jackets – Stuart's London Marathon Training and fundraising Blog

48403400_10157354927904305_5611285694602280960_o — A thing on the wall in the Nike shop

That’s the end of the first week of training, it went alright I think. The way my training is written out it seems Sundays should mark the end of the week but I like to think of Sundays as the start of a new week so I am doing it this way!

Monday saw me doing 30 minutes of “conditioning” work. I am not too sure what is meant by that, the internet throws up many different ideas – one of the things seems to be press ups and stuff like that, I am not so sure I can do them anymore so I am just going to do a really gentle run on conditioning days. At the moment I am doing most of my running on a treadmill because it is nice and warm in the Aquatec gym and there are no hills – I don’t like cold or hills but I know I will need to dry my eyes and deal with them at some point.

Tuesday was 40 minutes at “easy” pace. I did 7.5 km in 41 minutes, it felt easy enough so I figured I had done ok. I am not sure if this is normal but sometimes the start of a run, the first kilometre or so feel hardest – then I seem to settle down and it gets easier – who knows?

Wednesday I was to do a gym class or cross training for half an hour. I hate the cross trainer, I went on it for about 3 minutes but couldn’t get going well at all. So I just did a 30 minute run instead. Is the reason I am to mix it up with cross training and stuff so that I don’t over-run and hurt myself? I will need to get that sorted.

Thursday I had to do 10 minutes easy, 10 minutes steady then 10 minutes easy. This was not bad. I chose 10.5 km/h for easy and 11.5 km/h for steady. I think 12 km/h is my threshold pace for when I have to do that. Again, this was not bad.

Friday was a rest day – I celebrated by going to Dunoon and visiting Anselmos for the first time in years! It has been taken over by someone else and the sausages have changed. Anselmos always had different sausages but now they just have the ordinary battered ones you get everywhere else – progress! Apart from that the new menu and everything looked great – as always, a tasty dinner, my dad’s haggis looked amazing, I have never had haggis from a chip shop.

Onto Saturday, 30 minutes cross training or gym class, I went for a parkrun. I think I will always do this on a Saturday. Parkrun today was a lot quieter than usual today, probably due to the horrendous weather forecast and cold wind, hail, snow, freezing rain and rain.

48374376_10157354931429305_7924827497118564352_o — A hardy bunch in lesser numbers today

153 people braved the elements though, plus the poor cold volunteers who did a great job. I was not feeling up for this at all this morning but I figured the most important runs are the ones you don’t want to do! Plus, if I start slacking off on the training I am in trouble, I need to get into the habit and make it an every day thing rather than an additional task I have.

48358440_10157354929304305_2319292626286673920_o — Trying to get in some kind of zone

The run went ok, for a few weeks now I have been meaning to have an easy parkrun to see if I could make it without feeling too tired and with the slippy conditions today it was as good a chance as any to try it out. I aimed to run it in 27 minute and 30 seconds and I did 27.44. I was quite pleased that I felt fairly fresh when I finished, it’s not always faster times that indicate progress I guess.

48389916_10157354929474305_8312681207364059136_o — A cold looking Strathclyde Loch

So then I went home and had 2 rolls and sausage, I felt I deserved it! Tomorrow is a 75 minute “easy” run so I will get a podcast downloaded and get on with it in the tropical surroundings of Aquatec rather than the icy environs of Mothewell.

10 points to anyone who can name what programme is on the telly…

Right now I should be doing the Santa Dash in Glasgow but, because I didn’t open all the attachments in the email they sent me after I registered I didn’t know you had to go into The St Enoch Centre in the days before the event to pick up your number and Santa costume. So, I thought I would go in on the Sunday morning to get it all but alas, this was not possible, the shop was shut. Hopefully next year they make it clear in the actual email that you can’t pick up your stuff on the day of the event, somewhere obvious that a daftie like me can’t miss it!

Anyway, this blog isn’t about that, it’s about the stuff I wear when running. Firstly, probably the most important thing – the shoes. I got myself these bad boys (Saucony Guide 10 I think) from the good people at Achilles Heel.

