Definition

Bodger: (noun) person who dwells in woods;

Wednesday 9 May 2012

Alternative commute

Yesterday (Tuesday) I decided that I would run home from work.  I took my kit in with me and changed for the run home, stuffing my pack with the clothes I had been wearing during the day.  This proved to be really good training for the SLMM; my pack was quite full, not really heavy but heavy enough.  From the Museum to Paddington station is 2.46 km which I did in 13:56, including fielding a phone call from the estate agent!  From Reading station home I ran a 6.79 km route in 34:32.  That is a total of 9.25 km in 48:28 which isn't a bad time given I was carrying a pack.  I probably took longer than this as I stopped at Staples to buy ink on the way and didn't time that bit, so it is probably closer to the 60 min mark.  Either way it was a good experience and one I will be repeating again.  It is an easy way to fit in another training session without it taking up time I could use for other stuff.  I can always extend the route at either end to give a longer run in total.

Monday 7 May 2012

Bank holiday Monday

I went in to work today. It wasn't all bad as I was doing Nature Live rather than proper work, so it was a short and fun day. But still, it was work on a bank holiday. I went out for a run when I got home (4.71 km, 23:53); I am really enjoying being back in the swing of things. I am thinking about running home from the station tomorrow, combining the commute and exercise with a spot of load carrying.  We'll see how that pans out.

Sunday 6 May 2012

Double session

It's been a busy weekend so far. Yesterday we went for a walk along the coast in Lymington, New Forest, which was windy but lovely. I followed that up with spending a couple of hours out on a search (SEBEV).

However, instead of taking it easy today, I managed to do two lots of training today. First, I went for a swim for an hour and covered 1.5 km in the pool. It felt pretty good, even though my stamina has not improved at all recently.  I need to work on that, but I have no idea how.

This afternoon I decided I would go out for a short run.  I did the usual campus route, but amazingly I clocked a PB for that route, completing the 5.48 km route in 25:22.  Quite where this came from I don't know, but I am very pleased with it.  I think having a good day yesterday and a decent and well earned night's sleep may have contributed though. I am now off to brag to my SLMM training partners!

Tuesday 1 May 2012

Back on the wagon

I was at Lord's again on Monday for nets and I picked up a nasty bruise on the inside of my thigh misjudging a ball while batting ( I did that a lot!).  So when I went out for a run today it was quite painful.  Still, seeing as this was the longest run I've done in a while (11.72 km, 63 mins) I was pretty pleased. It was quite hard work, but I didn't feel that was a bad time given I haven't done more than about 5 km for a few weeks. My SLMM partner gave me a bit of a verbal kick up the arse today so I had to go out and do something otherwise I feared a worse tongue lashing later! Hopefully this will satisfy!

Tuesday 24 April 2012

Finally...

Well, after 2 weeks of inactivity I finally dragged my arse out for a run. I went for a pre-breakfast jog around campus (5.48 km, 28:40). It felt good to be running again and I forget why it has taken such an effort to get back out.  I hope this is the start of me building up my mileage again, especially as I have entered the Surrey Hills Trail Challenge. I have entered A class, 30 km, so I will have my work cut out.  It will, however, be really good training for the SLMM.  My partner for that event has decided to join me so it will be a good opportunity for us to run together, especially as we missed our training weekend.

I also hope to get out a do a bit more orienteering over the next few weeks to hone my nav skills in preparation for the SLMM. And I am also going to try a few night runs as well as I am going to try and persuade a few friends to take on somewhat of a more challenging event.  We will see.  Watch this space...

Thursday 22 March 2012

Excuses and slow running

I went out for  run this morning.  I wasn't feeling brilliant; no specific complaint, just a general feeling of being below par.  Running didn't actually help either. I went very slowly round the 5.48 km campus route in 30:03. Not exactly going to set the world alight, but better than not going at all.

Wednesday 21 March 2012

Water left in ear after swimming

Which was one of Eddie Izzard's alternative settings for Star Trek phasers, just so you know.

I had a session in the pool today. About 55 mins and 72 lengths (I think) which equates to 1.8 km.  That isn't bad going I reckon.  I was feeling pretty good as well. My stroke seems to becoming more efficient, I am learning to glide a bit more, some I am using fewer strokes per length. Still finding it tiring to do lots of lengths of front crawl in a row, so I am interspersing front crawl with breast stroke so I don't get too tired.  It'll be a long road, but I feel that I am now slowly making progress.  Exhausted now of course and hungry, as usual.

Tuesday 20 March 2012

Post-work out

I spent a rather nice day down in the New Forest collecting some data loggers from our field sites.  We were back nice and early which meant I was on my normal train home.  I was feeling pretty tired on the train by I dragged myself out for a run when I got home and I'm rather glad I did.  I did a 7.95 km route in 41:20.  It was pretty hard work as my legs are still suffering a bit from Sunday I think, but it was a reasonable time and I don't feel to bad now.  despite having had dinner I am still hungry.  That's why we run isn't it? So we can eat more? It's probably half my motivation.

