Paul
Running with altitude
Friday, January 11th, 2008Having been away in the Himalayas for most of December walking at Altitude near Everest you would have thought that all of it would have been some use for when I got back here. Having lived meat free and an endless supply of Ra Ra Noodles I thought my body would have been fitter…. can you see where this is going?
Returning to work the first days cycle of 14 miles was a push over, apart from the very windy conditions and the lack of a rear mudguard for the wet roads it went well, the following day I cycled back in equally a good time without pushing myself that much. The other night I decided that I had to test the foot injury and do a run so opted for the treadmill without any support for the foot. In just over the hour I had done 10 km, a nice pace for me and felt fine. the altitude theory was it appeared working well…. one day later my legs feel like they have been kicked all over the place. However, not to be out done or demoralised I have a 18 miler planned for tomorrow with a 30 mile cycle later in the day, lets hope I can drive back home at the end of it..
No Comments »Couldn’t wait
Thursday, November 15th, 2007On Tuesday night I decided that enough was enough and would break myself in gently again. I opted for a session in a an ultimate spin class to get the legs working again and use to that burning sensation, I was quite happy powering through the “Turn it up again” stages until bits began to fall off of the bike… The instructors quick to notice the bolts rolling across the gym floor came over as I was still busy peddling for my life… apart from being told off by a girl older enough to be my daughter for turning it up to much, I felt quite pleased… I hard out performed the bike… or it was old and ready to give up anyway !! much like me in the mornings really.
Yesterday I decided that if I didn’t test the damed heel, it would play on me. I used the treadmill again at the gym, not quite so confident enough with the heel yet to hit the concrete. I then did two sessions of 5 miles in 30mins, collapsed on the floor and crawled to the water cooler to rest my head against it… a fine days training !!!
I had booked in to the spinning class again after the run preying that it wasn’t the same girl, but as it turned out no one turned up to take the lesson.. so I spent 45 mins ambling on the cycle before going home. I have to get out there and put some miles in and I think the only way is going to be to get Jacqui to drop me off a long way from home and make my way back. The problem being that I have two weeks before venturing off to Nepal for December and Everest Base Camp, not exactly the right training for running 54 miles…
No Comments »Cycling and running and swimming
Wednesday, November 7th, 2007Monday saw me back at work after a pleasant weekend with my son, who hates any exercise I do, but happy to row which I hate…
On Monday I decided on a cycle the 14 miles to work followed by a run around the nearby park, about 4 miles all the way around, no great problems even the heal managed to stay quite long after the event, albeit a bit chilly out there it was a good session.
Tuesday after work I ran to my gym, about 8 miles from here, The long curved road I have to follow seems to go on forever at times, although the legs are getting more use to the fact that I won’t let them stop me for that little rest and comfort break. At the gym it was straight into the water for the 2.5 mile swim. I know its not a good idea after a run to plop into a pool but I just about got away with it. My intention then was to take part in one of the ultimate spin classes there, but that fell foul due to Jacqui being tired. If anyone says well why didn’t you run the rest of the way home… I was quite happy thanks in a warm car.
I have just volunteered for the GUCR in May and UK Ironman in Sept.. Guess the running had better go into overload soonest.
No Comments »Light and Easy
Thursday, November 1st, 2007After work the call of the gym coaxed me there. I decided on a light training session of Rowing cycling and weights in order to cater for the other strains on the body apart from legs in a long event. After 4000 meters rowing I thought my chest was going to pop. I had just about enough
time to get my feet free of the straps, before heaving lung and stomach up. On to the cycle, only a mere 5km as my legs felt unnaturally heavy… although I did set it high in order to work out.
Not being a weights man, more for toning, I decided on the normal arms, shoulder routine. The only way I really work with weights is when I put myself in a class so I find the self training process with them a bit laborious and did not last long enough to gain any benefit. maybe next time.
A planed route around the local park after work today of about 8 miles is beckoning, a nice easy pace this time as I have two long runs next week to keep me turning over.
