Saturday 30 June 2012

Another one bites the dust

Juneathon is finished
Well this is it, the month is over and we can have a day off tomorrow yaaaaay!. This month has been hard, having been running for another 6months, I thought I'd find it easier, and be able to beat my Janathon total, but no, I found it a lot harder, probably because of life/death and work getting in the way, and the awful British summer we had at the beginning.
I've run a respectable 179km which I should be happy with ( and I am really) but I'd planned to beat my 200km from Jan, the shortage is due to too many token jogs round the block of 0.5,1 & 2km but I did it (well most, I did one day of exercise and I think there's a couple of blogs missing/half written in drafts)
 For tonight's run I felt I had to put a bit of effort in for the finish line, and fortunately my kids had spent the day  at their friends so the wife & I drove out to pick them up,and I ran back home from there a pleasant 13km of footpaths mostly following the River Darenth, what better way to watch the sun set.

Its been a pleasure running with you all, and reading a few of the blogs (must read more next time), looking forward to Janathon already

Todays total 13km
Juneathom Total 179km

Friday 29 June 2012

29th of Juneathon

The same story that has happened to many times this month
4am up
5am leave house
6am-4pm work
5pm home
but tonight extra was 6-9 family fun 'day'/party in the park, whereI some how ending up manning the sumo suit stand, and spent 2 1/2 hrs lift kids from 5-15yrs off the floor in huge padded sumo suits,with the added job of throwing all the extra teenagers that enjoyed a good bundle. Then walk home and go for a 12 mile round trip to drop kids of at their mates house for the night, so get home after 1030, and shattered. So a quick run round the block, still in normal trainers, and combat shorts with hoodie.
Just hope I can get a decent run in tomorrow night to end the month on

Thursday 28 June 2012

Are we nearly there yet?

Please tell me we are, tonight's 5km was the hardest one I had to do in a longtime, really struggled to keep going, and not stop to walk. My leg were the heaviest they've ever been, how people maintain year long run streaks I don't know, especially the mighty Fletch, who has not only done over a year know but has managed to run 200km MORE than me in June ( I haven't even managed 200 this time).
Oh well only 2 days to go, then we can take 6 months off

Wednesday 27 June 2012

Non runner

Having worked from 6am til 7pm & then gone out for dinner so I didn't get home until gone 11, meant I finally missed a run this month, but to make up for it I did 20 sit ups, press ups, crunches, tricep dips & squats.
Goodnight now so I can get up 3,1/2 hours

Saturday 23 June 2012

Another 5km

Really nothing to write about today apart from Longest Day Run fail, though I have tomorrow to fix that. The original plan was myself and copy7t were to run as 4 or 6 parkrun courses across the day, but due to his hamstring complaints and my working that never happened. Also due to another night of only 4hrs sleep and a  4am alarm meant that I was in no condition for a long run tonight, and so I just did a 5km for juneathon. I've just seen the time and so need to finish this off as I need to be up at 6 to leave at 7 for 8am registration at Polesden Lacey 10km, then once home I'm planning another 10km trailout to the villages for a summer lunch/dog walk, then run home again knocking up a potential 30km tomorrow

Friday 22 June 2012

Day 22


This morning whilst waiting for the wife to return from school run, I was just wandering round the web bored, when I suddenly thought, I should be exercising. My first juneathon post stated that I was going to do an exercise routine each day along with my running, that actually went out the window after about day 5 or 6. So this morning I decided to have another stab at it, and so did the 8min abs routine, and then the homemade one listed on 1st of June.This didn't take long, and so I had the idea of  doing this first thing in the morning, before work, as running at 4am really isn't going to happen, I just don't have time, but could spend ten minutes doing a few crunches, press ups, squats etc, and then carry on doing my runs after work. So lets see how that works out next week
As for today's run, it was a gentle 10km (well 11 in the end)  being monitor by runtastic on my HTC one V and with my Garmin 410 - was interesting to see the differences between the two
Eyes are closing so will see you again tomorrow

Thursday 21 June 2012

Nearly Failed

Having been in meeting all day, and then all gone to TGI Fridays afterwards, I was pretty tired and stuffed when I got home at 9pm this evening, so I figured I needed to let my dinner settle before I went out tonight. This would deal with the stuffed feeling but unfortunately gave the tired feeling opportunity to take  control, meaning I woke on the sofa and it was gone 11pm. With gale force winds and rain to match I nearly said sod it,but no that wasn't right so chucked on a coat and jogged round the block, just to save my Juneathon effort, now back to giving in to the tired feeling..............goodnight

Wednesday 20 June 2012

Dog Jog/Intervals?

Well I needed to run, and the dog needed to go out, that was easily fixed, but I didn't have much time, so now what?
Another try out for the 410, lets play intervals.Now I've never tried doing intervals but the watch does really make it easy, plus I discovered that a lap of the local playing field  is pretty much spot on 500m, which is what I set my run segment for.
Now as I said I didn't have much time as the kids needed to be put to bed, and with the dog it wasn't easy to maintain pace, but now I know how it works, I definitely will be doing a few more and be making it part of my weekly routine

Tuesday 19 June 2012

A PB

My run tonight was a bit techie overload do to wearing my mobile using the runtastic app with my head phones playing 'rock my run' remix and then my new Garmin 410 and heart monitor chest strap. I'm running both as I want to keep the runtastic app running at least until the end of Juneathon so I can use the screen shot of the calender in the final blog. I decided to go for a quick run as I had just set up the Garmin and needed a max. heart rate figure, so I set the virtual trainer for 4.55min/km  and selected 'Go Hard' as the tunes and shot off, apart from a few teething probs with the touch sensitive bezel all went well, in fact very well with the Garmin registering approx 23:20 min for 5km which was a personal best by a good 10 seconds too.
Happy Days

Monday 18 June 2012

New Toys

Another late run tonight, due to me getting home at 8pm and finding my new Garmin forerunner 410 had arrived and so I needed to play with that a bit first but it said to charge for 3hrsand so there was no way I was waiting until 1130 to go out, so my first Garmin run will have to wait until tomorrow. So tonight was a 25:01min 5km

Sunday 17 June 2012

Go Ape - Go to Bed

As a Fathers Day treat me and my two sons, my Dad & my two youngest brothers headed to Bedgebury Pinetum and enjoy the tree top fun of Go Ape.Although great fun, it knackered all of us and so once home we were all falling asleep, but then I realised I hadn't run but was far to knackered and was all set to give in, but figured that wasn't an option, so I just went out as I was (trek trainers, cargo shorts and hoodie) and ran round the block - yep a full half kilometer in under 3 1/2mins, That was that

Saturday 16 June 2012

Ford to Ford

Just noticed I've missed this one so will keep it short, unlike the run.
Needed to pick the kids up from Eynsford,so me and the wife drove out and then I ran home using the foothpaths/ Darenth Valley River Walk as much as possible for a 13km run, unfortunately the sun made it home before me and so the end of the run was ran in the dark!

