Have decided that with 7 weeks to go that I should start following a proper marathon training plan, rather than just freestyling and potentially burning myself out with loads of ridiculously long runs before the event itself. So as my long weekly run (according to the plan I should be doing a 1hr 45min steady run) I decided to run to the end of the (mostly flat) Spen Valley Greenway and back (14 miles).
Unfortunately I was on my own today, because Alex has sustained a groin injury and decided that with 3 weeks to go before the London Marathon it would be sensible to rest.
It's a bit parky outside and I do what I always do and get trussed up in leggings, compression socks, extra pair of socks and long sleeve top. Then 10 mins into running and I get hot, mithered and dehydrated. When will I ever learn eh?! This year could be the year where I break my 'no shorts in the UK, even if there is a heatwave' rule. In fact after years of pointing and laughing at those runners you see in their short shorts and long socks and commenting on how unnecessary they are, I am quite looking forward to becoming one of them and embracing my increasing list of running rituals!!
Anyway back to the run.............Not very eventful really, sun was out, as were lots of people with very well behaved dogs and lots of people with not so well behaved children!
I usually find the first 6 miles or so tough and then find my rhythm and settle down. I just wasn't feeling it today, kept looking at my watch every 5 minutes and couldn't wait to get home. I'm use to having Alex there for a chat and the sound of his constant spitting! Oh well, we all have our off days but at least I got those miles under my belt!
When I got home, I did one of my new running rituals and got in an ice bath with a nice big brew! Works an absolute treat, I tell thee!!
Wednesday, 30 March 2011
Tuesday, 22 March 2011
Bradford 10k - Sunday 20th March 2011
Decided that after last weekends big 20 miler, it would be advisable to do a shorter race.........
The literature says that the Bradford 10k is a fast, flat course, with good PB potential. So I decided to take advantage of this and run it flat out all the way (well that was the plan anyway!)
The race started at 9.00 which is earlier than normal and meant we had to be up at 6.45 for pre race porridge. We were out the night before, being mesmerised by Elbow at Sheffield Arena. Great gig but it meant we weren't in bed till midnight and didn't sleep well. The whole morning was a bit of a rush really. Does it sound like I'm making excuses?!!
Got to Bradford in plenty of time, with our fellow runner Sal and supporters Graham and Rachael. Hmmm what can I say about the city of Bradford..................hhhhmmmm...........eeeerrrrrr................Let's just leave it at that shall we?!
It was bloomin' cold and I was nervous, because in my mind I wanted to go under 45 mins. The start was a bit of a mess and there were lots of people to dodge. We (me and Alex) set off at what felt like a sprint and seemed to be getting carried along with the crowd. We worked out that we needed to do 4.5 min kms to be in with a chance of going sub 45.
This race is flat (for Yorkshire) but there are a few uphill drags, which slowed us down a little. We don't really do much speed training and tend to run longer distances (which makes sense when you're training for a marathon!) I'm a slow starter (!) and like to bide my time for about 6 miles ( the length of this race), then speed up. Which is probably why after a couple of kms, I got a stitch and felt a little out of breath.
We get through the first few kms without any drama and very little conversation! We can see the half way point in the distance as the leader passes us on his way back, running flat out! At this stage, we're still on for about 45 mins and agree to hold back a bit on the short incline as we double back on ourselves. We didn't stick to this and ran at the same pace uphill (nothing compared to what we're use to running up!)
At the 6km mark (where I ignore the water station cos it's sodding cups again!) I decide to push on a bit and start picking off people ahead of me that I need to catch up and hopefully pass! Go through 7 and 8kms with some excellent encouragement from the Marshalls. I actually feel like crap at this point (just not comfortable) and start negging myself out about going to bed too late, starting too fast, eating the wrong thing for breakfast etc.
Get to 9 and decide to kick for home. Having a little game of cat and mouse with a woman in an athletics club vest and short shorts at this point. I can see the town hall where the finish is, but it doesn't seem to be getting any closer and feel like I'm about to blow chunks!
I reach the finishing straight (I think it was ever so slightly uphill?) and look at my watch. If I get a move on I could just duck under 45 mins (whether I could do it without projectile vomiting all over the crowd is another matter!) I am running flat out to reach the line but not with the normal spring in my step (maybe the 20 miles last weekend has taken it's toll) and cross it in 45:07. This is 1:27 faster than my previous PB but I'm still disappointed that I didn't go under 45.
Alex comes in not far behind (having stopped for a strategic chunder!) We collect our t-shirts and go to the finish to cheer the others on. Our mate Sal (pretty in pink) appears in the finishing straight and takes a while to realise that we are screaming at her to do a sprint finish. She obliges and picks up the pace to cross the line in style!!
Feel fine afterwards, get home, shower, eat, feel like death, console myself by buying a new pair of asics, go to bed. If only I'd run 8 secs faster...........................................
The literature says that the Bradford 10k is a fast, flat course, with good PB potential. So I decided to take advantage of this and run it flat out all the way (well that was the plan anyway!)
