116 Days To Go: Advent of the Apocalypse

Have had one of those days.... Missed flight (roadworks! Everywhere! Wouldn't have missed it if it wasn't for those pesky kids... Rrm, I mean, pesky cost-saving measures which see me parking in the long stay car park which puts me at the mercy of the bus and more roadworks...!), spent all day re-arranging and cancelling things, achieved very little, everything I touched went wrong...

And then, as I was forcing myself to run a full 5km at 4.2mph, I hit the emergency stop button instead of the pause button (needed to tie my shoelace...!) and that was it. Run over. Darth Treadmill won, with his sneaky "untie shoelaces" manoeuvre!! But I'm wise to him now - shan't make that mistake again (until the next time...)!

So, Thursday's 30 min run happened today, which means that I have a lovely 45 mins to look forward to on Thursday evening. The week just keeps getting better...

*sigh*

:o}

Running time/distance: 26 mins/2 miles (26 mins running @ 4.2mph)
Cross-trainer time/distance: 0 mins/0 km (maybe soon....)

118 Days To Go: A Fistful of Dollars

Another day, another gym visit...

Gym was unusually busy tonight - ah, January, filled with the best of intentions! - which was distracting. There was a woman there - we shall call her the Pink Lady - who was annoying me. First she chats her way through running on the treadmill - chatting! - and then she drifted around the gym doing a few minutes on each machine. Since there's no benefit to doing so little on any of the machines, she was basically just hanging around chatting to the men who were in there with her. In a pink t-shirt. Gyms are serious places! The contest with Darth Treadmill is very much to the death! There is to be no chatting, drifting or hanging about! Not that I gasped any of this to her as I was running away, but it was definitely thought at her quite firmly...

Have booked a gait analysis session with the podiatrist (only £48 - a snip!) for Friday this week... Should be interesting, but on recent form it'll be money and time spent for the relevant expert to tell me that there's nothing wrong with me. Not that I think that there's something wrong with me, but I'd still like them to say something interesting... Still, at the very least, it should answer the great trainer debate (buy more of the same, or switch to new trainers...). An odd situation, spending money to see if I should spend a little or a lot more money... At this rate I'll need a second job to pay for the privilege of torturing myself several times a week...!

Not sure how I'm going to fit runs in to the coming week as I'm off around the country again - I may have to *gasp* run outside... All very distressing... And supposed to cap this week with a 5km run: question is, do I do this alone in the gym or at an organised event (outside)?! Time will tell...

:o)

Running time/distance: 45 mins/3.1 miles (45 mins running @ 4 - 4.5mph)
Cross-trainer time/distance: 0 mins/0 km (maybe soon....)

120 Days To Go: Friday "Fun"

Caught myself very nearly looking forward to running tonight - although in my defence it was along the lines of "right, now I just need to get that done and then I can rest and watch mindless TV for a few hours". Thankfully, normal service was resumed after about 10 minutes of duelling with Darth Treadmill - desperate for it all to end...

Didn't quite do the 45 minute run that the schedule called for tonight - yet again left it a bit late and had to leave the gym as it closed... For some reason, can't seem to get myself to the gym in a timely fashion on a Friday... Can't think why not...

The Terminator turned up as I arrived tonight. And was still going when I left (chancing being locked in!). I endeavoured to ignore him, and he didn't annihilate me - fair trade, I believe...

Considering undergoing some proper gait analysis before I start ye actual Training (as opposed to the current Pre-Training) and before I make a decision re new/further trainers... Yet another expense, and yet another group of people who seem only to work Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm - costs me money and I have to take time off work - why am I not more enthused?! *grumble, grumble* Still, might be fun, or at the very least interesting, and I really can't afford a ridiculous sports injury and so possibly also very worthwhile... We shall see...

:o)

Running time/distance: 32 mins/2.25 miles (32 mins running @ 4 - 4.5mph)
Cross-trainer time/distance: 0 mins/0 km (no time)

122 Days To Go: Breaking the Library Rules

Continuing my obsession with the library, was there today collecting the 10 books that I'd ordered (heh - that'll keep me busy for the next week).  Small problem in that the library only lets you take out 12 books in total. Problem resolved by librarian over-ruling the computer (!) - "You've got 14 books on loan now." "Yes"... The best thing about having no life is that this can all seamlessly be incorporated - hour+ running, several hours reading, full day at work - all fits in neatly as long as that's all you do...!

