Humdinger of a run!!!

I did it........

Really pleased to blog today. I did the Hestercombe Humdinger, a 9.5mile "challenging" hill road race through the Quantocks. The rain held off, it was cloudy, cool and a great day for running. Evidently it was a good day as the course record got smashed by the guy in second place and the winner.. you'd be well gutted to come second and still beat the record, no bonus prize money for him...

No prizes for me except an intense feeling of achievement, satisfaction and almost £400 maybe more in sponsorship and of course a snazzy finishers T shirt and photo...woohoo!!

I completed the course in 1:43:14 which is just under a steady 11 minute mile pace. It's not fast but I was never built for speed, my target was 2hrs which I thought was realistic at 12 minute pace taking into account walking up some of the hills but I smashed it. The winner did it in nearly half that at 52minute something but he didn't look like a man who started running just 7 weeks ago. Woohoo to me! Running with other people around me seemed better than I thought aswell, having only really run on my own so far. The feeling of overtaking is good, being overtaken just spurred me on to move my butt faster! Using the trees and telegraph poles up the hills to pace the sadly very necessary walking moments, pleased to say they didn't start until I was almost 4 miles in and that was up the first of the 2 mega hills... Maybe I could have walked less and run more but it didn't feel that way at the time.. Still do not understand how some people can run 6 minute or less miles, my legs just don't go that fast!! Feel pretty fantastic mentally right now and the body isn't too sore, even got a nice massage at the end of the race from a rather nice young man.. always a bonus! I think inevitably I will feel it tomorrow, but maybe not as bad as the day after the Grt North back in 1998, or I seriously hope not!

Gotta keep running now, picked up lots of fliers today for more local races but my social calendar clashes with nearly all of them.... think I may have found something to do in May however, a mere 17km with an assault course, mud, water tunnels and a few Royal Marines for company... what have I got to lose....

So, dinner, something nice but with plenty of anti-oxidants... red wine... don't mind if I do!

Z xxx

tomorrow is race day!!!

It's nearly here, the challenge I've somewhat incredibly volunteered myself for!
I've had an OK last week of training, some hill work over the hills I'll run tomorrow and some more normal runs nearer home, which 6 weeks ago felt hard and now feel quite lame, but life has been very busy so I haven't had the time to put too many miles in.
My rest day today was spent shopping!!! That, I would like to add was after a half hour marching band gig playing bass drum for the launch of Race For Life at Clarks village in Street. My trapezii feel a bit tight and I so hope they ease off over night. I'm nervous about tomorrow, but I know I will do it. I have nearly £400 of sponsorship in pledges and online donations so far which is amazing. I also realise that 9.5 miles of hill running is hard but nothing compared with dealing with chemotherapy, major surgery, pain and the psychological hell of dealing with cancer, hence I know I will do this!
I've trained quite well but tomorrow will be my longest run since the Great North in 1998! I swore after that I would never do anything like it again, I remember having to get a lift up one flight of stairs the next day in the hospital as my knees just wouldn't bend.. Monday cycling to work could be fun!! I debated over long or 3/4 tights but am going for longs to keep my calves warm and not risk injury. I've carbo loaded and am even drinking isotonic sports fuel... what have I become! I am longing for a large glass of juicy red wine tonight but shall savour one or even two tomorrow as a reward!

I'll blog back tomorrow hopefully!

so much to do so little time!!!

A very hectic week has come to end. I've got so much on at the mo, including the race next weekend. I've only run twice this week, Tuesday and tonight. I was away Wednesday / Thursday in London and on Monday my left ankle was recovering from another direct hockey ball hit... wow it is still purple.... Tuesday I went hill running up in the territory of next weekends race, it was hard but I felt glad that I'd tackled them head on!!! Tonight I had very little time so I did a quick burst round the block to enable me to get everything else done.

Off away for the weekend but taking my kit with me and hoping to get a run in both days...

My race number has arrived... which is stark reality of what I'm going to embark on. Sponsorship is coming through slowly and I've blagged about £50 at work this afternoon. Without being militant, unless I have £200 behind me, I'm not doing this race!!! I certainly know enough people for this to be easily achievable.

I'm still running..... and I've entered a race!

It's February the 5th and I'm still running.

