One week on

So one week on from my optimistic long 10+ mile run - have I kept up the progress?

It's been two steps forward three steps back ... nothing is simple in my training! I don't mind too much as I think I have decent excuses.

The weekend was spent away from home, so running was out. I did take my running kit with the intention of finding a run on Sunday morning. But my weekend away was a stag weekend. I'm only human, I might have just learnt to run, but one thing I can't do is run with a hangover.

So my first run was on Monday. I think most of my readers and followers are in the UK so you will understand this - right now we have a heatwave. On Monday the evening was warm so I left my run till gone 9pm. I ran 2.8 miles, to the Jubilee Lake, once round, and back home, trying to run to 10 minute mile pace. Or, to be more technical and accurate, 10 and a bit minute mile pace.

Sure enough, I was pleased to complete my run in 29 minutes. At about 10 and a bit mile pace. The odd thing was that according to my Garmin, my heart rate was lower than usual. The day was hot, I was a little stressed, and puffing somewhat, so would have expected the opposite!

Next stage of the plan was to run tonight (Wednesday). It was 32 degrees today, and I just can't face the run. Other people in my position might cross-train, perhaps a bike ride or a swim instead? But I don't do running or swimming. 12 months ago I didn't do running! One thing at a time ...

So I'm feeling a little bad at my lack of running recently. Tomorrow I will try and get out after 9pm again whatever if it's still hot, which it will be. I just hope the heatwave has passed by the end of the year and the MK half marathon.

Ten miles in company

Yesterday I completed 10.6 miles, by far the longest since the London Marathon. Once again I'm starting to feel that I might be able to do this run next month after all.

The advantages of a midweek running parter are many - meeting and running with Tash was of course a pleasure. But the mental challenges are very different. With two of you running, you are ...

- far more likely to consider a shortcut home
- obliged to have a plan before you set out
- guaranteed of company to make the run go faster and be less boring
- possibly more ambitious

All these things worked very well! I don't think I would have considered stepping up to in excess of ten miles on my own, but step up we did, and the run went well. A sunny late evening meant the heat was difficult, particularly at first, there was no escape running the long straight Bucknall road, contributing to the usual difficult first mile, and almost two hours later the usual tired last mile appeared on schedule, but I think we both had fuel in the tank at the end of the run, enough for a "sprint finish". Steady 12 minute mile pace is not impressively fast but pace wasn't the aim.

I still can't believe how far I've come in still comfortably less than a year. I wonder how many other people got home from work, walked the dogs then went for a 10.6 mile run. Probably just me, and that feels good!

Short and sweet

My last update shows I have got the running bug back and am determined to stay on course for the half marathon next month.

But that was a few days ago - today is another day, the end of a lazy weekend. I did run, but I feel it was more to tick a box, so that in my mind I have satisfied the condition of running three times this week.

I also didn't really have a plan. I set off with the idea of deviating from the ring road to run the circuit of a lake - I knew where it was but in 5 years of living in Bicester had never seen it, only run past an access footpath every time I go round the ring road.

Felt very sluggish today, but I stuck to as much of a brief that I could think of while running along. Do minimum three miles, try to run at "pace", i.e. a little over ten minute mile pace which would represent a significant improvement on my half marathon time.

So, it's done - 3.15 miles in just over 32 minutes. I should really have run further.

So long, and thanks for all the fish!

Well, I haven't posted since May. The MK half marathon is still on, but the running had started to fizzle out, as had the blogging. My plan had been to retire this blog.

The journey, documented in the blog, from zero to marathon had been amazing for me, and I could see the attraction in the blog. But is it quite so interesting to follow the journey of someone who has now run a full marathon, fighting the motivation to complete a far less illustrious half marathon?

Perhaps not, but I enjoy writing, and as long as just one of you is still reading (and just one of you has asked why I've stopped blogging), that's good enough for me. The challenges and goals have moved slightly, but the running is continuing. And doing this blog makes me continue!

I struggled to about a run a week - treadmill or outside. But this week the tide has turned, and Neil the runner is back, ready to tackle his half marathon. On Sunday, 6.3 miles through the villages felt good. Yesterday, 5.2 miles, including 4 at faster pace, showed me that I may be able to work on improving my time, and today 7 miles exactly at steady 12 minute pace showed me I still have the distance potential. The change in my morale, not just in running terms but in outlook generally as a result has been worth every step, as now I can see the next goal is achievable once more.

Also today, for the second time, I have had the pleasure of running with my new running partner Tash! The life cycle of this blog has gone full circle - my first follower and commenter as I struggled in Bicester to get past my first mile or two last winter has now become my co-runner as we train together towards her first ever half marathon next November! After today's run I'm convinced we're making great progress towards our respective half marathon goals.

So I will continue to blog! I'll try not to squeeze six runs into each update so there will be a bit more detail in future ... and, for you diehards who find that stuff interesting and continue to read, thank you!

