Running in Suffolk

Juneathon Day 13 - 2011

2011-06-13T13:07:00.000+01:00

I am not really superstitious but another milestone today on the Juneathon challenge was the 13th of the month. I had plans to do a longer run but had to cut it short when I fell over. Not sure what I tripped on but I came a cropper going round a corner.

I am not sure what the the initial thought is as you start flying through the air, whether it is one of embarrassment as cars pass and you are giving them some better entertainment then they can get on tv or thoughts of trying to relax and roll avoiding as much injury as possible.

I was about a mile and half into my run and having fallen my immediate thoughts were what hurts ? Well my left hand was painful a quick glance confirmed that I had cut my hand , my left leg was also sore , no cuts but certainly grazed. I also felt a bit winded and most of the impact on the ground had been to my ribs. My glasses were in one piece as were my IPOD.

Within a few seconds I was running again and trying to appear that nothing had happened. Not that anyone stopped or perhaps even noticed. My run became more of a jog and feeling sore, muddy and a bit winded I only manged just under 3 miles.

The grazes are no problem my worst fear is that I have again cracked a rib, though I am hoping it is just bruising and in a days time I will be able to run.

Juneathon Day 12 - 2011

2011-06-12T19:48:00.000+01:00

Now here is a novelty. A run in the rain! Yes I left my run on day 12 of Juneathon to this afternoon when it rained. It was lovely once I had got over the initial barrier of stepping out in to the rain. It was a novelty as it we have had the driest spring I can ever remember and we have been in drought conditions. However this afternoon we finally, finally got some real rain and wind.

With glasses you don;t see much when there is a steady downpour and after a while the rain washes the sweat into you eyes so they sting as well. But you practically have the streets to yourself and I prefer it to running in hot weather. A hot bath was my reward.

I got in a 5 mile run making my total for Juneathon 50.25 miles.

Juneathon Day 11 - 2011

2011-06-11T09:58:00.000+01:00

http://www.myspace.com/fightlikeapesmusicThoughts this morning when I was running that it is only a moth now to the Latitude Festival at Southwold in July. This is something to look forward as a reward at the end of the Juneathon journey.

I am hoping our tent comes back in one piece from the Download festival next week. My son Tom once again has very mixed weather. Last year they got soaked and this year it looks like a mixture of showers and sunshine. The tent came back last year a mixture of mud, beer and with one large burn whole. Who can say what state it will be this year.

One of the bands I am looking forward to seeing at latitude festival is Fight Like Apes

My run this morning was completed easily and I even felt strong enough to want to push it and run faster. Weather was bright and sunny but still cool at 8am

I think that puts me up to 45 miles for June

Juneathon Day 10 - 2011

2011-06-10T14:52:00.000+01:00

Already one third of the way through Juneathon and another milestone reached today on day 10. I ran at lunch time after gardening in the morning. There was an odd spot of rain but nothing to wet the garden.

My run today was off road around Little Horringer Hall Farm. I did two laps of an undulating course around a very green wheat field. There was a need to constantly watch my footing to avoid twisting an ankle. One side of the field was ploughed early in the spring removing the footpath created by the action of walkers over time. Where the path has gone walkers have created a new pathway through the wheat crop.

The ground was very dry and again their was a need to watch your footing to avoid stepping into some of the larger cracks in the ground. Ironically today the Environment Agency has announced that much of East Anglia has been declared a drought area but not Suffolk.

My run today was a good one and enjoyable as I was off road and felt good and strong at the end of a 5 mile run.

My Juneathon total at day 10 stands at 41.25 miles. If I am to beat my Janathon total of 134 miles then I will need to do another 94 miles in the last 20 days at an average of 4.7 miles a day. I can achieve it if I avoid injury and have enough stamina to complete it

Juneathon Day 9 - 2011

2011-06-09T13:44:00.000+01:00

Another 4 mile run early this morning at 7.45am as I was gardening at 9.30. Passing the Greene King Brewery my memory was drawn back to the recent Real Beer and Food festival in Bury St Edmunds. This was the 2nd year of this event and I really recommend it as an enjoyable morning or afternoon. This year there was the added attraction of live music and very good weather. There were many good products I sampled in the food & drink tent. Two products that really stood out for me in terms of quality were both made in Suffolk by local producers which were:

a Smoked Fish Pate made by Pinneys of Orford Suffolk. After sampling I just had to buy and I am glad I did as this made a very enjoyable accompaniment with some cheese and biscuits and with salads. I haven't seen or heard of Pinneys before but they they have a website and from this I can see you can order on line or visit their restaurant in Orford. The fish pate I bought was a combination of mackerel,trout and salmon.

I am not sure if you can buy this in a local shop or supermarket in Bury St Edmunds but will definitely buy again.

The 2nd Product I chose was a local Suffolk cheese from the Rodwell Farm Diary at Baylham Suffolk. I tried both of the cheeses they make and both are very good but decided to buy the Hawkston as I like crumbly cheeses. Their other cheese was also good with the memorable name Shipcord. Again they have a website where you can place orders.

Needless to say both the pate and the cheese has long since gone!

The recent dry weather which dates back at least to march continues. The River Linnett shown in this photo is currently dried up.

After 9 days of Juneathon I am doing OK with no injuries. I would have liked a few miles in the bag but 36.25 is good and gives me a fighting chance of beating my Janathon total.

