Finally, Gel-Kayanos Try Out and 20min 4km Run

I finally ran in my new shoes.(My New Asics Gel-Kayanos) They are great! If you have been recommended by the fitters at the shop then I'd go for it.I went for a 20min, 4.2km run. It felt alright after having a week off because of my cold. The 1st km was hilly, but easy cause I had the wind behind me. The next 2kms were moderate with the wind working against and with me. The last km was hard with the it being hilly and the working against the wind.

Other than the new shoes my friend agreed to train with me. He came with me on the run with me. He definately provides motivation and a more interesting run.

Setting Goals

Since I have never trained from a book or anything before now I haven't expected anything really. When I got 6th place in school cross country one year, and 3rd the next, I was lazily training for 2-3 months before the event. A good week for me would be to complete three 3km runs in whatever times. Now I'm going to follow a thing called "periodization." You have different phases you go through until your goal event is on. My goal is always going to be the school cross country. The next one is 4km. I'm using this book called "The Complete Practical Encyclopedia of Running" by Elizabeth Hufton, and I'm doing what it tells me to do if I was training for 5km not 4km. But that's fine really, its not going to make any difference to the times I get. But I don't know what a realistic time goal is to make so I'm at a loss here. If I set a goal according to the book I should get between 25min and 35min. In training though, I am running 4.2km in 20min. So, (if you haven't worked out) I am running a slightly faster than 5min per km pace. But then would I still keep that up for another rough km? I dare say I could, so I would run faster on the day wouldn't I. Not to mention I've done only 2 weeks training. So I think I should aim for an 18min 4k.

Cold

If you read my post from the day before yesterday, you would be expecting something about my new Gel-Kayanos. Well I didn't run yesterday because I have this cold and it keeps getting worse so I thought I might take a break. It's a really bad cold though. I went through 2 whole large packs of Butter-Menthol yesterday. So I will take a take a break or at least have an easy week or two.

If anyone reads please comment and suggest ways of dealing with this cold.

AWESOME NEW SHOES!!!

Today Mum and I went to the "Athlete's Foot" to get some new running shoes. The staff and everything were really good. But this is what I got...

They're Asics's Gel-Kayano. Can't wait to run in them tomorrow. Even just walking in them feels good! I'll post how it goes tomorrow.

Closed in Shoes too Hot for Comfort

Yesterday I went for my long run (currently only 30mins) and my feet were getting really hot. Like I was running on hot bitumen. It was because I had closed in shoes. (and it was sunny) They are good for running in when wet, but otherwise not too good. So its a good excuse to get new runners!

Above :My closed in runners.

I had a good run today, (20mins 4.2km) bit drizzly though but other than that pretty good weather. This run was on a different route than my other 2 routes, just makes for a slightly more interesting run. Someone told me it helps to make runs more interesting by listening to an Ipod. Might try it next run.

When I Get Up Early to Work Out or Run...

I think I am becoming addicted to getting up early (by early I mean 6:30am) for a run or workout. I think it adds life to my day. I'm never rushed in the mornings like I used to be. I've been on here this morning for 20mins plus so I can spare more than 20min. I can read all the updates from all my "Quality Running Blogs" too. I feel fresher and I get a feeling of pride just to put "25min run 4km" in my running diary. No, I'm not becoming addicted, I am addicted!

World Record or Olympic Gold Medal

When Usain Bolt won the gold medal and set the world record at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in the 100m sprint he slowed down at the end. In an interview he was asked "world record or gold medal" his answer was "Gold Medal hands down..."
If you had the choice of setting a world record or winning an Olympic gold medal, one or the other, which would it be?

For me it'd be a world record. You could say "I am faster than anyone else." And you'd be right. No one would have a case against you. Chances are that when the Olympics come around you would have had an injury beforehand and not have had as much time to train as anyone else. Therefore when you are at your best you are faster than anyone else and faster then the gold medalist. Or if someone younger than you beats you when you are older. You can say "when I was in my prime, like you are now, I'd beat you."

On the other hand it is pretty unlikely your world record would stick around for very long. But if you won an Olympic gold medal you can say I won a gold medal at an Olympics and you could say that forever. You could show your kids and your grand kids your gold medal. But you can't show them your little medal saying "World Record."

So if anyone reads this please post something on your blog or comment and share your opinion.

Listen to the Physio

This year I had growing pains in my knees and was unable to train for the school cross country. They had been niggling away for roughly six months. I finally went to the Physio where he gave me a set of exercises to do 10min a day. He told me it should take 1 to 3 months considering how well I did the exercises. If I did well for a month I wouldn't have to do anything else. I went to see him every week to let him see how I was going. For the first 2 weeks I did quite well. For the third not so. So this resulted in my month being turned into 5-6 weeks. After a few weeks like this it turned into 2 months.

If I had done what the physio said to do for four weeks I would have at least got a month of training in before the cross country. Not ideal but better than nothing. I look back on it now and feel a bit dumb. My result on the day would have surely been better. So the lesson here is listen and do what the physio says, or you may find yourself missing vital training. To stop it happening again I do the exercises before any training.