Here we go again

I can hear Mrs. Cookie sigh. Today is day 1 of my new 18 week Marathon training schedule. I have signed up for the San Diego Rock and Roll Marathon on May 31st. Last time I did this Mrs. Cookie got a weekend in New York for my endeavours, this time she gets a weekend on the beach, that's a pretty good trade I think?!


Once again I'll be following the Hal Higdon Marathon guide, but this time stepping up to Intermediate II level. I've been base building for the last 4 weeks and have quickly built up to being comfortable for 7-8 miles.


This last week was my final 'base' week and it was a good one. To ensure good mileage I went longer on Tue/Thu than I usually would (5 miles both times) with a 3 miler sandwiched in between. Then on Saturday I ran 10 miles with the Norterra Running Club (read Trevor).


We didn't actually plan on running 10 miles but, we took a wrong turn. I spent the last couple of miles trying to work out why our pace was so slow, a quick visit to MapQuest solved that; we'd done 1 mile more than planned! A bad run suddenly turned into a great one, 10 miles at 8m20s pace. If I can keep that up for 20+ miles in May I will be delighted.


My schedule this week calls for a total of 26 miles. At the peak of my training I will be running 50 miles a week.

Sorry Mrs. Cookie, think of the beach!

In da club

Norterra Running Club is a go! After the disappointing turn out last (that would be nobody...) my new running mate 'Trevor' joined me this week.


I find running with company is so much easier. I hadn't run more than 4 miles in 2 months yet we went for 7 miles this morning at a good pace. That puts me well on track for my San Diego training which starts in a couple of weeks. By the week of Jan 26th I need to be capable of running 8 miles so, I am essentially there.


Running 7 miles alone today would never have happened. Trevor is training for a Half Marathon in April so, whilst our training schedules may not jive completely we should be able to link up for regular runs.


Having not had a running partner since leaving

NYC (the BIG DOG Tim!) it's nice to get some

company again!

Is a one person running club, still a club?

I have to ask as the inaugural meet of the Norterra Running Club had a turnout of one only; me.

There I was all bright eyed and bushy tailed waiting for my fellow runners in the cold for our 7.30am start. 7.30 came, and went. 7.40 came and, still no one arrived so, I went on my own.

Everything has to start somewhere I guess, hopefully

somebody else turns up next week!

New Year, new goals!

So here we are, 2009. Topping 2008 on a personal level is likely impossible but, I am up for a challenge!

I've made a few resolutions for the new year; run stronger, eat better, be a better husband :). I also am planning on making this blog more exciting! Although focused on my running still, I'll be expanding to all goings on in Cookie Land.

I've seriously procrastinated since the marathon. Since that day I have run a combined 11 miles only (in 2 months). I really struggled to motivate myself since the big day so, with a new year I am hoping to start off with a bang.

I started a running club for our community, the aptly named 'Norterra Running Club'. We have our inaugural meet this Saturday. 4 people have checked into the club so, hopefully someone will turn up! We're going to run 5 miles this weekend but if a success this will be used for long training runs, 20 mile runs alone can get dull...

In preparation for the run I went out last night and did a slow

3 miler, my first run in a month. It felt good and I have no ill effects.

Ava and Ms. Vi bought Mrs. Cookie and I Wii Fit for Xmas so, I am sure my weeks efforts of strength training, yoga and aerobic exercising on that set me up well! I still can't believe I managed to hurt my shoulder doing the Wii 'press up challenge' though...