Albert Park 5km 19/05/2012. 25:07mins
6 mile run 20/05/2012 51:38mins
Light drizzle at the start of the Albert Park run was a bit of a boost and I felt pretty strong going round. In my head when I started I had the time of 25:07 and, bizarrely, that was the official time. Managed a reasonably prolonged "sprint" at the end but I'm now acutely aware of my, less-than-attractive, 'sprint-face' after seeing the pictures of me finishing the Riverside Stadium run. I literally look dead. The beard didn't help so that had to go.
Ran the Middlesbrough 10k route today (or thereabouts - think I was a few hundred metres short but stopped at 6 miles so still a distance best so far this year). Started nice and steady. I used Sharon's Garmin thing to help pace and it was pretty useful. I haven't been clock-watching so far during runs in my training as I'm aware of needing to get up to some kind of fitness first and making that the priority (although my competitive streak still kicks in now and then as I pick people off in the park runs.). Average pace was 8:30ish per mile. Pretty pleased for a first longer run. Next challenge is the 8 miles loop at Kirklevington, where I grew up. Think my best is about 1hr 10ish so well within reach.
Soundtrack - no ipod! Didn't take it at Albert Park as one of the headphones tends to conk out in the lightest of rains and it becomes a pain. Don't know how people can listen to only one side. Got to be full on stereo for me! Went to get it for the 6 miles run but had left it in my bag at a gig last night and the drummer took it home. Naomi has asked me to help write a motivational song for her sister, Jemma Lowe, who is competing in the Olympics swimming team so I started getting ideas for that as I went round. Stuff about Mermaids and dolphins and being a fish from the knees down etc. Not sure she'll find it that inspirational but it's a start. I'll have to go out again and find the same pace to get the right tempo for the song though!
Sunday 20 May 2012
Tuesday 15 May 2012
Billy's Boots...
Albert Park 5km - 25.20mins
I half-remember there being a comic strip in The Beano or Dandy called Billy's Boots about a footballer who had some magic boots but they didn't work very well in the rain (high concept stuff). Felt a bit like this might happen today. An early, frosty downpour threatened to scupper my plans for getting out every other day but passed and I headed over to the park. Sometimes a bit of fresh drizzle can boost you by cooling you down mid run and other times, if heavy enough it makes you feel like Billy's Boots.
I felt pretty strong coming off the back of a PB (this year anyway) from the Riverside 5k and started well. A little too well it turns out. The second full lap was a struggle and even though I managed to prolong my sprint at the end a touch I was disappointed not to get closer to the previous time. It felt faster overall. I refuse to blame the music...
Soundtrack - Cherry Head, Cherry Heart Demos
With an impending gig this Sunday and our last one being a couple of months ago I needed to do some swotting up on my own songs. Over the past ten years or so years I've written hundreds, to the point where they don't really commit to my memory (well, lyrically anyway). Of all the stuff I've written these are some that I am most pleased with in terms of them sounding well structured and work well live. The majority of them were written for and are sung by Naomi from The Southmartins so it's not entirely egotistical to listen back. There's a heavy Paul Heaton influence in the writing but we've started moving away from that a touch and into something I describe as Teesside Tijuana. Mariachi style trumpets (well, synthesised ones for now - there is a paucity of real trumpets on Teesside so maybe this was not such a good idea), jazzy chords (but not flashy - I struggle to play most of them) and Bacharach-esque melodies are the order of the day. This is not "Rock 'n' Roll" although the lyrics are quite cutting I like to think. My favourite song - The Illusionist - is pretty laid back and started just as I began my sprint, which was odd but I feel a little more prepared for the gig if not the Great North Run.
I half-remember there being a comic strip in The Beano or Dandy called Billy's Boots about a footballer who had some magic boots but they didn't work very well in the rain (high concept stuff). Felt a bit like this might happen today. An early, frosty downpour threatened to scupper my plans for getting out every other day but passed and I headed over to the park. Sometimes a bit of fresh drizzle can boost you by cooling you down mid run and other times, if heavy enough it makes you feel like Billy's Boots.
