Summary for 2014

Summary 2014

Running Stats for 2014

Sessions: 258

Distance: 520.39 km 

Run Time: 52 hours 08 minutes 17 seconds 

Calories Burned: 52329

Elevation Gain: 6024 m

Considering where I came from back in April I have come a long way, over 500 kilometres to be exact.

Back when I started I struggled to get to the corner without stopping or running painfully out of breath. Now I can run the complete mile around the block without a stop even including the 30 meter gain in St Andrews Road.

I was kind of thinking back then that if I could stretch myself at the end then a total of 500 or even 600 kilometres by the end of the year would be doable as that would be an average of 1.5/6 k per day, and that maybe I could even one day do better than 2 k a day and meet 700k at the end of the year. But with 4 months to go and a new goal of around 100 km per month then I could potentially crack 900 or at a stretch 1,000.

Who knows what and where I will end up, I would definitely like to go for broke but I have an unexpected operation (Cholecystectomy) due this month and I assume there will be a rest period for healing where I can only run lightly or not at all for a while. We'll see.

Day 255 - New Years Day - 4k in the sun

Been trying to avoid the hot sun by running mid morning, but each day that I have had to recently has been unavoidable, but not too bad with an afternoon breeze at least.

Ran down St Leonards to Mt Eden and to Balmoral with no stopping, then walked/ran in bursts up the hills, then down again to the lights and to Manukau Road, then in bursts from shade to shade to the Gas Station where I bought some ice creams for the kids just shy of the 3km mark, then ran the final kilometer and change home up Empire Road, running all the way but for the hill.

Distance: 4.02 km
Time: 24:18
Average Speed: 9.9 kph
Soundtrack: Audiobook - The Death Cure part 1

Day 254 - 12.5 km run in two halves

I had to go into the office to deal with DDOS that has been annoying us for the last week, and post some stuff about it during my Xmas/NY break. So I ran to the office stayed for a couple of hours then ran back.

6 k there and 6 k back. Slight differences on the routes but mostly running the whole way.

Distance: 12.47 km
Time: 81:06
Average Speed: 9.25 kph
Soundtrack: The Last 2 parts of the Scorch Trials Audiobook

Day 253 - short run only

After the bleeding nipple and intense heat of midsummer I did not fancy another 5 km or so considering the last week or so of running longer distances. Plus was very tired and not sleeping much at the moment.

Distance: 1.60
Time: 9:16
Average Speed: 10.3 kph
Soundtrack: The Scorch Trials Audiobook part 8.1

Day 252 - Injury Day - 5.4 k

Ran home form the water park and did pretty well running 95% of Dominion Road towards Mt Albert Road, only to discover exactly how much uphill there is on the way back along Mt Albert Road. Slowed down considerably there, looking at the splits there is an 11 kph speed on Dom Road, slowing down to 8-9 on the uphills and rising to 9-10 on the downhill end.

Also my first case of bleeding nipple.

Eewww.

The piercing was either rubbing or banging against my shirt and causing some discomfort about the 3km mark and I was running with a hand clamped to it for the last kilometer to stop the motion and keep it immobile.

I should have got a pic of the blood stains on the inside of my t-shirt but Max threw it in the wash immediately.

Distance: 5.39 km
Time: 34:47
Average Speed: 9.3 kph
Soundtrack: The Scorch Trials Audiobook part 7

Day 251 - Late entry but run was on time

I forgot to add the blog entry in before midnight but I went for a five km run at 5:30 going to the in-laws for a BBQ.

Harder going in the heat of summer and a reminder I need to run in overcast or very early weather to minimise heat sapping my energy levels and mental state.

However I managed to break the 500 km mark today and hit 100 km this month.

I took a picture of my shoes to show the wear and tear 500 km does.

Distance: 5.3 km
Time: 33:27
Average Speed: 9.5 kph
Soundtrack: The Scorch Trials Audiobook part 6.2

Day 250 - Yay for 250 days!

Day 250 and a few milestones all coming along today.

I am 3km from being 100km this month, and 4.5 km from being 500 km since I started.

Ran up Empire and the stopping started periodically from there in the heat of the midday sun and the bright sunshine it was hard to not give into the heat and weariness.

However still made a decent time.

