day 30 - early and late risings

It would have been nice to have had a spectacular finish run. However, I did not get to bed until something like 6am so I only did a short run round Holyrood Park - a bit rubbish really. I did do a bit extra earlier when I decided to walk up the crags - a smaller hill in front of Arthur Seat. I managed to watch a particularly lovely sunrise - pics below. So it was certainly worth the effort and the fact that I didn't get up till this afternoon.

 So, my total Juneathon miles (for running anyway)is a pretty respectable 107 which has put me in 20th place. I know its not officially the end of until midnight, but as I have jogged, logged and am just about to finish blogging it is the end for me so am taking the stats as of this moment in time. It is also an improvement on my Janathon efforts where I had a total of 83 running miles but then it was cold, dark and often snowy so Juneathon had to be better really!

I did miss one day where I literally couldn't walk let alone run but overall I'm pretty pleased with my efforts.

Thanks to everyone who has read and commented, the support in what has been a pretty tough month has meant a lot to me. I have also really enjoyed reading others posts and have been inspired by everyone's efforts.

As I said in my last post, I do plan to continue with my more ambitious running plan and will be blogging too, though not every day as I think I would eventually run out of things to say.


Anyway, here are today's and my final stats:

Distance: 3.30mi
Time taken: 00:31:42
Average/Max Speed : 6.24/8.17 mph
Average/Min Pace : 00:09:37/00:07:20
Calories: 395

Juneathon Total:

◦Run - 24 - 106.6 mi - 16.8 hrs
◦Bike - 2 - 14.5 mi - 0.8 hrs
◦Walk - 1 - 10.0 mi - 6.0 hrs
◦Cross - 4 - 10.9 mi - 1.8 hrs
◦Total - 31 - 142.0 mi - 25.4 hrs

day 29 - on writing and running

My run wasn't too exciting today - though I did pass my 100 mile mark!! I am well and truly knackered as well, but happy with surpassing my target (by 3 miles).

Today I wanted to say something about a book I'm reading. I've only been really getting more into my running since my marathon (and Juneathon has also helped a lot!) and this has meant I am starting to look at running related literature. My mum bought me Paula Radcliffe's 'How to Run' which was more a help with training rather than a proper read from cover to cover type book. Yesterday I bought Haruki Murakami's 'What I Talk About When I Talk About Running' and I'm already almost finished. I haven't read anything else of his but as a runner, with a great interest in writing and reading (I'm a English Literature graduate), I am really enjoying this and am finding it very inspiring. For all you Juneathoners - this guy runs EVERY DAY, ALL YEAR ROUND. And he averages 6 miles a day - I know, impressive! I share many of his sentiments and approach to running (though I will never be has hardcore as him)- I like doing it as a solo activity and am more interested personal goals than in competing with others. He also talks about writing and though the closest I will get to being a writer will be this blog - Like many English Literature students I have always like the idea that I have a novel in me (though I very much doubt this will ever happen).

Cant' believe its the last day of Juneathon tomorrow. Will miss all the banter and the routine of blogging every day and reading everyone elses. Having seen that others can run every day on a yearly basis I am going to try and go for 6 days a week, maybe not doing as much mileage but I am enjoying the routine of going out every day and, certainly as long as I'm still unemployed I will keep running to keep my spirits up and giving me something to get out of bed for.

Onto today's Stats:

Distance: 6.62mi
Time taken: 01:02:09
Average/Max Speed : 6.39/11.72 mph
Average/Min Pace : 00:09:24/00:05:07
Calories: 804

day 28- angry running

I will apologise for the downbeat blog entry now, I will keep it short. Even though the sun is shining I am in a rainy mood. Yet another job interview disappointment yesterday, which after a good start to the day really brought me down. This morning I just wanted to ignore the sun streaming through my window and stay in bed but Juneathon has got me this far though the month so I got up and faced the sunshine (making sure I had my factor 50 on).