Oh and by the way, the title of this post made me chuckle. It's a good job I amuse myself. No-one else finds me funny.

Monday 19 March 2012

Sunday run update

News just in!

Dave has sent me the log file from our run on Sunday. Clocks in at 27.69 km (17.2 miles) in a time of 3:02:00.  That is 6:34 per kilometer pace, which over that distance isn't at all bad.  Surprisingly I feel pretty good this morning, only one minor niggle, which is a bonus. I am chuffed.

Sunday 18 March 2012

Week round up

So I haven't updated for a couple of days, so here is what I have achieved since Wednesday.

On Thursday I went out for a longish run.  My aim was to run for 2 hours, without worrying about the distance.  I set out on a 20 km route, but as I was running up the final hill I still had another 5 mins to go, so I tacked a loop on to the end.  In the end I ran about 22 km (I need to re-map it due to some software inadequacies) in 2:05 which isn't bad going and achieved my aim.

Friday was a busy day with field work and then first aid cover, so I didn't get out to do any exercise proper, but got plenty of fresh air, so was pretty tired by he end of the day.  Saturday my aim was to go swimming but I resolutely failed due to a combination of a lie in and domestic chores.

Sunday was a bit of an epic day.  I met Dave in Nuffield for a long run.  Again, our aim was to spend some time running without worrying about the distance.  Dave had planned a fantastic route which took in the Ridgeway, the Thames, the Icknield Way which came out at about 11 miles.  We finished this bit in 2 hours.  It was a fantastic run, great scenery and the weather was kind.  Dave had cunningly planned a loop from the car, so we decided to do that as well, which was about another 5 miles. So we set off to do that.  We were both pretty tired by this time and did a fair amount of walking up hills in that final hour, but we finished in 3:03 having covered about 16 miles.  I will update this once Dave has sent me the route file with the total distance. It was hard work, especially the final hour, but it was good to have been on our feet 3 hours and covered a fair amount of distance.  It bodes well for the months to come.

Wednesday 14 March 2012

cross training in the pool

I went for a swim today for about 50 minutes.  Still no idea how far I swam as I lost count. Again.  That's what I enjoy about swimming.  You just plough (in my case more horse drawn than turbo charged John Deere) up and down the lanes and have to concentrate on very little except your stroke.  It lets my mind wander all over the place, usually fantasising about racing well, or being even fitter. Very rarely do I think about work while I am swimming. But I do lose count.

I am finding swimming hard work after a while not going as regularly, but I hope to return to my former level soon.  I am also banking on the fact that it will help me be a better runner, by using my core muscles and developing my stamina a bit.  It certainly can't hurt!

Monday 12 March 2012

Weekend running

This weekend I was attending a First Aid at Work course, so I didn't have much time to go out running.  I managed to get out for a quick blast round campus on Saturday morning before the course accompanied by my wife (5.48 km, 33:37).  I'm not sure my wife ow thinks that is a very good idea, as she later feinted on the Tube and is blaming it (partly) on going out running before breakfast. She is fine now though.  Ironic that I was on a first aid course!

I was going to do the same Sunday morning, but didn't get up early enough.  So instead I thought I'd go for a run after the end of the course.  However, I got sidetracked by cider with my fellow course attendees, so I didn't get out.  So to make it all up, I have been out for a run this morning before breakfast (4.71 km, 23:12).  So I don't feel too bad at missing yesterday.

Friday 9 March 2012

101 ways to stand up

I may have nicked that title from a Portland bouldering guide.  I went bouldering at Reading Climbing Centre for the first time in a very long time.  Needless to say I was rubbish and I am now very tired and aching.  It was fun though; I managed to climb some problems in the second hardest (and failed on some in the easiest!) so it wasn't too disheartening.  I aim to go regularly now.  I am hoping it will be good cross training and in particular for core strength, which I seriously lack.  I have always loved bouldering so it will be good to get back into, especially now I have lost a bit of weight.  I may even be in shape if the boys trip to Font gets revived this year.

Thursday 8 March 2012

Less fish, more duck

I went for a swim today for the first time in a long time.  I have got out of the habit somewhat and it was telling.  Just about managed 55 mins, no idea how far I swam as I am terrible at keeping track.  It was pretty tiring.  I aim to start going a bit more again as I want to do some open water swimming this summer and perhaps enter an aquathlon (swim, run).  Need to work on my stamina and probably my technique. Perhaps lessons?

Wednesday 7 March 2012

New Forest

I have a few days off work this week and as my wife had a course near Southampton, I decided to drop her off and head to the New Forest.  I love the New Forest, it holds a special place in my heart.  It has been a major part of my life for the last two and a half years, and a fixture for nearly 10 years now.  I am an ecologist by trade and I am managing a big project to survey and understand biodiversity in the New Forest.  As such, I have spent many weeks down in the Forest doing field work and getting to know the landscape.  And I have come to love it.

