212 days until 70.3

Hmmm still toying with the idea of doing the full UK ironman in August. Oh well while I dither, I'll focus on the 70.3 for now. Just off to hit the swimming pool for an hour or so.

Fiddlesticks

I was in Barcelona last week for the Microsoft Tech-Ed conference. My hotel was fantastic it had a great steam room, sauna, hot tub, the works. Alas, I spent more time in the steam room than on the running machine.

Damn I must get back into a regular training programme, I've just seem to have lost the will-power ....... COME ON ......

Ouch my legs hurt

Stats from marathon on Sunday .... hmmm I think I went too fast for the first 13 miles. I did not do enough training sessions longer than 13 miles. Doh I am so stupid, I should have done some more longer sessions.

Mile: Time
01: 08:10
02: 08:08
03: 08:14
04: 08:16
05: 08:28
06: 08:33
07: 08:44
08: 08:51
09: 09:03
10: 09:06
11: 09:14
12: 09:21
13: 09:39
......and then I slowly ground to a halt .......
14: 10:14
15: 10:44
16: 11:06
17: 11:02
18: 11:12
19: 12:01
20: 12:02
21: 12:53
22: 13:13
23: 12:21
24: 12:47
25: 11:13
262: 11:22

Completed first marathon

Right that's it I'm giving up all sports and exercise and I'm going to lie in bed forever.......OK maybe not, but bugger do my legs ache. Well, I finished my first ever marathon, the time was terrible.

First off I forgot to but Vaseline between my legs in the groin area and so now I'm rubbed and sore and then I got terrible cramp at about mile 18 and lastly I DIDN'T DO ENOUGH TRAINING. Its all my own fault.

Oh well a good learning experience for next time ....... ARRRRRGGGGGHHH no more please.

1 hour 30 mins to go????!

Crikey I'm soooooo nervous. Oh well here goes........

12 hours until marathon

Yikes only 12 hours until I start my first ever marathon. Alas the weather forecast is for wind and rain. Oh well, bring it on !!!!!

Funny as I start my marathon, the real athletes will be finishing their epic race, Ironman Hawaii.

5 days to go

Kids, kids, kids, kids ....... work, work, work, work.

My son and daughter have been squabbling all day today with the exception of them going to school. Oh crumbs I have 8 years of my kids fighting.

The only thing that keeps me sane is exercise....... I have my first marathon on Sunday ....... yikes.

9 days to go

Crikey only 9 days to go until my first marathon, blast I should have done more training. How do people balance a family, a demanding job and training ...... sorry I'm tooo tired and have to go to bed.

Cold and cough

Despite hitting the gym last night in a kill or cure attempt, I just can't seem to shift this cold and cough. Its just after 8pm and I'm going to have to go to bed, I feel very tired.

UK 70.3 - 2007

Hopefully I will get into the London marathon in April 2007, after my 10th year of applying.

I had hoped to do a full ironman next year but I still unsure. Anyhow, while I dither some more, I've entered to do the UK 70.3

Sitting on a train

No training for the next couple of days as my wife is away on business to Spain. I'm on kid-sitting duties.
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Opening - Gustavo Santaolalla

Inspired from listening to the theme tune to Brokeback, I've pulled my guitar out from under the stairs and I'm hooked, I'm not very good, but hey! Alas, this is not helping my training for marathon in a couple of weeks.

In an attempt to get back on track I hit the gym after work, gosh the gym was packed.

I'm off to watch spooks, strum a few chords on my guitar, oh and have a cup of tea.

11 miles to Brokeback Mountain

I watched Brokeback Mountain on DVD last night ..... I've seen this movie before at a cinema in San Francisco ..... it's a great movie ......

Accompanying me on my 11 mile run this morning was the music from the movie by Gustavo Santaolalla. I was completely lost to the hauntingly beautiful guitar, clear blue sunny skies and the autumnal Oxfordshire countryside.

I hit a constant 9.11 minute mile throughout my 11 miles and felt that I could keep on going at this pace.

Only 27 days to go until my marathon, I feel that I'm on target for a good first marathon attempt.

Cough, cough

Blast, still feel like crap ... arrrggghhh I haven't been sick for years why now.......???!!!!!

Out for the count!

I'm down with flu, sore throat, cough and trouble breathing .... gosh I'm very tired. Hopefully I'll be back to training soon. I've only got 35 days until my first marathon.

7 week training schedule for marathon

So I have seven weeks left until I run my first full marathon. Rather than continue with my unstructured training, I'm attempting to use a plan from someone who knows what they are doing. Although I'm not entirely convinced but hey I'll give it a go.

Week 1
Monday: Rest?????
Tuesday: Easy Run - 3 miles at 10 min pace?????
Wednesday: Rest????
Thursday: Tempo run - 5 miles at 8:55 min pace
Friday: Rest
Saturday: Rest
Sunday: Long run - 8 miles at 10:30 min pace

Hmmm does not seem very difficult, but hey its only week one. Lets see how I progress. My goal is to complete marathon in 3 hours 45 min.

You are half way ... said a ladies voice

This is great iPod Nike+

I pushed the center button on my iPod and was off for a quick lunchtime three mile run. Every mile in my headphones a nice ladies voice would call off the mile markers, a push of the centre button and I had my pace, its great, I feel like I have an onboard coach.

But what did make me smile was right at the end of the work-out as I pushed the stop button on my iPod ..... Paula Radcliffe congratulated me on my fastest mile, this was cool. Thanks Paula.

Fitness and diet

A wonderful morning for a run, it was a peaceful sunny Sunday morning and I left with iPod and new Nike+ ipod connector. It tells me via audio my distance and pace, its a great bit of kit. I kept to 8 minute pace for the last three miles, which was unusual for me, I guess it must have been the sunshine and great music that pushed me on.

Cup of tea anyone?

Its been an OK week for the running schedule, I just need to start and pick up the pace! Good news though I seem to be getting my fitness back and coming out of my slump.

Stepping up

Crikey this is tough. I've started to step up the run distances and frequency in preparation for my first marathon in October. This weekend I'm aiming for a 12 mile run.