Progress - 29th January 2012

Well I'm glad that week is over!
I've felt terrible this last week, no energy, sick feeling and fuzzy head, just like the days when I used to drink!

We have been very lucky with the weather so far, however they say February is going to make up for it by bringing on the cold and snow, I can't wait....I hate the cold weather, should've been a bear and hibernate for the Winter.

Despite feeling horrible I still went out for a run on Tuesday and Thursday, managing a respectable 5.5 miles on each.


Looking forward to getting my T-shirts back from the printers so I can show them off on my Sunday runs, at least then people will know why I am out in the cold at that time of the day.


Another week flys by and Sundays long run this week was a steady 12 mile trip out to Pirbright and back round Goldsworth lake a couple of times.

http://www.jogtracker.com/HistoryDetails.aspx?SyncID=f5f7b55f-9420-4678-b693-8e65518039c0&UserName=alannelless

Slowly and steadily taken, I can report that the knees held up fine with no twinges. I would be so grateful if I can get through this without a repeat of the problems of last year.[So too would the man at the acupuncture centre]
Its a funny thing when your running along and hear the tell tale sound of another runner coming up behind you, the heart sinks a bit as they pass you at an enviable pace. Consolation only coming from the hope they are only out for a short Sunday jog whereas I'm in it for the long haul.This hope confirmed momentarily this morning as the steps from behind turned into a slim blonde young lady who, as she came along side, said ''looks like you're out for a long run, doing a marathon soon?'' Yes to both I replied obviously looking totally knackered and only too glad to explain the reason for my state of physique. As she bid me good luck with the venture I tried to put a spring in my step to keep up but vanity always gets the better of you and so I slipped behind her fading figure, back into the solitude of long distance running.

Glad that January is out of the way, bring on the Spring my favourite time of year.

Number 1 from 1975 - JANUARY by PILOT

''January, don't be cold, don't be angry to me
You make me sad come and see
Oh January''

  

Alan.xxx

 

 

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Progress - 22nd January 2012

What a week, Physically and mentally exhausted, bring on the next challenge!
The new trainers are doing their job and protecting the knees which is such a relief, I get the odd pain but I can get round it, which is confidence building.

Went out Tuesday evening and did my 5.5 miler and added some hill reps into the end which went well.
Same again on Thursday although the week was catching up on me a bit.

Saturday morning I was up most of the night with a rolling stomach, feeling very sick [but wasn't] and just ran out of energy come the morning so spent the day wiped out completely on the settee. Things like this happening when you are training are a complete nightmare because you know you should rest yet you know you need to keep up training and missing just one long run can have consequences, mentally if not physical.

Sunday morning woke up feeling not too bad and so, probably stupidly, went out for a good long run. Almost ran completely past Harry and Prue without noticing them along the canal at Brookwood. I am terrible at not seeing people, especially if they are not in their box, you know, where you expect to see them. Wasn't a bad run really 10.25 miles at a very casual pace and despite the extra sweat from not feeling 100% I got round.

Today marked 57 miles in the new shoes - could have run to Brighton??!!

Have to say a big HAPPY 21st BIRTHDAY to Smithy for yesterday [It was Steve's dad who was in Georges a while back - pleased to say he is now back at work!!] and                                                                                           HAPPY 18th BIRTHDAY to Holly for the coming Tuesday 24th.


This weeks head tune from 1972, Elvis Presley 'Always on my mind'

'If I made you feel second best
I'm so sorry I was blind
But you were always on my mind
You were always on my mind'

Almost forgot, its the age you know, Georges have launched their own blog page for the 9 runners of the Brighton fundraising Team - check it out.

 http://stgeorgesbm2012.blogspot.com/

Alan.xxx
 

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Progress - 15th January 2012

I don't like the cold weather, it takes too much energy and effort to force yourself outside when you're all cosy indoors.
Be that as it may, I managed a decent 5 miles on Tuesday night and yet another 5.5 on Thursday. The new trainers seem to be helping my knees at this point, which is all good. I'm trying to alter my stride by placing my heel down first and rolling forward to the front of the foot, this all to keep the impact away from my delicate knees and if it works I'll take it.
Sunday Morning saw a slightly later run this week being the day after the night before when we celebrated Colin's 36th [I got that wrong last week] birthday, HAPPY BIRTHDAY for today mate.
I actually felt like I had a right old hangover this morning, which is difficult to understand as I haven't touched any alcoholic substance for over 18 months now.
Anyway after suitable medication I opened the door and flung myself out into the -1 coldness of the mid morning sunshine and determined to add some mileage to the Sunday regular. Mission accomplished as well as I pushed on to 9.5 miles this week.
http://www.jogtracker.com/HistoryDetails.aspx?SyncID=e95abe6b-1876-48da-84cd-2ff838809865&UserName=alannelless 
A little add on of a lap round Goldsworth lake did the trick and I shall keep adding to this for a couple of weeks before taking up my old half marathon route of last year. The old scatter lites seem to be keeping track of me better lately.
Not much else to report this week other than I have found Smooth Radio 70s on the net which is keeping me musically inspired.


