Finishing line- Day 31

Well it's over! I am pleased to report 90 miles in total, bit miffed I didn't hit 100 but I was poorly one weekend and only managed a 1 mile run that day! 

Big thank you to Cathy/Jogblog for inspiring an unfit person like me to lace up my shoes and run everyday. I'm now ready for a day or two off, before starting Febulous where 4 runs a week will suffice. I'm looking forward to Juneathon, I'll be mid exams so hope it will help relieve the stress of end of year exams.

I think the month has confirmed I am a jogger but really not a blogger!!! I'd like to have had more time to devote to the blogging, but at the moment, other stuff like a small degree take priority. So it's goodbye and thanks for reading! 

Miles today: 3

Total:90

Lovely day- Day 30, oh yes, day 30!

When I wake up in the morning light
and I realise I have to run,
And something makes me get out of bed
when staying in seems such fun.
Then I look outside and know that I have no choice
Just one look outside and I know it's gonna be -

A lovely day - lovely day
lovely day
lovely day
lovely day

Well the sun was indeed out in Surrey today, especially for the penultimate Janathon run of January. 10 miles was the order of the day and 10 miles it was! It was an enjoyable run. I had a huge breakfast and took kendal mint cake for rewarding good efforts.


I saw lots of wildlife today, a dead fox (not sure that counts) what I think was a stoat or weasel, it was very small and very, very fast. I ran out into the woods, it's always a good place to see lots of wildlife despite being alongside the motorway and so close to the airport. On the way home I saw a green woodpecker.


I'm pleased to report that for my longest run to date, no dogs chased me, no axe men chased me, just a few runners to smile and say hello to on the way.


So last day tomorrow..whooop!
10 miles bagged today and another 3 tomorrow should take my total to 90 miles.


In order to stay on track, I've signed up for Febulous, not sure if there is a blog element, but it should keep me on the running track so to speak.


Miles:10
Total:87

Ice, ice baby..- Day 29

Today has been very busy, swimming with mini and her first ice skating trip. What a great day. However got home absolutely shattered, bit worried as supposed to be running 10 miles tomorrow, so decided to jog 1 mile and get an early night tonight.

I need to run 10 to prepare for the Brighton Half marathon, which is in about 3 weeks I think!

Red meat and spinach again for tea, booo to low iron, and boo to seeking medical advice, who wants to take iron supplements...grim!

Hope all other Janathoners' are all looking forward to next week, a day or two off...whoop!

Enjoy your Saturday...


Jo
Miles:1

Sunsets, don't miss the moment - Day28

Today a spectacular mile. A mile isn't spectacular, but the scene before me was. I ran down a small lane just down the road from me, before me, framed by trees was a huge pink and red canvas. The sky lit up with a radiant glow of a late January evening sun. I wish I'd taken my phone so I could take a picture...It made me glad I'd been out in the fresh air running, I would have missed such a beautiful sight if I'd not been running.

Miles:1
Total:76
Legs: Tired
Iron levels:rising

I have a feeling some of you are feeling very sore,
and wishing you could stop now instead of running a little bit more.

It is the 27th, we've come a long, long way,
some of us less than others but that's maybe not fair to say.

We all need an early night, a day off from the road.
A day without running, how will we ever cope.

I'm counting down the days now, can't wait till it's all done,
I think I will reward myself with a great big sticky bun.

I'm going to relax now, enjoy the last few days,
then revel in the knowledge that I've changed my running ways.


Miles:2
Total:75

Day 26- Deficient

Miles:2
Total miles: 73

Today I went to give blood and couldn't because I have low iron count, which has made me feel a bit sad. I thought I ate a healthy, balanced diet but seems that's not the case.

Anyway, I am not blogging more tonight as a bit tired :o(

So an early night and looking forward to a longer run tomorrow.

J x

Duatha-run - day 25

I'd planned a longer run today... I managed 4 miles before the school run. Mini-Jogger-not-a-blogger is never very chuffed when I collect her straight after running I think it's my London marathon reject jacket :o) It's white and well quite chavvy!  But the fact remains that I still ran 4 miles and did a day at uni..whoop.

