Day 286 - a much better mile no stops!

Ran around the block, going back to my original route, trying to build myself up again, but I found once I hit the steep part of St A's I was already halfway up it and just kept going, then it's all downhill to Mt Eden Road, all downhill to St L's and then... well then I'm almost there so I keep running.

Distance: 1.63 km
Time: 9:09
Average Speed: 10.7 kph
Soundtrack: Hate To Say I Told You So - The Hives/Would I Lie To You - Eurythmics/Cult of Personality - Living Colour (barely the start)

Day 285 - hard mile

So having rested another 4 days or so I went for a short run.

400 meters and stopped.

600 meters and stopped.

400 meters and stopped.

400 meters and stopped.

Picked up dinner and then walked home.

Distance: 1.8 km
Time: 11:16
Average Speed: 9.5 kph
Soundtrack: Faves Mix ending with Tonight, Tonight - Genesis

Day 284 - Last rest day

I hope.

Tomorrow it's the weekend and I'll try a quiet mile again, back where I started 9 months ago.

This is what a recovery from an op looks like.

You can see me running daily, and hitting well over 10,000 steps a day until the operation and then very slow the first week, gradually building up steam the second week and then today (since it's very early in the day).

Hopefully if I can manage a daily run again from tomorrow I'll be back to running 3-4 k a day again.

Day 283 - Another rest day.

The hole in my side was giving me pain again overnight and I got little sleep, so I took the day at home to rest and will take it easy for 3-4 more days.

There's not any point in rushing back to it if it hurts, so I'll wait until the weekend perhaps.

Day 282 - Back to resting

The incision on my left side is hurting now the support of the dressings and bandages have been removed and running, but not walking, is uncomfortable.

So I am going to leave it for a few more days until the weekend and then pick it up again and see how it feels then.

The doctor suggested if it was hurting - don't do it (duh) - but also that around day 10 (which should be Friday/Saturday) I should be good to go fully.

Day 281 - 1st Day back - 1 km slow start

Doctor's visit resulted in dressings being removed and me being cleared for light exercise, lifting etc....

So later in the evening after a late afternoon sleep I went for a small run, but almost immediately started getting pain in the scar on my right side, but none anywhere else.

With a little bit of pressure that went away, but I did have to run holding my side for a way.

So I ran to the end of the street and then back down again, making a 1 km loop on my street only.

I may need to bandage the incision on my side to hold it a bit tighter while getting back up to speed.

Distance: 1.07 km
Time: 6:36
Average Speed: 9.7
Soundtrack: I Hate To Say I Told You So - The Hives & Morning Song - The Avett Brothers

Day 280 - 7th Day post recovery

Last run I had was a week ago today and I am feeling like it's time for a light run maybe tomorrow evening if the doctor clears me after the dressings come off and am not in any danger of ripping or tearing etc...

I would think I will ease myself back into it, I have maybe 4 or 5 days to reach 100 for the month, even though that figure is arbitrary.

Day 279 - Post Op Day 6

It'll be a week on Tuesday but I'm counting Day Zero I guess.

Still tired and a bit weary but lasting through the day a bit better each day.

Gagging for a run, feel stagnant.

Day 278 - Day 5 Recovery Post Operative

I'm really itching to get out for a run and the wounds from surgery are healing nicely, I managed to walk a couple of hundred meters in the heat of the day getting ice creams for the kids and that is enough for now.

Still sleeping 3 or 4 times a day and thankful that I have two more days off before work and seeing the surgeon again on Tuesday hopefully for an all clear.

Day 277 - Day 4 of Recovery

Referred pain has gone and I am still sleeping way too much, but at least I'm healing.

Despite never having been a fan of running I miss it quite a lot and am gagging to go for even a light run around the block would be fine.

We'll see what the Doctor says on Tuesday.

Day 276 - 3rd Day of post op recovery

So no much to report other than not moving much.

When normally running every day I crack 10,000 steps on the Fitbit but these days I do maybe 2,000 - 3,000 steps and just take it easy, a few naps each day too.

