29.2 Miles (1,011.8 Total)
I have re-opened my Just Giving site, should you wish to make a donation please click here..... There are more challenges to come in 2012, watch this space! Thanks
Well job done. Despite thinking on a number of occasions that I would not be able to get there, I ran 2.3 miles on Christmas Eve with Sam to finish up the 1,000 miles. Without dwelling too much on the whole year it is worth noting that in November I ran 126 miles and in December (so far) I am up to 141. These are my biggest months, with injuries meaning in July I ran 0 miles and in the spring having to manage an injury before the marathon.
Dec 20th - 4.1
Dec 21st - 11.1
Dec 24th - 2.3
Dec 26th - 5.5
Dec 29th - 6.2 (Fastest 10K ever)
Since Christmas I have been out on Boxing Day for a trot and this morning for a 10K run. Already I can feel the benefit of not having to run ridiculous miles every day. My pace is well up on previous efforts. This morning despite a hangover and a touch of manflu I ran my quickest ever 10K (50mins 52sec), running 4 miles into a headwind. This makes me think that the plans for next year could well be achievable. This brings me nicely onto 2012....
MAGIC MILE
I plan to launch a Magic Mile competition open to all. All you need is to run at least 1 mile in January and tell me how fast you ran it. I will then log it, each month thereafter I need your fastest mile sent to me, I will then update a vast spreadsheet to keep tabs on who has improved the most.
Clearly I hope that you will all run more than 1 mile but all I need is the fasted mile in January and then we can take it from there. So please send in those times throughout January and feel free to send me updates and I will send out a blog on January 31st with a list of times and people. Let's see if we can get at least 100 people competing for prizes to be decided and supplied by LB. I will get my thinking cap on. I am sure I can rely on you all to be honest with me, no cheating please!
PLANK-ATHON
From January 1st I will be doing a plank every day, each one at least a minute long trying to see how long I can hold a plank for by the end of the year! This will hopefully help to complete the LB transition into a lean mean running machine....
10K
I will be running a few 10K races next year with a view to get my PB down to as close to 45 mins as is possible.
HALF MARATHON
Again I will run a few of these to try and get my PB down to 1hr 45mins
FUNDRAISING
People were VERY generous last year and I raised over £6k for the Cri du Chat Syndrome Support Group. Whilst I will not aggressively go after people's cash in 2012 I have re-opened the Just Giving site so if you can spare some pennies for an amazing (and under-funded cause) please do, it all is appreciated and used!
Happy New Year all, and get those Magic Mile times sent in to me over the next few weeks.
LBxx
Thursday 29 December 2011
Tuesday 20 December 2011
Nearly There....
36.1 Miles (982.6 Total)
Morning all,
Well what a week. I have kept on going despite my legs really telling me they have had enough. In addition I have picked up a sore back thanks to falling over in the mosh pit at a gig in Shepherd's Bush (god, how old am I!?). However as you will see I am a 'mere' 17 miles from the finish line. I was planning a rest day but Mrs LB fancies a run this morning so by the time you read this I will probably be down to 14. Assuming I do my planned 10 miler tomorrow @6am then I will do what's left on Christmas Eve then put my feet up for a week!
That said I have been really surprised and humbled by friends that have said they want to donate to the charity again as I am getting to the finish line. That coupled with a desire to carry on next year I have set up another Just Giving site (click here). If you would like to make another donation that would be fantastic, I will be carrying on for the same cause so if you can every penny makes a real difference so tank you very much.
I will be writing about the 2012 Challenges once I put this one finally to bed but if there is one thing I have learned this year it is that without a target I will probably let all this year's good work go to pot! More on that another time.
Dec 14th - 3.6
A little trot around Chiswick with Mrs LB, after yesterday's 15 miler I was pleased with the recovery run.
Dec 16th- 12.1
6amClub run and it was bloody freezing but great fun! This was a few miles longer than planned so the Christmas Eve run is getting shorter and shorter!
Dec 18th- 11.1
Despite falling over at a Wonder Stuff gig on Friday night (how pathetic is that) and with a dodgy back as a result this was always going to be a tough one. Because of a visit to see Santa with the kids that morning I also had to go out at 6am on a Sunday. This should be illegal in my opinion!