Noticed that my trainers (yes, thank you, I did have them properly fitted, etc) could be bought from Amazon yesterday at £45 (half price!). Hmm, thought I, well, I am supposed to have 2 pairs... Today - £55 (inflation's a bitch) - although they're available elsewhere for £45. But I'm in a quandry - should I go back and have my running checked again before committing to another pair of shoes, or just jump in and buy a second paid anyway (as you're supposed to have 2)...?? Decisions, decisions... Can't decide, will wait and see...

Got an annual subscription to "Women's Running" magazine for Christmas. First issue arrived day before yesterday. Glanced through it today - ignoring the fact that most of the advice seems to imply that you have a physio at your finger-tips (asked doctor about my knees, he said he could try to get me a physio appointment but it would probably take until after I'd run the marathon... We decided not to bother) - there's an entire page in it devoted to pink running gear. Which I think says it all.

The Terminator was not in the gym tonight - obviously, I've psyched him out with my short and sharp sessions (ha! Who needs endurance?! Erm...)

Running time/distance: 30 mins/2 miles (30 mins running @ 4mph)
Cross-trainer time/distance: 0 mins/0 km (too tired)

123 Days To Go: Rise of the Machines

As was helpfully pointed out to me yesterday, due to some complex mathematical formula (didn't understand it, shan't bore you) I really need to be consistently running 5km in 40 mins in order to be able to finish the marathon before it "shuts". As I'm patently not there yet, this was not the most motivational of information to receive, but I am currently sanguine in the fact that proper marathon training looms before me, and I am merely pre-training at the moment... Whatever works to get me through another contest with Darth Treadmill - don't mess...!   

Super-scary cross-trainer bloke was in the gym again today: there when I arrived, still there when I left, endlessly exercising away... Henceforth he shall be known as The Terminator (there's a theme developing here...) as (a) he simply will not stop; and (b) he's scary... I suppose I should add out-lasting The Terminator in the gym as a future goal, but the thought fills me with despair, and so I shall continue to gently mock him from a safe distance and internet obscurity...

Off to have dinner now (!) - running out of hours in the day... Have to start running faster!

:o)

Running time/distance: 40 mins/2.8 miles (40 mins running @ 3.5 - 4mph)
Cross-trainer time/distance: 0 mins/0 km (not today, thank you)

125 Days To Go: Defeating the Empire

Had a rest day yesterday, and looking forward to another tomorrow. After all this lazing about, going back to work tomorrow will be a pain...

Gym was unusually full of people tonight - January madness has obviously overtaken the residents. I'm not sure whether I should hope that it lasts or not - I like my nice quiet gym...

Wore the fabulous Nike top tonight - it's official, all clothes should be made with thumb-holes. Really, I can't understand why they aren't already... Now I just need to find v-necked tops with thumb-holes and that'll be my wardrobe sorted forever!

Was up in town the other day and noticed that Bravissima (posh underwear shop) had an entire window devoted to sports bras. Made me laugh - welcome to January, the only month of the year where sports clothing is a best-seller...!

Tackled Darth Treadmill tonight and now that I have my arithmetic sorted I quite defeated him. Even though he tried his best (apparently you can't just run 5km, there has to be incline involved - suddenly going uphill after 30 mins of jogging is a bit of a shock!), I jogged on... And then ran out of time (went to gym a bit late) and so desperately upped the speed to try to run the full 5k before I had to leave. Didn't quite make it, but close enough, I think - a bit more time and I'd have done it. Am going to keep with this 5km thingy for a bit, I think - it's actually quite good to have a set distance rather than just a time, found it easier (plus also jogging at a reasonable pace helped!).

:o)

Running time/distance: 55-ish mins/3 miles (55-ish mins running @ 3.2-5mph)
Cross-trainer time/distance: 0 mins/0 km (seriously - only so many hours in the day!)

127 Days To Go

Well, it's official - the Empire has taken over and the Treadmill of Torture has gone all Imperial...

Darth Treadmill (for it is he) is now apparently measuring speed, pace and distance in mph/miles. While this explains a few things, it is vexing as now I'm going to have to start thinking of everything in mph etc (and/or start doing rapid arithmetic in my head every time I encounter a treadmill that has actually embraced decimalisation...). *sigh*.

Re-calculating quickly... Previous jog/run/fast times were approx 5 kph/6.5 kph/7 kph: this would be 3.1 mph/4 mph/4.35mph. So I've been trying to jog at my previous run/fast pace... A little over-confident, perhaps - I've obviously been more affected by all this motivation research than I thought! Right, then, jogging will henceforth be at 3 mph, running at 4 mph and fast at 4.5 mph (just to keep it simple for myself). I need to be able to consistently run between 4 and 4.3 mph on the day to finish the marathon before it shuts (i.e. in less than 6.5 hours). Glad we got that cleared up....

