Day 23!

Ok, here we are at day 23 and I was about to leave work at 22.13 to go home and run.  I got in this morning at 7 as I had a huge amount to do.  But, I've decided not to run but to go straight to bed.  I did another cycle today on the Boris Bike, only about 2 miles but I think that that will have to do as I've another early start/ late finish tomorrow.  I really wanted to run every day, but running perks me up and I need to get to sleep when I get home.  tomorrow I leave for Edinburgh straight after work and won't arrive there until around 11.30, but I'm going straight out for a run in the lovely Herriot Watt campus, just a quick one as I'll have more time on Wed morning and Thursday morning for more decent runs.  I hope my fellow Janathoners are having a successful time.  Over and out.

Day 22 already

So today is day 22, only 9 days to go, but some challenging ones to find a time to run.  I have a mountain of work to finish today so just did a nice 5k, with a 1k cool down.  My 5k time was 29 mins, which was good as I felt very unfit for the first 2k, and my hips are killing me.  this is the first time that I have had problems with my hips from running, but for the last week or so, i am getting starp pains right at the top of my hips during and after running.  I have tried to adjust my posture while running, bought new shoes and am stretching more, but still the pains!  for the cool down I did .5K slow run and .5k walk.  It was a beautiful day so I ran by the reservoirs between Stamford Hill and Finsbury Park.  Blue sky, cold, and sunny.  Perfect running conditions.  I wish I had time for a longer run but work called.  Yet again I have forgotten my password for running free so will have to wait until tomorrow to log in.  Each time I try to get a new password it says it is not possible and then tells me to contact the administrator, but I've looked many times, and can't see any contact details...Happy year of the Dragon to all the runners...

Days 17 to 21

Okay, the fact that i haven't blogged since Monday is an indication of the week I've had.  The combination of my laptop being in the computer hospital all week and my office being locked up all weekend meant that I have been way behind in my work.  But, Janathon almost went on as usual.  Tuesday is my busiest day of the week and I was at work by 7.  I tried to leave at 6 to have a quick pre cinema run but time escaped me.  So, I had to run after the cinema.  A quick(well not really!) trot at 11pm up the down the main road and home again. I was happy to get out and run, but really wanted to hit the sack.  Oh well.  So, the plan for Wednesday was to get to work early (which I managed) and then go to the gym for more spinning and a short run.  It didn't happen, work was hectic, and I got home late, so I didn't run and substituted a quick 20 min cycle in instead.  I am a big fan of the Boris Bikes which aid my zooming around town.  On Thursday it was back to the gym, a short run to start me off, some weights and abs and a quick 2K row, then off to work.  Yesterday, Friday it just didn't happen.  I was at work for 7 again and had a hectic day of teaching and meetings and then went off to a friend's place for dinner.  If I had gotten up at 5 instead of 5.30 I could have had my run, but I didn't.  So, a fail for the 20th of Jan.

So, today I was determined to have a good run.  It was bright and sunny and warmer than I thought it would be so I wore my heaviest running jacket.  2K in I picked myself up a running coach, I generally prefer to run alone so was not too happy at the volunteer coach running with me.  As he pulled slightly ahead of me I nipped across the river and continued my run on the other side, but he came and found me so I gave in and let him coach me.  He gave me some good tips!  Anyway, I decided to cut the run shorter than planned so just did 9K instead of 10 with a slow final K after a bit of a walk.

So, not so many Janathon days left, but I'm hoping that I don't miss another day.

Happy running...

Day 16

I'm running a day behind with blogging about my exercise and a few more with logging as I can't get in to running free.  My password is not being accepted and each time I request a new password, they tell me to contact the administrator, but I can't find any information on the site on how to do this.  Oh well, I will keep trying.  Yesterday was gym day so my running was limited.  I just did 10 mins warm up on the treadmill, 40 mins of weights, abs etc and then 9 minutes and 3 seconds (2000m) on the ergo rower.  I had planned on running back home from the gym, but realised there was a spinning class just about to start so I did that (45mins) and then was very tired so got the bus most of the way home, I 'ran' the last k or so, I forgot to turn off my nike + when I got home so no idea of the distance as it includes me walking around the house once I got home!  Tonight I will do my quick mile as I have a long day at work and Tuesday is cinema night...