Friday 15 June 2012

Late night shopping

Was busy online spending my bonus, on a Garmin 410 and a net book, saw it was 2230 so threw my shorts on and sprinted round the block for a 9:06 2km, and that's all you're getting frome tonight both running and blogging

Goodnight

Thursday 14 June 2012

Getting Muddy Lost......again!

Well I found myself home alone again this morning,with the car, on a nice sunny day. Days off mean longer runs, car means somewhere new/further a field - happy days.
A quick google found a couple of country parks, with 10km circular walks, no intentions of walking anyway, but marked out trails makes for easier running - or does it?!?
Right then Trosley Country Park here I come
Once there, (sat nav taking me to a footpath on the road before - lost#1) I nipped in the visitor centre and grabbed a map/leaflet (learning from the last time, see 6/6/12)and so off on the Harvel Hike I went - or so I thought.
I found the start OK, I know I was looking for arrows with A on and had a map in my hand, I head along the trail and think its all going well, then I'm not sure - think I may have missed a turning, but the route starts and finishes on the same long approach so figured I could just run it backwards. Once at the end I'm now thinking I may have got back on track, yep I have, excellent...........bugger missed another one, sod it, I'm running out of time, am not going back again, have map, so find my way back the route and head back. I got there, though not sure if I completely followed my intended route, grabbed a large piece of flapjack and a Blackberry & Nettle tea and headed home.

My top tip for running is although you have the map, its a good idea to have a look and read the  directions before you start running, so you know what to look out for on the go.

Todays figures 5.7km in 34:06

Total 90.38km

Might go out again today cos not happy with only 5km on my day off

Wednesday 13 June 2012

13th of Juneathon

Another bright and dry , and so I thought a nice  run round the heath. As it was late (ish) and so the heath would be quiet, and I figured I should take some company in the shape of a year old black Labrador named Jess. Although she was reluctant at first, but once at the heath and off the lead she was happy to jog along and then once back on the road at 5km she got really into it and as she was back on the lead, dragged me flat out for about half a km until I had to pull her back for a bit  and then settle back into a jog.
Tomorrow is my day off so weather and wife permitting hopefully my km's will be in double figures

Distance - 7.11km in 40:26

Total 84.67km

Tuesday 12 June 2012

Dry Run

After the last few days of bad weather, I was really started to dislike Juneathon, and with another 18 days to go its far to early to be getting fed up. I could deal with the cold of January but I don't remember it being wet like this. Though my dedication was recognised on Twitter buy @jogblog, @Jo365 & @cmmercer. Then this morning whilst flicking some fresh tweets, I noticed @jogblog debated whether to cycle in the rain to her spin class - which I duly encouraged along with @helsieboo and @jogblog held true to her word and got wet on the way there and back again.
Her getting wet was apparently my fault despite the fact that I had already informed her that as the organiser of this event surely it was her responsibility to book the Sun as that's the idea of Juneathon over Janathon (heat over cold). Clearly the soaking did the job in persuading her to deal with her oversight and so the Sun made an appearance nicely in time for me to have a warm bright 5km run when I got home from work.
Apparently I owe an apology, for @jogblog getting wet - I'm not sure I completely agree but

Sorry Cathy/@jogblog/@janathon/@juneathon (any other personalities I don't know off) that you got wet because I said yes you should cycle to spin class, but Thank you for getting the Sun out, and I hope you've booked it for the rest of the month

5km in 24:59

Juneathon total - 77.56km

Monday 11 June 2012

Token Effort

I was up at 4am, have done a 14hr shift, didn't get home until 9pm, and its still bloody raining (I'm getting wetter now than I did for Janathon), but running is what I said I'd do, and so a short run round the block mustering a token 2km is the best you're getting from me, especially as my alarm is going off at 4am again tomorrow - Goodnight all

Sunday 10 June 2012

Rainy with Heavy Legs

Having spent the weekend in Wales and not got back until 7 tonight, then eaten and unloaded the car it was gone 9pm before a run was on the cards, and bugger it was still raining. My wife kept saying 'can't you just do a short one', etc but no, I was determined to keep to my 5km minimum.......that was until I started running and realised how much the last 2 days of running the hills in Newport had taken their toll on my legs. Damn they felt heavy, a lot heavier than the rain, so I figured a shorter run might be a better idea, so 3.5km was it, finishing at my parents house to reclaim our dog (Jess) whp'd spent the weekend there. Now although not logged, I could add another half km as, I not sure whether it was the rain or the excitement of going home to the family, but Jess was determined to run all the way home

So that was day 10

Running to a Run

Today is Saturday, and so it is #parkrun day, and as I'm off work and it is #Juneathon it would be rude not to attend. Now I'm not at home so I've  played my tourist card and run the Newport event.
I look up where it was, last night and saw it was only about 4km away, so rather than wake the others early, I decided to run there.

....Published unfinished just to get it out there......will finish eventually

Friday 8 June 2012

Running in a Foreign Land

Today I'm 180miles from home, in a foreign land - well Wales but hey its a different country, and they definitely speak a very different language. As always in Wales its raining, and wasn't looking like it was going to stop, so it was 8pm and I figured I was going to run out of light if I didn' t go soon, so accepting the fact I was going to get wet, I stuck my shorts on and headed out.
Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal
I'd look at a route earlier trying to find a 5km loop, and wrote a basic set of directions and then obviously left them on my mother in laws table. Armed with a dangerously rough idea of where I was heading I started running - up hill (there are so many hills, the first 1km had a 39m gain). Quite obviously the original route went out the window by the second turning, and from then I start winging it. After 2km I was almost back again which was never the plan,  so I checked my phone map and tried to recover the original route. I found the woods I was to run along side, past the barracks that were on the planned route, but then found a canal that I had looked for the last time I was here, and so started running along there. As the picture shows its quite pretty, though had I taken the shot to the right, it would of been the M4, but I just kept looking left whilst running, with the music drowning out the traffic, and pretending it was all good. Once I felt like I'd found a bridge to cross over to the other side, I checked my map again and saw that the most direct route was straight up through the woods - easier said than done due to the 'drought' causing the hill to be very slippery and the pond to burst its bank and be flowing across the path

Once back out of the woods, found myself back on the same roads I'd been on earlier so carried on back down the hills throwing an extra couple km's at the bottom for good measure.
This was the story of a damp day 8



8th of Juneathon

7.85km in 49:19 starting at 2022 on 08/06/12

Total 53.14km (using running app, inc all the decimal bits)



Day 8 Jogged Logged and Blogged

Thursday 7 June 2012

7th of Juneathon

Okay, so today's is going to be the short one

I ran 10km on the road today, managed to do it in the dry with the sun shining despite the  fact that it was raining for the majority of the day. My total's not bad for the first week but well off if I want 250 for the end of the month so need to put in a few more 10's. The next few day will be posted from Wales so who knows what might happen.


