tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63176593739335806832024-03-13T11:29:25.180-07:00Running for Macmillan36 year old partner & father, Raising money for Macmillan Nurses. How will my body & mind survive? Follow me as I prepare & take part in the races! Come along for the ride
Hopefully together we can raise a smile with those that don't have much to smile about.Chasing the goalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06504987945506976701noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317659373933580683.post-74566996186521712822012-02-22T16:46:00.000-08:002012-02-22T16:46:49.541-08:00The last hurdleNearly a year after starting my blog, I've reach the final hurdle of my aptly titled "Running for Macmillan" blog having completed all the runs that I'd set out to do, I was planning to close my <a href="http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=ianmaullin">Virgin Money Giving websire</a> just before Christmas <br />
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I'd stupidly tried to encourage people to sponsor me by saying I'd wear my teams (West Bromwich Albions) Arch rivals (Wolverhampton Wanderers) shirt. this did encourage people to sponsor me. Wearing the Wolves shirt was bad enough, But AGAIN stupidly I thought that if I set another goal then i'd get more sponsor!<br />
This time I put my legs on the line, offering to get them WAXED!!!<br />
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<span style="color: black;">I contacted <strong><span style="font-family: Franklin Gothic Book; font-size: x-small;">Joanne Peate</span></strong></span> at the Graduate Academy hair and beauty salon at Walsall College who <span style="color: black;">organised for me to get my legs done! </span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">So on the 15th Feb during my lunch break My better half & I went to the college to get the deed done! I've skydived but I was more nervous about this than about jumping out at 13,000 ft.</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">Luckily <span style="font-family: Calibri;">Rebecca Robinson and Michelle Duckhouse were there to look after me & administer the pain! Which they really enjoyed!</span></span><br />
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I think they enjoyed a man feeling what women go through for the sake of beauty. <br />
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The first few strips made me yelp! what was painful was when they pulled the strips and there was still hairs attached to my legs that really hurt!!<br />
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But 30 mins later I had silky legs, but only up to the knee, from the knee up i still look like chewbacca! because there was NO WAY they were going higher!! <br />
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Oh the things you do for charity.<br />
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the only good thing that came from the leg wax was that I raised another £50 for Macmillan.<br />
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So my total (23/2/12) is £635.20 not too bad for a fat ginger bloke running a bit!!<br />
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Even though I'm nearly finished "Running for Macmillan" I don't think I'll finish this blog. Maybe I'll find a new charity to run for, but I'll still put my ramblings on her maybe to keep my mind clear or maybe to show people that I'm just a tad mad.<br />
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Well Goals achieved.................Now for the next challenge!!!!<br />
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</div>Chasing the goalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06504987945506976701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317659373933580683.post-57169766810945816192011-09-04T09:00:00.000-07:002011-09-16T13:28:41.897-07:00When One Mile feels like forever!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sunday 4th September saw me take part in the </span><a href="http://www.wolverhamptoncitymarathon.co.uk/"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">wolverhamptonhalfmarathon</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> This is the second time I've taken part in this event. (Last year being my first Half Marathon)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Last year I'd trained well for this event & felt confident (but nervous) This year however my training had taken a major hammering over thelast couple of months. I wasn't able to run much. My </span><a href="http://www.rice.edu/~jenky/sports/itband.v2.html"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">IT injury</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> resulting from a month of doing exercise everyday during Junethaon to the Black Country Half Marathon. (Luckily I manged to get treatment @ </span><a href="http://www.optimal-performance.co.uk/index.htm"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">optimal-performance</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> which helped massivly)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This meant that I only managed to get about 4 weeks of training under my belt. Which after a month of inactivity, put me on the bottom rung of the running ladder, even finding a couple of miles a real struggle. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I just had to start again and try & build it all back up again! 3 miles turned to 6 then I maanged to do 10 the week before HM</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">My Pre-Race run </span><a href="http://www.endomondo.com/workouts/mBj9baPndZc#.Tm07CtcmnNc.blogger"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Endomondo Running Workout</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">: was out running 9.48 miles in 1h:36m:53s using Endomondo.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then came the night before the run I was well prepped & ready to go. Jelly beans/Babies at the ready! I set my phone & went to bed! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As the race had a 9:15 am start time, I'd set the alarm for 5:45 (This is a time I'm not used to nor do I want to know) But as all best laid plans! guess who's alarm didn't go off... SO AN HOUR LATER THAN I WANTED, I was tucking into breakfast! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I tend to try & stick to the same breakfast bagel, peanut butter & a poached egg.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">WHAT ARE YOUR PRE-RACE MEALS???</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So already an hour behind on my schedule & looking out the window my worst fears were being realised IT WAS HAMMERING IT DOWN. As Peter Kaye says "That fine rain that soaks you through"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The one thing I did do was manage to get out on time! Even though I knew I would be there in plenty of time! I was really nervous!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Getting to West Park where the race was to start. I couldn't see any directions for the start the only people I could see were the morning P***Heads. (Who I assume weren't there to run but to enjoy the flavours of 12% white cider) This creating even more nerves with in me as we were 30 minutes from the race, this increased my nerves 5 fold, taking a chance I set off ( now if you've read previous posts I'm not the best with directions guessing or following) However on this instance I guessed right & arrived at the start. Saying a quick hello to friends who were doing the 19k Cycle, I got on the phone to my mate Greg who was also running.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Time seemed to be speeding up far to quickly to the start. I was just getting myself ready I had jelly beans/Babies, Gels Lucazade sport drink/ Sweets (I had too many sweets & tryed to give them to some kids, which sounded very wrong "Do you want some sweets?" Anyway I got rid of the extra sweets) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The race was supposed to start at 9:15 but i think they started a couple of minutes early as we were off & I just wasn't ready! By this time I'd lost one of my gel sachets My music was was on mix of dance tracks & </span><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/moyles"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Chris Moyles Podcasts</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">. My </span><a href="http://www.endomondo.com/workouts/"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Endomondo </span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">App was running I didn't run my </span><a href="http://www.adidas.com/uk/micoach/"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">adidas micoach</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> as i didn't want to use the battery of my </span><a href="http://www.samsung.com/uk/galaxys2/"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">samsung galaxys2</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> (These Smartphones have the worst batteries ever)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was a mad dash as everyone vied for position, My head wasn't in the game, My pace was too fast, I hadn't turned to GPS on phone. I dropped another gel sachet, my water carrier was rubbing I could moan all day about what was going wrong!! AND THIS IS IN THE FIRST 5 MINUTES!!!! I knew I had to start thinking positive or this would be the shortest or longest HM of my life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I just made my mind reset & think about running style & the music. which helped when several fast songs kicked in this managed to get my race back on line. I managed to run without stopping for about 7 miles then I just went. Trying to push just wasn't happening, so I walked for a minute, then back to the slog, trying to chew the jelly beans was a struggle i couldn't seem to swallow them down. 8 miles in & </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2oRqyn7ToQ&ob=av3n"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Chris Brown - beautiful people</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> started up (Now I dont condone what hes done but this is a great track) I was feeling the most positive of the race, my pace was good & my stride felt the best that it had! This lasted about a mile when I hit the BIG WALL, I went a bit emotional, it came from knowwhere again, I just had to walk for a couple minutes. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Seeing the Mile 9 sign put some more energy into the boiler. Whilst i was running I came across someone who i was chatting with prior to the race, we spent the next couple of miles chatting and keeping each other going. (Well for me it helped)</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BKLVDLrAMA8/TmfUYpOa6JI/AAAAAAAAARo/Bc7iZewK8Zg/s1600/IMG_1182.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I came past the Claregate pub which was crowded with well wishers & a water station, with a group of Macmillan supports encouraging me on.</span><br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BKLVDLrAMA8/TmfUYpOa6JI/AAAAAAAAARo/Bc7iZewK8Zg/s1600/IMG_1182.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BKLVDLrAMA8/TmfUYpOa6JI/AAAAAAAAARo/Bc7iZewK8Zg/s320/IMG_1182.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Mile 12 sign was such a welcome sight! I was spent!!! but needed to keep going, I needed to finish this run!! OH HOW I NEEDED TO FINISH! I just so wanted to stop & walk. But knew if I did then that would be another 5 minutes added to my time. I knew i was close to last years time. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Coming up to West Park I knew where the finish line was, unlike last year (I started to kick to early and nearly had to drag myself across the line) This year it was just one foor in fron of the other. As I rounded the corner to the finish line my family was there cheering me on! It was so lovely to see & even more to see that finish line.</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LUifun9GT5c/TmfWx5GcY8I/AAAAAAAAAR0/clS9dVg4Fj4/s1600/run1.jpg1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LUifun9GT5c/TmfWx5GcY8I/AAAAAAAAAR0/clS9dVg4Fj4/s320/run1.jpg1.jpg" width="226" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.endomondo.com/workouts/l_5Ip-Lqpto#.Tm0pAw4Y5e4.blogger"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Endomondo Running Workout</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">: was out running 5.18 miles in 2h:10m:44s using Endomondo.</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.endomondo.com/workouts/tIbjIAeQ_3I#.TnKPGaiq6Wo.blogger"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Endomondo Running Workout</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">: was out running 13.10 miles in 2h:10m:25s using Endomondo.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VqfMfRLFfkY/TmfWpdEw5yI/AAAAAAAAARw/GDaNwcB45mI/s1600/run123.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VqfMfRLFfkY/TmfWpdEw5yI/AAAAAAAAARw/GDaNwcB45mI/s400/run123.jpg" width="280" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Finally crossing the line in 2:10:25 which though slower than last years 02:09:34 </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(just under a minute slower) but after my last HM of nearly 2:30 & with the injury I was happy to finish, & without an injury. (If only I hadn't of stopped that last section I would of beaten my best time. GUTTED) My friend Greg finished in a great time of 2:04:36 . My fellow runner Harish Patel finished in 2:11:38.</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DzfLbdwEieI/TnKQuidFvJI/AAAAAAAAASI/nrzQ0-QfYiE/s1600/388519676.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DzfLbdwEieI/TnKQuidFvJI/AAAAAAAAASI/nrzQ0-QfYiE/s200/388519676.jpg" width="150" /></span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After a few minutes of stretching & lots of cuddles from my little girl I made my way back to my car for a </span><a href="http://www.forgoodnessshakes.com/"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Goodness shakes</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> which a little sweet, was refreshing! Having another shake later seem to help. Only my thighs ached in the following days. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wolves Half Marathon completed, I also passed the £500 mark on my </span><a href="http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=ianmaullin"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">virginmoneygiving</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> for Macmillan nurses.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now only the Pattingham Bells Run in October to complete my races! Well i think so. Friends are trying to get me to run the Bupa Birmingham Half in October, but i'm not too sure yet! I'm waiting to see if my names comes up in the London Marathon Ballot. Then thats another big decision!!!!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Finished & with my medal!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Photos used without permission but with great thanks & appreciation from <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/baldeagle/sets/72157627412329095/">Brain Smith</a> <a href="http://www.mickhall-photos.com/index.asp">Mike Hall</a> <a href="http://www.racephotos.org.uk/">racephotos</a></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
