My 100 Hour Challenge
Ewan McIntosh set a group of teachers a 100 hour challenge which can't be
related to teaching. Lucky for me, I was one of those teachers.
challenge as having two daughters (one 2 year old and one 7 month old) I
thought I would never be able to give up an hour of my day for 100
consecutive days. Having thought about it over the weekend however I have decided to give it
a go, but with a bit of a twist. I am not going to give up an hour for 100
consecutive days but I will give up 100 hours leading up to my goal. My first thought was MARATHON! Being fairly sporty I enjoy exercise and
especially how you feel after a good run (maybe not the same feeling when
actually running though). Then I thought I should probably challenge
myself with a HALF MARATHON first. Having discussed it with my wife (she gave me the thumbs up) I jumped
online to look for half marathons around February/March (so it wouldn't
clash with football season but also gives me my school holidays to train).
Could not find one but did find the 'Killer Mountain Run'. This is run
over a course that will be all off road, and over a great variety of
terrain, bush tracks, farm tracks, and 4WD tracks whilst enjoying
spectacular views. There are 4 different lengths 7.5 km, 12 km, 21 km or
30km.
Seeming as my goal was a half marathon my 100 Hour Challenge will be training for, and completing, the 21km Killer Mountain Run on the 13th February.
Swim
Gave the ankle a rest this week after feeling a little discomfort during my last run. Went swimming yesterday at Te Rapa Pools and managed to swim for 32 minutes. Don't ask me how I managed that! Will hit the road again tomorrow afternoon for a light jog. Will get to try out my new shoes this week sometime after I have worn them for a while at home to break them in.
Tight Calf :(
Felt really good tonight, apart from a tight calf. Ran 5km in 26 minutes and felt I probably could have gone longer. Took a couple of kms though to get rid of a tight calf and it came back for the last km. Hopefully this isn't too bad as I am actually enjoying getting out for runs and don't want any injury to set me back to square one. Got my sexy skins on now and legs up so fingers crossed I can hit the pavement again tomorrow.
Total Distance Covered so far = 32.88 km Total Time Running = 3 hour 4 min Runs Completed = 7
Weekend Double
Managed to get out for two runs this weekend, both mid day in the heat. Not too bad running in the heat, especially because a/ the girls are asleep and b/ I know I can jump in the pool when I get home. Ran around Porrit Stadium today as it is grass and there are a few little hills, something I will need to get used to over the next few months. 4.83 km in 28 1/2 mins. Got four runs in this week. Will hopefully get four in next week also but will probably take tomorrow off for a rest day, see how I feel first.
Congrats to Cory, he completed his first marathon today (Auckland) in under 4 hours. Two hours would be great for me for a half but considering it is off road and up and down hill I am hoping around 2 hour 20 min. Plenty of time to think about times though because at this stage a half marathon seems a long way off still.
Total Distance Covered so far = 27.88 km
Total Time Running = 2 hour 38 min
Runs Completed = 6
Run then Swim
What better way to top off a run then jumping in the pool. Going to be great over the summer having that to cool off in after a good training session. Ran my normal run at the moment, 4.6km in a slightly quicker time then normal - 25 min 40 sec. Felt pretty good, not sure if that was because I didn't run yesterday or I hadn't eaten for a while or that it was probably around 20 degrees but I will take it. Going to get a run in tomorrow and that will make 4 for the week. Still can't imagine running 21km, hell, I can't even imagine running 10km at the moment but I am sure (I am hoping) I will get there.
Total Distance Covered so far = 23.05 km
Total Time Running = 2 hour 10 min
Runs Completed = 5
Harder or Easier?
Is running supposed to get harder or easier? Went for a run as soon as I got home from work today, set off just after 5pm. Started off pretty well but then hit the wall (I even had to have a walk which was the wrong move as when you try to start running again your legs feel as heavy as something heavy). Funny thing is even though I felt like total ass I ran further (5.74km in 33 minutes) and my time per km was faster then my previous run. Got a few weeks to get comfortable as that is when the training program really kicks in. Hopefully get out twice between now and Sunday, all depends on how the dentist goes tomorrow I guess. Total Distance Covered so far = 18.44 km Total Time Running = 1 hour 44 min Runs Completed = 4
Don't run after dinner
Got a bit lazy this morning and decided to run when I got home from school. Not a good idea, by the time I played with the kids, spent time with the wife, bathed the kids, read story and got them to bed it was still only 7.30pm. Bad thing was though is I decided to eat dinner with the kids. Thought an hour rest after dinner before running would be ok, how wrong was I. Funny enough though, I ran the same time as I did the other day, go figure?
Got to try out my new nike band. Didn't even sync it and it said I ran 4.58km, 20m out from what mapmyrun.com told me I ran. Really good to see how long you have been running for, how fast you are running, how far you have ran and how many calories you have burnt. Think it will be good for my motivation and my competitive streak.
Anyone got one of these? I need someone to set some challenges against?
Total Distance Covered so far = 12.7 km
Total Time Running = 1 hour 11 min
Runs Completed = 3
Been a bit slack
Been a bit slack this week. Started off well going out on Monday but haven't hit the streets again until this morning (Saturday). Got to stop using excuses as actually felt really good running this morning and what better way to start your day. Not a cloud in the sky, so peaceful (most people were still in bed) and now I have my whole day ahead of me.
Today I ran 4.6km in 27 minutes. Have to get that up to 10km in a few weeks time to be on track.
Total Distance Covered so far = 8.1 km Total Time Running = 45 min Runs Completed = 2
And it Begins
Well after a long (and successful) football season, and my few weeks off, I have started my training for my half marathon in February. You would have thought I hadn't done any fitness for months, not weeks if you had seen me running.
Started off with a small 3.5km run taking me around 18 minutes (it felt a lot longer) just to get the lungs working again. Wasn't too bad but thinking about it now, I have to do that x6 in a few months (I have got a lot of work to do).
Here I will blog about my challenge, hopefully get a bit of support, and maybe the odd offer for a run with someone (anyone!). I will also keep a record of the distance covered (got to love mapmyrun.com) and the time I have put into training. In a few weeks I will also set a target for my half marathon, at the moment it is just to finish it!
Total Distance Covered so far = 3.5km
Total Time Running = 18 min
A Month Away
I am really wanting to start training but need to wait until the end of football season. I have about a month left until we are finished, we are in the semi finals of the cup this weekend and are at the top of our division, and it will be a pretty full on month. Once I have finished my season I will take a week or two off and then get into road running for a month or so. Once I am 12 weeks out from the 'Killer' I will start my training program. I am still excited about this and I am hoping my enthusiasm will be the same when I pounding the streets.
I have had a friend offer to be a training partner. This person is a cop in my football team so it will be good to have someone to run with and push me harder. Hopefully I will be able to keep up with him!!!