I felt pretty strong coming off the back of a PB (this year anyway) from the Riverside 5k and started well. A little too well it turns out. The second full lap was a struggle and even though I managed to prolong my sprint at the end a touch I was disappointed not to get closer to the previous time. It felt faster overall. I refuse to blame the music...
Soundtrack - Cherry Head, Cherry Heart Demos
With an impending gig this Sunday and our last one being a couple of months ago I needed to do some swotting up on my own songs. Over the past ten years or so years I've written hundreds, to the point where they don't really commit to my memory (well, lyrically anyway). Of all the stuff I've written these are some that I am most pleased with in terms of them sounding well structured and work well live. The majority of them were written for and are sung by Naomi from The Southmartins so it's not entirely egotistical to listen back. There's a heavy Paul Heaton influence in the writing but we've started moving away from that a touch and into something I describe as Teesside Tijuana. Mariachi style trumpets (well, synthesised ones for now - there is a paucity of real trumpets on Teesside so maybe this was not such a good idea), jazzy chords (but not flashy - I struggle to play most of them) and Bacharach-esque melodies are the order of the day. This is not "Rock 'n' Roll" although the lyrics are quite cutting I like to think. My favourite song - The Illusionist - is pretty laid back and started just as I began my sprint, which was odd but I feel a little more prepared for the gig if not the Great North Run.
Sunday 13 May 2012
Stadium Rock!
Middlesbrough 5k - 24.47mins!
Hot on the heels of yesterday's park run, I was up and about early after a fitful night's sleep (four pints at the Boo Hewerdine gig. Very good on all accounts really). A slight twinge in my left knee from yesterday threatened to flare up a bit as I warmed up and a brisk start to proceedings in the run was probably not the best strategy. I'd put myself in the sub-30 minutes range at the start but soon found myself picking off lots of people. Rob Nichols passed me early on but I had him in my sight for most of the run so I knew I was probably doing ok. At the 1km flag I was at 5:09 and at 2km I was under 10 minutes. Alarms bells rang that I was probably going a bit too fast and sure enough by about 3km, despite not being able to see the flag anywhere I was certainly feeling "the flag" (see what I did there?). A steadier pace to the end saw me good though and it did feel great running into the Riverside Stadium to finish. I managed a decent sprint down the home straight too and by my watch it was sub 25 minutes. A minute off my current best.
Soundtrack: God knows...
Decided not to take the iPod along. Not as a punishment for it not having any charge when I needed it yesterday but because I reckoned I'd have nowhere to put it if I stripped down to just my running top. There was, however, a band playing outside the Lord Byron pub. Lively, bluesy pub stuff played by beardy old men, one with a cowboy hat on. A sure sign of something. I vaguely recognised them from playing at The Sessions in Doc Brown's a few months back but may be mistaken. Coming back past the pub at about 3.5km they were murdering Proud Mary, originally brought to life by Creedence Clearwater Revival. Music was fine but the vocal was neither harmony nor melody. It was comedy. It sounded like someone was holding a gun to his head to sing when they might have been better asking him not to. Fair play though, they were decent musicians and probably playing for (dry roasted) peanuts if not for free.
Hot on the heels of yesterday's park run, I was up and about early after a fitful night's sleep (four pints at the Boo Hewerdine gig. Very good on all accounts really). A slight twinge in my left knee from yesterday threatened to flare up a bit as I warmed up and a brisk start to proceedings in the run was probably not the best strategy. I'd put myself in the sub-30 minutes range at the start but soon found myself picking off lots of people. Rob Nichols passed me early on but I had him in my sight for most of the run so I knew I was probably doing ok. At the 1km flag I was at 5:09 and at 2km I was under 10 minutes. Alarms bells rang that I was probably going a bit too fast and sure enough by about 3km, despite not being able to see the flag anywhere I was certainly feeling "the flag" (see what I did there?). A steadier pace to the end saw me good though and it did feel great running into the Riverside Stadium to finish. I managed a decent sprint down the home straight too and by my watch it was sub 25 minutes. A minute off my current best.
Soundtrack: God knows...
