Why do we do it? What keeps us motivated?

The answers are in this book.

Running, Running. Running – written for runners, by runners

It’s written for runners by runners. It contains pages and pages written with passion and experience. The comforting thing is that there is someone who has been through it before you!

Yes – there are other nutters out there doing exactly the same thing as you. And guess what? What’s going through their heads is also similar! What I also found amazing is that I think that I am crazy pounding the streets for my 4th marathon. I am just an ORDINARY person doing ORDINARY stuff. Most of the other writers have been running marathons for YEARS and for many a marathon is nothing.

A marathon seems to be the minimum qualification to contribute to the book. A marathon a week, ultra marathons, running with disabilities, iron mans, running to lose weight are all included.

The main thing is that its practical stuff from guys and gals who have been through it. Basic stuff about how to begin, what to eat, avoiding injuries and what to do if you do encounter one. Chapters about nutrition,  training, staying motivated and dealing with the silly excuses that pop up in your head – such as “no time”!!

It’s a book for all brains as well. Some are simple common sense articles that you could have written yourself and others FAR more complicated and extremely inciteful. There is even a chapter that goes into the runner’s high and how all that works! Plus how to avoid depression after a marathon.

As we know, the best way to run is to do it – so just enjoy the read!

The book is available on Amazon and Mithra Publishing.

It was covered in “boys toys” – helicopters, guns etc. and lots of boys were taking pictures of it. I later read that, indeed, it was part of an Olympic security exercise.

The weather was pretty good. Well, it was not raining which  I was pleased about as I had left my running jacket at home in NL. I wanted to run 2 hours. But I also wanted to pip just over the half so about 10 mins into my run I decided that I would run c.. 2 h 20 mins. I figured out that I would need to cross London Bridge instead of the Tower Bridge.

I always have a challenge on the South Bank and, although I have run this route many times, I often seem to “lose” the Thames Pathway. Today was no exception. I did not exactly lose it but I figured that I could have run along side the river more, rather than weaving my way through houses.

It was quite surreal  - it’s rather quiet early in a Saturday, with dog walkers and other runners. As soon as you are under the Tower Bridge it’s as if you are REALLY in London! The place is alive with tourists, runners, shoppers, school kids! It’s really quite amazing. As much of our day previous had been spent in the Cambridge area it was such a buzz to be back in the City.

I trotted and weaved my way through the crowds at the Tower of London. On the other side I was suddenly in what appeared to be a shoot of a transparent Mini concept car – groovy!

Time seemed to pass quite quickly and I realised that I would need to run all the way to the end of the Isle of Dogs to meet the time and distance that I was looking for. Next time I will have to go over at the bridge after London!

My calculation was correct! I ran just over 21 K. Still it was MUCH slower than I would run a half marathon and for the Slachtemarathon I need to run twice the distance! I reflected on the book that I am currently reading by David Morgan a Weightlifter who one 5 Commonwealth titles. It talks about the need to build in strength training. The latter I do seem to have reduced and replaced with either running or ”rest”. So plan for the week has already been effected  - running every other day and in between 30 mins cardio followed by strength training! Look out Friesland!!

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So it felt a little strange to be in the car in the way to a train station not far from Rotterdam for the Rotterdam Marathon. Few people in plastic bags but many people in running gear with bags. It’s always such a good atmosphere in The Netherlands on the way to as race. Everybody talks to everyone. We compared notes re which distance we would run – Rotterdam also offers a 10 k and a relay marathon (in teams of 4).

ABN AMRO had kindly offered rather marvelous facilities in the De Doelen and the Manhattan Hotel. Changing was rather a luxury and the atmosphere was fantastic.

I always feel nervous before a race. Silly really – imagine if I really stood a chance to win . It was rather a mess and unclear which start area was where. We made and, although it was cold and windy coming from the station, it was not cold waiting for the start. I had also made a loo stop prior to the trek to the start and, although I usually need a last minute “stop” this time it was not needed.