Distance: 4.29 km
Time: 27:20
Average Speed: 9.4 kph
Soundtrack: The Scorch Trials Audiobook part 6.1

Day 249 - 5k run with 2.45 no stops at all!

Ran to the end of the road and paused a little to cross the road, then ran all the way up Empire Hill and down to Pah Road and then all way to Mt Albert Road with no stops at all, 2.45 km the longest unbroken run to date. Some small walks on Mt Albert heading up to Mt Eden and then a couple more stops and walking intersections only all the way to home.

Distance: 5.15 km
Time: 31:11
Average Speed: 9.9 kph
Soundtrack: The Scorch Trials Audiobook part 5 (second half)

Day 248 - 5.3 km - average in speed a bit of an effort

Not feeling it starting off, but I started to pick up after about 3 km and then it started to feel more like a good run. The hills are always the challenging bits but even the long stretch on Greenlane which is only slightly uphill felt like a chore. I did walk more than usual but only in short bursts.

After the park though it felt pretty good and after clearing the mailbox I even ran up the driveway to Mother-in-laws house.

Distance: 5.26 km
Time: 32:52
Average Speed: 9.6 kph
Soundtrack: The Scorch Trials Audiobook part 5

Day 247 - Long run with dry cough

Started out pretty slowly. Straight out of the gate at 7 a.m. not enough sleep beforehand I think. Loads of little stops on the way up St Andrews hill, but then settling into a good pace most of the way, walking the crossings only and running every block. Near Parnell though a dry cough settled in as well and made breathing and running harder but not impossible.

Twenty Kilometers more and I'll have run 500 k this year, so on average I need to run 3k a day to reach it by New Years Eve.

Distance: 6.5 km
Time: 41:55
Average Speed: 9.3 kph
Soundtrack: Audiobook - The Scorch Trials Part 3

Day 246 - 4 km mostly running

Ran up Empire, up Coronation mostly and then down hill all the way to Mt Albert, walked/ran to Mt Eden, crossed at the lights and then ran to animates, crossed back and then ran 95% of the way from there with occasional stops for short periods only and overall ran pretty efficiently.

Ran the same course as 3 days ago approx 30 seconds faster and in the mid morning vs late afternoon.

Distance: 4.16 km
Time: 26:01
Average Speed: 9.6 kph
Soundtrack: Faves Mix - Ending with Babylon - David Gray

Day 245 - A decent and fast run

Ran up Empire, all the way to Manukau and then to the Drive with only minimal traffic stops, ran up Balmoral to Fairview and walked maybe 50-70 metres up the steep hill then ran all the way home through the park.

Feel pretty good about the whole run, could have kept running if I had a desire to, which I did not of course.

Distance: 3.35 km
Time: 20:00
Average Speed: 10.0 kph
Soundtrack: Faves Mix ending with Times Like These - Foo Fighters

Day 244 - 4 km minimal stops in the hot sun

Ran up St Leonards, down St Andrews to Empire, up Empire Hill to Coronation(?) to Selwyn, slowed to a short walk for 20 feet then ran down Selwyn Hill to Buckley and all of Buckley to Mt Albert Road. Thats almost 2km non stop in the hot afternoon sun. Then walked 30 % ish of Mt Albert as it is all uphill and uneven and then 95% of Mt Eden Road, stopped at the Dairy for ice blocks and sugar free drinks at the small dairy then ran the rest of the way home.

Distance: 4.04 km
Time: 26:23
Average Speed: 9.2 kph
Soundtrack: The Scorch Trials Audiobook pt 2

Day 243 - Round the block

Got around the block in the rain today quite quickly though I was consciously taking it slow and this time listening to an audiobook instead of music to see how that worked. I find that when my mind wanders I do better and do not think about time or pacing or weariness.

Distance: 1.6 km
Time: 8:54
Average Speed: 10.5
Soundtrack: The Scorch Trials Audiobook (Part 2)

Day 242 - 2.8 km in 15 minutes

Not sure of all the details today as I forgot my phone and so logged it manually using the fitbit, googlemaps and a vague timeline.

Distance: 2.8 km
Time: 15:00 ish minutes
Average Speed: 11 ish kph or better
Soundtrack: Nothing

Day 241 - Ranfurly Road - seems much shorter than ever

Ran 2.5 km as I was running out of time to get ready for the Xmas party, so ran gentle with very little warm up. However made good time and only managed one stop apart from Intersections, and that was on the steep climb of Onslow Ave.

