Computastrophe

Felt I needed a rest after my first week back in training. Gave yesterday a miss and I'm giving today a miss as well. I'll be out tomorrow though. I'm still really eager to get quick and looking forward to the Aztec reps on Tuesday.

Had a bit of a computing catastrophe. Unbeknown to me my server had gone crazy and only half of my email had been collected. Didn't realise it was happening until now. Suffice to say it's now sorted (unfortunately in means I have bucket loads of emails to answer). I've had to bring online a new server which has taken me about three days solid work to get going (every self respecting computer geek has to have their own server to serve their internal network don't they?). Anyway, this new one is super charged compared to the old one so hopefully my email won't go missing again. What's even better is I can now do my bit to save the environment because now I only need to take one computer into the shower instead of two! (In the interests of safety please don't take your computer into the shower as electricity and water can be hazardous to health - you have been warned).

Strolling down the promenade

It was actually quite a decent night tonight - weather wise that is. My legs felt pretty tired after the previous two days hard sessions. This was my third in a row and got to admit it was hard going up that promenade hill. We did six of the medium reps and two of the short ones ('cept I missed the first short rep on account of being too knackered). I'm really pleased with the way things have gone in this the first week of full training since the marathon. I've run five days out of six since Saturday and to add to that, work wise, I've worked more hours this week than in any week since my employment re-alignment phase in June (aka made redundant, bummed around for a few months, then became self employed). I can feel the (relative) speed returning - everything's relative - I'm no Phil 'Fleet of Foot' Parry after all. And another thing, talking of relative, do you know that if you run quickly enough the distance actually becomes shorter! - by virtue of the Lorentz contraction (no - nothing to do with Obstetrics). I could explain what that's all about (the Lorentz bit not the Obstetrics) but then I'd have to kill you and bear in mind that if you wish to try this you'll have to run at a speed close the speed of light. A word of advice, don't try this at home. I digress.

I took things pretty easy tonight. Don't get me wrong, I was working hard just not all out. I went hard on the last medium one though, going 15s quicker than the first five. I really pushed up the steep bit of the hill on that last one. For the final rep, the short one that misses out the steep part of the hill, I really put my foot to the pedal and the pedal to the floor. Took it out easy-hard until we started to climb then it turned into a full on sprint. I was eye balls out and it felt goooood....

I'm back and I'm cooking on gas

Looking back through the archives to 1st November and 8th November. We ran the same session tonight as then. Three 900's followed by three 500's finished off with three 300's. The recoveries where in the region of 2:30, 2:20 and 1:30's. I was a few seconds down on each rep from the 1st November and almost identical to the session on the 8th. Tonight was windy but the 1st wasn't so all in all I do declare - I am back.

We had a full contingent tonight and they were brimming with youthful exuberance - oh how they deserved a slap for that - and for whooping me out of sight. I didn't even get close to them tonight. Joking aside, it's good to see them all enjoying it, jockeying for position on each of the laps.

Got to mention Ben, it's good to see him back in training after a long layoff through injury. Go Ben.

Down at the dingley dell

Or in English - Coombe Dingle. The rain held off - must have been me lucky underpants to be sure. Thought we were in for a wet one but in the end conditions were pretty good if a little blustery. I run marathons in blustery conditions so a we bit o training in such conditions is no problem.

I was pleased with the way I went tonight. The session was a trifle complicated. A six and a half minute effort, followed by 30s recovery and then a one minute blast followed by 90s recovery. Then repeat but with a six instead of six and a half and trying to run as far as the first pair. Still with me? Well you're a better man than me if you are! Then we did basically the same but with a 4:15 and a 4 then a 2:10 and 2. Each long was followed quickly by the 1 minute blast. I must admit I missed out on the two's but my reduced session was still 25 minutes of hard running which I think is enough for me at the moment.

Anyway, I think I should be recovered and fit for tomorrow's track session. Let the hard work continue....

PS, managed to get down the gym today for an upper body and abs workout. There was heavy traffic to contend with yet again but I got there in time for a quick half hour before moving on to the Coombe session.

Bloomin traffic

Got out for a run yesterday with Rick, Heidi and amazingly ....... Harry. Now that doesn't happen every day! We went out for about 45 minutes around and about Ashton Court/Leigh Woods clocking up maybe 10k. Harry seemed to cope fine. I was pretty pleased as well because I didn't feel too bad and even managed to get down the gym again afterwards for another hour on the exercise bike.

