RUN 213 - My running ‘perfect storm’

There are times when everything falls perfectly into place and a run magically naturally evolves to appear before you.  Having the time free of constraints, and pressures to complete it to allow another task to begin, combined with visiting family or friends to create a destination A to B run rather than A to A, returning to a near perfect and varied route, with roads, fields, forestry.  These things provide a clarity of mind which seem to make the difference between a typical and an amazing run.

[one of my favourite places in the world to run]

RUN 212 - Training schedule, or schedule training?

Finding the constants which running can slot into seems to be my best bet to maintain the level of mileage (and sleep!) I’d like to maintain in my life, I live 7 miles from work and can run there faster than the public transportation system can take me there, combining it with my work schedule is the challenge; perhaps adjusting my run schedule and committing to that morning routine rather than the bus/tube/tube interchange is the key?

[Picadilly Circus]

RUN 211 - Every little helps

It matters very little whether you run a mile, ten or twenty, the distance is insignificant compared to the psychological boost in confidence of stepping out of the door and making the effort, keeping it a regular priority is the challenge of a busy city life.

[Heading to the street below]

RUN 205 to 210 - I've been a bad, bad blogger! ... must do better

I've been lazy, pure and simple.  Making time to run during the week in addition to commuting and at the expense of time with my wife or socializing seems to be an eternal struggle which I feel like I’m barely winning. My next marathon (In Angelssey, North Wales in January) means that December I need to get back on track and ramp up my long runs… my mileage has been good with a 7 mile run either to or from work, but I need to push myself again, its so hard to compare the coastal trail marathons, but id really like to come in about 5hrs in Anglessey.  2011 I’m going to refocus on road races, begin with a few half marathons and 5-10k races and build some speed, with marathons in the final two thirds of the year, with a view to a bigger challenge in 2012! …

While I love the freedom of running to work and avoiding public transport, urban running is definitely different to my usual distance runs along the river where I can control pace and form, although avoiding pedestrians and cars is good practice for marathon racing, working your way through the crowds.

I’d like to get to the point where my fitness level and mileage is consistent enough to be able to build up to a marathon within a month or so, racing or running a marathon every other month seems like the best way to get that consistency and rhythm of training going, and that’s the advise I’ve had while racing around the coast of England and Wales over the last year.

I’m kind of a lone runner, I’m not really interested in joining a running group or training in a team, I’m not anti-social, it’s just that even if your running partner is of the same fitness level, either one can have a bad day, feel tired or unwell, its completely personal for me and I don’t really bow to peer pressure, my own success or failure is the biggest motivator for me.  Although there are a few really good friends who I’ve run with at different stages; when I started, and needed her help to push me forward (Nici!)  when we discovered a common passion and were able to share it (Victoria!, Ron!), now recently my friend (Ika!) recent ex-smoker(!), who is discovering her (perceived) boundaries and learning the biggest lesson; to push through them!… but there’s always something for me to learn too… it’s so easy to become complacent with my fitness level and fall into a pace pattern, 8:30 marathon, 7:00 half marathon, 6:00 5k… seeing Ika push through the final mile as I shout at her not to stop; that she can do it, reminds me that I can do it too… I have many other friends who have become runners, hopefully I’ll be able to run with them soon too.

I'll keep up with the daily posts from now on, promise!

[Ika & the Chicken]





[Sunrise over west London]





[Harry Potter World Première]





[Beautiful woodwork, but slightly awkward]




[Tunnel vision sets in sometimes, just run to the next light]

RUN 204 - Commute at your leasure

One of the greatest things about running, is that you can actually stop whenever you like! there's so much to see around us, running takes you places you might never have gone otherwise, taking the time to stop and look around is the easiest thing to do, but so often the mental pressure to keep on going can be so strong we miss opportunities to see the world in a new way, or talk to different people.  All runners stop, and all runners walk at some point, its ok, so long as you keep moving forward.  [6.68m - 56:51 – 08:30/mi]

[War memorial at Hyde Park corner]

RUN 203 - 13.1 for FUN

There are times, as I've said before, I really just have to run... I feel compelled, physically or emotionally... usually I have an idea of how far I might go, other times no idea, those are the absolute best, like tonight... that release of energy, where it comes from exactly i don't know, but maybe just knowing its there is enough. [13.1m – 01:39:45 – 07:37/mi]

[Running can often put you in the perfect place at the perfect time]

RUN 202 - 'Something' really is better than nothing

A short run, but totally worth it, you don't have to commit hours or multiple miles every time you step outside the door, so long as you keep getting out there, rain or shine, happy or sad. [1.02m – 10:48 – 10:34/mi]

[Fulham Bank of the Thames]

RUN 201 - I Run to eat!

The truth is i run to eat! (and drink) how fat and unhealthy might i be if i didn't run!!?? i often wonder that, and very often when running in the city, I'm confronted with sights like this!  I didn't stop to eat a Full Fryup, but i definitely cook one that night! [6.99m – 01:00:27 – 08:39/mi]

RUN 200 - Athens, birthplace of the Marathon

A pretty amazing run and view to mark my 200th blog post today! Not the longest of runs, but challenging nonetheless given the 270m climb up Lycabettus Hill to a beautiful little church, and a perfect view of the Acropolis and the Olympic Stadium.  To be in the birthplace of the Marathon is awe-inspiring, running races, training and meeting other runners on the road has exposed me to an untold number of amazing people, places and stories; who inspire each other.  The challenging of running is for us each to make of it what we choose; there will always be someone faster and stronger who i strive to be more like, motivating me to push myself, which in turn i hope can inspire others into discovering their potential too.

[Athens, Greece, the birthplace of the Marathon!]

RUN 199 - I really don't like treadmills, even if they're in Athens

When i started running again almost three years ago, during the Chicago winter, it was in a basement gym with my friends Nici & Melissa, on a treadmill... i really enjoyed it at first, and trained up to 13/14 miles on that machine! ... that's a long time to spend staring at a wall, that's when we started running outside, and i've not been on a treadmill since.  My running has become so much more that a get fit routine, so much more than the treadmill can give me... even if the view through the window is of the Athens city and mountains beyond.

[Treadmills, not for me anymore]