Sub Three Hour

The Long Silence Broken!

2005-07-09T07:25:00.000+10:00

Been here in Sydney for 2 months now, and frankly the running is going shockingly bad - hence the long silence on this blog. I intended to run the Sydney Marathon in September, but that's not going to happen now.

Basically I've struggled with shin splints, so I'm committing myself to doing my exercises every day and do a few little runs as the weeks go by to see how they're going. I must admit I'm a bit gutted about the whole thing. I bought insoles for my trainers too, but I still got pains when I ran. Perhaps I need to get ones made for me?
Anyway, I'm still a runner, although it is so frustrating to be living on Manly Beach and not be able to enjoy it properly!

The fruits of last year's London Marathon

2005-03-24T03:42:00.000+11:00

Richard & Linda with van

It took a long time, but finally the van that we raised money for running the London Marathon last year has been officially launched! It is great to think that by doing something we love we were able to raise £8000 for this van. It will be used by The Sharing Project to pick up and deliver furniture for people in need in our community.

Only one more day of work to go!

Nice to be out running again

2005-03-16T04:25:00.002+11:00

Did a nice 5 miles this morning - although my right knee got a bit sore after about 3 miles. I think this was the effect of the half marathon on Sunday.

Only a week on Thursday till I finish work! Off to New York on the 12th April - wonder what running there will be like? Quite fancy running in Central Park (during the day!) and across the Brooklyn bridge. We'll see how much time we have!

I need to try and get back to full strength after all the stupid niggles. I'll probably not set any targets for while. I think I way do the City to Surf in Sydney and the Sydney Marathon.

1 Day after HM - I did it!

2005-03-07T23:46:00.000+11:00

For better or worse I did the Reading Half Marathon yesterday. With my bad training and injury I should be happy with my 1:40:30 time with no permanent damage done to my legs. I'm just a bit gutted that I didn't know my actual time until I pressed the stop button on the line - I'm sure I could have run 30 seconds faster at the end! You see I had the settings on my watch to splits and pace (I have GSP speed/distance thingy).

Anyway, here's my race report: it was pretty easy till 10 miles, then it got hard and then it was over! I need to get better at race reports ;)
At 10 miles my right calf began to ge quite sore and seize up, as well as the tendon on the bottom of foot - so I suppose i'm lucky I could keep going so steadily. The good thing was that it didn't effect the shin splints I've been having over the last couple of months - and that was the thing that has screwed up my running recently.

My splits were 7:58, 7:47, 7:37, 7:26, 7:22, 6:50, 7:37, 7:33, 7:26, 7:26, 7:58, 7:54, 9:32 (last 1.1 miles)

I am encouraged though, and as soon as my legs feel less sore I'll be back on the road again!

3 Days Till HM

2005-03-04T04:17:00.000+11:00

Still no running going on. It's a pretty nice evening so may try to do a couple of miles tonight to keep my legs moving. Hope its not snowing on Sunday!
On a happier note, only 3 more weeks of work to go, then its HOLIDAY TIME! We arrive in Sydney in 2 months, and THATS when I'm going to get the running sorted out!

5 Days Till HM - Run it together?

2005-03-02T03:05:00.000+11:00

Still resting my wee legs. A few friends have suggested that since I won't be breaking any records, that I should run with Linda (my wife). So do I do that and get a pretty slow time (she has not been training enough), or do I just go for it and maybe hurt myself? My pride tells me that if I'm going to do it I might as well get as good a time a possible. But then again I could spur on Linda to a better time.
We'll see....

6 Days Till HM - Tapering!

2005-03-01T03:16:00.000+11:00

Well, things couldn't get worse really. Tried to do some miles on Saturday, but gave up when the pain in the shins came and the energy faded. I am still going to run on Sunday but may not run at all this week - crazy I know! So, what are the predictions for my time?? Who thinks I can get sub 1:40? or should I aim to go quicker?
Anyway, I'll keep you posted.

9 Days Till HM - Keeping on going.

2005-02-26T00:37:00.000+11:00

It's been a while since my last post - related to my training really. I've decided to still do the Half Marathon even though I'm still getting pains in my shins. They're not that bad, but that's probably because I've not been doing that much running! I did 4 miles on the treadmill on Tuesday then ran the 1.5 miles home. Also ran 6 miles this morning in the gym at roughly 7 min mile pace. I could maybe have run further if I hadn't been so stinkin hot.
I've kind of resigned myself to the fact that I will not be getting a great time next Sunday. I've not even run 13 miles yet (I think I ran 12 miles just before getting injured. Anyway - I'm going to go for it never-the-less. It's just a bit depressing when you see others blogs that are brinmming with miles run - maybe when we get to OZ!
Only 4 weeks of work to go!

