Category: Running

Janathon Day 11 – up before 7

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Despite deciding when I went to bed last night I wasn’t going to set my alarm and go to parkrun this morning as I had been up late writing and submitting an assignment, my brain had other ideas and woke me up early with the beginning of my dissertation proposal so I thought I’d better get up and write it down before I forgot it. Which meant I was up with plenty of time to get to parkrun.

If you were on Twitter a week ago, you might have seen a conversation between me and @TrevB1 where he said if he got a London Marathon place through his work, he’d do a long run in his tiger onesie and asked if I wanted to join him for a run in my penguin onesie. He suggested Guildford and so I thought, aha! I can’t get to Guildford, I can get out of running in a penguin onesie, so I said ‘sorry, can’t get to Guildford, can you get to Ashford?’ hoping he couldn’t get to Ashford but, alas, he said if he got a place, he’d come to Ashford. Bugger.

Unfortunately for @TrevB1 but fortunately for me, he didn’t get a London Marathon place, so if you came on here looking for pics of us running in our onesies, um, sorry about that.

What I did turn up to parkrun in this morning though was my Janathon t-shirt.

janathon-t-shirt

It didn’t get me a parkrun PB, but it did get some admiring looks (or I might have imagined that).

If you want to get a Janathon t-shirt or mug or something, there are some massive discounts at the Janathon Cafe Press shop at the mo, plus a further 15% off until midnight. I might buy some pyjamas; if they get here in time, I can do another Janathon pyjama plank.

Janathon Day 9 – silver tights are mine

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Not quite up at 5:30am as planned. Not even up at 6:30. Just about made it up by 7, although it was dark and I was warm but unless I slept through January, it was still Janathon and I wanted to go for a run before going to university, so that meant getting out of bed. Hang on, did I say ‘wanted to go for a run’? Blimey, Janathon is doing strange things to me, that’s three runs this week; I’m not sure I’ve run three times in the last three months.

Because I went out bang on school run mum time (despite it mostly being school run dads from what I could see this morning), my run was a bit stop/start for the first half a mile on the road where the primary school is, then it was stop/start for the next half a mile because of all the mud and puddles, then it was stop/start again as I collided with another school run going to another school. Still, three miles was done, just mostly at a walk.

Then, because the lifts at the station are being renovated, I had to carry my heavy mountain bike up the stairs and when I got to university, I ended up walking up and down three flights of stairs three times, then two flights of stairs twice and if I’d known that was going to happen, I’d have counted that for today’s Janathon exercise, especially as I asked on the Janathon Facebook page if I could carry some of it over to tomorrow and was told ‘no’.

Bah.

Still, my run this morning meant I got to wear my new silvery grey running tights.

grey-tights

 

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I’ve got an assignment due tomorrow, can I count writing as exercise?

Janathon Day 7 – pink tights heaven

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Yesterday’s Janathon post should have been titled Day 6, not 5, but I’d already done the ‘five rhymes with alive’ thing and posted it on Facebook and Twitter and everything, so I decided to keep it. It was Day 6 though, I didn’t do Day 5 twice and slack off Day 6, honest.

As I mentioned the other day, the postie left a couple of pairs of running tights from Sportsshoes.com for me in the recycling bin (as you do). I said I’d model them for you when I wore them, so here’s the pair I wore for today’s run.

pink-tights

 

legs

Yes, I decided to do the whole pink thing and teamed them with a pink top and socks. (Did I really just type ‘teamed them’? Sorry, meant to say ‘I also bunged on a pink top and socks’.)

So, that’s my Janathon Week 1 done (that’s a normal ‘done’, not a Justin Lee Collins-esque type ‘done’), and here’s a screenshot of my SportTracks calendar to prove it.

sporttracks

Janathon totals so far:

Running: 6.49 miles
Cycling: 38.94 miles
Other (gym/body pump): 2 hours 20 minutes
Calories: 2,650

How’s your Janathon Week 1 gone?

