Running Challenges
michael_h
Blog started:
Running Challenges
My story so far ...
I took up running in August 2008 ... well, power walking to start with, then some run/walking. It was nearly 9 weeks before I could run for 30 minutes without stopping. Now it's part of my daily life ...
I set myself three challenges ... a 10-mile run (completed the Great South run in 2009), a half marathon (ran Reading in 2010). and a full marathon (this is where it's got tough!).
Since that Reading Half marathon, I've had several pulled calf muscles training and racing, and with my annual mileage dropping year by year, I took a break from running for the last 3 months of 2011.
Refreshed, I'm back in training with my immediate aim to get to the start line for a 10K. Once that's been accomplished, I'll start thinking about the challenge of finally running a marathon. I will do it ... one day.
Races in 2012
06-Jun Yateley 10K Series Race 1: 57:03
04-Jul Yateley 10K Series Race 2:
01-Aug Yateley 10K Series Race 3:
Races in 2011
3-Aug Yateley 10K Race 3: 1:01:17 (pulled calf at mile 4)
Races in 2010
14-Feb Bramley 20/10 10 mile: 1:32:33 (pulled calf at mile 9)
21-Mar Reading Half Marathon: 2:11:39 (pulled calf at mile 7)
Races in 2009
04-Apr Frimley Park 10K: 54:18
03-Jun Yateley 10K Series Race 1: 52:14
01-Jul Yateley 10K Series Race 2: 53:53 (30C at race start!)
05-Aug Yateley 10K Series Race 3: 51:43
27-Sep Mortimer 10K: 51:09
25-Oct Bupa Great South Run: 1:28:02
Blog Statistics
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Gluteus medius is the name of the muscle I was looking for in my Yateley Race 1 report. I gave up biology at an early age so it's always a surprise to learn how many different muscles there are in various parts of the body. The gluteus medius is one of ...
Goal 2 for the year was achieved at 7:30pm tonight when I made it to the start line for the Yateley 10K. Good running conditions too, with temperatures around 14C and no rain, although there was a bit of a breeze.
Having run this race a few times, I kno...
I've definitely felt a bit jaded this week. A 2 mile recovery run on Tuesday was followed by a 5 mile tempo run on Thursday. I deliberately ran this slower than previous tempo efforts, averaging 10:08 /mile, and I'm glad I did as I felt a distinct lack ...
This week's training was a repeat of last week and the last hard week of training before I taper with only 10 days now until the first Yateley 10K race. However, the total mileage was about the only similarity with temperatures up 17C from the previous ...
After last Sunday's tough LSR when I struggled over the last couple of miles, it struck me that a difficult run, one that doesn't go to plan, is actually really good for you. Remaining mentally strong, being able to set yourself short-term goals - like ...
As I explained in my last post, I've gone back to the training routine which worked for me in 2009. That means three runs a week; a short recovery run Tuesday, a tempo run Thursday, and an LSR Sunday.
Tuesday's 2 miler was straightforward enough, in fac...
When I wrote my last blog entry in September last year, I said that I was in the last chance saloon running wise. There'd been a steady decline in mileage since I'd started running in 2009 (538 miles in 2009, 318 in 2010, 192 in 2011). In the last 5 mon...
It had been a good week. OK, I did get completely and utterly soaked on Tuesday but the 2 mile run was a good one and I followed it up on Wednesday with an enjoyable 3-miler. But today it was a case of another run ... another calf strain. I was just pa...
It's been 3 weeks since I last posted but all in all it's been a very good 3 weeks. My recovery from the calf injury I picked up at the last Yateley 10K was textbook stuff. RICE regularly in the first two days, wait until the pain and swelling had gone,...
10 days on from the calf injury I suffered at the Yateley 10K and I'm now a lot wiser about the muscles in the lower leg ... and I don't think I suffered a calf injury in the traditional sense at all.
The problems I've previously had with my right leg w...
Ever since I can remember, I've always got a kick out of personal achievement in sport. Scoring a goal or making a save, hitting 50 or taking a wicket, running a PB. In the backyard on my own, on a playing field with my mates, at a major event in front ...
My post tonight contains some personal details I wouldn't normally include in my running blog but I have chosen to do so today because of the major impact they have on my running at this time and to leave them out would negate one of the reasons I creat...
Today I all but completed training for my first race in 17 months with a 5 mile tempo run. With the exception of a 3 mile jog on Sunday, that's me done and dusted and ready for race 3 of the Yateley 10K series next Wednesday. And judging by today's run,...
Disappointment. Hard Work. Trauma. Relief. Delight. Milestones. Excitement. All part of life ... and running.
6 weeks on from my last post and I'm (fingers crossed) almost ready for my first race since March 2010.
When I last posted, I was feeling hopef...
First up apologies for the lack of comments on your posts ... it seems that the recent refresh of the realbuzz site (of which I'm not a fan) has resulted in no email notifications being sent to me ... I thought it was quiet! So please bear with me while...
Two weeks ago I was down in the doldrums running-wise ... two weeks on and I'm flying high!
The week didn't start well as I was at Wembley (great stadium) to see Reading lose 2-4 to Swansea. That's 3 play-off finals I've been to now and 3 defeats. It ce...
Having re-read my last two posts, I realised I've been beating myself up too much over the past couple of weeks - and moaning not a little in the process! So I set out to be positive about my running this week with good results.
My standard 2-mile recov...
Tuesday I was out for my regular 2 mile easy/recovery run. I was a bit anxious after feeling tired at the end of the previous week but I was surprised to find myself running at a reasonable 10:50 pace. This gave me confidence for Thursday's tempo run, o...
I've continued my mileage build up with runs of 2, 2.5, and 3 miles this week. Tuesday was an "easy" 2 miles but in all honesty it was a bit of a struggle. Thursday saw me doing a tempo run - I say tempo run but it was only half a mile at "race" pace sa...
Sometimes a run is not what you expect it will be and today was one of those days. After two mid-week runs that were a breeze I was looking forward to another easy session today, especially given that I'd had a couple of days rest and was planning to ru...
Two runs completed so far this week and after several jogs I finally feel I'm running again.
Tuesday is supposed to be a 2 mile recovery run and it will continue to be the same 2 mile run as my training progresses. Now at this stage of my training plan ...
Happily I've completed another three runs this week. 1.5 miles on Tuesday was run at just under 11 minutes per mile pace while 2 mile efforts on Thursday and again today were run at around 11:15 pace. Up until now, all my comeback runs have been on a fa...
...he's just heavier than he was. Not running for 4 months has meant that there have been a few additions to the waist-line. At the start of the week, the scales told me that at 12st 4lb I was exactly a stone heavier than I was 18 months ago when I was ...
It had been 130 days since my last run (8th December 2010 to be precise) ... until yesterday. While a certain other event was taking place (and a big well done to all those who took part), I was jogging exactly 2 miles in 25 minutes 38 seconds of sheer ...
