The Long Run Back to Fitness

Last week was my 15th in my blog "The Long Run Back to Fitness". It was one of my most successful and I covered more miles than any other. I still think of it as my 13th as almost two of my weeks were wiped out by injury. In the past, I've watched on TV where unfit people train for 20 weeks and then run a marathon and I've read the plan of Couch to 5K where people go from nothing to running 5 km in 10 weeks. I've taken 15 weeks so far and I'm still only up to running less than 2 miles without having to stop. I was very unfit when I started and was almost 8 stone heavier than my fittest weight. I've also worked really hard to get to this point. I know I've lost at least 2 stone so far, it's been bloody hard work, and I'm feeling very positive about this. I know running, as I've been there before - maybe many years ago, but when I was really fit, I let my body speak to me. I let it tell me what and what not I can do. I'm very sceptica...

After taking a step down in distance last week, let's see can I get back on track and get those miles under my belt. Sunday 16 July 2017. I don't know whether to call this a good start to the week or not. I didn't run, but I did flay a full 18 holes of golf at the hilly County Armagh Golf Club. It was the first time I have played since the day before I started out on this Long Run Back to Fitness. It was that previous game of golf which sparked off this current fitness regime. Anyway, I didn't play too bad, but I did walk somewhat further than I should have if I had been hitting the ball straight. It was a hot sunny day and I was carrying a heavy golf bag with me. I got sunburn on my arms, face and head, and in total I probably walked 6 miles. Main thing was that I really enjoyed the day and the couple of beers in the clubhouse afterwards. In sport Tyrone beat Down in the GAA Ulster Football Final at Clones. 18th fairway, County Armagh Golf Club with the two St P...

Sunday 9 July 2017.  The sky was so clear in the early hours of the morning, so at 2.30 am I went out into the garden and took a short video of the bright moon lighting up the sky. The early morning video of the Moon from my garden. I watched the Tour de France whilst editing videos on YouTube in the afternoon. There were a few nasty crashes. Two of the main contenders (Geraint Thomas & Richie Porte) both crashed out of the race. As I began to think about changing and going for a workout, it started raining. I decided there was no point in having a shower beforehand so I just changed, done a few stretches, and by 7.45 pm I was on my way walking to the glen. I jogged 230 steps down and over the footbridge across the river. I set off on my laps and due to tired legs from yesterday and a strange feeling in my left knee on the third lap, I only completed the three. The first two included 2 x 650 and 2 x 420 steps jogging. On the third I done an extra half lap of the car park...

Sunday 2 July 2017. I cooked a large roast beef dinner in the afternoon. At 8.30 pm after a hot shower and a few stretches I started walking to the glen. I was thinking what a great result I had last week, not running on the first day but still managing 30 miles over the next 6 days. It made me think how much shall I do tonight? I thought anything is better than last Sunday. Anyway, I jogged 200 steps down into the glen and set off on my first lap on the top footpath. I started running a few yards sooner and as well as doing a full loop of the car park, I also done a smaller loop. This brought my first interval up to 550 steps and then 400 steps to finish the lap. My second lap was on the river footpath as the cattle were too close to the top footpath. Again 550 and 400 steps jogging. On the third lap 550 and 500 all the way to the waterfall. I was going to finish off with a 200 step run. However, when I got to the junction of footpaths I turned right over the river and set off on a fo...

Sunday 25 June 2017. I had the third rest day in a row as my lower back was still aching. It was a good day for the County Armagh Gaelic Football Team as they beat Fermanagh by 20 points to 11 at The Athletic Ground in Armagh City. Monday 26 June 2017. I decided it was time to get back out again. I was still worried about my back so come 1 pm I decided to go for a walk. I walked to the glen and then walked around 3 laps on different footpaths taking photos & videos. I felt really good after the walk and by 8.15 pm I was on  my way again to the glen. I jogged the 180 steps down to the footbridge over the river, then set off on my laps. I was really pleased to have completed 5 laps. First was on the upper footpaths and included 470 & 330 steps jogging. At the start of the second lap the frisky bullock was right up against the fence so I turned around and started the last 4 laps on the river path. They included 4 x 510, 3 x 350 and 460 steps jogging all the way to the ...