Monday 31st October 2011

Potions and pills!  The paraphenalia of training is building up.  Let me walk you through this morning's chemically enhanced living.  Within ten minutes of waking (at 5am - eek) I was slapping Deep Heat on my neck, shoulders, and both legs from the achilles (that hurts today where it didn't hurt yesterday!) up to my quads and my hamstrings.  My calves got special attention as they've been sore, especially the left.  That was followed by some ASDA Vapor Rub on my chest to ease my breathing and keep my pipes clear!  Then the runners favourite... vaseline around the erm... tender areas at the top of my thighs!  Then after the run (and stretches) it was time for Deep Freeze on my calves and achilles.  Tesco Ibuprofen rub on my neck and shoulders, Savlon on my broken toe-nails and a barocca to give me a boost.  I really don't know how ancient man coped without all this technology!

Anyway, on to this morning's run.  A good 6.4 miles through the dark using my head torch to see the road.  I felt good and strong all the way around although I drunk a litre of water in the first 5 miles which means I was probably a little dehydrated when I started.  I kept my average HR nice and low (138 bpm) and my average pace nice and slow (10:18 mpm).  So all very comfortable :)

One crazy thing though.  I passed a sleeping horse.  Have you ever seen one?  It was standing on a high bank facing over the hedge to the lane; as still as rock with it's eyes reflecting the lights of my torch.  It didn't move a muscle the whole while; as if frozen in time. It was incredibly spooky and I had to run right under it. I think it's fair to say I know what will be stalking my nightmares this Halloween night!

I finished the day with a little plank work (just a token gesture to be honest) and some more ibuprofen gel on my right calf.  Oh, and fifty press-ups to work off a little late evening frustration.

JUST THE FACTS!!
Weight: 81.2 Kg

TODAY
Distance 6.42 miles
Time  1:06:08
Kcal  754
Elevation 426 ft
Press-ups 50
Swimming 0 m
Sauna  0 mins

TOTAL
Distance 51.36 miles
Time  9:05:40
Kcal  4916
Elevation 2205 ft
Press-ups 70
Swimming 2000 m
Sauna  30 mins

CHARITY HURTS!!

My neck is killing me! It hurts to turn my head, especially to the left with the pain focused on my right shoulder at the back.  Some pain in my lower legs and achilles but I'm not too worried even though I was limping a little this evening with my right leg painful when I put weight on it.  If it continues I may tag an extra rest day onto my next one to give it time to recover.  As it is I will probably replace my run with a swim tomorrow just in case.

FUNDRAISING

Thank you to everyone who has sponsored me so far.  My current total is £170 on the Virgin Money Giving site.  My Adsense revenue is £9.64 now - outstanding!!  Please keep clicking on the ads because every click helps raise more money for Mencap.

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Please remember that I'm inflicting all this pain and misery on myself for a cause greater than just having a good story to tell over a beer. I hope to raise over £9,500 for MENCAP; an amazing charity who help those born with learning difficulties to live a normal life and to enjoy the same opportunities and choices that the rest of us take for granted.

Be an awesome human being today and click on the link below and help make someone's life better.

Thank you.  You really ARE awesome.
www.virginmoneygiving.com/pitymyfeet

Sunday 30th October 2011

A recovery day today and because of the pain in my lower left leg I figured that it might be prudent to stay off the roads.  Hence a trip to the gym instead.  I did a slow 2.5 Km on the treadmill then hit the pool, sauna, and jacuzzi.

The treadmill run was good and I could easily have done a much longer recovery but I was really looking forward to getting into the water and so knocked it on the head as soon as I'd reached a round number (well, not exactly round but at least easy to remember).  The pool was lovely.  I did 20 lengths (500m); 15 minutes in the sauna (at 85 degrees C again); another 20 lengths; then a spell in the jacuzzi to massage my aching muscles.

A lovely way to spend a couple of hours and I'm sure that reading this you must be wondering what all the fuss is about.  Marathon des Sables training is easy!  We'll see...

JUST THE FACTS!!
Weight: 81.2 Kg

Today 
Distance 1.55 miles
Time  0:17:21
Kcal  143
Elevation 0 ft
Press-ups 0
Swimming 1000 m
Sauna  15 mins

Total
Distance 44.94 miles
Time  7:59:32
Kcal  4162
Elevation 1779 ft
Press-ups 20
Swimming 2000 m
Sauna  30 mins

CHARITY HURTS!!

