Tag: running

Do you Run to a Routine?

Do you Run to a Routine?

by TartanJogger ♥ 26 Comments

I do. But then, I really like routine and knowing what is coming next. For those of you who like management-speak, I’m a typical Myers-Briggs ISTJ. I’ll bet you’ve worked that out by now!

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I’m not much of a weekday morning runner. I’d really like to be, I know it would set me up for the day, and I’d feel really smug! But the thought of getting up early instead of squeezing out the last 20 minutes of sleep in my cosy bed it just too difficult for me.

So, I head off to work, and think about my run, before home time comes around. Then, I head home, get changed into my running gear and get out there. If I hesitated too much, or get caught up in other things, it probably wouldn’t always happen. After I’m done, I shower, download my GPS info, and have the evening to myself, which is great.

If I’m home at the weekend, I usually have a light breakfast, then head out for my run early to mid morning, knowing that I’ll have the rest of the weekend for chores, shopping, relaxing, going for walks, coffee, etc.

Recently, I’ve been thinking about mixing things up a little.

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When it comes to race days, it usually involves an early morning start, which throws my routine. With a few halves coming up, and my first marathon looming on the horizon, I think I might benefit from changing my training, to help get used to the early rises. But, I’m struggling to make a start, and commit to a change! At the moment, I’ll probably continue to toy with the idea until after the wedding, and look to make changes then.

Have you ever changed up your running routine? How did it go? Did you stick to it, or change back?

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Wednesday Wisdom

by TartanJogger ♥ 6 Comments

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It’s almost time for The Around the World Running Blog Relay 2014. Who’s in? Keep an eye on Motivation‘s fab blog for more updates: I’ll be trying to help out, and trying to keep you motivated during the challenge! 🙂

Thursday’s Training Update

Thursday’s Training Update

by TartanJogger ♥ 25 Comments

Hi everyone! It’s the weekend for me, as I’m off Friday and Monday, soooo it’s vino night tonight!

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I thought I’d give you an update on my Hal Higdon half marathon training. The main headline is: it’s going great!

I think that the plan is really suiting my running style, but it is early days. Last week – week one – was a 3 miler on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, a four mile ‘long’ run on Saturday and cross training on Sunday. This week is similar: a 3 miler on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, a five mile ‘long’ run on Saturday and cross training on Sunday. So far, so good, but it has ten weeks to go.

It feels great at the moment!

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I did my three miles tonight on the treadmill, in my new trainers. All will be revealed soon, in a later post! 😉

Something I’ve been trying to do is to post my training runs on Instagram, so prepare to be bored, if you follow me there.

I’m struggling to figure out how to fit in my five miler this weekend. You see, I’m off on my Hen Weekend, to Alton Towers, and I can’t wait!

Do you think that walking around the theme park, queueing and screaming while riding roller coasters could count as cross training?

Have a fab weekend, everyone!

GNR: I’m in!

GNR: I’m in!

by TartanJogger ♥ 20 Comments

Well, the title of this post kinda gives the game away! I’m doing a very happy dance, as I’m in! I secured a place in the Great North Run! Squeeeeeeeeee!

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It’s one of those races that I watch on TV every year, and wish I was participating. And this year, I will be!

I think I’m right in saying that the Great North Run is the world’s biggest Half Marathon (correct me, or back me up on this, please!), and this year, the one millionth participant will cross the finish  line. Secretly, I’ll be running and pretending that it’s me 😉

It’s on Sunday, 7th September, and since that’s about seven weeks before my first full marathon, I thought it would fit in nicely with my training. I may have to tag on a couple of miles at the end, but that should be ok 😉

Unfortunately, @TheWelshWookie didn’t secure a place 😦 so, I’ll be running myself.

But I can’t help but be excited!

For anyone who has run it before, any tips?

Music for Running and Marrying

Music for Running and Marrying

by TartanJogger ♥ 17 Comments

To me, music is really, very important.

When I run, I listen to music most of the time. Sometimes, I’ll listen to a podcast, but mostly, I’ll have on my running playlist that consists of all kinds of upbeat tunes, from the 60’s to right now, from Motown to Dance mixes.

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My taste is eclectic 😉

In the early days of my blog, I used to post a song each day that played when I ran or worked out. Not sure why I stopped that.

