Short race at Longtown

Another good day for racing... and another good race. I was much improved from Tuesday and had a good run.

That's not to say I'm as good as I once was - but I managed to give Helen a scare as I caught up to her on the ascent. Mind you, she redoubled her effort and slowly edged just that little bit out of reach. It wasn't until the last 100m of the climb that she really got away though. Up to that point I still felt I had a chance but once I got to the top my legs were jelly and I knew I had sod all chance of catching the queen of the downhill. I did catch one or two of the runners ahead though, on what was a descent of about as fast a condition as you'll find in any fell race.

I can't say I felt strong on the way up and a few came past but I felt much better than I did a few months ago. There is still much to be do but I'm feeling better about things.

So, it's the Ironwood Challenge tomorrow and I feel positive, even after racing today, that I can climb into the top twenty. I'd like top fifteen but... well, I guess we'll find out tomorrow. I'm thinking steady, if almost slow, start with a strong finish will be the tactic of the day...

Oh, and here's today's race profile and route of 3 miles and 1,200 feet ascent.

All systems go

I am finally pain free from the scalp down and I'm going to try and enjoy the race tomorrow - no doubt 'er indoors will whoop my sorry ass - but before this week's glitch things were a changin'. [Got to keep up the fighting talk, raises eyebrow to camera].

Now that the weather is improving I'll soon be able to get out after work and if I can keep adding in a few lunch time runs the endurance will soon come back. Then all I have to do is throw in a weekly hill, interval, fartlek and long run and I'll be sorted - not asking much then...

Lunching out

Well, after the last few days disastrous training - or almost entire lack of any - I managed an easy run with Graham during lunch. We were only out 25 minutes but at least I'm back out running without the pain. The neck tension and muscle aches seem to have all but disappeared - which is good considering I've the Longtown fell race on Saturday followed by one of my favourite races on Sunday, the Ironwood Challenge (which is part of Nailsea Running Clubs three race series and a cracking little race).

The IC is a great multi-terrain race of about 10k and 1,200 feet of ascent, taking place in the woods above Long Ashton, Bristol. The route takes you up and down, out and back. The last few times I've finished in the top 20 and I managed fourth last year - suffice to say I might have to buy a top twenty spot this year 'cause I sure as heck don't think I've a chance of getting there on foot. Still, stranger things have happened at sea... What the heck does that saying mean anyway?

Oops I didn't do it again

I was going to the track tonight. Really, I was. Don't look at me that way. Stop it already... I didn't. Boo.

Work took me out into the cold. I wasn't expecting it to be that cold since the temperatures of late have been getting higher and higher - it was practically summer during the weekend - it damn well wasn't down by the reservoir. I got right cold and by five I'd fair had enough. Still the trials all went well and I collected some good data but I was a little chilled - and not in a cool dude kind of way.

Suffice to say I'm making my excuses because I didn't make the track session. I feel bad. I wanted to but by the time I got away from work my neck muscles where feeling a bit achy. Generally it does seem better. I will be taking my kit to work tomorrow and will try my upmost to get out for a lunch time run - even if it's a slow jog. This week has been a disaster. I want to draw a line under it right quick and move on...

Not going through the pain barrier

I drove over to the Bridge Inn, got out the car and jogged to the race hq. It was at that point I realised I couldn't race tonight. Although my neck isn't stiff any more the tension from running caused too much pain in my neck muscles. I decided to jog the course instead and started at the back of the field.

As the race progressed I moved through the field without ever getting inside 4 minute kilometre pace - now that's slow even by my standards. I finished in 20:30. OK, so that's not exactly a jog for me but easy enough that I didn't get too much tension - and pain - so perhaps I got some training benefit from it.

There is nothing more anoying than sustaining an injury that is not related to running but that stops you training. I don't think I'm going to be able to complete week 5 of the push ups this week, so I shall put that on hold until next week. Ho Hum.

Stiff neck, flippin' heck

I had a bit of a stiff neck yesterday but didn't think too much of it. Don't know where it came from. It was just one of those things. Later in the day I spent 90 minutes taking out the glass from the interior bulkhead of the van - that glue stuff they use on that is total bastard. I don't think I've ever come across a more gluey glue than the stuff they use to glue automotive glass in place - they should use it on the space shuttle, they wouldn't be getting bits falling off if they did, that's for damn sure. I still didn't give much thought to the neck - but I sure as heck gave thought to it when I woke up pained in the middle of the night. It has been a right killer.

I got through the day at work without too much trouble - using the full body turn method - because to turn the head at the neck was bad. I looked like a right old git and it isn't much better tonight. Suffice to say I'm not able to do any training tonight - there's not any chance I can even manage the sit up or push up plan. It's the Bridge Inn 5k tomorrow and I'm just crossing my fingers I'll be fit to get a run out...

The day of rest

After yesterday's race my legs need a rest. They don't feel too bad but I'm trying to be sensible these days - not too sensible mind. Anyway, I've just entered an absolute bucket load of races; The Ironwood Challenge, The Nailsea Festival 10k to name a couple along with four championship fell races. They're all listed on the race schedule now, so I won't be backing out. Well I guess I should try and force myself onto the exercise bike later, by way of accomplishing some training today.

On a final note, I wonder how JH got on at the indoor's today. As if driving the minibus up to Parliament Hill yesterday wasn't enough, he's back up that neck of the woods again today - only this time he's actually doing some running...