Dec 19th- 9.3
Again this run was longer than planned, so I was delighted although the tow-path was completely mud-bound, & very wet. Also it was pouring down, I haven't had to run much in the rain this year, and I must say it was great fun!
Anyway I have 11 days to run the rest but of course I am planning to do it over the next 4. It will feel amazing to have achieved this ahead of schedule!
I will blog again once I am there!
Morning all,
Well what a week. I have kept on going despite my legs really telling me they have had enough. In addition I have picked up a sore back thanks to falling over in the mosh pit at a gig in Shepherd's Bush (god, how old am I!?). However as you will see I am a 'mere' 17 miles from the finish line. I was planning a rest day but Mrs LB fancies a run this morning so by the time you read this I will probably be down to 14. Assuming I do my planned 10 miler tomorrow @6am then I will do what's left on Christmas Eve then put my feet up for a week!
That said I have been really surprised and humbled by friends that have said they want to donate to the charity again as I am getting to the finish line. That coupled with a desire to carry on next year I have set up another Just Giving site (click here). If you would like to make another donation that would be fantastic, I will be carrying on for the same cause so if you can every penny makes a real difference so tank you very much.
I will be writing about the 2012 Challenges once I put this one finally to bed but if there is one thing I have learned this year it is that without a target I will probably let all this year's good work go to pot! More on that another time.
Dec 14th - 3.6
A little trot around Chiswick with Mrs LB, after yesterday's 15 miler I was pleased with the recovery run.
Dec 16th- 12.1
6amClub run and it was bloody freezing but great fun! This was a few miles longer than planned so the Christmas Eve run is getting shorter and shorter!
Dec 18th- 11.1
Despite falling over at a Wonder Stuff gig on Friday night (how pathetic is that) and with a dodgy back as a result this was always going to be a tough one. Because of a visit to see Santa with the kids that morning I also had to go out at 6am on a Sunday. This should be illegal in my opinion!
Dec 19th- 9.3
Again this run was longer than planned, so I was delighted although the tow-path was completely mud-bound, & very wet. Also it was pouring down, I haven't had to run much in the rain this year, and I must say it was great fun!
Anyway I have 11 days to run the rest but of course I am planning to do it over the next 4. It will feel amazing to have achieved this ahead of schedule!
I will blog again once I am there!
Tuesday 13 December 2011
The Final Countdown - Part 2
46.4 Miles (946.5 Total)
In many ways this last week has been the hardest yet. The mileage has been brutal, my legs are really beginning to hate me and of course I have no choice but to press on. The plan remains to finish a week early on Christmas Eve. At least if I decide to run between Christmas and New Year then it will be because I want to rather than feeling I have to!
I have had a lot of great support from friends in the ether on Twitter and from the missus & family. A lot of motivation can be gained from telling a lot of people what you are planning to do so that you feel terrible if you let them down. A great example was this morning's brutal 15 miles (see below), you mention it on Twitter and it feels a bit like a contract. Despite feeling less than up for it this morning I just HAD to get the job done.
Currently I am 3 miles ahead of schedule to finish on Christmas Eve, so the planned half marathon on CE is now down to 10 miles. I hope to reduce it even more in the next few days. Of course if I get injured (everything seems alright at the mo or we get a shit load of snow) then I have an extra week in the bank, but I do not plan to use it. If I have proved anything this year it is if I say I am going to do something then I will do it! It might take bloody ages and I might do a lot of moaning about it (I am a bloke after all!) but I will do it!
Dec 8th - 8.0
Quite pleased with this run because it was the morning after an hour of footie on the Wednesday night, and I normally can't move at all on Thursdays as a result. The middle 4 miles were into a gale so pretty happy really.
Dec 9th- 6.2
Having told a friend I would run with him on Friday morning, I really wouldn't have gone if he bailed on me. As it is he didn't and another 10K was racked up anyway!
Dec 10th- 11.5
An early one at 6am on Saturday in the dark. Had to get this one done early as my brother got married last weekend. It was a gorgeous day with LB and mini LB throwing out some majestic shapes on the dance floor! The run itself was pretty good although it was a bitterly cold morning
Dec 12th- 5.7
A nice trot down to the river and back with Mrs LB. This was her longest run yet and she is doing brilliantly although she didn't look too happy at the end of it! Well done gorgeous I am very proud!
