Running

I hate running, I have always hated running and I will always hate running, but it's a necessary evil. I used to be quite good at sprinting, even getting into the school Athletics team for the 100m relay, the 200m and the triple jump.

But the days I always hated were the cross country runs when it had snowed so we weren't allowed to play football (or in my case rugby) in case we ruined the pitches. I hated it even more when they made everyone try out for the 1500m at the start of every athletics/cricket season. I used to squeeze just inside 6 m or thereabouts which was much too slow. So it's no surprise that I'm dreading the County fitness test which is due to take place on or around the first Friday in March (it's the 7th ... I know this as I have tickets for a concert in Manchester on the 8th which is a Saturday).

Anyway enough rambling, getting to the point of this post. When I started training I was just posting the same stuff every time about how long I had limped along on the treadmill (usually around 2m) and what weights I was doing. I soon got as bored of it as anyone reading it would have, so I decide only to post when something of note occurred. Well something has occurred ... no not another injury but something of a landmark.

Tonight for the first time ever in my life (apart from when I did "I Ran The World" as part of Sport Aid back in 1986) I ran for longer than 10 minutes. In fact I ran for 12 minutes on the treadmill at an average speed of 10.5Km/h and I ran for 2100m. This means that of I replicated this run in real life on the track in March I would only be a lap short. That is major progress in my book as only 3 weeks ago I needed to run 20% longer and 25% faster - MINIMUM! So I've done the time and for good measure, after I'd nipped to the loo (drinking too much water before running!) I did another 4 minutes at 10Km/h.

So I'm beginning to think that I might make it after all (I've lost count of how many colleagues have expressed their confidence in my ability to run that far, that fast, thanks guys). My goal has to be to run at 15Km/h for the 12 minutes so I'm going to edge up the speed gradually every couple of weks until I get there. I think increments of 0.5Km/h should do it. Once I've managed 15Km/h for 12 minutes then I'm transferring full time to the track where the County test will be taking place - fortunately my membership of the local authority gym scheme means I can use the track just about anytime I want.

A final word - some of my local refereeing colleagues have stumbled across this blog (likely story) and are searching for references to themselves. I've tried to avoid it so far especially when I relate tales such as this one, so gents of the HWDRA, please don't expect to see your name in lights for a while yet!