Thursday 30 June 2011

THE FINAL CHAPTER! DAY 30 JUNEATHON

Finally the last blog of  JUNEATHON
Today has felt like this song the final countdown! I thought that I'd never be able to complete 30 days of activities. Now I love my running but everyday!! This was more a challenge for for me not to slack off but to complete the task in hand..
Tonight's I was going to just go for another bike ride as I've done the last week. But having picked up the Little one from Pre-School we went for a walk, her sitting in her pushchair enjoying the view & directing me which way to go. Both of us singing Nursery rhymes and having a giggle. So it has been nice to finish this event with my Daughter, she doesn't know about Juneathon,  she just knows that Daddy runs.

I have to say that the last couple of weeks have been hard & alot of the love has been stripped from me for Juneathon. Mostly because of the injuries I've picked up. I.T. Band & my Achilles in the last week.



I have enjoyed Juneathon not necessarily the running or biking but the fact that I've managed to to do something everyday. If the table below is anything to go by, (See below) I was no where near the top but 47th out of over 200 I'm a happy boy!

The figures from runningfreeonline.com are a nice breakdown to see how the month went.

30 activities | 16.8 hrs

6.9 hrs <
6.1 hrs <
2.0 hrs <
1.8 hrs <
30 activities | 107.9 miles

> 63.03mi
> 37.78mi
> 7.13mi
> 0.00mi

But the injuries & the fact that, that I haven't been able to fully prepare for the Half Marathon on 2nd July. All my preparations to do loads of interval training has just gone out the window. So we will see on the 2nd how much it has effected me.

I just have to say a Big thank you to everyone on twitter & facebook who have bantered / encouraged me through out these 30 days (Though it has felt longer)


WOW one day to rest then back on it.. But JULY I will take this & rest.

Tonight's walk & Nursery Rhyme singsong:
Time  45m:29s
Distance 1.83 miles

FINALLY I CAN SAY IT LOUD & PROUD

DAY 30 of Juneathon .........DONE 
Bless you, you have been fun & a  pain in the arse rolled into one!!

JUNEATHON 2012???? WHO KNOWS!






Year: Sport:
AthleteJanFebMarAprMayJun
iliketocount148721033011937000
auswomble387100040400
bugshug00001438000
eatingtrees0000037600
jddunlop0000036400
disjointedtales00001335900
paintedrunner29094162611032700
InsertCleverRunningPunHere130000027100
tryingtriathlon0000026900
fletchea500002926300
runningman8560000024500
thereluctantrunner11722783613922900
shazruns1605200022400
Runner795000010821100
ArchH000315120600
jenks179000020400
Pyrosyard167800320100
marathondog227404802019900
badwabbit152124121323619400
Mumwhatruns0000019100
BadlyDrawnBloke143234322518600
movingalong152000017900
vinsta2795000017500
abradypus106147120379317300
HighwayKind31624628519918417100
Nicky19212420614517000
reliableplodder00001716700
chooban0000016700
Jo36500008416600
journey_into_the_unknown147000016500
suesj101700016400
marts2smooth16313217514716416300
nickyjb71241619517316100
Brirunner00002615100
sarahbrj0000914900
achesover0000014300
Cat_Henderson1156274538514200
jogblog1184459864114000
PhilC0000013700
JenSmith156000013500
fairweatherrunner1252755284213300
runningokinuk075848413313100
ZeddoesJanathon1349010011700
mumthatruns731019511210411600
2011miles-jules2541151611567811300
webb1682500011000
wordy7500000108

Sunday 12 June 2011

Legs of an old cart hoss*

*Midlands slang for horse
Before any race i usually try & get myself ready by giving myself a few days rest pre-race to  make sure i get enough sleep, & be fully ready to go!  The last couple of weeks have been manic at work & also with #Juneathon, I was battered, Though i was looking forward to the Aldridge 10k & wanted to beat last years time!  

So falling asleep on the sofa & having a couple of hours sleep isn't the best. Then to wake up & see black clouds & the heavens open is a real downer. But I was still going to run. So with the family in toe we got there about 20 minutes before the start then with the arrival of  the mother-in law & nephew put a smile on a rather wet face.
Music & Endomondo App was ready with the sound of the Klaxon I turned to see the family waving me off.

Even though it was raining the first couple of km seemed to go OK, i could feel my legs ache but the music was working & I didn't feel to bad. Between  mile 4-5 the road incline increased dramatically. Last year they beat me but this year i didn't stop running. But it took all my effort to do this i was physically beat. I couldn't even eat a sweet to give me some energy.

Then trying to drink some water from the water station was comical. As it was raining my family were going to go back to the in laws, then comeback for the end. But unknown to me they had stopped around and were there cheering me on. This had a bit of a win / lose effect on me. Win as it was lovely to see them cheer me on.. Lose as it gave me a massive emotional punch in the gut. Trying to stay focused i willed myself on. Katy B tracks came on which helped to push me on. Also the wolves fan in front helped as being a West Brom fan i needed to beat him, Childish Yes, but a lovely bit of motivation.

The last few km  were difficult  as I was getting a pain in my knee that I've never had before. (Writing this hours later my knee is still sore & hope that this isn't a new ailment) it wasn't a step climb but a constant climb. It must of seemed strange to the other runners, me saying "Strong" "Keep running" just trying to keep my tired body going. At 9km i was getting tired then got hit by a massive stitch which just took it out of me. Even with such a short distance to go, I had to walk... taking some deep breaths I got my self back running looking at my watch i could see that i was close to my PB, so even in pain. I kept running.


The last 400 yard's of the run takes you across the cricket pitch. I had to keep pushing myself along. Whilst looking for my family.
As i rounded the last corner i saw them running over to my daughter i picked her up & carried her with me to cross the finish line together.
One second there was a moment of adulation in completing the race & having my daughter with me to do it.....the next........ I blew my ring...I've ran hard before but never to the point of being sick. I didn't feel ashamed of what happened just had too explain to my daughter that "Daddy had to spit some water."


I will need to look at my time as my watch shows 55:41which is from when i crossed the start & finish line & the endomondo app time which is longer as i had to shut it off  after I'd finished being sick. Then there was the offical time of 56:21  (But I'm not sure if this was from the siren or from when i crossed the line) 
Then it was back to the in laws house for a change of clothes & a much needed cup of tea.

Aldridge 10k race & Juneathon Day 12: DONE!!




Endomondo Running Workout: "was out running 6.05 miles in 56m:52s using Endomondo."









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