Category: running

New Years Resolutions

Some people make New Year’s resolutions in December to start in January. These people I call fools. Every accountant knows that the year starts in April. As such, I have come up with my New Year’s resolutions three months after everyone else or as I like to think of it – at the correct time.

Between May last year and getting married at the end of September, I managed to lose a reasonable amount of weight. The NHS online BMI calculator still thought I was overweight, but only just. Since then, I have started a new role at work which has meant that I am commuting  on average 4 days a week rather than 2. These are lost hours, some of which I previously spent exercising, and now all of the weight I lost has been regained.

The reason I was able to do so well last year is because I bought myself a fitness watch. It provides me with real time info, stats, graphs… all the stuff that an accountant loves!

I have never really liked running, but I have always liked the idea of being good at it. I am aware that it is good for general fitness and I’ve always wanted to complete a running challenge.

I ran 3 miles for Sport Relief a number of years ago, which was at the limit of what I was able to do. I’d like to be able to run a significant distance further. Mainly because I have seen Zombieland and I know how important cardio is. Also because loads of people seem to be able to do it and to run impressive distances or take on impressive challenges.

So, based on this, I have some resolutions:

Resolution 1: I will run 365 miles this year.

I was going to make this more difficult and say that I would run at least 1 mile every single day. Whilst I like the idea of this challenge, there are some days when it literally isn’t feasible.

My target will still be to run a mile a day if possible but I won’t beat myself up if I miss a day or two, I will just make up the miles another day. One main reason why I want to do one mile a day is because I have suffered previously with shin splints and cramp when running. These have improved with constant repetition and gradual increasing of effort, so my thought is that little and often will allow me to get over these problems.

Resolution 2: I will get to a weight the NHS thinks is healthy.

I know what the target for this is, although I am aware that actually the targets aren’t applicable for everyone because for some people it just isn’t healthy. However, I know I’ve been close to achieving it previously, so I know that it is healthy for me personally.

To be able to succeed in this, as well as the first resolution, I will pay a bit more attention to what I put in my body.

I’m not a big drinker anyway, but I aim to to drink a little less. I also intend to try to eat more healthily. This has been less easy with my additional commuting due to time constraints but there’s so many options these days that it’s pretty much just laziness when I don’t

Both of these resolutions are SMART. I am quite proud of myself for this. It shows that I’ve been paying attention in my training sessions.

I hate running

I hate running, I really do. I’ve never really seen the point. It’s just transporting yourself from one place to another.

I’m happy to put in the effort to run if I’m playing a sport but on it’s own… I just don’t get it.

OK, when I was a kid, I wanted to be the fastest in my class. There was something cool about that, like you had a super power or something. The best I achieved was third in what I assume was about a fifty metre sprint on sports day in primary school. When I went to big school and realised that about 50% of the other kids there were better than me, I lost all interest.

But running now, as a grown up, I just don’t get. Why would you get all excited about going out in street and letting everyone see how unfit and out of shape you are?

So the fact that I have signed up to run three miles for Sports Relief might confuse you. It certainly confuses me.

I’m a walking paradox.

I think it’s partly because I know that other people – some of whom I think are less fit than me – can do it. Another thing I am is very competitive. I don’t like thinking that other people are better than me.

I think it’s partly because I am still the least fit member of my football team even after two years of playing and training. I have been putting this down to being the oldest outfield player but that excuse doesn’t really wash when you see players like Ryan Giggs still playing at the highest level.

Ok, I might not be quite as good as him but the fact that he can keep playing at the very top level when he is six years older than me puts my levels of fitness to shame.

For a while I have been saying that I want to do a big run to challenge myself and to prove to myself that I can do it. And then a few weeks ago my friend called my bluff.

I know that three miles isn’t much in the grand scheme of things, when other people are running 26 in one go and there’s a dude I just read about called Dean Karnazes who can literally run forever.

But for me, this will be a great achievement. I tried road running a couple of years ago but struggled as I kept getting shin splints and therefore I concluded that I was never going to be able to do it and gave up. I could just about manage a mile before I had to give up.

Now, my body is a bit better conditioned due to playing football and I have managed to overcome this. I am still physically unfit though, and three miles is a challenge to me. I can manage it on a treadmill but basically fall down dead afterwards however every small milestone brings with it an amazing sense of accomplishment.
This is something I really wish I’d done sooner.

Although that’s partly because I would have a younger body and it would therefore be easier for me.

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I also hate asking people for sponsorship. It’s obvious that you’re going to do whatever I’m sponsoring you to do with or without my money. Well I am anyway. So I feel uncomfortable just going up to people and asking them to give to my charity of choice. But should you wish to sponsor me in my attempt to drag myself along Folkestone seafront without dying, you can do so here.