Well that's that then! The morning after the day before and boy oh boy am I suffering! PAIN like I've never felt before. I'll come to that in a moment. I'll give you a blow by blow account;
3am - Alarm goes off and I wander to the bathroom to get ready.
3.15am - forced some porridge down and checked my bag (I had no idea of how much stuff to take, I had changes of clothes, numerous pairs of socks and a fair amount of food too.)
4am - arrived at the Strawberry to meet up with the rest of Team Jake. Cars were loaded and off we went.
5.30am - Arrive at the start line, just time to grab a bottle of lucozade (other energy drinks are available) have a quick wee and then we were off. My timing chip didn't scan properly so I was left on my own - probably a good thing, meant I could go at my own pace. I felt really good and was really enjoying it round the lake. I met up with a couple of lads - Ade and Mike - who I ran with unto the bottom of Dunmail Rise when I left them. Seeing some Marshalls I knew was really nice to helped me get up the Rise where every other parked car was cooking bacon!
7.05am - Check Point 1 (Grasmere 10.4 miles) - felt great and was pleased with my progress! Then the nightmare that was Red Bank!! I had heard that it was bad and these fears were confirmed when there was a sign that said "low gear now" I was almost on all fours when I reached the top. I met a fellow debutant on the top who was from Preston, he was suffering with a sore knee, I walked with him to the next Check Point .
7.42 - Check Point 2 (Elterwater 13.4 miles) - thighs were burning at this point, more from the descent from red bank than the ascent. I was really hungry by this point and the bananas and juice at the Checkpoint was very welcome. I walked and jogged a bit to the next checkpoint in Coniston. There were some pretty long climbs and all the aches and pains seemed to start - thighs and calves.
8.45 - Check Point 3 (Coniston 18 miles) - I was really hoping to see my support here as I was in need of some food. I also was really surprised and pleased with my progress. My support wasn't there so I only had some of the juice on offer and then embarked on the second really severe climb of the day. This was made worse with this section being on a rough path. Dropping down to the next Checkpoint it was becoming evident that I was going to struggle to run much more or for any length of time.
9.12 - Check Point 4 (Brantwood 20.4 miles) - FOOD thank goodness. I resisted the burgers and hotdogs on offer and had a tuna sandwich and a couple of bananas. Still no sign of my support but the wonderful people who had given up their time looked after me! The next leg took me down the side of Coniston, an reasonably flat section so I tried to run some more but my feet were really starting to hurt as were my thighs and hips. Strangely, when I ran the muscle and joint pain seemed to go but my feet killed. This led me to introducing a tactic which involved setting a target to run to - either a telegraph pole, the count of 200 or the length of a song on my iPod. I must thank Mark Johnson who walked some of this section with me and also gave me an energy gel to give me a bit of a boost - he wasn't lying when he said it was disgusting!
10.41 - Check Point 5 (Lowick 27 miles) - Saw Nick and Jo here and fired into some sweets and Lucozade. I embarked on what was the hardest section for me. Kirkby Moor - horrendous. My groins were really hurting now as were my feet and I never thought it was going to end. The weather was also starting to worsen.
11.21 - Check Point 6 (Kirkby Moor 30.5 miles) - Seeing the 30 mile marker was a big boost, knowing that it was now single figures to get home. I had arranged to see Lianne and Lily at the next checkpoint which was probably the only thing that kept me going. The worst bit was when a crested a rise thinking that must be it and I should be dropping down and all I could see was the road stretch and climbing into the distance - sole destroying!
12.16 - Check Point 7 (Marton 34.5 miles) - Not far to go! Saw Lianne and Lily which was fantastic and boosted my spirits for the last 6 miles or so. I had started to rain again at this point, unlike first thing though it wasn't warm. Coming out of the village I was given some home made energy cake by Margaret from the Barrow and District Disability Association support team which was delicious! I managed to jog the last little bit down into Dalton where my mum and sister were waiting to see me. It was pouring down at this point.
Check Point 8 - (Dalton 37 miles) - Last leg. The timing equipment was broken here. I saw mum and sister who offered to walk the last leg with me which helped. I had my first wee since 5.30 at the bottom of Mill Brow and in the portaloo I found that I hadn't realised how cold I was! Still only a couple of miles to go. Walking over Mill Brow and down Abbey Road all the beeps and shouts from cars and passers by really spurred me on and (figuratively speaking) put a spring in my step. My sister left me at the end of Wheatclose Road and summoned up the energy/adrenalin to run up the drive at Vickers cheered on by Lianne, Lily, sister in law Keely, Reece and Autumn to finish.
13.40 - Finish - 40 Miles - Total time - 8 Hours 6 Mins 53 Seconds.
Very happy with my performance and the couple of free pints went down a dream!
So what was the damage -
2 blood blisters covering my little toes
Matching friction burns where my under crackers had rubbed (nice)
Sharp pain behind my right knee
All over lower body stiffness. Getting in and out of; chairs, bed and the bath, up and down stairs, well moving in general is more than painful!
Would I do it again? I very much doubt it, although I am thinking about doing the Windermere Marathon next year.
All that is left for me to say is, thanks to all those involved with organising and running the K2B, thanks to Nick and Jo for sorting Team Jake out and congrats to all those who endured the day, was it worth it?
Lastly a big thank you to Lianne and Lily for spurring me on at my lowest moment, being there when I finished and believing in me.
Otto out.