I had trained more slowly and been advised to add in more resting. This meant that, whilst I had followed the training scheme to the letter I had not been so intensive with the wight training, cycling and cross training in the gym. Core training had also been less intensive. My Tanita scale had told that my fat percentage was above the 24% that I had been at for Paris. Still this is a new way and the theory was to run slowly and consistently and so run aerobic for longer.

Rather uninspiring background - and such great places to see in Rotterdam!

This was also an “in between” marathon for the Slachte Marathon in June so it was more of a training marathon.

After a rendition of  ”You’ll Never Walk Alone”, and having received a number of encouraging tweets, we started. It was not that long that I was over the line. The start and the switching on of Runkeeper went tons better than on Paris!

I focused on my heart monitor – I wanted it to be around 140 beats/min. It really wanted to go faster. I struggled to run slower and managed to keep it below 150.

Joost had said that he would see on the bridge – the Erasmusbrug. It did not seem to take long to get there but I could not see him. Oh well on and on to the Feijenoord Football Stadium. Drink strategy was concentrated Winrgy – so 2 packets across 3 small drink bottles on my belt and use the drink stops on the way. Plus I had protein shake – ProXtreme - also fairly concentrated in the 4th bottle. A half hour before the start I took 2 packets of Sure2Endure and the pockets of my belt were stuffed with more! I also had some gels that I planned to start consuming earlier in the race than my 2 previous marathons.

I was still struggling with my heart rate but managed to find a pace that seemed to work. At 10 k I was aware that I was painfully slow. Not even averaging 10k per hour. Still – stay focused. I felt sluggish and almost lazy.

The surroundings were not exactly inspirational. The south part of Rotterdam is rather 19650/60s housing and apartments. You could tell when we were near a metro as there were more people – Including Joost and our friend Celeste!  and there were some quite barren areas!

Just before 20 k the 4 h 30 min pacer approached from behind. 4 h 30 min! I REALLY wanted to run 4h 20 min – didn’t I?!

I started to run with them. It was a little faster than I had been running and it felt really GOOD! I was a little afraid that I was breaking my strategy but COME ON! I had to go just that little bit faster. The kms seem to fly away. The Erasmusbrug on the way back was tough and the rather slow music was somber so did not help. Then I heard my Name! Indeed there was my mother-in-law with her sister and other family ON the bridge! That really helped!

Next year I will be there!

We ran under the Kubuswoningen. Such weird apartments. Now we were in business. Rather nicer parts of Rotterdam and on the way to 30 km.

Then it happened (again). It was very graceful. I had already been feeling stretched and I just reduced speed and let the others go. I was heart-broken. I realised what that meant. To take stock I actually stopped! and went to the loo! (in a portaloo!!). Had a talk to myself and carried on.

I saw the 40 km mark – on the other side of the road. How cruel!! We still had almost 13 k to go.

I had been looking forward to the Kralingsebos. It was leafy green and FULL of oxygen. I started to run with an Irish girl. It was her first marathon. She was struggling like me. We encouraged each other. I knew from Amsterdam Marathon that I had to AT LEAST keep “dribbling” and so we dribbled together. I kept myself occupied with her and a friend of hers who ran with us then stopped and then caught us up again. I guess that a different strategy suited him.

I had expected to see some rather posh houses. They were there right at the end of the park. Then I began the search for the 40K post. I promised myself that whatever, at this post I would up the pace just a “tikky”.

It was ages coming. A band struck up something like “on the road to nowhere” or something that seemed to catch me rather emotionally. I knew by this time that there was no way that I would better my previous times and I was almost in tears. Stupid really. No reason just REALLY emotional. I could feel my inner thighs beginning to protest.  Where was that 40k?

AT LAST! Now focus. I focused on my running style (for what it was after 40K!). Head up, trying to keep my body upright and not leaning forward too much. Length of stride decent and not a shuffle. I could feel it! It did seem that I was going faster – or did it just feel so?!