Motivational wisdom of the day (apart from "run in either metric or Imperial but not both, and know which one you're using!"):

1) "Get the marathoner “chin”. Running a marathon seems to be the only way to build up the muscle on front of your chin, creating a sharp edge along your chin bone. This neat muscle is the signature of a marathoner. Make sure to get one !"
- *speechless* The what?! Never heard of it - and frankly it doesn't sound pleasant: is it compulsory? Not motivational...

2) "Tears of joy. The tears of joy and pride after reaching the finish line sure taste great."
- this is just getting silly... There will be no crying. It's simply not done... Must find other sources of motivation, preferably ones which are actually, well, motivational...

:o)

Running time/distance: 30 mins/2.1 miles (20 mins running @ 4-5mph; 10 mins walking @ 4mph)
Cross-trainer time/distance: 0 mins/0 km (don't want to over-do things...)

128 Days to Go

Hmmm...

I do enjoy the cross-trainer more than jogging/running and so must try to work more of it into my schedule... But, still, didn't achieve much today. 800m in 15 mins is equivalent to about 3km/h - not exactly earth-shattering pace!

There's a guy who goes to my gym who is always in there, always on the cross-trainer. Like, if I go in and do an hour on the Treadmill of Torture, he's there before I arrive and after I leave. I suppose I should use him as some sort of inspiration, but if I'm honest... I find him a bit scary, and he mostly makes me want to cry... That level of fitness (or insanity) seems a long way off...

Motivational advice for consideration:

1) "Stamina… The word marathon translates in the wellness dictionary as follows: sleep effortlessly, wakeup passionately, and live happily ever after."
- I'm not even sure what this means. Total motivational fail...

2) "You need to get outdoors. When you have run a good distance from home and you need to run back to get out of the cold and rain asap....now that's motivation!!!" Advice from IN, who has actually run marathons (in multiple countries!). Scores a tick in the motivational box - will give it a try during the horror of February...

:o)

Running time/distance: 0 mins/0 km (day of rest!)
Cross-trainer time/distance: 15mins/0.8km (blooming hard work!)

129 Days To Go

Well, I'm now thoroughly confused...

Was supposed to jog for 60 mins today, but was finding it a bit hard/dull, and so only did 30 mins (with walking - bad). Was concerned that it all suddenly seemed more difficult/faster and wondered whether someone had changed the machine from km to miles (I can't work out how this would be done - the machine doesn't actually specify what units you're running at, just the number). Fiddled about with the machine for a bit, and found 1 button which was set for a 5km run: distance counting down from 3... So, 5km = 3 miles: does this mean that all my distances are actually miles; does this mean that all the speeds are actually in mph and not km/h; does this mean that the machine has been changed on to miles or that it has always been on miles and I am, as suspected, suddenly spiralling down a hole of de-motivation??!!! Am I going forwards or backwards? Or mostly just sideways...?! New plan - start using 5km run button in each session and see what the resulting time/speeds are... Running on the Treadmill of Torture is supposed to mean I can at least know how far/fast I've been going!!

Otherwise, I have been in search of motivational aids... Quick internet trawl has revealed that a great many people need to acquaint themselves with the dictionary definition of the word "motivation"... Some highlights to date:

1) "Boost your self-confidence: an overdose of self-confidence comes in handy with a marathon event!"
- well, that's inspirational for those of us who might struggle with self-confidence. No, really, nothing increases self-confidence like being told you already need to have a lot of it... Not motivational at all...

2) "Soar high with runner’s high: runner’s high refers to the “high” sensation you experience as a result of releasing endorphins into your system after running few miles. The exact number of miles varies between runners but a 5-mile run seems to be the most popular number."
- ah, well, that explains the lack of joy I'm finding in running, at least. Need to be running for much further before I get any high points... Not really motivational, but perhaps something to look forward to one day...

Hmph. Will need to ignore the fact that tomorrow is supposed to be a rest day and use the cross-trainer: at least I know it's in kms!!

(@_@)

Running time/distance: 30 mins/2.3 km? (jog/walk - 30 mins @ 4-5km/h?; plus warm-up/-down, walking - 6 mins @ 3km/h?)
Cross-trainer time/distance: 0/0 (hmm, tomorrow...)

