Post 9: I am Not a Runner - January 2012

Hi, 

Welcome to the first blog entry of 2012, a year that promises so much. As well as running (think ‘doing’ is probably a more appropriate word) the New York Marathon I have some wonderful things to look forward to and achieve this year.

 

The most significant is that I have been selected to be a Torch Bearer of the Olympic Flame. When I first received the email it didn’t really sink in, in fact I don’t think it will completely until the day I do it (Friday 25th May). I feel very honoured to have even been nominated so to actually have been selected is very special and will be a wonderful day for my family, friends and everyone who has supported The Joanna Brown Trust. After all, it’s because of The JB Trust that I have been selected so we are all looking forward to using it as a celebration of what we have achieved in Jo’s memory. More details about that over the next few months.

 

Right, on to the running. It’s been good. I’ve started to go out on the roads more and think I am starting to overcome the initial psychological barriers. I have this silly thing where just before I go out for a run I think ‘I hope I can make it otherwise it’s going to be really demoralising’. I’m not going any great distance and have completed a number of runs successfully now, it’s just still not having the confidence I can run for any distance / time. I’m always slightly amazing when I make it back! The work I’ve been doing in the gym is definitely paying off and so that also adds as an extra incentive to keep that part of my training up. Overall, I am starting to see the improvements and that acts as a great motivation to keep going.

 

As I mentioned in my previous blog, I now have the Adidas MiCoach which tracks your speed, heart rate etc... Unfortunately I didn’t get off to the best start with it. The first time I went to use it I didn’t turn it on (don’t ask me why!), the second I did turn it on but forgot to press start, and then the third time I did all of the above but then didn’t sync it up to the computer correctly. The most worrying thing is it is really easy to use and all completely my fault. Now that I have got it working it is really useful. The most useful information I find at the moment is the speed I’m going. When I’m on the treadmill I run at 10km/h and when on the roads I run at around 8.5km/h. I run for longer and further on the roads so am happy with that pace. The plan is to continue to run faster in the gym as a means of variety and to keep challenging myself.

 

The other interesting element of the MiCoach is the heart rate monitor. It tracks it all the way during my runs and there is a pattern developing. After around 10 – 12mins my heart rate actually drops and I seem to find a ‘rhythm’. Have I found the 1st wall????

 

When I am out running I sometimes catch a reflection of myself or see my shadow and I just think ‘I do not look like a runner!’. I’m not sure what a runner should actually look like but I’m definitely not it. I am starting to enjoy it and I am seeing improvements so maybe I will become a runner eventually, but in the mean time I’ll just have to pretend to be one...

 

Until next time...

 

Post 8: Lets Talk Numbers - December 2011

Hi,

Welcome to the final blog entry of 2011 (albeit being written on 2nd Jan 2012). Thanks for taking the time to visit my blog. This is my 8th entry and I'm starting to worry I'll eventually run out of things to say. 2012 is set to be a really fantastic year so hopefully you'll stick with me as there is so much to look forward to and achieve.

The training this month has been good. Nothing spectacular or groundbreaking, just keeping things going. Being a month that includes my birthday and Christmas it was never going to be anything else. One thing I've learnt since starting this blog is to be realistic with your targets. There was a time a few months ago when I was starting to get frustrated and putting too much pressure on myself. Having spoken to many friends and fellow runners (I feel like I'm cheating using the term 'fellow' but you know what I mean) I realise that the New York Marathon is still a long way away. Most marathon training programmes are about 16 weeks long, I've still got 11 months.

Having said that, a 16 week programme is fine providing you are in some kind of decent physical shape (which I'm not). The key things for me at the moment is giving myself a good platform of general fitness. Not being a runner and having never done anything this physically demanding before I'm not 100% sure how my body will react. Getting injured is already a concern and so I am trying to take things slowly. It's been really useful talking to Bruce and Kelly (friends of mine that ran the Edinburgh marathon for The JB Trust) as they seem to understand both where I am at the moment, in terms of fitness, and where I am trying to get to.

For Christmas, Katie (my wife) bought be the Adidas MiCoach. It has three parts, a heart rate monitor, a sensor / chip to put in your shoe and a device that clips to the top of your shorts. The device records the information from the heart rate monitor and the chip in your shoe. You then plug it in to your computer and it tells you all the stats about your run including stride length, speed etc...

I am really looking forward to using this as it will be great to have some actually evidence of the progress I'm making. It will also help when people ask me about how the training is going. When people ask me how the training is going I feel like I'm cheating them by just saying I'm in the gym most of the time and am not really running yet. I'm sure some of them think it's an excuse for not actually running (I'd probably think the same). I really am grateful for the about of support and interest this challenge seems to already have and it will be nice to share the information I'll get from my Adidas MiCoach with them.

