Juneathon Day 13 - 2011

I am not really superstitious  but another milestone today on the Juneathon challenge was the 13th of the month. I had plans to do a longer run but had to cut it short when I fell over. Not sure what I tripped on but I came a cropper going round a corner.

I am not sure what the the initial thought is as you start flying through the air, whether it is one of embarrassment as cars pass and you are giving them some better entertainment then they can get on tv or thoughts of trying to relax and  roll avoiding as much injury as possible.



I was about a mile and half into my run and having fallen my immediate thoughts were what hurts ? Well my left hand was painful a quick glance confirmed that I had cut my hand , my left leg was also sore , no cuts but certainly grazed. I also felt a bit winded and most of the impact on the ground had been to my ribs. My glasses were in one piece as were my IPOD.

Within a few seconds I was running again and trying to appear that nothing had happened. Not that anyone stopped or perhaps even noticed. My run became more of a jog and feeling sore, muddy and a bit winded I only manged just under 3 miles.

The grazes are no problem my worst fear is that I have again cracked a rib, though I am hoping it is just bruising and in a days time I will be able to run.

Juneathon Day 12 - 2011

Now here is a novelty. A run in the rain! Yes I left my run on day 12 of Juneathon to this afternoon when it rained. It was lovely once I had got over the initial barrier of stepping out in to the rain. It was a novelty as it we have had the driest spring I can ever remember and we have been in drought conditions. However this afternoon we finally, finally got some real rain and wind.

With glasses you don;t see much when there is a steady downpour and after a while the rain washes the sweat into you eyes so they sting as well. But you practically have the streets to yourself and I prefer it to running in hot weather. A hot bath was my reward.

I got in a 5 mile run making my total for Juneathon 50.25 miles.

Juneathon Day 11 - 2011

http://www.myspace.com/fightlikeapesmusicThoughts this morning when I was running that it is only a moth now to the Latitude Festival at Southwold in July. This is something to look forward as a reward at the end of the Juneathon journey.

I am hoping our tent comes back in one piece from the Download festival next week. My son Tom once again has very mixed weather. Last year they got soaked and this year it looks like a mixture of showers and sunshine. The tent came back last year a mixture of mud, beer and with one large burn whole. Who can say what state it will be this year.

One of the bands I am looking forward to seeing at latitude festival is Fight Like Apes 



My run this morning was completed easily and I even felt strong enough to want to push it and run faster. Weather was bright and sunny but still cool at 8am

I think that puts me up to 45 miles for June

Juneathon Day 10 - 2011

Already one third of the way through Juneathon and another milestone reached today on day 10. I ran at lunch time after gardening in the morning. There was an odd spot of rain but nothing to wet the garden.

My run today was off road around Little Horringer Hall Farm.  I did two laps of an undulating course around a very green wheat field. There was a need to constantly watch my footing to avoid twisting an ankle. One side of the field was ploughed early in the spring removing the footpath created by the action of walkers over time. Where the path has gone walkers have created a new pathway through the wheat crop.

The ground was very dry and again their was a need to watch your footing to avoid stepping into some of the larger cracks in the ground. Ironically today the Environment Agency has announced that much of East Anglia has been declared a drought area but not Suffolk.

My run today was a good one and enjoyable as I was off road and felt good and strong at the end of a 5 mile run.

My Juneathon total at day 10 stands at 41.25 miles. If I am to beat my Janathon total of 134 miles then I will need to do another 94 miles  in the last 20 days at an average of 4.7 miles a day. I can achieve it if I avoid injury and have enough stamina to complete it

Juneathon Day 9 - 2011

Another 4 mile run early this morning at 7.45am as I was gardening at 9.30. Passing the Greene King Brewery my memory was drawn back to the recent Real Beer and Food festival in Bury St Edmunds. This was the 2nd year of this event and I really recommend it as an enjoyable morning or afternoon. This year there was the added attraction of live music and very good weather. There were many good products I sampled in the food & drink  tent. Two products that really stood out for me in terms of quality were both made in Suffolk by local producers which were:

a Smoked Fish Pate made by Pinneys of Orford Suffolk. After sampling I just had to buy and I am glad I did as this made a very enjoyable accompaniment with some cheese and biscuits and with salads. I haven't seen or heard of Pinneys before but they they have a website and from this I can see you can order on line or visit their restaurant in Orford. The fish pate I bought was a combination of mackerel,trout and salmon.

 I am not sure if you can buy this in a local shop or supermarket in Bury St Edmunds but will definitely buy again.