Still some pain in my lower left leg and I've treated it with more ibuprofen gel.  My toe was less painful today after only a small time running.  The swim (and some associated messing around!) has made my shoulders really sore and I 'ricked' my neck in the pool so that is very painful!  My right hip has started to hurt too.  It's all pointing to me needing new shoes!! Otherwise I'm feeling pretty good.  :)

DONATE

Please remember that I'm inflicting all this pain and misery on myself for a cause greater than just having a good story to tell over a beer. I hope to raise over £9,500 for MENCAP; an amazing charity who help those born with learning difficulties to live a normal life and to enjoy the same opportunities and choices that the rest of us take for granted.

Be an awesome human being today and click on the link below and help make someone's life better.

Thank you.  You really ARE awesome.
www.virginmoneygiving.com/pitymyfeet

Saturday 29th October 2011

First long run day!  Up before 6am with butterflies and out in the dark at 7am to run through the dawn.  My plan was to run the flat and the down the hills but to walk up the hills and also to eat and drink through the run (which is something I'm not good at).  My plan worked well and in fact on my split times my fastest mile was mile 13 when I got the benefit of a mile ten eccles cake that gave me a wonderful energy boost that allowed me to open my legs a little.

Towards the end of the run I met a guy walking the lanes who had walked from Stoke-on-Trent that morning (a distance of about 30 miles) and was heading off to Snowdon (about 70 miles further).  He was planning to wild camp for a few days then walk back.  He was a nice guy and he gave me the gift of humility in case I was tempted to be too pleased about my smooth 15 miler! (well... I thought it was smooth but this mile 14 photo might imply otherwise!).

I finished off by icing my legs in the shower with freezing cold water pounding them until they were like two painful blocks of granite hanging off my buttocks!  But then I treated myself to about half an hour in a deep hot bath.  Lovely!

No stretching after these long runs to avoid damaging weakened muscles.

For hydration I used two bottles of lucozade sport and they were effective in keeping me going and giving me energy but they are not practical for the desert.  So one of my goals for the next few weeks is to find a powdered supplement that I can add to water and easily carry.  Likewise for energy bars; as much as I love eccles cakes are they aren't really designed for the desert!

JUST THE FACTS!!
Weight: 81.2 Kg

Today 
Distance 15.40 miles
Time  2:44:17
Kcal  1730
Elevation 775 ft
Press-ups 0
Swimming 0m
Sauna  0 mins

Total
Distance 43.39 miles
Time  7:42:11
Kcal  4019
Elevation 1779 ft
Press-ups 20
Swimming 1000m
Sauna  15 mins

CHARITY HURTS!!
In myself I felt great!  Lots of energy and strength, even towards the end I was having to force myself to stay slow because my legs wanted to go quicker.  However a couple of minor injuries gave me some trouble.  Firstly my toe was really painful and I had to be a little more aggressive with the scissors to cut away more of the nail.  I also had some pain in my lower left leg that caused me to limp a little at the end of the run.  I treated it with some ibuprofen gel after the run and will keep an eye on it.

DONATE NOW!!!!
Please remember that I'm inflicting all this pain and misery on
myself for a cause greater than just having a good story to tell
over a beer. I hope to raise over £9,500 for MENCAP; an amazing
charity who help those born with learning difficulties to live a
normal life and to enjoy the same opportunities and choices that the
rest of us take for granted.

Be an awesome human being today and click on the link below and help
make someone's life better.

Thank you.  You really ARE awesome.

www.virginmoneygiving.com/pitymyfeet

Friday 28th October 2011

Back to it after a relaxing day off. Started with a lovely lunchtime four miler around the lanes.  The weather is beautiful today and it was a joy to run. In fact it was a bit of a challenge keeping cool because I ran with plenty of layers. I worked up a decent sweat and recovered quickly - all good!

Another boost as I weighed myself this morning to find I'm almost 2Kg lighter than I was a week ago.  That's what a week without alcohol does for me!

The day finished off with a 1000 m swim (40 lengths) in the pool.  The water was cool and it felt great to stretch out my limbs.  I had a little dip in the jacuzzi (ouch it was hotter than soup in there!) and then started my hot weather acclimatisation.  Well that's what I'm calling it.  Actually it was 15 minutes chilling out in the sauna.  Which is quite something when you think about it.

JUST THE FACTS!!
Weight: 81.2 Kg

Today 
Distance 4.49 miles
Time  42:20
Kcal  537
Elevation 154 ft
Press-ups 0
Swimming 1000m
Sauna  15 mins

Total
Distance 27.99 miles
Time  4:57:54
Kcal  3244
Elevation 1004 ft
Press-ups 20
Swimming 1000m
Sauna  15 mins

CHARITY HURTS!!
Feeling really good again!  I think I've beaten the counter-attack that my cold launched yesterday and since clipping my toe-nail I've had no new pain (although it is still very bruised).  Very slight lower leg pain during the run which probably implies I will need some new  trainers soon.