Chasing the goalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06504987945506976701noreply@blogger.com0West Park, Civic Centre, St Peters Square, Wolverhampton, West Midlands WV1 1SJ, UK52.588335 -2.14174752.5835115 -2.1516175 52.5931585 -2.1318765tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317659373933580683.post-58575954523728589892011-08-04T13:24:00.000-07:002011-08-04T13:24:18.197-07:00THE LONE RUNNER RIDES AGAIN<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--WvwMZbFaDM/TjnvpZT45SI/AAAAAAAAAQM/EwR1FZFJV0Y/s1600/2011-08-02+19.48.11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--WvwMZbFaDM/TjnvpZT45SI/AAAAAAAAAQM/EwR1FZFJV0Y/s320/2011-08-02+19.48.11.jpg" width="320px" /></span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Its been a few weeks since my last blog & run but tonight saw me get back on the horse. The reason for not running was to try & give my body some time to recover. Juneathon & the Black Country Half Marathon had taken a massive toll on me. My IT band was ****** I've run with shin splints & all the aches & pains that come with running but nothing has stopped me like the pain I felt with every stride during the HM. </span></div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have to say that half of me has enjoyed not running the other half hasn't enjoyed piling on the timber! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I been really nervous about running so think that has been some reason why its taken me so long to get back to running. As having an injury really knocked my confidence, as I was think that as soon as i would start I'm going to get injured. (The passion for running was evaporating very quickly)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of my main reasons to get back running is that I'm getting closer to my Sponsor target. For those who have been popping in to check this blog out. I've been running 10k & Half Marathon's for Macmillan nurses. </span><a href="http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/ianmaullin"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/ianmaullin</span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's been a bit of a struggle to get sponsors but after the BCHM the monies started coming in, especially when i offered to wear a WOLVES shirt for the day (being a West Brom fan) this was harder to do than the HM with a knackered IT BAND. but thanks to my boss (Who's a wolves fan) pushed me over so as you can see i had to endure a day of emotional pain.</span></div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Rwqkksm7ojE/TjiblqVx8LI/AAAAAAAAAP8/TOWRGBEpSfo/s1600/283277_10150381418049012_687224011_10381945_4395966_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Rwqkksm7ojE/TjiblqVx8LI/AAAAAAAAAP8/TOWRGBEpSfo/s320/283277_10150381418049012_687224011_10381945_4395966_n.jpg" width="320px" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This will not be the only pain i endure as @ £300 i said that I would get my leg</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">s waxed & how they all seemed to rally around with the money to put me past THAT target.(One colleague donated £50 to the cause) Once I've sorted someone to come do it, then the pictures will be online.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tuesday (2nd August) I had set my mind to run come hail or high water! I was going out.Not far from me is a nature reserve which i decided would be my destination . . I've just received my new phone </span><a href="http://www.samsung.com/uk/galaxys2/"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Samsung Galaxy S2</span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> & loving it! so with </span><a href="http://www.adidas.com/uk/micoach"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">adidas micoach</span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> & </span><a href="http://www.endomondo.com/workouts/sqWnkKxN-iE"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">endomondo</span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> apps running I set off with the </span><a href="http://www.ministryofsound.com/shop/product/music/33995/running-trax-3-/"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ministryofsound running-trax-3</span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> pumping through my headphones. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now I bet you all think that that I just smashed back into. NO my back felt like I'd been slammed by Hulk Hogan. It was really painful every stride hurt. But after about 20 minutes in the pain subsided & I enjoyed the run! It was a warm evening but I wasn't really tired during the run! I just wasn't motivated as I should have been & had a few walking sections but enjoyed the run along the canal path. I was surprised when I finally hit a main road as i realised where I was. (I knew how far I'd traveled as the MICOACH updated me every half mile to what I'd travelled)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">feeling very pleased with myself more so that I had passed out after 5 minutes. heading back along the path I even got to enjoy the view of the farmers fields. But did get a little concerned when I stumbled on a herd of cows , which were only separated by a small fence! & one of the girls looked in a mood!</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Home in 1h:16m:26s & 6 miles done very slow but my leg hadn't given me pain (So I'll have to wait & see)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Miles: 6:09</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Belly wobble: far too many</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Playing with new toys BIG SMILEY FACE</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Lone Runner has got back on the horse & has hit the trail!</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody>
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div>Chasing the goalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06504987945506976701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317659373933580683.post-28114519270992403562011-07-04T18:14:00.000-07:002011-07-04T18:14:33.041-07:00Broken but not beaten<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qN5sY96S3d4/ThJccU0eOqI/AAAAAAAAAPo/USYcVFbLB2E/s1600/4758200628_9a412bf7f0_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qN5sY96S3d4/ThJccU0eOqI/AAAAAAAAAPo/USYcVFbLB2E/s400/4758200628_9a412bf7f0_z.jpg" width="400" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I sit writing this, with my daughter having a tea party(I've had several cups) in her fort (2 chairs with a blanket over the top) My legs & back ache, beating myself up a little over Saturdays </span></span><a href="http://www.bbchm.co.uk/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Black Country Half Marathon</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
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</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8rjSbJVpjag/ThEFKsMMSKI/AAAAAAAAAPU/j8BP8TSjapc/s1600/DSC06447.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Having looked forward to this for months & after the </span><a href="http://runningformacmillan.blogspot.com/2011/05/132-miles-whose-silly-idea-was-that.html?spref=bl"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Lichfield Half Marathon </span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">time on 2:12. I was looking forward to beating that time & maybe the 2:09 in last year’s Wolves Half. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Rzqnb-YboAI/ThEIXvAGRpI/AAAAAAAAAPc/AkKZkc_mLow/s1600/DSC06450.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Rzqnb-YboAI/ThEIXvAGRpI/AAAAAAAAAPc/AkKZkc_mLow/s320/DSC06450.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">However coming off </span><a href="http://www.juneathon.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">juneathon</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"> (Running & blogging for the 30 days of June) I was nervous about this run, as I have some on-going injuries that I've been carrying for a few weeks The main one being my </span><a href="http://runningtimes.com/Article.aspx?ArticleID=3528"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Iliotibial band</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"> I've had to deal with shin splints & muscle injuries that I’ve pushed through on but this is something else. It started at the Aldridge 10k on the last mile. & then a couple weeks ago on a 9 mile run. The pain just started & I couldn't run.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;"> </span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NyAKorNlqM0/ThEIkcFt_gI/AAAAAAAAAPg/Me9Gr4IPCBQ/s1600/DSC06448.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NyAKorNlqM0/ThEIkcFt_gI/AAAAAAAAAPg/Me9Gr4IPCBQ/s320/DSC06448.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">However I was up for it, getting up early having my breakie, sorting all my things out. With the staggered start, I wasn't running till 11am, the better half & my little one dropped me off at about 10:20 with loads of time to stretch & get ready. (They were going to meet me in Brum at the finish) Chatting with a couple of people having a bit of banter before we set off eased me even more..<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NyAKorNlqM0/ThEIkcFt_gI/AAAAAAAAAPg/Me9Gr4IPCBQ/s1600/DSC06448.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></a></div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">The start was fine I eased into my pace with no tension or aggravation. The weather was warm but I’ve run in warm temps so this didn't faze me at all.. The guy in front had set a nice steady pace so used him as my pace man! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">I didn't see many mile markers, which was more of a help as if I don’t know how far I gone then I don’t know how far is left. There were a couple in spray paint but not for every mile. The main markers were at mile 3, 6, 9 & 12 where there were barges moored up offering energy drinks (A welcome treat) or water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Mile 4 saw the 360yard run through a nearly pitch black tunnel, with the only light coming from torches, Not the safest of sections but the.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">I hadn’t been troubled by my knee, but that was still to come. Running on the towpaths was fine; however at between miles 5-6 we had to cross the bridge so as soon as my leg started to go up the incline I had a massive pain go through my knee. My I.T. Band went bang. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Something like ripping a tooth out) It did make me go sick with pain.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">I decided to walk a little to try & ease the pain, which helped somewhat, but the real damage my mentally as I just let all the negativity in and just felt battered. I was feeling the heat the tiredness. I’d taken my </span><a href="http://www.scienceinsport.com/index.php"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">SIS gel</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"> & sweets but the fatigue I was feeling was hard to get through. Once I’d stopped it becomes a start stop run till the end. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Mile 7 ½ - 9 was just so, running for a few minutes then a 30 second walk then running again. I changed from the podcasts to music to see if this would improve my motivation and get me back up & running. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sometimes the mental fatigue is worse than physical, if my knee wasn’t hurting so much then my pace would have been there, but every step was hard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="color: red;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">WHAT DO YOU DO TO GET YOURSELF FOCUSED & MAINTAIN THE FOCUS WHEN ON A RUN????<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">From mile 9 till 12 I passed people then they passed me then I passed them. There was some good banter between us all. That seemed to keep us all going! Even the sight of someone walking towards us with a winners medal did not detour us, i t actually spurred me on. The two RAF girls who I’d been chatting to earlier come past keeping a steady pace. They surged on, whilst I plodded. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BmqvGlmAJfE/ThECEBbc-_I/AAAAAAAAAO8/FkFsvVXxov0/s1600/bchm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BmqvGlmAJfE/ThECEBbc-_I/AAAAAAAAAO8/FkFsvVXxov0/s400/bchm.jpg" width="282" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Smiles because I can see my girls cheering me on</span><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">As I neared the bridge the marshal was holding a sign 12.5 miles ……..”YES only a little while further to go” I pushed on. My spirit felt revived in the distance I could hear a crowd, cheers sounded along the canal, then in the distance I <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>could see a large crowd gathered shouting encouragement to the runners , think about my partner & daughter waiting for me, gave me <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a massive lump in my throat. It took a lot of energy not to let the emotion out. (There were lots of people there) but as I came closer to the crowd I noticed the better half & my daughter waving cheering me on this nearly made me go again. (You can see from joy of seeing them in the picture) Getting a high five from my daughter I finally crossed the finish line in a time of 2:27:18. </span><a href="http://www.stuweb.co.uk/swp/default.asp?a=63&fldRaceID=924&bib=934&resultid=380792&fldHasCert=0"><span style="font-size: large;">Race results</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5BS34cQiFp0/ThECecMWRfI/AAAAAAAAAPA/wwWmE2CE38g/s1600/bchm1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5BS34cQiFp0/ThECecMWRfI/AAAAAAAAAPA/wwWmE2CE38g/s200/bchm1.jpg" width="141" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">some of the runners who kept me going</span><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l39Ayd2JmSk/ThECxVNH68I/AAAAAAAAAPI/HbYv7uLMrlo/s1600/bchm4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l39Ayd2JmSk/ThECxVNH68I/AAAAAAAAAPI/HbYv7uLMrlo/s200/bchm4.jpg" width="141" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Santa who my little one was excited to see</span><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-njP4MPHgmZA/ThECoZDWRlI/AAAAAAAAAPE/3ZlgTPLyvF4/s1600/bchm2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-njP4MPHgmZA/ThECoZDWRlI/AAAAAAAAAPE/3ZlgTPLyvF4/s200/bchm2.jpg" width="141" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">RAF girls who passed me by</span><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Nowhere near what I wanted but with the factors against me, not as bad as it could be, I did think that this would end with me Tweeting “BLACK COUNTRY HALF MARATHON DNF” However that wasn’t to be so my third half marathon has been completed. I will now sit back & hang-up up my runners for a few weeks, Give my knees time to heel. The Wolves Half is September 4<sup>th</sup> so we’ll see what happens then. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><span style="font-size: xx-small;"></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MRwR2G7xPNI/ThEC4ODxuVI/AAAAAAAAAPM/1Rowc4KNMIQ/s1600/DSC06452.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MRwR2G7xPNI/ThEC4ODxuVI/AAAAAAAAAPM/1Rowc4KNMIQ/s400/DSC06452.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Battered but it's all over!</span><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Many thanks to all the people who tweeted & FB's me well wishes! Just remember that I'm raising money for Macmillan nurses! So giz a quid!<br />
Virgin Money Giving | Fundraising | Ian Maullin's fundraising page <a href="http://t.co/J2mouQd">http://t.co/J2mouQd</a><br />
<br />
Some great pics from <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/baldeagle/sets/72157624410771932/">Brian Smith photography</a> & <a href="http://www.chrisyoungphotos.co.uk/portfolio161824.html">chrisyoungphotos,</a> I have not had permission to use the photos but if you enjoy them then please make a purchase.<br />
