race day

Spent a lovely morning run 10k in beautiful Sherwood forest, did a respectable sub 51 mins (my time 50 mins 42 secs). The course was testing and very wet with some very big puddles. Stood in the wrong position at the start as usual. Got stuck in a bit of a bottle kneck then ran too fast Saw out the distance nicely with a down hill finish-knees held out ok. Will run this race next year for sure.

Edwinstowe 10k

The weather looks shocking for Sunday's race-pouring it down and very windy. Looking forward to a mini weekend break in Edwinstowe with Mand. The runners knee is still a real nuisance. Been a big step up in the sponsorship nearly £750. Would love to compete in a race without an injury, this time I really am looking to just finish. Wish me luck.

Stratford 10k

I am pleased to announce that todays race went exceptionally well sub 49 mins for 10k-not bad at all considering I have knee issues-photos being put on the website-big thanks to Mandy,Chris,Laura, Emma and Matt who ventured out in poor weather to cheer me on, love you all lots-big thanks for all the kind words.

one day to go

weather for tomorrow doesn't look the best-concerned 'bout the knee all thoughts of time have gone out the window-Finishing the 10k is all that matters, that and the sponsorship.

2 days to go

Only two days to go and my last run was hampered by knee pain-am getting concerned that I will struggle to complete. My original goal was sixty minutes went down to fifty five minutes now its to complete. Looking forward to Stratford and hoping I do myself justice.

half a grand

A big milestone has been reached £500 in pledges-sponsorship. Massive thanks to all you superstars.

dodgy knees

Had to stop running this morning due to bad knee pain. With only one week to my first ten k this is a problem, I have had my new trainers of Laura to see if the quality of the trainers helps. These niggles are starting to get me down.

Today is new trainers trial day-if that doesn't cure this Knee issue,its off to Boots for some orthotics-shoe insoles. This running is getting pricey.

personal best

Tuesday night 5k was run in a p.b of 23mins 22 secs a whole minute faster than previous. Wednesday's efforts curtailed through a knee joint pain after 3.5 miles. I'm thinking distance over speed may be the way forward.

Sponsorship update £400 has been and gone looking to get to £500-thats way beyond my expectation. Thanks to all.

top top day

Day has been a quality day-the sponsorship is approaching £350 and I have reached my goal weight at weight watchers. Big thanks to Judy and the meeting-you have helped me keep going.
Onwards and upwards.

Saturday morning plod

six miles this morning in windy conditions (at the end unfortunately) in 55 minutes approx' thught it was 45 but found my watch had stopped.
Six miles this morning-Knee felt crap-paced Mandy most of the way.

target reached

Big thanks to all who have so far donated and managed to reach my original target of £200-its onwards and upwards the next target being £300!!!!!! Big respect to Chris for the web page it looks really good and many thanks for all the kind words about the web. Still got a niggle in my calf ran on treadmill and weights over the last two evenings.

Have applied to enter the London Marathon via a runners world/Lucozade competition-a long shot.

weight loss

disappointing weight loss this week only 0.5lb-that makes 3 stone all told. Signed up for Stafford half marathon today.

website

We are currently looking to develop a website relating to this blog and my efforts-Keep ya posted.

10k training

felt a bit heavy legged this evening ran with Mandy who did a personal best distance of 6.5 miles on a hilly course. Well done sweet pea-you truly are an athlete. Sponsorship is coming on nicely over £150 pound in donations and pledges.
Did a run Saturday morning 6 miles in 54 mins-felt heavy legged on a hilly course. Thinks a nice short run tomorrow. Four mile run this morning in poor weather-bit on the slow side-one run too many this week.

half marathon

Just managed to complete a half marathon in training in a reasonable time of 2 hours and 8 mins. I'm quite pleased with myself.

weight loss and sponsorship

Another nice weight loss 1lb this week-only 3.5lb to go. Steady if unspectacular start to the sponsorship. Group stationary at seventy two members.
Up to eighty quid in sponsership and another member to the group-gonna try a longish run tonight.

first run

nice little four mile run this morning slight niggle-sorted with a bag of peas-Mandy completed her first four miles-well done. Signed up for 10k run in Stratford at the Long Marston airfield.

resting

Leg seems to be improving-no exercise since run-at least another week off. Got my running vest of the Prostate charity-bit on the small side need to lose a few more pounds-Looking to enter Half marathon in March subject to acceptance.

rest it up part two-

No training for two-three weeks-got fix this problem once and for all-On the brightside lost another pound at weight watchers and got a fleece courtesy of Scolmore International.