Janathon Day 3 – you voted, I obeyed

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You were determined to put the ‘jog’ bit back into ‘JogBlog’, weren’t you? Well, you won. The votes came in and the outcome was:

Run: 17

Bike: 4

Body pump: 1

Swim: 1

Gym: 0

So out I went this morning for a run. It was bright and sunny, the first mile was muddy and I saw a girl walking a dog so small, she could have saved herself a trip outside and put it on a hamster wheel instead.

voted-run

One good thing about being FORCED out for a run was I got to wear my new running tights, yay.

tights

Yes, that’s a little black cat curled up on the bed and yes, I know the mirror needs cleaning. Oh, and yes, I did change out of my slippers into something more appropriate in which to run.

Before I left the house, a Tabata DVD came in the post. I have no idea what Tabata is – I think it’s a high intensity interval circuit training type thing? Oh well, I’ll find out soon enough, something new for me to try during Janathon.

I also found out my postie’s New Year’s Resolution seems to be to give up ringing doorbells. Our one, anyway, as he left a parcel for me in the recycling bin. Not the shallow one with nothing in it, but the four foot deep one with a lot of crap in it. Nice. Most people give up drinking or smoking for New Year, giving up ringing a doorbell is a new one on me.

Anyway, in my parcel was a couple of pairs of running tights from Sportsshoes.com, I’ll model them for you when I wear them.

Speaking of sports attire, something slightly less conventional to exercise in is a onesie or pyjamas. Remember HelsBels set a Janathon challenge for everyone to do a plank in their pyjamas or onesies and post photos? Well, I’ve done mine dressed as a penguin. Fairweatherrunner said I had to do it again though and properly this time, on my forearms, not hands, as apparently that’s ‘too easy’. Bah.

penguin-plank

More photos of Janathoners’ PJ planking have popped up on the Janathon Facebook Page and Not Much Of A Runner was brave and posted a photo of his plank in the buff. We want more though, so keep them coming!

Fame! Janathon radio interview

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preston-fm-logo

Millie asked me if I’d like to do a radio interview on Preston FM. Eek, I said, I’m scared. Then I remembered I was an attention-seeking media-whore and said yay, I’d love to, thanks.

Unfortunately, lurgy struck and a sore throat left me barely able to speak; not a good look for radio. So, a deputy was needed and I asked my trusty sidekick, Helen, if she’d stand in for me and she said ‘eek, I’m scared,’ then she remembered that she too is an attention-seeking media-whore and said ‘yay’.

And what a brilliant job she did of it too. A worthy deputy indeed. All the core facts about Janathon were mentioned; dressing gown dash, bar press up, excuses, beer and pizza. She also used the word ‘glamorous’ and ‘Preston’ in the same sentence, which probably doesn’t happen very often (my apologies to people in Preston, I’m just kidding – I’ve never been but I’m sure your town is lovely).

You can listen to the interview here:

There’s still plenty of time to sign up for Janathon, enter here.

The JogBlog Guide To Not Being A Lardarse Over Christmas

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You know all those posts that are out at the moment? The we’re-going-to-piss-on-your-party posts cheerfully piping up with ‘advice’ such as ‘run three miles to burn off a mince pie’? Well, forget all those clichéd depressing doom-mongering party-poopers -  here’s the fun and easy JogBlog guide to not turning into a tubster over Christmas.

In the Pub

Got a work do or meeting friends for a drink? Get some exercise and get into their good books at the same time by offering to go to the bar for everyone, even when it’s not your round. Don’t get so drunk though you forget it’s not your round and you pay for all the drinks each time. Oh, and while you’re there, do a bar press-up.

athon-bar-press-up

Do a Santathon

Most of these provide – and let you keep – the costume, so, not only do you get to run a fun 5 or 10k with loads of other Santas, you also get bonus points by being able to dress up as Santa for your kids (if you have them. If not, I’m sure your boyfriend/girlfriend/husband/wife/dog/cat/hamster/goldfish/dead worm collection will be equally thrilled).

