This Ordinary Life

Someone offered to pay for carbon offsets for me to fly to the New York Marathon in November. I thought this was such a good idea that I will be offsetting all of the quantifiable carbon emissions assocaited with my trip to New York. This will include the flights, taxis, accommodation, etc. and will enable me to do my little part for helping raise awareness of Climate Change and to demonstrate that every individual can do their part.

There are a number of ways that individuals can offset their carbon emissions. A great website that enables you to calculate your impacts and then purchase offsets is Climate Care.

So I'll be running the marathon with some advertising on my outfit announcing that I am running a "Carbon Neutral Marathon".

Of course, if you don't want to run a carbon neutral marathon, there is still plenty that you can do to help reduce your carbon emissions. Some example of what you can do include:

- buy energy efficient light bulbs - they last longer and use up to 80% less electricity than conventional bulbs

- turn your heating and airconditioning down 1 to 2 degrees - this can save 10 - 15% on your heating and cooling bills

- boil water in pots with lids on - no idea exactly how much energy you save, but the water boils faster and with less heat

- ride your bicycle to work rather than driving - you are saving energy and money with every kilometer/mile you ride

- fully turn off your electrical goods - standby uses up to 80% as much as the device actually being on

The list of things you can do is almost endless. If you want some more advice, why not check out some of the following websites:

- The Energy Saving Trust

- The National Energy Foundation

- BBC Climate Change Action Network

Posted by this ordinary life at 8:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Week 6

Weight: 93 kg
Percentage body fat: 27%
Classification: Obese
Resting heart rate: 45bpm (Well, at least something is right)
Distance run: 15 km
Average Pace: 6:30
Distance cycled: 105 km
Distance swum: 0 km
No. of weight trainin sessions: 1
No. of training sessions: 10
Calories Burnt: 5550kcal

Units of alcohol drunk: ca. 20 (This time it was a leaving party for a colleague at work)

Comment: Took it easy this week as my leg was still a bit tender. This weekend I had my New York Marathon training day. Very informative.

Posted by this ordinary life at 9:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I don't know about you, but I haven't yet reached a state of Zen running. To me this is the point when running trancends being exercise and becomes a state of being. Kilometres fall to the wayside as your mind becomes clearer and you start solving the worlds problems every time you climb a big hill. It becomes a perpetual activity that once you reach critical mass could go on forever.

Until I reach that point, I will have to rely on more traditional means of motivation, namely running with a mate, pride and music. The last will be a focus of my entry today where I'll share one of my running playlists. My taste of music quite eclectic, but these songs will guaranteed get you through at least 10 - 15kms. I recommend running this playlist on random as there are multiple songs from both The Chemical Brothers (who have many great songs to run by) and Collective Soul (one of my favourite bands in general).

My running playlist:

1. Stop the Rock - Apollo 440
2. My Family - Banana Oil
3. Brian Wilson - Bare Naked Ladies
4. One Angry Dwarf and 200 Solemn Faces - Ben Folds Five
5. Thunderstruck - AC/DC
6. It's 5! - Architecture in Helsinki
7. A Little Busy - Art Blackey & the Jazz Messengers
8. Pump It - Black Eyed Peas
9. Hazy Shade of Winter - Bodyjar
10. Comfort Eagle - Cake
11. Block Rockin' Beats - The Chemical Brothers
12. Setting Sun - The Chemical Brothers
13. Alive Alone - The Chemical Brothers
14. Energy - Collective Soul
15. Precious Declaration - Collective Soul
16. December - Collective Soul
17. After All - Collective Soul
18. Dakota - Stereophonics
19. Superman - Stereophonics
20. Why Do You Love Me - Garbage
21. Bring Me To Life - Evanescence

Happy running!

Posted by this ordinary life at 6:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

A few days ago I purchased a pair of Brooks Adrenaline GTS 6s on the recommendation of a sales assistant in a running shop. I had been running on Saucony Grid Shadows for the last year, but thought with the marathon looming ahead a new pair of shoes were in order.

The sales assistant made a great case for the Adrenalines. "They are amongst Brooks best selling models are for slight to moderate overpronators like myself and have good cushioning for heavier runners like you.". I thought they look quite good as well with a light mesh upper promising good ventilation.

My first run in them was an easy 9kms from home to work. This went reasonably well with the shoes feeling a bit hard. I had asked the guy in the shop about them feeling a bit hard, but he said that they would soften with a bit of time.

My second run was my Sunday Slow-long Run with this time was a 25km run up to Hamstead Health and back to a mates house in Maida Vale. This involved a variety of terrains including grass in Hyde Park, Payment running along the streets of London and hard parked trails in Hamstead Heath. It quickly became apparent as I clocked up the kilometres that I had bought the wrong pair of shoes. After about 5kms, I started to feel the terrain. Everything from sidewalk cracks to the odd piece of gravel to pebbles on the hardpacked trails could be felt through the sole of the shoe.

After my run, the ball of my feet were quite sore. Baffled after the sales pitch in the shop, I examined the shoes thoroughly. It turns out that the likely culprit are the gaps in the sole that are designed to make the soles more flexible. However, they also make the soles less protective and the balls of your feet more vulnerable.

I know I need a different pair of shoes and it's promising that the shop assistant has offered to investigate a solution. I hope it involves them exchanging them for another pair of Sauconys, but we'll just have to wait and see.

Does anyone have any recommendations on a well cushioned marathon running shoe that can handle more than just perfectly even terrain? I would be happy to hear your thoughts...

Posted by this ordinary life at 9:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Week 5

Weight: 93 kg
Percentage body fat: 27%
Classification: Obese
Resting heart rate: 46 bpm (Well, at least something is right)
Distance run: 41.3 km
Average Pace: 5:50
Distance cycled: 36 km
Distance swum: 0 km
No. of weight trainin sessions: 1
No. of training sessions: 9

Units of alcohol drunk: ca. 20 (This time it was a leaving party for a colleague at work)

Comment: Bought a new pair of running shoes, Brooks Adreneline GTS. The guy at the shop convinced me that they were amongst the best marathon running shoes on the moment; however, after 2 runs I disagree. Although they look the part, the soles don't have a continuous fubber layer, which means that any edge, rock or other uneven surface has the potential of bruising the ball of your foot. After a run through Hamstead Heath on hardpacked trails, my feet were butchered. The shop that I bought them at happen to be around the corner from my office and I will see what they say about this major shortcoming.

On another note, the left knee is still sore. Let's see if more ice, warm towels and some ibuprophen will make a difference.

Posted by this ordinary life at 10:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)