I haven't blogged for ages.
I completed the London Marathon in April. It was a great day with unbelievable support. Unfortunately I was bit injured on the start line, but I was determined to run, as I didn't want to defer and I was running for charity. I started off too fast, as I thought my target of 4 hours was possible. I think I should have gone for about 4:15 which would have been a new PB and then my legs wouldn't have given up at 20 miles. It was quite a hot day and in the end 4:40 wasn't too bad.
I didn't run for 10 days after the marathon and then started to run again. Initially my legs seemed ok, but since then they haven't improved and last week I could only manage 1/2 mile run, 1/2 mile walk. The pain in my knee is the injury I had prior to the marathon. Unfortunately now it doesn't get better after a mile as it did when I was training. I've now decided to have a complete rest from running for 2 or 3 weeks to try and let the injury completely get better. I think the problem was caused by a weak core and not enough cross training. When I did the Hamburg marathon I was cycling a lot more, which helped. I'm now going to try and improve my core strength. I'm going to a weekly pilates session which seems to help.
Wednesday, 11 June 2014
Thursday, 4 April 2013
Will the winter ever end ?
This Winter has been so cold, the coldest since 1962 when I was born. I quite often have not felt like going out training, although it hasn't been too bad once I have got out. A number of races have been cancelled due to the weather such as the Folksworth 15 in January which I had a place in and the Oakley 20, which I ran last year. Last year it was on April 1st and it was so warm that we were sat outside at my sister's house having a barbecue afterwards ! What a change from this year. I haven't been training for a marathon this year, it has been tough this year if you are. It'll probably be a scorcher on the day of the VLM this year, as in other years. Here is a good post if you are running your first marathon this year :
http://myjourneyasarunner.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/10-things-i-wish-i-knew-prior-to.html
I ran at Wimpole parkrun last Saturday, not quite as fast as I would have liked. Garmin connect here :
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/290624960
It's a great course with a massive hill (for Cambridgeshire) and slower than Cambridge parkrun. The mad person that I am I decided to some hill repeats there yesterday. It was very windy and quite cold. There is one bit of the hill where you almost feel like walking. I'm not sure it will ever get any easier.
Here's a picture of Wimpole house, where I jogged to after the last hill :
http://myjourneyasarunner.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/10-things-i-wish-i-knew-prior-to.html
I ran at Wimpole parkrun last Saturday, not quite as fast as I would have liked. Garmin connect here :
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/290624960
It's a great course with a massive hill (for Cambridgeshire) and slower than Cambridge parkrun. The mad person that I am I decided to some hill repeats there yesterday. It was very windy and quite cold. There is one bit of the hill where you almost feel like walking. I'm not sure it will ever get any easier.
Here's a picture of Wimpole house, where I jogged to after the last hill :
Thursday, 6 December 2012
Hills and miles
Last Thursday evening I went along to a really good hill session with Cambridge and Coleridge. We started at the University athletic track and then jogged up to Castle Hill. We then did 3 loops which included some climbs up streets on the hills ! around Cambridge. I was at the back of the group, but managed to complete the session. I could really feel the hills in my legs on the way back. Hopefully I will get stronger and fitter if I continue to do these sessions. The training session was 9 miles in total ! A good distance for a week night. Garmin connect here ;
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/247856996
On Saturday I did Cambridge parkrun. I'm intending to parkrum every Saturday this month ; I will then be in with a chance of a place in the VLM. It was a cold and slippy parkrun and I took it a bit easy, starting towards the back of the field. Other parkruns nearby had bern cancelled because of the conditions (Milton Keynes and Bedford). The run was well marshalled. Unfortunately one runner fell over and he had to be taken to A&E. Hope he is back to running soon. I was fairly happy with my run given the conditions. Garmin connect here :
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/248374361
Later on in the day I attended the Jingle Mile. This was a Fetcheveryone event at the Cambridge University running track. It was the first time I had run a timed mile and I really enjoyed it. It's a different experience to run a mile on track as compared to parkrun. I was pleased with my mile time of 6:46. Garmin connect here ;
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/248374353
There was no long run at the weekend. Instead I ran to work in Histon. It's always a bit hard doing this and I wake up on the way. It was 7 miles to work which took me 1 hour 5. Didn't fancy running all the way back home, as I have done previous weeks. Instead I took the Guided bus part of the way to Addenbrookes and run home from there (2 miles in 17:43). This run took me over 1000 miles for the year to date !
