Sunday, January 6, 2013

2013 One week in


It has been a  great 1st week into 2013, with some annual leave I haven’t been to work since 27/12/2012 and it feels like forever :) Unfortunately that is all about to come to an end as tomorrow it is off to work I go, despite me having numerous chances to win the lottery things didn't work out :(

Oh well you can’t have everything, the extra few days have helped me get ahead of the curve on the college front and I am about 80% through my 3rd assignment for antimony and physiology and this time it is all about the cardiovascular system and the respiratory system, which again has been very interesting .  On the sports psychology I have done some reading but officially we have not been given the assignment but I am going to do some more reading up on the formation of teams, team motivation and dynamics which should be fun. 

The training for the Virgin London Marathon is going well; I had a running MOT by Brian Cole, Sport Injury Specialist (check it out http://www.colestherapy.com/) and it looks like I am good to go, his take on things I have a good style (well I did wear my best shorts and Nike T) and I am pretty much in alignment only a couple of tight hamstrings and quads which he sorted me out for.  I have also booked in for a monthly sports massage just to make sure I stay in shape – as they say prevention is better than cure. My only worry now is raising the required amount; I have a good few different ideas in the pipeline but at the moment I want to allow people to get over Christmas so I am using this time to plot my strategy and get arranging some fundraising events here are some of my ideas;
  • Coffee and Cake Morning
  • Finish time sweep
  • Curry and Quiz night – February 2013
  • Sponsor a mile
  • Pick my fancy dress costume (keep checking back for my options)
What do you think? 

I promise to keep you updated and for anyone local to Stoke on Trent and wants to come along to the curry and quiz night just let me know via email using the button on the right-hand side.

Better go, take care and look after each other 

Monday, December 31, 2012

Short stock take on 2012

Well the end of the year is upon us and what a year has been!!! I have been doing the usual runner calculations and thinking about my targets for 2013. 

Running totals for 2012
  • Race miles 196
  • 249 days running
  • Miles for year 1815 (I didn't find daily mile until after my running year had started)
  • Highest Monthly mileage 190
  • Highest weekly mileage 48
  • Races 21

Looking back there have been some great memories such as being 1 of 5,000 that took part in the Olympic Park Run in March. Running two 20 mile races; one I loathed and the other I loved, moved clubs to Trentham Running Club and met loads of new friends along the way.  Running the Wild thing in September with the new found friends. 
All of that was in between working full time and going back to college to study HNC in sport and fitness.

I started the year with the number 8 in my mind and I was going to:
  • run 8 half marathons - I actually did 9!!
  • get 8 PB - over achieved again
  • volunteer at 8 parkrun - failed only achieved 3 out of 8 
  • loss 8lb and keep it off - failed managed to lose 4lb and keep it off but christmas has not helped 

All in all it has been a good year and a fun year, I am looking forward to 2013 and the new challenges and distances. Take care everyone and have a great New Year’s Eve whatever you are doing 



Sunday, December 2, 2012

My Marathon Training Plan

Date WEEK MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT SUN Notes
17/12/12 1 Strength 30 tempo 6 m run 3 x hill Yoga 5 m pace 10  
24/12/12 2 Strength 30 tempo 6 m run 3 m pace Yoga 5 m run 11 Christmas Wk
31/12/12 3 Strength 4 x 800 6 m run 30 tempo Yoga 6 m pace 8 New Year Wk
07/01/13 4 Strength 4 x hill 6 m run 35 tempo Yoga 6 m pace 13  
14/01/13 5 Strength 35 tempo 6 m run 3 m pace Yoga 7 m run 14  
21/01/13 6 Strength 5 x 800 6 m run 35 tempo Yoga 7 m pace 10 My Birthday Wk
28/01/13 7 Strength 40 tempo 7 m run 5 x hill Yoga 8 m pace 16  
04/02/13 8 Strength 40 tempo 7 m run 3 m pace Yoga 8 m run 17  
11/02/13 9 Strength 6 x 800 8 m run 40 tempo Yoga Rest Half Marathon Brighton
18/02/13 10 Strength 6 x hill 7 m run 45 tempo Yoga 9 m pace 19  
25/02/13 11 Strength 45 tempo 9 m run 4 m pace Yoga 10 m run 12  
04/03/13 12 Strength 7 x 800 9 m run 45 tempo Yoga 6 m pace 20 Stafford 20
11/03/13 13 Strength 50 tempo 9 m run 7 x hill Yoga 10 m pace 13 Stafford Half
18/03/13 14 Strength 45 tempo 10 m run 5 m pace Yoga 6 m run 23  
25/03/13 15 Strength 8 x 800 10 m run 40 tempo Yoga 10 m pace 20 Sean Birthday Wk
01/04/13 16 Strength 30 tempo 10 m run 6 x hill Yoga 4 m pace 12  
08/04/13 17 Strength 30 tempo 8 m run 4 m pace Yoga 4 m run 8  
15/04/13 18 Strength 4 x 400 6 m run Yoga Yoga 2 m run Marathon Virgin London Marathon
This training plan has been adapted from an excellent website and training plan provided by Hal Hidgon http://www.halhigdon.com/training/51142/Marathon-Advanced-2-Training-Program
and was suggested to me by @Gearselected