17 Days Till HM - Trying to get back some fitness

2005-02-18T00:27:00.000+11:00

What can I say, my blogging has been as bad as my running. I did manage to do 4.5 miles on Tuesday evening on the treadmill and then did 6 miles this morning at 7:30min mile pace. The question I am now asking myself is 'How the heck am I going to run a decent half marathon time when my training has been pants due to injury?? My only consolation is that I am not doing the London Marathon. Imagine waiting a whole year, training for months, then getting an injury - there would be tears! I will run this race no matter what time I get - but as near to 1:30 as possible would be great.

What else is going on? Don't talk to me about iPods! I just got myself sorted out with headphones and a case with arm-strap for mine. After a couple of attempts to get the best ride with it on the treadmill, this morning the stupid thing froze on me after about 30 minutes!! It wouldn't turn off until it had run out of battery power. Although the publicity says they are for 'active people', i'm beginning to wonder if its not going to be plain sailing with this piece of kit.

24 Days Till HM - Taking it Easy

2005-02-11T00:26:00.000+11:00

Did another easy 3 miles today. Legs felt okay, but got a blister on the side of my foot, typical!

It's really frustrating running so slowly, but I just want to be as careful as possible.

Maybe I'll try 4 miles tomorrow!!

25 Days Till HM - On the road again!

2005-02-10T00:48:00.000+11:00

Yes - I did my first run in 3 weeks this morning! I ran a very careful 2 miles, very slowly. Wasn't taking any chances. I didn't feel any pains, but I was aware of my delicate lower legs. I iced them for a bit when I returned too - again, just in case.

I really just need to try going out over the next few days, a little bit at a time. I just want to get out and belt round a good 6 or so miles! I wonder what sort of time I should be aiming for now for the Half Marathon?

27 Days Till HM - Should I run the race?

2005-02-08T00:39:00.000+11:00

Well, its been a while since my last blog. I've not been running and therefore don't enjoy blogging that fact!

Went on the treadmill on Friday after over two weeks of resting my sore inner shins but I could still feel a niggle on both sides. I stopped immediatly so not to set me back further.

I've not run for nearly 3 weeks now!! AAAARRRGGGH, just when I was in the middle of training for the half marathon. With less than 4 weeks to go I'm wondering if I should bother now. I don't even know when I will be able to run next or if it will still cause pain. I hate writing a blog with such crap news!

Still trying to do exercise, although I'm not really motivated if running's not involved. Went for a half hour swim this morning.

37 Days Till HM - Ho Hum...

2005-01-29T03:18:00.000+11:00

Went for a swim last night - which again is a first for a long time. Just swam for half an hour before I got kicked out to make way for kids swimming lesson.
It's a bit of a drag not running - I'll see how the legs feel tomorrow.

38 Days Till HM - C'est La Vie

2005-01-28T00:12:00.000+11:00

I almost don't want to blog this. I'm still not able to run yet. I went to the gym on Tuesday night and did 40 mins in the bike, which felt great to do. My new trainers arrived on Tuesday night and I got up on Wednesday morning to go for a wee jog - but as I ran down the drive I knew I wasn't ready yet. I could still feel pain in the tendons (or whatever) beside my shins. I just don't want to even longer to recover to I am not going to run for a couple of more days. Am I being sensible, or just lazy?

Going to go to the gym tonight and go on the bike again. First time I've really done that before - lots of muscles I didn't know I had.

41 Days Till HM - Injured!

2005-01-25T00:55:00.000+11:00

The reason I've been a bit quiet over the past few days is that I've not been running. I decided to listen to the pains in my legs and have given them a rest. A mate who is a sports physio (good mate to have!) confirmed that the problem is probably that I have been running too much in an old pair of trainers! I over prontate, so its not too clever taking risks like that. Having bought a new pair a month ago, I sent them back cause they were too big. I won't be doing any more running till my new ones arrive and my inside shins feel better.

I should really get on the bike at the gym - I'll try to keep my fitness up.

As I write, the packers are in our our house to ship our stuff to Oz. It's all becoming very real now!

46 Days Till HM - Priorities

2005-01-20T00:54:00.000+11:00

Moved house yesterday. We are also up to our necks in packing for shipping to Australia. Talk about stressful. It's times like this that you wonder if you should really be going out for that run, or should you be helping your wife who has had to take time off work?

Anyhow - still got out this morning and did 4 miles (instead of 7!)32:06, splits were 7:47, 8:15, 8:03, 7:59. My legs feel like lead at the moment, muscles at the sides of my shins really hurting. We'll see if I can continue running every day at this crazy time (he says feeling sorry for himself!)

47 Days Till HM - Speedwork

2005-01-18T22:35:00.000+11:00

First morning venture into the gym – man, it is so quiet compared to 6pm! It was ‘lovely’ speedwork this morning with 8 x 500m at 5K pace, which meant 16km per hour. It was pretty hard going, but I did it. I have only ever done speed-work on a running track once, but I imagine that it feels better than stewing on a treadmill. My problem is that after I’ve finished my reps I just want to jump off a die rather than doing a few kms warm down and stuff. I think speedwork is the hardest thing to do in terms of day to day running. You need to find the right place – I mean who wants to look like an idiot running up and down a road as fast as they can!!

