Here we the night before the Great South Run, I feel so great about tomorrow I have no nerves and I am so excited (I never get this excited about anything anymore) I have done the best training I could do in the time span that I had taking into account the couple of injuries I have had along the way, I am ready for the run and I never in my wildest dreams thought I could be this ready.
My weight this morning was 103.2kg I am the same weight as I have been for the last two months which I am comfortable with as the build up for the run was paramount. If I'm honest I would have loved to have been 15 stone for the run,but that's not meant to be, On the flip side the training went far better than I imagined so these two things even themselves out quite nicely.
My early fitness training started on the x-box fitness way before I thought about the Great South Run and running in general this gave me a better level to start from than doing nothing before the Great South Run, all my training details from the x-box are on earlier blogs so I won't bore you with the details. I will bore you with my running details, I started off on the 14th May 2011 just walking 5 miles then I progressed jogging for one minute then walking then on improving that by using parking meters and lamp post's to increase the jogging, I can now run (important to note slowly) for 47/48 minutes which is just mind blowing in 4 short months. I have gone out training on 38 occasions I have put 181 miles into my legs and built up the stamina to improve my times and I have burnt off 24,693 calories in the process.
I am not going to set a time as I have never experienced running an event like this, my aim remain's the same as when I entered the Great South Run to complete the run for my own personal satisfaction, what I can tell you is that I will know if I did myself justice at the end of the run and the time will make no differance to that, I will tell you how it went and I will as always be honest about it.
I am so looking forward to meeting everyone who will be starting the race with me, some of them are nervous, that's what I should be, remember you all helped me get to the start line I'm just so grateful you are there with me to enjoy the greatest ever achivement that I will have completed in my whole life and I will do it with a smile (girmace is the same as a smile) on my face.
Information details for anybody interested are Facebook: Darin McCloud Twitter: unitedarinm Blog: http://www.blogger.com/home Just Giving webpage: http://www.justgiving.com/Darin-McCloud Just Giving text: Text SLIM65 £5 to 70070 (any amount where £5 goes) Slimpod: http://www.thinkingslimmer.com/
Its never to late to sponsor me my account will stay open as I plan to do other runs in the future I am raising money for Diabetes UK and every pound that is raised will help make a difference so if you could give just a little it would be great.
This is my journey to lose weight the natural way after all the negative publicity.Thank god there are good people out there to help people like me.
Saturday, 29 October 2011
Sunday, 23 October 2011
Week Thirty Five
One week to go and I feel so great about the last week and even better about the week ahead. Here's something I really did not expect to say, so I will say it loudly "I AM READY" just a couple more training runs,last one on Thursday morning than a nice massage as a reward for my body and more so my legs, my legs and I have not always been on the the same page but we have got through this together.
I have done five runs this week and these are the blogs for each one.
Monday 17th Cloudy cool, I will call this the 1st of my training runs in the run down to run day,these runs are solely to keep me ticking over until run day. Legs felt heavy the plan is these runs will help my legs by running shorter runs more often. Today Steve Harris from BBC Radio Solent came out for a run we did an interview on the way round as well. I was the one panting after Steve asked a question. It was good to meet him at last and Thank You for running me.
Wednesday 19th Cold clear sky dark, Had a run with Caroline And Vic it is amazing how well they have both come on,it was great to run with them its a shame its the last one before the race. Till race day go Team thinking Slimmer.
Friday 21st Cloudy cool This run was not good maybe reading the Great South Book that arrived and talking of tapered runs messed my head up a little I'm not sure, the run time was tapered as you can see although that was not the plan when I started the run.
Saturday 22nd Light cloud Blue sky cold not bitter.Got up this morning and decided on a run just because yesterdays was disappointing so glad I did What a difference 12 hours make Run the whole distance at a steady pace,I have my mojo back feel so much better than last night about the Great South Run. Its just so frustrating being up and down but its the way it seems.
Sunday 23rd Cool dry sunny,Last Powerade Run also 3rd run in 3 days well please with run and time. Thanks to Georgina and all at Runnersneed for your support its been awesome.
I think most people will always say they wish they could have trained more, and for a while I thought I was behind on my training the reason for this was for injuries and not because I could not be bothered to go out for a run, this was an excellent learning experience and taught me the value of quality rest as part of the training process.