I had 2 days off due to injury and my body felt better for it. Thursday I went out for a fast 2.4 miler after work, managed 4.1 in good time last night and today was the big one. I had set myself a target of 7 miles today and I did 7.2. There was definitely a little bit left in the tank and I felt good. 75 minutes without stopping, some gentle inclines and I feel really pleased with myself for keeping to a 10 and just a little bit pace for all that way! In 5 weeks I've gone from struggling with 2 miles to entering a race......... yep!!
I've decided to do it!

I plan to run a 9.5 mile race described as "challenging" over the Quantock hills near to where I live. I am very nervous but very excited about it. To help me up and down those less than gentle inclines I am asking my friends to sponsor me. Later in the year i am doing race for life a 5km race for Cancer Research UK... so what you say, well I am doing three of them in 8 days as part of an all girl marching band, I shall be playing my horn (and possibly banging a bass drum) for the duration of each of those 15km in total. We started this 2 years ago and this year the band want to raise £20,000 by doing 3 marches. This personal challenge will hopefully allow some of my nearest and dearest to contribute to our joint total whilst helping me personally with this massive challenge!

If you care to help Zed run..... you could always visit  MARCHFORLIFE2011 with a credit card handy??? 

I'll keep the blog updated for anyone still out there reading!? Hope all those janathoners out there are still running February ragged too...

janathon is over

Well that's it.. janathon is over.

I'm sad it's over, it has really forced me to move my ass and get some exercise on cold winter evenings and days. I feel healthier, stronger, a bit thinner and my mind seems a bit more focused on a few things. I'm also still bl**dy sore from yesterday!

I had 5 targets / goals. I achieved 4 of them which really is quite good. I managed a very slow mile tonight, didn't break into a sweat! But it pushed me over my 60 mile target. Even cycling in was sore this morning, the ribs are ok but the groin strain was niggly, a little easier as the day wore on! This is a brief summary of my mileage over the month. Not entirely extensive but anything worth logging made it!!!

So thankyou to riotstar for getting me into this in the first place! After over 22 years of friendship this is possibly the daftest thing you've ever suggested but I love you! Thanks also to the techno geeks at runningfreeonline for helping my continual map and track obsession! Not forgetting the janathon team and of course, the ROF for their help on routes, technique tips, shoe advice and occasional moments of evil personal trainership!!

I'm going to continue running, aiming for 3 runs a week, working it around hockey and occasional nights off!

ciao for now Z xxx

Not gonna happen

It hurts too much!

There is no way I can allow myself to try and run 5 miles tomorrow. I have just taken a large dose of voltarol, paracetamol and am heading to bed. I have run 59.1 miles according to my totals, just 0.9 mile short of my target. I will admit defeat on the 5 in 50 but I may have to chug round a very small block nice and easy tomorrow night to reach the magic 60 goal. All other targets have been achieved, so I guess on balance 4 out of 5 is OK. I will achieve my magic 5 in 50 soon, and will probably keep blogging once janathon is over.

Am still contemplating the race on 20th Feb. I'll have to see how long this groing strain takes to settle, just hope it's not serious. Last date for entry is the 11th Feb. I will decide by next Sunday as I have a freeish weekend to look forward to and hopefully will get a long flat run in if better.

night night

Hockey balls hurt!

Feeling sore! Been an absolutely gorgeous day. Warmer, sunny and crisp.
We drew at hockey 2-2. Felt fit, strong until i got a twinge in my groin in the first half. Then 10 mins before end I gotin the way of a belted ball from a shortcorner. Clipped the sideof my ribs, really took my breath away. Luckily we had subs so Charlotte came back onfor me. Nice bruise coming up.. Including warm up, game and cool down I managed 4.7 miles though! Just over an hour, lots of sprints and occasional lazy moments :-) I do like hockey but not hard balls in the chest! Oo-er!

Not sure about tomorrow yet, maybe I should heed my own advice and listen to my body, it's hurting! I have to run tomorrow to make 60 miles. I might walk to work and decidedurin the day. I really am little miss indecisive tonight!!!

failed :-(

I feel dissappointed with today but it was just hard, really hard!

