Saturday night is alright for drinking. At least this one was because I'd had a night out arranged for ages and was intending to put aside my monastry lifestyle for a few hours and get mullered. YOLO and all that.
Of course a man of my years oughtn't be exerting himself when affected by the demon drink and so my long run was pulled forward to Saturday morning instead of Sunday. And a jolly good idea it was too because the conditions were just beautiful! Broken sunshine, cool refreshing breeze, a lovely route planned along the waterside in Hull; ducks lined up nicely for a thoroughly pleasant time! Not literally you understand. I've not seen many ducks in the Humber to be fair although there may be some somewhere. I digress.
Another experiment I'm trying is to base all my running (and cycling) on time instead of distance. I'm told it's all the rage in iron distance triathlon circles. So rather than set out for an eleven mile run, I set out for a two hour run and just let the distance take care of itself. Combined with my new found HR obsession it meant I really had no idea of the pace I'd run nor the distance. As it happened I maintained an average of just over 11 mins per mile at an average HR of 122. Given that I stopped for the loo a few times (child's bladder) and to take photos a few times my actual running speed was probably a fraction under 11. This is still way slower than I'm comfortable with but I need to stick with it to get the benefits I guess.
Apart from some blisters that my striking (lime green) new Nevica trail shoes have given me, I finished feeling incredibly fresh. I really think that with a bit of food I could have continued for at least another hour at that pace but there's no point in rushing things. I'm sure the training will get more challenging as I start to focus in on some intermediate goals and push things a little harder.
Next stop, swimming on Monday. Oh, I took Friday and Sunday as rest day's - tired legs; hangover; etc.
Peace, out.
TODAY
Run Distance: 11.11 miles
Swimming: 0 m
Cycling: 0 miles
Hiking: 0 miles
Workout time: 2:04 hrs
Press-ups:0
Core workouts:0
Stretching workouts: 0
TOTAL
Run Distance: 28.36 miles
Swimming: 5850 m
Cycling: 75.8 miles
Hiking: 6 miles
Workout time: 17:07 hrs
Press-ups:206
Core workouts: 2
Stretching workouts: 6
Pity My Feet is a training and fitness blog that chronicles the misadventures of an aging demotivated wanna-be athlete with a penchant for making bad exercise related life choices. Currently in training for Iron Man Wales 2014. Don't ask why.
Showing posts with label jogging. Show all posts
Showing posts with label jogging. Show all posts
Monday, 30 September 2013
Thursday, 19 September 2013
Thursday 19th September 2013 - Your inflexible friend
I started today with some press-ups. I've got a half-hearted ambition of completing the hundred push ups challenge. I took the test the other day and did 26 press-ups straight up. This let me skip straight to week 3 of the challenge and I followed the plan of doing reps of 14, 18, 14, 14, and finally 20 to finish. It sounds good to say I did 80 press ups today. The reality was pretty unimpressive as I heaved and sweated barely lifting my nose off the carpet by the end. Still, who cares about reality as long I can create an illusion of fitness!
I followed up the press-up-fest with some plank work to try to build up my core. I think they are called planks but I have a nagging voice in my head that says they are called 'bridge' exercises. Anyway, I digress. Basically the problem I have is that my middle needs a lot of attention (ooh err) and every time I do these core strength exercises I shake and vibrate like a ringing phone. Despite all that I actually enjoy them. They really hit your stomach muscles and the side-plank one makes me think that one day I might lose that roll of fat and finally start to look a bit more like the guys on the front of Men's Health magazine.
Running wise I did a little over an hour of down in HR zone two (sub 126 bpm for me). It's still devilishly tricky to stay below that rate and my movement feels cumbersome and far too slow. However I'm determined to persevere with it. I made some improvement over Monday's run and averaged 11:30 minute miles.
I finished the night with some stretches. I used this routine (below) and learned in the process that I am about as flexible as a block of granite. Years of running and cycling without stretching have taken their toll and now I have a horrible flex-deficit. I'm bendily challenged. I'll never be as flexible as the woman in this video but it would be nice to touch my toes again one day!
That's it for tonight. Peace, out
JUST THE FACTS:
TODAY
Run Distance: 6.22 miles
Swimming: 0 m
Cycling: 0 miles
Hiking: 0 miles
Workout time: 1:30 hrs
Press-ups:80
Core workouts:1
Stretching workouts: 1
TOTAL
Run Distance: 11.03 miles
Swimming: 1850 m
Cycling: 14:36 miles
Hiking: 6 miles
Workout time: 6:23 hrs
Press-ups:106
Core workouts: 2
Stretching workouts: 1
Friday, 30 March 2012
Friday 30th March 2012 - Radio Ga Ga!
I had a great time talking about all aspects of the challenge and I hope that I may have inspired one or two listeners to donate some money to Mencap.
You can listen to a recording of the interview here. It'll only be available for the next two weeks so be quick!
Finally a quick word about Calon FM. They are a community radio station serving Wrexham and the surrounding area based in the Glyndwr University campus. They provide a great service to people like me who need a voice in the local community and a quick look at the list of guests they have had on shows what a help they are to charities and other good causes in the area. Dave told me that they will shortly be applying to extend their licence for another five years. I would urge you to do all you can to support this to make sure we don't lose this important asset to our community. They are selling some raffle tickets and you can join in and buy some here. Finally I have to say, they play some great music! Thanks guys - great work! :)
Peace, out.
Thursday, 29 March 2012
Thursday 29th March 2012 - 10 sunny miles!
So after the shock this morning of finding out that it's hotter here than it is in the Sahara I figured I might as well take advantage of it and get myself out in the sun for a little loosener. I did 12.5 miles with a fairly light pack. It was pretty nice really although my right achilles was really tight and around mile 8 on the way back I feared I might actually do it some damage. It seems looser now so hopefully it was just one of those quirks that happen from time to time. I also felt a little wheezy but it's hayfever season for me so that's to be expected. I'm hoping that the pollen count will be low in the desert!
I also took the opportunity to dive into the tanning salon to put a little more in my skin. I think that another two sessions (Monday and Wednesday me-thinks) will be enough to send me to Morocco with a tidy base tan and hopefully I'll delay the onset of sunburn for a bit. Assuming there is actually any sunshine to burn me!
Other activity today; I counted some change that had been generously donated to me and went to the bank to pay that in. After spending about two hours this morning sorting it out into bags I got there to find they had all torn during the run and all the change was rattling around loose in the bottom of my rucksack. The young lady working the middle desk in Barclays Whitchurch deserves a special mention and perhaps a "Friendly and Patient Person of the Year" award for quietly and cheerfully helping me count out the hundreds of coins I dumped on the counter. I did make a point of reading her name plate so I could send in some feedback but having the memory of a goldfish I have forgotten it.
I spent some time sending emails to various large companies again this morning and received some highly efficient rejections from most of them. But I know that there are some wonderful people out there and it's just a matter of finding them! I'll be having an early night tonight to prepare for my radio debut in the morning. Wish me luck folks! I'll be Calon FM some time between 8:30 and 9:30 tomorrow. I'm really excited! And also a little nervous...
Peace, out.
I also took the opportunity to dive into the tanning salon to put a little more in my skin. I think that another two sessions (Monday and Wednesday me-thinks) will be enough to send me to Morocco with a tidy base tan and hopefully I'll delay the onset of sunburn for a bit. Assuming there is actually any sunshine to burn me!
Other activity today; I counted some change that had been generously donated to me and went to the bank to pay that in. After spending about two hours this morning sorting it out into bags I got there to find they had all torn during the run and all the change was rattling around loose in the bottom of my rucksack. The young lady working the middle desk in Barclays Whitchurch deserves a special mention and perhaps a "Friendly and Patient Person of the Year" award for quietly and cheerfully helping me count out the hundreds of coins I dumped on the counter. I did make a point of reading her name plate so I could send in some feedback but having the memory of a goldfish I have forgotten it.
I spent some time sending emails to various large companies again this morning and received some highly efficient rejections from most of them. But I know that there are some wonderful people out there and it's just a matter of finding them! I'll be having an early night tonight to prepare for my radio debut in the morning. Wish me luck folks! I'll be Calon FM some time between 8:30 and 9:30 tomorrow. I'm really excited! And also a little nervous...
Peace, out.
Thursday 29th March 2012 - Weather Update
Firstly, it's my Mum's birthday. So... HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my Mum!
Secondly, IT IS RAINING today in the Sahara Desert. It is also colder right now in Tazarine (where the race finishes) than it was yesterday in Wrexham. What a crazy world. The forecast for this afternoon is for the Sahara to reach 18 degrees C. Woopee doo!
I'm not changing my preparation in terms of the sun adaption of my skin and the heat adaption of my blood (more plasma please!). But if the weather doesn't improve I may have to take the precaution of carrying a throw-away fleece to keep warm. A few years ago the race had to be delayed, and ultimately diverted, because of floods across part of the route but this was considered a freak event. Hopefully 2012 will not be another 'freak'!
If it is indeed going to be a cold wet one then I'll reach into my bag and pull out a little of the "Spirit of Glastonbury Festival" that's seen me get through several cold wet festivals in years gone by!
Peace, out.
Secondly, IT IS RAINING today in the Sahara Desert. It is also colder right now in Tazarine (where the race finishes) than it was yesterday in Wrexham. What a crazy world. The forecast for this afternoon is for the Sahara to reach 18 degrees C. Woopee doo!
I'm not changing my preparation in terms of the sun adaption of my skin and the heat adaption of my blood (more plasma please!). But if the weather doesn't improve I may have to take the precaution of carrying a throw-away fleece to keep warm. A few years ago the race had to be delayed, and ultimately diverted, because of floods across part of the route but this was considered a freak event. Hopefully 2012 will not be another 'freak'!
If it is indeed going to be a cold wet one then I'll reach into my bag and pull out a little of the "Spirit of Glastonbury Festival" that's seen me get through several cold wet festivals in years gone by!
Peace, out.
Thursday, 9 February 2012
Wednesday 8th February 2012 - Loneliness of the Long Distance Fundraiser
I like to keep this blog mostly about running because it's what I love to do. From the outside the runners experience can seem like a dubious pleasure, full of pain, fatigue, cold, hunger, danger at times! But it is also incredibly rewarding. We run through the rain on dark roads with aching limbs and cramping bellies because doing so fills us with a fire and a sense of being alive that the rest of our day sometimes fails to deliver. All of us runners know that the tough runs of winter build the fitness that will see us stride through the flowering of spring and into the joy of summer with strength and energy.
Running, like life, is full of ups and downs. Living in hilly North Wales I often feel like my running has more ups than downs, literally. The other side of my challenge, the fundraising side, also has it's ups and downs.
For every hard run with sore legs that I've done I've spent an equal amount of time trying to raise money for Mencap. Posing for unflattering photos in the local paper, walking around delivering leaflets, standing in the freezing cold in the town centre rattling a collection tin. These are tough times and I've been incredibly grateful for every single donation. To all of you who have sponsored me - thank you. I truly appreciate every single penny that is donated.
This week I have had my first corporate donations, one from a company called Berendsen who specialist in hygiene and workware products, primarily for the healthcare and hospitality arena; and the other from my mother's employer, Rowan Foods. I am so grateful for these donations and I hope to gain many more before I set foot in the desert.
In these tough times I am constantly humbled by the generosity of friends and strangers alike. Thank you.
If you would like to support my efforts and donate money to Mencap then please click on the "donate now" button in the side bar, or use the Text Giving details above to donate directly from your mobile. If you prefer to donate cash or cheque then please contact me at miffjacobs@hotmail.com and we can make the arrangements.
Thank you. Peace, out.