130 Days To Go

Went for my first back massage today (a Christmas present). Quite relaxing (although I'm not entirely sure I understood the aftermath properly - glad I didn't wear silk!). Apparently I had really tense shoulders, which now naturally means that I have really aching shoulders. I am hoping that this means that I will awake tomorrow with re-invigorated shoulders and a new zest for life... Ever hopeful, me...

Have veered dangerously off-schedule (today's "30 mins easy" should have happened yesterday) and lost all motivation. Which is not good (particularly as this is still pre-training!). Must find motivation again soon, as am sliding backwards now in terms of progress (if you see what I mean) and if I get terminally bored after 7 minutes of jogging then I'm a bit out of luck for the 6 hours or so it'll take me to "run" the marathon...

We'll see how tomorrow's 60-minute jog goes... But I suspect my search for motivation will require some effort - not sure how one searches for motivation, but if find out I'll let you know...

:o}

Running time/distance: 30 mins/2.5 km (jog/walk - 30 mins @ 4-5.5km/h; plus warm-up/-down, walking - 6 mins @ 3km/h)
Cross-trainer time/distance: 0/0 (hmm, need to use it soon)

133 Days To Go

Have had 2 rest days back to back (they were in the plan! Honest...), largely spent sulking and working.

Today was supposed to be a triumphant return to the Treadmill of Torture. 20 mins "easy" - doddle...

Or not. Body obviously had had quite enough and refused to do much more than saunter. So 20-ish minutes spent largely walking quickly - not exactly a bold step forward... Then had to spend 5 very undignified minutes rescuing part of my earphones from underneath the treadmill: I do like to look as cool as possible in the gym...

Luckily, no one else apparently uses the gym at 9pm on a Saturday evening (can't think why not) and so hopefully no one noticed...

Will have to do some exercise tomorrow - perhaps a triumphant return to the cross-trainer - since it is apparent that I am embracing the "rest days" much more than I am the "exercise days"... And February looms before me in all its horror...

*sigh*

Running time/distance: 20 mins/1.6 km (jog/walk - 20 mins @ 3.5-5.5km/h; plus warm-up/-down, walking - 3 mins @ 3km/h)
Cross-trainer time/distance: 0/0 (bah!)

136 Days to Go

Did today's run.

Grumpy - had to cancel skiing holiday. Now stuck at home with more running to do (was hoping to skive off for a bit due to skiing being exercise too). And won't get to catch up with friends as planned (much more important than skiing tosh).

Today's high-point? While I was forcing myself to "run 3km fast" one of the other fools in the gym started to use a Treadmill of Torture next to me, and after about a minute of very professional button hitting and running suddenly went flying off the back (then I think tried to pretend taht was meant to happen and look cool - was hard for me to see anything by that point...).

Yep, today has been that bad...

:o(

Running time/distance: 26 mins/3 km (running - 26 mins @ 7km/h; plus warm-up/-down, walking - 9 mins @ 3km/h)
Cross-trainer time/distance: 0/0 (bah!)

138 Days to Go

Slightly miscalculated my times this evening and had to kick myself out of the gym at 10pm promptly, which left me 10 mins short of completing the full training schedule for today. Words struggle to express how unhappy I am about this - really, I may cry....

Apart from that I'm quite tired and looking forward to my rest day tomorrow... Am seriously expecting to expire in February as I'm not sure how I'm going to fit 3-mile-plus runs (5 km upwards) 4 times a week... Still, I have to survive until February before that becomes a real worry, and since I'm off skiing this weekend (and, um, have yet to buy travel insurance) that's really not a sure thing either... And I could yet be done in by a rather vicious paper-cut (blood being forced to not coagulate as quickly as it might at the moment)...

Ha! And people think that my life is dull and empty - not at all! Danger lurks around every corner...

;oD

Running time/distance: 43 mins/3.6 km (running - 35 mins @ 5.5km/h; walking - 8 mins @ 3km/h)
Cross-trainer time/distance: 0/0 (no time!)

139 Days To Go

So, after a frantic whirlwind of a day yesterday, I have managed to collect all my new purchases in one place. I now have running shorts, running tights, running tops, a running jacket, a couple of new books (important to enjoy the mandatory "rest" time...)... And so forth.

My favourite buy has to be the Nike top as it has really long sleeves which require it to have a hole in the sleeve for one's thumb to go through. Genius! All my long-sleeved tops from now on must be designed this way - farewell cold wrists forever!! And, yes, I am aware that it is a bit odd to pay money for a top designed deliberately to have holes in its sleeves from the outset, but then they do say that a fool and their money are easily parted...