You should always buy them from a proper running shop I think where they will look at how you run and recommend you a pair of shoes. I got my shoes from Achilles Heel in Glasgow https://www.achillesheel.co.uk They were really helpful as I thought the shoes didn’t fit me properly at first but on taking them back they explained a few things about how they were making my feet feel and gave me some advice and, hey presto, 2 weeks later after resting, they fitted me like a dream, very comfy and they feel pretty bouncy and everything.

The most excited I have ever been about a pair of shoes

I chose the tongue symbol, colours and ST and 76 myself

These shoes were bought for me as a Christmas present by Kirsty. I got them from Nike ID and designed them myself. I think I will keep them for indoor running as I don’t want to get them dirty! So far I like them.

Now the shoes are done I guess it should be socks next. I used to hate trainer socks and would often go running in the socks I wear to work – dress socks, This wound Kirsty up something awful and she would always want me to go for trainer socks – I resisted though. Now I wish I had listened to her – trainer socks are far superior – as long as they are decent ones that don’t slip down off the bottom of your heel.

Jackets now. I have a load of these, firstly this one:

It’s made by Ronhill, I think my brother got me it a few years ago but it never fitted me, was always a little on the tight side. Thankfully now it fits me fine! I like it because it has a hood on it. Next, I have this old trusty top, again bought for me by Kenneth. Again, this was too tight at first but I really enjoy running in it, now it is probably a little big for me but it’s really comfy and warm and nicely fitting.

I went out in it one night for a run but I think Kirsty thought it wasn’t bright enough to protect me from the threat of being hit by a car so she kindly bought me this shiny specimen, it lights me up like Blackpool Promenade in October and I love this too!

As you can see from the 2 photos – it reflects light really well, even me driving with my dodgy right eye would be able to spot someone wearing this thing! This jacket is also nice and warm but it does generate a little bit of sweat, taking it off and leaving it in a pile on the bedroom floor is not a good move (sorry Kirsty!). Finally I have this jacket underneath, following on a common theme, I have managed to slim down to fit into it and, again, I like wearing it. There isn’t much to it, it is very thin but ideal for running on days that aren’t too warm but aren’t too cold either!

Made by Ronhill – think my brother must have a sponsorship deal with them

Next, the contentious issue of shorts. I would like to make one thing clear here, I will never go running with those tights things on! I am sure they are great but I am not sure of the point of them, I always think I would get too warm wearing them. I do not own any running shorts although with Christmas coming up hopefully that will change soon. Here is a picture of me finishing the Glasgow 10k in the year they messed my time up – I look nothing like a runner. I wear an old Uruguay away shirt as it does something weird with the sweat that comes off me, I can’t quite explain it but it seems to draw the sweat away from me better than any other teeshirt I wear. You can also see me wearing a pair of Glasgow Rocks basketball shorts, they are knee length and spare anyone having to see too much of my pasty white legs!

I have never actually bought a pair of these shorts, I usually win them in raffles. Here is a picture of me being presented with them by a Glasgow Rocks’ basketball player, none of the 4 people in this picture look happy to be there!

screenshot_20181209-103012_facebook9100101920118155846.jpg — A very awkward photo

Finally, my trusty earphones. I resisted wireless earphones for ages but finally I succumbed. I keep losing these and have another pair in the flat somewhere. I can’t remember who makes them, I think it may be Soundbuds? They are nice and loud anyway. I quite fancy the bone conducting ones, they wouldn’t keep FALLING OUT MY STUPID EARS EACH TIME I RUN!!! Sorry, had to get that off my chest!

Thanks for reading again, the number of people reading my stuff is pretty cool. I start proper training tomorrow so I will post again during the week looking at my training plan. I will give a wee fundraising update too – I am so close to halfway there and would love to hit the £1,000 mark by Christmas. I have a collecting tin for loose change on my desk at work so if all else fails that will be getting emptied in 2 weeks and paid in to the account!

If you wish to sponsor me running the London Marathon for the RNIB then you can do it here:

www.justgiving.com/fundraising/stuartmtaylor

Text SMTR76 £1 to 70070

(or 2, 3, 4, 5 or 10 pounds also available!)

Tag: jackets

Official training week 1

My running stuff