Running, like life, is full of ups and downs. Living in hilly North Wales I often feel like my running has more ups than downs, literally. The other side of my challenge, the fundraising side, also has it's ups and downs.
This week I have had my first corporate donations, one from a company called Berendsen who specialist in hygiene and workware products, primarily for the healthcare and hospitality arena; and the other from my mother's employer, Rowan Foods. I am so grateful for these donations and I hope to gain many more before I set foot in the desert.
In these tough times I am constantly humbled by the generosity of friends and strangers alike. Thank you.
If you would like to support my efforts and donate money to Mencap then please click on the "donate now" button in the side bar, or use the Text Giving details above to donate directly from your mobile. If you prefer to donate cash or cheque then please contact me at miffjacobs@hotmail.com and we can make the arrangements.
Thank you. Peace, out.
Monday, 6 February 2012
Sunday 5th February 2012 - 31 miles
Total so far: £853.53
Text "MIFF70 £5" (without quotes) to 70070 to donate £5 to Mencap. Change the amount to whatever you are comfortable with.
Click on the "Donate Now" link in the sidebar or visit www.justgiving.com/pitymyfeet.
Thanks!
So, after yesterday's 29 mile effort I woke up in a little hotel room in Llangollen with the same distance ahead of me home. Actually a longer distance. For my own confidence and peace of mind I wanted to break the 30 mile barrier that had beaten me in Anglesey two weeks ago. So I made the decision to run on, past my home and down the road to my parents house for dinner, adding an extra two miles to the route and thus taking me over the psychological 30 mile barrier.
But as I got ready in the morning all that was a long way ahead of me. I ate a good cooked breakfast and drank four cups of coffee; a decision I would come to regret!
Like yesterday I decided to walk the first three miles to loosen up my muscles and avoid running on hard roads. I was a good minute per mile slower even on these early miles than yesterday and my legs were tired and painful almost from the off. At the start of mile 4 I leant forward onto my toes and began running. With the fatigue and the weight of my pack I ran like someone on a planet with far stronger gravity. But all the same I did 6 miles at sub 12 mpm before the Chirk tunnel forced me to walk and a stop to re-fill my water bottle gave me a 21 minute mile. I ran/walked for a couple of miles then at about 15 mpm before upping the running for 3 miles of 12 mpm before another water stop at 17 miles slowed me down again.
I ran on until the 20 mile mark by which time my ankles and calves were so painful and weak I felt certain that I was one mishap away from an injury. I am so determined to avoid injury at this stage that I was walking way more than running by this point. As is evidenced by my pace records, showing me averaging around 17 or 18 minute miles.
The final two miles were on busy, darkening roads with no pavements so a lot of time spent avoiding the traffic.
At the finish I had done 31 miles on the day and 60 miles over the weekend. I was broken. At dinner I just sat in a heap of pain and exhaustion. My brain was befuddled and my enthusiasm gone. I feel like I've taken a huge leap forward though in my preparation for the Marathon des Sables. I've proved to myself that I can do long distances, albeit very slowly! I took on the biggest physical challenge of my life and I did it. Without any fuss or external motivation - just me, and my determination not to give up. I am actually rather proud of myself.
It was also great fun. The kind of adventure you dream about as a kid. At one point near the end of the run I got a view back over the plain from Hanmer to Chirk and the smoke rising from the Cadbury Factory, far far in the distance. To think that my own legs had carried me here from many miles past the other side of that smoke. It was quite humbling.
My plans now for this week are Recovery Recovery Recovery. I will probably have some sauna time and maybe a few short runs but mostly I want to allow my body to repair the damage inflicted this weekend and come back stronger for the next escalation in two weeks. I haven't yet decided what it will be but at some point I want to break the 50 mile mark in a single run so I may hit that in two
week's time.
Thanks for reading folks! Peace, out.
JUST THE FACTS!!
Weight: 78.9 Kg
TODAY
Distance 31.0 miles
Time 8:05:00 hrs
X-Trainer 0 hrs
Press-ups 0
Swimming 0 m
Sauna 0 mins
TOTAL
Distance 464.22 miles
Time 90:24:53
X-Trainer 17:41 hrs
Press-ups 620
Swimming 13,000 m
Sauna 7:35 hrs
Contact me: miffjacobs@hotmail.com
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.
There are 1.5 million people in the UK with a learning disability. Most are treated as ‘different’ however with the right support people with a learning disability can have access to education, jobs
and an independent place to live. Mencap works with people with a learning disability to help them live the lives they want.
Be cool and click on the link below and help make someone's life better.
http://www.justgiving.com/pitymyfeet
Text "MIFF70 £5" (without quotes) to 70070 to donate £5 to Mencap. Change the amount to whatever you are comfortable with.
Click on the "Donate Now" link in the sidebar or visit www.justgiving.com/pitymyfeet.
Thanks!
So, after yesterday's 29 mile effort I woke up in a little hotel room in Llangollen with the same distance ahead of me home. Actually a longer distance. For my own confidence and peace of mind I wanted to break the 30 mile barrier that had beaten me in Anglesey two weeks ago. So I made the decision to run on, past my home and down the road to my parents house for dinner, adding an extra two miles to the route and thus taking me over the psychological 30 mile barrier.
But as I got ready in the morning all that was a long way ahead of me. I ate a good cooked breakfast and drank four cups of coffee; a decision I would come to regret!
Like yesterday I decided to walk the first three miles to loosen up my muscles and avoid running on hard roads. I was a good minute per mile slower even on these early miles than yesterday and my legs were tired and painful almost from the off. At the start of mile 4 I leant forward onto my toes and began running. With the fatigue and the weight of my pack I ran like someone on a planet with far stronger gravity. But all the same I did 6 miles at sub 12 mpm before the Chirk tunnel forced me to walk and a stop to re-fill my water bottle gave me a 21 minute mile. I ran/walked for a couple of miles then at about 15 mpm before upping the running for 3 miles of 12 mpm before another water stop at 17 miles slowed me down again.
I ran on until the 20 mile mark by which time my ankles and calves were so painful and weak I felt certain that I was one mishap away from an injury. I am so determined to avoid injury at this stage that I was walking way more than running by this point. As is evidenced by my pace records, showing me averaging around 17 or 18 minute miles.
The final two miles were on busy, darkening roads with no pavements so a lot of time spent avoiding the traffic.
At the finish I had done 31 miles on the day and 60 miles over the weekend. I was broken. At dinner I just sat in a heap of pain and exhaustion. My brain was befuddled and my enthusiasm gone. I feel like I've taken a huge leap forward though in my preparation for the Marathon des Sables. I've proved to myself that I can do long distances, albeit very slowly! I took on the biggest physical challenge of my life and I did it. Without any fuss or external motivation - just me, and my determination not to give up. I am actually rather proud of myself.
It was also great fun. The kind of adventure you dream about as a kid. At one point near the end of the run I got a view back over the plain from Hanmer to Chirk and the smoke rising from the Cadbury Factory, far far in the distance. To think that my own legs had carried me here from many miles past the other side of that smoke. It was quite humbling.
My plans now for this week are Recovery Recovery Recovery. I will probably have some sauna time and maybe a few short runs but mostly I want to allow my body to repair the damage inflicted this weekend and come back stronger for the next escalation in two weeks. I haven't yet decided what it will be but at some point I want to break the 50 mile mark in a single run so I may hit that in two
week's time.
Thanks for reading folks! Peace, out.
JUST THE FACTS!!
Weight: 78.9 Kg
TODAY
Distance 31.0 miles
Time 8:05:00 hrs
X-Trainer 0 hrs
Press-ups 0
Swimming 0 m
Sauna 0 mins
TOTAL
Distance 464.22 miles
Time 90:24:53
X-Trainer 17:41 hrs
Press-ups 620
Swimming 13,000 m
Sauna 7:35 hrs
Contact me: miffjacobs@hotmail.com
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.
There are 1.5 million people in the UK with a learning disability. Most are treated as ‘different’ however with the right support people with a learning disability can have access to education, jobs
and an independent place to live. Mencap works with people with a learning disability to help them live the lives they want.
Be cool and click on the link below and help make someone's life better.
http://www.justgiving.com/pitymyfeet
Saturday 4th February - 29 miles to hotel
Total so far: £853.53
Text "MIFF70 £5" (without quotes) to 70070 to donate £5 to Mencap. Change the amount to whatever you are comfortable with.
Click on the "Donate Now" link in the sidebar or visit www.justgiving.com/pitymyfeet.
Thanks!
When I reflect back on my training I think I will come to view the Anglesey Ultra two weeks ago as the start of a new, more extreme, phase. And after what was essentially a two week respite of fewer miles and more rest today marked another escalation in my efforts. My plan was simple. I booked a hotel room just the other side of Llangollen and I would run there on Saturday, and run back again on Sunday.
So it was that I set out about 8:30am from Hanmer. The first 3 miles were on roads and I chose to walk over that ground to avoid aggravating my injuries (which were still painful despite the relative low mileage of the last two weeks). I kept a reasonable pace of under 16 mpm walking and then I started running once I got on the canal. I felt really good and strong and barring a couple of stops to re-fill my water bottle I kept around 11mpm all the way until mile 18 when I took an enforced walk break through the Chirk tunnel.
I took a stop at mile 19 because I was getting too cold and I boiled my kettle and had a pot noodle and a big mug of coffee before moving on at walking pace for a while to let my belly catch up. From there on it was run/walk for the last 10 miles and my average pace fluctuated from sub 12 up to 20 mpm. Mostly it was around 15mpm.
The route was beautiful. From the bucolic tranquillity of the Ellesmere lakelands to the drama of the Pontcysyllte Aquaduct. I love running along the canal. It's always so peaceful and the people are so friendly. Everyone says hello! It's also very flat!
The temperatures were low and I was getting cold very quickly at every stop. The paths were occasionally slippy with ice and I had some trouble keeping my footing, especially once my legs began to tire at around 15 or 16 miles.
Eventually I got into Llangollen and after a quick stop in the Spar (because I'd forgotten my toothbrush) I headed up the road to the hotel. The last mile was not so nice because it was on narrow roads with no pavement and thus every approaching car brings fear. People, please slow down for runners... it's scary for us when you drive so fast and so close!!
So that was it, 29.2 miles. The longest run of my life so far. I knew that in training for an event like the Marathon des Sables I would push myself to my limits and so this was part of it. But even after 29 miles I felt that I'd kept within myself. I was tired and exhausted at the finish but not broken. I knew I had more to give and that will be essential on the event itself; where every day will bring a challenge greater than the day before.
I felt wonderful at the end of the run although a hot (well, warm) bath revealed that I had rubbed away some skin in a place where no man should ever be injured. That blinding agony aside I felt fit, strong and sure. It's a nice feeling. I had a couple of beers in the bar at the hotel and a game pie (frankly, the word pie gave it a dignity and credibility that the food itself did not deserve). It was early to bed then for some active recovery ready for the challenge of running home the next day.
Thanks for reading folks! Peace, out.
JUST THE FACTS!!
Weight: 78.9 Kg
TODAY
Distance 29.2 miles
Time 6:55:32 hrs
X-Trainer 0 hrs
Press-ups 0
Swimming 0 m
Sauna 20 mins
TOTAL
Distance 433.22 miles
Time 82:19:53
X-Trainer 17:41 hrs
Press-ups 620
Swimming 13,000 m
Sauna 7:35 hrs
Contact me: miffjacobs@hotmail.com
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.
There are 1.5 million people in the UK with a learning disability. Most are treated as ‘different’ however with the right support people with a learning disability can have access to education, jobs and an independent place to live. Mencap works with people with a learning disability to help them live the lives they want.
