Jon.Orchard

English GCSE retake result

Jon — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 14:12:16 +0000

After my third attempt, I passed my English GCSE finally!! After receiving a D back in school, and then a D in college for my first retake, I had all but given up hope on ever passing it. So I tried again (@ 26yrs old) and got my result back a few days ago.

Wooooooooooo!

Running Week – 16/08/10

Jon — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 08:56:24 +0000

I ran on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday - 10k per run, 30k total for the week. My feet and legs were pretty sore after my last night, so much so I'm a little scared to run barefoot for the moment as it feels though I have fresh skin on the sole. I should get myself a pair of barefoot style shoes such as VFFs

At the moment however, my feet will be looking like this after my runs.

Run 1 - 9.8k - 56minutes
Run 2 - 9.6k - 52minutes
Run 3 - 9.8k - 54minutes

First barefoot running experience

Jon — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 13:09:17 +0000

Last Thursday I decided to run The Long Walk again, being a relatively clean environment I thought it would be an ideal location to try out barefoot running. I started from Bishop's Gate, and ran the first half mile or so in my trainers. I could feel my legs hurting from the last run and it seemed to get slightly worse the further I got. Then when I hit the first patch of grass, I took off my shoes and socks, sunk my toes into the cool, wet grass and began to jog along. I immediately noticed a difference (perhaps a placebo) but I was running faster and the pain, although still there, simmered down and settled to just a slight dull ache. From that point I did the whole of the walk (around 5 and a half miles to the Castle and back) in barefoot. I did walk some of it, I ran some of it, but jogged most, and even managed to run about 15 minutes on the concrete path. I thoroughly enjoyed it, even if I may have stepped in deer crap somewhere along the line. It felt a bit liberating, looking forward to doing it again.

Run time - 10.2k - 1hr 6seconds - 164bpm average, 183bpm peak

Health Fitness & Lifestyle Level 3 – Passed!

Jon — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 09:23:23 +0000

Completed my Level 3 Health Fitness & Lifestyle Module with FIE on 31st of July, and my exam results have now been confirmed. Only a few more modules to go now, the next step is Level 3 Gym but I want to get Level 3 Nutrition done first as that's pretty relevant for me right now. I'm trying to change and maintain a healthy balanced diet both for running and keeping my weight training supplemented.

The path to barefoot running

Jon — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 08:51:58 +0000

As with, I imagine, most people I've been inspired to start changing my running style from an influence. In my case the book ' Born to Run' by Christopher McDougall. I won't go too much into the book, but I will say this - If you have any interest in running, fitness or simply defying odds then read this book, it is a fantastic read.

So my journey begins. Thursday gone (5th Aug 2010) I changed my running style whilst using the same trainers. My battered Nike's from USA. I ran for 10k on the balls of my feet, as though a sprinter would run 100m, and it's clear my form wasn't perfect because now, 5 days later my gastronemius and soleus (calf muscles) are still quite tight and sore. Now whilst I think this could mostly be to do with my previous running style not activating those muscles as much, I also believe my style isn't quite there and I should be running a little more towards a flat foot style, than on the balls of my feet like a sprinter, perhaps overstriding. (It may be an idea to film myself running...)

Tomorrow I will go for a run, as I'm sure the muscle soreness will have gone, and I will change my style slightly, become concious of how I am running and see how well it goes. Looking forward to it.