I hope you'll forgive the title, no one reads my blog and I was struck by an idea as I wandered around Dymocks book store (Hong Kongs Borders, only solvent) earlier. It seems to me that nearly every book in the shop featured either vampires or some kind of hardcore stone-cold killer. I thought of changing the title of the blog itself to Vampire running, but then realised that I don't really want this to be read by a bunch of hormonal teenage girls. I love the fact that the story of the vampire seems to have become a teen romance genre. Now, I can appreciate the sexuality of the whole blood sucking thing, if you're a bit of a weirdo. By I'm not quite sure how vampires have become 'good guys'. I like my vampire to a bit more of a stone cold killer myself. The baddie. A bit more black ops.
So I thought about Black Ops Running, but thought this would either attract a bunch of hormonal guys, those who are looking for the latest computer game where they get to shoot hundreds of strangers. Or alternatively, it may attract those who genuinely like guns. Those who at some point will consider going on some sort of real rampage. Neither of which I am overly interested in becoming acquainted with. And then I realised that these black ops agent has also become the good guy. I killed loads of people... but it was necessary. And somehow, it's just... quite cool. I feel a little ashamed of myself for writing that, but it's true.
I'm definitely not a vampire for two reasons. 1. they don't exist 2. They are fast runners apparently. I prove week-in, week-out that I am not a vampire. Mostly I like to run very slowly in the sunshine. Occasionally I push myself up to a pace that we might call mediocre, but only when there's a race on. I am also not a special operations hard core killer. I'd always fancied myself as a stone cold killer, but then I stumbled across Human Resources and felt it might offer a more stable career. Less likely to be killed and all that. Sometimes, when ensuring the best person is selected for a role, my eyes narrow, my hand twitches towards my inner pocket and then I reveal my pen, which I use to take copious and detailed notes. But generally I never have to kill people with my bare hands. Well not very often anyway.
Anyway, ever though I'm neither a vampire or killer, I am running again. Which is lovely. Accepting that my life is a little more mundane I've been pretty excited to be out running again. I've managed my first proper weeks training this year and I am back to thinking that I may actually have some chance of getting half way round the Ultra Trail Du Mont Blanc in August. Don't get me wrong, I'm still bricking it, possibly more so since I remembered how hard a moderately hilly ten miles is, but at least I can take comfort in the fact I can run again. Over the last week I've managed:
- 3x7 miles
- 1x10miles
- 1 gym session of 25k on bike, 20 minutes run
Not enough to be thinking of doing any damage at the the UTMB, or even getting close to finishing. But enough to make me feel happy that I'm on the way. It also gets me out of the gym and more importantly the pubic boufing changing rooms. I have to confess, I'm not missing it at all.
I'm not sure if anyone has noticed it, but there seems to be a proliferation of very serious blogs on running over the last month. I seem to to have noticed a lot of blogs on subjects such as the environment (which is perfectly fine obviously), big shiny races (also perfectly fine) and the spirituality of running (not fine, go to yoga). My favourite though, is the number of people who keep writing that we need to 'remember why we run'. I'd have thought it is obvious why we all run, it's because we're not vampires or stone cold killers and life is a little mundane. Anyway, I'm off to have a nice cup of tea and read my CIA Blacks Ops Novel.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Up and running
Ok, so it induced a migraine but I am up and running and on my way to the 2011 UTMB. 20 minutes on a treadmill isn't exactly tough going but my foot felt fine, no pain during or after, which I am delighted about. I'll look to gradualy add more k's over the next few weeks before I hopefully get round to competing in one of the 5 races I enterred late last year. I am certainly carrying a few more pounds than I was at the beginning of the year so I'll need to do something about that as well. The ferrero rocher training plan that I have been on has been tough, but somebody had to do it, there were times when I didn't want another chocolate, but I manned up and took another down. Sometimes I had to have another cup of tea just to stomach its nutty goodness. Now however, it's time to look forwards at the training I have to gear up to over the next 6 months.
Next weekend is the Hong Kong island King of the Hills which may have come too soon for me (or too late some might argue, by about ten years), however, I should be able to dawdle around the half marathon and aim to complete the full one on the final race of the season, scheduled for the 6th March. It'll be tough but I had been doing plenty of exercise up until the new year when I fractured the foot, so hopefully there is at least some residual fitness there. I am also going to look for a 100k race around May/June time to help me focus on the training required to complete the hundred miler in late August, but I don't have any ideas as yet.
As I mentioned briefly, I somehow managed to give myself a migraine with my little jog yesterday. I'm not sure if it was a result of the 4 large whiskeys I had on Friday night or the sheer delirium of being able to jog again, but it's always a rather unpleasant feeling when I pick one of these up. I lose sight in my right eye and then start to slur before failing completely to string together sentences. I'd met up with a mate of mine who comented; as I stumbled towards him, slurring my words, bumping into random objects, that he couldn't tell the difference. A little unfair I thought, but being as we spend most of our time accompanied by a decent bottle of vino or several pints of the ambar nectar, I could sort of see his point.