2012 promises to be a really fantastic year. I've got lots to look forward to and some incredibly special things to do (more about those in the months to come). I hope you've had a good Christmas and are as excited about the year ahead as I am.

Here's to 2012...

Rich

Post 2: Do New Trainers Still Make You Run Faster? - June 2011

Hi,

Something that will become a common theme at the start of these ramblings, can I start by thanking you for taking the time to visit my blog.

For the past 6 weeks I've been going to Nuffield Health in Worcester, who are very kindly supporting this challenge. At the moment I've got a few short terms goals, to build up my general strength and fitness and to get used to running - something that will be quite important!!!

My mate Hoops (twitter name: hoops60230) has been training with me, although for the past few sessions he's been busy at work so it's left me to go it alone.

The running kit I got from Adidas is brilliant. Currently I'm wearing a pair of Adidas Salvations, which offer a bit more support to the inside of your foot. This keeps your feet and ankles straight as your running. I'd learnt about what type of trainers I should get from my session at Runaround Sports in Worcester. It was a really useful thing to do and I can't recommend them enough to anyone who is training for any type of run.

Upon receiving the new kit from Adidas it did remind me of when you're younger and the excitement of getting a new pair of trainers and the unwavering belief they made you run faster. I'd love that to be true now...

The other great thing that happened on the back of me receiving the Adidas kit was I took a photo of it and posted it on Twitter (http://twitpic.com/5bxeki). In the tweet I tagged @AdidasUK and they re-tweeted it. For those of you that have no idea what I'm going on about, basically it meant AdidasUK sent a message out about me and that picture to their 15,928 followers. Within an hour of them doing it my photo had over 200 views. The power of social media.

Another cool thing that has happened is I've been offered training advice from a fitness coach in America. A good friend of mine, Liam (also on twitter: @liampad5) is on a football (soccer) scholarship at Baltimore University. He's back for the summer and we were chatting about what I doing and from that Liam contacted his fitness coach who has said he'd love to help me out. Apparently he's a fitness coach and stand up comedian so could be very interesting. Watch this space!

So in summary it has been a pretty good month. I've started to get a little impatient with the fact I don't seem to be making as much progress as I'd hoped, but I know I've just got to stick at it.

Until next time,
Rich

Post 1: The Start of a Very Long Road - May 2011

Hi,

First of all I just want to say thanks for taking the time to visit my blog, hopefully you'll find it interesting and entertaining.

In case you are reading this and don't know the full story allow me to provide the back story to this challenge. My big sister, Jo, sadly passed away in August 2008 following an accident whilst she was traveling back from Beijing, where she'd been to watch the Olympic Games. In her honour and memory Jo's family and friends set up The Joanna Brown Trust, a charity that aims to encourage involvement in sport. More detail about The JB Trust can be found on our website www.TheJoannaBrownTrust.org.

At the time of Jo's death she was in training for the New York Marathon, which she was set to run in November of that year. In memory of Jo and in aid of The Joanna Brown Trust I'm going to run the New York Marathon in 2012. Having never done any kind of running like this before and not being a particularly big fan of running I know I'm in for a very challenge and tough 18 months. Needless to say the reason why I am doing it will be more than enough motivation to get me through the difficult times ahead and I can't even begin to imagine what it will feel like to cross that finish line.

As well as doing this for Jo and trying to raise as much money as possible for The JB Trust, my other aim is to raise the awareness about the charity. Being such a small charity any help or support we receive makes a massive difference. I know that's a line used by a lot of charities but as this charity is effectively one man and a laptop it is true! I am so grateful to the organisations that have already agreed to support my challenge.

Nuffield Health have provided me with a free membership so I can train in their gym and have full access to all the other fantastic facilities and services they offer. The second sponsor is Adidas who have very kindly agreed to provide me with trainers and running tops for my training and on the day itself.

Training has already official begun, I've recruited the help of my friend 'Hoops' to help me along the way. So far it going well, getting the support from Nuffield Health and Adidas has really given me an extra bit of motivation. The key at the moment is to just take it one step at a time and not think about the marathon itself.

Over the coming months I'll be posting how I'm getting on and any other major developments. It'll be roughly one a month unless something radical happens. I'm going down to Runaround Sports in Worcester early next week to be videoed on a running machine to see what type of trainers I need.

Think that's it for the first entry, please keep checking back for more entries and I'd really appreciate it if you could forward this on. As I said it's all about spreading the word...

Cheers,
Rich