I set out at the start to complete the Great South Run and as the run draws nearer this is still my mission to complete this course, I will not put a time on this because this is not about the time in any way shape or form, what I will tell you after the race is how well I did in completing the run and did the training work, as always I will be honest with myself when I tell you how it went as the only person I would be lying to is myself and that's not what I am about.
With only one week to go its time to ask for people to sponsor me again I am running for Diabetes UK Just Giving webpage: http://www.justgiving.com/Darin-McCloud Just Giving text: Text SLIM65 £5 to 70070 (any amount where £5 goes) Please give any amount no matter how small it will make a difference Thnk you.
I have done five runs this week and these are the blogs for each one.
Monday 17th Cloudy cool, I will call this the 1st of my training runs in the run down to run day,these runs are solely to keep me ticking over until run day. Legs felt heavy the plan is these runs will help my legs by running shorter runs more often. Today Steve Harris from BBC Radio Solent came out for a run we did an interview on the way round as well. I was the one panting after Steve asked a question. It was good to meet him at last and Thank You for running me.
Wednesday 19th Cold clear sky dark, Had a run with Caroline And Vic it is amazing how well they have both come on,it was great to run with them its a shame its the last one before the race. Till race day go Team thinking Slimmer.
Friday 21st Cloudy cool This run was not good maybe reading the Great South Book that arrived and talking of tapered runs messed my head up a little I'm not sure, the run time was tapered as you can see although that was not the plan when I started the run.
Saturday 22nd Light cloud Blue sky cold not bitter.Got up this morning and decided on a run just because yesterdays was disappointing so glad I did What a difference 12 hours make Run the whole distance at a steady pace,I have my mojo back feel so much better than last night about the Great South Run. Its just so frustrating being up and down but its the way it seems.
Sunday 23rd Cool dry sunny,Last Powerade Run also 3rd run in 3 days well please with run and time. Thanks to Georgina and all at Runnersneed for your support its been awesome.
I think most people will always say they wish they could have trained more, and for a while I thought I was behind on my training the reason for this was for injuries and not because I could not be bothered to go out for a run, this was an excellent learning experience and taught me the value of quality rest as part of the training process.
I set out at the start to complete the Great South Run and as the run draws nearer this is still my mission to complete this course, I will not put a time on this because this is not about the time in any way shape or form, what I will tell you after the race is how well I did in completing the run and did the training work, as always I will be honest with myself when I tell you how it went as the only person I would be lying to is myself and that's not what I am about.
With only one week to go its time to ask for people to sponsor me again I am running for Diabetes UK Just Giving webpage: http://www.justgiving.com/Darin-McCloud Just Giving text: Text SLIM65 £5 to 70070 (any amount where £5 goes) Please give any amount no matter how small it will make a difference Thnk you.
Monday, 17 October 2011
Week Thirty Four
Two weeks until the big day. Mixed week for training from a massive high to a so so end of week,sorry for sounding a little down but this weekend has left me a little drained to be honest this is not just down to running, I am aware of the issue's so that's the positive to take out of it, now to find the best way to deal with with it get it out of my head and move on, I'm glad in a way this is happening now and not in two weeks times that would be a killer to go through all this hard work and turn up on race day feeling low.
Lets go back to the start of the week, originally I had planned to do race distance next week due to working that would have been difficult but not impossible, I started off my run on Monday with no one knowing what I had planned, its weird if I had told you I was doing it and then I failed I would have let myself down in public but I would have the chance to do it again. Because my run is along the seafront I ran end to end twice this came in at just over 11 miles. This is my blog of that run.
Cloudy and windy on the way to Clarence Pier both times normal on the way back both times. Ladies and Gentlemen I give you not only 10 miles but 11.21miles and I feel like I could have done more, the one thing that is holding me back is my legs not my stamina or being out of breath. I decided that today was the day because I really wanted this distance in my legs and was worried if I left it longer with my work rota I may not have the time to run it. This is my gift to Dr Lorraine Albon for encouraging me to enter the Great South Run to Trevor and Sandra at Thinking Slimmer for having faith in me not letting them down when I thought I would,and to every one who has been inspired by my journey and offered me encouragement and support without all of you I could not have achieved what I have just done tonight. This is for you be very proud of your part in my journey because I am so proud and humbled by each and every one of you. Bless you all.
