Bite size chunks...

Blog from 10 April 2010

Like most years time seems to rush by and in many ways the New Year only seems like the other week. This year is no different except I've run everyday and as a result known exactly how long ago the New Year was.

March finished on Wednesday marking 90 consecutive days and 1/4 of this running challenge completed.
In this time I've had a number of ups and downs, external pressures and problems to overcome but I wouldn't be without them; if it was easy everyone would do it, if it was easy it wouldn't have or be of interest.

Like all big aims, goals and challenges, it can be overwhelming with the scale of it.  Personally I make little steps and bite sized chunks out of the challenge which helps me keep focused, staying the moment and not looking too far ahead.  So continuing the momentum on from last week and Lincoln's 10k, I've gained a new enthusiasm knowing how far I've come, the weathers ... getting better and there's a 1000km party (10th April) about the challenge to let my hair down at the Ramada; I've also lost 2 stone - personally feel fitter and mentally healthier from having about 60mins of personal time a day.

The challenge however doesn't stop at 60mins a day, trying to raise awareness and money for cancer research adds about 4 or 5 hours per week - something I hadn't thought would be so hard and time consuming.
The challenge is about completing the distance and then doing it the next day so I'm not bothered about time, however at times it's nice to put a quick run in. One of the aspects I really enjoy is running with different people and this week I ran with the Journals Photographer, Toby.  He's not run for a bit but we completed the distance and generally caught up, as we've been friends for years.

Please take the time to share the 10k-everyday idea and encouraging others to get involved - it's as good as donating. If you're on Face Book simply type “10k everyday” in the search bar.

You can find micro blogging of this challenge at:
www.facebook.com/tbridle, www.linkedin.com/in/tbridle & www.twitter.com/timbridle

Send a friend request with 10k-everyday in it and I'll accept. Be well, Tim

Soup for the soul...

Blog from 25 March 2010

This week I've been riding the atmosphere and experience of my first 10k race this year at Lincoln on Sunday 21st March, there was little the weather or anything else that could do to dampen my spirits.
There had been about 5000 people running in last Sundays event.  The spectators enthusiasm and encouragement poured on to all competitors, helping us find that little more in ourselves to give to the race.

I saw a few types of runners on the day, noticed there were different levels of "dressed for fun to raise money" such as Lincoln Imps, Cartoon Heros or Animation characters and others who "were on a mission" not always spotted by their facial expression but their determination was hard to miss as they barged past others or tried to protect their position!

In all honesty I found both types very entertaining and although I was running the 10k with them, it was hard work sticking to the pace and strategy I had planned for the challenge of running 10k-everyday. I couldn't afford too much lactic acid build up by exerting myself, but it was so easy to be pulled along with the race which was
noticeable as I finished quicker than planned.

The Lincoln 10k has given me a boost and I think there can be a lot said for running in a group, whether 2, 5 or 5000 - thanks to everyone who went it was a great day ... where's the next one.

Please take the time to share the 10k-everyday idea and encouraging others to get involved - it's as good as donating. If you're on Face Book simply type “10k everyday” in the search bar.

You can find micro blogging of this challenge at:
www.facebook.com/tbridle & www.linkedin.com/in/tbridle

Send a friend request with 10k-everyday in it and I'll accept. Be well, Tim

Whatever it takes...

Blog from 20 March 2010

I've made 80 consecutive runs in my challenge to run 10k everyday, focusing on the activity & generally considering the weather to be the worst external factor to contend with. After a recent bout of 'food poisoning' last week I was brought to a swift reality that it wouldn't take much to halt this challenge.

I'd identified & devised answers to almost every problem except what would happen when I got sick.

Seeing winter finish brought clear blue skys and superb sunsets, the external conditions had become great with the contrast of me facing internal troubles. Sudden tiredness & fatigue, as well as craving for sleep had meant I neglected my diet.
I knew this as I had been monitoring my aches, pains and weight regularly to spot any additional dietary requirements.
In this case, I've not maintained a balanced diet or eaten enough calories to repair & of nutritional fuel value. Having lost lb/day for 4 days meant I needed to eat loads of protein, which I did & bounced back straight away –aches gone, I felt brilliant and energised.