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CEMTHGmaWtA/ThEJGZAtFtI/AAAAAAAAAPk/5ISGfbNkw3w/s1600/fdfd.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="250" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CEMTHGmaWtA/ThEJGZAtFtI/AAAAAAAAAPk/5ISGfbNkw3w/s400/fdfd.png" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Route of Pain (Endomondo)</span><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span>Chasing the goalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06504987945506976701noreply@blogger.com0Wolverhampton, UK52.586770756982077 -2.121096784594783552.55058325698208 -2.1799607845947833 52.622958256982074 -2.0622327845947837tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317659373933580683.post-17910513853573499092011-06-30T17:32:00.000-07:002011-06-30T17:39:08.009-07:00THE FINAL CHAPTER! DAY 30 JUNEATHON<div style="text-align: center;"><u><strong>Finally the last blog of </strong></u><a href="http://www.juneathon.com/"><strong>JUNEATHON</strong></a></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>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..<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://0.gvt0.com/vi/7_IKcMl_a9A/0.jpg" height="266" style="clear: right; float: right;" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/7_IKcMl_a9A&fs=1&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/7_IKcMl_a9A&fs=1&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object>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.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>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.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
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!<br />
<br />
The figures from <a href="http://www.runningfreeonline.com/Profile">runningfreeonline.com</a> are a nice breakdown to see how the month went.<br />
<br />
<table align="center"><tbody>
<tr><td class="zTwoColumnDisplayLeft"><span class="zTextLightLarge" id="dnn_ctr656_MyWeekDisplay_LabelNumActivities1">30</span> activities | <span class="zTextLightLarge" id="dnn_ctr656_MyWeekDisplay_LabelDurationActivitiesHours">16.8</span> hrs <br />
<br />
<i><span class="zTextLightLarge" id="dnn_ctr656_MyWeekDisplay_ListViewTimeOutdoors_ctrl0_Label1">6.9</span> hrs <span class="zTextLight"><</span> <span id="dnn_ctr656_MyWeekDisplay_ListViewTimeOutdoors_ctrl0_IconSportType" style="border-width: 0px; display: inline-block; filter: progid:DXImageTransform.Microsoft.AlphaImageLoader(src='http://www.runningfreeonline.com/images/sportType/Run16.png', sizingMethod='scale'); height: 16px; width: 16px;" title=""></span></i><br />
<i><span class="zTextLightLarge" id="dnn_ctr656_MyWeekDisplay_ListViewTimeOutdoors_ctrl2_Label1">6.1</span> hrs <span class="zTextLight"><</span> <span id="dnn_ctr656_MyWeekDisplay_ListViewTimeOutdoors_ctrl2_IconSportType" style="border-width: 0px; display: inline-block; filter: progid:DXImageTransform.Microsoft.AlphaImageLoader(src='http://www.runningfreeonline.com/images/sportType/Bike16.png', sizingMethod='scale'); height: 16px; width: 16px;" title=""></span></i><br />
<i><span class="zTextLightLarge" id="dnn_ctr656_MyWeekDisplay_ListViewTimeOutdoors_ctrl4_Label1">2.0</span> hrs <span class="zTextLight"><</span> <span id="dnn_ctr656_MyWeekDisplay_ListViewTimeOutdoors_ctrl4_IconSportType" style="border-width: 0px; display: inline-block; filter: progid:DXImageTransform.Microsoft.AlphaImageLoader(src='http://www.runningfreeonline.com/images/sportType/Cross16.png', sizingMethod='scale'); height: 16px; width: 16px;" title=""></span></i><br />
<i><span class="zTextLightLarge" id="dnn_ctr656_MyWeekDisplay_ListViewTimeOutdoors_ctrl6_Label1">1.8</span> hrs <span class="zTextLight"><</span> <span id="dnn_ctr656_MyWeekDisplay_ListViewTimeOutdoors_ctrl6_IconSportType" style="border-width: 0px; display: inline-block; filter: progid:DXImageTransform.Microsoft.AlphaImageLoader(src='http://www.runningfreeonline.com/images/sportType/Walk16.png', sizingMethod='scale'); height: 16px; width: 16px;" title=""></span></i></td><td valign="middle"><span style="display: inline-block; filter: progid:DXImageTransform.Microsoft.AlphaImageLoader(src='http://www.runningfreeonline.com/Portals/_default/Skins/FB5Communication/media/VertSep.png', sizingMethod='scale'); height: 80px; width: 1px;" title=""></span></td><td class="zTwoColumnDisplayRight"><span class="zTextLightLarge" id="dnn_ctr656_MyWeekDisplay_LabelNumActivities2">30</span> activities | <span class="zTextLightLarge" id="dnn_ctr656_MyWeekDisplay_LabelTotalDistance">107.9</span> <span id="dnn_ctr656_MyWeekDisplay_LabelLocalUnitsText">miles</span><br />
<br />
<i><span id="dnn_ctr656_MyWeekDisplay_ListViewDistanceOutdoors_ctrl0_IconSportType" style="border-width: 0px; display: inline-block; filter: progid:DXImageTransform.Microsoft.AlphaImageLoader(src='http://www.runningfreeonline.com/images/sportType/Bike16.png', sizingMethod='scale'); height: 16px; width: 16px;" title=""></span> <span class="zTextLight">></span> <span class="zTextLight"><span class="zTextLightLarge" id="dnn_ctr656_MyWeekDisplay_ListViewDistanceOutdoors_ctrl0_LabelType">63.03</span></span><span id="dnn_ctr656_MyWeekDisplay_ListViewDistanceOutdoors_ctrl0_Label2">mi</span></i><br />
<i><span id="dnn_ctr656_MyWeekDisplay_ListViewDistanceOutdoors_ctrl2_IconSportType" style="border-width: 0px; display: inline-block; filter: progid:DXImageTransform.Microsoft.AlphaImageLoader(src='http://www.runningfreeonline.com/images/sportType/Run16.png', sizingMethod='scale'); height: 16px; width: 16px;" title=""></span> <span class="zTextLight">></span> <span class="zTextLight"><span class="zTextLightLarge" id="dnn_ctr656_MyWeekDisplay_ListViewDistanceOutdoors_ctrl2_LabelType">37.78</span></span><span id="dnn_ctr656_MyWeekDisplay_ListViewDistanceOutdoors_ctrl2_Label2">mi</span></i><br />
<i><span id="dnn_ctr656_MyWeekDisplay_ListViewDistanceOutdoors_ctrl4_IconSportType" style="border-width: 0px; display: inline-block; filter: progid:DXImageTransform.Microsoft.AlphaImageLoader(src='http://www.runningfreeonline.com/images/sportType/Walk16.png', sizingMethod='scale'); height: 16px; width: 16px;" title=""></span> <span class="zTextLight">></span> <span class="zTextLight"><span class="zTextLightLarge" id="dnn_ctr656_MyWeekDisplay_ListViewDistanceOutdoors_ctrl4_LabelType">7.13</span></span><span id="dnn_ctr656_MyWeekDisplay_ListViewDistanceOutdoors_ctrl4_Label2">mi</span></i><br />
<i><span id="dnn_ctr656_MyWeekDisplay_ListViewDistanceOutdoors_ctrl6_IconSportType" style="border-width: 0px; display: inline-block; filter: progid:DXImageTransform.Microsoft.AlphaImageLoader(src='http://www.runningfreeonline.com/images/sportType/Cross16.png', sizingMethod='scale'); height: 16px; width: 16px;" title=""></span> <span class="zTextLight">></span> <span class="zTextLight"><span class="zTextLightLarge" id="dnn_ctr656_MyWeekDisplay_ListViewDistanceOutdoors_ctrl6_LabelType">0.00</span></span><span id="dnn_ctr656_MyWeekDisplay_ListViewDistanceOutdoors_ctrl6_Label2">mi</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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.<br />
<br />
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)<br />
<br />
<br />
WOW one day to rest then back on it.. But JULY I will take this & rest.<br />
<br />
Tonight's walk & Nursery Rhyme singsong:<br />
Time 45m:29s<br />
Distance 1.83 miles<br />
<br />
FINALLY I CAN SAY IT LOUD & PROUD <br />
<br />
DAY 30 of Juneathon .........DONE <br />
Bless you, you have been fun & a pain in the arse rolled into one!!<br />
<br />
JUNEATHON 2012???? WHO KNOWS!<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/w7CclVneVpw?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<select id="dnn_ctr701_GroupsLeagues_ddUnits" name="dnn$ctr701$GroupsLeagues$ddUnits"><option value="hours">Time (hours)</option><option value="km">Distance (km)</option><option selected="selected" value="mi">Distance (mi)</option></select> Year: <select id="dnn_ctr701_GroupsLeagues_ddYear" name="dnn$ctr701$GroupsLeagues$ddYear"><option selected="selected" value="2011">2011</option><option value="2010">2010</option><option value="2009">2009</option><option value="2008">2008</option><option value="2007">2007</option><option value="2006">2006</option><option value="2005">2005</option><option value="2004">2004</option><option value="2003">2003</option><option value="2002">2002</option><option value="2001">2001</option></select> Sport:<select id="dnn_ctr701_GroupsLeagues_ddSportType" name="dnn$ctr701$GroupsLeagues$ddSportType"><option selected="selected" value="">All</option><option value="R">Run</option><option value="S">Swim</option><option value="B">Bike</option><option value="W">Walk</option><option value="A">Water</option><option value="M">Winter</option><option value="K">Skate</option><option value="C">Cross</option></select> <br />
<table cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" class="zGroupTotalsTable"><thead>
<tr><th class="header">Athlete</th><th class="header">Jan</th><th class="header">Feb</th><th class="header">Mar</th><th class="header">Apr</th><th class="header">May</th><th class="header headerSortUp">Jun</th><th class="header"></th><th class="header"></th><th class="header"></th><th class="header"></th><th class="header"></th><th class="header"></th><th class="header"></th></tr>
</thead><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="http://www.runningfreeonline.com/athlete/iliketocount">iliketocount</a></td><td>148</td><td>72</td><td>103</td><td>301</td><td>193</td><td>700</td><td>0</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="http://www.runningfreeonline.com/athlete/auswomble">auswomble</a></td><td>387</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>404</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="http://www.runningfreeonline.com/athlete/bugshug">bugshug</a></td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>14</td><td>380</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="http://www.runningfreeonline.com/athlete/eatingtrees">eatingtrees</a></td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>376</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="http://www.runningfreeonline.com/athlete/jddunlop">jddunlop</a></td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>364</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="http://www.runningfreeonline.com/athlete/disjointedtales">disjointedtales</a></td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>13</td><td>359</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="http://www.runningfreeonline.com/athlete/paintedrunner">paintedrunner</a></td><td>290</td><td>94</td><td>16</td><td>26</td><td>110</td><td>327</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="http://www.runningfreeonline.com/athlete/InsertCleverRunningPunHere">InsertCleverRunningPunHere</a></td><td>130</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>271</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="http://www.runningfreeonline.com/athlete/tryingtriathlon">tryingtriathlon</a></td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>269</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="http://www.runningfreeonline.com/athlete/fletchea">fletchea</a></td><td>50</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>29</td><td>263</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="http://www.runningfreeonline.com/athlete/runningman856">runningman856</a></td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>245</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="http://www.runningfreeonline.com/athlete/thereluctantrunner">thereluctantrunner</a></td><td>117</td><td>22</td><td>78</td><td>36</td><td>139</td><td>229</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="http://www.runningfreeonline.com/athlete/shazruns">shazruns</a></td><td>160</td><td>52</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>224</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="http://www.runningfreeonline.com/athlete/Runner795">Runner795</a></td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>108</td><td>211</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="http://www.runningfreeonline.com/athlete/ArchH">ArchH</a></td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>31</td><td>51</td><td>206</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="http://www.runningfreeonline.com/athlete/jenks">jenks</a></td><td>179</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>204</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="http://www.runningfreeonline.com/athlete/Pyrosyard">Pyrosyard</a></td><td>167</td><td>8</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>3</td><td>201</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="http://www.runningfreeonline.com/athlete/marathondog">marathondog</a></td><td>227</td><td>40</td><td>48</td><td>0</td><td>20</td><td>199</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="http://www.runningfreeonline.com/athlete/badwabbit">badwabbit</a></td><td>152</td><td>124</td><td>121</td><td>32</td><td>36</td><td>194</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="http://www.runningfreeonline.com/athlete/Mumwhatruns">Mumwhatruns</a></td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>191</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="http://www.runningfreeonline.com/athlete/BadlyDrawnBloke">BadlyDrawnBloke</a></td><td>14</td><td>32</td><td>34</td><td>32</td><td>25</td><td>186</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="http://www.runningfreeonline.com/athlete/movingalong">movingalong</a></td><td>152</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>179</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="http://www.runningfreeonline.com/athlete/abradypus">abradypus</a></td><td>106</td><td>147</td><td>120</td><td>37</td><td>93</td><td>173</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="http://www.runningfreeonline.com/athlete/HighwayKind">HighwayKind</a></td><td>316</td><td>246</td><td>285</td><td>199</td><td>184</td><td>171</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="http://www.runningfreeonline.com/athlete/Nicky192">Nicky192</a></td><td>124</td><td>20</td><td>61</td><td>4</td><td>5</td><td>170</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="http://www.runningfreeonline.com/athlete/reliableplodder">reliableplodder</a></td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>17</td><td>167</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="http://www.runningfreeonline.com/athlete/Jo365">Jo365</a></td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>84</td><td>166</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="http://www.runningfreeonline.com/athlete/journey_into_the_unknown">journey_into_the_unknown</a></td><td>147</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>165</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="http://www.runningfreeonline.com/athlete/suesj">suesj</a></td><td>101</td><td>7</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>164</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="http://www.runningfreeonline.com/athlete/marts2smooth">marts2smooth</a></td><td>163</td><td>132</td><td>175</td><td>147</td><td>164</td><td>163</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="http://www.runningfreeonline.com/athlete/nickyjb71">nickyjb71</a></td><td>24</td><td>16</td><td>19</td><td>51</td><td>73</td><td>161</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="http://www.runningfreeonline.com/athlete/Brirunner">Brirunner</a></td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>26</td><td>151</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="http://www.runningfreeonline.com/athlete/sarahbrj">sarahbrj</a></td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>9</td><td>149</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="http://www.runningfreeonline.com/athlete/Cat_Henderson">Cat_Henderson</a></td><td>115</td><td>62</td><td>74</td><td>53</td><td>85</td><td>142</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="http://www.runningfreeonline.com/athlete/jogblog">jogblog</a></td><td>118</td><td>44</td><td>59</td><td>86</td><td>41</td><td>140</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="http://www.runningfreeonline.com/athlete/PhilC">PhilC</a></td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>137</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="http://www.runningfreeonline.com/athlete/JenSmith">JenSmith</a></td><td>156</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>135</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="http://www.runningfreeonline.com/athlete/fairweatherrunner">fairweatherrunner</a></td><td>125</td><td>27</td><td>55</td><td>28</td><td>42</td><td>133</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="http://www.runningfreeonline.com/athlete/runningokinuk">runningokinuk</a></td><td>0</td><td>75</td><td>84</td><td>84</td><td>133</td><td>131</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="http://www.runningfreeonline.com/athlete/ZeddoesJanathon">ZeddoesJanathon</a></td><td>134</td><td>90</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>117</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="http://www.runningfreeonline.com/athlete/mumthatruns">mumthatruns</a></td><td>73</td><td>101</td><td>95</td><td>112</td><td>104</td><td>116</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="http://www.runningfreeonline.com/athlete/2011miles-jules">2011miles-jules</a></td><td>254</td><td>115</td><td>161</td><td>156</td><td>78</td><td>113</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="http://www.runningfreeonline.com/athlete/webb">webb</a></td><td>168</td><td>25</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>110</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="http://www.runningfreeonline.com/athlete/wordy75">wordy75</a></td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>108</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Chasing the goalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06504987945506976701noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317659373933580683.post-34506469569649394682011-06-12T17:29:00.000-07:002011-06-12T17:29:31.074-07:00Legs of an old cart hoss*<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-el0DCCgZ7iM/TfU0VhCf3-I/AAAAAAAAAOM/EQYRKNFx_GU/s1600/DSC00655.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-el0DCCgZ7iM/TfU0VhCf3-I/AAAAAAAAAOM/EQYRKNFx_GU/s320/DSC00655.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>*Midlands slang for horse<br />