Dec 13th - 15.0
This was an absolute killer! I didn't do my usual Tuesday 6am job because little Mini-LB is 4 today, bless her. So we had a present opening session first thing. As there is not a lot of work about at the minute I had the time to go for a long effort at 8am. 6 of the last 7 miles were into a gale and on the towpath that was covered in water and mud. In short it was brutal and I must admit to being a little down at the end of it. I don't want to sound like a drama queen but I have to admit to feeling pretty broken now but I am so close!
Anyway just 53 miles to go!
Have a good one
LBX
In many ways this last week has been the hardest yet. The mileage has been brutal, my legs are really beginning to hate me and of course I have no choice but to press on. The plan remains to finish a week early on Christmas Eve. At least if I decide to run between Christmas and New Year then it will be because I want to rather than feeling I have to!
I have had a lot of great support from friends in the ether on Twitter and from the missus & family. A lot of motivation can be gained from telling a lot of people what you are planning to do so that you feel terrible if you let them down. A great example was this morning's brutal 15 miles (see below), you mention it on Twitter and it feels a bit like a contract. Despite feeling less than up for it this morning I just HAD to get the job done.
Currently I am 3 miles ahead of schedule to finish on Christmas Eve, so the planned half marathon on CE is now down to 10 miles. I hope to reduce it even more in the next few days. Of course if I get injured (everything seems alright at the mo or we get a shit load of snow) then I have an extra week in the bank, but I do not plan to use it. If I have proved anything this year it is if I say I am going to do something then I will do it! It might take bloody ages and I might do a lot of moaning about it (I am a bloke after all!) but I will do it!
Dec 8th - 8.0
Quite pleased with this run because it was the morning after an hour of footie on the Wednesday night, and I normally can't move at all on Thursdays as a result. The middle 4 miles were into a gale so pretty happy really.
Dec 9th- 6.2
Having told a friend I would run with him on Friday morning, I really wouldn't have gone if he bailed on me. As it is he didn't and another 10K was racked up anyway!
Dec 10th- 11.5
An early one at 6am on Saturday in the dark. Had to get this one done early as my brother got married last weekend. It was a gorgeous day with LB and mini LB throwing out some majestic shapes on the dance floor! The run itself was pretty good although it was a bitterly cold morning
Dec 12th- 5.7
A nice trot down to the river and back with Mrs LB. This was her longest run yet and she is doing brilliantly although she didn't look too happy at the end of it! Well done gorgeous I am very proud!
Dec 13th - 15.0
This was an absolute killer! I didn't do my usual Tuesday 6am job because little Mini-LB is 4 today, bless her. So we had a present opening session first thing. As there is not a lot of work about at the minute I had the time to go for a long effort at 8am. 6 of the last 7 miles were into a gale and on the towpath that was covered in water and mud. In short it was brutal and I must admit to being a little down at the end of it. I don't want to sound like a drama queen but I have to admit to feeling pretty broken now but I am so close!
Anyway just 53 miles to go!
Have a good one
LBX
Tuesday 6 December 2011
The Final Countdown
53.7 Miles (900.1 Total)
Nov 23rd - 3.6 (a little trot with Mrs LB)
Nov 25th - 3.0 (Another little trot around Chiswick to keep the miles ticking over)
Nov 28th- 6.3 (After my brother's stag do I was quite surprised by how spritely I was)
Nov 29th- 11.6 (6am club run down to the river at Kew, along to Hammersmith and back to Kew. Absolutely stunning morning, cold and totally still)
Dec 2nd- 8.0 (After a couple of days off it was nice to be back out there, along the river early doors)
Dec 5th - 6.2 (A nice leg stretcher with a Chiswick running buddy after not running all weekend)
Dec 6th - 15.0 (6am club long run, much better than last time. Really good pace but blimey how cold!)
Well I am now beginning to see a light at the end of the tunnel. A light that is still a bloody long way away but a light there is. I have been looking forward to this day for a while now, the miles to go column is now down to 2 digits, and in my little world that feels bloody good.