The 2nd Product I chose was a local Suffolk cheese from the Rodwell Farm Diary at Baylham Suffolk. I tried both of the cheeses they make and both are very good but decided to buy the Hawkston as I like crumbly cheeses. Their other cheese was also good with the memorable name Shipcord. Again they have a website where you can place orders.

Needless to say both the pate and the cheese has long since gone!

The recent dry weather which dates back at least to march continues. The River Linnett shown in this photo is currently dried up.

After 9 days of Juneathon I am doing OK with no injuries. I would have liked a few miles in the bag but 36.25 is good and gives me a fighting chance of beating my Janathon total.

 

Juneathon Day 8 - 2011

In the post this morning I received my Age UK t shirt from Helen Parsons their Challenge & Running Events Fundraiser. A very nice shirt it is too and I wore it today on day 8 of Juneathon when I ran 4.25 miles along the River Linnet pathway.

I am collecting sponsorship for Age UK as part of this years Juneathon event . I have no idea how much I might raise but anything I do collect will be doubled by the retailer I work for in Bury St Edmunds.

Age UK needs supports as

over 1.1  million older people in the UK feel trapped in their own home

over half of all people aged over 75 in the UK live alone

over 1 million people aged over 65 in the UK say they always or often feel lonely

250 older people die needlessly every day in the winter from the adverse effects of cold weather

£10 pays for a smoke detector to be fitted via a handyman

£14 pays for a week's worth of good day calls providing contact for an older person

£150 could provide a local group with a Christmas lunch so older people don't have to spend Christmas day on their own.


After 8 days of Juneathon I have run 32.25 miles and have avoided injuries and colds so far. Hopefully I can manage the whole 30 days of running and the generous sponsorship and support continue .

Juneathon Day 6 - 2011

This morning I was gardening in steady rain for a couple of hours. Thankfully the rain had more or less ceased by mid day when I went for a run. Day 6 of Juneathon and I completed another 4 miles.

Day 6 means one fifth of Juneathon completed and my total mileage is a steady 24 miles.

I listened to the Word Podcast on my run were they had an interview with Nick Lowe the singer songwriter perhaps best known for his songs Cruel to be Kind , I love the sound of Breaking Glass and So it Goes.

I hardly noticed the run being completed as I listened to the Word Podcast. I was once again using both Voltz Energy Shot and my Running Breeze socks so touch wood I cannot fail!

Juneathon Day 5 - 2011

Day 5 means I have already reached the milestone of one sixth of the way to completion of Juneathon. Looked at that way it means a very small slice of the overall 30 day event we call Juneathon but time flies when you are enjoying your self.

Today being Sunday I allowed myself a bit of a rest so I ran this afternoon and did yet another 4 mile run bringing my total to 20 miles for the 1st 5 days.

The roses are particularly good this year due to the long dry spell of weather in East Anglia and I stopped to capture this photo on my run.

For this Juneathon I am using an energy shot that I have been sent to try called Voltz. It is a little wee 60ml shot of vitamins, minerals and caffeine. Juneathon seems the perfect test to see how this product performs and whether it will help to see me through the 30 days of continuous running.  So far so good. On the plus side I like the fact that it is a wee drink completed in 4-5 mouthfuls. I have been taking it prior to my runs and have had no adverse effect apart from the once when I had the shot and immediately went for my run - then the drink repeated on me and I found myself bringing up the drink again. So for me best to have the drink and run about 10 minutes later.

Voltz Citrus flavour drink reminded me of crushed fruit gums in water not that I recall ever doing this or to say this is a bad thing. I actually like this taste and it is very drinkable.

There are so many variables with running performance so it is very hard to say whether any one product makes any noticeable difference. However I have felt more alert so far and felt I fairly easily achieved my runs and could have gone further. Could this be Voltz giving me a little kick to help with my performance. I like to think so and whether this is a placebo effect or not matters little as I seem to be winning with an improved performance.es


Voltz energy shots contain only 3 calories and are sugar free so I am not going to put on any weight!

I am not sure if it was just the bottles I was sent or not but the small print on the bottle was in Greek I think although being produced in Hampshire England.

Price of these drinks varies but you can buy them at around £1.50 or a dozen for £18. So they are not cheap

Packaging Rating 6 good small bottle /better if wording was in English

Taste Rating   8 Good for me

Energy Rating  8 certainly gives me a boost

Value rating  6 I am a bit stingy so price seems a little high

Juneathon Day 4

So far so good with Juneathon 2011. No aches or pains and I was able to do another 4 miles this morning at 8am. My only real problem is lack of time preventing me from running longer or having much time to blog about it.

