Week 5 Day 7

Hi everyone

OMG!!!!!!

What can I say, that was harder than I thought it was going to be, the 3 hills in the course really made my legs work hard - and clearly hills are missing from my weekly workouts (which I will need to change) forgot how useful the hills can be.

However I got around, in just over the hour but was last in - not happy with my performance, happy I got around but not happy with where I was or how I was feeling.

But the good thing is that this is only my week 5 and still have 12 weeks to go.

However the very loving relationship between the treadmill and me is over, I know it will break my heart to leave the comfort, warmth and the support of the springy treadmill behind - but I'm a big boy and need to start road running and putting some power in my legs, but will be in the gym for my resistance and core stability work so all is not lost lol!!!!!.

I am also trying to juggle my weightloss with eating right, have lost around 9lbs todate, but need to shed at least another stone before April 22nd, as I'm feeling like I'm carrying a house on my back - well more like a small bungalow.

But my motivation is still high, have some banging tunes on my Ipod and a journey of a 1000 miles began with just one step...........

Andy

Week 5 Day 4

Hi everyone

3 miles seems to be the standard fast run now - blimey listern to me sounding like a racing snake -

Completed the run today in around 27mins sure I have a cold coming, or is that just an excuse, not sure he says tongue in cheek.

Well its nearly the weekend and the date for the race meeting at Richmond Park, which is 7 miles long, the right distance for my weekend long run, am both excited and also nervous, at this will be my 1st "outdoor" run and I am not sure how diffrent it will be compared to treadmill work.

So rest day tomorrow (Sat) in preperation for the run and I'll let you know how it all goes.

Bye for now

Andy

Week 6 day 4

Hi everyone

No training last night, but got to meet the guys and my fellow marathon runners from The Shooting Star Childrens Hospice Team.

What a really nice group of people, very helpful and very freindly - and most seem to be as nervous at the prospect of running 26.2 miles as I am, but I am sure the team spirit and fantastic support will see us all through to the very end.

It was great being able to chat to everone and listern to the reasons why they have decided to put their best foot forward, and also to compare training notes and tips.

We have arranged to meet on Sunday morning (8am) at Richmond Park, hopefully, for the 1st of many group training runs - both excited and also very nervous as dont want to look like a plank lol.

3 miles tonight and then the usual long run and hour X-training at the weekend.

Andy

Week 6 day 3

Hi everyone

What a cold and miserable night last night - so had to retire to a very warm gym lol...

Completed my run in 27.06 and according to Lance Armstrong I did my fastest mile todate...

For the people that dont know Emma, my long suffering but bl**dy lovely wife, bought me for Christmas (or was it given to her by Santa never can remember that one!!) a Nike Ipod device, which is a gizmo that plugs into my Ipod, and using the sensor you put in to your running shoe, can measure your time, distance and speed - and whenever you reach a new PB either Lance Armstrong or Paula Radcliffe like to let me know....its a great little gadget and it plays music tooooo.

Anyway forced restday today as have a really really really important meeting to go to The Shooting Star Childrens Hospice tonight - to meet the staff and also to meet some of the other mad people that, like me, are going to be taking part in the Flora London Marathon....still sounds funny hearing, so I tend to say it quickly.

So I will let you all know how tonight goes - tomorrow.

Andy

Week 6 Day 1 & 2

Hi Everyone

Monday was a rest day and after the 10 miler - was much needed, which coupled with the fact that it was my birthday and the big "40" was a blessing.

Tuesday a 3 miler 32.15, good steady pace on the treadmill, at a 1% incline, as it was bl**dy cold outside.

Snowing this morning so trust me there will be another run tonight in the warm........

Andy

Week 5 Days 6 & 7

Hi Everyone

This post covers 2 days worth of training as I'm still in shock...that I did it...

10 Miles, the furthest I have EVER run and let me assure you it was really really hard work, and if you didnt get that "I SAID IT WAS REALLY REALLY HARD WORK.."

People have asked me did I enjoy it, and at the time the answer would have to be no, but today the answer is surprisingly a yes even with my stiff knees and aching shoulders.

The time was a little slower than I was hoping for, 1:50 and was looking to be in around 1:40/1:45 but that last 2 miles were a real killer...however it was a good steady 4:30 marathon pace and thats after 5 weeks of training, still have 13 weeks to go.

A much needed rest today as with every Monday - well come on it is my 40th Birthday today tooooooooooooooooooooooooo.

Andy

Week 5 Day 5

Hi Everyone

Much needed rest day yesterday, but 3 miles today and that went really well still hitting just under the 30 min mark, which considering my effort just before Christmas it a bloody good thing.

Still can't stop thinking about the weekend run, a little jog in the park of around 10 miles - the last time I did anything near 10 miles I was in the car.......

But onwards and up - still really enjoying the training have arranged to meet up with the guys from The Shooting Star Childrens Hospice on Thurday (25th) and to be honest I can't wait, it will be excellent to see how the sponsorship raised will help them, so please please when you can give as much as you can to the charities that I am running every penny will help, trust me!!!!!

Week 5 Day 4

Hi Everyone

Tired legs stop play today.......so swapped rest days.... normal play should resume tomorrow.