It would seem however that fate had a sense of irony as a few days after my protein over load I developed 'food poisoning.' I'm sure many have experienced it, for me I was left exhausted, dehydrated and weak. The question to "how would I cope when I got sick" was getting answered.

Once over the initial sickness, my recovery was time dependent. On Facebook, through the following morning a number of people said I shouldn't do it & most thought the answer for the challenge would be to add a day on at the end of the year to compensate. I understood what was being said but I thought it wasn't in the essence of the challenge. When I had mustered enough energy at 520pm, I set out on a public route to complete 10km what ever it took.

Starting as a brisk walk I covered the 3km without incident averaging 9:30mins/ km by the Garmin watch. However from then on in, my strength dropped rapidly & at 6km I'd averaged 11mins/km with every step hurting. I'd had been listening hard to the music on my MP3 player, having turned the volume up to distract & focus me on something other than the pain of moving. I was nearing home & I could barely hear the music as I couldn't escape how much I hurt, I grouped myself together to complete the last 500m positively - which was a reaction to stopping with tears running down my face at 9.2km; I finished in 1hr 56mins.

Feeling brittle the next day & like getting back on a bike after a heavy fall, I stepped out apprehensive & uncomfortable after the ordeal the day before.
I kept to the challenge through the hardest test so far, leaving me cautious in regards to my health.

Please take the time to share the 10k-everyday idea and encouraging others to get involved - it's as good as donating. If you're on Face Book simply type “10k everyday” in the search bar.

You can find micro blogging of this challenge at:
www.facebook.com/tbridle, www.linkedin.com/in/tbridle & www.twitter.com/timbridle

Send a friend request with 10k-everyday in it and I'll accept. Be well, Tim

Not a game of Perfect...

Yesterday was day 52 making it 1/7th of my challenge, strangely this time next week will mark two months and be 1/6th of the challenge which has taught me quite a bit already - bi-products of simply running 10k everyday.

“Not a game of perfect” is one of my favourite phrases, as it helps me keep focused when things haven't gone as planned; it also reminds me when things don't go right that the goal isn't ruined or spoilt, or unachievable only different than you'd preferred.

The purpose of me bringing it up now is that there have been a number of things I'd have liked to do within this challenge but haven't happened. I also feel really guilty with all the invites I've received for runs, socials and events but not been able to attend.

At this point in the challenge I should have maintained my nutritious diet, run 2 of the 10k race per month idea, regularly run with others and achieved about £1k in sponsorship. However, like all the 'best laid plans' I've not achieved these. Meaning I've run mostly on my own, I'm not going to be able to do a 10k race in each month and my diet has faltered leaving me at times tired and cranky. I suspected the sponsorship would be hard through January & February so I know I'm going to need some help to get this back on track; the diet thing I've already adjusted and is pretty straight forward.

I'm not disheartened of the short comings I've honestly listed. They haven't stopped me, the challenge or the goal to support cancer research – they're nice to haves' but its not a game of perfect. I realise there will be plenty of distractions and things I would like to do along this journey but due to practicalities, making time for them to happen is not always possible. There's a fine line when juggling and getting the important areas right such as family and work before making 10k everyday happen.

I've had to learn therefore, how to say “no” to myself and others because the practicalities of some of things I could or would like to get involved in could take me away from ultimately achieving and juggling what I set out to do.

I mentioned before a rediscovery of “ME” time through this challenge but I feel its only as effective as knowing when to say “no” and its not always going to be perfect.

Thank you to all those who have invited me to runs, socials and events – please keep asking and contacting me … I can't make all of them but some will be perfect timing!

Please take the time to share the 10k-everyday idea and encouraging others to get involved - it's as good as donating. If you're on Face Book simply type “10k everyday” in the search bar.

You can find micro blogging of this challenge at:
www.facebook.com/tbridle, www.linkedin.com/in/tbridle & www.twitter.com/timbridle

Send a friend request with 10k-everyday in it and I'll accept. Be well, Tim

miles in new shoes...

They say to understand someone 'walk a mile in their shoes', well not being a runner & having bought two new pairs at the start of my challenge to run 10k everyday – it could be said I've been running in the shoes of the 'new me' & by extension understand him better!

