Man V2

Crashing through over-training.

mysteryn11@gmail.com (Nathan Bunting) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 12:46:00 +0000

I'm bloody crashing. Badly. My moods are all over the place, mostly angry. OK. I've managed to train for 45 days without a day off but now I think I need an entire week off to recover. I'll keep you posted as to how things work out.

Anima Sana In Corpore Sano

mysteryn11@gmail.com (Nathan Bunting) — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 09:49:00 +0000

Week 29 / back from holidays.

mysteryn11@gmail.com (Nathan Bunting) — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 08:02:00 +0000

The first week back at work was not very productive. July is what the Norwegians call “felles ferie” in Bergen which is the traditional month where the entire country goes on holiday. I have to admit that I sometimes find it hard to motivate myself at work when there is very little happening around me. That is quite odd because at the same time I am able to continually motivate myself in other areas of my life, even through slack or quieter periods. I suppose this means that I have it in me to do the same at work but I just can’t gain traction. I wonder if it is too much to expect to be able to motivate myself in every area of my life? This shouldn’t be the case as activity begets activity doesn’t it?

The week went really well in regards to training. This is week one marathon training for the Oslo Marathon 2011 on the 27th of September. I will be adding an overview of my training methods for this year’s race so won’t go into them too much here but variation is the keyword this year. So I ran a couple of 10 KM free runs, a short hill running session, five yasso 800s and a 21 KM long run. I didn’t get any core or resistance training in this week.

I had a lot of late nights. I really have to change that. I had some fun at my band’s rehearsal on Wednesday, practiced guitar every day and managed some self-study on nutrition.

Norway was struck by a mass-murderer who blew up offices of a political party and killed many children. The death toll has risen to 91 people. This is going to change the country in so many ways, but at the moment people are just trying to deal with it. I was at a dinner party on Saturday and that was the only topic of conversation. Life and death tend to put everything else in perspective but, the recent terrorist action in London and Sweden has left me a little numbed to the shock.

A week which is best described as a transition.

I happened upon this excellent article.

mysteryn11@gmail.com (Nathan Bunting) — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 09:15:00 +0000

Developing mental toughness. This is an amazing article.

http://frayedlaces.blogspot.com/2011/07/developing-mental-toughness-in-running.html

Running shoe research.

mysteryn11@gmail.com (Nathan Bunting) — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 13:25:00 +0000

http://www.therunningadvisor.com/running_shoes.html#pronation

Running form.

mysteryn11@gmail.com (Nathan Bunting) — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 21:32:00 +0000

I had an excellent run today and it was such a relief. I have had one of those really nasty dips in form which had me worried. It's not that I'm concerned about my next scheduled race. That is the Oslo marathon at the end of September and I'm not going to really start a training schedule for that until the end of June. It's just that I hate the idea that the work that I've put in over the last few months isn't leading to improvement.
I had an excellent race with my brother in Exeter which was probably the most important race for me this year even though it was a half marathon. It was his first, but it was the experience of running it with him and helping him get through it that meant so much.

Anyway, tonight was a 55 minute 10 km so that was not bad and I'm back to feeling good about my form again.

2011 what are you up to Nate?

mysteryn11@gmail.com (Nathan Bunting) — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 10:24:00 +0000

2011 is looking extremely good. How about that for a positive start to this entry? I’m talking both about generally – I’m feeling very focused, creative and excited about everything in my life, and also specifically about body and mind fitness. I have made some changes last year which I am starting to reap the rewards of now.

Last year I went over to an extremely strict low carbohydrate diet. I had already cut out a significant amount of starch and grain based carbohydrates, so it wasn’t a big change to go over to a diet based on a maximum of 21 grams of carbohydrates and high fat diet. I am sure it is a much harder process for those who go directly from a 1960s-style carbohydrate rich diet over to Atkins or a similar lifestyle. I found it quite easy. I’ve been rewarded with a completely stable body weight and incredibly stable energy levels – even whilst heavily exercising or endurance running.

