Fulham 1 Chelsea 0

OK so nothing at all to do with running and I can claim little (or possibly no) credit for the rather impressive scoreline above but I just like seeing it in big letters.

Cash news - all going brilliantly, Becky is happy with her total (she says thanks very much and you can stop now) and I'm more than happy with mine, thank you all very much.

You'll see a few very messy links down on the right hand side. If anyone knows how to tidy them up then I'll try my best but I'm new at all this blog/web stuff. Two are for cheap petrol and one for cheap cds/dvds etc. Certainly worth having a look at if you've got a couple of minutes.

I did it. I achieved what I set out to do at the beginning of the week. I thought three times in a week would be too much but with a lot of determination and effort I did it.

Now enough talk of pub visits, let's get back to running/exercise.

My second three-miler was on Wednesday. Very confident going into it as my first had been a great success in my view (i.e didn't collapse/die/walk/explode) however after practically knocking my old mate Stubbsy over by the White Hart Lane level crossing (look him up - Ray Stubbs) I developed a stitch on the mile mark that not only wouldn't go away but seemed to get worse. Started as a stitch in the side and increased all round my trunk (around my ribs, nowhere near my face) heavily restricting my breathing.

Glumly I had to head back mainly walking but also trotting (am I an elephant or a horse?) slightly until the pain kicked in. Put 'running stitch' into Google and after sifting through all the knitting and sewing websites was told to do the following:

Take deep breaths whilst running
Warm up properly
Breathe out through 'pursed' lips thus fully utilising the diaphragm
Alternate which side of the body I 'land on' whilst exhaling
Start at a reasonable pace but don't go off 'like a shot'

The whole breathing thing has always been a bit random and my 'efficiency' has probably suffered as a result so to get that sorted would be a major boost.

Slightly depressed when I got back but realised this was a minor hitch and no more than that.

Thursday was a very good footy session and felt definitely fitter afterwards (did I say that last week?). Friday was a pub night and on Saturday I once again attempted to complete my second three-miler. Very good run although about a minute slower than my first one (exact times are only important when I'm getting faster - you should know that by now) but I always felt comfortable and with a little bit more 'in the tank' if you get my drift.

Sunday was another rest day watching the football which was excellent although marred by some idiots running onto the pitch as was Monday (a rest day not a day marred by idiots etc. although that said .......) as I didn't go to my normal circuits class for many reasons, the main one being I didn't book it in time but also I seem to have acquired a slightly sore hip. Perhaps I've been overdoing it - we'll see. Perhaps that first sentence was far too long. Perhaps.

Talking to a couple of very old (in both senses) and extremely computer-literate friends in the pub about blogs/websites on Friday night and why or why not people should have them they came to the conclusion they should only exist if people have something worth saying. I may not fall into that category but this has definitely helped for two main reasons:

Charity Fund Raising
Motivating me to get out and get fitter (which I DEFINITELY feel)

That's justified it to myself - job done.

I think I've not conformed to blog etiquette by emailing people when there's been an update. I think you're supposed to just let people look as and when they can/feel like it. That's what I'll do from now on but I will say that I'll try and update at least every two weeks.

Cheers

Never as bad as you think

** Previous posts are at the bottom of the page **

Becky would like it to be known that the following was planned long before I decided to do my run and that she is regretting her impetuous, some might say insane, decision to participate in

The Playtex Moonwalk 2006

This is the one that, I think, starts at midnight and involves thousands of women in bras (custom designed obviously) walking a marathon around London on 20/21 May 2006. Anyhow, my current total stands at a not meagre £529 so for all those people who haven't quite got round to sponsoring me yet, can I divert your funds towards https://www.bmycharity.com/V2/beckyharris

Ta muchly.

It's raising funds for breast cancer and I think you have to raise £100 before they let you take part.

Becky says "Please don't feel under any pressure to contribute as you've all been so kind already"

Anyhow what's been going on since last time? I've had 'dodgy guts' - I believe that's the correct medical expression - since last Monday forcing me to miss my normal Monday circuits class at work and my Tuesday run (insert run/runs joke here if you can be bothered). Thursday was footy day which went quite well. We lost but played well and fitness was noticeably better.

Before I rant further, celebrity watch this week was slightly better than last. SIR Trevor McDonald in Waitrose and Ray Stubbs in Ye White Hart watching the excellent Arsenal v Real Madrid game. Everyone know who both of those people are? Good.

