Running from scratch

No I never did stop keeping fit, I suppose any of you reading my posts from earlier this year and spotting that there is a huge lack of posting may have assumed that like the blog the exercise died a death also.....Not so.
I ran in the Coventry Half Marathon in October recording a time of 1hr:55m:38secs and yesterday I competed in a gruelling 10 mile X-Country event called the Hartshill Heartbreaker where I finished in 1hr:32m:29secs. I now run to work and back when I can (5 miles) and get out on 'Hash' runs also. My weight is now a steady 12 stone 10 lbs from my March 2006 weight of almost 3 stone heavier, I am still a non smoker (over 8 months) and I am looking forward to another half marathon next month and some more races next year including the London marathon if I can get through the ballot...Love & Peace Steve ;o)

Ran my usual seven mile course today in 1hr and 49 seconds which was P.B for me. I have discovered that I can run a lot easier in a breeze with rain than I can with warm sunshine. The heat completely saps me but the rain invigorates me and leaves me feeling refreshed afterwards. I upped the pace towards home and up the final hill which is one and a quarter miles long and coasted downhill towards my house. If I had not slowed down a bit near Stareton I could have smashed through the hour mark. Next goal is to run less than 8:30 miles.....Steve

Haven't written for a while but managed to run ten and a quarter miles non stop today in 1 hr 41 mins. Could have gone a lot quicker if it wasn't for dodging and stopping for traffic on the roads every few seconds plus it was quite hot and so I took it very easy. Managed to get a blister on the inside of my left foot. I reckon I will be okay for the half marathon in October as I had plenty left in the tank when I got home today. Pleased with myself cos less than five months ago I was an overweight smoker who did no exercise AT ALL!!! I will be doing a seven miler on Thursday evening with my mate, Steve, who is super-fit and then a six miler on Friday afternoon with another mate,Dave, who will be my half marathon partner. Think I will take this weekend off and have a two days of complete rest.....Steve

Haven't written for some time due to my holiday and because I'm not one of those sad bastards that has to seek out the nearest internet cafe or campsite computer terminal. I did get out for three hilly runs on holiday, however which were a little over three miles and I have just got back from my regular seven mile course. I decided that today I would run within the recommended heart zone instead of running too fast and placing too much demand on my Cardio Vascular System. The result of this was two or three minutes on my time but I felt a great deal better and hardly broke a sweat, mind you it was a lot cooler than I have been used too. I think I will try this again and maintain a sensible pace rather than trying to beat P.Bs all the time.

Well, the temperature has been in the 30's for the last three days and I've got to get back out on the road if I want to keep up the Half Marathon training. I did some strength work yesterday in the gym on upper body and did 2 x 2.5km rows and a 4km cross country run on the treadmill. Just about to brave the melting tarmac for a seven miler. I have got a new 12 mile loop that I'm desperate to try out but that's for when it's below 20 degrees. Will be off on my hols soon so won't be writing for a while. Hopefully keep up the good work on holiday with the occasional run round the campsite etc....Steve

Got out of bed at 8am this morning an ran the seven mile loop. I was surprised to see quite a few people out that early with the same idea. Even at that time it was very warm and I could certainly feel the heat building at the end of the run. Managed it in 1hr 3mins 8secs which is quite slow but I am running with a Polar heart monitor on and this keeps me focused on not overdoing the exertion. Legs feel great tonight, Not even a slight ache in them. Perhaps I'm getting used to it!!! Steve

Now confirmed as a fully paid up Lady Godiva Half Marathon entrant so theres no going back. Run the seven miler three times this week and will stick at that distance for next couple of weeks or so. The seven mile loop that I do has three long hills in and is quite challenging so it is working those legs quite hard. I am already looking at where to extend the loop so I can run a distance of 10 miles. I will up this distance to 12 and 15 miles before the half marathon then taper off in the week or so before. Rest day today but I will be out again tomorrow all being well. Weight has equalised at 13 stone and 5lbs.....Steve

Playing catch up a bit as I haven't written for a couple of days.....Right, Monday night gym work(mainly weights) with a row and run thrown in. Last night (Tuesday) a mixture of a run and a walk. Started off with a 1.5 mile run with my two lads, Met the missus and daughter at a local beauty spot and walked for about three miles then ran 4 miles home with my youngest son. I had to stop a couple of times for him as he is only nine and despite being very fit his legs were getting tired up one of the hills. I am on a day off from work today so I decided to do the seven mile loop today in the heat to see how much I have progressed and managed it in 1hr 3 mins 35secs which wasn't bad considering the temperature and the fact my legs were tired. Spoke with my boss yesterday who is a big runner and he insisted that I do the Rotterdam Marathon next April with him and some others. They are in the league above me when it comes to running so I am not too sure but I might apply for it plus the London as I am bound to get one of them and I can then ditch the other...Steve

I have just sent off my online payment for the Godiva Half Marathon in October this year so I now have a goal to aim for and it will be good practice for the full marathon. Legs are okay after yesterday's run so I will hopefully getting out for another tomorrow unless I go to the gym. I hope to build up to 10 miles over the next few weeks and will try to do a 10 miler once a fortnight at least. I now realise that after three and a half months off the fags that I will never ever smoke again, I could not go back to those stinking cancer sticks now that I have experienced the sensation of feeling alive and full of energy after a good, long run. I wish I could convey how it feels to smokers who are considering packing it up, all I can say is it is well worth the few weeks of discomfort from withdrawal to feel this good!!! Steve