kimmings

I think after my attempt at another 7km on Friday after the kids had gone to bed it’s clear that I need a knee support for my right knee. I set off up the A41 towards the top end of Hoole (which is part of the route I have planned) and by the time I’d done just 3k on the uneven/broken and sloping Chester pavements my right knee was screaming - running in the road eased the jolting -but that’s just not safe. So instead of going all the way into town and past Sainsbury’s, I cut the run short.

I’m really gutted - but determined to not give up. I’m gonna get myself a knee support
and ensure I stretch correctly (and thoroughly) before each run. In the meantime I’m going to run shorter distances quicker to build on some fitness/stamina. Up until now my running has been about weight control, not fitness, so all this long distance (yeah, 10km is a fair way for me) stuff is a shock to my lazy bones.

So yesterday I decided to push myself little further with my running and did a 7.66km loop down the canal to Waverton and back along the A41. The furthest I have run in the past is around 5.4km, though with ease. I must admit that it was a little hard, though it was my knees that hurt more than the lack of energy.

I had wanted to do the 10km run for Cancer Research UK this year, but I found the £19.50 entry fee a bit steep… I’d rather that money went to the charity than on a cheesy t-shirt and plastic medal, so I intend to run my own 10km for charity around Chester on the same day (21st September 2008). Considering I have never run 10km and I only have four weeks in which to get up-to speed, including the niggles I have been having in my knees, I’m only a little apprehensive. I know I’m capable of the distance fitness wise, my main concern is my right knee.

Visit www.justgiving.co.uk/juliankimmings and dig deep!

I was ill the first couple of days last week, probably some sort of virus, which meant that I wasn’t able to do my three weekly runs at lunch. I could start to feel the pounds pile back on, the jeans were getting tight, even my trainers started to feel tighter.

So this morning I went on my first run for over a week. The route I chose was different from the usual loop round the block, chosen using mapmyrun.co.uk. I’ve been keen to venture further afield and push myself, the normal three to five km run has become quite comfortable and I’m getting more comfortable in my own ability. The route itself was slightly longer, about 4.5 miles starting with 1/3 up hill, 1/3 down hill (same sort of gradient) and the the final 1/3 up a steady incline.

I barely got past the first third when I got a ‘twinge’ in my right knee. I tried to adjust my running speed, slowing down slightly and loosening up a bit (I tense up too much) but after about 500m I had to stop before my knee exploded. I kept pressing on down hill but decided to abandon the running and walked back home along the canal. Think I’ll need to book myself in with the physio at work this week.

I’m hoping that it’s nothing too serious, I probably just need a new pair of running shoes (after all I’ve had them for yonks).One the positive side I started my one hundred push ups workout again last week after a miserable failure the first attempt brought on partly by drinking beer in the evenings. This time I’m determined to see it trough to the end… already I’m seeing an improvement.

Had a great run at lunch. I’ve been going now every Monday, Wednesday and Friday for a number of weeks. It’s not a great lengthy marathon by any means but it’s a good 40 minutes exercise, which is two hours more exercise a week than I was getting. The run has a huge and long hill climb at the end which has been my goal to master. The past three runs I’ve managed it, that along with the obvious weight loss around the ‘gut’ makes me pretty happy about this whole keeping in shape business (something I’ve never ‘got’ before).

I discovered this guy, DJ A-Ko through some other website earlier this week. His music is very reminiscent of Mr Scruff who my mate Mike got me in to when we lived in Manchester. I just can’t get enough of his tracks, they’re goin round and round on my iTunes! I think he’s gonna do well. I’ll certainly be keeping my eye out for his first album.

I also stumble upon the LCS website today. It’s a great site and although it’s a little busy, once you find your way it’s full of really good stuff - very inspirational!

I started running a few weeks back and have been going for a run/jog regularly, three times each week over lunch, sometimes four if I fit one in over the weekend. I’ve also been eating better… I’m not talking about salad everyday, or some kind of obsessive calorie controlled tick list… Instead of three cans of coke in a day, just one, healthy breakfast and not eating the full plate when I’m full. The runs vary between 3km and 5km, usually 5-3-5. I feel a lot better in myself, although the kids are waking us up at 4.30/5.00am each morning, I feel less tired (unfortunately, not less stressed but then you can’t have everything). This alone has taken a whopping four inches off my belly and my belt has dropped a notch. Those are the kind of results that most think they have to pay for. I’m happy with them and the best thing is the exercise isn’t a chore, I really enjoy it.

So now I start my upper-body fitness. This is something I wasn’t looking forward to as it realistically meant going to the gym. On Friday I found the One Hundred Push Ups website, a training program that is designed to get you doing one hundred push ups (consecutively) in around six weeks. I’m dubious about the six week claim, only because I struggled to do six on my initial fitness test. I did my Day One on Friday night which means today is my Day Two, so far, so good; but it is early days. I’m going to stick with it and hopefully in six (maybe eight) weeks I’ll look like a Greek God (but without the nose).