New year, new schedule, new gear!

So check this out:

Jayroon's Garmin Connect Profile

First run using my brand spanking new Garmin Forerunner 405CX! Great HRM device with integrated GPS. It really tracks everything you can think off and does it really well. Above you can see the run I completed on the last day of 2009, 2 laps Vondelpark in 45 minutes. Thanks to the family for getting this for me for X-mas. I guess I can also see this as a down payment or big ass commitment for having to run New York in November..... :) So really no way back now.

Feeling better again, (although I just caught another cold, never been sick this often in my entire life!) and have note done too much running over the holiday period, however I did get started again on my new 12 week half marathon schedule. I won't be completely done with it when I have to run 22K on March 14th, but I'll be close (if nothing goes too horribly wrong over the next months) and it's better than not having a plan at all!

 So anyway, back on track, I need to run about 20 KM a week so that should be doable. You can see my half marathon schedule on www.runinfo.nl

Yet I am strongly considering changing over to the more agressive 10 week plan: here!

Back to where you started

Running times are rough currently, I've missed 2-3 weeks due to recurring health issues and really feel like I'm back to square one. :[ I've decided to drop the first schedule (run for 1 hour) and will now move to the half marathon schedule to try and be ready in time for the March 14th deadline which is now approaching quickly (Fortis City Peer City run, half marathon). So I'm on a steeper learning curve that I'd like but hey, I've got to get moving again.

On the upside, I got some winter gear as temperatures are now around 0 C. I got on of those gay tights to run in, but they are warm and that's what counts. I also got some thin running gloves so I should be relatively cold-weather-proof.

Wish me luck for March 14th, I could use the motivation and support! :]

Technology, love it or hate it!

Just completed my scheduled run for today, an easier one compared to Tuesday and it went well. And thanks to my dear sister in law Karin, I now have access to technology during my run, being a heartmonitor.

First time I used it today to try and stay in my 75% - 80% of max heartrate. And I say try because its one heck of a challenge! The HRM I currently have borrowed is a Polar S210, and I spent, much to my own surprise, ample time yesterday on a concept called RTFM. I must be getting old! Let me explain what RTFM is.

Whenever my brother or I would get a new gadget, the first thing we'd do is turn the thing on, and tinker around with it as long as we needed to figure out how it works. We'd probably not get it immediately but eventually after some cursing and messing about we would. Much to the amusement and slight frustration of my dad, he would laugh and shout "Guys, seriously, RTFM!". His thing was to unpack a gadget, only to put it down and start reading the manual (RTFM = read the fucking manual!) Timewise, my brother and I would need about the same time as my dad would, but with a lot more cursing and messing about.

Slight side track, but anyway, here's my point. I think I figured out how to set the HRM, first of all with my own user settings but also setting a scheduled exersice set, with heart rate limits (the 75%-80% of my max heart rate, estimated to be around 180). The watch will beep if you are either below (low beep) or above (high beep) your training zone.

And here's what happened on my first run today with the HRM, damn thing wouldn't stop beeping at me! First low beeps, then high beeps, then a low followed by a high, and so forth and so on! So either my fitness levels are way off and the heartbeat is all over the place or I'm still missing some of the settings options on the watch. Although it wouldn't surprise me if it was the fitness levels after all! :) So will spend some more time on RTFM and will give it another chance during my run on Sunday.

Couple facts: 32 min run this morning, burning 386 calories, running a distance of a little over 4.5 K, in the end mostly in my training zone of 75-80% of max heart rate. Little sore calf muscles, and slight tension in my left foot, other than that went well. Speed below what feels like I could run, but I guess thats the point now that we are getting started! 

Hasta la vista.

UPDATE: Got the device working properly now that I figured out I needed to put the cheststrap a little tighter. Still beeping though, but thats because I'm starting out faster than I should! Helps me in the end though :)

More running gear!

I'm pretty much sorted for the colder weather coming! Got myself some technical Asics longsleeve shirts and a lightweight, breathing, waterproof, windbreaker. So come rain or shine, I'll be out there (as I have been the last 4 weeks!) Also got myself a luminescant armband, to warn folks to get to safety! :)

No runs in the weekend as I have been running laps in the park every morning last week, so now its time to give the muscles some rest as I'll be starting my first schedule on Tuesday. All I really still need is a heartmonitor, which for the time being I'm able to borrow. Have my eye on the Garmin 405CX, cool little piece of kit that I shall treat myself to if I complete the first 8 weeks succesfully!

For now, enjoy the weekend!

Time to get organized!

So to actually get moving people tell me that one of the first things to do is to: 1. read lots on running, 2. get good gear and most importantly, 3. get going! :)

So to start out I googled lots of great blogs and sites to help me get started and provide info on getting started (a couple links posted on the right and I'll be sure to add more soon). RunningRonald.nl is a great Dutch blog with loads of useful info and links, as is runinfo.nl and a couple others. I also got my first book on running: "Run training: From jogging to Marathon" by Paul van den Bosch. Its an excellent reference to get started, what gear to get, how to avoid injuries, scheme's and schedules, nutrition, etc.

So my absolute first step was to visit Jack Rabbit, a super good runningstore while I was in NYC on 14th street. Great advise and a professional staff. They put me on a treadmill and recorded how I run to see what shoes I needed. Really took the time to give advise and let me try shoes. The fourth pair finally felt good, so.....drum rolls please..... it's my pleasure to present to you my first brand spanking new pair of Adidas Supernova's!