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/247856996
On Saturday I did Cambridge parkrun. I'm intending to parkrum every Saturday this month ; I will then be in with a chance of a place in the VLM. It was a cold and slippy parkrun and I took it a bit easy, starting towards the back of the field. Other parkruns nearby had bern cancelled because of the conditions (Milton Keynes and Bedford). The run was well marshalled. Unfortunately one runner fell over and he had to be taken to A&E. Hope he is back to running soon. I was fairly happy with my run given the conditions. Garmin connect here :
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/248374361
Later on in the day I attended the Jingle Mile. This was a Fetcheveryone event at the Cambridge University running track. It was the first time I had run a timed mile and I really enjoyed it. It's a different experience to run a mile on track as compared to parkrun. I was pleased with my mile time of 6:46. Garmin connect here ;
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/248374353
There was no long run at the weekend. Instead I ran to work in Histon. It's always a bit hard doing this and I wake up on the way. It was 7 miles to work which took me 1 hour 5. Didn't fancy running all the way back home, as I have done previous weeks. Instead I took the Guided bus part of the way to Addenbrookes and run home from there (2 miles in 17:43). This run took me over 1000 miles for the year to date !
Monday, 5 November 2012
Bonfire Burn 10K
I was really looking forward to this race and I was hoping for a new PB. Unfortunately, conditions on the day were terrible. The day before we had had a fireworks celebration at home and during the day it was cold and sunny ; perfect conditions. Unfortunately, the forecast for the day was rain, rain and more rain, which turned out to be correct. Because it was pouring down we didn't rush to get our numbers at the start. Unfortunately everybody else did the same and the starts had to be postponed by 15 minutes. I managed to shelter under the entrance of a building for a bit while I waited for my wave to start. However by the time the race started I was already cold and wet.
When I was running up the guided busway there was a howling wind blowing in my face and the rain was coming down really hard. I was really wondering why I was running in this race. My glasses were steamed up and very wet, so my vision wasn't that great, but I just kept pushing as hard as I could in the conditions. Unfortunately, I had to stop to do up my laces, so lost some time. I was wet through and my clothes felt really heavy and seemed to be slowing me down. My feet were soaking wet and I was just running straight through the puddles. There was then about a mile off road. I was overtaken by quite a few people on this stretch as I couldn't get any grip. We were then back on the road and I managed to pick up the pace again. Towards the end there were some people saying that the next puddle was really deep, but I carefully put one foot in it and went straight through it.
I was really glad to finish and picked up my medal and met up with Paul and went straight back to his house for a shower. Didn't enjoy the race at all, but in better conditions it would have been a good event. Let's hope next year's event is dry. My Garmin time was 49:44 ; my time in the results was 50:02 ; I think my Garmin time is more correct as I started and stopped right at the start and straight after the finish.
Garmin connect here :
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/240152294
When I was running up the guided busway there was a howling wind blowing in my face and the rain was coming down really hard. I was really wondering why I was running in this race. My glasses were steamed up and very wet, so my vision wasn't that great, but I just kept pushing as hard as I could in the conditions. Unfortunately, I had to stop to do up my laces, so lost some time. I was wet through and my clothes felt really heavy and seemed to be slowing me down. My feet were soaking wet and I was just running straight through the puddles. There was then about a mile off road. I was overtaken by quite a few people on this stretch as I couldn't get any grip. We were then back on the road and I managed to pick up the pace again. Towards the end there were some people saying that the next puddle was really deep, but I carefully put one foot in it and went straight through it.
I was really glad to finish and picked up my medal and met up with Paul and went straight back to his house for a shower. Didn't enjoy the race at all, but in better conditions it would have been a good event. Let's hope next year's event is dry. My Garmin time was 49:44 ; my time in the results was 50:02 ; I think my Garmin time is more correct as I started and stopped right at the start and straight after the finish.
