The snow from yesterday has thawed leaving the ground very wet. It’s a murky day and the sun never breaks through. Unpleasant weather seems to be a recurring theme for Thursdays and it looks like Mick’s attempts to get us doing stretches and pilates will be thwarted again.
The focus for our distance training today is a long tempo session. Mick’s version of a long tempo run is a seventy minute effort, sandwiched between a ten minute warm-up and a ten minute cool-down. The intensity for the seventy minute bit is "moderately hard". Mick describes this as “you can talk, but only in short sentences”. I have to admit that is how I talk anyway. The intensity should be no faster than marathon pace plus fifteen seconds. So for me I’m aiming for no quicker than 7:45. In theory we should all set out together, run thirty five minutes at our own chosen pace and then get back to the start at the same time. We did this same session two weeks ago and although the route was fairly simple, due to a series of unfortunate events I managed to get lost. I got back to the starting point late after running the return leg considerably quicker than my intended pace.
We do a ten minute warm up by running from Undercliffe Cricket ground to Gain Lane by a circuitous route. After we’ve all gathered and set our watches we set off down Gain Lane, onto the A647, down Galloway Lane/Waterloo Road through Pudsey, up Swinnow Road, over Stanningley Bypass and up past Bramley Railway Station. Turn round somewhere in Bramley and head back. 4.4 miles out and the same back. Got back just after the thirty five minute mark. It was definitely uphill on the way back, in fact the whole run was hillier than I’d anticipated. Averaged 8.01 per mile, so slower than I was aiming for. Put this down to the hills, the weather, puddles, chatting and general tiredness in the legs.
It rained throughout the warm up exercises and run and for the first few minutes of the tempo run. When we were thoroughly soaked it let up. If it rains or snows in the London Marathon I will have had plenty of practice.
Sunday, 28 February 2010
Wednesday, 24th February – 60 days to go
Today is a rest day and I have absolutely no intention of sneaking in an extra run. I believe this is a temptation for “real” runners; clearly, I’m not a “real” runner. In any case, there has been snow overnight and the pavements look too treacherous to risk a run.
I almost catch up on Marathon Talk by listening to week 3 and 4 that I’ve already downloaded and round it off with this week’s episode as well. Only weeks 5 and 6 and I’m up to date. I wonder if they realised Tony would be such a nutter! I think a compilation of Tony’s Trials at some point in the future is on the cards.
I also decide to direct my reading more towards running, fitness and perhaps something motivational or inspiring. Liz travels on the train quite a bit and sometimes manages to read rather than work on her journeys, so she keeps us supplied with new reads. I don’t read them all as some are a bit too girly for my tastes (you can usually tell from the cover). I tend to make a pile of the new ones that appeal to me and add books that I want to re-read to this pile. The pile is currently in danger of tottering over and represents about six weeks of solid reading. For some time now I’ve been the slowest reader in our house. You want your kids to grow and develop but I didn’t really want to be in the slow reader group of one. The first sign was “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire”. This was the first one where JK had decided she had so much money that she could afford to be self-indulgent – 600 plus pages. George was about eight at the time and we agreed that he got the book in daylight hours and I could read it when he was sleeping. I imagined that I’d finish it ages before him. In the end I was seriously considering administering a sleeping draught to his cocoa to give me the edge. I was reading until four in the morning to keep up with the little blighter. Harry has now gone the same way, though we don’t compete as I just can’t get interested in the Darren Shan books.
It’s not only the reading either. I’m also shortest in our house. This is familiar territory. I wonder what psychological damage was inflicted on me by my three older and taller siblings who referred to me as “the runt of the litter” for several years. Still, I’m the only one of the four of us in the “normal” range (just) so who’s laughing now, freaks?
I reluctantly allow the monsters and murderers of Miami to unleash their mayhem by returning the last two Dexter books to the shelves. Crimes in Richmond will go unsolved and the author and Scarpetta must wait to resolve their confused sexual orientation for awhile longer as “Blowfly” is similarly set aside (you’d have thought they’d’ve sorted themselves out long ago). Someone else will have to talk about Kevin as I haven’t got the time.
I gather together our collection of running and fitness books. I find these a difficult read; I can only dip into them rather than try and read from cover to cover. I’ll start to work my through them over the next couple of weeks and I hope can take on board enough knowledge to help me understand what I’m doing to myself by aiming to run a marathon.
I almost catch up on Marathon Talk by listening to week 3 and 4 that I’ve already downloaded and round it off with this week’s episode as well. Only weeks 5 and 6 and I’m up to date. I wonder if they realised Tony would be such a nutter! I think a compilation of Tony’s Trials at some point in the future is on the cards.