7th of Juneathon

10km in 56:31 starting at 1812 on 07/06/12

Total 44.5km

Day 7 Jogged Logged and Blogged

Wednesday 6 June 2012

Get Muddy Lost

The wife and kids were out today, so I figured a long run was due. I was never going to reach my 250km target only running 5s each day.
So having waited for the cloud burst to clear, I took Jess for a 4.5km walk round the heath, then headed home to decide where to run.
I'd been toying with the idea of following the River Darenth until I found the Lullingstone visitors centre, where some coffee and flapjack would be enjoyed before turning back. Now this turned out to be approx 28km so prob a tad long, though not out of the question as I had all day, and it was two halves, but then I remembered I had the car, so could go further a field and try somewhere new. Straight away the Darnley Trail sprung to mind out at Shorne Country Park. Its a 10km loop that start and finishes  at the Country Park Visitors centre, I'd seen it when we did a sponsored dog walk earlier in the year. So off I went.
Why couldn't I follow the route?!?
The start of the run was well marked and so easy to follow, and was very muddy and down hill so quite fun, then I hit the road, saw a black arrow pointing left and that was the last one I saw. So I continued to follow random footpath signs, running through woods, farms, horse fields, cow fields and along rivers, until  I ran out of footpaths, and decided to find out where I was and workout how to get back to the car (oh the joys of phone apps! though if I had a map, I wouldn't of been lost in the first place).
Eventually I found myself in Shorne village , which seemed a nice little place, though possibly a bit dated in areas.
I found my way back to the woods, and in to the country park, though not knowing exactly where I was in relation to the centre I still didn't know which way to run, so just opted to follow my internal compass (which to be fair is pretty good), until I found so people walking to woods how confirmed I was going to the right way. Once back at the Visitor centre, I got my flapjack and opted for forest fruit tea over coffee, but had to get straight back in to the car, so I could get the car home to pick up the boys.
On the way home, I pulled in to the left lane, to come off at Dartford, but did so too early, got boxed in by 3 large lorries and so was forced on to the Dartford Tunnel approach, which no one wants to be on at 3pm even if you needed to be there, once I managed to get off (20mins for 1/2 mile) I then managed to get myself in the wrong lane again, and forced round a filter lane into the industrial estate, so had to turn around and go back again.

So my run didn't go where I wanted it to nor as long as intended, but was muddy and interesting, and the consistent hills more than added the effort of the extra kilometres that I had wanted, and then managed to make 2 wrong turns on the way home hence today's title but I ran, and it was good
6th of Juneathon
7km in 49:37 starting at 1346 on 06/06/12

Total 34.5km


Day 5 Jogged Logged and Blogged

Dont blame me, its the Queens fault

I'm losing it, Janathon went really well, I managed to JLB everyday, kept the blog on the right day, but Juneathon is getting a bit messy, I finished blogging the 3rd on the 4th, then did the 4th straight after - both from my phone, whilst watching the Jubilee concert at a mates house. On the 5th I logged my run and realised that I hadn't logged the 4th so logged both on the same day, and have woke up this morning (the 6th) realising that before I can run today I still have to do blog the 5th, and that I never did the additional exercises yesterday either, which probably means I have to start all my Tribesport challenges again too. :/  All of this is the Queens fault!, Having been to the Royal Boat Pageant all day Sunday (ran at 10pm), the parkrun 9am Mon on to a street party, followed by dinner and Jubilee concert watching at a friends place. The Tues was another parkrun at 10, back for lunch then a quick nap before heading to a village fete, for a Tug'o'war across the ford (it was raining so hard that no one minded getting a bit wetter) and watching my sons mate play in a Jazz band at the cricket green - all in the name of HRH Elizabeth II.

So my Exercise for Day 5 (I think) was the Nonsuch Parkrun, with copy7t and a few others from the Riddlesdown parkrun that I'd run the previous day ( a benefit of the Jubilee - 2extra Parkruns). Considering the rain that has been falling lately, the weather was almost perfect for running, fairly bright & sunny but not to warm with a gentle breeze. The turnout was about 450 runners with a lot more family/friends supporters as well. Due to the size of the pack 7t and me decided that I was going to set another pb so we'd have a social instead. So off we went at a nice steady pace, still working our way round numerous runners but happily chatting away, about running, workouts, injuries etc once at the halfway point we decided to push on a bit as we'd been taking it too easy, and the conversation started to stagger, but then we meet up with Jo Quantrill, who seemed to be struggling  -quite possible due to the fact she was running with a knee injury - oh yeah and a BROKEN RIB!!!!( On a good day her average parkrun time is a over a minute faster than my PB and her PB over 2 minutes faster, plus shes about 20yrs my senior, so normally I wouldn't see her until the end)

Right now I'm up to date, and want to get out for a longish trail run before the rain starts again so TTFN

5th of Juneathon
5km in 27:37  starting at 1000 on 05/06/12

Total 27.5km

Day 5 Jogged Logged and Blogged

Monday 4 June 2012

4th of Juneathon & Parkrun Jubilee Special

Day 4 brings a little difference, thanks to Her Majesty's 60th year under the crown, there were additional bank holiday special parkruns - any excuse for a run
So I headed up to Riddlesdown to meet up with the guy who got me into this game, Mr Copy7t. It was clearly busier than usual and judging by the lost looks and questions many were "tourists". Which gave the event an attendance personal best of 202 runners
The rain had fallen all night and so had left the course rather wet, but it was still fairly solid, just a few large puddles to play in, but that didn't stop me setting a new parkrun pb of 24m14s, helped along unintentionally by a very young lad right up until the 4km mark when I told him we were still under 20 min to which he "cool" and then took off like it was the 1st one (turns out he has a 21min pb).
The run was followed by a nice coffee  and catch up in the horse shoe, and since a street party, and now sat at a friend's house watching the concert, so in all a rather celebratory day, and tomorrow will bring more of the same......

