Okay, I’m living in a fantasy world.  I’m just a foursquare Mayor at my local gym Pulse 8.  I had a goal of taking over the title from the previous Mayor when I started Janathon; and it was just a matter of time.

This morning’s run for Janathon was an “easy” run of 40 minutes and it was okay.  My legs are still holding out and I’m hopeful they will last through the rest of the month.

Tomorrow’s effort will be a nice hour long walk as it’s a proper rest day before my long run on Sunday.  I need to walk for at least an hour so I can do over 5km and keep the distance up.   I also want to do a walk because it’s on my feet and I’ve said from the start that I want to finish Janathon on my feet.

• Distance Covered Today:  6.16km
• Total for the Month:  44.05km

A bit of ranting today (see twitter @thevr) about some of my fellow gym-goers.  I’ve been going to my local gym for a few years on a very regular basis and see the same people almost every morning without fail.  There are a couple people that have some little annoying habits that drive me bonkers.

Crazy Paper Towel Guy

Every morning this gentleman arrives at the gym, heads to the paper towel dispenser and proceeds to take off a long ream of paper.  He then carefully folds it over and over and over again until it’s kind of rolled up into a log/wand/stick shape.  He then holds it tightly in his hand the ENTIRE time he is exercising.  I’ve never seen him wipe his brow with it or anything; he just seems to hold it.

Drives me crazy.

Incline Treadmill Women

I’m sorry, but there is more than one and they are always women.  Why?  I don’t know.  You’ll know who you are when you read this and maybe you’ll stop.  Please stop.  At least stop going on the treadmill in front of me!

These women get on the treadmill and put it on what seems the highest angle possible.  In fact, nobody really sets them at this crazy angle except these people.  They then set the speed to a brisk walk, hold on to the top edge of the display/screen and lean back and walk uphill.  It’s the equivalent to being pulled up their imaginary hill by a car and a tow-rope I suppose.  Why don’t the staff at the gym stop and explain the proper use?  Drives me nuts.

1 Inch Push-Up Guy

I’ve lost count of the times I’ve stopped myself from walking over and explaining the proper way to do a push-up to this gentleman.  At first, I thought he was focusing on some obscure muscle group but nope; he just doesn’t have a clue.

He gets down on the floor to do push-ups and everything looks fine in the starting position raised above the floor.  He then lowers himself literally about an inch and then back up again.  He does this over and over again very quickly with his hips kind of bobbing up and down.  Looks very odd and I can’t see how it’s doing too much for him either.

There is another group of people (all guys I’m afraid) that do the equivalent to this whilst doing the bench press.  They fill the bar with loads of weight and then do 1 inch bench presses and tell all their mates how much they “benched”.  However, if you went over and got them to do it correctly and go all the way down with the weight I don’t think they’d be bragging about their max much longer.

All this venting today made me feel much better and I’ll let it build up again for another couple of years (days) before letting it all out again.

Distance Covered Today: 1.6km

Total for the Month: 17.56km

I ran just over 10km this morning in aid of Janathon and my health (not in that order), and it wasn’t easy.  I had pain in my shins for about half the time and it wasn’t until then that they finally went numb and allowed me to complete the run in relative comfort.  It sucks because I find myself wanting to stop not because I’m out of breath, but because I’m a wimp with the pain.

Just gotta keep stretching and they’ll go away in time.  They always do.

Also, you may or may not have noticed that all of my runs are on a treadmill at the moment.  That’s because I haven’t been running in a few months and I’m now a bit of a fatty.  My confidence is shaken and I don’t want to run on the roads until I feel a bit better in myself and my running.  I’m hoping I’ll be doing my long runs on the roads in the next couple of weeks but we’ll see how things work out.

Pain and lack of confidence aren’t going to stop me from succeeding though and I will continue to plod along to bring myself back to where I used to be!  Yo-yo dieting?  pfffft.  I’m a yo-yo runner!

Besides the run it’s been a nice relaxing day chilling out with my family and having a lovely roast dinner.  I’m looking forward to another day off tomorrow before returning to a four-day work week.

