Alan's 500 mile challenge

Some stats

2010-01-06T21:09:00.008Z

For all of you who love statistics (ok just me then) here are a few about last year's running:

Total miles: 601

Number of runs: 167

Average run distance: 3.6 miles

Total time running: 97 hours, 43 minutes, 43 seconds (i.e. nearly 4 days !)

Average time per mile: 9 minutes 44 seconds

Longest run: 12.06 miles

And a few graphs to round off the year:

So I more than doubled my mileage in 2009 compared to 2008.

So looks like getting married in June did a lot for my stamina :-)

Note how my mileage per month really took off in May when I committed to doing the challenge for charity... the power of goals !

From January until August I was behind my target, but some time in August and September working from home and running most lunchtimes helped me get ahead.

And I started the year averaging just over 2 miles per run - by December I was averaging more than 5.

Well, that's it on this blog. Thanks for reading !

I've started a new one for my 2010 challenge over at http://www.alans750milechallenge.blogspot.com

Alan

The end...

2009-12-31T11:43:00.004Z

So, after 365 days of running, I've reached the end of the challenge. Yesterday: 4 laps at Crystal Palace in the drizzle for 7.68 miles; this morning: 4 laps of Dulwich Park bringing my total for the month to 70 miles and for 2009 to

601.35 miles.

So:

I beat my target by 20%;

ran more than twice the distance I ran in 2008;

and, thanks to the generosity of my friends, colleagues and family, have so far raised £580 for Practical Action.

Fantastic !

I just want to say a huge thank you to all of my sponsors, to my wife, Sophie, and to Michaela at Practical Action for your support and encouragement, without which none of this would have been possible.

Thank You !

Alan

Sunshine on Inverleith part 2

2009-12-28T12:54:00.004Z

At last, a nice sunny day to go running. Still a bit treacherous underfoot but by judicious use of the road, keeping to the white grainy bits and avoiding the black shiny bits I managed to stay upright. Actually walking back from the park at the end was much more hazardous.

I did a big loop of the park for 4.6 miles, a smaller one for 2.25 miles and then ran a little further for a total of 7.37 miles, bringing me up to just under 590 miles for the year.

Back to London tomorrow. A long run on the 30th and a shorter one on Hogmanay should bring me past the 600 miles mark for the year: magic !

A big thank you

2009-12-26T13:42:00.011Z

First things first - a big thank you to my Mum, brother, sister-in-law and nephew, with whose generous help my fundraising just broke through the £500 barrier. A great Christmas present for me, Practical Action and all the people whose lives it helps to change.

And, happily, the weather has relented a bit and after a week of inactivity I managed to get out for a run today ! The pavements are still pretty icy in places but in general they are good enough to run on, and I ran a 4.5 mile lap from the flat around the park and playing fields opposite. Not that many people out and about, but I did pass a couple of other runners, both of whom looked a bit more hardcore than me.

So another 4.5 miles on to the total and given the direction the weather's taking I should be able to get out tomorrow as well, which should help me move towards 600 for the year (I'm now at 582).

More snow.... no running...

2009-12-24T09:14:00.003Z

Back to Edinburgh for Christmas.

The weather itself isn't stopping me getting out, it's the icy pavements that are the issue. I don't really want to end the running year by going over on ankle.

Hopefully the temperatures will rise at the weekend and I can get out for a nice long run to catch up on my 600 mile target.

Local run

2009-12-20T20:50:00.004Z

A couple of laps of Honor Oak / Forest Hill this morning for 4.7 miles. Pavements still pretty icy in places but it's perhaps easier to keep on your feet while running than walking, judging by some of the pedestrians shuffling past.

Nearly 578 miles for the year now.

I'm going back to Edinburgh for Christmas on Tuesday so am hoping to clock up a good few miles during the holidays and reach the 600 mile mark before the 31st.

Back to Dulwich

2009-12-19T22:05:00.006Z

Too icy underfoot for Greenwich or Dulwich today, so 5 laps of Dulwich instead. Quite strange going back there after a few months away - the "hill" which we used to struggle up 2 years ago is barely noticeable any more, and where once it seemed quite a big park, now after a few laps it starts to get a bit dull and repetitive. But it was still good to get some exercise after a few days off this week, and burn off the pre-Christmas party food and drink.

573 miles for the year now.

White Christmas ?

2009-12-17T22:57:00.007Z

Snow forecast for overnight so no doubt London will have ground to a halt by tomorrow. If you went by what the media says you'd think it had never snowed in December before.

Christmas shopping and eating have cut down the running opportunities this week so I've only added 3.75 miles to my total for a lunchtime lap around Hyde Park on Tuesday, taking me to 568 miles for the year.

Hopefully I'll get out at the weekend to add a few more and keep me on target for 600 before the end of the year.

Two laps at the Palace

2009-12-13T14:01:00.004Z

Brrr.... winter's here. Very chilly morning at Crystal Palace. After 10 miles yesterday, just a short run today - a couple of laps around the park. It's a lovely place to run - even in summer it's much less busy than Greenwich, it's a good mixture of flat bits and hills, straights and curves, and there's lots of nice scenery to look at. Plus - it's a shorter drive from the house.

So, four more miles to add to the total, which stands at 33 for December and 564 for the year so far.

Greenwich

2009-12-12T17:09:00.004Z

Five laps of Greenwich park today on a bright, chilly Saturday morning with the Chinese State Circus tent pitched at the entrance. A glorious day for running - it took a couple of laps to get properly warmed up but after that the miles flowed smoothly past and I could have managed another mile or two.

Winter running can be such a pleasure - no leaves on the trees to block the view, only the "serious" runners brave the cooler temperatures, and the number of what my friend Bill calls "daytime people" - the ones who dawdle and wander all over the road, baulking runners and faster moving pedestrians - is very low.

So just under 10 miles to add to the total - now 560 for the year.

550 miles

2009-12-11T22:42:00.002Z

4 more miles yesterday lunchtime in Hyde Park. 550 miles for the year now. Tomorrow, more miles at Greenwich.

Mr Hunter, this is for you...

2009-12-09T20:37:00.004Z

Twenty something years ago, I had my first real experience of running. Just started secondary school and when the PE teachers were lacking ideas, had some paperwork to do or the weather was particularly grim, they'd send us out for a "cross country run". "Cross-country" was a bit of a misnomer, it was basically a run around the playing fields and back to the school.

Back then, mainly due to having had asthma since I was 6 months old, I'd never get a lot of exercise - in those days the thinking around asthma was to avoid situations which might provoke it (rather than getting on with life and using an inhaler when necessary which seems to be the approach these days).