Went my easy route along the Innocent cycle path taking it pretty easy after my 8miles yesterday.
I did have a good sprint in the last mile or so thanks to some angry music which really helps let off some steam. This is in fact one of my fav running tunes:

Stats:

distance:4.13miles

time: 39mins16secs

calories: 498

angry tunes: 1

day 27 - A perfect run

Now when I say 'perfect', I don't mean that it was a particularly fast or impressive run but rather I really enjoyed it and felt really good at the end. It was also perfect conditions-wise. I was out early before the rain set in and it wasn't hot. I was also running in the Pentland hills which meant fresh air, no traffic, hardly anyone out and beautiful scenery. I was going to do 6miles but was enjoying myself so much that I done an extra couple. This also meant getting to run over grass and winding dirt tracks which made a lovely change from the tarmac. As I said it wasn't a very fast run but there was quite a bit of serious uphill action so was actually pretty pleased with my pace.

Being out the countryside also meant that it was a record day for returned greetings from walkers etc. People are so much more friendly away from the city.

Overall a pretty uneventful run though at one point I almost ran into an oncoming van while I was looking down at my feet. I am hoping he would have honked the horn before he got a chance to run me over.

Also with this decent run I have only got 7.5miles to do before reaching the 100mile mark :)

distance: 8.01miles
time: 1:13:55
calories: 968
avg speed:6.5mph

day 26 hangover run mark 2

I got home at 3am this morning. I was drinking from 5pm. I consumed white wine, beer and cider. I saw a pretty bad band in Whistle Binkies. I hugged my friend who's over from Australia about 10 times before letting him get in a taxi. I got up up 10:30 this morning and donned my running gear fearful that I would be sweating beer. Did one circuit of the meadows, thought I could maybe do another but then thought better of it. This has probably been my lamest Juneathon effort so far.

I am however now determined to get to the 100mile mark so will be putting in some good mileage in the last 4 days. I can't believe we are nearing the end once again. I will miss my virtual running friends. Juneathon has made what could have been a very bleak month more enjoyable.

Stats:
Distance: 1.43 miles
Time: 13mins16secs
calories: a pitiful 172 (this will not make up for all the beer consumed last night)

day 25 - park runs and wedgies

Got my run in early today as I have, for a limited period, got my social life back and am off out for lunch with a friend, then to a garden party (though it may turn out to be a house party if the current weather conditions stay the same). Then I'm off to the pub to see another friend who is over visiting from Australia.

So it was a drizzly lap round the meadows today. Was tired after my 9miler yesterday so took it easy - though much to my delight my 'easy' pace is a lot faster these days :)  Unfortunately it was a bit of an uncomfortable one as I was wearing a particular pair of pants that resulted in me doing a Rafael Nadal impression and continuously having to fight against wedgies - I know, lovely!

Anyway, my friend has arrived so I must cut this short. So on the stats:

Distance: 4.22miles
Time: 0:39:19
Calories: 467

day 24- buggy dodging at the seaside

Pleased with myself today as did my longest run since the Edinburgh marathon in May. It was silly not to take advantage of the rare nice sunny conditions. I did one of my fave long run routes which was down to the seaside at Portobello. I even did a half mile along the sand which unfortunately lead to getting said sand in my trainers. I had a pretty good pace going for the first half of my run and there was a nice atmosphere at the seaside with people sensing the presence of sun came out to wander along the promenade. On the downside a lot of these people included young couples with buggies and assorted little people dawdling around (I am not the maternal type). This created a bit of an obstacle course for me and coupled with quite a strong head wind on my journey back, my pace dropped a bit.

Was actually surprised at how comfortably I managed over 9miles and am having serious thoughts of going in for the Glasgow half marathon to see if I can improve on my time. Having said that it costs about £25 minimum to enter and I have no money. I thought running was supposed to be a cheap sport!

Stats:
distance:  9.5miles
time:1hour 26mins
Avg Speed:6.6 mph
Avg Pace: 0:09:02
calories: 1024
buggies almost run into: about 10