I’m off to read some Janathon blogs now!  Good luck to all my fellow Janathoners and keep up the good work.

Distance Covered Today: 10.23km

Total for the Month: 15.96km

No running today as it was technically going to be a rest day for me.  However, I still wanted to ensure I was getting some miles in so I went for a nice long walk and did 5.73km towards my total for the month.  Nice start I think!

I’m now going to spend the day relaxing and hanging out with my 4 year old son.  Mummy is off working today so my son and I might go to the cinema and watch something.

I think I might just go “crazy” and start the 100 Pushups training tomorrow… we’ll see.

Have a great New Year everyone and to all of you taking part in Janathon an extra special Happy New Year!

Distance Covered Today: 5.73km

Total for the Month: 5.73km

Heard of it?  If not, check it out here (http://www.janathon.com/) and then come back.  I’ll wait.

Did you look?  What do you think?  Well, it’s what me and many others are doing for the month of January.  I suppose everyone has their own reasons but mine are simple.

1. Regain some of the fitness I’ve lost by sitting around on my fat ass for the past few months.
2. Train for my fourth outing at the Reading Half Marathon (http://www.readinghalfmarathon.com/)

I’m pushing myself as hard as I can but not to the point where I hurt myself (I hope).  I want to do the Reading Half Marathon with a time near to 2 hours again as it was seriously high for the 2010 event and the run didn’t feel good.  That will change for 2011!

I didn’t want to start January/Janathon cold so I’ve already been laying down some miles in order to get this wobbly body ready for a run/walk EVERY day in January.  I’ve already worked out that on my “rest” days I will simply do 1 mile (1.6 km) and that’s it.  I will also have to blog every day… which could be a problem.  I mean, I can’t think of anything interesting to say most days so to come up with something to write for 31 days?  Yeah, ok.

This Site

Even though I haven’t exactly been spewing forth loads of witty blog posts for some time, I’m happy to say my blog still comes top or near the top under the following Google searches (when I’ve tried it anyway):-

• best running blog
• best running blogs
• virtual runner
• running blog

So, it’s up to me to at least keep this thing updated and Janathon could just be what this blog/site needs!

I’ve also recently installed an update on the site which makes it viewable on the iPhone and supposedly on other mobiles as well (although I don’t have any other type of mobile so I can’t check).  If any of you out there DON’T have an iPhone and you get a minute or two how about you check if this site works on your phone and let me know?  Thanks.

Just so you all know, I refuse to let this blog become like many others you see stranded out there on the internet.  You know the ones I mean; last post was from two years ago and nothing since.  Or they started it because of a charity run they were doing and never updated after the event. etc. etc. etc.

Not me.  Not here.  Not The Virtual Runner.

100 Push-Ups

I have tried this before and never made it to the end for one reason or another.  Personally, I think it’s almost impossible to do it in about 6 weeks but it will be a nice compliment to the running so I’m giving it a shot again.  iPhone app in hand.

For more info:  http://hundredpushups.com/

There is also:  http://www.twohundredsitups.com/

What Else?

You gotta have goals.  That means I need to start planning ahead and see which 10k events I want to take part in for 2011.  I’m looking forward to enjoying running again and I’m already enjoying it now.  I was really on a downer with all the marathon training and I hated it.  I’m looking forward to going out on a Sunday with the family, doing a 10k, getting a medal and coming home.  I’ll let you know what runs I’m planning on doing.

I think I’m going to go back to the running club as well.  Probably in early Feb when it starts to warm up a bit and I feel a bit more confident.

The heading of this blog refers to my growing appendages caused by overeating.  I think I saw smoke trailing behind me this morning caused by the friction of my thighs rubbing together while I was running.

I know I haven’t blogged in some time but I have many excuses/reasons:-

1. I have been completely lacking any motivation when it comes to running and any exercise that didn’t involve shoving food in my mouth.
2. I have been away on holiday in Corfu, Greece.
3. My father (Walter) passed away on the 11th of September.
4. I really am a “virtual” runner.
5. I was lazy.

Where should I start?