Juneathon Day 8 - 2011

2011-06-08T14:54:00.000+01:00

In the post this morning I received my Age UK t shirt from Helen Parsons their Challenge & Running Events Fundraiser. A very nice shirt it is too and I wore it today on day 8 of Juneathon when I ran 4.25 miles along the River Linnet pathway.

I am collecting sponsorship for Age UK as part of this years Juneathon event . I have no idea how much I might raise but anything I do collect will be doubled by the retailer I work for in Bury St Edmunds.

Age UK needs supports as

over 1.1 million older people in the UK feel trapped in their own home

over half of all people aged over 75 in the UK live alone

over 1 million people aged over 65 in the UK say they always or often feel lonely

250 older people die needlessly every day in the winter from the adverse effects of cold weather

£10 pays for a smoke detector to be fitted via a handyman

£14 pays for a week's worth of good day calls providing contact for an older person

£150 could provide a local group with a Christmas lunch so older people don't have to spend Christmas day on their own.

After 8 days of Juneathon I have run 32.25 miles and have avoided injuries and colds so far. Hopefully I can manage the whole 30 days of running and the generous sponsorship and support continue .

Juneathon Day 7 - 2011

2011-06-07T14:53:00.000+01:00

Today I told myself as long as I went out of the door I need only run a mile. Feeling tired today and it was an effort. I got ready for a run about 8am but sat around and I left it to late before I had to go to work.

So mid day came around and I felt a bit more lively and after seeing the efforts of Eddie Kidd in completing the London Marathon after 7 weeks there could really be no excuse! So out I went for a run and after a mile I new that I could do another. After 2 miles I thought I would just turn around and run back the same route and it was in the bag and another 4 miles was completed.

Total mileage after 7 days is 28 miles

Juneathon Day 6 - 2011

2011-06-06T14:56:00.000+01:00

This morning I was gardening in steady rain for a couple of hours. Thankfully the rain had more or less ceased by mid day when I went for a run. Day 6 of Juneathon and I completed another 4 miles.

Day 6 means one fifth of Juneathon completed and my total mileage is a steady 24 miles.

I listened to the Word Podcast on my run were they had an interview with Nick Lowe the singer songwriter perhaps best known for his songs Cruel to be Kind , I love the sound of Breaking Glass and So it Goes.

I hardly noticed the run being completed as I listened to the Word Podcast. I was once again using both Voltz Energy Shot and my Running Breeze socks so touch wood I cannot fail!

Juneathon Day 5 - 2011

2011-06-05T19:58:00.000+01:00

Day 5 means I have already reached the milestone of one sixth of the way to completion of Juneathon. Looked at that way it means a very small slice of the overall 30 day event we call Juneathon but time flies when you are enjoying your self.

Today being Sunday I allowed myself a bit of a rest so I ran this afternoon and did yet another 4 mile run bringing my total to 20 miles for the 1st 5 days.

The roses are particularly good this year due to the long dry spell of weather in East Anglia and I stopped to capture this photo on my run.

For this Juneathon I am using an energy shot that I have been sent to try called Voltz. It is a little wee 60ml shot of vitamins, minerals and caffeine. Juneathon seems the perfect test to see how this product performs and whether it will help to see me through the 30 days of continuous running. So far so good. On the plus side I like the fact that it is a wee drink completed in 4-5 mouthfuls. I have been taking it prior to my runs and have had no adverse effect apart from the once when I had the shot and immediately went for my run - then the drink repeated on me and I found myself bringing up the drink again. So for me best to have the drink and run about 10 minutes later.

Voltz Citrus flavour drink reminded me of crushed fruit gums in water not that I recall ever doing this or to say this is a bad thing. I actually like this taste and it is very drinkable.

There are so many variables with running performance so it is very hard to say whether any one product makes any noticeable difference. However I have felt more alert so far and felt I fairly easily achieved my runs and could have gone further. Could this be Voltz giving me a little kick to help with my performance. I like to think so and whether this is a placebo effect or not matters little as I seem to be winning with an improved performance.es

Voltz energy shots contain only 3 calories and are sugar free so I am not going to put on any weight!

I am not sure if it was just the bottles I was sent or not but the small print on the bottle was in Greek I think although being produced in Hampshire England.

Price of these drinks varies but you can buy them at around £1.50 or a dozen for £18. So they are not cheap

Packaging Rating 6 good small bottle /better if wording was in English

Taste Rating 8 Good for me

Energy Rating 8 certainly gives me a boost

Value rating 6 I am a bit stingy so price seems a little high

Juneathon Day 4

2011-06-04T12:48:00.000+01:00

So far so good with Juneathon 2011. No aches or pains and I was able to do another 4 miles this morning at 8am. My only real problem is lack of time preventing me from running longer or having much time to blog about it.

Take today after my run I had time for a quick shower and then it of to work to do a couple of hours gardening. Following this I am working this afternoon and this evening for a local retailer so my time is very limited.

So 4 days in I have run 16 miles which I am reasonably happy with if I can keep this up and perhaps add a few miles here and there I might be able to beat my previous Janathon total of 134 miles but that depends on remaining injury free.

Juneathon Day 3 - Saxongate Nature Reserve

2011-06-03T13:36:00.000+01:00

On a warm summers day the Saxongate Nature Reserve in Bury St Edmunds is a good spot for a run with plenty of shade to be found under the cover of tall trees. It also has the benefit of being next to the Greene King Brewery site and this morning I am sure I was breathing in the pleasant smells of Speckled Hen.

The only problem is the nature reserve is rather small so you do have to run up and down the site several times to do a run of any distance.