So I was never particularly good at cross-country running, and generally ran/walked the course, trailing in last.

However one day I decided it was time to grit my teeth and at least run all the way around. I teamed up with a fellow asthmatic and another non-athlete, and with a bit of mutual encouragement managed to run the entire route (which I now know to be not much more than 1 mile !). Overjoyed with my first success in athletics I approached the school gates triumphantly in 3rd last position, only to be met by the PE teacher with the words "I need a calendar to time you, not a stopwatch"

So... Mr Hunter - you might not have realised it at the time but your - admittedly quite funny - remark all those years ago planted a seed in my mind which, for a long time, discouraged me from running, then a couple of years ago made me determined to give it a go, and now, as I watch the miles pass by at 7 miles per hour, 20 miles a week, just makes me smile.

Four more miles in Hyde Park yesterday at a decent pace takes me to 546 for the year.

Hangover cure

2009-12-06T12:55:00.003Z

No running midweek this week due to a business trip. Not only no running but more food than usual and a lot more alcohol, especially on Thursday night. One of the positive benefits of running a lot is that because you tend to feel the effects of alcohol more (a hangover is a lot more obvious when you're out the next day trying to run 10km) you tend to think twice about having a skinful. Which I'm sure has other positive health benefits - less drinking means less disturbed sleep, which means more energy. Also, my impression is that the people I know who drink more than me (and don't get much exercise) tend to catch colds and flu more often. Certainly I've not had a day off work since I started running.

Anyway, as a result of an exercise-free week, and a few beers more than usual, running this weekend was a bit of a struggle. Yesterday I did 6.5 miles around Greenwich park, and today (after a few glasses of wine and quite a big meal) a 4.36 mile plod around Crystal Palace. However the weather this morning was great - one of those mornings when heavy rain had been replaced by dazzling sunshine, almost making up for having to run with a foggy head.

542 miles for the year now - still on target to pass 600 by December 31st. Now I need to do a bit more to try to pass my fundraising target.

Back on the road...

2009-11-28T21:49:00.002Z

Well I might have passed 500 miles for the year, but my running continues - a couple of runs round Hyde Park during the week, and 9.27 miles in Greenwich Park today. Running 8 miles+ now seems pretty routine now, which is a measure of my progress since the start of the year.

Total for the year is now 528 miles - on track to reach 600 miles by the end of December...

Thank you

2009-11-24T22:30:00.003Z

Having passed the 500 mile mark, it's time to say a few "thank you"s to the people without whom it wouldn't have happened:

Firstly - to my wife Sophie who ran many of the 500 miles herself, took many of the photos whichh appear on this blog, and has given me great encouragement ever since I started running. And not forgetting Sally and Phil whose enthusiasm for running spurred me on to set myself bigger targets

Secondly - to Michaela at Practical Action for her support and encouragement, and for the T-shirts and vests !

And thirdly - to everyone who's sponsored me so far. Your support really makes a difference - to me, to Practical Action, and, most importantly, to the people whose lives they help to change for the better.

Thank you.

511 miles and counting...

2009-11-22T08:59:00.017Z

Well, I completed the challenge yesterday - 39 days ahead of schedule. Somewhere around Blackfriars Bridge on the first lap of my half marathon I passed 500 miles for the year.

I started out from Embankment around 09:50 on a grey but mild morning. Pretty soon after starting I regretted wearing a long sleeved top and tracksters - shorts and a T-shirt would have been a better fit for the temperature, and after a few miles I had to perform a striptease while running.

The early miles were pretty straightforward - I tried to keep my pace slow to keep something in reserve for later. However my pre-run preparation contained a flaw - the Thames path under Blackfriars Bridge is currently closed, meaning a quite sizeable detour inland, including crossing a busy road, which I hadn't factored in when I measured the distance. (This added 0.6 miles to my route).

By the time I started my second lap the crowds had started to build up on the South Bank around the Christmas market and the London Eye, making me start to regret my choice of route. I'd assumed that a grey November morning might be quite quiet in London but no such luck.

Oblivious tourists increasingly blocked my path forcing me to dodge and weave and occasionally just stop in my tracks, politely saying "excuse me" while swearing under my breath. It's one of those situations where no-one's to blame - they're just tourists being tourists and they have as much right to be there as I have. But it doesn't stop you wishing they could just be a little more aware of their surroundings.

Nonetheless there were a lot of good points about the route - in spite of it involving three laps, there was always something interesting to look at, and after the first hour the weather started to brighten up.

By my third lap, at around the 10 mile mark, I was starting to feel a bit leg-weary and uncomfortable. I managed to keep running until reaching Lambeth Bridge at 2 hours 7 minutes, but then I had to stop and walk for a while. I guess the dodging and weaving had burned up a few extra calories than I bargained for - and maybe I lost a bit of fitness during the last two weeks of relative inactivity. Anyway, I walked for just over half a mile to Parliament Square, and then started a slow, stiff and painful jog up Whitehall. More tourists to dodge.

At Trafalgar Square, the welcome sight of the Mall and the home straight came into view. As it turned out, thanks to Network Rail's Blackfriars detour, Admiralty Arch constituted the actual 13.1 mile mark, and I passed it in 2h 21m 16s which, considering that I had walked for 10 minutes, and probably ran quite a few extra yards dodging the crowds en route, isn't too bad for a first attempt at an (albeit unofficial) half marathon.

I gave Sophie a call on the mobile halfway up the Mall to warn her to be ready with the camera, and reached the "finish line", 13.76 miles from the start, in just over 2 hours 28 minutes.

After finishing - lots of photographs, a welcome drink, and then a slow walk into the West End for some lunch and a rest.

As a result of my stop for a breather after 12 miles, and according to the rules of the challenge, this constituted one 12.06 mile run and a 1.1 mile run to add to the total, which now stands at 511.03 miles for the year.

Some Hong Kong miles

2009-11-16T20:41:00.005Z

Back from a week's holiday in Hong Kong where I clocked up just under 6 miles in a couple of runs along the harbourside in Tsim Sha Tsui.

It's always a pleasure to run along the waterfront in Hong Kong, in spite of the sometimes humid climate and the pollution (although the air quality seems to have significantly improved lately). There's so much spectacular city scenery to look at while you're running and you can follow your run with cheap delicious dim sum and then go for an equally cheap but very good massage.

I could have done more running whilst I was in HK but I was planning to save my 500th mile for this coming weekend back in London. So with the 6 Hong Kong miles and the 4 I did on the Thursday before I left on holiday my total now stands at 493.87 miles - 6.13 to go.

