Day 85 / 119
2014:
Officially today is down as a rest day but as I'd messed about with the order of things last week I'd already had 2 in a row and my own guilt would not let me get the hat-trick
Despite my last drink fueled night pre race (well, that's the plan at the moment) I got up early for my usual robotic pilates followed by a 30 minute jog down the gym
The rest really had done me good as the only discomfort I was in was that of embarrassment
I know I've put on weight but the way my upper half was flapping around no-one could have got on a neighbouring treadmill even if they wanted to
This is the main reason for the whole going on the wagon idea
I'd hate for all this effort to go to waste through my own greed and there is a very real danger of that happening
I even threw away food at lunchtime once I'd adjudged myself a pig for what I'd ordered - could I be growing up at last ....?
Start Weight - 84.4 kg
Last week Weight - 82.3 kg
Current Weight - 81.3kg
Weekly Loss - 1.0 kg (seems VERY unlikely)
Overall Loss - 3.1 kg
2011:
Woke up feeling a little better today and the day got better and better as I reread the schedule and today was ANOTHER rest day - yes 2 in a row. I couldn't stop smiling all day. Went to the physio this morning and was told that my back was almost back to normal but she could see why I was having problems with my legs. Unfortunately I was referred here for my back so she wasn't allowed to help me out - although unofficially she did "suggest" some extra stretches to do. I tried them tonight and they must be hitting the spot because they hurt like hell.
Weights tomorrow - bring them on !!!
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Day 86 / 119
2014:
I was very very tired this morning but managed to get through 30 minutes of pilates before going off to the gym for a x-trainer session
Joss was there already and had secured a good position under the air conditioner so that was good as I'd managed to forget my water despite actually putting the water in the bottle just before I left
For the first time in a few outings, my knees decided that perhaps they'd been neglected over the past 12 weeks
They weren't exactly screaming at me - more of a tetchy teenager not getting their way and moaning in that ever so appealing whiny voice we all do well to ignore
So I chose the same route and ignored them
They have scolded me a little more during the day for not getting the attention they felt they deserved but as I say to the kids - it's character building - and they'll need to toughen up for tomorrow's extravaganza ....
2011:
As previously posted, today was meant to be a weight's day - but I was in a quandary. Although my legs hurt, should I avoid doing ANY leg exercises this week? I'd already decided not to run on Wednesday - am I going down the wrong path? So, I decided to do a 30 minute cycle. The compromise would be to set the resistance to really low and pedal slowly. Unluckily for me there were more people in there than I could ever remember for a morning, so they all witnessed my feebleness. At the end of the 30 minutes my face was flushed but from embarrassment rather than effort. Went to the changing room to get my water bottle and it was then that I saw the no hot water sign. AGAIN!! I know I'd not tried hard but not even I could go to work after gymming without washing so I had to go home first and did the full set of stretching there. I did try to put in a complaint over at reception but the poor chap looked so forlorn I felt sorry for him and didn't bother - I must have been in a funny mood - it wouldn't normally have stopped me
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Day 87 / 119
2014:
A midweek 5am alarm was greeted much more happily than usual as I'd gone to bed by 8:30 last night
I've turned into a right saddo - the truth is I would have wanted that early night even if I WASN'T getting up so early
Today was an 8 mile quick run which on the treadmill means just under 13 km at 11.1 km/h
Joss ran on the treadmill next to me and it brought a smile to my face as she set the speed at 12 km/h and set off like she had a rocket up her backside
To be absolutely fair she lasted far longer than I anticipated before going back to her normal pace - I'll have her running the marathon with me next year
It's far easier to come up with a comic quip when things go wrong but today I just had no source material
Sure it was harder than usual but once I'd got into the swing of the pace, it actually felt quite comfortable
Even the left calf played ball (which was a VERY pleasant surprise)
To cap the good news off the impressive running guy next to me left before I had to take the energy gel I'd brought with me so I didn't even give him the chance to think what a show off / cheat I was
I'm not convinced that I could keep that pace up for a further 18 miles....... but if 8 was the correct target it must mean I'm on track - I've just got to believe.....
2011:
Nope - couldn't do it. Try as I might there was no way on earth I was going to be able to haul my lazy backside out of bed to do an early morning swim. I had a contingency, though, in that Kieren had a swimming lesson at 18:15 so I could go for a swim myself at the same time. However, it was a long day at work culminating in training the new guys in the afternoon and I had the dread fill me, getting worse and worse every minute at the prospect of the evening swim. I just wasn't in the mood. Then, a magical moment as I received a text just after 4 - The instructor had cancelled - hoorraay!! After all, if Kieren wasn't going there was no need for me to leave the house. Topped the day off with a nice chippie tea along with the thought that tomorrow will HAVE to be a gym day !!
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Day 88 / 119
2014:
Today I had the choice of a 30 minute jog or rest - guess which one I chose ......?
WRONG!!!
I picked the jog, and here's why:
I am genuinely concerned that I haven't tried / trained hard enough
Of course I don't want to be like I was last time and have to stop training because I'm in so much pain but it just seems like an ENORMOUS leap from where I am now to where I need to be
The Wednesday run was tough at the time but thinking back was it really that tough ? I don't feel I could have carried on at that pace for another 18 miles so shouldn't I be doing something more ?