It was a warmer morning than yesterday at 8am and it was a little more effort to get out of bed to go for a run. Once out of the door I easily managed another 4 miles bringing my Juneathon total to 12 miles.

Juneathon 2011 Day 2 - RunBreeze Socks

2011-06-02T16:24:00.000+01:00

Another lovely warm and sunny day and with no side effects from yesterdays run there were no barriers to me doing a 5 miler. The only real constraint was time as I needed to be back in order to meet with a cousin who out of the blue contacted me to discuss ancestry and our family tree sharing as we do the same great grandfather.

My Garmin 205 also seems to have given up the ghost and the battery no longer holds a charge. It may be dead but I am searching for a solution before looking at alternatives. For the moment I am using a standard watch and running courses where I know the distance I have covered.

However I digress as Juneathon day 2 gave me a chance to try out for the first time some running socks that I had been sent by a company called RunBreeze. The first thing I noticed was the good comfy snug fit . OK I only ran 5 miles in them but they were good as my feet remained cool and there was no warming sensation which you can get from some socks after a few miles. I shall them regularly over the next month of Juneathon and hopefully test them out over some longer runs

RunBreeze state this about their socks

"10 Reasons to choose Technical Running Socks over normal everyday socks:

1. The material. RunBreeze.com use breathable fabrics such as CoolmaxTM that help wick moisture away from the feet which can cause irritation.

2. The Fit. Normal socks move up and down the foot and are one of the reasons for blisters. Technical running socks are designed ergonomically around the shape of the foot so movement is limited and the sock stays in position.

3. The toe. A RunBreeze sock has a seamless toe. This helps prevents rubbing at the end of the toes which occur in a normal sock.

4. Achilles Heal protection. On RunBreeze’s trainer liner range they have a padded support where the Achilles Heal sits, to help prevent rubbing on this area.

5. The Mid-Foot. A technical running sock will have a Mid-Foot grip to help keep the sock in place. In a normal sock a lot of people find their socks slip down, this won’t be the case with a properly fitted sock with a mid foot grip.

6. Left and Right Footed. Socks designed to fit both of our feet properly. Our feet our different shapes, so your socks should be too.

7. Cushioning. Having a more cushioned area at the bottom of the sock like on the RunBreeze Cushioning sock helps with impact protection on your feet (they are very comfortable too!)

8. Anti Blister. Blisters are a runners nemesis. Help prevent them by using double layered technology like in the RunBreeze Anti Blister sock. You don’t get that in your normal sock!

9. Health. RunBreeze asked 100 people how long they keep socks and the average response was 8 years!! Running socks should be changed just like trainers or kit. RunBreeze.com have a sock calculator that tells you how many socks you will need per year depending on how many times you run and allowing you to change regularly without breaking the bank!

10. Performance. You want to get the most out of your run so get a technical running sock. They are lighter as they get rid of sweat quicker, they fit better and are more comfortable – all that means a big personal best for you!"

The anti blister socks that I am using are priced at £8 each and if this prevents me getting blisters during Juneathon 2011 then they have got to be worth it.

For today's run I followed a route through Bury St Edmunds along the River Lark and into the Abbey Gardens. Even at 8am it was warm work but enjoyable.

Total Juneathon mileage 8 miles.

Juneathon 2011 Day 1

2011-06-01T08:28:00.000+01:00

With military precision I commenced Juneathon 2011 at 7.30am. Today I am so busy that virtually every minute is occupied with a task through until 9.30pm this evening.

So unfortunately only time for a short run this morning of 3 miles. Hence a short blog post as well.Finished the run and would have loved to have continued running for an hour. The weather was just beautiful , bright and sunny but not yet to warm. Listened to my IPOD on the run and song for this morning on day 1 of Juneathon was the aptly named Hysteric by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

Juneathon 2011 - Running for Age UK

2011-05-24T14:12:00.001+01:00

In 8 days time I shall be competing in Juneathon 2011.

What is Juneathon you may ask? If you take part you are basically committing to exercise every day during the month of June regardless of the weather conditions , regardless of how tired you may feel and regardless of the lack of time you may have.

After you have exercised you are also required to blog about it and give an update. It is also more fun to have have some social interaction with other fellow Juneathoners from around the world and in this why it builds a community feel to the event. Much of the social networking is on the Facebook site the official site for Juneathon 2011 is yet to appear but is promised any day. It also helps to be a little mad to do this event.

That's me in the Colchester Half Marathon 1984 - Postman Pat T Shirt

The weather in East Anglia has been dry for many weeks and at the moment there is little sign of a change in these conditions though lets see what happens on the 1st of June by taking part it is probably my equivalent of performing a rain dance so farmers can expect the long awaited heavy rain on Wednesday week.

I am expecting to feel tired and have a lack of time so Juneathon is going to be both a physical and a mental challenge. Time is going to be an issue now that I am working as a gardener and for a retail company. Gardening is physical work and I am pleased to say there is a lot of demand for gardening at this time of the year.

Six months ago I completed Janathon 2011. This is the sister event to Juneathon and is the same challenge but undertaken in the month of January. However at this time I was out of work having been made redundant so I had a lot more time available. I failed to complete Juneathon 2010 due to injury so what makes me think I will do any better this time around.

I want to do Juneathon to support the charity Age UK and will be seeking sponsorship.Why Age UK.

Well clearly Age UK is for all of us. More people need the services of Age UK than ever before. Age Concern and Help the Aged joined together to form Age UK and are the voice for over 14 million people in the UK.