I hate Marathon Training

Yup, I said it.  It turns out that I love the idea of running 26.2 miles but I hate the training involved, especially the long runs.  I mean, I really shouldn’t be dreading Sundays because I know I’m going to be out running for hours!  I like running a lot, but 3+ hours is painful and makes me miserable for the rest of the day (ask my wife) it seems.

I’ve really been giving it a lot of thought and talking to my wife about things and I’ve discovered that I miss getting up and doing 1 hour (10k) runs in the mornings and going out on the odd weekend to participate in a local 10k event (which are usually on Sundays).  Training for a marathon does not actually allow me to do this as most 10k events are on a Sunday and that is the only day I can do my long runs.

So, what I’ve decided is that I am no longer going to attempt to train for any full marathon unless I get a ballot place in the London Marathon; which I will continue to enter each year.  I’m going to go back to the running schedule I enjoyed and start to look forward to the running again!

Regardless what anyone tells you; you do not have to run a marathon to be considered a runner.  You just need to run!

Corfu, Greece to New Brunswick, Canada

My father sadly passed away on 9th September (09/11) at 09:11pm… how weird is that?  My father never was one to do things in halves!  We were on holiday in Greece at the time.

He was a fantastic man, great father and he will be missed by many.  In his lifetime he was in the army, a police officer a prison officer and besides family and friends there were representatives there in full uniform from all three.

My father died on a Saturday and we weren’t due to fly back to the UK until the Monday morning.  There was no way we could get any earlier flights out of Corfu as we simply couldn’t afford to do it.  My family let me know that my dad’s funeral was going to be on the Wednesday morning at 11am so I had to get back to the UK and get another flight out on the Tuesday morning.  On top of all that we had to sort out some financial issues to make sure we actually had the money to send me to Canada!  Very, very stressful times.

Needless to say, I got home to the UK, had less than 5 hours sleep and then was off to Heathrow the next morning to start my 10+ hour journey to the town where my family lives.

I went to my dad’s funeral and as far as funerals go, it was really great.  My dad would have been very happy with it and my sisters certainly deserve a huge thank you for sorting it all out.

After the funeral I stayed in Canada until the Sunday (the day I was supposed to run a marathon in the UK) to help my mum get sorted out and to help sort out the house.  Queue lots of tidying, moving and little sleep on a different timezone (again).

I’ve been back in the UK for almost a week now and I’m just now feeling better and clear-headed.  Last week I was still a bit of a mess.  Not like depressed or anything, just kind of tired and dopey and not thinking straight.

“frickin’ laser beams”

This Wednesday I have to go back to Ultralase to have my right eye re-treated to get rid of the small prescription that still remains after my laser eye surgery a year ago.  It’s free so I thought; why not?

That makes this week a bit odd work-wise but hopefully it will be okay!  I’ve got tomorrow in the office, Tuesday at a conference for the majority of the day, surgery on Wednesday morning and then working from home the rest of the week whilst trying to recover.  Should be interesting!

Moving Forward

Well, it is running!  Ya gotta move forward don’t you?

I plan on just getting back into the groove with running with no other goal than to build it back up and go back to running for an hour 4 or 5 days a week doing about 30 miles a week.  As soon as I think I’m ready, I’m going to start taking part in whatever 10k events I can find; just like I used to.

As I said, I’m not planning any marathons in the future but I would attempt the London Marathon if I got in by ballot.  I’m sorry to anyone who is waiting for me to run a marathon, but it’s just not happening.  I’m certainly not running a marathon for anyone else!  Any money that was donated to sponsor my marathon attempt has all gone to a good cause and I and the charity appreciate your donations.

Perhaps I’m not destined to do a marathon anyway?  1st one:  got ill.  2nd one:  dad died.  Some would say 3rd time lucky, but I don’t care what they say.

For now, back on track.

Wednesday

6.5km (4.04 miles) in 41 mins 12 secs for an average pace of 10:12 min/mile (06:20 min/km).

Friday

1.6km in 10 mins 48 secs for an average pace of 10:52 min/mile

4.8km in 25 mins 50 secs for an average pace of 08:40 min/mile (05:23 min/km)

1.6km in 10 mins 38 secs for an average pace of 10:42 min/mile (06:39 min/km)

Sunday

Long run of 16.23km (10.08 miles) at an average pace of 10:48 min/mile (06:41 min/km).