DONATE NOW!!!!
Please remember that I'm inflicting all this pain and misery on myself for a cause greater than just having a good story to tell over a beer. I hope to raise over £9,500 for MENCAP; an amazing charity who help those born with learning difficulties to live a normal life and to enjoy the same opportunities and choices that the rest of us take for granted.

Be an awesome human being today and click on the link below and help make someone's life better.

Thank you.  You really ARE awesome.
www.virginmoneygiving.com/pitymyfeet

Thursday 27th October 2011

So today is my first rest day.  I need it actually.  After nearly three weeks off with flu to come back with six day's straight running has taken it out of me.  My legs are OK but my lungs are sore and I feel a little cold coming back on.

So, nothing to add to the training log although I did spend some time watching some great You Tube videos about ultra-running and a talk by a guy called Mark Hines that was very insprirational.  You can see it here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gG29eTNzRkI. 
I'm amazed that it's only got 56 views because it's really interesting and he's a good speaker!

Another couple of videos that I watched relate to the 100 mile Burning River ultra marathon in the US.  You can watch them here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZQ30o83TYw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWv9s7P7fY8

Inspirational and daunting all at the same time!!

JUST THE FACTS!!
Weight: 83 Kg

Today 
Distance zip
Time  didley squat
Kcal  zilch
Elevation schmelevation
Press-ups whatchootalkingaboutwillis

Total
Distance 23.50 miles
Time  4:15:34
Kcal  2707
Elevation 850 ft
Press-ups 20

CHARITY HURTS!!
I managed to trim the edge of my newly blackened toe nail (I have two others that have been black for ten years and they don't hurt me now!).  That's provided some relief from the pain.  It's only mild though.  My calves are tight but they'll be fine with a day's rest.  My chest is a little wheezy where I think my cold is trying to come back but a day in the warm will sort that out I'm sure.

DONATE NOW!!!!
Please remember that I'm inflicting all this pain and misery on myself for a cause greater than just having a good story to tell over a beer. I hope to raise over £9,500 for MENCAP; an amazing charity who help those born with learning difficulties to live a normal life and to enjoy the same opportunities and choices that the
rest of us take for granted.
Be an awesome human being today and click on the link below and help make someone's life better.
Thank you.  You really ARE awesome.
www.virginmoneygiving.com/pitymyfeet

Wednesday 26th October 2011

A slightly longer short run today, up to just under four and a half miles.  Steady, quicker than last night but nothing too mental, averaging 9:10 mmp and keeping my average HR below 150 (which is quite an achievement for me because my heart usually beats like a quartz crystal). 

The weather is beautiful and running around the lanes and over the gentle hills was a true pleasure.  My week one objective is complete; to get back into the routine of running and back to a point where it doesn't exhaust me just to put one foot in front of the other.  My goal now is to get to a first long run of 15 miles (which I will do on the flat!!) so that I can build that up week by week until I get to the real long distances in January.  Finished off with some good stretches and a quick plank. (no, that's not slang).

I finished off the day walking the dog.  Another two miles although I won't include it in my stats as it was more stop than go on account of the dog's erratic behaviour.  She was impossible to control until finally a squirrel bit her (quite justifiably in my opinion).  After that she was a little less keen on escape and a little more keen on the concept of safety in numbers.

JUST THE FACTS!!
Weight: 83 Kg

Today 
Distance 4.44 miles
Time  0:40:45
Kcal  488
Elevation 145 ft
Press-ups 0

Total
Distance 23.50 miles
Time  4:15:34
Kcal  2707
Elevation 850 ft
Press-ups 20

CHARITY HURTS!!
My first aches and pains of the training have arisen today.  I'll spare the gory details but I have rubbed myself sore at the, ahem, top of my thighs.  I should have used vaseline but didn't and am suffering for it now and am walking a little bit like John Wayne.  I also have a black toe nail on my right foot; on the toe next to the little one.  That hurts but is too small to clip -  hopefully it will fall off shortly and hurt less.

DONATE NOW!!!!
Please remember that I'm inflicting all this pain and misery on myself for a cause greater than just having a good story to tell over a beer. I hope to raise over £9,500 for MENCAP; an amazing charity who help those born with learning difficulties to live a normal life and to enjoy the same opportunities and choices that the
rest of us take for granted.