4th of Juneathon
5km in 24:14  starting at 0900 on 04/06/12

Total 22.5km
Day 4 Jogged Logged and Blogged


Sunday 3 June 2012

Jubilee Day

<p>Today is the first day of my week off work, today is Sunday, and so I should be having a lay in, aahh but no, today is also the Royal Boat Pageant on the Thames and my wife is a big fan of the Royals, also our friend is a historian, and works for the RAF Museum and his boss was on one of the boats, and with that I was on the 0640 train out of town upto Charing Cross.<br>
Once up there, we set about trying to get to the river front, which was easier said than done as to help with the crowd control they had shut all the nomal routes, once we found our way round and had had security check my packed lunch, we settled in on the Embankment next to Cleopatra's Needle. After a lot of standing, a bit of singing, and some flag waving, we watch a few boats potter past (got the at 8am, first boat at 330). Though I wasn't overly fussed about the occasion, the atmosphere, and social aspect was great, even when it was over and the rain poured down.
The main issue I had with the whole affair was when was I giving get my run in? By the time we got home we were very tired, very wet, and very cold (still struggling with the hot juneathon idea). But it is Juneathon and one must run, despite @jogblog telling me as long as I blogged it, I could count the 10hrs standing as my daily exercise, so I mustered up what energy I could and did a quick 5km finishing at my mum's house to collect the dog, then got home and did the exercise routine to, which is why the blog is only just happening as I promptly went to sleep




3rd of Juneathon
5km in 28:25  starting at 2050 on 03/06/12

Total 17.5km
Day 3 Jogged Logged and Blogged

Saturday 2 June 2012

2nd of Juneathon

Today was a struggle, after last nights late run and even later blog posting (2356), followed by a 4am alarm and a 12hr day at work, (after which I almost fell asleep at the wheel on the way home) as much as I knew I wanted to, my body was reluctant to agree with my need for a run. So having sat down, and had an impromptu nap, I got changed, chomped on a glucose tablet (hoping it might stir something in me and headed out.
As I've set myself the target of beating Janathons 200km, I knew another 5km wasn't enough so I headed to the heath and followed the 5km path laid out, but with the journey there and back it totals 7.5 km done in 42m44s. Once home, and fed, little prawn cocktail, gammon round with new potatoes & a fruit salad (the starter & desert prepared by my son as he's started doing food tech at school this term) I then went and did the exercise routine I talk about yesterday. So my exercise is done, my food has been crap free (even turned done Mcd's brekkie this morning 7 had a banana instead), I have logged the run and have now blogged it too, I'm know off to prepare for the day in London at the Royal Boat Pageant tomorrow. So that's gonna be a very early run or another late one :(

So 2nd of Juneathon

7.5km in 42:44  starting at 1809 on 02/06/12

Total 12.5km

Day 1 Jogged Logged and Blogged

Friday 1 June 2012

It has Started

Well here it is, Juneathon. I've only done a Janathon, and whilst it was 'fun' (not sure if that's really the right word), it was marred by the fact that is was dark, damp and cold. Juneathon on the other hand is supposed to be bright, sunny, and warm (maybe to warm) - that is unless you're completely unorganised and don't go out until10pm, then its definitely dark, a bit of a chill, and damp misty rain - but that's my fault, for going out 18 hours later than originally planned.

So my plans for Juneathon
  • Better Janathons 200km
  • Add in some body weight exercises each day
  • Eat sensibly/healthily - no calorie counting/points watching etc
  • Decrease my weight/measurements.
  • Get my wife and two sons on the Couch to 5k programme
So to do this I need/want to
  • Run 60km a week
  • Have created a workout incorporating some Tribesport Challenges (25crunches, 25squats, 10pushups, 1min plank, 25crunches, 1min wall squat, 10tricep dips, 10 burpees, 25 crunches, 10 push ups) This may evolve but want to stay with this minimum
  • Cut out biscuits, sweets, cakes, beer etc eat more salad for lunch than Gregg's etc
  • I have done my weight and measurements, and have them on my before photos. I would put them up but they ain't pretty, maybe after if there's enough improvement - 13st4lb(1st4lb less than when I started running) and 42inches around the bellybutton line
  • Have got the App on her phone and shown them the run walk splits for the first couple of weeks
Well that'll do for now as I seem to be in to midnight blogging on day one and I have to up in 4hrs.

So 1st of Juneathon
5km in 24:47  starting at 2157 on 01/06/12

Total 5km
Day 1 Jogged Logged and Blogged

Sunday 6 May 2012

Testing mobile blog app

Have just downloaded the blogger app for my new HTC one V so figured I'd test it out. With juneathon round the corner any blogging help will be appreciated. If my planned dawn runs happen then I can blog at work or if I go for a long run I'll be able to blog in the village pub before running hone again.
Though if I end doing late night runs then I can blog in bed like I'm doing now! But as the picture shows, the lights are out so goodnight see you again soon.


Sunday 11 March 2012

Sevenoaks Rotary 10k Knole Park

Well its been a while, and although I have kept up my running, Feb-ab-ulous didn't really happen as I intended, no real reason, just continued with the running.
Today though I ran the Sevenoaks 10k at Knole Park, this was my first 10k, and it was to be on my own too, due to Copy7t's abused hamstrings, he made the sensible decision to sit this one out.
I headed down on my own, so An & the boys didn't have to sit around for an hour waiting. Once I got there I walked straight into Copy7t, Nev & Lime who had still turned out to watch, which was much appreciated, as it was nice to have someone there that knew what was happening, where to go etc
I got my chip and as I went to fit it, I got a tap on the shoulder "Didn't know you was into all this fitness lark" (something like that anyway), I turned to see Kevin Burness with Fiona & the boys. I knew Kev had run the London Marathon before but didn't realise he was still running , having checked out his facebook page I saw he was running the Hasting Half Marathon in memory of his late father, and to raise money for Cancer Research. A quick chat and that was the last I saw of him for the day, I did see Fiona watching on the first lap, and she told me he was ahead (turned out he ran a 48min and was about 75 places ahead of me).
Me, 7t, Nev & Lime wandered across to the start, and the number of runners started to dawn on me as we all crammed into a narrow steep footpath, as we reached the start area, copy7t was saying about how hard it is to get through the crowd at the start and so its worth trying to get nearer the front so I got myself about halfway, though there was still a lot in front of me
Could hear something over a distance speaker, and then the crowd start to move, so I figured we were off, it was just walking to start with and a jog started by the chip line. Trying to manoeuvre the crowd was tricky, I thought I would just run with it to start with until it thinned out but then people start going round me I felt like I was going backwards, so utilising my London motorbiking filtering skills with plenty of shoulder checks I cut through and out of the jam to the edge and start to push past some of the traffic, though the long grass hid a few holes/ditches.
The group eventually started to stretch out, and you could concentrate on the pace rather than bumping in to the rest of the pack. the track seemed to be a long slight incline and the I saw the hill that 7t had warned me of, it was quite short but nasty steep, I got up it and not long after I saw the 2k marker, a quick glance at my phone and it said 12mins, that meant a 60min but I want 50min so need to speed up a bit. fortunately the track to 'road' and the hills started to roll downwards, so I took advantage and run past a few others, after the double back you hit the top straight which was lined with spectators, and I saw my Mum, Dad, Wife and the dogs, I offered them to join me for the second half but no one took me up on the offer, then I saw the boys up a tree ( they also declined my offer). Then I saw 7t with his camera (photo's to follow) as we ran down the hill and started the second lap, all was going well and at the 6km mark I saw that I had clawed back some of the lost time from the start (31:13) then I saw the hill, I was determined to run it, and despite people walking 3 abreast I got round them and reached the top, this was the point where my breakfast took an interest in the proceedings and tried to reappear. I was determine not to let that happen but that meant stopping and walking for a bit. I walked longer than I wanted to but need to get my stomach back under control if I was to finish. Too many people were passing and so off I went. When I reach the down hill section this time I figured I would just maintain pace as I was now focused on finishing rather than hitting my time. The spectators had all moved to the finish line, and all though a sprint finish wasn't going to happen, I made sure I was stood tall, head up and running strong for the finish, my family had secured a spot just on the chipline and so a couple high 5's were given by the boys.
Once through the funnel, and banana & water collected, we all grouped up, and had a good chat, then 7t, Nev & Lime went home, whilst the family and myself sat around for a picnic lunch.
So another race run I know have an official 10k time of 54:13 (gun) or 53:44 (chip) and another Medal
Next event is 3 weeks away and an extra 12km on top with the Paddock Wood Half marathon on 1st April