Sunday, 8 May 2011
Tuesday, 3 May 2011
A Sheepish Return
ARRGGHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
4 days to go, very worried!
Well I've been out for a run for the first time in about 2 and half weeks and it went surprisingly well. Granted it was only about 4 miles but once my breathing settled down it I felt pretty good.
So why haven't I blogged for so long? I haven't ran for ages, simple. Why haven't I ran for so long? Basically lazy, in a nutshell. The long answer is to do with the introduction of night games into my weekly timetable. But why does this stop you from running I hear you cry? Playing 2 games of football a week on hard pitches makes Michael's joints, muscles and everything else sore! It isn't as though I haven't been doing any exercise - I have still been spinning twice a week coupled with the 2 games a week for the last 3 weeks. I haven't blogged about it as this is meant to be a blog about my running training and who wants to hear about how consistantly inconsistant Hawcoat Park Ressies are!
SO, the run this evening. A most enjoyable trot which took in the Abbey Greenway which was very pleasent apart from the flies. I must have inhaled a fair old few. The flies weren't the only hazards on the way though. Along the way I enjoyed lambs gambolling in the fields and a mother duck and ducklings also swam past. Whilst enjoying this I nearly joined the ducks in the river, must concentrate.
I'm going to try and fit at least one more run in before the big day just to clear the lungs out. I'll tell you all about it, promise. And maybe more excitingly I will blog about my experiences this coming Saturday (and I promise it won't be all about how ridiculously early the 4am meet is!)
Wish me luck or if you are feeling generous you can still sponsor me by going to - http://www.keswick2barrow.co.uk/sponsor/welcome.asp?ID=2678
Big kiss
Otts
4 days to go, very worried!
Well I've been out for a run for the first time in about 2 and half weeks and it went surprisingly well. Granted it was only about 4 miles but once my breathing settled down it I felt pretty good.
So why haven't I blogged for so long? I haven't ran for ages, simple. Why haven't I ran for so long? Basically lazy, in a nutshell. The long answer is to do with the introduction of night games into my weekly timetable. But why does this stop you from running I hear you cry? Playing 2 games of football a week on hard pitches makes Michael's joints, muscles and everything else sore! It isn't as though I haven't been doing any exercise - I have still been spinning twice a week coupled with the 2 games a week for the last 3 weeks. I haven't blogged about it as this is meant to be a blog about my running training and who wants to hear about how consistantly inconsistant Hawcoat Park Ressies are!
SO, the run this evening. A most enjoyable trot which took in the Abbey Greenway which was very pleasent apart from the flies. I must have inhaled a fair old few. The flies weren't the only hazards on the way though. Along the way I enjoyed lambs gambolling in the fields and a mother duck and ducklings also swam past. Whilst enjoying this I nearly joined the ducks in the river, must concentrate.
I'm going to try and fit at least one more run in before the big day just to clear the lungs out. I'll tell you all about it, promise. And maybe more excitingly I will blog about my experiences this coming Saturday (and I promise it won't be all about how ridiculously early the 4am meet is!)
Wish me luck or if you are feeling generous you can still sponsor me by going to - http://www.keswick2barrow.co.uk/sponsor/welcome.asp?ID=2678
Big kiss
Otts
Monday, 28 March 2011
All the gear ... No idea
Monday 28 March (Really not long until K2B Day)
Well it has been 2 weeks since I last ran, bad times. I've managed 2 spinning sessions and played football twice in that period too. I haven't been feeling too chipper so I decided to give running a miss until I felt a bit betterer. Like I need much of an excuse to duck out of training! I have the will power of a blamange!
Anyway I thought I'd get back on the horse (figuratively speaking) this evening and ease my way back in with about a 4 miler. Those 2 weeks off didn't half tell. I had 2 stitches from almost step one! I was running for the first time ipod-less. My headphones are what are technically termed kaput! I don't know how and why but I find running so much easier when listening to it. Anyway I managed to bully myself round. I was racing a lasagna too.
I had to smile to myself (through the pain) as I was running along, a fellow runner coming in the opposite gave me a big thumbs up as we passed. I thought that kind of solidarity only existed between white van men, long distance lorry drivers and VW campervan owners. Awesome!
I finally had to take a look in the mirror (well reflection in a bus stop) and admit that all the clobber in the world won't a runner make of me! There I was in my sweat wicking (what is wicking by the way) t shirt, cushioned running socks with concealed seams to reduce blisters and my brand spanking new pair of running pumps (check these bad boys out!)
Well off work for a couple of days so I hope to try and get at least 1 more run in before going back to work on Thursday.
Well it has been 2 weeks since I last ran, bad times. I've managed 2 spinning sessions and played football twice in that period too. I haven't been feeling too chipper so I decided to give running a miss until I felt a bit betterer. Like I need much of an excuse to duck out of training! I have the will power of a blamange!
Anyway I thought I'd get back on the horse (figuratively speaking) this evening and ease my way back in with about a 4 miler. Those 2 weeks off didn't half tell. I had 2 stitches from almost step one! I was running for the first time ipod-less. My headphones are what are technically termed kaput! I don't know how and why but I find running so much easier when listening to it. Anyway I managed to bully myself round. I was racing a lasagna too.
I had to smile to myself (through the pain) as I was running along, a fellow runner coming in the opposite gave me a big thumbs up as we passed. I thought that kind of solidarity only existed between white van men, long distance lorry drivers and VW campervan owners. Awesome!
