Motivation

Well, this morning's run was tough. Mostly cos of the wine last night - note to self, although alcohol has many calories they don't count as carbo-loading. I felt terrible, really slow and sluggish. Kept getting over taken by other runners (no one older or fatter than me though)
And the motivation thing is - to lose weight and fight ageing. Nothing too trivial then.

I did run last Sunday as well but I think it was a lot better...

Och Aye x 3

Been running on Bute. Ascog, near Rothsay, to be precise.
It was bute-iful (no-one's ever made that joke before) The weather was perfect - despite packing for rain and cold it was shorts and tees all week.
The route was from our landmark trust place down to the main road then along the sea shore in either direction. There weren't many roads.
First run I went right towards Mount Stuart (a fantastic castly, gardeny place) which was OK but the pavement ran out and there was a lot of running along the edge of the road with cars coming at you round blind corners. Didn't do that one twice.
Then I did 2 runs the other way into Rothsay (as far as the small co-op to be precise) then running back - about 5.4 miles so not too shabby.
It's brilliant running alongside the sea - the air is just so clean and fresh and there's scenery to look at - just perfect really.
I'm sure it would be a different matter in the winter when you're fighting a gale and hail, but for that one week it was as near perfect as you can get...

weighty bum

When I run, my bum feels really heavy. I guess it's because it's quite large. I know if I lose a bit of weight some will eventually go from my arse (tbh I mean haunches. Awful, awful word but descriptive and accurate)  But in the meantime I will continue to run with a slab of flab bringing up my rear.
Mmm, nice mental picture...

But the run was fine. Little bit too much dry white last night for it to feel comfy, and the weather was too hot so I had to keep crossing the road to get into the shade.
But it's done - 70 mins so probably 7 miles. And it was ok. There was a lot of mental argument going on - I really wanted to walk for a while but I just had a stern word with myself and got over it. My feet were a bit achy towards the end which wasn't very pleasant but I don't think there's an easy way around that - other than perhaps to run quite a bit more often.
Then perhaps I will achieve the lightweight bum I crave...

Sizzling

Looks like summer decided to show its face this morning - it was very warm. Warm enough for a 2-hour red face.
Run was ok - did about 75 mins and was OK til the last bit when I ran out of energy - I guess one sugar-free red bull substitute was never going to get me round 7 miles or so...
Also my left hip didn't hurt too much - I've done a few stretches and they seemed to have worked. I'm just going to have to continue. Simples.

evening run

OK, cos I missed the run on Sunday I decided to go this evening for a change. Don't like running in the evening for some reason - and the reason is, cos I'm not so good in the evenings. I find it far harder work both physically and mentally.

But hey ho - I went the full 10k+ route and it really really hurt. My left hip and knee were really painful and towards the end my left hip was aching too. But as soon as I stop, it goes away. I know I should be doing the stretches - and if I'm going to go for the 1/2 marathon again I'm going to have to do them. Bah humbug.

I should just be grateful that at my enormous age I can still drag myself round a 10k course...

8 days without a run...

Can't say I really miss it. Is that wrong?

I had a migrainey thing yesterday (brought on by Pirates of the Carribean - I think it was the 3d aspect of it rather than an overdose of Mr Depp...) so I stayed in bed til 3pm (apart from the odd rush to the lav for vomming - lush) and decided a run wasn't the best plan...

But now I have the annual dilemma of whether I should enter the 1/2 marathon. It's 12 weeks til the event which is more than long enough to get into shape for it - but can I get into mental shape for it and not chicken out again? I know it's a great motivation for upping the running and losing weight (10 lbs between now and then would be good...) so what's not to like?

Just do it???

Bad run

Was dropped off at the water tower.

Then the radio thingy for the ipod wasn't working - it would only play absolute radio and bfpo that sort of thing.

And even though it was a lovely day, I was unhappy and kept stopping to question what the hell I was doing.

So I ran home as hard and fast as I could just to get it over with.

Not a happy experience frankly.

Bit of a first for me...

Went for an hour's run - IN THE RAIN.

It was quite vile - but the rain was set in for the day so it was a no-brainer really. (Well, I could have just not gone of course) and actually once you get out there and have got wet, it kind of doesn't get any worse. I had slight misgivings about running in a wet tee-shirt of course but more worried about my wobbly belly than boobie delights...

And today (Monday) I have a hurty knee. I hope it's not the old IT band problem coming back to haunt me although I can't see what else it might be. I will have to knuckle down and get doing those awful stretches which really hurt but seem to go right to the problem.