Take today after my run I had time for a quick shower and then it of to work to do a couple of hours gardening. Following this I am working this afternoon and this evening for a local retailer so my time is very limited.

So 4 days in I have run 16 miles which I am reasonably happy with if I can keep this up and perhaps add a few miles here and there I might be able to beat my previous Janathon total of 134 miles but that depends on remaining injury free.

Juneathon 2011 Day 2 - RunBreeze Socks

Another lovely warm and sunny day and with no side effects from yesterdays run there were no barriers to me doing a 5 miler. The only real constraint was time as I needed to be back in order to meet with a cousin who out of the blue contacted me to discuss ancestry and our family tree sharing as we do the same great grandfather.

My Garmin 205 also seems to have given up the ghost and the battery no longer holds a charge. It may be dead but I am searching for a solution before looking at alternatives. For the moment I am using a standard watch and running courses where I know the distance I have covered.

However I digress as Juneathon day 2 gave me a chance to try out for the first time some running socks that I had been sent by a company called RunBreeze. The first thing I noticed was the good comfy snug fit . OK I only ran 5 miles in them but they were good as my feet remained cool and there was no warming sensation which you can get from some socks after a few miles. I shall them regularly over the next month of Juneathon and hopefully test them out over some longer runs

RunBreeze state this about their socks

"10 Reasons to choose Technical Running Socks over normal everyday socks:

 

1. The material.  RunBreeze.com use breathable fabrics such as CoolmaxTM that help wick moisture away from the feet which can cause irritation.  

 

2. The Fit.  Normal socks move up and down the foot and are one of the reasons for blisters. Technical running socks are designed ergonomically around the shape of the foot so movement is limited and the sock stays in position.

 

3. The toe.  A RunBreeze sock has a seamless toe.  This helps prevents rubbing at the end of the toes which occur in a normal sock.

 

4. Achilles Heal protection.  On RunBreeze’s trainer liner range they have a padded support where the Achilles Heal sits, to help prevent rubbing on this area.

 

5. The Mid-Foot.  A technical running sock will have a Mid-Foot grip to help keep the sock in place.  In a normal sock a lot of people find their socks slip down, this won’t be the case with a properly fitted sock with a mid foot grip.

 

6. Left and Right Footed.  Socks designed to fit both of our feet properly.  Our feet our different shapes, so your socks should be too.

 

7. Cushioning.  Having a more cushioned area at the bottom of the sock like on the RunBreeze Cushioning sock helps with impact protection on your feet (they are very comfortable too!)

 

8. Anti Blister.  Blisters are a runners nemesis.  Help prevent them by using double layered technology like in the RunBreeze Anti Blister sock.  You don’t get that in your normal sock!

 

9. Health.  RunBreeze asked 100 people how long they keep socks and the average response was 8 years!!  Running socks should be changed just like trainers or kit.  RunBreeze.com have a sock calculator that tells you how many socks you will need per year depending on how many times you run and allowing you to change regularly without breaking the bank!

 

10. Performance.  You want to get the most out of your run so get a technical running sock.  They are lighter as they get rid of sweat quicker, they fit better and are more comfortable – all that means a big personal best for you!"

 

The anti blister socks that I am using are priced at £8 each and if this prevents me getting blisters during Juneathon 2011 then they have got to be worth it.

For today's run I followed a route through Bury St Edmunds along the River Lark and into the Abbey Gardens. Even at 8am it was warm work but enjoyable.

Total Juneathon mileage 8 miles.

Juneathon 2011 - Running for Age UK

In 8 days time I shall be competing in Juneathon 2011.

What is Juneathon you may ask?  If you take part you are basically committing to exercise every day during the month of June regardless of the weather conditions , regardless of how tired you may feel and regardless of the lack of time you may have.

After you have exercised you are also required to blog about it and give an update. It is also more fun to have have some social interaction with other fellow Juneathoners from around the world and in this why it builds a community feel to the event. Much of the social networking is on the Facebook site  the official site for Juneathon 2011 is yet to appear but is promised any day. It also helps to be a little mad to do this event.

That's me in the Colchester Half Marathon 1984 - Postman Pat T Shirt

The weather in East Anglia has been dry for many weeks and at the moment there is little sign of a change in these conditions though lets see what happens on the 1st of June by taking part it is probably my equivalent of performing a rain dance so farmers can expect the long awaited heavy rain on Wednesday week.

