Janathon - Day 31

I did it!!! There were many times I thought I might not make it but I did, I ran every day in January!

I got through it the same way I get through most things -
No real talent or ability but plenty of stubbornness.

Today's run wasn't fun really, I usually do this distance along the seafront but it was far too windy and raining. I struggled a bit in places as I was and it did seem to take ages. I had in mind to do 10 miles but did hope to do a little more to bring my monthly total to a round number but I just couldn't so it. Around 8.5 miles my left foot started hurting, it was raining so much I was soaked through so
I just headed home. I considered making up the extra 1.7 miles this evening but I'm still sore so I'll get over my pedantry. Retrospectively, I should have stuck at 8/8.5, the jump from last week's 7 was too much. It feels like the pain I had before starting in my other foot, Morton's toe so I'll treat it like that, rest a bit and hopefully be ok for Brighton half marathon.

Very much looking forward to my massage tomorrow :-)

Today:

10.1 miles
1 hour 51 mins

Janathon totals :
78.3 miles
14 hours 31 minutes
8 lbs / 2.1% body fat lost

And I beat the boys ;)

Janathon - Day 30

I'm being a little childish today and not uploading my run yet. This is the first, probably last time I'm in with a shot of beating friends' Nike+ mileage. Usually this wouldn't bother me, mostly I compete for and against myself. But I'm feeling petty and know it's annoying the guys who are very quick and been running years that for once I'm not miles behind. Usually I upload a run then a little later they'll do one *just* longer. No idea if this will work but the kind of mood I'm in I had to try!

1 more day to go .... 10 miles planned. Then sports massage Friday, yippee!!

3.5 miles
36 mins 17 secs

Janathon - Day 29

Another indoor nightmare run as Keith is working late and I've been dealing with car repairs and house decorating ....

3.8 miles
40 mins 9 secs

Janathon - Day 28

Sulking today. Was looking forward to getting outside but it's pouring with rain and tornado force winds and as I'm still not feeling great I just can't face it.

Hoping it's better in the morning so I can do a long run then.

1.6 miles
18 mins 1 sec

Janathon - Day 27

Today, I wanted to go out but unusually didn't fancy going on my own. Usually I prefer it so I don't know why today was different! I've got a few friends down the road who recently started running but couldn't get hold of them so was thinking I'd have to go alone but then my boys came back and both wanted to run.

1 mile with Ben, swapped at home and picked up Matthew who then did a mile and a half with me :-). Love having the to time to just have a little chat with each of them.

29 mins 20 secs
2.5 miles

Janathon - Day 26

Didn't make it to parkrun this morning I've not been feeling well and Olivia had a really bad night's sleep so as well as the usual boys being exhausted I was too. Very disappointing and wish I'd just made myself go - the actual parkrun would have been ok, I think it was the mile and a half there and back that was too much today! Have got Ben to fix my bike so all set for next week, won't be lazy again, would have been a much better run of I'd gone out first thing.

Lesson learned! Even if not well, I still have to run.

17 mins 41 secs
1.5 miles

Janathon - Day 25

Yesterday evening I began to ache a bit after the 7 mile run and 6 miles walking, mostly in my calves. I used the roller, did some stretches, had a bath then put on some compression socks (any advice on these? Do feel very comfortable but like they'd be better if they were tighter - if I got a smaller size they'd be too small for my feet though?)

Anyway .... Felt lots better after 3 miles walking to school and back but my the time I'd done 6 my thighs were aching a bit. I think they're just not used to it! Feeling loads better now and the short run felt ok.

Looking forward to parkrun tomorrow with Matthew (and Ben if he feels like getting out of bed!)

13 mins 56 secs
1.2 miles

Janathon - Day 24

I think I may have hypothermia or something. But I can still run!

Picked a horrible day, it's freezing out, very windy on the seafront and snow in your eyes hurts much more than it should.

I did a few laps of the garrison lake rather than a longer circuit or out/back as I didn't want to end up too far away if I couldn't make it - I needn't have worried :-)

My longest run since 6th December. I've come in, put lots of jumpers on, had hot chocolate, stretched, foam rollered and so far feel ok :-). Another 3 mile walk in half hour and at 3 to do yet and then a nice bath!

