19 Weeks To Go! and a lot of catching up (part 1)

It has been a long, long time since I have wrote on here. It's a good job I have been a lot more dedicated to the running bit more than the writing bit! It's a year to the week since I started writing this so time for a big update and to show my progress.

Since I last wrote on here I have ran 3 half marathons, 4 10ks, The Sodbury Slog  and 2 5ks and ran 6 PBs.

Two of the races was Bitton 5K series. Both of them were on hot summer evenings and I guess I found them both quite tough. I ran the first in a PB of 25m 19s and the second one in a PB of 24m 43s. Although it is a flat out and back course it can be quite tough on the legs as the path has a sideways slope on it.

I ran the Bristol 10K in 55m 31s which I was pleased with at the time as it showed I could run the distance in a relatively decent time compared to my weight and training amount. It was also good to beat my mate Moyle by seconds.

I then ran the Bradley Stoke 10k in a time of 52m 50s which I was ecstatic with as it wasn't that long after the Bristol 10k and was a hot day again. It's also an uneven course with roads and some x-country and there is traffic on the roads. I enjoyed it though and I will definitely do it again.

I then ran the Frome half marathon in a time of 2hr 03m 49s which although I was pleased to run the (very hilly) distance I was a bit disappointed with my time as at one point I was on to break my half marathon PB of 1hr 54m 45s but it wasn't to be as I completely fell apart in the last 3 miles. My legs went on a descent and I had nothing left to give on the last couple of ascents.

I had a break from racing in August and September but came back with a vengeance in October. I ran the Portishead half marathon and I ran it bloody well. I put a lot of preparation into this race including a decent amount of training, a good diet and a planned taper. I also took the time to study the course including the large hill which was included in the race twice. I know that I am not a great hill runner so I knew I had to attack the downhills. I was aiming for an average pace through out the race of 8m 20s miles. I ran an average of 8m 21s which gave me a PB of 1hr 48m 44s. I ran and punched the air when I finished as I was so happy. To go sub 1hr 50m was the aim and to do it with so much time to spare was great. My parents were there to see it and it was a proud moment for me. One of the best things about the race was that I ran a 5k PB during it in a time of 23m 56s. So I knew I had plenty more to give in other races.

My next race was the Sodbury Slog. I just wasn't feeling racing it on the day and was already nervous about it due to risk of injury, the cold, the water and the mud. Instead I just decided to take it easy and 'run' around with other Bitton Road Runners. I had a great time dive bombing the river, klinsmanning the muddy fields and have a fair few mud fights. It was loads of fun and a great was to get to know some of the other club members. Unfortunately I still picked up an injury during it which I have been running on for the last 2 weeks. It has meant I have had a pretty sore foot and calf and it is definitely slowing me down.

to be continued.....

Routine

Keeping fit has become a routine and the results are starting to show.

I'm now cycling 50 miles a week which is built into my routine and becoming easier and easier and helping my cv fitness improve no end. I am also going to the gym a couple of times a week which is helping to build my strength.

I have also finally got round to going to Bitton Road Runners which was really enjoyable. I found the run a little stop start but the pacing was fine and it was great to run with others. Hopefully step up a group level in a few weeks.

On top of the BRR run also done a 9k Route today with a mate. This means that in total I am running about 18k a week which is pretty decent so far for me.

I still have pretty bad blisters on my feet but hopefully they will start to pass soon. Especially with only 3 weeks to go until the Bristol 10k!!!

Pain, Tiredness and Targets

I spent most of last week walking like I had a very drunken night in Soho. Which is why it should be no surprise to find that the Hanham Horror completely fucked me.

Fitness wise I found it okay but my feet hated it.

The pic is from last week and shows how bad the blisters were. They don't look much better now and it has meant there has been no running at all since last week as it hurt to much. It also meant that on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday night I had zero sleep as every time I moved I touched it and it hurt. A lot. I must sound like a right wimp but I have never been in so much pain after a run.

Cycling was a no-go to as to push on the pedals made me swear enough to make a sailor blush.

So the gym has been my only form of exercise. I have pushed myself really hard in the gym which is starting to show on my back and shoulders. I am starting to tone nicely but I have spent some days a bit stooped over where I have been stiff.

This is where my next issue of tiredness comes in. I am buzzing with how well this is going and love being back into all this training. I go to bed at night still full of endorphins and have Runners High. All I can think of is training runs. It's like an addiction at the moment. I am sure that I won't be saying this come November though! At the moment it is affecting my sleeping pattern so need to find a way to overcome this as it means I can't sleep at night at the moment.

As it is going so well I have set myself a couple of challenges. The first is to get down to under 14 stone by May 31st. I am currently just under 15 stone so it will be a target of a stone to lose. There are about 50,000 calories in a stone of fat and about 50 days to go until the end of May so it basically means that I have to be calorie negative by about 1,000 calories a day. A bit of a tough ask to do everyday but something I am really going to push to try. My next challenge will be to get down to 13 stone by July 31st. Just in time for the marathon training to start!

A Huge Step In Progress

I entered and ran a race today. I ran it in blistering pace. Literally. My feet are ruined.

