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) 

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

Devastated then Rejuvenated

24.2 Miles (684.2 Total)

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

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 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

The Lardy Boy Run Streak Begins

23.2 Miles (628.7 Total)

September 17th - 4.0 (A little jaunt in the New Forest while camping with Team LB) 

September 19th - 7.1 (A 10k training run with a friend around Chiswick then a jog home after)

September 20th - 4.6 (Mrs LB's longest run and fastest run yet!  Impressive stuff around Chiswick) 

September 27th - 7.5 (The RunStreak til Christmas begins!)

Morning all,

The last couple of weeks have been fairly quiet running wise but I have still managed to keep pulling on the trainers every now and then.  A bust couple of weeks at home and work have reduced the ability to get out.  Also Team LB went camping in the New Forest a couple of weeks ago and I have just returned from a 4 day booze-fuelled, 6 round of golf frenzy that is an annual event that always leaves me rather 'jaded' for a few days after.

This morning then was a rather tentative step back into the unknown with a fairly regulation trip to Hammersmith, river to Kew and Home run.  I was very surprised that I felt pretty much alright on the run although I was attacked by mosquitoes on the aforementioned golf weekend and that proved a little uncomfortable!

Today marks the start of the final push to 1,000 miles for the year.  Despite 2 separate injuries that forced me to run much less than planned in March and no running at all in July I remain very confident that I can deal with the remaining mileage by attempting a run streak.  I just have to keep reminding myself that this is not a race and the mileage is what counts for me.  Anyway the rest of the week are fairly regular 3 milers with a 12 mile run planned for Saturday morning.

In other news and by some kind of miracle I stepped in the scales and they tipped in BELOW 15st....  Now this is hardly puts me in the underweight category but it does mean that I have lost a stone in weight this year, although I still want to lose at least another stone before the end of the year.  This barrier will mean a name change will be required!

Also my Just Giving page has now officially closed and I am delighted to say I raised in excess of £5k before Gift Aids.  I will dig out the letter and put on my next blog.  I am very proud of the fundraising achievement and sincerely grateful to my friends and family who have contributed so generously.  Even more amazing are the donations from people I have never even met, so thank you!  If you haven't yet donated but want to please go click here to go to the Cri du Chat Support Group website and donate directly.  If you do, please let me know as it will help spur me on in the coming weeks.

Anyway having buggered off for a boys weekend I have a lot to crack on with so that is all for now.

LBx

600 Lards.....

15.7 Miles (605.5Total)

September 12th - 8.1 (LB Towers to Kew, South Bank to Hammersmith and home) 

September 14th - 7.6 (LB Towers to Hammersmith, North Bank to Kew and home)

Thought I would drop an extra blog mid-week as I reached 600 miles this morning.  I had hoped to run up north (well Derbyshire) last weekend however without kids I decided to not set my alarm.  As a result I had 2 mahoosive lie ins and also was rather well fed!  Therefore I went out on Monday for a middle-distance run and I have to say I nearly fainted when I got home!  Too much booze and food at the weekend!

Anyway after a rest day yesterday I was up with the larks for a 6am run this morning and what a morning.  Such a great day to be up early for a run.  I have a lot on today but wanted to drop a quick blog out to give myself a 600 mile pat on the back.  

From Friday I will start a run streak as previously mentioned to get me to 1,000 miles by Christmas Eve.  I have to admit I have decided that the streak will have a little relapse early on!  Next weekend I am off to Kent for a boys golf weekend with 4 nights away from home, on it, golfing, beering, currying, basically all the things I enjoy outside of family life.  I have decided that I will not run Friday - Sunday thus will break the 100 day streak and make it a 97 day one instead!  Truth be told I had only scheduled 1 milers those days but I already know that I won't do it so why pretend!

That said trying to achieve 400 miles in the next 100 days is a big enough ask so think I will just focus on that!

Also Team LB are off camping in the New Forest this weekend so LB will be on tour running around Hants this weekend.

Anyway have a great day

LBx

Back To Blighty

20.4 Miles (589.8Total)



September 2nd - 6.8 (loop from holiday house, out to Monseret and home again) 

September 3rd - 1.1 (Streaksaver mile before getting in the car to drive 800 miles home - a run for each day of the holiday)

September 6th - 4.2 (Streak broken - see below, a nice gentle trot around Acton and Chiswick with Mrs LB)

September 8th - 8.3 (Run from Annie's nursery down to Kew, river to Hammersmith and home via Chiswick High Road)

Well what an interesting end to last week and the beginning of this!  The end of the holiday in France was a little uneventful, the weather went distinctly RosBif!  Anyway there was some good news at the end of the holiday (I managed to lose 4lbs on holiday despite drinking and eating my body weight in wine and cheese) and I ran each morning of our holiday.

Completely unrelated to running and in the interest of providing you with some amusing light relief (laughter at the ineptitude of LB) there was also some bad news in the guise of my driving. Now like the next man I think I am the best driver in the world and I am pleased to say that up until last week I had had some 21 years of trouble free driving.

Last week I managed to dink my car twice in fairly laughable ways that I will only share face to face as they are embarrassing and hilarious in equal measure.  Not so funny is the 2 lots of excess that will have to be paid to the garage when I get the car back.  I am tempted to run the Marathon next year in aid of my excess payments as surely there are fewer worthy causes in the world today....  Well maybe not but I am rather strapped for cash now so feel free to make a donation.


Anyway after driving 800 miles on Sat / Sun I had no interest in running so decided to rest and focus back on the plan.....

Starting from next Friday I will be doing a 100 day run streak taking me both to 1,000 miles and Christmas Eve.  I need to get at least 600 miles by then.  I am planning on running over the weekend on a visit to the Hatchets in Belper so I should be well over the 600 mile barrier by then and on track!

Also in the distance are the Great South Run at the end of October which is 10 miles and I am very keen to get the pace up again to smash the 1.5 hour barrier.  Also I will find out about the London Marathon place in October.  I won't lie, if I don't get in then I won't be that disappointed!  If I don't get in then I will need to get my thinking cap on for 2012's challenge, still a long way to go on this one though!

Till next time

LBx

Bonjour!

51.6 Miles (569.4Total)

August 20^th – 10.2

August 22^nd – 2.7

August 23^rd – 8.5

August 25^th – 6.3

August 28^th – 4.3

August 29^th – 3.0

August 30^th – 6.8

August 31^st – 3.0

September 1^st – 6.8

                                 

Well it is has been 3 weeks since the last blog and but the running has continued

Welcome to sunny (well not so today) South of France.  You will note that this week (so far) I have managed a run streak of sorts.  Despite being surrounded by hills and the weather being distinctly warm, I have enjoyed running each morning.  I have done this each morning mostly to counteract the daily imbibing of many beers (have one by my side now), wine and my body weight in melting cheese.

Team LB are having a great time.  This is our first trip abroad for a holiday in 3 years so it has been great to get away.  One story worth sharing is that despite driving 800 miles in 2 days without a hitch I managed to prang the car into a metal house protector thingy (technical) with 100 yards to go.  I was having to reverse back up a dead end road.  I will post a photo of the damage when I get back...

The plan for the last 2 days of the holiday is to keep the run streak going and try to get the mileage up when I am back from my holiday.  There are 4 months of the year left and I have 430 miles to do, the maths and the running is beginning to look rather difficult!

LBx