13 WEEKS TO GO !!!!

It is now just 13 weeks (last Sunday) to go before the Marathon, training has been going well this week. Since the last blog I have run twice, on Sunday I run 5 miles, round via Tesco at Bursledon, along Portsmouth Road, up station road then all the way down Kathleen. It was an afternoon run and after the first couple of miles I really got into it, although the last mile did kill me.

My training schedule this week is -


Short Run - 3 Miles
Medium Run - 5 Miles
Short Run - 3 Miles
Long Run - 6 Miles

Already completed the short run, will be doing the other short run tomorrow morning and the medium run on Friday.

Time to get serious.......

You will no doubt be asking where I have been since November, and then will ask if I am actually still taking part in the London Marathon. Let me start by answering the 2nd question. I am definitely 100% still running the Marathon on April 25th this year. So on to the first question.

The last time I posted I was going to the US for work, well I went and enjoyed a great 3 mile run whilst there. What really annoyed me was that the local marathon was taking place right outside my hotel whilst I was there, there were numerous distance options and I could have quite easily run 5k!!! I was not impressed, particularly when all I could hear at 7 in the morning was someone belting out the star spangled banner !!!

I got back from the US and for a variety of reasons, ranging from my Birthday to work and finally Christmas meant that I only managed a couple of short runs. I did begin to feel really guilty at this point and was pleased when January arrived !!!

I will write more about my training plan in the coming weeks but basically I am training on a 16 week program, 4 days a week. This officially started on 4 January and I enjoyed my first run on 3rd January, a short 1.5 mile run round the block and then 3 miles on the 4th. Yes, I was back on the schedule and then...........

SNOW

The snow managed to put me back by about a week and a half, I did think about risking a run on the Ice, but, surely those that know me will realise that it could only have ended in tears so I didnt.....

Now the snow has gone and I am back at it, in the last week I have been out 3 times and run 2x4 miles and 1x3 mile run. It is not a lot but is exactly where I need to be with the training and a good start. I must admit it has felt good to get back into it and over the period of those 3 runs I have felt a lot more relaxed and comfortable. On Sunday I am going for my long run which for this week will be either 5 miles or 6 miles, a lot will depend on how comfortable it goes, will report back soon on that.

I was in London this week and the taxi took us down the Mall, it was empty but suddenly thought what it would be like to run down there after 26.2 miles, that is motivation for you!!!!

The other thing I am going to be doing is pushing the sponsorship so if you have not done it yey then get on with it.

Going Stateside

I am off to Los Angeles tomorrow, well more specifically I am off to Santa Clarita Valley which is about an hour outside of the city.

The plan is to do two runs whilst there, the first on Sunday is going to be on a dry river bed which I have been told about which should be interesting and the second will probably just be around the town area.

Should be interesting to see how I cope with the heat. Hopefully there will be pictures to prove I was out there running !!!! see you next week

After the Great South Run

So it has been a week since the Great South Run and so far I have not got back out on the road. Have been away this weekend so need to get back to it tomorrow morning !!! 6.45 am.

Still feel really great after the run last week and it has given me a great boost and insight into what running and finishing the marathon will be like. I have been asked a few times this week if I am still 'Up For It' and to be honest I am more committed to doing it now then I was before.

The fundraising has started for the marathon and I am already at over £125, which is 6% of my target, which is great for being some 5 months away from the big day. Thank you to all those who have already dug deep for me.

Great South Run Official Pictures

Check out this link

http://media.greatrun.org/index.php?page=search&date=2009

Put in my running number 6580 and then select Great South Run

BLOG GOES LIVE - LET THE FUNDRAISING COMMENCE

So in a little under 6 months I will be completing the London Marathon in aid of the sailors society, this blog is to diary my journey there.

I have a £2000 target!!! so it would be great if you could sponsor me !!!

http://www.justgiving.com/Andrew-Baldwin0

If you have a question or would like to know more about anything then please email me !

Thanks for Reading

The Great South Run

To Portsmouth I went this Sunday for the 20th Great South Run!! a 10 mile road race around the streets of Pompey itself taking in all the sights that it has to offer.

Being honest I knew that I had not put the required effort into training for this event, due to the issues I had with getting a charity place for the marathon I didnt really start until September, which had left me about 4 weeks to train for 10 miles, not the best start to be honest but I was out 3/4 times a week to try and get the miles in...

First there was a 5 mile run from home to Hamble, that was a great achievement as that really felt that it was going to be impossible to complete, but I did it. Then last weekend I run from home to Curbridge to Mr Burrows's abode and that was 8.2 miles. Then it was time for the Great South, bearing in mind the books say you should only increase your mileage by 10% each week I kind of increased too much.

Anyway back to Portsmouth..... it was an early start as we had to be in Portsmouth by 9am. So Manda, Jack, Viv, Stef and I went down in the car parked at Gunwharf Quays and off we walked to the start.

It was an amazing day, so many people involved and a great set up, here is me at the beginning of the day -

Looking not so bad at this time. It was a great atmosphere lots of people first timers and regulars. I stood in my group and took part in the joint warm up and then headed to the line.

Bang, and I was off. I went really well for the first 4 miles, had a bit of a pain in my knee just after the first mile but that went away after a while. Run through the historic dockyard and past the victory. Once I got back to the promenade at 5 miles I run past Manda and the gang and that was a great feeling to see them waving and cheering, a great motivational boost.

And then I got to mile 7 and it really got tough, I was dragging

myself round but there was great support on the street. Seeing people at that stage with medals knowing that I had 3 miles to go made it really tough.

As I rounded back onto Clarence Parade at 8 and a half miles the wind kicked up and that last leg seemed to take forever, lots of tired legs and people willing each other forward. In the last 400 metres loads of crowds and people cheering it was great. As I rounded the last corner Manda, Viv and the children were waiting to cheer me on the last leg and I managed to run down the last stretch and finally over the line.

What a great achievement and I was glad it was all over. Here are some pictures from after the race..... note the relief

Now that this hurdle is done it is on to the big one.....

Bearing in mind that the marathon is 2 and a half times more in terms of distance I know what a huge mountain I have to climb in terms of training... watch this space