I continued – 750 to go. Could I manage a sprint? When to go the distance to the last 500 m seemed more like 1 k. Just a “tikky” faster. Legs REALLY protesting – get on with it. At last! The line! I had had a battle with myself – there was a stage when I thought that I would come in dramatically crying over the line. NOT THIS TIME! I was going to show EVERYONE that I could STILL make it in style. The commentator made some silly comment in Dutch about these people were really pleased to have completed the marathon. NO THIS person was extremely cross and frustrated that she had not been able to run faster.

It did feel SO good to come over the line – and YES – it was a sort of sprint finish (everything is relative) as you will see from my Runkeeper profile.

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What a fabulous day I have had! A combination of good food, great friends and a fantastic run. Not necessarily in that order

It involved good planning and great teamwork with my husband.

This was the day of the Spiegelplas-loop organised by my running club – the Bergse Runners. I had invited friends to run it. One of then is Steve Barlow who is a personal trainer and he brought two of his clients whose goal was to run 10 K.

Joost and I had prepared some yummy incentives for after the race. Many of these bought and prepared under the guidance of Udi of Udi’s Goodies in Bussum (where I had spent two hours tasting, deciding and receiving “coaching” on Friday ). We tried to stay healthy – broccoli soup, tomatoes with olive oil (special tomatoes from Sicily), prune and walnut log with goat’s cheese and quince jelly, green salade, slade of feta cheese and artichoke, stuffed vine leaves (the last two from the Turkish shop in Bussum in the same road as Udi ) and Joost’s speciality – Bruchetta. BEFORE we could eat any of we had to run the race.

There 5 of us running and 2 supporters. We started off well with a warming up session given by Steve – to EVERYONE!

I was not exactly sure how this race would go for me. I seem to have become accustomed to running slowly and to heart rate I. By bottom does not seem to want to get itself in gear any more!

We all started together. We had all said that we would run somewhere between 50 – 60 mins. Erik-Jan and I were a little ahead

I was already running in Heart Zone II. Ummmm… At almost 2 klm Steve and Yvonne had caught us up. I heard Steve coaching Yvonne – “if we want to run 50 mins then we need to speed up a bit…”. I decided not to listen to him and also not to listen to my peeping heart meter. Erik-Jan seemed to be challenging me as well! I listened to my own body – it was good to run by Joost, Rebecca and a great supporting neighbours with 4 of us almost together!

I let the others go on and found a good rhythm. Erik-Jan found a good rhythm also – the same as mine and we ran together up the boring straight bit out of the village to the 5 klm marker. “now let’s begin” he said. And indeed we set the pace just a “tikkey” higher.

Now we were running round the lake. We encountered startled cyclists and dog walkers and ran passed a lady who swallowed a fly (isn’t there a poem about that?) just as we past her!

At this stage we were sheltered from, what had been a wind against us, and could enjoy the fantastic weather – blue sky, blue lake!

We were now at an average pace of 5, 21 min per klm. Each klm I could hear from Runkeeper that we were shaving the time off. I started to target people in front of us to overtake. It was rather fun. Without going mad, I could see that we were gaining on almost everyone now.  Little by little we overtook the runners. At around 8 klm Erik-Jan started dropping back – or did I tick up a noch? I could hear the band playing and imagined that quite a few people had already finished.

Focus, focus, focus… I concentrated – 40 mins (indeed the fastest man was c. 34 mins!) – could I finish in 10 mins. That was not realistic but I did not have that much more time that I had to run! I must now be at 1,5 klm to go – that is c. 10 mins. Steady girl focus on the end sprint, leave some puff over.

Encouraging words from the stewards who were mostly people who I know from the Fire brigade/ Ice skating Club etc. All volunteers and they did a GREAT job.

I could see the finish. I focused on a girl in orange. I tried to get nearer to her. She was too far away to overtake and she was also speeding up. The focus pulled me away from thinking about my body to being “pulled in” by her. The last grassy bit! Yesss a sprint finish and I was just under the 52 mins . I was very pleased given the current training scheme. Runkeeper did something a bit weird but most of the race is recorded!