1 hour 15 mins
7.11 miles

With 1 week to go my totals are :
10 hours 5 minutes
54.1 miles

Janathon - Day 23

Dreadmill a bloody gain.

Managed 11.5 km/h for 3 minutes! Other than that, just plodding

Have route sorted for tomorrow's 7 miler, fingers crossed I can still run that far.

1.6 miles
17 mins 9 secs

Janathon - Day 22

Could not be bothered at all today. Didn't even bother changing - probably a mistake, running in jeans was not fun!

12 mins 25 seconds
1.1 miles

Janathon - Day 21

3 weeks! I'm amazed I have made it so far and am too stubborn to give up before the end but am so relieved to only have 10 runs to do, I can't wait for a day off. Even only doing 15 mins or so, I'm getting tired.

Even just getting outdoors again will be great but the ice is terrible still.

23 mins 35 secs
2.2 miles

Janathon - Day 20

Wasn't fancying it today so thought I'd try a fast one.

Glad I did!

A short but quick treadmill run and even managed to run faster than outside!
2 new records! 5.41 for 1k (10 seconds faster) and 9.25 for a mile (4 seconds quicker)

I still can't imagine how people run faster than this and for ages, you're amazing!

12 mins 6 secs
1.2 miles

Janathon - Day 19

A very short one! Huge well done to any Southend parkrunners who may read this - 30 runners and 7 PBs! Amazing! It was windy and scoring, not sure I'd have made it, being in charge of the timer was all I could manage.

After that, to town to pick up a dress, to the function room to decorate for Dad's party tonight, home is being plastered and 3,001 other things to do before Dad's 65th tonight.

Enough of the excuses. Another dreadmill run as I didn't even have time to change, want easy in jeans! (Ran for about 5 minutes more than this says as I forgot up start Nike+.)

16 mins 50 secs
1.2 miles

Janathon - Day 18

Another indoor one, going to go out in the middle of the day tomorrow so I can get some fresh air!

In the daylight I'll be able to see better and hopefully not fall over. It's just started snowing so hopefully there'll be a bit of fresh stuff to run in. It's going to be a cold morning volunteering at parkrun, that's for sure!

Today:

30 mins 4 secs
2.7 miles

Janathon so far :
7 hours 28 minutes
39.6 miles

Janathon - Day 17

Experimented with the treadmill today. 5 minutes each at 7.5/8/8.5/9/9.5 km/h.

Still don't like it much! I'm hot and far more tired than I would be outside but I do think eventually it'll be good for speed work.

25 mins 6 secs
2.30 miles

Janathon - Day 16

Really icy out so I thought I'd give the treadmill a proper go. Oh my God, I'd forgotten how difficult it is to run on one! I could have done this run outside, faster and felt fine. I'm hot and knackered even running next to the open window! My foot did feel better though, was less impact that running on the pavement but outside will always be my top choice! Still ... May be slow but I did it.

3.54 miles
40 mins 28 secs

Janathon - Day 15

I've bought a treadmill! (Or dreadmill as it shall now be known ...) I don't really enjoy running inside but I found a bargain so thought it'd be good as a bad weather/no childcare option.

Ran super slowly as forgot to open a window or get a drink before I started which combined with my already aching legs was not a good start!

The best thing about today was I could combine two of my favourite things, running and football. Hate to be pessimistic but doubt results will go our way, still, it was good to listen to the match while running :-)

A pitiful

1.18 miles
15 mins 5 secs

Janathon - Day 14

I *really* didn't fancy this today! Aching a bit and had a very busy day.

Got back from Mum and Dad's after celebrating Dad's birthday with a little party tea. Tried to not eat too much but don't think I will weigh myself until Wednesday!

Took Matthew out with me for a very little, slow run;

1.08 miles
12 mins 35 secs

Janathon - Day 13

I really didn't think I'd like this run, I didn't feel great this morning and it was zero degrees an hour or so ago so probably colder by now. I had to go pick up the boys so instead of getting a lift like I'd usually do, or walking just over half a mile, I ran the long way. I arrived where I was picking them up to find my message had been misunderstood and they'd just been dropped home! So I ran back as well :-)

I needed my hat and gloves but didn't need the long sleeved top! Learn the lesson, Liz, less clothes is better!

