Only four and a half hours until the off. How am I feeling? Nervous. The last three nights I've woken up around 4am - which I know is quite normal during my training - but then I needed an alarm clock to get me out of bed. This was just worrying about getting there on time, not forgetting something important, have I done enough training, how much should I drink on the way round... The only consolation is that in terms of resting my muscles it is being horizontal that is important not actually being asleep.
I know the physical signs in my body of when I'm stressed - and these last few days they've all being saying 'stress'.
Now I just need to be confident that I've trained well and not start off too fast. This last week I haven't run further than 3 miles, had two complete days of rest on Thursday and Friday, got to bed early, and eaten well. Yesterday morning I went out for a two mile jog in the sunshine.
Everything I need is ready either to be put on or packed. I've read, re-read and re-read again the final instructions. This morning's breakfast will be - coffee, porridge, a banana and a bagel.
The tracking page on the marathon website is now up and running. Click here for the link.
My race number is 37962. Type that in and then press the 'show tracking and results' button.
For progress during the race if you then click on my name it will take you to the page with 5km splits. [Although this page says the race starts at 9.45am it is actually starting at 10am.] For details of my planned times at these points click here.
I'll be back much later to let you know how it all went. Don't forget that I'm running for Christian Aid - and I'm sure there will be points on the course where some of the stories featured in the weekly videos I've been posting will keep me going. Thank you to everyone who has sponsored me so far. If you haven't and you want to just pop over to www.virginmoneygiving.com/keithtarring Thanks.
Showing posts with label Running. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Running. Show all posts
Sunday, 21 April 2013
Monday, 15 April 2013
Marathon update - only 6 days to go!
Less than a week to go now. The most frustrating thing about this last week was being on holiday in Devon and only having short runs scheduled. When most of your running is done on the pavements of NW London having a 12+ mile run with four miles along a disused railway through the woods, followed by six miles along the coastal path makes for a refreshing change. Unfortunately my longest run this week was 8 miles - but at least I got one run up the estuary.
I did run a few miles too many this week - a couple of the 4 milers were closer to 5 so that I could take in most of the sea front.
This coming week I only have three x 3 miles and one 2 mile run scheduled before Sunday. All the hard work is done. Now it is just a case of having an easy week, getting enough rest and sleep, and making sure that come Sunday I am as fresh as possible. Eating is also important this week - building up energy levels by getting the right amounts of the right kind of carbohydrates - plenty of pasta, bread, rice etc.
The theory is that the hard work is already done. If not it's too late to do anything about it now. I started specifically training for this marathon at the beginning of November. Since then I have been out for 105 runs, covering 760 miles. That has taken a total of 111 hours 46 minutes and 4 seconds. 53 of those runs have been before 7am. The average temperature of those runs has been -29*C. Three of these runs were between 20-21 miles. (One of these statistics might be a slight exaggeration.)
Is it enough? I guess we'll find out on Sunday!
Later this week the Marathon Expo opens where all runners go and pick up their number and other essentials - as well as having the opportunity to spend hundreds of pounds on vital running gear!
Pop back later in the week to find out how you can track my progress online during the race.
If you would like to sponsor me you can do so at www.virginmoneygiving.com/keithtarring
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| It wasn't this warm or sunny! |
This coming week I only have three x 3 miles and one 2 mile run scheduled before Sunday. All the hard work is done. Now it is just a case of having an easy week, getting enough rest and sleep, and making sure that come Sunday I am as fresh as possible. Eating is also important this week - building up energy levels by getting the right amounts of the right kind of carbohydrates - plenty of pasta, bread, rice etc.
The theory is that the hard work is already done. If not it's too late to do anything about it now. I started specifically training for this marathon at the beginning of November. Since then I have been out for 105 runs, covering 760 miles. That has taken a total of 111 hours 46 minutes and 4 seconds. 53 of those runs have been before 7am. The average temperature of those runs has been -29*C. Three of these runs were between 20-21 miles. (One of these statistics might be a slight exaggeration.)
Is it enough? I guess we'll find out on Sunday!
Later this week the Marathon Expo opens where all runners go and pick up their number and other essentials - as well as having the opportunity to spend hundreds of pounds on vital running gear!
Pop back later in the week to find out how you can track my progress online during the race.
If you would like to sponsor me you can do so at www.virginmoneygiving.com/keithtarring
Saturday, 13 April 2013
Older and quicker - we'll have to wait and see
Exactly 10 years ago today I was almost certainly wide awake and nervously looking forward to running the London marathon. The training was done, but I had no idea what to expect. In the end I managed a time of 4:01:14. In 8 days I'm going to try and better that time and go under 4 hours.
As you will know if you've followed this blog since January, I am running for Christian Aid. My aim is to raise £2000 - and thanks to many of you I'm nearly there now - remember every little helps. If you want to add your support you can do so at www.virginmoneygiving.com/keithtarring
Each week this year, on Thursdays, I have been posting a short video that demonstrates some of the work that Christian Aid are involved in. As you will have seen Christian Aid often work with small, local organisations that are very aware of the situation 'on the ground' and whose work transforms the communities in which they are based. The money is used to provide communities with the helping hand they need to get themselves out of poverty - and to then stay out of poverty.
One of the arguments used against giving aid is that most of the money is wasted due to corrupt governments. The new Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby countered this argument in his blog yesterday. Click here to read what he had to say.
In a few minutes I'm off out for a gentle 8 miles. Nothing longer than 3 miles next week.
