Final run. 150.4 miles over 31 days.

31 days of running straight (32 if you include December 31st), covering 150.4 miles an average of 4.8 miles per day.  It was only fitting as I started Janathon in the freezing cold in Copenhagen that today should be minus three degrees.  It was my usual work run and took me down to the river which had freezing fog.  The university rowers were out on the river something I have not seen this early.  I felt so tired at work all day, partly because of the big run yesterday and now that Janathon has finished I do not have to run tomorrow.  It has been an interesting January roll on Juneathon with only 30 days of running straight.

Day 30. The longest run with the end in sight.

I was aiming for a half marathon distance today but in the end went over that with a 14 mile run.  Although my last Janathon run is tomorrow this is the last day when I could do a big run like this.  I went to the gym in the afternoon to do some rowing and stretch out.  I am up to 146.5 miles now so it will be really nice to run at least 3.5 miles tomorrow to make it up to a round 150 miles run in one month.  Good luck to everyone else.  I hope you have reached your targets.

Day 29

Back at home for what is turning out to be my regular running route on a Saturday.  Living in a small market town means there is only so far you can run before the footpath runs out and the speed limit goes up to 50 miles per hour.  When I drive to work in the morning I see some cyclists risk these roads which are wide enough for one car to pass in each direction but leave no room for any over taking.  As a runner I think it would be very foolish to continue on roads like this so I run as far as I can and then just return the same way and it works out about 10k / 6 miles.  On Sundays I run the same route but when I get back home I continue in the opposite direction and follow some nice footpaths to the next village. 

Day 25 - 28

I guess I am out of the running due to being unable to update the blog within 24 hours of each run.  Very frustrating as I took my mobile internet away with me on a business trip but it was always too slow to load this blog, the same story for the hotels internet connection and finally even cafes with free wifi didn't seem to work.  I did keep up the running but it feels a bit strange as if I am running for no purpose now.

Day 25

I arrived in Cambridge after driving over from Oxford via Norwich for the day.  I arrived not too late at 6pm and thought I would run for a mile just to keep things going but I ended up running 3.7 miles.

Day 26

Cambridge morning run, it has suddenly got much colder but managed a 4.1 mile run.

Day 27

Planned to go out for a morning run but the wind sounded so cold from the hotel room I put it off until the evening and went out for a short but very fast run of 1.7 miles in 13 minutes.

Day 28

Once again just couldn't face a morning run which was a mistake as by the time I had worked all day and driven home I was very tired.  All I could do was a sneaky 1.5 mile run at about 11.30pm.  It really has become cold again.  The totals so far.

Week 4

Day 22      6 miles

Day 23     11.5 miles

Day 24      5.3 miles

Day 25     3.7 miles

Day 26     4.1 miles

Day 27     1.7 miles

Day 28     1.5 miles


Total for week 4   33.8 miles



Week 1 (26.7) + Week 2 (30.5)  + Week 3 (35.5) + Week 4 (33.8)  =  126.5  miles  (with just 29th, 30th and 31st January to be added).

Day 24 After work run around Oxford

I ran 5.5 miles today around Oxford after work.  It wasn't my usual run along the Thames towpath but around the town.  It was nice because I ran around the area I lived in for three years until I moved last summer.  I dropped off a parcel at a friends house who was not so well half way and then I continued.  Off to Norwich tomorrow but not sure if I will get a run in.  It may have to wait until I arrive in Cambridge in the evening. On on.

Day 23 Long run

I really wanted to beat last Sundays long run so when I got home and the ipod said under 10 miles I continued running and after an extra loop made it up to nearly 11.5 miles, the longest run so far for Janathon and a huge 1,000 + calories burned which makes up for the cinema chocolate yesterday.  I saw Black Swan which is amazing but creeped me out at the same time.  I also came very close to buying a lovely new pair of Saucony Omni 8 running shoes but they only had 9 and I need 8.5.  The Omni 9 is out which means places are selling off Omni 8s at a cheap price but of course 8-9 are the most popular sizes.  I will keep hunting.  I am going away on business next week Norwich (ah ha) and Cambridge.  It may prove difficult to find time for my running and blogging but it would be a great shame not to finish Janathon in the final week.  I will do my best.  Good luck everyone.

Day 22. Fast run

I didn't plan to go out for a fast run today but it turned out that way.  Although I don't like treadmills I suppose they are good at getting you to run at a constant pace and that seems to be rubbing off on my outdoor runs.  So in the end I pretty much matched yesterdays pace and run.  A fraction under 10k in 44 minutes. 

Day 21 The need for speed

Today was Friday's normal treadmill day.  I set the gradient to zero today to try and go for a fast run.  As usual I sped up as I went along as I was getting board.  I went slightly over 10k in 47 minutes, so pretty good for a training run.  I can certainly feel it after.  Here are the totals for week 3.