2.20 miles
22 mins 39 secs

Janathon - Day 12

Matthew's first parkrun :-)

Couldn't have picked a worse day for it, I've never run there when it's been so windy, he was nearly knocked off his feet at a couple of corners! We had moments where he thought he couldn't do it but I knew he could so I am so pleased for him that he made it to the end. His official time was 44:08 :-). I also think we should get extra points for having to walk a mile and a half to even get to the start!

3.53 miles
44 mins 51 secs

Total - 26.6 miles this January :-)

Janathon - Day 11

Ran to pick Olivia up from school and then a tiny way back before she decided she wanted to walk rather than ride her bike.

Pleased I made it this far but am thinking I might need a few days of cycling instead of running next week. I'm starting to ache a bit and really don't want to injure myself more than I already am. Will see how it goes ... It's helping the weight loss though as I've lost 3lbs in a week without trying too hard :-)

1.63 miles
17 mins 40 secs

Janathon - Day 10

A busy evening with taking Matthew fencing and I need to shop so did a little run after lunch.

So cold already, could have done without the long sleeved top as I warm up really quick but I find it harder to breathe when it's close to freezing!

2.24 miles
23 mins 34 secs

Janathon - Day 9

Just a very quick run as it's been a chaotic day, consisting mostly of making loads of tea for 2 builder and a sparky!

Not out for long but a 9:45 pace is fast for me!

1.14 miles
11 mins 5 secs

Janathon - Day 8

I've made it to over a week and completed my longest run since a 6 miler on December 6th!

Dropped Olivia at nursery and Matthew at school, came home and did some housework and Open University work. Quickly got bored that the chapter I had to read for my social sciences course was on Economics so instead of FDI and TNCs as a % of GDP or GVA I went out to concentrate on my MPM. I knew I wouldn't get a PB but as a PW is better than a DNS, I did a LSR (in terms of what I've done recently, not what I should be doing!) that I am really happy with.

4.52 miles
47 mins 53 secs

- I'd already cycled 4.5 miles for morning school runs and to park bike at the school ready for picking up Olivia. I ran this, then cycled 1.5 miles home. Another 3 miles for this afternoon's school run still to do, if the swimming pool was nearer I could do my own triathlon!

Janathon - Day 7

Another run with Matthew, I love how enthusiastic he has suddenly become, my only problem now is stopping him coming out tomorrow!

I'm really looking forward to the morning - will be dropping the youngest 2 at school then trying a slightly longer run than I have for a while, see how the foot holds up to that.

1.56 miles
17 mins 27 secs

Janathon - Day 6

My favourite day so far, I think.

Both boys are entered into a 1 mile children's run while I'm doing Brighton half. and while neither have been very sporty until recently, Ben (13) has run a bit, done a few parkruns and been out with me a couple of times.

Matthew (10) had his first try at running with me this evening, we just did laps around a block in the middle of our road, which is quite conveniently 0.25 miles.

Olivia joined us for 0.8 miles on her balance bike but Matthew and me did :

1.21 miles
14 minutes 1 second

An amazing first attempt, he even managed a sprint finish, am very proud!

Janathon - Day 5

Today I volunteered at parkrun, well, Olivia took over the scanning, mostly!

As I wasn't running *at* parkrun, I put Olivia in the running buggy and we ran *to* parkrun.

1.82 miles
20 mins 1 sec

Janathon - Day 4

Just a small run today, joined by Olivia on her balance bike :-)

1.29 miles
15 mins 44 secs

Janathon - Day 3

Today's run inspired by the fact I need to lose over a stone to get back to target, oops
The longest continuous run since being injured and it still felt fine, which I'm relieved about!
Wanted to run for hours to speed up the flab loss but don't want to risk injuring myself but only 6 weeks until my next half marathon so I'll start some longer runs once the children are back to school.

2.55 miles
27 mins 44 secs

Janathon - Day 2

To the chip shop to buy food for the boys.
None for me due to diet

Ran with Ben - 1.97 miles / 21 mins 28 secs

Janathon - Day 1

The rules of Janathon are pretty simple :

Run or do some form of exercise every day.

Blog about it within 24 hours.

Not sure how well I will do as I'm recovering from a foot injury but I'm going to give it a try!

Today - my Mum's first parkrun :-). Mum has recently started c25k to do Silverstone half marathon with me in March - I'm really looking forward to it.

3.1 miles
40 mins 26 secs