There are more people aged over 60 than under 16

150,000 people in the UK have a stroke each year. Age UK funded the research which led to an early clinical trial for a stroke busting drug.

Age UK makes thousands of Handy van calls a year to help with DIY .

support older people after a stay in hospital

provide vital information to older people, their relatives and friends

help with managing paperwork and financial matters

organise events and creative activities at our social clubs

enable older people to keep fit, healthy and active

I have got the sponsorship forms just need some good folks to sponsor me and follow my progress here.

My aim will be to run every day rather than swim, cycle or walk but we will see how it goes. In January I ran a total of 134 miles in 20.3 hrs I would love to beat this but just completing the event and doing at least a mile is my No 1 target.

Lucozade Sport Body Fuel Drink

2011-05-12T15:15:00.000+01:00

I haven't had much time recently to run. I have been working long hours which has meant I haven't been exercising as much as I would have liked. I have been particularly busy over the last week but the yearning to go for a run was too strong to be denied and fueled by a bottle of cherry flavored Lucozade Sport I hit the road today.

I had felt so tired and lethargic and could easily have not bothered to run so the lift to get me out of the door was the isotonic drink. I haven't seen a lucozade cherry flavour drink before and I guess it wouldn't be as popular as an orange or lemon flavour. However personally I like cherries and would buy this again. I didn't have any adverse reaction like you can do with some sports drinks which can sit in your stomach and slosh around. It is not strongly fizzy so you can gulp it down on a run.

The sports cap on the 500 ml bottle is user friendly for runners and of course you can keep the bottle and fill up with water for future runs. The bottle also has a waistline by this I mean the bottle narrows in the middle with 2-3 grooves making it easier to grip on the run.

You can pick up Lucozade sports drinks at most supermarkets and they tend to be around £1.08 for an individual bottle and at Asda £3.48 for 4 bottles. The Lucozade price seems to be pretty much on a par with other branded energy drinks such as Powerade. You can buy direct from Lucozade Sports in bulk 3 cases of 12 bottles for £27. Of course along side these sit the non branded supermarket products which tend to be cheaper and it would interesting to know if you buy energy drinks whether you go for a branded product or a supermarket own label?

The marketing information on this drink from Lucozade states

"It is formulated to tackle the reduction of carbohydrate stores and maintain hydration to improve performance in prolonged exercise or sport. Studies testing endurance athletes, such as marathon or long distance runners, have proven that the running speed is higher over the course of an event among those drinking Lucozade Sport, compared to those solely drinking water".

"Whenever you’re involved in sports such as running, football, rugby and tennis where both carbohydrates and maintaining hydration are key. It’s also recommended when exercising for 30 mins or longer at a high intensity, or for 60 mins or longer at any intensity"

"It comes ready to drink. You should drink 200ml-500ml before exercise, to maintain hydration, 150ml-200ml every 15-20 minutes during exercise to give you an energy boost and 500ml immediately afterwards to replace salts and carbohydrate stores and maintain fluid levels."

My ratings on this drink out of 10 are

For flavour                                         9      love the cherry taste

Usability for runners                          8     has a sports cap & the bottle has a waistline

Price                                                   7     does have competition from supermarket own brands

Does it work                                      8      got me out of the chair though will need to try it                                                                     more often than once to be sure

Grand Total                                        32

My run went well on a windy, sunny day when we had a shower of rain for the first time I can remember in about 6 weeks.

Bamboo Clothing - Men's Zip Neck Baselayer - Indigo

2011-04-10T17:37:00.000+01:00

Over the last few weeks I have been test driving a sports top made of bamboo. Yes you heard me right Bamboo!! I was sent a top from a company called BAM. This is a UK company who have a refreshingly positive attitude to business and state

"We'd genuinely rather make a smaller profit and have loads of really pleased and satisfied customers and suppliers and have fun ourselves than go the traditional, corporate route of ‘get away with what you can, maximize profit and pretend to be whiter than white'. We're all about transparency, honesty, integrity and fun. If we ever fall short please tell us."

My first impressions on opening the package was how silky and soft the top felt.
However I wondered with this level of comfort whether the top was designed more for casual wear rather than for the sport of running and that I might end up very hot in the top which has a neat snug feel to the skin.

The top I was sent is an indigo blue and I like the colour. The top is long sleeved with finger loops which are great. By slotting your thumb through the wholes in the cuffs of the shirt you keep your hands warm and avoid the need for gloves. I also find when I am running that sometimes I have a tendency to curl my hand up hard especially when I am doing a hard session when we all know that we should relax the hands and keep them loose. By using the thumb loops this gives your hands something to hold onto and takes away all the pressure if you tend your hands into a tight ball like I do.

My shirt was a medium size and it comfortably fitted me. I often buy running tops which are a large size to suit a 38 inch chest but this was a good comfortable fir so note that before you buy.
As it indicates on the BAM website this top could be used for a multitude of sports such as climbing,camping, kayaking, lumber jacking and a thousand other activities.

The shirt is very understated and personally I like that. What I mean is there is no big bold company labels on this shirt just a tiny small BAM label almost hidden at the bottom of the shirt. If you are into your labels and wanting to show them of to the world this may put you off. Many running tops have big bold emblazoned labels but personally I want my clothes to fit well and do a job for me with out the big hype of a company label. So another plus point for the BAM top.