I’ve recently bought Audio Fuel, which I plan to use with my marathon training. I’ve used it twice, and it seems really good for long runs.

In the car, I listen to the radio. In the bath, I have my iPod plugged into the speaker. We have iPod docks and speakers all over the house.

Am I painting a clear picture here?

Today, @TheWelshWookie and I have been looking through music and hymns we could use for our wedding. We’ve been belting out hymns, and putting traditional (and not-so-traditional) procession music up on the TV using YouTube and Apple TV. It’s been fun!

Have we decided on our church music yet? Have we heck!

We do have an iPod playlist for background music during the meal, and we have another playlist for partying either into the wee small hours, or the day after the wedding: it’s packed with floor fillers and family favourites. We’ve had our first dance song picked for ten years!

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But the hardest music to choose is striking the balance between hymns and music we like, that our guests will know and will be able to sing along with: hymns that are upbeat enough, wedding-appropriate AND set the right scene.

Hmmmm! It’s a taller order than I thought! Any suggestions?

Commonwealth Games Marathon

Commonwealth Games Marathon

by TartanJogger ♥ 2 Comments

Many of you will remember my post last year, when I excitedly announced that I had secured tickets for judo and for athletics, including the 10k, at the Commonwealth Games being hosted in Glasgow this summer.

I’m really looking forward to it!

Yesterday, the marathon route was announced, and I’m so excited by it! There are some great vantage points along the route, and it covers loads of roads I’ve run along before!

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It begins in Glasgow Green, which is where I ran the MoRun back in November, and is also the finish for the Great Scottish Run too.

It then heads out along the River Clyde to the SECC and The Hydro, and over the Squinty Bridge which is also part of the GSR route.

Next, the route goes through Bellahouston and Pollok Parks, which is part of the route for the Glasgow Women’s 10k which I didn’t run in 2013, but I have run it 4 times before, and it’s over 10 years since my first one!

The route then follows the old GSR route back through Glasgow’s south side, and back into Glasgow Green. It’s a great route!
I now have a few months to work out where I’ll spectate from 😀

Meanwhile, the first week of half marathon training has gone well. I got in a slow 4 miler today, the first of my ‘long’ runs, I know they’re just going to build from there. Mileage for this week: 13 miles. Bring on week two!

In wedding news, it’s my hen weekend next weekend, and I can’t wait! 🙂 It’s now less than 9 weeks until the big day!

Do you have a long run (or a not-so-long run, like me) planned this weekend?

Ramp up the Red

Ramp up the Red

by TartanJogger ♥ 14 Comments

Today, it’s Ramp up the Red Day, in support of the British Heart Foundation
The aim is to encourage people to wear red and raise awareness (and raise money) for BHF and heart disease, and how if affects people from all walks of life.
I was working today, and we were supporting the campaign in work, so I busted out my red top, red beads, shiny patent red shoes, red Modalu handbag AND red coat. Too much? 😉

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@TheWelshWookie was also dressed in red, as his work was supporting the event too.
In other news, I’m about to settle down to watch the opening of the Sochi Olympics- I wonder how it will compare to Danny Boyle’s London spectacular?
Happy Friday, all! Are you planning on watching much of the Winter Olympics?

Indoors and Outdoors

Indoors and Outdoors

by TartanJogger ♥ 36 Comments

The training is under way again, and after a couple of months of just running when I felt like it, and for as long or as short as I wanted, I’m surprised at how easily I’ve fallen back into the schedule!

I’ve always liked routine, so I suppose I shouldn’t really be surprised. Structure works for me 😉

Last night, I mixed it up a little, and did my three miler on the treadmill.

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I watched the latest episode of The Following while I ran, and that helped the minutes to fly by. Turns out my teenage crush on Kevin Bacon is still there…. 😉

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I also did some weights, as the show hadn’t finished by the time my run was done. I’m sticking to my plan like glue!

Tonight, it was great to get outside and run. I really, really enjoyed it. It felt great after yesterday’s cooped up run. Unusually, it was both dry AND still daylight when we headed out, but the light faded fast at the end of the run.

Here’s the view over the harbour at the end of my three miler, which is a little blurry: sorry about that! 🙂

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Tomorrow’s a rest day, and I suspect that I’ll be itching to get out again come Saturday!

Are you training right now? How’s it going for you?