Thursday 2 February 2012

Feb-Ab-ulous

Well Janathon is over, and I now know I can run. Am I going win races, or break records- not at the moment, not ever really, but then I'm not running for the glory, I'm running for me. I'm running cos I can, cos I want to, cos it will do me good, and I haven't been good to me for a long long time.
The years of not being good to myself has resulted in a large belly (proportionately) and an unwanted pair of moobs, I'm around 14 stone, but my belly is 42in at its roundest. So whilst the running and a better diet (not great nor strictly monitored, just better) are doing a good job by burning calories and not putting as many in, what they aren't doing is toning the upper half of my body, where my least favourites parts are.
.........and so that is my I have decided on Feb-Ab-ulous. Now this isn't going to be like Janathon, there will be no daily jogging logging and blogging, with hundreds of others, just me trying to deal with the larger parts of me.
Initially it will involve me doing at least 8min Abs daily, this is a cheesy early nineties workout that I came across through a Tribesports Challenge. Although its quite funny at first, it also has the desired affect, and still means that I can continue with my fitness efforts with out joining a gym, and paying some one else to tell me what to do. There are a few other workouts with the 8 min gang (Stretches, arm, buns & legs) and so if time permits I will do these as well, particularly the arms as that will help the moobs too, then follow up with a few press ups and the odd plank. The abs daily is my target/challenge to myself, but I'll do it more often and more of the others too, as well as running 3 times a week at a initial 30km a week )1x 5km, 1x 10km 1x15km), with the intention to build on those distances as I need to get myself to half marathon distance by April. I may even dabble with interval runs, and some of the other styles of training, if I feel like it, but that is what I like about 'my training plan' there is no real plan, I will do what I want, when I want because I can.

Now with that, the sun is out and the temperature is just above freezing (+2c I think) and so I have a run to do TTFN, see you when I have something vaguely interesting to share.

I'll leave you with 'the gang'

Tuesday 31 January 2012

31st of Janathon

And now the end is here
And so I race the final circuit
My friends I'll say it clear
I'll state my case of which I 'm certain

I've run a month that's full
I've travelled each and every highway
And more, much more than this
I ran it my way


Well I did it - We did it!
The month is over and this man who 6 months ago didn't even run has just completed a 31 day run streak, has just run over 200km in a month, who didn't even have a blog until 6weeks ago, has blogged everyday (admitted a couple weren't the greatest efforts but were there none the less)


I've managed a run of 10 miles, just because I felt like it.
None of this I would of thought was going ever going to happen, nor would I ever have thought that I would consider wearing Lycra tights and rubbing Vaseline on my nipples a perfectly normal thing to do!?!, but all I can say is Thankyou.

Thank you to my brother in law Steve who suggested going for a run last August
Thank you to Copy7t for keeping me running and introducing me to Janathon
Thank you to Cathy @jogblog for organising Janathon
Thank you to my wife & kids for putting up with me coming & going at all times of day & night
Thank you to Jess who has joined me on a couple of Dog Jogs (including the finale)
Thank you to  Lilbee, Tim, Phil, Henniemavis, Miss Hudson, Fairweather, MsSmith, and anyone else that has commented on my blog, my tweets and encouraged my runs.

The next question is do I continue my run streak, or do I drop to exercise some how each day, and go back to 3-4 day/week running (I think the latter is the better option)

This blog will continue, though how often is anyones guess.

and if not before, I'll see you all in Juneathon

Until then Run long and Taper

Monday 30 January 2012

30th of Janathon

What an evening!

Since I hit 100km on the 17thI figured I could hit 200km by the end of the month, my last few runs have been a real struggle, and yesterdays long run never happened, but I managed to get myself down to 15km left. 2 nights @ 8km not a problem, so that was tonight's target.
Had a new 8km route plotted and so off  went, the run was going great, just seemed to be maintaining pace and being quite relaxed with it. Once I'd got to 6 1/2km and just a loop round my estate left, I felt like I could carry on, so I turned right instead and ran round my old estate. At 8km a left turn would of took me home, but things were still going good so, I went straight on and into town, I follow the ring road and thought I'd pop into the wife's work and say Hi, but that felt like finishing to soon, so i wen left again and round the back of town thinking I'd take the long way to her office, but as I reached the end of her road, I really didn't want to stop and so ran a horrid steep hill, and carried on, heading back south, a long straight road and then cut across to the main road bought me back in line with my place but on the opposite side of town, so down the hill I went, and back up the other side I checked my phone and it said 14.5km, only 1/2km to go to reach the magic 200km, but then remembered that 15 is only 9.5mile and I'd need another one for a distance pb so ran past the house, round the top of the estate and then round the inside of the estate (felt like I was running A's again LOL) . I reached the house and looked 16.26km (10mile). Love it!!!!! and whats more, apart from a couple of seconds traffic stops I didn't  stop/walk at all, which is another record (haven't managed 10k before now with at least one walk break)
Felt like I could of gone for a bit more, but still have tomorrow to run and I have work in the morning to.

16.26km in 1:35:27  starting at 1741 on 30/01/12
Day 30 Jogged Logged and Blogged



Janathon Total :202.25km

Sunday 29 January 2012

29th of Janathon

Have had a naff day, was looking forward to a nice long run out in to the country, in the daylight, but everything got in the way, family church trip, emergency motorbike service/repairs, fatherhood, homework, housework, cooking etc, all necessities, but all meant I didn't get out like I wanted to. So looked like another lap of the 5k street lit loop, but I need more than 5km if I'm to cover the 20km to make 200 by Tuesday, so I set about plotting an extension to try and even out the next 3 days.
Job done, and off I went hoping for a good time as I wanted to watch 'Wild at Heart'
After 2.5km I felt like a medal winning runner, but fortunately for me McDonalds was at the bottom of the road (the medal winning runner was Poohla Radcliffe). Due to the numerous layers I was wearing to fend of the cold, stopping indoors halfway round meant I was  sweating far to much and so now running again but in damp clothing so I cut the run short still managed a 5km run but that means I still have 15 to do in 2 days - not a problem distance wise, just hope I can fit them in time wise.