A side effect of the migraine yesterday was sober attendance at Dave the Vets BBQ this afternoon. I'm not one for excessive consumption on a Sunday, but I would normally have a few beers to oil the wheels. A social lubricant if you will. Today made me realise how little fun I am when sober. It's quite a tough realisation to have when you're 31, to realise that you're a little dull, but it is one I have to accept I guess. I am fortunate that a few of them are in full flow preparing for Ironman New Zealand. From what I read we shouldn't really speak with each other, let alone be friends; them with their shiny kit and shaved limbs, me with my smelly muddy kit and body hair (coiffed I might add). Two different breeds and yet there we were chatting merrily about our sporting differences. It's nice that people from such different cultures can get along...
Now that I can start to jog again I've decided to get a plan put together by a coach so I'll outline that in future blogs, but I'll ease myself back into the running. I intend to continue on the stationary bike a fair bit over the next few weeks so as not to over work the foot. I think I may have become slightly attached to the stationary bike. Peddalling along, never getting anywhere, there's something quite poetic about it all. But it's probably not going to get me around the alps in one piece, so I'll gradually incorporate more and more running into my schedule.
In anticipation of my running getting back into full swing, I bought myself some stupidly expensive trainers this week. I've decided to give the Newtons a go as they mimic the barefot motion whilst providing plenty of support. I've received mixed reviews as apparently they are really focused on making good runners better. We'll see what sort of impact they have on a crap runner. Hopefully they don't exaccerbate trends and make me 'crapper'. Not something I have ever needed help with. The Newtons have another downside that I am not sure I can overcome. They are the ugliest trainers I have ever seen. Some kind of psychedelic fluro green monstrocity. I have to be honest and say I kind of liked them. However, my girlfriend told me that if she had made the mistake of marrying me, she would rectify this, purely for me for wearing them in public. Let's just say I'll be going running very eary in the morning. So a quick warning, should any really slow UFO's be sighted over Hong Kong, it's just me, getting back into the swing.
For now I am just excited to be able to run again and start properly on my journey towards the Alps in August. It's going to be awesome.
Training summary:
February 6th- Run 20 minutes on a treadmill, 180k on the stationary bike.
I can hear the Apls shuddering in fear and anticipation at rumours I may be running... or should that be participating.
Next weekend is the Hong Kong island King of the Hills which may have come too soon for me (or too late some might argue, by about ten years), however, I should be able to dawdle around the half marathon and aim to complete the full one on the final race of the season, scheduled for the 6th March. It'll be tough but I had been doing plenty of exercise up until the new year when I fractured the foot, so hopefully there is at least some residual fitness there. I am also going to look for a 100k race around May/June time to help me focus on the training required to complete the hundred miler in late August, but I don't have any ideas as yet.
As I mentioned briefly, I somehow managed to give myself a migraine with my little jog yesterday. I'm not sure if it was a result of the 4 large whiskeys I had on Friday night or the sheer delirium of being able to jog again, but it's always a rather unpleasant feeling when I pick one of these up. I lose sight in my right eye and then start to slur before failing completely to string together sentences. I'd met up with a mate of mine who comented; as I stumbled towards him, slurring my words, bumping into random objects, that he couldn't tell the difference. A little unfair I thought, but being as we spend most of our time accompanied by a decent bottle of vino or several pints of the ambar nectar, I could sort of see his point.
A side effect of the migraine yesterday was sober attendance at Dave the Vets BBQ this afternoon. I'm not one for excessive consumption on a Sunday, but I would normally have a few beers to oil the wheels. A social lubricant if you will. Today made me realise how little fun I am when sober. It's quite a tough realisation to have when you're 31, to realise that you're a little dull, but it is one I have to accept I guess. I am fortunate that a few of them are in full flow preparing for Ironman New Zealand. From what I read we shouldn't really speak with each other, let alone be friends; them with their shiny kit and shaved limbs, me with my smelly muddy kit and body hair (coiffed I might add). Two different breeds and yet there we were chatting merrily about our sporting differences. It's nice that people from such different cultures can get along...
Now that I can start to jog again I've decided to get a plan put together by a coach so I'll outline that in future blogs, but I'll ease myself back into the running. I intend to continue on the stationary bike a fair bit over the next few weeks so as not to over work the foot. I think I may have become slightly attached to the stationary bike. Peddalling along, never getting anywhere, there's something quite poetic about it all. But it's probably not going to get me around the alps in one piece, so I'll gradually incorporate more and more running into my schedule.
In anticipation of my running getting back into full swing, I bought myself some stupidly expensive trainers this week. I've decided to give the Newtons a go as they mimic the barefot motion whilst providing plenty of support. I've received mixed reviews as apparently they are really focused on making good runners better. We'll see what sort of impact they have on a crap runner. Hopefully they don't exaccerbate trends and make me 'crapper'. Not something I have ever needed help with. The Newtons have another downside that I am not sure I can overcome. They are the ugliest trainers I have ever seen. Some kind of psychedelic fluro green monstrocity. I have to be honest and say I kind of liked them. However, my girlfriend told me that if she had made the mistake of marrying me, she would rectify this, purely for me for wearing them in public. Let's just say I'll be going running very eary in the morning. So a quick warning, should any really slow UFO's be sighted over Hong Kong, it's just me, getting back into the swing.
For now I am just excited to be able to run again and start properly on my journey towards the Alps in August. It's going to be awesome.
Training summary:
February 6th- Run 20 minutes on a treadmill, 180k on the stationary bike.
I can hear the Apls shuddering in fear and anticipation at rumours I may be running... or should that be participating.
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