A very busy week at work and training this week. The sponsorship at this stage is going well, we have had £1,200 donated so far towards my target of £2,000. I've been amazed by the support and generosity of everyone and t really does help me get out and train knowing that.
The short 30 minute runs are really helping my cardio work now, my heart rate is noticably lower and my stamina and speed are increasing. Toda I ran 7.5 mile in 69 minutes and felt pretty good afterwards. There is no way I can run at this pace in the race as I'd burn out, but knowing how far I was running meant I could push things and I was pleased with the result.
We're only three more weekends away before the big race - next weekend will see my last long run - a 20 miler and after that I start to wind things down endurance wise to build up energy and keep the cardio work going.
I'm now really paying attention to what I am eating and drinking to compliment that and will increase this with two weeks to go.
Thank you once again to all of you who have supported me through sponsorship so far!
Sunday 29 March 2009
Sunday 22 March 2009
Cranking it up....
First major run with new shoes today - 15 miles. After Silverstone last weekend this is now getting into the serious part of training, Still need o do my base cardio runs but now conditioning my body to distance and building up endurance is key. I will build up the miles in the next two runs to hit 20 miles and then start to back down in preparatio for the big day.
My number in the marathon came through today - 2449 and I'm going from the Red Start. We've also started discussing viewing on the day - I really want my family there around 17 - 18 miles as this is when I need that extra support - they want to be there at the finish as well but I always find this so emotional I'll be even more of a wreck!
Anyway - today 15 miles in 2 hours 40 minutes which I was happy with. I'd LOVE to break 5 hours on the day so this wasn;t a bad effort - the real thing is another 11 miles though!
New trainers were good, but feet a bit sore from breaking them in. My energy levels and pace were good and my knees just about held up - might need to look at supporting them more.
Knowing I now have people sponsoring me and supporting me gives me a massive lift and drive. It gets me out the door and doing this. Thank you, all of you who have donated so generously already!
My number in the marathon came through today - 2449 and I'm going from the Red Start. We've also started discussing viewing on the day - I really want my family there around 17 - 18 miles as this is when I need that extra support - they want to be there at the finish as well but I always find this so emotional I'll be even more of a wreck!
Anyway - today 15 miles in 2 hours 40 minutes which I was happy with. I'd LOVE to break 5 hours on the day so this wasn;t a bad effort - the real thing is another 11 miles though!
New trainers were good, but feet a bit sore from breaking them in. My energy levels and pace were good and my knees just about held up - might need to look at supporting them more.
Knowing I now have people sponsoring me and supporting me gives me a massive lift and drive. It gets me out the door and doing this. Thank you, all of you who have donated so generously already!
Sponsorship: Lets Play! Project
We're finally up and running with sponsorship: http://www.justgiving/matthewizzard
This year I've chosen a very special charity. In the past I've done things every couple of years and raised money for national charities, which is fine but you never see a direct benefit of your actions. I have chosen Lets Play! project in Banbury as some close frends of mine have two autistic children who gain so much from going to this group and learning and developing through playing. They are a small group and anything we can raise will halp an amazing amount.
In turn this motivates me which is important when the miles get tough - I'm never going to say I find running easy but knowing what an effect your help will have drives me tremendously.
Please visit my sponsorship page, please give generously - every pound helps and is appreciated by real people that will see a real benefit because of what you have done.
Thank you!
This year I've chosen a very special charity. In the past I've done things every couple of years and raised money for national charities, which is fine but you never see a direct benefit of your actions. I have chosen Lets Play! project in Banbury as some close frends of mine have two autistic children who gain so much from going to this group and learning and developing through playing. They are a small group and anything we can raise will halp an amazing amount.
In turn this motivates me which is important when the miles get tough - I'm never going to say I find running easy but knowing what an effect your help will have drives me tremendously.
Please visit my sponsorship page, please give generously - every pound helps and is appreciated by real people that will see a real benefit because of what you have done.
Thank you!
Tuesday 17 March 2009
New Shoes!
A day of great excitement yesterday - after the Silverstone run I felt really good apart from some delicate knees and went to NikeTown in Oxford Circus for my trainers to run in on the big day. I had originally decided to go to the London Marathon Shop but it was way over in Covent Garden so convienence lead me to Nike.
I wanted to use their machine which videos your gait to see which trainers are best for you. It was amazing - straight away you could see when I ran I rolled my ankle from right to left and put a load of stress on my shins and knees (hense the pain!) and lost a lot of power.
I was recommended a pir that eliminated the roll and had a higher instep to support me and wow - what a difference! They are by far the most expensive trainers I have ever bought (£95) but they feel like a sock and help my running no end - today I ran 5k in 30 minutes and felt fine afterwards so money well spent.
