But its raining!

"But its raining" was the cry from my work colleagues a I say I'm off outside for a run. I'm a hardy little soul, or at least I like to think I am. Anyway I had a secret plan - a waterproof jacket. My running partner and I duly get ready - him in a running vest and me, feeling a little smug with myself, with a waterproof.

Now there is a downside with waterproof's even running ones and that is it needs to be raining to keep you at reasonable temprature. Unfortunately for me the torrential rain stops as we get out the door and doesn't rain for the rest of the run. So over the course of the next 4 miles I duly simmer away in my own juices!

Maybe next time I'll be tough and leave the jacket behind.

Another 4 miles in 33:15.

Mud, Glorious Mud!!

Hey - I managed to get out for a run a lunchtime and it was wonderful. I was running with someone that normally only does pavements and roads so I showed him one of the woodland runs near the office.

Well it was a wonderful run until we came to a track that a tractor had been using. What had been a compacted earth track was now a muddy bog. At this point most people would have said "Never mind" and turned around and gone another way. Not us 2 intepid runners, No we decided to go through it. My first stride wasn't too bad however with the next one I ended up ankle deep in ozzing mud! Of course by this time you've got to keep moving or else the bog gets you, so it was squelch squelch squelch until we cleared it. Sadly I don't think my running shoes will ever be the same again.

Ah well another 3 miles in a time of 25:17

First Training Run

Went for my first training run this morning. Woke up at about 7Am to be able to run before I had to take the kids to rugby practice. Didn't go very far, only about 4 miles but it's a start. My cardiovascular system seemed to working OK, but that is more than can be said of my muscles, feel a bit achy and my right knee hurts a bit. I need to get a few more slow runs done before I think about speedwork.

Anyway for the record I ws running for 34:40.

Sunday runs are going to be my long run of the week. Next week I'm aiming to make the run last 40 minutes. If I keep on adding 5 minutes a week I should be doing 90 minutes (or about 11 miles) just before Christmas.

Onwards and upwards

It's Official - I'm in

Received a letter this morning in a Flora London Marathon Envelope. I thought this a bit odd and was a bit worried that there was something wrong with my application. As I started reading it became more worried as it explained the rules and regulations for guaranteed entry. Fortunately my concerns were short lived as the letter went onto say that they confirmed I had met the criteria and I was accepted into the London Marathon for 2005 - I'm in and its offical and in writing. At this point I started dancing round the room. Not sure I'll have the same feelings at 06:30 on some Decemeber Morning as I step out the door to go for a training run.

Lunchtime Run? What's a lunchtime?

When I ran regularly most of my running was done during lunchtime. This made sense for me, I don't have to get up at stupid o'clock for a run before work and I don't upset the wife and kids by coming home from work then going out for a run. The downside to this is that I might not be able to get out at lunchtime.

This week has been one of those weeks where even stopping to eat isn't always possible. I don't like working like that it's not good for you. I was actually quite disappointed as I had work colleague to run with.

Anyway I think I'm out of the woods for the timebeing so might be able to get out a run tomorrow.

Where to start?

Where to start?

I've been trying to get into the London Marathon since 2000, but have never made it through the ballot system. This time I'm guaranteed to get in as I've been rejected 5 times in succession. This gives the benefit of extra training time as people don't normally find out if they have been successful until late Novemember/Early December which is cutting it a bit fine for training for a marathon in April.

I want to do it in sub 3hrs 30Mins but this may be a tall order for someone that is 30lbs overweight and hasn't run seriously for more than a year. I may have some help though. A work colleague has asked if I want to go running at Lunchtime next week, nowhere far and hopefully not fast.