August the first is my 'BIG push' back to fitness - A good day because it falls on a Monday....If I had to describe my running this year I would say I have dabbled - Now it's time to get serious and get back into shape and run that marathon I have missed this year....Looks like London is in my sights...? So follow me in my progress as I start from scratch as a beginer and show will a little dedication and hardwork goals can be achieved....!!! 

I won't say that the wheel had fallen off - But not running for two weeks makes you think..? After the 10km I felt shattered and tired - Also there was a twinge in the right achiles the morning after. The following week I was on holiday from work and I decided on a weeks R'n'R. The trouble with having time off work is you have to go back and play catch up and resulted in last week feeling very tired - Was this not the reason for the week off in the first place..??

I do have to disapline myself - and there has to be disapline in running. In this way it makes you work harder to regain that point to when the wheel actually fell off. As I am working in phase's and already past phase 1 - 5km - I am therefore taking a step back to a point were I have to once again prove myself to run a competent 5km.....

Todays run over six miles started well but struggled in the second half - So its down to some hardwork and motivation......

Gone and done it - Filled out my application for the 2006 London Marathon - so fingers crossed as the adventure now really begins....

53.11 - My first 10km for 12 months and run it at the right time in the right frame of mind - Paced it well with the garmin and tried the 'Perform' suppilement. Suffering from a slight acidic stomach and finished the race feeling a touch distressed - So how much was that through effort and how hard I pushed myself and the 'Perform'...? - Must say that at half way I was cruising at sub 7 minute pace and felt good. Pitty the course discribed as 'interesting', in the later part bagan to undulate...but you can't have it always... Pleased with the performance and a good boost - Though not good enough for me to move up a phase just yet.....

• Very inspired with the way training is going - I have a routine and regime that seems to be working…Well as long as I stick to it. I feel good in myself and for the first time in a very long time I feel once more that I can leap tall buildings with one single bound. I have this great feeling of well being and I am inspired.
  
  The thing that has kept my inner flame flickering is my attachment to Whizz Kidz and the people who run on their behalf who I am only too pleased to assist, and who in turn are a constant source of inspiration. Today is no exception - Despite the early start - 6am on a Saturday morning when I should be in bed and not heading towards New Street Station - It’s another training day, this time for the international runners heading of to New York and Chicago.
  
  It is one of those training runs I relish taking in the South bank - down to Tower Bridge and back up over the cobbles up the Embankment - Taking a left down the infamous Birdcage Walk - then on through Green Park and Hyde Park. A scenic run passing most of London’s famous landmarks on a pleasant Saturday morning…So what could top that..?
  
  Well just one of those moments that makes you feel that running just doesn’t get better than this….As running through Hyde Park and booming out from behind a huge high green fence are the operatic tones of Andrea Bochelli going through his sound check before his appearance at the ’Proms in the Park’ concert later that afternoon…. What an accompaniment to a run around a picturesque park do you need…? I think this inspiration corner of running heaven could catch on…..

• Having conqured the tiredness factor - I also sailed past the first phase of the 5km barrier and now have 10km in my sites. The legs are getting stronger and the body is begining to feel more toned, the barrel I used to carry round is not quiet a six pac yet but getting there and all looks well for a planned 10km race at the end of September - But stamina is a must and I have to continue developing that.....

• I have now tried a new product Activeplus 'perform' - Designed to boost energy levels doing your workout I tried my first dose on 30/8, whether it was me developing or the perform tablets I am not sure but felt the engery levels high in the legs but the heart rate was up. Instead of a steady planned run I felt I was at racing pace but only running 9 minute miles...It was a hot day and on completion of the session my running kit was soaked in sweat - I know you have to sweat in training, but in comparision this was excesive with noticable weight loss over 6 miles - a quater of a stone....I will have to monitor this more, not that I am complaining as I was getting a hard workout....

• Other adopted routines are drinking 2 litres of water during the day after a hard run and taking arnic tablets after the run along with City sport and echinasea tablets - So far so good.......

• During the week I have been doing toning stuff - Using the Dyna band and dug out the Powerbreath. I have stretched on a regular basis, the regular basis being everytime I went up stairs I would use one of the previous just to keep my disipline intact and by doing this exercising at a regular period. So ok, I have done this for a week and have noticed a slight difference in not having that feeling of not being so bloated and over weight - Also on todays run with a speed setting on my 'forerunner' of between a pace of 10 to 8 minute miling, which has been my comfort zone for weeks now, the 'forerunner' was regulary screaming at me to slow down as I was dipping to under 7.45 miling - So was it me or the conditioning...? Time will tell.....

• The later part of the run was a struggle as the energy levels dropped and the heaviness returned - I did feel tired before setting out and slept heavy this morning, much the same as most of the week. Looking at why my work schedule has increased and I have being working an extra hour and and half on top of my 38 hour week, and given missed lunch breaks lets call it a 40 hour week - and now its catching up. Not a good situration before the 'BIG push' to fitness...!!

• Not giving in without a fight, nor wasting a session - Pushed 10x reps in the park averaging 6.15 miling and worked up a good sweat.....This was never going to be easy......