Lets rock and roll then

As quick as it started

2009-11-08T00:10:00.001Z

Forgot to say. Running career over. Right knee no longer up to it. So painful. Trying to get into cycling but its tough.

Episode VII – All Hope is lost

2009-11-08T00:07:00.001Z

Loved XF intro with the fab 4 walking on to Star Wars theme. Cowell - Vader, Danii - Leia (obviously), Cole - Chewbacca and finally R2D2.

Careful 4.2 miles

2009-07-27T14:24:00.001+01:00

Last Wednesday saw my last run and I must admit I do seem to need 2 or even 2 days between runs to get the most out myself. 4.2 miles in 38 minutes. Trying to manage 10k in under an hour so at that pace, am on course for 54 minuter, as long as I keep the same pace.

Out for another 4.2m run tonight, maybe a tad further, will let you know!

Hit a target

2009-07-07T15:43:00.001+01:00

Was only going to try 4.2 miles of my new route today. But got out there in the rain, hardly any sun and felt strong. So did the 6.2 miles (10k) in about 65 mins, although was timing myself, just wanted to complete the distance.

(A small caveat here, the route I ran was planned on Google Maps and they measure the distance on the road, whether driving or walking, so I might actually be a tad short on the 10k as I run on the pathways.)

First one done

2009-07-05T23:04:00.001+01:00

Not going to say it was easy, in fact the damn heat all this week has taken it right out of me. For the first time I got a stitch running this week, hoped it was a one off, but no, got one today in the Bobby Moore Run. Anyway completed it with Phil’s help in 28 mins, bit quicker than I’ve done before.

Oh well onto the 10k now in October. Need to shed some more pounds.

Yeah baby!

2009-06-19T16:48:00.001+01:00

6 miles (9.7k) this lunchtime, out for 62 mins.

Me and Phil booked in for a 10k in October, Highlands Park, Chelmsford.

Toughest one yet

2009-06-11T16:57:00.001+01:00

7.7k (4.8m) of running which took me approx 53 mins. Hardest run to date, still feeling it now, I must be getting near my limit! Oh well, onwards and upwards!

I’ll huff and I’ll puff

2009-06-08T22:21:00.001+01:00

7k, woohoo, it’s sooooo easy this running lark. only another 33k to do for a marathon!!

Steaming onwards!

2009-06-01T08:36:00.001+01:00

Get me…. 3.6m (5.8k) last night. Most enjoyable run to date, went out at 7:45, after a very warm day the sun was just dropping and a very welcome breeze hit me just at the right moment many times! Had some music to accompany me this time, takes my mind off worrying about my breathing. Everything went well, no aches/pains, no stitch yet, trainers held up ok, although I do need some proper running soles.

No shoes but…

2009-05-28T14:12:00.001+01:00

Same old trouble, can’t find the right size, shame as Reeboks were doing buy one get one free!

Up to 5k now. Reached that milestone in 37mins, in the gym and felt pretty good. Need to transfer that distance to the road now…

Need new shoes

2009-05-22T14:53:00.001+01:00

Managed 4.8k (2.9m) on the road today, in approx 35 min’s. My back started to ache, first time that has happened, I think maybe I need a decent pair of trainers, my wellie’s are lacking that ‘bounce’.

I am actually starting to enjoy it, not yet! Just almost, still rather walk or cycle, but don’t think Bobby will be pleased if I turned up on a mountain bike… Hmm could always buy some trainers with those hidden wheels……

Meep Meep

2009-05-19T21:19:00.001+01:00

Ruddy road running is soooo boring, plus, felt like I’d run at least 2K and turned out to be just 1.3, rubbish. Its all the hills round here! Tis better listening to music, don’t hear the ache and pain of my heavy breathing….

Another gym session tomorrow, aiming to increase time/distance further.

*Revision to the above, my pedometer is faulty or it doesn’t like running as I had actually run 2.2k

Target

2009-05-12T08:14:00.001+01:00

By the time of the 5k run I want to be able to do 6k in the gym.

This is the link to info about the 5k run..
http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/runformoore/
This is the link to sponsor me for said 5k run..
http://www.runformooresponsorme.org/chrisgilson
and my brother!
http://www.runformooresponsorme.org/philgilson

So far …

2009-05-12T08:13:00.001+01:00

My first run was with my 15 year old son, who showed me up completely. I ran non stop for 1 mile and was completely exhausted, then proceeded to run-stop-walk-run-stop-walk the mile back home. My legs the next day had decided to divorce the rest of my body.

The 2nd run was in the gym, 2.6k in 20 min’s, non stop, running at a steady 8k per hour. That was much easier.

3rd run, last night, was against the elements and the terrain as well as the remnants of flu. 1k solid then run-walk 1k.

Dyer some would say, but its early days and I am convinced I am able to do this.

Gym v road

2009-05-12T08:06:00.001+01:00

I have been out 3 times since deciding to start training, it would of been more but have just got over a bout of mild (mild not man, or even swine) flu which has hindered my routine. Anyway, these are my findings:

1. Jogging on a treadmill is infinitely easier than road running. The wind forcing you back, the sun on your face, the gradients, traffic and people, all conspire to drag that energy out of my apple shaped body three times as fast as preferred.

2. I’m running right, but I can’t stop thinking, why am I running when I could just walk?

3. I still hate running

Start small

2009-05-12T08:02:00.001+01:00

Things have taken off since deciding on this Marathon journey. I have found out that my brother has also signed himself up to the LM and as a warm up(!) is going to do a 5k in July. Great opportunity I thought, so am doing the same.

