Next stop: London Marathon

London Marathon this coming Sunday - Yeah 😀

With less than a week to go, I'm feeling ready for it - Still slightly surreal that I've got the chance to run it though, but I'm looking very much forward to it indeed! Thankful and excited!

A couple of weeks ago I was at a Reebok/Sweatshop training session as a part of the preparation for London Marathon with some great talks by various people including my coach Shaun Dixon (from Let's get Running), a nutritionist and former Marathon World Record holder Steve Jones who won Chicago, London Marathon and New York in the mid-80's and who is also a Reebok Ambassador. 

All in all a great day with a bit of exercise at the end round the streets of London. Most of the information given is very much in thread with what I have been trying practising over the past years. Here's a few points:

• Training:
   - Listen to your body!
   - Don't do to much too soon.
   - Don't play catch-up with your training plan if you miss a session - Let it go!
   - Session over 3-ish hours if probably not doing you any good.
   - Rest after a race.
   - Stretch those legs once in a while.
• Carbs:
   - Don't be carb-phobic! You need carbs to fuel your run.
   - Start carb-loading for a race a maximum of 48h prior to the race. 
• Proteins:
  
   - I eat varied and relatively healthy, so I probably already get enough protein, hence no need to top-up with (expensive) protein shakes that does not taste that well after all.
   - Milk/Cocoa flavoured milk is (still) great as a post-run-drink for re-hydration and has a good mixture of proteins and electrolytes that helps the recovering process. Top that up with a banana for some fast carbs. The body can only process so and so much protein at a time, so no need to over-do it.

Almost ready for London Marathon. My new Reebok running kit has been washed and dried. The new Reebok Floatride running shoes has arrived and have been tested. Accommodation has been sorted. My camera is being charged "as we speak" and the memory card emptied to make room for my photo coverage of the streets of London. The new Suunto Spartan Sport WHR multi sport GPS watch has arrived and I thought London Marathon would be a great place to test it and compare it to my old GPS watch. 

And for those who have too much time on their hands can follow me via this link:

FOLLOW ME ONLINE @ LONDON MARATHON: #56502

See ya at #LondonMarathon 😃

Best M.

Team #FloatrideLondon, ReebokUK, SweatshopOnline, The Running Bug
Suunto Spartan Sport WHR
 

Autumn running

Last week I hit 3000km for 2016 - Way longer than last year! :-)

Totals of 8th November 2016

This year I've been running a lot more than I did last year. Last year I managed to conquer 1888km, and with almost two months left I might even almost double that number. So far I've passed 3000km which I'm very pleased about. I set a target some months back to hit 2016 miles (approx. 3244 km) in 2016. I'll pass that target in a few weeks time. It will be tough to cover twice the distance of last year (3776) - it's 666km from today - a nice "round" number ;-) 

In previous years I've been running a lot less. I've been running for a long time on and off, but throughout the previous years I've kept at it to push further to test my abilities. One question arises from that: 

How do I know where the limit is? 

I honestly don't know - and I think most people don't know their limits when it comes to running - even at anything in life... And what does it take for me to say: "This is it - this far but no further!"? - Yet again, I cannot answer that...
For now, however, I definitely don't feel like I've hit the wall just yet, so I'll continue to explore my capabilities as a runner. 

Regarding the Suunto Spartan Ultra, I've been so fortunate that I can keep the watch. I'll continue to test it as new software updates are released. The last update was for supporting Android phones for the Movescount interface. I've now managed to upload my exercise data via the phone (a bit slow though), and can now receive notifications from various phone apps on the watch display using Bluetooth. This works fine, though I'd love to be able to deactivate the sound when a notification is received! I now use some gel for solving the HR issues. Works just fine, though it should not be necessary, but apparently it is for me!
UPDATE: I'm now back to not using any gel - only water to wet the HR electrodes before an exercise, and it now works fairly reliable! I'm not sure if I'm doing anything differently or a software update has done the trick!