Distance: 2.45 km
Time: 14:27
Average Speed: 10.2 kph
Soundtrack: Faves Mix ending on Lit Up - The National

Day 240 - 6km best time from work

Was going to run from Ranfurly Road given the bad weather, but with 3 fire engines blocking the way on Parnell Road I decided it was easier to run and see how far I got, as I can always catch the bus from Newmarket. However I was doing pretty well I thought and there were periods of time when I became a machine, my mind switched tracks and I just ran without thinking, which over this distance was a good, if not great, thing.

Raining but bearable and possibly helpful.

Ran best time yet over the 6 km, each time I ran this course recently has resulted in a one minute improvement each time. I ran all the streets and walked maybe half of the intersections, pausing for lights and traffic only.

I have also started doing more stretches in whatever down time there is at crossings, waiting times.

Distance: 6.13 km
Time: 38:28
Average Speed: 9.6 kph
Soundtrack: Full Catalog Shuffle - ending on Information Overload by Living Colour

Day 239 - 3.2 km Run in two halves

Needed to get blood drawn for tests this week so took the bus to Balmoral Road and then ran to Labtests on Manukau Road, 1.5 kms away. Did the blood draw and then ran from there to home, a further 1.8 km.

Distance: 3.2km total
Time: 19:00 ish total
Average Speed: 10 kph ish
Soundtrack: Faves Mix ending on God Is A Dj - P!nk

Day 238 - Shattered

Had a terrible night with little sleep and not much to eat during the day. So when I ran today I was tired and exhausted before I even set out. I managed a run from Ranfurly Road and did an ok pace but the whole thing was hard work.

I woke up with chest pains at 1 a.m. and had trouble getting back to sleep, I thought back on the 24th May when I last mentioned the same symptom that I thought I had pulled a muscle, this time I assumed not and went for a check up.

Ultrasound on Friday, no need to stop running as it's probably Gall Stones and a need to reduce fat from my diet.

Distance: 2.47 km
Time: 14:44
Average Speed: 10.1 kph
Soundtrack: Faves Mix

Day 237 - 5.3 km hardly any stops

Did pretty well considering rubbish weather rain and wind. Ran the whole way to in-laws for lunch, walked twice apart from intersections and at the end ran all the way up the steep grade driveway to the house without stopping.

Distance: 5.28 km
Time: 33:12
Average Speed: 9.5 kph
Soundtrack: Nothing Has Changed - David Bowie pending with Under Pressure

Day 236 - a light but fast run

Today not feeling great and very tired so decided to whip round the shop to get the kids an ice cream and mix the run into that like I used to a few weeks/months ago before I started stepping up the distance.

Ran all the way to the Dairy - just over a kilometer without stopping including the burn of running the steep part of St A's. At the dairy for less than 3 minutes then ran home as fast as I could while carrying and without exhausting myself.

Distance: 1.57 km
Time: 8:48
Average Speed: 10.7 kph
Soundtrack: (partial)Happy - Pharrell/ Everlasting Love - U2/The Truth About Love - P!nk (partial)

Day 235 - another 6 km

Another run all the way home from the office, which makes 22 km this week alone. Ran up Parnell Road and stopped a few times, after this it was intersections and lights only, everything else was running.

Came in the same distance but GPS took 100 meters off it and yet I did the same course as a few days ago roughly a minute faster. Also ran all the way up Onslow Ave despite the hill as I was determined to beat the time.

Distance: 6.18 km
Time: 39:44
Average Speed: 9.3 kph
Soundtrack: Faves Mix - ending with Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For - U2

Day 234 - From Domett Ave to home - 3 km

Only walking intersections and two-three times on the hill of Onslow, which is a bit of a barrier mentally.

But overall a god run and not feeling wiped out.

Distance: 2.82 km
Time: 16:59
Average Speed: 9.9 kph
Soundtrack: Faves ending with Lit Up - The National

Day 233 - Longest Run Yet

Ran home from the office, just over 6 km. Stopping for walks on the two big hills Parnell Road and Onslow Ave, the rest was 98% running as I only walked the intersections. Deliberately slower pace but still made a decent time, in the longest distance in the best time.