Unbelievably I have managed since May when I started off just power walking, till now just over 5 months later running race distance and a little more on top, I have never achieved anything like this in my life before and I never thought I would achieve it now to be honest I expected to walk most of the run when I started out, now I am a athlete a slow one but a athlete none the less.
My second run of this week whilst shorter was just as remarkable. This is the blog for this run.
Sunny cool (ish) no wind. Where do I start another First in the ongoing training for the Great South Run. This may be my smallest distance training run but it is the most convenient one as I have work this afternoon. I have just run the whole distance without stopping. Where has this come from I only had to run for one minute walk for one minute There was a time at the start when I thought I could not do that even,silly me.
So I have gone from having my head stuck in the clouds to being low this weekend How or why did this happen ? I have mention earlier in this post why, I know I have the tools to see what has gone wrong, am I expecting to much to want to be able to see these problems before they arise? Yes Reailty check required here I know but its how I feel at the moment. I do not like myself when I am like this and to the people who have bore the brunt of this I am so sorry, my aim in my lifestyle change is to be a completley different person inside and outside and at times I fall short of those aims and when I do I hate myself for it.
My run on Sunday was slow my head was not in the right place it was a new run which does make a differance on the plus side I ran with great people who are also running the Great South Run and have helped me with encoragement and advice these past 7 weeks or so.
Sunny blue sky very cold at start then warmed up nicely. Slow run again new route to Portchester Castle a little disappointed to be honest. Can not put my finger on it but there are a couple of variables that have made a difference for today's run.
That was my week of contrast's I will now be looking at going out for a run as often as I can I will stop running the Thursday before race day the rest until the run, I will sort my head out and will be ready for the big day.
Lets go back to the start of the week, originally I had planned to do race distance next week due to working that would have been difficult but not impossible, I started off my run on Monday with no one knowing what I had planned, its weird if I had told you I was doing it and then I failed I would have let myself down in public but I would have the chance to do it again. Because my run is along the seafront I ran end to end twice this came in at just over 11 miles. This is my blog of that run.
Cloudy and windy on the way to Clarence Pier both times normal on the way back both times. Ladies and Gentlemen I give you not only 10 miles but 11.21miles and I feel like I could have done more, the one thing that is holding me back is my legs not my stamina or being out of breath. I decided that today was the day because I really wanted this distance in my legs and was worried if I left it longer with my work rota I may not have the time to run it. This is my gift to Dr Lorraine Albon for encouraging me to enter the Great South Run to Trevor and Sandra at Thinking Slimmer for having faith in me not letting them down when I thought I would,and to every one who has been inspired by my journey and offered me encouragement and support without all of you I could not have achieved what I have just done tonight. This is for you be very proud of your part in my journey because I am so proud and humbled by each and every one of you. Bless you all.
Unbelievably I have managed since May when I started off just power walking, till now just over 5 months later running race distance and a little more on top, I have never achieved anything like this in my life before and I never thought I would achieve it now to be honest I expected to walk most of the run when I started out, now I am a athlete a slow one but a athlete none the less.
My second run of this week whilst shorter was just as remarkable. This is the blog for this run.
Sunny cool (ish) no wind. Where do I start another First in the ongoing training for the Great South Run. This may be my smallest distance training run but it is the most convenient one as I have work this afternoon. I have just run the whole distance without stopping. Where has this come from I only had to run for one minute walk for one minute There was a time at the start when I thought I could not do that even,silly me.
So I have gone from having my head stuck in the clouds to being low this weekend How or why did this happen ? I have mention earlier in this post why, I know I have the tools to see what has gone wrong, am I expecting to much to want to be able to see these problems before they arise? Yes Reailty check required here I know but its how I feel at the moment. I do not like myself when I am like this and to the people who have bore the brunt of this I am so sorry, my aim in my lifestyle change is to be a completley different person inside and outside and at times I fall short of those aims and when I do I hate myself for it.