I took part in a Santathon with Shaun a few years ago. We’d only been seeing each a few months then, otherwise I don’t think he’d have agreed to do it quite so cheerfully (yes, I know Shaun needs to work on his ‘cheerful’ face). 

santathon

Supermarket slalom

Run to the supermarket, then make shopping into A Fun Thing by making a game out of slaloming around everyone fighting over the prawn rings and Ferrero Rocher. When you get home, pretend you’re in a body pump class by putting on some Christmas classics on the stereo using the bottles of port and Champagne you’ve just bought as weights.

Opening presents early is an act of kindness. Honest

Is there a bike shaped parcel in the garage? You’d better open it (carefully, as you’ll need to wrap it back up again) and give it a spin to make sure it’s in perfect working order. Imagine how disappointed the person who gave it to you will be if you open it on Christmas Day and find out it needs to go back to Halfords for a service? I’m not an expert on Halfords’ opening hours but I’m willing to bet a bottle of Babycham they’re not open on Christmas Day.

And if it gets a bit dirty while you’re test-riding it, you can blame whoever gave it to you for leaving your nice new shiny bike in a dirty old garage. 

bike

Make a fitness advent calendar

Chocolate advent calendars? Pah! What you need is a fitness advent calendar. Get a chocolate advent calendar, eat all the chocolate, then write down a different exercise (body pump, spin, circuits, yoga, running, cycling, walking, etc.) on the door of each day. It’s a fitness lucky dip!

Go to the gym

Yes, this sounds like a normal thing to do. But there are three very good reasons for visiting the gym over the Christmas period:

1. If you go now, you won’t look like a New Year Newbie.

2. All those annoying people who walk on the treadmills are at home on the sofa, watching Elf while munching their way through a tin of Quality Street.

3. You can buy yourself some new kit. It is Christmas, after all.

Janathon practise

Oh yes, Janathon is looming and what would Janathon be without a dressing gown dash? Practise those dashes now!

dressing-gown-dash

Hand and wrist exercises

Don’t forget other parts of your body this Christmas and exercise your hands and wrists by writing down all those New Year’s Resolutions you’re not going to keep.

Play Temple Run

Okay, so you really can’t be arsed to do anything. Fine, let Usain Bolt run a few thousand metres for you instead on Temple Run. He even wears a Santa hat for you to laugh at. Let’s hope he got paid a lot for this.

usain-bolt-temple-run-santa-hat

So, that’s my guide to keeping fit over Christmas, what are your top tips?

Ashford parkrun

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parkrun

Always one to be fashionably late, I missed the first two local parkruns. This, of course, is patently untrue; I’ve never been fashionable in my life (peek in my wardrobe if you don’t believe me).

I missed the first one a) to avoid the word ‘inaugural’; and b) because, being a Londoner, it seemed appropriate to avoid the many tourists who were bound to be there, magnetically drawn – like a Chav to Primark – to that horrific ‘i’ word.

This is actually untrue, too. Well, partly, anyway. Shaun and I were driving down to Portsmouth later that day to take part in the Great South Run the day after, so we decided to save our energy for that.  But why let a little thing like the truth deny me the opportunity to moan about the word ‘inaugural’, tourists and the chance to use the ‘Chav to Primark’ simile I just made up.

Last week… well… that’ll be the bottle and a half of wine the previous night’s fault.

But, yay, today I got up bright and early and decided to cycle down to the local park where the Ashford parkrun is held. I say ‘local’, it’s actually a bit over two miles away but this is the countryside and anything within ten miles is local, unlike London where local means within five minutes’ walk and if you travelled ten miles you’d probably end up in zone four or, even – shudder – five.