To focus only on today, I had my best run since the BUPA 10K race all the way back in May. Such great fun and I felt really very fresh all the way to the final mile. I set out in my very fetching tights for the first time this winter, at 6am it was ball-breakingly cold so these were mandatory! I think they make a big difference on days like this morning because I was springing along like the proverbial lamb (a fat lamb, but a lamb all the same!). I will be getting grief off my Twitter mates because a few of them are #stillinshorts but they will be there soon enough!
Anyway I have a lot on today so will keep this fairly brief but suffice it to say that the next few weeks will be a little brutal to say the least, but I have a plan to get the job done by Christmas Eve leaving a week in the bank if it is needed. I have also given a lot of thought to what the 2012 challenges will be but more on those another time! There will be running involved for sure but maybe I will mix it up a little more because the last couple of months have been brutal to say the least!
Special mention also goes to my brother who gets married this weekend, well done Bifffa!
Til next time
LBX
Nov 23rd - 3.6 (a little trot with Mrs LB)
Nov 25th - 3.0 (Another little trot around Chiswick to keep the miles ticking over)
Nov 28th- 6.3 (After my brother's stag do I was quite surprised by how spritely I was)
Nov 29th- 11.6 (6am club run down to the river at Kew, along to Hammersmith and back to Kew. Absolutely stunning morning, cold and totally still)
Dec 2nd- 8.0 (After a couple of days off it was nice to be back out there, along the river early doors)
Dec 5th - 6.2 (A nice leg stretcher with a Chiswick running buddy after not running all weekend)
Dec 6th - 15.0 (6am club long run, much better than last time. Really good pace but blimey how cold!)
Well I am now beginning to see a light at the end of the tunnel. A light that is still a bloody long way away but a light there is. I have been looking forward to this day for a while now, the miles to go column is now down to 2 digits, and in my little world that feels bloody good.
To focus only on today, I had my best run since the BUPA 10K race all the way back in May. Such great fun and I felt really very fresh all the way to the final mile. I set out in my very fetching tights for the first time this winter, at 6am it was ball-breakingly cold so these were mandatory! I think they make a big difference on days like this morning because I was springing along like the proverbial lamb (a fat lamb, but a lamb all the same!). I will be getting grief off my Twitter mates because a few of them are #stillinshorts but they will be there soon enough!
Anyway I have a lot on today so will keep this fairly brief but suffice it to say that the next few weeks will be a little brutal to say the least, but I have a plan to get the job done by Christmas Eve leaving a week in the bank if it is needed. I have also given a lot of thought to what the 2012 challenges will be but more on those another time! There will be running involved for sure but maybe I will mix it up a little more because the last couple of months have been brutal to say the least!
Special mention also goes to my brother who gets married this weekend, well done Bifffa!
Til next time
LBX
Tuesday 22 November 2011
The Slog Continues...
62.1 Miles (846.4 Total)
Nov 11th - 9.0 (6am club run to Smiff then home via the south bank to Kew)
Nov 12th - 15.5 (A disaster, wardrobe malfunction= chaffing! Also fed wrong so imploded 3 miles from home, got it done tho!)
Nov 14th- 5.5 (Body not very happy with me after the weekend disaster)
Nov 15th- 6.5 (A little better, these longer runs really take it out of your legs. The pace is down but it is not about that for now!)
Nov 18th- 8.0 (Boys beer and golf weekend ahead so a little chug on a Friday morning, no run at the weekend so need to get cracking again from Monday)
Nov 21st - 6.0 (Legs felt great despite abusing my body all weekend! Little trot along the river, very pleasant)
Nov 22nd- 11.6 (6am club run, first half awesome, second half not so good. Really banking some big miles now just to keep on track)
Afternoon all
It has been a while since my last blog but as you can see I have been busy! Just the small matter of 150 miles to go now. Amazingly I have covered 200 miles in the past 6 weeks so the goal is achievable if still a little daunting. In reality I am still planning to finish on Christmas Eve but at least the extra week is there if it is needed.
Also I have been injury free for the last 2 months and that makes a huge difference, as the miles just keep being knocked off one way or another. In reality the challenge is 1,000 miles in 10 months because I have had so many niggles (including the whole of July off injured)
I am not massively enjoying the running at the moment though, mainly because the goal is always in front of you (a bloody long way in front of you!) and my pace is really suffering because the mileage is relentless. However I remain focused and 100% committed to achieving the goal set out all those months ago!