This then puts a more urgent complexion on things. I gotta start training/dieting NOW!

Right…. Running… what’s it all about?

2009-05-12T07:58:00.001+01:00

I hate running, always have. I remember looking forward to cross country runs at school as much as my classmate ‘Asthmatic Dave’.

Despite this, I have rather foolishly entered myself into the pot for the 2010 London Marathon. Now, I know that the chances of being selected are slim as it’s my first entry, however, I am faced with the fact that in a little under 12 months time I could be standing at the start of a 26 mile course when the last time I ran, non-stop, any sort of distance was over 30 years ago. And that was just for 2 miles.

This coupled with the fact that I stood myself on our scales (which by the way I am convinced have a life of there own) and they told me unless I did something about it, I would be trying to haul 17 stone across the finish line.

All sounds bleak? Pretty much, but there’s something inspiring about facing any sort of adversity and conquering it. Spiritually that’s why I’m doing this.

Woolacoombe, Westlands and ice skating

2009-04-05T22:40:00.001+01:00

Lauren has been down in Devon with Mike for a few months now and is by all accounts very happy. making ends meet and having fun is on her agenda and I admire her and am proud of her for her endeavours. The weather should start to improve soon and the surf will be good, think she’s been having car problems!

Hollie has her first teaching post secured, Westlands Primary, year 1’s. So proud of what she has achieved, shes worked so hard for so long. She says shes scared, but that’s a good thing, she’ll be fine, the kids will lover her.

Lou’s exams start soon, he has some study leave which kicks in and then the tests begin. He is very confident and is hoping for 4 more C’s or better to secure his college place. We meet once a month for ice skating, I look forward to the time we spend together, he does most of the talking, loads of stuff falls out of his head as we go round in circles, its great.

RIGHT! Here's the rules

2009-03-10T07:18:00.002Z

1. If you are taller than 5' 8'' or broad shouldered or just fat or indeed all of the above, you can't sit in the middle seat of three.

2. When you sit down next to an already occupied seat, try for the love of god not to disturb whoever is there. Its not their fault the seats are designed for children.

2.1 Don't penalise the person who is already seated by jamming yourself against them, THE SEATS ARE TOO SMALL to fit 2 or 3 of average size comfortably. Accept that the already seated have personal space rights over you and adjust yourself 'away'.

3. Check with your wife/girlfriend/husband/boyfriend/partner before leaving for the train if your earphones are actually up to the quality required to work at the volume you are intent on setting, or you might as well shove one 'phone' into one of the already seated persons lugholes.

4. If the three seats opposite become vacant, don't be embarrassed to free yours and your seating partners plight by moving to a free seat. No offence will be taken, in fact the offence will be removed.

Watch out for hairs

2009-03-10T06:43:00.001Z

Found in my firms canteen, tub of squeaky fruit.

Lynne

2009-03-06T12:00:00.001Z

Poor Lynne has been diagnosed with Bell’s Palsy. She has a course of steroids to take and has been signed off for 2 weeks. She noticed something was up with her lip, tongue and eye last weekend, visit to the docs yesterday confirmed all this.

George and ….. what’s the other one called?

2009-02-27T18:29:00.001Z

Partly due to the fact that Isobel never remember Terrance’s name and partly because of the obvious (although strangely, unless she was just being polite, the vets nurse said she liked that name!) we have changed it to ‘Charlie’.

‘Charlie and George’… fantastic player.

Nots oh whole hazelnots & a fat lip

2009-02-27T18:22:00.001Z

All was going to plan, pick cats up from being castrated (know how that feels) and then drop em off home, settle em in and then take girls to Macdonalds for tea followed by Tescos.

Getting out of the car at the vets, Evie walks in front of Isobel and she trips up, sprawls out across the car park…. waited for the moment of tranquillity which forgives any accident and then all hell breaks lose. Poor Belle had put a tooth through her bottom lip, blood ‘n’ tears everywhere, even on me. Out for a browse or a shop would of gone straight home normally, but had to pick cats up, so in we went.

Had to sit Isobel down on the waiting benches in the vets and comfort her, but soon realised I had to queue, Belle didn’t want to move, but didn’t want me to move either, but had to, just a few feet away, she kept crying (blood had stopped by now, mopped up on my t-shirt). People in front of me wondered what was wrong I explained, the woman said “aaah do you want to sit with her”, thinking she was going to save my space, I almost said thanks, but didn’t as turns out she was talking to her husband about there pooch… Injured animal or kid, hmmm wonder which they’d walk past to help the other….

Anyway, got the cats, carried em both with one hand and Belle in the other. Back home all three recovering well.

21 today!

2009-02-17T20:03:00.001Z

No not me you fool…. Peggy, 17th February 1988, a memorable day, now all grown up and let lose. Happy Birthday Lauren x

Soap box

2009-02-12T18:02:00.001Z

Biggest gripe at the moment, train passengers. We are all the same boat especially with personal space issues, yet most insist on behaving with the utmost of selfish conceit.

Take tonight, got up from my window seat to put my coat on and retrieve my bag from the storage shelf, with all of the other 5 passengers seated around me remaining still. This was exasparated by an aisle stander who made no allowance for me having to maneuver my gear over heads to a seat in the adjacent section. All I got was a look and a tut when my bag brushed her arm. She couldn't of been oblivious to my situation yet she saw no opportunity to make my life a little easier, this is the attitude that is present all over.

"Treat others like you would expect to be treated yourself" I nearly heard myself saying.