New Shoes

After last nights run I decided I couldn't do too many more runs without getting some more shoes.
Time to go to a real running shop and get the credit card out.

I went to Sweatshop on Ransomes Europark where I got a video gait analysis done. The assistent was very helpful and seemed to know what he was talking about. He came out with 4 different shoes that would suit my running style from 4 diferent manufactures. I tried each in turn running around the store and I walked out with a pair of Asics GT2140.

I could have got them a bit less on the net but the excellent service was worth the extra.

First Run

Went out for the first time tonight. I'm following the Runner's World Get-Started schedule, which for this week is:
Week 1 Run one min, walk 90 seconds. Repeat eight times. Do three times a week.

I ended up repeating it eight and a half time to get home, total distance of 1.56 miles according to Google Maps. So I just need to be able to run 10times that without stopping ;-) I was still OK at the end and could have gone a little further I think - but not much. This gets me as far as the Bounty Fisheries fish & chip shop on my way to Newcastle, best not stop I suppose.

It felt good to be out on the road again with a great target to aim for, but I really need some new shoes.

Great North Run - I'm in!

I found out today that I've been accepted to run the Great North Run on 20th September 2009.

I used to run and have done the London Marathon a couple of times, but that was 15 years ago and I haven't run much since. I'm currently 14st 9lbs - that's 2lbs into the BMI obese category.

So I've got a plan for the first 8 weeks. Which I'll start on the 23rd February. In the mean time it's to the gym a couple of times a week to get some aerobic work done, strengthen the knees to prevent old injuries returning and try and loose a few pounds.

It's about 295 miles from home to the start of the race, and as I expect I'll have to run at least distance in training to do a good time in September I'll be adding up the miles as I grind them out on the track trails and footpaths around Felixstowe, and using it as a gauge to tell how close I'm getting to Newcastle.