Long run completes the week

Snow again!!! But it's not too bad - just a wee light covering and nothing to really interfere with my run this morning. Went for a nice slow 45 minute run which was about 4.5 miles. My back held up ok and I really noticed today that my heart and lungs have improved a lot over the last couple of months. It's always good to see and feel progress!

So that's the end of January. I have to sit down and plan out February over the weekend. And then in March I might venture out on the bike and get to grips with it. But first, I have to get a bike!

Thanks for reading. I'll be back next week.

ps - nearly forgot - for the stat geeks:
Average hr = 154
Peak hr = 174
Total calories = 816
1 minute recovery = 147 to 123

Another good swim

Just back from the pool. Increased the distance today and things held together pretty well again. Just concentrated on breathing and rolling and it all seemed to go well. I am doing it in sets of 75m, with a bit of a breather in between. So today I did 450m, which for those not as skilled as Carol Vorderman equates to 6 x 75m.

I still have to do a 45 minute run tomorrow to finish off this week. I strained my back yesterday...sneezing! Yep - that's right. For those who don't know me, I have had back problems in the past and have 3 discs in my back which are damaged. So I have been walking a wee bit funny the last two days but with plenty of anti-inflammatories and a bit of rest, it seems to have settled a bit.

Thanks for reading!

Definite improvement!

Just out of the pool and things went much better today. Swam 400m (not a massive distance!) and felt pretty fresh after it. I just concentrated on technique and breathing.

I really wasn't looking forward to it today but I am so glad it went ok. I'm just going to gradually keep increasing the distance each session.

A 45 minute run tomorrow and then another swim on Friday.

Thanks for reading!

Back to it...for real!

After a couple of slack weeks, training is back up to full swing again...




For the stat geeks:
Total time = 25m40s
Average hr = 153
Max hr = 183
Calories = 463
1 minute recovery = 167 down to 134

Back to it again

After a week off, it was back to the roads today for a bit of a run. Much different from the last time I was out: there wasn't a bit of snow in sight!! I did three miles today, averaging at about eight and a half minutes per mile. A nice pace just to get back into things again although I did find it tough enough. But it's good to be out again and I look forward to the pool tomorrow.

For the stat geeks:
Average hr = 167
Max hr = 187
Calories = 569
1 minute recovery = 157 to 134

No training this week

We've been hit by a tummy bug that has been doing the rounds and although I'm not as bad as Shona or little Sam, I think I might just use this to take a break training for this week only.

Looking forward to getting stuck in again next week!

Swimming re-assessment

Went to the pool today. Was supposed to be 500m timed session. But really couldn't face the whole timing lark when I know that I need to nail my technique. I know I always seem to be harping on about technique, but I feel there's no point building up the distance and speed if I am not executing properly.

So I did 550 metres today in sets of 50m, just trying to focus a different component of the stroke on each set. I did come away feeling that I was swimming better, but knowing that I have a lot of work to do! I really need to build up my endurance and I think this is more important than speed. It's better to finish slowly, than start quickly and then drown!

So, away with the stop watch for now and I will be building up the overall distance and the length of each set.

Catch-up blog post: swim and run

On Monday, I was at the pool and swam 500 metres, the last 300 metres being timed 100m sets. The times for each of the last 100 metres were: 2:05, 2:13, 2:20. This met the target of being sub 2:20. I am still not too happy with my technique. I just feel something is missing but hopefully that will come soon enough. It's still early days.


Just been out for a run in the snowy-snowy conditions. It's snowing heavily right now as I look out my office window. I did the 3 mile loop again, the same one that I strained my calf last week. The calf held up fine today - plenty of deep heat rubbed in prior to leaving. However, the time was a full minute slower! This was all down to the conditions underfoot. The majority of the run had at least an inch of snow, which made it feel like running on sand. Very tiring and my lungs and heart were working very hard! But it always feels good once it's finished.

If these conditions persist over the next couple of weeks, I may have to forget about timed 3 mile runs but we will see how things turn out.

Ouch! Calf strain.

Another snowy run this morning around a 3 mile loop consisting of narrow country roads. The aim was to complete it in less than 25 minutes, but taking into consideration the snow conditions I was happy enough with 25:35. The roads and fields were white with snow - it was very nice to look at.

The last few hundred yards brought on a sharp pain in my left calf, which has now seized up. Have had a good rub with plenty of Deep Heat. Never had any calf problems before so hopefully it will wear off over the next couple of days. Next run is planned for Tuesday.

Hope you had a good start to 2010! See you next week...