Run of the mill run

Well it was the 10km+ route, I felt a bit tired but nothing too bad. Weather was OK. Listened to the radio - Broadcasting House was interesting as usual. And then a little of the Archers.

So, all in all pretty pedestrian.

I lost my headband which is a bit annoying but frankly I looked terrible in it, don't know what I was thinking. I have hair and fringe issues, never quite sure what's the best look. But then when there is a saggy middle-aged face to flatter, there are very few options. A balaclava maybe...

But at least I went for a run. I had a shock on the bathroom scales this morning which is making me more determined to up the mileage a little. And eat less. Etc.

the stats, Igor, the stats

Time: 53' 16"
PB I'll have you know. Again.

Overall placing (of 9000 runners): 3593rd (sadly the podium didn't extend beyond the first 3 places otherwise I'd have been up there...)

I'm quite pleased with myself tbh - when finishing in the middle of 1000s of others (and being overtaken by a couple of blokes literally sprinting to the line) it's easy to forget the amount of effort I put into getting there.
Pat on back.

PB

Hurray!!! I've done a PB in the 10k!!!
Not entirely sure what the actual timing will be but I crossed the line at 53 25 ish and that was after crossing the startline a few seconds after the start so I guess it's about that long.
It felt OK mostly. It's pretty flat so there's no breathlessness issues in the 1st 100m and the usual aches and pains didn't seem to materialise much either.
The hardest bit was km7 and 8 which was off the bottom of the portway and over the cumberland basin (a longer hill than you're expecting) and then the drag down past Spike Island to the Louisiana. It seems to go on and on and there is a very slight uphill slope but by then even a slight slope seems like a massive insult.
I was passing people there and was getting my breath back from the hill over the cumberland basin and it was all good.
Soooo good to get into the centre and towards the finish though... I'd missed the 9km marker but I knew exactly where the finish was and it was getting closer with every step and when I saw the clock I was delighted! I felt I'd pushed reasonably hard all the way round and so it was great to see there was a decent outcome. I guess it was cos there weren't any massive hills like there have been on the past couple of runs - plus the crowd helps (even thought it was quite sparse in places...)

so then began the job of finding boyf. We'd got separated before the start and it's a nightmare trying to find anyone in that sort of a crowd. but we got back together at the car and then off for a slap up shower and a feast at the cowshed.
So why is it that I've done that distance many times before but doing it with 9,000 other people makes it so much more knackering?

all in the mind #2

Suddenly 10k seems like a very long way.

I know I've run far further even quite recently - but once there is a label on the run it seems like that is the target which makes it the hardest part of the run. Does this make any sense?
I think what I mean is I can go for a long run and be surprised at the distance when I get back. When it's a measured distance, that is the peak point of the run, the point where you have used up all your energy and you can then stop.
Plus the fact it's done in front of other people makes it more of a challenge, it makes it an event, something which can be failed. If it wasn't an event there would be ne shame in cutting a corner and going home early.

hmmm.

Am less optimistic about Sunday now. But that way lies ruin: I must maintain a slightly manic yet realistic positivity.

And is will all be over by 11am on Sunday. And we've already booked a Sunday lunch somewhere excellent. :)

it's all in the mind

Well, some of it is foot and leg related obviously, but it's amazing how much your head is in control.
For instance, when my lovely ipod told me I'd done 10k this morning, it seemed like the hardest thing in the world to keep going let alone to keep the energy going.

But I did. What a trouper, etc.
statto - the stats:

1 hour 4 mins 39secs
6.94 miles
9'18" per mile
644 cals

Things to remember for next Sunday
the first 3 km or so are hard work - feet hurt and so on. After that the left hip begins tightening up but feet are getting better.
after that it's mind over matter.
I have to keep up the pace if I'm going to get under the hour. And that's hard work.

I've realised this morning that if I feel I'm pushing quite hard then I will equal what I did in the last 10 when I was feeling rough. But also thinner and younger. It's just the ravages of age. Perhaps I could get a lot quicker but I would have to lose about 15lbs and do a lot more training. And I don't want to do that. Perhaps I'm just not motivated enough.

Last week's run stats were:

bah - they're not kept. Today's lesson - if you want to keep your stats you have to download them otherwise the next one will overwrite the previous one...

