Just ate ... should I run

Found this helpful site, which says no. Might do some slow cross training or something:

 

http://www.nyrrc.org/nyrrc/mar01/training/septip.html#anchor4654369

One down ... lots to go

8am on Saturday, did my first 10k race of the year. Not a bad time (since I have only just made it up to this pace) of 55 minutes though as it was a loop, I was being lapped quite often which was a bit demoralising at the time.

Enjoyable run all-in-all though and a great way to start the weekend knowing that you have already achieved something.

Session:	11
Training Date:	11-Jun-11
Approx Time of training:	8:00 AM
Days to London:	316
Distance Covered (km):	10
Total Distance in training (km):	56.95
Exercise Time (hh:mm:ss):	00:55:10
Exercise Time (hours):	0.92
Av Speed (km / h):	10.88
Location:	Battersea Park
URL:	http://uk.srichinmoyraces.org/files/uk/10K%2011-6%20Final%20Results.pdf
Class Details:	n/a
Cost per gym Visit	£90

Still no hot water, so have been going to the gym to shower, though not counting these visits in reducing the cost per gym visit unless any exercise is actually done.

First 10k is looming

First official 10k is looming. Not looking forward to it, now – a bit nervous. Not looking forward to the 8am Saturday morning start either. Going out for a few beers as David’s leaving-do from work. Must not have too many beers! I have uploaded the route.

No hot water

Boiler packed up, so the perfect opportunity to go to the gym, least of all for a shave and a shower. Did a spin class too:

 

Session:	10
Training Date:	08-Jun-11
Approx Time of training:	7:00 AM
Days to London:	319
Distance Covered (km):	n/a
Total Distance in training (km):	46.95
Exercise Time (hh:mm:ss):	00:45:00
Exercise Time (hours):	0.75
Av Speed (km / h):	n/a
Incline (%):	1.00%
Location:	Southbank Club
URL:	http://rnkpr.com/amyw8z
Class Details:	Spin2Thin, Eva
Cost per gym Visit	£90

 

 

Very pleased as Gym visits are now costing less than a £100 per visit!

A trip down memory lane...

Passed all the old sites:

 

·         Old School

·         Old Friends Houses

·         The Beach

·         The Most Easterly Point

·         Cliffs

·         Police Station

·         Sea Wall

·         Sparrow’s Nest

 

Enjoyed it, and new PB distance wise this year:

 

Session:	9
Training Date:	05-Jun-11
Approx Time of training:	7:50 AM
Days to London:	322
Distance Covered (km):	11.01
Total Distance in training (km):	46.95
Exercise Time (hh:mm:ss):	01:13:40
Exercise Time (hours):	1.23
Av Speed (km / h):	8.97
Incline (%):	1.00%
Location:	Lowestoft
URL:	http://rnkpr.com/ampwve
Class Details:	n/a
Cost per gym Visit	£113

 

Back on the bike

It is been a long time since I have done a spin class, and now I remember how hard they were. But as they saying goes “It’s like riding a bike”!

 

Haven’t updated stats in a few trips, so here goes:

 

Session:	6
Training Date:	24-May-11
Approx Time of training:	7:30 PM
Days to London:	334
Distance Covered (km):	6
Total Distance in training (km):	29.11
Exercise Time (hh:mm:ss):	00:36:00
Exercise Time (hours):	0.60
Av Speed (km / h):	10.00
Incline (%):	1.00%
Location:	Southbank Club
URL:	http://rnkpr.com/alme9a
Class Details:	n/a
Cost per gym Visit	£150

 

Session:	7
Training Date:	29-May-11
Approx Time of training:	9:46 AM
Days to London:	329
Distance Covered (km):	6.83
Total Distance in training (km):	35.94
Exercise Time (hh:mm:ss):	00:43:12
Exercise Time (hours):	0.72
Av Speed (km / h):	9.49
Incline (%):	1.00%
Location:	River to LB
URL:	http://nikerunning.nike.com/nikeos/p/nikeplus/en_GB/plus/#//runs/detail/92810544/1911832955/all/allRuns/
Class Details:	n/a
Cost per gym Visit	£150