I finally had to take a look in the mirror (well reflection in a bus stop) and admit that all the clobber in the world won't a runner make of me! There I was in my sweat wicking (what is wicking by the way) t shirt, cushioned running socks with concealed seams to reduce blisters and my brand spanking new pair of running pumps (check these bad boys out!)
And I had to accept the fact unless I get my sorry bum out doing the hard miles I am going to have to resign myself to walking all the way and no amount of flash gear or gadgets is going to change that - I got myself all excited about Lidl selling heart rate monitors for £14.99. What do I need a heart rate monitor for? I'm not training that seriously (yet) Also, a friend offered to lend me a Garmin or something - I have no idea what one is but I'm pretty sure it wouldn't make me run any further!
On the plus side, a couple of people have actually admitted to reading my inane babblings on here and for that I thank them and anyone else who reads. It does help motivate me to go and run so I've something to moan about.
Well off work for a couple of days so I hope to try and get at least 1 more run in before going back to work on Thursday.
TTFN
Otts
Otts
Thursday, 17 March 2011
First Open Water Swim!!
Thursday 17 March (too scared to actually work out how long until K2B but I know it isn't long!)
Well, I promised to post on Sunday and it is now Thursday, pretty average Otto time keeping!
I've had a mixed week in terms of training, the good the bad and the ugly really. It has consisted of;
Saturday - 90minutes of football
This blog isn't about football so I won't dwell on this, needless to say that due to unforeseen cry offs (or Millom -itis) I was pressed into action in goal. Not the first time I've donned the gloves this season though not a preferred position. We won and due to my relative (thankfully) inactivity I felt good enough to train on Sunday.
Sunday - 3.5 miles round Barrow Park
This was the first time I'd ran laps of anywhere. Handily the Park has a perimeter path which measures 1 mile, incorporating a short but steep climb up to the cenotaph. I was interested to see that I was lapping in 9 minutes - interested but don't know whether this is good bad or indifferent. I would have ran further, but I was limited for time as we were going out for Sunday dinner for Lianne's grandparents Golden Wedding.
Monday - 30min Spinning Class and an aborted run - planned 11 miles, bailed out after about 4.
Spinning was a sweat drenching, thigh burning thoroughly enjoyable 30 minutes of hard work which set me up to go out and have a good run in the evening. However, as the day progressed, especially after I got in from work, I started to feel a bit achy and shivery. Putting it to the back of my mind I set out on my carefully planned run that would see me visit Ormsgill, Hindpool, Barrow Island, Holbeck and Hawcoat! Things started ok but as I ran past BAE's iconic DDH building on Barrow Island I noticed my right calf begin to tighten, ignoring it I carried on only for my right knee and right hip begin to throb. I was still determined to push on with my aim of running 10miles for the first time, but when I misjudged a kerb and jarred my already sore right leg, I was looking for an easy out. Fortunately for me I wasn't far from my sister's so I hobbled up there and begged a lift home. Things got worse when I got out of the bath at home. I started to shiver and didn't stop for the next couple of days. This blog is starting to sound like an outlet for me moaning about one thing or the other, I'm pretty sure anyone daft enough to actually read this won't exactly be inspired to join me on a training run.
Thursday - 3 miles (stop and start)
This is where the title of this post came from. As normal on a Thursday morning, I was accompanied by the mother in law's springer spaniel, Seth. I haven't ran with him for a couple of weeks, my body is just too shocked to work properly when it comes to running in the morning so I've just walked him recently. I decided to run this morning. I thought that lapping the Park would be a good idea, mainly because there are plenty of bins in which to deposit the you know what! Anyway, we were going along quite nicely until we ran alongside the lake. I was in my own little world when suddenly Seth shot across the path in the direction of the lake in hot pursuit of a duck! I just and so managed to haul him in before we both went head long into said lake! Which would have been nice. I only managed a lap and a half of the park before heading for home. I didn't fancy the potential of a dip in the lake and I did have to get to work and the climb up to the cenotaph nearly did for me.
Anyway, that's enough for now. I will report back in due course with more tails of woe no doubt!
Otts out.
Well, I promised to post on Sunday and it is now Thursday, pretty average Otto time keeping!
I've had a mixed week in terms of training, the good the bad and the ugly really. It has consisted of;
Saturday - 90minutes of football
This blog isn't about football so I won't dwell on this, needless to say that due to unforeseen cry offs (or Millom -itis) I was pressed into action in goal. Not the first time I've donned the gloves this season though not a preferred position. We won and due to my relative (thankfully) inactivity I felt good enough to train on Sunday.
Sunday - 3.5 miles round Barrow Park
This was the first time I'd ran laps of anywhere. Handily the Park has a perimeter path which measures 1 mile, incorporating a short but steep climb up to the cenotaph. I was interested to see that I was lapping in 9 minutes - interested but don't know whether this is good bad or indifferent. I would have ran further, but I was limited for time as we were going out for Sunday dinner for Lianne's grandparents Golden Wedding.
Monday - 30min Spinning Class and an aborted run - planned 11 miles, bailed out after about 4.
