Day 237: What a difference a minute makes

RUN: 4.1 miles

Today was one of those days I did NOT want to go running. As you can imagine, these days come up often, and I have to find the will to get the kit on and get out of the door. This is the challenge.

So, reluctantly, I pulled on the lycra, pressed start on the GPS, pressed play on the iPod and headed out into the cold... and had a great run!

The music that I've found using my Cruise Control Run app is fantastic to run to. I was fast (for me) and pushed on with 8m 43s miles (a good minute faster than some of my runs). There are only a handful of songs I've found that really work with my steps and keep me running well, but hopefully I'll find more as time goes on.

Now if I can only keep that speed up for 22 more miles I'll be on for a 3h 50m marathon. I've got some work to do!

Here's today's good run

Day 236: One mile rest day ahead of a big weekend

RUN: 1.0 miles

Just a one-mile rest day today, ready for a 14-miler this weekend.

Slightly apprehensive about the 14-mile run that's on the schedule for this Sunday - it's more than a half marathon! It will be the longest run I've ever done, but, on the other hand, it should give me more confidence for the Liverpool Half Marathon in four weeks' time... if I manage to do it!

Here's today's run

Day 235: Shortcut on one of 'those' days

RUN: 2.6 miles

Just a couple of miles round Menston village tonight, but I was not feeling good. I felt really out of shape for some reason. I intended to follow my four-mile route, but took a short cut since I was having 'one of those days'. I bet Mo Farrah never has this trouble.

Here's today's run

Day 234: Snow way I'm running to work!

RUN: 3.1 miles (5.08km)

At home this morning before running to Bradford for my late shift at work, I didn't even look out of the window until after 11am. And look what I saw... A blinkin' blizzard! I knew it was going to be cold, but this wasn't on the forecast!

 

Anyway, after my nightmare run the other week, I decided not to be a martyr this time and headed for the warmth and safety of the gym.

And warmth is definitely the word in there... roasting! Disappointingly, I only managed three miles - less than half the distance to work. I hope this snow goes away soon so I can get back outside.

 

Day 233: Experimenting with the Cruise Control Run app

RUN: 6.1 miles

Still feeling good today, it was satisfying to get back on the training programme with six miles.

I've discovered a good music app for running - Cruise Control Run. It's right up my street, basically getting the music to work with your running and vice versa.

It can speed up/slow down the music in your playlist to make you speed up/slow down to get you to your target speed; it can do the same with a target heart rate; or it can speed up/slow down your music to your chosen cadence - so you can run along matching your footfall to the best of the music - perfect!

It analyses the music in your iPod and selects the songs that will work. Then you can set your cadence (86 beats per minute for me) and set off. By clicking the button on your headphones you can skip songs, 'thumb up' songs that work for you or 'thumb down' ones that don't.

It doesn't bring in all your songs, including some that I have enjoyed running to before, but it is certainly worth knowing about. I need to start getting a bit quicker in preparation for the half and full marathons, and this might just be the tool to help me do it. I'll let you know how I get on.

Here's today's run

Day 232: On the mend with a two-miler

RUN: 2.2 miles

After a good rest yesterday and giving my poorly right leg a bit of TLC, it was thankfully feeling a lot better today. I doubled today's rest day run with a two-miler to go some way to making up for the poor performances of the last few days. Fingers crossed the leg is really on the mend after a few days of taking it easy.

Here's today's run

Day 231: Turning back again on a Sunday run

RUN: 1.2 miles

Six miles were on the cards today, so I set off with all the best intentions.
The pain in my leg was still there when I set off, but I wasn't too worried because it usually disappears after half a mile or so.

Not today.

After one mile I decided to take the shortcut back home because the pain was really sharp, and quite worrying. I don't want to make it any worse and not be able to run at all after 230 days' work!

Here's today's run