A recent change I made to my training is incorporating base fitness, interval and circuit based training into my schedule. Initially this was by taking a course called “Nike Training for Runners” at the local branch of the Scandinavian gym franchise “Sats”. It is really just clever marketing for interval-based core or base level fitness training. We did 9 separate exercises as intervals at an extremely high intensity – running leg kicks, hopping and landing on one foot whilst holding balance, superman push-ups and other types of exercises. Interval training is something I have been sorely lacking. I was rewarded with huge speed benefits on my runs. I had been getting slower and slower on my all of my training runs and races since my peak in 2009. This has completely kicked me up onto a new level. I shaved 5 minutes off my 10 KMs and up 20 minutes from my 21 KMs! Unfortunately the Nike training has now ended for the season but it has been replaced with cross-training – another circuit-based session which is more focused on core strength and performed using the Japanese tabata method of intervals. This is looking promising too. I have become really inspired by changing my training methods after these gains and I have introduced one day a week of hill intervals again. Roughly speaking this is 10 km of hill runs with 6 repetitions of 0.8 KM sprints up the hill and 6 repetitions of 0.8 KM downhill recovery. My heart rate seems to be around 120-130 on the recovery and up to 170 on the uphill sprints at the moment. After my 1st of May race I will be introducing Yasso 800s which will be something completely new. The definitive definition and information seems to be on Made To Run. I’m saving these for training for the Oslo marathon in September.

I have a 21 KM race coming up which I am running in Exeter on the 1st of May for the chance of supporting my brother’s first ever half-marathon race. I’m so proud of him. He completed his first 10 KM last year and now he has hopped right into the half. It is going to be so much fun running with him.

Talking of which – here is an excellent calculator which can help with your own training. The Training Pace Calculator is particularly good.

It is going to be a good summer.

I'm back! So lets begin from the bottom.

mysteryn11@gmail.com (Nathan Bunting) — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 23:07:00 +0000

I have been away from this blogg for a while. I think I lost a lot of focus during 2010. It culminated in a desperate reshuffle of my priorities and a complete refocus. I now feel ready to start writing again. But now it is bed time.

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Overtraining

mysteryn11@gmail.com (Nathan Bunting) — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 08:43:00 +0000

Looking into the theory of overtraining.

http://sportsmedicine.about.com/cs/overtraining/a/aa062499a.htm

Yoga Stretches for Runners at Runner's World

mysteryn11@gmail.com (Nathan Bunting) — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 11:41:00 +0000

Yoga Stretches for Runners at Runner's World

Tips on becoming a yogi

mysteryn11@gmail.com (Nathan Bunting) — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 08:55:00 +0000

This hilarious Wiki-How article attempts to distill 1000s of years of yogic scientific theory to a 6 point list. Worth a read. The subtext of what it suggests of modern society I will save for a later comment

http://www.wikihow.com/Be-a-Yogi

New essay in the works: running with an injury part 2

mysteryn11@gmail.com (Nathan Bunting) — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 09:08:00 +0000

It’s that time of year again! After the racing season I’ve been left with two problem areas in my legs which need addressing. Glancing back through previous posts from October 2009 I found the “Running with injury” post I made which was a fine, short introduction but we runners deserve more! Watch this space for a follow-up where I plan to flesh-out approaches for dealing with aches, pains and actual injuries.

Interval Workouts on the Garmin 405.

mysteryn11@gmail.com (Nathan Bunting) — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 13:44:00 +0000

As you will have seen in my last post I am working on intervals for the next four weeks. I use a Garmin Forerunner 405, which I am very satisfied with. I found this cool little tutorial on setting up interval training on the 405.

I thoroughly recommend the Forerunner 405 (or it’s new revision the 405 CX). A great piece of kit to help get the most out of your workouts.

I will be adding some tutorials of my own to the Garmin in upcoming ManV2 TV Episodes.

It actually seems incredibly easy to set up an interval training on the 405, however I would have liked to be able to add the warm-up and cool-down in kilometers instead of having to do so manually.

Autumn / Winter training plan for speed & strength. Want to join in?

mysteryn11@gmail.com (Nathan Bunting) — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 12:00:00 +0000

The leaves are changing colour, I’ve finished the Oslo Marathon and I have no more races planned for the year. It is time to put together an autumn training plan which will to move me forward. I’m going to share my plan over the next few posts – if you are looking for inspiration, and your goals fit with mine, nothing would make me happier than sharing it and getting feedback from you as we progress. I will even throw in following you up if you comment this or the following posts or write me an e-mail to manv2.blogspot@gmail.com.

