The Poole 10k

It all seems like a distant memory now, but it makes me smile every time I think about it. I actually entered a race without coercion and finished it.

This all started when a friend of mine mentioned the Poole 10k ace to me. Having already successfully completed two London marathons his running ability is somewhat above mine, so I thought this was the kick up the backside I needed to progress my running.

I gradually increased my running until I managed to run / walk 4.8 miles in about 50 mins. I was happy with that, don’t get me wrong, and this formed the basis for a one hour estimated time for the race.

Two weeks before the race my friend was told he would not be able to run so that left me on my own. The race was booked and paid for and I just needed to keep increasing the time out running or the duration of my runs and I would be fine.

However as the saying goes, the best laid plans of mice and men often go astray. I lost motivation, work got busier and my training reverted to a haphazard, run whenever schedule. I discovered that two current and one ex-work colleague were entered for the 29^th Annual Poole Festival of Running 10k race with me. Read the rest of this entry »

This week started alright, as in, I woke up smiling, but then it all went downhill…. I tried to run three miles continuously on the road and failed I made it to the three miles but with a walk and run combination, which didn’t feel so good to me. I tried again two evenings later and did worse – my time was so so, but I still had to walk and run.

Then my van for work developed a fault which meant me sitting by the roadside waiting for recovery, combined with the grief of getting a loan vehicle for work and all the stupid bureaucratic nonsense I had to go through, any way that’s a story for a different blog…

Then came Thursday, I was due to attempt my three mile run again and just couldn’t muster the enthusiasm, so watched Avatar instead (fantastic film btw). Today I came home from work, and pretty much changed and went straight on the treadmill. My daughter had covered up the time and distance with post-it notes just leaving the speed showing.

It started really well, I felt fine and much more relaxed than on my last two attempts, I cranked up the speed to 11mph (17.7kph) to try and see what those elite marathon runners run like, and then soon slowed down to a realistic speed. I found that I was quite comfortable at 6.5mph (10.46kph) so I continued.

I was listening to some music on the iPod to distract me from the timer, but eventually I just had to look. I had only done 1.25miles (2.01k). Never mind I still felt good so I concentrated on the music and cracked on.

When you’ve looked once you keep looking at the time. Forget Einstein, I have now found how to manipulate time and distance. Simply keep looking at the clock and the distance counter, the time ticks by slower than normal and the distance counter only increases by a small fraction when you blink.

It took forever to get to 2 miles, then 2.5miles eventually happened along, this was my personal best so far, but I was really feeling it. I slowed to 4mph (6.44kph) a fairly quick walk for 200 yards or so, took a few sips of water, a deep breath, changed the speed up to 7mph (11.27kph) and went for it and then it happened 3 MILES (4.83k) Yes, thank you very much!!!

I dropped the speed right down to half that and then walked for another .2 of a mile (.32k) to cool down, whilst dribbling my water because I was smiling and grinning way too much for someone in a room on their own. To end what has now become a perfect day, I forgot to say I got my fixed van back and after my run and subsequent shower I jumped on the scales and my weight was at its new all time low of 201.9 lbs. (91.77k) (14st 5.9lb) Top all of that with a fantastic steak dinner with my family (cooked partly by me) and I do believe that was, a perfect day.

Yesterday had stuff to do then all of a sudden the day was over   Steff (my daughter) asked if I’d walk with her as she’s trying to relieve a trapped nerve in her back. I said yes and went for a fairly quick paced one mile walk with her. When we got back I decided to try and sprint round the block, but it wasn’t happening. Vindaloo does not make a good training food, so my sprint was a fast run and walk the last bit effort.

I woke up this morning earlier than usual for a Sunday, had a coffee in the sunshine and spent 10 minutes discussing with myself the pros and cons of going for a run. I have only run successfully at night for some reason, so this was going to be a first.