The plan to pass the 500 mile mark is:

- go out for one lunchtime run in Hyde Park this week for 4-5 miles

- then on Saturday or Sunday this weekend, complete the equivalent of a half-marathon by doing three laps of the Thames, starting from the London Eye, running to the Millenium Bridge, back to Lambeth Bridge, repeating a couple of times, and then on the third lap, heading up Whitehall to Trafalgar Square, then hanging a left and running up The Mall to complete 13.1 miles at the Buckingham Palace gates.

At least that's the plan. And the beauty of the plan is that I'll pass the 500 mile mark early on in the run, so from that point on everything else is a bonus. But I've never run half marathon distance before, and it would be great to complete the challenge with a new "personal best"

Greenwich, Crystal Palace and Putney

2009-11-04T11:09:00.003Z

I've fallen behind a little with the blog updates, but I'm still keeping up with the running:

A long run at Greenwich on Saturday - four big laps and a smaller one. Total 9.26 miles
A dash around Crystal Palace in the rain on Sunday morning - two laps for 3.75 miles
A lunchtime jog along the Thames in the lashing rain yesterday - 4.12 miles.

So getting very close to the "finish line" now - less than 16 miles to go !

Next week we're off to Hong Kong on holiday. Will be taking the running shoes for one or two jogs along the harbour front - a spectacular place to run - but probably won't do more than half a dozen miles - so I'm still on target to reach the target on the weekend of November 21st/22nd.

93% complete.

2009-10-29T21:29:00.002Z

Still a bit sore and stiff after my 11 mile run on Monday, so a very gentle 4 mile jog along the Thames at lunchtime.

Only 33 miles to go now !

Plan B

2009-10-26T16:17:00.003Z

Weather was foul yesterday so neither of us were very enthusiastic about two laps of an Edinburgh hill in a southwesterly gale and squally showers.

So a lazy day on Sunday but today I was off work and after the gasman had been I went out with the intention of doing a long run. Having got a bit bored with my normal 2 mile lap around the park I did a bit of pre-planning and worked out a larger lap totalling 4.6 miles which I figured I could probably do twice.

A lovely day for running, very different from yesterday: almost no breeze, cool but with a hint of sunshine. The route was relatively flat, with one long gentle incline, and I managed both laps without any real problems (other than having to dodge the traffic around some of the ever-present Edinburgh tram-related roadworks).

Having got to the 9.2 mile mark I was in a good rhythm and still felt there was some running left in my legs, so I kept going and added on one of my usual smaller laps of the park, bringing me to a total of 11.26 miles - a new record !

I must admit I was pretty tired by the end and felt the beginnings of cramp in my legs. I could maybe have done another half mile or so but that would have been it.

However a half-marathon is starting to look well within my grasp !

70 miles in October now, and nearly 463 overall.

Edinburgh weekend

2009-10-24T11:31:00.004+01:00

Just back from a couple of laps of Inverleith Park in Edinburgh. A mild, grey, cloudy morning - good conditions for running. Just over 4 miles added to the total. Yesterday I ran from the office to Putney Bridge and back at lunchtime for 3.3 more miles. So that's nearly 59 miles in October and 452 overall.

Tomorrow the plan is to run a couple of laps of Arthur's Seat - the lump of volcanic rock which overlooks the centre of Edinburgh. There's a road which runs round and part of the way up the hill and which forms the course of the BUPA Great Winter Run which I took part in back in January. It's a fairly unrelenting climb for the first 2km, then level for 1km and then there's a very satisfying long downhill stretch (visible on the bottom left of the photograph) back to the starting point. A full lap is 3.25 miles, so given the climb (and the everpresent wind on the top of the hill) a couple of laps is a good workout.

Barnes Bridge

2009-10-20T21:30:00.003+01:00

A lunchtime scamper along the Thames, across Barnes Bridge and back on the other side to Hammersmith Bridge, then back to the office.

4.8 comfortable miles.

Lots of people rowing on the river being shouted at by other people in motorboats with loudhailers, but otherwise a very nice run on a cool, cloudy day.

Lazy morning at Crystal Palace

2009-10-18T14:52:00.013+01:00

Feeling a bit tired and sore after yesterday's efforts in Greenwich, so a nice lazy lap and a half around Crystal Palace Park this morning.

Just under 3 miles to add to my total which now stands at 46 miles for October and 439 for 2009.

New record

2009-10-17T16:01:00.002+01:00

8.77 miles at Greenwich. 3 big laps and then a couple of smaller ones. I think that's the first time I've run up "the hill" 3 times. I could have passed the 9 mile mark if I'd had more time which is encouraging now I'm thinking towards doing a half-marathon.

At the current rate of progress it's looking like I'll pass the 500 mile mark sometime in November so I'm having a look around to see if there's any interesting races to do around then. It would be nice to make an occasion of it.

And of course I'm going to carry on running after that and see how many miles I can complete in the year...

Lazy week

2009-10-16T23:10:00.002+01:00

A combination of having a rest after Run Kingston and being busy at work means I've only run once this week - a lap of the Thames between Hammersmith and Putney bridges for 4.12 miles.

Totals: 34 miles in October, 427 in 2009.

Tomorrow: off to Greenwich for some more "hill training".

Run Kingston

2009-10-11T20:53:00.010+01:00

Well, a very successful trip to Kingston - I achieved all of 5 of my goals and finished with just under 75 minutes on my watch.

I somehow ended up right at the front on the start line with all the "greyhounds" so was overtaken by what felt like the whole of humanity in the first mile. I'd planned to set off slowly but I was carried along by the crowds and passed the first mile mark in 9:15.

I consciously tried to slow down after that and did mile 2 in 10:25, although I think the mile markers might have been a bit out as I then did mile 3 in 8:10 without noticeably speeding up ! However after that I settled down to a pace of around 9:10 per mile and kept that going for the rest of the race.

Approaching the finish I saw I was on target to beat 75 minutes so I put in a bit of a sprint finish and crossed the line with about 8 seconds to spare on my watch.

It was a great feeling to finish with a bit of extra energy left and although my legs were getting a little heavy over the last mile it gives me confidence that I can ran further.

The weather turned out to be pretty ideal - cloudy and cool with some light rain - and the support from the spectators was really good. In a way its nicer in a smaller event - the support seems more personal.

Nice also to run in a race for runners - very few people walking after 800 metres, no barging at the start, not too many iPod wearers wandering all over the road. The course was a little disappointing though - the first section along the barge walk was lovely, but the remaining 3/4s of the race were along the side of main roads.

However, overall it was a really enjoyable day - all four of us ran well, and I was delighted with my time and fitness.

So... another 8.2 miles onto the total, bringing me to 423 miles for the year.