We move house today into where we will house sit until we leave for Oz. The shipping day, Monday, looms ever closer, and poor Linda has been dumped with most of the packing. That’s what happens when you have loads of holidays to take!

48 Days Till HM - Rest Day

2005-01-18T00:52:00.000+11:00

I figured that my legs needed a rest after last week, so instead of 3miles of easy running I'm having a break today!

49 Days Till HM - Long Run

2005-01-17T05:47:00.000+11:00

Although my body didn't want to, I did a 12 mile long run this morning. Right from the start I could feel all my muscles aching, but I somehow I managed to keep going. I was meant to do it in 93 mins but I did it in 98 instead. I'm not too worried about that. My splits were 8:09, 8:00, 8:16, 8:05, 8:21, 8:16, 8:10, 8:11, 8:01, 8:11, 8:28, 8:06.

This is the furthest I've run since the London Marathon last year!

50 Days Till HM - Hilly Billy

2005-01-16T07:52:00.000+11:00

Today it was a 6 mile run with a twist. It included 10 x 200m hills! I ran for two miles then ran up and down a steep hill near my house. I’m sure the people who lived in the houses down the street thought I was some kind of dodgy burglar checking out the neighbourhood. I’ll tell you. It would have to be a dedicated burglar to do what I did! Did it in just over the 50mins I was aiming for (51:43)

It’s been a great week of training so far. My legs do feel a bit sore though. The muscle down the inside of my shin bones are a bit tender to the touch – I hope it doesn’t stay that way for long.

51 Days Till HM - Overslept!

2005-01-15T00:57:00.000+11:00

Didn't wake up till 8:30 this morning. Will do a run tonight when I get home and post the results then.
Got asked about my current PBs. I ran the London Marathon last year in 3:28:09, and the last Half Marathon I ran was about 7 or 8 years ago and I it was around the 1:40 mark. I need to run more official races to get some accurate PBs.
I know what my PB for the marathon will be in 2008... Sub 3 Hour of course!

Update:
Went to the gym and did my speed-work for the day. I did 7 miles in total with 4 miles of that at half marathon pace – which meant running at 7.9 miles per hour for 3 miles and 8.8 miles per hour for 4 miles in the middle. I was really tough – I felt like giving up so many times, even hit the stop button a couple of times, but I kept getting back on to finish the exercise. Well, actually, to be honest I skived off the last half mile!

52 Days Till HM - Beautiful Day

2005-01-14T00:18:00.000+11:00

I'm very pleased with myself today as I managed to do an 8 mile steady run before work this morning. Even ran it within the 60 mins I was suppose to - 59:56. Splits were 7:25, 7:28, 7:28, 7:39, 7:37, 7:31, 7:17, 7:28. (Content smile on my face!)
It was a beautiful morning too, clear sky and the sun rising just as I finished. Shed my outer-layer half way, it was good that I passed home at that point. There's something nice about running in shorts and t-shirt when everyone who passes you is wearing hats and scarfs!

If I ran at the pace I ran this morning for a marathon then I'd do about 3:15 - if wanted to go sub 3 hour then I'd need to do every mile in under 7 minutes! That is certainly a way off at the moment.

Only 70 days till I finish working..... then its off to OZ! Wonder if morning runs will be the same again?

53 Days Till HM - Rest Day

2005-01-13T00:51:00.000+11:00

Went to gym last night and killed myself of the treadmill. Managed to successfully complete my first speedwork of this current training program. Did 5 x 1K at 5K pace, which meant running at 16 km per hour on the treadmill. Again, I stumbled off looking like a beetroot!
Got up at 6:30 this morning, but decided that since I trained last night that I'd take my Friday rest day today. That puts the pressure on me to train now everyday for the rest of the week.
We're shipping all our stuff off to Australia a week on Monday, so it's going to be a busy week and a half.

55 Days till HM - Back in the Saddle

2005-01-11T00:06:00.000+11:00

Well my half marathon training programme tells me I am starting week 5 of a 12 week programme - where did the last 4 weeks go?! I feel like I'm well behind in my training but I'm going to press on never-the-less. I'll aim to follow the programme pretty strictly from now on, honest.
Started off again this morning with an easy 3 mile - phew! Did it in 23:45. Splits were 7:56, 7:40, 8:08. I wish all my runs were going to be as easy as this!
Here's to some hard training!

Back to Treadmill Running

2005-01-09T05:58:00.000+11:00

Eased myself in with a steady 5 mile run on the treadmill. Man, it gets so hot in the stupid gym! Not really looking forward to this kind of running, but I suppose it is always going to be second best. Nothing beats the wind in your hair and the fresh air to cool you down!
Feeling almost back to full health now.