No Comments »Rest days over…
Tuesday, October 30th, 2007Having had a few days rest in order to rest the left heal that still remains sensitive after a run, I decided that if I didn’t give it a go now I would gain weight and become grumpy, all in the space of four days..!! I decided to cycle like a lunatic to work, the 14 miles are a combination of road and track, ideal for pushing it. After about 5 miles I could feel myself draining away with the thighs complaining as if they had worked for hours. By the time I finished I have to admit I did not feel so good, or not as good as normal.
Today was the opportunity to get up early and run the same route. Very reluctantly I woke up and was forced by Jacqui to get on with it, any other time she is dead to the world, but today she was adamant I was going before she rolled over again..
I have to say that once I got over the initial shock of waking birds up, watching the sun rise and the stiff legs working normally in a semi running pattern I quite enjoyed it. I even managed to stagger up the stairs at work in order retrieve my keys so I could go in search of clothes.
I obviously have a problem at the moment with nutrition as I never seem to experience that feeling of ‘I feel good’ after a run. that or I’m just not doing enough of it to break that barrier. Maybe I just need more sleep in the mornings…..
No Comments »Morning start
Tuesday, October 23rd, 2007Early start yesterday having decided to cycle to work. Work having moved closer to home a mere 14 miles now, from the 33.
A bit dodgy trying to use the road where I live in this weather at that time of the morning, being flat and rural the mist tends to hug the farm land, so its across dykes and back roads on the mountain bike.
By the end of the day it was time to run home, the return leg, which was quite hard work getting going and in order to push through that tired leg phase. by half way my heal was playing up again, so if anyone has any useful ideas of treatment, other than rest, then I would be grateful because its becoming annoying now.
2hrs 5 mins by the time I got home, and could I find the key to the front door….
No Comments »Leicester
Tuesday, October 16th, 2007I know what Andy means about the sniffels, I have had them now for the past week.
Having already signed up to do the Leicester Marathon Sunday just gone, it was very tempting to stay in bed at 6am and forget about it. But alas no, like a good trooper I went to Leicester to run the ‘ Flat course’ except it wasn’t… the half marathon may well have been, but I think they forgot to mention that on the marathon application.
It was a good turn out considering, all shapes and sizes, plus the two marathon club members that put us middle aged boys to shame, they must of been about 70 if a day.!!! and they just waddle past, shame they don’t move like that when driving.. or am I just bitter?
Not a bad days running I guess. Having done 20 miles last Saturday and not much in between. 4 hours 35 mins, which is so so for me. I did say I plod, comfortable running.
It did cross my mind that I would still have the same again to do come February, but its all in the mind. I had set out to do 26 miles and finished, on the day in February I will set out to do 54 ish and finish. Now, off to learn how to walk again, with stiff legs…
The sniffels stopped for the day though, back now !!
No Comments »By Rutland Water
Monday, October 8th, 2007Another day.
What excuses could I find for not doing the run that I said I was going to do to Jacqui last night as I read a book about an ultra marathon runner.. ‘I know what we can do tomorrow, you can drop me off and I will run around that peninsular bit, oh and then the long way round to meet you in the carpark..’ sounded really good at the time and of no consequence as I sat with yet another cup of tea. I could have used the crushed heal excuse, but that would be pointless now as she was already aware I couldn’t walk properly after training, not before.
Saturday morning came and we drove to Rutland Water. There are various ways of getting around, normally bike or foot, in total 23 miles if you feel adventurous, but today the plan was about 20miles, missing out a section alongside road, which on hindsight I should have done, because it would have been quicker and only 3 miles back to the car after the peninsular of 6 miles.
Not to cry off, I strapped by waterpack on and away I went. Jacqui decided to go for a walk the opposite way around the peninsular, I would have to pass her, great, meant I had to keep a decent pace before I could stop as she is very good at delivering a comment of where have you been !! did you see that man in the wheelchair pass you..