Shorts, vest, new trainers and Ray Bans were adorned the stopwatch set and off I went. I seemed to be breathing harder than usual to start with, then my mind started with the negatives, “Maybe you should have waited till this evening”, “It’s too early”, “Your legs are too stiff”, “Your back is hurting”, these were only some of the negative thoughts I could hear, my mind, (inner self, self conscious or whatever you prefer to call that internal voice) was wanting to make me stop and go home.

Within what seemed no time at all I was approaching the uphill gradient that marks a mile on my route, the place where I slowed to a walk a few days ago. As I rounded the corner at the top of the slope and passed the mile marker I was on a roll. The smile just appeared on my face, the nagging voices shut up, my breathing became more controlled and the stiffness had all disappeared. Now my thoughts were on the feeling of smugness I was going to have all day because I had been a good boy and finished my run. Ok I still had 1.2 miles to go but that didn’t matter there was nothing now that could stop me.

Just as I reached the 2 mile marker I saw a friend just finishing his run, he had the smug look of satisfaction on his face that I was going to have very shortly. One small incline, a couple of corners and the end was in sight. I still had the reserves to pick up the pace for the last 200 yards, and then I was home, done, finished top of the class!

Whilst enjoying a much need bottle of water, I sat in the garden, where only 30 minutes previously I could so easily have decided not to run, basking in my own glory! The feeling after running is euphoric, or am I getting way too carried away with all this stuff. Only time will tell but for the moment I’m loving it and can’t wait for the next after run high!

Oh yes! 2.5 miles in 24 min 23 sec!!!

Not the fastest time on record I know but it’s the fact that I actually managed to keep running for over 24 minutes, to me is fantastic. The last time I did that I was a teenager and I’m sure you don’t need to know the reasons anyway….

It’s 100% mind over body, although I was hurting somewhat, the conversation I was having with myself was what’s important. I tried to run this route on Monday and as I rounded what I knew to be the one mile marker, I slowed to an involuntary walk and couldn’t break into a run again. Tonight however as I reached the same milestone I kept a massive grin on my face, knowing that with every stride I had better my last attempt.

I then played several scenarios through in my head, of the conversation I could be having with people tomorrow if I didn’t finish. I could be saying “Well I ran further than I did the other night”, or “Well I haven’t been doing this for long”, or “Maybe it was too much too soon”. Each one sounded horrible and I knew that people will always agree with you just to make you feel better. So the only thing I wanted to be saying tomorrow morning is  “I ran 2.5 miles last night!” with a massive smile on my face.

If you’re a runner then hopefully my waffle will mean something to you, if you’re not a runner get some trainers and give it a go. You wont regret it!

That was interesting! That’s the first time since school I have ever run for fun. It was surprising, I am 16 stone 2 pounds, not too much of a couch potatoe as my job keeps me moving, however not a natural runner. Or am I?

I think overall I ran and walked too fast. Today is day one of the “Couch to 5k plan” and without a stopwatch I counted the seconds myself. As my breathing got heavier and my footsteps got heavier I started counting in time to my breathing, then got totally confused.

The outcome however was that I managed to finish! What a feeling! I stood in my kitchen dripping with sweat, short of breath and positively glowing with warmth. Oh and a massive grin on my face. My legs ached but not painfully, my chest was still pounding slightly and my lungs were still drawing in what seemed like gallons of air, but the smile on my face was amazing.

I had a glass of water and then jumped straight in the shower. After my shower everything had returned to normal, apart from the massive grin I still had on my face. I can’t wait till the next one.

The hardest part of getting fit is not the weakness of the body it’s the stubbornness of the mind. That almost sounds like a famous quote, if it is then I probably heard it somewhere before.

The first thing I needed to do was to buy some trainers, rather than my usual “head first” approach I decided to buy a relatively cheap pair (£29.99 ) just in case I didn’t get on with the running. I dug out my old baggies from the days when I used to lift weights at the gym, stole a hoodie from my teenagee son and finally had no more excuses left. It was time to open the door and get out there.