Duracel bunny marathon!

Well I've had to mix it up a bit this week. As the number of runs have added up over the last two and a bit months my calf muscles have been getting sorer after each run, I hoped it was just my legs getting stronger. After last week I worried that more running might be making the pain in my left leg worse.   Then after Tuesday nights run I knew that I had to give my calf a break from running as it felt like the muscle was about to pop.

Not wanting to lose any fitness, I have taken part in a load of different sports and exercises to get fitter and get my lungs working. Other than running this week I have done a Les Mills bodycombat class, bike ride, yoga and even pool. In doing this I have learned the following:

• Bodycomabat makes your shoulders and back hurt.
• Cycling makes your bum and knees sore.
• Yoga makes parts of your body that you don't know exist sore.
• Pool doesn't make anything sore, but I'm not sure it helps preparing for a marathon.

The highlight of the exercise this week though was a 26.2 mile marathon bike ride. It absolutely terrifies me to actually see how long a marathon is and I can't quite believe that I'm going to have to run that far. I was also going as fast as I could although I welcomed any break at traffic lights or in the traffic. It took me just under 1 hour 55 minutes to complete the cycle and was pretty knackered, the crazy thing that I realised though was that the winner of the London marathon in 9 weeks time will complete the race in around the same time that it took me to cycle, which is pretty impressive.

It's even more impressive when you consider my Lance Armstrong style cheating....

This canister is my equivalent to the blood doping scandal, most folks look at it attached to the bike and think it's some form of fancy drink canister but it's actually a battery, that will provide a little extra power when I'm struggling. I love the double take of serious lycra clad cyclists with their fancy roadbikes as I coast past while going up a steep hill on a clunky looking mountain bike, for some bizarre reason it makes me feel really manly.

I just wonder if they'll invent battery powered legs in time for April!

Vital Stats

I only managed one run this week but many thanks to my running buddy Martin who pushed me hard to make it the fastest one.

(Took a pre run selfie, I would have also taken a post run one, but I had to focus on breathing)

Time run this week -  54 minutes
Distance covered this week - 10.0km
Distance covered since beginning of training - 211.1km
Average pace - 5 minutes 28 seconds

Donor of the week

I'm very happy to have received a donation from Paul and Wendy Lynch, Paul also has an important role as being the official marathon physio and has to put up with all my moaning.

Thank you Paul!

Please give generously!

We are now just 9 short weeks away from the big day so if you would love the chance to be donor of the week and at the same time help a great cause that contributes to loads of different charities then please go to http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserPage.action?userUrl=therunningactuary&faId=524011&isTeam=false

50 Shades of Gary!

I'm relieved that I have survived my man-flu, it was touch and go there for a while but I'm pleased to have made a Lazarusesque recovery.

Not only that but I also managed to put on my running shoes twice this week and continue preparing for the London marathon. I still wasn't quite 100% which made the runs extremely slow but I think it will still stand me in good stead for the coming weeks.

As part of my new found fitness regime, I have expected at some point that I would regain some of the handsomeness of my youth.  Reversing the downward trend of an ageing, balding and belly expanding thirty-something to a lean mean marathon machine. I was mentally preparing myself for some future time where I would have to let the ladies down gently and tell them I was no longer available. So to be honest it was a little disheartening and confidence shattering to not be getting the attention I  had expected!

That was until this week.....

It started earlier this week we were lucky enough to have Lynne's granny (or nana as she is called in the family) around for dinner. Now every time we have nana around, I am always on my best behaviour and I always try to stay on her good side. She will then usually spend the next little while telling Lynne how lucky she is to have a good man like me, which annoys Lynne because I'm not usually so helpful.

Anyway this time Lynne was giving nana a makeover while I was making dinner for everyone. As I served dinner, I could tell that nana was suitably impressed with my helpfulness around the house. Then she said "Do you know if I was 50 years younger, I'd make you dump her (talking about Lynne her own granddaughter) and come home with me!". This took me back a little and instead of giving my pre-prepared speech saying that I was no longer available etc,etc. I just said "Nana if I was just 10 years older I'd take you up on that offer!

Nana has not only given me the best compliment of the week, but she also very generously made a donation towards the Company of Actuaries Charitable Trust.  What a cracking old bird!

My lucky streak with the ladies continued this week, when in an attempt to save money on valentine flowers I decided to write a poem for Lynne, record it and put it on Facebook (way outside of my comfort zone) and for some reason lots of people wanted to watch it!  A good lot more than ever read this blog thats for sure. 1,500 views in the last two days.  So the good old Anderson charm has returned.  I put it down to the running.  Maybe a video blog is the way forward to drum up sponsorship.....I mean keep folk up to date.

Vital Stats

Time run this week - 2 hours 23 minutes
Distance covered this week - 22.7km
Distance covered since beginning of training - 201.1km
Average pace - 6 minutes 20 seconds

Donor of the week

Other than nana, I was excited this week to receive an email saying that I received a donation from my friend and fellow church goer Jane Brown. Jane has very kindly made a sizeable donation to the Charitable Trust which is very kind of her. I spoke with Jane's husband today who said she was a little poorly today, so Jane please get well soon (least it's not the dreaded man-flu) and thank you very much! 

