Garmin Scales

Grumpy_chap

Well, I managed to turn the corner last month.
Broke the "relaxing summer rut" and did a 10 mile run and only 6 minutes behind the target I aspired for when I signed up back in mid-summer.  Given the lull in recent running activity I thought that was reasonable.
Then had two weeks off as we were on holiday, but back at Park Run yesterday though my slowest ever.  Hopefully the tide will turn.  I have a steady run ahead where I expect to be able to get to Park Run consecutively so will work for better times.  I'd like to be beck near summer PB by Christmas.

Grumpy_chap

I had been stuck in a rut, but the 10 mile race in the middle of October served as a good kick-start to get more motive.  I was aiming for 1 hour 15 and got 1 hour 21 so not bad really given I never ran 10 miles before.  My training was rather a crammed 11th hour effort.

Anyway, since then I have been doing two resistance sessions and two runs in the week plus a 5k Park Run every Saturday.  The training runs are one fast 3k and one slow 6k.  This may, or may not be, a good strategy but I have recovered my Park Run 5k time back to within a minute of PB and could realistically be back at PB by the end of the year.

My VO2 Max is now 52, which I think is quite a good achievement.

I have to say, the colder weather helps to make it easier to run, plus I've stayed off alcohol for a few weeks.

A nice little milestone will soon be coming up.  As of yesterday, I am at 997 days of meeting the step challenge (10k steps).  This week I will cross through to 1,000 days and I am keen to know whether the Garmin will click over to display 1,000 or trip back to zero.  

Grumpy_chap

WooHoo
Today, I have answered the question about whether the Garmin Step Challenge consecutive streak can count to the fourth significant digit:

Grumpy_chap

Well, I ended the year on a highish note - my final Parkrun of 2023 was my second-fastest of the year.
I also feel that I complete Parkrun in a far more finessed manner than when I started that journey at the beginning of the year - my time is regularly a minute faster, which is pleasing of itself, but I also run the full course whereas last January I would exhaust and crash out en-route and then do walk, jog parts to get round.  On a good day now, I can do a sprint finish.
Doing an "event" run certainly proved to be a kick-start to pull me out of the summer lethargy.
Here's to a successful 2024

Grumpy_chap

I finally put to bed the sluggish results and made improvements in managing pace far better than I was previously.
Today got my first ParkRun PB of the year, so pleased with that.  Only a second off previous PB, but better that than a second behind.
Resistance training is also holding up.
All in all a good start to 2024

Grumpy_chap

I have managed to maintain good results this month.  Parkrun last week still within 5 seconds of PB so hopeful for another PB in the coming months as conditions should improve.
I am also very pleased that I did my first half-marathon this morning.  I paced well so managed to achieve the target I set myself in January - pretty much bang on really

Grumpy_chap

Had a very happy running month.  A couple of ParkRuns within a few seconds of the previous PB and then secured a PB by a fair margin.  I thought it was a fluke until I got within a second of that the week after, making two consecutive weeks with "top 10" placings for the local ParkRun course.  Easter excess meant I dropped down for the final ParkRun of the month but hoping to be back on form this coming week as it is the pacer session.

Grumpy_chap

A stunning month with three Parkrun "top 10" placings including two PB's.
WooHoo

Grumpy_chap

I have been behind the pace a bit this month with my running but so, it seems, is everyone else as I still achieved three "top 10" ParkRun placings (out of 5 runs) so I guess happy enough with that.

Grumpy_chap

Well, it has been a lethargic couple of months and now the hotter weather is landing as well so the combined outcome is less performance in both cardio and resistance.  Still, I'll keep going and look forward to a boost post-summer.

I signed up for a 10 mile run in October but it now looks as though I will be away for a business trip, so that motivational target is lost, also the entry money