I was going down the gym tonight, straight from work, but the traffic was horrendous. I moved about 500m in ten minutes and just gave up and came home instead. I am disappointed because I was looking forward to a good session on the weights but I'm not putting up with an hours drive for one that normally takes ten minutes!

Not sure if I'm going to Coombe Dingle tomorrow. I can't decide if I want to take it easy with the guys from the gym or hard with the MD. Decisions decisions....

Crisp fresh morning run

What more can you ask for? Good running company, a lovely sunny morning and no wind or rain. What a great way to start the day. We went out for our Bitton loop which takes in a couple of hills. Thought I would give it some up the first one to see how the legs were feeling. Went up really well and felt easy, even accelerating towards the top. Don't think the marathon has effected me very much at all. After Aprils marathon I was pants for weeks. This time round I feel fresh and ready to go after just one week of rest. I went down the gym after the run for an hour interval session on the bike. Cranked up to the highest level I normally use and again it was fine. Almost seems to good to be true.

I'm really fired up for training again. A few weeks ago I was ready for a break, just going through the motions before the marathon. Now I feel so ready to train hard again I can't wait. Bring on the speed work for I am ready.

Bitton off more than I can chew

Back out with Clive 'Well that was crap I don't know why I bothered' Tucker tomorrow over at Bitton by the railway station. Clive never fails to bring a smile with his boundless enthusiasm and unfailing optimism. Nice one Clive. Just hope the wind and rain keep away.

It's been a one run week for me so far which is probably a good thing. I always try to get back into it too quick after the marathon and end up being pants for a month or more. Hopefully I can force myself to keep taking it easy. I will probably get out a few times next week, even heading out for Mike D's sessions but I won't be running any of them hard. Going to try and mix in lots of bike work which isn't so tough on the running muscles but still gives a good cv workout.

Back in the groove

Started back into training tonight with a very light session on the track. Only completed four six hundreds relatively slowly but that was enough. My 400m lap pace for the first one was about 85s increasing to 80s for the last one. It felt pretty easy but my left ham string began to tighten and I aborted halfway round the fifth rep. I was surprised I was able to go even that quick (or slow depending on your point of view!).

Anyway, I'm back on the training trail after a long layoff of .... two days!

Feel like death

Oh do I not feel good today. I've felt sick all day. Got up for work but could only manage an hour before I felt I was going to spew and came home (nice topic for the blog eh?). Just got up from a four hour slumber. Feel better but still not right.

Hopefully, I'll be fixed by tomorrow so I can do some light training. The legs feel OK today, a bit sore maybe but not too bad considering.

I've decided that I'm going to concentrate on the shorter distances for the time being, 5 and 10k's. So I'm going to be training for speed. Sub eighteen 5k is the target for January's Bridge Inn.

Mission accomplished

Well I hit the target almost spot on. 3:09:39.

The wind, if you pardon my French, was a right bastard. Steadily picked up throughout the race. On the third and final lap there were points going into the wind uphill that I almost ground to a halt. The main thing is I now have the confidence from this to take into next year.

It was a lot harder work than I intended because of the wind but its done now. A new pb by 17 minutes. Hopefully I will get over it pretty quick and be fit for the Clevedon Boxing Day race.

Now I have the 3 hour drive home to look forward to!

T minus 60 and counting

Not long to go to the off. Had my ready brek and I'm ready to rumble - hopefully not literally!

Am I full now

I am stuffed - in a food sense that is. Now just 13 hours to d day. Wonder how much of my book I can get read?

The restaurant

Just placed my food order in the restaurant so thought I'd post to the blog on my super dooper gizmo phone to kill some time. I've ordered the steak - I know I know I should go for pasta but what the heck. I'm not trying to set any records and I recon the steak might be just what I need to blast through the wind and the rain! I'm hoping my relatively easy target will still be acheivable in the bad conditions allbeit wih a bit more effort than I had intended.

Almost there

Well its finally here, the eve of the Luton marathon. 26.2 Miles of hell and then the drive home. I think I'm ready but you can never quite tell with such a long distance. I just hope that I can control myself and run slow enough in the first half. I have my supply of jelly babies ready and the tape to hold my feet together - that's taping them to stop blistering as opposed to taping them together and hopping all the way!

Looks like the weather is going to be kind up in Luton - big time NOT. The forecast for 10am onwards tomorrow is 100% chance of rain with 24mph winds That's going to make it fun. I just hope that they've got the forecast as wrong as they normally do.