Friday was the last 1.5m run - all went well although 10 seconds off my best but I've been told that I've been placing far too much importance on time. Probably right but for me it's the best (if not only) method of measuring improvement.

Sporting activity on Saturday was limited to participating in some excellent snooker in the evening (Fat Boys 4, Bannister's Bottlers 0) followed by watching an abject (and that's being kind) Fulham performance.

Sunday, last night, was the first of the 3m runs. I think doing this in 29 minutes puts you on course for a 60 minute 10k. Wasn't looking forward to doing this at all and bizarrely quite nervous. Now sorted out my playlist so know that every song is a good one or at least hand-picked with no Disney-based surprises. Started off with 'Another one bites the dust' which, like a few Queen songs, has a very strong beat. Sadly this one had rap (with a capital C) all over it. Will delete. 'Don't stop me now' and 'Boombastic' are current favourites. Started at a very slow pace and I think remained at a steady pace for most of the run. The music helped enormously and also the fact that I knew where I was and exactly when I was on the 'homeward straight' (going down Barnes High Street with the Red Lion behind me since you ask)

This running training has similarities with 'a nice walk in the country'. As long as you know how long you're going to walk/run for you can prepare yourself accordingly and feel an amazing sense of achievement when you get back and settle down in front of the telly for an hour or two. It's when either of these activities appear without an end that things become less than ideal.

Finished the 3 miles in 31 minutes, which I was very pleased with as a first attempt at that particular distance. Still definitely looking for 29 mins in an ideal world but we'll see how the next 5 or 6 runs progress. Felt fantastic when I finished, knackered but not dead on my feet and very happy. Easily pleased.

This lunchtime I did circuits which was good but very intense but sadly my running plan this week has hit 3 major snags. Tuesday, Friday and Sunday are my normal running nights. This week I am going out drinking on ........... Tuesday (college boys in Russell Square), Friday (old friends in Richmond) and Sunday (pre-match tincture in Putney before Fulham 1 Chelsea 24). Probably run on Wed and Sat instead.


Just a few things I want to finish on:

1 - How do people cope with running past restaurants? Last night, at about the halfway stage, there was a restaurant with its doors open and two men SPIT ROASTING something meat-based (quite possibly an ex-animal of some sort) ON THE PAVEMENT. Unbelievable! How am I supposed to run/plod past?

2 - At what stage can I legitimately buy one of those water carrying belts and take water on my run? They look quite exciting and an excellent money spending opportunity.

3 - Apparently the crowds at these events can knock minutes off your time. The best trick is to put your name on your shirt so that when they start shouting at/for/near you it spurs you on to greater speeds. Allegedly. If I put 'John' on the back of my shirt, how will I know that they're shouting at/for me. Could be someone else? Does it matter? Do I need a more exclusive name? Do I need a life?

That's me done for the week, wish me luck and can I refer those in the 'I'll definitely sponsor you before the big day just haven't got round to it yet' camp to the Becky link at the top of this entry.

Time to step up?

** Previous posts are at the bottom of the page **

Geoff's on board, training and going to the gym. Mark has said he'll do it but hasn't registered yet so we'll see how that pans out and I've got £516.20 sponsorship so far and a new MP3 player so all's right with the world. In fact I've got a second hand Zen thing that I got for £50 but is worth over £120 with a rather attractive velcro-based arm strap thing. Good.

Thursday night was footy as usual. Pretty good in parts but wasn't knackered at the end which is 20% increased fitness and 80% not trying as hard as I should. I'll definitely change that soon.

Friday night was another run, although my first with new exciting Zen/strap combination. Nothing special or new to report, hard work but the time was OK. I know the time isn't really important but I like to see visual (or even statistical) signs of improvement within each distance.

Sporting events on Saturday involved my first visit to Craven Cottage since November to see us get thrashed by Arsenal. They were good, Henry was magnificent and we were appalling. Our next home game is a nice easy one, some distinctly average team also based in Fulham. Eeeek. The only memorable thing was seeing Victor Lewis-Smith (Evening Standard amusing if a little predictable television critic) take his seat near us and seeing two 'stars' of Big Brother (7 I think) outside after the game. For those who know about these things it was the nasty idiot Maxwell behaving like a moron and the extremely aggressive Saskia strutting like a very chunky peacock. Memorable may be pushing the point slightly.