Race day photos

Acknowledgements

Thanks to the photographers at the Uni for the photos-If I have infringed copyright I sincerely apologise.

race day

Well the first race day has arrived and it's not good news. The leg is not good, iced it up and popped ibuprofen. We will have to see-at the moment it looks like I will try to get Mandy under 30 mins for the race.

Well race completed-started pacing Mandy but found that I could run as I wanted. I went too fast between 1 and 2k markers but saw it out for an unofficial time of 24 mins 23 seconds.

Not bad for an old fella in his first ever 5k.

Thanks to Chris and Emma for coming with us!

http://www.eddiearmchair.com/uni5k/index.htm
Please follow the link to the website for the organisers.

Just as fottnote I managed to finish 141st in an official time of 24mins 22 secs-I await Mandy's official time and position.

Training routine

Training diary
1. Saturday 10th October 3 miles steady pace around Belgrave lakes and Stoneydelph pacing Mandy mostly. 3 miles on the treadmill under 25 mins.
2. Sunday 11th October 5.6 miles on very hilly route round Wilnecote, Stoneydelph and Glascote heath. Tough run-made it under the hour.
3. Tuesday 13th October. Bike work and Gym
4. Wednesday 14th October. 5K three lap very hilly in under 25 minutes.
5. Thursday 15th October Bike and Gym Work.
6. Friday 16th October. Bike and Gym work-2.5 mile run-felt ok.
7. Saturday 17th October. 3 mile run pacing Mandy ready for Sunday’s run.
8. Sunday 18th October Birmingham university 5k.

5k update

Breaking news Mandy is running the 5k.

I now have a just giving page please follow the link

http://www.justgiving.com/John-Hanson

Got my number for the 10k 169- got a bit of new kit-proper running socks and some running trousers that make me look like Max Wall, might have to pace round with Mandy due to my leg being a bit sore still.

Just done 2miles + not too much reaction from the leg, 2.75 mile easy paced run this morning, the leg is a problem-do not know whether to pace Mandy or try for a pb, decisions.

Due to the impending birth of a nephew-Mand may not run as she is the birth partner-congrats to Helen.

fitness test

Going to do a three mile run tonight with the emphasis on pace, going round our block three times timed. Hoping the leg holds up, else Sunday is in jepeody. Got some information from Prostate cancer. 24 mins 47 secs for 3.11 miles -sub 8 mins on hilly road, sub 24 30 on flat surface is a possibility.

weigh in

Had a nice weight loss tonight 2lb. Possibly on for running for british heart foundation. W/w leader is sorting out the details with a view to running on dec 6th on their behalf.

step up

Just finished a very tough 5.6 mile (9km) run this morning very hilly-slower than I had hoped for 50 mins but managed the distance. One more run over 3 miles (5km) Wednesday evening. Gotta get a grip of this pacing mallarkey.
Off to Sports direct to buy a running vest for next weekend. Bought the gear top and shorts great value.

back on the road

Nice and easy three miles this morning, pacing Mandy most of the way-sub 29 mins on a hilly course-leg is trouble still but gonna run through it.

sub 25m mins is a target. Pleased to have got through the first road run without too much grief.

sub 25 mins on the treadmill for three miles

I have entered a 5k at Birmingham university on the 18th of October. It is on behalf of Acorn charity. looking at doing 5min kilometres should get me in the top 200!!!!

uni5k.org.uk

test number two

Ran three miles on the tread mill tonight leg feel a touch sore, looking to run in the morning.

the long road has begun

Two miles on the tredmill and two miles on the bike and touch wood me leg feels good. Ran in me new silver shadow shoes. Will never say a bad word about hi-tec trainers. Got fifity in my facebook group-entry fee sent for Edwinstowe-awaiting info from Charities. Things are moving-just need some followers.