Day 15  3.1 miles
Day 16  10.2 miles
Day 17  3.6 miles
Day 18  5.7 miles
Day 19  2.9 miles
Day 20  3.8 miles
Day 21  6.2 miles

Total  35.5 miles

(Week 1 (26.7) + Week 2 (30.5)  + Week 3 (35.5)  =  92.7 miles

Day 20 Frosty run

The sub zero temperatures have returned.  It wasn't so much ice I had to take care of while running this morning but a thick layer of frost.  This is about the second of third time I have done my usual lunch time run down through Iffley village and the lock run along the river and return back to work.  I have come across a new set of runners who are obviously quite serious about their running.  You must be to go out running when it is still dark and below zero.  The millage I will do a total count up of weeks three tomorrow.

Day 19 Birmingham

Today's run was in Birmingham and I did it before starting work.  It was a bit of a stop and start run due to not knowing where I was going and all the traffic lights and junctions.  I was heading for a green area I had seen on a map and not really sure if I found it as I came across some over grown waste land which I ran around three times to make up the miles to just under three.

Day 18 Pre work run

This morning was a brisk bright morning compared to the last few days.  As I am going away on business I did not have to go to the office but did my morning run from home.  The rain yesterday has created huge puddles / floods on the road to avoid as when the cars drive through them they were creating tidal waves on the pavement.  Due to the stop start nature of the run due to these puddles and then trying to make up the time because of them the ipod was a bit out of synch, it claims a 5.7 mile run when I am sure at the weekend it was a 6.2 I will go back and check later in the week. 

Last night I watched Fight Club for the first time in years.  Although not a violent person, and never having had a fight in my adult life I love that film and it really got my testosterone going.  The first rule about Janathon club is you do not talk about Janathon club, the second rule of Janathon club is..........

Usual work run

I ran before work today in the pouring rain.  Left home at 6:30am hoping the rain would stop by the time I got to work but it didn't and I decided to go for it.  Same distance 3.6miles.  It is getting lighter in the early morning. 

Day 16 I don't run to loose weight. However.....

Today was my longest run so far for Janathon  10.2 miles in 1 hour 20 minutes.  My ipod calculated 1000+ calories burned.  I get a bit obsessed with these readings, as although I do not run to loose weight I imagine if I stopped running how much weight I would put on.  Above is a picture of the Christmas chocolate which as my Mum is diabetic and Ayumi doesn't like English chocolate it was all down to me and I finished the last of it on Friday evening.

Day 15 Late run

I went for a run at 9pm, not because I was tired like earlier in the week just life gets in the way.  Shopping, studying, trip to the cinema, food shopping, cooking dinner and before you know it, it is 9pm.  Listened to my usual podcast of Harmony in my Head I ran out to see the sheep and ran back again.  A three mile run in 25 minutes.  Nothing that special.  Will go for a much longer run tomorrow.

The ipod is a liar

Friday evening looks like it is becoming a regular time to visit the gym and hence "the treadmill run".  I decided to run a full 10k at 1k every five minutes, a reasonable pace.  I set up a 50 minute hill run.  When I hit 9k I upped the speed to do a sub 4 minute k.  It was probably the longest run I have ever done on a treadmill and as well as the distance I climbed 96 metres.  I was a bit disappointed that my ipod said 9.59k, and for those who know about the messages you receive with a nike+ ipod I was half expecting a message from Paula Radcliffe congratulating me on my fastest k, as at the moment the record stands at 4.16. No message came.  Next Friday I may just run a flat 10k as I have heard that the Nike+ can not cope with hills so well.......anyway the happy news that is 14 days of running straight.  I am 99% sure I have never run one week straight and 100% I have never run 14 days before.  Everything is new territory from here onwards.

Week 2
Day 8   6.2 miles
Day 9   3.1 miles
Day 10 6.1 miles
Day 11 4.1 miles
Day 12 1.4 miles
Day 13 3.6 miles
Day 14  6  miles


Total 30.5

(week 1 + week 2 = 57.2)

Day 13 The usual lunch time run

Today I was back in the office and went for my usual 3.5 mile lunch time run.  It was the first time running in the light for a few days and I was lucky with only a light drizzle.  Today's running soundtrack was my usual one, the Harmony in my Head radio show by Henry Rollins.  HIMH is a song by the Buzzcocks but also the name of Henry's radio show which I have been listening to for about 5 or 6 years, and the soundtrack for nearly all of my running.  I have never listened to the show live as it is based in L.A but luckily the nice people at The Rollins Archive record the show and put it on line.  I am always playing catch up and at the moment I am working my way through the December broadcasts.  The more I run the more up to date I am.

Day 12 Beer the enemy of running

I set my alarm for a real Hyde Park run in the morning and hit snooze several times.  This may be a result of the southern comfort the night before (and the glass of red wine......and the three pints of beer).  The morning run was off.  I then worked in London all day and drove back to Oxfordshire in the early evening.  By the time I got home I was in no state of mind or body to go for a run.  Instead I had dinner and watched Temple of Doom with Ayumi.  However, just before 11pm I went out and ran around the town centre.  It was only a 1.4 mile run the shortest run I have done for years but at least it counts as a run on 12th January.  Janathon consistency still intact.

