Scream at my face
  • Blog
  • About
    • Charity
    • Contact
  • Videos
  • Guides
    • Glossary
    • Intro to Inline Slalom
    • Intro to Obstacle Course Racing
    • Reviews - Obstacle Course Racing

autumnal Forest Run

4/12/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
It was fantastic to discover the crisp escapism of an autumnal run. No one around, just the squirrels diving across my path of endless orange leaves.
​
Picture
0 Comments

Sport Relief 2016

20/3/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
The Sainsbury's Sport Relief Games at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park was back today after an absence in 2015. For this event you could run, swim or cycle a range of distances. It was to be my first race since my double Berlin marathons in September and since I've only done one run this year I knew today wasn't a day for any personal bests.

The event was similar to my other experience, which was great. Good vibes, enthusiastic volunteers and lots of live music throughout meant I was excited to partake in this fun run.

The looped circuit was advertised with a 1, 3 or 6 mile option. Our GPS devices today said we were closer to 5.5 miles. Maybe if you ran in the middle of the track the whole way around it would have been closer to the distance.
​
10k result:
00:54:34

I took this at a relaxed pace and could have gone faster, which gives me confidence for the upcoming events I have signed up for.

No official timing but you get a snazzy medal to wear for your effort. For an early bird entry price of £5.50 for the run it was an absolute bargain. Looking forward to the next Sport Relief event. 

‪#‎SR16‬

​



0 Comments

2015 - The Year of the Double

31/12/2015

0 Comments

 
Without doubt the Berlin Double Marathon weekend was the pinnacle of the year. I finally achieved a sub 1:30 skate marathon time as well as accomplishing my first ever run marathon. The training was tough both physically and mentally. Along the way I also completed a bunch of other new races, including a number of other double event weekends and even had time to design a medal for one of the events. I lost a GoPro but got this massive medal holder. (I still would have preferred my camera). This has been an action packed year that has ended with me enrolling in yoga. Whilst I've dabbled with yoga with friends before, I'm now enjoying actual classes and the contrast it gives to my usual sporting activies.

I've already signed up for a few obstacle events next year. For me it was disappointing to see that some events, namely Nuclear and Nuts Challenge have increased their "early bird," prices by £30 on top of what it was this time last year! (I'll be skipping them this year). There are quite a few other events to keep me busy besides anyway. 

Overall 2016 will be a little low key than this year, but the absence of marathon training should mean I can focus my energy on other things!

​
Picture
2015 events that gave finishing mementos: The Nuts Challenge (2 laps) ; Dirty Dozen (London South); Electric Run (London); Urban Ninja (Tooting Bec); Tower of London Run (10k); Spartan Race (Allianz Park); Nuclear Rush (6k); Tough Mudder (Midlands); London River Rat Race; Dublin Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon; London Inline (half) Marathon; Run to the Beat (Wembley); Berlin Inline Marathon; Berlin Run Marathon.
0 Comments

Operation Raptor - GPS Drawing

14/9/2015

0 Comments

 
gps drawing velociraptor picture
After today's Run to the Beat event I was still short of the milage I should be doing during my taper period. So I decided to top up my distance with something I've been meaning to try for a while, a giant game of Etch a Sketch, using my legs and GPS device. It took three attempts to draw the 5k route to create my "velociraptor."

This activity required a bit of orienteering but added an element of purpose and excitement to my run which I've been struggling to find of late. As I ran the backside of the raptor it reminded me of The Oatmeal's idea of 'inventing bizarre ways of measuring distances.' 



#gpsdrawing



0 Comments

Midnight Runners - Wednesday Run

11/6/2015

0 Comments

 
Who would have ever thought I'd chose to run over skating?!!


I opted today to join the Midnight Runners which have been active since last September in London. Their main midnight event is usually on the last Saturday of the month, but to keep us occupied they also do weekly Wednesday runs at 20:00 and Sunday runs at 12:00. All events are free to join. 

During the run they also incorporate a few core based workout as it compliments your running fitness, I did not realise this so I started to regret the twenty five minute abs session I did prior to this!

They have Ultimate Ears as their sponsors which provide the speakers that one of the guys used to pump music on our run.

It was one of the main organisers' birthday today so it was apparently a much smaller group than usual. Today there was six of us, yet we were still turning heads. Comments included "I want to join that group!" Our run ended up at the bar for the birthday guy. I must say it was a very friendly and open bunch of people.



Picture
Picture
Summary.
Midnight Runners'
Wednesday sessions clashes with my other favourite free event, the London Skate. 

There's definitely positive parallels in mentality with the two groups, 
  • the need to be outside, 
  • to socialise, 
  • to enjoy a bit of fitness, 
  • all thrown together with some music.


Skating is my first love, but running has it's benefits of being less restrictive of locations with regards to suitable surfaces, more accessible to the masses and it's not weather dependant.

Also next month I shall begin my proper run marathon training so this group will be a good thing to incorporate into the weekly schedule.

Find Midnight Runners events on Facebook for the latest news.



Today's Achievements.
  • Clocked up 8km from work to Hyde Park.
  • Another 3km to Westminster meeting point for Midnight Runners.
  • 11km to Clerkenwell. 

So this is the most running I've ever done in a single day. Feeling good.



0 Comments

Run or Dye - Trent Park, London 2015

9/5/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
Now in it's second year in the UK. Run or Dye is attracting a lot of fun runners who don't mind getting a little colourful.
Picture
0 Comments

Electric Run 2015 - London

2/5/2015

0 Comments

 
Electric Run 2015 UV paint
Picture
0 Comments

    Categories

    All
    Climb
    Fitness Allsorts
    Food
    Run Endurance
    Run Fun
    Run GENERAL
    Run Obstacles
    Skate Endurance
    Skate Freeline
    Skate GENERAL
    Skate Slalom
    Skate Streets
    Time Out
    Website Specific
    Winter
    Yoga

     

    "Any tips, reviews and advice are my own opinions and are not to be taken as professional view points. The information on this site is what has worked for me and is here for guidance only, but I hope you gain insight into the various activities I partake in." Jonathan Chen

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    December 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    January 2013
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    August 2008

  • Blog
  • About
    • Charity
    • Contact
  • Videos
  • Guides
    • Glossary
    • Intro to Inline Slalom
    • Intro to Obstacle Course Racing
    • Reviews - Obstacle Course Racing