And finally the blog entry title ... well allow me the luxury of keeping the title I was going to use in "retiring" the blog. My allegiance to Save the Rhino is inspired in part by the late Douglas Adams (author of said book with the same title) who devoted his conservation passions and energy to Save the Rhino.

Though my fundraising for them has now ended, if it has inspired you, do continue to follow http://www.savetherhino.org and watch the TV series "Last Chance to See" this autumn. Inspired by Douglas Adams' book and journey with Mark Carwardine, and with Douglas Adams' place taken by Stephen Fry.

Horrible

Well, that was horrible.

Five weeks ago, euphoria. Cheered on live by a crowd of thousands, a surprising opportunity late in life to fulfil an ambition. And now? Just an overweight curly-haired bloke doing the same thing, somehow the novelty had worn off. Sweat dripping within the first minute under the intense heat and personal pressure, just a short performance and then relief at being home on the sofa with the cat.

But enough about Susan Boyle on Britain's Got Talent yesterday, how was my run? Well, it was horrible ... oh you get the picture. The London Marathon seems a long time ago now. I've blogged pretty much every run, and have only missed one since my last blog entry, which means I've just run once (May 20th) until this morning.

The facts and figures are that I ran for half an hour this morning in seering heat (making excuses already I know, but it was much hotter than Marathon day). In fact for the first time I wore my Garmin heart monitor/GPS watch thingy, so it told me I ran exactly 2.9 miles in 29 and a bit minutes. So my pace was good but I have no idea how on earth I used to run miles and miles ... though I could probably have gone a little further.

It feels I'm doing *just* enough to tell people that I haven't stopped completely, but not enough to keep up any standard for long. But as we move into June I'll pick up the training again. I have to. I've got a lot of biscuits, bhajis and Bournville to run off!

From London to the City of Dreams

Well my last post this time last week was celebrating 20 minutes on the treadmill, but that remained all I have done since London. 16 days seems like such a long time, and the question posed last week - "what next?" still remains.

I was wondering at the time whether to enter the Blenheim 7K race last Sunday. As it happens, a cold put paid to that (described variously as everything from sniffles, through swine 'flu, to fullblown man-'flu ... note order of increasing seriousness). So my newfound online running friends Simon, Tash and Cristin, who were all there and had a great day, I'm sure our paths will cross another time.

Today I planned a 3.5 mile run, but was realistic enough to know it may not happen. My marathon running habits have stopped already. Yes, today I went for pasta salad at lunch, bought myself an extra 5pm sandwich, and prepared to leave work on the dot ready for my run. But when I was a marathon runner I wouldn't have had the extra 2 shortbread biscuits, slice of cake and five strong black coffees.

The run was hard work - I feel I need to learn how to run again, but reminded myself that the first mile was always the hardest. My last run on the street was down Pall Mall in front of thousands of people alongside Spongebob Squarepants. Today was Bicester ring road in front of four cows and a dead badger. In the end I decided there was no need to do the full 3.5 miles I intended, this run is just to blow away the cobwebs. So I ran for 10 minutes, turned round and ran back. Irritatingly it took 11 minutes to run back, but I'll put that down to the wind ...

Apart from getting back into running I don't have an aim now. So that's about to change - I've put in for a half marathon at the end of July in the self-styled City of Dreams. Er, Milton Keynes.

So what now?

One week and two days later, and the post-marathon glow though still with me will eventually fizzle out. The question is, what next? First of all has been the enjoyable process of indulging in all the things I put to one side during marathon training. Coffee, check. Chocolate, check. Wine, beer, check, check. Takeaways - Indian, Chinese, Burger King, all check. Pizza, che... oh hang on, I snuck a couple of those in pre-marathon so they don't count.

But that can't continue indefinitely. I started this training unfit, unable to run, and 15 stone something. I am now relatively fit, able to run in excess of 20 miles, and 12 stone something. I looked at all my marathon photos and couldn't find any of my other chins, something I am simply not used to.

I have, like most, but not all, runners I know, applied for next year's ballot. The 20% chance of getting through for next year, without the pressure of fundraising a fixed amount in difficult times, is too good an opportunity to turn down for someone who had such a good experience. And if I don't run next year, well what instead? I never had a planned time to get round, and I have no regrets at my slow time. But I do have a nagging doubt that I can get fitter still and run a little faster.

I've been made aware of a 7K run around Blenheim Palace on Sunday. Should I run that race so soon after London? Is it amazing that as someone who still can't get used to the idea of all this running I've done that I'm even considering this?

I don't have to decide on this run for a few days, and the likelihood is that I won't, given it is so soon after London. But to even consider it means I ahve to start running again.

Which is exactly what I have just done. 20+ minutes, on the treadmill, nice and easy, no ill effects at all. I could have decided never again ... but I loved it, and I'm still going!