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

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'

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

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

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

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

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

5th of Janathon 2012

It's my day off today, and I been waiting for it, as it meant I could get out for a long run (long for me anyway) on the footpaths, rather than running round the streets in the dark.

So once the kids were off to school (1st day back) and the wife was off to work, I settle down for a quiet coffee, bowl of ready brek and to catch up on Janathon activity as the storms seemed to have returned and so there was pouring rain and rather Strong winds. After a while the room brightened and I looked out to see the rain had stopped and there was blue skies. The winds were still there but dry blue skies were all I needed.
First things first though need to take Jess out, my 8 month black Lab. All dressed ready to go - no door key. I have a good idea where it'll be, so I ring the wife and sure enough yep she has my door key - well that decides the route for the dogs walk. So off we go, as I was walking I figured hey all exercise counts and so I logged the walk on runtastic, down through the park I took a couple of snaps en route just because I figured my blog could do with some, ...............15min later.......well maybe another day cos my BB wont email them and I cant find my lead or get my new 'show me' photoblog to work.
Whilst in the park I was going to have a go on the outdoor gym, but Jess wasn't impressed and just sat there whining, and there were a few large branches laying around that had been blown off the trees above, so I moved on.
Once back from the walk, it was time for the real exercise to begin so I got my running gear on and thought. As I was stretching, I notice the room go dark, no more blue sky, just big grey clouds.
"oh well, looks like another wet one."
As I went out the rain started, though very fine it was very heavy, and with the tail wind, I felt like someone had a cold power shower on my back, but I was out and running so I wasn't about to go back now (though might only do a 5 if it stays like this), anyway I figured once I reached the footpath the trees would shelter me from the rain, but by about 2km in it had stopped.
Now I bought these trainers over 10 years ago (when I paid a years membership for a gym and went twice) and though they are like new due to not being worn I couldn't say what style of trainer the were, though today I discovered they are most definitely not trail runners!! Quite how I managed to stay upright I'm not sure. Once off the trail though things were easier and the sun started to shine though the wind  was still up and now fighting against me, but I kept moving (just in places) and the final figure for today was 11.99km - note to self 'check distances before pressing stop to you don't stop 0.01 short of that extra km!!

11.99km in 1:13:17 starting at 1309 on 05/01/12

Day 5 Jogged Logged and Blogged