I've got some updates I'd like to see in future updates for the Suunto Spartan Ultra:

• Display your daily steps/calories in Movescount
• Use different colours in Movescount: when more than two data-inputs are selected, all data curves are white, except the last one chosen, which makes it hard to distinguishes them!
• The possibility to set HR range-alarms, pace-alarms, etc.
• Sounds/vibrations on/off for notifications
• Include avg. paddle rate/stroke rate for kayaking in the Movescount overview.

It's it definitely getting colder out there, and this morning we had sub-zero degrees in Oxford. I still chose to run in shorts though, which was just fine :-) And with the colder weather, comes darkness as well. I bring my Petzl Tikka XP head-torch for these mornings along with my high-vis vest - Both to be able to see but also to bee seen!

I've included some photos from this autumn, which can be found at the very bottom of this post. Please view them in full-screen :-)

Safe running out there :-)

#YouVsTheYear #RunWithFight #IWILL #SuuntoSpartan

Best M.
 

Race To The Stones 2016

Yeah!!! I did it :-D 

On Saturday morning on the 16th July 2016 the alarm clock was set for 4:00am - Race day! I got my race kit on and ate my breakfast. Almost everything I needed for the race had been packed and prepared the evening before.

I hadn't even left Oxford before I met the first others, who were also running/walking Race To The Stones. The registration went smoothly and after a eating banana and a visit or two to the loo, I was ready to run... a 100km awaits! 

Just before we started the sun showed itself, so I took off my red top as it quickly got warm. At first I thought that was awesome with some sunshine for the race, as it until this point had been grey-ish and looked like it was going to rain anytime soon. However, the sun came and stayed for most of the day! That, of course, also means it gets really hot when running...

Halfway!

I skipped the first pit-stop as I had plenty of fluid and stuff to eat. However, I soon got to realise that I would have to refill my 0.5L bottle, which I use for electrolytes (I brought my own tablets), at very-pit stop from now on, as the heat had risen severely! It was very warm and I was sweating like a pig! I've estimated that I have drunk at least 8 Litres of fluids if not more: I refilled my 1.5L bladder + 8 x refill of 0.5L electrolytes + a huge amount of flat coca cola on the last 50km, say 2-3 cups on every station + a some cups of water/squash at my "lunch break" and in other places.

At the halfway point, a hot meal (included in the race package) awaited me. I chose a tiny portion of pasta with mushrooms and piece of bread, as I didn't wanna be too full as I had 50km to go still! 

Me and Terry (I think?)

After my lunch break, things got a (tiny) bit easier until about 90km. I had chatted with various people along the way. One had done Marathon Des Sables (tough multi day desert race) previously. Somehow she didn't finish this one though. I though I would "give something back" to the few spectators cheering and encouraging us, so I started taking photos of them as well, and they seemed to like it :-)


I often found myself running pretty much alone, which suits me fine, as in most (all) of my training I'm by myself. And running with a huge group on narrow trails makes it hard to find your own pace, which is quite important when doing 100km.

The last 10-12km was tremendously tough. The ground was very uneven and it felt like it was all downhill, which is why I think my hips and ankles are a bit sore - way harder than running uphill! And finally I was doing the last loop round The Stones and through to the finish line! A very cheerful lot welcomed me as I crossed the finish line... I've done it - 100km!

12h33m52s - I'm very pleased with that result! I finished 84 of 956. 

Even though my time was great, I wasn't fast enough to catch the public bus back to Swindon. But luckily, we (me and my partner, who had come down to pick up the pieces left of me) managed to hijack two seats on the last event-bus to Swindon, and later the train back to Oxford, only to find my bike punctured, hence a nice walk home :-)

What an awesome experience that was! If I wasn't hooked before - I definitely am now! The event was very well organised. Everything went smoothly from my perspective. I only got one "complaint": There should be fresh oranges at every pit stop!! GOD, they were good!!! ;-)



The route itself is very scenic and varied, though that last bit was really tough. In total: It was AWESOME!! :-)

In the few days after the race, I've expected to be sore all over my body. However, only my ankles and hips are sore. I've got no muscle aches and only two not-too-serious blisters, one on each big-toe. I've lost about 2.5 kg of body weight so it's time to eat and drink a lot ;-) YEAH!!