Not content with that, I had tea (sweet and sour chicken and a jacket) Mini went out to her club and so I was left twiddling my thumbs...I took the rash decision to get kitted out again and run another 3 miles taking today's total to 7 miles! I'm not sure if it counts as a 7 miler, but I am going to count it as such...!

So after last weeks disastrous mileage, I am doing well this week.

Today: 7 miles
Total janathon miles:71
Muffins consumed:1
Kit kats:1
Guilt level: -1

Janathon @ the Gym- Day 24

I went to the gym tonight. I am not a gym bunny, I tolerate the gym. I'd much rather be out in the open air enjoying the fresh fumes of the planes as they soar into the air- no seriously I would! But, for one night only, whilst mini-jogger-not-a-blogger had her swimming lesson, I ran on the dreadmill for 3 miles. I had a great increase of speed and even ran 3, 1 minute intervals at 12k! Wow!

In other exciting Janathon related news, my kit is all washed and put away, I've realised how much running stuff I actually do have and how much washing I have been doing to keep up with the demand!

It's kind of sad but I am actually looking forward to the end of Janathon, I've been really pleased I've kept up with it, very proud, but my legs would really like a day off! I've not lost an ounce of weight, but do (apparently from a reliable source) look like I've lost half a stone! Whoop!

Miles:3
Total:64

Muffins, Miles and Half Marathons Day 23

Feeling much better today, the sun was shining and sky looked kinda clear. I'd arranged to do a long bike with KimboMagic and still not feeling 100% decided to run just 2 miles.

Mileage this week has been disappointing, but hopefully this week will be easer in terms of fitting it all in.

In other news; I made lemon drizzle muffins, they are a bit uneven, but boy do they taste good...
Miles ran today:2
Total running mileage:61
Miles biked today:11
Total miles biked this week:16

:o( Sick Note

:o(

I got up late and cycled 5 miles, slowly. Then when back to bed then slowly began to realise that actually I wasn't feeling so good. I got up and made a sandwich and then went back to bed. Then I had a little sleep and because I was still wearing all my exercise stuff (in bed I know-how wrong!) I decided that I should run. I only managed a slow mile and whist feeling rubbish, I did enjoy the fresh air. I am now up and showered and dressed. Supposed to be running 10 miles tomorrow...that doesn't look likely! :o(
Todays miles:1
Total miles :59

21.1.11 another 1

Doh! This week has been sooo busy.
This is yesterday's blog for my 1 mile that I squeezed in between late lectures commuting and going out. I was home too lare to blog so here it is!!
Looking forward to a more relaxed pace at the weekend!!!

Miles:1

Don't mess with the stats! Day20!

Miles:1
Total:57


Time is limited, this is the most frustration part of Janathon, I would have loved to run longer today, but I just physically only had 15mins child free time, so one mile it was. I ran one mile round the block outside mini jogger not a blogger's school, and I ran that mile in 9:20, so guess I shouldn't complain.


Yesterday's graph/stats prompted a discussion at Uni today, apparently I should delete day 16 as it's showing up on my data as an outlier which is making my data non-significant. Now as a Psychologist, finding significance in the data is everything, with out significance there is nothing, I may as well go and work in a cake shop. As a runner, day 16 was my longest run 8 miles...I am so not going to delete that from my graph!!! Instead to balance out my data and improve the standard deviation I plan on 10  miles at the weekend and lots of bigger mileage runs whilst mini is at her Dad's...So hope that sets the data a little less skewed and pleases my stats genius friend.


My janathon may not be statistically significant, but to me it definitely is :o)

Spot the difference...day 19

Day 19

Recovery/no time to run :1 mile

Legs:tire

Dinner: Pasta 

Total mileage:56

Here is a graph of my run. For the stats geeks among you (well I know there is one person who reads my blog and she's a geek) as you can see the trend line is showing a gentle slope indicating that runs are getting longer! Whoop!
Mean:2.92 miles
StDev:1.89
StError:0.43

18-1-11 I'm still running

I was itching to run, the sun began to set as I coaxed a reluctant minijoggernotablogger to do her homework. I am not good at running in the dark, I have a bit of an iffy left eye, which means that seeing in the dark isn't my strength.  I know everyone finds the dark difficult but my dodgy eye means that my brain is slower to compensate in the dark. This means that I frequently run, bump into lamp posts, hedges and trees and branches. It is mostly why I choose to run in day light. However, it's not always possible.