I do like a bit of punctuality, it must be said, and it started at 9 on the dot. As is usual in the races I take part in, I was left on my own at the back pretty much straight away. This is fine with me as I don’t like a crowded race and it means I can just jog around slowly on my own listening to my music. As long as I can see runners in front of me so I feel like I’m a part of it, I’m happy. If I can see a few behind me, I’m even happier.

The route follows the same route as the Nice Work Ashford Summer 5K Series, so I knew the route and therefore prepared for a couple of laps of the park, which includes a gentle short slope which turns into a long steep hill when you actually get to it. Both times I stopped to walk up it until I told myself to stop being such a wimp and get on with it, although the slope is so short it had ended by the time I told myself to get on with it.

There’s not much else to say about it really. It’s a parkrun and you all know what a parkrun is. I ran round it in the fastest time I’ve done for aaaaaaaaaaaages, despite stopping to check the toenail on the big toe on my right foot hadn’t fallen off (it hadn’t, I think my big toe was just beginning to thaw out – it was a cold, cold morning) and stopping to let a dog walker decide which way he wanted to go past me (I’d have tripped up the speedy types in the lead who were on their way back from the first lap if I’d had moved out of the dog walker’s way. Annoyed? Yes. Did I tut at him and roll my eyes and mutter ‘FOR FUCK’S SAKE’? Hell yeah.)

I almost missed the finish line as I headed for what I thought it was, i.e. in between two tapes but the marshal was waving his arms and shouting something but in my dazed and confused state wasn’t sure where I was supposed to go (despite there being a big yellow sign with FINISH written on it) and the marshal pointed at his ears in what I am assuming was a ‘IF YOU WEREN’T WEARING AN IPOD YOU COULD HEAR MY DIRECTIONS’ gesture which actually pissed me off quite a lot as I can see and hear fine with my music on, I just a) get a bit dazed when I’m running; and b) need a new pair of glasses.

On leaving the park, I said thanks and goodbye to the organiser (I assume he was the organiser anyway, he had an air of authority about him) and he said ‘bye, see you next week?’ and I said ‘yes, of course’ which, in my experience, whenever someone asks will I be going to something again the next week and I say yes – I’m never to return. Shaun was at work today though, so he hasn’t been yet, so I daresay I’ll be making another appearance.

Thank you, Ashford parkrun – I’m glad you’re here at last.

Press release: Brits strive for picture perfect as they hit the gym

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It’s the Great South Run on Sunday. My training – on a scale of 1-10 – is at about 2. Oops. Shaun decided to make me feel better about this by telling me the weather report. I clamped my hands over my ears but the words ‘heavy rain’ and ‘strong winds’ filtered through. Bah.

Anyway, Bupa have asked me to publish the below press release, so have a read.

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BRITS STRIVE FOR PICTURE PERFECT AS THEY HIT THE GYM

– Nearly one in three British women living a healthy lifestyle have been motivated to exercise after looking at a photo of themselves –

– TV personality Gethin Jones supports campaign on helping to keep Britain motivated –

A picture paints a thousand words but for healthy Brits [1] it has also sparked a health kick. Nearly one third (30%) of women living a healthy lifestyle have taken up exercise after looking at a photograph of themselves, with just under one in five (19%) health conscious males also doing the same, according to a latest research campaign by Healthcare company Bupa.

The campaign, supported by TV personality Gethin Jones, delved into the habits of those leading a healthy lifestyle to find out what motivates these particular individuals to stay fit and healthy, ahead of the Bupa Great South Run this weekend.

Surprisingly, health mad celebrities are a fitness turn-off; only 4% say that a celebrity’s body has ever motivated them to exercise. Results indicate that a quarter (25%) of women surveyed also admit to using special occasions including Christmas parties as motivation to exercise. Other main motivations for both men and women to stay healthy through exercise include, wanting to improve one’s mood (61%), to fit into clothes (47%) and to relieve the stress of work (26%).

According to Bupa, Sunday still remains the ‘day of rest’ with ‘Brits’ living the healthy lifestyle putting their feet up on Sunday more than any other day of the week. Fitness on a Friday seems to have replaced the traditional post work trip to the pub, with it being the day those surveyed are least likely to avoid exercise.