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 <a href="http://www.aldridgerunningclub.co.uk/index.htm">Aldridge 10k</a> & wanted to beat last years time! <br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YI7AGKfjl8U/TfU0a_OOXAI/AAAAAAAAAOQ/mHQvpHMDQ5M/s1600/DSC00657.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YI7AGKfjl8U/TfU0a_OOXAI/AAAAAAAAAOQ/mHQvpHMDQ5M/s200/DSC00657.jpg" width="150" /></a>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.<br />
Music & Endomondo App was ready with the sound of the Klaxon I turned to see the family waving me off.<br />
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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. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CDboFeYceTw/TfU0c6cLFqI/AAAAAAAAAOU/cdZmIIdnBto/s1600/DSC00658.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CDboFeYceTw/TfU0c6cLFqI/AAAAAAAAAOU/cdZmIIdnBto/s320/DSC00658.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>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.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Vhg2NHNVxAI/TfU3FJDwMQI/AAAAAAAAAOk/hmwlKA1VhNs/s1600/10k1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Vhg2NHNVxAI/TfU3FJDwMQI/AAAAAAAAAOk/hmwlKA1VhNs/s320/10k1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>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. <br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9xYq7FkqMVU/TfU2-K_T-tI/AAAAAAAAAOg/RkgD0YbzvBU/s1600/10k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9xYq7FkqMVU/TfU2-K_T-tI/AAAAAAAAAOg/RkgD0YbzvBU/s320/10k.jpg" width="320" /></a>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. <br />
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. <br />
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."<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wirgj9Y_B5c/TfVX0ntpXnI/AAAAAAAAAOo/vmN0XrNNpUU/s1600/320288738.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wirgj9Y_B5c/TfVX0ntpXnI/AAAAAAAAAOo/vmN0XrNNpUU/s320/320288738.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>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 <a href="mailto:56@21">56:21</a> (But I'm not sure if this was from the siren or from when i crossed the line) <br />
Then it was back to the in laws house for a change of clothes & a much needed cup of tea. <br />
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Aldridge 10k race & Juneathon Day 12: DONE!!<br />
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<div><a href="http://www.endomondo.com/workouts/hqjve9Wilwk">Endomondo Running Workout</a>: "was out running 6.05 miles in 56m:52s using Endomondo."</div><br />
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;Chasing the goalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06504987945506976701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317659373933580683.post-50632195250264186752011-05-30T06:15:00.000-07:002011-05-30T06:15:53.231-07:00THEY SAY THAT YOU CAN GET LOST IN YOUR THOUGHTS WHILST RUNNING ….WELL I JUST GOT LOST!!<div style="background: rgb(253, 247, 244); line-height: 19.2pt; text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: black; font-size: 10.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.7pt;">I always loved running...it was something you could do by yourself, and under your own power. You could go in any direction, fast or slow as you wanted, fighting the wind if you felt like it, seeking out new sights just on the strength of your feet and the courage of your lungs. </span></i><span style="color: black; font-size: 10.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.7pt;">Jesse Owens </span><o:p></o:p></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.momentumsports.co.uk/"><span style="color: blue; font-size: x-small;">http://www.momentumsports.co.uk/</span></a><o:p></o:p></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">They say running is 90% mental & 10% physical I truly believe this!! as I’ve been able to run non-stop for 13.1 miles during this years<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.kpevents.net/?post=results-the-salts-techstep-lichfield-half-marathon-1st-may-2011"><span style="color: blue;">Lichfield half marathon</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>when there are times when running for 20 minutes feels like climbing Everest<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>last week was a case in point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On a recent run having finished work I was<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>feeling<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>confident about going<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>out. Then within 10 minutes of being out I hit a wall, I just felt completely battered maybe I wasn’t listening to the right music (I was listening to an the 10 O’clock podcast) this usually keeps me on tack. But I couldn’t get into it. I manged to run for about 10 mins before my first stop then it was walk run walk run. I think I walked more than I ran (Or felt that way) finally completing 5.26miles in 59 minutes.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Take last Sunday (22<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">nd</span></sup> May) I was a little tired as I started, then a wave of determination & excitement took over after 3 miles I decided to change my original route going in a direction that I’d not been before & also wasn’t sure of where it would lead. It was<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>sunny afternoon and I felt OK.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><u>THEY SAY THAT YOU CAN GET LOST IN YOUR THOUGHTS WHILST RUNNING ….WELL I JUST GOT LOST!!<o:p></o:p></u></strong></span></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I love my Sunday runs! Time with the family then a couple of hours to myself running.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I never know where I’m going to run I’ll spend ages deliberating which route to take as I get very bored and can’t run the same place time & time again!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BY5orwPIIWw/Td7SoeVs2wI/AAAAAAAAAMs/rorY-rNoDKA/s1600/run11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BY5orwPIIWw/Td7SoeVs2wI/AAAAAAAAAMs/rorY-rNoDKA/s400/run11.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I finally made my mind up which run I was going to take ( I was still deciding whilst starting the run)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>but 3 miles in I came to a cross roads and decided that I didn’t fancy the way I was going & headed off in the opposite way! Heading through park land enjoying the views whilst listening to the football commentary (Last game of the season, my teams local rivals were fighting to survive in the premiership) As I ran along the track, I could see the road following at the bottom so as I reached the edge I rejoined the road. Thinking that I’d just be able to cut back to where I knew, I kept plodding on enjoying the emotions of the games as each goal scored resulted in the switching of teams in the relegation zone! High drama indeed. (If you like football) arriving at the top of the hill I saw no road to take me where I wanted to go! I had to keep on going! (I’m too stubborn to go back) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As you can see from the GPS tracking I mile 4-5 was OK then I came to a T-junction with only one choice GO RIGHT! <o:p></o:p></span></div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cWvoROWQysc/Td7SuIxrOGI/AAAAAAAAAMw/h2b6S2WvMv4/s1600/goggle1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cWvoROWQysc/Td7SuIxrOGI/AAAAAAAAAMw/h2b6S2WvMv4/s200/goggle1.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://www.endomondo.com/workouts/vzsfLzGVoDg"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: blue;">Endomondo Running Workout</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">: "was out running 11.84 miles in 2h:12m:24s using Endomondo."<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the photo’s show the road went on & on & on!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had no idea where I was, just hoping that everything would come right!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another day & I think I would be panicking more but I was feeling strong & the Blues (<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Birmingham</st1:city></st1:place> city) had been relegated so was quiet please eventually I saw a sign post that gave me some clue of where I was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Just after mile 7) <o:p></o:p></span></div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RSsn3Tm2gE0/Td7SxJm0JsI/AAAAAAAAAM0/ppmx9tMA12Y/s1600/google.png.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RSsn3Tm2gE0/Td7SxJm0JsI/AAAAAAAAAM0/ppmx9tMA12Y/s320/google.png.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bugger I wasn’t as close to home as I’d hope but what else can you do? But at least I knew where i was, be it miles 5 miles fro home!! Had I been running in the pouring rain or had my mood not been so positive we would be talking about completely different run! (We maybe an SOS to the other half to pick me up) But the weather & landscape was beautiful. Plus I’d hit my stride & just kept one foot in front of the other. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Gv2KZcMyvIc/Td7TOQqJh7I/AAAAAAAAAM4/FodVSuTQ-XI/s1600/1google.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Gv2KZcMyvIc/Td7TOQqJh7I/AAAAAAAAAM4/FodVSuTQ-XI/s320/1google.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I've said before I do live by some beautiful countryside & think these pictures prove this!</span><br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Fsuzxj9kzbY/TeLnNSQCiBI/AAAAAAAAANM/cXklrf8ydEU/s1600/DSC06150.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Fsuzxj9kzbY/TeLnNSQCiBI/AAAAAAAAANM/cXklrf8ydEU/s200/DSC06150.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mo7_0epr9hM/TeLnYdEkpzI/AAAAAAAAANQ/SGJ43THJWk8/s1600/DSC06151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mo7_0epr9hM/TeLnYdEkpzI/AAAAAAAAANQ/SGJ43THJWk8/s200/DSC06151.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kDNzBSrmrrU/TeLnDjQuNOI/AAAAAAAAANI/Jkwexi6tv18/s1600/DSC06149.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kDNzBSrmrrU/TeLnDjQuNOI/AAAAAAAAANI/Jkwexi6tv18/s320/DSC06149.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">IS IT ME! Or do other runners get tired and demotivated the closer they are to home. With the last two miles left I became a mental struggle to keep going</span></div></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Finally I arrived home tired with a bright red tinge to my face! And calves screaming at the bad man who made them work!! <o:p></o:p></span></div>Chasing the goalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06504987945506976701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317659373933580683.post-55259698396539752582011-05-30T06:14:00.000-07:002011-05-30T06:14:31.993-07:00Positve Mental Attitude or am I just mental<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Ability is what you are capable of doing. <br />
Motivation determines what you do. <br />
Attitude determines how well you do it. <br />
--Lou Holtz</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"><a href="http://www.brocawblazers.org/camp/running_quotes.html">http://www.brocawblazers.org/camp/running_quotes.html</a></span><o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Going back over some old emails I found a power point presentation from a workshop held in January at the University of Wolverhampton called<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“<b>Running, emotions and performance”</b></span><b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span></b></div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The day was hosted by various academics from across the country some attached to<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>government funded research project <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b><a href="http://www.erosresearch.org/favicon.ico"><span style="color: blue;">EROS</span></a> (</b></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Emotion Regulation of Others and Self) Also in attendance were representatives from </span><a href="http://www.lumie.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Times New Roman;">Lumie - SAD lights</span></a><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>& </span><a href="http://www.audiofuel.co.uk/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Times New Roman;">Audiofuel</span></a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></span></span><b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">The Workshop Objectives of the day were <o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><br />
<div style="margin-left: 108pt; mso-list: l1 level3 lfo1; tab-stops: list 108.0pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">To introduce runners to the idea of psychological skills <o:p></o:p></span></b></div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><br />
<div style="margin-left: 108pt; mso-list: l1 level3 lfo1; tab-stops: list 108.0pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">How to use “If then Planning” and “Goal Setting”<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><br />
<div style="margin-left: 108pt; mso-list: l1 level3 lfo1; tab-stops: list 108.0pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">How to use Music to motivate you<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"><a href="http://www.wlv.ac.uk/default.aspx?page=16371"><span style="color: blue;">Professor Andy Lane</span></a></span></b></span><b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"> </span></b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">(Wolves Uni) lead the workshop discussing how professional athletes devote time to mental preparation (some seeing the upcoming race in their heads, how they will start build & finish)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><br />
<u><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">-Does psychological influence performance<o:p></o:p></span></u><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">The nine inches right here; set it straight and you can beat anybody in the world.<br />
--Sebastian Coe <br />
