The Virtual Runner Running Blog

I’m very glad I still have some base fitness from running or else the pain I’m feeling would be much worse!

I’ve started running again this week after about 4 weeks off due to laziness and illness.  It’s a little hard going but much easier than I thought it would be!

I started by doing 5.43km on Sunday at an average pace of 06:25 min/km.  Nice and slow so I didn’t insure myself!  On Monday my legs were quite stiff and I didn’t go running but had that as a rest day.

Yesterday (Tuesday) I increased the distance and the speed just a bit:-

Today was another day off to rest my (still) sore/stiff legs and then I’ll be off to the gym again tomorrow morning to visit my friend the treadmill!  Once I get things built up again my long runs will be on Sundays again and I’ll be off on the roads to see where I end up!

It’s all good!  Bring on the Fredericton Marathon!

http://www.frederictonmarathon.ca/

Fredericton Marathon, marathon training, training

Happy new year (sorry I’m late)!  It’s a new year with new challenges coming in many forms. 

I’d firstly like to apologise to both my readers for not posting anything in some time.  I’d also like to apologise to myself for not having the motivation to just get off my backside and get out there running.

For the past few weeks I’ve done nothing but sit on my butt!  Yes, I was ill for a couple weeks out of that and I also had a bout of food poisoning, but there is a major laziness element at play too.

I’ve found it hard to get motivated when it comes to running and I think that the motivation will start to return.  In fact, it started to return last night when I was looking online at future runs/events.

My wife, my son and I are travelling to Canada this year (we have a house-sitter – all you would be robbers) in May for a couple of weeks to visit family.  Whilst we are there an event will be on that we took part in in 2007 – The Fredericton Marathon. 

The Fredericton Marathon is the name of the event, however there is a 5k, 10k, half-marathon and a full marathon to take part in.  We did the 10k a couple of years ago and it’s a small event but all flat because it’s in a river valley.

I was/am intending to do the Brighton Marathon on 18 April, however because of the lack of training going on at the moment I don’t think this will be realistic (do you?).  So, I’m thinking that if I get off my backside today and start running again that I can be ready to plod through my first marathon on 9th May instead!  In Canada!  My home country!

I was originally motivated to do the Brighton Marathon but it’s waned somewhat… not sure why.  The thought of doing the Fredericton Marathon has filled me with a new sense of motivation and also I think it’s fate that I’m supposed to run it!  It’s 17 weeks away which means I’ll have more time to train and get around the course too!

As for all of you and this blog… I will start boring you with my ramblings again.  Whether or not you read them is up to you!

Bring on the training!!

christmas, cold & flu, Fredericton Marathon, marathon training

People often start running because they want to lose weight. Running is a great way to lose weight and I’m proof of the fact that you can lose weight through running without actually trying to lose weight.

At the moment, I’m consious of the fact that I am not following a runners diet.  In fact, I seem to be doing the opposite of everything you need to do to eat properly.  I’m taking in more calories then I’m actually burning… not good!

I know I’ll be okay after the holidays, but that is a long way off.  I think I need to sort myself out now for the few weeks up to xmas and then again after xmas.

That means that I go back to attempting to eat more sensibly.  I don’t necessarily stop eating loads, my thing is that I eat too much crap.  I’ve had a thing for sweets a lot lately and that’ll have to be cut way way down and some alternatives found I think.

I suppose I’m making it sound harder for me then it actually is or will be.  I know I can do it if I just put my mind to it.  It’s mind over lots of matter… no problem!

I wonder if there are many other “larger” runners out there like me?  I mean, a lot of the blogs I read (you can find them under the best running blogs in the menu above) are by runners who are all much fitter than I am.  Many have that runners body… you know the one I mean.

It’s a shame the Fat Runner (see the best running blogs) doesn’t post very much because I actually look forward to reading things that I can relate to.  Although, I don’t consider myself fat.  That’s important to point out because I think that word is quite negative and on top of that, I seriously don’t feel fat.  I feel the best I’ve felt my whole life… I just want to feel even better!

I’m really looking forward to pushing the training after xmas and increasing the mileage a bit at a time.  I’m curious as to how I will function on a long run that lasts more that two hours!  Jeez, can I actually do that?  Hell yeah…

food & diet, non running

Really.  I am!  I may not be considered much of a blogger by many, but I promise you I’m still a runner.

If you check out my current running log here:-

http://thevirtualrunner.org/blog/about-me/run-across-canada/

You’ll see that I have definitely still be running and maintaining a steady and non-exciting training regime.  That’s the thing, it’s non-exciting at the moment.  I mean, I know I’ve got a half marathon and full marathon next year but in my mind the real training won’t start until after xmas.  Is that wrong?

Santa Dash

There is only another two weeks and I will be off to the Look Out in Bracknell, Berkshire with some work colleagues.  We’ll all be dressed as a very pathetic looking Santa and walking/running to raise money for the Thames Hospicecare.

My Fundraising

I haven’t really focused on it yet, but my total fundraising at the moment is a whopping zero.  That’s right, nought.  So, feel free to donate.  I mean, even £2 is nice!  £2 is nothing?  I’m done begging now…

Traumatising Movie

I watched The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas the other day with my wife.  Very, very, very good movie.  I give it 10 out of 10.  Would I watch it again?  Never.  I simply found it way too traumatising.  If you haven’t seen it then I won’t ruin it for you….

Visiting Family

We had family visit from Belgium for a week.  It was really nice seeing them and we had a great time.  We even took them to Legoland with us for my son’s birthday! 

Growing Up

Not me, my son.  He’s three!  I can’t believe it.  We took him to Legoland for the whole day and stayed for the fireworks display in the evening.  He loved all of it.  He’s such a good boy and he was so tired by the end of it he was falling asleep on my lap during the fireworks.  Happy Birthday little boy!

Swine Flu

I’ve seen a lot of people in Canada posting things about the swine flu and everyone seems to be doing a bit of mild panicking and scare-mongering when it comes to the flu and the jabs.  Frankly I think everyone should just calm down.

As for me, I’ve been invited to have the swine flu jab because I’m considered “high risk”.  I have asthma.  So, I’m off this coming weekend to get jabbed… I’m not looking forward to it at all.

I’m very annoyed that my wife or son won’t be having it but there isn’t much I or anyone else can do about that.

This week

Some usual running going on, however I’ll probably be making an appearence back at running club with my mate Tony on wednesday.  It should be interesting, as long as it doesn’t pour down with rain!  Drizzle I can handle…

Top Gear

I’m off to watch the rest of it…

asics kayano, canada run progress, long run, non running, running club, running log updated