Week 5 Day 3

Hi everyone

5 miles last night and oh my god was THAT hard work, took just under the hour 59.10.

I think it was such hard work because I didn't eat very much and my head was thinking about problems at work...so like every highly trained athlete I can feel the need for some "head & mind" coaching coming on.

Woke up this morning to being jumped on by Molly (aged 22 months) and that is always a good way to start the day, can feel the need for an early night......

3 miles tonight which looking at the current weather will definitely be in the gym so will update you all with that tomorrow.

Just to let you know I have (hopefully) added a couple of widgets to this blogg which link through to the sponsorship pages, remember I know things are always tight after Christmas, but we do have until 22nd April - so dont think I'm gonna let you off giving me your money.





Andy

Week 5 Day 2

Hi everyone

Feeling really good today and starting to look forward to my training sessions, yeah right I can hear you shout - but no its true.

Tonight was a 3 mile speed run (hay listern to me starting to sound like a runner) Its really funny but 3 miles is starting to feel like a good distance, which considering how I felt on my very 1st run, is a really good thing...

5 miles tomorrow and then 3 miles on Thursday.....with the big 10 miler at the weekend........

Week 5 Day 1

Hi everyone

I really like the day 1's cos its a much needed rest day.........

Tonght (Tues) a 3 mile run, which is going to be a fartlek session, to try and start to increase my leg speed. A ratio of 1 to 2 so increased speed for 1 min followed by at least 2 mins slow pace and so on for the full 3 miles or until I fall over.

Will be driving past the gathering of racing snakes (aka Sandhurst Joggers) tonight and in a couple of weeks once my base line stamina is high enough I will be joining them....so bring on the lycra and reflective tops, the streets of Sandhurst will never be the same again.

Until tomorrow

Andy

Week 4 Day 7

Hi everyone

Today was a hard day...well in terms of getting my butt off the sofa and to the gym it was.....

Cross training for an hour and let me tell you leaving it as late in the day as I did doesn't make the task any easier.....I kept closing my eyes but every time I opened them there is was.....

So as tired as I was, off I trotted cycling and 36.84km and an hour later I was done and feeling good, so off home to Daddy duties and reading Dilly Duckling at bed time makes everything worth while.

I have to say that I am amazed at the support that is being offered to me from training advice from a 38 time marathon runner to the offer of a training partner for those very long weekend runs.....all of which I would like to thank you all for and you can bet a million pounds I will be taking you all up on, so thank you all so very much.

Today's task is a much needed rest day followed by a 3mile road run tomorrow.

Andy

Week 4 Day 6

Hi everyone

The 1st real test - 9 miles

Yes its true for the very 1st time I ran (would like to say non-stop but cant!!!) the greatest distance I have EVER run in my life - but I did it.

It took 1.29.10 to complete the distance, running for an hour (just over 6 miles) without stopping then had 3 walking moments as I took liquid on board...that's my excuse and I'm sticking with it!!!!

Found it very enjoyable, but hard work my knees are a little sore today, but am still highly motivated, escpecially having had my welcome pack from "The Shooting Star Children's Hospice" yesterday which just cemented my belief that this along with Future Hope are 100% the right organsation for me to be trying to rasie much needed sponsership for - below are the links please please give any money you can even if its a £1.00 it will ALL help and spur me on.

http://www.justgiving.com/AndyShootingStar

http://www.justgiving.com/AndyFutureHope

Today's target is 1 hour cross training - so onwards and up.

Andy

Here we go!!

Hi everyone

Wow this marathon stuff moves along at an incredible rate - we are already at Week 4 in my training programme and I am able to knock off 4 miles without too much pain - which considering where I was on my 1st run is, for me, a major achievement.

But here we are in week 4 running 4 miles - with the long runs still being completed at the weekends with the next one being 9miles.

I have booked my place at the Fleet half Marathon which falls in week 10, which is spot on perfect for the big event.

Now the best news is that I have been given this fantastic opportunity by members of the Harlequins Supporerts Association (Quinssa), and so my very deepest thanks to you all for both having your support and for the faith you are putting in me -
So to Emma and the other commitee members a huge thanks...

As you know I did begin my training a few weeks ago, for 3 reasons -

1 I had made the decision to do the Marathon and knew I needed to train....

2 Having applied for a place via Quinssa I wanted to get some miles under my decreasing belt size, should I be lucky enough to be awarded the place........

3 Its really good fun...........


I am now able to tell you of my chosen charities -

http://www.justgiving.com/AndyShootingStar

http://www.justgiving.com/AndyFutureHope

Both are fantastic causes and very dear to my heart and will appeal to both rugby and non-rugby people alike, so please dig deep and give whatever you can to help me raise some much needed funds.

I will update this blogg daily so please mark it and return, and you'll get to hear the diary of a wanna be racing snake -

Andy

I haven't forgotton this blogg

A full update is to follow, there have been some very interesting developments not only with my marathon training, but also in my personal life - have finally managed to cut loss some very emotionally and financially draining deadwood which after 4 years, now leaves me realising the importance of those people in my life and also the meaning of true friendship.

So to the deadwood - be gone foul stench!!!!!!

A full update to follow -

Andy