So with minijogger safely dropped off at her club for an hour and a half I could kick back and have a run. I have been really pleased with myself, 50 miles so far, no injuries and not missed a day's blog or jog since the beginning of January.

Today I ran 5 commando commuter dodging miles! It was great and good to be out there in the cool air.

To sum up at just over the half way point....
There's been lots of washing, new friends made, new experience of blogging, reconciliation with my Garmin that recently threw a wobbly, signing up for marathon, and just motivation. I don't think I've lost a pound since starting in January, but the wobbly bits don't wobble any more and the Christmas choccys are all gone. Last and by far the greatest is my increased fitness levels, it's kick started me into action again, where complacency and procrastination could have set in.

Miles:5
Total:55
Fit running men:100s, ok 4...
Leg twinges:1
Dead frogs:1

Day 17

Today was 2 mikes recovery.

The phrase man the lifeboats comes to mind. The entire width of my garden had flooded and so knew it would be a wet one.

I wasn't disappointed, shoe lace issues meant I was delayed and crouched on the pavement fiddling, when a White van drove at hurtling speed past me, I was soaked, water logged laces, looking very drowned-ratesque I ran home, cursing White van man but cheering the fact that today I hit 50 mile total!!!


Whoop!

Mad dogs and Englishmen: Day 16...16!!!!

So, today I decided to start half marathon training, decided to run 8 miles ( I hastily planned the next few weeks long runs).

I downloaded the free audio fuel track and did a quick first two miles (worth a try it's a good track) , lots of people out walking dogs as the sun was out and although it was a bit windy it was in essence a beautiful day.

As a psychologist, fear is interesting. As a runner and a long time dog-phobic, fear is about the last thing you want to experience when four miles or so from home. In the woods,alone, miles from civilisation (ok slight exaggeration, maybe 3 miles) I am suddenly aware of a noise, I turn and look and I am being chased by a fierce looking, but small dog.....Oh My, first instinct is to run, but although I am successfully completing consistent fast miles these days I can't really run faster than a 7 min mile for about 40 seconds.... Dilemma...do I run or do I hide.

I did neither, I stopped, walked quickly, and gave the dog my best hard stare, the dog fortunately stopped, looked less fierce and it was at that point I noticed it was actually quite a smallish dog...Nonetheless, I continued my run ( it was an out and back) and I was brave enough to run the same way home.


As for the English men, well they were sadly few and far between this morning. Oh well tomorrow is another day!

Miles:8
Legs:2
Mad dogs:1
Narrow escapes from mad dogs:1
Total miles:

Don't stop me now...Day 15

Day 15, whoop. 4 miles today in 39 minutes, I have most certainly found my running mojo!There was lots of weather, I actually don't mind a bit of weather, but it was really windy, the kind of wind that would tip a small sailing boat over! My hat blew off three times and so I decided that I should have left it at home.

To be honest, I am loving the running especially as I'm getting faster, enjoying the blogging; but on days like today when there is nowt to report it's a bit of a struggle!

Miles:4
Total miles: 40!
Legs: Fab
Hunger levels: Massive
Speed: Increasing

Day 14- Run because...

It's a strange cathartic thing to go for a run with no music just the echo of your thoughts in your mind. It's unusual for me to run without the background base pumping, mentally motivating me to go and keep going. Today I snatched a quick run in between working, lunch and school run and dentist. Sometimes I have just one thing I think about, you can almost feel it rattling around in your brain as you think through it, process it, chew over it. 