I went out with the running obsessed friend again. They were faffing with their GPS tracking running garmin watch bra belt special all singing all dancing wotsit (doesn't make you go any faster though) so I had a head start. They quickly caught me up and I was doing 8:11 / mile pace... and I'd slowed down a bit by then (it had flattened out). I had a 5 mile road route planned but the ROF thought they'd get lost coming home from the fields I had to cross so I stayed there and did laps as did they. The ground was hard, it was frosty / icy in places and I'm not used to running on grass / frozen muddy field... boy it makes your thighs work hard. After a single lap of the field about 2 miles in I felt dreadful. I was keeping up with 10 minute ish pace but I had to drop it right down slow. I did 2 1/2 laps of the fields, the ROF did 4! Then it was home via the gentle hill I legged it down to start with. Nice and easy gentle run home I thought... oh no... The ROF turned into personal trainer, relax your shoulders, do this with your breathing, you can talk so increase your stride length and work harder, and then 200 yds from home... kick hard dig in give it 110% and just go for it.... ouch ouch ouch!

I know it was good for me, but I still felt annoyed that I'd only managed 4.6 miles in 49 minutes not the 5 in 50 I was so after today. Combination of cold air, different running surface, very tight left hamstring since wednesday night, a late night and just an off day. I have hockey tomorrow which is the equivalent of my rest day... Can I do a long run Monday night before band rehearsal? Can I do my 5 in 50?? The only way this is possible is walking to work and running home, I will see how I feel about it tomorrow.

Tuesday is the 1st Feb, it's my long run afternoon, but janathon is over on Tuesday.... boooooo.....

still on target... Never say Die (another ipod moment!)

kept up the pace for a little further... in the words of the through back school girl music moment on my ipod currently playing.. "it's getting better all the time!"

2.2 miles in just under 21 minutes tonight, felt same pace as yesterday, felt good, felt sweaty!!!

Keeping the blog brief as have life to get on with tonight. Hopefully keep pace up tomorrow on my 5 miler, still on target to achieve all the goals, as long as my sore left hamstring holds out and I can have one good solid run toorrow before going to the rugby with my Dad :-)

byeeee.. happy Friday people xxx

I can go faster!! yeah!

Feeling good!

Just achieved another one of my goals... More than a mile at sub 10 minute pace. After a really busy day at work and home a bit later than anticipated I headed out on a 1.9mile belter. Couldn't commit to a half hour run due to band gig tonight so I just went for a short sharp target run. Cooled down the pace just a little bit in the middle / beginning of second mile but I knew from the off Iwas going faster. out of breath, muscles hurting.. Home in 18min 20. That's 9min 38 per mile, there are a couple of inclines in that loop and a set of annoying steps over the railway bridge that inevitably slow you down but it's the same loop as NYDay and Monday night!

Goals revisited....
5 miles in 50 minutes.  yet to do... Saturday!Try do a sub 10 minute mile..... or two..... (will settle for 1.5!) check!Run a total of 60 miles by the end of January. on target 52.3 current totalRun further than I cycle by the end of January. also on target 52.3 v 47.8Bathroom scales to move!! (or they go out the window!) check... that happened Monday :-)
right, I'll stop wallowing in my own glee and get out the door to play my horn!

jolly hockey sticks!

A pleasant evening's hockey training, well an hour. I did run around in the final 15 minutes like a bit of a nutter, which totalled me up to 2.7 miles! Felt good, feel much stronger and fitter running after the ball and other people for sure. Out of interest I wore my pedo to work today. Wednesdays I work at a different hospital and I am conscious that I walk more there due to the geography of the dept and the workload... sure as hell I do.. 2.5 miles today! So much for my colleagues thinking Wednesday is my easy day! I think I max 1 or 1.5 the other 4 days... might just check that out?!

Back to cycle in and back, run ce soir and then go to band tomorrow. Have a concert tomorrow night but doesn't start til 8 so can just about fit in a good half hour if I get home on time. Not sure how I'm going to fit in all my goals that I outlined on Sunday. Easily going to hit 60 miles, the bathroom scales moved and I should be OK on running more than cycling.. it's just the 2 speed challenges now... Saturday and Friday night after work are going to have to be all out blinders! Have ahockey game on Sunday, although have said that the last 2 weekends and they both got cancelled... :-(

Right, must iron stuff for tomorrow and then bed... mmmmmm I love my bed!

not quite enough but it'll do

Planned to do 5 miles but had to cut it short as I left work later than expected and the rearranged fitting of a new kitchen door was today. I managed 4 miles in 42 minutes, same as Saturday morning. It felt much easier today though, no stitch, no struggling up the gentle slopes (I'm not calling them hills anymore, not round here anyway!). So, if it were easier today, with no walking bits why the same speed?? Me no understand... I did have to pause for three sets of traffic lights? I dunno, anyway felt good, light drizzle all the way round, could have gone on for a bit but had to come home. Didn't push myself admittedly. Maybe I need a personal trainer to push me instead of just settling for the same rhythm.. Nah..... Stride length is where it's at for me I think.