Decided not to take the iPod along. Not as a punishment for it not having any charge when I needed it yesterday but because I reckoned I'd have nowhere to put it if I stripped down to just my running top. There was, however, a band playing outside the Lord Byron pub. Lively, bluesy pub stuff played by beardy old men, one with a cowboy hat on. A sure sign of something. I vaguely recognised them from playing at The Sessions in Doc Brown's a few months back but may be mistaken. Coming back past the pub at about 3.5km they were murdering Proud Mary, originally brought to life by Creedence Clearwater Revival. Music was fine but the vocal was neither harmony nor melody. It was comedy. It sounded like someone was holding a gun to his head to sing when they might have been better asking him not to. Fair play though, they were decent musicians and probably playing for (dry roasted) peanuts if not for free.
Saturday 12 May 2012
I am not a number!
Albert Park Run 5km - 25.51mins
Felt pretty terrible starting this. Nothing to do with the bottle of wine last night of course but just very lacking in energy. Didn't have time for breakfast so that might not have helped. Still managed to chip a little off my current time. Not having an iPod probably added to the frustration too. Was planning on a bit of Ed Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros after hearing their new song last night. Might be running the Middlesbrough 5k tomorrow anyway so I'll review it then! The sun was pretty glorious from the off today which, as most runners will tell you, is a bloody pain in the neck. Too warm too soon. Managed a bit of a sprint by the end so not all bad but after tonight at the Boo Hewerdine gig I'm going to knock beer etc on the head until after my own gig next Saturday. See how it feels.
Soundtrack: None! (bloody iPod ran out of charge)
Felt pretty terrible starting this. Nothing to do with the bottle of wine last night of course but just very lacking in energy. Didn't have time for breakfast so that might not have helped. Still managed to chip a little off my current time. Not having an iPod probably added to the frustration too. Was planning on a bit of Ed Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros after hearing their new song last night. Might be running the Middlesbrough 5k tomorrow anyway so I'll review it then! The sun was pretty glorious from the off today which, as most runners will tell you, is a bloody pain in the neck. Too warm too soon. Managed a bit of a sprint by the end so not all bad but after tonight at the Boo Hewerdine gig I'm going to knock beer etc on the head until after my own gig next Saturday. See how it feels.
Soundtrack: None! (bloody iPod ran out of charge)
Thursday 10 May 2012
High five!
7.4km (ish) 40:06 mins. 665 KCalories burned (apparently)
The aim was to do 7/8 km so not far off and, without measuring a route, I decided 20 minutes out and 20 minutes back would be about right. Not too bad in the old predicting stakes if a little short on the distance. A steadily increasing rain helped a good deal and I even shook a few branches along the way for a good soaking to cool down. Set off at a fair pace but felt it may have been a bit too fast as I hit about 15 minutes and nearly gave up. I have never been great at pacing myself but it has got better since running more. SLight incline up Acklam road (oh by the way, what the hell is Acklam Garden City? A club? A erm gardening centre? saw a couple coming out of there on my way down Burlham Road and had never actually thought about it.). Rain got in my headphones 30 minutes in so one ear conked out which was a bugger but I was well in my stride by that point and had a little sprint at the end too. Getting better.
Soundtrack: De La Soul "Buhloone Mindstate" 8/10 (10/10 for the album though!)
"It might blow up but it won't go pop". So begins De La Soul's third album and it's my favourite of theirs and, having listened again after a fair absence up in my top ten easily of all. It's my favourite jazz album too (I have a very short list of those to be fair). De La Soul? Jazz? Surely they are purveyors of hip-hop or even "hippie" hop as they were originally labelled. Buhloone Mindstate sees them wilfully heading underground and along a more Afro-centric route musically and lyrically. A creeping cynicism and negativity is there in the increasingly foul-mouthed lyrics (certainly never on a par with Gangster-rap in those stakes though). The music is deceptively deeply textured. Blue note jazz samples and live brass (courtesy of Maceo Parker) provide sophisticated melodies and harmonies whilst the beats become, if anything, more primitive and simple so it was great for pushing me along on the run. There's a slight Middle-Eastern flavour to a handful of the songs too which is deliciously effective and exotic. The tune-free, beat heavy "Stakes is High" came next but this, for me was the high watermark for them and doesn't feel like a nostalgia trip despite the occasional reference to '93. Was it really that long ago?
