On the road with MapMyRun

Well I guess it wouldn't be too ideal for everyone to just take my word for it that I'm running every day, as far as I say.

So I've been having a go at using MapMyRun - an online tool for mapping and recording your runs.
I've got the MapMyRun app on my iPhone, which records my movements while I'm out and times each run so I can see my statistics when I'm done.

While I feel better and fitter with each run, being able to run further each time without stopping, it's encouraging to see the evidence on screen at the end of my runs.

The app seems fairly accurate, as far as I can tell. The same routes come out the same distance etc. Plus I haven't exactly got the funds to invest in a fancy Garmin Forerunner gadget at the moment, so I'll have to make do.

I had my first glitch after my run yesterday. As I pressed save, all sweaty and red-faced from my run in the sun, the MapMyRun app flaked out on me! It said "unable to save route" then "unable to save workout". Grr! Obviously not a fan of hot weather either.
Ah well. I did a few screen grabs to prove it anyway.

The statistics say I'm not making massive leaps in my improvement, but a little at a time is what I'm aiming for. I'm secretly hoping to magically morph into Liz McColgan by next week, but I guess feeling able to run a few metres more each time is an achievement of sorts.

This is my best run so far... don't laugh, it's really good for me. And I'm getting better all the time. Yey!

Let's try Race For Life

So I'm going to take part in Race For Life in Ilkley this year as part of my training. I should be able to run 5k in one go easy peasy by this stage, so I'll give it a try. It's on June 10... so just 17 days to go.

I'm obviously paying the entry fee, but since I'm in the process of raising money for another great cause I
won't be doing any other fundraising for Cancer Research UK this year.

Doing Race For Life in the past has been really good. I've done it twice at Skipton and once at Temple Newsam in Leeds - with times certainly nothing to be proud of! There was lots of community spirit and girl power and all that.
So even though I'm not getting sponsored, I'm still supporting the charity in my own little way... and you can all keep hold of your cash and sponsor me big bucks for my big challenge! Hehe.

Here's a pic of me and my friends Emma and Lucy when we did the Race For Life at Broughton Hall in Skipton two years ago...

Countdown: Just over a month to go...

Well there's less than five weeks until my challenge starts and I've been training for a good two weeks (!)

I had intended to start a little further in advance, but last-minute Simpson strikes again.

Anyway, it's all going quite well (touch wood!) so I'll keep it up and hopefully I'll be much fitter by the time June 25 arrives.

I've started off running every other day and so far have just been running from home in Guiseley out towards Menston.

It might not sound too impressive to you, but the most I've done is four miles altogether and I can now run the best part of a mile without stopping. Great. I just go a little bit further each time. Well, it's progress at least.

Today is absolutely roasting hot so I am going to wait until later in the evening to go out today... best be kind to myself in the training stage!

At least the paths shouldn't be flooded today, unlike this one in High Royds that had ducks swimming on it the other day (you can just see them waddling away from me in the background)...