(as he said this Coe held his fingers up to his head)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">http://www.brocawblazers.org/camp/running_quotes.html</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></div><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">(Breaking it down a little from memory) if you run the same distance with the same conditions but on different days, dependant on how you feel can result in different times. A more positive attitude may give a better result. Some runners may run better angry; I find I have better times when I’m happy & positive!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Comments were made that “Sport psychology can help performance, the mind can be trained and like you train your body, you need to practice.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">If your mind can be trained then what state of mind do you need to be to get the best performance.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">They then discussed with the audience what they do or what happens to get them in the mood / preparation for running some mentioned:<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><br />
<div style="margin-left: 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Getting ready<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><br />
<div style="margin-left: 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Plugging in the music<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><br />
<div style="margin-left: 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The thought before the run/where they would go<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><br />
<div style="margin-left: 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Emotional state<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">There is no correct answer to this; I can go through waves of emotions whilst running, be that through the music I’m listening to or my mood. If I’m tired or what’s happening around me. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p></o:p></span><span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">WHAT GETS YOU IN THE MOOD FOR RUNNING & HOW DO YOU PREPARE???<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><br />
<u><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Are there things that you can do, that can improve performance?<o:p></o:p></span></u><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"><a href="http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/psychology/staff/academic/thomas-webb"><span style="color: blue;">Dr Tom Webb </span></a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">spoke about what can be done to keep mentally focused, by stating that most people have New Year’s resolutions to get fit, but don’t stick to it as they don’t have a plan.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Goal setting is as important as motivation, as with out a goal then you be motivating to do nothing!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">People loose interest as target are set way to high or too far into the future i.e.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>if you want to run a marathon that could be 6 months to a year away how do you keep going in between now & then!</span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">He then focused on The <strong>IF & THEN</strong> PLANNING.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><br />
<div style="margin-left: 36pt; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Identify the IF part. <o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><br />
<div style="margin-left: 72pt; mso-list: l3 level2 lfo3; tab-stops: list 72.0pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">–<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">We had to write down barriers or unwanted thoughts we experience before running. <o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><br />
<div style="margin-left: 36pt; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Identify the Then (your goal or what you would like to do)<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><br />
<div style="margin-left: 72pt; mso-list: l3 level2 lfo3; tab-stops: list 72.0pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">–<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Write down how you would like to respond.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><br />
<div style="margin-left: 72pt; mso-list: l3 level2 lfo3; tab-stops: list 72.0pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">–<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Psychological skills such as imagery and self-talk can help here.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Andy Lane helped Christine Bleakley One Show presenter Christine Bleakley prepare to water-ski across the channel</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KNgFIT-A39M/TeLmaHqOnzI/AAAAAAAAANE/1vPbRQmbnhc/s1600/andy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KNgFIT-A39M/TeLmaHqOnzI/AAAAAAAAANE/1vPbRQmbnhc/s320/andy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 0%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.75pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d3d3d; display: none; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-hide: all;"><a href="http://www.erosresearch.org/index.php/people/gallery/##"><span style="color: #977012; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><v:shape id="_x0000_i1026" o:button="t" style="height: 24pt; width: 24pt;" type="#_x0000_t75"> <v:imagedata o:href="http://www.erosresearch.org/css/images/lightbox-ico-loading.gif" src="file:///C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image003.gif"> </v:imagedata></v:shape></span></a></span></div><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">i.e. with Fatigue management<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><br />
<div style="margin-left: 36pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo4; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Barrier to performance “IF”<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><br />
<div style="margin-left: 72pt; mso-list: l2 level2 lfo4; tab-stops: list 72.0pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">–<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">“If my arms feels tired”<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><br />
<div style="margin-left: 36pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo4; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Solution to barriers “THEN”<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><br />
<div style="margin-left: 72pt; mso-list: l2 level2 lfo4; tab-stops: list 72.0pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">–<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">“then I’ll relax and focus on good technique”<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><br />
<div style="margin-left: 36pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo4; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">IF-THEN PLAN<o:p></o:p></span></i></div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><br />
<div style="margin-left: 72pt; mso-list: l2 level2 lfo4; tab-stops: list 72.0pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">–<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">If my arm feels tired, then I’ll relax and focus on good technique!”<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> O</span></o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">r when running<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span><b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">IF</span></b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> I feel I can’t run any more <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">THEN</span></b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> I’ll concentrate on my running technique or just think about the next step.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">On the <a href="http://www.erosresearch.org/favicon.ico"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;"><strong>EROS</strong></span></a> website there is a link to check your mood & maybe highlight what is needed to get back on to your target.</span><b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span></b><br />
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<span style="color: #3d3d3d; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.5pt;"><a href="http://www.moodprofiling.com/"><span style="color: blue;">Assess your own mood and get feedback</span></a></span><b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><a href="http://www.wlv.ac.uk/default.aspx?page=16374"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Times New Roman;">Dr Tracey Devonport</span></a><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> gave a talk on how music can help with running & motivation I can’t run without music. I love to go out listening to either a podcast or some music, as I don’t get much chance at any other time. I have had to do last years Aldridge 10k with out music as my MP3 player imploded after half a mile! If that had been a normal run I think I’d be finished but as this was my first ever 10k, the motivation of taking part spurred me to finish.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">More information about playlist see link below.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><a href="http://www.musicandmotivation.com/motivating_run/make_your_own/playlits.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Times New Roman;">Make your Own Playlist</span></a><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Below is my playlist for the Lichfield half marathon (WHATS YOUR PLAYLIST & WHY?)<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">10 o’clock show Podcast</span></div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Oscars Chop audiofuel<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Bomb the Base megamix<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Katy B - Broken record<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Nina Simone - Sinner Man<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Jamie Cullum - I’m all over it<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Adele - Rolling in the dark <o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Katy B - On a mission<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Katy B - Broken Record<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Beastie Boys - Sabotage<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Alex Metric<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>& Steve<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Angello - Open your eyes<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Flux Pavilion - Base cannon<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Toddla T - Take it back<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Beastie boys - <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Make some noise <o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Party rock <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-LMFAO<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Chris Moyles <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>podcast<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Snoop Dog - Sweat<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Cee Lo Green - Bright lights<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bigger City<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Dionne Bromfield <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- Yeah Right<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Katy B - Movement<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Katy B - Lights On<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Katy B – Perfect <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stranger<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Wheels <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- Jaime Cullum<o:p></o:p></span></div></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><br />
Information taken from Power Points from day & websites as stated.</div>Chasing the goalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06504987945506976701noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317659373933580683.post-69367815068201772392011-05-18T15:25:00.000-07:002011-05-18T15:25:46.709-07:00COME DOWN THE LAB & SEE WHATS ON THE SLAB!<div style="border: currentColor; clear: both; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="border: currentColor; clear: both; text-align: justify;">Working within a student office for a Uni, does have some benefits. As I'm attached to the Sports department, I have been hounding them for help to try & improve my running. </div><div style="border: currentColor; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="border: currentColor; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div style="border: currentColor;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dy0ZPLXKQMHyfATtHC7-21ZWOZSn9ZpQdi85JfQwjwDHvWJPqahrzCTpkoO6RzjzrVoKwwVIaerBszSkMcQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>So Last Friday Dr Matthew Wyon & Dave Williams invited me down to the lab for what was said to be max 30 minute test.This turned out to be an hour of testing & running. If i wasn't working then this wouldn't have been a problem but as it was 11am on Friday, I was panicking a little about about what would be said back at the office. However all was well when I returned, (Good job my boss were OK about it)</div></div><div style="border: currentColor; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="border: currentColor; clear: both; text-align: justify;">I turned up ready to run with my<a href="http://www.garmin.com/uk/products/sports-fitness/"> Garmin</a> HRM Pod & watch but had to put their <a href="http://polar.fitnessmegastore.co.uk/polar-297/running-299.html">POLAR</a> HRM on as this was linked up to the computers & treadmill. </div><div style="border: currentColor; clear: both; text-align: justify;">I did feel like a bit of a traitor, using another companies HRM. Your either Xbox or Playstation or Commodore 64 or Spectrum (Old school reference)</div><div style="border: currentColor; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="border: currentColor; clear: both; text-align: justify;">I had to be weighed & have my height checked i was surprised as i was the just under 12 stone as i thought I was heavier. We then got down tot he task in hand. They got me running to a steady 9 min mile pace for 5 minutes to get my base readings.</div><div style="border: currentColor; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="border: currentColor; clear: both; text-align: justify;">I'd been having aches from my shins lately so was pleased that i wasn't feeling any pain</div><div style="border: currentColor; clear: both; text-align: justify;">Then came the Star Wars moment, rigging me up in a harness (In case I fell over when they boosted the speed)</div><div style="border: currentColor; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