Be cool and click on the link below and help make someone's life better.
http://www.justgiving.com/pitymyfeet
Text "MIFF70 £5" (without quotes) to 70070 to donate £5 to Mencap. Change the amount to whatever you are comfortable with.
Click on the "Donate Now" link in the sidebar or visit www.justgiving.com/pitymyfeet.
Thanks!
When I reflect back on my training I think I will come to view the Anglesey Ultra two weeks ago as the start of a new, more extreme, phase. And after what was essentially a two week respite of fewer miles and more rest today marked another escalation in my efforts. My plan was simple. I booked a hotel room just the other side of Llangollen and I would run there on Saturday, and run back again on Sunday.
So it was that I set out about 8:30am from Hanmer. The first 3 miles were on roads and I chose to walk over that ground to avoid aggravating my injuries (which were still painful despite the relative low mileage of the last two weeks). I kept a reasonable pace of under 16 mpm walking and then I started running once I got on the canal. I felt really good and strong and barring a couple of stops to re-fill my water bottle I kept around 11mpm all the way until mile 18 when I took an enforced walk break through the Chirk tunnel.
I took a stop at mile 19 because I was getting too cold and I boiled my kettle and had a pot noodle and a big mug of coffee before moving on at walking pace for a while to let my belly catch up. From there on it was run/walk for the last 10 miles and my average pace fluctuated from sub 12 up to 20 mpm. Mostly it was around 15mpm.
The route was beautiful. From the bucolic tranquillity of the Ellesmere lakelands to the drama of the Pontcysyllte Aquaduct. I love running along the canal. It's always so peaceful and the people are so friendly. Everyone says hello! It's also very flat!
The temperatures were low and I was getting cold very quickly at every stop. The paths were occasionally slippy with ice and I had some trouble keeping my footing, especially once my legs began to tire at around 15 or 16 miles.
Eventually I got into Llangollen and after a quick stop in the Spar (because I'd forgotten my toothbrush) I headed up the road to the hotel. The last mile was not so nice because it was on narrow roads with no pavement and thus every approaching car brings fear. People, please slow down for runners... it's scary for us when you drive so fast and so close!!
So that was it, 29.2 miles. The longest run of my life so far. I knew that in training for an event like the Marathon des Sables I would push myself to my limits and so this was part of it. But even after 29 miles I felt that I'd kept within myself. I was tired and exhausted at the finish but not broken. I knew I had more to give and that will be essential on the event itself; where every day will bring a challenge greater than the day before.
I felt wonderful at the end of the run although a hot (well, warm) bath revealed that I had rubbed away some skin in a place where no man should ever be injured. That blinding agony aside I felt fit, strong and sure. It's a nice feeling. I had a couple of beers in the bar at the hotel and a game pie (frankly, the word pie gave it a dignity and credibility that the food itself did not deserve). It was early to bed then for some active recovery ready for the challenge of running home the next day.
Thanks for reading folks! Peace, out.
JUST THE FACTS!!
Weight: 78.9 Kg
TODAY
Distance 29.2 miles
Time 6:55:32 hrs
X-Trainer 0 hrs
Press-ups 0
Swimming 0 m
Sauna 20 mins
TOTAL
Distance 433.22 miles
Time 82:19:53
X-Trainer 17:41 hrs
Press-ups 620
Swimming 13,000 m
Sauna 7:35 hrs
Contact me: miffjacobs@hotmail.com
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.
There are 1.5 million people in the UK with a learning disability. Most are treated as ‘different’ however with the right support people with a learning disability can have access to education, jobs and an independent place to live. Mencap works with people with a learning disability to help them live the lives they want.
Be cool and click on the link below and help make someone's life better.
http://www.justgiving.com/pitymyfeet
Saturday 28th January 2012 - 13.5 Miles and Town Centre Collection
Total so far: £850.53
Text "MIFF70 £5" (without quotes) to 70070 to donate £5 to Mencap. Change the amount to whatever you are comfortable with.
Click on the "Donate Now" link in the sidebar or visit www.justgiving.com/pitymyfeet.
Thanks!
A little late with the blog again. This was my collection day in Wrexham. I had originally devised a 30 mile route via Ellesmere and along the canal to Trevor then down the road to Wrexham but when the alarm went off (at 2:30am!) I felt dreadful and decided to lower my target for the day! And so it was that I set out at 7:30 with 8Kg in my pack and a much shorter run in mind.
I took a slightly unusual route to avoid some of the more scary bits of the A525 and these extra twists and turns down the lanes made the total up to 13.5. I ran all the way and kept up a reasonable pace, averaging less than 11 minutes per mile. I'm very conscious that runners reading this will be appalled at how slow I am always, even on short runs. It's the pack folks. I blame the pack. Running with a backpack is a nightmare. It completely changes your form. I find myself shuffling along, barely lifting my feet. Considering how much exercise I do I make for a very un-athletic site plodding down the lanes!
So I made it to Wrexham just before ten o'clock and after a quick freshen up and change in the Tesco toilets I went out and hit the streets for my second collection. It wasn't as busy as the first time I collected (in November) and my efforts were hugely undermined when some people came out of a shop in fancy dress, giving out balloons and collecting for a different charity. Oh well, I'm not one given to bitterness and so I did try to be friendly and say hello but hilariously they blanked me at close quarters FOUR times! The final time they did it (after I'd made eye contact, smiled, and asked how they were getting on) I just started laughing. Maybe they were intimidated by my fancy-pants council license badge?
Anyway, I combined the day's takings with some money that had been donated when Grace and I were dropping leaflets and also with some loose change I had in my pot at home. It came to £98.99. We quickly found a 1p piece to make it up to £99 and I'll add the extra pound myself to round it up to £100 paid over to Mencap. Not bad really given the frustrations of the day and it moves me a little closer to my target.
Thanks for reading folks! Peace, out.
JUST THE FACTS!!
Weight: 78.9 Kg
TODAY
Distance 13.5 miles
Time 2:25:59 hrs
X-Trainer 0 hrs
Press-ups 0
Swimming 0 m
Sauna 0 mins
TOTAL
Distance 404.02 miles
Time 75:24:21
X-Trainer 17:41 hrs
Press-ups 620
Swimming 13,000 m
Sauna 7:15 hrs
Contact me: miffjacobs@hotmail.com
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.
There are 1.5 million people in the UK with a learning disability. Most are treated as ‘different’ however with the right support people with a learning disability can have access to education, jobs and an independent place to live. Mencap works with people with a learning disability to help them live the lives they want.
Be cool and click on the link below and help make someone's life better.
http://www.justgiving.com/pitymyfeet
Text "MIFF70 £5" (without quotes) to 70070 to donate £5 to Mencap. Change the amount to whatever you are comfortable with.
Click on the "Donate Now" link in the sidebar or visit www.justgiving.com/pitymyfeet.
Thanks!
A little late with the blog again. This was my collection day in Wrexham. I had originally devised a 30 mile route via Ellesmere and along the canal to Trevor then down the road to Wrexham but when the alarm went off (at 2:30am!) I felt dreadful and decided to lower my target for the day! And so it was that I set out at 7:30 with 8Kg in my pack and a much shorter run in mind.
I took a slightly unusual route to avoid some of the more scary bits of the A525 and these extra twists and turns down the lanes made the total up to 13.5. I ran all the way and kept up a reasonable pace, averaging less than 11 minutes per mile. I'm very conscious that runners reading this will be appalled at how slow I am always, even on short runs. It's the pack folks. I blame the pack. Running with a backpack is a nightmare. It completely changes your form. I find myself shuffling along, barely lifting my feet. Considering how much exercise I do I make for a very un-athletic site plodding down the lanes!
So I made it to Wrexham just before ten o'clock and after a quick freshen up and change in the Tesco toilets I went out and hit the streets for my second collection. It wasn't as busy as the first time I collected (in November) and my efforts were hugely undermined when some people came out of a shop in fancy dress, giving out balloons and collecting for a different charity. Oh well, I'm not one given to bitterness and so I did try to be friendly and say hello but hilariously they blanked me at close quarters FOUR times! The final time they did it (after I'd made eye contact, smiled, and asked how they were getting on) I just started laughing. Maybe they were intimidated by my fancy-pants council license badge?
Anyway, I combined the day's takings with some money that had been donated when Grace and I were dropping leaflets and also with some loose change I had in my pot at home. It came to £98.99. We quickly found a 1p piece to make it up to £99 and I'll add the extra pound myself to round it up to £100 paid over to Mencap. Not bad really given the frustrations of the day and it moves me a little closer to my target.
Thanks for reading folks! Peace, out.
JUST THE FACTS!!
Weight: 78.9 Kg
TODAY
Distance 13.5 miles
Time 2:25:59 hrs
X-Trainer 0 hrs
Press-ups 0
Swimming 0 m
Sauna 0 mins
TOTAL
Distance 404.02 miles
Time 75:24:21
X-Trainer 17:41 hrs
Press-ups 620
Swimming 13,000 m
Sauna 7:15 hrs
Contact me: miffjacobs@hotmail.com
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.
There are 1.5 million people in the UK with a learning disability. Most are treated as ‘different’ however with the right support people with a learning disability can have access to education, jobs and an independent place to live. Mencap works with people with a learning disability to help them live the lives they want.
Be cool and click on the link below and help make someone's life better.
http://www.justgiving.com/pitymyfeet
Friday, 27 January 2012
Thur 26th Jan '12 - Four miles under starry skies
Total so far: £720.53
Text "MIFF70 £5" (without quotes) to 70070 to donate £5 to Mencap. Change the amount to whatever you are comfortable with.
Click on the "Donate Now" link in the sidebar or visit www.justgiving.com/pitymyfeet.
Thanks!
Just four miles on the plan tonight as I am supposed to taper for big mileage at the weekend. When I say 'supposed' to taper I mean I 'am' tapering. When I say 'big mileage' at the weekend I mean 'some mileage' at the weekend. Honestly, not laziness. Just lots more pain. This is new pain with a subtle twist. Same muscle, different leg. Now I feel pain in exactly the same spot on my left leg that I've had on my right leg. My right is also quite painful tonight. So I haven't yet finally decided on my training for the weekend. I have some ideas; running to Wrexham to start my collection (I probably will do this because I like the poetry of it); running up and down Moel Famau near Mold to get used to the hills. I'm not sure yet. I will decide at bed time on Friday night.
So on to tonight's run. As the mileage was low I figured I'd compensate by piling another 2 litres of water in my pack, taking the weight up to 12.5 Kg. It sounds such a small number but by 'eck it takes some carrying when you're running up and down the lanes. Right from the outset I could feel a huge difference in my form and a far greater sense of impact on my feet. I expect to start the MdS with around 10 or 11 Kg in my pack and so if I train with 12.5 Kg then I should be better adapted. But of course, that is easier to say than to do. Especially when I want to stay injury free from here on in. An injury now would be a massive blow and that loss of form and heavy impact makes injury more likely.
It was a beautiful night to be running. Cold for sure, but clear and crisp with a beautiful starry sky. I ran first in a North West direction and scanned the horizon for any sign of the Northern Lights but saw none. If it was there it was probably somewhere behind the orange glow of the industrial estate on the horizon. But I enjoyed looking for it and saw a wonderful fizzy shooting star heading out of the east and burning so briefly northwards. I made a wish - yes, same one as always. After a good, downhill, two miles I turned and headed back up the hill facing vaguely South East. Running at Orion's belt and the bright beacon of Sirius.