Garmin connect here :
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/240152294
Tuesday, 2 October 2012
Saffron Walden 10K race report
I ran in this race last Sunday. The pre run organisation wasn't that great at this race, there was a lack of toilets and no map of the course. Met a few people from C&C at the start. Didn't really feel like racing, but gradually got into the event.
This was mostly on trails and footpaths and was more like a cross country run. The course was out and back and uphill for the first couple of miles. It was a surprise when the lead runners suddenly appeared, coming the other direction and people had to pull over to one side to let the lead runners through. Because of this it was difficult to overtake until the turn around. After the turn around which was uphill I managed to overtake quite a lot of runners. We then got to a downhill section which was along a narrow path, where it was impossible to overtake. This meant, though, that you had to keep the speed up and I did a mile in 7:19. At 7K there was a narrow entrance to get through and then an absolute monster hill to get up. At the end you had to run up a narrow track to the school and then around the field into the wind to the end.
I didn't taper for this event. I had ran 15 miles to and from work on the Monday of the week, did a mad 8 mile tempo session on the Thursday night and Cambridge parkrun on the Saturday, where I was only 17 seconds behind my PB, so I was very pleased when I finished in 48:03 a new PB for 10k, on such a challenging course.
It was a bit frustrating on the narrow paths sometimes and a bit disappointing that it was an out and back course, but overall a good race, which I may do again. I felt very satisfied to have run a new PB. May be able to get close to my target of 1:45 for the Peterborough half, hopefully, which is on a flat course and hopefully should be able to get closer to 47:00 on the flatter course of the Bonfire Burn in November.
Garmin connect here :
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/228356954
I didn't get into next year's London Marathon through the ballot, which is disappointing. Probably not doing a marathon next year, now, as will take too much training. Would like to do one really, as I think finishing in under 4 hours should be possible now ; may have to wait until 2014 to find out, though. The training would be hard and sometimes you do think on the 18 / 20 mile runs, why am I doing this, but I had such a great run at the Hamburg marathon this year, that I would like to give a marathon another go soon.
This was mostly on trails and footpaths and was more like a cross country run. The course was out and back and uphill for the first couple of miles. It was a surprise when the lead runners suddenly appeared, coming the other direction and people had to pull over to one side to let the lead runners through. Because of this it was difficult to overtake until the turn around. After the turn around which was uphill I managed to overtake quite a lot of runners. We then got to a downhill section which was along a narrow path, where it was impossible to overtake. This meant, though, that you had to keep the speed up and I did a mile in 7:19. At 7K there was a narrow entrance to get through and then an absolute monster hill to get up. At the end you had to run up a narrow track to the school and then around the field into the wind to the end.
I didn't taper for this event. I had ran 15 miles to and from work on the Monday of the week, did a mad 8 mile tempo session on the Thursday night and Cambridge parkrun on the Saturday, where I was only 17 seconds behind my PB, so I was very pleased when I finished in 48:03 a new PB for 10k, on such a challenging course.
It was a bit frustrating on the narrow paths sometimes and a bit disappointing that it was an out and back course, but overall a good race, which I may do again. I felt very satisfied to have run a new PB. May be able to get close to my target of 1:45 for the Peterborough half, hopefully, which is on a flat course and hopefully should be able to get closer to 47:00 on the flatter course of the Bonfire Burn in November.
Garmin connect here :
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/228356954
I didn't get into next year's London Marathon through the ballot, which is disappointing. Probably not doing a marathon next year, now, as will take too much training. Would like to do one really, as I think finishing in under 4 hours should be possible now ; may have to wait until 2014 to find out, though. The training would be hard and sometimes you do think on the 18 / 20 mile runs, why am I doing this, but I had such a great run at the Hamburg marathon this year, that I would like to give a marathon another go soon.
Tuesday, 11 September 2012
Swineshead 10 mile race report
I ran in this race on Sunday. I dropped the family off at the Oasis beach pool in Bedford and then made my way up the B660 to Swineshead. It was a bit further than I thought and I didn't get to Swineshead until about 11 for the start at 11:30AM. I was about one of the last cars there. I was cutting it a bit fine. I then jogged off to the start and managed to turn my ankle, which wasn't good. It ached a bit, but I didn't want this to stop me running unless I had to. Warmed up and then did some stretchs and then realised I had forgotten my jelly beans and drink, so rushed back to the car. I then had to jog fairly quickly to the start. Will try and get to Swineshead a bit earlier if I run this race again.