Day 11 Hyde Park Run

After being up at 6am I finally got to check into my hotel after a stressful working day (driving all over central London) at 7pm.  Around 8pm I headed out to Hyde Park which of course shuts at dusk.  I ran past the Albert Hall and up through the middle of the Park next to the road down Bayswater, returning via the Israeli embassy and High Street Kensington.  While running I thought how Janathon has motivated me to run 11 days in a row (12 if you count December 31st) and I wondered if I could keep this up for a whole year.  That feeling has since disappeared.  Had a southern Comfort afterwards in the lovely hotel lobby. 

6 mile run after work

I ran my usual lunch time run but extended it as I had the free time to do so after work but before night school.  I little bit dangerous as it is along a tow path and used by cycles some without lights.  It was 5pm when I started so already dark.  I did feel really awake after the run, so as usual it is always worth it.  One third of the way through Janathon!  Working in London for the next few days will have to find time to run around Hyde Park.  Good luck to fellow Janathoners who have got this far.

3 mile fast run

Day 9.  Really didn't feel like running today.  I went out for a short run in the early evening and decided to go for speed rather than distance.  Very tired, not much else to say.

10k run

A simple 10k run from my flat to the edge of town and back.  I am still new to Wantage where I live and still getting to know where to run.  Today's experiment took me to where the foot path runs out and it would become dangerous to run any further as it leads on to a main road.  The nice part is the sun came out on the return journey.  Then I went to London for the day for a black metal documentary, Gauguin at the Tate Modern and a lovely meal at our favourite Japanese restaurant. 

Fair Weather runner

Day 7.  Had planned to do a pre-work run and I got up at 6am but no way!  The rain was the worst I had seen for months.  Although it eased off later in the morning by lunch time it was back again.  The only solution was a treadmill run in the gym after work.  I thought I would take it easy and put the treadmill on hill for at least a bit of excitement.  After 10 minutes I was bored as usual so kept increasing the speed every few minutes.  I felt great but may not tomorrow.  Did somewhere around 7k in 40 odd minutes.  Will add the exact times via Nike+ tomorrow.  (and here they are)

Week 1 added up

Day 1   2.4 miles  22mins 28 secs
Day 2   4.3 miles   36mins 29secs
Day 3  3.2 miles    30mins 04 secs
Day 4  4.5 miles    35mins 55 secs
Day 5  3.6 miles    27mins 55 secs
Day 6  3.6 miles    27 mins 46 secs
Day 7  5.1 miles   44mins 51 secs

TOTAL 26.7

Ramones Mania!

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Day six.  The same course as yesterday but before work.  It was still dark and as I have run out of contacts and don't run with glasses bushes looked like people and people were moving bushes.  As I planned I listened to The Ramones and as always when I listen to them it was a fast run.  Only a fraction faster than yesterday but not bad as I find it difficult to run in the morning.

Same same but different

Day 5 and my first run back at home.  I went for my usual lunch time run down to the river Thames (Isis) and a circuit back to work.  Despite only running the same time I have been the last few days on holiday (about 28 mins) back on familiar ground and no snow or traffic lights to stop me I ran further and faster.  This was partly due to having audiofuel on my ipod.  While on holiday in Copenhagen I ran with no music as it was unfamiliar territory but I much prefer running with music which increases my pace.  Audiofuel is like magic to increase your pace, although I may listen to the Ramones tomorrow.

Last Copenhagen run

A 7:30am run this morning and my last before my return to the UK.  It was still dark and still freezing.  Managed 4.5 miles and there had been fresh snow fall which made it much easier to run.  On this last Copenhagen run I found a good route which avoided the traffic lights and took me across a river which I took a photo of later in the day.  A great holiday but I am not sure if I could complete Janathon under these conditions.   

Does wearing running shoes all day long count as a run?

What counts as a run?  Today while doing the tourist thing at the Little Mermaid my foot went straight through the ice and into the Baltic Sea.  At first I thought this is a disaster as the temperature did not go above 0 all day (a case of frost bite, not so good for a months worth of running!)  Then I got a brain wave and spent the rest of the day walking around in running shoes after changing back at the hotel.  On a serious note I did manage a 30 minute run in the early evening.  Once again dark and freezing temperatures and I am looking forward to flying back tomorrow so I can up the distance on more familiar territory. 

told off....for running in a park

Today was the second day of Janathon and I went and found a park in the morning after the previous freezing night run with too many traffic lights.  As soon as I had found the park I was told off and informed running was not allowed.  Still managed a 4 mile plus run around the city centre.

Sub Zero Copenhagen run

Janathon started today with a bang.  When I signed up I forgot I would be in Copenhagen for the first four days.  After getting up at 5am to catch a 9.30 am flight from Heathrow I arrived at my hotel early afternoon and after a quick look around the town and a bite to eat it was already 6.30pm dark and freezing.  All the canals here are frozen over and chunks of ice the size of a small child are falling off buildings, which are roped off by police tape.  With the danger of ice (in the air and on the ground) I went for a quick 20 minute run to start Janathon off.  It was hard to build up a pace as there are so many traffic lights and according to my guide book jaywalking is a crime you can get arrested for, so I took it easy.  I hope to find a park tomorrow (in daylight).