Television personality Gethin Jones, ambassador for the campaign said: “It’s easier than you think to become a healthier person; it’s the small changes that make a big difference. Bupa’s campaign shows there are many motivations to adopt a healthy lifestyle, but for me it has always been setting myself challenges. That is why I am currently training for the Bupa Great South Run which has helped me to stay focused and get up for that morning run.”

The campaign, by Bupa, aimed to examine the behavioural habits and motivations of those who live a healthy lifestyle to ascertain how and why they maintain their regime and fitness. Working closely with a medical expert, Bupa defined the criteria for a healthy lifestyle as individuals who partake in five 30 minute sessions of exercise a week, consume a minimum of five daily portions of fruit and veg with a low saturated fat and salt diet, are non-smokers and who do not drink heavily.

Dr Steven Luttrell, Medical Director, Bupa Health Clinics said: “It has been very interesting to see exactly what it is that keeps those living the ‘healthy lifestyle,’ motivated and active. However, while people’s behaviours and motivations may differ, the importance of following this health choice remains the same for all. By eating well and keeping active, people should be able to improve their general health and wellbeing. So, whatever it is that keeps you focused, I would urge people to keep active and eat well and they should really feel the difference.

Gethin Jones will be demonstrating his commitment to a healthy and active lifestyle by participating in Sunday’s Bupa Great South Run in Portsmouth. The world’s premier 10 mile running event attracts 25,000 people and takes in the iconic sights of Portsmouth’s Historic Dockyard.

To find out more on Bupa’s commitment to inspire a healthier Britain visit bupa.co.uk.

About Bupa

Bupa’s purpose is longer, healthier, happier lives.  

A leading international healthcare group, we serve 13m customers in more than 190 countries. We offer personal and company-financed health insurance and medical subscription products, run hospitals, provide workplace health services, home healthcare, health assessments and chronic disease management services.  We are also a major international provider of nursing and residential care for elderly people.

With no shareholders, we invest our profits to provide more and better healthcare and fulfil our purpose.

Bupa employs more than 62,000 people, principally in the UK, Australia, Spain, Poland, New Zealand and the USA, as well as Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong, India, Thailand, China and across Latin America.

For more information, visit www.bupa.co.uk

[1] Bupa defined the criteria for a healthy lifestyle as individuals who partake in five 30 minute sessions of exercise a week, consume a minimum of five daily portions of fruit and veg with a low saturated fat and salt diet, are non-smokers and who do not drink heavily.

Jo Whiley ecstatic after Bupa Great North Run finish

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I don’t think Jo Whiley ran in the running wellies she wore at Glastonbury; in fact, I’m guessing definitely not seeing as she finished in 2:05 despite being injured. Hardcore. The official blurb is below.

GENERAL - WRAPP

Jo Whiley was celebrating the biggest physical achievement of her life as she braved injury to complete the world’s largest half marathon – the Bupa Great North Run – on Sunday 15th September. The run was the famous presenter’s first ever half marathon and despite a muscle tear in her calf she crossed the finish line in South Shields in an impressive time of 2 hours 5 minutes.

Lining up alongside Jo and 55,000 other runners was her inspirational training partner Susan Spence who completed the race in 2 hours 13 minutes. The mother from Northamptonshire had won a competition via the Bupa Running Facebook page to be Jo’s running partner and train with her ahead of the big day. Amongst hundreds of entries, Jo had personally selected Susan who had taken up running in February 2013 following her eldest son’s diagnosis with Asperger Syndrome.

GENERAL - WRAPP

Throughout their training the duo received expert advice from Bupa sports physiotherapist and a dietician. Jo in particular required several sessions with a Bupa sports physiotherapist and Sports Doctor, following an injury to her calf muscle in the lead up to the run. Luckily, much to her delight, the Bupa experts declared her fit to run.