Please give generously!

We are now just 10 short weeks away from the big day so if you would love the chance to be donor of the week and at the same time help a great cause that contributes to loads of different charities then please go to http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserPage.action?userUrl=therunningactuary&faId=524011&isTeam=false

Mortality matters!

This may be last ever blog post! I have a terrible case of man-flu and I'm not sure if I'm gonna pull through.

One of the big reasons I volunteered to complete the London marathon was to force me to get a bit more active, become more healthy, lose a bit of weight and in general make all round improvements to my physical well being. The theory behind it is sound - the main driving force for me to go out running, is not the exercise itself, but rather the fear of not being able to finish the marathon or coming last out of 36,000 runners and the public humiliation that would result.

As with lots of things in life the theory doesn't always pan out. This week I came across an article on the BBC news regarding recent research completed looking into the effects that jogging has on life expectancy. Now geeky actuarial folk like me love any information about mortality studies. I clicked on it eagerly looking for the confirmation that because of all my recent exercise, I can count on reaching a grand old age, however the studies suggest that folks who run over 2.5 hours a week will have the same life expectancy as people who do nothing. Ideally it suggested running a maximum of 2.5 hours per week at a maximum pace of 5 miles per hour, that's only 12.5 miles (not even half way).

Now it's probably just a coincidence but ever since reading this, it's all been down hill for me. All day after Tuesday's run, I was limping around and making old man noises every time I moved. It deteriorated rapidly to full blown man-flu by Friday and have continued to feel worse until today. at this rate I reckon I've probably only got a few days left!

Lynne says that I'm being a little over dramatic and that I've only got a small cold, but I never said she was making too big a deal when she was complaining of the pain of labour. She should count her lucky stars that she will never have to go through man-flu.

Vital Stats

Due to my current condition, I only managed out once this week:

Time run this week - 1 hour
Distance covered this week - 10.1km
Distance covered since beginning of training - 178.4km
Average pace - 5 minutes 59 seconds

Donor of the week

I was excited this week to receive an email saying that I received a donation from my friend and colleague Martin - no mistaken identity this time.

I sit next to Martin in the office and he has to put up with all my terrible chat all day everyday. Despite that he has been very generous towards the charitable trust. Martin also happens to be the actuarial team crazy golf and pool champion. Although it is not all good as he makes a terrible mint chocolate cheesecake.

Thanks Martin!

Please give generously

!If you would love the chance to be donor of the week and at the same time help a great cause that contributes to loads of different charities then please go to http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserPage.action?userUrl=therunningactuary&faId=524011&isTeam=false

Smokin' hot actuarial models!

Well as the self proclaimed running actuary, this week I have had to focus a lot more on the actuary part than the running part. As on Wednesday I had my CA2 exam - "actuarial modelling".

Now I don't want to make too big of a deal about it, it is definitely regarded as one of the easiest of the 15 actuarial exams, but this fact doesn't give me too much comfort as I failed this exam with flying colours just 6 months ago. It is a modelling exam which basically means I have to build a mathematical model using an excel spreadsheet and a write a couple of documents about what it does and how to use  it.  It always sounds a lot less glamorous than when you tell folks that your work is sending you an a modelling course!

The exam started at 9am and had to be finished at 5pm and I was so wary of running out of time so I only took a six minute break to eat a pork pie and packet of roast beef monster munch (the classic brain food). Despite the shortness of my lunch break, it got to around half past 4 and I still had a load of things that I wanted to write and so it was very intense, I swear for the last half hour there was steam coming out of the keyboard and I thought the lap top might burst into flames, but at 4:59pm the exam was submitted. Now it's just the painful 12 week wait until the results are issued.

Now thinking about it sitting CA2 is actually pretty good marathon training - It takes hours to complete, you don't get much of a break, as it gets closer to the end you get breathless and sweaty and it takes a good few hours to put it out of your mind.

Unfortunately the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries make you delete all your work after it has been submitted, so I can't let you see the output of my hard day's work. Although I can leave you with this picture of a smokin' hot actuarial model.

Vital Stats

As I said, running wasn't the priority this week, I did manage two shorter and very slow runs, I've also been struggling to recover from last weeks long run. If you dislike the smell of deep heat you need to stay well away from me.

Time run this week - 1 hour 47 minutes
Distance covered this week - 17.7km
Distance covered since beginning of training - 168.3km
Average pace - 6 minutes 5 seconds

Donor of the week

Well from one actuarial model to another I was extremely please to receive a donation this week from my good friend,who also happens to be my colleague, Gary Muller.

Not only is Gary one of the smartest guys I know, he has an awesome taste in music and is the current actuarial team ten pin bowling champion. Above all he is a very generous chap!

Thank you Gary!

Please give generously!

If you would love the chance to be donor of the week and at the same time help a great cause that contributes to loads of different charities then please go to http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserPage.action?userUrl=therunningactuary&faId=524011&isTeam=false