On the fundraising front, I was delighted with a great write up in the Whitchurch Herald and saw a reasonable spike in hits to the blog. One new sponsorship (thanks Claire!). I have a meeting with Tesco in Ellesmere this morning to see if they can help me and then tomorrow is 'Collection Day' in Wrexham once more. Please call in and see me if you're in the area.
Thanks for reading folks! Peace, out.
JUST THE FACTS!!
Weight: 78.9 Kg
TODAY
Distance 4.12 miles
Time 0:46:30 hrs
X-Trainer 0 hrs
Press-ups 0
Swimming 0 m
Sauna 0 mins
TOTAL
Distance 391.52 miles
Time 72:58:22
X-Trainer 17:41 hrs
Press-ups 620
Swimming 13,000 m
Sauna 7:15 hrs
Contact me: miffjacobs@hotmail.com
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.
There are 1.5 million people in the UK with a learning disability. Most are treated as ‘different’ however with the right support people with a learning disability can have access to education, jobs and an independent place to live. Mencap works with people with a learning disability to help them live the lives they want.
Be cool and click on the link below and help make someone's life better.
http://www.justgiving.com/pitymyfeet
Text "MIFF70 £5" (without quotes) to 70070 to donate £5 to Mencap. Change the amount to whatever you are comfortable with.
Click on the "Donate Now" link in the sidebar or visit www.justgiving.com/pitymyfeet.
Thanks!
Just four miles on the plan tonight as I am supposed to taper for big mileage at the weekend. When I say 'supposed' to taper I mean I 'am' tapering. When I say 'big mileage' at the weekend I mean 'some mileage' at the weekend. Honestly, not laziness. Just lots more pain. This is new pain with a subtle twist. Same muscle, different leg. Now I feel pain in exactly the same spot on my left leg that I've had on my right leg. My right is also quite painful tonight. So I haven't yet finally decided on my training for the weekend. I have some ideas; running to Wrexham to start my collection (I probably will do this because I like the poetry of it); running up and down Moel Famau near Mold to get used to the hills. I'm not sure yet. I will decide at bed time on Friday night.
So on to tonight's run. As the mileage was low I figured I'd compensate by piling another 2 litres of water in my pack, taking the weight up to 12.5 Kg. It sounds such a small number but by 'eck it takes some carrying when you're running up and down the lanes. Right from the outset I could feel a huge difference in my form and a far greater sense of impact on my feet. I expect to start the MdS with around 10 or 11 Kg in my pack and so if I train with 12.5 Kg then I should be better adapted. But of course, that is easier to say than to do. Especially when I want to stay injury free from here on in. An injury now would be a massive blow and that loss of form and heavy impact makes injury more likely.
It was a beautiful night to be running. Cold for sure, but clear and crisp with a beautiful starry sky. I ran first in a North West direction and scanned the horizon for any sign of the Northern Lights but saw none. If it was there it was probably somewhere behind the orange glow of the industrial estate on the horizon. But I enjoyed looking for it and saw a wonderful fizzy shooting star heading out of the east and burning so briefly northwards. I made a wish - yes, same one as always. After a good, downhill, two miles I turned and headed back up the hill facing vaguely South East. Running at Orion's belt and the bright beacon of Sirius.
On the fundraising front, I was delighted with a great write up in the Whitchurch Herald and saw a reasonable spike in hits to the blog. One new sponsorship (thanks Claire!). I have a meeting with Tesco in Ellesmere this morning to see if they can help me and then tomorrow is 'Collection Day' in Wrexham once more. Please call in and see me if you're in the area.
Thanks for reading folks! Peace, out.
JUST THE FACTS!!
Weight: 78.9 Kg
TODAY
Distance 4.12 miles
Time 0:46:30 hrs
X-Trainer 0 hrs
Press-ups 0
Swimming 0 m
Sauna 0 mins
TOTAL
Distance 391.52 miles
Time 72:58:22
X-Trainer 17:41 hrs
Press-ups 620
Swimming 13,000 m
Sauna 7:15 hrs
Contact me: miffjacobs@hotmail.com
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.
There are 1.5 million people in the UK with a learning disability. Most are treated as ‘different’ however with the right support people with a learning disability can have access to education, jobs and an independent place to live. Mencap works with people with a learning disability to help them live the lives they want.
Be cool and click on the link below and help make someone's life better.
http://www.justgiving.com/pitymyfeet
Thursday, 26 January 2012
25th Jan '12 - Six miles of cow-less lanes
Total so far: £700.53
Text "MIFF70 £5" (without quotes) to 70070 to donate £5 to Mencap. Change the amount to whatever you are comfortable with.
Click on the "Donate Now" link in the sidebar or visit www.justgiving.com/pitymyfeet.
Thanks!
Back on the road tonight. Away from the gentle bouncing of the treadmill, and instead on to a butt-whooping from the unforgiving tarmac. No science behind this decision, I just couldn't be bothered to drive to the gym. I really should be putting more thought into this!
Anyway, it was on with the head torch and lovely high-vis yellow jacket and out of the door. It was odd being back on the lanes; almost six weeks since I last ran around here at night. It hasn't changed much. Obviously not as many Christmas lights as there were in mid-December. And oddly far fewer cows and sheep by the hedges with their scary glowing eyes. Even though they spook me a little I felt quite sad about this because they've probably gone to a place so wonderful that no animal ever thought to come back from. Namely a butcher's. I did see a cat hiding in a hedge though. Cats never end up in butchers shops despite the fact that no animal would deserve it more. (Cat lovers: I'm joking, I love cats... honestly!)
Anyway, this is a running blog so I'll talk about that. Just six miles on the plan and I did a boring out and back to Tallarn Green. It was a nice evening but no sign of the Northern Lights. Only the orange glow of Wrexham Industrial Estate on the horizon. I had 7.5 Kg in my pack and I wasn't all that comfortable despite the slow pace. One of the lessons from the Anglesey Ultra was that I need to get more used to weight in my pack.
On the fundraising front I got a 20 Euro donation from a colleague visiting from Germany. I'll pay this into Just Giving from my account and credit his name on it. I'm very grateful for it. Things have stalled a little again on that front over the last week but hopefully I'll be able to kick some life into it this weekend when I do another town centre collection in Wrexham. If you're in the area then please come over and say "hi" and put a pound in my pot!
Thanks for reading folks! Peace, out.
JUST THE FACTS!!
Weight: 78.9 Kg
TODAY
Distance 6 miles
Time 1:09:19 hrs
X-Trainer 0 hrs
Press-ups 0
Swimming 0 m
Sauna 0 mins
TOTAL
Distance 387.40 miles
Time 72:11:52
X-Trainer 17:41 hrs
Press-ups 620
Swimming 13,000 m
Sauna 7:15 hrs
Contact me: miffjacobs@hotmail.com
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.
There are 1.5 million people in the UK with a learning disability. Most are treated as ‘different’ however with the right support people with a learning disability can have access to education, jobs and an independent place to live. Mencap works with people with a learning disability to help them live the lives they want.
Be cool and click on the link below and help make someone's life better.
http://www.justgiving.com/pitymyfeet
Tuesday 24th January 2012 - 10 miles treadmill
Total so far: £700.53
Text "MIFF70 £5" (without quotes) to 70070 to donate £5 to Mencap. Change the amount to whatever you are comfortable with.
Click on the "Donate Now" link in the sidebar or visit www.justgiving.com/pitymyfeet.
Thanks!
So, after two days of rest following my failed attempt at the Anglesey Ultra I got back onto my feet for a treadmill session. Not much to say about it really. It was on a treadmill so the pace was quite consistent. As was the view. Actually if I turned my head to the right I could watch TV. Which I did. Until they showed open heart surgery on Casualty and I decided I'd rather watch the wall.
I had a lot of pain in my legs and a lot of fatigue. I could probably have done with at least one extra rest day but rest is a luxury I won't have in the desert so I guess it was a reasonable thing not to rest any more now. I was pretty pleased actually to have been able to do the ten miles without breaking down. The pace was definitely slower than I'd have liked but it's not about pace for me. It's all about relentless forward motion and I did show that.
I didn't really talk much about injuries in my post about Saturday so I'll mention the state of play here. The site of my torn muscle survived the ordeal pretty well and is still holding up OK. It hurts when I poke it but there's a pretty simple solution to that. Don't poke it. I don't think it's a problem because my shoulder still hurts if I poke it and it's been ten months since I fell over doing a ridiculous Dad style hand stand. Perhaps there are some things that will always hurt when poked? Eyes for example. Nothing wrong with my eyes but they do hurt when poked. Other parts of me did hurt a lot though. My back hurt from the pack bumping around. My thighs and calves hurt everythere. My knees too. Oddly, also my elbows hurt from keeping them in that crooked "running but could be about to shadow-box" posture that makes me look so athletically challenged.
The other thing I noticed on Saturday was that other ultra-runners tend to be a little taller than me (not much I can do about that) and generally a little slimmer than me (something I can do about that). So I am now on a diet. The first one of my life! Early views on dieting? Miserable. I'm always hungry. Even writing this I'm thinking that I would find the words much easier to come by if I was eating a Snickers bar.
Thanks for reading folks! Peace, out.
JUST THE FACTS!!
Weight: 78.9 Kg
TODAY
Distance 9.94 miles
Time 1:51:00 hrs
X-Trainer 0 hrs
Press-ups 0
Swimming 0 m
Sauna 0 mins
TOTAL
Distance 381.40 miles
Time 71:02:33
X-Trainer 17:41 hrs
Press-ups 620
Swimming 13,000 m
Sauna 7:15 hrs
Contact me: miffjacobs@hotmail.com
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.
There are 1.5 million people in the UK with a learning disability. Most are treated as ‘different’ however with the right support people with a learning disability can have access to education, jobs and an independent place to live. Mencap works with people with a learning disability to help them live the lives they want.
Be cool and click on the link below and help make someone's life better.
http://www.justgiving.com/pitymyfeet
Text "MIFF70 £5" (without quotes) to 70070 to donate £5 to Mencap. Change the amount to whatever you are comfortable with.
Click on the "Donate Now" link in the sidebar or visit www.justgiving.com/pitymyfeet.
Thanks!
So, after two days of rest following my failed attempt at the Anglesey Ultra I got back onto my feet for a treadmill session. Not much to say about it really. It was on a treadmill so the pace was quite consistent. As was the view. Actually if I turned my head to the right I could watch TV. Which I did. Until they showed open heart surgery on Casualty and I decided I'd rather watch the wall.
I had a lot of pain in my legs and a lot of fatigue. I could probably have done with at least one extra rest day but rest is a luxury I won't have in the desert so I guess it was a reasonable thing not to rest any more now. I was pretty pleased actually to have been able to do the ten miles without breaking down. The pace was definitely slower than I'd have liked but it's not about pace for me. It's all about relentless forward motion and I did show that.
I didn't really talk much about injuries in my post about Saturday so I'll mention the state of play here. The site of my torn muscle survived the ordeal pretty well and is still holding up OK. It hurts when I poke it but there's a pretty simple solution to that. Don't poke it. I don't think it's a problem because my shoulder still hurts if I poke it and it's been ten months since I fell over doing a ridiculous Dad style hand stand. Perhaps there are some things that will always hurt when poked? Eyes for example. Nothing wrong with my eyes but they do hurt when poked. Other parts of me did hurt a lot though. My back hurt from the pack bumping around. My thighs and calves hurt everythere. My knees too. Oddly, also my elbows hurt from keeping them in that crooked "running but could be about to shadow-box" posture that makes me look so athletically challenged.
The other thing I noticed on Saturday was that other ultra-runners tend to be a little taller than me (not much I can do about that) and generally a little slimmer than me (something I can do about that). So I am now on a diet. The first one of my life! Early views on dieting? Miserable. I'm always hungry. Even writing this I'm thinking that I would find the words much easier to come by if I was eating a Snickers bar.
