Running Log: Gale force winds force shorter runs!

OK, not the brightest idea, but you make your plans without necessarily counting on extreme weather conditions. This was planned to be a straight 15-18km run, but ended up being cut into a 6km simply because I was fed up of running into gale force winds and horizontal rain.  Good workout (especially running uphill), and good to have a tail wind and gentle downhill for the last 2-3km, which meant I could really hare it on the home stretch.  Quite bracing, but I am not a great fan of trying to run in gale force winds!

Last Working Day Run of 2013

Lovely, cold & sunny (about 7-8C) - so perfect tourist weather! Decided to go round the near deserted back streets of Southwark instead.  Great running conditions - wide, long and straight pavements, not too many main roads to cross (always a bug bear with urban running!).

Today's run was accompanied by 'The Infinite Monkey Cage' podcast and a truly fascinating (and occasionally very funny) discussion on conservation, which was not all yohgurt weaving and anti-human angst!

Week Two

Training is now properly underway! Well, to be honest it has been since August, I am just using a proper plan now.  My most recent (recorded) run was Tuesday, doing a threhold run around Southwark (avoiding the Thames tourist trap!)

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I have fitted in a couple of short, early morning recovery runs as well, but always forget to to log them (my brain is still not fully working at that time of day).  Run accompanied by the Kermode and Mayo film review podcast (which clocks in at 1hr:40 or so and therefore best suited to a long run - and a good Kermodian rant is ideal for getting the heart rate up and pace over my marathon target).  I have a range of other podcasts and audio books lined up, but am probably going to have to get used to doing long runs 'zen style' - sans soundtrack, as this is the normal practice in official races for safety (and sociability). But while it is cold, wet and dark, the soundtrack is essential company.

Hello to Jason Isaacs, by the way.

Why Am I Running the Brighton Marathon?

Because it's there!

Because you can't get into the London for love nor money these days!

Because I love Brighton, and fancy running most of the 26 miles by the sea.

Because I like a challenge - something to focus on, aim for, discipline myself for.

Because I have lost friends and family down the years to cancer, and I want to do my little bit to help fund research into a cure (please sponsor me... plug plug! - use the button at the top of the blog).

Because running is helping save me the hassle of drugs to control my diabetes, saving the NHS money that can be spent on people who need it, and me the life long dependence on medicines and seeing me lose sight, limbs and everything else from chronic illness.

Because its there, basically. All 26 grueling, foot aching, joint crunching, breath taking miles of it are there to be beaten into submission.

Any questions?

Day Two

The GPS tends to glitch a fair bit in central London (all the tall builidngs and other signals clogging up the bandwidth I expect), so the distance and pace on this one is suspect, but it was my attempt (tourists permitting) at a threshold run.  Lovely, cool, sunny - great running conditions.

Day One

Well, I have not yet started the official training programme for the Brighton Marathon in April 2014, but I have spent the last few months stepping up my regular runs.  Here is this morning's run...

This is the pattern for my average morning run - 5-8 km.  But it's the long runs and threshold runs that I will be working on the hardest in the coming few weeks. Injury permitting.  Will keep you posted!