Day 14 and 15

ok, complete technological failure means that I didn't get to log or blog over the weekend.  Day 14 was Saturday and I had visitors.  We were up late on Friday night and had to get going on Saturday to meet another friend so I just did 20 mins.  I managed 3.5K so that was fine but I was determined that the following day (Sunday) I would up the distance.  I was delighted with my run yesterday (Sunday) as it was cold and sunny and dry and I decided to go for 12k, along the river lea and down to Hackney Marshes, such a lovely run, lots of dogs, people walking, cycling, rollerblading, running, rowers, people in the canalboats chopping wood...I managed to stay with an average pace of just under 6 miles per hour and when I finished my run I walked for another k to cool down.  The only down was that I forgot to bring a warm top for my cool down and it was freezing, it took me hours to warm up again.  I only really warmed up when I helped a friend move last night, 30 mins of up and down 4 flights of stairs carrying furniture, books, clothes etc got my heart going again and so I'm logging this too!!  Today is a gym day and I'm hoping to run home afterwards.

More later...

(un)lucky 13

So here we are on Friday the 13th, unlucky for some.  My only real brush with Friday the 13th was when my dog Max died tragically at the wheels of my big sister's teacher's car in 1981.  It was a terrible day, and my sis never forgave her teacher.  Anyway, I was supposed to get up and run immediately this morning, but work related anxiety meant that I headed to work very early instead.  I had to leave for a meeting at 12.15 and had a lot of stuff to finish off before then.  I managed it all and then nipped home for my run and to bring my unstable laptop into the laptop hospital to try to get it back to life.  I started off thinking I'd do a nifty 5K, but then the work related anxiety came along again and I decided to just do a mile, go home and head back to work.  So, here I am back at work trying to finish a paper with a deadline of Sunday, my laptop is in hospital, my office will be shut for maintenance or something over the weekend and I am logging and blogging....Tomorrow I will do a short run as I have a visitor and on Sunday I will try a longer one...

Day 12

So day 12 dawned and I was scheduled to head to the gym for a training session.  I went 20 mins early so I could have a run before starting.  I just did 3k in total and then did a killer workout for my legs, arms and abs. Much needed.  I really need to go to the gym more to build up my strength, it really helped 2 years ago when training for my first marathon.  Anyway, yesterday was a bit of a rush as I had to go to work straight after the gym and then get on a train to Southampton for a meeting, back to London and more work.  My laptop is playing up so I was unable to log/ blog last night so here it is.

Over one third in now

Ahhhh, day 11, I think this is the point that I gave up on last time. But, I've made it through this time.  Today was a bit crazy at work, submitted a big funding bid, gave a talk to lots of people from the art world and had a paper that I wrote accepted for publication. But, all of that, in combination with some afterwork jobs I had to do meant that I was exhausted when I got home at 8.30. For the second time this week I forgot that I was changing for my run and almost put my pyjamas on.  I set the ipod for 5k but managed to do 6 and then walk for a k afterwards to cool down.  All this taking it easy is well and good for getting me out every day but now I need to start putting in some proper distances and times.  Gym in the morning so I'll have to try to get there early so I can run before my workout...onwards...

Day 10 already, almost one third way through

I think I'm getting the hang of this Janathoning.  Last year I think I only made it to the 11th so lets see how things go this time around.  As Tuesdays are likely to be very difficult running days due to teaching and travelling commitments, I have decided to introduce my Tuesday challenge (which I also did last Friday!) which is to run a mile as fast as I can.  I was very tired and dopey this morning so didn't break any records but at least I got out an ran (after snoozing for half an hour following my alarm going off at 6.15).  It is really easy to throw on the gear and head out when you know that you'll be home in 10 mins (although I do a cool down walk after!).  So this morning I took to the pavements and as I figured out a loop which is one mile last Friday, I now have my circuit, there are some inclines which give my legs a bit of fire but I know that the run is short so it is go, go , go.  It took me just over 9 mins this morning and I'm wondering if I can get down to 7 and a half by the end of the month.  We shall see...So, my other trick to surviving Janathon is to vary my challenged, at the weekend, one of my runs needs to go longer than the previous week, I'll have my fastest mile challenge and a few other things in-between.  It is nice not to have to run this evening and I won't run in the morning as I should be home early tomorrow and can run then...I'm really hoping I'll push through to the end this time around.

Day 9 already...

