The first post.... My Running History (and how the blog got its name).

When did I start running? Just about 2 years ago.

Why did I start running? The short answer is to get fit.

How did I start? My wife purchased a treadmill and so I thought I'd give it a go.

What did I want to achieve? To run a mile and a half in under 12 mins 12 secs. This was the RAF qualifying time for pre-selection, at this time I was considering enlisting.

 

Those tentative first steps....

It didn't go so well, that first time on the treadmill. Being a man I stepped onto the treadmill and turned it up fast! The last time I had run was approximately 5 years earlier in a previous get fit phase.

Two minutes later I was gasping for air and frantically grabbing for the speed control. "TURN IT DOWN!" my brain was shouting at me. Another 15 minutes later and I'd finished the mile and a half. I fell to the floor desperately trying to cool down and fighting the urge to vomit. What a disaster!

Getting better...

The next stage was joining the local gym. At this stage my target was to run the whole mile and a half without stopping, then I could concentrate on a time target. Over a period of a few weeks I cracked it, managing to complete the distance and time targets. I was surprised at how quickly things had changed.

The Running Club...

I would recommend joining a running club to anyone interested in running, even if you have just started running and are feeling a bit self-concious. My wife and I had our eyes open to a whole new world when we joined ARUNNERS (see link for more info) and have made many new friends.

There are so many people out there running and racing in a huge variety of events, there really is something out there for everyone.

How the blog got its name...

"How not to run a Marathon" could also be called "How to run a Marathon without heeding the advice of the experts." The title sums up my first to attempts at running the 26.2.  I took an unconvential approach to training and injury recovery. The story of which will told in future blogs.

The future of this blog...

Between now and 2011 it will be a retrospective of my races and other running so far, then in the New Year it will (hopefully) become a monthly diary of my running year.