Back on the block next week if the surgeon clears me for a light run.

Day 275 - Second Day no running

First day post surgery and still bound up with dressings and TBH am tapped out and very tired, so even if it were ok to run a little, I would not get far.

Maybe this time next week when the dressings are removed and stitches pulled out/dissolved.

Day 274 - Surgery Day

Cholecystectonmy.

No running for a week until the dressings come off and am cleared by the Doctor.

This was yesterday, posted today

Day 273 - Longest unbroken run and fastest 4km

Despite my horrendous run yesterday, I cracked through it today and ran from Okahu Bay Boatyard through to the end of Mission Bay without stopping, some 3.2 km then had a 30 second or so rest and then ran the final kilometer with two more stops and got into Kohimarama Beach and the 4 km mark at 22 minutes which beats my fastest time by over a minute and a steady 11 km pace.

Fortunately it was quite overcast and shady, not too hot and running in one direction rather than running one way and then back again like last time.

Distance: 4.16 km
Time: 22:29
Average Speed: 11.1 kph
Soundtrack: Faves Mix ending with Lit Up - The National

Day 272 - Painful and Slow 3km

About 1 km I slowed down and was a bit tired, I assumed because it was late in the day and the dinner I had eaten an hour before. About 1.5 km I became short of breath and not long after that I was getting chest pains.

Gallstone attack, and severe compared to the more milder indigestion versions. I tried walking and bending over and running and not one of them made any difference, I ran/walked the slowest pace I have done in over 6 months and was in tears at one point.

Unpleasant.

It started subsiding a few hundred meters from home but it was still painful for maybe 10 more minutes after I got home.

2 more days and I'll be having surgery to remove them and I will have to stop running for a few days while I heal, but it will be worth to never have that happen again.

Distance: 3.09 km
Time: 21:38
Average Speed: 8.6 kph
Soundtrack: Faves Mix ending with Fix You - Coldplay (Irony Much).

Day 271 - 4 km great performance

A great run today, ran to Empire, up and over to Manukau, then to Balmoral, to the Drive and to Onslow before stopping (except a few seconds here and there for cars), walked maybe 10 metres and then ran all the way up Onslow to Watling and all the way to Mt Eden Road, walked across the road and then ran to the dairy - paused for a minute to buy something for home then ran the last half a kilometre unbroken as well.

Distance: 3.84 km (closer to 4 but GPS was playing up)
Time: 22:09
Average Speed: 10.4 kph
Soundtrack: Faves Mix ending with Borderlines and Aliens - Grouplove

Day 270 - 6 km to work - good start - fading at the end

Ran from halfway up the street as the GPS was not finding a signal for ages which was irritating at the start, but then I ran all the way to Balmoral/Greenlane with now stops, waited at the lights and then got to just short of Ranfurly with no stops, and after that only intersections with one exception.

However was feeling very tired and a little nauseous around the 4 km mark - possibly due to low blood sugar or lack of sleep or energy or some such thing.

Made it to work in less than 40 minutes running though.

Distance: 6.26 km
Time: 38:31
Average Speed: 9.8 kph
Soundtrack: Symphonica - George Michael

Day 269 - Run to work - running between intersections

Was not feeling as energetic today as I was two days ago so I decided early on to walk all the intersections starting in St Andrews and then pretty much all of them except the Drive and the ones on Parnell Road. Overall I was only about a minute slower than 2 days ago but juts as knackered at work.

Distance: 6.21 km
Time: 38:17
Average Speed: 9.7 kph
Soundtrack: Faves Mix ending with Invisible Touch - Genesis

Day 268 - 2 runs early on

Slept in after the kids kept me up in the middle of the night and got a lift to the supermarket on the way to work. From there ran the 2.3 km to the office only stopping at the lights or for cars crossing in front of me. Got to work and got asked to go clear the mail as the Office Manager was not feeling great so I set off for a second run up Parnell Road and back again to add a second 1.26 km.

