Blender Fox

Long Run #4

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Today’s target: 11K. Only hit 8.34K today :(

Tracks: Endomondo, ZR, Nike+

Run Stats:

Long Run #3

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Another long run weekend. Today’s target: 13K (8.1mi). Met that in 1:28:17 (Average pace: 6'47"/km), and got a new trophy.

Stats (via Endomondo):

Nike+ - Chromium_001

Royal Parks Half Marathon

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Well, I guess I’m not running the RPHM. :(

Still, I can still train for it.

Long Run Weekend #1 - Day 2

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Second day of the long run weekend, and it didn’t turn out too well. I decided to run my local park instead because the weather looked ominous. One lap around the park (about 1 mile), and my hamstring was hurting again. Seemed to ease up if I changed my running posture, though. So perhaps I picked this up because my running style is poor? I ended the run early to give it a rest, and maybe work on a better posture. I probably never had this feeling because I don’t normally do 15+K runs.

Still, on the plus side, a new trophy came my way:

DoubleThreat

Long Run Weekend #1 - Day 1

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First day of the long run weekend. Today’s target was 14K, which I hit in about 1hr 26mins. Endomondo Track here. I was using my Nike+ SmartWatch as well, and kept it going till I got home, which was another 3K. Total distance out: 17.2K, total time out: 1hr 58min 58secs.

No Endomondo PBs were broken on this run, but I did set several on Nike+: Farthest Run (17.2K), Longest Run (1hr 58min 58secs), Most Calories Burned (1,140kcal), Fastest 5K (28'51"), Fastest 10K (1'02'12"). I also got the Afternooner trophy (1500 Nike Fuel earned between 2pm and 5pm)

Afternooner

This was one of the longer runs I’ve done in a while, and coming down the last 3K, my hamstring in my right leg started to hurt.

Tomorrow’s target is 16K. If I clock that, my target of a 30K weekend will be achieved. In fact, I will have done more than a Half Marathon over the weekend. Most likely, I’ll use the same route as I took today, so by the end of tomorrow, I’ll have a double 17K under my belt.

Half Marathon Training -- Week 4

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Nearing the end of week 2 of my Half Marathon training plan, and this week we start doing regular long-distance runs on both weekend days. Saturday is 14K and Sunday is 16K. I am going to really ache on Monday. ^_^

Royal Parks Half Marathon

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I’ve got my name into the Royal Parks HM ballot. Now the wait is on to see whether I get space on the race or not.

Updates

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It’s been a while since I last posted so here’s a few quick updates:

1.Royal Parks Half Marathon

Ballot opens in just under a week, so I’m hoping to be able to get a place

  1. Running Updates

I’ve now got a Running Watch and a Nike+ Fuel Band – linked into my profile here. The band lets me check my activity for the entire day, and the watch lets me log my run far more accurately than my phone can. I still use Endomondo and Zombies, Run. Endomondo for the training plan, and Zombies, Run for the story entertainment.

Stopped using gmusicfs as it causes random reboots, and, I’ve noticed, messes up CameraZOOM, which is the photo app I use on my phone, so now, I have my music streaming via Google Play Music, and have ZR running. However, it does cause overlap, plus, I can’t always hear what they are saying. Fortunately, I’ve listened to the entire Season 2 now, anyway. Actually, might ditch ZR now as its not really helping me now.

Ran a 13K distance on Sunday just gone, and was suffering aches during Monday and Tuesday. The route was mostly okay, but like with Waggon Road, this one stopped doing pavements part way along the road, forcing me to run on the grass and on the main road itself. Even had to balance on the stones holding up the black and white “>>>” chevrons.

Next run is today (7.4K, but going to aim to round it up to 8K.) Aiming to run it at between 5:30 and 6:00 min/km pace, so should be 44-48 mins. Found a nice route following the A110. Sure it’s along the main road, but its lit at night, has a dual pavement most of the way (separate lanes for pedestrians and cyclists), and mostly flat. Should be good to help with my distance endurance

Half Marathon

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Current fastest 5K: 34:40 min

Estimated time for HM distance (21.1km): Approx 2:30 hours

Nike+

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I started to use Nike+ because I liked their use of routes and their concept of “Nikefuel”, then I found out that there is an option in Endomondo to link into it. Though it seems like it’s one way, based on the description (Nike+ –> Endomondo). I’ll give it a go this evening for my first Half Marathon training session. I have been running these past few days with Nike+, Zombies Run, and Endomondo all active, tracking my session, and this drains out about 80-85% of my battery in 30 minutes. If the Endomondo - Nike+ link works, I’ll be pretty damn pleased, though I doubt that will be the case

Nike+ integration with Endomondo - How does it work?

Endomondo | Community based on free GPS tracking of sports.

Next Goal

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I’ve decided on my next running goal: The Royal Parks Half Marathon.

Retraining 10K

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endomondo

After the Christmas and (upcoming) New Year celebrations and obligatory over-indulging of food, I, like many people will be trying to shift the extra weight in the new year. So, with the help of Endomondo, I’m going to train up again for a 10K – not a 10K race this time, just try to get up to the 10K distance again, then take it up to distance Half Marathon for the second half of the year and/or early 2015. The training plan is over half a year and I stretched it out to its maximum length deliberately to allow me as gradual work up to 10K.