Good things about today.
No cycling miles clocked up as took car back to garage this am and walked to work from there.
Car returned and fully functional with apology but no flowers from garage (weasels!).
Good run (well, adequate)
Got a place on a brilliant course in London next month.

Bad things about today.
No flowers from weasels
Cutting run short
Pile of admin to sort tonight!
Less than a week of janathon left :-(

a very nice Monday

That was a nice day. I had a fabulous one way transmission to the garage, they were very apologetic and are sorting everything tomorrow on my terms! Before that, I did my Monday weigh in and finally the bathroom scales moved, a whole 3 lbs lost since Friday... no doubt the 10 miles this weekend really helped! Nice to see some results and tonight my skinny jeans feel loose... eek!

On the advice of the running obsessed friend I did a nice easy slow run tonight. I barely broke a sweat to be honest. Kept myself loose, didn't focus on being strong or quick, just my arms not twisting and getting round comfortably. It was the same loop as I did on new years day, and I did it quicker tonight than I did 23 days ago, and that was taking it easy.

Band tonight was hard work, but fun as always. Tomorrow's focus is a long flat (ish) run to see how the weekend's hill challenges have improved my flat work. Aiming for that magic 5 miles in 50 but will settle at somewhere near that 55 or 56 max. This may be the one target I fall short of by the end of the month. I have my route planned though, fingers crossed.

wow...hills hurt and thankyou iphone!

Great day today, both janathon wise and just in general... except that is until I discovered the repair garage had disconnected my fuel cap opening mechanism when I was 50 miles from home and my fuel light had been on for 15, maybe 20 miles!! thankfully due to the wonders of iphone, forecourt lighting and sheer determination over 45 minutes I stripped out my boot, opened it manually and am looking forward to the very angry complaint phone call in the morning!

Today's run was fabulous. But oh my, I live in a flat place! I went out with the running obsessed friend. They went off 3 minutes in on a half marathonesque nutter route once I was on the correct bit of the coastal path, and I was complete with instructions. I did fail to listen to them all perfectly however and did a fabulous 1/2 mile detour. This took me through lots of bracken and thorns, using a discarded xmas tree as a step ladder to get down a 5ft drop onto a train line verge and then climbing through a barbed wire covered set of railings to get back on track... Great fun! I walked a lot of it due to uneven ground and the close vicinity of said train line... Having watched 12 hours last night I was a little concerned for my safety!

Back on track and some great hills to conquer. I had to walk up some of them, just way too big and too long to do in one go at the moment. Once on the flat (or long slow downhill) I felt good and strong. concentrating on stride length, big toe pushing, arms going forward etc etc. Can you tell I'm becoming obsessed??

This is a diagram of my incline today... how cool is runningfreeonline and their mapping software. I had measured on a map that today's route would be about 3.5 miles, but that's straight line distance not including hills. My pedo read 6.4 when I'd finished but that did include the (now measured) half mile detour and an extra 0.7 miles once back at the start to keep me out running till half past the hour... I know, silly personal target! I knew this would be way off due to my considerably shortened stride length up those hills. The total mileage according to running free maps was 5.7 miles! Chuff me, fantastic!!! Slow yes, but hey, those hills were hard, I did bits of walking but kept going, happy today. Tomorrow was going to be a rest day but I am reliably informed by the running obsessed friend that I will be sore tomorrow after hills today (actually I'm already sore tonight!) so I should go for a slow easy shortish run tomorrow. Oh, and I managed a hillside walk this afternoon too... just under 3 miles, some rock hopping, stone scrambling, and a nice cup of tea and a toasted teacake!

janathon, you rock!

Impatient to see results...

