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
| 57 | Blog Posts |
| 7 | Followers |
| 149 | Comments |
The fact that I haven't posted for nigh on 3 months is a clue to how my running has been going - and it's not great news.
Unfortunately, I have not been able to run or do any exercise at all since mid-December. I have what I can only describe as almost ...
I feel a fraud for posting as I have only one "jog" to report since my last post. That was last Wednesday, only 2 miles but very hard work. I've had a persistent cough for several weeks now and my breathing was so laboured as if I was like a 4-cylinder ...
Just a quickie to post my current status ...
You may recall from my last blog entry two and a half weeks ago that I thought I just might have been coming down with something. Unfortunately I was right and for the last two weeks I've been laid low with a...
I'm quite relieved to have completed the third of my mid-week runs today as it's all been a bit of struggle so far this week.
Tuesday came and for some reason (perhaps I'm suffering from a virus?), I was still feeling tired from Sunday's run. I got roun...
At this stage in my training for the Brighton Marathon, it's a case of slowly building up the mileage and having a completely uneventful week's running - which is exactly what I've had this week.
My mid-week sessions of 2, 3, and 2 miles on Tuesday, Wed...
After taking advantage of the clocks going back to have an extra hour in bed this morning, I felt surprisingly sluggish for the first mile of my 4-miler this morning. LadyFe's post about heart rates was a reminder that I'm aiming - or at least should be...
Happy to say that I've managed to complete my mid-week runs of 2, 2.5, and 2 miles this week - but not without a bit of a struggle, at least initially.
The cold which prevented me running the previous week attempted a comeback following Sunday's 3.5 mil...
It's been 10 days since I last blogged because...I've not run for 10 days...until today. I guess I was asking for trouble after saying how well things were going and sure enough the next day I was hit by a man cold. It developed into quite a nasty cough...
No, not the weather - looking at the forecast for Saturday night it might even be time to dig out the winter warmers - no, I'm talking about the bounce in my bungee, the "spring" in my step. After 4 or 5 weeks of, well not exactly struggling, but a feel...
After being consigned to 2 full days manual labour in the garden, I was looking forward to taking it easy today with a 3.5 mile run this morning. I find that once a run gets beyond the 3 mile mark, it's an opportunity to get in the zone where you're alm...
My mid-week running has gone well this week with another three runs of 1.5, 2, and 1.5 miles on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. In contrast to last week, Tuesday's effort was a walk in the park and Wednesday's 2 miler was nice 'n' easy too, and although m...
A 3-mile run today completed my training for the week. Light rain at the start turned into a downpour by mid-way which continued for the remainder of the run so I was completely soaked by the time I finished. Despite that, I quite enjoyed it - there's s...
I've had an up and down week so far. Three runs were planned for Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, each of 1.5 miles, and each was completed ... but that's about all they had in common.
Tuesday's effort was no fun at all - in fact I'd go as far as to sa...
Exactly one year ago I ran my 10K PB but today's 2.5 mile run gave me almost as much pleasure. I mentioned in my last post that my right thigh had started to bother me after my 3 runs in 3 days last week. I'm still not sure what the problem is/was and h...
Well done to everyone who completed the GNR on Sunday. I watched the race on TV and I must say I was disappointed not to see any RealBuzzers keeping up with Mr Gebrselassie...crikey, he's quick!!! I've only ever recorded a pace on my Garmin of under 7 m...
The Sunday LSR has long been my favourite run of the week so it was a real pleasure to complete my first week's running for 7 weeks with a nice 'n' easy 2 mile SR - that distance doesn't really qualify as an LSR! I definitely felt more relaxed today and...
After my run Tuesday and despite it being only 1.5 miles I was quite tired on Wednesday. It still amazes me how much fitness you can lose with 6-7 weeks of no running. I also had a few stiff muscles with the adductors again the biggest culprit as they w...
I've been waiting to write this post for 47 long days. Today I ran (drum roll...) 1.5 miles! I've been gradually building up strength in the calf over the past two weeks with increasing longer and faster walks up to 2 miles, and after Sunday's effort I ...
Well, it's been 12 days since I injured my calf again. The soreness disappeared after a couple of days and as promised I went swimming instead of my planned running sessions so I was feeling really pleased with myself ... until Saturday.
I went to see R...
OK - lets start with the bad news - I've suffered another calf strain in my right calf, the same calf I tore during the Reading Half marathon. After a successful easy 2 miles on Tuesday, I went for my planned 6 mile tempo run on Thursday; 1 mile warm-up...
...for a week or so as we're off on holiday to CenterParcs in Suffolk tomorrow morning. But more of that later.
Three runs planned this week ... and three runs successfully completed! Tuesday was a simple recovery run, 2 miles run at 10:23 pace - a "Ron...
This last week was my 8th week of training since my calf injury and I'm now reaping the benefit of patiently building up the mileage. My three runs this week were a repeat of the previous week; a 2 mile recovery run, a 5 mile tempo run, and a 6 mile LSR...
Another solid week of running to report.
Tuesday I was out for an easy recovery run. 2 miles @ 10:30 pace was the target but as usual, I set off far too quickly and completed the first in 10:09 ... I managed to slow the pace for the second mile to 10:2...
Forgive me, realbuzzers, it is 9 days since my last post ... anyone tell I was brought up in the Catholic church ... however, I have no sins to confess (well, no running sins but that's another story...). In fact, the running has been going well and I'v...
