November jinx strikes again

28 Nov 2009, 9:30 p.m.

Yesterday I was scheduled for a tempo run, 5 miles in total with 3 miles @ 8:27 minute mile pace. It was pretty cold so it was time to don the running tights for the first time together with gloves and beanie ... well at least I looked the part! After a...

The 4-week countdown starts...

29 Sep 2009, 9:34 p.m.

First of all, thank you to everyone who posted wishing my Dad and Liam speedy recoveries. Dad had his operation Sunday which went well - I'll be popping up (if a 500-mile round trip can be described that way!) to see him Friday/Saturday. Liam is also fi...

Starting to think about the t...

22 Sep 2009, 7:47 p.m.

As planned, I brought forward my 8-mile run to today and after three 4-milers, I was looking forward to a longer run, only my second of this length. Once again the weather was kind with the sun smiling on me all the way but with just enough breeze to ke...

Sunday best

20 Sep 2009, 7:18 p.m.

Sunday is my favourite morning. No alarm call to wake me; a nice big mug of tea; a bowl of porridge; and a leisurely lie in with the Sunday papers. Followed, of course, by a run on another warm, sunny day. Life doesn't get much better! My chill of mid-w...

Run or rest?

18 Sep 2009, 8:16 a.m.

Another easy 4 miles @10:00 yesterday in decent running conditions, a bit blustery and it's definitely getting a bit colder but at least there was no rain about. Despite my experience on Tuesday with the rush-hour traffic, I chose the same route. The tr...

Running at rush hour

15 Sep 2009, 9:48 p.m.

The first of three 4-mile runs this week at 10:00 min mile pace. It was raining heavily as I arrived home from work but by the time I was changed and back out the rain had stopped, though it was a bit cool and blustery. Running at evening rush hour is n...

Reading here I come!

14 Sep 2009, 7:40 p.m.

Just entered the Reading Half Marathon 2010! I'm really excited that I'll be running this race again 25 years after I first ran it!

The longest run (so far)

13 Sep 2009, 8:01 p.m.

Another lovely morning with the sun filtering through the clouds and a nice 14C with just a little breeze - perfect conditions for my first 8-mile run at 10:00 pace. The only concern I had ahead of the run was whether I should be taking water with me. I...

The hardest run (so far)

11 Sep 2009, 12:12 p.m.

Yesterday it was time for some speedwork. A 7-mile run split as follows: 1.25 miles warm-up run at 10:00 mile pace 3 x 1-mile @8:00 minute mile pace followed by 1/2 mile recovery jog 1.25 miles cool-down run at 10:00 mile pace This was definitely the ha...

The early bird

8 Sep 2009, 1:48 p.m.

A busy schedule at work today meant an early wake-up call at 6:15am for a 2-mile easy run at 10:00 pace. I'd recovered well from Sunday's 7 miler and although it was amazingly humid for that time of the morning, the run was very pleasant and I completed...

Good workout but can I keep i...

6 Sep 2009, 4:13 p.m.

I was a bit stiff after my run on Thursday and it also didn't help that I've been shifting furniture up/down stairs (I bet elite athletes don't have that problem!) so I thought today's 7 mile run at 10:06 pace was going to be hard work. It wasn't easy b...

12 months on ...

3 Sep 2009, 7:09 p.m.

A 6 mile tempo run for me today. 1 mile warm up @10 minute mile pace, 4 miles @8:37 minute mile pace, followed by a 1 mile cool down @10 minute mile pace. I don't look forward to these runs. Running at near race pace is hard on your own but I felt good ...

Easy does it...

1 Sep 2009, 12:51 p.m.

Up at 6:30am this morning for an easy 2-miles, run at 10:06 mile pace. Like an old car on a cold winter's morning, it took me a while to get going, even with the usual 5-minute warm-up walk, but that was to be expected after 7 miles on Sunday and still ...

Training going really well!

30 Aug 2009, 3:07 p.m.

I've just completed my 3rd week of training for the Great South Run ... and it's going really well! I'm using the training schedule provided by the Runner's World SmartCoach (see http://www.runnersworld.co.uk/news/article.asp?UAN=3057). It's an 11 week ...