A brief sprint

Fri 25th Sept

I thought I had this running thing locked down to a degree. But having gone for only a 15 minute run on a treadmill, not even reaching 2 miles, and managing to destroy myself…made me realise what a crap runner I am.

This was followed up with that should have been 45 min easy row but I got bored real quick, and left after 7 mins. Especially once my back started aching!

Sun 27th Sept

90 min football session. Not real training. Built slight sweat. 5 mins on 5 mins off. But most importantly. I played crap…

Go Deepak go Deepak go! (interchange Deepak with Donkey as you please)

Just knocking them back…and horsing around…

Tue 22nd Sept – 20 min gym time

I know this barely counts…but you weren’t there! For those 20 minutes I worked hard thank you very much

Tee hee.

Anyhoo -

Wed 23rd Sept – 90 minute run

Took this one around the horse poo field. However, the difference this time was that the horses were in the field with me. Ironically I had an almost immediate urge, entering the horse after 7 mins (getting there!) to use a bathroom so to speak…

‘Twas to be an interesting run!

Well the biggest horse, of the 4 occupying the field, kept cocking his head towards me and giving me the eyeball as he stood in the middle of the field I circumnavigated. Moments later I literally saw the belly of the beast as he rolled around in the middle of the field. 3 or 4th time round he started giving me the eye as i was coming up closer to him. As I circle his right side and run with his back towards me, the field closes in, and if he chose to rush me there. Well. I’d be fu*ked.

Like what you see do you? Well, I'm free. Every day....

So, with that in mind, I promptly turned around, left the field and run to another park. Here I met a man that would just stare at me as I would trot pass without saying a word – even as I gave with my best sweaty swathed “hey” with smile. Nothing. No response.

Decent run though

Go time

Mon 21st Sept.

A day to be proud of myself. I suddenly decided yesterday that I would go on a 4 hour run. Of course as the time got closer I realised how ridiculous that was…

So I thought cool 3. So I went, no real prep, up till 5am the night before, and a dodgy knee that was strapped up to boot. And my route? Well I had none except running around a park for a while.

So I went. And run. Was doing the uncle run and found a park all tucked away that looked quite interesting, so once I found a pathway I hopped on in. Didn’t realise it was a horse shitting ground. Like the stuff was everywhere. I stumbled in the overgrown weeds several times but luckily no fall.

Anyway, made my way to the second park some 90 mins later, still trotting at a slow jog. found my dad a-wandering there and he had a good laugh at the fact he could brisk walk as fast as I was running. Wasn’t too far from the truth.

Anyway, did the run. Appallingly slow pace, but didn’t walk or stop. Am now in copious amounts of pain. But feel proud!

Whoop!

In other words, this is what my dad was getting at...

The Uncle Run

Sun 20th Sept -

Was back out there again with the route I first started running about 4/5 years ago now. Down falling lane, left up onto cowley road and all the way down to my Uncle’s house. Then back. Around a 4 mile round trip.

Did 14mins 15 secs there. Wanted to hurt a little so aimed to do the same or faster back – managed 14 mins 05 secs

No knee problems really either – slight twinge but all good!

Was really working it, just like ma' main man Simon Pegg. Minus his coolness. Of course. Can't emulate that!

Black Park madness

Thur 17th Sept, Black Park, Denham, London

63 minute run.

Since the age of 15 upwards, and regularly for about the first two years, there was a route than Tom and I, and occassionally others had set off upon through black park.

Muddy mornings, hot summer breezes, and PB’s along the way. It was nice to be back!

Today was another first. Doing the same route of approx. 3.75 miles twice. Got a little lost along the way after a wrong turning, found our way back again and trotted home.

Acceptable run, with Thom helping me do some sprint work to stretch my lungs. And yes, they were a-stretched.

However, my knee started to hurt again.

Arse!

Kicking it hardcore

Tuesday 15th Sept, Panthers Gym and Black Park

30 minute step machine, 30 minute cycle, 6400 metre row,

and then a 27 minute fartlek run with Thom. Failed to mention to him I had been to the gym when I got to his @ 10am. Felt I would work harder that way. I did.

Main good thing here  is that at least my leg seemed to hold up which is good. Although it was only 27 minutes of impact exercise.

Nontheless a good hard day.

New kit!

I failed to mention that soon after coming back and my knee was buggered, I finally recognised the need to buy some actual RUNNING shoes, amonsgt other things…

Asics gel something or something. I realise now wearing these that I have never worn nor owned a decent pair of running trainers as my feet can actually breath! I mean I can feel the air! Ha

This would be the pedometer that I bought in good faith from the internet. Um. I've had it for several weeks now. It's still on my shelf, and currently serves as my backup alarm in case my first alarm fails to wake me up.

Crank up the training

7th – 30 minute row, 30 minute cycle, 30 minute step machine

9th – 90 MINUTE SWIM (at times I was taking a breath every 8 stroks while knocking out front crawl for this one. Was tiring, but I completed it! Only thing I am still concerned is that I do not work my anaerobic work.

10th – Gym – 30 min row /30 min cycle/ 30 min stepper/ 15 min leg weights

Getting my sweat on down at the gym. I think this was one of the few times that I acutally worked off my "backside" so to speak!

12th – 30 min row/30 min cycle/30 min stepper/ 15 min leg weights

13th – one hour swim

How sexy am I...ha ha ha

Swim Swim Swim! and then Gym Gym Gym!

Minus the running – very critical to the marathon but simply not possible given I continually choose to run on a bum knee.

However, I did crank up the swimmming and gymming a fair amount.

5th Sep – London, England

Gym – cross training again – a mixture of the step machine, and cycling and one other machine. However, I have to admit that my muscles tire before I myself get tired cardiovascularly. This has been annoying.

Go boyyyy go!

6th Sep – 1 hour swim (1/2 breast stroke, 1/2 front crawl). Disappointing swim – aiming to do 90 minutes, but simply got bored. Also not pushing myself till I’m dying…not at all…

When you're swimming alone its kind of hard to get pictures of yourself...Especiallly when the pool tells me you are not allowed to take pictures of the swimming pool! So here I am, in the changing room goggled up post swim, really worried. I flicked my head roud soon as the camera had finished clicking. Do you know how embarassing getting some of these photos are?!

Also. Those wonderful speedo goggles I’m wearing (have not matching swim shorts unfortunately for all the ladies ha ha) had been cutting into my nose during the course of the swim. With the skin so thin on the bridge of the nose it cut twice, and didn’t want a scar for so little work.

Hence the waterproof plaster. I look like I think I’m an athlete. Well.

I am!

Random run, skips but thankfully at least, no jumps

London, England, 3rd September

22 minute run

Met up with my old school friend Thom for the first time in several months. Was good to see him. Intended to arrange a run for a later period but instead ended up heading out.

Did a small fartlek round a field run. That again soon gave out as my knee played up again.

4th Sep 20 minute skip

Stayed at Rob’s house (brother in law) and ended up staying longer than anticipated. Called Rob in the daytime while he was at work asking what i could do for exercise…

Skipping rope came out. Told him I’d easily go an hour. He said if I could skip for 5 minutes without stopping . I couldn’t do it. Went for 20 minutes on and off….damn you!