And the results are in

I didn't place quite as highly as I had hoped - but then the field was a bit larger than I thought it would be, weighing in at 1455 finishers. My finishing position of 948 was, however, slighty improved - percentage-wise - from the Midlands Cross Country. At the Midlands I made the top 66.7% while at the Nationals I improved by 1.6% to climb into the top 65.1% - every second counts - and so too, do the decimal places...

Scoring for the team

It was the first time I have ever scored for team Bristol and West - and at the Nationals to boot! I should put my hands up and say we didn't have a complete team - boo - so I could, in fact, have walked around the course dressed as a pantomime horse and still scored for the team.

Having said all that, I felt I had a good run. I started steady - read towards the back - and picked my way through the field - much like my tactics at the Midlands - and it worked. I finished pretty strong and actually managed a negative split. The best bits for me were the muddy up hill sections. Where those around me struggled I seemed to bound - OK, bound may be a little strong - up, skating across the surface, gaining multiple places - topper.

My finishing time was around 56:45, and on a 12k course with 900 feet of ascent that doth please me greatly. I'm surprised I made it inside the hour and comfortably at that. I haven't a clue what my position was but it had to be in the tripple figures and no worse. I guess I will find out when the results are posted online. Fingers crossed.

Helen was 62nd but seems to be ailing even as we speak. With the first of the championship fell races coming up in two weeks I hope it isn't going to be a bad one. Still, 62nd isn't bad - at least it's double figures.

Easy does it

Today I managed to get out for a run in the real world - no treadmills for me this time. Graham and I went for twenty five minutes at lunch time and we took it steady - no point in shooting my bolt before the main event tomorrow. I'm really quite looking forward to being totally exhausted and finishing near the rear - stop it - of the field.

I've also had the idea, well, Graham and I came up with the idea between us really, to look into the possibility of raising a mixed team for the Cotswold Relay in June. For those that haven't heard about it, it's a great day out and a ten stage relay race along the entire length of the Cotswold way starting at Chipping Campden and finishing in Bath. I've run it twice before, both times running leg 1 and both times winning - mind you, the other nine runners helped a bit.


Right, I still have my push ups to complete - 160 of the little sods tonight so cue the Rocky music...

A numbing sensation

Day 2, Week 4 of the p & s plan went off successfully yesterday with a max rep of 45 push ups and 65 sit ups. Every day in every way it continues to get tougher.

After a good drive home I decided to tread the boards of the mill. I managed 35 minutes before boredom almost forced me to eat my own feet - and that's not easy when your running, you have to sort of hop run on one while you tuck in to the other and then - no, I didn't really try it.

Right, I'm off to shower and then it's tea...

Easing down for the National

... I only hope I don't come unseated at Becher's Brook.

Danny was absent tonight but Bruce and Sean were there. We ran relaxed this evening on account of the Cross Country coming up on the weekend - yes, I'm going to run it as well. I haven't run the National for, well, a long time and when I did I didn't even manage to finish inside the top one thousand! - so I'm not sure that really counts as running it anyway. It's going to be triple figures this time out - I'm thinking top 999. Seriously, I'm aiming to go a bit inside that if I can but at 12k I might fade a tad in the latter stages. A steady start might well be the order of the day. Apparently Parliament Hill is, with a clue in the name, a little hilly.

Anyway, enough of the diversion, what about tonight? Well, as I said, we ran an easy session; 600, 500, 400, 300, finishing with three 200's all run at an easy pace. I felt good - almost smooth - but I'll not go quite that far. Never the less there wasn't much of the normal tense shoulders and I even finished those last few 200's in 32/31 seconds while still remaining totally relaxed - perhaps I should change disciplines - maybe not.

Right, I'm off to do my pushups...

Made it home Monday

Well after the snow, the hail, the fire and the volcanic activity of recent weeks, I finally made it home on a Monday night - back of the net.

My legs are a bit achy but not too bad. I elected the exercise bike as the training weapon of choice and banged out half an hour. I also carried out day 1, week 4 of the pushups - and the situps - and if I thought last week was getting tough, this week puts the icing on the cake. Heaven only knows hard weeks five and six are going to be. Still, stranger things have happened at sea.

And I was spot on with my result from yesterdays race, 25th on the nose - commentators eye, no hang on, that should be runner's eye, or maybe runner's leg? Whatever. Helen made the top twenty in, you guessed it, 20th place but only 28 teeny weeny seconds ahead of me - I sense a changing of the guard...

Green shoots of recovery

No, not the economy - that'll be f#@$ed for a good while yet - no, I'm talking running. More importantly, my form. I had a right good race. In fact, it was the first in some considerably time that I've actually had race thoughts - that is, thinking about chasing someone down - or, rather, trying to keep a certain person behind. I really raced it hard and for the first time in absolutely ages I thought I might even manage to pull off the unthinkable - but sadly, it was unthinkable and the certain person caught me, overtook me - and then left me for dead as I faded badly. Still, the green shoots are there - and I gave that certain person a bit of a scare.

The Muddy Woody 6 was a really enjoyable and well organised romp through the woods and does just what it says on the tin - it was run in the woods and was very muddy. Although we did get a chance to wash off the mud during the two river crossings - OK, river crossing is a bit grand - but the water did come up to me crown jewels on the second crossing - chilly.

Well done to Wye Valley Runners for running the event - there was even free coffee and a doughnut awaiting us at the finish - and a T-Shirt, and a cuddly toy, a fondue set, champagne glasses - no, hang on, that was the Generation Game.

On a final note, I reckon I was maybe, 25th overall, which, from a field of possibly three hundred is pretty good. Helen was just ahead - strange that - and took first in the womens' race, and first vet - probably shouldn't have said that - I'll get my coat.