Sunday was another run and it wasn't too cold, there was little or no wind and I wasn't knackered as I'd had a lie-in that morning. My time was pretty good as well - 852 compared with the previous 6 of 939, 900, 877, 894 (whoops), 861 and 867. Felt like I'd given it my best shot and if I averaged that in the run I'd do it in just over 56 minutes but obviously only if I kept that constant pace over the 10k. I've decided to do 2 more runs at 1.5k and then up the distance to 3k. My routes are restriced to the road/pavement as I want to measure the distance out in the car first. Later on, once I reach a more consistent and predictable speed, I'll do things like run for 30/45 minutes but for the moment I quite like the fixed routes idea. I've already measured the 3k distance in the car and my first attempt will be next Sunday with a target time of 29 minutes dead. Wish me luck.

Let's not forget that in this run I have 2 very simple aims:
1 - Run don't walk AT ANY STAGE
2 - Finish in under an hour (or else I'll owe Garry money)

Told you they were simple.

Playlist is coming along nicely - thanks for all the suggestions. If you leave comments on this blog could you give me a clue who you are, unless of course you want to remain anonymous which is your perogative. Thanks for all the support/advice, it's all very, very much appreciated.

Slowly but surely

** ** Previous posts are at the bottom of the page **












Sorry, didn't mean to scare you. Just thought I'd introduce the funny looking people above. The one on the bottom is my sister, Niccy and the one on the top is me. The other one on the top is Geoff. Whilst they're both 'training' in other parts of the land - Niccy lives in Turnpike Lane (sorry I mean Wood Green) and Geoff lives in Petersfield - we shall all be running together 'on the day'. Or at least at the start. I'm a great believer in finding your own pace and whilst it would be nice (if a little strange, let's be honest) to all hold hands crossing the finishing line there may well be quite a variance in the finishing times if I can get a bit statistical on you for a moment.

Anyhow should you want to sponsor either Niccy or Geoff you need to go to http://www.capital10k.co.uk/RunnerPage.aspx?BCID=1025504 (Niccy) or http://www.capital10k.co.uk/RunnerPage.aspx?BCID=1026137 (Geoff) but be patient as the websites are a bit erratic.

On the subject of cash, I'm doing very nicely with my £462.50 with a lot more promised. I'm not going to hassle people at the moment as there are about 14 weeks to go but I may be pointing people towards the third link down towards the end of May.

Now let's get up-to-date.

Monday was circuits day - very good little 'workout' in the gym at work involving all sorts of things like press ups, squat thrusts, ab crunches etc. Shoulders don't hurt like last week so fairly happy and it's not a 'run day' anyhow.

Went for a run on Tuesday, and improved my time to 14.22 which is 24 seconds better than last Friday and we're ignoring Sunday's freak result. That was an outlier which is another exciting statistical expression. Mmmm. Nothing much to report except random MP3 player, windy, few people about and running with a slight and intermittent stitch.

Wednesday - was going to play football at lunchtime but the auditors had other ideas.

Aiming to play football tonight and go for a run tomorrow

3 things to note:
1 - A couple of Queen tracks (We will rock you and can't remember the name of the other) have very solid beats which are excellent to run to. Also downloaded 'Eye of the tiger' - very naff and I'm obviously not going to run up steps quickly as I'll do my ankle in, not as young as I was etc. etc. but may be a good song to run to. Or may not. We'll see.

2 - I really, really, really didn't want to run on Tuesday. It was cold, I was knackered, didn't get home from in-laws until nearly 8 etc. but because of all the money raised (thanks to all) and this blog I HAD TO. That's why I'm doing the blog. It all makes sense now.

3 - Haven't restricted my eating/drinking yet or looked at running diets but I will do later. Any advice on this to john.lowit@gmail.com would be much appreciated as usual. Also need to look at training plans and decide when to increase the distance.

Not sure when the next update will be but I'll send out the usual email. Thanks to everyone for reading/sponsoring/reading and sponsoring.

Late note - apologies to Gary for implying that it was his Northern-ness that won the table football tournament. Utter rubbish. It was his keen eye combined with his quick hands/firm wrists combination. Glad that's sorted.