Week 3 day 2. Rest? No. Boxing with Mike Tyson

After yesterday, no running today so kind of a rest day. Vaguely.

Just a 30 minute bootcamp (hard cardio circuit) followed by a pump fx weights/ resistance class.
Done it before so nothing to worry about surely? Yeah right.

My hands and arms are still shaking a bit 4 hours later, it was that tough on my arms and shoulders :) Seriously never had that before.

30 minute boot camp actually was 25 minutes pads work with a partner plus a bit of cardio to finish off.
Thought the pads work would be with my wife but since there was another male in the class we got paired up.

He was admittedly 6ft 2 plus and maybe 16-17 stone...some serious weight in his punches.
Decent right jab and lots of power so tough just taking his punches even before my 10 plus minutes of jabs, crosses, cuts. Arms up all the time

Then to the weights pump fx class. This and the Tuesday class have really helped my running and save having to do a fairly boring weights session on my own in the gym. Lot more fun in a class, time passes quicker and you put more effort in.
Gill changed this class up a bit so that little bit harder but not obvious at first.

Squats with a 20kg bar one foot on a step. Much harder, really stretched my tight hamstrings so loosened up nicely now.
And as suggested pushed my weight up on last arm exercise since it was shorter.

All these worked my arms/ shoulders and hands... Hence the shaking still hours later?

No pain no gain. Now for sleep which is not going to be a problem.....(zzz)

Blogging to Keep Training and To Raise Money for Charity

Good article at Running World about Blogging Hard, Training Harder -
http://www.runnersworld.co.uk/motivation/blog-hard-train-harder/6035.html

"Running is booming online, and the burgeoning community of bloggers, podcasters and posters could even be to blame for running's current surge in popularity. It seems the supposedly sedentary online world is in fact stimulating more of us to get out, get fit and get running.

Find out how blogging about your training or discovering the blogs of other runners can transform your training - whether you want to fundraise, meet likeminded runners or just get a motivational boost."


Has certainly helped me anyway, reinforcing/ concentrating what I'm aiming to do, passing onto family and friends.

I will be starting raising money August onwards, with a just giving link on here very soon.

All debts, favours and IOUs will be getting called in :)

Week 3 day 1 tempo + hills

Thought the 14-15 miles run a few days ago was tough but pleasant/ okay  the other day so picked roughly the same area in reverse direction shorter distance so approx 10 miles.

Was I wrong. :)

Very picturesque at first.

Telegraph Road from West Kirby to Heswall is much much tougher the other way. Way more hills and a big long stretch for what seemed like 10-15 minutes up hill, you could see cars further ahead higher up even in the distance so even hard to take visually/ mentally.

Awesome sight looking up through the chasm of the Red Rocks... Bit like the movie the 300. (photo next time but here is one of Google Maps).

Seriously hard nasty run. Stuck mostly to sub 8m 30s miles even up those hills, with a couple of faster bits sub 8m miles later with slight downhill. Note to self do not run at 6m 30s pace... very bad.

Think this route could be a regular painful run in preparation for the tunnel section of marathon in October. No way it is bad as this surely? Route is here for those interested...

11.5 miles in 1 hr 35mins though, did break in Heswall for a Ribena, few stops for stretches along the way.

Refueled with a well deserved chocolate shake as recommended by sports science guy before gym class, has lots more carbs & protein than a standard sports drink. Someone tells me that Mars Bars drinks are similar calories & content so maybe next time :)

Good body conditioning workout class with Cath as always, but left hip a bit sore on some side crunches so backed off a bit, maybe from the work with chiropractor to sort my leg out.

Hamstring still a bit tight but thats not really new, has been for a few weeks. Stretches next few days plus new office chair imminent so will help.

Full of energy though and feel a lot better than I did 2 weeks ago at start of this program.

No running tomorrow with today's extra effort.

Week 2 day 6 boxing circuit + football

Boxing circuit in the morning, then onto New Brighton.

Tough class as always, Liam does not take any prisoners!

But good. If you can xtrain the boxing circuit with a run before or around it, its like running another 5-6 miles on the legs. Killer but great for stamina.

After that Charity football match LJMU v Radio Merseyside in aid of Kevin Jones after 12pm. Absolutely pouring down, even more rain than yesterday. LJMU unlucky to lose 3-1 against Radio Merseyside team but not really the point.

Great to see Kevin again. Kevin had a stroke during minor surgery in January and was paralysed. Told he would never walk or talk again but proving all the doctors wrong. Walking & talking , an inspiration to everyone there today.

Week 2 day 5 good news at chiropractor

Good news... especially after my long run today.
After 3 or 4 sessions, chiropractor says the 1.5 cm difference between left & right leg is now 2-3 mm .. huge change, hip no longer rolled upwards.
Tendonitis should start going at some point naturally.

Fingers crossed looking good and can only help with marathon training & my legs.
Celebrated with an ice cream down at sea front with those iron men statues in Crosby. Might not have legs of iron but over the next few months....

Week 2 day 5 long run in the rain

Planned a long run all week - would be longest I'd ever ran so carby food the night before, up at 7 to force some breakfast down and then a light snooze.
All good. Looked nice but rain starting to spit at 9 so wrapped up in my trusty yellow running jacket & hat and set off for ~2 hrs 30.

Aiming for 14-15 miles through from Moreton through Upton to Heswall (stop), then to West Kirby (stop) then onto Meols finishing at the horse stables to meet my wife. No set pace just getting some miles in and build up.

Route to Heswall more hilly than I remembered so good tough run. A few stops to do stretches. Rain got heavier.

Couldn't be bothered waiting for a drink in Heswall shop with a queue in front so pushed on. Then the rain got heavier. Right in the middle of countryside the heavens opened. Torrential rain but was actually nice to run in, doing about 8min miles faster than needed.

The Road to Nowhere.. Rain in 2 mins

More hills I'd forgotten then down through the red rocks. Very tough. Down the big hill into West Kirby for a well earned break & Ribena at 11 miles.

More stretching. Lots more. Then onto finish at the stables with a carb protein choc drink waiting. Out for 2 hrs 20 mins and approx 14.5 miles and felt pretty good.  Horses fed.

Larry, ex police horse, enjoying his snack

 Then I got fed, nice big bowl of porridge at Sweet Pea cafe in West Kirby.

Healthy Breakfast

Week 2 day 3 recovery run + football

More exercise than expected but worth it.

Football for an hour at lunch, can definitely feel limits on my foot in terms of mobility and turning.

Then back home for a recovery run with my wife, 8.5 miles around 10- 10.30 minute miles, a few stops and lots of stretches.
Along the beach on sand for a bit so rested my heel. Really nice to run & chat a bit.
Rest day tomorrow, longest run so far of ~15 miles planned Saturday.