The BAM company is big on its green credentials and this shirt is made of 70% bamboo viscose, 26% cotton and 4% elastane. Bamboo is such a versatile product but I wasn't aware that it could be turned into clothes. When I think of Bamboo I think China and Pandas but I will look at the bamboo plant in my garden differently in future that's a point perhaps I could make a shirt from it , perhaps not! The shirt is made in S.A.R

So how did it fare on a run. There is a zip to the neck and setting off on a cool morning I had the top zipped fully down up but after a couple of miles I was happy to unzip the neck and allow some air in.We have had some warm weather recently and I naturally was sweating though my skin didn't feel wet and uncomfortable.

However my conclusion after a few runs in this top that this is a keeper I will use it time and time again. I think it will be ideal for cooler weather running or early mornings. I would look to a short sleeved top from BAM for summer running. This is a great buy and I will definitely look out for BAM products again there is a definite place for them in the running clothing market.

Finally another plus point the BAM company claim that the shirt is smell proof after a run. Normally after a run if I hang about my wife will soon tell me to go and have a shower. However to give it a proper test Sarah smelled it several times and claimed it smelt that it had just come off a washing line after being cleaned! Now that is remarkable as after running I admit I normally pong!

buy your BAM - Bamboo Clothing Zip Neck Baselayer http://www.bambooclothing.co.uk/store/show_product/MZ018-IND here

A cross country run at Hartest Suffolk

2011-01-31T15:00:00.000Z

Hartest

To recap for anyone not aware Janathon is a free event in which you aim to run, cycle swim or walk and then blog about it everyday in January. Signing up at the Janathon site is easy completing a Janathon is a little harder. However today I did just that to complete a running streak of 31 days which is a personal record which I won;t be extending as I am having a rest day tomorrow.

pathway to Somerton

To finish Janathon I wanted to do something slightly different and I chose a cross country route at Hartest in Suffolk. Hartest is a village in what is known as "High Suffolk" because it is quite different from the flatter heaths, forests and fens in a large part of the county.

Two chairs in the middle of nowhere

I parked my car behind the Hartest Institute and set off up the Somerton Road. At the top of the hill there was a track which is known as Smithbrook Lane which I took downhill to a stream. The pathway was thick with mud and I did well to keep my shoes on my feet. From here I was running through fields or on the edge and either running up or down hill. I was breathing hard but was making regularly stops to check on my map as there were often several choices of direction to follow.

Hartest

As I approached a house called Manor Farm I noticed a dog hanging about at the entrance. My path took me straight past the entrance of the farm and I thought if I slowed down I might get past the dog without it worrying about me. Wrong! There was no chance as I climbed the hill towards the farm it spotted me and started to belt down the hill. I don't know what type of dog it was but it looked as if it wasn't at all friendly so I reluctantly did a u - turn. The dog gave up the chase and I gave it a couple of minutes before trying again this time aiming to walk past but same result and again another chase the dog thankfully giving up at some invisible boundary to its territory.

Hartest

Of course the dog was only doing what it was supposed to do and protect its home but it was frustrating. All to often dogs which are not controlled by their owners present a problem to runners. Do you carry on past the dog and hope for the best or get bitten like Paula Radcliffe did this month on a training run in Monaco. I tend to take the avoidance route.

With my plan out of the window there was nothing else for it but to concede defeat and do a u turn back to Hartest. So a bit of a sorry end to Janathon as I didn't complete my intended longer run out to Somerton. It was more of an out and back run for a total of 4 miles of stop start running.

With my run complete my stats for Janathon are

31 runs , 134 miles

Day 1 - 5 miles
Day 2 - 5 miles
Day 3 - 4 miles
Day 4 - 4 miles
Day 5 - 3 miles
Day 6 - 2.52 miles
Day 7 - 7 miles
Day 8 - 3.5 miles
Day 9 - 2 miles
Day 10 - 4 miles
Day 11 - 4 miles
Day 12 - 8 miles
Day 13 - 3 miles
Day 14 - 4 miles
Day 15 - 3 miles
Day 16 - 4 miles
Day 17 - 6 miles
Day 18 - 6 miles
Day 19 - 4 miles
Day 20 - 3 miles
Day 21 - 4.3 miles
Day 22 - 5 miles
Day 23 - 4.21 miles
Day 24 - 3.3 miles
Day 25 - 1 mile
Day 26 - 7.5 miles
Day 27 - 4 miles
Day 28 - 5 miles
Day 29 - 6 miles
Day 30 - 4.26 miles
Day 31 - 4 miles

Total 134 miles

Time spent running 20.3 hours.

Would I do Janathon again?

Yes it is a great way to start a new year with a clear goal and I lost a couple of kilos in weight. I will decide nearer the time but may well give Juneathon the sister event another go. I failed to complete it last year due to injury. It will be interesting to compare the two and decide which is the hardest. It has also been good though time consuming to record a blog post for every run. Best of all was visiting other runners blogs and seeing how they were doing with Janathon. I will certainly continue to follow those who made contact with me.

Whats next after Janathon?

A rest on Feb the 1st and a couple of white Russians to celebrate. As for running events I have nothing planned or booked at the moment. I will plan my training tomorrow for the next couple of months probably based on running 5 days a week with 2 rest days.

What did I talk about during January in my daily blogs ?