Pre-race update

2009-10-09T22:52:00.004+01:00

A low-key week in preparation for Run Kingston on Sunday:

a quick 3 miles in Crystal Palace last Sunday;

4 miles along the river at lunchtime on Tuesday;

3.3 miles along the river at lunchtime yesterday

bringing my total to 22 miles for October and 415 for the year so far.

Plan for tomorrow - no running, then head down to Kingston early evening, get an early night ready for the 0800 start on Sunday morning. Weather forecast is for light rain - perfect for running !

PS - the nice people at Practical Action have added some info about my challenge to their website. Hopefully that will drum up a bit more interest - and sponsorship !

A new record - and a new landmark

2009-10-03T16:01:00.002+01:00

Off to Greenwich this morning with the aim of doing a long run, ideally more than 7 miles, as preparation for runKingston next weekend.

It was a cool, breezy but dry day, ideal for running. I ran two long laps but thought a third trip up the hill was probably a bad idea, so I stayed on the top level of the park and completed 3 shorter laps for a total of 7.8 miles - a new record for me, and close enough to 8.2 miles to make me confident I'll handle the distance ok at Kingston.

And somewhere in the middle of my run I passed 400 miles for the year so far - fantastic !

So, maybe time to set some targets for next weekend:

1. Complete the distance
2. Run all the way !
3. 85 minutes
4. 80 minutes
5. 75 minutes

Putney loop

2009-10-01T21:46:00.003+01:00

4 miles along the Thames at lunchtime - to Putney Bridge, across the river, back to Hammersmith Bridge, across the river, and back to the office.

I aimed to take it easy today and ran at 9.5 minute/mile pace - much more comfortable. My previous 6 runs have all been at 9 to 9.25 minute pace which might explain why I was struggling to clock up a decent distance lately.

So - the plan is to aim for a long (7 miles+) run this weekend, and then take it easy up until the Kingston race a week on Sunday.

Tour of Barnes

2009-09-29T22:04:00.002+01:00

A lovely lunchtime run along the river to Barnes bridge and back via Hammersmith bridge. Feeling much better after my cold and I could have continued for longer than 50 minutes/5.4 miles if I'd had time. So a bit more confident that I can complete 8.2 miles in Kingston next weekend.

So my total for September was 70.8 miles and for 2009 so far, 393 miles.

Still lethargic...

2009-09-27T16:22:00.002+01:00

Still feeling a bit lethargic. Went to Crystal Palace in the hope I might be up for a long run. Felt better than yesterday but still a bit stuffed up with the cold. Ran a nice random route around the park which added up to just over 4 miles, in 36:39 - just over 9 minute/mile pace.

Hopefully this cold will clear up soon as I doubt if I could run 8.2 miles at the moment. Maybe I can get out running one day after work for a decent long run. I did do 7.4 miles back on 1st September, and 6.5 on the 19th but psychologically it would be good to get close to 8 miles at least once before the race. At least the Kingston run is completely flat - unlike my training runs in Crystal Palace and Greenwich...

That's 65 miles run in September now, and a total of 387.4 miles for the year.

10 more miles

2009-09-26T14:32:00.005+01:00

Another lunchtime run yesterday, this time to Putney Bridge and back - 3.25 miles.

Today I was hoping to do a 7 mile+ run in preparation for runKingston, but I felt really lethargic - maybe due to the cold I've had these last few days. Anyway, I managed a couple of half hour runs at Greenwich with a rest in the middle.

Hopefully tomorrow I'll feel better - I'd like to cover as close to full distance as possible before the race on the 11th.

383 miles completed now, 117 to go !

Riverside run

2009-09-23T20:47:00.005+01:00

My first lunchtime run at the new office. Just over 4 miles along a curvy bit of the Thames from Hammersmith bridge to Barnes bridge and back again.

A nice route, not too many pedestrians or cyclists and some interesting scenery. And also good practice for runKingston, which takes place a bit further up the river.

4 miles at the Palace

2009-09-20T14:56:00.002+01:00

40 minutes of running in Crystal Palace Park - a nice way to spend a sunny September morning. Feeling fit and positive and looking forward to that 8.2 mile run in Kingston.

That's 47 miles in September now, and 369 for the year so far. 74% of the miles in 71% of the time, so assuming I stay fit and healthy it's looking good for an early finish !

10k-ish at Greenwich

2009-09-19T14:55:00.007+01:00

Back to Greenwich after an absence of a few weeks on a suprisingly hot morning.

I set out to do 7 miles as a preparation for the 8.2 mile run at Kingston, but after a couple of large laps (4 miles) I reckoned I wouldn't make it up the hill for a third time, so instead ran a loop at the top of the park, clocking up another 1.3 miles.

Having recovered a bit I decided to give the third big lap a go, and I made it to the top of the hill before giving up, for a total of 6.56 miles.

Since 8.2 miles is further than I've run before I thought I should come up with a bit of a training plan for the Kingston race, so this is it. Let's see how I get on !

19th Sep: 7m
20th Sep: 4m
21st Sep: Rest
22nd Sep: 3.5m
23rd Sep: Rest
24th Sep: 3.5m
25th Sep: Rest
26th Sep: 8m
27th Sep: 4.5m
28th Sep: Rest
29th Sep: 4m
30th Sep: Rest
1st Oct: 4m
2nd Oct: Rest
3rd Oct: 8.5m
4th Oct: 3m
5th Oct: Rest
6th Oct: 4m
7th Oct: Rest
8th Oct: 3m
9th Oct: Rest
10th Oct: Rest
11th Oct: RACE DAY!

Evening run

2009-09-16T22:36:00.002+01:00

Back on the roads after the BUPA 5km run at the weekend. I'm working in town now on a new assignment, and haven't got the lunchtime run logistics sorted out yet, so instead I went for a run around Forest Hill after work.

The usual hilly route - which according to walkjogrun was 3.88 miles - and after three days sitting at a desk getting out running again was very welcome.

Now I need to start gearing up for the 8.2 mile run in Kingston on 11th October.

BUPA Great Capital Run

2009-09-13T15:38:00.006+01:00

Just back from Regents Park where Sophie and I ran in the BUPA Great Capital Run. I finished in 28:17 and Sophie in 28:18. So personal bests for both of us !

The course was generally pretty flat but with a downhill start.

Sophie ran really well so if I hadn't been keeping her company I probably wouldn't have run a lot faster - maybe under 28 mins but not by much.

Our split times were quite consistent but we saved up a bit of a sprint for the end:

1km: 5:49.16

2km: 5:36.56

3km: 5:42.42

4km: 5:41.05

5km: 5:30.37

Funny how a 5km race seems like a quick sprint these days - there was a time when it would have been a real struggle to run all the way around !