I was merely thinking that they were just going to check my heart rate & running style, I wasn't expecting this </div><div style="border: currentColor; clear: both; text-align: justify;">thing they produced a mask.....no not a gimp mask this wasn't some crazy scene from pulp fiction. </div><div style="border: currentColor; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border: currentColor; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyHBo4b01exU6bJFG4kPB6ONu-VRmiJyaNvLAHrm6GPGIg0kkck5Td6Ch7X0VJcZ2Wu-RgYt8aM4q8YpGf3qw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div style="border: currentColor; clear: both; text-align: justify;">They linked up a oxygen mask to me (I felt like Darth Vader & HAD to make the "I am your FATHER!" comment. Then they started the test, starting at a steady space, then every minute increasing the speed. hate running on treadmills as it just doesn't feel right! but wanted to prove that i could keep the pace and get the best results from the tests. blasting till the test was over, happy that I finished strong & didn't need the harness to catch me. </div><div style="border: currentColor; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div style="border: currentColor; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dya93w2cFCSslhPEzIodnf6KvDw2XNXNG0M0jGmRxoQoWlBuFvW73GVqmNerfThzyvmTWufNfyJmTbnPo6F9g' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-h0gdkZPpTTI/TdEc1ZpFTwI/AAAAAAAAAMc/WROXxR6vb80/s1600/wewq.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-h0gdkZPpTTI/TdEc1ZpFTwI/AAAAAAAAAMc/WROXxR6vb80/s320/wewq.JPG" width="240" /></a>After we'd finished and I'd got my breath back the tutors discussed my running style. At my slow pace my left leg was fine but my right was kicking out. but at the faster pace the running style was a lot better. Matt also commented that i was doing the as he called it British run style Toe -Knee Hip where the toe kicks out first where in fact it should be the opposite where the hip then knee to toe as. By changing my style or running correctly this will increase the length in my stride but also as i won't be stamping my foot down I'll be able to increase the propulsion & lift. </div><div style="border: currentColor; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="border: currentColor; clear: both; text-align: justify;">Hopefully this will get me to my target of a sub 2hr half marathon.</div><div style="border: currentColor; clear: both; text-align: justify;">The results aren't in yet but once they are i will be putting them on her for all to see! If the fat lady can run & if you can still be tubby but fit!</div><div style="border: currentColor; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="border: currentColor; clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-36M_5b5qzwo/TdEc0YGIaII/AAAAAAAAAMY/BX3aBPAMZJk/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-36M_5b5qzwo/TdEc0YGIaII/AAAAAAAAAMY/BX3aBPAMZJk/s320/photo.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="border: currentColor;">I would like to take the opportunity of thanking Dr Matthew Wyon & Dave Williams from the University of Wolverhampton for their time!</div></div><div style="border: currentColor;"><div style="border: currentColor;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border: currentColor; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Chasing the goalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06504987945506976701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317659373933580683.post-35344618552955480432011-05-06T16:25:00.000-07:002011-05-06T16:25:55.936-07:0013.2 miles whose silly idea was that?<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C-uyQHQQu18/Tb9Bo22rXMI/AAAAAAAAAKk/A6Q4hJcwiYo/s1600/half-marathon-route.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C-uyQHQQu18/Tb9Bo22rXMI/AAAAAAAAAKk/A6Q4hJcwiYo/s320/half-marathon-route.jpg" width="288" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--zDrF_O-t_U/Tb9BbI9F9SI/AAAAAAAAAKc/4T4xHMeWMLM/s1600/5677216187_d857f97812_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--zDrF_O-t_U/Tb9BbI9F9SI/AAAAAAAAAKc/4T4xHMeWMLM/s320/5677216187_d857f97812_b.jpg" width="212" /></a><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sunday Morning came far too quickly; My early night (to get enough sleep) didn’t go as planned, as a late one was had sorting out my play list. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But the Morning came and after letting the chickens out. They do love to make some noise if they don’t get let out!! I have the loudest hens in the world. (yeah must think their cockerels) After making a scan of the garden they’ll sit on the patio door pecking the glass wanting to come into the house & if you give them a chance they do! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jnkYARoHKPc/TcMyk0jCLaI/AAAAAAAAALg/n-PKVbluIhY/s1600/DSC06077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jnkYARoHKPc/TcMyk0jCLaI/AAAAAAAAALg/n-PKVbluIhY/s200/DSC06077.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Breakfast needed to be sorted & my favourite bagel with peanut butter on one half & a poached egg on the other.(Freshly laid by the hens)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Getting ready is always bad enough but trying to get my 3 year old ready as well especially as Dora the Explorer was on. IMPOSSIBLE!Kit ready & everyone loaded in the car we set off. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Usually I don’t get nervous about a run, but with this race my nerves really kicked in. My shin splints were giving me some pain. The day before I was running late for the WBA v Villa game, so ran to the ground (only about a mile) but after that short distance I defiantly felt the effects</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We turned up at the event, the sun was out but there was a slight chill in the air. We found people all over the place warming up getting excited for the up-coming race. Having my daughter there took the nerves away a little, she always brings me great joy, seeing her running around with a big smile on her face. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eZ4KiBxVjp8/Tb9BZYQSfVI/AAAAAAAAAKY/f52gv2VpRG8/s1600/5676225365_646beb4341_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eZ4KiBxVjp8/Tb9BZYQSfVI/AAAAAAAAAKY/f52gv2VpRG8/s320/5676225365_646beb4341_o.jpg" width="211" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">There were some comical moment, as there were only two portaloos & two standing urinals, which are great idea as there quick to use but slightly embarrassing going when they positioned them right where you’ve got a queue of people waiting to use the loos. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><div style="border: currentColor;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">With the pain in my leg troubling me, the organisers had arranged sports masseurs to be in attendance & as it was free I took the opportunity to get it looked at. Craig from OPTIMAL PERFORMANCE SPORTS INJURY CLINIC. <a href="http://www.optimal-performance.co.uk/">http://www.optimal-performance.co.uk/</a> Sorted the ache in my legs out, with the bonus that they work near to where I live so I know where to go now when my legs are in bits.</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PrzeRNWtzkQ/Tb9B7hscEZI/AAAAAAAAAKs/vkqpNu9eSjY/s1600/run2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="141" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PrzeRNWtzkQ/Tb9B7hscEZI/AAAAAAAAAKs/vkqpNu9eSjY/s200/run2.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-esNC-21Kxh4/Tb9CDW9bDDI/AAAAAAAAAKw/j9TaBZWfReM/s1600/run3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-esNC-21Kxh4/Tb9CDW9bDDI/AAAAAAAAAKw/j9TaBZWfReM/s320/run3.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’d just finished having my leg seen to when they gave the 2 minute countdown. This isn’t that long when you’re trying to sort your music / tracking & putting your socks on.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The race was started by a <span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">John Dawson, 73,</span> who’s ran 370 marathons, which is an extraordinary achievement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wasn’t expecting a fast race, I just wanted to complete the distance without stopping. </span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We were off with my daughter cheering me at the start line. The 10 O’clock show podcast starting me off. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was a nice turn out of spectators for this first Lichfield half marathon, all cheering and urging the runners on giving us encouragement & much needed confidence, especially the village of Whittington. Which seemed to have come out on mass to support the runners. As I was wearing my Macmillan vest with my name it was nice to hear people calling my name but also slightly embarrassing. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Having people cheer you on gives you a lovely feeling & those running niggles disappear.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yQS3Es0KQ5I/Tb9Bx5xw7RI/AAAAAAAAAKo/m7RNuqaiwfI/s1600/run1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yQS3Es0KQ5I/Tb9Bx5xw7RI/AAAAAAAAAKo/m7RNuqaiwfI/s320/run1.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It was getting very warm and as such needed to start on the SIS energy gels & lucozade fluid intake. Luckily the water station weren’t too far away. One household had a great way of keeping us cool. The kids had water soakers. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-edmvKb-kbxI/Tb9CdvaKKiI/AAAAAAAAAK8/dBRS1Tn-CCw/s1600/run6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-edmvKb-kbxI/Tb9CdvaKKiI/AAAAAAAAAK8/dBRS1Tn-CCw/s320/run6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The organisers KPevents <a href="http://www.kpevents.net/">http://www.kpevents.net/</a> had sorted a great route for the half, the Lichfield countryside was beautiful with golden fields & blue skies. I was keeping track of my pace keeping it about 9 -9½ min miles. So I hoped. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the foot <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>pod seemed to be showing<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>my distance further than the actual distance) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>miles 5-10 really flew by Jamie Cullum, Katy B, Beastie boys kept my mood happy & the gels must of kicked in as I was feeling good, (the massage pre-race helped also)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_dNsgKYPXBQ/Tb9CksJDdqI/AAAAAAAAALA/OUR6LShNLx0/s1600/run7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_dNsgKYPXBQ/Tb9CksJDdqI/AAAAAAAAALA/OUR6LShNLx0/s320/run7.jpg" width="194" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mile 10 started to get a little tougher a long straight & then mile 11 turned into a struggle the route started to incline and became a twisting & undulating. I couldn’t let myself stop, as if I did, this would have been the start of the end. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My calves were starting to feel tight, I felt if I stopped they’d explode.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IORmDL016iA/Tb9CtksVCxI/AAAAAAAAALE/OkNnuF_u-jA/s1600/run8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IORmDL016iA/Tb9CtksVCxI/AAAAAAAAALE/OkNnuF_u-jA/s320/run8.jpg" width="226" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">These remaining last miles were hard to do mostly uphill with a couple of downhill sections making the last turn was a wonderful moment seeing the 13 mile marker<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>was a blessing but also threw up another emotional wall. During my first half last<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>September<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>my partner & daughter missed me crossing the line as I’d ran a quicker than expected race. Again I thought I’d be there before them. (I wanted to pick my daughter up & carry her across the line with me) Running along the last 200 metres I was scanning the crowd for them. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CVFrFI_QB34/Tb9Bnjac-yI/AAAAAAAAAKg/P5x6sUrm_-U/s1600/5679640107_8f4755060c_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CVFrFI_QB34/Tb9Bnjac-yI/AAAAAAAAAKg/P5x6sUrm_-U/s320/5679640107_8f4755060c_o.jpg" width="204" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Crossing the line in 2:12:28 <a href="http://www.stuweb.co.uk/default.asp?a=2&e=766&RaceNo=1105#1105">http://www.stuweb.co.uk/default.asp?a=2&e=766&RaceNo=1105#1105</a> there was a feeling of happiness & sadness as I’d not seen them. But then I heard my daughter calling "Daddy" a wonderful wave of emotion swept over me, picking my daughter up she gave me the biggest cuddle, I felt my legs tremble (I assume it was fatigued & not emotion) I took her hand & she walked with me to pick up my runners <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>pack.</span><br />
</div><div><a href="http://www.endomondo.com/workouts/pJ1lr6kExlY">Endomondo Running Workout</a>: "was out running 12.84 miles in 2h:13m:15s using Endomondo."</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xbKQeBQj5bo/TcMy8j-ahQI/AAAAAAAAALo/rZpnOILhCoU/s1600/DSC06045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xbKQeBQj5bo/TcMy8j-ahQI/AAAAAAAAALo/rZpnOILhCoU/s320/DSC06045.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This pack was very nice a draw string bag with energy gels food; drink sachet & squeezy<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(As standard) </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hqjEjI4oQ8I/TcMycbIODaI/AAAAAAAAALc/aSLWaOn6V-c/s1600/DSC06078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hqjEjI4oQ8I/TcMycbIODaI/AAAAAAAAALc/aSLWaOn6V-c/s200/DSC06078.JPG" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I survived my first half of the year,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Then </span>took my daughter to the park for a go on the slide & to have a run around. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Walking around my toes felt funny , hoping that my toenails were still attached I gingerly peeled my socks off to be relieved that everything was in place.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Having endured 2 hrs. of running I changed in the car & then went straight to a 1<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">st</span></sup> birthday party. After a few hours I didn’t know which one had tired me out the most running 13.2 miles or going on the bouncy castle with my 3year old.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now back to training for the next half marathon in July the Black Country half.</span><br />
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I have to acknowledge the Lichfield blog & runner-photo for their great photos that I've shamelessly swiped their pics.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29762021@N02/sets/72157626499050031/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/29762021@N02/sets/72157626499050031/</a><br />
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<a href="http://thelichfieldblog.co.uk/lichhalf/">http://thelichfieldblog.co.uk/lichhalf/</a><br />
<div></div><div><a href="http://thelichfieldblog.co.uk/2011/05/02/in-pictures-lichfield-half-marathon-2011/">http://thelichfieldblog.co.uk/2011/05/02/in-pictures-lichfield-half-marathon-2011/</a></div><div></div><div><br />
