Tag: running

I’ve got ‘The Fear’ #juneathon #project365

~ Phil Lengthorn ~ 4 Comments

I think you are all more than aware of the problems I've been having with Jeff*. It has however, reached new depths. I have 'The Fear'.

Today when I got in from work I went straight out to test Jeff. Juneathon day 24. The plan was to do 3 or so miles at a reasonable pace to see how likely it was that I make an appearance at Clumber Park in Nottingham for the 'Festival of Trail' half-marathon. During the last six weeks my runs have consisted of very light jogging, or a trip to the gym for some cross-training. I have, in essence, been trying to avoid aggravating Jeff. The only problem is that Jeff is in my head, he has got me questioning my running ability. He has given me 'The Fear'.

The fear that Jeff will blow-up at any stage and cause me real issues.

The fear that I can't actually run very far – even today's 3-miler seemed harder than in the past – I felt like I had run a marathon.

The fear that maybe it's the trainers that are the problem and that I need new ones.

The fear that my running form has something to do with my problems with Jeff.

The fear that I'll wake in the morning unable to walk.

Having said all that, at the end of the run Jeff felt no worse than after a gentle jog. I can definitely feel it, an ache, although whether I just need to exercise it a bit more I'm not sure. I've had six weeks off any fast running, six weeks off anywhere near long mileage, it's time to get back in the game.

I haven't run the route I did today for weeks, it's got slightly overgrown….

And my entry for Project365 #175 I hear you say? Well, you don't have to venture far into the English literary world until you trip over some author harping on about the fields of wheat…

Field of wheat, so full and fair,

Shining, with thy sunny hair,

Lightly waving either way,

Graceful as the breezes play.

I think this is what they are on about….

Project365 #175

* You are fed-up of hearing about my calf muscle, I am fed-up talking about my calf muscle. So I'll call it Jeff from now on.

 

#juneathon Day 19

~ Phil Lengthorn ~ 2 Comments

Today's exercise consisted of the old 'plank and run' routine.

Firstly, the plank, a total success, an improvement of a whole 15secs….

Secondly, the run, a gentle 30 min jog round the woods…

Juneathon totals after day 19:

  • 0.46 miles mowing the grass
  • 16.36 miles run
  • 21.5 miles cross-training
  • 171 press-ups
  • 10,000m row
  • 17min 10sec in planks
  • 20 pointless extra walks between classroom and reception (this includes today's walk to reception only to find the bloody scanner thingy wasn't working)

Right….pub…..

 

Exciting times…. #juneathon #project365

~ Phil Lengthorn ~ 2 Comments

Now if I was a slacker I could very easily have used my 'clearing of the cupboard' in my classroom as today's Juneathon activity: I did plenty of climbing up and down on the chair; lugging folders that haven't seen the light of day for years; and filling various black bags. But I did better than that.

I did, however, use it as today's Project365 entry….

Project365 #154

As for my 'official' Juneathon activity, I'd like to enter 35min on the cross-trainer at the gym, 26 press-ups and 109sec plank. Lovely jubbly.

Juneathon Totals after Day 3:

  • 2 mile run
  • 7.13 mile cross-train
  • 69 press-ups
  • 267 sec planks

In other news….I have a fantastic new blog header to celebrate Juneathon. Designed by Amy Sarfas Designs.

 

Here we go again! #juneathon

~ Phil Lengthorn ~ Leave a comment

Monday sees June begin. But more importantly it sees the start of Juneathon – a month of daily exercise.

In the past Juneathon, for me, has always been about running. I've aimed to run every day and rack up a load of miles. But this time I'm approaching it slightly differently – I'm going to mix it up a bit. Mainly because for the last 4 weeks I've been struggling with a bit of an achy calf muscle. So less running this time round and a bit more other stuff. Not sure what, but have plenty of ideas….

  • Some nice gentle jogs – walking/running?
  • Head to the gym a bit more – cross training, rowing and a few weights?
  • 100 press-up challenge?
  • 200 sit-up challenge?
  • Plank challenge?
  • Get out on the bike a bit more?

So not only will the exercise be a bit different – it might mix-up the blog posts a bit as well.

 

31 days. 31 runs. Lovely jubbly. #janathon

~ Phil Lengthorn ~ 5 Comments

Janathon Day 31

That is it. Done. There are 31 days in January and I have run on every single one of them. 31 runs. Here are my Janathon stats:

Today's run was at the woods in the snow, yes you heard that correctly, in the snow. I needed to do 6.67 miles to break the 130 mile barrier. I ran 6.72. Cushty.

There were not many people about this morning, unsurprising really considering it was bloody Arctic weather – freezing cold, blowing a hooligan and snowing.

Clearly the snow was starting to send me slightly crazy.

I'm not really in the mood for a reflective Janathon post at the moment – that will come later – but suffice to say , as is normal of Janathon, it has been an experience.

Today's mileage = 6.72

Total Janathon mileage = 130.04

 

 

I don’t mean to be rude…

~ Phil Lengthorn ~ 2 Comments

Janathon Day 30 – The Penultimate Day

This week has been very cold. Therefore, since Monday, all but one of my runs have been done on the treadmill at the gym. I'm not the greatest fan of the gym; I prefer to run outside. I originally joined just so I could still run on those cold, wet winter nights. Although I do occasionally do a bit on the bike, or a bit of cross training, I have even been known to do a bit on the rowing machine. But what you will never catch me doing is weight training.

The gym I go to is a bit 'old skool' – lots of weight machines, lots of free weights and lots of big muscle men. Now, I don't mind if people want to workout using weights, good luck to them I say. However, there must come a point when you feel that you are big and strong enough. The boys at the gym where I go don't seem to know where that 'point' is.

What you end up with are blokes pacing around with little heads on massively overgrown, pumped up bodies. Their bodies are so enlarged that they seem unable to relax – they just look so tense all the time – I'd imagine that they just ache all day. Not my cup of tea.

At this point you are probably expecting a sneaky picture of said fellas – that is not going to happen – I wouldn't want to risk it, I'll get lynched. So you get a rather accurate artist impression*…

As for the last run of the month? Not sure what it will be yet, probably hit the trails of the woods for a final muddy blast. We'll see what happens.

Today's mileage = 4.27

Total Janathon mileage = 123.33

* if I do not blog tomorrow you will know that one of the muscle men at the gym reads my blog and has broken me in half.

Project365 #30

Yep, you've guessed it, we had a little visitor over tonight!

Bagsy not tidying up!