The race started at 9.00 which is earlier than normal and meant we had to be up at 6.45 for pre race porridge. We were out the night before, being mesmerised by Elbow at Sheffield Arena. Great gig but it meant we weren't in bed till midnight and didn't sleep well. The whole morning was a bit of a rush really. Does it sound like I'm making excuses?!!
Got to Bradford in plenty of time, with our fellow runner Sal and supporters Graham and Rachael. Hmmm what can I say about the city of Bradford..................hhhhmmmm...........eeeerrrrrr................Let's just leave it at that shall we?!
It was bloomin' cold and I was nervous, because in my mind I wanted to go under 45 mins. The start was a bit of a mess and there were lots of people to dodge. We (me and Alex) set off at what felt like a sprint and seemed to be getting carried along with the crowd. We worked out that we needed to do 4.5 min kms to be in with a chance of going sub 45.
This race is flat (for Yorkshire) but there are a few uphill drags, which slowed us down a little. We don't really do much speed training and tend to run longer distances (which makes sense when you're training for a marathon!) I'm a slow starter (!) and like to bide my time for about 6 miles ( the length of this race), then speed up. Which is probably why after a couple of kms, I got a stitch and felt a little out of breath.
We get through the first few kms without any drama and very little conversation! We can see the half way point in the distance as the leader passes us on his way back, running flat out! At this stage, we're still on for about 45 mins and agree to hold back a bit on the short incline as we double back on ourselves. We didn't stick to this and ran at the same pace uphill (nothing compared to what we're use to running up!)
At the 6km mark (where I ignore the water station cos it's sodding cups again!) I decide to push on a bit and start picking off people ahead of me that I need to catch up and hopefully pass! Go through 7 and 8kms with some excellent encouragement from the Marshalls. I actually feel like crap at this point (just not comfortable) and start negging myself out about going to bed too late, starting too fast, eating the wrong thing for breakfast etc.
Get to 9 and decide to kick for home. Having a little game of cat and mouse with a woman in an athletics club vest and short shorts at this point. I can see the town hall where the finish is, but it doesn't seem to be getting any closer and feel like I'm about to blow chunks!
I reach the finishing straight (I think it was ever so slightly uphill?) and look at my watch. If I get a move on I could just duck under 45 mins (whether I could do it without projectile vomiting all over the crowd is another matter!) I am running flat out to reach the line but not with the normal spring in my step (maybe the 20 miles last weekend has taken it's toll) and cross it in 45:07. This is 1:27 faster than my previous PB but I'm still disappointed that I didn't go under 45.
Alex comes in not far behind (having stopped for a strategic chunder!) We collect our t-shirts and go to the finish to cheer the others on. Our mate Sal (pretty in pink) appears in the finishing straight and takes a while to realise that we are screaming at her to do a sprint finish. She obliges and picks up the pace to cross the line in style!!
Feel fine afterwards, get home, shower, eat, feel like death, console myself by buying a new pair of asics, go to bed. If only I'd run 8 secs faster...........................................
Monday, 21 March 2011
Spen 20 mile road race - 13th March 2011
This was my second road race in West Yorkshire this year, having completed the Liversedge Half Marathon on 13th February. The Spen 20 race is a 20 mile road race organised by Spenborough Athletics Club. It starts at St Mary's Athletics Stadium in Cleckheaton, West Yorkshire.
I was very apprehensive about running this race, apart from the fact that it is the furthest I have ever run and has an elevation of 1150ft, it is also part of the Yorkshire Trials and many of the entrants are club/veteran runners who do the race every year. Although I have done many a hilly training run and half marathons, my most recent longer runs (16/17 miles) have been relatively flat (for Yorkshire!) Anyway we (me and Alex) decided that as this is the longest distance we've ever run and we have no previous time to go on, that we would just aim 'to get round'.
The race started at 10.00, so we were up at 7.30 to allow our traditional pre run porridge to digest. It was pissing it down with rain and blowing a gale outside, which was not ideal! Anyway we get togged up and in the car. The rain is really coming down now and it's so freezing I could cry! Thankfully when we got to the stadium we could stand inside for a bit and there was a very small queue for the ladies toilets (in fact there didn't seem to be that many ladies there!)
The race starts with a lap round the athletics track and we have agreed that we will start off slow and try and stick to round about 9 minute mile pace (slow then!) There are as always the people that go out hell for leather. They are either elite or you pass them (breathing out of their arses) after a couple of miles! We ignore them.
First few miles we stick to the plan and then there is some variation in our times. We have a couple of quick downhill sections (there weren't many of them!) and a couple of slow uphill sections (loads of them!) The first water stop is at mile 7 and it's sodding cups! Complete waste of time and I end up throwing most of it over my face! At the 10 mile mark I'm just starting to get into my rythmn and start to speed up. Thankfully Alex is there to keep me in check by reminding me that we're only half way!!