Running gives you time to think and subjects are often diverse. I talked about The United States Streak Association, Greene King Brewery, Bury St Edmunds, Ramblings with Clare Baldwin,Ouida,Pentland Hills,Jeff Bridges, White Russians,The Big Lebowski,Christmas Trees,Phedippidations, Frodo, Are Runners Respected , lower back stretching, The Suffolk Regiment, Slade, Inovite Shoes, Ickworth Park, Marathon Talk, Mt Kilimanjaro, Toby Tanser, Mombasa, Running from the Reaper, Sacking of Roy Keane at Ipswich Town, Fornham,Squirrels, Blackbirds,Cineworld, The Next Three Days , Russell CroweTonbridge Angels, kitchen gardens , Sir John Hervey, River Linnett, cross country, Energy foods for running, The Kings Speech, Tokyo Police Club, Jantastic, chickens, Rolf Harris, Running to Music, Audiofuel, YouTube, 127 hours,Buried, plantar fasciitis, The Green Hornet,flooding, Innocence Project, The Green Mile, Sam Rockwell,Hilary Swank,Conviction, 4 feet running, vinyl records, Ron Hill, hill running, IPOD, running with glasses, Neovite, Colostrum,Nathan Lowell, Podiobooks, The Morning Parade, Sicklesmere, interval runs and Hartest to name a few.

Well done to everyone who took part in Janathon, award yourself a medal, put your feet up for a day and don;t forget to celebrate with a White Russian.

Day 30 of Janathon

2011-01-30T10:07:00.000Z

The penultimate day of Janathon 2011. I ran slowly today but did another 4 and a bit miles. I am going to complete the event which is a nice feeling but with time short this is a short post

Day 1 - 5 miles
Day 2 - 5 miles
Day 3 - 4 miles
Day 4 - 4 miles
Day 5 - 3 miles
Day 6 - 2.52 miles
Day 7 - 7 miles
Day 8 - 3.5 miles
Day 9 - 2 miles
Day 10 - 4 miles
Day 11 - 4 miles
Day 12 - 8 miles
Day 13 - 3 miles
Day 14 - 4 miles
Day 15 - 3 miles
Day 16 - 4 miles
Day 17 - 6 miles
Day 18 - 6 miles
Day 19 - 4 miles
Day 20 - 3 miles
Day 21 - 4.3 miles
Day 22 - 5 miles
Day 23 - 4.21 miles
Day 24 - 3.3 miles
Day 25 - 1 mile
Day 26 - 7.5 miles
Day 27 - 4 miles
Day 28 - 5 miles
Day 29 - 6 miles
Day 30 - 4.26 miles

Total 130 miles

Six Mile Interval Run for Day 29 of Janathon 2011

2011-01-29T12:26:00.000Z

Day 29 of Janathon and with the end in site I decided to do an interval session alternating faster and slower miles in to a six mile run. I did fairly OK for 2 of the 3 faster miles but slowed on the last one as some how all of my faster interval miles seemed to coincide with hills.

My mile splits were 8.46,8.27,8.57,8.33,8.52,9.12. for a 52.50 for the 6 mile route out to Fornham All Saints.

The month of January seems to have flown past and it has been good to have been part of the Janathon event. Hopefully I will able to take part in Juneathon this year and then have a chance to compare the two. Which is harder I wonder? January with its extra day in the month and colder wintry weather or June one day less but potentially hot and humid weather.

Day 1 - 5 miles
Day 2 - 5 miles
Day 3 - 4 miles
Day 4 - 4 miles
Day 5 - 3 miles
Day 6 - 2.52 miles
Day 7 - 7 miles
Day 8 - 3.5 miles
Day 9 - 2 miles
Day 10 - 4 miles
Day 11 - 4 miles
Day 12 - 8 miles
Day 13 - 3 miles
Day 14 - 4 miles
Day 15 - 3 miles
Day 16 - 4 miles
Day 17 - 6 miles
Day 18 - 6 miles
Day 19 - 4 miles
Day 20 - 3 miles
Day 21 - 4.3 miles
Day 22 - 5 miles
Day 23 - 4.21 miles
Day 24 - 3.3 miles
Day 25 - 1 mile
Day 26 - 7.5 miles
Day 27 - 4 miles
Day 28 - 5 miles
Day 29 - 6 miles

Total 125 miles

A five mile run on Day 28 of Janthon 2011

2011-01-28T14:45:00.001Z

Nippy this morning but there was a job to be done and that was to run for the 28th day in a row. Fortunately I am not feeling any aches or pains and with just a long week end to go I am not finding it is a problem to get out the door and run.

Running everyday and then blogging about it gives you a purpose , a reason to get out of bed and be motivated and to see just what your body can stand up to. Its not a bad habit to have and I can certainly think of far worse habits . However on February 1st I don't think I will run, instead I will have my first rest day of the year. Part of me thinks well why not just carry on and extend the running streak beyond 31 days. However a better training programme that isn't a total obsession does allow for rest days to rest the body and mind.

My 5 mile run today was enjoyable and I am running a little quicker than at the beginning of the month.

Day 1 - 5 miles
Day 2 - 5 miles
Day 3 - 4 miles
Day 4 - 4 miles
Day 5 - 3 miles
Day 6 - 2.52 miles
Day 7 - 7 miles
Day 8 - 3.5 miles
Day 9 - 2 miles
Day 10 - 4 miles
Day 11 - 4 miles
Day 12 - 8 miles
Day 13 - 3 miles
Day 14 - 4 miles
Day 15 - 3 miles
Day 16 - 4 miles
Day 17 - 6 miles
Day 18 - 6 miles
Day 19 - 4 miles
Day 20 - 3 miles
Day 21 - 4.3 miles
Day 22 - 5 miles
Day 23 - 4.21 miles
Day 24 - 3.3 miles
Day 25 - 1 mile
Day 26 - 7.5 miles
Day 27 - 4 miles
Day 28 - 5 miles

Total 119 miles

Janathon Day 27 - A four Mile Run

2011-01-27T15:35:00.000Z

For some reason day 27 of Janathon produced my fastest run this year. I didn't set out to do a speed or interval session but felt pretty good despite the cold edge to the weather which lead me to wear gloves and a jacket over a thermal top.