 

Session:	8
Training Date:	01-Jun-11
Approx Time of training:	7:00 AM
Days to London:	326
Distance Covered (km):	n/a
Total Distance in training (km):	35.94
Exercise Time (hh:mm:ss):	00:45:00
Exercise Time (hours):	0.75
Av Speed (km / h):	n/a
Incline (%):	1.00%
Location:	Southbank Club
URL:	n/a
Class Details:	Spin2Thin, Eva
Cost per gym Visit	£113

 

Only once this week

Not ideal, but still a PB for this year:

 

Session:	5
Training Date:	21-May-11
Approx Time of training:	12:00 PM
Days to London:	337
Distance Covered (km):	6
Exercise Time (hh:mm:ss):	00:36:00
Exercise Time (hours):	0.60
Av Speed (km / h):	10.00
Incline (%):	1.00%
Location:	Southbank Club
URL:	http://rnkpr.com/alme9a
Cost per gym Visit	£225

 

Finding the treadmill quite difficult. I guess it is the man vs machine thing. I am running at speed 10k which appears to be faster than I run outside; but is the speed I want to get too. On the treadmill there is no option to keep at a constant speed whereas outside, obviously, I can vary speeds. Good sense of achievement on doing this.

 

I was planning on starting my 3 minute plan in the gym (increase time by 3 mins (i.e. 0.5km everytime I go to the Gym) though I think I would like to keep at 6km for at least one more run at speed 10 before doing this.

Rescheduling

Last week, I signed up for 4 races. This week, I have had to reschedule 1. This is the new schedule of events:

Saturday 11 June - 10kms: http://uk.srichinmoyraces.org/races/london

Sunday 3 July - 10kms: http://www.innovationsports.co.uk/running/dates.html

Sunday 10 July - 10kms: http://www.thebritish10klondon.co.uk/

Sunday 25 September - Half Marathon: http://www.runtothebeat.co.uk/

Must go for a run or gym in the morning - just been sooooo busy at work.

I am sure I should be having a lie in...

Session:	4
Training Date:	14-May-11
Approx Time of training:	8:10 AM
Days to London:	344
Distance Covered (km):	5.4
Exercise Time (hh:mm:ss):	00:38:07
Exercise Time (hours):	0.64
Av Speed (km / h):	8.50
Incline (%):	1.00%
Location:	Southwark Park
URL:	http://rnkpr.com/al394c
Cost per gym Visit	£450

 

Went out this morning. Not bad distance wise but not a great speed. I think I am expecting too much as I remember what I used to do. In addition I am currently averaging about 5 hours sleep a night due to lots of work on!

Running at 10pm - doubt I will sleep now

Long day at work. Finished about 21:45. Stopped off at my gym on the way home. As you can see, I am also going to record how many times I go to the gym and therefore what the average cost per gym visit is.

At the moment it is £450, as I have never really been (I am not counting when I first signed up). Guesses to what it will end up when it expires (which I think is March 2012?).

Was pleased I managed to get to the gym as not long till the first race, and I ran that distance on the treadmill. It was tough though ... and certainly not as straight forward as I remember. Oh well it was my first time on a treadmill in a long time so no need to punish myself. I think I am going to stay at about this distance at least up until the race, just to break myself back into the whole running thing.

Official stats are:

Session:	3
Training Date:	11-May-11
Approx Time of training:	10:00 PM
Days to London:	347
Distance Covered (km):	5
Exercise Time (hh:mm:ss):	00:30:00
Exercise Time (hours):	0.50
Av Speed (km / h):	10.00
Incline (%):	1.00%
Location:	Southbank Club
URL:	http://runkeeper.com/user/akshay/activity/35154045
Cost per gym Visit	£450

What have I done?

A few moments of madness and I have signed up for:

A. 23 May – 5k Battersea Park

http://uk.srichinmoyraces.org/races/london

This is only 12 days away. Battersea Park is really close to my work so this is my initial goal.

