Road to 180 miles

training (16.5 mile) Berwick - Holy Island

2011-02-17T07:21:00.000-08:00

Hi all
Long run day again. My long runs are going to be done on trail terrain, I've been looking on the web and most endurance and ultra events are done on trails so it makes sense that if this is my thing to do my main runs of the week on trails and i enjoy trails more than the road but shorter faster runs will still be carried out on the roads and i believe cutting road out completely would be a mistake. I bought some black New Balance MT572 trail shoes a couple of months ago but never used them until today and i have to say they are just as good as my new road shoes also New Balance not one problem from either of them. The run starts by a path going through three fields then an half a mile to a mile stretch of country road then back on the trails through to Holy Island the sign is a bit alarming lol. the run was absolutely great enjoyed every second of it even the boggy marsh land within half of mile to Lindsfarne causeway and the views were amazing coastal sand dunes and the sea and cliffs on one side of me and the country side and moorland on the other side. Unfortunately you cant see Holy Island due to the thick mist here today but next time i go i will take a picture to post. thanks all for reading.

training

2011-02-15T06:40:00.000-08:00

Hi all

Since last Wednesday i did a 13 mile run in the new shoes not one problem with them run went well seemed to have alot more energy but have been playing around with the diet so that could have had something to do with it. Friday i did strength work which was core plus upper body and Saturday i did core plus lower body. Now for this week, i did some planning on walkjogrun and made a long trail route so yesterday i did 10 mile of it due to the time i had, it was great i was absolutely covered in mud but it felt great just running down the coastal route. Today was a 5 mile run at a pace as if i was in a race so you could say some speed work. Tomorrow is a strength training day and Thursday is a 14 mile run will let you know how they go.

training ( 5 mile )

2011-02-09T09:06:00.000-08:00

Hi all
wasn't meant to be training today but thought i would do a steady 5 mile in the new shoes before my long run. All i can say is shouldn't have strayed away from New Balance , they were spot on, no slight aching on the outer part of my foot which is down to how i run, fitted perfect. Looking forward to my long run which i must admit for the last few times I've been half minded with it, will let you know how it goes.

mud run

2011-02-08T02:31:00.000-08:00

Hi all

Well today i did what i said i would and went for a run in the mud had some road involved but not much, it was great I'm absolutely covered in mud. It wasn't a long run due to not living here that long and don't know where all the trail paths are but might be something to look into so i can do longer trail runs. Ive done a few trail runs in the past and including today's feelings, i just feel so alive when running off road it may be the scenery changing or the views i don't know but for anyone who runs the tarmac only why don't you give it a try now and again just to break your training up don't worry it wont affect your training but you will be surprised how much you enjoy it. Anyway back to the tarmac for me on Thursday for a 14 mile run hope the Achilles holds out and the new shoes first run.

training (back from injury)

2011-02-07T12:02:00.000-08:00

Hi all
Where to start, well after talking to other runners/ friends that run I've decided to change the shoes, but which to go for theres so many and I'm 98% sure I'm a neutral runner. The shoes I've had so far are New Balance which are off road and road but more suited to off and saucony which are road. The New Balance I've never had a problem with even with higher mile runs and the saucony I've had both the Achilles injuries and after so many miles i seem to start to ache. Today i went to buy some new shoes tried multiple brands which i didn't feel right in so tried a few pairs of New Balance on and they all seemed so good so bought the ones at the max end of my budget, haven't tried them yet but sure they will be great. I did my 5k on Saturday which went OK, then Saturday evening did some strength training, had a total rest day Sunday. Today was shockingly bad weather but went out for a five mile run none the less and got absolutely soaked but was like a little child in the puddles glad i didn't go out in my new shoes, in fact i enjoyed it so much I'm getting the off road shoes out tomorrow and going for a mud run will let you know how it goes.

injury update

2011-02-04T03:49:00.000-08:00

Hi all
Well is been pretty dismal since Monday been resting the right Achilles so theres been no running so far which is soul destroying and my home smell constantly of deep heat cream. did some core and upper body work on Tuesday and will be doing same again to day, yesterday i went for a swim thought i would do a mile but didn't even do a quarter of that due to the aching but for some reason it feels all better today so tomorrow i will go for a steady 5k run before resuming normal routine Monday.
Questioned my shoes to be honest I've had them since November and first was the left Achilles and now the right now living where i live theres no proper running shops so I've had to do as much research into foot patterns and running technique as possible first i used the Mizuno site which puts you through a series of tests i did this four times to make sure and each result came back the same I'm classed as a neutral runner so i checked against other sites and they all say the same. My shoes i have are for neutral runners I've done the old shoe test and they are well worn on the outer side of the sole with plenty off tread left on the inner and middle also when i look down i seem to be running on the outer side but the best place for shoes as in price are sportsshoes.com and my print doesn't match their neutral print so I'm a little confused whether its my shoes causing the injuries but if that was the Case my left Achilles injury would have re-occurred.