Quick sprint

2009-09-12T13:55:00.002+01:00

Tomorrow is BUPA 5k day, so just a short run this morning - a couple of laps at Dulwich. I thought I'd see how fast I could do a lap there and my second lap was 8m:27s. Not sure I could sustain that for 5km but I think I could beat 28 minutes.

However my plan tomorrow is to run at Sophie's pace and cross the finish line with her, so I'm expecting my time to be around 30-31 minutes.

Total miles for September: 29
Total miles for 2009: 351

More lunchtime miles

2009-09-10T13:46:00.002+01:00

Four laps at Dulwich at lunchtime. Possibly the last at lunchtime for a while - next week I start a new assignment, so no more "working from home". Hopefully it'll still be possible to get out running, but we'll see...

Hot 5k

2009-09-08T14:32:00.001+01:00

Back to Dulwich for another lunchtime run. 3.33 miles under the very hot sun - 28 degrees today. Hope it's a little cooler for the BUPA 5km this Sunday.

Edinburgh weekend

2009-09-07T16:55:00.003+01:00

Back to Scotland for the weekend. Saturday morning I went out for a couple of laps of the park, completing 5.35 miles at a decent pace (9:30 per mile).

Sunday: feeling a bit under the weather so gave running a miss.

Quick 5k

2009-09-04T16:58:00.002+01:00

At Dulwich at lunchtime for a quick 5km. Did the first 3 miles in 28:42, not bad. Total for the year now 336 miles.

Off to Edinburgh for the weekend - might have to swap the shorts for tracksters this weekend, autumn temperatures are definitely here !

2/3rds complete !

2009-09-03T18:00:00.002+01:00

Yep, I've run 333 miles this year. In almost exactly 2/3rds of the year - so I'm bang on schedule !

Not the best way to reach the landmark though - I went for a lap of Forest Hill and came to a halt on the steep bit of Honor Oak Park Road after 2.5 miles. I'll blame the "discomfort" caused by the big drink I had before I setting off - must remember not to do that again.

Anyway after a bit of a break I jogged the last mile home so still added 3.58 miles to my total.

New month, new record

2009-09-01T17:19:00.003+01:00

Dulwich Park at lunchtime and a new record for me - 7.4 miles. 4 laps around the outside plus two normal laps. And at not a bad pace too - 9m:59s per mile. Clearly the increase in mileage and the running up hills (Greenwich, Crystal Palace, Forest Hill) is having an impact !

My total now is 329 miles completed.

More miles at the Palace

2009-08-30T17:12:00.002+01:00

Back to Crystal Palace today for some more exploring. I ran for an hour, clocking up 5.91 miles, my longest run this year. Definitely a nice place to run - a couple of lakes to run around, one big square at the top of the hill where the Palace used to be, and a few other meandering paths to keep it interesting.

Another nice day for running too, some sunshine but cool and breezy. Starting to feel a bit autumnal.

New venue

2009-08-29T15:58:00.008+01:00

Some environmental campaigners have set up camp in Blackheath / Greenwich over this bank holiday weekend so rather than get stuck in traffic over there we decided to go to Crystal Palace instead. It's closer, quieter and more varied than Greenwich, and it's large enough and has some inclines which pose a big enough challenge. So very nice to go somewhere new.

I explored about 2/3rds of the park and ran for just over 50 minutes, completing 5.18 miles. And felt surprisingly comfortable - could have carried on for another mile without much trouble, which is encouraging with the 8.2 mile run in Kingston coming up in a couple of months.

My total for August has now reached the heady heights of 73.6 miles, with a couple of days still to go, and I've nearly caught up with my overall targets now, which is great. What seemed like a daunting challenge a few months ago looks thoroughly achievable now.

Evening run

2009-08-26T21:52:00.002+01:00

On a training course in town this week so no scope for lunchtime runs. But I went out this evening - in the drizzle - for a jog around Forest Hill and Honor Oak. 3.8 miles bringing my total for August to 68 miles and overall to 311 miles.

300 miles !

2009-08-22T16:16:00.008+01:00

Another milestone passed - 300 miles for the year. 5.4 miles at Greenwich today.

Two full laps (4 miles) and then the best part of another lap - and this time I made it up the hill for a third time - although I had to stop pretty soon afterwards !

Today I also signed up for an 8.2 mile run in Kingston in October. There's also a 16 mile run on offer but I think that's a little beyond my capabilities at the moment ! But the way I'm running at the moment 8 miles by October should be possible.

The course runs along the Thames towpath around Kingston / Hampton Court / Thames Ditton so it's flat and should be picturesque. Looking forward to it !

Hot.

2009-08-19T16:29:00.004+01:00

26.1 degrees apparently - which is very nice for sitting in the park but not so pleasant for running round it. Anyway, in spite of the weather I did 3.7 miles around Dulwich at lunchtime today, keeping to the trees around the edge of the park in an attempt to stay cool.

Total for August is now 50.8 miles, and I'm now very close to my total mileage for the whole of 2008.

I'm also happy to say that the sponsorship on my justgiving site is mounting up - many thanks to all of you who have donated so far !

5 mile lunch-hour...

2009-08-17T20:23:00.004+01:00

Off to Dulwich for a lunchtime run - feeling a bit ropey after a big night out last night (10 course Chinese banquet to celebrate our wedding) so I started off slowly. But after 3 laps I felt good enough for another, and then another, and I managed to carry on for a bit longer for a total of 5.4 miles.

Greenwich 4 miler

2009-08-15T21:03:00.003+01:00

Off to Greenwich again today and this time I made it up the hill twice, completing two and a bit full laps for a total of 4.4 miles. Last time I ran further than this was on 6th June, before the honeymoon, so I must be getting back to the level of fitness I had then. I could have continued further too if I'd had time.

So we're only midway through August and I've already done nearly 40 miles this month... it's gearing up to be a bumper month.

Yesterday I got myself a new assignment at work which is in Hammersmith. So the bad news is I won't be working from home for much longer - but the good news is that there's a nice footpath along the Thames right outside the office which should be ideal for some lunchtime runs to keep the miles ticking over !

More Forest Hill miles

2009-08-11T09:26:00.002+01:00

3 miles at Dulwich at lunchtime yesterday and 3.27 around Forest Hill & Honor Oak Park first thing this morning.

My "challengometer" tells me I've now completed 55% of the challenge (in 60% of the time).