<a href="http://www.runner-photos.co.uk/rpEventSearch.asp?RaceID=LHM11">http://www.runner-photos.co.uk/rpEventSearch.asp?RaceID=LHM11</a></div><div></div><div></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eZjSi-t0eXM/TcMyu9LM1GI/AAAAAAAAALk/Rq5QeZc0Tps/s1600/DSC06053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eZjSi-t0eXM/TcMyu9LM1GI/AAAAAAAAALk/Rq5QeZc0Tps/s400/DSC06053.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tired but happy! what a great day!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div> </div></div>Chasing the goalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06504987945506976701noreply@blogger.com1Lichfield, Staffordshire, UK52.6835558 -1.822358600000029652.6608723 -1.8586476000000296 52.7062393 -1.7860696000000296tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317659373933580683.post-8481988339121351022011-04-28T09:57:00.000-07:002011-04-28T14:03:37.560-07:00The clock is ticking!!<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Build up for the Lichfield half</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">With only 8 days (written last week)till my first half marathon of the year & my 2<sup>nd</sup> half ever. I’ve been concentrating on my distance runs as apposed to the shorter interval runs. (maybe this will come to bite me n the bum) I haven’t ran this distance since last year so my last couple of runs I’ve been running a little bit further to see if I’m ready for this distance. My usual Sunday run is just over 9 miles which I do OK on! </span>The views & the terrain are picturesque & flat so easy to enjoy!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9A7u0tpIj90/Tbicok2TErI/AAAAAAAAAJo/lbgsvAVW1LY/s1600/DSC05796.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" i8="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9A7u0tpIj90/Tbicok2TErI/AAAAAAAAAJo/lbgsvAVW1LY/s200/DSC05796.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DuS7I7k3FtY/TbicwNLlLJI/AAAAAAAAAJs/juvxKbkjcgM/s1600/DSC05797.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" i8="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DuS7I7k3FtY/TbicwNLlLJI/AAAAAAAAAJs/juvxKbkjcgM/s200/DSC05797.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I had to run the Monday after work (as I hadn’t run on Sunday) On a warm night I set off, podcast of desert island discs, (I know it sounds sad but their are some great interviews Martin Sheen was this weeks Interviewee) Katy B & other tracks. I find that podcast helps the time pass & keeps my mind off aches or fatigue. </span></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://www.endomondo.com/workouts/uTEEcwX2IV4">Endomondo Running Workout</a>: "was out running 8.92 miles in 1h:34m:03s using Endomondo."</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I hit about 4 miles when the stomach cramps kicked in. WHY IS THIS ALL WAYS THE CASE? that before you go for a run you try to go & nothing but 20 mins into a run…BOOM…Cramps. </span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3d35UPJ4_nc/TbidSQr0rNI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/GdxYXZAeJdM/s1600/DSC05920.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i8="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3d35UPJ4_nc/TbidSQr0rNI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/GdxYXZAeJdM/s320/DSC05920.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I managed to continue on having a couple of little stops on the way, more so because I was mentally tired from work, rather than tired from the run!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Half way round there was a beautiful<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>sunset which seemed to<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>spur me on, knowing<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>that this could be my last run before the big day, (SO I thought) I needed to test myself at this distance. I wasn’t looking for a good time but to come through it. (Well maybe a little) I manged to complete the 11 miles in 1:57:16 which slower than my 1<sup>st</sup> half marathon<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>time, still gives me encouragement,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>maybe not for this one but a future half.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> I’d like to be able to complete in a SUB: 2:00. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
After this<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>half I’m going to be looking at improving my performance & speed work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The good thing about working for a University, is that I’m connected to the Sports Department & a tutor is going to get my down the lab to see if they can help with my times & how I run.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As I’m still having problems with my running style, I feel that I’m still heel striking instead of hitting on my front foot. So I’m finding myself switching between running styles, hopefully when I go down the lab, I can get this sorted.</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Getting home<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>my calves were in bits, I was worried that it was my Achilles , after<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a cold bath & shower & as the partners sister is a masseuse ,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>she gave it a quick rub (my leg that is) I was gingerly walking around for the last few days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
Monday 25th April set off on little run (Yeah Right!!) usually I drive to the canal run (See previous posts) but this time i was feeling up for a run & set out from home.<br />
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What a warm day it was, i was glowing redder than my hair within a few minutes and chomping on a cola bottle sweet (To sustain my energy) at the usual point on the canal where i turn left, this time i went right into uncharted waters. I'd had a look on google & it was longer than my usual run, so feeling confident i took this turning.<br />
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Again mind & body weren't really in sink so pace wasn't it's quickest but as it was a new location i was enjoying the run. (Except for the greenfly) Listening to the podcast of the 10 O'clock show had me laughing out loud, the fisherman must of though I was rather strange! Well no more mad than someone running in the hot sun.<br />
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looking at my phone I'd noticed the Endomondo hadn't located the GPS so after 40mins of running it hadn't tracked anything. this is what i hate you run a small/quick distance it always track. but the bigger runs, when you want to look back with pride on what you've achieved!! NOTHING!!! arrrghhhh!! (This happened on my first 10k run last year, I could of wept) Thank god my Gamin forerunner 50 is working, or I'd never get my times.<br />
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Whilst I'm on about weeping! since the Nipple injury of a few weeks ago, the boys as I'll call them do seem to be rather delicate, with this run proving no better, having slapped a load of Vaseline on, whether it be the sun or my delay in going straight out, the Vaseline had rubbed off. I wished i had the body where i could go bear chested, but alas not with my moobs! i would scare the people I crossed!<br />
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<div><a href="http://www.endomondo.com/workouts/nAHll6pbX44">Endomondo Running Workout</a>: "was out running 12.62 miles in 2h:20m:32s using Endomondo."</div><br />
When your running along roads, canals, woodland paths you don't feel very self conscious about yourself but when running along a busy road & high St, that s another matter. From mile 8 to 11 that's what i was face with, running past blokes outside the pub (Who'd had probably been their all day) & groups of teenagers staring at the ginger bloke in Lycra runners leggings trudging past them, was something else to take on, but still i carried on! Also including my phone switching off completely with a couple miles left. I hope this doesn't happen Sunday. (I think it's upset that I want the Samsung Galaxy S2 next month)<br />
Making it home in 2:20:32 not a quick time but it will do for the amount of stops & walks I took. <br />
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Not only did i do my run but cooked a lovely roast! Which tasted even better as I'd got it on special from the co-op £2.50 from £9. You'll find out that i love the orange co-op reduction stickers even more than running...... Well it's all loading for my runs!<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitpic/photos/large/284716249.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=AKIAJF3XCCKACR3QDMOA&Expires=1304009533&Signature=2KDQ2bKv71tznupf9L6PWZROlTA%3D" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Beef turned out well tonight." border="0" class="photo" height="150" id="photo-display" src="http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitpic/photos/large/284716249.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=AKIAJF3XCCKACR3QDMOA&Expires=1304009533&Signature=2KDQ2bKv71tznupf9L6PWZROlTA%3D" width="200" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now with only a few days to go before Lichfield Half, I’ve<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>just got to work out what<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>music ‘ll be playing & what I’ll be eating on the morning!! </span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Whats your favourite running tracks & pre-race meals????</strong></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bank Holiday's you've just got to love them, </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div>Chasing the goalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06504987945506976701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317659373933580683.post-39480686862094792932011-03-29T08:36:00.000-07:002011-03-29T08:36:28.106-07:00March Hair Raiser 2011<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Last year my big race was the Wolverhampton Half Marathon (September 10) I hadn’t followed any training programme all I did was increased the miles I ran. I clocked in a time of 2:09.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was extremely happy with this result, more than that, overjoyed!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I’d also never ran that far without stopping.</span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Having close friends who have been diagnosed with Cancer, I decided to try and raise money for <span style="color: #6aa84f;"><strong>Macmillan nurses</strong></span>. As at the moment I’ve only got four races as definite, which if I want to raise more money, get fitter & faster. I want to run at least one race each month.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">March 3<sup>rd</sup> I completed the reindeer run @ Dudley zoo, so looking for a race for the end of the money. The <span style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">March Hair Raiser 2011 </span></span></span>run came to my attention, (via a quick check on the runners world website)not getting the application in, meant that I’d have to turn up on the day & see if there was a place. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bless British Summer Time, not only did I have to get up at 7:30 am (It was my lie in day) but I lost an hours sleep. The rave was about 30 mins drive away. Feeling like a change I put on Def Leppard Hysteria album. (80’s classic rock)</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-n2k08Yza9nM/TZHuRXDlN1I/AAAAAAAAAJc/4VuiUOGzNV8/s1600/run111mm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-n2k08Yza9nM/TZHuRXDlN1I/AAAAAAAAAJc/4VuiUOGzNV8/s320/run111mm.jpg" width="264" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Finding the place wasn’t a problem nor was registering. People were on the gates directing people to park & registration to 2 minutes.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Boy was it cold. I wished I'd worn long sleeves that morning. Looking around at the start it seemed that the majority of the runners were all attached to running clubs, (I did feel a little our of my depth, watching them all warming up with their nice watches & running tops) just before the start the jostling for position started, getting themselves set for the prime positions. </span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As the starters whistle went off everyone seemed to go off with a charge, I thought that I was running at my normal pace until I noticed that that my pace was 7’01 This isn’t my normal pace and I soon realised that I’d have to rethink my pace or I’d not be finishing or walking like I did at the reindeer run. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div> <div style="text-align: left;"></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The run was across farm land and as picturesque as it was. It was very uneven and luckily not wet, had it of rained we would have been talking about an extremly different race. I always feel tired on morning runs as I seem not to be able to get my hydration right, even though I’d been drinking since waking up. Miles 1-4 went OK, but from then it got tough as I felt tired/dehydrated mile 5 was tougher as it was a cut up track so keeping a nice steady pace was difficult. I had to make a couple of stops at the 5 mile point to get some lucozade sport down my neck. </span></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jao8zKsk2HY/TZHQ02MKlqI/AAAAAAAAAJY/WLXv6PiEXGQ/s1600/map1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" r6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jao8zKsk2HY/TZHQ02MKlqI/AAAAAAAAAJY/WLXv6PiEXGQ/s400/map1.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.endomondo.com/workouts/u4R9Km54bug">Endomondo Running Workout</a>:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Passing the mud track the ground became easier to run on, which was a good thing as it was an uphill section. I’d been passed by a guy who was about 10 years older than me & a few stone heavier, this gave me the motivation to increase my pace. Knowing the end wasn’t too far away kept me going. Passing the 6 mile marker I could see the flags & finish marker ahead. Why is it all the finish lines are uphill!!! Oh that hill felt like it would never end. I so wanted to stop, you just couldn’t as everyone was waiting & watching. (I have never felt like hurling after a race until then)</span></div> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--HHG-ie4P4Q/TZHH-OYFicI/AAAAAAAAAI0/8hHEfNKiQXg/s1600/DSC05615.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" r6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--HHG-ie4P4Q/TZHH-OYFicI/AAAAAAAAAI0/8hHEfNKiQXg/s200/DSC05615.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">To the victor go the spoils</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <div> Crossing the line in 0:56:10 a PB for me & fully completed 10k done (See Reindeer run Blog) dusted & a Morph Scarf (Multifunctional headband, mask, and sweatband) as my prize.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Though the official time was 0:56:16 I'm happy at finishing 127 out 201 (the winner finished in 0<span style="font-family: Tahoma;">:35:01)</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><a href="http://www.wolvesandbilstonac.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/march-hair-raiser-2011.pdf">http://www.wolvesandbilstonac.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/march-hair-raiser-2011.pdf</a></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma;"> <div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;">It was also good to see Brian Smith there, as it's always nice to see pictures of yourself looking haggard as you cross the line.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: right;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/baldeagle/sets/72157626213919323/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/baldeagle/sets/72157626213919323/</a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KmevCTct6Wc/TZHIFm8JnZI/AAAAAAAAAJA/4-Ze85qscFM/s1600/DSC05593.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" r6="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KmevCTct6Wc/TZHIFm8JnZI/AAAAAAAAAJA/4-Ze85qscFM/s200/DSC05593.JPG" width="200" /></a> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Here’s hoping for more races, no injuries, more PB’s & loads of sponsorship.</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> <div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I am smiling</td></tr>
