Category: Juneathon

Day 13 #juneathon ….but why?

~ Phil Lengthorn ~ 9 Comments

Come September, and the start of the new academic year, our school is changing the structure of the school day. We have new start and finish times, longer lessons and Wednesday afternoon students will be able to choose an 'elective'. As well as a couple of other things I decided to offer a running club.

The students are in the process of choosing 'electives' for next year. Today, one of my Y9s was asking me for details of the running club, I couldn't really help with any details because I don't actually know them myself. But whilst chatting the conversation turned to our experiences of running. This lad is very keen on running and whilst talking, the topic of Juneathon came up. When I explained to him what Juneathon is all about he looked slightly surprised and said, “What? You actually run every day of the month?” I tried to explain to him that I do and he seemed reasonably happy with my answer. However, a bit later in the lesson, the subject had obviously been playing on his mind, he said, “You run every day? Isn't that bad for you? Shouldn't you give your body a chance to recover?” I tried to explain to him that some runs are short, some runs are long, some fast and some slow, and that as long as you listen to your body it should all be ok.

Which brings me to the purpose of tonight's post….why am I actually taking part in Juneathon?

  • Exercise. Seems obvious I know, I do plenty of running without Juneathon, or Janathon for that matter, but I suppose by taking part in these activities it actual forces me to keep exercising throughout the year.
  • Challenge. I like a challenge: 2012 was proof of that, setting myself something different to do every month; before that in 2011 it was project365; even this year I am taking part in '1 second every day'. I like the challenge of completing something, Juneathon is great for that, because when you get 25 days into the month it all starts to become a bit of a struggle.
  • Music. I love listening to all kinds of music. Juneathon gives me the chance to download some tracks onto the phone, get out of the house, and enjoy an hour or so of listening to everything and anything with no distractions.
  • Thinking. It gives you a chance to just think….and I think we all need that.
  • Blogging. I've been blogging since December 2010 – so Juneathon is just an excuse to do more of that.

Today's mileage = 6.29

Total Juneathon mileage = 65.44

Mojo level = very high

 

Day 12 #juneathon

~ Phil Lengthorn ~ 3 Comments

Dear Juneathon,

I'm not going to lie to you, today was a struggle. I long day at work meant that when I finally got home the last thing I really felt like doing was going out for a run. Furthermore, at was a very dark looking sky with rain threatening that added to my woes.

I sat briefly on the sofa having a battle with myself: to run or not to run. I looked out the window; it wasn't raining. I looked at the sky; it was about to start. I'd already ran the first 11 days of the month; one day off wouldn't do any harm. I'd read lots of blogs about Janathoners who had failed already; I didn't want to be one of them. This battle in my mind continued before I finally decided to get off my arse and do it!

After ten minutes into the run the rain did indeed start, but by then I was intent on getting a few more miles under my belt. Four miles complete….lovely jubbly!

Kind regards,

Phil

Today's mileage = 4.08

Total Juneathon mileage = 59.15

Mojo level = up & down

Day 11 #juneathon

~ Phil Lengthorn ~ 2 Comments

36.67% of Juneathon is now complete. Tonight, rather predictably, was ANOTHER run round the woods with the dog….yes I understand that it's getting slightly boring. Note to self: vary the run more.

Although, I have now smashed through the 50 mile barrier for the month. Tonight was 5ish miles including a brief stop off at the ponds so the boy could take a dip to cool off….

Tonight's run followed Amy's End of Year Show at College. This show gives the students a chance to create an exhibition of their work for people to admire. Amy has now come to the end of her A Levels in both Photography and Graphics. In graphics she had created a brand of cupcakes called 'Clare Rose' including advertising, packaging, menus, etc. The final outcome looked great printed up and mounted….

In Photography she has been using the word 'identity' as her stimulus for some great pictures, including using me as some sort of homeless guitar playing fella….

Well done Amz….you got there in the end!

Today's mileage = 5.43

Total Juneathon mileage = 55.07

 

Day 10 #juneathon

~ Phil Lengthorn ~ 1 Comment

One third of the way through Juneathon and still feeling pretty positive about the whole thing. Tonight, predictably, a run round the woods. Nothing really to report except that maybe the dog did manage to avoid getting lost – which is always a plus. A gentle 4ish miles at 9min/mile pace – may go training with the club tomorrow. Taking part in Tuesday night club training has been seriously lacking recently.

Blog is lacking pictures tonight. Although I have got one of my gorgeous niece at the bar with money and ID in hand….lovely jubbly…

Today's mileage = 3.89

Total Juneathon mileage = 49.64

Mojo level = high

 

Day 9 #juneathon

~ Phil Lengthorn ~ 1 Comment

The day after a late night at Long Division Festival. Saw some great bands: a first sight of Allo Darlin'; a fantastic The Wave Pictures, a slightly strange Dead Flowers; and a very funny Mark Wynn. As well a few rather dubious ones. I think a post solely related to the festival may soon appear later in the week.

Today's run was a steady short run under a rather cloudy sky. Without the dog, who is in the proverbial dog house after yesterday's shenanigans. After the unplanned long run yesterday, today was always going to be a short one. Felt good once I began but still decided to take it easy.

Today's mileage = 3.56 (at a steady 8 min/mile pace)

Total Juneathon mileage = 45.75

Mojo level = high

 

Day 8 #juneathon

~ Phil Lengthorn ~ 7 Comments

The best laid schemes o' mice an' men

Gang aft a-gley,

An' lea'e us nought but grief an' pain,

For promised joy!

This morning's run, at the woods, was planned to be to the ponds and back, about 3ish miles. This didn't quite go to plan….

Lost dog! Well I didn't actually lose the dog, he lost himself. This does happen every now and then, so initially no big panic. In the past he normally manages to find his way back to the entrance to the woods and hangs around waiting for me. Not this morning. So I thought maybe he has gone back to wait by the car at the other end of the woods. Not this morning. So I began running back the way we had come to look for him. I looked to the east of the woods….

Nothing. I looked to the west of the woods….

Nothing. So back to the entrance….still nothing. As I began to panic slightly I decided to make my back to the ponds for one last look around where I last saw him, with the idea that if I did find him I would drown the fecker in the ponds! And lo and behold who should appear from over the hill……?

You're right….the chuffing, fecking, idiot of a dog. 10 miles run!

Today's mileage = 10.27

Total Juneathon mileage = 42.19

Mojo level = after this morning's experiences….it is dropping drastically.

Now off to Wakefield for Long Division Festival

(Music festival!! I am NOT a maths geek!)