Author: Phil Lengthorn

Janathon Day 10 – ‘Get Better’

~ Phil Lengthorn ~ 4 Comments

Today is as near as damn to one third through Janathon.

Before tonight's run I had a little read through some Janathon blogs and found that quite a few people had decided not to run for one reason or another. Now in Juneathon I took this relaxed approach to running every day of the month, but not this month. I am determined to run every day and beat the mileage I ran last time. So again, like last night, initial plan was a couple of miles, although once I got going I went for the 4ish miles that I've been doing all month.

Obviously the difference between Janathon and Juneathon is the time of year. This month, the whole idea of running in the dark is getting me down. Only two of the ten days so far have been run in daylight, the rest either pounding the dark streets of the town or donning the head torch and hitting the trails of the woods. So the run tonight started in the usual way….

A pretty uneventful run tonight, although it did feel very cold out and a bit misty. On return the weather forecast seems to be suggesting a very cold spell with possible snow and ice. Something to look forward too!

Today's mileage = 4.35

Total Janathon mileage = 44.13

So the mantra for the rest of the month, with the target to beat last Janathon's mileage, must be 'Get Better'…

 

Janathon Day 9…or maybe Takeawayathon

~ Phil Lengthorn ~ 5 Comments

A late run tonight because by the time I got home from work I wanted food! So, after a rather lovely steak and chips, I ventured out for what was going to be a quick mile around the block. Although by the time I got going I decided to go for a 4ish miler (to stay on track to beat last Janathon's mileage). So I headed straight into town and out the other side until I had run 2 miles and then headed back. I very rarely run through town and tonight it struck me exactly how many takeaways there are. In the space of 300 yards I ran past the following takeaway joints:

  • A Chinese
  • A pizza
  • Another pizza
  • A Chippy
  • Another Chinese
  • An Indian
  • Another Chinese
  • As well as 5 pubs/restaurants serving food

This is without the 100s that are on different roads that I didn't run on tonight. For a small market town this does seem a bit extreme, although I am partial to a takeaway, especially on a Friday night, so I suppose I shouldn't complain.

 

Today's mileage = 4.13

 

Total Janathon mileage so far = 39.78

Janathon Day 8

~ Phil Lengthorn ~ 4 Comments

Just about 25% of Janathon complete – that doesn't sound quite as bad as only 8 days in. So today after ANOTHER very long and hectic day, full of workshops and marking, followed by marking and workshops, it was time for a run. To kill two birds with one stone I headed to the woods with the dog for a 4.67 mile run.

Only tonight it was in a pair of funky new trail running shoes, purchased on ebay for a bargain price of £24. And very nice they are too.

Although the highlight of the run was seeing the biggest dog (although I use the word loosely) in the world. It was an amazing sight. As I was preparing for the run, a man, and what I can only describe as a massive beast, walked past the car. I have never, ever, seen anything like it before. This creature was huge. I failed to take a picture as I didn't want to antagonise the savage with the flash. But suffice to say that in Bourne there lives a man who is partaking in some extreme genetic experiments.

Today's mileage = 4.67

Total Janathon mileage = 35.65 (55.7 km)

 

Janathon Day 6

~ Phil Lengthorn ~ 6 Comments

Sunday, the home of the long run, and an early start so that I have plenty of time for the scary pile of marking that needs doing. Although as I write this – 1 o'clock in the afternoon – the pile of marking is still there, well actually I moved it into the garage so that I could no longer hear it.

This morning's run was like a scene from James Herbert's 'The Fog'…

On a 'normal' Sunday without the pressure of Janathon I would have probably put in 8 or 9 miles, but with 25 days left I decided to take it slightly easier as tomorrow will not be a 'rest' day. So a gentle 5-miler was the result. Actually saw a few runners about this morning, which makes a change. Passed a group of ladies doing some sort of run/walk activity, clearly a new year resolution in action. Followed by a fella running at around 100mph, clearly some sort of bionic android alien sent down from a distant planet to make me look bad.

Made time to stop off at the ponds so that Billy Boy could have a dip, also gives me ANOTHER opportunity to play with the fantastic 'Halftone' app I discovered….

Today's mileage = 5.55

Janathon mileage after 6 days = 28.17

Taking the lead from Andrea and her musical related posts, today is my response to the miserable old gits that don't reply to my 'Good Morning!' as I run past: Two-Fingers!

 

Janathon Day 5

~ Phil Lengthorn ~ 2 Comments

This morning's run was a gentle 4ish miles around Bourne Woods with the dog. Legs felt very heavy this morning, probably due to the lack of running in December (very bad bout of man flu) together with the start of Janathon.

It was a pretty standard run through the woods, loads of people out walking dogs, but a distinct lack of runners. I don't think anybody in the East Midlands/South Lincolnshire have heard about Janathon. The only decision I had to make on my travels was whether it was left for mud, or right for hill….

I didn't particularly fancy running with wet feet this morning so took the right fork.

Today's mileage = 4.22

Janathon mileage = 22.62

I think today I did indeed 'Do The Right Thing'….