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...!
Monday 15 June 2009
Saturday 13 June 2009
5 miles in 2 instalments
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 !
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 !
Wednesday 10 June 2009
Quick update.
Lunchtime. Dulwich. Rain. 4 miles. 40 minutes 18 seconds. Sore nipples. 189 miles completed.
Sunday 7 June 2009
Wet weekend
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.
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 :)Wednesday 3 June 2009
Why Practical Action ?
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".
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".
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