Thanks for reading folks! Peace, out.
JUST THE FACTS!!
Weight: 78.9 Kg
TODAY
Distance 9.94 miles
Time 1:51:00 hrs
X-Trainer 0 hrs
Press-ups 0
Swimming 0 m
Sauna 0 mins
TOTAL
Distance 381.40 miles
Time 71:02:33
X-Trainer 17:41 hrs
Press-ups 620
Swimming 13,000 m
Sauna 7:15 hrs
Contact me: miffjacobs@hotmail.com
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.
There are 1.5 million people in the UK with a learning disability. Most are treated as ‘different’ however with the right support people with a learning disability can have access to education, jobs and an independent place to live. Mencap works with people with a learning disability to help them live the lives they want.
Be cool and click on the link below and help make someone's life better.
http://www.justgiving.com/pitymyfeet
Saturday 21st January 2012 - It's all fun and games until someone runs the Anglesey Ultra
Total so far: £700.53
Text "MIFF70 £5" (without quotes) to 70070 to donate £5 to Mencap. Change the amount to whatever you are comfortable with.
Click on the "Donate Now" link in the sidebar or visit www.justgiving.com/pitymyfeet.
Thanks!
Well, it's taken me almost a week but I think I'm ready to write about my first ultra-marathon attempt. I went into it quite blindly and didn't really know if I was prepared or not. I guess I got the answer. I wasn't prepared. I was organised and on top of things, arrived early, hydrated and with a belly full of food. But physically, I was not ready.
I shouldn't be too down about it. After tearing that calf muscle in December I had actually only run twice in almost a month. And both of those runs were on the treadmill with no weight on my back. So to step out to the start line of a 33 mile off road ultra-marathon in a hilly location with an 11 kg pack on my back was always going to be a big ask.
I started out feeling awkward under the weight and treading gingerly with my right foot; always waiting for a tell tail stabbing pain. I didn't have a chance to easy myself into stride because by mile 2 we were climbing and mile 3 was basically mountain climbing! I did a 17 minute mile, recorded a HR of 178 and was largely goosed by the time I crested a 500 foot climb. However I negotiated the descent with relative ease and finally hit some form. Steadying my pace around 11 mpm; even coming down to sub 10s on mile 8. I kept it around there for the first half marathon but if I'm honest I never felt comfortable. I just had enough strength and determination to push it. This began to bleed away after mile 13.
I started to walk more and to find it harder to lift my feet under the weight of my pack. My pace began to drift out, 13s, 14s, and by mile 21 I was clocking 15 minute miles with long spells of walking. But still I was dragging myself forward despite me knowing that I simply hadn't been prepared to carry the weight up that hill and over that distance. But I still harboured a hope of making the cut at 5:45 to allow me to finish the ultra.
And then mile 25 happened. A look at the course profile and my pace record below shows pretty clearly what went wrong. It was three things at once.
- Firstly I 'bonked'. I'd had a bad stomach throughout the event and this meant I hadn't eaten enough food (though goodness knows I was carrying enough!) nor had I drunk enough water. I suddenly lost all energy and became deliriously empty and exhausted. Just desperate to stop.
- Secondly my legs cramped up. I'm pretty sure it was the combination of the weight of my pack, the severe climb right at the start and most of all, the time away from running due to injury. So now every step was agony to my thighs and my calves. And I mean every single step. I buckled many many times and stumbled over the slightest obstacle.
- Thirdly a mountain happened to me. At 25 miles in we turned off the road and ascended to the very top of a very big mountain. I could barely walk over the flat let alone climb a mountain. I did a 30 minute mile which is surely a record for anyone who writes a running blog?? Coming down the mountain, mile 27, was a blistering 22 minutes. Honestly I could barely move.
So that was my first attempt at an ultra marathon. I learned a huge amount and my weaknesses were brutally exposed. But what doesn't kill you makes you stronger and I now have a very strong idea of what I need to focus on in my training. I will attempt the distance again shortly but for now I am working on my strength. Strength to lift the bag and strength to lift myself up big climbs. That is what killed me. My aerobic fitness is good. At the end of the day I did 27 miles with an 11 Kg pack and didn't die. So cheer up Jacobs. There's still time to turn it around and meet my goal.
Thanks for reading folks! Peace, out.
JUST THE FACTS!!
Weight: 78.9 Kg
TODAY
Distance 26.98 miles
Time 6:20:50 hrs
X-Trainer 0 hrs
Press-ups 0
Swimming 0 m
Sauna 0 mins
TOTAL
Distance 371.46 miles
Time 69:11:33
X-Trainer 17:41 hrs
Press-ups 620
Swimming 13,000 m
Sauna 7:15 hrs
Contact me: miffjacobs@hotmail.com
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.
There are 1.5 million people in the UK with a learning disability. Most are treated as ‘different’ however with the right support people with a learning disability can have access to education, jobs and an independent place to live. Mencap works with people with a learning disability to help them live the lives they want.
Be cool and click on the link below and help make someone's life better.
http://www.justgiving.com/pitymyfeet
Text "MIFF70 £5" (without quotes) to 70070 to donate £5 to Mencap. Change the amount to whatever you are comfortable with.
Click on the "Donate Now" link in the sidebar or visit www.justgiving.com/pitymyfeet.
Thanks!
Well, it's taken me almost a week but I think I'm ready to write about my first ultra-marathon attempt. I went into it quite blindly and didn't really know if I was prepared or not. I guess I got the answer. I wasn't prepared. I was organised and on top of things, arrived early, hydrated and with a belly full of food. But physically, I was not ready.
I shouldn't be too down about it. After tearing that calf muscle in December I had actually only run twice in almost a month. And both of those runs were on the treadmill with no weight on my back. So to step out to the start line of a 33 mile off road ultra-marathon in a hilly location with an 11 kg pack on my back was always going to be a big ask.
I started out feeling awkward under the weight and treading gingerly with my right foot; always waiting for a tell tail stabbing pain. I didn't have a chance to easy myself into stride because by mile 2 we were climbing and mile 3 was basically mountain climbing! I did a 17 minute mile, recorded a HR of 178 and was largely goosed by the time I crested a 500 foot climb. However I negotiated the descent with relative ease and finally hit some form. Steadying my pace around 11 mpm; even coming down to sub 10s on mile 8. I kept it around there for the first half marathon but if I'm honest I never felt comfortable. I just had enough strength and determination to push it. This began to bleed away after mile 13.
I started to walk more and to find it harder to lift my feet under the weight of my pack. My pace began to drift out, 13s, 14s, and by mile 21 I was clocking 15 minute miles with long spells of walking. But still I was dragging myself forward despite me knowing that I simply hadn't been prepared to carry the weight up that hill and over that distance. But I still harboured a hope of making the cut at 5:45 to allow me to finish the ultra.
And then mile 25 happened. A look at the course profile and my pace record below shows pretty clearly what went wrong. It was three things at once.
- Firstly I 'bonked'. I'd had a bad stomach throughout the event and this meant I hadn't eaten enough food (though goodness knows I was carrying enough!) nor had I drunk enough water. I suddenly lost all energy and became deliriously empty and exhausted. Just desperate to stop.
- Secondly my legs cramped up. I'm pretty sure it was the combination of the weight of my pack, the severe climb right at the start and most of all, the time away from running due to injury. So now every step was agony to my thighs and my calves. And I mean every single step. I buckled many many times and stumbled over the slightest obstacle.
- Thirdly a mountain happened to me. At 25 miles in we turned off the road and ascended to the very top of a very big mountain. I could barely walk over the flat let alone climb a mountain. I did a 30 minute mile which is surely a record for anyone who writes a running blog?? Coming down the mountain, mile 27, was a blistering 22 minutes. Honestly I could barely move.
So that was my first attempt at an ultra marathon. I learned a huge amount and my weaknesses were brutally exposed. But what doesn't kill you makes you stronger and I now have a very strong idea of what I need to focus on in my training. I will attempt the distance again shortly but for now I am working on my strength. Strength to lift the bag and strength to lift myself up big climbs. That is what killed me. My aerobic fitness is good. At the end of the day I did 27 miles with an 11 Kg pack and didn't die. So cheer up Jacobs. There's still time to turn it around and meet my goal.
Thanks for reading folks! Peace, out.
JUST THE FACTS!!
Weight: 78.9 Kg
TODAY
Distance 26.98 miles
Time 6:20:50 hrs
X-Trainer 0 hrs
Press-ups 0
Swimming 0 m
Sauna 0 mins
TOTAL
Distance 371.46 miles
Time 69:11:33
X-Trainer 17:41 hrs
Press-ups 620
Swimming 13,000 m
Sauna 7:15 hrs
Contact me: miffjacobs@hotmail.com
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.
There are 1.5 million people in the UK with a learning disability. Most are treated as ‘different’ however with the right support people with a learning disability can have access to education, jobs and an independent place to live. Mencap works with people with a learning disability to help them live the lives they want.
Be cool and click on the link below and help make someone's life better.
http://www.justgiving.com/pitymyfeet
Friday, 20 January 2012
Friday 20th January 2012 - Anglesey Ultra Preparation
I wrote a bit yesterday about my preparations for the Anglesey ultra; mostly in terms of what I've bought for it and what I intend to eat. Today I'll bang on a bit about my approach to it and about what I think will happen. If anyone is reading this for tips to help their own ultra-marathon experience then you should probably look away now or at least take all this with a pinch of salt (or other electrolyte) because I've never done this before. My preparation might be fine. Or it might be recklessly incompetent. I should have a fair idea which it is by this time tomorrow.
To start my preparation, earlier in the week I began carbo loading. That is eating lots and lots of carbohydrates at every meal. So the result is that now, on the eve of the event, I am feeling a bit heavy and sluggish. But that's no bad thing considering what I face. Actually, I should be honest with you. I didn't start carbo loading earlier in the week. I started carbo-loading in 1976 and now, after 25 years of preparation I should be just about ready. I've had an early tea tonight of liver, spinach and swede mash. No real science about that, I was in tesco and liked the look of them!
Sleep wise it hasn't been a good week. In particular last night was a really disturbed night and I have been tired all day. But I'm not too worried because hopefully that fatigue will allow me to sleep early tonight. I intend to be in bed by 8pm with lights out by 8:30. My alarm will be set for 3am so hopefully I can get something over 7 hours tonight.
As for right now, well once I've finished writing my blog I'll pack my bag. Then I'll decide that I've packed it wrong and pack it again. And again. And again until the final time when I decide to leave it as it is without realising that something crucial has rolled under the sofa and will be missing tomorrow despite my certainty that I packed it. It is by such events that my life remains continually on edge. I have my torch batteries charging, my phones charging, and my watch charging. The Sat Nav is programmed and the car is full of fuel. I am scarily organised for this!
So, a 3am alarm call tomorrow. I'll have some Barocca with water to start my hydration off the right way and hit the road for 3:30. Even with a few inevitible toilet stops this should get me there for about 6am. Enough time to light my cooker, make some black coffee and be ready to go for registration at 7am.
The race goes off at 8:15. I haven't found any information about cut off times but I think I will make an initial grab for a 9 hour finish so I come in before the head torch is needed. Assuming the 33 mile distance is correct that makes for an average of about 16:20 mpm. I intend to walk up the hills and run down them and over the straights. It's quite an undulating area so I hope that this tactic will give me enough rest. If not then I will walk some straights too. I will aim to run around 12 mpm pace; nice and slow and certainly sustainable. The sections I walk (realistically probably walking most of the last 5 or so miles) will be around 18 mpm on the uphill and 15 mpm on the flat with some run/walking. I'm estimating 1/3 of the course to be uphill and that would give me 11 miles at 18 mpm, probably 15 at 12 mpm and then probably 7 run/walking at 15 mpm. The arithmatists amongst you will see that this would bring me in around 8 hours; with an hour spare for toilet stops etc to meet my 9 hour target. I have a bad feeling that last place beckons but to be honest I don't care. If I finish it then I have won it in my own mind.
