The Big 3-0!

I've not turned 30, no that happened 3 years ago, no today was the first time that I've run for 30 minutes continuously!

The plan that I'd set myself was that today would be the first of 3 15 minute run, 1 minute walk, and a 15 minute run. I've skipped these sessions because I can't see that a one minute walk will give much recovery time and it's only advantage is that it provides a physcological boost to know that you get a rest after 15 minutes. I started with the intention of taking the 1 minute rest but thought that I'd challenge myself and may have felt disappointed to have rested half way around.

I realise that this achievement isn't the greatest in the world, and that any serious runner will manage 30 minutes with ease but it's a big mile stone for me and something I hope to look back on (and laugh at) in the future.

Nearly a Proper Runner

So did my last of the 15 minute run, 2 minute walk, 15 minute run session this morning. Tomorrow it's onto 15 minute run, 1 minute walk, followed by a 15 minute run. My brother, stupidly fit iron man, doesn't see the point in a 1 minute interval but I think that it's more of a physcoligical break. I'm only planning on doing this session once and then I'll move onto a 30 minute run (will that make me a "proper" runner?).

I've been reading up about fartlek training, http://www.runnersworld.co.uk/news/article.asp?uan=722, the plan is to introduce this into my training when I hit the 35 minute constant run mark.

The harder runs are now my favourite, the ones that feel much harder, as I feel like I'm doing something.

Jersey Royal

Had two days in Jersey for work. Had a nice hotel room over looking the harbour. The hotel has a gym but 1. I Gym's bore the sh*t out of me and 2. Why use a Gym when you can run with views like this:

Did a nice 30 minute run along the sea-front, there was a lot of other runners but for some reason they were all going in the opposite direction to me! - Something I said probably.

Can't believe that I feel a lot better about the world on the days that I run, and I definately feel a high at the end of each session.

This weekend I "graduated" to running 15 minutes, walk 2 minutes, and then a 15 minute run before a cool down walk, very pleased getting closer to the magic "30 minutes running".

That Monday Morning Feeling

It took some personal pressure to get going today. I've changed from 9 minute intervals to 3 * 11 minute intervals, still with a 2 minute breakbetween. Each time I up the intervals I'm a bit daunted before the first run.

I am planning on cycling the route again this evening so that I can guage how far I've gone by I've got a feeling that it's about 5-6 Km's (hope I'm not being over optomistic).

Running around the Dinton Pastures lakes (Sandford and Black Swan) was great this morning, the sun was shining, rabbits, and ducks were out and hardly any people (unlike yesterday when my daughter and I went for a walk around the lakes and to the park).

Singing in the Rain

Just been out for another run, there was a shower before I left so I took my new "Adidas Response Wind Jacket" with me. Glad I did because it p*ssed it down while I was out.

Found it quite hard going today, the first 5 minutes were hell and then around the 19 minute mark became difficult but each time it got easier within a couple of minutes. Man I wanted to stop at 26 minutes though, what a jessie!, I pushed on through but it didn't get any easier. Glad I didn't give in to it though.

Did some exploring around Dinton Pastures, could do with a defined route though.

While out I did enter a track in front of some other runners, male pride kicked in and I didn't want to get overtaken. I kept my head and just ran at my pace and was pleased that I wasn't overtaken. Since I'm running on my own I don't have anything to compare my pace to, I do wonder if I really slow or just average.

Found a great new website, fetcheveryone.com, dedicated to running.

Think I'll go and check out the local running club soon (Reading Road Runners), see what's what.

9 Minutes and The Missed Opportunity

I'm currently running 3 * 9 minute intervals, with a 2 minute walk and then finishing off with a 5 minute run before I cool down.

I've been away on business this week and it's the first time since I took up running. Yesterday I woke up early and decided that I'd go have a run and an explore. Not knowing the area at all I thought it was best to run one way and turn back at the half way point, now would you believe it on my way back I noticed a sign for a nature reserve (that I'd run past on the way out) quite near my hotel. What a bummer, I ran all the way along the roads when I could have had somewhere nice to run. The lesson here - keep your eyes open when you're running.

Hopefully I'll have the inclination, and energy, to spend 20 minutes on the cross trainer when I get home tonight, we'll see......

Tomorrow is going to be the last of 3 sessions at 9 minutes before I move up again to 11 minutes. It's only been a 3 weeks since I was running 3 minutes, walk 2 minutes.

Roll on October for the Dourney 10K.

First Steps

First things first who am I?

My name is James and I live in Berkshire, England. I'm a 33 year-old married, father of one gorgeous daughter, IT Consultant. Over the last few years I've discovered I'm not immortal, I have an under active thyroid and depression.

Why have I started running?

1. Getting the same waist line as my eldest brother (43) - It's quite scary to see yourself in 10 years time you know!

2. For the last two years I've taken part in the London to Brighton bike ride and on the second attempt rode the whole way (including up the dreaded Ditchling Beacon). So there's no challenge there.

3. I suffer from depression and found the cycling made me happier but took too much out of my day.

4. I want to challenge myself and a half marathon seems like a good place to start.

The plan for this blog is simple, to keep track of the highs and lows of my running, to share my experiences and to have something to look back on when I complete a Half Marathon next year (that's my goal).