Steve and Yvonne achieved their target of 50 mins, Erik-Jan was just behind me – this was a PB for him! and Karin came in under 60 mins. Everyone very happy!

During the prize giving there was also a raffle that you were automatically entered for with your number. 3 of us won prizes! I was very pleased with my number belt – its been on my list of running stuff to buy for a while.

Back to our garden. Food was a great success – I think the people had a great deal to do with it too! All in all a winning team

I WAS seriously embarrassed when the gentleman who served us in the Runner’s World Shop in Bussum remarked that my socks did not fit At ALL. They are my BEST socks – i.e. the most succesful so far! Never-the-less we were able to order the trainers and so just came out with socks! The do fit and are even the shape of my foot.

At crack of sparrow on Sunday morning (so I could get to church), I donned the socks and other items of clothing, prepared my bottles for my belt - Winrgy and ProXtreme and I started out for my 3 hour run.

My runkeeper worked after a little hiccup to start with – so she kept me on track!

Even though it was 06:30 it was already light. It was rather nice to run the same route that I had almost exactly 2 weeks previous and SEE where I was going.

I was really focused on my heart rate. the name of the game was to keep it at HR I  - i.e. 135 – 145. I started off well and was running at around 140 for a long time.

Image via Wikipedia

It was very quiet. I think I saw about 1 car only all the way until I crossed the bridge over the Vecht.

The road along the way to Nichtevecht was, indeed, as I had though the previous time, in really bad state. It was a wonder that I had not tumbled down the bank into the ditch. Its a wonder that no vehicle has done this (perhaps one has!).

The run was going pretty well. And my HR was very steady I was pleased. I was mentally planning the day. We were to meet some potential business partners of one of our business partners. I was wondering what they would be like and planning how we would introduce them to our business.

My feet were also feeling good. No slippage in the shoes – these socks are good!

There were two stalks on a nest on a chimney. A HUGE rabbit or hare crouched down when he saw me. As it became apparent that I had sussed him he leapt across a ditch, dived under the fence and sprung across the field.

I approached Vreeland and the houseboats with some intrepedation. If you remember I had previously encountered a dog. Not in itself a problem – except the dog followed me all the way to the other side of Loenen. Then I lost him/he lost me.

I could not believe it!

There were the two dogs – including my doggy friend AND the owner. I was so relieved! They had found each other! As I trotted along I turned to the owner and said how pleased I was to see him. I explained how His dog had followed me and that I wanted to bring him back but I lost him in Loenen. I was still running and I turned round to run backwards – “oh” he said – “that explains it – we had to fetch him from Loenen” – how even badder I felt!

The dog started to follow me again! oh no! Luckily I heard the owners whistle and he scampered back – hooray!

For a little while I did feel lonely as I ran along – without the dog – and thought about the previous run – with him.

At 2 hours I was feeling good. I could see that my heart rate was trying to go about 145. I tilted my body up and ran as upright as I could, concentrating on my breathing. This seemed to help control it.

As I came to 2, 15 HR had crept to between 145 – 150. Still I seemed to remember that two weeks ago I had pretty much given up and HR was about 160 at this stage.

At 2,30 HR was jumping between 150 and 161 so I was peeping! I focused as much as I could. It came down a little but it was obvious that it would not be easy, without slowing down even more, to reduce it again.

At 2,45 I was peeping – so at 160 – 163 – but mostly at 160 so this was still better than previously. At this stage, who should come out of the slightly misty curtain – but Mark, my trainer from the Bergse Runners Club. He looked pretty fresh. I wondered how I looked.

According to runkeeper – I now only had 15 mins to go. Could not believe it – as I came into the village, I saw another friend from the Club. He was cycling and waved encouragingly to me. Very busy morning!

I just needed to add a couple of minutes so I trotted round the corner, back and a little way in front of our house. At Last! 3 hours! I trotted back to our house and turned the runkeeper off. My neighbours and a group of friends ran by me as they were just starting their run!