I remember getting to mile 14 and thinking that I felt remarkably well for saying I'd run just over half marathon distance. Unfortunately this was short lived and by mile 16 I was struggling. The hills just kept on coming! At this point I employed my tactic of pretending that my legs no longer belonged to my body. I knew I had to stay focused mentally and not let my head drop or I wouldn't make it. Having Alex by my side all the way round really helped with that (even though he did most of the talking and I just grunted because I was 'in the zone' - sorry Alex!)
By mile 18, I started to feel a bit wobbly Bob! I was hungry, I was thirsty, it was hot, my legs ached, my shoulders ached and I still had two miles to go. I almost screamed when I saw the hill at mile 18. We were passed at this point by another participant who was shouting words of encouragement. I'm sure it wasn't supposed to sound smug and patronising, but it did!
Anyway after necking a handful of Lucozade tablets we pushed on to the end. I reckon the last half a mile was flat and thankfully I saw the finish sooner than I had expected to. I should mention at this point that Alex and I had made an agreement that we would cross the line together. However when we entered the Athletics Stadium and were greeted by the best neighbours in the world (Aunt Sally and Our Graham) and that spongey track, I couldn't help a sprint finish. I'm a competitive little bastard.............!!
Felt ok as soon as I'd crossed the line, could have gone round again.............er not!! Was impressed by the massive table of pick n mix and free brew afterwards, both of which I got involved in. Not so impressed with the 'quality' souvenir, which looked like something yer Nana won down the binga!!
Crossed the line in 2:58:10, not bad for a first time..............will be aiming for a quicker one next year, might even wear some long socks and short shorts!!
Got home, had an ice (yes that's ice, not nice) bath, ate, felt like I was going to die, then got on the ale!
I was very apprehensive about running this race, apart from the fact that it is the furthest I have ever run and has an elevation of 1150ft, it is also part of the Yorkshire Trials and many of the entrants are club/veteran runners who do the race every year. Although I have done many a hilly training run and half marathons, my most recent longer runs (16/17 miles) have been relatively flat (for Yorkshire!) Anyway we (me and Alex) decided that as this is the longest distance we've ever run and we have no previous time to go on, that we would just aim 'to get round'.
The race started at 10.00, so we were up at 7.30 to allow our traditional pre run porridge to digest. It was pissing it down with rain and blowing a gale outside, which was not ideal! Anyway we get togged up and in the car. The rain is really coming down now and it's so freezing I could cry! Thankfully when we got to the stadium we could stand inside for a bit and there was a very small queue for the ladies toilets (in fact there didn't seem to be that many ladies there!)
The race starts with a lap round the athletics track and we have agreed that we will start off slow and try and stick to round about 9 minute mile pace (slow then!) There are as always the people that go out hell for leather. They are either elite or you pass them (breathing out of their arses) after a couple of miles! We ignore them.
First few miles we stick to the plan and then there is some variation in our times. We have a couple of quick downhill sections (there weren't many of them!) and a couple of slow uphill sections (loads of them!) The first water stop is at mile 7 and it's sodding cups! Complete waste of time and I end up throwing most of it over my face! At the 10 mile mark I'm just starting to get into my rythmn and start to speed up. Thankfully Alex is there to keep me in check by reminding me that we're only half way!!
I remember getting to mile 14 and thinking that I felt remarkably well for saying I'd run just over half marathon distance. Unfortunately this was short lived and by mile 16 I was struggling. The hills just kept on coming! At this point I employed my tactic of pretending that my legs no longer belonged to my body. I knew I had to stay focused mentally and not let my head drop or I wouldn't make it. Having Alex by my side all the way round really helped with that (even though he did most of the talking and I just grunted because I was 'in the zone' - sorry Alex!)
By mile 18, I started to feel a bit wobbly Bob! I was hungry, I was thirsty, it was hot, my legs ached, my shoulders ached and I still had two miles to go. I almost screamed when I saw the hill at mile 18. We were passed at this point by another participant who was shouting words of encouragement. I'm sure it wasn't supposed to sound smug and patronising, but it did!
Anyway after necking a handful of Lucozade tablets we pushed on to the end. I reckon the last half a mile was flat and thankfully I saw the finish sooner than I had expected to. I should mention at this point that Alex and I had made an agreement that we would cross the line together. However when we entered the Athletics Stadium and were greeted by the best neighbours in the world (Aunt Sally and Our Graham) and that spongey track, I couldn't help a sprint finish. I'm a competitive little bastard.............!!
Felt ok as soon as I'd crossed the line, could have gone round again.............er not!! Was impressed by the massive table of pick n mix and free brew afterwards, both of which I got involved in. Not so impressed with the 'quality' souvenir, which looked like something yer Nana won down the binga!!
Crossed the line in 2:58:10, not bad for a first time..............will be aiming for a quicker one next year, might even wear some long socks and short shorts!!
Got home, had an ice (yes that's ice, not nice) bath, ate, felt like I was going to die, then got on the ale!
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