Weekend in Leeds

2009-08-09T17:41:00.005+01:00

Off to Leeds for the weekend to visit friends and watch the Test Match. No scope for running on Saturday, but today I went out for a jog with my friend James in an attempt to burn off the beer and whisky hangover. Had a lovely run along the lanes and minor roads near Scholes but had to make a stop after 2.5 miles (toilet) and then after another 1.5 miles (just knackered - although too much pork pie on Saturday was maybe a factor).

Walked for a while and then having got a third wind we ran back to the house in Scholes, another 1.5 miles. So a bumper total of 5.5 miles for the day, taking my total for July to 24.5 miles and my overall total to 267 miles.

Faster and further

2009-08-07T15:19:00.002+01:00

Just over 4 miles at Dulwich at lunchtime today at a good pace - maybe due to the cooler weather, or a couple of days off, but whatever the reason I felt good and could have carried on given more time.

Got some new shoes too.... one snag about upping my mileage is increased wear and tear on the footwear. The experts say shoes should last about 300 miles and I'm probably well past that mark with all three pairs I have. So it was nice to stick on a brand new pair today - a bit more bounce and support in the soles.

19 miles run in August so far and 261 in total this year.

BUPA Great Capital Run

2009-08-04T22:02:00.005+01:00

So... to give myself something to look forward to and break the monotony of all the Dulwich Park / Greenwich Park runs, I've signed up for the BUPA Great Capital Run on 13th September. It's a 5km run around Regents Park.

Since I'm running more than 5km every day these days, I should be able to just take it in my stride. The race also has the advantage for me of not requiring any charity fundraising - since I already am! And being in central London it's pretty convenient to travel to.

I did my usual 3 and a bit miles in Dulwich today, bringing my total for August to 14.8 miles and overall to 257.3 miles.

However... there's a cloud on the horizon... I have an interview tomorrow which could put an end to my time "working from home". Which is good for my career but will make running every day more difficult. I guess I'll just have to do longer runs at the weekend and fit in one or two short ones during the week whenever I can.

Challenge part 2

2009-08-03T15:20:00.003+01:00

The second half of my challenge started with 3.5 miles in the sunshine at the park in Dulwich at lunchtime.

Soon I might not be working from home any more, and lunchtime runs might be more difficult, so I'm keen to make the most of the chance while I can.

250 miles complete

2009-08-02T19:52:00.005+01:00

A very successful running weekend saw me past the 250 mile mark today. Yesterday I went to Greenwich and did one large lap (2 miles) and was well into my second lap when I ground to a halt on the hill. But that was enough to register 3 and a quarter miles, and once I'd got to the top of the hill and got my breath back a bit I started jogging again and clocked up another 1.6 miles on the level.

Today we were going out for the day but I got up early, stuck my shoes on and ran a quick circuit straight from the house. Nice and quiet on the roads and pavements, although it was already starting to warm up at 9am. I clocked 3.32 miles which was enough to take me past the 250 mile mark: 250.6 complete, 249.4 to go !

Summer storm

2009-07-30T14:03:00.005+01:00

Perfectly timed thunderstorm today, right on 1200 noon as I got started on my lunchtime run. Fortunately the gusty wind meant it passed through quickly and by the time I got back to the house the sun was shining again.
Soaked through though, but as I've said before I enjoy running in the rain, especially in the summer as it keeps things cool...

I'd got a bit bored of running laps around Dulwich Park so today I just ran on a loop from the house. Just over three and a quarter miles and it felt pretty comfortable. So that's 19 miles in the last week, 37 this month (since the 9th when we got back from honeymoon) and my total is 242.5.

Tomorrow I'm in the office so no scope for lunchtime running. So next run will be on August 1st !

Approaching halfway

2009-07-27T14:02:00.002+01:00

Did just over 3 miles at lunchtime in Dulwich Park again today. A nice day for running - rain in the morning gave way to a sunny, breezy afternoon.

The half-way mark is getting reassuringly close now !

6 miles in Hertfordshire

2009-07-26T19:35:00.002+01:00

Couple of nice runs in the Hertfordshire countryside (and sunshine !) this weekend. 3 miles on Saturday and 2.9 today. Taking me up to 229.3 miles completed.

Three more.

2009-07-22T14:12:00.005+01:00

Another 3 laps of the park at Dulwick lunchtime. For a bit of variety I ran the opposite way round the park but my time (30m:30s) was almost identical to Monday.

Interestingly walkjogrun thinks a lap of Dulwich is slightly more than 1 mile, so maybe I've been short-changing myself all these weeks ! But better to err on the safe side and keep calling it 1 mile - I'd rather pass the 500 mile barrier knowing I'm _well_ past it !

Have been reading this month's "Runner's World" today. I always come away with new enthusiasm and ideas having read the magazine. I guess the writers are probably runners themselves and their enthusiasm shines through in the articles.

Feeling fitter

2009-07-20T13:26:00.003+01:00

3 laps (i.e. miles) at Dulwich at lunchtime. Feeling a bit more like my pre-honeymoon self. 217.9 miles gone, 282.1 to go.

Early start

2009-07-19T09:30:00.004+01:00

Up bright and early courtesy of the Edinburgh council road sweeper which pays a noisy visit every morning sometime before 8am, I went out for a scamper in the early morning sunshine. 2.7 miles around the roadwork-strewn streets of Inverleith and Canonmills, taking my total to 214.9 miles.

This chart shows the effect that getting married and having nearly 4 weeks off running has on your fitness !

Slow progress

2009-07-19T00:01:00.002+01:00

Well, not the best week - still suffering from the after-effects of a stomach bug I picked up in Tanzania, and generally not feeling like running a lot of miles - so my total has crawled up to 212.2 miles.

Today I went for a run around the park in Edinburgh. Legs felt fine but the body still feels heavy and sluggish. However I managed to keep going for nearly 3 miles so hopefully I'll get back to doing 3 routinely and 4 quite often as I was before the wedding.

I wanted to get to 250 miles by the end of July if I could but it's not looking very likely at the moment !

The honeymoon's over...

2009-07-12T21:15:00.006+01:00

Well, the wedding day was wonderful and the honeymoon was every bit as good... 10 days on safari in Tanzania followed by a week at the beach in Zanzibar.

Went for a quick 2 mile jog on wedding day just to settle the nerves, but that aside the closest I got to running during the honeymoon was reading Haruki Murakami's "What I Talk About When I Talk About Running"

For a non-runner I suspect it wouldn't be a fantastic read, but as a fellow runner, albeit nowhere near as accomplished - or disciplined - as him I found it very interesting. Countless marathons aside, he's done an ultramarathon and several triathlons, and ran the original Marathon course in Greece (now a very busy trunk road) in the height of summer - so his achievements set him well apart from the rest of us recreational joggers.