I met our other neighbour, who was on her way to the same church service that I was planning to go to – I still have to bath, dress and make up! I sent Joost out to the service and went for a quick soak in the bath.

We did cause a bit of a stir in church as I (eventually) arrived in the middle of a hymn. My attempts to sneak in at the back were foiled as the back was full! People did wonder why we had arrived separately and were not sitting together! I rather smugly informed then of my 3 hour run

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As I trotted on round with these thoughts in my head, I spotted the Dome – i.e. the Millenium Dome. It was sleeping – i.e.there were no lights. What a feat of engineering. Yet it was and remains very controversial – albeit that it now seems to have found its place in life with permanent exhibitions, concerts, displays taking place. Now I needed to walk. I walked swiftly towards Billingsgate Market. A very traditional market in among the roads and buildings and rebuilding. I wonder if anybody ever thought that it would be surrounded by all this new modern stuff.

Time to continue on again and I turned into the Docklands with its huge skyscraper like buildings, glistening in the thin sunshine. I ran past some building works with large blue boarded off areas claiming that  you could get somewhere on the Jubilee Line in 6 minutes once this construction was completed – there’s vision!

I marvelled at the construction and how it must have at one time been. How many companies went bust creating this?

I turned right and over the bridge to East India Dock. Its full of restaurants and bistro’s. Prior to them being there these were all warehouses now they are AGAIN creating jobs and contributing to the economy!

It does seem odd to see the old style buildings next the towering Marriott Hotel – still yet more vision. Again, I remember when I was living in London touring around this area in the car  - it was desolate. Now there are not enough hotel rooms for people who want to stay here.

Boris Bikes - Image via Wikipedia

I was looking for the Boris Bikes. This was the vision of the current Lord Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, that more people should be cycling in London (NO! this is not a natural way to keep the population down…). We had seen a marketing trailer with info about how to use them the day before. I had previously spotted the empty racks by Mudschute. It seems that, at last they would be populating The Docklands at last.

They were not yet by the Sheraton hotel. I needed to keep on running – at how many minutes did I need to walk again? I mentally recalculated – ah yes – 45 mins. I down down the steep steps and past the ferry and via the sort of cat walk  - next to an enormous hole in the earth. I wonder what is coming here?

Time of 45 mins. I started to walk. A man with a dog asked if I had a stitch. No just interval training. “oh” he responded, “are you training for the marathon (just about everyone in London seems to be training for the London Marathon)?” “yes” I replied “but not THE marathon, the Rotterdam Marathon”  - I thanked him very much as I could only think that he had said this as I LOOK like a marathon runner!!

I looked across to the South Bank.As you know I have quite often run in that along the Thames on the South Side. There are new buildings and much new work going on there. Again  - people with vision building the future of the South side. I started  to run again.

I had 20 mins left – could I run the entire “circuit in the time? I heard another runner and he came storming by. He turned left to an area that I thought was a dead end. Maybe its not – and they are always changing things. So I followed him – Hah! I was right – dead end! Wr both turned round – grinned  - shouted – I thought that it was !! and he ran on ahead. As I got to the left turn to take me back along the Thames – he had missed this and was off ahead.  I tried pathetically to whistle to him – hopeless. Oh well I guess that he was too focused to spot the sign.

Image via Wikipedia

At last! the Boris bike racks!! I KNEW that I would find them. Almost opposite is the Cutty Sark, on the other side of the river. It is being rebuilt after having been burned. Someone had the vision to repair this beautiful old ship.

I was almost at the end of my run. It felt very good and easy. My heart rate was a little higher in the last 20 min block and I noticed that in the rest period I had gone down below 110 in the first rest and under 120  in the second rest – so it was getting harder. I finished within my allocated time and noticed that I achieved more in this run than at a DI tempo on 70 mins earlier this week.