</tbody></table></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now to look for other races in April & May before the Aldridge 10k in June. </span></div></span>Chasing the goalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06504987945506976701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317659373933580683.post-47827865489774009232011-03-23T08:52:00.000-07:002011-03-23T08:52:35.465-07:00Another week, another run<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A manic weekend was had by all in my household as it was my daughters 3<sup>rd</sup> Birthday, Friday night was a house full of family, Saturday saw the house<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>overrun by screaming children demanding pass the parcel, pop,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>cakes<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and crisps,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>throw in magic tricks & balloon folding and a couple of hours later every one<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>is away the kids sugared up to the max.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">After moving my partners uncle into his new<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>flat I managed to go out for a run. This time I didn’t get lost. My stamina is improving as I didn’t need to stop for 4 miles, then with just a 30 second walk before I set off again. The run would of got a lot smoother & quicker had the end of the waterway not be cut off by fences<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>as there was massive construction work going on. This took a while to navigate a way around the construction site.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just over 9 miles & 1hr 40mins later I complete my run.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Satisfied that my pace, stamina are improving & that any upcoming races will not feel such an uphill battle. I just need to hope that I can remain injury free & that the races I take apart in improve my fitness & also excite people to continue to sponsor me. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-YX-R9bU621g/TYoWQLeVy-I/AAAAAAAAAHU/QtCmFh12rSg/s1600/map.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="height: 256px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; width: 452px;"><img border="0" height="252" r6="true" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-YX-R9bU621g/TYoWQLeVy-I/AAAAAAAAAHU/QtCmFh12rSg/s400/map.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-k-QFxhvs8Ow/TX-RmSTkJ1I/AAAAAAAAAGw/mZC844Vi8uw/s1600/DSC05468.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" q6="true" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-k-QFxhvs8Ow/TX-RmSTkJ1I/AAAAAAAAAGw/mZC844Vi8uw/s200/DSC05468.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-YU3mSiW3BCI/TX-Rj5WA0bI/AAAAAAAAAGs/5cN7UqkM7tA/s1600/DSC05467.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" q6="true" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-YU3mSiW3BCI/TX-Rj5WA0bI/AAAAAAAAAGs/5cN7UqkM7tA/s200/DSC05467.JPG" width="200" /></a>My lie in Saturday went a bit O.T.T. as I slept till 2pm. (Good job it was my day for a lie in) So Sunday would be my day! Rain & gloom surrounded me Sunday morning, but undetered. I would run.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The afternoon however cleared & a beautiful sky was awaiting my run! I've always needed something to run to, be it music, podcast, Audiobooks, anything to keep my mind busy.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Todays listening was Lawrence Dallaglio on Desert Island Disks, the 10 O' Clock show, & Chris Moyles. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Feeling confident & happy, my pace was nice & steady. Following the canal, passing the fishermen the familys walking with kids. There seemed a very happy vibe. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> Just after the 3 mile point it looked like I was running the wrong way. So <strong>"Clever me!"</strong> decided to go off course, this resulted in me adding <strong>another 3</strong> <strong>miles</strong> (See map) & going round in a circle to the exact spot where I detoured from. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-n5vxKrvZmXU/TX-RpSZleSI/AAAAAAAAAG4/dzkmXw-wSmo/s1600/DSC05470.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: left; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" q6="true" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-n5vxKrvZmXU/TX-RpSZleSI/AAAAAAAAAG4/dzkmXw-wSmo/s320/DSC05470.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://www.endomondo.com/workouts/ly6gok3cJos">Endomondo Running Workout</a>: "was out running 9.80 miles in 1h:45m:30s using Endomondo."</div></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-EcHhxSnGl1k/TX-RoJGAP7I/AAAAAAAAAG0/hBBQ9nhi-uc/s1600/DSC05469.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" q6="true" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-EcHhxSnGl1k/TX-RoJGAP7I/AAAAAAAAAG0/hBBQ9nhi-uc/s320/DSC05469.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No PC Bridge Names!</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The home leg wasn't to bad, due to the detour I was running very late for lunch at my parents that my very hungry partner & daughter were waiting for. </div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Its the longest I've ran since November, Also a good point my legs haven't been too bad this week.</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mr Man As my Daughter call him every Morning!</td></tr>
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</div>Chasing the goalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06504987945506976701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317659373933580683.post-9402003908693771112011-03-11T06:50:00.000-08:002011-03-11T06:50:41.637-08:00Lazy girl running: Another running metaphorLove this quote! <br />
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<a href="http://lazygirlrunning.blogspot.com/2011/03/another-running-metaphor.html?spref=bl">Lazy girl running: Another running metaphor</a>: <br />
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Running, as I put it to my colleague, is a lot like eating olives. You might like the idea of running and being someone who runs, but you won't enjoy it straight away. You have to persist with running. Eventually, though, it will stop leaving a bitter taste in our mouth and you'll love it.Chasing the goalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06504987945506976701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317659373933580683.post-47621124025907975802011-03-10T07:31:00.000-08:002011-03-10T07:31:47.994-08:00RNLI Reindeer Run 6/03/11 Dudley Zoo & Castle<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">First race of year, like a little boy at Christmas was far too hyper to sleep. (This would come to bite me on the ass during the race) Eventually hit the sack at 3am. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">I Managed to drag myself out of bed & fuelled up with bagel & peanut butter. (I will love the food company who can bring out fat free peanut butter)</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">On the way to the race, I’d searched through my cd collection for something different, dragging out Deep Heat 5 (1990) a bit of 20 seconds to comply by <b><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><a href="http://www.discogs.com/artist/Silver+Bullet"><span style="color: purple;">Silver Bullet</span></a> </span></b><span lang="EN"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>to get me in the mood.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-vz2Dq8YuSBM/TXQOovqf8VI/AAAAAAAAADw/jLl6O0F_Ru8/s1600/DSC05428.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" l6="true" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-vz2Dq8YuSBM/TXQOovqf8VI/AAAAAAAAADw/jLl6O0F_Ru8/s200/DSC05428.JPG" width="200" /></a>Upon arrival we were presented with our own Antlers & flashing Red nose (well it was the reindeer run). We all went through a quick warm up from a couple of military lads. & we were off. I think due to the lack of sleep, I must have thought I was doing the 5k run, as my pace was faster than I usually run, This became apparent when I hit the first mile. I knew it was going to be tough. </div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"> <div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-B7hst41BSGU/TXQOGK6TpnI/AAAAAAAAADc/2nG84V_oSf8/s1600/DSC05412.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" l6="true" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-B7hst41BSGU/TXQOGK6TpnI/AAAAAAAAADc/2nG84V_oSf8/s200/DSC05412.JPG" width="200" /></a></div> <a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-ypNjSrUU-zk/TXQNI3Zxy7I/AAAAAAAAADY/fCMByCfgNK4/s1600/DSC05411.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" l6="true" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-ypNjSrUU-zk/TXQNI3Zxy7I/AAAAAAAAADY/fCMByCfgNK4/s200/DSC05411.JPG" width="200" /></a>The first section of the course takes you out side the Zoo’s main grounds on to scrub land running along a very muddy track, across the car park & back onto the grounds. <br />
We then hit the “HILL” which I tried to battle, with the late night & early quick pace. I was zapped. My legs were on fire, even seeing an old guy pass me, didn’t muster my determination. The top of the hill saw us directed back around the castle to start the second lap. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">With the Chemical Brothers Hey Girl Hey Boy <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64szVQugrAo"><span style="color: purple;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64szVQugrAo</span></a> blasting in my headphones I was off again. Only one more lap, I would be done, the first task on my fundraising goal achieved.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyMsqSMPTDz6alQnoQNEFKcdjpaQnLHvU020oOJ653HZCSu_EZOG45RbiyR3jgBNHSBn4tARUqWtNw-bPT0Bw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Remember never make comments about things, they always come back to haunt you. (At work on Friday discussing running with my colleague, she comment about getting stitch. “Oh I never get stitch”) BANG massive stitch, even seeing a runner in front of me wearing a Wolves shirt (I’m a West Bromwich Albion fan) couldn’t get me to do more than a brisk walk. My friends had passed me by, which whilst never outwardly competitive. Inwardly ALWAYS!!! I could see the “Wolves” runner up ahead. So set off again, back up the hill which felt like going up Everest. I then heard a steward say “second time around carry on, not around the castle as before, straight on. Nearly there I could feel it in my bones. Running along side Batman, my pace was nice & steady no pain. Under the castle's gates we went. I could see the finish time & the clock 50 mins a PB for me I was elated. (I’d even beat the Wolves runner)</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-RisCEl6d7dQ/TXQORayyQEI/AAAAAAAAADg/058uuNOyGhE/s1600/DSC05414.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: right; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" l6="true" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-RisCEl6d7dQ/TXQORayyQEI/AAAAAAAAADg/058uuNOyGhE/s200/DSC05414.JPG" width="200" /></a>Congratulating my fellow runners, looking at my winner’s medal. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I checked my watch Garmin forerunner 50 (I calibrated it earlier in the week on the University track) this showed Just over five half miles ran. Even the Endomondo app on my phone was showing I was short. (Though the satellite is sometimes well off) My mind started racing had I ran the correct distance or should I have gone around the castle again. Knowing that 50mins for 10k was an increase in my PB. My concerns grew. Even more so when my friend who had passed me turned up 5 minutes later. Feeling guilty that I’d not completed the whole 10k (As I was running for charity didn’t feel it was right)</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-qYwcis3i1qE/TXQO3B1fbTI/AAAAAAAAAD4/gLtgrH4XD5M/s1600/DSC05435.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" l6="true" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-qYwcis3i1qE/TXQO3B1fbTI/AAAAAAAAAD4/gLtgrH4XD5M/s200/DSC05435.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wkL6Uk89Db4/TXQOaF7OG_I/AAAAAAAAADo/7FLsKRO2_zA/s1600/DSC05417.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="52" l6="true" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wkL6Uk89Db4/TXQOaF7OG_I/AAAAAAAAADo/7FLsKRO2_zA/s200/DSC05417.JPG" width="200" /></a>So finding out that YES I should of gone around the castle then to the finish line I set off to complete the final task. </div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Stitch & 6 minutes later I crossed the finish line AGAIN! Annoyed that I could have completed it in a PB, but at least I’d completed the 10k & marked off my first race of the year! I even treated myself to a KFC for being a good boy.</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">NOW, Where we going next?</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div>Chasing the goalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06504987945506976701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317659373933580683.post-38675087545712873852011-03-02T09:06:00.000-08:002011-03-02T09:06:38.758-08:00The pleasure of running!<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Shruti;"></span><span style="font-family: Shruti;">Sun 27<sup>th</sup></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Shruti;">Having been out for a couple of weeks with shin splints, this week has been the first time I’ve put my trainers back on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How weird how much you miss the thing that usually causes you pain & aches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So looking forward to a run today was top of my agenda. Especially after the breakfast I had.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-AVI5GxplZE0/TW50x69qZFI/AAAAAAAAACo/9-SJL_qknaI/s1600/DSC05370.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="height: 239px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; width: 425px;"><img border="0" height="240" l6="true" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-AVI5GxplZE0/TW50x69qZFI/AAAAAAAAACo/9-SJL_qknaI/s320/DSC05370.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Shruti;">Tonight I decided on a different route, wanting to keep off the roads to protect my shins. Not far from me is a nice canal route. So listening to the Blues, Arsenal game on the radio , I set out, Running<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>along the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>towpaths. </span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-PrpseIKB0fo/TW51FbK9Q7I/AAAAAAAAACs/xk4lbAHG3zg/s1600/DSC05371.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" l6="true" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-PrpseIKB0fo/TW51FbK9Q7I/AAAAAAAAACs/xk4lbAHG3zg/s320/DSC05371.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Shruti;">When you don’t know where your going or where you’ll end up is pretty liberating as your minds not at the finish line, if you don’t know where you’ll finish you don’t know what time, so you stop worrying about it. (My in runs are the worst, when I know I’m close to home! The tiredness creeps in. ! Also with lovely peaceful views, </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-zA9MSlMSYV4/TW51NVrYVJI/AAAAAAAAACw/jiZlXuKEBtc/s1600/DSC05372.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="height: 151px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; width: 230px;"><img border="0" height="240" l6="true" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-zA9MSlMSYV4/TW51NVrYVJI/AAAAAAAAACw/jiZlXuKEBtc/s320/DSC05372.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">I finished clocked just under 5 miles in 50mins 05sec. Which i'm happy with as i did walk a few times and stopped to take these pictures. I think this route will be one of my favourites. I'm looking forward to running it again and to follow it further.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-DLOqYKd927Y/TW51QHXohjI/AAAAAAAAAC0/mdPjbojIK90/s1600/DSC05373.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="height: 272px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; width: 356px;"><img border="0" height="240" l6="true" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-DLOqYKd927Y/TW51QHXohjI/AAAAAAAAAC0/mdPjbojIK90/s320/DSC05373.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Chasing the goalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06504987945506976701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317659373933580683.post-20079542891894564052011-02-23T07:31:00.000-08:002011-02-23T07:31:14.290-08:00Breaking my cherry!I don't know why I decided to start a blog maybe just to vent get things of my chest, maybe as a motivational tool to keep me running & achieve my goals. <br />
My colleague or "Work Wife" as I'll refer to her blogs <a href="http://vaguelyinvogue.blogspot.com/">http://vaguelyinvogue.blogspot.com/</a> she loves it, & does it with such ease & finesse! I thought how hard can it be. (Really hard judging by how long it's taken me to get this far.<br />
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I hope that you'll like what you read. & I'll enjoy putting it down!<br />
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Thanks for stopping by, hope to see you soon!Chasing the goalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06504987945506976701noreply@blogger.com0