4 miles, 42 minutes, but I'm really disappointed. I'm not getting much faster and it didn't seem to feel right today. I had to stop twice and walk for a bit, only 30 seconds, maybe a minute, I felt dreadful. Had a stich right across my lower chest, thought I could run through it but alas no. If I hadn't slowed I might have got home in 40 which would be 10 minute mile pace, this is what I'm aiming for. It was bitterly cold today, started raining (or maybe snowing, it definitely snowed before I went out) whilst I was out but thankfully it didn't last. My running obsessed friend just told me I need to go out for shorter distances to pick up my speed then transfer it to the longer runs. I am so impatient.... I've been running for 3 weeks and I want to see improvements. They're there but way too subtle, and the scales still haven't budged a nanometer.... grrrrrrr

Was thinking about my goals today. These are what I've come up with.
5 miles in 50 minutes.
Try do a sub 10 minute mile..... or two..... (will settle for 1.5!)
Run a total of 60 miles by the end of January.
Run further than I cycle by the end of January.
Bathroom scales to move!! (or they go out the window!)

The running further than I cycle is the real challenge. I've currently run 39 miles but cycled 41. I cycle to work 4 days a week, that's 16 miles before the end of janathon, plus whatever else I cycle at weekends or evenings. I had planned a long bike ride tomorrow but this will only make it tougher on myself! If I can get in a couple of runs 4 or 5 miles ish this week I should be fine with some 2.5 - 3mile shorter (and quicker) runs aswell....  right house to sort, washing to do (all this running kit!) then off for a nice dinner with great company and maybe a glass of red or two :-)

a mini triathlon

Better day today. Busy at work and got lots done, sorted some tough cases and talked to some amazingly brave women. You get days like that in my job.

Picked up my car tonight after 5 weeks of it being repaired. It looks much nicer than it did after I left it before Xmas, when someone had caved the rear end in :-( grrrrr.

So I cycled to work this morning, then walked to the garage 1/2 mile away from work at 4.30. Drove home, put on running kit and ran back to work (longer way round than direct route 2.6miles) Then cycled home before dunking myself in a hot bath! Complete triathlon in under an hour! I felt good for the first mile tonight, really strong and thought I was going quickly for me but alas not really! Averaged a 10 minute mile so it wasn't too bad. I tried to concentrate on some of the running tips I've been reading about, arms go forward and back not twisting across myself and push off with my big toes, felt like I was moving further with each pace. I got stomach cramps half way round though so had to walk for about a minute... that's what scuppered my final speed I guess :-(

Tomorrow morning I take back the courtesy car, I'll have to run home from there. Fitting running into daily routine using tasks like this is good... although I'd prefer it if people didn't crash into my car admittedly! Have a good 'loop'planned for tomorrow. Hockey game on Sunday just cancelled due to utterly frozen pitch so have to rethink Sunday's running plan...

have a great weekend everyone

run off my feet

I failed today!

I cycled to and from work and that was it. Work was manic, I knew it would be busy but it was really busy. Lots of new diagnoses and tricky cases, and lots more who were ok but took a bit of convincing. Didn't leave til after 5:30 so it was a choice of running or band practice. Band won...... I wish I'd had my pedometer on though, I must have walked 2 or 3 miles today without a doubt, just didn't stop!

I guess I have to put it into perspective. Janathon is a personal challenge that I have set myself but I also have to get on with the rest of my life, and my work. I could hardly say I'm very sorry dear lady who's just had life shattering news, no I am not going to do your scan now, I need to go for a run tonight! I'll do lots this weekend, and I get my car back tomorrow after 5 weeks of it being repaired! So, lots to look forward to but more hard work needed. Fitting in all this exercise is quite tough, and it's bloody cold again too!!!

2.1 miles of hockey training

A fortnight ago I logged and blogged about hockey training. No idea how far I actually travelled on that occasion. Over the past 2 weeks I've being playing with my pedometer. They are not accurate I know but the last 2 runs I've done it's been within 10% (both times under) of my mapped distance so it's as good as accurate for me. I'd prefer to under rather than over estimate anyway. So, an hour of hockey training is equivalent to 2.1miles of running. It was bl**dy freezing tonight and the astroturf was really icy, I was amazed no twisted ankles occured!

Yesterday I ran 5.3 miles in that time, is this really a good use of precious janathon minutes?? yes it is! I've been reading about rest days and training regimes a bit more today. I must have one day completely without exertional exercise per week to rest my muscles.... I hope the little bit of extra cycling on Monday counts as a rest day... Might struggle to do much tomorrow as have a busy day at work and the usual out for band before 7. Hopefully I will be getting my car back (some idiot smashed into it before Christmas) tomorrow or Friday which will take up precious running time too.