Spinning was a sweat drenching, thigh burning thoroughly enjoyable 30 minutes of hard work which set me up to go out and have a good run in the evening. However, as the day progressed, especially after I got in from work, I started to feel a bit achy and shivery. Putting it to the back of my mind I set out on my carefully planned run that would see me visit Ormsgill, Hindpool, Barrow Island, Holbeck and Hawcoat! Things started ok but as I ran past BAE's iconic DDH building on Barrow Island I noticed my right calf begin to tighten, ignoring it I carried on only for my right knee and right hip begin to throb. I was still determined to push on with my aim of running 10miles for the first time, but when I misjudged a kerb and jarred my already sore right leg, I was looking for an easy out. Fortunately for me I wasn't far from my sister's so I hobbled up there and begged a lift home. Things got worse when I got out of the bath at home. I started to shiver and didn't stop for the next couple of days. This blog is starting to sound like an outlet for me moaning about one thing or the other, I'm pretty sure anyone daft enough to actually read this won't exactly be inspired to join me on a training run.
Thursday - 3 miles (stop and start)
This is where the title of this post came from. As normal on a Thursday morning, I was accompanied by the mother in law's springer spaniel, Seth. I haven't ran with him for a couple of weeks, my body is just too shocked to work properly when it comes to running in the morning so I've just walked him recently. I decided to run this morning. I thought that lapping the Park would be a good idea, mainly because there are plenty of bins in which to deposit the you know what! Anyway, we were going along quite nicely until we ran alongside the lake. I was in my own little world when suddenly Seth shot across the path in the direction of the lake in hot pursuit of a duck! I just and so managed to haul him in before we both went head long into said lake! Which would have been nice. I only managed a lap and a half of the park before heading for home. I didn't fancy the potential of a dip in the lake and I did have to get to work and the climb up to the cenotaph nearly did for me.
Anyway, that's enough for now. I will report back in due course with more tails of woe no doubt!
Otts out.
Wednesday, 9 March 2011
Frustration
How hard can it actually be to pick, and run a route that is over 10 miles? The reason I ask, friends, is on my last training run (the only one I've done since my last post) I was convinced that I'd busted a good 10 miles and other than, what are starting to become my customary, blisters (well the beginnings of blisters, not actually full blown bad boys but "hotspots" I believe the proper term is) I felt pretty good. So feeling somewhat pleased with my self - bordering on smug to be honest - I visited runningmap.com to measure how far I'd covered in the 1 hour 11 mins I'd literally been running round Barrow. To my dismay the distance came back as 8 miles! GUTTED.
Putting things in perspective, it is still pretty good for me. I was just disappointed that after basically doing a lap of the town I didn't hit double figures. Never the less, taking the positives from it, I felt pretty good all the way round. I pushed myself - every time I had the option to either turn for home or push it a further, I pushed it. I maintained some pretty reasonable form throughout. Basically, I wasn't rocking and rolling all over the place blowing out of my arse! My core strength must be improving.
I need to try and find another a couple of miles from somewhere - it is looking like I'm either going to have to run up the bypass or get my passport out and trot over the bridge to Walney. OH MY GOD CROUCH HAS JUST MISSED A SITTER!! Sorry I've got the Champions League tie between AC Milan and Spurs on ITV+1.
So what other training have I done? Nothing in terms of running. I do however still go spinning twice a week which if nothing else has helped strengthen my legs and core, plus made me sweat buckets and my lungs burn. That and football related activities basically. I do find it hard to make the time to get out and run.
So we are Wednesday night now. I intend blogging again on Sunday so if nothing else I'll be able to tell you how I got on playing football on Saturday. I am going to try and get out for a few miles on Sunday but if I feel anything like I did last Sunday I'll be lucky to get out of bed!
Just a quick question to those experienced runners out there, should I be looking to do 1 big run a week, ie 10-12 miles (that's big in my book) and be happy with the spinning and football training for the rest of the time or should I be looking to get as many miles in as I can? Answers on the back of a postcard ...
Hopefully my next musing won't be so waffley!
Otts
Putting things in perspective, it is still pretty good for me. I was just disappointed that after basically doing a lap of the town I didn't hit double figures. Never the less, taking the positives from it, I felt pretty good all the way round. I pushed myself - every time I had the option to either turn for home or push it a further, I pushed it. I maintained some pretty reasonable form throughout. Basically, I wasn't rocking and rolling all over the place blowing out of my arse! My core strength must be improving.
I need to try and find another a couple of miles from somewhere - it is looking like I'm either going to have to run up the bypass or get my passport out and trot over the bridge to Walney. OH MY GOD CROUCH HAS JUST MISSED A SITTER!! Sorry I've got the Champions League tie between AC Milan and Spurs on ITV+1.
So what other training have I done? Nothing in terms of running. I do however still go spinning twice a week which if nothing else has helped strengthen my legs and core, plus made me sweat buckets and my lungs burn. That and football related activities basically. I do find it hard to make the time to get out and run.
So we are Wednesday night now. I intend blogging again on Sunday so if nothing else I'll be able to tell you how I got on playing football on Saturday. I am going to try and get out for a few miles on Sunday but if I feel anything like I did last Sunday I'll be lucky to get out of bed!
Just a quick question to those experienced runners out there, should I be looking to do 1 big run a week, ie 10-12 miles (that's big in my book) and be happy with the spinning and football training for the rest of the time or should I be looking to get as many miles in as I can? Answers on the back of a postcard ...
Hopefully my next musing won't be so waffley!
Otts
Wednesday, 23 February 2011
Issues and Tissues
Bit of a misleading title folks. Sorry I haven't written anything for a couple of weeks, for those who may actually read this. I've had internet trouble, which I won't bore you with, at home and it still isn't resolved. I'm knocking this little post out in my dinner at work, shhh.