If I get a mobile signal I might tweet some updates as I must carry a phone for safety. If you're interested in my progress then follow @miffjacobs (or click the follow button on the sidebar - it's easier). I won't bother with a hashtag because I know I'll forget it so just check my feed. I have noticed that once I'm beyond about 18 miles my brain starts to become like mush and I can't work out my split times. It'll be interesting to see what happens to me tomorrow and I probably won't enjoy reading the tweets back on Sunday!
Right then, time I got that bag packed and thought about settling for a very early night.
Keep everything crossed for me to tomorrow folks. I have a feeling I'll need all the luck I can get!
Peace, out.
To start my preparation, earlier in the week I began carbo loading. That is eating lots and lots of carbohydrates at every meal. So the result is that now, on the eve of the event, I am feeling a bit heavy and sluggish. But that's no bad thing considering what I face. Actually, I should be honest with you. I didn't start carbo loading earlier in the week. I started carbo-loading in 1976 and now, after 25 years of preparation I should be just about ready. I've had an early tea tonight of liver, spinach and swede mash. No real science about that, I was in tesco and liked the look of them!
Sleep wise it hasn't been a good week. In particular last night was a really disturbed night and I have been tired all day. But I'm not too worried because hopefully that fatigue will allow me to sleep early tonight. I intend to be in bed by 8pm with lights out by 8:30. My alarm will be set for 3am so hopefully I can get something over 7 hours tonight.
As for right now, well once I've finished writing my blog I'll pack my bag. Then I'll decide that I've packed it wrong and pack it again. And again. And again until the final time when I decide to leave it as it is without realising that something crucial has rolled under the sofa and will be missing tomorrow despite my certainty that I packed it. It is by such events that my life remains continually on edge. I have my torch batteries charging, my phones charging, and my watch charging. The Sat Nav is programmed and the car is full of fuel. I am scarily organised for this!
So, a 3am alarm call tomorrow. I'll have some Barocca with water to start my hydration off the right way and hit the road for 3:30. Even with a few inevitible toilet stops this should get me there for about 6am. Enough time to light my cooker, make some black coffee and be ready to go for registration at 7am.
The race goes off at 8:15. I haven't found any information about cut off times but I think I will make an initial grab for a 9 hour finish so I come in before the head torch is needed. Assuming the 33 mile distance is correct that makes for an average of about 16:20 mpm. I intend to walk up the hills and run down them and over the straights. It's quite an undulating area so I hope that this tactic will give me enough rest. If not then I will walk some straights too. I will aim to run around 12 mpm pace; nice and slow and certainly sustainable. The sections I walk (realistically probably walking most of the last 5 or so miles) will be around 18 mpm on the uphill and 15 mpm on the flat with some run/walking. I'm estimating 1/3 of the course to be uphill and that would give me 11 miles at 18 mpm, probably 15 at 12 mpm and then probably 7 run/walking at 15 mpm. The arithmatists amongst you will see that this would bring me in around 8 hours; with an hour spare for toilet stops etc to meet my 9 hour target. I have a bad feeling that last place beckons but to be honest I don't care. If I finish it then I have won it in my own mind.
If I get a mobile signal I might tweet some updates as I must carry a phone for safety. If you're interested in my progress then follow @miffjacobs (or click the follow button on the sidebar - it's easier). I won't bother with a hashtag because I know I'll forget it so just check my feed. I have noticed that once I'm beyond about 18 miles my brain starts to become like mush and I can't work out my split times. It'll be interesting to see what happens to me tomorrow and I probably won't enjoy reading the tweets back on Sunday!
Right then, time I got that bag packed and thought about settling for a very early night.
Keep everything crossed for me to tomorrow folks. I have a feeling I'll need all the luck I can get!
Peace, out.
Wednesday, 18 January 2012
Wednesday 18th January 2012 - 6 miles treadmill
Total so far: £700.53
Text "MIFF70 £5" (without quotes) to 70070 to donate £5 to Mencap. Change the amount to whatever you are comfortable with.
Click on the "Donate Now" link in the sidebar or visit www.justgiving.com/pitymyfeet.
Thanks!
A solid 10Km on the treadmill tonight to give my calf another workout. I felt some soreness in my legs through the run and also afterwards but just tiredness, not injury (I hope!). I do have some pain in my right ankle and I think I will invest in a support for the ultra on Saturday. Before the treadmill I did some core strength work. I put more effort into this than I normally do and my heart rate was high even before I started on the treadmill.
Over the last week or so I've focused a little on my kit list. Most of the equipment I need has a pretty obvious safety function and some of it will be helpful on Saturday. I have bought a foil blanket; anyone who has ever wrapped one around themselves at the end of a cold marathon will testify how warm they are! Also, a pea-less whistle (great phrase!); a desert hat with neck shield; and a tiny first aid kit that seems to weigh only fractionally more than the air that surrounds it. I've also bought some gaters to keep the sand out of my trainers. This is an essential precaution as I am told that having sand in your shoes is a sure fire way to rip your feet to shreds in the desert.
The exotic nature of the Marathon des Sables is evidenced by the fact that I've also had to buy an anti-venom kit to suck out snake or scorpion venom quickly in case of a bite. The possibility of being bitten by a snake or a scorpion fills me full of dread and yet also a sort of boyish excitement. I hope I never have to use it but you have to say, it's kind of cool to need one.
I intend to write much more about each of these precautions as I get closer to the event (and learn how to use each of them!).Tonight I may go back on the elliptical just to give my calf and ankle a full three days to rest before the 33 mile ultra on Saturday but I'll see how I feel when I get to the gym.
On the fundraising front I emailed the PR departments of all the companies listed in last week's New Scientist recruitment special (random I know, it was the first thing that came to hand!). I have also listed out all the companies in the FTSE100 and the FTSE250 and over the coming days I intend to write to the PR departments of all of those firms asking for sponsorship. If you work for a company who might be willing to sponsor an honest and hardworking Welsh boy to do something a little useful with his life then please get in touch!
Thanks for reading folks! Peace, out.
JUST THE FACTS!!
Weight: 79.6 Kg
TODAY
Distance 6.25 miles
Time 0:59:15 hrs
Elliptical 0 hrs
Kcal 0
Press-ups 0
Swimming 0 m
Sauna 15 mins
TOTAL
Distance 344.48 miles
Time 62:51:43
Elliptical 16:11 hrs
Kcal 34,388
Press-ups 620
Swimming 12,500 m
Sauna 6:35 mins
Contact me: miffjacobs@hotmail.com
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.
There are 1.5 million people in the UK with a learning disability. Most are treated as ‘different’ however with the right support people with a learning disability can have access to education, jobs and an independent place to live. Mencap works with people with a learning disability to help them live the lives they want.
Be cool and click on the link below and help make someone's life better.
http://www.justgiving.com/pitymyfeet
Text "MIFF70 £5" (without quotes) to 70070 to donate £5 to Mencap. Change the amount to whatever you are comfortable with.
Click on the "Donate Now" link in the sidebar or visit www.justgiving.com/pitymyfeet.
Thanks!
A solid 10Km on the treadmill tonight to give my calf another workout. I felt some soreness in my legs through the run and also afterwards but just tiredness, not injury (I hope!). I do have some pain in my right ankle and I think I will invest in a support for the ultra on Saturday. Before the treadmill I did some core strength work. I put more effort into this than I normally do and my heart rate was high even before I started on the treadmill.
Over the last week or so I've focused a little on my kit list. Most of the equipment I need has a pretty obvious safety function and some of it will be helpful on Saturday. I have bought a foil blanket; anyone who has ever wrapped one around themselves at the end of a cold marathon will testify how warm they are! Also, a pea-less whistle (great phrase!); a desert hat with neck shield; and a tiny first aid kit that seems to weigh only fractionally more than the air that surrounds it. I've also bought some gaters to keep the sand out of my trainers. This is an essential precaution as I am told that having sand in your shoes is a sure fire way to rip your feet to shreds in the desert.
The exotic nature of the Marathon des Sables is evidenced by the fact that I've also had to buy an anti-venom kit to suck out snake or scorpion venom quickly in case of a bite. The possibility of being bitten by a snake or a scorpion fills me full of dread and yet also a sort of boyish excitement. I hope I never have to use it but you have to say, it's kind of cool to need one.
I intend to write much more about each of these precautions as I get closer to the event (and learn how to use each of them!).Tonight I may go back on the elliptical just to give my calf and ankle a full three days to rest before the 33 mile ultra on Saturday but I'll see how I feel when I get to the gym.
On the fundraising front I emailed the PR departments of all the companies listed in last week's New Scientist recruitment special (random I know, it was the first thing that came to hand!). I have also listed out all the companies in the FTSE100 and the FTSE250 and over the coming days I intend to write to the PR departments of all of those firms asking for sponsorship. If you work for a company who might be willing to sponsor an honest and hardworking Welsh boy to do something a little useful with his life then please get in touch!
Thanks for reading folks! Peace, out.
JUST THE FACTS!!
Weight: 79.6 Kg
TODAY
Distance 6.25 miles
Time 0:59:15 hrs
Elliptical 0 hrs
Kcal 0
Press-ups 0
Swimming 0 m
Sauna 15 mins
TOTAL
Distance 344.48 miles
Time 62:51:43
Elliptical 16:11 hrs
Kcal 34,388
Press-ups 620
Swimming 12,500 m
Sauna 6:35 mins
Contact me: miffjacobs@hotmail.com
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.
There are 1.5 million people in the UK with a learning disability. Most are treated as ‘different’ however with the right support people with a learning disability can have access to education, jobs and an independent place to live. Mencap works with people with a learning disability to help them live the lives they want.
Be cool and click on the link below and help make someone's life better.
http://www.justgiving.com/pitymyfeet
Monday, 16 January 2012
Monday 16th January 2012 - 9 mile treadmill
Total so far: £700.53
Text "MIFF70 £5" (without quotes) to 70070 to donate £5 to Mencap. Change the amount to whatever you are comfortable with.
Click on the "Donate Now" link in the sidebar or visit www.justgiving.com/pitymyfeet.
Thanks!
Another big step on the road to recovery tonight. And also a big step on the road to the Sahara perhaps? I gave my calf a proper test in the gym, running 15km. I wanted to run 10 miles and my usual combination of confidence and ignorance meant that I didn't check how many Km it was. Turns out it's not 15. It's a little more. So in the end I only did 9.32 miles but I didn't know it until just now when I checked. Never mind. I'm happy with 9 miles at roughly 10 mpm pace.
My leg held out pretty well. I had some pain in my right ankle before things got warm and loose. Then, at about the 70 minute mark, I got a growing pain directly at the site of the muscle tear but it only lasted about five minutes and it eased off as I slowed the tempo a little to prepare for my warm down. I'll wait and see how it fares over night. Right now (about 2 hours after the end of the run) it feels fine and I have no pain :)
I'll have another short run tomorrow and Wednesday but then I intend to take two full days off before the true test on Saturday. The 33 mile Anglesey ultra-marathon. It'll be the longest event I've ever competed in and I'm really looking forward to seeing how my body copes with it. I'm targeting a time of 10 hours to finish although I don't know if there are cut off times that are quicker. Ten hours works out to about 18 mpm and I think I can maintain that as long as I don't linger too long at the checkpoints etc. It's nice to have a target but of course my main focus is just on finishing it at all!