Friendly atmosphere at the start, but couldn't hear what what was being said by the organiser. Started off up a hill and then at the top of the hill the Fun run went off to the left and the 10 mile and 5 mile races carried straight on. It was then downhill and then turned off onto an offroad section through Melchbourne Park. It was very hot, but I had started off at a reasonable pace. Was hoping to do the race in well under 1 1/2 hours, which meant a pace of under 9 min / miles. This seemed possible. There was some shade going through Melchbourne Park, the next section, but the path was fairly uneven, so you had to watch your footing. At about 3 miles we came out of Melchbourne Park and the 5 mile race went to the left and the 10 mile race to the right, through Riseley. This also meant the end of most of the shade for the rest of the race.
There was then a climb out of Riseley and I managed to overtake a number of people. I overtook somebody from Bedford Harriers and then he overtook me again on the flat bit. This continued for the next few miles and then he finally pulled away from me. I then started to get hotter and hotter and was starting to struggle. I walked through the next drinks station and managed to cool down a bit.
The race then went out onto the B660 and there was hardly any shade at all. I was finding it very hard. We then came off the B660 and there was a little shade. There was about 3 miles to go and there was another water station. I walked through this and for a distance afterwards. I really didn't feel like running again and was really looking forward to the end. An ambulance had gone past us and up ahead it had stopped and there was someone on a stretcher being put in the back. Not sure if it was a runner or one of the many cyclists who had passed us, who seemed to be doing the same route. Hope they are ok now. This made me think its not worth making yourself ill in this sort of heat. It must have been 30 degrees or over in the sun.
I managed to drag myself to the end finishing in 1:32:51, this was better than last year's time and a PB. I wasn't that happy with this time, but considering the heat, it was ok, I suppose. I had been on track to beat 1 1/2 hours, but really slowed in the last 3 miles, see Garmin Connect here :
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/220765468
This was one of the hardest races I have ever run in. I wouldn't like to run in that sort of heat again. I felt a great sense of achievement aferwards.
This is a great race with a great atmosphere. The course is quite challenging and I think its a good run out in preparation for an Autumn 1/2. I will probably run it again next year ; just hope it's cooler next time. Last year's race had perfect conditions - sun, rain and then sun again ! Starting the race at 11:30AM didn't help, would be better if the race started earlier.
Later in the day I was very tired and ending up going to bed at 8PM. On Monday my ankle swelled up (probably wasn't a good idea to run 10 miles on it, after twisting it !). Picture of it last night :
Raised up my foot last night and I have had bandage on it all day and it's gone down a lot now (Tuesday evening). This meant I couldn't go to the C&C Tuesday session (although my Wife wanted to play netball tonight, so probably couldn't have gone anyway). Hopefully I can run tomorrow.
Friendly atmosphere at the start, but couldn't hear what what was being said by the organiser. Started off up a hill and then at the top of the hill the Fun run went off to the left and the 10 mile and 5 mile races carried straight on. It was then downhill and then turned off onto an offroad section through Melchbourne Park. It was very hot, but I had started off at a reasonable pace. Was hoping to do the race in well under 1 1/2 hours, which meant a pace of under 9 min / miles. This seemed possible. There was some shade going through Melchbourne Park, the next section, but the path was fairly uneven, so you had to watch your footing. At about 3 miles we came out of Melchbourne Park and the 5 mile race went to the left and the 10 mile race to the right, through Riseley. This also meant the end of most of the shade for the rest of the race.
There was then a climb out of Riseley and I managed to overtake a number of people. I overtook somebody from Bedford Harriers and then he overtook me again on the flat bit. This continued for the next few miles and then he finally pulled away from me. I then started to get hotter and hotter and was starting to struggle. I walked through the next drinks station and managed to cool down a bit.
The race then went out onto the B660 and there was hardly any shade at all. I was finding it very hard. We then came off the B660 and there was a little shade. There was about 3 miles to go and there was another water station. I walked through this and for a distance afterwards. I really didn't feel like running again and was really looking forward to the end. An ambulance had gone past us and up ahead it had stopped and there was someone on a stretcher being put in the back. Not sure if it was a runner or one of the many cyclists who had passed us, who seemed to be doing the same route. Hope they are ok now. This made me think its not worth making yourself ill in this sort of heat. It must have been 30 degrees or over in the sun.
