Alzheimer’s Challenge - February Update

Well what a month it’s been, a lovely Winter Training Camp in Malaga (well a cheap flight and AirBnb) - let’s be honest quite a few tapas dishes too. The Rioja wasn’t bad either. I ended January at 125 km - which was a pathetic 43 km short of my necessary cumulative target to run the year to raise funds for Alzheimers.

Crudely I have to run 168 km a month and in the first month I utterly failed to do that. I know we don’t use the ‘f’ word but that was how it felt. Something very important to me and I’d flopped in Month 1.

Like Popeye I started eating some iron and started displaying some too. So I am chuffed to say that in February I have managed to run another 197.5Kms. This means I have made up some of my January deficit and am now running behind schedule but only a small amount. To keep the interest going on my runs, I’ve targeted myself to run the Monopoly board and I now only have Mayfair, Park Lane and the Gas Company to do.

With some sage advice from ju-ju I’ve tried doing a running streak and managed 8 days in a row - how that superwoman is at 400+ days streak is utterly beyond me!

I’ve also tried a 4 days running and 1 day off method, which to be honest is a bit too hard on the old joints. I’ve now settled on a 3 days on and 1 off method, including post-run foam rolling as standard. I’ve also taken on board (selectively) Rignold’s Lenten challenge as a means of improving my core muscular fitness and strength.

All in all Mr JCR is somewhat astounded from the ‘ No thanks I won’t have wine’ to ‘Can you get the yoga mat down, so I can do hollow rocks?’ He is not entirely sure who he married all those years ago….

Cumulatively I have run 322.9 km since the beginning of the year - only 1695.1km to go.

Thanks for all messages of support and those lovely C25Kers who have sponsored me to do this challenge. I am determined to do this and your encouragement is keeping me going. The blow by blow account of today’s run can be found on jancanrun.com/2018/02/28/28....

Happy running everyone.

[IgaT Graduate]

Go you! You are doing very good! Catching up some distance! It's really impressive!

[Hidden in reply to IgaT]

Thanks - if you can get up at 5...., then I can haul my sorry arse out and run...

[IgaT Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Actually, today I didn't manage and you beautiful smiling face on that winter photo motivated me a little to re-think my decision and maybe go for a run today after chiropractor appointment.

It's windy, it's cold, there is some snow. Apart from cold, I can handle the rest. Just don't know which clothes to put on me to keep me warm. As last runs my tights were frozen.

[Hidden in reply to IgaT]

4 layers on the top, with running tights underneath fleece lined tracksuit bottoms - I tried running in the tracksuit and got very chafed legs... Wouldn’t ever do that again.... Good luck if you do go out, but after chiropractors you could be creaking! whatever you decide is the best decision for you...

Happy running

[IgaT Graduate in reply to Hidden]

I'm getting ready. Spreading my running clothes, so I will come back jump into them. I'll skip walking warm-up, as I will be walking from chiro about 15 min. Then, I will be brave! And I will save myself waking up in the morning, which recently became very difficult, as my body wants to hibernate.

[Hidden in reply to IgaT]

good luck and hope to see you run report later...

[IgaT Graduate in reply to Hidden]

You motivated me. Thank you :*

[mrrun Graduate]

You are getting there Jan!

I went for a spin around Clapham Common just now and had to abort the mission. Didn't mind the wind all that much but the ice patches are vicious and I don't intend to risk my knees more than I should.

Careful around those wide pavements in Mayfair, the place is an ice rink. Hopefully all will clear up in a few days.

All the best!

[Hidden in reply to mrrun]

Regent’s Park was a delight, but when I saw acrobatics being done on the paths - discretion took hold and I thought ‘I’m over 50, and a new runner, don’t be a stupid tart, go home injury free’.

It’s bizarre in London isn’t it because here near the Barbican is absolutely treacherous. I am thinking with love of Lucifer...

[mrrun Graduate]

Ah, yes. The heat and humidity. The mosquitoes and dehydration. Good times, I say

Hey, in a couple of days the services here will be resumed, the rain will return and we will zig-zag the parks again.

I felt like you, brave enough to hit the ground but after a few slips I had a vision of a physio's table with my initials embroidered on its shallow pillow. I then carefully traced myself to the safety of a coffee shop.

