Monday 31 January 2011

We work out too much

A friend of mine runs marathons. He always talks about this "runner's high." But he has to go 26 miles for it. That's why I smoke and drink. I get the same feeling from a flight of stairs.

Running in the rain

That has got to be the worst time to run, especially if you wear glasses, everything is as if you are looking through a bathroom window. No one else was out running, no motivation to be seen at all.

I only ran three & half miles, however my view is if I can get myself out to run in the rain then I must be on the right track, hey-ho

Monday 24 January 2011

Can you believe it...

Saturday 22nd I ran eight miles and yes I felt great, not sure about the legs though.

Went out at lunch time, a tad cold at about 6 degrees however after 10 mins in perfect weather for me, can't really do running in the heat.

Kind of got my mind in to thinking about what I would write after running, of course sitting here now one day on, I cannot remember what I wanted to write, ironic.

Runners will understand the need to get the mind sorted and in my opinion the rule of three is what is needed for a good run.

Rule 1 - good pace and constant, not too quick to start.
Rule 2 - motivational music, each to their own, mine is 90's club music (still trying to live that time I guess) 
Rule 3 - something to think about, anything as long as it is long and complicated

Legs are going, body is all working in time, the music is motivational but also in the background, like the telly or radio in the car and your mind is somewhere else, all this is to distract from the fact you are doing something that is not natural and therefore hurts, well me anyway.

My problem will be what to think about for 5 hours when I do my Marathon, especially when the last 13 miles will be a problem, I have only run half Marathons to date hence the unknown second part. Why was I so excited when I got my place to run, who knows.

Why eight miles, well, got an email on Thursday from Sparks and in it their pro instructor runner chap casually mentions we should be at the eight mile stage by now, you can't imagine my horror, I thought four miles was good, anyway he didn't say we had to run this far every time, ha, 4 miles for me next week it is.

Oh did I say last week I would run each lunchtime from work, well I ran once, just couldn't find the time!!


The interesting thing is I was out running as other runners came and went, did I become one of those other runners...we will see.

Monday 17 January 2011

One man's hobby was running

One man's hobby was running, he spent all his weekends in the park, paying no attention to the  weather. One Sunday, early in the morning, he went to the park as usual. It was still dark, cold and raining, so he decided to return back to his house. He came in, went to his bedroom, undressed and laid near his wife. "What terrible weather today honey," he said to her. "Yes," she replied "but my idiot husband still went running!"

Will I ever run a Marathon


“In 12 weeks I am registered to run a full Marathon” – the problem with running is the advanced training, then again is that not all sport, guess I am just not a sportsman.

I started with great intentions, registered my 16 week training program back in November, then during December I got Man, Bird, Swine, Cow and Dog flu or in other words a cold however I did end up with a chest thing and therefore could not breathe. 
This quite simply put an end to my running for a month.

One does not need an excuse not to run, with an excuse, well what can I say.

So I went out running yesterday (Sunday 17th) for the first time in well over a month. The weather was perfect, dry and mild, perfect conditions some would say.

10 mins in and my feet ache, I guess this is down to the stomach they have to carry.
20 Mins in and my right knee is playing up as usual, we are just not designed to running.
30 Mins in and my breathing should be ok by now, was it hell, I was as red faced as the farmer on the ale.
40 Mins, time for a cig, a sit down on the park bench, try to look controlled.

Looking at my training program, (you know the one that went out of the window last November) I should be at the 10 mile stage – no chance, guess I have a lot to do.

I have to say though I prefer running in the winter for a number of reasons –

1. No one runs so no one is looking
2. Its dark so no one can see
3. Winter clothing so not one can tell (size of stomach)

This week I plan to run Tuesday through to Friday…ha, I will keep you posted
Now that I am so far behind will I ever catch up, will I ever run a Marathon?...