training

2011-02-01T01:01:00.000-08:00

Haven't updated you on things since last Monday, been a little bit chaotic since Monday went back to my home town of Barnsley for a few days to spend some time with my son so enjoyed the break. Saturday i did a 5 mile run, running at a pace as though i was trying to beat a pb it went well but felt a niggle in the right achilles tendon but seemed to go away. sunday was a strength session at home decided that the gym was too expensive so had to cancel my membership so all strength training will be done at home with my own equipment. Yesterday was long run day. Worked out previous to run that i was running too fast so set out to do a 14-15 mile run everything was fine, running slower, energy levels good then half way around the run the achilles problem kicked in leaving me to cut the run short at 13 mile which was really disapointing and today resting might do some upper body to compliment the running and resting tomorrow aswell then a 10 mile run thursday as normal.

Thanks all for reading.

training (hill session & 13 mile)

2011-01-24T13:04:00.000-08:00

Did the hill session on Saturday morning for this i did 2x15 Min's, the first 15 the hill was split into two points the first point half way up and the second at the top, running to point one as fast as possible then a slow jog down to the start followed immediately run to point two with a slow jog down again this was repeated for the full 15 Min's. the second 15 Min's was just constantly running to the top and jog back down and carried for the full 15mins (VERY TIRING).
The 13 mile run was good because this is the day when I'm doing my longest run of the week as mentioned before adding 1-2 mile each Monday I've been experimenting with my fuel intake wasn't quite right but better than before. will let you know in more detail when i get it right. forgot to tell you all that i signed up for the Edinburgh marathon festival half marathon wanted the full but all places have gone it takes place 22nd may 2011.

thanks for reading all.

training (10 mile)

2011-01-21T05:43:00.000-08:00

Did 10 mile today instead of yesterday, did it slightly quicker than normal but legs felt really heavy and tight today maybe didn't have enough carb intake before run so something I'll look into. Hill session tomorrow and going to bump the distance up to 13 mile on Monday and then a pretty easy week then due to me going back to my home town Barnsley to spend a few days with my son and will see my brother and niece as well so will be sneaking in some short fast runs while I'm there.

thanks all for reading
Lee

training (10 mile + gym )

2011-01-18T07:31:00.000-08:00

Monday did a 10 mile run, was a good run had no problems but running out of route ideas will have go back on walkjogrun site to plan some more. Came up with a new gym or at home work out so tried it out today, the workout taps into both systems anaerobic and aerobic so good workout for anyone regardless if its to compliment a sport or just for fitness but let me say it works a treat.

training ( gradient fartlek )

2011-01-15T05:53:00.000-08:00

Yet again this week i have broken my training plan must be having a bad week or something, should have done a hill session outdoors but with the rain absolutely pouring it down i ended up going to the gym and doing a gradient version of a fartlek style workout for 30 Min's with a five min warm up first and cool down after making the whole session 40 Min's in total so you could say i was still doing a kind of hill session just on a treadmill instead of outdoors. Hills are my main week point as a runner but i will make sure i do 1 session a week just focusing on this area.

Thanks again to my readers.

training ( thurs - gym ) (today - 9 mile)

2011-01-14T06:39:00.000-08:00

Had things to do Thursday so swapped days again, Thursday i went to the gym did 30 Min's on the stationary bike then core work and a upper body workout altogether a good recovery workout with purpose (gave the legs a rest).
Today was run day as said only adding 1-2 mile each week so still only on 9 mile forgot to say Thursday/Friday's run will stay at 10 mile and only Monday's run will carry on increasing in miles each week, anyway had a really good run no aches and pains or anything, ran at my extreme distance pace to get used to preserving energy could have quite easily doubled the distance but being in the health and fitness profession i know that pushing the distance up too soon will almost certainly result in injury and i would be a fool not to practise what i preach to others.

Tomorrow is a hill session this would normally be OK but did run today instead of Thursday so legs might feel a little heavy, i will let you know how it goes next time i post.