5.51km in 30:49 starting at 2006 on 29/01/12

Day 29 Jogged Logged and Blogged


Janathon Total :185.99km

28th of Janathon

Right another late one again tonight, as we went to watch Sherlock tonight and the visited the Golden Arches on the way home, so again it was a 10pm start (well 954). Wasn't really feeling it tonight, but had earlier realised that I had the A for the Janathon/Runart Project and then realised that I didn't even have to leave my street to do this, so that was tonight's run sorted. Let the 'Crazy' commence

So the first attempt was easy, only 1km and didn't even leave my road, passed a lady walking her dog whilst heading to the start, and then again on the top right section of the A (guessing she was wondering what I was up to)

As that was only 1km, it went against everything I had set myself, to accept this as a Janathon run, so I went to option 2 the bigger A, which went round the outside of the 2, checking a few tweet responses, and so knowing I had an audience (cheers Tim, Phil Les) I started to enjoy the run and so kept the speed up and was chuckling to myself with all the thoughts of the 'crazy' that was running through us doing this project, and so actually devised the 3rd attempt whilst running the 2nd. Oh and passed the woman and her dog again as I run through the middle, she blatantly stopped and stared this time which made me chuckle again
So here is the 3rd and final attempt, inspired by copy7t's H, I decided to add thickness and body to it (bubble writing as my kids called it). Although this one took more thought and was the longer run (3km) I'm agreeing with 7t that run 2 is the neater and better shape, and so is my entry to the Janathon Runart Project

1+2+3=
6.11km in 32:23 starting at 2154 on 28/01/12

Day 28 Jogged Logged and Blogged

Janathon Total :180.48km

Friday 27 January 2012

27th of Janathon

I got in tonight at about 7.30, thought would be a reasonable time for a run, except a family crisis with a difference had occured - my sister in law's dog had been stolen earlier on, and that was priority (figured as long as I started by 1130 I'd get 5km for today). A quick facebook post to put the feelers out about the dog and I went to have a nose round, didn't get far, when my sister came home, for a cuppa to warm up, blah,blah, blah found the dog at some kennels, ended running at 10pm, was more of a stagger than a run, cant keep this blog going as have dropped off three times typing this bit and have to be up in 4 hrs

29/01/12 0845
Right firstly I apologise for my tired ranty end to the above, was shattered couldn't keep my eyes open, and this was the first time that Janathon has stopped being fun. So to sum up, (quickly
Sisters Dog was stolen, eventual search and facebook post lead to info of a dog being handed in to a local kennels, which turn out to be our Bonnie. So she has been returned safe and sound, with a couple of conspiracy theory options, as to whether stolen, thought abandon/rescued or kennel con (£50 fee for holding)

My 'run' ended up being a 10pm start again, have done a few of these but clearly this, couple with 6am starts at work, this was starting to take its toll, I did my usual 5km street lit loop, but it was more of a stagger, I'm amazed that the time was still sub 30, as I thought at several points I wasn't even going to do it with out giving up and walking the shortcuts. I sort of shut off and was thinking about work and other stuff and switch to autopilot as I cant even remember whole sections of the 'stagger'

5.08km in 29.53 starting at 2204 on 27/01/12


Day 27 Jogged Logged and Blogged eventually

Thursday 26 January 2012

26th of Janathon

The End is Nigh, but doesn't mean we shouldn't still push ourselves nor should we stop having fun with it, and so today I have done 2 runs,  one for #RunArt, and one for #Janathon.
So after dropping the kids to school, and walking the dog round the heath (a walk of approx 5k) I had a bit of brekkie, and read a few blogs, then headed out.
 I was going to do a 15k run today, which would cover my runart piece, but a bit of pre plotting meant that the runart was only  4.5k and wasn't within my usual long run route, so I figured do two, the long and then the artwork but again  changed my mind, and chose the 4.5km runart as a 'warm up' to the longer one.

So here is my first run and my latest piece of RunArt


Once done, I popped back in doors for a drink, and was then going to head out on my usual long run route, but after having taken the dog round the heath this morning I thought I'd have another go at the 'Green Route' footpath round the heath, with the sun out and blue skies, unlike last time where a impromptu afternoon nap meant I didn't do it until dusk. Although it's not as long as I had initially planned, coupled with the RunArt, today I have done


1x RunArt @4.50km in 24:04
1x Green Route @7.27km in 41:49

So 11.77km for the day

According to Runtastic I have run 170.02km so far for Janathon so 5 days to cover 29.98km, 6 a day will give me a 200km and 31 day runstreak

25th of Janathon

DAMN DAMN DAMN
I fell a sleep, before I managed to log and blog, but I did jog, which is the important part, and I believe the rules say to log and blog within 24hrs, and it's less than 12 so I'm not out, just broke my personal rules of getting it all done on the same day.

Last nights run was the usual 5k street lit loop, which I'm still managing at about the same time each night (if you take out the time of me stopping to let someone know their interior light was still on in their car-had seen it on the way out, but was still on on the way back, so thought it right to stop and let them know)

Today is my day off  and that means long run day, last week I managed a 15k and so this week I want to do the same, but now runart is involved and I have a piece of work to run, do I run the 15k and then the artwork - 4.5k or shorten the run and add the art. I'm 2k down on my weeks target, due to the 3k token run on Tues, so I feel I should do atleast 17k today to make up the target.

Watch this space to see how it goes


5.21km in 29.37 starting at 2041 on 25/01/12

Day 23 Jogged Logged and Blogged

Janathon Total :157.13km

Tuesday 24 January 2012

24th of Janathon

Just done a 14hr shift with 50min commute either end, wife is back in Wales looking after the parents, so I have the boys, to put to bed etc, but never fear I'm not out yet.
As my Mum was here looking after the boys til I got home, I took advantage, and ran a token 3k, and this is a token blog to ensure it has been B'd as well as J'd & L'd

3.08km in 17:52 starting at 2127 on 24/01/12


Day 23 Jogged Logged and Blogged

Janathon Total :151.92m

Monday 23 January 2012

23rd of Janathon

Having run at 8am yesterday, and not running until almost 8pm tonight, I had the feeling that I had missed a day because 36hrs between runs seemed a long time, after the last 3 weeks. The run tonight was just the usual 5k street lit loop, but I finished it in a field, because I wanted the open space of the football pitches for a #runart attempt for the new blogs banner.
It's not quite how I wanted it but for a first attempt in a completely black field, with only some faint white lines of the pitches to guide me, you can see what it says


5.19km in 27:38 starting at 1918 on 23/01/12

Day 23 Jogged Logged and Blogged

Janathon Total :148.86m

Sunday 22 January 2012

22nd of Janathon

Today's run was a new route, a new route based on a new idea, a new idea based on a random GPS route posted by @buriyako.
Today's run was my first entry in to the world of
#RUNART 
This is the Stickman