Today my thoughts were deep, unclassified, off the wall, my thoughts were around what makes a person choose to run every day in a whole month. Having read lots of books about running (admittedly some with more nutty ideas than an extra nutty fruit cake) I know that actually, exercising every day isn't advised. But yet, I find myself on day 14, looking forward to my recovery runs, thinking about running when I am not running, and today I ran 2 consecutive 9 min miles. This is faster than I have ever run in a long time. At one mile in, I looked at the clock and nearly fell over, admittedly  it was raining, cold and I had eaten a few tic-tacs earlier, but that's way faster than normal, which just isn't me, I am slow Jo, not Jo who runs a sub 10 min mile...

I thought today about Ron Hill, he's run every day for many, many years. I wonder, I run for several reasons, mentally it keeps me healthy, it means I can eat cake and feel less guilt, it means I can challenge myself and test out my abilities and I can also eat cake, 14 days in I am not faltering, needing less sleep, eating like a horse, I wonder if Ron Hill can do it...maybe slow Jo can...

Miles:2

Speed: Fast 

Dinner: Chicken with cashews and Basmati rice

Wine:Pinot

Slow Jo, you are not so slow! Day 13.

Runs out to the road
Slow like a big hippo
I said, 'Hey Jo, you are not so slow'
Lucozade and banana please
Lucozade I'm on my knees
Screaming 'Slow Jo, you are beautiful'

You take your cycling girls
Feel like I'm gonna die
Cos a real runner
Needs to really run that’s why

You make your way
By cycling round the corner
Now a whole lotta runner
Needs a whole lot more-er

Get yourself to runners world
Find yourself a running lady
Big boy run on around
And she'll be calling you baby

No need to fantasise
Tying up my laces
A lucozade
With the boys around
And shorts covering  all the right places

Slow Jo, you are not so slow
Slow Jo, you are not so slow
Slow Jo,  you are not so slow
Slow Jo, you are not so slow


Miles:3

Speed:for me, fastish

Total miles:34
Todays blog: dedicated to Wombat and Steve Katy

Juggler not a jogger

Getting out today on the road was a little tricky, my day was jam packed full of other stuff like school runs and dashing to hand work in and going to lectures then dashing back to collect child from school. Hmm, the joys of jogging and juggling...Well I did a mile whilst 'mini-joggernotablogger' did her homework and munched on digestives... Nobody died, the house didn't burn down and I did my mile....happy days. I knew once the term started back for me it would be hard, hence just the mile, but still it's better than nowt and I will catch up on miles at the weekend.

In other news... 

I've had so many late nights I am definitely going to bed before 10 tonight. I need my beauty sleep and think my body would benefit!

Short Jog: Short Blog; day 11

Running-Check

Eating- Check

More eating-Check

Uni work- doh!

Miles:2

A longer blog tomorrow I promise...no time tonight...

If you go down to the woods today...Day 10 (whoop)

If you go down to the woods today,
You better have a good run,
If you go down to the woods today,
You better be having fun...


For every runner that ever there was,
Will gather there for certain because,
It's so much more fun than running on the pave-ments!


Every Janathoner who's been good,
Is sure of a treat today,
You can basically eat as much as you like,
As long as you've run today.


Beaneth the trees, they'll knacker their knees,
happy as long as they are pleased,
'Cause that's the way a janathoner does a runner.


If you go down to the woods today,
you better watch out for the mud,
Or you'll be falling right over,
with an almighty thud.


Running time for janathoners, 
the little janathoners are having a running time today,
watch them jog and log and blog,
and see them slowly get addicted...


At bed o'clock all the runners will trudge right up to bed,
because their tired little running bears.

Miles:6...whooop!
legs:fab
Sky:grey
Total miles:28

Oh what a beautiful morning sun-day: day 9...

A beautiful sun-day, crisp and cool and fresh.
Just the thing to get me out from behind my desk.

And so I headed out on my day 9 sunday run,
Looking forward to the fresh air and some running fun.

I did a risk assessment, it didn't look too bad.
By the time I was a mile in, I thought that I was mad.

My favourite country lane, sheltered by the trees,
was treacherous in places, not good for my knees.

Dodging icy puddles, sliding on the frost,
I did a runners U turn and criss-crossed.