On the fundraising front I got knocked back by tesco locally. I have to go through a central organisation in London to collect at a tesco so I'll give them a call. I also want to find locations for some collection boxes this week and get them in place and collecting money as soon as possible. As I've mentioned before, if you know of anywhere suitable to house one for a few months please let me know!
Thanks for reading folks! Peace, out.
JUST THE FACTS!!
Weight: 79.6 Kg
TODAY
Distance 9.32 miles
Time 1:34:22 hrs
Elliptical 0 hrs
Kcal 0
Press-ups 0
Swimming 0 m
Sauna 0 mins
TOTAL
Distance 338.23 miles
Time 61:52:28
Elliptical 16:11 hrs
Kcal 34,388
Press-ups 620
Swimming 12,500 m
Sauna 6:20 mins
Contact me: miffjacobs@hotmail.com
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.
There are 1.5 million people in the UK with a learning disability. Most are treated as ‘different’ however with the right support people with a learning disability can have access to education, jobs and an independent place to live. Mencap works with people with a learning disability to help them live the lives they want.
Be cool and click on the link below and help make someone's life better.
http://www.justgiving.com/pitymyfeet
Text "MIFF70 £5" (without quotes) to 70070 to donate £5 to Mencap. Change the amount to whatever you are comfortable with.
Click on the "Donate Now" link in the sidebar or visit www.justgiving.com/pitymyfeet.
Thanks!
Another big step on the road to recovery tonight. And also a big step on the road to the Sahara perhaps? I gave my calf a proper test in the gym, running 15km. I wanted to run 10 miles and my usual combination of confidence and ignorance meant that I didn't check how many Km it was. Turns out it's not 15. It's a little more. So in the end I only did 9.32 miles but I didn't know it until just now when I checked. Never mind. I'm happy with 9 miles at roughly 10 mpm pace.
My leg held out pretty well. I had some pain in my right ankle before things got warm and loose. Then, at about the 70 minute mark, I got a growing pain directly at the site of the muscle tear but it only lasted about five minutes and it eased off as I slowed the tempo a little to prepare for my warm down. I'll wait and see how it fares over night. Right now (about 2 hours after the end of the run) it feels fine and I have no pain :)
I'll have another short run tomorrow and Wednesday but then I intend to take two full days off before the true test on Saturday. The 33 mile Anglesey ultra-marathon. It'll be the longest event I've ever competed in and I'm really looking forward to seeing how my body copes with it. I'm targeting a time of 10 hours to finish although I don't know if there are cut off times that are quicker. Ten hours works out to about 18 mpm and I think I can maintain that as long as I don't linger too long at the checkpoints etc. It's nice to have a target but of course my main focus is just on finishing it at all!
On the fundraising front I got knocked back by tesco locally. I have to go through a central organisation in London to collect at a tesco so I'll give them a call. I also want to find locations for some collection boxes this week and get them in place and collecting money as soon as possible. As I've mentioned before, if you know of anywhere suitable to house one for a few months please let me know!
Thanks for reading folks! Peace, out.
JUST THE FACTS!!
Weight: 79.6 Kg
TODAY
Distance 9.32 miles
Time 1:34:22 hrs
Elliptical 0 hrs
Kcal 0
Press-ups 0
Swimming 0 m
Sauna 0 mins
TOTAL
Distance 338.23 miles
Time 61:52:28
Elliptical 16:11 hrs
Kcal 34,388
Press-ups 620
Swimming 12,500 m
Sauna 6:20 mins
Contact me: miffjacobs@hotmail.com
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.
There are 1.5 million people in the UK with a learning disability. Most are treated as ‘different’ however with the right support people with a learning disability can have access to education, jobs and an independent place to live. Mencap works with people with a learning disability to help them live the lives they want.
Be cool and click on the link below and help make someone's life better.
http://www.justgiving.com/pitymyfeet
Friday, 13 January 2012
Thursday 12th January 2012 - Another treadmill test
Total so far: £695.53
Text "MIFF70 £5" (without quotes) to 70070 to donate £5 to Mencap. Change the amount to whatever you are comfortable with.
Click on the "Donate Now" link in the sidebar or visit www.justgiving.com/pitymyfeet.
Thanks!
Well I gave my legs another tester on the treadmill. This time I did a mile at roughly 11 mpm pace. The good news is that I did it. The bad news is that I felt some pain in my lower right leg. I just don't know if this is a sign that the leg is not healed or whether it's just that I haven't run on it for a month and that I'm now stretching around the scar tissue after the muscle tear. I wasn't limping and the pain wasn't severe and didn't linger long after I finished. I have a rest day today and I think I will avoid the treadmill at the weekend and stick to the elliptical just to be safe and then next week I'll test it again. However, I have booked myself a "do or die" challenge the following weekend. The Anglesey ultra-marathon. It's a 33 mile off-road course. I know, I know. I never was the sharpest pin in the cushion but it's all off road and I intend to walk a lot of it and use it to test my kit out (cooker, dried food, etc). I will probably have three or four days of complete rest afterwards and see where I am after that. Keep everything crossed for me!
So anyway, after the mile on the treadmill I did 77 minutes on the elliptical (eqiuvalent to 7 miles at 11mpm) and then went home. I didn't even shower at the gym because I was worried about my legs so instead I got home and sat in a deep hot bath for a while. As I write this (7am the following morning) I have no pain and can stand easily on my toes.
On the fundraising front the fund I got another £41 in donations. Thank you Zoe & Pyme and thank you to the two folks who donated via SMS. With the uncounted money that is sitting in the collection pot I'm using for leafleting I know I now have over £700 in the total. Thank you :)
Lastly, I got my photo taken for the Whitchurch Herald. Hopefully they will feature it in next week's edition. I made some changes for the photo though after the unflattering one that was in the Leader. I lost the hat! Fingers crossed that it generates some more sponsorship. I also sent some text to the "Essentially Yours" magazine and with any luck I'll be in the next edition. Rest day tomorrow!
Peace, out.
JUST THE FACTS!!
Weight: 79.6 Kg
TODAY
Distance 1 miles
Time 0:11 hrs
Elliptical 1:17 hrs
Kcal 0
Press-ups 0
Swimming 0 m
Sauna 0 mins
TOTAL
Distance 328.91 miles
Time 60:18:06
Elliptical 16:11 hrs
Kcal 34,388
Press-ups 620
Swimming 12,500 m
Sauna 6:20 mins
Contact me: miffjacobs@hotmail.com
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.
There are 1.5 million people in the UK with a learning disability. Most are treated as ‘different’ however with the right support people with a learning disability can have access to education, jobs and an independent place to live. Mencap works with people with a learning disability to help them live the lives they want.
Be cool and click on the link below and help make someone's life better.
http://www.justgiving.com/pitymyfeet
Text "MIFF70 £5" (without quotes) to 70070 to donate £5 to Mencap. Change the amount to whatever you are comfortable with.
Click on the "Donate Now" link in the sidebar or visit www.justgiving.com/pitymyfeet.
Thanks!
Well I gave my legs another tester on the treadmill. This time I did a mile at roughly 11 mpm pace. The good news is that I did it. The bad news is that I felt some pain in my lower right leg. I just don't know if this is a sign that the leg is not healed or whether it's just that I haven't run on it for a month and that I'm now stretching around the scar tissue after the muscle tear. I wasn't limping and the pain wasn't severe and didn't linger long after I finished. I have a rest day today and I think I will avoid the treadmill at the weekend and stick to the elliptical just to be safe and then next week I'll test it again. However, I have booked myself a "do or die" challenge the following weekend. The Anglesey ultra-marathon. It's a 33 mile off-road course. I know, I know. I never was the sharpest pin in the cushion but it's all off road and I intend to walk a lot of it and use it to test my kit out (cooker, dried food, etc). I will probably have three or four days of complete rest afterwards and see where I am after that. Keep everything crossed for me!
So anyway, after the mile on the treadmill I did 77 minutes on the elliptical (eqiuvalent to 7 miles at 11mpm) and then went home. I didn't even shower at the gym because I was worried about my legs so instead I got home and sat in a deep hot bath for a while. As I write this (7am the following morning) I have no pain and can stand easily on my toes.
On the fundraising front the fund I got another £41 in donations. Thank you Zoe & Pyme and thank you to the two folks who donated via SMS. With the uncounted money that is sitting in the collection pot I'm using for leafleting I know I now have over £700 in the total. Thank you :)
Lastly, I got my photo taken for the Whitchurch Herald. Hopefully they will feature it in next week's edition. I made some changes for the photo though after the unflattering one that was in the Leader. I lost the hat! Fingers crossed that it generates some more sponsorship. I also sent some text to the "Essentially Yours" magazine and with any luck I'll be in the next edition. Rest day tomorrow!
Peace, out.
JUST THE FACTS!!
Weight: 79.6 Kg
TODAY
Distance 1 miles
Time 0:11 hrs
Elliptical 1:17 hrs
Kcal 0
Press-ups 0
Swimming 0 m
Sauna 0 mins
TOTAL
Distance 328.91 miles
Time 60:18:06
Elliptical 16:11 hrs
Kcal 34,388
Press-ups 620
Swimming 12,500 m
Sauna 6:20 mins
Contact me: miffjacobs@hotmail.com
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.
There are 1.5 million people in the UK with a learning disability. Most are treated as ‘different’ however with the right support people with a learning disability can have access to education, jobs and an independent place to live. Mencap works with people with a learning disability to help them live the lives they want.
Be cool and click on the link below and help make someone's life better.
http://www.justgiving.com/pitymyfeet
Thursday, 12 January 2012
Wednesday 11th January 2012 - Back on my toes
I ran tonight. For the first time since the 17th December I got on my toes and ran. OK, it was only for half a mile and it was on a treadmill and it was very slow. But I ran! I had a few natural twinges and pains but nothing specifically in the area of the torn muscle and nothing that has lingered to the morning (I'm writing this the day after). I think tonight I will risk taking a mile of my plan and doing it on the treadmill to see how it goes. If I can get off the elliptical and back on my toes it will do my confidence a lot of good. For all the nerves I had stepping on the mill; it felt fantastic to be running again!!!
The rest of the workout seems a little irrelevant but I'll relate them anyway. I started with some core exercises (bridges etc - how boring they are!), then the treadmill for half a mile, then an hour on the elliptical (I finished Lord of the Rings!), 60 lengths in the pool, and finally a quick ten minutes in the sauna to finish off.
On the fundraising front I contacted a couple more newspapers and also one radio station to see about publicity. Oh, and I asked Mencap for a branded t-shirt to wear when collecting so I look less like some dodgy geezer embezzling fag money from passers by and more like a dedicated and hard working charity fundraiser trying desperately to meet his target! The fund went up by £35 today. Thank you Joe and thank you Joanne (great advice about my feet!!).
Peace, out.
JUST THE FACTS!!
Weight: 79.6 Kg
TODAY
Distance 0.5 miles
Time 0:06 hrs
Elliptical 1:00 hrs
Kcal 0
Press-ups 0
Swimming 1500 m
Sauna 10 mins
TOTAL
Distance 327.91 miles
Time 60:07:06
Elliptical 14:54 hrs
Kcal 34,388
Press-ups 620
Swimming 12,500 m
Sauna 6:20 mins
Contact me: miffjacobs@hotmail.com
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.
There are 1.5 million people in the UK with a learning disability. Most are treated as ‘different’ however with the right support people with a learning disability can have access to education, jobs and an independent place to live. Mencap works with people with a learning disability to help them live the lives they want.