Basically @buriyako posted one of his runs, @copy7t thought it had a shape to it, and said it looked like an anteater, so the seed of thought was sown, and next time @buriyako put some effort in and ran a rhino, 7t ran a snake, and the Stickman was my first attempt - to be honest me and my boys  had seen that the main roads on Dartford looked like a stickman with the town centre ring road being the head, so it was an obvious first attempt.
 But the challenge is now on, the next animal has been decided on, just the route to plot

And this is the birth of RUNART

7.81km in 43:06 starting at 0857 on 22/01/12
Day 22 Jogged Logged and Blogged

Janathon Total :143.67m

Saturday 21 January 2012

21th of Janathon

This evening I am not running, its not a fail, I haven't given up, I just decided to pay @copy7t a surprise visit at the Riddlesdowne parkrun this morning.Normally I would start work at 6am, but today I decided to change shift and do the 10-7, so I could get to parkrun at 9, do a 'quick' 5k and then head into work from there.

Now the quick part didn't happen, as we hadn't seen each other since November, and with the whole Janathon game going on, we had a lot of catching up to do, so it became a social run (was a bit squidgy to get a pb really anyway) and we just jogged round and chatted, running the first half with Chris and his dog (until Chris's kids called out to remind him that he was supposed to be running with them , and had run on with us). We got our half run time of 16, which 7t realised we were going to come in at 32min, which is far to slow, but we figured it would come back in naturally, but alas it didn't and we were so worried about the times that as we crossed to line together, we had a brief gentlemanly discussion as to who would take what position (I let Steve come first as he is the faster runner, and it would be wrong for me to beat him after making him show such a poor time) so today's figures are


5.??km in 30.27 starting at 0900 on 21/01/12

Day 21 Jogged Logged and Blogged

Janathon Total :135.86km

Friday 20 January 2012

20th of Janathon

Well tonights was a late run, didn't get in from work until about 7pm, then ate my tea, took the kids to youth club, then walked the dog, sat and had a cuppa, and then realised it was almost 10pm already, so threw on my shorts and trainers and headed out, accompanied by the Ozric Tentacles 'Erpland' album tonight, which is what I used to run to all the time, but haven't used for a while, since finding runcasts then rock my run mixes. As you can imagine that wasn't much going on at 10 o'clock so that'll do.
I'm sure I had some idea's earlier for this blog, but clearly they've gone to bed already, so I'm going to head there too, and see if I can find them for tomorrow
 
5.13km in 27:43 starting at 2207 on 20/01/12

Day 20 Jogged Logged and Blogged

Janathon Total :130.56km

Thursday 19 January 2012

19th of Janathon

Well today is Thursday, that means its my day off from work but that means my day on for Janathon. I figured I managed the last 18 days, I went from running 3 times a week for just 4 months, to not running at all for 3 weeks, and then doing 5km a day everyday. If I can do that, and maintain 27-28min every time, then I can manage more. Now 10km is what I like to do on my day off cos I have a nice country footpath run, but I'm signed up for a half marathon and 10km won't cut it. So put another days worth on and make it 15km.
I did it, I enjoyed it, I did the 10km in 54:53 which is a PB, and finished the 15km in 1:26:57 (possibly a minute or so quicker due to the phone freezing at 1:22 (14.3km) and not coming back until I was indoors).
Now its a couple of hours later and I'm still aching, and still feel shattered, but I know I did it, and I know I pushed myself, and I didn't puke which means I could probably do more in a race situation. Roll on next Thursday (I'm not daft, once a week will do for Janathon, no point injuring myself).

15.38km in 1:26.57 starting at 1521 on 19/01/12
Day 18 Jogged Logged and Blogged

Janathon Total :125.43km

Wednesday 18 January 2012

18th of Janathon

Errand Runner
Tonight was the same ole run - 5k Street Lit Loop, nothing particularly exciting, but when its dark and damp, my interesting routes aren't really runnable without a good 1,000,000 candle power torch, and some trail trainers, but always trust the wife to help out, in her own special way.
" Are you running near Joys house?"
"Yep pass the end of her road"
"Can you put this form through her door, oh and post this letter when you pass the post box
" Ok, I'm off now"
" Oh yeah, We need a paper too!"

Did anyone tell Mother Nature it's still winter, if so why was I removing layers tonight yet de iceing the seat of my motorbike yesterday?
So with the little errand detours, today I did

5.68km in 33.10 starting at 1943 on 18/01/12

Day 18 Jogged Logged and Blogged

Janathon Total :110.05km

Tuesday 17 January 2012

17th of Janathon

Copy7t reminded me this morning that tonight was a milestone run, and although the actual run itself was pretty uneventful, just the usual 5k street lit loop but in reverse as I needed to get to the post office before 7.30 to catch the last post. I did it backwards because then the post office was only 2km away rather than 3km. The one time I really wanted a GPS signal I didn't get one, even in the magic corner of the room that always gets a Satellite, couldn't find one, but did the run anyway as I had the route plotted every where, wasn't even that worried about the time, having stopped to post a letter, and rescue the sock that was disappearing into my trainer!!
Once I got back and saved the run, the phone found a signal, and so I took a little jog 1.23km up the road to the point that I reached.......


5.6km in 31.40 starting at 1913 on 17/01/12
Day 17 Jogged Logged and Blogged

Janathon Total :104.37km 

Monday 16 January 2012

16th of Janathon

Just a quick blog tonight, cos I want to go to sleep.
Had a meeting at work, but not in my usual store (20mils away) this time it was in Bexleyheath, which just happens to be 5.19km from home, and so I took my shorts and trainers with me and ran home afterwards, considering it was mainly down hill the time wasn't as good as it could of been but that was probably due the heavy rucksack that had all my paper work and my suit, plus a bag of satsumas I bought to stop me eating the sweets and cakes that had been provided. 
Did see 3 or 4 runners, all of which acknowledged me, so did the guy in Sainsbury's later, wearing hi vis techtop, running tights and trainers, when I asked how far he'd been, he said 10 miles, now 10 miles is a good distance, much further then I've ever done, but to stay out for 10 miles at 0c temperature is bloody impressive or crazy - but is he crazy enough to do Janathon - who knows
 
5.19km in 30:29 starting at 1649 on 16/01/12
Day 16 Jogged Logged and Blogged

Janathon Total : 98.77km

Sunday 15 January 2012

15th of Janathon

So far today (800-930)
1m20s Plank - thought I'd see what the fuss was about - may well do a few more
Was going to do Wii Fit Yoga but the Wii fit Board wasn't charged so I did
9min Yoga with Esther Ekhart again thought I'd see what its about -may well do some more
8min Abs with the Gang - love it, need to do it more often
8min Arms with 3kg Aerobics Weights (& the Gang obviously) - need to do it more often
 By now the Wii Fit board was charged and I like it cos, although I haven't used it since 25/09/11, it told me I'd lost
9lb !!
and my BMI is now 26.64 (vs 27.87 last time)

A bit of tidying around the kitchen, and a nice bowl of Ready brek with a couple of pears chopped into it, and now to walk the dog - plan to do a 5k walk, to check out the route for a 10k run after

So will finish this off later once 'jogged and logged'

Well the route looks good, was about 7.5km in all, once run it'll probably be only 6, as being on my own this time, I wont need to detour to put a bag of bodily waste in the bin (at least I hope not anyway) plus there's a section by the 4km marker that is narrow twisty, muddy, just an excuse to go back in the woods, so will probably straight line a cross the field then, oh yeah, and I doubt I'll be calling into the Pet shop on the way back for a treat either!!













