Lessons Learnt Already

Here we are again, the 1st of Juneathon.
The 1st day of pushing myself to get out and run.
The first day of trying to get different systems to talk to each other (Garmin, Runtastic, runningfreeonline).
The first day of trying to find something interesting to say here.
So here goes.....

Today's run was easy to start as I was somewhere different to normal. Today I was staying at my sister in laws, in Newport, South Wales. The idea of a run somewhere new is always a good motivator, and when its a run to a run it's even better.
Generally I work on a Saturday ((joys of retail) but when off I always try to get to a parkrun, so as I'm on holiday and its Juneathon I thought I'd revisit the Newport parkrun. Last time I went, I was staying at my Mother in laws which was approx 4.5km away so I ran to it, ran it  ran back. This time I was about 9.3km away, but as I'm signed up to the NDR30km and so need to up my distances, I figured I would still run to and run back.
So a quick look showed that the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal runs past the house and almost to Tredegar House, so I tried out plotting on my Garmin & off I went, and this are where the lesson began!

Lesson 1 - If it looks like a glorious day (even at 730am) then you are going to need water when you run

Lesson 2 - If you're going to use an electronic device to direct you somewhere & record your efforts - its a good idea to ensure it is charged enough to to last and not run out just when you start to have options as to which direction you can go!!

Lesson 3 - The running community are great - reasons to follow.

As you may of guessed from lesson 2 my Garmin died, just as the one direction footpath ran out and I reached the housing estate which meant I actually needed all the directional help going. I fortunately had a map app on my phone, but as I was opening that I noticed someone jogging down the hill to my left (first decision to make was - are they out for a run or just in a rush) I noticed they were heading in roughly the right direction for where I wanted to go, so started heading along behind them. I got level as we reached a road to cross,and she looked round and "Hi are you going to the parkrun?", "Yes I replied are you?", "Yes", "Great you can show me where I'm going then cos I'm lost!". So we carried on together, and made the start with 10min to spare, and as her friend hadn't appeared, she gave a spare bottle of water.
A trip to the Gents meant I lost my new acquaintance do to the 344 runners plus supporters meant there was quite a crowd. After the briefing and introducing of the pacers (yep pacers at a parkrun! - once a month apparently), we were off. I knew today was never going to be a pb, due to the run there and need to do the run home again. So a social was on the cards, a trailblazer tshirt started my first chat and then I found Carol again, who seems to be struggling with the heat, so I stuck with her until the end. A nice coffee, & hot choc and then Carol kindly walked me back to where she found me, gave me another bottle of water and off I went back long the canal to home, where a nice sausage sarnie was waiting. So a great morning and approx 23km to start Juneathon

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

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

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