What a stink one

First time in 5 days went to the gym to do some exercise (I had been to go for a shower). I was planning 10 at 10 - 10km at 10kph. However 30 mins in and some part of my brain made me press the big red button:

Session: 15

Training Date: 22-Jun-11

Approx Time of training: 8:10 PM

Days to London: 305

Distance Covered (km): 5

Total Distance in training (km): 65.76

Exercise Time (hh:mm:ss): 00:30:00

Exercise Time (hours): 0.50

Av Speed (km / h): 10.00

Incline (%): 3.56%

Location: Southbank Club

URL: http://rnkpr.com/ao2j6r

Class Details: n/a

Cost per gym Visit £50

So why did I fail???? Maybe I am just not cut-out for this. Other possible reasons are:

• Hadn't had any dinner though I had some biscuits and a banana
• It was quite hot in there
• I forgot my running t-shirts so had to run in another t-shirt which was a bit tight and not breathable
• I cut my finger yesterday and lost some blood
• I was dehydrated

Or maybe ... I am just am crap; and trying to progress to rapidly.

Will need to try again soon.

Feel good friday

Nice early morning spin session this morning:

 

Session:               14

Training Date:    19-Jun-11

Approx Time of training:               7:00 AM

Days to London:               308

Distance Covered (km):                n/a

Total Distance in training (km):   60.76

Exercise Time (hh:mm:ss):           00:45:00

Exercise Time (hours):   0.75

Av Speed (km / h):          n/a

Incline (%):         n/a

Location:              Southbank Club

URL:       http://runkeeper.com/user/akshay/activity/39733170

Class Details:      Spin Intervals, Eva

Cost per gym Visit            £56        

 

Looking forward to Ascot tomorrow now; a nice relaxing break – hopefully. Just bought 6 bottles of champagne for the trip!

I'll show you Deekron "The fitness DJ"

Couldn't do it on Monday for whatever reason, but Thursday morning it was good:

Session: 13

Training Date: 16-Jun-11

Approx Time of training: 7:10 AM

Days to London: 311

Distance Covered (km): 2.81

Total Distance in training (km): 60.76

Exercise Time (hh:mm:ss): 00:25:00

Exercise Time (hours): 0.42

Av Speed (km / h): 6.74

Incline (%): 6.33%

Location: Southbank Club

URL: http://rnkpr.com/ankzxz

Class Details: Treadmill Intervals - Level 1

Cost per gym Visit £64

Deekron from http://www.motiontraxx.com/ helps you along these intervals. Not quite as a good as a personal trainer, I wouldn't think but a hell of a lot cheaper. The

Quite a short work-out but intervals where you get up to 8.1 kph at incline 12% for minutes at a time. They are hard, but feel good afterwards. Will definitely do this one again.

Once again, another bonus was being able to have a shower, as still no hot water at home.

Big up-hill stuggle

Went to the gym yesterday, and was massively unsuccessful. Couldn’t even manage 10 minutes on the treadmill most of which was a warm up:

 

Session:	12
Training Date:	13-Jun-11
Approx Time of training:	9:00 PM
Days to London:	314
Distance Covered (km):	1
Total Distance in training (km):	57.95
Exercise Time (hh:mm:ss):	00:09:00
Exercise Time (hours):	0.15
Av Speed (km / h):	6.67
Incline (%):	Varied
Location:	Southbank Club
Class Details:	Treadmill Intervals - Level 1
Cost per gym Visit	£75

 

So why did the gym fail? Could have been for a number of reasons:

·         I had just eaten

·         It was late at night and I was tired

·         I had still not recovered from the 10k on Saturday and the copious amounts of alcohol I also drank

·         I am just a bad runner

 

In all seriousness I think it was a combination of all of these. I will definitely try this again.

 

I occasionally use the Motion Traxx Podcasts for music: http://www.motiontraxx.com/ but I thought I would try out one of their training podcasts called Treadmill Intervals Level 1. You can listen to it here http://www.motiontraxx.com/episodes/MotionTraxx_Ep059_Treadmill_Intervals-Level_1.mp3

 

Quite early on you are doing over 8kph speed at incline 12%. An incline I have never run at. Let’s try this again at some stage and see if we can get further than 9 mins. It is only a small (24 min podcast) so thought it would be easy. On the plus side, I have managed to have a shower!

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.