With Christmas firmly behind me now I wonder if “the new man for the new year” will continue. We tend to make so many promises for the New Year but after a week or so we are back to the “old man” and the “new man” is put away for another 51 weeks. What will happen to me? I have managed to lose 1lb of the 4lbs I put on over the Christmas and New Year. My weight is heading in the right direct for me and I am pleased.
What is wrong with the “old man”? I hear you ask, maybe nothing, but for me and for all of us, if we are honest with ourselves we are far from what we should be. There are things we would like to change, sharp edges, we would like to round off and bits we would like to polish up, so that they maybe more presentable to ourselves and others. So the “new man” is always desired but never fully attained. I do the things I don't what to do, and the things I want to do I don't do. Will I ever escape from the things that remind me of how week I am? Or is there something that will help me to burst through? - a bit like escaping the Earth's gravitational forces that keeps us on this planet.
My weight: 12 stones 3 pounds, 171 pounds, 77.56 kilograms. - 1lb lost.
Running conditions: OK. Time of run: 22:00
20 sit-ups and 10 press-ups completed before starting the run.
Now that I believe I am getting fitter I am keen to run the current 3.1 route in under 29 minutes every time and hopefully, as my next target, under 28 minutes. I knew the pace would have to be slightly quicker to maintain the decrease in time. As Steve and I sent off my first thoughts were about the 2 hills on the route we would have to run up. I knew that my legs always ached and felt like jelly by the time I got to the top of them so I was trying to get mentally prepared, to relax and breath steadily and save as much energy as possible for the last hill which is just before the end.
We completed the route in 28 minutes 25.06 seconds. Another 20 seconds quicker than previously. Great, fantastic, how much quicker can I run?. In the final 200 metres to the finishing marking, the lamp-post, Steve out ran me again but this time by about 10 seconds.
My weight: 12 stones 3 pounds, 171 pounds, 77.56 kilograms. - No change.
Running conditions: Mild for time of year about 11 degrees C. Time of run: 21:30
30 sit-ups and 10 press-ups completed before starting the run.
Found out today that the Watford Half Marathon in February, that I planned to complete with Steve, is fully booked with 2000 runners and only “elite runners” applications are being accepted. I had to pass the disappointing news onto Steve, so I am now more determined to take part in the Silverstone Half Marathon in March. I must get Steve and I booked in.
I increased the number of sit-ups to 30 to prepare myself for a harder run. The task is to keep under 29 minutes for the current route and aim to get under 28 minutes. The thoughts of the 2 hills on the route didn't concern me. I was focusing on getting under 29 minutes only and not letting Steve finish to far ahead of me.
To my complete surprise I completed the route in, YES! 27 minutes 53.42 seconds. Another 32 seconds quicker than previously. Fantastic. Steve, however, out ran me again to the lamp-post but this time by only 2 seconds.
My weight: 12 stones 3 pounds, 171 pounds, 77.56 kilograms. - No change.
Running conditions: OK, about 7 degrees C. Time of run: 21:30
20 sit-ups and 10 press-ups completed before starting the run.
Today Steve has planned a longer route of about 5 miles for us to do. It should take about 50 minutes. I was keen to see if I was going to be able to run for 50 minutes non-stop have played football on Saturday. - An away match at the Kent County Cricket ground near Beckenham, on the other side of London from where I live. A journey around the South Circular which I was not looking forward to by car. I had decided not to take my motorcycle for a change and use the car. A bad decision as it turn out, as it took over 2 hours to get there. “Why is East Sheen so full of traffic?” I ask myself. I was late for the match and was a substitute for the first half of the game. We drew 1 - 1 but should, on balance, have won.
Although my shins and Achilles tendon felt sore from running and football respectively, Steve and I completed the new route without stopping in, 55 minutes 17.33 seconds, around 11 minutes per mile pace. Not bad, for a start. Hopefully over the next few runs the times will come down as we get faster.
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