Thanks for reading all and if anyone needs any fitness advice I'm not saying i know everything but i may be able to help just email me on oleeallen.@hotmail.com

training ( 9 mile )

2011-01-11T06:08:00.000-08:00

did a 9 mile run today every thing was well but started to get used to endurance running so had to run at a comfortable pace that will also get me the distance i need within a certain time frame even though i only ran 9 miles this will come into effect when the miles start to rise each week. The hardest part of the session wasn't physical but was more psychological this was the 30-5 Min's split in which you run at set pace for 30 Min's then walk for 5 Min's this is hard when you are used to running for a set distance for a pb time e.g 10k run or race, maybe this will be easier when the distance needed to run is higher and every bit of energy is essential but on lower distances its mentally challenging but had a good session and need to do it again on Thursday.

Thanks for reading.

training ( gym work )

2011-01-10T11:05:00.000-08:00

Its planned that i do my longest run on a monday but had to go into town to get a few things and by the time i got back it was absolutely pouring it down so ive swapped my days and went to the gym today instead of running and will do my run in the morning raining or not. My gym sessions consists of exercises to help stay injury free so i started with half an hour stationary bike, then resistance leg session and finished off with some core exercises and some cool down stretching. Going to enter the RRR 50 mile ultra in october to get a feel for milage within a certain time frame ( IF IM READY ).

great winter run ( edinburgh )

2011-01-08T13:55:00.000-08:00

Went to Edinburgh today for the Great Winter Run lets just say it was freezing and covered in snow. I was running with a friend who is a non runner and has had little training, there should have been 3 of us running in which my two friends were going to run together whilst i did my own thing but one dropped out due to a small accident so left me running with my friend but it wasn't a problem as we was running for charity. We start together and just under half way i started to push away from my friend and started to pass quite a few people, as i was doing this i managed to slip on the snow and take a fall, embarrassed i quickly got back up and carried on running. My official time was 30:46 and my non running friend ran an amazing 37:19. All in all had a fun day with a great atmosphere and it made a nice break from my long distance training which will resume as normal on Monday.

back to training (knocking the miles up)

2011-01-06T05:58:00.000-08:00

Ive been doing short five mile night runs over the christmas period due to spending time with my son, back now and need to start adding the miles back up at 1 mile per week rate. So on 6 miles this week also wrote a plan and training 5 times per week now with hill sessions, gym work with core, upper and lower body to compliment my running.

training ( back to running )

2010-12-18T12:48:00.000-08:00

Did a run today, well it was a steady 5k at the gym on the treadmill. last weeks injury felt OK no pain or tightness so will slowly start nudging the distance and pace back up to the stage i was at prior to injury.

Got a lot of speed work to do for GWR Edinburgh Jan 8th, i know its not the long distance race you would expect me to be doing but its just something for a bit of fun and charity in which I'm running for cancer research.

training (gym)

2010-12-14T06:21:00.000-08:00

Had an hour at the gym today and probably will do for the rest of the week give time for my injury to get better. My gym workout normaly consists of a routine i designed to compliment my running but as im letting this injury heal for a week ive had to alter the routine a little and leave some of the leg work out, but will introduce them back in on thursday but lightly. Also my race number arrived today for the great winter run Edinburgh jan 8th so getting quite excited for that.
As i may have mentioned check out my other blog for health sport and fitness advice.

training

2010-12-13T11:22:00.000-08:00

10k today so just a short run went well but must have picked up a slight injury in the left Achilles tendon area. Cant feel it when running just an hour or so after, so might have to get it checked out at the docs will let you know how that goes.

13 mile run (training)

2010-12-11T14:43:00.000-08:00

Did 13 mile run today had to run on road as pavement still not thawed properly and are stupidly slippy. enjoyed the run took about 2hrs 15m due to waiting at train crossings for the slowest train ever to pass. also did some further planning to the 180 route still lots more planning and training so keep viewing this blog for updates.

anybody who is new to fitness and health i have a fitness blog that has advice and routines etc. sofitnessandsport.blogspot.com which is also being updated regularly.

Intro

2010-12-11T14:23:00.000-08:00

Hi welcome to my blog, it is named road to 180 miles because I'm planning a multi day run from Berwick Upon Tweed where i live back to my home town of Barnsley. The run involves 36 miles per day for five days covering 180 miles in total. This blog will log my training days and and event/races i enter along the way.