Aside from this year's challenge I have been paying a lot of thought on what's next. In January I hit 40 and I am fitter now than I have been in 20 years. Therefore it is important not to rest on my laurels but lose another stone in weight (already down 1 and a half this year) and then set myself some new challenges. More on those later.
Plan is for a little run tomorrow (footie tomorrow evening), rest on Thursday then a big one on Friday!
Til then
LB X
Nov 11th - 9.0 (6am club run to Smiff then home via the south bank to Kew)
Nov 12th - 15.5 (A disaster, wardrobe malfunction= chaffing! Also fed wrong so imploded 3 miles from home, got it done tho!)
Nov 14th- 5.5 (Body not very happy with me after the weekend disaster)
Nov 15th- 6.5 (A little better, these longer runs really take it out of your legs. The pace is down but it is not about that for now!)
Nov 18th- 8.0 (Boys beer and golf weekend ahead so a little chug on a Friday morning, no run at the weekend so need to get cracking again from Monday)
Nov 21st - 6.0 (Legs felt great despite abusing my body all weekend! Little trot along the river, very pleasant)
Nov 22nd- 11.6 (6am club run, first half awesome, second half not so good. Really banking some big miles now just to keep on track)
Afternoon all
It has been a while since my last blog but as you can see I have been busy! Just the small matter of 150 miles to go now. Amazingly I have covered 200 miles in the past 6 weeks so the goal is achievable if still a little daunting. In reality I am still planning to finish on Christmas Eve but at least the extra week is there if it is needed.
Also I have been injury free for the last 2 months and that makes a huge difference, as the miles just keep being knocked off one way or another. In reality the challenge is 1,000 miles in 10 months because I have had so many niggles (including the whole of July off injured)
I am not massively enjoying the running at the moment though, mainly because the goal is always in front of you (a bloody long way in front of you!) and my pace is really suffering because the mileage is relentless. However I remain focused and 100% committed to achieving the goal set out all those months ago!
Aside from this year's challenge I have been paying a lot of thought on what's next. In January I hit 40 and I am fitter now than I have been in 20 years. Therefore it is important not to rest on my laurels but lose another stone in weight (already down 1 and a half this year) and then set myself some new challenges. More on those later.
Plan is for a little run tomorrow (footie tomorrow evening), rest on Thursday then a big one on Friday!
Til then
LB X
Wednesday 9 November 2011
An Official Thanks
32.4 Miles (784.3 Total)
Nov 2nd - 8.1 (6am club run in the dark on the road to Putney, north bank to Kew and home)
Nov 6th - 3.5 (A little trot along the towpath next to the river south of Oxford)
Nov 7th- 8.0 (From Sam's school to the 'Smiff then towpath to Kew and home)
Nov 8th- 12.8 (6am club run down to Richmond, river to the 'Smiff and home)
A short and sweet blog today to share with you a letter I have been meaning to for a while now. It is from the charity I have been doing all this for.
Not sure how readable it is but it shows that we have raised £6,171.27 (inc Gift Aids) for the charity. A big big thanks to all those who donated and supported me during 2011.
Whilst I still have in excess of 200 miles to go I am determined to get there and this week has been pretty good but I need some 45+ mile weeks during the rest of November. I will of course keep you all up to date.
I am out for a big one on Friday with luck.
Until then.
LBx
Nov 2nd - 8.1 (6am club run in the dark on the road to Putney, north bank to Kew and home)
Nov 6th - 3.5 (A little trot along the towpath next to the river south of Oxford)
Nov 7th- 8.0 (From Sam's school to the 'Smiff then towpath to Kew and home)
Nov 8th- 12.8 (6am club run down to Richmond, river to the 'Smiff and home)
A short and sweet blog today to share with you a letter I have been meaning to for a while now. It is from the charity I have been doing all this for.
Not sure how readable it is but it shows that we have raised £6,171.27 (inc Gift Aids) for the charity. A big big thanks to all those who donated and supported me during 2011.
Whilst I still have in excess of 200 miles to go I am determined to get there and this week has been pretty good but I need some 45+ mile weeks during the rest of November. I will of course keep you all up to date.
