then again, even in the prime of my younger fitter days, I never was particularly fast. Fit, but not fast.
Today: 4.75 miles
This week: 4.75 miles
The run was interestingly different. Despite both of us working in Portsmouth for at least a year and a half, neither of us had been in this area of the city. The route is also more 'urban' than we're used to. Our normal routes are off of the main streets and on running/cycle paths most of the way. The on-street time is almost entirely residential. This route was different.
I think we timed it perfectly for the lunch hour. The pavements/sidewalks were busy. There was a lot more lateral movement than on our other runs and I managed to successfully test my 'crash-back' maneuver when a parked car door opened immediately in front of me.
There's benefit here too I think. I mentioned in my last post that I had run my first race in a long time last week. The Portsmouth Athletic Club Promenade series 5k. I had forgotten how much running in traffic can affect how you run. I figure this was good practice for the next challenge: The Great Capital Run this Sunday. the 5k had about 150 runners. I suspect the 10k will have a few more.
I thoroughly enjoyed the 5k and have good memories of my last 10k. (Yes if you follow the link it was a long time ago.) I found I had some difficulties managing my pace. I suspect it's pretty common to get carried away with the crowd and start off at a faster pace than you can maintain. I missed all the distance markers before 3 and 4. But overall I had a good time.
My time was nothing that's going to win any awards, just over 24 minutes. Then again, even in the prime of my younger fitter days, I never was particularly fast. Fit, but not fast.
Today: 4.75 miles
This week: 4.75 miles
Sunday, July 8, 2007
The Beginning
A little over a year ago I got sick and tired of being out of shape and started running . I found it easiest when I was away on business trips (there are/were lots of them). No worries about balancing family andrunning, always some free time to do it and it's a good way to say 'sorry, not going to the hotel bar immediately after work today and staying until it closes I'm going for a run instead'.
It was easy to stay focused especially on trips alone. I had some 'interesting experiences' (Running on a treadmill at a hotel in Virginia Beach because there was a lightning storm, then having the power surge crash-stop the treadmill under my feet...don't recommend that one) but mostly it's been very enjoyable.
And the results have been good as well. In addition to feeling better about myself, I've probably lost in the neighborhood of 20-25 pounds (10 kg or a stone and a half depending on your units of choice).
Over the past year I've been lucky enough to have some good co-workers. In addition to be good to work with, there has been a small group of us who will run during our lunch breaks. This solved my 'family vs running' problem. Since I haven't started training for any marathons or long runs, I've been satisfied with running during the work week then getting exercise on the weekend through other means (walking, playing with my son...).
I have now reached a difficult spot. Most of the co-workers I run with have left and I'll be following them soon. The trouble will be to maintain momentum and continue to run once the peer pressure of "going running today?" disappears. I've tried the training log and it worked for a while. The problem was updating it from various locations when the log was on a laptop that I use predominantly for travel. I guess I could go for the paper training log option, but that seemed so 20th century. So we'll try this and a few other things:
I ran my first organized road race in 11 years this past week (as evidenced from the picture) The Fourth of July Portsmouth Athletic Club Promenade Series 5K. I'm planning on running in the Great Capital Run (10K) in London next weekend (foot pain allowing). Now, after we move, if I can just keep this up, maybe it will work...
It was easy to stay focused especially on trips alone. I had some 'interesting experiences' (Running on a treadmill at a hotel in Virginia Beach because there was a lightning storm, then having the power surge crash-stop the treadmill under my feet...don't recommend that one) but mostly it's been very enjoyable.
And the results have been good as well. In addition to feeling better about myself, I've probably lost in the neighborhood of 20-25 pounds (10 kg or a stone and a half depending on your units of choice).
Over the past year I've been lucky enough to have some good co-workers. In addition to be good to work with, there has been a small group of us who will run during our lunch breaks. This solved my 'family vs running' problem. Since I haven't started training for any marathons or long runs, I've been satisfied with running during the work week then getting exercise on the weekend through other means (walking, playing with my son...).
I have now reached a difficult spot. Most of the co-workers I run with have left and I'll be following them soon. The trouble will be to maintain momentum and continue to run once the peer pressure of "going running today?" disappears. I've tried the training log and it worked for a while. The problem was updating it from various locations when the log was on a laptop that I use predominantly for travel. I guess I could go for the paper training log option, but that seemed so 20th century. So we'll try this and a few other things:
I ran my first organized road race in 11 years this past week (as evidenced from the picture) The Fourth of July Portsmouth Athletic Club Promenade Series 5K. I'm planning on running in the Great Capital Run (10K) in London next weekend (foot pain allowing). Now, after we move, if I can just keep this up, maybe it will work...
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