In the distance I've worn these shoes, I've observed and become aware of a phenomena that I believe we usually take for granted - “ME” time.

Yes I'm running 10k everyday for Cancer Research but I'll confess fitting 60mins in everyday to run 10km is not easy; with two kids, a wife and work to satisfy. In 'having' to do it, I've become very aware of how easy it is to lose personal time and also fill time with stuff.

Although I'd be running, like many people I'd soon be in a little bubble & a world of my own as the time & kilometres built up. And whilst out on my regular running I'd come across a few people who were clearly enjoying being in their own bubble; every now and again one of them would be so deep, they'd jump when I passed.

The regularity of this observation, as well as enjoying and finding my self in the bubble lead me to realise with planning to run everyday, I'd come to value these runs as “ME” time. Pondering on this thought when out on a 10k the other day, I found myself wishing I'd planned a little “ME” time more often before – whether it be 20, 30 or 60 minutes to lose yourself however the amount of time I concluded was not as important as the regularity of it. I also came to the conclusion that doing the same thing in the same laborious environment wasn't really “ME” time.

Last Tuesday I ran on the Treadmill, not because I had to but to do something & be somewhere different. I found the run after back on the road very enjoyable, as was the Treadmill run the night before but for different reasons. In addition, I've found the community of 'runners' really welcoming, warm and great to be around – though its nice to meet and run with different groups every now and then, I also like the bubble found in my own company from time to time.

With the above in mind I'd like to change & add to the answer I've given to “Do you feel any different for doing the challenge?” with, I feel physically better for the exercise with the exception of 'odd' days but feel equally healthier for having regular “ME” time and space.

At this point then, I value and recognise the time taken in the task has a byproduct of providing me with some “ME” time – to de-stress, ponder & explore solutions for home & work, but most all to let go and dream. That's it for now and I wish that you find, or make an equal measure of “ME” time.

Please take the time to share the 10k-everyday idea and encouraging others to get involved - it's as good as donating. If you're on Face Book simply type “10k everyday” in the search bar.

You can find micro blogging of this challenge at:
www.facebook.com/tbridle, www.linkedin.com/in/tbridle & www.twitter.com/timbridle

Send a friend request with 10k-everyday in it and I'll accept. Be well, Tim

Show spirit...

Yesterday marked 300km completed of my challenge to run 10k everyday & Monday 1st February is the 200mile mark. This week had a number of milestones, the one that closed the month, a good time to reflect and share the unsaid.

I've been very thankful for the support, donations, comments and following on the challenges I've faced so far. Completing the first month & 1/12th of the journey is very gratifying generally, made sweeter when I think back to the direct criticisms I received like: “it's not possible”, “there's a reason why its not been done before” and my favourite “you won't last a month”; which has been answered this weekend.

This week has been a good week starting with the Primary School Athletic event Monday 25th Jan. I'd been asked by Joyce Bundy to present the medals and I arrived early to watch the competition. It was great to see the spirit to achieve in each of them, pouring their energy into their event or supporting their team, attitudes that would serve them well in the future.

The picture here is of a school team who came to talk to me, sharing their enthusiasm and that their class were following and mapping my challenge as a project.
Their request for a photo & words caught my breath, like many moments over the past 4 weeks when people had contacted me directly sharing their stories about cancer affecting their friends & relatives; and that the challenge had been a reminder of the spirit their loved ones had shown.

The geographical length and breath of these stories has been another point that has taken me by surprise. The support, comments and friendship for the challenge to date has stretched beyond my home shores of Britain to: Canada, India, Spain, Greece, Sweden, Australia, New Zealand, Africa & USA (Texas, Atlanta, New York, LA & Chicago).

Thinking closer to home, this week I also was able to run with Grantham Athletics Club Road Team as I did on the first day. They plus the other people who I've been able to join through the month have really helped to put this challenge on literally a good footing.





Thank you to everyone who's got involved this month and I look forward to challenges in the next. That's it for now, I'm going to get ready for the next run – unfortunately with a bad ankle still.

Please take the time to share the 10k-everyday idea and encouraging others to get involved -its as good as donating. If you're on Face Book simply type “10k everyday” in the search bar.

