Saturday, May 28, 2005

Dover workout

Uploaded a workout into Garmy, the idea is ............
1.5m at 145bpm
15mins at 175bpm
1.5m at 145bpm

On holiday in Dover and I love it. Right on the sea front, a flat with sea views across to France a lovely flat prom and pier to run on.

1.5m no problem - actually pleasant,
15mins at 175bpm a different tale all together. To get my heart rate up to 175 on a flat run I was sprinting (well jogging faster than I ever have) like a madman, when I got it up there it was still tough to keep it high.
Then 1.5m at 145, hard to keep it that low.

Finished the run feeling really tired but great.
A real buzz running with a set and measureable effort level.
Definitely the best feeling after a training run I've had.

Shower, 6 tins of Guinness, a few hands of poker then bed.

Monday, May 23, 2005

Woods run

Pretty uneventfull but fast run.
Yet again Garmy Forerunner of little use over the woods - up and down like a.......yoyo (thats not phrase my dad still uses, but far more polite).

I'll have a hunt on the internet as there must be some guidance for heart rates on hilly runs like this.

3.3miles
29mins
8.53mpm
167bpm

Friday, May 20, 2005

Lapping

Went for a run with the dog and garmy (my new toy).
Set it to record each mile as a lap - don't know why.

4.16miles,
40min,
9.41min/m
161bpm

I think most of the data it collected was pretty academic as where I run is up and down hills all the way, so pace/speed is eratic, even heart rate is difficult to maintain within the set band.
Its no good, I'll have to find out how to use this stuff.
Also it was a bit awkward as I tended to be looking at the thing all the time instead of watching where I'm going, the novelty of that will soon wear off.

Wednesday, May 18, 2005

With all my heart

So, heart beat at rest = 60bpm.
Easy just take it in the morning when you wake up.

Maximum heart rate, a little more effort required.
They quote a formula where you take you age from a number, or where you take a percentage of your age from a different number, or you can do it by running.

Good run ending in a sprint (well a rapid jog) up a very steep long hill (well a small incline).

Calculation method, 182bpm.
Running method, 195bpm.

Really enjoyed the run.
But what does all this stuff mean?
How does it help?

3.75miles
34mins
9.06min/m
164bpm

Garmin Gadget man

Garmin Forerunner 301, including heart rate monitor.

What a gadget, absolutely no idea how to use it or what use it will be but, what a great gadget.
Total cost £153 from Ebay, to my door, on my wrist.
Went into the garden to track a few satalites and it confirmed that my heart was beating and that I was standing still, how cools that.

If the wife finds how much it cost I'm in deeeep shit.

Saturday, May 14, 2005

Blow the cobwebs

2 miles 'ish' quite fast, not timed, just a leg loosener and I have to say very enjoyable.
My eldest daughter followed on her bike - and was knackered - great ego boost for me.

I've got my eye on one of those Garmin Forerunner GPS HRM singing and dancing training gadgets on Ebay, retail £210 but I recon with a bit of shrewd bidding I can get one for under £150.

Watch this space.

Friday, May 13, 2005

and we're off

So here we go, a month after finishing the London marathon I need something to motivate myself to
1) not go back to my life of slothe
2) occupy the extra time that has seemed to materialise
3) make full use of the long summer evenings

A half marathon in under 2hrs.
Doesn't sound like much, I've done 2 in the last 4 months.
Reading in 2:11 and Fleet in 2:09, although I ran both non stop it was really tough. The difference in time was probably due to Fleet being really flat and a much smaller field of 'athletes'.

Also in the Reading half the cheeky girls beat me by 15mins which my children found hilarious - so now its personal!

Will start training tomorrow, maybe.