Details of today’s long run are below:-

My long run was made just a little bit more interesting because of the lovely purple toe I’m sporting at the moment. I took my son to a local indoor playgym which comes complete with a ball pool/pit. I was in the ball pool testing it out to make sure it was safe for my son (okay, I was playing in it) when I stubbed my big toe really hard on the floor mats under the balls. I fell into the balls in agony. Unfortunately my son and the other children there thought it was an invite to a pile-on and I was soon covered in children as well as brightly coloured balls.

So my toe started off as purple before the long run and it now a dark purple covering a larger area. Good thing was that it didn’t hurt at all during the whole run which means I’m just gonna keep at it.

Photos from today’s long run:-

This afternoon we went for a meal at a pub my wife always sees when she’s out and about. It claims to have the “best pub garden in Berkshire”. I beg to differ. Food was pretty good though, even with the 1 hour wait to eat. I won’t be in any hurry to head back to that place again.

I keep saying it, but I really must do it: I need to take part in more (some) cross-training on my non-running days! I mean, it’s just ridiculous. I keep telling myself I need to and I always fully intend to but it never ends up happening. So, tomorrow morning I must somehow make myself get off to the gym for some non-running exercise!

Also, I’m not sure if I’ve told you or not, but I’ve been raising money for a local (Berkshire) charity called DebRA. I’ve raised over £500 for them so far I think and I’ll try and push for a bit more.

As for future running plans, I have none in the short term. Most of the running events I would normally take part in are on a Sunday and the distances are like 10k which is too short for me to do because I really need to be doing my long runs on Sundays. I’ve entered the ballot for the 2011 London Marathon and I’ve also applied for a charity place. I’m telling you, if I get in to the London Marathon I’ll be SUPER excited and I’ll be hitting EVERYONE up for sponsor money! Hell yeah!

Well, I’m off to tweet on twitter and see what peeps are up to.

Tuesday

Called for 3 mile easy run at a 12:29 min/mile pace.  I did 3.10 miles at a 10:14 min/mile pace.

Thursday

Called for a 3 mile tempo run with a 1 mile warm-up and 1 mile cool-down.  I managed 1 mile warm-up at 11:00 min/mile with 3 mile tempo run at 09:01 min/mile and the 1 mile cool-down at 10:33 min/mile.

Sunday

Called for long run of 8 miles at 12:29 min/mile pace.  I managed 8.01 miles at a 10:12 min/mile pace.

Overall, that’s a pretty good week, even though I didn’t get in the cross training I wanted/needed to on the days in between.  Well, I guess that means more of an effort is needed on that front this week!

As for non-running related matters… I’ve made the decision to get rid of my windows based laptop.  Since I’ve had my macbook pro I haven’t needed to use the other laptop for anything at all.  I can see any reason to keep it so I’ve sold it to a work colleague.

I’ve had a nice weekend and spent a few hours yesterday at the Crowthorne Carnival (http://www.crowthornecarnival.co.uk/) with my son and mother-in-law (mummy was at work).  It was a pretty good afternoon and the parade was… interesting.  The floats were what you would expect for a small village parade, however one of them was a bit odd.

Pole dancing?  In a parade?  On a moving flatbed?  With everyone dressed like they’re out of Grease!

I must admit, she was pretty agile though… lol.

So, there you have it.  Pole dancing!

Tomorrow I’ll be attempting to get up early, go to the gym and do some cross-training and weights.  Will it happen?  Who knows!  Place your bets…

http://www.farnhampilgrim.org.uk/

The event’s route is described as “mixed and mainly off-road”… great.  However, I figure that if I put the training down then, so what?  I can’t wimp out just because it’s not perfectly flat.  Besides, do I really care how long it’s going to take me to finish?  My main goal is survival for my first marathon!