You can find micro blogging of this challenge at:
www.facebook.com/tbridle, www.linkedin.com/in/tbridle & www.twitter.com/timbridle

Send a friend request with 10k-everyday in it and I'll accept.
I hope the momentum for goals and plans you made for the New Year are continuing. Good luck with any challenges you have planned. Be well, Tim

A bird set free...

The weather since I started my challenge of running 10km everyday has been exceptionally bad and nicely named “Frozen Britain”. In sixteen days I'd managed eight runs outside, one was the hardest run I had ever done – ironically it was 13th. Wednesday 13th Jan was “the big freeze” in the UK turning all the snow slush & any water, everywhere to ice – surfaces that looked a little wet were in fact black ice.

I had agreed to go running early with a friend that day, not knowing it would turn out to be the run from hell. We thought once we got going and the light got better we would be ok so long as we kept to the grass next to the paths, but nowhere was save. It took us 24mins to do 3km and I slipped on black ice to bang my knee on the pavement - so we ran in the local park, named Queen Elizabeth. It was not much better I slipped, slid and never managed to get a posture or pace to run, energy drained from us on every step and we completed the last 7km in 53mins - the same time it would have taken us to do 10km usually.

The following day I went back to the treadmill with my tail between my legs. In honesty my knee was sore and swollen, my confidence wilted, the careful planning flummoxed and all this in one morning. The banged knee ached and requiring more time to get going, as the joint needed more time to warm and loosen up – time I didn't have as fitting the challenge in generally was proving to be harder than I'd originally thought.

Running on a treadmill was torture and harder mentally with a distance like 10km. Your surroundings never change, the air stands still neither helping to cool or remain fresh and you're reminded of every second, every 100th of a km as it ever so slowly clocks up your distance. Each of the runs on the treadmill had lead to frustration a symptom due to the injured knee & monotony but caused by boredom - trapped for about 60mins.

The frustration & knee gnawed at me so when I woke Friday morning to find the drizzle over night had almost eradicated the ice & snow, it left me in a state of trepidation. Finally, I could go outside but how long would my knee let me run, would it get worse and would it halt the challenge.

Saturday 16th January was a landmark day, representing a distance covered of 100 miles; to me personally it represented completing the first challenge in the journey of 10k everyday – the weather with only a sore knee and bruised confidence to show for it.

Having completed and decided Saturdays run had gone better than I had anticipated, I stepped outside on Sunday with a sense of urgency. Yes my knee hurt but it soon loosened off and it seemed to getting better. Listening to my MP3 player and letting go to being outside after 8 days cooped up on the treadmill, I began to feel my quads in my legs hardening and swelling. I tried to pick up me knees but they felt brittle slow – I looked at my Garmin watch in search of some clues and answers which came in the form of the reading 4:05min/km. I'd been running free like a bird, careless to the surroundings and my embraced freedom which had flown me straight into a trap –I'd not controlled my pace. Having run for nearly 8km at an average of 4.05mins/km the Lactic Acid had built up in my legs, the very thing I'd planned to avoid had happened – I'd gone for too long at a pace that would inhibit my performance the next day. No matter how much I stretched or tried to work the lactic off, Mondays run was going to be hard and painful.

Well today's Monday and as I could not delay running to later in the day due to commitments, I ran early which always gave little time for my muscles to recover but after Sundays run and the excessive lactic build up – meant this morning was torture. I endured this morning with a plan to run as late as possible Tuesday thus giving the most rest before exercising again.

This weekend I walked away with some sore legs and a few lessons learnt:
[1] enjoy running free from time to time but keep an eye on how free you run, too free could jeopardise those freedoms.
[2] No matter the challenges or plans we make be careful with the activities that distract us from the purpose of them.

That's it for now, I'm going to soothe these sore legs of mine in a hot bath. The weather reports seem good for the coming week, so I'm looking forward to being out … as planned!

Please take the time to share the 10k-everyday idea and encouraging others to get involved -its as good as donating. If you're on Face Book simply type “10k everyday” in the search bar.

You can find micro blogging of this challenge at:
www.facebook.com/tbridle, www.linkedin.com/in/tbridle & www.twitter.com/timbridle

Send a friend request with 10k-everyday in it and I'll accept.
Good luck will any goals or challenges you have planned. Be well, Tim