Probably the last run of the decade.....

I went out for the last run of the decade today, barring any last minute dashes to the bar when last orders is called tonight!  Unfortunately, the battery on the Garmin ran out after 2.1 miles (I hadn't charged it since before our 12 mile walk the other day), but I've done the route before and it is aprox 4.3 miles.

Much to do in January and the early months of next year....!

A few pounds extra to the charity...

I mentioned my favourite sport is F1 in my last post.  Another dirty secret of mine is that I love watching and playing poker.  I've never stepped foot inside a casino, and don't play for money online, but a few friends of mine have been running a small poker league this year, and yesterday was the final game of the year.  I won the league and the side pot, so have made a profit of £18 this year.  It's not exactly high stakes poker, but every little helps, and this is going towards the charity for the London Marathon.  Next year when I inevitably win the league again, I'll spend my winnings more recklessly!

I went to the gym this morning, and the place was packed with a lot of new people I haven't seen there before.  I've often wondered what the business model is for gyms, but it must be based on knowing that a large number of people will join in December/January, but not use the facilities that much the rest of the year.

My favourite song at the moment is another Muse song called 'Unnatural Selection'.  I'm really into my music, and now have got to the stage where I can't run without music.  Muse are one of my favourite bands and I've been lucky enough to see them live three times.  The first time was when they were promoting their first album, the second time was when they were the first band to play at the new Wembley and the third time was this summer when they played a home coming gig in Teignmouth.  It's those memories, together with the fact that the sound is a "full" sound, which makes it great music for me to run to. 

A few musings

I was looking back over my Blog yesterday and I hope it is showing the progress I've been making.  I think it does, and I'm really enjoying keeping it going.  I really do think that for me, the Garmin GPS/Heart Rate Monitor and the RunSaturday sites are really motiviating and I'm planning on continuing on using those into the new year and up to the race.  I need to find out if I'm permitted to use the device on the race day itself, because it would be great to have a map of the actual route I ran on the day.  I can't really see a reason why I can't use it, but it would be good to check.

My Father In Law (who has several marathons under his belt himself) has leant me the Haile Gebrselassie book, which I've started to read.  Googling his name is really interesting reading and this phenomenal athlete still holds the world record for the marathon with a staggering time of 2h03:59, at the age of 35.  I was listening to a Podcast of him the other day and he is planning on running the event in London 2012, as he was saying that he has never won London.

I've got a few targets in my mind over the next weeks and I really need to start increasing the running if I can, but obviously stay injury free.  I'm not sure if I'm over doing it, but since I've been training I've had two minor niggles that have kept me from training (one in my right heel, and one in my left knee) but I'm very aware I need to keep up the miles, so it is a dilemma.  Reading back over my training, and comparing it with training schedules I've seen, I don't think I've been overdoing it so I'll have to keep going and keep an eye out for any injury flare ups.  Although my current trainers are proper runner shoes and are fine, I do need a new pair for the event, so I'm hoping that a new pair will help keep any injuries away.

My favourite sport is F1....I really love it, and have been fortunate to be at Silvertone a couple of times on the F1 race weekend.  The big news in the run up to Xmas was that Michael Schumacher is returning to race in the new Mercedes team at the age of 41.  Watching the interview to me seems that he is really hungry for it and I hope he mixes it up at the top next year.  Why am I mentioning this on a running blog?  Well, I remember reading a few years ago about the training and preparation Schumacher went through to keep in top form in his Ferrari days and it was astounding.  These guys are top class athletes, but Schumacher took it to another level, and the rest of the field had to follow in order to have a chance of staying in touch.  It will be really interesting to see if Schumacher still has that fitness, or at least can get back to near that fitness, after retiring in 2006.  One of my favourite videos on YouTube is of him flying around the Top Gear track in his own £1m Ferrari FXX...what a driver!

Boxing Day walk

No run today, but my wife and I did go and do some kind of well needed exercise following the usual eating and drinking on Xmas Day.  We ended up walking about 12 miles, interspersed with a quick chat with my Sister in Law (who is in Singapore at the moment as part of her 6 months of travelling), a bite to eat that consisted of a turkey leg and a scotch egg and also 3 "pub stops" for liquid refreshment!  I've uploaded the route to RunSaturday for info, but it was really nice just to get out now that the pavements have thawed out.

I'm kind of itching to get back into the training properly.  I've been looking at half marathons in the run up to the April London Marathon, which could be a good idea to enter...I'll have a think about that.  There's lots going on between now and before I go back to work, but I'm going to try and get out at least once for either a gym session or a road run.

Chin + wall = embarassment

What with the icy conditions and also the fact that we've been away for a few days, there hasn't been much update in terms of running.  I'm desperately trying to stay away from the "See Food" diet, and am planning a run between Xmas and New Year if I can, and then back into it properly in January.  That was always the 'plan', and I'm pleased that I did the long run before Xmas.

I had a bit of an 'incident' yesterday on the icy conditions outside my house.  It was icy, and had rained in the night, so there was black ice on the slope in front of my house, which I didn't see.  I was being carfeul, but I just slid, hit my chin on the wall (requiring an A&E visit) and slid down the path.  I have also bruised my right hip and lower back quite badly, making it uncomfortable to walk.  I'm sure it will be fine though.

I do need a new pair of trainers, so that needs sorting out soon.  I currently have a pair of Brooks, which have been great, but they have a few miles in them now (I've had them 18 months or so) and they won't be suitable for the London Marathon.  I need to get a new pair in January, which I'm planning on being the pair that I use for the event in April.

Really looking to Xmas and New Year, but I know I have a lot to do in terms of upping the training in January.  I'm nervous, but looking forward to it too!

14.5 miles today ! Furthest I've ever ran....so far.

I haven't been out as much as I'd have liked to recently, because my wife hasn't been very well for the last couple of weeks.  However, it was a really nice morning today, although it was very cold, so I thought I'd go out for a run.

I was feeling great for the first 8 miles or so, so decided to push on and ended up doing 14.5 miles, which is the most I've ever ran!  Therefore, today is a bit of a milestone for me.  It wasn't too bad, although I was very tired at the end.  I have tweaked my left knee a little bit, but I think it'll be fine.  My pace was pretty slow today, but it's the miles I'm concerned about rather than the pace.  There's obviously alot I still have to do to be able to run the full marathon, but today was a good session so I'm very pleased.

There were lots of other runners out today.  I saw one Dad who had obviously recently had a baby.  He was all dressed up in his running gear, running along the street and pushing a pram!  That's dedication.  There were also a couple of runners out running with their dogs.....

Blowing a gale....

I was in the car on the sea front enjoying some fish and chips and the weather was truly awful. Windy, cold and  raining heavily.

There were still loads of runners out as part of a local running club and to be honest I just thought 'Nutters!!'.

My fish and chips were nice though!


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