With this post I will explain my goals, a rough summary of what kind of training I have planned and my activities. In the next post I’ll explain any changes I have made to the plan after testing it for a week.

Goals autumn /winter 2010/11

1. I want to improve my race pace at marathon distance. I want to go from a 05:37 minutes per KM pace (10.7 KM per hour) to a 05:13 minutes per KM pace (11.5 km per hour) by June 2011.

2. I want to introduce effective interval training back into my workouts to supplement my endurance and hill running training.

3. I want to build upper body strength to stop the loss of muscle mass due to concentrating on running training by reintroducing resistance (strength) workouts, three times per week.

4. I want to increase flexibility and relaxation of my muscles through stretching or yoga workouts – once or twice a week.

Plan

1. / 2. introduce two interval sessions per week. 10 with a 2 KM warm up at 6 minute per KM pace. Then I shall run 1 KM at the new race pace, 1.5 KM at 6 min pace, 1 km new pace, 1.5 km 6 min pace, 1 km at new pace, 2 KM warm down at 6 min pace.

This shall increase to 16 KM total with 5 1 km intervals after three weeks.

This will supplement two 16 km restitution runs per week and one long run of 21 km – 35 km every week.

3. I shall train upper body: chest / shoulders, Biceps /triceps, core during three sessions per week. I will post this training plan as a follow-up post.

4. I shall train Ashtanga yoga for 1.5 hours, twice per week.

Logging

Every training will be logged – running via Garmin Connect, strength training via Google Docs.

Want to join in?

Let me know by mail or comment if you are interested in joining in and receiving free weekly follow-ups by e-mail.

With Mr. Bunting senior.

mysteryn11@gmail.com (Nathan Bunting) — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 21:31:00 +0000

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Oslo marathon 2010

mysteryn11@gmail.com (Nathan Bunting) — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 21:27:00 +0000

It is over. I ran a sub par 4:21 minutes. I had caught some kind of stomach virus and I woke the morning of the big day feeling nauseous and weak.

The race began really well but I felt the effort of maintaining a 5.15 pace. That had been easy during training but suddenly I felt muscles in my stomach twisting. I complained to my partner and father of an uncommon stitch in my stomach at the 21st but ran on. From then on I began throwing up over five times until kilometre 32. With each vomiting attack I was left dehydrated and weakened. My partner looked very concerned as I arrived with blood running from my nose. I explained this was. probably from the wrenching vomiting, but she looked skeptical as I ran on.

I crossed the finish line, weak but content. The ending of a big race is so relaxing. I am sitting here in a big recliner, drinking a cup of tea with no athletic goal for a while.

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Scared? Me?

mysteryn11@gmail.com (Nathan Bunting) — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 19:37:00 +0000

As the marathon approaches I feel unsure. As unsure as last year? That is probably hard to quantify. Is it butterflies or genuine concern? That is the real question.
This site is about integrating the body and the mind. They feed each other and we grow. They reflect each other. The nervousness in my mind appears in my body as all manner of aches, ticks and stiffness. Weird knee? Three days ago. Stiff ankle? Last week. None of them are at all significant. I know this body nervousness like I remember an old bully from school. Hated and never forgotten.
I read somewhere (sorry I’ve forgotten where) that this is all part of the experience. It is typical to reach a self-doubt fuelled, twitchy excitement before the skyrocket high of the event. I think I felt that last year, but it is hard to remember. Incidentally, I really do think that adrenaline and endorphins pumping through our bodies destroy our memories. Honestly, it couldn’t be an age thing.
No running for the rest of the week now. It is going to be hard to rest up for that long but it will help me run race strongly. That is what I am going to make happen.
Yes. I am a bit scared.

New videos coming

mysteryn11@gmail.com (Nathan Bunting) — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 18:23:00 +0000

I have a couple of ideas for some new videos which are going to veer in style from the types I’ve published before. I want to develop the videos as I find them a really creative form of getting my ideas onto the web.

