The Virtual Runner Running Blog

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

That’s right, I’ve gone and purchased a nice new pair of running shoes.  The arch of my right foot has been bothering me so I thought it was about time to move on from my Adidas Supernovas.

I got myself pair of Asics Kayano 15s and I wore them this evening to running club.  I did my interval training in them and they felt pretty good.  It was nice to have the cushioning again; something that is missing from my Adidas shoes.

The Kayano’s were reasonably priced at £85; which isn’t that bad considering they are usually £115 – £120.  They’ll be coming out with Kayano 16s soon so that probably explains why it is possible to get the 15s at a discount.

Running club (Reading Roadrunners) went well.  Me and my mate Tony (yes, I’ve mentioned your name again) went to use the track for the first time in months.  We have been going to where the club meets the past two Wednesdays, however the track wasn’t open because it was being renovated (looks good now).

I took Garfield the Garmin with me and we decided to try out one of the workouts that I put on it.  They were 5 x 400m repeats with a 200m recovery inbetween each.

It was hard (according to Garfield) for us to maintain a steady pace during the intervals.  We knew this because Garfield kept beeping everytime and a message appeared on the screen saying we needed to slow down.  Us?  Slow down?  Jeez, I would have thought speed-up instead!

I’m happy with our 400m paces because they are all close to 5 min per km and they got progressively quicker (5:12, 5:06, 5:03, 5:01 & 4:55).

Overall a good run.  Tomorrow morning I’m off to the gym again and I’ll do some cycling and a bit of weights.  Friday will be a steady run and then long run on Sunday again.

I’m thinking I’m going to need to re-adjust the days I am running because at the moment I’m only able to run 4 days a week and that isn’t enough.  I need 5 days! 

Running club is great, however because it is in the evening it messes with my overall weekly schedule.  I usually run first thing in the morning and my long runs are always on a Sunday.  Before I went back to running club I would run on Tue, Wed, Thur, Fri & Sun.  Now, since going back to running club I can’t really run on Thu mornings (can I?) because I had running club less than 12 hours previously the night before.  This means that going to running club is actually reducing the amount of mileage I am doing but adding more quality.

I am now going to have to entertain the idea of running on Sat mornings.  Probably not until after christmas though.

Time for a cup of tea….

asics kayano, garmin forerunner 405, intervals, reading roadrunners

Me and my son hopped on the train this morning and went in to Reading town centre to return the Asics.  No problem, however they had to give me store credit because they were purchased on my fiance’s card.  No big deal.  Money is money.

Phase two (running the half marathon in my existing Adidas) takes place tomorrow morning at 10:05 am.  I also have to remember that the clocks go forward at midnight tonight which means one hour of sleep lost.

I’ve check the weather for tomorrow:-

It’s going to be a bit chilly when the race starts at 4 degrees Celcius.  I’m thinking short sleeved running shirt may not be a good idea.  I recently got a new long-sleeve shirt (although a bit too big) and I think I’ll wear that tomorrow.  Either way, I’m going to be completely drenched by the time I’m done because of the excessive sweating that will take place.

Now I’m going to do something very important.  I’m going to play cars with my son…

adidas, asics kayano, new trainers, reading half marathon

Perhaps it is a sign?  I’m not supposed to own Asics trainers.  Maybe they aren’t good for me or something?

Having already decided to run the Reading Half Marathon on Sunday in my Adidas Supernova Sequence trainers, I then received a great email today.

The Sweatshop (organisers of the half marathon) sent me (and all the other runners) an email saying there was 72 hours until the half.  But, it also included the following deal:-

2 for 1 Adidas running shoes if bought from 29th March – 05th April!

It said:-  Exclusively at the Sweatshop/adidas retail marquee at the race site or any branch of Sweatshop or SheRunsHeRuns nationwide from Sunday 29th March until Sunday 5th April.
Simply print this email and bring it with you or bring your race number. Not to be used in conjunction with any other offer. Shoes must be identical in size and model.

How great is that? 

I’m now going to return the Asics Kayano that I’ve bought and I’m going to get Adidas (2 pairs) again.  Like I said, is it a sign?  Perhaps I should’ve just stuck with the Adidas anyway when they’ve been good?

As well as the 2 for 1 deal, there was also this (I quote):-

The adidas V.I.P club is hosting a hospitality suite for all it’s athletes, that’s anyone who runs in adidas shoes. All runners in the adidas V.I.P club will receive the following for FREE: A hot pasta meal, adidas goody bag and their Reading Half Marathon ‘medal’ photograph. It’s a great place to recover and relax in the warm after the race.

All you have to do is run in a pair of adidas shoes and pick up your exclusive wrist band from the adidas retail area or at the end of the finish system.

I’m liking all this.

Saturday I’m off to the Sweatshop to return the Asics.  Sunday I’m running in my Adidas.  Monday (or Tuesday) I’m off to Sweatshop again to buy 2 pairs (!) of Adidas running shoes.

For those of you who are interested in finding out more about the Reading Half Marathon, you can either visit the site by clicking here or the image above.

You can also view a pdf version of the race info pack by clicking here.

adidas, asics kayano, reading half marathon