Surprisingly the heel was holding up, although I was compensating for the injury by hitting the ground hard with my right foot which was not intentional. After a few miles the damaged hell went dead, so I was ok now.
After about 10 miles I felt like I could sit down and rest, I know around about this distance is the first checkpoint for the Thames Meander. I always feel knackered by then anyway so now was no different. Rutland Water is a big water reservoir which means you either turn back to get home, or commit yourself to the half way and then it matters not.
On I plod, sipping water sensibily this time rather than having a bloated belly, it worked fine. As I came near to a place called Normanton, I unfortunately talked myself in to having a cup of tea, I needed the sugar for a start, sit down second and a mobile phone to call for HELP !!
I got the first two and managed a mobile phone, but, having come this far I only had another 3 miles to do and I was sure that I wasn’t about to stop now. Jacqui on the other end of the phone seemed impressed I had got that far in the time. I wasn’t so sure she had a watch on to be sure.
The last 3 miles seemed to take forever, but they were done. crushed heel and all. Yes I am now walking rather ungainly and tip toeing rather like a little girl, but other than mild stiff legs I thought I done rather well. Off to the gym in a moment to swim and loosen the legs.
This week should be a little less training as I am running in the Leicester Marathon next Sunday, not that I anticipate scarring the runners by my blistering speed… just more of a need to finish another training run. As long as you finish, time is unimportant and the fact you have enjoyed it.. after you’ve recovered that is.
No Comments »Resistance is futile
Thursday, October 4th, 2007Mondays training turned in a longer than planned affair. Having booked in an Adv Spin class I got the time all wrong and arrived a bit early, by two hours. I spent the time swimming the 2.5 miles followed by 45 mins running. after a ten minutes rest I was on to the spin class which I have to say was hell. Do you ever get the impression that it’s only you adding resistance, because everyone else looks to be going faster..!! Having done that it was a quick 1.5 miles run and then collapse in a heap wondering why at 44yrs I bother.
Tuesday consisted of an hours weights / circuits followed by more bike work, followed by a brief run. My crushed heal is slowly mending and only a small amount of painful walking after exercise, but it’s better than it was.
Having completed a fifteen mile run prior to Monday I was pleased with the recovery of my legs, although my arms have suffered with the weights and washing my hair is now a problem.
Rest day today as I have other work to do at home, although having worked at a location nearer to home today I cycled cross country the 13 miles to home, beauty of living in the Fens, not many hills.
No Comments »My week so far
Wednesday, September 26th, 2007I currently have a crushed heal on my left foot, caused by wearing a pair of trainers that I suspected were faulty after having only ran in them for a short time. Nonetheless I chose to run and paid for the indecision, although to be fair it doesn’t stop me completely.
To compensate I have increased my cycling taking time to ride the 33 miles home. not done every day I might add.
I regularly attend my gym, normally about three times a week again depending on work and family life, but I do take part in the advanced spinning class for an hour, before then hitting the running machine and then weights.
Distance running. I usually use the work run.. not the full 33 thank god, but it depends on how I feel. some days I park my car 15 miles away and cycle in to work, before running back to it at the end of the day.
Swimming. I try to keep up swimming by always doing 2.5miles. which is about 150 lengths with another 10 added making 160 because I always loose count, typical man..
This weeks training so far:
Two occasions at the gym completing the above, and once swimming the 2.5miles. I can not train tomorrow (Thu) due to other commitments,
Friday is a rest day for me from work, so I plan to run a 15 mile route over hilly route locally. this will be followed later in the day with the 2.5 mile swim and a spinning session in the gym.
My next run of note is the Leicester Marathon which I am taking part in to use as distance running, I am not a competitor because I plod, about 4hr 15mins, but it maintains by running level which I am happy with. I train because I like the challenge of doing hard events others don’t and to test my resolve. There would be no point in setting a challenge.. if you knew you could do it….
No Comments »