I ran my 4 miles in 34.37 for an 8.39 pace which I am happy with in comparison to most of my training which has hovered around the 9 min mile mark. Looking at my diary I am still 2 minutes down on a year ago when I would regularly do a 4 mile training run in around 32 minutes. Since having both sciatica and then plantar fascitiis last year I have never felt able to reproduce this level of performance and I have come to conclude that I just might be able to again.

The 4 miles gave me a Janathon running total of 114 miles which puts me around 20th in the table if you count just the running. I am 260 miles behind the leader so I might not catch up!

I have got into the habit of taking the Neovite after each run and got more used to the taste which is quite refreshing.

Just 4 days left and I am already beginning to get withdrawal symptoms. What am I going to do instead? I need to find a new challenge any Janathoners have any plans? Still haven't decided what to do on Monday the final day of Janathon. Though I think it needs to be something different or special.

Day 1 - 5 miles
Day 2 - 5 miles
Day 3 - 4 miles
Day 4 - 4 miles
Day 5 - 3 miles
Day 6 - 2.52 miles
Day 7 - 7 miles
Day 8 - 3.5 miles
Day 9 - 2 miles
Day 10 - 4 miles
Day 11 - 4 miles
Day 12 - 8 miles
Day 13 - 3 miles
Day 14 - 4 miles
Day 15 - 3 miles
Day 16 - 4 miles
Day 17 - 6 miles
Day 18 - 6 miles
Day 19 - 4 miles
Day 20 - 3 miles
Day 21 - 4.3 miles
Day 22 - 5 miles
Day 23 - 4.21 miles
Day 24 - 3.3 miles
Day 25 - 1 mile
Day 26 - 7.5 miles
Day 27 - 4 miles

Total 114 miles

Janathon Day 26 and The Morning Parade

2011-01-26T13:01:00.002Z

Sicklesmere

My running streak continued with a 7.5 mile run this morning on day 26 of Janathon. It was another overcast day and after yesterdays short run I felt suitably revived to do a longer run and decided on an out and back route to Sicklesmere.

Sicklesmere is really no more than a street you pass through on the road between Bury St Edmunds and Sudbury. As soon as you venture of the main road in Sicklesmere you enter Lt Whelnethum or
Gt Whelnethum.Sicklesmere also has a pub named the Rushbrooke Arms although the village of Rushbrooke is a mile or two away.

Running along the pathway besides the main A134 road can be noisy so it called for use of the headphones this morning to drown out the traffic noise. Listened to one of my favourite new bands that I saw last year Morning Parade. About to tour in February in support of their second single video below.

Morning Parade at Latitude Festival

I got my run done with no problems or aches and pains and with just 5 more runs I am beginning to think and hope I might just complete my first Janathon. I hope that is not tempting fate.

Day 1 - 5 miles
Day 2 - 5 miles
Day 3 - 4 miles
Day 4 - 4 miles
Day 5 - 3 miles
Day 6 - 2.52 miles
Day 7 - 7 miles
Day 8 - 3.5 miles
Day 9 - 2 miles
Day 10 - 4 miles
Day 11 - 4 miles
Day 12 - 8 miles
Day 13 - 3 miles
Day 14 - 4 miles
Day 15 - 3 miles
Day 16 - 4 miles
Day 17 - 6 miles
Day 18 - 6 miles
Day 19 - 4 miles
Day 20 - 3 miles
Day 21 - 4.3 miles
Day 22 - 5 miles
Day 23 - 4.21 miles
Day 24 - 3.3 miles
Day 25 - 1 mile
Day 26 - 7.5 miles

Total 110 miles

One Slow Janathon Mile and Podiobooks

2011-01-25T16:02:00.000Z

Day 25 of Janathon and this morning with little time to spare I managed to fit in a mile between needing to visit the town centre in Bury St Edmunds and then drive over to Ipswich.

This is the lowest mileage I have done in a day in January and perhaps the wheels have finally come off as we enter the final straight of this Janathon event. I hope not. Tomorrow I am hoping for renewed energy and to do a longer run .

Thanks for your comments and interest yesterday in the Neovite product - Midgie, Martyn, Lena and Ian I have never taken a food supplement before and am open minded as to whether this will achieve any results. I would presume it would take a few weeks/months before I would expect to notice anything. From what I have read some claim a noticeable improvement in running performance with improved times, some just noticed a better resistance to colds and others were not sure if it achieved anything. Pity really that I am only now trying it as I need the pick me up right now in this final Janathon week.

I did reach and pass the 100 mile mark yesterday for miles run in January. Thanks for words of encouragement from Midgie,Martyn,Lena and Ian above and also There's a six pack under here, abradypus.

Thanks to Eating trees for the advice on wearing glasses in the rain. I don't own a baseball cap but perhaps I need to get one. I can see the advantages in warm and wet weather. I will certainly give the washing up liquid trick a go before tomorrows run and feedback after a while.