So down to business, what have I been doing training-wise since I last posted. Short answer, not a lot. There is 72 days to go, I think, and my training is still pretty basic. This is largely due to a persistant blister problem (thanks for all the advice I've recieved - Mr Holgate you have an unhealthy obsession with Vasalene!) I have only ran twice since I last posted, a 5.5mile run last Wednesday and a 2.5 miler on Sunday just gone. On the longer run I felt great, except for the blisters! My lungs and legs felt like they could have gone on for longer, I was comfortable, reletavely. Just the blisters on the balls of my feet led to me having to stop. The run on Sunday was kind of shoe horned in and was too soon after my tea as I kept getting stomach cramps. Still better than nothing.
While I haven't been running I have kept up spinning classes - 2 a week. I know it isn't running but it is better than nothing. It is bloody hard work so it must be doing me some good!
Hopefully I will have found a remedy for the blister issue as good old Lidl are selling specific running socks with extra cushioning, so I've acquired a couple of pairs (thanks mum) so we'll see how we go with those! Also my mother swears by moleskin if she ever suffers from shoes rubbing so she's got me some of that too, to stick on my feet. I'll try anything at the moment!
Right, that's enough waffle for now. I'll report back in a couple of days, internet at home permitting and hopefully I'll have smashed a few more miles out (blister free - fingers crossed!)
Otto out
So down to business, what have I been doing training-wise since I last posted. Short answer, not a lot. There is 72 days to go, I think, and my training is still pretty basic. This is largely due to a persistant blister problem (thanks for all the advice I've recieved - Mr Holgate you have an unhealthy obsession with Vasalene!) I have only ran twice since I last posted, a 5.5mile run last Wednesday and a 2.5 miler on Sunday just gone. On the longer run I felt great, except for the blisters! My lungs and legs felt like they could have gone on for longer, I was comfortable, reletavely. Just the blisters on the balls of my feet led to me having to stop. The run on Sunday was kind of shoe horned in and was too soon after my tea as I kept getting stomach cramps. Still better than nothing.
While I haven't been running I have kept up spinning classes - 2 a week. I know it isn't running but it is better than nothing. It is bloody hard work so it must be doing me some good!
Hopefully I will have found a remedy for the blister issue as good old Lidl are selling specific running socks with extra cushioning, so I've acquired a couple of pairs (thanks mum) so we'll see how we go with those! Also my mother swears by moleskin if she ever suffers from shoes rubbing so she's got me some of that too, to stick on my feet. I'll try anything at the moment!
Right, that's enough waffle for now. I'll report back in a couple of days, internet at home permitting and hopefully I'll have smashed a few more miles out (blister free - fingers crossed!)
Otto out
Sunday, 30 January 2011
Best Laid Plans ...
Sunday 30 January (96 days to go)
Well, I believe it was Robbie Burns who said that the best laid plans of mice and men oft go awry. Well I can relate to that this week. Again my training hasn't gone to plan at all! I had planned to;
a) Go football training on Tuesday.
What actually happened - nada, nothing, nicks. Why? No reasonable reason or excuse.
b) Run Wednesday
What actually happened - Spinning class, no run. Why? I gave blood after spinning and didn't think it would be a particularly good idea to run aswell a pint of blood light.
c) Run Thursday.
What actually happened - ran about 3.5 miles (more on this later) and went football training too.
d) Play footy Saturday
What actually happened - naff all. Game was frozen off and I didn't go for a run which I probably should have.
e) Run Sunday.
What actually happened - ran 6.5 miles (more on this later too)
So, although things haven't gone as well as expected, what have I found out? Well first and foremost - blisters are a bitch! The ones I got a couple of weeks ago have flared up again, if that's what blisters do? I thought they had dried out and it would be ok to run on them again. It was ok on Thursday (I had other problems which I'll go into in a moment) but today, my goodness, they stung somewhat! It is mainly the ball of my right foot. I don't know whether it is my trainers, my socks, my technique or what! Plasters, Vaseline, don't seem to have any effect. Anyway, I ran home from my mum's in Holbeck today, back through the Abbey after looping through Roose first. My body did conspire against me, I got to about Parkhouse Farm and started needing a poo! I thought about doing a Paula Ratcliffe but what would I have wiped ... you know what I mean!! Then the blister reared its ugly head. I was surprised that I managed 6 and a half miles, again I felt ok lung and leg wise, just the pain in the feet was the reason I didn't push on further. That and the impending poo.
The other problem this week occurred on my run on Thursday, originally intended to be about 5 miles-worth. This was coupled with taking Seth the bonkers Springer out for his morning constitutional. There lay the problem, running first thing! I picked the hound up at about 7.30 and set off. However, I was coughing and wheezing and my mouth went ridiculously dry barely a mile in. I tried to bully myself to go the full distance but my blamange like will power won in the end and I shortened it ending up doing about 3.5 miles. Disappointing, but I think it will just be a case of getting used to running at that time. I mean, it's a 6am race start for the K2B! "Race" ha! That's a laugh. More a war of attrition.
I am concerned about this blister problem. I know I'm going to have to let them heal properly but how far will it put my training back? I just hope the problem isn't my trainers. Hopefully all will be ok.
I'm tempted not to make any big predictions or claims about training this week. I can't see there being too much running - bad times. Well see anyway.
Any one with any good tips on blister care and prevention would be more than gratefully received.
Me
Well, I believe it was Robbie Burns who said that the best laid plans of mice and men oft go awry. Well I can relate to that this week. Again my training hasn't gone to plan at all! I had planned to;
a) Go football training on Tuesday.
