Slowest time - ever

My calfs were too tight - not to mention painful - to race tonight. 18:30? If I'd really pushed I would have been lucky to break 20 minutes and I would have probably torn something - not my shorts you fool, I was thinking more calf muscles. So I decided to run it as a recovery jog instead - hopefully allowing me to train tomorrow at the track but we will have to see how things feel in the morning. I ran 23 minutes dead - a new mile stone in my running development and one that I am especially proud of - my slowest ever official 5k race time - have some.

Anyway, I actually quite enjoyed taking it extremely easy. I set off dead last but worked my way through the field a tad. At the 2k point I caught up to Harry C, who was just moving off the front of a small group. I could see he would move into no-mans land so dropped just in front to pace him along. He beat his last month's time and broke 23, so I was pleased to help.

The tinger on my cooker has just gone off (to where I do not know) so I'm off for my tea - luvly jubbly.

The hobbler returns

The legs are stiff, my heel is bruised and my back aches - but apart from that I'm as fit as a fiddle! - how can a fiddle be fit?

I'm pretty sure I will be running the Bridge Inn 5k tomorrow night. Things are feeling easier this evening. I don't think I'll be running a record time though - heck, I haven't run quick there for ages - no change there then. I'll aim for about 18:30 but all depends how I feel tomorrow.

...Second place, who'd have thought it...

Thought for the day: 99 percent of solicitors give the rest a bad name.

Almost but not quite.....

I had a good run today in the Seaview 17 (which is actually 20 miles but extended to 21 this year on account of a land slide on the path with alternative route in place and takes in about 4,500ft of ascent).

It was hard work and certainly pretty hilly. It was just a shame I couldn't capitalise on my lead - yes, I did say lead!!!! - just after the half way point. It all came down to the old 'go the wrong way three times' routine. I suffered with cramp in the last mile and a half and got overtaken - had I not kept going wrong and having to back track I would probably have had enough of a lead to hold on but that's all part and parcel of the off road scene - you win some you lose some. Just a shame it was a day to lose some but Martin, from Nailsea, was a nice chap so I'm happy for him. We had a bit of a chat on the way round and swapped the lead a few times between us. He even offered to slow so we could cross the line together but by that time my calves had had it so I told him to push on and take it, he worked hard to get back to me so fair play. If you had said before the race I could have second I would have bitten your arm off so I have to be happy. It still makes it my best ever finish position in a long distance race - and second is still pretty good, isn't it?

Dave T turned up and ran - I have to say I was a bit worried for him because it's way longer than anything he's done of late - well, when I say late I mean years (and years) but he was smiling at the finish so I think he enjoyed it - if it is actually possible to enjoy a 21 mile slog along the coastal path that is! (There might have been another reason for him smiling but I don't know what that could be). I hope he's recovered by Tuesday for the Bridge Inn 5k - can't be using today as excuse.

Thought for the day: Why the hell do we do it?

Waiting for tomorrow

Today is a rest day ahead of tomorrow's race. I've mapped out the route from the paper instructions and uploaded to the forerunner. There looks to be a good few places for going the wrong way - which is somewhat a speciality of mine. I'm pretty good with directions and always get to where I'm going - it's just that sometimes I don't take the same route as everybody else! The course looks to take in somewhere in the region of 4,000ft of climb so it's going to be a reasonably hard race. I'm still confident of a good finish though. The only other thing to say is that I shall be taking a look at the finish to the race - don't want a repeat of the Llanbedr to Blaenafon race!

Thought for the day: It is impossible to defeat an ignorant man in argument.

Flippin' heck Friday

I managed to get out for the mile reps tonight but they weren't quite as good as I was hoping for. In fact, I am a tad disappointed. I think that maybe a one minute recovery is a might too ambitious for me.

Anyway, I hit the first one in 5:50 which was really upsetting - until that is, I looked at the distance and realised that my one mile loop is actually a long measure by about 40m. Then came the one minute recovery in which time I hadn't really recovered at all and was still wheezing like an asthmatic donkey when I set off on mile number two. 5 minutes and 52s later I finished the lap and it hurt like hell. Still determined to stick to the one minute recovery I desperately tried to get my breath back but to no avail as I ploughed on into mile three. This was the killer lap and my legs just would not go. It was like running through treacle for almost the entire lap which took over six minutes, 6:05 to be precise. I decided to call it a day. It wasn't the four laps I was aiming for but to go on would have been futile.