Back home again I trotted, feeling very smug,
that I had done another chunk of miles with which to blog.

So my little 3.5, gets added to the list,
my body is adapting and is starting to get the gist.

My calorie intake is quite high, I'm feeling very hungry,
But also (addictively) looking forward to my run on Monday!

Miles:3.5

Tom Jones Inspired Blog- day 8...

I was really feeling flat today but It's not unusual, If only I knew how to shake it off.
I headed out just after lunch for a short run but wow, Baby it's cold outside! Mama told me not to come, but then my mum isn't a runner, far from it! I managed a mile till I got Hot Legs, actually it was turning out to be a Sunny Afternoon...I got back a bit of my Lust for life, and then I saw the Green green grass of home. Happy after one mile and feeling like a Sex Bomb.

Miles:1
Total Miles:19
Cheese level of blog:11/10
Strange marks on toe:1
Miles planned tomorrow:6

I know a young lady who swallowed a fly...day 7.

Miles:2
Total miles: 17.6
Number of flies swallowed:1

One week down, what a great feeling. Today's run was tirring, my legs, knees fet etc are ok, I just felt really tired today! Still another 2 brings week ones total to just over 17. To some that may be a drop in the ocean, to me that's 17 more than last week, and the week before and the week before!

I am really chuffed, just need to figure out some kind of plan for next weeks running as I am currently following the well know plan 'make it up as you go along'.

Flies are usually the 'fly in  the ointment' of the summer runners life, you plod along happily, enjoying the cool summer breeze till suddenly, you break out into a coughing fit as you've swallowed a fly, then follows mass coughing  and usually sudden death, well maybe not the sudden death but it's pretty annoying! Today I swallowed a fly and given I was quite tired a bit wheezy ,I had been puffing like a dyson in need of a service, this added at least 30 seconds to my run as I coughed spluttered and choked. The lady at the bus stop was trying not to laugh as i ran past red in the face, spluttering.

Am off for a dip in a cold bath before a hot celebratory shower. I know there are mixed views on ice baths  but for me it helps recovery, especially when you are pushing yourself.

Thanks for reading my bogs this week, have a great weekend. xxx

It's raining men- day 6...

Well it sadly wasn't raining men or even raining chocolate or jelly babies...but it was raining in biblical proportions in Surrey today...

Here's the conversation in my head prior to exiting chez joggernotablogger...

My inner runner: right, trainers on..all dressed ready...?

Me: No

My inner runner: What do you mean no, no is not an option...

Me: It's raining

My inner runner: You like rain

Me: That was last week

My inner runner: What about the cause?

Me: What cause..?

My inner runner: The run every day in January cause, the get fit before Brighton half cause, the shake your fat ass into those skinny jeans cause...

Me:There is nothing wrong with my ass

My inner runner:There will be if you sit on it all day

Me:That's true, you have a point

My inner runner: So, come on you're dressed ready, lets go, how about just a two...a three if you're feeling good

Me: well maybe just a two

My inner runner: that's the spirit

Me:but only cause you made me

My inner runner: I did :o)

Me:meh....ughhh...yuk!

45 minutes later

My inner runner: Better

Me:Much

My inner runner: How far

Me:Just four

My inner runner: 4, that's fab, well done

Me:Thanks :o)

My inner runner:You're a nutter

Me:I'm not as nutty as you, and I am very very wet!

Miles:4

Water levels:Rising

Knee pain:2/10

Calf pain:ouch

Iced baths:1

Number of cars which splashed me: 1

Miles:2
Total Janathon Mileage:11
Total hoots from white van man:1
Legs: fab
Knee pain:2/10
Rhymes:0

I slept in this morning...it was the first day back to reality, and oh does reality bite! So after a latte and a cheeky chocolate chip cookie with a friend at University, I came home, put a salmon steak in the oven and headed out for my day 5 run. Because my legs are returning to fitness, I don't want to exhaust them, I was planning just a two miler. There was absolutely nothing exciting, remarkable or of interest at all to blog about till I was nearly at home...