My run on Sunday was slow my head was not in the right place it was a new run which does make a differance on the plus side I ran with great people who are also running the Great South Run and have helped me with encoragement and advice these past 7 weeks or so.
Sunny blue sky very cold at start then warmed up nicely. Slow run again new route to Portchester Castle a little disappointed to be honest. Can not put my finger on it but there are a couple of variables that have made a difference for today's run.
That was my week of contrast's I will now be looking at going out for a run as often as I can I will stop running the Thursday before race day the rest until the run, I will sort my head out and will be ready for the big day.
Sunday, 9 October 2011
Week Thirty Three
Three weeks to go and I can say quite honestly that this was the week when the biggest strides have been taken for me to take part in the Great South Run and resemble an athlete. This is important to me because I did not want to be the fat kid at the back of the field with everyone laughing at him (Trevor Silvester will understand that more than most). When Dr Lorraine Albon mention the run the second time and sold me the idea she said all I had to do was run for one minute then walk for one minute, that was my motivation to start my training and at the beginning even that seemed very hard to do.
My training has progressed with a few injuries and frustrations along the way (all documented in previous blogs), but I am standing here today not just thinking but knowing I will be good for the race and that I will do myself justice and make myself proud, this is harder than making everyone else proud because I have set myself high standards and I want to pay back all my family and supporters for their help and support in having faith in there products and in me when they did not know me. I will say this again and again Thank You All for giving me my life back, this time I want to carry on and make a difference no matter how small to help others and to help myself always have goals to achieve what ever they maybe.
This week I had done three runs and I am happy with that fact taking into account my shift work, my first run last Sunday was not that good but I had the group with me for support which was great, my second run had the eureka moment. These are my notes from this eight mile run. Nice and blowy on the run up normal on the way back same at turn around point for section up to South Parade Pier. Lots of lesson's learnt on this run. With the wind against me i managed to run for twenty minutes twice as long as furthest before that. Clearly previous training and miles in my legs helped on that,also running into the wind kept my speed down and I'm sure that helped.The five mile mark time was 1hr 7mins 45 seconds which is a PB and 1 minute 35 seconds better than the last run. I can feel the stamina now and feel so much stronger for it and my legs feel lighter if that makes sense. Twenty minutes running was truly amazing and the moment that I know all the training before had been worth while and worked, I was able to push myself along the way which was great it was a mixture of time and landmarks.
My third run 3.89miles two days after the second run was even more amazing than the last run these are my notes on this run. Cloudy and cool PB by 1 min 27 secs, Best run EVER, I ran for 31 min 24 secs also run for 14 min at the end more proud of that the the first bit, it feels so great to be training and look and feel like a runner. The thing I learnt the most from this run was not the fact that I increased my run by over eleven minutes in one run, but the fact that I had a good second run when normally I just stop and start this shows me that I now have stamina and learning how to use it to maximum effect. Just how much better I could have been without my injuries we will never know but I am so glad that in my darkest time I never gave up.
My training has progressed with a few injuries and frustrations along the way (all documented in previous blogs), but I am standing here today not just thinking but knowing I will be good for the race and that I will do myself justice and make myself proud, this is harder than making everyone else proud because I have set myself high standards and I want to pay back all my family and supporters for their help and support in having faith in there products and in me when they did not know me. I will say this again and again Thank You All for giving me my life back, this time I want to carry on and make a difference no matter how small to help others and to help myself always have goals to achieve what ever they maybe.
This week I had done three runs and I am happy with that fact taking into account my shift work, my first run last Sunday was not that good but I had the group with me for support which was great, my second run had the eureka moment. These are my notes from this eight mile run. Nice and blowy on the run up normal on the way back same at turn around point for section up to South Parade Pier. Lots of lesson's learnt on this run. With the wind against me i managed to run for twenty minutes twice as long as furthest before that. Clearly previous training and miles in my legs helped on that,also running into the wind kept my speed down and I'm sure that helped.The five mile mark time was 1hr 7mins 45 seconds which is a PB and 1 minute 35 seconds better than the last run. I can feel the stamina now and feel so much stronger for it and my legs feel lighter if that makes sense. Twenty minutes running was truly amazing and the moment that I know all the training before had been worth while and worked, I was able to push myself along the way which was great it was a mixture of time and landmarks.
