Walsall Christmas Pudding 10 mile run 14th Dec o8

Well i did it in 1 hour 32 minutes n 2 seconds. So i was really pleased with that. It was a good day for running, quite cold but reasonable visibility. The directions to the start were very good though it did seem an awful long way from the land marks, but they were right and i got there just in time. A little panic about a lack of safety pins was resolved by the nice lady at the help desk and then a quick dash through the fire exit to the start line and we were off. I met up with Helen and Fergal at the start which was nice. I kept with them for a little while and then i went off on my own, not to see them again till Fergal clapped me on the back at 5.7 miles for my first stop - on a really long and steepish hill. A little encouragement from the Bloomer and i managed another mile or so beofre my next little rest, again on a hill.

The marshalls were great as wetre the police officers. A special thanks to the officer driving the cctv van who went passed and was telling drivers on our side of the road to slow down. Thank you for that. Drivers, please slow down it is really dangerous. At one point something went past me and brushed my shoulder - or it felt that way it was so close.

The bend to the road in was great to see and kept me going knowing that we had run up it. Also having my Garmin was a help - at least on this part it was actually telling me the distance i had done. This was a great relief as it had been going to screens showing me a compass, or an image of how many satelites it was receving from !! Thanks for that.

Anyway a nice run, well organised.

I went to my cousins in Derbyshire, The Rose and Crown Pub in Middle Mayfield and had a lovely Roast Beef dinner and a childhood favourite pudding Lemon Meringue !! Tip top.

My next planned and in fact entered run is the Stratford Half marathon, but i am thinking of the Great North West Run which is a half marathon around Blackpool on the 22nd February. Maybe..............

Training

Well the plod continues. I am pleased with the effort is paying off. Today i reached 2 and a half stone down on the weight i started at !! I am fluctuating tho up and down around this figure, but it is getting lower overall.

I do find it hard to go when i don't have someone to go with and in particular when the weather is bad. It has been very cold the last few days and i really feel the cold nowadays. I assume my lack of blubber is contributing to that.

I know that it won't continue unless i put the work in so i have to get out there again and keep it up. I hope to be down to less than 16 stone by Christmas. I am currently around 16 11. Fingers crossed and legs moving more importantly !!

Walsall Christmas Pudding Run

Ok so i have entered the Stratford upon Avon half marathon on the same date as the London Marathon - 26th April 09. I started to think i should do something between then and now. I was looking at 10KM run's and had provisionally id'd a few. Fergal then said to me that i should look at doing a race he and Helen were doing on the 14th December. The above mentioned race which is a 10 miler. I have thought about because the best day of the year is generally Chambers Party and this year for a change its not on the last day but the 12th December. So i have had to have a think about this as that is of course 2 days before the run. The conclusion that i have come to is - do the run! Forgoe the party. I know i cant go to the party and not drink or half n half so best thing to do is not go at all. The greater aim is to lose weight than get drunk with some nice people.
Tonight did a run with Fergal, we aimed for the normal 4 mile route but he had an ankle problem so we slowed up for a little while then moved on to some strides. Strides we believe to be run fast then recovery run then up the pace again then recovery run etc etc. It must be good as normally now after four miles i have a bit of a glow but tonight i was dripping and we only did 3 miles.
Last week i managed 4.10 miles in 45 minutes but i was on my own. A) it is hard to motivate myself to get out when on my own and B) my pace is slower!! I must improve on this.
My aim for Stratford is to get below 2 hours ! Fergal says a big ask but you don't set easy goals surely !!

Birmingham Half Marathon

Just a quick not to say managed it in 2 hours 16 minutes and 13 seconds which i was well chuffed with.

Very painful afterwards but nearly 2 weeks rest and am back on the streets again. Last night we did our usual route (3.86 miles) and i managed to do it without stopping which is actually a first for me ! Also therefore in the fastest time of 39 minutes. Again well happy but felt the pain this morning.

We are looking to the Stratford Upon Avon Half on 26th April 09 the same date as the London marathon. Also thinking about a Christmas pudding 10 miler in Walsall !!

The Stratford race is entered so that is definately on. The other i am less sure about but a nice one to do before christmas. As to my weight i am happy there as was down to 16 stone 12 pounds now up to 17 2 but am on way back down again as the running starts off in earnest once more.

This is a picture from the Liverpool 10km and will upload some from the Birmingham one in due course.

The last week

Well just taking it easy this week. Mainly just walking the dog in the morning. I got to 17 4 this morning which is two stone since i started.
2 and a half miles a morning is the present rate for the week.

Last long run

short note
Managed 7.25 miles in 75 minutes

happy with that felt good after n reasonable recovery time

Training

Well on target now. Managed 6miles in just under an hour around the Birmingham route with quite a few good hills. Another planned for Sunday but i want to do 10 miles though the fall back is at least 8.
It felt tough to start but at the end did feel could do another few miles at least.
Weight is down to around 17 and a half stone or just over 110 kg's. I am quite pleased with that as was 19 stone 4 when i got back from Hong Kong n Thailand in June and a bit less when i started the blog. I had hoped to get to around 17 stone by the day of the half marathon. That is just over a week so unlikely now. I will keep on tho and am trying to stay off the alcohol this week !
Sleep or crap TV now!!