Training - Day 19

It's New Year's Eve but it doesn't stop. Today, as usual, Joss showed me up by running for 45 minutes as I settled for a 30 minute bike ride. I am going to have to up my game cos I'm getting fatter, not fitter. Tomorrow, though, I plan to do an 11 mile run which will (hopefully) be the longest run I have ever done, so I wanted to make sure I came through unscathed. The only thing that could scupper me would be if a drinking event were to get in the way - but that's unlikely.... Happy New Tear!!

Training - Day 18

It's another jog or rest day. You are right - it's a rest day. The cough is definitely going but there's no point in pushing it, is there ?

Training - Day 17

When I go to the gym, I have this thing about personal space. I hate it when, in an empty gym, people choose to exercise next to me. There's simply no need. What is by far the worst offence, though, are people that have their own selfish agendas that turn up coughing and spluttering all over everyone else, putting these innocents' training plans in jeopardy. It is for that reason that I would like to publically apologise to the two girls who ran in the same line of treadmills as I did doing 10 x 400m sprints - nobody should be put through that level of sniffing, wheezing and coughing - but at least I survived ;-)

Training - Day 16

I've been feeling better today and so it was back to the gym. I did a 30 minute cycle on the "lazy" bike and then did a series of stretching that seems to have been devised to hurt rather than help. Joss showed me up again by cycling flat out for an hour. I on the other hand finished my entire workout in 50 minutes and wisely spent the waiting 10 minutes purchasing and eating a delicious flap-jack - who says I don't know how to train

Day 15 - Groundhog Day

Feeling a bit better - but not good enough to join Joss at the gym. I can't keep feeling sorry for myself though so hoping to do a gentle bike ride at the gym tomorrow - otherwise by the time I start I'm going to be the size of a house !!

Day 14 - Boxing Day

Today is a rest day and believe me that's all I'm capable of. Still feeling shoddy, still can't taste anything, still needed to go to bed in the afternoon. Tried a couple of glasses of wine but that just made me feel menapausal as I came over with hot flushes. So want to stay up and watch the cricket but just can't do it

Day 13 - Christmas Day

Today I'm scheduled a 9 mile run. 2 things against this: 1 The pavements are too slippery to run on and 2 I now have fully fledged man cold. I can't breathe through my nose (I know, I know no cold could be that big), I have a headache and it feels like someone is sitting on my chest. I hit an all time low this afternoon as I ate (but could not taste) the best looking Christmas dinner ever and then had to go to bed. Happy Christmas one and all

Day 12 - Christmas Eve

So, the gym is closed and I'm due a 30 minute workout of something other than running. It took some pondering but I came up with the ideal solution - leave work at 12:00 and go straight to the George. Barging your way through masses of revellers and carrying those very heavy drinks must count for something. Plus having a bladder the size of a pea meant that one way or another I was constantly on the move -oh well, there's always tomorrow

Day 11 - Pete Tong

It was a rest day today which was just as well as I'm feeling rough. The cough's back and doesn't look like going away anytime soon. Added to that I've just found out that the gym is closed tomorrow which mucks up the weights I was planning plus it's still too slippery to run outside. I know it's Christmas so should be full of festive spirit but if it doesn't warm up soon it could all get a bit tricky.....

Speed Training - Day 10

Had a bit of a late night last night (and on a school night too!!) so have been feeling a little "tired" today and wasn't looking forward to training. Still, at least it means I get to leave work early so off I went at 3 for my 8 x 400m runs. Maybe this training is starting to kick in as it felt pretty good. The only problem came when the hot water failed at the gym without the gym knowing, hence no signs warning of this. I honestly thought I was going to pass out when the ice cold water hit me and because there were others having a shower (in their own cubicles) I had to refrain from screaming like a girl - but I so wanted to!!!!

Training - Day 9

I was up early to go to the gym this morning and Joss came with me for a workout. I realise now what I've missed by going alone when, as she stepped onto the treadmill and noticed me picking my own instrument of torture she said "oh you're doing the lazy bike today are you?". You just can't buy that kind of motivation. To be fair it would have been difficult to pick me as the one in training for a Marathon as she ran like the clappers for the time I was cycling. It was very festive though as I felt like I was being chased by Rudolf as the keys in her pocket were rattling so loud.

Training - Day 8

This snow and bad weather won't stop my enthusiasm and get me down, will it - to be perfectly honest it just might! I'm getting pretty fed up with slogging my way through slush and not being able to run outside. Still, I did a 40 minute jog and plenty of stretching afterwards. I need a few more people to join the gym so I can people watch my way through these runs - just so long as they don't exercise next to me - there's no need for that!!!

Training - Day 7 - Rest Day

No, this isn't me skiving through another day - it's in the schedule, honest. I like to think myself quite perceptive and intuitive and within this rest day, I am reading between the lines to see that what is also means is that I can eat and drink whatever I damn well please - so that's what I've done. The jog tomorrow could be interesting.....

