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Breaking a cardinal rule here...posting a post without any running to report! But it's that time when we tend to look back over the year just ending. And what a year it's been... a bit of a roller-coaster tbh - with plenty of ups and downs (too many downs...) - a nice boring 2010 would be ideal at the moment! Just a return to a little bit of running, oh and apparently we're moving house in the Spring...

Anyway looking back at 2009, and just like football, for me it was a year of two halves. First half was great, really got into a regular training programme, and rewarded with PB after PB. Redcar Half Marathon in April I think was probably the best run I'll ever see.  But paid for it big time since, with foot and calf problems still dragging on...

So like last year, as I close-down the training spreadsheet for 2009, thought I would post a few unimpressive stats;

Total Miles Run = 370
No. Runs = 79
No. Races = 8
No. PBs = 6
Minutes knocked off PB for half-marathon = 26
No. Rides In Ambulance = 1 (don't think I mentioned this at the time!!)
Pairs Running Shoes Worn Out = 1
Lbs lost = 7
Lbs put back on again = daren't check!
No. times ready to bin the running shoes once and for all = countless!

Happy New Year everyone

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Any enthusiasm for running seems distinctly dampened at the moment - and I don't just mean by this constant drizzly weather.  Headed out tonight in-between the showers, just wanting to do 20 minutes or so.  But the calf is still tightening-up after just a few minutes, so despite lots of walk breaks to try to loosen things up a bit, still ended up cutting it short and plodding home fed-up.  If it carries on like this, I can see me chucking the running shoes in the bin!

In other news, have finally got my podiatrist appointment coming up on Wednesday.  After just a 6 month wait.  The letter tells me to take running shoes and shorts, so sounds like some sort of gait analysis is planned.  Will be interesting to see what they come up with.

Happy running everyone

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Imaginative title eh?

Despite missing out on the big family christmas shopping trip today, found myself immersed in a whole list of DIY jobs...fitting a blind on the top landing, fixing no.2 son's bedroom door latch and strike plate, and finally wrestling with a dripping shower...

Just about managed to squeeze in a short jog today before heading out for a posh meal tonight.  Slightly more jog, and slightly less in the way of walk breaks. So slow progress, but progress nevertheless.

Happy running everyone

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Dear me, no real motivation at the moment to get out running.  Although to be honest work and home life have been really hectic recently.  Most of the weekend was taken up with redecorating the top stairs - the sort where the walls just go up-and-up, so everything's about 20 feet out of reach.  And the weather seems to be a succession of dark days, rainy evenings etc etc. So plenty of excuses at the ready for not sticking to the training plan at the moment!

Tonight though I did manage to squeeze in another short trot before tea - another 21 minutes around the local streets, with a few walk breaks thrown in along the way.  That tight calf is feeling a tiny bit better, so shall just have to persist with it gently and see what happens.

Hope you've all finished your xmas shopping?  I seem to have cracked it - OH organising a major shopping trip to Meadowhall (huge shopping centre near Sheffield) on Saturday...and I'm not even invited.  Result!

Happy running everyone

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Hmmm Having a few problems getting the old bag of bones back into the running routine - despite trying to ease back into it very gently, I still managed to pick up a sore arch in my foot a couple of weeks back.  And then some miserable weather saw any motivation go out the window.  Closely followed by a bad cold that wiped me out for all of last weekend.

Gah - another 2 weeks lost from the schedule. And only 11 weeks to the High Legh 10k now, looking decidely dodgy isn't it?!

Anyway, surprisingly I felt in the mood for facing the chilly evening last night, so found myself pulling on the skinny tracksters, and multiple layers of thick top.  Caught myself in the mirror, and immediately thought of Max Wall...


Just another 21 minutes of run/walk, taking it ever so gently.  And paying a bit more attention I think to running gait -  I'm sure this must be partly to blame for some of these niggles I pick up.  Will be interesting to see if they pick up on this at the podiatry assessment on the 16th.

Anyway that's me up to date.  Hope everyone has a good weekend - OH is threatening me with a paint brush and a tin of emulsion!

Happy running everyone

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Run no.2 tonight in the 'cunning plan' - another 26 minute run/walk session round the local streets.  That left calf still feeling decidedly tight, although the walk breaks seemed to work wonders as things loosened up nicely by the finish. 

I see Kitten is rounding up people for a bloggers Santa Dash next weekend. Sadly beyond me at the moment (pathetic eh) but otherwise I'd be there!  Who knows, fingers crossed, if I can keep the cunning plan going...I may eventually get back to 5k form!!

Happy running everyone

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Finally prompted into some sort of action after reading Peta's blog yesterday - which mentioned getting back into training for the High Legh 10k in February. 
So I thought maybe I could get things moving again with this 8-week Getting Started With Running , followed by an 8-week 10k plan.  16 weeks gently building up - sounds reasonable?

One problem...it's only 13 weeks to High Legh...argh! 

Undaunted, dusted off the cobwebs accumulating on the running gear this evening, and launched into the beginners plan to get the legs moving again.  Just 26 minutes of run/walk - but it's a start isn't it?

In other news - having been referred to our local NHS Podiatry service back in June when I got injured....I've finally got my appointment through - 16th December.  Just the 6-month wait then!

Happy running everyone

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No running to report, but the cycling regime continues - have been doing at least an hour every day this week. Today did about 90 minutes on the road bike out through the villages to the east of York. Some stunning woodland scenery in the autumnal sun - those subtle golden shades as the leaves turn colour.

This week also saw my ENT appointment at the local hospital, for this tinnitus problem. No black stockings I'm afraid, Rod. Although bizarrely I did find myself sitting in a crowded waiting room next to a couple of Nuns... then gradually over the next 2 hours the waiting room emptied as everyone else was seen, just leaving me and the Nuns by the finish. All just seemed a bit Monty Python for some reason!

Verdict from the ENT consultant was; hearing tests all normal, carry on what you're doing, see you in 6 months. Pretty much what I was expecting, to be honest. I'm actually getting a lot more help and support through an online tinnitus support forum (hang on... "real buzz" would actually be an excellent name for a tinnitus forum!!)

On the plus side, OH has excused me from helping redecorate the bathroom this weekend - as the noise from sanding down the walls/ceiling hurts my ears...result!

Happy running everyone

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