Big Andy's Blog » Running

Back to Running!

Andrew — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 21:13:03 +0000

A gorgeous evening to go running it’s the first time since winter that I’ve been out and the sun was shining and it was hot. It really feels fantastic to go our running and at the moment I am glowing on the inside.

I ran my the river route in 21m08s.

River and Back – 21m19s [Running]

Andrew — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 19:15:32 +0000

Second run of the week after doing the same route in much colder conditions after work on Monday (22m14s though I had to wait to cross traffic for at least 30s). Listened to Mew and Air and Foals. I went swimming on Tuesday when I did 20 lengths. This is the start of the beginning of my return to fitness.

First Training Runs with Forerunner 405

Andrew — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 07:34:31 +0000

For our 3-year anniversary Marion gave me a Garmin Forerunner 405 which is a running/cycling watch with GPS and heart rate. While out running it gives you pace information, you can train against a virtual partner, and see which Heart Rate Zone you are in. So far I have used it twice as you can see below.

We are going to do Corsica’s GR20 this August/September. Rumoured to be the hardest toughest long-distance path in the world, this is something that we’ve been dreaming of since we started going out 3 years ago. We’ve booked the flights to Corsica and now the training begins!

First Training Run – running at lunchtime is great in that you can go while you are full of energy but our shower at work is in a small room with no air extraction and on a hot day like this I was hotter and wetter after the shower than before.
This route was one that I have done plenty of times before and is one of the shortest. The day was hot and sunny and as this was my first run since May 10th I wanted a short route.

Second Training Run – aiming to stay under 70% of max-HR (Heart Rate) I’m still really unfit so I couldn’t keep my HR below 90% for any time – without resorting to walking – so I ran slow enough and stayed at approx 90% for the entire run. The day was hot and sunny but compared to the run on Monday I was able to enjoy running and the fantastic day, look at the scenery along the canal.

I am amazed at all the stats that the watch/computer gives me and you can upload the routes to the Garmin Connect website where you can see your route on google maps, see all the heart rate/pace/time information as well as calories burnt, elevation climbed/descended, and more. I will keep on training with the watch and post the results here.

Running Again!

Andrew — Mon, 10 May 2010 21:41:22 +0000

Tonight after work I went running for the first time since the 24^th of February. Not very far and not a very long run (15m07s) to go around the streets but great to be running!

Not Running [from iPhone]

Andrew — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 15:38:20 +0000

This year I had to pull out of attempting the Reading Half-Marathon because of injury to my left knee I sustained from crashing my bike.

Now that spring is here – you can tell by the relentless rain and grey skies – I want to start going running again. Seeing the many thousand runners participate in this years race (we were spectating from the bottom of Russell Street at mile 7 of the course) just makes me want to go out and run.

My knee still hurts. The road back will be long and bumpy. But I am ready for the journey back to fitness.

Running to Work #2 [20m58s]

Andrew — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 16:42:27 +0000

man that one was a tough one, the legs restricted by my running tights, the lungs by flegm, and the head by a desire to be back in bed due to illness. I ran to work, and coughed lots. That’s all folks…!

Running Home #4 [19m40s]

Andrew — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 21:28:07 +0000

Coughing hard from tonight’s run, the first of the week, but glad I did go running as I took the weekend off and didn’t have the energy or motivation to run yesterday. I have been suffering since Friday with a cold which is probably from the forced training effort. Less than 4 weeks to go until the Reading Half-Marathon now.

Friday Summary

Andrew — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 18:00:18 +0000

Writing this is in itself quite knackering because I have tired and drawn myself out with all the running (and running about) that I have done this week. When I realised last Sunday that the Reading Half-Marathon was just 5 weeks away I figured that I had to start my training right away or forgo the attempt this year. So I have run every working day this week, five days in a row, and I have to say that it has been a real awakener.

The first three days went well, I ran either to or from work and it felt good to be running again (I’d not run since the middle of December), but the run on Thursday was tough and I imagine that the run this afternoon will be something of an out of body experience;) I have the start of a cold and I am feeling knackered and empty which are both symptoms of over-doing it.

I am going to take a break from running tomorrow and I think that I will go for a run along the river on Sunday, a longer run than I have done so far. Possibly I will run all the way to Pangbourne and get the train back. I’ll let you know when I have done it!

Running Home #3 [20m40s]

Andrew — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 17:55:21 +0000

I ran home from work on Friday and took my time, and was slowed more by having to wait at traffic lights to cross the road. Was cold and didn’t have long-sleeved top as had forgotten at home to bring it. The sun was out and sky was blue!

Along Canal Bridge [30min - 3.91miles]

Andrew — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 20:08:08 +0000

Not having time to run to or from work I needed to go out running at lunchtime. It was raining and muddy too as I ran along the canal listening to Laura Marling and Mariachi El Bronx on the mp3 player. Tough at the end but nice to do a different route. The route was 3.91 miles which equates to a 7min40s /mile pace.