B. 5 June – 10k Clapham Common

http://www.innovationsports.co.uk/running/clapham-common-series-2011/clapham-common-10k.html

C. 10 July – 10k – The British 10km, London

http://www.thebritish10klondon.co.uk/

D. 25 September - Half Marathon – Run To the Beat, Greenwich

http://www.runtothebeat.co.uk/

I really think I have gone bonkers! Time to start training goal A & B.

Training Calendar

So, I have been giving this some thought and broadly the way I would like the year to pan out is as follows:

Summer - do a 10k

Autumn - half marathon

Winter - step up to marathon distance

Spring 2012 - London Marathon

However, a couple of the runs I know only have charity places, which I am not too keen on (e.g. the Great North Run, Bristol half). The only charity run I want to do is the big one (and that is only if I don't get a ballot place).

So - let's take a look at what is out there which still has availability:

10km races of interest

5 June - Vic Park - London

http://www.runningdiary.co.uk/go/view.cgi/7872

£18

3 July - 4 Seasons Challenge

http://www.rainforestfoundationuk.org/4SC

1 Race is £20. 4 races (i.e. one a season) is £60

10 July - British 10k - London

http://www.thebritish10klondon.co.uk/

Cost about £35

5 June / 3 July - Clapham Common £15

http://www.innovationsports.co.uk/running/clapham-common-series-2011

5 June / 3 July - Regents Park £12

http://www.regentsparkraces.org/index.htm

11 June - Battersea Park £10

http://uk.srichinmoyraces.org/races/london

Also a 4k on 23 May

10 Miles - on 10 September

http://www.runnersworld.co.uk/events/viewevent.asp?sp=&v=1&EN=61317&ms=

Half Marathons

13 November - Grand Union Marathon £20

http://www.runnersworld.co.uk/events/viewevent.asp?sp=&v=1&EN=59683&ms=

25 September - Run to the beat £44

http://www.runtothebeat.co.uk/

Keep posted ...

Okay, that's enough analysis for now. Stay tuned to see what I sign up for.

Nerja, Spain

Decided to jet off to spain as it was a nice long four day weekend. Had an excellent relaxing time. During the just about managed a short run on the beach:

Session: 2
Training Date: 30-Apr-11
Approx Time of training: 7:45 PM
Days to GNR: 358
Distance Covered (km): 2.02
Exercise Time (hh:mm:ss): 00:13:01
Exercise Time (hours): 0.22
Av Speed (km / h): 9.31
Incline (%): n/a
Location: Nerja, Spain
URL: http://runkeeper.com/user/akshay/activity/33749065

The problem with this run was that it was fairly hot. The other problem is that as I was on holiday, I had a couple of drinks at lunch time. While I seemed okay when starting I really struggled. Oh well ... let's blame the heat.

Official ballot entered

So yesterday I entered the official ballot. Unfortunately they don’t tell you till October if you have a place or not. Only 120,000 people can enter the ballot but apparently the chances of you getting a place a less than 10%.

 

No training since Saturday. Official stats for Saturday are as follows:

 

Session:	1
Training Date:	23-Apr-11
Approx Time of training:	7:00 AM
Days to GNR:	365
Distance Covered (km):	4.69
Exercise Time (hh:mm:ss):	00:33:01
Exercise Time (hours):	0.55
Av Speed (km / h):	8.52
Incline (%):	n/a
Location:	Rotherhithe Peninsula
URL:	http://runkeeper.com/user/akshay/activity/32762284

 

Exactly - One year to go

It is time to revive my running Blog ...

In exactly one year 9.45 am on Sunday 22 April 2011 I want to be starting the London Marathon. Clearly I don't have a place yet, nor do I know how I will get one - but where there is a will there is way.

Broadly as part of the build up, I want to do 10km in June / July. A half in the autumn and then build up for the big one.

So I haven't really done any exercise since Christmas and now I need to start upping my game.

This morning, I therefore went for a quite early morning run (especially for a bank holiday). Details are here : http://rnkpr.com/aji7jg

I intend to use this blog to keep you posted of how I am doing and also as a journal of my year to get there.