Have a game on Sunday and sunshine forecast fro Saturday so can definitely try for that 5mile in 50 minutes then. Might keep tomorrow and Friday for time trials!

I did it!!!! 5miles smashed!

I am so chuffed with today. Yesterday I let myself down, through various reasons, work and life got in the way of janathon... but not today I pushed myself more than I thought I could.

5.3 miles, 60 minutes solid running, no stopping, no walking, seriously happy today! It's not that fast admittedly but I'm now averaging a solid /stable pace over shorter and longer distances. According to my running obsessed friend I now need to work on techniques to increase my pace... this sounds far too much like a serious training regime to me but, I do think I could go faster. There were 2 tracks on my ipod today that just pushed me forward, I felt strong, left foot down on the beat and it would have been good to see how much quicker or further I went during those few minutes? And so, to my next target. 5 miles is done, now to try and get 5 miles done in 50 minutes. Increase the stride length, pick up the pace. Then........ the race... I am contemplating entering a race, a proper running race. It's in 4 1/2 weeks time, 9.5 miles but it's really quite hilly and some off road tracks.... I am going to try and cycle the course on Saturday or Sunday and judge wether this is actually my most stupid idea of 2011 yet! If I do it, I will do it for charity, nothing like a few quid for a good cause behind you to keep you going!

http://www.runningfreeonline.com/act/460223 todays log of the run. Need to get the kit out of the washing machine now. Tomorrow is hockey training, hopefully get some more runs in Thursday and Friday afterwork.

poor effort :-(

Forgot to blog and log yesterday. Didn't even jog.....

Got delayed at work so wasn't home til nearly 6. Couldn't squeeze in a run and get out to band on time. I cycled an extra couple of miles on the way home as some form of compensatory activity. Am not entirely happy but it will have to do. Was having a deep and meaningful with a friend late last night once home again and totally forgot to blog, similarly disgruntled at my feeble janathon day!

Half day today, nice and bright but chilly. Aiming to do 4.5 miles this afternoon. Best get some work done.

walking (not singing) in the rain.

Catching up on the blog from the weekend. Blogged via my phone yesterday, also logged and it uploaded three times. would like to say I ran 9.3 miles last night but that would be lying... I've deleted the extra entries...

So.. yesterday my running obsessed friend took me shopping, although I was paying... £8 for socks.... and a fair few more for shoes, They're not even pink and have no heels..... anyway, I have been reliably informed that they are worth every penny... guess they have given me some more enthusiasm to keep running. Like buying new red shoes.. you then have to wear your red dress... Tried them out with a cheeky 3 miler last night which felt good. Not sure if it was the shoes, the socks or the disbelief that at 7.30 on a Saturday night I was out running.

Today I was all set for a good 8 mile yomp on Dartmoor, but... lets just say the weather drew in somewhat quickly so the route got shortened a bit before we sank or had to swim. Tea and flapjack and Mum and Dad's beckoned and  now I'm looking forward to the week ahead. More running, inevitably more rain, more cycling to work and maybe a 5 mile solid run by the weekend.

New shoes....

Bought new shoes!!!!

Blogging via phone, tempramental connection. Ran three good miles, had a good day.

2 weeks... DONE!

just in and heading for the shower immenently, imminently... errr.. soon!

I ran the exact loop I did on New years day today... in 7 minutes less! Self belief.. that's all it was!

Cycled to work as per normal, lovely B left... I cried! :-(

right, I smell and have visitors immenently, immin.... sod it.

day 13!

Not really much to say about today. Am going out for dinner again tonight so it was another short sharp burst. I ran the rainy route from Monday and knocked a minute off my time so am happy with that.

Wish I could have run for longer but onion bhajis, tandoori king prawns and a cold pint of Cobra are calling me..... the house also needs a tidy as have visitors tomorrow and it's a tip, luckily we're going out for dinner!!

I love food :-)

quick cycle, midweek pizza and wine!

Manic day at work! Normal behaviour after this, come home and embed arse into sofa then make up crap excuse not to go to hockey training (tired, in need of wine, it's raining, couldn't eat in time for it to digest before leaving, traffic etc etc).

