Another milestone - 200 miles!

I know I've only just started back properly and today was my 2nd run since I booked the marathon (flights, hotel and place in the race). Even so, I still feel a sense of achievement that on my little 3-mile run today, I passed 200 miles!

I was also very pleased with the time, I did it in 29 minutes which is faster than what I normally do for that route. I bought myself some proper running shorts which felt better to run in and I also think the motivation of Spain in 6 months drove me to push myself that little bit extra.

A day off tomorrow followed by a 5-miler on Sunday.

Have a nice weekend!

-Erik

Diet goals

So in order to do well with the race and in order to get to a stage where I believe I can complete the race I have set myself so goals in my diet. I'm not going to count every calorie I eat but I hope some simple rules will help me on my way:

1. No crisps or chocolate consumed until March
2. A limit of 5 days where I can drink alcohol between now and Christmas - then 3 days between Jan-March
3. 5 takeaways between now and March - I'm not including meals out but simply trying to cut out the random Wendesday night Pizza or KFC on a Saturday lunch time.

I don't have too many takeaways as it is today but I think some simple rules will help. The biggest test for me I think will be crisps - I can't get enough normally. Alcohol is another test but the motivation of running the marathon should hopefully see me through - it's not like I'm cutting it out all together.

What do you all think?

Erik

New goals, new start, EXCITED

So most of you regulars will notice that I haven't updated the blog in a while and there is a reason. I was going off running - it was getting very boring and so I didn't keep up like I should have! This was made worse when it was confirmed to me that I didn't get a space in the London Marathon and there were no more entry places for the backup plan - the Brighton marathon either.

So what I was in DESPERATE need of was a new goal to re-ignite all the early initiative that I had toward my running and the inspiration and the idea came from my friend Dave who's got some experience in running marathons. He suggested doing a European city marathon as it's so much cooler than London and it will also give me a chance to visit somewhere I haven't before.

The choice was very much impulse but I've decided to run the BARCELONA marathon on 25th March 2012. My friend Dave agreed to run it with me and so I'm now very excited and flights, hotel and spot in the marathon is booked!

So, to the training. I've drawn up a similar plan to take me up to March 25th. It's very similar to before but the difference this time is that I don't have to start from scratch! I have 199 miles under my belt to date and I think that could only be a good thing. I'll update with the training plan in a few days or so, so that you can see what I'm doing.

I can also say I'll try and keep the blog more up to date!

All the best!!

Erik

Cracking on

So I know I haven't updated the blog that much but it doesn't mean I haven't been exercising and running. Yes I'm not running as much before but I've done a few bits, coupled with other exercise to keep me going.

I haven't weighed myself in a while, I think I would have put some back on as I slacked off in July and some of August but I'm gonna try and monitor the diet in the coming months to try and get back down.

I did a 5-mile run yesterday and the time it took me was an hour. Frustrating as it was so slow but I'm very glad I made it round in one piece. I'm going to do the same today if I get time and see if I can improve my time from yesterday.

All the best

Erik

Time to re-ignite

So I'll be the first to admit I've been slacking recently but I do have some half-valid excuses but I should have tried harder to make time for my running. I went to the US, then had visitors over, then went camping, then had Bronchitis.....

But - all that aside it's time to re-ignite and start over. I'm not completely starting over as I'm still fitter than I was before I started this adventure and I just hope I can carry this on through til April when I will run the Reading half-marathon and hopefully then the London marathon. So I've decided to start over with the training plan, I'll start small again and hopefully won't wear myself out too much, and I'm also hoping to progress at a similar rate to last time, without major injury.

Wish me luck!

-Erik

Lack of posting

Apologies all for the lack of posting really, the main reason being I haven't had much to report on. I'm trying the new program and so far it's been a bit up and down as I've failed on a few sessions but I have stayed the same weight.

This will no doubt when I go to the US with work next week.

Have a nice weekend all!

-Erik

All change

So I decided to go with the change. It's going to be very strange initially but I've designed a program which gives me a good mix of running and weight work and fartlek training.

Monday: Gym
Tuesday: Football
Wednesday: Run/Gym/Badminton
Thursday: Rest
Friday: Short fast run - typically 2 miles
Saturday: Rest
Sunday: Longer run

Hopefully this should give me the variety and I've left Mondays and Wednesdays as days where I can vary it depending on how I feel.

What do we think people?

Erik