Virtuous holiday running

I primed the nike+ to do a 10k run rather than just a basic workout and set off along the treacherous road out of our holiday let in Kingsbridge. It's one of those roads where there's no footpath and the traffic's pretty racy. In one direction there's a sign to pedestrians to go through the cemetery rather than risk the side of the road. Pretty sobering when they're turning away potential customers in the interest of safety...

So, anyway, had a jog around the town, found a leisure centre then failed to get very far around the estuary. Too many private roads. Turned back and found myself running up a hill steep enough to remind me of the cheese-rolling one in Gloucestershire - I had to walk the last bit. But surprisingly (well, actually this happens every time I go up a steep hill) after I got my breath back I felt really good.
I wonder if for the 10k I'm going to have to do a quick sprint at some point as a boost... (perhaps I won't risk that...)

So then I find myself going through a rather dull housing estate before continuing along the estuary, past the cemetery and up to the bridge, as in 'Kingsbridge', that one.

By this time the nice chap on the nike+ was telling me there were 4km to go and so I reckoned I would just go for the full 10. Which was quite challenging in itself - but there was the added thing of wanting to get it done in under an hour. I know the poxy hill slowed me down rather a lot, but there is no way I'm going to beat the previous time of 57 mins something especially as I felt I ran quite well.

So perhaps this 10k race will simply be a case of trying to keep up with my younger self...

time is running out

I have just realised (finger on the pulse, me) that it's only about 18 days until the 10k...

I reckon I'll get round OK (providing I prepare better than last time) but I would like to do it in under an hour - and that's going to be a struggle for fat little old me.

Last time I felt I pushed it and did it in about 57mins and the usual scrum at the beginning kind of slowed me down a bit. I have to do 9 1/2 minute-miles which is doable I think. It fecking ought to be - it's hardly olympic standard is it...

Should I run tonight, after work, in the heat???

oh my days

Well after a long break I went for a run this morning, in the Easter heatwave we seem to be having. OK it was only 830, before it got really hot, but it was still fairly steamy.

And I went 13k or so - which is further than I was planning (not that I ever plan these things)

So I feel very pleased with myself and it's counteracted all the immense amount of food I've been eating recently. So, hurray for me.

But I need to do a lot more before the 10k in May - the distance isn't perhaps too much of a problem, but the speed and the ease of running it is. Today I felt knackered and it was a struggle to keep going, frankly. But I did. I slowed down a lot and just accepted that it was never going to be a happy run. I have to take preparation a little bit more seriously if I'm going to beat my previous time of 57mins, some seconds. I would like to think I came in under the hour at least.
We shall see...

another half of half a marathon

Well, I've signed up for this year's 10k in Bristol.

Ulp.

Well, I guess I know I can do the distance (witness my heroic last run) but it's whether I can do one to order. As in, at a time and place which I haven't chosen. At least I know the route will be flat (no side trips to the camera obscura. At least I really hope not - the Portway is about 100m below the thing...)

But, last time I did the 10k I suffered. I was a bit stressed out for some reason - after all I'd done the training and I'd already done the 1/2 marathon, so there should have been no reasn for fear. But I had butterflies while waiting for the off. I also needed a wee which didn't help, but I was doing my usual thing of being so desperate not to be late for a thing that I got to the start line too early - I probably did have time for a wee cos it takes so long for everyone to get through the start. Hey ho, next time will be good!

I've put in for a 55mins time which is 5mins 30 per km - I have no idea how that translates to mins per mile - about 9 30 probably which is doable - as long as I get the right carbo-loading worked out. No wine the night before, I'd suggest for starters.

woop woop

Glorious sunny morning. Slightly more suitable carbo-loading last night of fish and chips and chocolate.
And my run was lovely - hard work, some aches and pains but generally almost enjoyable.
8.66 miles which is the furthest I've gone for a long time.

General feeling of well-being!

carbo loading

As part of a scientific experiment involving major self-sacrifice I can now disclose my findings.

White wine and chocolate do not constitute carbo-loading.

In fact, if anything, I might even conclude that taken together the night before a very unambitious run is something of a hindrance.

But at least I left the house wearing stretchy stuff and went for a run. Hurrah  

Ashton Court Parkrun

Just seen this:

http://www.parkrun.org.uk/ashton-court/Home.aspx

It's basically a 5k run every Saturday in a nice location, they time you and then you go for a cup of tea.

Sounds like a nice thing to do.

But it's 0900 on a Saturday morning which means leaving home by 815 and cycling over the bridge to Ashton Court. And then back home again.

Still it's a good incentive to go for a run I guess....

Any takers???