Finding the Time

Struggling to find the time to get some decent running in. Work and life getting in the way. Does anyone else have that problem?

Finding after work is not that good - gets me into trouble with the family. Think I have to get back into the early morning 5am running - a struggle to get up that early but its all about routine. Gets easier after a while.

Today I got back home early from a work trip to Kawerau. Had a 15km run all planned out but what can only be described as internal rumblings saw me cut the run short at just over 5km - lucky it was a loop course and I could detour at an awkward sprint back home. Made it back though so all is well that ends well as they say.

Did 5.36km in 23:40 (4:25 min/km pace) - not too bad considering.

Good news is I'm over the cold :)

Step away, turn around. Let my feet hit the ground.

Great day today - I could get quite used to holiday Mondays! I went for a similar length run as Saturday's effort - still a little blocked up to be honest so didn't want to run any longer than 30-35 minutes.

I call this route "Along the Grange" because, well, it goes up Grange Road. Feel like I'm handling the hills reasonably well at the moment - not racing up them but keeping an even pace.



Overall 7.63km in 33:36 (4:24min/km pace). Quite pleased with that given still a bit "sniffly" - and yes in hindsight a recovery run should have been quite a bit slower.

I want to crack 1:35 in my next half - for that need to pace for 4:30 min/km's over the entire race. I think should be achievable if I train smart over the next 4 weeks.

Here is the flash-harry elevation graph courtesy of mapmyrun.com.


Since its a nice day, and you've read this far here is a treat... another great New Zealand song with a running theme. "Running" from Evermore. Good stuff!

Weigh In - 26 October 2008

Weight a bit up and down this week. Had a (man) cold and consequently didn't exercise all that much. Next week will be better!

Recovery Run

As mentioned last post I've been slowed down with man-flu this week (aka man-cold, aka dreaded lurgy):



This video cracks me up. I didn't have a bell like that here - just as well my wife would have clocked me over the head with it ;). Anyhow I'm on the tail end of the cold now which is just as well. My diet hasn't been the best the last few days. Thanks everyone for the get well soon comments on my last post.

This weekend is Labour weekend in New Zealand. Monday is a public holiday celebrating the advent of the 40 hour working week in 1840. A good weekend for a run or two. The weather has been pretty variable so far so its a matter of trying to find a time in between rain showers.

Today was a shortish recovery run round the block. The weather was a bit windy with slight showers but nothing too bad. I did my tempo run course (7.53km) at a slower than normal time of 33:52 (4:29min/km).

It was a bit suprising the run was quicker than it felt. My breathing was a bit ragged at the end though just to remind me not probably not totally over the cold.

Looks like mapmyrun.com has an interesting looking elevation chart - here is the one for today's run:

The hills are pretty tame on this run only 3% uphill gradient.

Here is the route in 3D google earth glory:


The big brown area in the bottom right is actually a scoria quarry. Due to the quarry activity there is only one "king" (volcano) left of the Three Kings. There is talk when it closes over the next few years the council will move to turn it into park land - that would be a good move in my opinion.

Sick

Monday afternoon I started to get the "I'm coming down with a bug" feeling. Woke up this morning with dry eyes, sore throat and achy shoulders. Not that flash.

So being sensible that means no running today. I did go for a short walk to try and clear my head with limited results. Will be taking it very easy and hopefully be a box of fluffies real soon now.

Morningside For Life!

Today the sun was out so I went for a run in a new route! This one went through the Auckland suburb of Morningside. Nothing special in that but it is the setting for New Zealand's first adult-targeted animated series - bro'Town. Apparently our answer to the Simpson's but with polynesians. Likely if you live outside of Auckland you won't understand the references but pretty funny if a bit crass. The below shows a few good clips in the guise of an episode of mastermind :)



Anyhow the run itself was OK - 13.7km in 1:03:22 (4:37min/km). The route details here. A couple a hills in this including the one from Run Auckland Race 5. Good it wasn't raining today remember the race earlier in the year it was bucketing down.



Did it pretty hard towards the end but all in all a good weekend's running.

Weigh In - 19 October 2008

Still going in the right direction. A bit slower this week though but slow and gradual progress is a good idea for weight loss. Feeling pretty good with how its going!


Made a big effort this week to watch portion sizes and by and large this went well. Just over 5kg to go to get to my goal weight (80kg). Would like to make it by the end of the year. Should be a realistic goal.