I shall put tonight down as a learning experience - a one minute recovery is just not enough you damn fool. I reckon that 5:50 is a realistic target pace but on the back of two minute recoveries. I shall try again next week but with that longer recovery - and I WILL make all four at 5:50.

Thought for the day: One minute - that ain't no recovery you fool.

Torpid Thursday

'Torpid' haven't used that word - well, ever! Go look it up.

All day I had been planning to run mile reps. I headed to the gym after work and hit my highest ever score on the fit-test setting on the bike, 52.7 beating my previous 51.9 which gives me another boost - not that I'm needing any at the moment. I then hit the weights and subsequently ache all over - I was still feeling Tuesday's weights session before I started and tonight's workout has just compounded the damage.

This evening the madness has left me though. My legs do not feel up to the mile reps I had planned. Despite the weather giving me a clear window of opportunity I'm not going to run them tonight. The legs are just not recovered from yesterday. I know if I attempt the session it will be slow - too slow - and I'm not having that. Tomorrow, come rain or shine, will be the day of the (as close as possible) 5:40 miles reps. Then I'll squeeze in a one day special offer taper ahead of Sunday's SeaView 17 - which is actually 20 miles not 17 - go work that out...

Thought for the day: The pen is mightier than the sword, and considerably easier to write with.

Almost the old Wednesday magic....

It was a case of very nearly the old Wednesday magic and the group was massive tonight, there were seven - yes, that's SEVEN!!! Nick and Sean ran Rick's punishing 500m/300m reps with just 20s recovery between the five and three - glad I was excused that one thank you very much! The rest of us, Harry, Jamie (new a few weeks back while I was away), Rob, Matt and not forgetting me of course, ran 3 sets of three 300's with 1 minute recoveries.

I found it tough going after the relatively easy two weeks I've had :) I managed fairly consistent reps though and overall it was a good session. My splits were 49, 52, 49 then 49, 50, 50 and finally 48, 50, 52. I found the last couple really hard but found myself having to dig deep after just the second 300. It was a tough battle tonight both mentally and physically. Luckily I managed to stay with it - although some might beg to differ.

Long may the group remain at seven - the magic number - seven of us, in the seventh month, in the seventh year of 2000 - nice.

Thought for the day: What's the difference between ignorance and apathy? I don't know, and I couldn't care less.

Easy does it

It was just an easy hour today. Nothing special, just an easy trot around the block. The group was a little smaller than the last few times I was out with them but there was one or two new faces so hopefully the group will expand again. I like the gym run because it allows my to strut my stuff and look impressive - only joking (although I do look impressive) - seriously though, it forces me to run within myself and take it easy, it breaks up the 'every run is a hard run' routine - which I can be a little prone to. I feel totally ready for the track tomorrow. I have no reason not to run fast - if I don't then I will have to beat myself with a sharp stick, I have been warned.

Though for the day: Better to understand a little than to misunderstand a lot.

Time trial triumph

I decided to go for a burn up tonight - only short distance mind you but a burn up never-the-less. I set myself a time trial on a route that a few of us used to do on a Wednesday night. It's about 7.5k, a bit up and down and more to the point I've never broken 30 minutes - my previous best being 30:32 - oops see what I did there, 'previous best', I think I might have given the game away - but who cares it's not like this is Harry Potter and the Tasty Marshmallows.

It rained a bit tonight, making the corners slippy but I piled it on from the start. It's so long since I've done the route that I couldn't remember any of the route timings so just had to keep my foot down. My previous best was set with the aid of pace makers but it's way harder to focus when you're out there solo.

Anyway, I just kept pushing, pushing. Eventually completing the course in 28:52 - 1:40 quicker than I've gone before and most importantly breaking the 30 minute barrier - all in all a terrific time trial triumph. Tomorrow will be an easy run with the gym crew.

Thought for the day: Who cares if it rains - it's only water.

Gee it's great to be back home

Especially when I can get up to Ashton Court for my good old Sunday run. The group has shrunk since my last run but I'm sure it's just a temporary thing - we did have a new boy though, Jerry H - and it looked like he could run!