Distance: 6.26 km
Time: 40:18
Average Speed: 9.3 kph
Soundtrack: Faves Mix, Ending with Slut Like You - P!nk (x2)

Day 232 - 3 km run through Domain, new best time

Ran up through the Domain again but must have been making good time as I too about a minute of my previous time through the same course, loads of walks/stops on the way up and hardly any on the way down.

I did get passed by some ultra fit looking dude with legs for Africa, running at maybe 11 or 12 kph by the way he sped past me in the domain.

Distance: 3.03 km
Time: 19:36
Average Speed: 9.6 kph
Soundtrack: Faves Mix

Day 231 - Run 4 km - intersections and 2 walks

Took more of a measured approach, pausing at intersections and waiting for traffic a lot as the side streets were very busy today, but the long-story-short of that being I only stopped running twice when not on a crossing and that was at the final hill climb only.

Distance: 3.84 km
Time: 24:00
Average Speed: 9.6 kph
Soundtrack: Faves Mix ending on Trembling Hands.

Day 230 - 4 km run to lunch at in laws

Ran from Mt Eden to Greenlane, 4 km by Google Maps though only 3.8 on the GPS. Took a few small walks on the steep hill parts but otherwise only walked the intersections and road crossings, ran the rest so maybe 98% of the way running.

Distance: 3.79 km
Time: 23:03
Average Speed: 9.8 kph
Soundtrack: Faves Mix - ending on Would I Lie To You - Eurythmics

Day 229 - 2x runs 3.93 km total

Max asked me to run to BK (approx. 2 kms away) to get some cheeseburgers for the kids, so I ran there almost no stops except intersections, though starting off was hard and I walked a short section of both hills to the top of Onslow.

Stopped at BK and ordered food, downed a regular Coke Zero and sweating like a pig, the girl behind the counter looked at me like I needed an ambulance, but it is hot and sunny out and I was sweating and out of breath.

Packed away food and drinks (juice bottles) into backpack and ran back home, running again 95% of the way only stopping for intersections and lights.

Made good time.

Totals:

Distance: 3.93 km
Time: 23:13
Average Speed: 10.3 kph
Soundtrack: Faves Mix ending with Lit up - The National

Day 228 - 3 km - better than yesterday

Ran a little further this time, adding some 200 odd meters at the start of the course to see what else is in Carlaw Park Ave.

Ran up through the Domain and stopped to walk fewer times than yesterday, ran for longer stretches and ran quicker and better than yesterday's effort.

Distance: 3.01 km
Time: 20:06
Average Speed: 9.0 kph
Soundtrack: Faves Mix ending with Every Breath You Take - The Police

Day 227 - Run to Domain and back down Parnell Road

Hard work running up the Domain, so many uphill stretches that are long inclines rather than steep hills. Ran to the top of the Domain where it meets Ayr Road(/Street?) and then along Parnell Road until it hit the Hill section downwards to the office. Stopped a few times on the way up as it was heavy going, and then only intersections, and not every one of them on the way down.

Slower than average but the hill climb probably had a lot to do with that.

Distance: 2.86 km
Time: 20:34
Average Speed: 8.3 kph
Soundtrack: Faves Mix - ending with The Hives - Hate To Say I Told You So

Day 226 - Mairangi Bay to Campbells Bay and Back

On the school trip during the Sun Smart lecture (which I have been through before on the previous school trip) I decided to run up the beach, but it was not as long as I thought it might be. So in bare feet I ran south/east from Mairangi Bay along what turned out to be a stone path along the cliffs which hurt the soles of my feet and when I got to the other end and turned around my calf started pinging.

I had a rest and stretched it out, and ran slowly back to where I started.

No Music, No Shoes, On Sand for 40% ish...

Distance: 1.46 km
Time: 8:59
Average Speed: 9.7 kph
Soundtrack: Silence

Day 225 - Run 2.5 km - Running 95% of the way

Ran from Ranfurly Road, in the hot sun but Ran the majority of the way only walking the intersections and the lights.

The hill section of Onslow Ave a little tough but all in all a good pace in the heat and light.

Distance: 2.51 km
Time: 15 21
Average Speed: 9.8 kph
Soundtrack: Faves Mix - ending with Borderlines and Aliens - Grouplove