Whoops, after the dog walk, got home had a little sarnie, and then promptly fell a sleep, so by the time, I had muster the effort to get up, and get my running gear on the sun had gone down.
This could make for a interesting run. Running round footpaths on the heath in the dark.
Now a sensible man would have saved it for another day, a sensible man would of found a different route that was street lit and a good surface - but a sensible man wouldn't be doing Janathon!!, so on with headtorch and away I went. Fortunately I took the photos on the dog walk earlier, as I don't like stopping for shots whilst running, and they wouldn't have look anywhere near as pleasant in the dark!!

But I managed it, scared off a few rabbits whilst doing it (think they were rabbits, could only see their glowing eyes) and only had one 'moment' where I stood on a fallen branch I 'd missed and thought I'd twisted my ankle, but didn't do any damage - it was an experience, but wouldn't recommend it as the scenery is naff and I could of ended my Janathon had I actually damaged my ankle.
So along with the early exercise, the 1.5hr 7.5k dogwalk, today's run details are....

7.05km in 31:05 starting at 1658 on 15/01/12
Day 15 Jogged Logged and Blogged

Janathon Total : 93.58km

Saturday 14 January 2012

14th of Janathon

Early start today as normal, up at 430, out at 515, in work 6am, had a huge delivery as the lift has been out for a couple day and so haven't had any stock in. Get get 12/42 cages upstairs and the lift goes again! So now have 180 boxes of frozen food to deal with very quickly, so by 7am me and the guys are running around the sales floor squeezing out what we can but then had to run/carry/throw 80+ by hand up 3 flight of stairs - so that was my first sweat worked up today, fortunately the rest of the day was less physically demanding(actually i sat on my arse in a suit just asking question), though its never nice having to dismiss people.
Once home, a large Chinese takeaway was eaten (I figured I'm burning enough calories to treat myself), which having to scrap the ice off the car and the dashboard display showing 0c was when picking it up, was the first confirmation of being rather chilly, then taking Jess for a walk, and feeling the grass crunch under my feet and my thighs stinging under my trousers, changed it from rather chilly to bloody freezing. Once back home I quickly switched the ignition back on the car too see that it had warmed up a bit and was no longer 0c but now 0.5c that's better I thought, and so on with my running gear and out for a quick 5km jaunt to keep Janathon alive and well. It clearly had warmed up overwise why else would I have returned home sweating?!?

5.24km in 27:27 starting at 2203 on 14/01/12
Day 14 Jogged Logged and Blogged

Janathon Total : 86.53km

Friday 13 January 2012

13th of Janathon

A late one today, started out at 21:30 was going for the new street lit 5k loop, but needed to grab a newspaper, so added a detour, but at almost 10pm everyone clearly packs up their left over copies for returning. So a further detour via a few other newsagents to the petrol station, means that after an extra 1km I managed to get the paper for SWMBO and get my run in for Janathon.I'm glad of the extra 1km, I wanted to ensure 42km each week, was going to be 40 but realised today that 26.2miles is 41.5 km and after hitting 27miles in week one, I figured running a Marathon distance each week, isn't bad for a newbie and sounds good to all the non runners I know, that keep asking me, if I'm still running.

6.31km in 32:59 starting at 2132 on 13/01/12
Day 13 Jogged Logged and Blogged

Janathon Total : 81.29km

Thursday 12 January 2012

12th of Janathon

Having driven the kids to school, I stopped off at the Heath with Jess (8month old Black Lab) for a walk/reccy for todays run. I set up my phone and tried to walk the outer most paths of the heath to find the longest route round (today is supposed to be a 10km run). It was a nice walk, the birds were singing, the ground pretty firm, and a lot of friendly morning dog walkers. The route turned out to be only 2 1/2km, so I figured 1km to the heath, 3 laps and 1km back would be close. So home we went and on with my shorts.
Once running it though, it was awful, twisting and turning, dead ends and double backs, steep drops and climbs- I couldn't get in to a rhythm and so ended up walking most of it, so after the first lap I said sod this, and went off up the road, trying to think where to go, as I reached the junction I remembered there was a bridle way up the road, that I had always driven by but never ventured along, so I headed there.

Once there I looked at the Tourist sign and it turns out its another part of the heath that I had just been running on and that there are half a dozen different routes round the Heath so I figured lets try them instead


One of these is 5km and covers all the section of the heath, now I wasn't going to go over this again today, but instead opted for a couple laps of the 'new' part I was on, following 'green' route, and then the 'blue' route, then I went off round a newish estate to investigate a building I'd seen from the heath., and then headed home across the original part of the heath. This time using the marked route, which was actually runnable, so I will try it out again next time I'm out in daylight.
Until then this is

10.66km in1:06:32 starting at 1213on 12/01/12
Day 12 Jogged Logged and Blogged

Janathon Total : 74.98km

Wednesday 11 January 2012

11th of Janathon

Not much happening today, had a meeting at work all day, which was alright, had a few people tell me they think I look like I've lost weight,which was nice and I managed to not to eat any of the sweets on the table, the crisps, biscuits, chocolate birthday cake or whatever the gorgeous looking 3 layer sponge cake was that one the guys bought in (normally I'd have finished off whatever was left), and opted for a couple of clementines and a Go Ahead Yogurt bar. (I must run via Boots and weigh myself tomorrow)

Tonights run was something different too, I took the dog with me, she was excited and jumping all over the place to start with, when we reached the field I turned on her flashing collar fob  (its hard to see a jet black dog at night) and let her off to run free (stops me have to stop whenever she smells something) and did a couple of figure of eights round the football pitches, then ran out of the of the far side of the fields and round the roads home. On the last stretch Jess was starting to lag and her tongue was hanging so I went straight to home, but when I looked I'd only done 4.4k, so I knocked on the door, one of my sons opende it, I passed him the dog and said 'see you in 5' and shot off for another lap of the block to make it up so tonights run was....

5.41km in 31.37 starting at 2055 on 11/01/12
Day 11 Jogged Logged and Blogged

Janathon Total : 64.32km