This Stevie Wonder sampling "Breakadawn" single was about as pop as they could muster for the album. Great groove and feel though. £3.99 for the album. Don't hesitate!
The aim was to do 7/8 km so not far off and, without measuring a route, I decided 20 minutes out and 20 minutes back would be about right. Not too bad in the old predicting stakes if a little short on the distance. A steadily increasing rain helped a good deal and I even shook a few branches along the way for a good soaking to cool down. Set off at a fair pace but felt it may have been a bit too fast as I hit about 15 minutes and nearly gave up. I have never been great at pacing myself but it has got better since running more. SLight incline up Acklam road (oh by the way, what the hell is Acklam Garden City? A club? A erm gardening centre? saw a couple coming out of there on my way down Burlham Road and had never actually thought about it.). Rain got in my headphones 30 minutes in so one ear conked out which was a bugger but I was well in my stride by that point and had a little sprint at the end too. Getting better.
Soundtrack: De La Soul "Buhloone Mindstate" 8/10 (10/10 for the album though!)
"It might blow up but it won't go pop". So begins De La Soul's third album and it's my favourite of theirs and, having listened again after a fair absence up in my top ten easily of all. It's my favourite jazz album too (I have a very short list of those to be fair). De La Soul? Jazz? Surely they are purveyors of hip-hop or even "hippie" hop as they were originally labelled. Buhloone Mindstate sees them wilfully heading underground and along a more Afro-centric route musically and lyrically. A creeping cynicism and negativity is there in the increasingly foul-mouthed lyrics (certainly never on a par with Gangster-rap in those stakes though). The music is deceptively deeply textured. Blue note jazz samples and live brass (courtesy of Maceo Parker) provide sophisticated melodies and harmonies whilst the beats become, if anything, more primitive and simple so it was great for pushing me along on the run. There's a slight Middle-Eastern flavour to a handful of the songs too which is deliciously effective and exotic. The tune-free, beat heavy "Stakes is High" came next but this, for me was the high watermark for them and doesn't feel like a nostalgia trip despite the occasional reference to '93. Was it really that long ago?
This Stevie Wonder sampling "Breakadawn" single was about as pop as they could muster for the album. Great groove and feel though. £3.99 for the album. Don't hesitate!
Tuesday 8 May 2012
May the fourth be...sorry, the eighth...erm
6Km - Albert Park. 32:52mins
Not sure I can say I woke up feeling terrible as I barely slept and had feverish hallucinations all night. I've had swollen glands in my neck for the past three days which have been pretty painful although, even with the accompanying sore throat my voice has barely been affected and I managed to soldier through a gig yesterday. Anyway, for arguments sake, I "woke up" and didn't think I'd be able to complete the planned run today but after a quick splash I felt so-so and trundled Donovan off to the park to meet his nana. He insists on bringing his scooter along and then insists on me carrying it 95% of the way. It's a warm-up of sorts I suppose.
The run started slowly and I had no idea how I would feel after a lap but wasn't achy so just kept going. I feel, generally and despite the current illness, fitter than a couple of weeks ago and I'm glad I pushed myself to get out the house this morning. It would have been very easy to just say no and curl up in front of CBeebies under the Hello Kitty blanket. It started raining a bit at the end of the second lap which spurred me on to do another and, although I was feeling a bit weak (some breakfast might have helped that), I didn't really struggle to get round and managed to pick off a fellow runner who was kitted out in jeans and Adidas Sambas so maybe not a huge victory there.
The Great North Run is equivalent to about 4 or 5 of what I just ran.