Distance 1: 2.27 km
Time: 12:25
Average Speed: 11 kph
Soundtrack: Faves Mix ending with Get Lucky - Daft Punk

Distance 2: 1.26 km
Time: 7:21
Average Speed: 10.3 kph
Soundtrack: Faves Mix ending with Mysterious Ways - U2

Day 267 - 6 km run to work best time

Got up at 5:55 and left the house at 6:35 and was at work by 7:15 ish.

6 kilometers and apart from lights got to about 3 km without breaking for rests or walks. Felt pretty good up until about Bracken Ave which was about 2.8 km and then slowed after Domett.

Still made it to work in the best time by over a minute.

Worst part was when a guy maybe half my age blew past me around the 4.5 km mark and I felt like stopping and walking as he accelerated away.

Distance: 6.24 km
Time: 37:51
Average Speed: 9.9 kph
Soundtrack: Faves Mix ending with My Body Is A Cage - Arcade Fire

Day 266 - another great run - 4 km 3 stops

Today got to just over 2 km without stopping which was pretty awesome and had it not been the hilly part of Mt Albert Road I could have kept running on.

After Rowan Road I walked twice on Mt Albert and then twice on Mt Eden Road, making this 4 stops/walks being the least amount I think I have ever done on this 4 km hilly circuit.

One week from today I will be taking an enforced break due to laparoscopic surgery and the time need to heal (a week to 10 days). Though I am encouraged to walk every day.

So during the healing period I will walk what I would normally run to at least keep the rhythm going.

Distance: 4.13 km
Time: 24:29
Average Speed: 10.1 kph
Soundtrack: Faves Mix ending with Trembling Hands - The Temper Trap

Day 265 - 2.3 kms unbroken - stupid car

I had been on track for running the entire 3 km unbroken when I crossed the road, just as a car approached, I went to run behind it - keeping momentum when it stopped and pulled a 4 or 5 point turn.

Wasted 29 seconds waiting for this idiot in an empty road pulling a 4 or 5 point turn right in front of me.

Despite that break I was 2.3 km into a 3.26 km run and I was set to run it unbroken.

Wanker.

There was so much room he could have done a bloody u turn, but no he had to stop right in front of the runner obviously trying to cross the road.

Bah.

Distance: 3.26 km
Time: 18:44
Average Speed: 10.4 kph
Soundtrack: Avett Brothers- Morning Song/Grouplove - Biting the Bullet/Get Lucky - Daft Punk/Pearl's Girl - Underworld

Day 264 - 4 km with a 2km unbroken start

Ran St L's to St A's, Empire, Coronation, Selwyn, Buckley, Mt Albert all the way to Rowan Road without any stops or walks at all, not even road/traffic. That was at 2.06 km and the steep part of Mt Albert Road.

I swear the sun is out to get me though, when I left the house it was overcast and had just been raining lightly, then less than 1 km later the sun is blazing until about 100 meters from my house again.

Gah!

Distance: 4.13 km
Time: 24:32
Average Speed: 10.1 kph
Soundtrack: Faves Mix - ending with Land Of Confusion - Genesis.

Day 263 - 2.5 km mostly running despite the heat

Today I am pushed for time and I should have gotten out early when it was overcast but wanted a sleep in more. Then we went out for the middle of the day with the kids, I am supposed to be out for a drink with friends tonight so it fell to running in the middle of the afternoon in the blazing sun.

I was just going to run around the block but instead I kept going as it clouded over and I thought 1 mile was too lightweight.

In the end I ran up towards Balmoral in a zigzag and then back down Mt Eden Road stopping at the Dairy for ice blocks for the kids. Not sure but I think I only stopped twice and waited for traffic twice.

Distance: 2.43 km
Time: 14:08
Average Speed: 10.3 kph
Soundtrack: Faves Mix ending with Lanterns - Birds of Tokyo

Day 262 - 4 km wandering route - with bad leg

Ran all over the place today - when I set out it was overcast but the sun came out whenever I hit a hill or extended uncovered spots. Then my calf started giving me trouble and I walked more than I have in ages, until it subsided and then I was good to run again, just as I gt home it went overcast again, typical!