Be an awesome human being today and click on the link below and help make someone's life better.
Thank you.  You really ARE awesome.
www.virginmoneygiving.com/pitymyfeet

Tuesday 25th October 2011

I shook up my routine a little today and ran in the evening with smoe company. A slower pace than normal but over much hillier ground and the first medium distance of my training at just shy of seven miles. It felt good to up the duration too and even after 90 minutes of running I felt I had strength and energy to burn.

So all told I'm feeling good!I'm getting used to carrying the water bottle too and that's important so that it doesn't cause me problems in the desert. I'll leave it another month or so before I introduce a backpack to my routine. For now my goal is simply to build up my mileage.

My fundraising total is now up to £170 and I'm pretty pleased with that considering I haven't started pushing it yet.

Just the facts!

Weight: 83 Kg

Today Distance 6.96 miles

Time 1:31:59

Kcal 911

Elevation 300 ft

Press-ups 0

Total

Distance 19.06 miles

Time 3:34:49

Kcal 2219

Elevation 705 ft

Press-ups 20

DONATE NOW!!!!

Please remember that I'm inflicting all this pain and misery on myself for a cause greater than just having a good story to tell over a beer. I hope to raise over £9,500 for MENCAP; an amazing charity who help those born with learning difficulties to live a normal life and to enjoy the same opportunities and choices that the rest of us take for granted.

Be an awesome human being today and click on the link below and help make someone's life better.

Thank you. You really ARE awesome.

www.virginmoneygiving.com/pitymyfeet

Monday 24th October 2011

Another nice easy one with the dog. Or as easy as it can be when the dog is using your legs as slalom poles and is displaying the coordination of a drunk. Passers by must think us slighly mad as I swear at the dog randomly, I just shrug and say we have a complicated relationship!Anyway, usual route, usual pace (slow!).

Legs a little tired after some nice walking yesterday but all told a decent little stretch.Finished with some stretches (ouch) and an awesome cup of tea.

Just the facts!
Weight: 83 Kg

Today
Distance 3.02 miles
Time 0:31:06
Kcal 396
Elevation 103 ft
Press-ups 0

Total
Distance 12.12 miles
Time 2:02:50
Kcal 1308
Elevation 405 ft
Press-ups 20

Sunday 23rd October 2011

OK so what have I learned this morning. Firstly that under no circumstances am I taking the dog on the Marathon des Sables with me. She is a nuisance! The usual easy 3 miler today but at a slower pace to a) avoid hurting the dog's paws on the road and b) to allow the dog to sniff in detail every square inch of the route and occasionally leave behind a new smell for the next hapless jogger's dog.

On the bright side the run was lovely, almost a minute a mile slower then normal. Heart rate a good 5bpm lower than normal and time to look at the scenery more than normal, spotting a draining ditch (wow!) and a tree house (wow wow!) that I hadn't seen before.

Finished off with some good stretches and a few press-ups (very few on account of my pathetically weak shoulders!

Just the facts!

Weight: 83 Kg

Today

Distance 3.03 miles

Time 0:31:43

Kcal 400

Elevation 118 ft

Press-ups 20

Total

Distance 9.1 miles

Time 1:31:44

Kcal 1205

Elevation 302 ft

Press-ups 20

Saturday 22nd October 2011

Out at 7am for another easy three miler. Around the same route but in the growing daylight this morning on account of the (accidentally) later start. No cows. No probs! I'm aiming to keep my heart rate nice and low while I build up some base mileage and managed to keep it under control all the way around although it's playing havoc with my pace!

I finished off with some good stretches and a little light plank work to build my core.

Just the facts!

Weight: 83 Kg

Today

Distance 3.02 miles

Time 0:29:33

Kcal 388

Elevation 67 ft

Total

Distance 6.07 miles

Time 1:00:01

Kcal 805

Elevation 184 ft

Day 3 - 162 Days to go

Up at 5am for a gentle 3 miler to get back into my training. Ran in darkness under my new LED headtorch (£5.97 from tesco). It was a slow peaceful run with a rain so gentle that it looked like snow under my light. I ran with a full waterbottle to start me getting used to running with that lopsided weight and also to start building a habit of good hydration right from the off. Three layers of clothing with my bright yellow wind-cheater on top for visibility (and for better cow scaring!).

Just the facts!

Today

Distance 3.05 miles

Time 0:30:28

Kcal 417

Elevation 67 ft

Total

Distance 3.05 miles

Time 0:30:28

Kcal 417

Elevation 67 ft

164 Days to go

Training Update

Day: 1

Days to go: 164

Weight: 83 Kg

Miles so far: 0

Training priority number one is to get rid of this flu!!!