My third run 3.89miles two days after the second run was even more amazing than the last run these are my notes on this run. Cloudy and cool PB by 1 min 27 secs, Best run EVER, I ran for 31 min 24 secs also run for 14 min at the end more proud of that the the first bit, it feels so great to be training and look and feel like a runner. The thing I learnt the most from this run was not the fact that I increased my run by over eleven minutes in one run, but the fact that I had a good second run when normally I just stop and start this shows me that I now have stamina and learning how to use it to maximum effect. Just how much better I could have been without my injuries we will never know but I am so glad that in my darkest time I never gave up.
Sunday, 2 October 2011
Week Thirty Two
Well only four weeks to the big day,The Great South Run (begging details for sponsor's will follow at the end) that means three weeks of full training and the last week I will be taking expert advice on what to do when to do it what to eat etc so that come race day I have given myself and my body the best possible chance to enjoy and complete the race.
On a follow up on last weeks blog it has taken me the best part of a week to recover from the overtime that I did,this is clearly bad for my new lifestyle and I will try and make sure I never do that much again, At least it shows that I made the right decision at the start of my journey and highlights that the whole process is a package where change needs to be made no matter how big or small it is.
As I have mentioned before I have had a couple of injuries which have put me behind where I wanted to be training wise, my training distance was 5 miles which was good in its self. On Monday thanks to my slimpod it was the right time to increase the distance, I managed to do 8 miles and the biggest thing I noticed was how all my previous training payed off because the extra 3 miles was easier than I thought it would be. On Friday I did another live radio interview on Radio Solent Drives Life's with Steve Harris, that went really well and my plan was always to go out for a run after.
I went out absolutely buzzing on a natural high (I get loads of this now) and again did 8 miles six and a half minutes quicker than Monday's time and again the distance was not a problem, having broken that monkey off my back I now feel back on track and the week before the race I will do one ten mile round so my legs have the distance the time for this will not matter its about the distance.
This is the link to my training record http://runkeeper.com/user/DarinMcCloud/profile I hope that it works ok and you can access what training I have done. I am so pleased with how well I have done overall and have no regrets about it, I'm sure that I could have done things better but the main point is that with the aid of Thinking Slimmer and the slimpod it's what I can achieve and how to inspire others to make changes to improve their lives.
Please consider sponsoring me I am running for Diabetes UK and any amount would make a difference Just Giving webpage: http://www.justgiving.com/Darin-McCloud Just Giving text: Text SLIM65 £5 to 70070 (any amount where £5 goes)
On a follow up on last weeks blog it has taken me the best part of a week to recover from the overtime that I did,this is clearly bad for my new lifestyle and I will try and make sure I never do that much again, At least it shows that I made the right decision at the start of my journey and highlights that the whole process is a package where change needs to be made no matter how big or small it is.
As I have mentioned before I have had a couple of injuries which have put me behind where I wanted to be training wise, my training distance was 5 miles which was good in its self. On Monday thanks to my slimpod it was the right time to increase the distance, I managed to do 8 miles and the biggest thing I noticed was how all my previous training payed off because the extra 3 miles was easier than I thought it would be. On Friday I did another live radio interview on Radio Solent Drives Life's with Steve Harris, that went really well and my plan was always to go out for a run after.
I went out absolutely buzzing on a natural high (I get loads of this now) and again did 8 miles six and a half minutes quicker than Monday's time and again the distance was not a problem, having broken that monkey off my back I now feel back on track and the week before the race I will do one ten mile round so my legs have the distance the time for this will not matter its about the distance.
This is the link to my training record http://runkeeper.com/user/DarinMcCloud/profile I hope that it works ok and you can access what training I have done. I am so pleased with how well I have done overall and have no regrets about it, I'm sure that I could have done things better but the main point is that with the aid of Thinking Slimmer and the slimpod it's what I can achieve and how to inspire others to make changes to improve their lives.
Please consider sponsoring me I am running for Diabetes UK and any amount would make a difference Just Giving webpage: http://www.justgiving.com/Darin-McCloud Just Giving text: Text SLIM65 £5 to 70070 (any amount where £5 goes)
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