What actually happened - nada, nothing, nicks. Why? No reasonable reason or excuse.
b) Run Wednesday
What actually happened - Spinning class, no run. Why? I gave blood after spinning and didn't think it would be a particularly good idea to run aswell a pint of blood light.
c) Run Thursday.
What actually happened - ran about 3.5 miles (more on this later) and went football training too.
d) Play footy Saturday
What actually happened - naff all. Game was frozen off and I didn't go for a run which I probably should have.
e) Run Sunday.
What actually happened - ran 6.5 miles (more on this later too)
So, although things haven't gone as well as expected, what have I found out? Well first and foremost - blisters are a bitch! The ones I got a couple of weeks ago have flared up again, if that's what blisters do? I thought they had dried out and it would be ok to run on them again. It was ok on Thursday (I had other problems which I'll go into in a moment) but today, my goodness, they stung somewhat! It is mainly the ball of my right foot. I don't know whether it is my trainers, my socks, my technique or what! Plasters, Vaseline, don't seem to have any effect. Anyway, I ran home from my mum's in Holbeck today, back through the Abbey after looping through Roose first. My body did conspire against me, I got to about Parkhouse Farm and started needing a poo! I thought about doing a Paula Ratcliffe but what would I have wiped ... you know what I mean!! Then the blister reared its ugly head. I was surprised that I managed 6 and a half miles, again I felt ok lung and leg wise, just the pain in the feet was the reason I didn't push on further. That and the impending poo.
The other problem this week occurred on my run on Thursday, originally intended to be about 5 miles-worth. This was coupled with taking Seth the bonkers Springer out for his morning constitutional. There lay the problem, running first thing! I picked the hound up at about 7.30 and set off. However, I was coughing and wheezing and my mouth went ridiculously dry barely a mile in. I tried to bully myself to go the full distance but my blamange like will power won in the end and I shortened it ending up doing about 3.5 miles. Disappointing, but I think it will just be a case of getting used to running at that time. I mean, it's a 6am race start for the K2B! "Race" ha! That's a laugh. More a war of attrition.
I am concerned about this blister problem. I know I'm going to have to let them heal properly but how far will it put my training back? I just hope the problem isn't my trainers. Hopefully all will be ok.
I'm tempted not to make any big predictions or claims about training this week. I can't see there being too much running - bad times. Well see anyway.
Any one with any good tips on blister care and prevention would be more than gratefully received.
Me
Monday, 24 January 2011
Blisters and Broken Necks
Monday 24 January (102 days to go)
Well folks I am a little embarrassed to say that I haven't trained at all since the last time I posted, that's more or less a week! After my last run - all 8 miles of it - the blisters that ensued somewhat incapacitated me! Well they hurt so I thought it bestest not to go running on them. I did go to football training last Thursday for what it was worth but we didn't really do a lot of graft and the small sided game was a bit of a waste of time due to the pea soup like fog. Made it all a lottery. To top it all our game was called off on Saturday due to the frost. At this rate I think we'll be playing more or less every night come the summer! One game in eight weeks. Still it means that our unbeaten run stretches back to the start of October.
Anyway this isn't about the football. There's a sentence I never thought I'd say! It's about the running and the 40 mile hell I'm going to endure come May. I should get my sponsor form tomorrow (Tuesday) so I'll be round - I hate asking for sponsor money, it's nearly as bad as collecting it.
Right back to the training. Since there was no game on Saturday I planned to go for a 10 mile run on Sunday, where exactly I wasn't sure as I like the idea of a point to point run rather than a loop, psychologically it seemed easier when I did the 8 mile run. Anyway, sometime Saturday night/Sunday morning, when trying to change position in bed (not that kind of position, filth) whilst avoiding crushing my off colour little girl, Lily (18 months) who was making me and mum into a capital H (you work it out) something went crunch in my back rendering me unable to stand up straight. Nightmare! So, unsurprisingly, the run went out the window.
I did manage a spinning session this dinnertime, very sweaty. The plan for the rest of the week is;
Tuesday - footy training
Wednesday - Run (7-10 miles)
Thursday - Run (4-5miles)
Friday - Nuthin
Saturday - Game time (I hope)
Sunday - Run (10 miles)
So lets see how we get on with that. There may be another spinning session on Wednesday too. We'll see.
I'll report back on Sunday to see how I've gotten on.
Otts out.
Well folks I am a little embarrassed to say that I haven't trained at all since the last time I posted, that's more or less a week! After my last run - all 8 miles of it - the blisters that ensued somewhat incapacitated me! Well they hurt so I thought it bestest not to go running on them. I did go to football training last Thursday for what it was worth but we didn't really do a lot of graft and the small sided game was a bit of a waste of time due to the pea soup like fog. Made it all a lottery. To top it all our game was called off on Saturday due to the frost. At this rate I think we'll be playing more or less every night come the summer! One game in eight weeks. Still it means that our unbeaten run stretches back to the start of October.
Anyway this isn't about the football. There's a sentence I never thought I'd say! It's about the running and the 40 mile hell I'm going to endure come May. I should get my sponsor form tomorrow (Tuesday) so I'll be round - I hate asking for sponsor money, it's nearly as bad as collecting it.