I am expecting to feel tired and have a lack of time so Juneathon is going to be both a physical and a mental challenge. Time is going to be an issue now that I am working as a gardener and for a retail company. Gardening is physical work and I am pleased to say there is a lot of demand for gardening at this time of the year.

Six months ago I completed Janathon 2011. This is the sister event to Juneathon and is the same challenge but undertaken in the month of January. However at this time I was out of work having been made redundant so I had a lot more time available. I failed to complete Juneathon 2010 due to injury so what makes me think I will do any better this time around.

I want to do Juneathon to support the charity Age UK and will be seeking sponsorship.Why Age UK.

Well clearly Age UK is for all of us. More people need the services of Age UK than ever before. Age Concern and Help the Aged joined together to form Age UK and are the voice for over 14 million people in the UK.

• There are more people aged over 60 than under 16

• 150,000 people in the UK have a stroke each year. Age UK funded the research which led to an early clinical trial for a stroke busting drug.

• Age UK makes thousands of Handy van calls a year to help with DIY .

• support older people after a stay in hospital

• provide vital information to older people, their relatives and friends

• help with managing paperwork and financial matters

• organise events and creative activities at our social clubs

• enable older people to keep fit, healthy and active

I have got the sponsorship forms  just need some good folks to sponsor me and follow my progress here.

My aim will be to run every day rather than swim, cycle or walk but we will see how it goes.  In January I ran a total of 134 miles in 20.3 hrs I would love to beat this but just completing the event and doing at least a mile is my No 1 target.

A wet cycle ride to Stanningfield Suffolk

The forecast for today wasn't good and in hindsight I chose the worst time to get out and do my Junethon Cycle ride. At about 1pm the rain started as a steady drizzle and progressed into a steady rain. I wore two tops and a pair of shorts as despite the rain it wasn't cold.

At Great Whelnethum I passed an old 2nd world war pill box

However by the time I reached Stanningfield I was soaked through. Feeling damp I decided that the  Red House Pub at Stanningfield would be my half way point.  I was begining to struggle to see through my glasses and every so often this led me to stop and try and dry the lenses. Rather than find a different way home I took the easy decision of just repeating the same route home.

The ox eye daises in Cullum Rd are slightly going over now.So a wet start to Juneathon and 13.4 miles on the board. Roll on tomorrow hopefully the weather can only be better!

Cycle ride to Gt Barton Suffolk

A typical bank holiday Monday the weather being cool and overcast with some rain. My cycle ride this morning was 15 miles and took me on a loop out to Gt Barton past the Holy Inocents Church. On to Thurston, Rougham, Rushbrooke and home.

All ready for tomorrows Juneathon though I wish I was running!

A cycle ride to Lackford

I warmed up for Juneathon with a 16 .4 mile ride out to Lackford in Suffolk.  I woke early this morning and eventually got up at 6.30am. The weather was overcast and the dark clouds threatened rain as I set off through Bury St Edmunds and out of town to Fornham Saint Martin. Out at Culford I disturbed a muntjac deer which was crossing the road and then made a bolt for it crashing through undergrowth to reach safety. Muntjac deer were in the local news this week after repeatedly raiding allotments in Bury St Edmunds the local gardeners want some action to cull them.


At Brockley Corner I decided to veer towards West Stow rather than Ingham. I notice on the map there is at Brockley Corner a Hill of Health Tumulus. Not sure how this got it's name ironic for a burial mound.

After West Stow I followed the road past the Anglo Saxon Village. Here you are just within the KIng's Forest . Here there is a mixture of pines and broadleaf trees and you are always likely to see deer. I turned for home along the Mildenhall Road and the next village I reached was Lackford. The run for home was fairly straight taking me though Flempton, Hengrave, Fornham All Saints and home.

Just spotted this over at JogBlog Running Blog and thought this would be the perfect pick me up for a runner who is injured. This should provide a bit of motivation and a target for me starting next week.

Aparently it is in its 4th year and for the thousands who sign up you commit to at least try and do some form of exercise every day for the  month of June. You can run,cycle,walk,lift weights or any other form of exercise. You just need to talk about it every day as  well on your blog or on face book.

I intend to either be cycling or doing press ups and sit ups whilst I can't run. With the football world cup starting on the 11th of June in Sth Africa  there is a big temptation to reside on the coach of doom for a month and eat and drink. Not saying I won't be doing this but the exercise should help combat the beer and pizza!