Jo Whiley was ecstatic on completing the iconic 13.1 mile course: “Wow, what a day! I have never experienced an atmosphere like it, you can’t fail but to be inspired by the people you line up alongside and their stories. I’m really grateful for Bupa’s help, particularly in the last couple of weeks where their team of experts have made sure I had the best possible treatment on my calf and was able to run. This experience has certainly inspired me to stay fit and active going forwards.”

GENERAL - WRAPP

To view exclusive post run content from Jo and Susan visit the Bupa Running Facebook page.

Top five pre-race bike checks

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london-duathlon

I’ve spent the last month or so gallivanting around the country, partying. Which has been great fun but not exactly conducive to sticking to my London Duathlon training plan. Still, as long as I can work out how to get there on Sunday, I’ll be at the start line. It’ll probably take me three hours to complete it but I’ve never done a duathlon before and I really want to do it.

Below, London Duathlon and their partner, Bikelab, share their top five pre-race checks. Maybe they should add a sixth one: Don’t spend the month leading up to the event getting pissed.

1. The "drop test" Hold bike 6" from the ground and drop it to see if anything rattles.

2. Wheels and Tyres:

· Spin the wheels in the frame and look for any kinks or side-to-side movement. If you’re in any doubt, get your wheels trued by a pro

· Look for broken spokes – replacing any that are broken

· Inspect the condition of your tyres; look for cuts, nicks or surface flaws

· Tyres should "look healthy", the rubber smooth, without uneven wear, distortion or cracking & deterioration of the compound.

· If your tyre is a tubular, try to push it off all around the rim

· Check tyre pressures, especially on race day. Inflate your tyres, based on manufacturers recommendations, which are stamped or printed onto the sidewall

· Keep an eye on the pressure over a few days of use – any drop in pressure could indicate a slow puncture

3. Brakes

· Spin the wheels again, testing each brake independently

· At full pressure, it shouldn’t be possible to pull the levers all the way to the bars.

· Check pads for wear, especially irregular wear, some brake blocks have wear indication lines to help with this. Check that pads touch the wheel rim at the same time, they are central, do not touch the tyre sidewall and are free from bits of grit/aluminium

4. Gears

Take the bike for a quick spin and run up and down the full range of gears – if you have access to a workstand, run the gears whilst making minor adjustments

· Check for smooth, reliable gear changes on the rear cassette

· On the front chainrings, shifts between small and large chain rings should be smooth. The chain should never fall off the chain-rings, when shifting the front derailleur. You should be able to change up and down quickly – almost ‘aggressively’ and still not drop the chain

· Wipe down the chain and clean, then lubricate the transmission, using cycle specific cleaners and lubricants

5. Check other parts of the bike;  frame, bars & stem, saddle, pedals, cables etc. – you are looking for dents, cracks, split or fraying parts

· Look for any ‘play’ (looseness) or roughness in bearings such as the headset, pedals or bottom bracket

· Grab each item and tug it from side-to-side, feeling for signs of movement

· Check the headset for play by putting front brake on and rocking the bike backwards and forwards – a loose headset will result in play you can feel. to make sure it’s not overly tight or worn, lift the front of the bike off the ground and allow the handlebars to swing freely from side to side. They should move under their own weight, without any ‘notchy’ movement

Just before race day, you’ll only need to lubricate the chain and gear pivots, pack your race-day kit (spare tube / tyre levers / multi-tool) and away you go!”

If you are not sure about checking your bike at home, Bikelab is offering London Duathlon duathletes a 10% discount on workshop services when you show your race entry at the shop.

On event day, Bikelab will be on-site offering duathletes bike maintenance throughout the race to make sure your London Duathlon experience is trouble free. 

To register for London Duathlon 2014, please visit www.londonduathlon.com for further information.

Join other #duathletes and follow London Duathlon on Facebook and Twitter www.facebook.com/londonduathlon or @londonduathlon

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