I know I can do 10K, I did a race earlier this year (Chickenshed 10K), but after slacking off because of weather, I need to get back into it.

10K Training Plan

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Running Foundation Training #1

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Endomondo, ZR

Completed the main story of ZR Season 2 finally. A couple of side missions left, then I can start working on the Race Missions, Airdrop Mode and Supply Missions. Supply Missions will be last because you don’t get any materials, and the only reason for running them is to get the hoarding achievements.

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Running Foundation Training

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I’m reverting back to training my base foundation strength again, so I’m doing 5Ks repeatedly as that is my “base” distance that I’m comfortable with. Then I’ll go back to 10K and HM training.

Half Marathon Training - Day 3

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Endomondo, ZR

Target: 2.80km in 19:25min Achieved: 2.85km in 19:19min

Half Marathon Training - Day 2

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Target: 8K Achieved: 5K

Still getting my edge back after a period of non-running

Half Marathon Training - Day 1

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ZR, Endomondo

 

Restarting my Half Marathon training. Today was an easy 4.60 km. Stopped using gmusicfs and playing music using Play Music, but that isn’t without its own quirks. It sometimes stop playing the next track and doesn’t tell you, which then requires manual intervention to start playing again, disrupting rhythm.

 

Another problem with using Play Music, is that the music overlaps with the ZR audio so I need to make a decision whether to be able to listen to the ZR audio and have relatively unstable OS, or have a stable OS, but unstable music….

 

[caption id="" align=“alignright” width=“300”]Fun runners taking part in the 2006 Bristol Ha... Fun runners taking part in the 2006 Bristol Half Marathon (Photo credit: Wikipedia)[/caption]

 

The Royal Parks Half Marathon - Race Report - Events - Runner's World

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Runner's World's report on the Royal Park's Half Marathon event

The Royal Parks Half Marathon - Race Report - Events - Runner’s World.

2014 Reading Half Marathon Open For Entries

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2014 Reading Half Marathon Open For Entries.

Training Plans on Endomondo

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Endomondo have started rolling out training plans for runners. These training plans are dynamic in that they update and change based on your progress and fitness.

You must churn out a certain mileage per week in order to qualify for a training plan. For example, I do around 15K a week, and therefore, Endomondo offers me a 5-15km training plan, but doesn't offer me a Half Marathon or Marathon training plan.

Here's an example of a training plan Endomondo offered me for a 10K. I'm not using this plan for two reasons. First, I'm already in the middle of a training plan with MyAsics, and second, this plan finishes in JANUARY and the earliest I can end the plan is October 25th, which is way beyond the date of October 6th when my first 10K race is.

EndoTrainingPlan

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Annette Fredskov: Accomplish your running goal | Most km (Running) Challenge | Endomondo

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Remember my previous post about Annette doing a marathon a day? (If not, it’s in the links at the bottom of this post)

There’s a challenge out now in Endomondo.

Annette Fredskov: Accomplish your running goal | Most km (Running) Challenge | Endomondo.
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Marathon Runners Sent On Wrong Route

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This is a joke. Hope this doesn’t happen when I eventually run a marathon….

Marathon Runners Sent On Wrong Route.

Why Do You Run?

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The logo of the Virgin London Marathon. Virgin...

 

 

In the recent weeks, with the bombing in Boston at the Marathon there, it has, like many others, no doubt, caused me to reassess and reorganise some of my priorities. I used to run as part of my ongoing physio to heal a fractured metatarsal in my foot. There was no reason for me to run for charity, or anything like that.

 

Then the bombs hit Boston and in the aftermath, both stories of heroism, and stories of sadness. People who ran towards the chaos to help people. People who lost arms, legs, and, of course, people who lost lives. The most touching one is the one of the 8-year old boy, Martin Richard, killed near the finish line by the bomb.

 

Although I was not in time to register for the London Marathon, my target is to race at least a Half Marathon next year.

 

In my recovery time after my fracture, I could not run, I could not walk, but in 6 weeks, I was back to walking and within 3 months, jogging. I recall the feeling of helplessness whilst I was on crutches. Being unable to walk long distances without aid, and near-total reliance on everyone around you. People who have lost limbs because of the bombs will have to endure that for a longer period than I did. I feel for them.

 

I used to run for fitness. Now, I have a new reason. I run, not just for fitness. I run, not just for physio. I run for everyone who cannot run.

 

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America

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America has had a really, REALLY bad week this week.

First the Boston Marathon bombings, and now the explosion in West, TX.

From http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/Explosion-Rocks-Fertilizer-Plant-During-Fire-203508011.html?_osource=SocialFlowTwt_DFWBrand

People can call the following emergency number for information on family and loved ones: 254-202-1100.
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Moston Marathon Explosions -- People Finder By Google

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Looking for someone caught up in the explosions? Have information about someone caught in the explosions? Google have setup a people finder to help on both fronts:

http://google.org/personfinder/2013-boston-explosions

EDIT: From Sky News UK

Boston Police said there is a helpline in the US for concerned relatives: 617 635 4500, and anybody with information about the blasts should call 1 800 494 tips.

The UK consulate in Boston said British Nationals in need of emergency consular assistance should call the Global Response Centre on 1 877 854 6872.

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