I don't think I am going to be able to wear shoes for a week!

It was the Hanham Horror which my friend Pete suggested on Friday. It was an enjoyable race right up to when my feet blistered. A quick stop with lots of vaseline applied to the feet meant I could run/hobble the final 3 miles to finish. I feel like a proper runner now! Lots of mud, lots of hills and a run up a what a felt like a cliff hanging off a rope.

As well as a today's run I also had a light 10.5k jog around the roads of Hanham, Keynsham and Bitton which went pretty well. Gave me a decent boost to do today's run. At the moment speed isn't an aim it is all about putting the miles in. I also put in a 2 mile run on the treadmill just to keep my legs moving when my bike was out of action in the week.

Running is enjoyable and is starting to become a routine. Next stop is to join Bitton Road Runners.

First Run Done

Warning: This post is a bit graphic.

Well I have finally done it. I got out there and put the miles on the road.

I ran a route I last ran last July which I struggled with a bit previously. And it felt fantastic this time.

It's a pretty flat 3.8k circular route around Hanham. Run 1! A nice gentle start to running and in all honestly it was a bit too easy. I felt fine for the majority of the way around and was even contemplating doing another lap. I hardly felt like I had broke a sweat (although that maybe because it is fucking freezing out there). I had a little bit of cramp in my feet after a slight up-hill but nothing to worry about in the grand scheme of things. My hamstring and knee wasn't even worth thinking about and there was no pain whatsoever. I had a little bit of a niggle in my right hip (following a cycle crash injury a few years ago) but again that was nothing and soon passed.

Now for the graphic part. I was running along the High Street at the 3k mark and passed a bus stop which showed the time and it showed I was running quicker than I thought and as I still had plenty left in the tank I thought I would step it up a bit. About 50 metres along the road after that the contents of my tea decided they would prefer to spend their time in the gutter on the High Street. It came from no where and was quite embarrassing to be throwing up in the drain on the side of the road but there was absolutely nothing I could do about it. Lesson learnt though and that's too not eat within 2 hours of running to stop that happening again.

The annoying thing about the unscheduled stop was that in meant I only managed to do the route in 23 minutes but it is a start and I know that I can run the distance quicker than that in the future.

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Me at the end of the run still feeling pretty fresh and looking a lot trimmer than before Christmas.

For my final comment on this post I really appreciate those of you who read my ramblings and give me feedback either about this or my progress. I especially appreciate the positive comments about how I am looking and it helps that people are noticing. There were some quite dark times for me in the depths of the illness and injuries and it is so pleasing to be on the right track and to be progressing now.

On to the next run on Thursday.

First Race Entered

Can't believe a month has passed since I last updated this. Too many drunken weekends means I haven't remembered to do it.

The fitness is going well. I am completely injury and illness free for the first time in a long time. Well over 18 months at least. I am now cycling ever day without fail, come rain, sun, or even fucking worse, wind. I am even cycling up Conham Vale daily which for those who know Hanham is a pretty beastly hill so my legs are getting stronger too. My average speed is also up to 12.5mph and rising.

Now onto what this blog is about. I've been doing some treadmilling recently. 10 minutes here and there just to get my legs going. I have come through this fine and am now going to step up to 15 minutes, 20 minutes and so on. Going to start going out on the road soon as well. Especially as I have now entered my first race. Roll on the Bristol 10k. I am slightly nervous about this as I haven't ran this distance in a long time. My aim for the moment is to just get near the 1 hour mark.

On a final note I have pretty much given up alcohol so no more messy nights with massive hangovers for a little while.

Cycling Continues

Things are going well.

I am getting fitter by the day. I've been cycling the 10 mile round trip to work and back every day  and it is now routine to get my bike out instead of thinking of driving in.

I have had evenings where I have had to go to bed early as I have been shattered but whereas in previous times this was because I was ill with glandular fever now it is because I have put everything I have had into the days excercise.

The cycling itself is getting easier meaning the journeys are getting quicker. I am even managing to get myself all the way up Conham Hill without having to push (allthough I usually have a stitch by the time I reach the top!!!). My next challange is to get my average speed up to around 16mph on my road bike and 13mph on my hybrid. I also want to manage Conham Hill without going through all the gears.

My gym work is so-so. I do well when I am there and am feeling relatively strong when I am working out but my attendance is pretty sporadic. This is mainly down to conserving my energy for cycling as I don't want to push myself too soon and set myself back. This Friday will be fitness Friday as I intend to cycle to and from work and also fit in a decent gym session. This will be the first time I have attempted such a thing in over 18 months which is pretty mad when I used to do it day in day out.

One thing I am struggling with is a healthier diet. Could really do with some tips on what to eat and when as in previous times of being fit I used to eat what I want as I was burning so many calories. Now I am trying to lose wieght that approach obviously doesn't work. If anybody can provide meal suggestions it will be very welcome!!!!

I am getting closer and closer to actually taking my first steps on the road to running and just need a little less lumber to lump round the route, a bit more cardio capability and a bit of a stronger hamstring and knee to cope with the strains and impact of running.

Progress is definitely happening.