I am out for a big one on Friday with luck.
Until then.
LBx
Tuesday 1 November 2011
2 Months to Go....
32.3 Miles (751.9 Total)
Oct 27th - 9.3 (6am club run in the dark on the road to Putney, north bank to Kew and home)
Oct 30th - 15.1 (My longest run since the London Marathon. Down to the river at Kew, north bank to Putney, over Putney Bridge then south bank to Kew and home)
Nov 1st - 7.9 (Home to the 'Smiff north bank to Kew, a loop of Chiswick and home)
Well I thought I would write a short blog to celebrate 2 things:
1. The fact the challenge only has 2 months to go
2. I am over the 750 mile mark!
In the past few days I have maintained the plan of doing longer runs but then resting properly rather than the run streak and I think it is paying off. I felt quite sore this morning but survived and managed a reasonable pace so pretty happy overall.
My 9 miler last Thursday was interesting as it was pitch black when I arrived in Putney, 4 miles into my run. Having taken a wrong turn I realised I was running through a graveyard. I am not very proud to say that I was crapping myself! As I hurtled through the graveyard I realised that the gate at the back of the church may be closed and therefore I would have to turn back..... Thankfully the gate was open but then Bishop's Park was in total darkness and again was pooping it as I sprinted through the park. The rest of the run was a bit of a struggle as I had screwed up the pace but I was happy to bank the 9 miler. For those who are interested my 5th mile was around 1min faster than any other mile I ran that morning.
I celebrated the clocks going back by going out again a 6 but this time with the sun rising I enjoyed a gentle chug along the river, not focused on pace at all but simply banking the miles. I forewent the Great South Run in Portsmouth so I could do a 15 mile run locally instead of 10 miles. I am a bit disappointed to have missed it but it was for the best, miles are more important than races for now.
Then to this morning a little stiff and a sore back (I played football with my nephews, brother in law and my son on Saturday and scored with an overhead scissor kick. Great at the time but I am 39 years old now and I really should know better!). The best news is that I am now 750 miles in with 'only' 250 to go. In the past 2 weeks I have regained about 20 miles that were lost in September with the injury, I am nearly back on track!
Plan for this week is more of the same!
Have a great day
LBx
Oct 27th - 9.3 (6am club run in the dark on the road to Putney, north bank to Kew and home)
Oct 30th - 15.1 (My longest run since the London Marathon. Down to the river at Kew, north bank to Putney, over Putney Bridge then south bank to Kew and home)
Nov 1st - 7.9 (Home to the 'Smiff north bank to Kew, a loop of Chiswick and home)
Well I thought I would write a short blog to celebrate 2 things:
1. The fact the challenge only has 2 months to go
2. I am over the 750 mile mark!
In the past few days I have maintained the plan of doing longer runs but then resting properly rather than the run streak and I think it is paying off. I felt quite sore this morning but survived and managed a reasonable pace so pretty happy overall.
My 9 miler last Thursday was interesting as it was pitch black when I arrived in Putney, 4 miles into my run. Having taken a wrong turn I realised I was running through a graveyard. I am not very proud to say that I was crapping myself! As I hurtled through the graveyard I realised that the gate at the back of the church may be closed and therefore I would have to turn back..... Thankfully the gate was open but then Bishop's Park was in total darkness and again was pooping it as I sprinted through the park. The rest of the run was a bit of a struggle as I had screwed up the pace but I was happy to bank the 9 miler. For those who are interested my 5th mile was around 1min faster than any other mile I ran that morning.
I celebrated the clocks going back by going out again a 6 but this time with the sun rising I enjoyed a gentle chug along the river, not focused on pace at all but simply banking the miles. I forewent the Great South Run in Portsmouth so I could do a 15 mile run locally instead of 10 miles. I am a bit disappointed to have missed it but it was for the best, miles are more important than races for now.
Then to this morning a little stiff and a sore back (I played football with my nephews, brother in law and my son on Saturday and scored with an overhead scissor kick. Great at the time but I am 39 years old now and I really should know better!). The best news is that I am now 750 miles in with 'only' 250 to go. In the past 2 weeks I have regained about 20 miles that were lost in September with the injury, I am nearly back on track!
Plan for this week is more of the same!