Later that evening I was sharing my thoughts re the Docklands and vision with my father. He had some wise words – the real visionaries are the first ones, they try to do it and go bust over it. The second stream of people take over the bust company for a song and make a lot of money executing the plan of the visionaries. The third group think that they want a piece of the action so buy out the second people. The latter have achieved much and can sell high. This third set  - also go bust as they paid too much and they can never get enough money out!

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Its made for a very weird Runkeeper profile!

We started with a gentle jog for about 1,5 k and then stopped in a quite road (or was it? cars, vans, bikes, scooters…

In a circle we did some warming up stretching exercises – side, knees rotating, calf stretch with toe pointing up, step forwards and backwards over the fence, arms outstretched rotating and making circles bigger – i.e. the expected stuff. Then we lined up in two lines to run 4 steps touch the ground, another 4 steps and touch the ground. The next set was run 3 steps; then, you guessed it 2 steps and, yes, 1 step - we looked like neanderthals!

Off we jogged again – about  a klm  or two out of the village to a very boring straight piece of road. There each person was given a laminated paper with squares on it. Some of the squares were filled in and some blank. Each blog represented a 2 min at half marathon pace and a blank meant rest. It took a while to sort out exactly what we had to do and I still wonder if some of use actually completed it correctly!

Fun reading this in the dark

In the meantime it was very dark! So reading the cards was also a challenge. It was tremendous fun. As each person had a different schema then you ran with a different set of people every now and then.

As it was dark it was also like an eye test – certainly good for stretching the rods!

Halfway through the training I remembered that I had my Christmas Present Lamp with me. A great time to really have to use it! I thing that quite a few people were envious.

It was a good and challenging training. Even if it did not seem as if we were really pushing hard – the 4 blocks in a row was a challenge !

At the end we shortened the 2 min periods so as not to be there until midnight and jogged back home.

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The storks are "home" in their nest.

It made for a very good way of keeping my heart rate down. I was still fiddling around with the phone as I left the village. This was SOOOO frustrating – the longest run in this marathon training and I would not be able to capture it for the record. Where were the satellites this morning?

Turned phone completely off. Dumped gmail app. Restarted Runkeeper again. Yes! A signal! Hooray! What a Techo I am!!

Heat rate still under 145 – amazing. But also amazingly slow! Still I had committed to train in this way so I had better do it. I was running the same route as last Sunday. I was amazed at the difference in conditions. I had considered not wearing my jacket as it was pretty warm . It also looked like rain.

It was so still. So far I had only just seen a taxi and even on the Provincieweg there was nothing. I trotted over the bridge and off towards Nichtevecht. It was heart breaking to hear Runkeeper inform me that I had only run 15 mins and less than 3 k. I knew that it had only started about 20 mins into my run and c. 3.5 k.

Whilst slow and boring, the run did seem to be going well. Still  NO-ONE on the way. Ah – a man with a dog. We greeted one another.

Just a little further up and some fishermen. 2 vans and then another car. But that was it. It was now light.

I was approaching the line of houseboats before Vreeland. Two large dogs barked at me and I could hear another one. The two large dogs raced up their garden and barked at me as I ran past. One of them scrabbled along a pile of stones and leaped over the fence. Great! He jumped “playfully” up me. Even greater! I held my arms in close to my body so that he would not think that I was playing. He raced alongside and then ahead. I slowed down and instructed him to go home. He clearly had no intentions of doing this. I thought – right I will ignore him and he will get bored and turn back.

For a while I heard nothing. Then I heard the pat pat pat of his claws on the road. Drat! Still just ignore him. Again the noise stopped. I was now coming into Vreeland so it was some 15 mins that the dog had been with me. Another dog walker, I greeted, a chap carrying a baby also, goede morgen.

Then a chap sitting on a bench and the blasted dog was saying hello to him. “he followed me” I said  - sorry but he is not my dog.

Started to think about the options. Going back was not among them. OK So if he followed me all the way then I would just plop him in the car and take him home. I knew, after all, where he lived.

I started to map out the dangerous places that might involve cars. One was coming up as we would have to cross a busy road to get to Loenen. There is a fence at the end of the village and a very narrow walk around to come up to the road.

