And We're Off... Janathon!

Distance: 2.05 miles
Time: 14:55
Shoes: VFFs
Music: Guns n' Roses - "Chinese Democracy"


I've gone and done it again...

In 2009, my sister (@sanemezza on Twitter) and I decided it would be a really clever idea to run every day in January, which I blogged about pretty much each day starting here. We missed out 2010, but then in 2011, the group grew to 4 and we did the same blogging idea here.

I was trying to ignore the fact that we were getting near to the end of 2011 and some idiot would probably suggest doing it again. Then my sister tweeted about Janathon - a more formalised approach with a lot more people involved. So what could I do...? :)

I have lots to write, but I'm not going to do it all today. So I'll just say a few bits about me and the plan for the month.

I've been running for 15 odd years on and off. The last 5 years or so has been much more "on" than off, but I still find consistency a problem so I do *like* the idea of running every day as it's plain and simple. I haven't run much in December, but I did Dublin marathon in October, and I'm entered into Brighton in April this year, so I need to get back into it properly! I much prefer speed to distance - something I was reminded of during the Dublin training.

To make this attempt at 31 days of running a bit different I'm going to try and do most of it in my VFFs:

Nothing like a bit of insanity, eh?! I've had them for about 14 months, and run about 150 miles in them in total, so I have to be gentle getting into them properly. I'm limiting to about 2 miles each day for the first few days, and slowly. Which I completely messed up today but charging round the 2 miles (for me, at least)!

It's going to be interesting, and I will be doing some runs in normal shoes - for instance, if I go to the running club - I'm not planning on 10 miles in VFFs just yet!

And there will be LOTS of stretch and foam-rolling. I'm also going to sit down tonight and read about proper technique with barefoot running as I've generally only skim-read things so far, but I need to be doing the right thing if I'm going to try and build up the miles.

So there we go. The start of January... the start of another load of running. But this time, I get to look at other people's blogs, and feel part of something much bigger!

I am completely prepared to eat my words, but right now... I'm actually looking forward to the rest of this!

Until tomorrow...

Day 3 - I don't want to do this any more!

Time: 09:04
Distance: 3.15mi
Time: 26:32 (8m25 average, mile (or part mile) times: 8m09, 8m54, 8m24, 7m18)
Morning heartrate: not sure, it kept disappearing!



It was really hard work today. To start with, I woke up with what felt like the start of a cold. I went out early as we've got a busy day, and the thermometer said -2.3C - so lovely and warm then. To be honest, I don't really mind the cold as long as I've got some gloves on. Today, I went in shorts (my long running trousers are in the wash!), a t-shirt and a lightweight jacket and gloves. My hands were pretty cold despite the gloves up until a bit after mile 2, by which time I'd rolled my sleeves up on the jacket and taken the gloves off.

I deliberately kept it slow at the beginning today - I did more or less the same route as Jan 1st (a slight detour to the shop at the end so I could get some milk for my porridge). However, I found it pretty difficult going slow, and the uphills were horrible - I felt like I could hardly drag myself up. It was at the end of on fairly big hill that I thought "I don't want to do this anymore!" - I think that was the first point that I realised how hard this could be, at least at the beginning.

It seems strange writing about how hard 3 miles is. I picked the distance as it's one that I can pretty much do without thinking about - I've done several 15+ mile runs in marathon training, albeit a while back. And yet, do 3 days in a row, with the first couple a bit fast and it starts getting quite hard. While part of me hates the discomfort (I won't use the word pain as it's just uncomfortable at the moment - even at the worst points), a bigger part of me is really looking forward to seeing what the outcome of these 31 days of running is going to be. Hopefully, someone who doesn't worry about going running any day, is fitter, healthier (and with any luck a bit lighter!).

I'm going to buy some new shoes this afternoon, and try them out on tomorrows run. It's always nice running in new shoes, and the next few days should have that as an added bonus!

Until tomorrow...