In spite of this I found it interesting he shared the same issues about motivation, coping with weather, fitting running around other commitments, avoiding injury. And since like me he sets himself mileage targets every week, and the book is basically a series of journal entries, some of it reads rather like this blog - albeit with more style, content and better grammar :)

Anyway... after 3 weeks off, it's back to work tomorrow, and back to running... did a couple of very slow miles around Dulwich Park today in an attempt to ease back into it... not the most comfortable or energetic run I've done - but at least the legs still seem to be in working order.

Those 2 miles plus the 2 on wedding day bring my total to 207.8 miles completed, so still plenty of work to do.

Speed...

2009-06-15T20:25:00.006+01:00

3 miles at Dulwich at lunchtime today. No more trouble from my knee but my ankle's a bit sore. But I'll have a couple of weeks off from running when we go on honeymoon so that should give the aches and pains a chance to heal.

Fortunately my challenge doesn't require that I run 500 miles fast. My fastest time for 10km is 59m:59s, and for 5km, 28m:20s. So 9 to 10 minutes per mile is my typical pace. Which is respectable enough for a jogger I guess - but nothing spectacular.

I do time my runs and keep a note of the times but I've no real desire to run faster - partly because when I did try speeding up a bit last summer, I ended up pulling a calf muscle and had to take a break from running for a month...!

5 miles in 2 instalments

2009-06-13T15:34:00.004+01:00

Went to Greenwich for our regular scamper around the park but on my second lap my knee started to get sore going down the steep hill.... so I stopped and walked for a while to give it a rest. Dull pains happen all the time when you're running but anything sharp is always a warning to stop.

But after walking for a while the pain had gone so I started jogging gently and the knee felt ok. So I carried on and did a couple of smaller laps without any more problems. I guess I must have twisted it going down the hill... or not stretched properly...

Anyway... just over 5 miles in the bank. Approaching 200 miles completed now !

Quick update.

2009-06-10T13:29:00.001+01:00

Lunchtime. Dulwich. Rain. 4 miles. 40 minutes 18 seconds. Sore nipples. 189 miles completed.

Wet weekend

2009-06-07T14:10:00.007+01:00

The end of May was glorious but we're now in a cool, showery spell of weather.

Went to Greenwich yesterday and did a couple of laps - in the rain - around the outside of the park. Greenwich is a great place for running: loads of space (it's 2 miles around the outside but most pedestrians tend to congregate in the middle); varied terrain (it's on two main levels connected by quite steep hills); and cracking views towards Canary Wharf.

The hills are quite a challenge to begin with but I think they make a big difference to your fitness after a while.

Today I went to Dulwich and did 3 laps. Feeling a bit tired after yesterday's run and being woken up early by a big thunderstorm. Might have a break from running tomorrow. Eighteen miles this month so far, and my total for the year is 185.03.

Oh and I got my first sponsor yesterday - thanks Sophie :)

Why Practical Action ?

2009-06-03T21:43:00.006+01:00

This is the second time I've set out to raise funds for Practical Action. So, out of all the charities there are to choose from, why did I choose them ?

I suppose there are several reasons.

Firstly, while I recognise there will always be a place for short-term aid to tackle, for example, natural disasters or refugee crises caused by wars, for me it's important that we help people in developing countries in a _sustainable_ way. Otherwise, one generation from now, or even in a year's time, we'll be back where we started, or somewhere worse. Practical Action is very much focused on the long-term, on solutions which will hopefully allow future generations to lift themselves out of poverty.

Secondly, the technology which Practical Action develops and promotes is simple and for that reason I think - more effective. It's focused on problems which affect people on a day-to-day level: cooking, getting clean water, growing food, keeping their home weatherproof. And because Practical Action works closely with communities, they have a more thorough understanding of the problems they face and can come up with practical and local solutions.

A good example of this is Practical Action's work to improve toilets in Zimbabwe, Sudan and Nepal. A solution to a problem which is common in developing countries, but tailored to individual communities, and using simple technology which is easily maintained and can be built and/or manufactured locally by local people.

Thirdly, Practical Action is all about enabling people to improve the conditions of their day-to-day lives using simple technology. For me this is the key thing. Rather than just provide technology as aid, they help people learn to manufacture the technology themselves, and to educate them about the importance of e.g. clean water and hygiene for health.

And finally, for both fundraisers and long-term donators, Practical Action is very supportive. Many charities treat everyone the same, whether you're a one-off donator, or a regular one. You just end up as another name on a mailing list, to be constantly pestered for money. Similarly when raising funds for some of the bigger-name charities, there's no individual contact - you might get a fundraising pack and a standard thankyou letter. In fact some of the larger charities are positively disinterested when you contact them with a view to fundraising.

Practical Action is different - regular donators are valued, fundraisers are treated individually, and the quality of the updates they send on their work is fantastic - every one is worth reading.

So- that's "why Practical Action".

The power of setting goals...

2009-05-31T11:53:00.005+01:00

In honour of the marathon runners toiling in the unusually fierce Scottish sun across town I felt like going for a longer run today and set off in the opposite direction from normal. I did a larger than usual lap of the park, around 3 miles, followed by a regular lap at 2 miles, and then a short jog past the pond (where model boat enthusiasts do battle for territory with the swans and ducks every Sunday).

One of the nice things about running in Edinburgh as that other runners nod and smile and say hello. It's just a more relaxed place all round than London. Shame there's hardly any IT work here....

So my run today totalled 5.78 miles in 58m:27s. It's the longest run I've done since I did the Hampton Court 10k for Cancer Research last September.

One of the reasons I wanted to set a running target for this year was to try to do longer runs and start working towards doing a 10 mile race or a half-marathon next year. Seems to be working so far - my average run in May was more than 3.6 miles compared with just over 2 earlier in the year.

So in May I managed to clock up over 62 miles ! I think this chart shows what setting a goal and telling people about it can do for your motivation !

At the end of May I've run 166.7 miles (33.3% of the total) with 333.3 to go.

Wall to wall sunshine

2009-05-30T12:18:00.005+01:00

A glorious day in Edinburgh on the weekend of the Edinburgh marathon. I spoke to a couple of the runners on the bus back from the airport last night. Really inspiring to hear their stories and their positive attitudes. Both in the 3 to 3h30 range so pretty serious runners. They seem quite comfortable doing 2 marathons a year - amazing.

Did a couple of laps of the park this morning, just over 4 miles. Not quite marathon training distance! But I'm now running 3-4 miles routinely, which is a step forward from last year when 2 miles was my standard. "Your long runs become your short ones" as they say...