I turned to the dog. OK now is the time that you really have to go home OR cross the road safety with me. He did not seem as if he would follow me. “Go home” I instructed. I pointed back. He stayed on the other side of the fence. Great!

I trotted over the road and off towards Loenen.

What did I hear behind me and then see as he chased a cyclist! Damn the blasted dog had followed me. Right now he really was my responsibility. I looked at him. Quite a sweet shaggy large hairy brown thing with brown “what have I wrong” eyes. No collar. occasionally he was quite obedient and ran to the right of me. But he got bored with my pace and ducks and other people’s dogs were much more interesting.

I am sure that I have destroyed my reputation in Loenen for good now!

At the church people were going in for the service. My friend decided that he would hang around. I carried on. Perhaps he would follow, after all he had up to now! Over the little bridge I went. Still no dog. Now he really was far from home. I felt a twang of responsibility to I turned round and went back. There he was trotting around the church. I called and he came after me. We went along together again. A couple of cars came along. He stopped and sat for one and decided to get up and run around for the other. I closed my eyes and then I  thanked the driver.

A caged rabbit caught his attention. He was very excited. I turned back to collected him again. He was still really thinking about that rabbit. He tore off and a lady walking in the other direction tut-tutted at me and muttered something about him going faster than me.

I marvelled at how fast the time had gone as I was over 2 hours now and had been totally distracted by my doggy friend. He had disappeared again. Drat – just as I was thinking that we were going back to Vreeland again so he could perhaps find his own way home rather than me take him.

I turned round again. No dog in sight. I called. Still no dog in sight. Oh well – now he would just have to find his own way home. Knowing dogs that we had when I was young – ours always did…

As I reached the other side of Vreeland I passed two fisherman. One called out and enquired after the dog. Had news travelled so fast?! I called back that I had lost him on this side of the Vecht in Loenen. I started to say where he lived. The man already knew… was that the owner I wondered!!! Anyway it seemed clear that the dog was known to some so should be OK.

I relaxed and made my way home.

It was lovely to see the storks were back on their nest as I left Vreeland and turned towards Nederhorst den Berg.

I was starting to feel tired. Runkeeper was still declaring that I had run 21 k and was that in 2 h 30 – how slow but I also knew that I was nearer to 3 hours and 24k…

Finally reached home. Without dog. Runkeeper declared 2 h 50 mins and 24 k – so I suppose it was really 3 h 10 and 27,5 k – still slow but I had made it and felt reasonably comfortable!

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• Fitness Freak – Giles Christenson (runkeeper.com)
• Fitness Freak – Maxime Petazzoni (runkeeper.com)
• This Week’s Workouts (2/5-2/11) (planetmarsz.wordpress.com)

Ice cubes

My 2,30 h run began at 05:30. This Sunday Joost & I were on the rooster to help the old ladies & gents at the Old People’s home to listen to the Church service. After that we had arranged for friends to come over for Sunday lunch. Given that I needed to be bathed, scrubbed, made up and hair done by 09:00 then I needed to be back home at c. 08:00!!!

The evening before it had poured with rain so I cautiously looked out of the window. Hoorah! I could see stars and a clear sky. Quickly dressed, muesli-ed, Sure2Endure, Winrgy IN and Winrgy bottles plus ProXtreme (protein) to take with me on my belt. It sort of felt like making a pick nick!

Out of the door – run keeper on and off I went. As I exited the village over the lock towards Weesp I felt my feet slide from under me. OoH that was a shock – steady does it. I was aiming for a low heart rate – between 135 and 145 so I HAD to go slowly anyway.

Over the bridge and left towards Nichtevecht. Wow! slippery again! It seemed to be on the “open” road. It was pretty dark as well and, even though I had a lamp, I was concerned about running on the grass verge as there is WATER either side of the road.