NOT TONIGHT!!!

Home at 18:00, out at 18:08, 13 minute cycle ride round one of my running loops, showered, changed, beautified (OK so that's stretching it a bit) and out the house by 18:51. Not bad! From an exercise point of view it was a bit pathetic but it was better than nothing.

My friend B is leaving work, this will make work a less smiley place and I'm quite shocked she is actually leaving after months of umming and arring about it. But we went out for midweek dinner and wine, it was great. I'm going out for dinner to celebrate / commiserate someone else leaving work tomorrow aswell... hmmmm maybe I should leave too? give up my life of slavery to the NHS and become an athlete... teehee, I think not!!!

long and slow, and loved it!!

I think I am becoming addicted to running and blogging. janathon you have created a monster!

Today was great, my longest run yet. I didn't quite get to the 4miles I hoped but I stayed out for 42 minutes solid without stopping. Now if someone had suggested that to me on NYE only 12 days ago I'd have accused them of drinking one or three too many! I even put a few extra little loops onto a new loop I'd decided on whilst out today as felt so good. Unfortuately I had to get home to let a workman in. Grrrrrrrr he cancelled on me just as I got out of the shower, I could have had 10 even 15 minutes more! I won't get to run in daylight again until Saturday and not even sure about that with other things planned..

I didn't start this with a goal of distance nor event in mind. I am trekking in Nepal in march so I do need to get in shape for that but this was just a bit of fun and a new year challenge. Last week I decided I should be able to do 5 miles by the penultimate weekend, ie 10 days from now. This is definitely achievable. I'm even thinking about buying some new kit. My running obsessed friend has chastised me for my 'shocking' trainers. I love shoes but not sure spending on 'running shoes' will quite give me the same buzz...

So what next. Tomorrow I'm having a day off. My target that I set out on day one was to do extra activity, preferably mileage everyday. I've done 9 runs, one work out DVD with a walk that day, one hockey session and lots of cycles to work and back. Wednesday is my one drive to work day so I'll come home and go for a bike ride tomorrow night instead. Whilst I am loving runnning, from a medical point of view I want to give my quads and calves a little bit of relief even for just a day.

Right I'll shut up now. Thanks for your comments of support, it really does help! Getting out the door is getting less tricky...

raining and running... someone tell me why?

Day 10. It is properly p*ss*ng it down outside, I've had an intensely pants day at work, cycled to and from work in the rain and then I've just been running in it! I think I am becoming seriously deranged!
I kept it even briefer than yesterday though, I was utterly drenched 2 minutes in, just wanted to get out, get run, get home. 1.4 miles (abismal I know) but 14 minutes so I hit a 10 minute mile pace dead on. Admittedly I couldn't have kept that up for double the distance, or maybe I could...

Tomorrow is due to be sunny (yeah!) and I have a half day so will get some decent distance in during the afternoon before having my hair cut later.... a little treat!

Now, food, and band practice! byeeeee

day 9, just a quickie

just been for one of my round the block runs. 1.9 miles in 20 minutes. I am definitely finding it easier and picking the pace up, even if only a fraction. I wanted to do another longer run like yesterday as tomorrow is back to running after work in the dark but I have too many things else to do today so couldn't give up the extra time. Feel a bit bad about this but when I'm tucking into Thai curry later, listening to tunes on my new stereo... I shan't!

Keeping it brief today as must get on with life, I can see how running consumes people, it is a bit addictive, but, I agree with a running obsessed friend of mine, the hardest bit is getting out of the door!

day 8

Well, I am currently on the sofa, decreasing in purpleness... ouch!

Just did the longest run yet, not very fast but going for distance and stamina today (trying to sound like I know what I'm on about!). I've not run that far since I did the Great North run in 1998! I swore then I would never take up running again as my knees didn't work properly for three days after the race. Here's the details although it really isn't that impressive. http://www.runningfreeonline.com/act/450064  I've worked out what I'm comfortable with now and also that somedays are gonna be easier than others. I didn't stop at all today, last weekend I was walking for 30 seconds about 2/3rds of the way round.

It was much nicer running in the daylight, just started to spit with rain as I came back down my road too.. good timing. Running past some shoppers as I ran into town towards the park, they all looked at me as if I were some kind of alien life form.. This is Somerset, they like cider, and cream cakes!