Today's run brings my tally for May to 56.4 miles and my total for the year to 160.9. May has been a great month for me - I've been lucky to have been working at home quite a lot which makes running at lunchtime easier. Next month is the wedding and our 3 week honeymoon which runs into July, so fitting in miles is going to be a lot more difficult !

4 miles in the rain

2009-05-27T13:44:00.008+01:00

Did 4 laps (= 4miles) at Dulwich at lunchtime. Cool, breezy and wet, but I quite like running in the rain for some reason. I think having the weather to fight against occupies your mind when it might otherwise be busy telling you to "stop", "it hurts", "you've done enough" etc.

I bought my first pair of Reeboks online in 2005 and they sat in the cupboard unused for many months. I wanted to run but I didn't think I could. From the age of 6 months I had asthma, and in those days the thinking was that since asthma attacks often seemed to be brought on by exercise, asthmatics should avoid exercise. Thankfully I grew out of asthma in my teens, but the nagging feeling remained that if I ran for too long the wheezing might come back. And also, I suppose running just seemed a bit, well, boring, compared to the other activities I enjoyed like cycling, hillwalking and ski-ing.

However in 2003 I started playing cricket, a sport I loved when I was a kid, and surprisingly, besides the batting and bowling, I really enjoyed the running around in the field, and I guess that's when I started thinking seriously about taking up running.

Early in 2007 I went out for a couple of short runs in the park opposite my flat in Edinburgh. They were torture, and I didn't run very far, but the important things were that
1. I had convinced myself I could run,
2. I realised I wasn't going to have an asthma attack, and
3. I looked just like another runner - no-one was going to point at me and laugh. Well, no more than normal...

During 2007 I kept thinking in the background about running and then in the autumn several things came together at once - I set myself a goal to run a 10k for charity in 2008, my girlfriend started running, and her sister and brother-in-law who live nearby in London also took it up very enthusiastically. So suddenly I had a goal to achieve, as well as the support network to keep me motivated and get me out running on days when I might have been tempted not to.

30% Complete !

2009-05-26T15:48:00.005+01:00

Another 3 miles scampered at lunchtime today, taking me past 150 miles, or 30% complete. Unfortunately it's taken me 40% of the year to reach this point, but I'm definitely catching up.

Non-runners watching the London Marathon or the Great North Run on telly perhaps don't think about how much training goes into preparing for a race - they only think about the effort of running the race itself, and that might not seem much from the comfort of an armchair.

But if you look at typical training plans for novices, it puts running races like those - or running 500 miles in a year for that matter - into perspective:

5k race: 8 weeks training - 50 miles total
10k race: 8 weeks training - 75 miles total
1/2 marathon: 12 weeks training - 210 miles total
Marathon: 18 weeks training - 460 miles total

Bank holiday weekend

2009-05-25T13:54:00.002+01:00

Back from a trip to Wales for my friend Jim's 40th birthday party. Managed to fit in 3 miles before I went, and another 3.3 miles today after I got back. Total for the month of May is now over 43 miles, and my total overall is 147.5. 352 miles to go !

Michaela at Practical Action has sent two T-shirts to help spread the Practical Action word while I'm running. Thanks Michaela ! Not much chance of going unnoticed now !

This week I'm working from home again so should hopefully fit in quite a few more lunchtime runs and get some miles in the bank to make up for June and July when I'll be busy with the wedding and the honeymoon !

Rest day

2009-05-21T12:20:00.003+01:00

Four days' running in a row - so time for a day off today. The knees and calves start to hurt after a while - more so if I've been running on tarmac or concrete.

Good progress this week - 14 miles since Sunday, and looks like I'll beat my target for May, and do some catching up for the first four months of the year:

Lunchtime run

2009-05-19T14:03:00.005+01:00

Working from home today so a quick trip to Dulwich for a run at lunchtime. Two laps of the track = 2 miles, plus a slightly longer lap around the outside of the park. Total 3.48 miles. A breezy showery day. Always nice to go to the park midweek - no recumbent bicycles or distracted parents blocking the track or pedestrians walking four abreast to dodge !

Here's a picture of a run in the park (on a sunnier day earlier this year).

5km today

2009-05-18T23:04:00.002+01:00

A big lap and a wee lap round the park in Edinburgh. Just over 3.1 miles. Takes my total for the month to 29.6 miles and for the year to 156 miles.

To hit my target I need to complete an average of 52 miles per month for the rest of the year, or around 13 miles per week. So if I run every 2 days that works out as an average of 3.5 miles per run. And with the best will in the world I'm not going to manage to run every 2 days... life, work, holidays will get in the way, not to mention fatigue !

So I need to aim to do longer runs when I have the time and energy, to compensate for the times when I won't be able - or want - to run.

Challenge rules

2009-05-17T23:09:00.004+01:00

OK, the rules of the 500 mile challenge are pretty simple:

1. I have to run a mile or more to add it to my total. Anything less doesn't count.
2. I have to run continuously... no stopping for a rest or a stretch !
3. Distances are measured by plotting my route using this website.
4. Only running outside counts - training, races, running to work, running home (subject to fulfilling the other rules). But treadmill miles don't count (not that I would want to run on one anyway).
5. I keep track of all my runs on a log.

That's it !

Progress so far

2009-05-17T14:40:00.006+01:00

The more observant amongst you will have noticed that I've started this challenge several months into the year. So I thought I should give an update on how far I've run already.

This chart shows the current picture:

The blue bars are how far I've run each month and the maroon ones are my target. So as you can see I already have a lot of catching up to do !

I'm hoping that setting up a sponsorship page and wrting this blog will motivate me to get on and do those extra miles.

First post !

2009-05-17T14:13:00.004+01:00

OK, I've been planning to commit to this challenge for a while and today's the day ! During 2009 I'm aiming to run a total of 500 miles and get sponsorship to raise funds for a charity I'm personally very commited to, Practical Action.

The charity

Practical Action aims to help communities in developing countries alleviate poverty by making use of simple technology to improve aspects of their day-to-day lives - for example to extract smoke from open fires used for cooking in homes, or install toilets which improve hygiene and eradicate disease.

You can find out more about Practical Action on their website.

The challenge

During the calendar year 2009 I'm aiming to run a total of 500 miles. That includes day-to-day training runs, as well as any races I sign up for. So about 10 miles per week, which might not seem a lot, but sustaining it over a year, and fitting it in around work and personal life, will be hard and I'm going to have to up my mileage significantly if I'm going to achieve it.

As a further incentive to reaching a total of 500 miles by the end of December, for every 1 mile I fall short of the target, I'm going to donate £1 to Practical Action.

If you'd like to support Practical Action by sponsoring my running in 2009, you can do so via my justgiving page.