As you will know if you've followed this blog since January, I am running for Christian Aid. My aim is to raise £2000 - and thanks to many of you I'm nearly there now - remember every little helps. If you want to add your support you can do so at www.virginmoneygiving.com/keithtarring
Each week this year, on Thursdays, I have been posting a short video that demonstrates some of the work that Christian Aid are involved in. As you will have seen Christian Aid often work with small, local organisations that are very aware of the situation 'on the ground' and whose work transforms the communities in which they are based. The money is used to provide communities with the helping hand they need to get themselves out of poverty - and to then stay out of poverty.
One of the arguments used against giving aid is that most of the money is wasted due to corrupt governments. The new Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby countered this argument in his blog yesterday. Click here to read what he had to say.
In a few minutes I'm off out for a gentle 8 miles. Nothing longer than 3 miles next week.
Monday, 11 July 2011
Parable of a Runner (2)
Last Friday I took my own advice (from Tuesday) and dragged myself out of the door - on the basis that a few miles were better than none. As is generally the case, my headache soon cleared, and I started to enjoy running so took a couple of left turns (leading away from my start/stop point rather than back towards it) and ended up doing 10 miles.
But that is not what I want to tell you about. After a couple of miles, I was running briefly along a high street and a gentleman, who, judging from his appearance, may not have exercised in quite a while, shouted out, as I approached him, 'Do one for me, mate'.
That started me thinking. Just imagine if you could transfer the benefits of exercise from one person to another. A definite marketing opportunity. No doubt there would be those who would pay for others to do their exercise for them; and for those of us who enjoy exercise but are not the best in the world, suddenly we could become professionals!
We know the benefits of exercise - but it is a discipline - and it takes effort. Imagine if I could stay in and phone for a pizza whilst someone else ran 12 miles - with all the benefits being transferred to my body. Or for those with busy lives who can't take 90 minutes out for the gym - instead leave work, pick up the children, cook their tea, and put them to bed, whilst someone else is pounding out the miles on the treadmill, and working up a sweat on the rowing machine.
And I guess it is no different with our spiritual lives. There are spiritual disciples that we know are good for us - but wouldn't it be great if someone else could put in the hard work, but we get all the benefits.
But whether someone is out running, at the gym, memorising Bible verses, studying the Bible, or praying, shouting 'Do one for me mate' just doesn't work.
But that is not what I want to tell you about. After a couple of miles, I was running briefly along a high street and a gentleman, who, judging from his appearance, may not have exercised in quite a while, shouted out, as I approached him, 'Do one for me, mate'.
That started me thinking. Just imagine if you could transfer the benefits of exercise from one person to another. A definite marketing opportunity. No doubt there would be those who would pay for others to do their exercise for them; and for those of us who enjoy exercise but are not the best in the world, suddenly we could become professionals!
We know the benefits of exercise - but it is a discipline - and it takes effort. Imagine if I could stay in and phone for a pizza whilst someone else ran 12 miles - with all the benefits being transferred to my body. Or for those with busy lives who can't take 90 minutes out for the gym - instead leave work, pick up the children, cook their tea, and put them to bed, whilst someone else is pounding out the miles on the treadmill, and working up a sweat on the rowing machine.
And I guess it is no different with our spiritual lives. There are spiritual disciples that we know are good for us - but wouldn't it be great if someone else could put in the hard work, but we get all the benefits.
But whether someone is out running, at the gym, memorising Bible verses, studying the Bible, or praying, shouting 'Do one for me mate' just doesn't work.
Tuesday, 5 July 2011
Parable of a Runner (1)
Jesus loved to tell stories, based on everyday situations; stories which could be appreciated on a number of different levels - depending on how deep the listener was prepared to dig. And it wasn't just Jesus - there are other examples in the New Testament where the everyday has been taken to teach about something deeper.
I enjoy running, and try to run 4 times a week, totalling about 30 miles a week. Although not always the case - it is certainly true for the vast majority of runs - that when I get back I'm glad I went - I feel better for the experience.
But even so, come the next day, it can be a real act of the will to get out there again - it is easier to stay at home. At the moment the sun is shining and it is warm and sunny and a lot of my running can be done on grass - yet it can still be hard to motivate myself to actually get out of the door. Imagine what it's like in the winter when it's dark, and raining and just a few degrees one side or other of freezing.
But even in the winter, I still feel better for having been out for a run - but it takes even more effort not to stay in the warm and dry!
And once you miss a couple of days, it becomes harder and harder to get out there again.
In our walk as followers of Jesus there are disciplines that we know are good for us, and our experience is that we benefit every time we do them - but every single morning it seems like a battle of the will to actually 'put on the trainers and get out the front door'.
My experience from running is just get on and do it. You know it will be worth it in the end.
I enjoy running, and try to run 4 times a week, totalling about 30 miles a week. Although not always the case - it is certainly true for the vast majority of runs - that when I get back I'm glad I went - I feel better for the experience.
But even so, come the next day, it can be a real act of the will to get out there again - it is easier to stay at home. At the moment the sun is shining and it is warm and sunny and a lot of my running can be done on grass - yet it can still be hard to motivate myself to actually get out of the door. Imagine what it's like in the winter when it's dark, and raining and just a few degrees one side or other of freezing.
But even in the winter, I still feel better for having been out for a run - but it takes even more effort not to stay in the warm and dry!
And once you miss a couple of days, it becomes harder and harder to get out there again.
In our walk as followers of Jesus there are disciplines that we know are good for us, and our experience is that we benefit every time we do them - but every single morning it seems like a battle of the will to actually 'put on the trainers and get out the front door'.
My experience from running is just get on and do it. You know it will be worth it in the end.
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