The Virtual Runner Running Blog » asics kayano

I’m still a runner

The Virtual Runner — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 22:04:11 +0000

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…

Running Club & New Kayano 15 Shoes

The Virtual Runner — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 20:28:07 +0000

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….

Phase One – Completed

The Virtual Runner — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 16:37:08 +0000

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…

180 degrees on the Asics

The Virtual Runner — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 18:09:04 +0000

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.

Emperor’s New Shoes

The Virtual Runner — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 18:46:43 +0000

This morning’s run started off okay but the top of my right foot was hurting quite bad by the end of it. I had to stop in the middle and loosen my laces a bit more to make it more comfortable. I still managed to cover about 11km (6.83 miles) cause I made a judgement call on the level of pain I was feeling and whether or not I should continue. Let’s hope it was the right one!

I still think it’s bruising though and nothing more serious because right now (as I’m writing this) it doesn’t really hurt at all. In fact, if I press on all parts of the top of my foot there is no real pain. It’s only when my shoe is on and the laced part digs in.

I decided this evening that I would get another pair of running shoes anyway. I went in to my local Sweatshop and had a chat with one of the experts in there. I tried on a couple of different shoes (Asics 2140, Kayano and Adidas Supernova) but I decided to go for the Kayano in the end. The others shoes had too much cushioning in the forefoot I think.

I’ve now got my new shoes and my son is currently breaking them in for me. He’s such a good boy. However, I think they may be slightly too big for him.

As for my foot pain. I’m getting worried about it but I’m trying to keep the worry under control. I don’t want anything to ruin my chances of running at the end of the month.

Tomorrow is a rest day for me, and depending in how it feels on Thursday, that may end up being a rest day as well. Mileage isn’t really important to me this week anyway. I’ve put the miles in over the past few months. No additional pushing for mileage at this point is going to effect my performance on the day.

Overall I’ll probably do as many as 40km (24.85 miles) this week or as little as 30km (18.64 miles) depending on my poor little foot.

I’m no going to play cars with my little boy and try and get my new shoes off him so Daddy can wear them…

Asics Kayano

The Virtual Runner — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 18:53:42 +0000

Once again it is time for another pair of running shoes to lay down the miles in.

My current pair (Adidas Supernova Sequence) were pretty good. In fact, they were probably the best pair I’ve had yet except for the lacing. They always seem like I can’t lace them up enough (it’s hard to explain – the two sides never came together close enough).

Last time I bought new shoes I think I was adamant I was going to get some Asics and I ended up getting the Adidas. This time I’m going to just do it (sorry Nike) and get a pair. Many people rave about them and they win awards etc. They gotta be good haven’t they?

I’m going to try and get a pair over the next couple of days (difficult if you knew my daily schedule and location of running shops in the area) so I can use them a few times before the Reading Half Marathon.

If I feel they aren’t bedded in right by the time the half marathon comes up then I’ll wear my faithful Adidas on race day.

I need new shoes anyway and this way I may potentially have more cushioning on race day.

As for my run yesterday, I have been suffering some after-affects. I keep burbing insects… just kidding. The top of my right foot has been sore and feels bruised. I think that my laces might have been done up a bit too tight on that foot and after 13.1 miles of running it was obviously hurting me.

Tomorrow is either going to be an easy run or a tempo run… I haven’t decided yet.