So it is day 9 already. I had a 10 am meeting today and I needed to prepare for it so decided I'd try to get my run in this evening.  And, I did.  But, after being at work for 11 hours and 55 minutes, I was very tired and hungry by the time I got home, so tired that I could barely run for the bus!  But no rest of the wicked Janathoners, so I got home, popped some lamb chops in the oven and went to get changed for my run.  My brain switched off and next thing I was getting into my PJs instead of my running gear! ummmm, luckily I noticed and off I went for a run.  I planned on doing 30 mins and hoped that that would mean 5k, although I felt very weak and tired so wasn't sure. I plodded along and once I realised that I would not faint from hunger I picked up my heels and kept going.  The thought of the lamb cooking meant I didn't hang around and managed the 5k in just a whisker over 30 mins.  Still a bit slow, but my mantra this time is steady, steady so I don't start thinking about me two years ago, running along without a care, fitter, slimmer, with better functioning lungs.  For a committed morning running, this evening malarkey has some advantages (specifically not having to jump into the shower and make myself look human in record time), but I'm really going to have to try to get home earlier.  I think that tomorrow I'll try to do a quick mile before work as Tuesdays are going to be tricky for me in general as I'll be teaching from 9-6 and Tuesday is my cinema night...

The downside is that runningfree has not allowed me to upload my runs from today or yesterday (I think) and its starting to get on my nerves, but I'll persist...

Day 8, that means the start of week 2!

Here I am on day 8 and happily still in the game.  I got up and went out for a 6k run this morning.  As I always walk after I finish my run, I've decided to add this to my total done for the rest of Janathon.  Not sure if I should, but I'm far from the leader board so who cares...This morning was fine, I started very slowly as I am paying the price for not having stretched for 2 days in a row, but after a while I found my stride.  It is still amazing to me that whatever distance I do I find that I have the same feeling at the start, the middle and close to the end, they just last longer/ shorter depending on the distance.  I start out thinking 'seriously, I thought I was getting fitter and faster, this is embarrassing why didn't I stay in bed...', then I think 'okay, I'm almost half way, I just need to do that again, I should manage it' and finally 'maybe I should have pushed myself more, run a bit harder or further, but now I've planned to run this distance so I'm going to stop when I decided I would'.  I have a busy week this week, and an even busier one the following week, but I will stick to my 'better to run short and fast than not run at all' approach...Good luck all for week 2.  Annoyed that I still can't seem to post on many of the other blogs, oh well...

Day 7! Woo hoo, one week in...

So, my first week of Janathon 2012 was not a blaize of glory. I kept my runs mainly short and sweet, but 2 positive things came from these runs.  (1) Switching most of my runs to the evening mean that I have generally been getting home from work earlier than usual and (2) I remember that each run makes the next one easier...

So, this morning I decided to set my Nike + for 10K, 10K used to be my easy run but as I have returned to the remedial class, 10K is now a longer run, I'm hoping that over the next few weeks I can add some distance to my runs and get back to my old running form.  As I dragged myself up to Finsbury Park, my thigh was feeling very tight, so after a while I stopped and stretched a bit and hoped for the best. Luckily, after a few Ks my muscles loosened up a bit.  I found the first 5k difficult which is odd as I've been doing lots of 5ks recently and it is usually a breeze, but once I hit 5k and my legs picked up and my mood improved I realised it was my mind, not my body that was objecting.  This always happens when my fitness flags, I start to be cautious about running too far or too fast.  After that, the main problem was the number of runners, walkers, doggies and cyclists hitting the Finsbury Park to Highgate path.  As it was pretty muddy, there was a lot of negotiating the right of way...

Anyway, I managed to do 11K and then had a walk for another 1K before heading home.  I like to walk at the end of a run as it gives me a chance to cool down and let my legs relax before going home for a stretch.

It looked like my ipod had lost my run, but phew, its now found it, so now I'm looking forward to next week and some more running...

Day 6- opps, almost failed today...

So, Friday dawned and I had a good plan!  Early to work, and early home so that I could have a decent run, dinner and then have a skype meeting with a colleague after dinner.  Hmmm, my day at work was a bit chaotic and I ended up having to return to my office after a meeting to find out that my aunt had died and so had to spend some time on family phonecalls etc.  I considered skipping my run as I had cycled during the day and I thought maybe I'd just record that (even though it was only a bicycle facilitated wander!). But, I decided that I would just go out and run a mile before going over to a friend's place for dinner.  As I was picking up our dinner on the way, I couldn't run there, so the mile had to do.  The positive thing about my very quick dash is that I realised how easy it can be to squeeze in a run, even when time is short...
Also, feeling bad about not commenting much on other's blogs, but almost every time I try, my comments are attributed to another Janathoner and I haven't been able to figure out how to solve that problem...