Right back to the training. Since there was no game on Saturday I planned to go for a 10 mile run on Sunday, where exactly I wasn't sure as I like the idea of a point to point run rather than a loop, psychologically it seemed easier when I did the 8 mile run. Anyway, sometime Saturday night/Sunday morning, when trying to change position in bed (not that kind of position, filth) whilst avoiding crushing my off colour little girl, Lily (18 months) who was making me and mum into a capital H (you work it out) something went crunch in my back rendering me unable to stand up straight. Nightmare! So, unsurprisingly, the run went out the window.
I did manage a spinning session this dinnertime, very sweaty. The plan for the rest of the week is;
Tuesday - footy training
Wednesday - Run (7-10 miles)
Thursday - Run (4-5miles)
Friday - Nuthin
Saturday - Game time (I hope)
Sunday - Run (10 miles)
So lets see how we get on with that. There may be another spinning session on Wednesday too. We'll see.
I'll report back on Sunday to see how I've gotten on.
Otts out.
Tuesday, 18 January 2011
From Plymouth to Harrogate
Tuesday 18 January (109 days to go)
Distance - 8 miles (yes 8, I know, I thought that too!)
Blisters - 3
Pain - plenty!
Well, I am quite proud of myself - kind of. It is the brother in law's birthday today so I gave footy training a miss tonight and we went over to theirs, Plymouth Street Walney, to pass on our salutations. I decided to run home from there, Harrogate Street (do you see what I did there? Clever eh? I added a bit of a loop to take the total distance up to a midges over 8 miles. I've never ran that far before and surprisingly my lungs and legs didn't feel too bad. I think my joints will beg to differ in the morning. Part of the way I had to run on the grass verge as there was no pavement and to say it was a tad uneven would be generous. It being very dark didn't help either. The big problem was and is the 2 large blister that steadily grew on the balls of both feet and the one on the tip of my little toe (explain that one!) I think they are going to necessitate a training break already but I'm struggling to walk. God knows what state they'll be in come May when I'm going 4 times as far! Hopefully they'll have toughened up a lot by then.
I also went spinning Monday lunchtime. Very sweaty but very enjoyable. Overall, I think I'm feeling the benefits of upping my activity levels. I think I am sleeping a bit better and in general I feel pretty good. The aches and pains, well they're to be expected. I am deffo going to have to look into getting some better socks, thicker anyway, and a lighter weight top to train in.
Plans for the rest of the week training-wise - naff all I think. Hopefully I'll be able to go footy training on Thursday and play on Saturday but beyond that I'll give pounding the pavements rest.
Anyone got any good blister/footcare tips?
Speak soon
Otts
Distance - 8 miles (yes 8, I know, I thought that too!)
Blisters - 3
Pain - plenty!
Well, I am quite proud of myself - kind of. It is the brother in law's birthday today so I gave footy training a miss tonight and we went over to theirs, Plymouth Street Walney, to pass on our salutations. I decided to run home from there, Harrogate Street (do you see what I did there? Clever eh? I added a bit of a loop to take the total distance up to a midges over 8 miles. I've never ran that far before and surprisingly my lungs and legs didn't feel too bad. I think my joints will beg to differ in the morning. Part of the way I had to run on the grass verge as there was no pavement and to say it was a tad uneven would be generous. It being very dark didn't help either. The big problem was and is the 2 large blister that steadily grew on the balls of both feet and the one on the tip of my little toe (explain that one!) I think they are going to necessitate a training break already but I'm struggling to walk. God knows what state they'll be in come May when I'm going 4 times as far! Hopefully they'll have toughened up a lot by then.
I also went spinning Monday lunchtime. Very sweaty but very enjoyable. Overall, I think I'm feeling the benefits of upping my activity levels. I think I am sleeping a bit better and in general I feel pretty good. The aches and pains, well they're to be expected. I am deffo going to have to look into getting some better socks, thicker anyway, and a lighter weight top to train in.
Plans for the rest of the week training-wise - naff all I think. Hopefully I'll be able to go footy training on Thursday and play on Saturday but beyond that I'll give pounding the pavements rest.
Anyone got any good blister/footcare tips?
Speak soon
Otts
Sunday, 16 January 2011
Bad Luck or Bad Judgement?
Sunday 16 January (111 days to go)
Well what can I say. Not even a week in and I've sacked off a run already! I feel a bit guilty really and I think that stating the reasons will sound like nothing more than shoddy excuses. I'm going to anyway.
The weather has been shocking this weekend and as a result my football match on Saturday was, unsurprisingly, called off. This being the case I thought I would go out and bang a few miles out. Well things didn't really go to plan. Firstly, the wind was really strong, running with it was fine, when I turned back into it was a different story! With it pouring down with a mixture of rain and a touch of hail, my rain top was acting like a sail holding me back and every step felt like a slap in the face. Bad times!
You may have read my last post where I said how good I felt during and after my first run. Well, I shouldn't have spoken so soon. As Friday progressed the stiffness in my legs increased. Double bad times. Anyway all these factors led to me curtailing my run on Saturday by about half a mile. I did manage to bully myself to keep plodding, and I mean plodding, on round about 4.5miles.
So, taking all this into account I decided to give it a miss today as the weather this morning looked very similar to yesterday. As it turned out it improved over the course of the day and I could have ran. Hence the feeling of slight guilt.
Anyway, lets draw a line under that, put it down to experience, tomorrow is a new day and whatever other cliche you want to insert. I think I have to temper my enthusiasm with an element of realism, I'm 33, carrying a bit of timber and running on the road is going to leave my limbs and joints aching and they need time to recover. So we'll get fired into my gusset torturing, thigh burning, sweat gushing spin class tomorrow and football training on Tuesday and run on the road next on Wednesday.