To anyone looking to do something like this I would always now recommend doing this as soon as you start training. The shoes are good for about 400 miles so when you start to crank up the miles they really come into their own.
I wanted to use their machine which videos your gait to see which trainers are best for you. It was amazing - straight away you could see when I ran I rolled my ankle from right to left and put a load of stress on my shins and knees (hense the pain!) and lost a lot of power.
I was recommended a pir that eliminated the roll and had a higher instep to support me and wow - what a difference! They are by far the most expensive trainers I have ever bought (£95) but they feel like a sock and help my running no end - today I ran 5k in 30 minutes and felt fine afterwards so money well spent.
To anyone looking to do something like this I would always now recommend doing this as soon as you start training. The shoes are good for about 400 miles so when you start to crank up the miles they really come into their own.
Sunday 15 March 2009
Silverstone Half-Marathon
What a great week after the downers of the last two. I played badminton on Monday, football Wednesday and did a 30 minute 3 mile run Friday - all with no ill effects. I even managed some early night, a good diet AND no alchohol for the week! Net result - lost half-a-stone.
Anyway roll on today, and what a great one. Roger, Julian, Mandy, Emily and myslef all went to ilverstone Race Circuit for the Adidas Half-Marathon - ideal to guage our fitnes ahead of Paris and London respectively.
We all line up at the start - delayed by 15 minutes as there were over 10,000 of us and it was hot and sunny - not great for running! My plan was damage limitation, no tweaks or strains and so I took the fit 3 fairly easy - 10.30's. 3-6 were a good steady 10.30 - 10.45 pace and I felt fine apart from some tuummy cramps from over oing the sit-ups. This route took up around the circuit itself for 1 lap, then around the inner roads. I took Lucozade on at 6 miles.
A great boost at 7 was seeing my family cheering me on - even though my eldest, Emily shouted out "Well done Daddy. Hurry up, Roger ran past AGES ago!" It was awful hearing the tannoy announce the leaders were finishing at this stage - just an hour in!
I saw them again at 10 by which time I was just about touching 11 minutes per mil but no side effects which was great. I knew my pace wasn;t awesome but I had not stopped and didn't feel like it - more Lucozade!
The final 3 miles were back onto the circuit - and this was another big boost, nearly home. My legs were feeling heavy but my energy levels felt good - the heat wore me doen a lot. However, I was determined to finish in style and managed a kind of sprint finish at the end - not quite Lewis Hamilton but a great feeling. We then wen't to the pits to ollect our bags and rendezvous with the family.
The Lost Boys - the Three Peaks Band back together - Rog in 2.08, me in 2.24 and Jules in a great 1.50.
I felt great afterwards, no pulled muscles, twinges, blisers etc, but the London Marathon is now only 5 weeks away and I have to do twice tis distance. Thats the scary thing, I really need to start carting in some distance runs now - and the plan next week is to buy proper trainers to help as well!
For thiose interested this was the route:
Sunday 8 March 2009
Relief!
I can;t even begin to explain the elation I felt earlier today. I had done no training for 2 weeks after getting shin splints and having to rest. This was so very hard as I could see the dates for the Half-Marathon and the Marathon getting closer and closer, and my friends who are running getting further and further in their training. For me even walking was very painful and extraordinarily fustrating.
Today was really a make or break day, the Half-Marathon in next weekend and I knew that if I had any pain today then I would not be able to run and make reaching the start line of the Marathon incredibly challenging.
The sun shone, I took it easy and it was one of the most enjoyable runs I have ever done. I ended up running for 7.2 miles in 1hr 20 minutes and almost did another 4 but decided to be sensible. No pain, low heart rate and felt just great. All those demons from the last two weeks just fell away - I felt like I'd won a race when I got home, just so happy.
This has now given mea massive lift and stimulous to really push forwards. I know I can do this, I know I have to build up carefully to avoid further injury, but thnks to God, today felt amazing!
Today was really a make or break day, the Half-Marathon in next weekend and I knew that if I had any pain today then I would not be able to run and make reaching the start line of the Marathon incredibly challenging.
The sun shone, I took it easy and it was one of the most enjoyable runs I have ever done. I ended up running for 7.2 miles in 1hr 20 minutes and almost did another 4 but decided to be sensible. No pain, low heart rate and felt just great. All those demons from the last two weeks just fell away - I felt like I'd won a race when I got home, just so happy.
This has now given mea massive lift and stimulous to really push forwards. I know I can do this, I know I have to build up carefully to avoid further injury, but thnks to God, today felt amazing!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)