Over the last few days while I have been running I have been listening to an audio book. I really do recommend a site called Podiobooks.com. It is totally free to download audio books with the typical range of genre from Fiction,Fantasy,Historical Fiction,Mystery,Factual,Science Fiction to name but a few. The blurb from their site states

"Why are authors making these versions available for free? Many authors do this to get exposure for their work, others do it in the hopes you'll buy a physical copy of their current or perhaps next work in development. Still others simply do it for the sheer joy of writing. And while it's not required, you have the option to donate money to the author of your choice."

You can click and listen to a book on your computer or click the Itunes button to subscribe for free to receive chapters of a book when they are released.

Listening to a book is good fun on a run and If I can recommend one author to you then it would be Nathan Lowell. The genre is science fiction and his stories of the golden age of the solar clipper are excellent.

Day 1 - 5 miles
Day 2 - 5 miles
Day 3 - 4 miles
Day 4 - 4 miles
Day 5 - 3 miles
Day 6 - 2.52 miles
Day 7 - 7 miles
Day 8 - 3.5 miles
Day 9 - 2 miles
Day 10 - 4 miles
Day 11 - 4 miles
Day 12 - 8 miles
Day 13 - 3 miles
Day 14 - 4 miles
Day 15 - 3 miles
Day 16 - 4 miles
Day 17 - 6 miles
Day 18 - 6 miles
Day 19 - 4 miles
Day 20 - 3 miles
Day 21 - 4.3 miles
Day 22 - 5 miles
Day 23 - 4.21 miles
Day 24 - 3.3 miles
Day 25 - 1 mile

Total 103 miles

Neovite - Food for Health & Performance

2011-01-24T15:08:00.001Z

Day 24 of Janathon and I am feeling physically quite tired now. After 24 days of continuous running, today was one of those runs when I had no problem getting out the door but I found myself going through the motions. My energy levels seem all used up and I ground to a halt after 3 and a bit miles.

So probably a good time to try a product which arrived in the post over the weekend called Neovite. As a runner with a blog I have been sent this product to review.

I have not heard of it before but it is said to be a food for health and performance. Neovite is in fact something called colostrum which is cow's milk collected in the first days after calving and is said to be an exceptional source of nutrition. Colostrum is rich in bio active protective agents , antibodies and repair factors. From what I can see the benefits listed on the web from taking colostrum include

:-Anti-Inflammatory,Allergy Relief,Alzheimer’s Disease and Cognitive disorders, Antioxidants, Anti-aging, Arthritis, Asthma, Athletic Performance, Autoimmune Diseases, Cancer, Detoxification, Diabetes, Heart Health, Pain Management,Skin Health and Wound Healing

Pretty impressive if it can do even 1-2 of those listed. I can't see there are any side effects unless you have a diary intolerance .

After to days run I opened a rather large 300g sachet of the protein powder and added a table spoon to a half point of water and gave it a good stir. I drank it and it has to be said it is rather tasteless. If anything the closest taste would be drinking powdered milk which is of course what it is. Not unpleasant but obviously comes as a neutral flavour so you can add the product to other foods such as mixing with yogurt or porridge .

I don't know how long you are supposed to take Neovite before you notice any effect but if it helps as it suggests to neutralise toxins and destroy bacteria and viruses, repair cells and help you recovery from injury and effort then as I say this has got to be ideal after 24 days of running.

I will continue to take the recommended dessertspoon full once a day and see how it goes and report back if I notice anything though I imagine it might take a few weeks and hopefully will just help me to avoid a cold whilst my energy levels are quite low at the end of Janathon.

From what I can see a 300g sachet of Neovite would set you back around £20-25.

A Successful Week of Running

2011-01-23T12:11:00.000Z

The end of another weeks running and my running diary shows 7 days of running for a total of 32.5 miles. I got in a short interval session and a hill session and most importantly I recorded runs for everyday and so I am still on course to complete Janathon and run every day in January.

There are just 8 days to go now and barring an injury or illness I hope to be crossing the finish line on January 31st. If I am lucky enough to get that far I will have to think what kind of running session I will do next Monday week. Anyone else thinking about how to sign off Janathon in style?

Today I ran an easy paced 4 and a bit miles. It was grey but milder than yesterday as I didn't need any gloves and hat. Good to see so many runners out and about in Bury St Edmunds.

Tomorrow I should pass the 100 mile mark for my running in January. I realise that this is low compared to many and more than some but the main target for me has always been just to try and complete Janathon.

Next week I would like to run at least 32 miles and ideally 34. However it is set to be a busy week with a lot of commitments so it is going to be tough on some days to get the runs in. By hook or by crook I will do it though! Good luck to everyone who has got this far and for the remainder of January

Day 1 - 5 miles
Day 2 - 5 miles
Day 3 - 4 miles
Day 4 - 4 miles
Day 5 - 3 miles
Day 6 - 2.52 miles
Day 7 - 7 miles
Day 8 - 3.5 miles
Day 9 - 2 miles
Day 10 - 4 miles
Day 11 - 4 miles
Day 12 - 8 miles
Day 13 - 3 miles
Day 14 - 4 miles
Day 15 - 3 miles
Day 16 - 4 miles
Day 17 - 6 miles
Day 18 - 6 miles
Day 19 - 4 miles
Day 20 - 3 miles
Day 21 - 4.3 miles
Day 22 - 5 miles
Day 23 - 4.21 miles

Total 98.5 miles