In the mean time I need to invest in some more comfortable undercrackers and some decent sports socks.
Thank you please.
Otts
Well what can I say. Not even a week in and I've sacked off a run already! I feel a bit guilty really and I think that stating the reasons will sound like nothing more than shoddy excuses. I'm going to anyway.
The weather has been shocking this weekend and as a result my football match on Saturday was, unsurprisingly, called off. This being the case I thought I would go out and bang a few miles out. Well things didn't really go to plan. Firstly, the wind was really strong, running with it was fine, when I turned back into it was a different story! With it pouring down with a mixture of rain and a touch of hail, my rain top was acting like a sail holding me back and every step felt like a slap in the face. Bad times!
You may have read my last post where I said how good I felt during and after my first run. Well, I shouldn't have spoken so soon. As Friday progressed the stiffness in my legs increased. Double bad times. Anyway all these factors led to me curtailing my run on Saturday by about half a mile. I did manage to bully myself to keep plodding, and I mean plodding, on round about 4.5miles.
So, taking all this into account I decided to give it a miss today as the weather this morning looked very similar to yesterday. As it turned out it improved over the course of the day and I could have ran. Hence the feeling of slight guilt.
Anyway, lets draw a line under that, put it down to experience, tomorrow is a new day and whatever other cliche you want to insert. I think I have to temper my enthusiasm with an element of realism, I'm 33, carrying a bit of timber and running on the road is going to leave my limbs and joints aching and they need time to recover. So we'll get fired into my gusset torturing, thigh burning, sweat gushing spin class tomorrow and football training on Tuesday and run on the road next on Wednesday.
In the mean time I need to invest in some more comfortable undercrackers and some decent sports socks.
Thank you please.
Otts
Thursday, 13 January 2011
And so it begins
Thurs 13 January (114 days to go)
Distance - 5 miles approx
Time - Not sure, 11 and a half songs on my ipod so about 45-50 mins
Well that's my first official training run done. I had company, the mother in law's springer spanial Seth, so his frequent sniff stops may have hampered my time. Saying that, at the moment I'm not that bothered about times, it is more about getting miles into my legs.
Anyway, the run today went surprisingly well, I felt pretty good throughout which means one of two things. Either I'm a bit fitter than I though or I wasn't pushing myself as hard as I should have. I'm hoping it's the first option but I fear it is more likely to be the latter. Either way I'm glad that I've got out there and it has given me the confidence to go a bit further next time out.
What I do think I'm going to have to do is look at the tunes on my ipod and getting stuff on there of a similar tempo but going from Let it Be to Song 2 can't be beneficial.
Anyway, I think that'll just about do it for today. No training tomorrow (Friday) as I've got football on Saturday. I fully intend running again on Sunday so I'll report back after that. In the mean time if anyone has any suggestions for routes to run or indeed good songs to run to I'd like to hear them.
Otts
Distance - 5 miles approx
Time - Not sure, 11 and a half songs on my ipod so about 45-50 mins
Well that's my first official training run done. I had company, the mother in law's springer spanial Seth, so his frequent sniff stops may have hampered my time. Saying that, at the moment I'm not that bothered about times, it is more about getting miles into my legs.
Anyway, the run today went surprisingly well, I felt pretty good throughout which means one of two things. Either I'm a bit fitter than I though or I wasn't pushing myself as hard as I should have. I'm hoping it's the first option but I fear it is more likely to be the latter. Either way I'm glad that I've got out there and it has given me the confidence to go a bit further next time out.
What I do think I'm going to have to do is look at the tunes on my ipod and getting stuff on there of a similar tempo but going from Let it Be to Song 2 can't be beneficial.
Anyway, I think that'll just about do it for today. No training tomorrow (Friday) as I've got football on Saturday. I fully intend running again on Sunday so I'll report back after that. In the mean time if anyone has any suggestions for routes to run or indeed good songs to run to I'd like to hear them.
Otts
Wednesday, 12 January 2011
Realisation
Every year since I can remember I have given no more than 10 seconds thought about doing the Keswick to Barrow walk and after those 10 seconds have elapsed the usual response was an emphatic NO WAY PEDRO!! So why this year, yesterday in fact (Tuesday 11 January, let the day be chronicled for posterity) did I agree to do it? To be honest, I'm not so sure. Could it be that the K2B is something that every Barrovian should experience at least once? Not so much. Is it that I feel that I should do my bit for charity? Nah, not the main reason, just a pleasing by-product. No, the reason was, as corny as it sounds, I wanted a challenge, and I've wanted to get much fitter for years but without an external motivation I don't think I'd ever really do it.
So to keep me on track I've decided to blog a bit of a training diary. Hopefully, it will serve to show me some progression and motivate me to keep doing the hard miles. Also, it will stop me from chickening out which has been going through my mind pretty much from the moment the words "Go on then, I'll do it" passed my lips.
So I hope if anyone is bored enough to read it they enjoy it and if anyone has any tips or hints with regard to training or managing to do the K2B then please share them with me.
Otts
So to keep me on track I've decided to blog a bit of a training diary. Hopefully, it will serve to show me some progression and motivate me to keep doing the hard miles. Also, it will stop me from chickening out which has been going through my mind pretty much from the moment the words "Go on then, I'll do it" passed my lips.
So I hope if anyone is bored enough to read it they enjoy it and if anyone has any tips or hints with regard to training or managing to do the K2B then please share them with me.
Otts
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