Running

Hey!
So I just logged in and found this draft. Upon opening it I discovered that I'd just written a title and nothing else!

OK so I've been running. A fair bit actually. Some might call it shuffling but I'm apparently allowed to call myself a runner as I'm actively going for a run, so I will. So I'm a runner, or more accurately a trail runner. I love it. Changing from tarmac to grass/woodland has been a step in the right direction for me. So what have I been up to? Read on...

I have a pair of ageing Pegasus 26 running shoes. These are full drop, tarmac shoes. They are pretty light though and are really nice and airy. While the sun shone down on us in England they were great, not too slippy on either woodland or grass. However since the dew has started to settle on the grass I'm getting wet feet and although the coolness is welcome, the wetness isn't.

I've just ordered a pair of Trail Running's Best In Test Asics Gel-Fuji Elite trainers. They are well loud! They are proper trail running shoes and according to the test and a couple of other reviews they will be pretty happy getting to the trail on tarmac without shredding themselves to pieces. Ideal! I should have them in a few days so hopefully I will get away with only one or two more dewy runs around the local field!

I also ordered a pair of proper trail running socks, also by Asics and featured in a trail running magbook I have. At £10 a pair they better be up to scratch! They sound the dogs danglies though, with moisture wicking, cooling and lots of support built into the different materials used. If they are any good I'll get a couple more pairs as my trainer socks (2.99 for 3 pairs) offer none of the above.

I'm using the Nike Running application on my Android phone. I've used the old Nike+ system with my ipod Nano (2nd gen) and also with my iphones (3g and 4s) before so it made sense to start again with this application. I kinda like the non competitive nature of the application, you are more in contest with yourself and set goals to run more often, or further, or longer, etc... It uses gps to generate your route and times your run including splits for fastest times, etc... There is a social aspect to it but I mainly ignore it. It's not perfect but touch wood I've not had it fail to record a run yet.

I am also using my Polar FT7 HRM on my runs and this proves itself invaluable for assessment once again. I can now upload the results data to Polar and analyse it. I am getting fitter each time and it shows in the numbers and the graphs generated. I have also setup a training plan to do 5k by October and it works out a schedule for me. If I had a fancy watch like the Polar RC3 it would download the training to the watch and tick them off for me but I've found a way around this which involves a little manual effort at the PC.

So what's the progress? I started on the 8th August by walking for 5 mins and running for 10, then walking for 5 again. Looking back on my records I managed 1.72km in 28minutes with an effort rating of 51. By the 13th August doing the same training I managed 2.04km in 21:06 with effort rating of 23!
I'm now doing 5min, 14min, 5min and this will be stepping up again at the end of the week. My last recorded run was: 2.5km in 26:00 with effort of 48. So I am now doing more running with the same effort as my earlier paltry (in comparrisson) 1.72km on the 8th August. I have yesterday evening's run to upload and I suspect that I may have gone further and with less effort than Sunday, but I won't find out till at least tonight when I get a chance to upload the results.

I'm so far injury free and actually some problems I had with my right knee and ankle are getting better if anything! I attribute this all the changing from the tarmac to the trail. So if you are a big lad and want to try running to clear your head, challenge yourself, get fitter or just earn some cash for a charity give it a try! Once I am happy my knee and ankle problems are gone and I've shifted a bit more weight I may give the tarmac another chance but it's a lot more fun off road!

Good luck with whatever you decide to do to change your life!
Tone