Just a quick one today

Just a quick one today. The knee's holding up and I think I can put it down to running round the lane. Out of last weeks 40.66 miles, the knee only hurt when I ran for 2 laps round the lane.

This weeks weigh in has happened this morning and I am 15st 1lb so since January 1st thats 17 lbs lost. I still have 27lbs to go to reach my goal of 13st so fingers crossed it continues in the right direction.

Going for a run today in my new Nike Lunaglide + trainers. Not sure what to expect so will report back later.

Sweet tooth

Just an observation but since Thursday and I haven't run, my desire for Chocolate has virtually disappeared. How weird is that!

Hi Guys and welcome along to day.... I've lost count already .... Day 28 - Blimey a whole month nearly gone already and I'm back to virtually the same weight I was when I started this hair brained idea. 15.06 on the scales this morning and the old blood pressure was 125/80 and with 48 RHB - considering the food and drink since the Holly Half I'm gobsmacked.

I fell off the wagon as usual but yesterday put myself firmly back on it until Wednesday night anyway LOL. Its the annual running club do to Ironbridge so will no doubt sup a few.

The training was heading in such a good direction and I was over the yearly target until last Thursday when I was out running around the Ercall waiting for Anna to meet me at the Wrekin and as I jumped over 3 fallen tree's my left knee felt like someone had battered it - the pain was horrendous and I went down like a sack of spuds. I ended up having to crawl a mile back to a main round where thankfully Ambulance Anna came to my rescue. Since then its been Ice and rest and not a lot else. I tried 2 miles yesterday (in my new trainers which arrived last Friday) to test it and even though the run was painless, there has been some slight pain in the knee afterwards. I am going to try 4 miles today and see how it goes. Have a sports massage booked for 5 as well so hopefully that'll help.

I am starting to think, that if the pain continues it may be worth while considering doing the Anglesey Marathon in September rather than the 3 in 3 days, but we're still along way away from that. Its the Birmingham and Black Country Half Marathon on Saturday - a 13.1 mile run / walk / hobble along the canals from Wolverhampton to Brindley Place in Birmingham where everyone off Runners World will be meeting for beer and food - Should be a good day.

13 down

Well I have to admit to not feeling too hot today. I started feeling ropey after lunch yesterday. I mentioned last week that I thought Holly was coming down with something so I reckon Lu and I have caught what ever bug it is off her. I feel a bit sick, very hot and clammy, am getting head spins when sitting up as well as a runny nose. Oh joy!

I was a bit naughty on Thursday and Friday with drinking a fair few pints. I also had 3 cans yesterday lunchtime after my 10 mile run, however I am still pleased to have only drunk on those 3 days out of 2 weeks.

The scales this morning said I was actually a lb heavier than I was last week, so am going to leave off this weeks weigh in until tomorrow as it may just be a blip. According to the calorie counting website we are using I have actually consumed 3000 calories more than my weeks target (to loose 2lb) so I should have lost one :( My clothes do seem to be a bit looser and I look thinner than I did.

Blood pressure and resting heart rate this morning is 122/85 - 42BPM

Pleased to report I managed to break 34 miles in training last week. Thats 4 more than I was originally planning. I found yesterdays run to be very hard (luckily it was flat) as I felt I had no energy - Probably cause of bug. Saturdays 6 miles weren't too bad.

This week I hope to make it to 35. I have two races this week - the first is the Shroughbourgh Relays which take place on Cannock Chase. It is a 4 person relay race and the club are taking 48 people. Each person only has to run 2 miles, I'm in a team with Jon, Wife Sarah, and Daughter Clare - Their surname is Aston, so we are called the Aston Martins!

The 2nd race is my own race - The Holly Half Marathon on Sunday - to say we are getting excited is an understatement. We have a hot tub party, bbq and band planned for afterwards. We had had 3 people drop out in the past few weeks, but have managed to resell the places so it is a sell out for its first year !!

So quick test of preference

Designer stubble or shaved...

Day 8

Morning all, and welcome to day 8.

I have to admit to feeling a bit blah yesterday afternoon and this morning, I'm not sure why - could be because of the calorie reduction in the past week or maybe I'm coming down with something - I think my daughter definitely is as she's been really whingey the past 2 days, add to this not sleeping too well for the past two nights - I woke up at 2 am, 4 am, 5a, 6 am, 6.45 am this morning so rather annoying. I also wont rule out my body becoming used to being booze free.

Before work this morning I had to go and dig a hole in the woods for 2 chickens who have died on us. The problem with getting chucks off a egg farmer is you dont know how old they are when you get them.

So yesterdays 4 miler didn't quite go to plan. As I was waiting for Parcel Force to turn up I decided to run laps round the lane ( so I wouldn't miss them ) and this slowed me down on my target time of 9 minute miles - I averaged 9.34 in the end which isn't too bad considering the hills. 9.08/9.35 / 9.44 / 9.48.

As you may have guessed Parcel Force failed to arrive so after paying for a 24 hour service I have finally got my parcel this morning! I dont think my muscles are going to like it, but will be good for using in the garden.

Todays run is going to be a 6 miler, not sure of the route yet but as I'm waiting for a $30K order to hopefully land on my desk I cant go until I know whether I get it or not. Again I've done sit ups and press ups and will do some more boxing.

I think I better mention something about the race now. Its called the Atlantic Coast challenge and is 78.6 miles long. You start at Padstowe in Cornwall and run to the very tip of England at Lands End. The course is split up into 3 marathons of 26.2 miles long and you run along the coastal paths so there will be lots of up and downs. Considering this I will have to fit in a lot of hill training around the Wrekin and over at Cannock Chase (the home of the horrible Milford 21). More information can be found at http://www.votwo.co.uk/votwo2007/events-and-adventure/race_view.php?i=73

Weight wise is looking good so far, everyday I have looked in the mirror and I can actually see the difference. I lost another 0.8lb since yesterday to bring me down from 15.13 to 15st 5.08lbs. My blood pressure is down again to 124/81 and the resting heart rate is still around 50.

Day 7 - 110 to go

Well there is no way I thought I would make it to day 7 without a beer let alone day 2 so to say I'm proud of myself is an understatement. I think it is only the 2nd time in my adult life I've stayed off it for that long. I dont think anyone else thought I would either. So to make up for it I treated myself to a treat to mark the 1st week and spent some of my new Garmin money on a shiny red 12kg Kettle bell so should be able to do some more exercise in the garden. If Parcelforce stick to their end of the deal it should arrive later today! Cool !

So Mum came round last night and we had a curry - to say I'm not friends with my local curry house any more is an understatement. I thought I ordered a madras Bhuna, they gave me a Vindaloo - it was so hot my eyes were watering and this morning a song by Johny Cash springs to mind...

So as for training today I am going to run at lunch time - do 4 miles and try and do 9 minute miles. I did 2 sets of 30 press ups and 30 sit ups this morning. I am sure I will squeeze in some boxing as well again. Dont think the hounds will get much of a walk today as am off for a sports massage later - cant wait!

Done the food diary for today and out of my daily allowance of 2000 calories plus 600 exercise calories I have nearly 300 left over - what shall I have... chocolate, a protein shake, yoghurt? Toughie.

Re weight - I'm exactly the same as yesterday but my waters up and the fats down so considering the curry I'm pretty damm pleased.