We're workin' our jobs, collect our pay
Believe we're gliding down the highway, when in fact we're slip sliding away.
[Slip sliding away - Simon & Garfunkel]



Alan.xxx

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Progress - 8th January 2012

Here we go then, 14 weeks to go and its all to do.
I did start the new year off with a 5.30 mile dust remover last Sunday, so all good intentions.
My weeks are going to be the same as last year with a Tuesday night and Thursday night session, followed by a long run on Sunday morning.
This Tuesday I failed to make the road, instead taking the cross trainer for a 30 minute workout.
Thursday night I found the road again and headed off into the windy darkness for a 5.5 mile struggle against the elements, it certainly doesn't come any easier second time round.
On Sunday morning, after fighting to pull my head from the pillow, I strapped my shiny new Brookes Beast trainers to the end of my legs and shuffled off down the road determined to get back on track with my old 8.5 mile run.
The body objected to the strain with every pace and in every joint and muscle an ache tried to compete the previous one.
Inspiration is the key and obviously my goal to raise a few shillings is number one however it does take a couple of miles to settle my mind back into a rational state of play. Running out through Brookwood along the canal is nice and I see the kingfisher fly along and settle in a tree looking down into the water for food, a rare siting which I wouldn't see if I was in bed still so all's not too bad with the world.
The new trainers gave me extra support and correction which was greatly received - unbeleivable how soon they wear out and I wonder if I'll need another pair before the big day.
Well I managed to get round and you can see the evidence at the following link.

http://www.jogtracker.com/HistoryDetails.aspx?SyncID=9928cdfd-5078-4d60-87b8-4ad942cff4fa&UserName=alannelless


The scatty lites actually plotted my route today.


Right thats proper week one out the way.


HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my good mate COLIN for next Sunday, he will be 35 years OLD. I hope it's a good one mate. xx


''Misty Blue'' - Dorothy Moore.


Alan.xxx

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Progress - 18th December 2011

Another week flies by and yet more miles ticked off the training plan, well I haven't actually done a plan yet but it all counts.
Tuesday evening I went for the 5.5 miler around Knaphill and back to a mixed pace of sprints and jogs. The idea is to break up my pace and hopefully make it a bit faster ultimately...who knows. No aches or pains this day so quite happy.
Thursday evening and I hit the Knaphill circuit again and yet this time the old knees hurt all the way,  so frustrating. My mind was occupied throughout the run though, as just as I was about to leave Nigel called me with an invitation to go out with him on Saturday this week for a bit of cross country training.
I think this is why my knees hurt on Thursday, they were trying to tell me something.
Well now here's the thing, because on Saturday I usually go to breakfast with two good friends and fill my belly with lots of fine food. A lot of conscious wresting went on and I lost, so it was up to Newlands Corner on Saturday with the only consolation that at least this week I could have a lay in on Sunday.

8.30 a.m Saturday morning I meet Nigel at the car park Newlands Corner. I say meet him because he declined a lift saying he would run up there from home, as a sort of warm up, he lives in Guildford. You may remember Nigel from my London marathon training...........he hasn't changed, still off his box, no concept of pain. Well let me tell you it was 1.5 degrees celsius when I left home but by the time I got to the meeting place it was -1 yes MINUS 1. The sky was clear on arrival and the sun was just rising, Nigel said it looked fantastic, I said it was ~@"!%$ cold. In the distance 1 significantly innocent looking cloud loomed as we set off with me trying to locate satellites, [The android app still playing up and I desperately wanted proof of this one], they had obviously thought better and hid themselves away.
I must say after the first mile I was beginning to enjoy the softness underfoot opposed to my normal road routes but that enjoyment wasn't to last. I recognised the terrain from a past nightmare, St.Marthas hill loomed ahead of us and I thought, no I said, a lot of bad things. Totally oblivious to my own description of the shape of things, Nigel wittered on about how great it was to be out enjoying the country and how nice it was, I substituted nice for my own 4 letter word. After an eternity we rounded a corner at Chantry wood where I was informed we weren't that far from Guildford town now...Oh how nice I thought and how I wished I was sitting in a cafe drinking a coffee like normal people. It was at this point I noticed wet stuff falling on me through a gap in the trees, Oh bugger it had started to snow and we were miles from my car. It all went grey and horrible from here as that innocent distant cloud had got all his mates to come and see me, and they started to drop big flakes of snow on us. As we went back along the muddy trails I recognised a piece of road and was lifted by the thought of nearly being back, only to find one bit of road looks like the next in the middle of nowhwere and were miles from the end, my heart sank and I uttered more descriptive words.
Finally Nigel decided to end my nightmare and we emerged into the open and I could see the end..........it was at the top of a big long hill that stretched across an open field, an icy track cutting though the stubble, ''look there's your car, its not far''. I pointed out to Nigel that on a good day I could stand on a hill in Guildford and see the Wembley arch, but I wouldn't want to run there.
That hill was a killer, I couldnt get a grip neither on the surface or reallity by now, I wanted to go home.
Well I made it eventually and my reward for such an effort was the best bacon roll and cup of tea that I have ever tasted.
The Jogtracker had not tracked me but I welcome anyone along to witness the route in the New Year.
Nigel again declined a lift saying he would jog back home, it would be quicker!
Sarah you do have a lot to endure with that bloke, I take my hat off to you, well if I had one I would. Nigel you are lacking in a vocabulary that I have hopefully helped you out with, I can't thank you enough mate I did enjoy it you're a top bloke. 
I cant help thinking he had a point that a swear box would have easily raised my target amount on that run.