It s also a great place to go running.  The weather this morning was pretty horrible, a reasonable wind and persistent rain, as I set off at about 9.30am near Burley.  My plan was to run for at least two hours and not to worry too much about the distance.  The Forest was pretty quiet, the ponies deciding sensibly to remain in the woods rather than graze out on the heaths.  There was very few people out and about and it flt like I had the place to myself, which was lovely.

I felt pretty good, despite the continual rain. I decided to run with a pack today in training for the SLMM, but it wasn't very heavy, so I tootled along quite nicely, only stopping to navigate and once to turn the map over in the case.  In the end I covered 18.31 km (11 ish miles) in a time of 2:10.  Not a great pace, but consistent. I achieved my aim of running for more than 2 hours which is good.  I'm pretty tired now, but in a good way.

Tuesday 6 March 2012

New PB before breakfast

I have just been out for a run before work and before breakfast around the Uni campus near my home.  The route is 5.48 km and I got round in 25:41, which is the quickest I have ever done it.  I am pretty pleased with myself, not least because I got up early and went out on an empty stomach.  Apparently, running on an empty stomach burns fat, which is good, as I have some to burn.  I did have a cup of tea before I went (my wife is amazing), does that count as an empty stomach I wonder?  It meant I could get out of bed; were it not for the tea I'd still be there!

Saturday 3 March 2012

Hammered by hills in Surrey

Today I took part in the March edition of the G3 race, a 10 km (ish) trail run through the beautiful area around Newlands Corner, near Guildford.  This is a three race series, although I have only taken part in two of the this year.  I did all three races about 2 or 3 years ago.  I ran pretty well today I thought.  The hills were killer as always, but I ran up everyone.  I won several moral battles by running uphill past people who later ran back past me on the down hills.  If only I could get better at running downhill, I'd probably finish races a bit quicker.  I was very pleased to finish in 1:00:43, which is the fastest I have ever done one of these races.  The hill training gained on this race will come in handy for the SLMM.  I finished in place 121/263 (57/93 in category), not bad at all.

Friday 2 March 2012

Mini Mountain Marathon series results

I have recently taken part in a mini-Mountain Marathon series in the Peak District.  Along with my running partner Dave we took part in two out of the three events, enough to qualify for a series score.  Before revealing the final result I will give two quick race reports.  The events are all score courses with a 3 hr time limit, during which you have to navigate between controls with varying points totals.  The most points recorded wins the event. Points are deducted for being late.

Race 1 - Hathersage
This being our first event of this type we were too cautious, especially at the beginning.  We decided to skip a couple of controls for fear we would be back late.  It was a lovely day and the terrain was perfect running and I fulfilled an ambition of running along Stanage edge.  We both ran really well, too well in fact because as were were approaching the start/ finish point, we still had 30 mins of our three hours to go.  So we ran past the finish to pick up an extra control, but still finished with 10 minutes spare.  We covered about 15 miles in the 2:50 and scored 205 points.

Race 2 - Calver
We were determined not to finish early today. Unfortunately we did exactly the opposite.  We started well and picked off controls well.  I made a navigation error on a long run down hill and missed a path up to a control, taking the next path instead.  This wasted time working out where we had gone wrong and fixing it.  I was really struggling by the half way point; the course seemed a lot hillier than the first event.  We ran up and along Froggatt.  We then made a bold (and foolhardy) decision to pick up another disant control.  By this time I was tired and struggling and making more nav errors.  We missed another turning and went a long way out of our way, arriving back at the start/ finish 18 minutes late.   We were deducted 80 points as a result and ended up with a disappointing 100 points.

The series result
I really enjoyed the series despite the second race being hard for me and disappointing as far as the points were concerned,  but I would definitely take part again.  We finished in 30/32 in the series with a total of 985 points (although I have no idea how they calculated that!).  At least we weren't last.

Inspiration and motivation

I am reading a really good book: 'Can't Swim Bike Run' by Andrew Holgate.  It's by a guy who turned himself from an overweight man into an Ironman triathlete.  His determination is amazing and his ability to just keep going really is very inspiring.  In the book Holgs says that keeping a blog about his training really helped with his motivation, so I thought I'd give it a go.

I am in a bit of a low at the moment and I'm not feeling very motivated.  I have a bit of lingering cold and I am using it as an excuse not to get out running. So i thought I'd start this blog and start keeping a public record of my training (even if no-one reads it!) in the hope that it will keep me motivated.

My training does have a point.  I am working towards the Saunders Lakeland Mountain Marathon this July.  Approximately 40 km over two days with no doubt a lot of climbing, carrying a pack with my overnight gear.  I did the OMM last October and I have got the bug.  I am dragging a friend on it for her first time and I think I have scared her into training pretty hard, so I need to keep up.

So this is my first post and the start of my charting of my progress. Let's see how it goes.