Up with the larks (or rather the aircon)

Distance: 1200m
Time: 6m55s
The air conditioning in my room rudely awoke me at 6.10am today, so I took the opportunity to get up and get going on the running machine. My timing was perfect as five minutes later I think the machine would have been nabbed by another hotel resident. 7 minutes and ¾ mile later I was heading back to my room for a shower...

A mile and a swim

Distance: 1600m
Time: 10m59s
After a leisurely relaxing Sunday in the countryside, visiting the parents of the colleague I'm training in India, I managed to persuade myself to get straight on with a run when we got back, otherwise I think I would have just flaked out after a shower. Once the mile run had invigorated me, I decided to try out the hotel pool on the roof! Very pleasant, and I managed about 12-15 lengths before dusk set in about 6.45pm.

Day off tomorrow, so back running on Tuesday (hectic social commitments permitting!)

Is anybody there?

Distance: 1200m
Time: 7m02s
After a long day's shopping all over Trivandrum, and a short scary walk down a busy rush hour road (!) I nipped off to the gym this evening to get in a quick run before being taken out by senior Indian management (the person in my team who I'm training's boss's boss's boss). After the 1st lap at 10kmph I upped the pace a bit and beat my best time out here by a second. A longer slower mile planned tomorrow..

A good day's exercise

Distance: 1200m
Time: 7m08s
It started off well with a walk round the elephant safari... ok, so the elephant did the walking!
Then after lunch we played beach cricket with the guys from the India office. Our team won, and yours truly scored the winning run!
Finally back at the hotel, and I nipped up to the gym for another run. 5 seconds slower than yesterday, but this time I ran at a steady 10kmph instead of yesterday where I ran a bit faster, then slower then faster again.
PS. Did I say we won the cricket?

Morning Runner

Distance: 1200m
Time: 7m03s

So I got up this morning bright and early to have a run in the hotel gym... 6.45am (that's a quarter past two to you folks in the UK), but there was someone on the running machine already. Boo!

This evening upon returning to the hotel I was adamant that I'd get a run in today and managed three quarters of a mile at a very respectable shade over 7 minutes! Out and about for the next 3 days as it's Indian Independence Day tomorrow... but hope to fit something in when I can!!

1st run in Asia

Distance: 800m
Time: 7m29s

A nice gentle jog today on the running machine in the hotel "gym" (a small room which consists of a running machine; rowing machine; cycle and a small weights machine). Luckily it was empty at 6.50am so I had the place to myself to try to work out how to use the runner. It had lots of features about body weight, types of training, target time, target calories, incline running and so on. In the end I chose "quick start" and set the machine going at 6.3 mph which I felt was a gentle jog. 2 laps of the 400m circuit (signified by lights following an oval shape in the centre of the display) and I thought that was probably enough for today. Then I realised that I'd actually only run half a mile, and at a pace much slower than I usually accomplish out on the road at home. Oh well, at least I know how it works, and I can up the pace tomorrow, and aim to complete 1200m instead (¾ mile).

Back to running a mile

Distance: 1 mile
Time: 11m13s

This week's "long" run was a mile, something I've been building up and looking forward to for a few weeks now. Next week I hope to be increasing my short 0.6 mile runs up a bit too, but I'll have to see if there's a working running machine in my hotel in India!

Half way to Loch Lomond

Distance: 0.6 miles
Time: 5m33s

I've just clocked up 200 miles since I started this running lark last October. I wonder when I'll reach the 300m mark?

I can't stand the rain, against my window

Distance: 0.6 miles
Time: 5m53s

A bit slower again this evening, but it's good to mix up my pace. Just glad it wasn't lashing it down like it was when I left work, and tried to navigate the A34 canal to Abingdon...

Day off again tomorrow, so back at it on Thursday.

It's ordered :)

Distance: 1.5 miles

Time: 5 minutes

I took my new bike out for a test ride today, to check that the 20" version is right for me (I'd tried out the 22" model on Saturday). It's on order and once the paperwork is sorted I shall pick it up next month and can then enjoy many miles of fast, fun, fitness...

Why can't men multitask?

Distance: 0.6 miles
Time: 5m29s

Having stayed late at work 'cos it's very busy, I got in late and was toing and froing: sorting the post out, putting the shopping away, turning the laptop on so it could virus check itself whilst I was out, nipping to the loo, getting changed for my run, putting the dinner in the oven to cook, and then off out the door. I was quite pleased I'd managed to get so much done in such a short space of time. Until I got back from my run and realised I hadn't turned the cooker on. D'oh!