And if I only could,
I'd make a deal with God,
And I'd get him to swap our places,
Be running up that road,
Be running up that hill,
With no problems
If I only could
Be running up that hill
With no problems...

Kate bush - Running up that hill.
[From her 1985 album Hounds of Love]


I had a nice lay in on Sunday morning this week.



Alan.xxx

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Progress - 11th December 2011

Well it certainly doesn't get any easier! 

Keep forgetting to do the knee exercises which isn't good as they make all sorts of funny noises - oh dear. 

Tuesday evening I sorted out the phone app and set off for the first of the mid week sessions. All went okay as you can see by clicking the following link.

http://www.jogtracker.com/HistoryDetails.aspx?SyncID=c3b2be20-59b6-43a9-ab4e-e82d3413ba77&UserName=alannelless

Clever stuff this and more accurate than I'd hoped as it shows how slow I've got.

Thursday evening did the same again, with strange weather going on. Very cold out there and although I could only see stars and clear sky, I got rained on, which was nice.

Sunday morning arrives yet again and have to get up fairly early because once the frost clears apparently the rain is going to come down, what a choice. I managed to judge it just right as it goes and had fairly warm and dry run. Wish the knees didn't give so much grief, they hurt less the further I go so that's good I think. Again I took the tracker along and you can see the outcome below.

http://www.jogtracker.com/HistoryDetails.aspx?SyncID=32e3182c-7fd5-47fe-8e78-67ce5e73603d&UserName=alannelless

Onward and upwards, I might try some speed up training in the week.

The Beatles - Help

Alan.xxx

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Progress - 4th December 2011

Well where did that week go to?
Tuesday night saw the return of midweek training and what a struggle that is. The thought of coming home all warm and dry, slipping into a pair of shorts and a T-shirt to venture out into the dark cold wet evening isn't very enticing but you have to do it, 19 weeks isn't long really not to prepare for 26 miles, not if you don't want to look a complete doughnut on the day.That was it then, out into the dark, but at this stage, only 2.5 miles - with a steep hill mind.
Thursday night saw the same run but this time I was accompanied by loads of rain, which was nice! I had thought of staying dry and using the old faithful cross-trainer but that's cheating, if a jobs worth doing - you may aswell get soaking wet and cold doing it.
I looked back at last years progress for this stage and I had been going further but realise this was due to the Great South run in October and trying to keep that mileage up. I now realise that probably was too much and when I get round to filling out my plan for this year, I want to make it more of a progression up rather than sustain a level.
So here we are on Sunday and I tried out a new gadget app for my android, it is supposed to track my route and tell me how far I've been and how many calories I've burnt - it didn't. Not enough scatterlites could see me apparently, not surprising, at silly O'clock on a Sunday morning I reckon even they have more sense than to be up. I can tell you though that I did my old route out through Brookwood into Pirbright village and back for 8.5 miles of rain free, fun on the run.
Funny thing though, 'cause later when I popped into B.K to recharge my belly and I played around with the settings, it manged to track me home from there. [It didn't know what I had eaten though.]
Saw my friend Jill today, who is doing the London Marathon again next year. She is suffering from torn muscle and despair that she cannot run at all at the moment - why do we do it, it surely is a form of madness. Hope it gets better sooner than expected and you have a rest in the meantime Jill.

Happy birthday to my Grandaughter, Grace Megan Rosemary, who on Saturday will be 4 years old. xxxx


Why Why Why
The Sensational Alex Harvey Band - 'Delilah'


Alan.xxx

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