[SuzyKK Graduate]

Just read your terrible 10 blog... I can definitely relate to number three (can't remember what it was - brain freeze? - but issues with knees, Achilles tendon... at that point lol - live your photo - keep up the good work

[Hidden in reply to SuzyKK]

yes it’s the throbbing/twingeing threes - it happens pretty much on every run, or maybe it’s because you relax a bit after the toxic tens and then you notice the weird middle-aged syndrome when bits hurt or drop off, just because you’re middle aged...

Thanks for the encouragement according to the weather tomorrow is going to be equally as bad, so I feel another Regents Park run coming on. Roll on summer....

[SuzyKK Graduate in reply to Hidden]

& each run, when I get to the throbbing/twingeing threes, I start thinking about all the warnings etc that I'm given, that (late) middle aged people should not start running... Luckily I do make it through the t/tt...

Good luck with your run tomorrow - watch out for ice! x

[HeleneCorsa Graduate]

Great update and lovely photo!

[lagatachocolate Graduate]

What a great photo, Jan. It’s good reading about your challenge; well done 👍🏽

I share your pain re thigh chafing; something I became aware of after starting my C25k journey 😩

[Hidden in reply to lagatachocolate]

yes what an idiot I was - trackie pants... doh

[lagatachocolate Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Nah, just naive like me, Jan 😂😂. I already spend half my life wearing Lycra at the gym and didn’t think my gym wardrobe would result in chafing of the inner thighs. 😳

[Anthie Graduate]

Wow so impressive! You're doing great considering the pressure and the difficulty! And now running in the snow... Go for it!

[Hidden in reply to Anthie]

Thanks , slowlee, slowlee, catchee ,monkee...

[Decker]

Wonderful pic Jan! That is proper snow there. You are doing really great with this big challenge you’ve set. You’ve got this! Careful on the icy bits tho...

[Hidden in reply to Decker]

Thanks will do - tomorrow is another run day... looking forward to the snow again

[mrrun Graduate in reply to Decker]

Ah, no, my friend. That is what WE call proper snow. A journey around London and my attempted and aborted run today was an actual theatrical agony. I wonder how we'd cope with some hard core stuff that you guys routinely balance. We would probably riot and overturn the government.

[Decker in reply to mrrun]

I was trying to explain this to my cousin in London but she was having none of it :).

[mrrun Graduate in reply to Decker]

My folks over in Mississauga fully understand our sub human conditions. A few flakes that fell today combined with -2 'Siberian' bite, helped close the schools, empty the food shelves and shut down transport. I find running in post nuclear war silence therapeutic. Ok, ok, l must be careful with my knees and ice patches.

[Decker in reply to mrrun]

I do get the traffic scare as most people there won’t have snow tires or be used to driving on snow. And also running can be sketchy especially if the snow comes after a melt and you have the frozen unseen puddles below it. That said, I do love running in a fresh powder snow. Not so much in the wet soggy stuff. It wears you down in a hurry. We are only getting around 5cm of snow tonight. Some parts of Ontario and New York are getting up to 30cm. What kind of accumulation are you seeing there?

[mrrun Graduate]

Accumulation? Slightly below the Siberian levels but high enough to create a nationwide panic. Fair enough, the counties up north are not having fun, London I'd say has a few cm of cover. We will survive, the rain arrives this weekend, yay!

[ju-ju- Graduate]

What a fantastic pic, and huge well done on your progress, you can do this!! Thankzyou so much for the lovely comments 😎

[Hidden in reply to ju-ju-]

Thanks for the encouragement.... your red lipstick is a particular fave - runner’s ruby as I now call it.

[ju-ju- Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Runners ruby, that’s perfect. That’s what I’m now going to call it..... Thankyou!!

[Hidden in reply to ju-ju-]

You lovely, lovely person for sponsoring me. Thanks so much for the encouragement and conviction that I can do it. I won’t let you down!

[ju-ju- Graduate in reply to Hidden]

I know you won’t- 😻😻😻

[Hidden]

Hi Jan, just read one of your posts and there’s no way you are over 50 yrs.

That Alzheimer’s Challenge is for an awesome cause, my mum died with the onset of Alzheimer’s and it’s close to my heart. Awesome lady❤️

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Steve, I am all too sadly over 50 and thanks for the encouragement - the challenge is close to my heart too.