Vblog #4

mysteryn11@gmail.com (Nathan Bunting) — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 15:40:00 +0000

New video post! Vblog #4

Music, podcasts & looking at my own behaviour.

mysteryn11@gmail.com (Nathan Bunting) — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 22:02:00 +0000

I am a musician and I love music. I take the most intense pleasure from compiling play-lists, searching out bands that I think will kick my running into the stratosphere. During the winter last year I only listened to running pod-casts. I had run a marathon in the autumn and decided to do another locally, very quickly afterwards. The euphoria of running my first marathon had gradually worn off and the prospect of the local run was daunting. There was snow up to my ankles for the entire build-up. Training had taken on a very different feeling. One of the slog. I was probably looking for inspiration when I started listening to runners like Steve with Phedippidations and Nigel with Running From The Reaper. Their podcasts reignited my love for running, probably through identifying with their similarly passionate love of running and their use of narrow-casting. I am still amazed at the quality of content that a podcaster can create week after week.

I notice I'm doing the same thing this year, this time before the marathon. That is either a good thing or a sign of struggle. I really don't know which, though the audio books I am listening to are about running: 50/50, Once A Runner, and Born To Run, so I think I'm slogging again. I feel very positive, but one thing I know is that my training often mirrors my life. Out of sorts with the runs and I am always out of sorts with my life. Slogging in life is probably due to arriving home from a fantastic, restful holiday and getting back into life's normal routines again. What I want to would like to happen is that the marathon becomes an autumn clean sweep for my training which will reflect back on life ignite some passion there too. I have a few ideas, returning to the gym and working on core, mixing in some cycling and swimming to mix things up a bit or even just training for speed and see what I can do with 10 km over the winter. Training needs structure sometimes, and it needs to be a game after this marathon. I am ready to mix it up a bit, and see what happens. Rock on!

Band of heroes

mysteryn11@gmail.com (Nathan Bunting) — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 21:01:00 +0000

I have suffered from choosing the wrong role models in my life. I take full responsibility for that. After all, it is not their fault. If I look back I can see that I chose self-destructive, cool, bohemian pained types. Burning bright, creative but on a road to destruction.

I have not abandoned any of these anti-heroes as I have side-stepped from a doomed road to oblivion - I still love my punk singers, drug fueled writers and cracked actors, but they are there in the back of my mind like reminders of who I was. I have no regrets and they share my mind now with athletes, masters and conscientious political rebels.

Now, some of my heroes have also grown, changed, but in my mind they remain frozen in time, representing the vast distance between what I was then and now.

No regrets, as what I was has made me what I am. I am keeping my old heroes, but maybe Prefontaine is in there trying to persuade Sid Viscous to go for a run tomorrow over a beer.

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First Droid post

mysteryn11@gmail.com (Nathan Bunting) — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 18:58:00 +0000

I've just installed Blogger-Droid and this is my first post. hopefully it will mean I can be a little more frequent with my posts. :)

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Man V2 - Episode 4

mysteryn11@gmail.com (Nathan Bunting) — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 22:20:00 +0000

In this episode I take you through my views on hill training, I get burned out, bummed out, rise again and I show you more of the remarkable things I experience whilst running. Rock on!

Vblog #3

mysteryn11@gmail.com (Nathan Bunting) — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 21:02:00 +0000

In this video log I admit to something I did which was irresponsible and explain my reasons for trying it. Sometimes, however structured my training is at the time, I suddenly get the urge to shake things up a little. I push a little too long, run a little too often, take a break, take a spinning class or go cycling. This time I did something way out of the ordinary and with an element of risk.

It is now roughly three weeks until I toe the line again in Oslo for the marathon.

My training plan this year has been very different. Different as this year I feel I have been training for 11 months. The time since my last Oslo race. I have turned it over and over in my mind, experimented with new training methods like interval hill runs, running every day, running every other day, varied tempos and distances, run in ankle deep snow, run with studs, run barefoot and at a running track.

This year has been one of experimentation so it seems fitting that even the race should be experimental. It will be very different next year where I may start weight training, swimming, yoga and cycling to try to build my overall form for running. It will be, as it was last year, a transition into something new. A new year for a new approach to training. I alternate daily between excitement and a feeling of loss, as I do at the end of anything. I think the excitement will build and push away the feeling of loss as I get to the other side.

Interesting looking book on Paleo diets for athletes

mysteryn11@gmail.com (Nathan Bunting) — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 12:06:00 +0000

http://www.thepaleodiet.com/paleo_books/forathletes.shtml