Have a great day
LBx
Tuesday 25 October 2011
Stop Lard Start Lard Less Lardy
35.4 Miles (719.6 Total)
Oct 14th - 8.0 (W4 to Richmond, river to Kew splutter home. Wanted a longer run but Lardy was struggling)
4. The 700 mile barrier has been broken!
Oct 14th - 8.0 (W4 to Richmond, river to Kew splutter home. Wanted a longer run but Lardy was struggling)
Oct 17th - 5.0 (After a weekend of excesses down in Cheltenham celebrating Macca's big 4-0, the week ahead will be a long work one and running will be pretty much impossible)
Oct 18th-22nd - 0.0 (Selling Lardy's wares at Olympia for 3 days followed by a weekend of cooking were my excuses!) Oct 23rd - 2.0 (A semi-drunken Sunday morning chug through Chiswick to collect the Lard-Mobile!)
Oct 24th - 8.4 (Where did that come from!? Each mile under 9 minutes with an average of 8;45, the rest and 'recharging' clearly stood me in good stead, the rest and long runs in chunks are the way forward I think)
Oct 25th - 12.0 (A chuggy dark early morning run from W4 to Putney by road then north bank to Kew and home)
A very interesting 10 days indeed. Let's not much about here the 1,000 miles is going to be a struggle by New Year, almost impossible by Christmas but there is good reason to be cheerful for LB today.
1. 20+ miles in the last 2 days, this morning was not much fun. I took a wrong turn before Putney Bridge meant a run through a deserted and dark graveyard, I was crapping myself. As I ran deeper into the graveyard, I began to realise that it might be a dead end. Despite being near the middle of the biggest city in Europe it was bloody terrifying. Happiness in getting through were soon off set my another mile in pitch black through Fulham Palace Park. The fifth mile of my run this morning were by a long way my fastest!
2. Last weekend was the first of my 2 Lardy Boy Dinners. Rose from Chiswick Bootcamp very kindly donated £150 to the cause , and I was pleased to say the food went down a storm. Very pleased indeed. I wasn't massively happy with the main course, but I was in the minority of 9 people and that is what matters! Cheers Rose.
3. When I stepped on the scales yesterday I was more than a little shocked. After 3 weeks off the scales I was fearing the worst but was delighted that I tipped in a little-less-Lardy 14.5 Stone. I have lost 1.5 stone this year so far, and although I still have another stone to lose, I weigh less than I have for at least 10 years.
4. The 700 mile barrier has been broken!
On the flip side I have to face up to the fact that it is 90 days til my self-imposed deadline of Christmas Eve (yep 90 days til Chrimbo, sorry!). This means I near as damn it need to run 5 miles per run (assuming rest days) between now and then. Given the fact that I have given up on the run streak, my ankle just cannot do it, I have to really bag 3 longer runs a week to keep the target in place.
I have therefore decided against doing the Great South Run on Sunday. I am really disappointed to do it but getting in the car at 6am on Sunday to drive to Pompey and 'only' run 10 miles isn't what I need to do. Especially when I can get out for an early 14/15 miler on my doorstep and not have to drive so far. It is a shame but I need miles not races.
I have got a lot to get through and I am pleased to say work is really picking up too. The balance is going to be a challenge, but hey, if the challenge is easy what's the bloody point!
Rest day tomorrow and back out on Thursday morning.
Have a good one all.
LBx
Thursday 13 October 2011
Devastated then Rejuvenated
24.2 Miles (684.2 Total)
Oct 4th - 4.7 (A nice trot around Acton and Shepherd's Bush)
Oct 4th - 4.7 (A nice trot around Acton and Shepherd's Bush)
Oct 5th - 1.4 (No choice but for a quick 10 minute run as the missus has run off to Dublin and left me on my own with the nippers! Thanks to our neighbour who took care of the kids while I went out)
Oct 6th - 9th - 0.0 (Disaster, see below!) Oct 10th - 3.4 (Fitness test with the missus to see how recovered I was)
Oct 11th - 7.5 (Unreal, 5 days after thinking the challenge was over I breezed this in pretty quick time for me with 8.45 minute mile average)
Oct 12th - 7.2 (A little sore towards the end of this run, was helped by the fact that I had a running partner who was busy running her longest run ever, good work Jo!)