I've ordered my new bike today! I should get it next month. I'm as happy as a pig in a muddy puddle :)

Where did summer go?

Distance: 0.8 miles
Time: 8m16s

A bit gloomy, a bit windy, a bit rainy. Still at least it's not baking hot I suppose. But then even it it were gloriously sunny running for less than 10 minutes wouldn't wear me out anyway. Next weekend I'll be running a mile on Saturday (a change from the norm as I fly out to India the next day). Back to the short runs this week, and then next week I may increase them slightly (running machine in the hotel gym permitting!)

A short slow one

Distance: 0.6 miles
Time: 5m52s

It's the end of the week, but I dragged myself out for another short run. Not fast, but not meant to be. As long as I get out running as often as I can then that's what matters.

Dagnabbit!

Distance: about 5 miles
Time: about 25 minutes

I dusted off my bike this morning, stuck it in the back of the car and set off to work. At Steventon (2.5 miles away from RM) I parked the car up, got my bike out and rode off in the other direction the ~5 mile journey the long way round (the flat way!) The shorter route means cycling up and down a big hill and across a busy roundabout. Not something I want to attempt until I'm a bit fitter.

From home to work it's a 12.5 mile ride (15 the flat way). Not a ride I'll be attempting every day, nor one to do the whole distance. Not until I'm a bit fitter. Do you see a theme here? In September I'm planning to drive half way / cycle half way, and by next year maybe up to the full distance.

All was going well this morning until I got to Milton village (about ⅔ of the way). The wind against me had picked up, slowing me down to barely 10mph and my back tyre was making more and more of a rumbling sound ... as my tyre became less and less inflated. By the time I got to Milton Park I was knackered and cycling on a completely flat back wheel. Darn. I don't think I'll be riding back to Steventon after work!

Then to top it all, I must have sat on my cateye computer, or someotherhow squashed its buttons when I was getting changed - resetting my time, distance and average speed for the trip. Oh well, it wasn't the most impressive bike ride I've done. Tomorrow I'm off to hunt down a new bike, one that will be a joy to ride and one that will get me to work on a regular basis (from an increasing distance away from the office), thus getting me fit and reducing my petrol costs dramatically!

5 miles this month

Distance: 0.6 miles
Time: 5m14s

So in just over 2 weeks I've clocked up 8k in 8 runs. Another day off tomorrow, then perhaps a cycle ride on Friday. I'm itching to get back up to decent long runs where I'm out on the road for an hour or more, but am content that the long slow build up will make me stronger.

Like a bat out of hell...

Distance: 0.6 miles
Time: 5m06s

Ok, so not that fast... but it's still going round my head as JackFM played it on the way home and I had a good singalong in the car. Very cheesy but you can't help not singing to Mr Loaf's greatest hit.

Another quick inner lap of the village today. Almost ready to start the lunchtime 0.7 mile laps again.

Hot Diggity!

Distance: 0.85miles
Time: 9m16s

Phew it's hot today... I put off the run until this evening, so it would be a bit cooler, and it's still hot. A longer more gentle run this evening. Then a planned day off tomorrow, and back to a short one on Tuesday.

A short fast one

Distance: 0.6 miles
Time: 5m03s

Slight change of plan, or rather reverting to the planned runs from my previous training. Since I now feel up to a slightly longer run, I was going to run for around 10 minutes today. But then I remembered that my "long" run was usually on Sunday, so why not get back in that habit from the beginning this time? So today I ran out for the 0.6 mile lap past the village hall, through the churchyard, down the path, past my parents house and back up the road to home again. It's a simple route, with a slight uphill. Today I didn't push myself too much, but I did lengthen my strides and run at a solid pace, and made it an a shade over 5 minutes. Although I'm not aiming to run too fast just now, it's good to vary the pace in training, as it helps my overall improvement.

Tomorrow, Sunday, will be my first "long" run, probably not a whole mile yet, that'll be next week!

Getting there....

Distance: 0.6 miles
Time: 5m48s

A day off yesterday, and a gentle jog today. It didn't feel like such hard work today, but then I did take it easier than Wednesday. Out for a longer one tomorrow.