Distance: 3.96 km
Time: 24:38
Average Speed: 9.5 kph
Soundtrack: Faves Mix ending with Monkey Wrench - Foo Fighters

Day 261 - Royal Oak in the sun

So there were many more stops/walks than yesterday but also went a new route, was more tired and had more junk in my system too. Had a day of eating crap and snacking all day, which also made it's way to the movie The Fast And The Furious - also more junk.

The sun was out not long before halfway which made the Mt Albert climb even harder.

But still ran over 90% of the way.

Distance: 5.80 km
Time: 36:18
Average Speed: 9.6 kph
Soundtrack: Faves Mix ending with God Is A DJ - P!nk

Day 260 - 5km evening sun 2.5 no stops

First 2.5 km no stops except avoiding cars, then harder work running up Mt Albert Road into the sun and up hill, then along Mt Eden Road. Looking into the sun I did not see a car coming towards me until the blinker made itself seen through the glare, sped up and avoided easily but still gave me a fright.

Made ok time but the seconds half was maybe 5-10% walking, did better towards the end.

Home stretch I guess.

Also started singing along with the music, or maybe panting out the lyrics, which helped keep my mind off the task at hand and kept me running.

Distance: 5.12 km
Time: 31:21
Average Speed: 9.8 kph
Soundtrack: Faves Mix ending with Careless Memories - Duran Duran.

Day 259 - Running the round the bays practice

Nowhere near ready enough for the Round the Bays - I mean I could do it like 90% of the people who walk/run but I'd quite like to run the length as much as possible.

Ran from Kohimarama Beach back to Kelly Tarlton's - hoping to reach the 4 km mark but the sun wiped me out and I was tired - ran 2km without stopping but then it was walk/run 20%/80%or maybe better but hard to know for sure.

Distance: 6.14 km
Time: 37:21
Average Speed: 9.8 kph
Soundtrack: Faves Mix

Day 258 - 4k running hard out to Queen

Ran 2 km without a break the first 600-700 odd meters uphill. Ran to ST A's, up Empire, up Coronation, down Selwyn, down Buckley, up Mt Albert to Hillsborough Road before I had a rest/walk.

Ran the rest of the way up Mt Albert road as much as possible and then ran over half Mt Eden Road bouncing to Crazy Little Thing Called Love - which it is impossible to not bounce to.

Right Calf started pinging again but little stops and a slower pace put that to rest. Also it's very hard to not run like Rocky with your arms extended skywards to We Are The Champions.

Distance: 4.02 km
Time: 24:30
Average Speed: 9.8 kph
Soundtrack: Queen Greatest Hits I & II & III

Day 257 - 6 km hard work

Ran to the Dairy on an errand and then the rest of the way to the in-laws for dinner, making a 5km trip a 6 km trip. Hard work in the late afternoon though, loads of little stops and walks before running again, also my right calf felt like giving out a few times.

Distance: 6.00 km
Time: 38:00
Average Speed: 9.5 kph
Soundtrack: Audiobook - The Death Cure.

Day 256 - 2km in the shade 2k in the sun - great time posted

I ran Up my own Road to the end and waited for a car to pass then settled into a run all the way up Empire and then Coronation, down Selwyn and Buckley all the way to Mt Albert Road where it meets Hillsborough Road before I walked at all. Then the hilly parts of Mt Albert are quite steep so I walked a quarter or less of that part and then ran 95% of Mt Eden Road, though stopped a few times to walk in the shadier spots as the sun was out in force, however I pushed myself to run further and longer and then apart from a small stitch just before home did not stop on the down hill final kilometer.

Switched from the Audiobook I had been listening to back to music and found that especially on the first few kms this made quite a difference.

Distance: 4.13 km
Time: 23:31
Average Speed: 10.5 kph
Soundtrack: David Bowie - Nothing Has Changed (Modern Love, Young Americans (x2), Fashion, Heroes, Jump They Say, Sound and Vision)