Right off for a shower then into town to do a spot of shoppin myself, except I'm after big stuff so have to take the car!

Friday night is pizza night!

And nothing stands in the way of my pizza, certinaly not a running challenge! So... when I came home to discover a lack of mozzarella and tomatoes.. perfect! I ran to the supermarket, then walked back - with the shopping! After a tough day at work emotionally and yesterdays PB on my loop run it was a much shorter effort but I'm egged on now for a good weekend ahead, running in daylight!

Every little helps and I'm getting there.... slowly.

day 6, getting faster

Quick log and blog before I go out and do what I do best... play my horn!

Did the run from day 4 again tonight, with an extra tiny bit to make it up to 2.5 miles. I also knocked a minute off Tuesday's time so got it done in 25 minutes... OK so that is still pretty shocking but I am feeling fabulously chuffed with myself! I really pushed myself along the home straight and am now tucking into mushroom risotto! mmmmmmm

Cycled to work as normal today, although this morning is was proper raining, thankfully had stopped ce soir for the cycle and then my run!

right, off to band practice :-)

day 5, lunatic on a hockey pitch!

More like my kind of running tonight! Hockey training!!! No way of logging my actual distance, ran from the car to the pitch, probably 400metres and then across, up and down and around the pitch and lots of silly plastic cones for an hour.. Even ventured onto the boys training half to retrieve a well thwacked ball.. thanks EJ! Can't have been under a mile, probably nearer 2 in total but who knows.

Back to the measured street running tomorrow, feeling good.

that's better

First day back at work after 10 days off... that was tough, cycle in and back as per normal and then just been out for a run. Did my furthest yet of the Janathon campaign, a combination of the 2 loops I did the first 2 days, 2.4 miles and I picked my pace up a bit too. It's dark now so avoided the park, it's cold so togged up and wore my headtorch so I could be seen too! ipod still helping, on random and The Floral dance by the Brighouse and Rastrick brass band sets a fabulous pace :-)

feeling good about today's achievements, now I have to de xmasify the house, go to the supermarket as my cupboards are bare and then sleep :-)

http://www.runningfreeonline.com/people/ZeddoesJanathon

day 3 not as planned

I've had a lovely day but I feel a bit of a cheat! Spent today with a friend, brilliant trip to the zoo, lunch out then a bracing walk along some cliffs, albeit not very long. Came home with the intention of a short run but it was -0.5 and snowing! I still have a dry cough which is now on day 18 and showing little sign of shifting, I just couldn't go out.. medically I thought it was stupid. I've done one of my exercise DVDs instead. It's better than nothing??
Back to work tomorrow which will mean getting up enthusiasm to run after I get home, despite walking to work, my bike needs some attention after a slip off it in the ice before xmas! oops....
Oh well, hopefully tomorrow will be better and I did do something today, just not pound the streets in my trainers... :-(

day 2

Well this is going well. I didn't run quite as far today, mainly cos I have little concept of distance nor time when I'm out, 1.75 miles though, so not bad. I ran with my ipod today, didn't yesterday, time went quicker and I was home before I knew it. I need to work on running not in time to the music, and without my left foot down on the first beat of the bar! It's really hard if you have to do that when you normally hear HM Jollies playing! Less purple today, my hamstrings are burning good and proper, today on top of yesterday! They'll get used to it.
Have had a lot of banter / winding up from a friend who is a serious runner in the last 24hrs. I think he thinks I'll fall off the wagon, I hope I don't!

first run of 2011 completed

Just got home after a run around 'the block'
Google map tracked it and it was 1.9 miles... blimey, I am well chuffed! My purpleness is slowly going down and I deserve something nice for dinner now. Not sure my thighs will thank me for this tomorrow.. and I've gotta do it again!
I have to log my runs as part of janathon ... this link should work, I really am still a bit of a technophobe!

http://www.runningfreeonline.com/people/ZeddoesJanathon

Now, cup of tea and a sticky bun??

Getting started

So I hate running, but I have been convinced to do this!!! Everyday in January I intend to run or do something a bit more physical than just cycling to work... who knows, I might drop a few pounds and squeeze into my party frock with room to spare for the rearranged band xmas social.
My school friend Emma is also doing this, but she likes running... crazy lady! Enough of this blogging rubbish for the mo, I need to get my ass of the sofa. All encouragement gratefully recieved.