Author: Phil Lengthorn

Janathon Day 2

~ Phil Lengthorn ~ 6 Comments

Yesterday I said I was on the Janathon train. Although, that may have been exaggeration, yes I was on it, but only barely. In fact, I was clinging on by the skin of my teeth. The fingernails of one hand were dug into the rusty steel, my other hand groping for a better grip, my legs flailing in mid-air. But the important thing was that I was on it.

Day 2: 12.1km muddy run in the Lincolnshire countryside.

I'm definitely on the train now. I'm strapped in like Lewis Hamilton in his Mercedes, like a teenager on Nemesis at Alton Towers, like Buzz Aldrin in Apollo 11 at take-off.

Today's run = 12.1km

Janathon Total = 15.38km

 

 

A Day of Firsts…. #janathon #project365

~ Phil Lengthorn ~ 4 Comments

Janathon Day 1

I have been a regular participant of Janathon, or indeed its older brother, Juneathon, for the last few years. In that time I have always found the last few days of the month the hardest. Not this time. After a night of excess all I could manage this morning was: get up, have a cup of tea and go back to bed.

 

Therefore, it wasn't until after 5pm when I felt anything like going for a run. So tonight's rather pathetic attempt of getting on the Janathon train was a couple of very tired and still slightly hungover muddy miles in the dark.

Today's run = 3.28km

Project365 #1

Suffice to say that after a rather lacklustre start to 2015, today's photo is relaxing in front of the TV to watch a film.

Cushty.

 

I’m in! #janathon

~ Phil Lengthorn ~ 1 Comment

It's that time of year again. The over-indulgence of Christmas is seemingly far behind us, hiding in the cupboard under the stairs, whilst the spectre of the New Year Celebrations are creeping up on us faster than a crowd of chavs heading for the one discounted 40″ TV at Asda on Black Friday.

So what is one to do? Well, signing-up for Janathon is a good way to start. If you have been living in a cupboard for the last few years you may want to head over to the website and have a look. But, in a nutshell:

So there you have it, first plan is to partake in a spot Janathoning. Also, I quite fancy the idea of 2015 being another attempt at project365. I did it in 2011 and it is a great way to track the year: posting a photo every day.

 

 

 

 

 

Back in the game!

~ Phil Lengthorn ~ 3 Comments

I like Parkrun, I think it's a fantastic idea: a free 5km timed run local to pretty much everyone. Despite thinking it is a great idea and enjoying them, I must admit that actually getting out of bed on a Saturday morning in time to make the start line is pretty rare.

A year or so ago Parkrun was a pretty regular occurrence, in fact my PB had come down to 19.37, and for a middle-aged old git that's not too bad. Recently I have managed to get back in the game. Attended Peterborough Parkrun last week, finishing in 20.48, which I was pretty happy with, it also meant a 28th place finish amongst 375.

So when I found myself once again at Ferry Meadows Country Park for another Peterborough Parkrun I had my eye firming set on beating last week's time. Thinking back to last week I had started reasonably easy, due in part to starting in the main pack. Not this morning, I was prepared, I positioned myself reasonably close to the front. I wasn't going to start off easy today. The thing with a 5km is that if you want a good time you've got to be prepared to go off hard. That I did. In fact I ran the first kilometre at about 3000mph – you may think this is an exaggeration – but it's not.

After 2km my legs were feeling the fast pace, the voices in my head asking, “Why do you run 5km? It's too short. You're not fast enough!” It felt like I was running through treacle, and bloody thick treacle at that! However, it is at about this point that you begin the second lap and start lapping people – that's always good for self-confidence.

By 3km I had calmed down, of course my legs were still struggling, but less than ten minutes running left, I might be ok. The positivity began to pump through my veins. I looked ahead – I could see a girl – I don't like being beaten by girls. I had a target to chase. It took a while but I caught her up – and passed her – things were going well. It was at this point that it dawned on me that I wasn't wearing a watch – no big deal – sometimes it's nice to just run as well as you can and see what time it gets you. But it would have been nice to see how it was going.

As the 4km marker came into view I finally worked out what had been bugging me for most of the race – there was a fella ahead with something stuck to his back. What was it? It looked like a number. It was the 20-minute pacer! I wasn't even that far behind him!

Suffice to say that I never caught him up. I crossed the finish line about 10secs behind him. My legs were knackered. My chest felt like it was going to explode. But I was happy. Finishing time 20.08. Position? Amazingly… it was 28th again. Lovely jubbly!

Although saying that, do you remember I don't like getting beaten by girls? Well I was. By two! And one of them was only 14 years old!!! Oh well, like I said, I am a middle-aged old git.

 

 

Zombies!

~ Phil Lengthorn ~ 2 Comments

Nearly halfway through a two week half-term and my world has been revolving around the undead. It seems that every way I turn I am faced with rotten corpses walking the Earth or the droning sounds of the walking dead. I've seen 1000s killed in various ways and run from 100s.

Over the last few weeks I've become slightly obsessed with 'The Walking Dead'. I was told by various people to give it a go – I'm currently nearing the end of season 3 – and if you like zombies it's definitely worth giving it a go. I find myself saying 'ooooo nice kill' at various points, I particularly like the slicing off the top of head kills. Now I know it's only a TV programme but there are a few issues:

  • It is annoying that that decide to do anything 'just before sunset'
  • Andrew Lincoln's ridiculous exaggerated American accent.
  • The amount of walking backwards checking for zombies they do.
  • The way most things take ages to do when you have a hoard of the undead getting closer.

If watching zombies is not enough I've taken to running away from them again….

It's been a while since I've been using the Zombies, Run! app to track runs – but I'm back using it.

On top of this I came across a fella at the woods who looked like Merle from The Walking Dead, from a distance it even looked like he only had one hand and was carrying a huge knife.

It did however just turn out to be an old guy with a stick walking his dog.

Like I said….I'm becoming slightly obsessed….

 

I am a survivor….

~ Phil Lengthorn ~ 3 Comments

Survival of the Fittest. Done.

It was a great event, well organised and well worth doing. Would you like a list of highlights?

  • Monkey bars are not my strong point – but I did manage the first lot without falling off.
  • Water slide – fully immersed in very manky water – followed by a bit of swimming – very cold.
  • The weeks of basketball at school paid off when you were required to shoot a basket before carrying on – did it first time.
  • Saved a woman's life* when she got her ponytail caught when going under a cargo net.
  • Running up and down the aisles at The City Ground was a nice touch.
  • Even managed the final 'Wall of Fame' without any help.

Medal.

Goody bag had an interesting collection of 'goodies':

Yes you're right….that is Durex Embrace Pleasure Gels!?!?

Now to try to talk some people into the Mizuno Endure24…..

* this is a slight exaggeration