A couple of weeks ago I got an email from Nike informing me the Grid was once again in action. From memory they have run one other similar PR campaign in April (although it could have been last year), all I know was back then it clashed with the London Marathon and ironically this time it clashed with the Dublin Marathon! The grid opened up for 16 days from the Friday before last.

The concept is pretty simple and actually quite clever. Nike buy advertising on 4 phone boxes in most London postcodes and you run between and dial in a code to say you have finished/started. Racking up various points for endurance and other reasons (due to my late entry they seem a bit alien to me). I was invited into team but wasn’t really aware of how into it they really were until later today. Sure, I knew they were keen but wasn’t aware just how keen!

So at 7am all kitted up I headed to the start point of my run (unfortunately still 3miles from the first phone box). Armed with maps and my own little strategy I found my first phone box – simples, or so I thought. The phones didn’t seem that responsive to button presses, not sure if there is a knack to it but slower was certainly better! First run logged two empty boxes found, this was easy! Then came the next leg and the third box, DISASTER, someone was using the box to make a phone call with calling card. He was no grid runner, how dare he, does this middle aged, overweight man not realise what he is doing? Clearly he is using the phone box for it’s unintended purpose! What was I to do, that’s 2 phone boxes I thought (due to grid niavity) I would have to miss out on and head to the final point. I would have to email Nike I thought, inform them the boxes were not being used to purpose!

As I swept between boxes and grids I gradually started to tire, evidently my Rice Krispy Square wasn’t enough fuel for an 11 mile run! I called it a day at kings cross feeling quite proud of my effort. Logging onto the group I could see I had done ok but others were getting more points. Surely people can’t be doing 9mile runs every morning I mean who are these people!

Hooked in by the bribe of runs being worth 5 times as much during 12-1 I went again. Heading for another jog of 6+ miles (definitely not a good idea in hindsight) but once again whilst I scored ok others seemed to be doing so much better – how? Are they all Ussain Bolt wannabees? After further investigation it clicked what was happening. These people were just shuttle running between 2 (probably the closest 2) boxes amounting much more points than I could hope to whilst covering much less distance. That is dull and not what I want to do! Perhaps had I got into the game at the start I maybe more hooked by the allure of big points but at this stage strategies have been formed and for me some of the joy I get from just going out for a quick run is gone.

There is a chance I could have really got into this had I have been there since the start, its a much better idea than the 1 day event they did last time but I do have to wonder how much it has helped Nike as there aren’t that many runners involved i dont think. Good luck to all those still running on the last few days, i’m sure some of them have racked up some large distances…

N

Over the last few years my life has taken a dramatic turn. Running in particular has occupied large chunks of my life and from being relatively unfit and overweight I am now fitter than I ever remember. My journey has been quite short but steep, but this in comparison to some of the stories I have read and encountered pales into insignificance…

I commute on the tube each day which, when not blogging, gives me the opportunity to read and catchup on podcasts. I tend to read autobiography’s and having entered the sporting world was pushed towards Lance Armstrong’s – It’s Not About the Bike.  This book should feature on any athletes bookshelf and it would do his book and story dis-justice to highlight it in one short paragraph.  However, if you are ever feeling at a low point in your life this book will show how it is possible to overcome the seemingly impossible and that with self discipline anything is achievable. The other book which I would recommend to any runner is Paula Radcliffe’s – My Story So Far. I did not know what to expect from this book and will be the first to admit how little I knew about Paula and the rollercoaster of a journey she has traveled on. Her running career was far from simple and whilst I’m sure a lot of people out there think ‘well she is obviously just a good runner’ would be amazed at how much training and dedication went into becoming the World Record holder that she is. The title was certainly not handed to her on a plate and I have great admiration towards her and how much she put into her life and running.

As mentioned previously I also use the tube and my long runs to follow a podcast that only started at Christmas. Having followed Liz Yelling on Twitter for some while I acknowledged a tweet pushing the very first Marathon Talk podcast and since that point I have been hooked. It’s a great show to listen too and there audience base is continually growing. The program is presented by Martin Yelling and Tom Williams and it’s the later of the duo who has the most motivational story I have come across over the last few months…

Five years ago, whilst in Lanzarote, Tom witnessed an Ironman for the first time – he had never heard of them before but at that point he decided he wanted to ‘Race’ Ironmans. His overarching goal was to qualify for the ultimate Ironman in Kona, Hawaii. This race takes only the cream of the crop and you have to be in the top percentage of your age group in a select set of worldwide races to be able to compete. Tom set himself a target and decided that this would take up no longer than five years of his life and during that time he would give all he could…

His story is amazing and whilst I’m sure his background in sports science certainly helped, he shows with dedication anything is achievable. Even though he may not have quite reached his own goal I wonder how many people along the route to Lanza he has inspired and are now setting their own goals and pushing themselves further than they ever thought possible. How many people would have seen Tom and gone “well if he can do that then what can I do?”. I have posted before about comments I have received about my own relatively short experiences so can only begin to imagine what it must be like for Tom. I believe all the people out there who are prepared to share their experiences and help others along the way deserve a lot of credit, Tom you are on that list and you can add me to the list of people who have been further inspired by your story.

It’s all still very early in my running career – I still have a lot to learn and a long way to go but whilst there are a few people out there willing to share their wisdom to people far from the elite world like myself I will be happy and in the meantime I am happy to help those that want to listen.

Ironman in five years time when I’m in my early thirties? Ha! Tom – what you think to that…fancy helping me out!!?

N

Once again I opted for the treadmill, I’m sure this is counter productive but find this is the only way to push myself. I’m glad I did it before work as had planned for 2 sessions today the sprints and then a niketown after work (the first of the season) but due to work constraints and the launching of a rather last minute tool I had to skip this evening.

I’m starting to feel a lot more comfortable with my base rate at 12km/h which is reassuring as a few weeks ago I wasn’t really feeling it. I sprint intervaled  today 400me/200recovevy pushing top speed around the 17.4km/h. Twas tough – as usual, but the schedule required 9 intervals which I did. Did some stretches then headed to work (early – fool!).

As an aside on Sunday I listened to the latest marathon talk podcast and there was an interesting bit in there that talked about weight and running, can’t remember the precise numbers but something like for every pound you lose you can expect to lose 2seconds off your mile time. I found that interesting, whilst I wouldn’t classify myself as overweight I certainly have a bit of excess fat which if I cut out sweets and chips I’m sure I could lose, hence I’m watching what I eat for a little bit to see if it helps…also whilst talking about marathon talk, I got a mention in the last one Finally I’m famous! hehe

Till tomorrows long run

N

Last week I posted a brief review on the KiFit/Ki Performance System and oddly since doing that I noticed its appearance in a TV program we watch.

One morning, having had to get up early for the BT engineer i flicked through Anytime on my tv and was presented with a title that I could hardly refuse “The Biggest Loser USA”. I didn’t know what to expect but 40mins I was hooked, now on its 8th series (in the UK), the show follows a group of excessively overweight people and forces them into training regimes with a weekly weigh off at the end. The guys on this program drop some huge amounts of weight over a small number of week but the show focuses predominantly on exercise.

Anyway on the arm of all the contestants was a band which when after a bit of google turned up the bodybugg or as we know it in the UK the KIFit. Would be great to see the contestants logins – that would be some seriously interesting reading! Now all they need to do is bring it to an English medium in the same capacity and I’m sure they will get interest!