Day 5!

Day 5, another day of opening the front door to wind and rain but this time I was off to the gym for some personal training.  I went early so I could squeeze in a 2K run at the start just to feel like I'm Janathoning and then did a work out.  I cycled 5K and rowed 2K and did around 30 mins of weights and abs.  It was nice to balance the running with some other stuff.  Ideally I should have run to the gym but I had 2 bags, my work bag and my gym bag and running with luggage is not fun!  Not sure when I'll get to log as going out after work and I don't have my lead, but that is not really the important part!  So 2 more runs until the end of week 1 of Janathon...feeling good.

Day 4

So, it is day 4 and I had planned another evening run.  I'm starting to like evening runs more as I feel more relaxed knowing that I don't need to get home, shower and slog into work afterwards. But, I need to set out a bit earlier.  This evening wasn't too bad as I was home at 6.30, but after an hour on the phone sorting out my electricity bill (exciting) I set off.  As I was home early I thought maybe I'd go for 6Ks, but....I opened the door to torrential rain.  Hmmm, if this was not Janathon, I would probably close it and hit the couch but I am determined to complete Janathon.  I added a rain jacket and set off.  As I'm a lightweight, fairweather type I halved my run to 3K and set off, but managed to put another 500 m to the end of my run.  I'm sticking with the short runs until the weekend when I'm hoping to push it a bit more.  Gently does it as my aim is to run every day, not to clock up lots of Ks.  My extra running energy inspired a bout of (I have better things to do in Spring) cleaning which was great.  Now time for bed and looking forward to a trip to the gym tomorrow.

Late posting!

Day 3 of Janathon and I decided to leave my run to the evening, something I almost never did until I tried Janathon last year.  Of course I had planned on getting home around 7 and going out then, but didn't make it home until after 9, shoved some lamb chops in the oven and off I went.  I decided to just do a 20 min run but to try to up my pace, it worked well as I stuck under 6mins a km for most of the run, getting under 5 briefly.  So, I managed to run 3.5km in my 20 mins which I was happy with.  The good thing about such a short run is that as you know (a) it is over almost as soon as you start and (b) you are never far from home, it is possible to push it a little more.  Tonight I will be home earlier and I will try to do a longer run to balance things out.  So far so good with Janathon, apart from remembering the passwords!  Right, time to go to work and already looking forward to getting home for my run this evening!  I hope all the other Janathoners are doing well and nobody blew away yesterday in the crazy wind.

Day 2, only 29 left

So day 2 of Janathon and my alarm went off early, an hour of snoozing later I dragged myself out of bed and hit the road.  I have a lot of work to do so wanted to get into work earlyish so just did 5K.  My fitness seems to be slowly returning after a stop start year of running in 2011.  Although my distances are still very short, I am finding it easy so will need to challenge myself a bit more as the month progresses.  When I left the house the air was freezing and my poor eyes started streaming, but once the shock had passed I appreciated what a beautiful day it is.  Clear blue sky and little white fluffy clouds, ideal running weather.  I seem to need to run different routes every day so today varied my route from Saturday and wound my way along the reservoir up to the park and then wound back again, again I treated myself to the downhill home route which is quite addictive!  I think that the biggest challenge of Janathon may be remembering all my passwords for things.  Once my work routine kicks in from tomorrow the challenge will be to find a good time for running, but hopefully if I keep my distances modest during the week I'll be able to have longer weekend runs.  Now to find a half marathon race for March to ensure that I have a training goal.  Hope my fellow Janathoners are going well today.  Till tomorrow...

1st day of Janathon 2012

So Jan 1st, a new year, and the start of Janathon 2012, woo hoo, here we go...My first run of Janathon 2012 was a realistic 5.5K.  I planned on 5 but after making myself run up lots of hills on the run, I rewarded myself with a nice downhill on the way back.  A good start, but an easy one, running in the daylight, dry, cool, nice.  Lets see what the next 30 days will bring...I hope everyone else had a good start to Janathon.