It's me birfdi

Distance: 0.6 miles
Time: 5m14s

Today I'm the grand old age of 37, and despite everything else going on (or not going on) in my life, I feel good. And when I'm feeling good, I like to run. The trick is remembering that I like to run when I'm not feeling so good, but that will, hopefully, come with habit as I get back into the swing of running 4-5 times a week. And I know that whatever few calories I've just burned off will be put straight back on before the 1st pint of beer is sunk, but I did say it was my birthday!

Maybe by the weekend I'll be ready to head out for a gentle 10 minute run...

I'm so unfit!

Distance: 0.6 miles
Time: 5m35s

How did I manage to be running 10 miles back in January? It doesn't feel like I'd even be able to run more than one at the moment. Still, that's not important right now - what's key is to get some regular short runs in, to gradually get used to my orthoses, and also to gradually start building up my muscles and running ability again. I don't need to rush things, and I don't need to think about running more than a mile for the next few weeks anyway. Even so, it feels a bit weird now feeling short of breath after half a mile!

2nd run this month...

Distance: 0.6 miles
Time: 5m24s

Well I finally dragged myself out for another 5 minute run this evening. I don't see why it's so hard to convince myself to get back into running. I know I enjoy it once I get going! So now I've run twice this week, I need to keep it up.

Orthoses are go!

Well, I've been back to the physio since I got the all clear from my MRI scan. He got me to walk up and down loads of times on the RunScan thingy to analyse my feet and videoed me walking and running on the treadmill to check all aspects of my running posture in order to fit me for some Orthoses. I returned two weeks later to try them out.

I've been wearing them for two weeks, and today ventured out for my first short "5 minute" run in them. You're supposed to wear these special inner soles for an hour or two the first day, gradually building up to wearing them for as long as they don't feel uncomfortable. I got used to them within a couple of days, so have been wearing them all day long for over a week now.

If I hadn't been hit with a horrible chesty infection on Friday I would have started running again then. But I'm there now. 5 minutes a day four or five times a week now, gradually building up to 10 minute runs, and then in a few weeks I'll be back in training. This time I can plan to build up my runs more slowly - so I don't overuse my leg muscles until they're stronger. And therefore I should be able to avoid the knee injuries that set me back in January and scuppered my chances of doing the 2008 London Marathon. My physio thinks I may be fit enough by October to enter the Abingdon Half Marathon, but I'll see how things go. I don't want to run before I can walk (so to speak) so am not setting any firm targets just yet!

It's good to be back in training (albeit back to square one) and this time I have nine months to get up to the 26.2 milestone.

No surgery required

I had my MRI scan on 2nd May, and the follow-up appointment yesterday.

It was quite fascinating to see my knee in 3D as the surgeon move the mouse around the images changed as if the camera was traveling through my kneecap.

He pointed out two problems with my knee. Inflammation in the iliotibial band, and inflammation in the fat pad behind the patella ligament. So pretty much confirmed the two diagnoses from my physio (see previous posts my knee!).

The good news is that I haven't torn anything, I've done no lasting damage, and rest and the right kind of exercises will sort my knee out. I won't be needing keyhole surgery to fix my leg, and can start running again when it's better.

So it's all set for FLM 2009. Training starts in ... August? September?

Watch this space.

MRI on Friday

Off to the hospital on Friday afternoon for an MRI scan on my knee to find out if I've torn some cartilage (which can be fixed with keyhole surgery) or if I've simply got inflammation in the fat pad behind/below the kneecap (which can be fixed with time off running).

No news is ... no news

So there are only 5 days to go now until the 2008 Flora London Marathon.

I'll be there, or at least I hope to be there to get up close to the event as a spectator. And to cheer on some of the virtual friends I've made through Facebook who are running it.

As for my knee - I've not run at all for a month now. It no longer hurts, but it does feel uncomfortable sometimes, especially going up and down stairs and if I sit with my knee in the same position for too long. It's been a couple of weeks since the last painful twinge, but it's still not quite right, and not a knee I'd be confident to start running on again just yet. I'm not even prepared to put it under any stress which could exacerbate the problem, so I haven't been cycling. Even swimming over Easter was a bit of a pain, and I haven't swum since.

So I'm off to the Hospital sometime soon to get a scan to find out once and for all what's wrong with it, and how (and even if) I can get it to get better so I can start training for the 2009 marathon.

I'll update my blog again when I know when my appointment will be.