The Brass Monkey 2012

So it has been a few days since the 2012 brass monkey and I've had some time to think about how it went and what it was like. 

Usually when I do something as silly as running 13.1 miles I can't walk for a week afterwards and coming down stairs is something to definitely be avoided. Even the last half marathon I did, the Great North Run, back in September caused at least 3 or 4 days of proper inability to function in the leg department! This time though was different, for the first time ever I trained well for the event. I'd been nowhere near the distance but was consistently running 6 – 8 miles almost or at pace and being able to go out and do it again the next day. If it hadn't been for the break in training over the new year I may even have run the distance before the event, maybe?! 

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Janathon – 24th, Pub!

I had intended to swim this morning but my head feels like it is going to explode with the amount of snot that is in there! I walked to the pub on campus to catch up with Amy. A grand total of 1.44 miles round trip which will have been completely offset by the lovely burger I had!

Janathon – 22nd, The Brass Monkey

Today was the Brass Monkey Half Marathon in York. I'll write more about it later but for the time being I shall just say … 13.10 miles in 2:07:18 which gives and average pace of 9:42. This knocks around 25 minutes of my personal best and around 38 minutes of my recent best time for half marathon. Needless to say  am quite happy with this given I was aiming for 2:30:00. 

Janathon – 20th, Swim before visiting the docs

Went for a swim this morning at Tadcaster pool. Only 30 Lengths as time was short but that was 10 lengths arms only, 10 lengths legs only (ouch) and then 10 lengths normal. Then off to see the doctor about my ears and hopefully getting a referral to the ENT department at York Hospital. Need to start putting some olive oil in my ear to get rid of some wax and wait for a letter from ENT about getting some ear plugs made. 

Janathon – Totals on day 19

Here is where I'm at so far at the end of day 19:

Distance Run: 49.80 Miles

Distance Ridden: 21.65 Miles

Distance Walked: 1.74 Miles

Distance Swum: 2.39 Miles (150 Lengths)

Total Distance: 75.58 Miles

It's all part of my training for the Edinburgh Marathon in May. You can read more about it at http://www.allars.co.uk/jons-year-of-running/ and if you want to help me get my running mojo going maybe you could splash a little cash supporting one of my 3 chosen charities:

Thanks

J

Janathon – 19th, Last run before the ‘Brass Monkey’

Today will be my last run before the brass monkey half marathon on Sunday. I'd hoped to have done the distance prior to the brass monkey this time round, but for one reason or another I've had a couple of breaks in my training that mean I am a little behind where I wanted to be. That said I have never been consistently running 7+ miles at the pace I want before doing a half marathon before so maybe that is a good sign. I tried to run a flatter route today so that it was a little more like what I'll face on Sunday and was quite pleased to have run out of time, rather than energy, after 8 miles. Unfortunately I had a GPS fail today so only have vague timing which probably aren't very accurate. Total distance was 8.18 miles (mapped after the event due to GPS fail) in roughly 1 hour 23 minutes (ish, give or take!). 

Swimming tomorrow morning to loosen the legs of then a quick spin on the bike on Saturday before the Brass Monkey on Sunday sums up my next few days. The a bit time doing short recovery runs before getting the set for Edinburgh. The Silverstone Half Marathon in March and Leeds Half Marathon in May should be nothing more than training runs as I should be running further than that before then. 

I almost slipped up on Tuesday by nearly entering the Liverpool Marathon. We'll see how the next month goes and see if I'm going to do my first 2, and possibly last 2 if I have any sense, marathons in 1 year. 

Janathon – 18th

Today we had a celebration of Kate's life with many friends and family. I didn't get out for any exercise today. I probably should have done but landed up sorting stuff out in the morning and then the rest of the day was spent out and about. 

Janathon – 17th, cold again

Cold again today. Ran from work taking in the both new and old campus of the University of York. Given the slipperiness yesterday I chose to wear my Saucony Xodus today as they have a little more grip than my Asics Gel-Nimbus although it is a slightly less cushioned ride! The extra grip was most welcome, especially where the sun hadn't broken the frost yet and down the muddy hill back to the old campus. In total 7.35 miles in 1:15:53 giving an average pace of 10:19. Strangely my slowest miles were the first 3, must have taken that long to get warmed up! Unlikely to be out tomorrow as it is Kate's funeral but I may do a quick blast in the morning.