Training - Day 6 - Change of Plans

So, I leave the pub early on Friday (difficult), drink gallons of water, go to bed early, get up at 7:15 ON A SATURDAY (very difficult), have some sensible porridge, start stretching for today's 7 mile run, opened the curtains and it's been bleeding snowing. I can't run on that - I'm not safe in the dry. Decided to watch the cricket - quickly decided not to. Can't get to the gym this morning so decided to go in the afternoon. My plans for the morning run were exacting, the plans for the afternoon run - not so much - had a huge lunch which meant that for the first 3 miles, as well as concentrating on my audio book I had to concentrate on not being sick. Tried one of these new gel food thingies half way and I made it to the end so I guess it worked. As long as I believe - that's all that matters

Training - Day 5

Today I was able to put my shorts on without the need of painkillers and a belt to bite down on so the rest day was the right decision. Arranged to meet friends for a swift half after work so went to the gym first thing this morning. It was so cold that while I did my bike ride, the car froze over again - I just hope that the weather is better tomorrow. Left the pub at 7 o'clock which I was really pleased with and will be mostly drinking water for the rest of the evening

Training - Day 4

Today, according to the schedule, I could choose between a 30 minute jog or a rest day. It was a tough decision made much easier when my 10 year old stabbed me in the leg causing me to collapse in agony. I say stabbed, by which I mean she accidentally brushed past my leg as she gave me a morning hug - I still had to turn my head though so she didn't see her dad cry. Rest day for me !!

Day 3 - Speed Training

My legs seemed to be hurting even more today which didn't bode well for the speed training. I did 6 x 400m at 11.1 kph with 2 minute gaps between each run and by the end I was shattered. The main fear is that this is only week 1 - still, I guess the guy that created the training plan knows what he's doing - doesn't he...?

Training - Day 2

I'm not sure if it was the jog yesterday, or the fact that I had to walk up 7 floors 3 times at work but my legs were killing me today. It was up at 6 this morning to get to the gym for a 30 minute cycle. It was SOO cold I hope I can keep the enthusiasm for these early starts going. I'm now the bagel king, following advice from my running Bible - for once in my life, carbs are my friend

Training Starts - Day 1

Today it was a 40 minute jog at 8.2 kph which I thought would be a breeze as I left work early to go to the gym. That was until after about 10 minutes when my right knee started to hurt. This can't be right - it's only day 1 and I've got 17 weeks of training left!!
Maybe it's just the shock of running after a 2 week rest....I hope.....

Last Weekend of Freedom

Training starts Monday so I'm rounding off a fortnight's non-training (including an indulgent weekend away at Brighton) with a curry tonight!!
My weight has ballooned beyond all recognition so I'm hoping that the training starting soon is happening at the right time as there's no chance of my lugging this stomach round a 26 mile course

Finding a Happy Balance...?

So, it's been bleeding freezing this week so I thought I'd run prepared. Long trousers, short trousers, long-sleeved t-shirt, jumper, short sleeved t-shirt, jacket, hat and gloves - that should do it I thought.Then the temperature rose about 5 degrees and I've not sweat like that before!!
Still, I know what to do now to get down to a racing weight...

Like a Brand New Boy

Today I went for an 8 mile run and was dressed head to toe in my new buys for the first time. I have to admit that I didn't feel entirely comfortable with the "look" but luckily for me the only person I bumped into that I knew was Phil Biles, who's much to much of a gent to take the mickey - to my face at least....

It's Become Clear....

I went for a longer jog today (8 miles) and I think it's safe to say that I no longer think that running slow enough will be a problem!!
For the watch to work properly you need to stand still and wait for the watch to get the signal and a 2-3 minute wait outside Barclays House with your arm held out is embarassing enough but add the fact that it was at this time the heavens opened, I did feel more foolish than usual.

Dilemma

I have decided that running a marathon isn't stupid enough - I've set myself a target of beating 4 hours !!! Training proper doesn't start for a few weeks but I was keen to try out my GPS Gizmo so went for a jog at lunchtime. For the marathon I need to run 9 minute miles and in training 11 minute miles. I ran slower than usual to see what the pace was and I averaged 8.5 minute miles which means only 1 thing - I'm never going to get to the end !! Instead of telling me to speed up as she cycles beside me, Joss will be shouting at me to slow down so I last longer.........

Help Has Arrived

We have just picked up Joss's new bike! It's got a basket on the front and Joss is going to cycle with me in training, carrying water to help me do the distances needed.
All she needs now is to find an industrial sized spatula and we can reinact "Run Fatboy Run" as I run through Poole

It's A Start!

Well, I've done what every bloke does when facing a challenge - gone out and bought a load of gizmos that are meant to make the job easier!
I've new, shiny trainers, running trousers that make me look like Max Wall (something for the old 'uns), a waterproof jacket you can see from Mars and a watch that can track the exact moment I give up.
Added to that I've got a water carrier and some packets of gel that are meant to revitalise at the right moments. With all this behind me - do I really need to train at all....surely it's in the bag?