The Race To The Stones is an amazing event. Everything went smoothly. Well stocked pit-stops and friendly cheerful crew. The route was very well signposted all the way! Great race!!

Will I do it again? - Hell yeah!! ;-)

#RTTS2016 #MoreIsInYou
#RunWithFight #IWILL #YouVsTheYear #FuelledByScience

See ya out there... ;-)

Best M.

Running with technology

Technology is a great thing for many things - not just running. Is it required to bring technology for a run? Yes - I think so... Otherwise I probably wouldn't be running as much as I am...

Wearing a device to time your course, monitor your pace and constantly check whether you're still alive (heart rate that is...), brings an extra dimension to exercising - in this case running. I'm not fanatic about it and it's not like I'm constantly checking my watch for pace, HR or whatever...

Yes, I know that I don't really need it, that I'll survive without it, but I also think it makes it a lot more fun to get out there moving those feet. And to me that's what it's all about - having fun and enjoying it!

It helps me wanting to get out there in the dark, cold, early hours (I get up at 5.30am) during winter, through those rainy, windy, freezing mornings while most others are still asleep in their warm cosy beds. It's not just during winter that I harvest energy and encouragement from technology. 

During springtime, on those awesome early mornings, where most are still asleep, I use technology (a camera, if not obvious...) to capture those awesome sunrises and frame nature as it is, to share with those who can't or wont get up that early to see the spectacular views as the first light breaks the darkness by the misty river Thames, and to hopefully encourage those, who just needs a tiny push to get out of bed to enjoy it. 

Currently my beloved Garmin Forerunner 310XT is broken, and has been sent to Garmin for replacement, even though warranty has expired Garmin has taken it in, as a gesture of good will. Awesome service Garmin!! Therefore, I'm using my Epson Runsense SF-810 at the moment, which I reviewed for Epson earlier this year. And of course I most often bring my Olympus Stylus TG2 Tough.

Yes - you may say I'm addicted to technology - but if technology is what it takes to make me get out there, then fine by me :-)

See you out there...

#YouVsTheYear #RunWithFight #WILL 

Best M.
 

Spring photos 2016

As I mentioned in my very first post, this blog reflects my two great passions: running and photography. So far there's not been too much on photography, hence this post.


Now, by photography I mean capturing the world as I see it. I'm not a pro and I'm not seeking the perfect picture, highest sharpness, best colours or the perfect motive... I try to do as good as I can with the equipment I've got, focussing on composing the picture in a way so I won't have to do much editing afterwards. If I do edit a photo, it's only slightly cropping, colour tuning (saturation, enhancing the colours slightly or making it black/white), contrast or gamma correcting.

On many runs (probably most, as I know I'll regret not taking it if I left it at home...!), I bring my Olympus Stylus Tough TG-2, which is tough enough to withstand the bouncing and it's waterproof. And it take great photos too - at least for what I'm using it for.


Some would probably say that I'm ruining my runs by taking photos as I'm obviously breaking my rhythm and my pace, but I cannot help it... I'm too deeply in love with taking photos to not bring my camera. And I do also run without it at times, e.g. when doing intervals, hill-repeats etc... so I'm not a complete lunatic ;-)

I've collected a few photos from some of my runs in 2016 so far, see below. I love this time of year and I'll never get tired of running in Oxford! I hope you'll enjoy the photos...

See you out there...

#RunWithYourCamera #RunWithFight #IWILL #YouVsTheYear

Best M.