This weekend is another slow run of 14 miles
I'm so tempted to run at marathon pace but I won't
I figure that if I follow the plan and don't hit the 4 hour mark - it's the plan that's failed, not me :-)
2011:
Sooooo tired. Again, no chance of getting to the gym early so (very happily) left work early to get some exercise. Decided against the X-trainer and went on the bike for 30 minutes. Set the resistance higher as I'm still gaining weight and managed to get through it all with just a little pain. This is no time for wimps, though, and so then did a weight's circuit. My favourite pastime when doing this is that some of the weights machines mean you sit at right angles to those on the treadmills and I like to stare straight ahead between sets. The aerobic people can sense that someone is looking at them but it takes a brave man to turn that far to see who it is while running. It's like a game of chicken that I can't lose, because if they DO manage to look - I then find my ipod really interesting and start playing with it and they just think that I was in my own world. After the session went and had a shower and as I got out to get changed, this freakishly tall instructor started putting his stuff in the locker next to me (don't get me started). A tad angry, and not a little intimidated I decided to front it out and get dressed as if he wasn't even there. An act I could have easily carried off had I not got my foot stuck in my underwear and the resulting heave upwards sending me crashing towards the locker opposite. Not cool, never have been, never will be
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Day 89 / 119
2014:
A rest day today and it was bliss
First time I can remember in months I had been able to eat breakfast and have a cup of tea in bed
This running lark seems to have aged me beyond all recognition - what with that and my new found love of GBBO I'm just a short step from a flat cap and cardigan
2011:
As we get nearer to Marathon Day, we get more rest days. Today was another - so that's what I did. In fact, the only exercise I did was 45 seconds on a treadmill when trying out new trainers. That would have gone smoothly had the assistant not wanted to film me running to make sure they did the job and made me roll up my trouser legs to knee level. Uh, and did I mention that the shop was packed and because I run so flat footed the noise of my steps brought the shop to a standstill and so they all turned to watch me in my office gear, trousers rolled up ridiculously. No you're right, not embarrassing, not at all
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Day 90 / 119
2014:
Today was a 14 mile slow run which had me in a dilemma as that distance doesn't fit that well with my preferred routes
It left me with 3 options:
1 Do 1 x 8 mile lap then have the bore of 3 x 2 mile laps
2 Do a 7.5 mile lap and then 6.5 miles of that same lap, leaving me a mile away at finish
3 Do 2 x 7.5 mile laps
Well, as I'd already worried this week that I've not been trying enough, I went for option 3 and converted 14 miles into 15 miles
On the first lap my left calf kept feeling like it was going to knot up and it reminded me that no matter how much I prepare, it would only take that to go and the whole thing would be over
Luckily today it seemed to ease off but there is the concern that at a faster pace, would it be as forgiving?
As I ran along Holes Bay there was a guy sitting on the rocks in a sleeping bag with all his possessions scattered around him
As he looked out over the water as the sun came up I followed his gaze and thought to myself that if he WAS homeless I bet he'd not woken to a better view before - in fairness it was stunning - a pity I take such beauty for granted
The second lap was a little more troublesome with both knees having a right old gripe and I remembered that for the last marathon I wore knee supports - I'll give that some thought
Apart from that, the only real concern was again my back
It completely froze up and when a giant bug landed on my leg I just couldn't run and bend down to flick it off
It's now a pet and has it's own room.....
These next 4 weeks I'm going to be a yoga Yoda - "My back I have to fix....."
2011:
Today is a 14 miler and Joss isn't with me today so I've got to carry as much water as I can and adapt my route so I can pass the house and pick more up. I've even invested in some magic jelly beans that are meant to help running - feeling a little like Jack!! Started my run feeling tired but ok. At 3 miles however my left knee started to hurt. Tried to get into the music on my ipod to forget about it and ran for another 5 before I really started to worry. The pain was no worse and I KNEW I could get to the end - but at what cost. I read an article recently where a runner was asked for his top tip for marathon running and he said "Always stand on the start line, injury free".
So, I'd reached Asda on Holes Bay and I stopped. I then thought - what a wimp - get running, and started again. 20 seconds later I thought - what am I doing, and stopped. This stop start continued all along Holes Bay - I must have looked a right idiot. Even now I can't work out why I kept starting - was it for me or was it that I didn't want to face people saying that I didn't make it. The irony was that this was the first time the wind was with me on that stretch!! I've got 4 weeks left - and I think it's time to listen to myself rather than rigidly staying to the schedule. Next week is meant to be the last of the long runs but I'm already thinking that might be too much - I want to be on that start line with the best chance of finishing - and if it's in a good time - well that would be a bonus
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Day 91 / 119
2014:
A rest day - my thigh and hip seemed to want a trip back down memory lane and they ached like they did back in the first few weeks
Why now ? Oh well - I've still got 4 weeks to make or break me - lots of stretching ahead of me, I think...
2011:
It's the usual Sunday rest day and even though there's plenty to do - I'm just not doing it (no change there then, I hear from Joss). I'm shattered - and without a proper rest this weekend I can't see how I'm going to recover for the next bout of training. I have, however, slightly gone off the rails by eating the biggest roast dinner and pudding - so I have lots to carry around on me - back to bread and water tomorrow...
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