I ran past two rather large strapping some may say scary teenagers, one of the shouted 'run Forest, run'. This indeed made me laugh, maybe I am a little like Forest! Slightly dopey and just keep running.

In other news, my postman still looks like Dizzie Rascal, if you're local you'll know who I mean!

Day 4: Rhyme Time

Miles:1 (ok it's a REST DAY)
Time: Early- Shreddies o'clock
Legs: 2- looking great though!
Dustman:Grumpy
Sky:Dark
Weather:Drizzle

Today should be a rest day, I can feel my dodgy knee,
But is there any rest for those who signed up just like me...?

Rest is not an option on the Janathon quest,
It's all about how many times you can wear your fluorescent vest.

How many miles you can clock up before the end of Jan,
(And hopefully we wont end up walking like my nan).

We will be fit and lean and toned, and bursting full of pride,
And really, really good at keeping a lengthy stride.

But today was a rest day, which means my run was short...
A cheeky little mile that was my outdoor sport.

And so my dodgy knee, its cartilage in tatters,
Gets a whole day to rest, before it really matters.

Tomorrow isn't rest day, or the next day or day afters...
This janathon thing will turn us into grafters.

I know I'm not the candidate to secure a janathon win,
But maybe if you've read my blog it might have made you grin.

Or wince or groan or even moan, it doesn't really matter,
Because these musings of my run are really only chatter.

(If you've made it this far you deserve a medal!)

The runners Hi...Day 3 Janathon

Miles:4
Total Janathon mileage: 8, yeah baby!!!
Sky:Pink
Legs: still there
Knee:twingy
Fellow runners that smiled:1
Fellow runners that didn't smile:3
% or runners wearing fluorescent clothing:100!


Up early again this morning to enjoy my first 'longer' run since dropping out of Snowdonia marathon training in October. (admittedly 4 miles isn't long, but I have to start somewhere don't I).


It was beautifully still and quiet at 8am, with most of the world still in bed enjoying a bank holiday lie in. 1.5 miles in I met an old friend who was walking her dog, got a bit chilly as we 'caught up' with life etc. It was good to see her, she was going home to tidy up before the cleaner arrived, I've never understood why you clean before a cleaner comes!!!!
Saw a very nice chap out running, he actually waved and said Hi, what a lovely man. Another 3 runners were obviously too 'in the zone' to wave or acknowledge me, it always amazes me, I often wonder if I dropped dead in front of them would they help....? All runners were wearing day-glo tops, safety first!!


In other top news: I've bleached the wall tiles in my bathroom! They look fab-u-lous. Today is also a day of academic excellence, I will attempts to finish my lab report ready for submission next week.


I'm also going to not try and start a twitter riot by making cheeky, dry comments about cheating, time machines and other such nonsense. 

Sunday breakfast treat

Janathon day 2....Another day another run....
Up before most normal people, I ran a paltry 2 miles just after 8am, but still better than not running at all eh.... No mad dogs or axe men today, though a car alarm made me jump as I ran past.
Hoping I can begin to ramp up the mileage, hankering after a long run...Not sure my legs are up to it...

In other news I've enjoyed a days shopping in Brighton with an old friend and huge roast dinner, happy days!

DAY 1- Janathon- Cautiously optimisticly excited!

Miles- 2.2
Time 23:40
Rating: Wet

So, I am indeed a jogger not a blogger; but for one month only I am both. 2010 was  bit rubbish on the running front due to injuries, procratination and injuries... so the first thing I did this morning was book a place in the Loch Ness Marathon http://www.lochnessmarathon.com/

What splendid motivation to start 2011 taking part in the Janathon.
Some things I'd like to achieve in the next month

• Feel less chavvy when running in my VLMarathon rejection jacket
• Be fitter
• Not be attacked by any dogs in the woods
• Not be attacked by any axe murderers in the woods
• Be able to run away faster from said axe murderers or dogs
• Not to run into any lamp posts
• Begin to write witty and entertaining blog posts

So... I ran today, 2 unremarkable miles, it was good, it was wet but I like running in the rain. I even did a lampost intervals! It feels good to have a focus and a challenge again...