Soundtrack: Sly & The Family Stone "Dance To The Music". One of my favourite bands but not my favourite album. I chose it because it pretty much pumps out soul beats for its short duration so thought it would help me in my slightly fragile state. It did, to an extent, but the vintage mix is a bit odd in these circumstances when you need something a bit more "widescreen". Great band though. The album finished with a couple of minutes of the run to go (I don't have the repackaged, deluxe-"extra track and a tacky badge version" that I've linked to although their reviews are fair enough, the album is essentially one idea played out over 30 minutes) so I fumbled about with my ipod and ended up, firstly, with the theme tune to Charlie's Angels and then The Winner Takes It All by Abba. there are some dark, yet strangely sequinned corners of my music collection.
Saturday 5 May 2012
Difficult Third
5th May 2012
Albert Park Run 5km – 25:57mins. 9am
Managed to keep the Friday night drinking session down to a very respectable 5 pints and home for tea which I'm sure surprised Sharon. She got her own back in the surprise stakes though by nudging me awake every so often last night as I guess I must have been snoring. Up early to drop Erin at her friends for a sleepover and then down to the Park. Even managed a bit of a warm up, which I don't usually bother too much with but the aches needed stretching. Looked like rain for a bit which would have been reasonably welcome but then the sun turned on after the first bend and the first lap was a it of a struggle. I didn't get lapped though, which has happened the last few times I've done the timed run so a bit of a boost heading into the final lap. Didn't have much left by the end but finished reasonably strong despite being overtaken by one of Isaac's 12 year old friends on the final bend #shakesfistand growls but managed to achieve my target of sub 26 mins (by my watch anyway - the slight stagger at the start probably lost me a few seconds on the official time). Still got a fair way to catch up with Mr Nicholls though who I used to be on a par with so plenty of work to do. Next target -7/8km
Thursday 3 May 2012
Second run - A bit of spree
3rd May 2012
Just short of 5Km – 24.46mins. Started approx 4.30pm
Quick run before picking the kids up from a variety of charitable friends (except Donovan who attends a nursery which, if you saw the fees, is less than charitable!) Jogged to the Albert Park Run start line as a warm-up. Tough going first lap and seriously considered just doing the one but felt decent by the time I got round so carried on. Stopped just short of the finish (near the gate) so estimated the time would have been about the same, if not a little faster than Tuesday. Didn’t really feel it though, felt slower as my legs had not quite recovered from the first run. I guess I could apply this estimating to all my training and just not run at all. “If I’d only made it to the park and ran ten laps I estimate I would have done it in…a new record!”. Hoping, Friday’s drinking session pending, to run park run this Saturday still. Aim for 26mins. I am also determined to reduce my use of exclamation marks in these posts.
Also you can sponsor me... Here
My First Run
Ok, so a very quick explanation. I'm training to run the Great North Run for the charity Mind on September 16th 2012. Used to be a very fast runner as a child/teen but now I'm the wrong side of 40 and need to get back up to speed. The following posts will be about each run I do, how it was, what I listened to etc.
1ST MAY 2012 -
5 Km – 26:35mins. Started approx 10.30am
Dropped Donovan off with his Nana then ran the Albert Park Run route. Bottle of wine the night before probably didn’t help too much but I was pleasantly surprised with the time. Hadn’t looked at my watch until through the finish and had expected about 30 mins (which I would also have been reasonably happy with). Talked a little with David in the café after about him doing the London Marathon. 3:09 he did it in! I’m aiming for sub 2hrs for this half one. If I shed a few pounds and get back up to fitness I should be well on the way to achieving it. An even bigger push and, yes, to knock at least some drink and fatty foods on the head could probably see me getting closer to 1:45 or even less. Intend to run again Thursday and possibly Saturday although I have also planned a post-work drinking session in my head!
Soundtrack – Dodgy “AceAs and Killer Bs” 7/10 – Quality, British guitar pop. The ballads were epic enough to keep me going and the faster stuff just brilliantly written and played. Their first two albums are The Stone Roses 2nd and 3rd really if you're into that sort of thing and want something that bridges The Roses first with their long awaited second. I might be supporting Dodgy soon too!
http://www.justgiving.com/andy-johnson71/eurl.axd/cc857dfe2afe0647ae9344bc807c35f9
http://www.justgiving.com/andy-johnson71/eurl.axd/cc857dfe2afe0647ae9344bc807c35f9
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