Time to do some training

Training Diary - Week 1

Soup in Bath

After a fair bit of planning last weekend, setting up Twitter, linking in Facebook, etc I thought it might be beneficial to actually do some training rather than mess about with a computer. After all the whole idea is to get fit & spend time away from the laptop.

With a few reasonable walks under my belt (50k and 24-hour challenges), I thought the transition to a very slow 10-min-mile jog wouldn't be very difficult, and it wasn't.. for the first run.

I soon realised that repetitively pounding 200lbs into your knees, shins and ankles for 2 hours doesn't do them much good. They promptly rebelled by developing signs of shin-splints. Looks like it's going to be a gradual switch from walking to jogging as and when the legs allow.

As far as a training schedule goes, I'm taking the holistic approach. Just playing it by ear & seeing what the body feels like doing once I send it out for exercise.. I do have time & weather limitations (they probably wouldn't like it if I turned up at work an hour late & dripping wet as "I felt like running a bit more"), but otherwise, just see how it goes. 

There's a good piece on ultras by Mouncey that follows the same thought process:
"If it gets you the results you want in the way you want 'em and you can make those results stick over time - then whatever you're doing is a legitimate strategy for you"

So for the stats: Total mileage for the week 131.81 miles in 32.55 hours, average 4.05 mph. 3x 14-mile runs and 8 walks of 5 miles+. You can find the detail on Endo but it's pretty boring. Really, it is. 

Until the next riveting update :-

So to the mad bit..

LeJog 2014 - From LeWheels to LeFeet

With the limited research I've been able to do on wikipedia and Runners World forums, it seems that a guy called Dan Driver from Exeter Uni set the unsupported record for running John o'Groats to Land's End between 7th and 24th July 2008, clocking up 850-900 miles in 17 days.

Google maps gives the shortest runable distance as 814 miles. On a 14 day schedule on this mileage means averaging 58.2 miles per day.

To give a bit of leeway for error and detours to good pubs, I'll be working on 875 miles / 62.5 mpd (my 2010 ride was 902 miles all-in).

There is no "official" record, just an article in the Exeter Express and comments on Dan's JustGiving Site. It seems that his record was self-supported (buying supplies) rather than unsupported (carrying everything you need including food & water purification kit). So given that pub lunches are allowed, I'll be giving this a go, though beer may have to wait until after LeJOG is complete.

I'm undecided on the timing for 2014 - as I completed JOGLE in late August and had pretty good weather, I'd be tempted to try that again. Plus it gives me plenty of training time. On the other hand it is 18 months away and I prefer short deadlines to concentrate the mind... so Sep 2014 may turn to Sep 2013, depending on training.

As for the logo - I guess it gets the message across. Brief, to-the-point, and pretty much an exact copy of the 2010 strapline too. Comments welcome though as this kind of thing is not my forte. Any graphic designers or photoshop wizards are very welcome to suggest improvements.

So there's the plan. I now have 100 "to do" and "to research" lists, and a shed load of training. But I do love a challenge..

Time to take up the trail again

The start of LeJOG

Loch Linnhe

I can't believe it's been 2.5 years since I cycled JOGLE in Sep 2010 !

Despite plenty of plans, other things seem to have got in the way - house purchase, change of job, too much overtime & too little walking. So..

I've been in contact with Garry Pennington who is walking the K2B back-to-back.. He's the uncle of Alice Pyne, a 17-year-old who sadly passed away on 12 January this year after fighting cancer for several years.

I've signed up for the race, starting at 5am on 11-May (!!), and will be raising funds for Alice's Escapes - a charity to provide holiday breaks for parents & children battling serious & terminal conditions. Alice was involved in setting up the charity herself, so it is her legacy.

Since I'm now building the walking mileage to around 100 a week and adding in a little light jogging, it seemed a perfect opportunity to grab the collection tin and get out on the road. So please spare a few shekels if you can.

Time for some planning on an end-to-end LeJOG walk - back later with a properly mad proposition.

R