As I trotted along towards Nichtevecht HAIL came down on me! Where did that come from? It was such a nice clear morning. Fortunately the hail stopped and I carried on and was enjoying the run. Then, more ice! Really dangerous. I was in Nichtevecht and the street is paved with small bricks patterned in herring-bone. they were lethal. I was almost slowed to a walk. I took small steps and tried to stick to the rough bits. It crossed my mind that there would be traffic and people on the roads soon who would have NO IDEA of how bad the ice was.

As soon as I was out of the village and on safer ground I sent up a tweet – simply – Spek glad – a Dutch expression for very slippery.

It was still dark and the road I was on was narrow and muddy. That seemed to help against the ice. As well as the trees! At a certain point half the road seemed to have disappeared and fallen down a slope – very dangerous for cars.

And quite dangerous for runners as I was nearly blinded by a salt lorry as he thundered by. I hoped that he actually was salting – may be I would survive this run!

I could hear the farmer as I trotted by one of the farms with a milking herd.

The sky was just beginning to turn orangey.

I could hear the birds but not see them.  I wondered where the storks were. Are the still in The Netherlands? Or have they flown off somewhere new.

I was still coming across the occasional ice – but mostly it seemed to have improved. Dog walkers were starting to emerge as I entered Vreeland. I was also calculating the run. I knew I needed to add a little bit on and run towards Loenen. Whilst I am not usually too bothered about running longer  - given the day’s schedule I wanted to be on time.

I trotted off towards Loenen. I thought when Runkeeper tells me that I have done another 5 mins then I turn back. I ran past a walker coming the other way. We exchanges niceties and I very shortly turned round and ran past him again! I ran over the bridge and then back around to the cycle path to come back under the bridge. He, in the meantime had taken a shorter route and popped up from under the bridge! He made a jester to indicate – hah! see I am faster! We laughed and I dived back under the bridge through the streets of Vreeland.

Home route! Along the Vecht and left into Nederhorst. My timing was pretty good  - 4 mins too long!! A quick bath and up and out after the seniors!!

Related articles

• Tips for driving on ice (confused.com)

So when I received an e-mail from the Dutch Athletiek Union to say that they had just launched a new app that was already nominated for a prize, I thought I would give it a go.

RunKeeper (Photo credit: COG LOG LAB.)

I am currently in “rest week” for the Rotterdam Marathon training so I need something to stimulate me. That is, next to trying to run between heart rate 135 and 145!! SO is had BOTH apps going when I ran my 45 min run this morning.

The results may be influenced by my technophobia so please let me know how I can better use these tools.

I trust that you will be able to see the link to the results:

Runkeeper:

I started this app first and ended it first so it may, in any case, have been given the chance to register the most accurate setting.

Distance: 7,85 k

Time: 51,17

average pace: 6,32 min/k

average speed: 9,19 k per hour

calories: 442

I am also able to not only see the route but see each fase mapped out in elevation, speen and pace PLUS I get to see the average pace and elevation at 1k (c. 5 min) splits. I can see, for example, that I ran VERY steady until the last 2 – 3 K when I was REALLY trying to stay under the 145 hr point!

Also got a “Healthy” rating from Runkeeper – looks like a new thing not seen it before but its encouraging!

Oh AND the lady talks to me. This I find envaluable as I know immedately how much time/k I have done PLUS my average speed (I think of you pay she also tells you how fast you are going at that moment

Dutchrunners:

Distance: 7,8 k

Time: 53,07

average pace: 6,32 min/k

average speed: 8,8 k per hour

calories: 593

I could see the route that I had run but did not get the nice profile that I can with Runkeeper. Plus no lady talking – it may that I need earplugs for this…although not keen on running with earphones.

Conclusion so far – I still like Runkeeper and will keep trying Dutchrunners – perhaps I just have to get used to it!

Related articles

• GPS, Measurements, and Why RunKeeper Is Lying To You (geardiary.com)
• RunKeeper Launches a Like Button for Health (mashable.com)
• Have You Tried The ‘Healthy’ Button? (boston.cbslocal.com)