Time trial

Had a very good 4.5 mile time trial run yesterday and took 2 mins off my personal best for the route, so went round in 33 mins, which was 7.5 min mile pace, so really pleased, especially as it was quite a hilly course. Seems like taking a little rest and the last 3 months of running have had a big affect... so all good at the moment!

A good week

Exactly what the title says... a good week of around 32 miles running, 4-5 walking and some shorter fitness work playing touch rugby... so really pleased. Plus I'm also starting to put in the back-to-back runs of around 9-10 miles each run. Today was the 10 miler following the 9 miler yesterday and the last mile I was flying... so feeling good... although still get the odd shin pain now and again, but pleased so far.

Next week is a going to be less miles (around 15-20), as I'm following a training plan that allows for a more 'relaxed' week every 4-5 weeks... supposed to help against injuries etc... so good timing with xmas!

Merry Chrimbo!

Another wee while...

Well here I am again, promising to write regularly and again its been two weeks. But the great news is that training is going well and I feel fit and healthy. The shin splints that plagued me when I started training seem (and I use the word very lightly), to be OK... that is I can run 4 days on the trot... as I did this weekend just gone, and not have any really bad side effects. I even did two longer back-to-back runs (10 and 9 miles), and even pushed a 9 mile time trial the day after the 10 miler and it felt good. It's so pleasing for a change to be reporting pretty much injury free and training going well. I've now got 5 solid weeks of 25-30 miles each week behind me, and I'm a happy man. However I don't want to count my chickens just yet.

I really think the key has been just slowing down, and not pushing myself too hard. Since moving to Australia I've really been careful with my training and it's starting to pay dividends. Plus there are some great runs out here too, and I'm planning some much longer, harder terrains to run on in the next few weeks. For the moment I'm going to stick to my plans... keep the 5-8 milers going during the week, and then the longer 10-13 mile runs at the weekends.

I've also signed myself up for the Canberra Marathon. This will be my first ever marathon, so a little apprehensive, but also very excited... and then possibly looking at some other off-roads runs too. So fingers crossed, and now that I'm in my new place... i can update more regularly on this thing too!

Well it's been a wee while now...

Hello one and all... well just me :) It has been ages since I posted on here, so thought I'd drop in with an update on all things in the running world. Things have been good since the new trainers came on board. In November I managed to get a really consistent month, mainly helped by the fact that I ahve slowed down somewhat and am taking on much more difficult terrain, aided by the fact that I have moved to Sydney, Australia and it lends itself to doing just that!

So having had that bloody awful foot injury in September, October was just about building fitness again, and November has seen a good consistent 23-25 a week running. I think the thing has been slowing down somewhat. Beforehand I'd run each run as if it were my last and I was racing. Now I'm running around the 8:30min - 9min mile mark, and not only do I feel so much less tired when I get back from runs, but I'm able to train longer and better, I think it's really helping, so going for a 1 hour run is like a walk in the park, quite literally as I go around the Botanical Gardens in Sydney! So far so good. So my aims for December are to build up the weekly milage to around 30 miles a week now, with a half-marathon on weekends. I'm also going to make sure I start posting much more on here as it'sd a good training diary for me too!

Time trial...

Well its all systems go now, and I feel back into the training finally, having had the injuries, and the mental challenges of feeling like I'm running with lead for the first few weeks back. Last night was good... i did a 6.5 mile run in the dark and legged it round in about 51-52 mins, which was a marker improvement. Plus I had around 6.5kgs on the back too. I'm not saying its perfect, but it feels like a good start. Here's hoping I can stay injury free now.

Plus I've also recently changed trainers to some Gel II Speedstars (Asics), and they're genius!

Back on the road...

Well after a dodgy September with injuries, and then a little bit of illness, followed by going to the Rugby World Cup Final, things are getting back on track now. I have decided to follow a rather simple programme of running until I get to Australia, and then really get right back into it when I'm out there.

So last week, despite a little illness I got back on it with 3 or 4/5/6 mile runs with 6-8 kgs on. I've forgotten how hard it is, and just how much fitness you do actually lose when you've been injured. But things are OK, and I just need to get the consistency going again now. The aim is to run around 20-25 miles a week. To be honest, work and commuting really doesn't allow for much more at the moment, and then when I'm settled in Australia, things will hopefully approach some level of normality again and I can get seriously back into the training. I've got hold of a programme of training from a guy that ran in the MDS, and it all looks very sensible and achievable too. So here we go!

Injuries and such

So a long time no speak on here... again. Well I managed to somehow fracture my foot running. Silly me.. i felt a twinge whilst walking on the Sunday August Bank Holiday, and then decided to go for a run. Felt something go around 3 miles in... and carried on for another 5 miles... got home.. couldnt walk. Then went to hospital, confirmed the worst and had to get taxis everywhere for 2 weeks. Only just got back on the running, with a 15 miles one week, and then 2 10km runs last week in France to ease myelf in. Then left my trainers in France.. nice one... so just bought some new ones today... nice... will have to break them in too!

However big news is I'm moving to Australia in a couple of months, so very busy. So have planned out a realistic training schedule to see me through until I go... and then up til the end of the year. That should get the half-marathon fitness back, and then full steam ahead (injury permitting) for the next 15 months. Fingers crossed