I haven’t actually booked it yet, and frankly if it fills up before I can register (like the New Forest Marathon!) then I’m sorry in advance, I will be delaying my 1st marathon attempt until April next year!  Yup, if I can’t get into this marathon then I’ve decided to push it back a full year until April 2011.  Bad-side:  I’ve had to put it back so far and people were expecting me to do one.  Good-side:  It will give me the opportunity to save more money.

Let’s be positive though!  I’m going to do the marathon on 19th September in Farnham!  I’ve even did a basic training plan for long runs as follows:-

• 20th Jun – 07 miles
• 27th Jun – 08 miles
• 04th Jul – 09 miles
• 11th Jul – 10 miles
• 18th Jul – 12 miles
• 25th Jul – 10 miles
• 01st Aug – 13 miles
• 08th Aug – 15 miles
• 15th Aug – 17 miles
• 22nd Aug – 18 miles
• 29th Aug – 20 miles
• 05th Sep – 15 miles (day before we go to Greece)
• 12th Sep – 10 miles (this one might be in Greece)
• 19th Sep – Marathon

I’ve also decided that running 3 days a week is not enough for me and I’m going to go back to running on Tue, Wed, Fri and Sun.  I will try and make Tue an easy 10km run and Wed/Fri will be some 40 – 50min interval and hill training each week.  Those two training sessions have to be the big thing and I want to focus on those as well as weight training on Mon and Thu.  This means Sat will be the only day I’m not actually doing some sort of exercise.  Too much?  Perhaps.  But I’m aiming high on purpose.

Wish me luck people!

I haven’t really done any running this last week at all since the Bupa 10000 in London and I would’ve thought the great feeling from that run would’ve kept me going.  Nope.  I think it comes down to mind-over-matter and I just need to get on with it!  So, starting from today I’ll be putting in a big “push” and trying to get my running sorted out.

1)  I’ll need to update my running log with total mileage to date.  I’ll also need to keep a pad or something in the kitchen (easily accessible) where I can write down my mileage and duration each time I train.

2)  I’ll need to do more quality workouts.  They can’t all be easy or long runs!  I need some intervals and even hill-work thrown in there or nothing is going to happen and I won’t develop any further.

3)  I need to watch what I’m eating.  I don’t necessarily eat loads of “bad” foods but I tend to eat too much.  I love food!  mmmmm…. food.  So, calorie intake to decrease somewhat.  I’m not going to set myself any particular weight loss goals but I’d be overcome with joy if I was 20lbs lighter than I am now.  Ooops… just inadvertently set myself some sort of mental goal.  Great, pressure.  I’d like to get down to 199 lbs (90.26kg) and maintain that weight or less.  I’d be very happy if I could do that!

4)  Need to start doing some weight training a couple times a week.  I’m not sure when I’ll squeeze this in but I’ll do my best.  I think I’ll have to re-start the whole “100 push ups” challenge as part of this to make up for the days when I can’t get to the gym and use any weights. 

Sound like a plan?  I’m not sure how it is for others out there but for us average 103kg guys this whole running thing takes a lot of motivation at times.  Wish me luck!

As for non-running related matters, we’re getting chickens!  We’ve thought about it in the past and discussed it a bit and now we’ve decided to go for it.  We’re going to get 3 hens and a nice little coop for them to live in.  Hopefully, before you know it we’ll have our own eggs!  Chicken names have already been confirmed as Claudia (Schiffer), Elle (MacPherson) & Rachel (Hunter); all good chicken names.  We just haven’t decided what breed of chicken to get yet as there are so many.  My wife is inclined to get some ISA Browns as they would normally go to a battery, however this may all change when we go to the farm to choose some.  We’ll also take the advice of the lady who runs the place we are getting the hens because we want them to be docile.

It won’t be straight away, it’ll probably happen over the next month or so because we still need to discuss a few things and make sure the funds are available to do what we need to do.  Initial outlay is the biggest thing but I think it’ll be worth it.  It’s also good for our son (he’s 3 1/2 now) as we don’t currently have any pets at all and he will learn to take care of them too.

This means that the “non running” posts of my blog will now include information on keeping hens and what’s happening with them.  I apologise in advance if you find this boring or if there are too many “non running” posts.  I mean, I don’t just run do I?