facebook

I have created a little group for morale support on facebook-so far over twenty members. still no response on the charity-have been pointed in the direction of British heart foundation and possible sponsorship. Thanks for the kind support. Group growing and I have a response from the prostate charity

Dear Johnnyh, Thank you for your email we would be delighted if you were to support The Prostate Cancer Charity for your running events. If you could let me know your address I will send you out one of our running packs which includes sponsorship forms, a running vest order form and also lots of other useful information. We also do have some places in some runs throughout the year if you were interested in taking part in a larger organised run please do let me know. I look forward to hearing from you.

Did a short test on the treadmill at the gym-still not 100% but getting there.
Appears no lasting damage.

running

Received conformation that places are available for the 6th of December, Cheque being sent. needs to get running-had a good weight loss this week 1.5lb. Mapometer is a great aid for running-really disappointed charity hasn't got back to me, may have to re-think my choice of charity. Started group on facebook for morale support

target set

Decided that December the sixth is the date of mt first organised run a 10k round Sherwood forest. An e-mail has been sent. Entry form downloaded, I await a response. Been for a free day at Ballantynes-great set up down there-Thanks to Laura for the day. Invested in a fleece for the cold runs coming up-Medium -whoop ain't been medium for quite some time.

xmas comes early

My daughter is buying me a quality pair of shoes today-going to visit Sutton runner today to view their range and pick their brains. Been pill popping for a week and rubbing the gel-seems slightly better, just want to get on with it. Still no response from the charity. Did some aerobic workout on stepper/bike and very little reaction from calf. Saucony omni 7 running shoes from Sutton Running top guys down there.

Off to my free day at Ballantynes tomorrow courtesy of Laura.

mixed emotions

Been a funny old day-my new trainers have arrived, not bad for £20 and a free giant size mug as well, Been swimming met a chap doing half marathon got some interesting routes from him. Pill popping seems to be having a positive effect.

please take the time to vote

Hi, if you can spare a few seconds, please take the time to vote. I would love to see your opinions-honest answers please. Going to contact the charity to see what you have to do to be a runner on their behalf. Picked this charity because my father has prostrate cancer and you just never know.
Off to walk the dog.
Been the gym and a swim-thanks for the comments on facebook.

offer to run

My son Chris says if I run a marathon-he will do it with me-he's even shook on it. I can't wait-oh people of little faith.

rest it up

Well I have been to the Doc's, been told its nowt serious. I have got to take Ibuprofen for two- three weeks and no serious exercise. Really am frustrated by this, looks like the dog ain't gonna miss out though. Dog walking and swimming is all I can do and I am not a fan of swimming.
Weigh in tonight, hoping for a result-should be interesting as its been a real struggle to stay within the points allowance this week.
Disappointing loss only 0.5lb-well done to the other half 3lb

feeling the benefit

Already feeling the benefit of the gym workout. I might be deluding myself here, but I feel tighter more toned. My main concern is my calf, just wish I could do what I want and get pounding those streets.

injury

With blister healed I decided it was time to get back to running. After a couple of three mile runs I developed a little niggle in my calf. Despite all efforts to clear up the injury, three weeks later it's not getting any better. Doctor's appointment made.
In the meantime I have joined a gym, invested in a new pair of running shoes and lost another four pounds.

I know I can do it

For a while now I have been losing weight following the Weight Watchers' plan. Recently it's been really succesful. I decided about two months ago that it wasn't enough just to lose weigh, I needed to work on my fitness level. At that time I could not run a hundred yards without being completely out of breathe. One evening I decided I needed to test myself so I got my kit on and jogged around the local lane, the princely distance of a mile. It about killed me. Two days later I tried again just to prove to myself it wasn't a fluke: I succeded again. Within a week I could jog just under three miles, it felt like a really big achievement. I did this a couple of times and then progresseed it to four miles.Within another two weeks I managed six miles. The bug had really bitten .My wife whose previous running achievement was under a hundred yards began running and she too was up to three miles.
So into the running we even did it on holiday, until I got a bloody massive blister from me flip flops on the beach.