More than anything I was pleasantly surprised that in the past week a few people have asked where the blog is! I had no idea that my ramblings had such an effect on other people's working days. It must be the opportunity at laughing at a fat man trying to complete 1,000 miles in a year.
The last time I wrote I was starting a run streak. I tried this in June and then got injured but at least I got to day 20 that time, this time I only made it to 9 days! I am clearly not built for run streaks! This time the issue was related to my favourite right ankle, but this time quickly referred to my heel and the sole of my foot. I was in agony on the Thursday morning to the point that I was struggling even to walk, I really thought that I had done some serious damage and that the 1000 miles was off.
Instead of trying to run through it I decided to use my brain for a change and rest. Total exercise rest for 4 days, on the Sunday (Day 4) I really was itching to go but I forced myself to wait for the Monday. After a little fitness test with Mrs LB on Monday the last 2 days have been great runs and all of a sudden I am back on track.
I do though have to address the problem that I cannot run everyday, some people can do it but it really doesn't work for me. Therefore I have to change my plans with 316 miles and 11 weeks to go to the end of the year. The weekly plan now is pretty simple:
- 2 days rest a week
- 1 small run with Mrs LB
- 3 medium length runs
- 1 long run
I will see how we go, I am currently planning rest today and then 12 miles tomorrow morning. This will put me 28 miles behind my target to finish by Christmas Eve but that can be sorted pretty quickly.
Onwards and upwards!
LBx
Monday 3 October 2011
Reject Lard
31.3 Miles (660.0 Total)
Sept 28th - 3.3 (A quick loop of Chiswick, 2 days following my large golf weekend and a day after my first run of the run streak the legs felt rather heavy but I need to keep going)
Sept 28th - 3.3 (A quick loop of Chiswick, 2 days following my large golf weekend and a day after my first run of the run streak the legs felt rather heavy but I need to keep going)
Sept 29th - 2.7 (The 'rest' day trot around Acton and Chiswick, I have a loop that I find interesting that will be my 'rest' day run)
Sept 30th - 2.3 (A gentle jog with the missus, she is recovering from a cold and my ankle felt dodgy so glad just to keep the streak going) Oct 1st - 12.5 (6am long run, in time to get back and watch England play Scotland..... why did I bother! Awful. The run was pretty good although running each day I think will affect my pace. 'Refuelling' may also prove to be more important than normal!)
Oct 2nd - 3.0 (Recovery run on location in Hampshire, bloody hilly though and a small hangover meant the going was a bit tough)
Oct 3rd - 7.5 (6am run from home to Hammersmith, river to Kew and home. A great way to start the week given the fact I wasn't exactly overly keen to get out of bed at 5.45!)
Run Streak - 7 Days
Morning all
The first thing to discuss this morning is that I missed out on the ballot for next year's London Marathon. As much as I hated the rejection of not getting in, I was secretly a bit pleased to be honest. The training for a marathon is relentless and a bit brutal to be honest, so not having to do 13 weeks of training in the winter including 3 * 20 mile training runs is quite nice!
So what to do next year instead. Having thought about entering another marathon, and one I would be more likely to get into I decided that I wouldn't. Instead I am focusing on the following challenges for next year:
- 4 Half Marathons and 6 10k races
- The Wales 3,000's (climbing the 14 peaks in Wales over 3,000 ft in 1 day), this happens in June I think. I have been roped into it by 2 blokes who are rather fitter than me (to say the least!) so need to get training for that!
- Potentially running the Thames towpath in 3/4 days (180 miles, which I think is possible but Mrs LB still needs convincing)
But before even really thinking too much about these I have the small matter of finishing the 1,000 mile challenge for 2011. This week has been a good one. I have finished my first week of run streak and in the past 7 days I have run 38 miles and am bang on track. There are 13 weeks til Christmas and I have daily targets to hit to get me to the magic 1,000 miles by Christmas Eve.
I have had a few people contact me about making a donation for the Cri du Chat Syndrome Support Group. My just giving site is now closed but if you want to make a donation please click here to go to the CdC website, donations can then be made directly to them.
Thanks for continuing to support me by reading this blog, it means such a lot. Please do share with anyone you think might be interested.
LBx
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