I'm yet to be convinced that all this time and expense was truly worthwhile, mind - wore one of my new tops tonight and I can't say that it massively aided anything. I was running inside, though... Still, I look more stylish and professional about the whole running thing now, and I'm sure that that will matter to someone...

Had to schedule the running carefully to ensure that I would be all finished before Sherlock came on.... Hmmm... Loved Series 1, less sure about Series 2, but it's still fun... And rest is important...

:o)

Running time/distance: 56 mins/4.6 km (running - 50 mins @ 5km/h; walking - 6 mins @ 3km/h)
Cross-trainer time/distance: 0/0 (either or, not both!)

141 Days To Go

Have sort of resolved the earphones situation - have found some which work in 2 ears. At the same time! Only problem is that they're really bad, and so I can now hear really bad sound in stereo... Still, I'm hopeful that this will mean that I can now find all the other spare earphones which I know I have hidden around the house... Hasn't noticeably improved my running, but I'm sure it will... Soon...

Had a bit of a shock yesterday - full training plan for the marathon has now been released (i.e. the plan from February to end of May). I've been bimbling along with the pre-training plan, quite proud that I'm coping with it and slowly improving. End of pre-training is a 5km run - all do-able. Apparently, as soon as I finish the pre-training I am going to be seamlessly moving on to running 15 miles a week (circa 25km) - on a slow week! Obviously I'm either going to be under-going a Damascene-like conversion at some point in the next few weeks, or I'll be dead before March... Well, I won't mind missing March, I suppose, always a tricky month... (0_0)

:o)

Running time/distance: 46 mins/3.6 km (running - 40 mins @ 5km/h; walking - 6 mins @ 3km/h)
Cross-trainer time/distance: 0/0 (too tired)

142 Days to Go

Not many people staying at the Holiday Inn in Fareham are lucky enough to have to visit the gym that it provides (I assume) and so I feel that I should point out that it is a very nice gym. Lots of machines, a "studio" next door (where Step classes etc are run) and a small pool (but not teeny tiny).

Sadly, I got as far as the treadmill, did my time at the current "running" speed and then hiked (or hobbled - depends on your point of view) back to my room at speed in order to get changed for dinner. All a bit of a faff - but am giving myself brownie points for actually seeing the inside of said gym...

The shock and awe effect of telling people that I've signed up to run the marathon is slowly spreading. Only one person so far has collapsed in hysterical laughter (thank you, Mr C) although as this was really the response that I expected I have to say that I am somewhat disappointed thus far...

Random new purchases (absolutely essential in order to be able to run properly... Hmmm...) have started to arrive - picture on Saturday (please, contain your excitement)...

:o)

Running time/distance: 33 mins/3.22 km (running - 25 mins @ 6.5km/h; walking - 6 mins @ 3-5km/h)
Cross-trainer time/distance: 0/0 (let's not get carried away)

145 Days To Go

Did little today except visit the gym. Quite enjoyable, but now have great cloud of dread looming over me as I contemplate returning to work on Wednesday...

January is a very grim month. I doubt that this will be helped this year by my having to work to a goal of running a 5km race at the end of the month. Running a 5km race - oh the ignominy!

Am enjoying the fact that I am spending lots of time entirely alone in the gym at the moment - obviously all the other pesky gym users have lives and so do not find themselves trapped on a treadmill at 9pm at night... Still, no audience, which is good!

:o)

Running time/distance: 66 mins/4+ km (running - 25 mins @ 6km/h, 20 mins @ 5km/h; walking - 15 mins @ 5km/h, 6 mins @ 3km/h)
Cross-trainer time/distance: 0/0 (maybe Tuesday...)

146 Days To Go

Started off the New Year with a bang by failing to run fast for the full 20 mins required...

Oh, and fast is now defined as 8km/h (was going to be 10km/h, but there were a few health and safety concerns - i.e. I was in danger of falling off the back of the Treadmill of Torture). "Running" for the moment is deemed to be 6.5 - 7km/h, and jogging will now be undertaken at 5km/h (although noting that I can comfortably walk at that pace! Disheartening...).

But on the plus side I had a lovely dinner out with KT and CE and so really don't care.

Bit bored of this running lark now - not a good sign with 5 months still to go....!

Christmas present of the day: "Snuff" by Terry Pratchett.

:o)

Running time/distance: 27 mins/2.5 km (running - 10 mins @ 8km/h, 5 mins @ 7km/h; walking - 5 mins @ 5km/h, 7 mins @ 3km/h)
Cross-trainer time/distance: 0/0 (maybe Tuesday...)