I managed to drag myself to the end finishing in 1:32:51, this was better than last year's time and a PB. I wasn't that happy with this time, but considering the heat, it was ok, I suppose. I had been on track to beat 1 1/2 hours, but really slowed in the last 3 miles, see Garmin Connect here :
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/220765468
This was one of the hardest races I have ever run in. I wouldn't like to run in that sort of heat again. I felt a great sense of achievement aferwards.
This is a great race with a great atmosphere. The course is quite challenging and I think its a good run out in preparation for an Autumn 1/2. I will probably run it again next year ; just hope it's cooler next time. Last year's race had perfect conditions - sun, rain and then sun again ! Starting the race at 11:30AM didn't help, would be better if the race started earlier.
Later in the day I was very tired and ending up going to bed at 8PM. On Monday my ankle swelled up (probably wasn't a good idea to run 10 miles on it, after twisting it !). Picture of it last night :
Raised up my foot last night and I have had bandage on it all day and it's gone down a lot now (Tuesday evening). This meant I couldn't go to the C&C Tuesday session (although my Wife wanted to play netball tonight, so probably couldn't have gone anyway). Hopefully I can run tomorrow.
Sunday, 12 August 2012
Tired
I haven't posted for a while. We went on holiday to the Lake District coming back last Saturday to see the fantastic Saturday when Team GB got 3 golds in the athletic stadium. We had a great time in the Lake District even though it was a bit wet (we were camping). Unfortunately, I didn't manage to do any training while we were in the Lake District, so this week has been a catch up week, which has been hard. Last Monday we went to the morning athletics session at the Olympics, which was really great.
On Tuesday I went to a session with the Cambridge and Coleridge club. This was a track session which consisted of 3 x 400M, each with 2 mins recovery and then 2 x 800M with 2 mins recovery and then 1200M with 4 mins recovery and then another 2 x 800M and then 2 x 400M. This was a very hard session, which I am still recovering from now. Really enjoyed it, but I will give it a miss next week and goto the Sweatshop Running Community session on Wednesday next week instead, as I think it will be too much otherwise.
I ran 5 miles on Thursday, but my legs felt heavy and I felt tired. I went to parkrun on Saturday and started near the front, but after the first large loop I knew a PB wasn't on and my legs felt tired and a bit tight, so I jogged the 2nd half, finishing in 24:25.
Last night watched Mo Farah complete the 10000M and 5000M double, which was amazing.
Was supposed to be doing 8 miles at 8:20 pace today, but could only manage the first 4 miles at that pace and then slowed down for the rest of the run. There didn't seem any point pushing myself. I will try and take it a bit easier next week. I then watched the Olympic Men's marathon. Enjoyed watching this and watched right to the end to see the last competitor finish. It was very hot, I think they should have started it earlier.
On Tuesday I went to a session with the Cambridge and Coleridge club. This was a track session which consisted of 3 x 400M, each with 2 mins recovery and then 2 x 800M with 2 mins recovery and then 1200M with 4 mins recovery and then another 2 x 800M and then 2 x 400M. This was a very hard session, which I am still recovering from now. Really enjoyed it, but I will give it a miss next week and goto the Sweatshop Running Community session on Wednesday next week instead, as I think it will be too much otherwise.
I ran 5 miles on Thursday, but my legs felt heavy and I felt tired. I went to parkrun on Saturday and started near the front, but after the first large loop I knew a PB wasn't on and my legs felt tired and a bit tight, so I jogged the 2nd half, finishing in 24:25.
Last night watched Mo Farah complete the 10000M and 5000M double, which was amazing.
Was supposed to be doing 8 miles at 8:20 pace today, but could only manage the first 4 miles at that pace and then slowed down for the rest of the run. There didn't seem any point pushing myself. I will try and take it a bit easier next week. I then watched the Olympic Men's marathon. Enjoyed watching this and watched right to the end to see the last competitor finish. It was very hot, I think they should have started it earlier.
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