Running Outside

Used my Navman today for the first time so whilst I was running along Hoylake promenade, somewhere in space a satellite was transmitting a signal that managed to reach my upper left arm where the Navman was snuggly strapped.

I’ll review the Navman soon, but first impressions are quite good - though a bigger display would be good - or I need glasses (oh hang-on, I do !) - and I hope the strap is washable or that’ll soon be a bit pongy (mmm nice!). And the ave speed seems too low (but then I only read the quick quide so maybe it’s me?)

So, did a bit of a longer one today (and probably have a day off tomorrow). The route:

Up to Red Rocks (2.73km), along the beach to the bottom of Riversdale (4.3km), back to Hoylake roundabout, down Kings Gap, back along the promenade to home.

Start:13:26
Duration: 40:05
Distance: 8.3km
Ave Speed: 12.42 kph

646 kcal
HRmax=177/ave=169

running navman r300

Disappointing !!

Met up with Mike this evening for the Seaside event. Turned out nice weather wise, warm and sunny.

Well, as usual I started quite perky with the first mile completed in about 6:23. But then I faded. Not that happy with my final time of about 21:10. Mike was also slower tonight (20:25 approx) compared to last month but I’d expect to be about 20-30 seconds slower not about 45.

The speed is there I feel - in fact I think that I could have run the first mile faster - but the stamina is lacking. I need to put a more effective training plan in place - I think I need a couple of longer runs each week and I certainly need to incorporate some speed/interval work.

Still, that’s what it’s all about!

Start:18:58
Duration:21:12 (tbc)
Distance:4.92km

382 kcal

HRmax=186/ave=182

running seaside run

Not the nicest of days today. It’s the kind of day when you need to treat yourself with a nice new gadget. And that’s exactly what I’ve done…..I’ve ordered myself a brand new Navman R300 GSM receiver thingy from Wiggle so that I can start measuring the distances that I’m covering (that makes it sound like I cover lots of miles….I don’t) . I’ve been talking myself in to buying one for weeks now and finally splashed the cash today. I’ll just wait for it to arrive now - and I might even do a review of it in a week or two.

Up Market Street and down to Red Rocks today. No stopping to admire the view.

Start: 13:06
Duration:25:10
Distance:5.66km

385 kcal

HRmax=175/ave=164

running - navman r300

…should be cracking on with some proper work. However.

Having seen Steves‘ link to last.fm the other week I decided to see what it’s all about. Cool or what? Share your musical tastes with other last.fm users. Simply create a login, download the player plugin (Windows media player in my case) and then everytime you play music on your PC the stats are recorded and available at last.fm

Only issue I’ve had is finding an html link that fits in the sidebar of my blog template (rounders1)…so for now I think I’ve chosen one that will display the last nn artists listened to.

For what you’re about to realise, I apologise in advance.

last.fm - social networking

Ready for a session having done nothing for 3 days. Decided to go out early this morning even though I’m not usually that sharp first thing running wise. I was wearing my monitor around the house before I set off and happened to notice the current reading of 45…not bad at all that seeing as how I was up and about.

Red Rocks and back only stopped the watch at the turn to admire the view of Hilbre Island and North Wales. Take a look at the map for a graphical view of some of Hoylake. The bottom of Stanley Road (where Red Rocks is) is the left-hand corner of the peninsular.

Start:8:29
Duration:25:40
Distance:5.66km

398 kcal

HRmax=210(!)/ave=166

Hoylake - running

Managed to sneak a run in before family tea time.

Still a strong wind out, though not quite as strong as it was this morning when I went down to the prom and nearly got sand blasted from the sand that was drifting up off the beach.

Did the Beach Road circuit only ran up Market Street on the outward leg.

Start:15:52
Duration:18:38
Distance:4.24km

266 Kcal

HRmax=171/ave=160

technorati tags: Running Hoylake

Well right now at 21.10 its blowing a right old wind here in Hoylake.

Earlier today when I went out for a run it was nice and bright, breezy, but nothing like it is now.

Headed off down Meols Parade towards Meols and the coastguards building. Alongside the embankment in an area thats called Meols Common which is part of the North Wirral Coastal Park (an area that encompasses the start of the seaside run). Turned right up the public footpath to Park Road and straight back home. I’ve run this once before.

Start: 13:23
Duration:28:35
Distance: nn km

445 kcal

HRmax=174/ave=166

Meols - running

Went running with Sarah this morning for the first time ever.

Not quite the pace I’d normally run for some of the run but then my back is still bothering me (the reason for a day off yesterday) so no bad thing.

We headed off on the Red Rocks route and Sarah turned for home about halfway down Stanley Road. I increased the pace then and managed to catch Sarah not long before we reached home.

Start:9:22
Duration:29:32
Distance:5.66 km

411 kcal

HRmax=174/ave=156

Decided to go for an early Sunday morning run (as it turned out that was a good decision ‘cos it was raining for most of the day) even though I don’t normally go that well first thing in the morning.

As I got down to the prom I met Helen, a friend of ours who we were out with the previous evening. I ran with Helen to the end of Hoylake prom were we spotted Sabina just starting to run along the sand. I went on alone and Helen shouted out to Sabina and they agreed to meet at Red Rocks.

I ran up to West Kirby Sailing Club, around Marine Lake and met Sabina who was starting to run around the lake, so we shouted hello. Ran along the beach to Red Rocks and then back home as normal.

Wasn’t, unsurprisingly, going great - the last 2.85km took about 14:00

Start: 8:46
Duration:55:10
Distance:11.3km approx.

885 Kcal

HRmax=175/ave=166

It’s the only photo I’ve got of me actually running (I kind of pinched it from marathon photo as I’m claiming my image rights). It was taken just as I was about to cross the (very welcome) finish of the 2006 adidas Liverpool Half Marathon back in March. Yeah, I was finding it hard going.

That was my first and so far, only, half marathon. My finish time was 1:43:44. Now that was marginally ahead of my target time of 1:44 - a target that I dreamt up by simply assuming that I could just run 8 mins for each mile. My “training” had never taken me further than 10 miles so I was running into the unknown for the final fling around Sefton Park. I’d postioned myself in the starting line up next to the 8 mins pace maker…he started faster than that and I struggled to stay with him…then I passed him and didnt see him again until he passed me back again just before the finish.

Mike had most kindly turned up to give me some vocal support which was most welcome with 3m to go. I think I felt it most between 11-12 miles then with the last mile you kind of know that you’ve done it.

It was a cold day but dry and not too windy which was good seeing as how the route goes right by the Mersey. Very well organised too.

The after effects weren’t too bad…bit of chaffing under my arms from my running vest and a bit of bleeding on a toe nail or two. The old legs weren’t too bad really.

ooh I’m going all broody and quite fancy another.