Be cool and click on the link below and help make someone's life better.
http://www.justgiving.com/pitymyfeet
The rest of the workout seems a little irrelevant but I'll relate them anyway. I started with some core exercises (bridges etc - how boring they are!), then the treadmill for half a mile, then an hour on the elliptical (I finished Lord of the Rings!), 60 lengths in the pool, and finally a quick ten minutes in the sauna to finish off.
On the fundraising front I contacted a couple more newspapers and also one radio station to see about publicity. Oh, and I asked Mencap for a branded t-shirt to wear when collecting so I look less like some dodgy geezer embezzling fag money from passers by and more like a dedicated and hard working charity fundraiser trying desperately to meet his target! The fund went up by £35 today. Thank you Joe and thank you Joanne (great advice about my feet!!).
Peace, out.
JUST THE FACTS!!
Weight: 79.6 Kg
TODAY
Distance 0.5 miles
Time 0:06 hrs
Elliptical 1:00 hrs
Kcal 0
Press-ups 0
Swimming 1500 m
Sauna 10 mins
TOTAL
Distance 327.91 miles
Time 60:07:06
Elliptical 14:54 hrs
Kcal 34,388
Press-ups 620
Swimming 12,500 m
Sauna 6:20 mins
Contact me: miffjacobs@hotmail.com
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.
There are 1.5 million people in the UK with a learning disability. Most are treated as ‘different’ however with the right support people with a learning disability can have access to education, jobs and an independent place to live. Mencap works with people with a learning disability to help them live the lives they want.
Be cool and click on the link below and help make someone's life better.
http://www.justgiving.com/pitymyfeet
Wednesday, 11 January 2012
Tuesday 10th January 2012 - 2:48 hrs elliptical
Fourteen miles on my plan tonight so I translated that to 2hrs 48 mins on the elliptical. I forgot my ipod and so it was gym dance music all the way again. Like alcohol, I think your tolerance increases through exposure so the impulse to claw my ears from my head was lessened this time around. Although the version of "With or Without You" they played should be criminalised.
Anyway, I took my kindle and so I was able to take my mind off the effort and the music by reading more of Lord of the Rings. Gollum fell into Mount Doom with the ring last night so to be honest the time absolutely flew by. In fact I came to the end of the session before I came to the end of the book and was a little disappointed to have to leave it! But on the whole I was very pleased with the work I did. I found it much easier than the 14 miles I did last week with no 'wobbliness' when I got off the machine like I had had on previous sessions. One problem I did have though is that my jogging bottoms have rubbed the front of my thighs so much that they are red raw and stung like crazy in the pool.
After the elliptical I went down to the pool and eeked out 20 minutes in the sauna although I had to have several cold showers to get me through it because my body was still hot after the workout. Finally I threw in 10 lengths to cool me down. It might have been 12 though, after the depressing realisation that I had lost count. Quite a feat considering I was only counting to ten!!
A great day on the fundraising front too. The total has gone up to £619.53, plus I have some uncounted money in my pot from the weekend to add yet. Thank you Bridget, Nigel and those who donated anonymously through SMS. I'm very grateful. I got my event featured on my work's intranet and had a long talk to a journalist from the Whitchurch Herald. I am going on Thursday to have some new photos taken (note to self.... pull tummy in for photo!). Hopefully they will run a story on me next week. Fingers crossed! I also wrote letters to the managers of Tesco, Sainsbury, ASDA, and Morrisons supermarkets in Wrexham, Oswestry, Ellesmere and Whitchurch. The letters ask for donations and also ask for permission to run collections at their sites. Fingers crossed again!
Phew, busy day!
Peace, out.
JUST THE FACTS!!
Weight: 79.6 Kg
TODAY
Distance 0 miles
Time 0 hrs
Elliptical 2:48 hrs
Kcal 0
Press-ups 20
Swimming 250 m
Sauna 20 mins
TOTAL
Distance 327.41 miles
Time 60:01:06
Elliptical 13:54 hrs
Kcal 34,388
Press-ups 620
Swimming 11,000 m
Sauna 6:10 mins
FUNDRAISING
The fund is at £619.53.
http://www.justgiving.com/pitymyfeet
Text "MIFF70 £5" to 70070
or just click on the "Donate Now" link on the sidebar.
Feel free to contact me with any fundraising ideas you have. You can email me at: miffjacobs@hotmail.com
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.
There are 1.5 million people in the UK with a learning disability. Most are treated as ‘different’ however with the right support people with a learning disability can have access to education, jobs and an independent place to live. Mencap works with people with a learning disability to help them live the lives they want.
Be an awesome human being today and click on the link below and help make someone's life better.
http://www.justgiving.com/pitymyfeet
Anyway, I took my kindle and so I was able to take my mind off the effort and the music by reading more of Lord of the Rings. Gollum fell into Mount Doom with the ring last night so to be honest the time absolutely flew by. In fact I came to the end of the session before I came to the end of the book and was a little disappointed to have to leave it! But on the whole I was very pleased with the work I did. I found it much easier than the 14 miles I did last week with no 'wobbliness' when I got off the machine like I had had on previous sessions. One problem I did have though is that my jogging bottoms have rubbed the front of my thighs so much that they are red raw and stung like crazy in the pool.
After the elliptical I went down to the pool and eeked out 20 minutes in the sauna although I had to have several cold showers to get me through it because my body was still hot after the workout. Finally I threw in 10 lengths to cool me down. It might have been 12 though, after the depressing realisation that I had lost count. Quite a feat considering I was only counting to ten!!
A great day on the fundraising front too. The total has gone up to £619.53, plus I have some uncounted money in my pot from the weekend to add yet. Thank you Bridget, Nigel and those who donated anonymously through SMS. I'm very grateful. I got my event featured on my work's intranet and had a long talk to a journalist from the Whitchurch Herald. I am going on Thursday to have some new photos taken (note to self.... pull tummy in for photo!). Hopefully they will run a story on me next week. Fingers crossed! I also wrote letters to the managers of Tesco, Sainsbury, ASDA, and Morrisons supermarkets in Wrexham, Oswestry, Ellesmere and Whitchurch. The letters ask for donations and also ask for permission to run collections at their sites. Fingers crossed again!
Phew, busy day!
Peace, out.
JUST THE FACTS!!
Weight: 79.6 Kg
TODAY
Distance 0 miles
Time 0 hrs
Elliptical 2:48 hrs
Kcal 0
Press-ups 20
Swimming 250 m
Sauna 20 mins
TOTAL
Distance 327.41 miles
Time 60:01:06
Elliptical 13:54 hrs
Kcal 34,388
Press-ups 620
Swimming 11,000 m
Sauna 6:10 mins
FUNDRAISING
The fund is at £619.53.
http://www.justgiving.com/pitymyfeet
Text "MIFF70 £5" to 70070
or just click on the "Donate Now" link on the sidebar.
Feel free to contact me with any fundraising ideas you have. You can email me at: miffjacobs@hotmail.com
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.
There are 1.5 million people in the UK with a learning disability. Most are treated as ‘different’ however with the right support people with a learning disability can have access to education, jobs and an independent place to live. Mencap works with people with a learning disability to help them live the lives they want.
Be an awesome human being today and click on the link below and help make someone's life better.
http://www.justgiving.com/pitymyfeet
Saturday, 7 January 2012
Saturday 7th January 2011 - 4:50 hrs Elliptical
My training plan called for 24 miles today but my calf is still in no fit shape to take that kind of distance. So, how to replace that with elliptical training? Well, I calculated 12 minutes per mile which works out at 4 hrs 48 mins. In my planning I had figured on rounding it up to 5 hours but as it turned out I did 4 hrs 50 mins because of a toilet related timing issue. (basically the machine kept re-setting every time I went to the toilet and I ran out of time to stay for the last ten).
I don't know if any of you have ever spent that long on an elliptical trainer (or any other fixed exercise machine I guess) but it's a uniquely boring way of inflicting pain on yourself. The elliptical trainer specialises in causing thigh and buttock pain and thus that is what I am suffering now. By the time I got off the thing I could barely move my legs. I was hungry, thirsty, and moving with the grace of a badly constructed robot. The busy gym into which I had walked five hours earlier was empty and they had turned off the relentlessly optimistic dance music that I'd listened to throughout my ordeal. I used to like dance music but now whenever I hear it I get a pavlovian response and start limping.
To be fair though, it's a great gym and the staff had no issue with me hogging one machine for so long. There was always at least one free machine and if they'd have all been taken I'd probably have done the decent thing and got off it to let someone else have a go. As it turned out I was OK to stay on it.
During the workout I drank 3 litres of fluid; 1.5 of lucozade energy drink and 1.5 of water. I also ate a flapjack and an energy bar. I didn't count them exactly but I think it was about 800 calories with something over 2,000 burned. So hopefully tonight I have 1,200 calories worth of love handle less than I had this morning.
Tomorrow is leaflet dropping day. If you see me out come and say "hi" :)
JUST THE FACTS!!
Weight: 79.6 Kg
TODAY
Distance 0 miles
Time 0
Elliptical 4:50hrs
Kcal 0
Press-ups 0
Swimming 0 m
Sauna 0 mins
TOTAL
Distance 315.28 miles
Time 54:50:38
Elliptical 11:06 hrs
Kcal 34,388
Press-ups 500
Swimming 10,750 m
Sauna 5:50 mins
FUNDRAISING
The fund is at £493.53.
http://www.justgiving.com/pitymyfeet
Text "MIFF70 £5" to 70070
or just click on the "Donate Now" link on the sidebar.
Feel free to contact me with any fundraising ideas you have. You can email me at: miffjacobs@hotmail.com
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.
http://www.justgiving.com/pitymyfeet
I don't know if any of you have ever spent that long on an elliptical trainer (or any other fixed exercise machine I guess) but it's a uniquely boring way of inflicting pain on yourself. The elliptical trainer specialises in causing thigh and buttock pain and thus that is what I am suffering now. By the time I got off the thing I could barely move my legs. I was hungry, thirsty, and moving with the grace of a badly constructed robot. The busy gym into which I had walked five hours earlier was empty and they had turned off the relentlessly optimistic dance music that I'd listened to throughout my ordeal. I used to like dance music but now whenever I hear it I get a pavlovian response and start limping.
To be fair though, it's a great gym and the staff had no issue with me hogging one machine for so long. There was always at least one free machine and if they'd have all been taken I'd probably have done the decent thing and got off it to let someone else have a go. As it turned out I was OK to stay on it.
During the workout I drank 3 litres of fluid; 1.5 of lucozade energy drink and 1.5 of water. I also ate a flapjack and an energy bar. I didn't count them exactly but I think it was about 800 calories with something over 2,000 burned. So hopefully tonight I have 1,200 calories worth of love handle less than I had this morning.
Tomorrow is leaflet dropping day. If you see me out come and say "hi" :)
JUST THE FACTS!!
Weight: 79.6 Kg
TODAY
Distance 0 miles
Time 0
Elliptical 4:50hrs
Kcal 0
Press-ups 0
Swimming 0 m
Sauna 0 mins
TOTAL
Distance 315.28 miles
Time 54:50:38
Elliptical 11:06 hrs
Kcal 34,388
Press-ups 500
Swimming 10,750 m
Sauna 5:50 mins
FUNDRAISING
The fund is at £493.53.
http://www.justgiving.com/pitymyfeet
Text "MIFF70 £5" to 70070
or just click on the "Donate Now" link on the sidebar.
Feel free to contact me with any fundraising ideas you have. You can email me at: miffjacobs@hotmail.com
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.
http://www.justgiving.com/pitymyfeet
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)