Rougher than a badgers arse...

The person who introduced me to the term "rougher than a badgers arse" has just talked me into entering the GNR 2007 ballot. If I win I'll be very, very upset... especially now that I've heard the marathon horror story, it's too grim to repeat here but let me assure you that it's put me right off running a marathon. I must ask her how she knows how rough a badgers arse is...

This is the first of many entries, I'm on a mission! The Great Ireland Run and the Achill Half Marathon, both in April this year. And, if luck fails, the GNR in October. I plan to transform myself from an aging tub of lard to and aging tub of low-fat marg.

Dublin Port Tunnel Run 2006

Finished in (an unofficial) 1.05!! Almost ran all the way, just couldn't manage the last uphill K. Strange running in a tunnel; loud & no weather, and nowhere to go if you're caught short!!

...now that I think about it...

Just had a moment of clarity... forget my previous posting, it's just not going to happen!

...just checkin' in

Been very lazy... but tomorrow is the start of next challange, actually set of challanges, 3 runs coming up in July, August and September: 5 miles, 10 miles and half marathon respectively.

...getting back on track

After all my GREAT intensions I haven't put on a pair of trainers, let alone ran, since the GIR in April.

GIR 2006

Finished in 1:12:19!!! And yes, it hurts!

Has it been that long??

I can't believe it's been almost a month since I last went running... and I was crap then, can you imagine how I'd fair now?? At least it'll give passers by something to giggle at and tell the folks back home.All joking aside, it's about 3 weeks to the big event and I'm getting worried. I spent last week in Madrid, eating, drinking, sightseeing, drinking, eating and drinking; in that order, several times a day. I've also put on a little weight, I'm up to 91KG but that could be down to my new weighing scales and the well-known increases in gravity at this time of year.'Till next time!!

...tired... so tired...

The title says it all, my poor legs decided that they'd had enough... I managed to cover almost 3K before I had to turn around, my legs were tired and I became incredible hungry?? I felt like I hadn't eaten in weeks! I had skipped lunch so I guess my body had decided to teach me a lesson... I turned around and tried a few sprints but it hurt, really hurt.... walking through the town I passed by several fast-food outlets, thanks god I didn't have any money!!

Friday Night... 75mins

I managed to shake off my two hitchikers early on tonight, no improvemnt on time, 'till next time...

Sunday Night... 75mins

As I have to shave off a huge 35 minutes I decided to start running sooner rather than walking the first Kilometre, BIG MISTAKE!! I quickly felt like two kids were hanging onto my legs, and they were getting heavier and heavier... after about 1K I had to stop running, and after walking for another .5K I had to stop, feeling rather pathetic I sat on a garden wall while my legs came back to life. After a couple of minutes I had shaken off my two hitchhikers and started briskly walking again, this is what I should have done in the first place.Feeling pretty good after another Kilometre or so I started running and it felt pretty good, tiring but good. The more I ran the harder it got but at one stage I hit the pain barrier and got through it!! So that was me for the next Kilometre or so when I had to walk, it wasn't long before reached the 5K mark and time to turn around for the return journey. 40 minutes had passed which meant the a similar effort would get me in at 80 mins.

The return journey was much easier, running most of the way and making up 5 minutes on route. The final lap time was 75 minutes, outstanding (by my standards) but a whopping 25 minutes over my target time.Next outing is on Tuesday night! Here's looking at another timely shave!!

Tuesday Night... 85mins

Just back from my run, well walk with some runny bits. At any rate I'm doing 10K in 85 minutes, I know that's a whopping 35 minutes over my target but it's my best yet!

I'm back on track...

Yes, I have finally dragged myself off the couch, Wednesday night marked the first day of my comeback! I'm easing myself back into the swing of things. Some might say an athlete of my standard needn't worry about pushing it too early, they are lying of course! An athlete of my standard needs to be pushed before it's too late...

Indian, Chinese or jog...

OK, you can rule out the third option! This is my week of post Christmas recovery, it's not just an excuse... it's a poor excuse but it's all I've got.

...easy does it!

I've decided that rushing into training so soon after Christmas would be a mistake, the prudent approach is to really think hard about it this week and start next week.

03/01: ...post-Christmas pre-Schedule present-Optimism...

...that about sums it up! Well, it's the beginning of a new year and there's a little over 3 months to the 10K run in Dublin!! Where has the time gone, only 3 months!! BUT, I have plans! Number one can't fail, it's a 6 week plan that we have me running 5K non-stop. Assuming I succeed, I'll move onto plan #2, another 6 week plan that will have me running 10K (hopefully non-stop). First instalment is tonight!

The rocky road ahead... just gets rockier

Getting there was never in doubt, is not in doubt, however my timetable has had to be modified somewhat, some might say stretched. Yes you've guessed, I've had a serious relaplse, I haven't ventured out to run for, oh, 3 weeks and it's coming up to Christmas! That is significant, Christmas that is, for this is a time of induldgence and excess. Now, I don't make the rules, they say rules are made to be broken but until I find out who "they" are I can't possibly that it seriously, can I?

... a touch of deja vous

I'm beginning to sound like a broken record... yes, you've guessed it, something came up and... you know the rest. BUT, tonight is the night! the night! the night! scratch!!!

...it was worth it at the time!

Tragedy last night! After my 5th creamy pint of Guinness I realised I had no chance of running anywhere other than back to the bar. Yet again, tonight is the night!

I'm not one for excuses but...

Well, it's almost 11pm and I've just finished working out how little money I have, is it too late to go out for a run? My heart says yes, and every other organ agrees, and as a supporter of democracy I feel compelled to bow to the wishes of the majority. OK, a pretty pathetic excuse, but it is very late don't you think?

That was a particularly cold winters night...

Well, I didn't manage to go for a run last night, it was Monday after all and I felt that I had achieved so much that day (i.e. getting up and going to work) that I deserved a little rest. However, tonight will be a different story let me assure you, 10K here I come!!

It all began on a cold winters night...

This is the first day of my Marathon training!! Now, we are looking at a seriously long term plan here, let's not deny it! I've broken it down into achievable goals, starting with tying my own shoe laces (done) and moving onto getting out into the cold winter evening... (almost done).

Seriously though, I have just committed to running a 10K mini-mini marathon in Dublin next year (April 10th I think), and looking forward I plan to participate in the Great North Run in Newcastle next October, that's 20K, significantly more that I can walk right now, luckily I have almost a year to prepare, unluckily I tend to procrastinate and will probably start training the night before. I may need help!Here's my plan: I've got a 10K circuit around my town that I both walk and jog, initially jogging was literally painful, but it's getting better, slowly but surely...

I'm up to jogging 5K and walking 5K, that's about 1hr 15 to complete, my target is 50mins, that may be a little optimistic but I do have until April next year.'Till next time!