The Virtual Runner Running Blog

Allllllllll aboard!

So far so good with the running; and I mean that sincerely.  Especially since I’ve been sick with a cold off and on since around Christmas time.  In fact, I’m only now just getting over my most recent one which was especially nasty.

Last Sunday I did a long run of over 16km so the build up of distance is going okay.  However!  The pain.  I keep getting pain in my right foot across the top and I end up having to have the laces on that shoe/foot quite loose or it drives me nuts.  Also, I’ve recently bought some off the shelf ortho inserts for my running shoes because the Kayanos do not offer enough arch support and my right foot (again) was hurting on my long runs from the constant pounding. 

I think I see a new pair of running shoes in my future.  I may have to go back to some old favourites like the Adidas Supernova Sequence or even waaaay back and get a pair of Nike structure triax.  They were very cushioned when I last had a pair with loads of arch support. 

So I don’t bore you with all of my runs, here is my long run from Sunday and an overview of my runs since end of Jan:-

Overall summary:-

Now, I suppose you’re wondering why I’m not posting that much?  Well, I’m just busy lately.  But I’ve been running and that’s what really matters.  As for this site, I’ll be making more of an effort to keep it updated over the next few days and updating my spreadsheets with runs and working out the total distance I’ve covered on my run across Canada.

canada run progress, long run, marathon training, pains and niggles, training

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

My wife and daughter are amazing.  They got together and bought me a Garmin Forerunner 405 for my birthday (which isn’t until Nov) and let me have it now!

The 405 is some pretty cool kit and I’m looking forward to giving it a go this weekend on my long run.  I was going to use it this evening for my interval training at the track but it was raining so hard that I didn’t go.  My friend and I decided that we were fairweather-runners and decided to stay in and chill-out instead.

Tomorrow morning and Friday morning I’ll be on the treadmill.  This is mainly because I go at 6am and it’s dark outside at that time so that means I would rather not run the roads around here.  Wed night running club sessions and Sunday long runs are out and about.  Remaining training sessions are at the gym.

I’ve updated my running log (up to 02 October 2009) and I’ve covered a total distance so far of 2529.83km on my virtual run across Canada.  I’ll map out where I am in Canada later on this week and I’ll update the location map as well.

On another note, I’ve been reading my list of blogs lately and I noticed that The Fat Runner has decided to run a half-marathon and is looking for sponsorship in exchange for a listing on his website as advertising space.  Obviously the advertising space won’t make a massive difference to your site (if you’ve got one) but I think it is a worthwile cause to raise money for and I’m also happy to encourage a fellow runner to achieve their goals.  I’m happy that he’s attempting a half marathon and I wish him all the best with his training.  Let’s just hope he keeps blogging and doesn’t be like me with huge gaps in posts!  (sorry)

If you’re interested in sponsoring The Fat Runner or finding out more then you can visit him here:-

http://thefatrunner.blogspot.com/2009/09/half-marathon-madness.html

When it comes to my own ambitions, you probably saw my previous post which was my rejection magazine from the Virgin London Marathon.  I should say my “first” rejection magazine because I’ll probably get others in my lifetime!  Anyway, it doesn’t matter because I have already registered for the Brighton Marathon and I’ve also booked my hotel so I’m all ready.  Just got to do that whole training thing….

It’s getting late now (10:30pm) and I’m sleepy.  I get up a 5:20am every weekday morning and it seems to come quicker every day!  Tomorrow I’m going to do some hill-work and mix it up with a bit of sprinting/intervals as well.

ambitions, canada run progress, London Marathon, non running, training

I’ve tracked my virtual run to date (23 Aug 2009) using Google earth and since 29 Mar 2009 my route has taken me past Ottawa, Ontario and past North Bay and Sudbury.  I’m still on Route 17 and I’m now running along the shores of Lake Superior and the virtual views are lovely.

My distance covered so far on my meandering virtual run across Canada is 2352 kilometres (1462 miles) and I’m happy to say that my motivation and drive is returning.

I’m now running in parts of my home country that I’ve never been to in real life.  The first 27 years of my life were spent in Canada and the farthest west I have ever been is Oshawa and that’s because that is where I was born.  The farthest west I have been and can remember is Ottawa.

I will see the rest of my own country in time and I’ll see it as a tourist and I’ll bring my son and wife from the UK.  I don’t know when or how but those are things to plan for the future.

I do get asked by a lot of people over here in the UK if I plan on moving back to Canada and the truth is, no I don’t.  I’m happy here in the UK and I’ve got a lovely wife, son and daughter.  I’ve built a life for myself in the UK and I enjoy it here.

As for my motivation returning, it might be linked to changing my trainers to my next new pair and because I registered for a marathon.  I was losing my motivation and it was partly linked to sore feet and achilles after runs.  The other day I decided to move on to my next pair of trainers that have been sitting in the bottom of the closet waiting for me.  I had bought two pairs of Adidas Supernova Sequence trainers (for the price of one) and I think I’ve only got about 400 miles out of them.  That’s not too bad considering I’m a heavy runner at around 15.5 stone (217 lbs).  I still can’t believe I was more than 18 stone (252 lbs) at my heaviest.  And I’m sure I was even heavier than that because at my fattest I never weighed myself… the shock would’ve been too much!

I feel much better now with my new trainers and my marathon goal.  I’ve even slowed down on my easy and long runs in order to facilitate the longer distances I’ll be doing.  All of the training plans I’ve seen for marathon distance have the average pace (for me anyway) much slower than what I have been running.  I suppose it makes sense as I will need to slow down in order to cover the whole 26.2 miles without breaking down.

As for non-running related matters, my wife is still as lovely as always and supportive of everything I do.  My son is still the cutest and the most clever little boy in the world.  My daughter and her husband are doing great.  My best friend Rob is back in contact again (kind of) and travelling around Canada on his own little adventure.  My laser eye surgery is next week (02 Sept 2009) and I’m getting excited.  We’ve got a nice little weekend holiday coming up and when we return I’m getting lasered!

That’s it for now.  I’m still running and I’m feeling it again.  I think that many people go through ups and downs in their training and not just for running either.  I’m just glad I’m feeling it again.

adidas, canada run progress, marathon training, my son, my wife, new trainers, robby kilborn, running log updated