It didn't rain and was really pretty decent running conditions - a bit soggy underfoot perhaps - but it seems like I've brought the decent weather back down with me. We did one of our standard routes through Leigh Woods and along the tow path. I put my foot to the accelerator on the last climb back into Ashton Court (round the edge of the deer park on the right from the bottom entrance) - well I guess it was more of a case of trying to push on the hill rather than the accelerator but I went up well - stop it - really strongly - much better than of recent times - all helps to keep the confidence high.

And I know you're all desperate to see Episode 14: North Of The Border, so here it is in all its techni-wobble glory.

PS, 5th place - back of the net.

It ended with a short run

Well I managed to get out for that one final run before heading home tomorrow. True, it was only a short, flat one, weighing in at just over 18 miles and 3,000ft of ascent but it was a bit more pacey than previous, averaging towards my target marathon pace and it included navigating gates and styles etc. All in all it was a good session to end with. Always good to end on a high note.

I have to admit that it's been a hard couple of weeks on the legs which have held up admirably under the strain. My weekly mileage is up by over 66% which is quite a jump but nothing has broken - so far. The foundations are well and truly laid and I really feel the old strength is back. I'm now confident going forward towards Berlin. This has given me a much needed boost and Sunday's race was a superb added bonus.

Looking to the week ahead I think it's time for an easier one - although I will definitely be there on Wednesday for the track. Ultimately the hard work starts here and in the ensuing eleven weeks until Berlin I am going to build on what I have achieved over these last two weeks.

I think it's safe to say the old mad runner is back.....

Thought for the day: Only borrow money from pessimists, they don't expect to get it back.

Lazy days

I couldn't be bothered to get out for a run today. Played golf though and, even though I say so myself, I played some of my best golf of the entire holiday. I was pinging the ball down the fairway. Really struck the ball well today and didn't really hit any shot off line. Even managed play with the same ball for the entire round as testament to that fact.

I could feel yesterday's run in my legs as I walked the course - and those couple of 65's run on my behalf - eh, lads.

I'm looking forward to coming home now. It's been a good break but I feel more tired now than before we arrived. Training wise it has been excellent. The number of tough, long runs I've put in has been great. I'm intending to run one final medium distance session tomorrow of maybe, 17 or 18 miles before we head back on Saturday.

Thought for the day: I love cooking with wine. Sometimes I even put it in the food!

Head in the clouds

The weather was fair today with the exception of low cloud. For a good distance of today's run I had my head in the clouds - shut it - really, I was up in the clouds - and it was pretty damn cold - especially when only wearing shorts and a t-shirt. By the time I headed down off the mountain my freezing hands were unable to operate my shoe laces when they came undone. Once down off the mountain for the final 10k stretch I soon warmed up.

I was pleased with the run but again it was more of a hike really. The conditions and terrain for about 1/3rd of the distance was just totally unrunnable. Visibility was down to about 50 metres on top so I was damn glad I had the route programmed in on the forerunner or else I would have been in trouble. There is no discernible route across the mountain so I had to totally rely on the programmed route. On the whole it was pretty good - apart from one vertical drop that I had to navigate around. And as an added bonus my gladiator fell shoes are gleaming after all the crystal clear (read cold) rivers and streams I had to run through!

It was another really energy sapping run but I ran pretty strong in the last 10k which took me way beyond the 'wall'. The total distance covered was around 25 miles and 7,500ft of climb. I'm pleased I put yesterday's poor effort behind me with a good, strong showing today. My legs are scratched to pieces from all the broom I had to climb over and my heels are bruised big style from all the pebbles and stones I had to run over - I hope they feel better tomorrow because they're sure as hell painful tonight.

Tomorrow is another rest day - aka a golf day - although I may try and fit in a short 30 minute recovery run then hopefully I can fit in one final long run on Friday.

Thought for the day: Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance.

Just the ticket

Well that did the trick - took my mind off the bad run. It chucked it down out there on the golf course. We got soaked and then it started to thunder so we headed in. It was quite refreshing really. I played total pants but it cheered me up big time. Feel tons better now - all set for my long one - stop it - my long run tomorrow, and we're talking 20+ miles.

I'll be missing the Wednesday track session again so I'm expecting the boyz to run a lap or two for me, a couple of 65's will do......