I also decide to direct my reading more towards running, fitness and perhaps something motivational or inspiring. Liz travels on the train quite a bit and sometimes manages to read rather than work on her journeys, so she keeps us supplied with new reads. I don’t read them all as some are a bit too girly for my tastes (you can usually tell from the cover). I tend to make a pile of the new ones that appeal to me and add books that I want to re-read to this pile. The pile is currently in danger of tottering over and represents about six weeks of solid reading. For some time now I’ve been the slowest reader in our house. You want your kids to grow and develop but I didn’t really want to be in the slow reader group of one. The first sign was “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire”. This was the first one where JK had decided she had so much money that she could afford to be self-indulgent – 600 plus pages. George was about eight at the time and we agreed that he got the book in daylight hours and I could read it when he was sleeping. I imagined that I’d finish it ages before him. In the end I was seriously considering administering a sleeping draught to his cocoa to give me the edge. I was reading until four in the morning to keep up with the little blighter. Harry has now gone the same way, though we don’t compete as I just can’t get interested in the Darren Shan books.
It’s not only the reading either. I’m also shortest in our house. This is familiar territory. I wonder what psychological damage was inflicted on me by my three older and taller siblings who referred to me as “the runt of the litter” for several years. Still, I’m the only one of the four of us in the “normal” range (just) so who’s laughing now, freaks?
I reluctantly allow the monsters and murderers of Miami to unleash their mayhem by returning the last two Dexter books to the shelves. Crimes in Richmond will go unsolved and the author and Scarpetta must wait to resolve their confused sexual orientation for awhile longer as “Blowfly” is similarly set aside (you’d have thought they’d’ve sorted themselves out long ago). Someone else will have to talk about Kevin as I haven’t got the time.
I gather together our collection of running and fitness books. I find these a difficult read; I can only dip into them rather than try and read from cover to cover. I’ll start to work my through them over the next couple of weeks and I hope can take on board enough knowledge to help me understand what I’m doing to myself by aiming to run a marathon.
Friday, 26 February 2010
Tuesday, 23rd February – 61 days to go
Still no ill effects from the long run on Sunday. Looks like the body has absorbed the rough treatment and I’m ok to go out and give it some more. I knew that I was going to miss the VARR training session in the evening due to watching football. A trip to Elland Road. Yuk. Dirty Leeds. I’m with the away team – Oldham Athletic. I would have stopped watching some time ago but in a bizarre and unwelcome role reversal my eldest makes me go. The match turns out to be a disappointment - not unexpected I’m afraid. The local paper (to Oldham) describes it thus “there was something deeply dispiriting about the meek nature of this defeat”. They’ve said something similar for most of the last few games. Enough said.
I’ve enjoyed the four Tuesday evening sessions that I’ve been to and will go consistently outside the football season. I arrived late for my first VARR session and latched onto the first group that I saw; unfortunately for me this was Group 5. I managed to stick with them for a while but they were just too quick for me. Thanks to Dave for running round with me, sorry I held you up. In the second session the whole group did speedwork in the (near) ice, which was interesting. The third week it was Kirkstall Hills up and down the side roads between Burley Wood Crescent and the gym. I think someone said there were nineteen, but I lost count. I’m sure it was more than that. Last week we did what I thought was some sort of interval training but which I now learn from Michael’s blog was a fartlek. Told you I know nothing about running.
In order to keep up with my programme I need to do “70 minutes steady”. I reckon this to be about 9 miles at 8:00 pace. There is still some snow in the fields which I guess will be boggy with snow that has already melted so I reluctantly reject a run around the Chevin and head towards the city centre. This run will be an abbreviated version of my long Sunday run, but I’ll get back onto Otley Road at Hollin Road a little below Yorkshire Water treatment plant.
This is a familiar run that I know to be 9.06 miles. At half way I check my watch and its 36:10. I’ve never managed a negative split on this run partly because it’s pretty much down on the way out and up on the way back. I do the second half in 39:17 for a total of 74:27. This gives a pace of 8:13 overall, 7:59 out and 8:27 back. I really struggled on the way back and couldn’t have gone much faster. The Sunday run must be still in my legs. I remember little of the run other than I found it surprisingly difficult. I recall seeing a runner heading towards me and when he passed I tried to mimic his running style longer stride and more upright posture. I could only keep this going for a minute and was soon back into my tired shuffle.
It seems to be a recurring theme from my last three timed runs that I’m falling a little short of my desired pace. I’ve put this down to a minor injury, difficult conditions underfoot and tiredness respectively. I guess if this trend continues I’ll need to seek advice and amend my programme.
I’ve enjoyed the four Tuesday evening sessions that I’ve been to and will go consistently outside the football season. I arrived late for my first VARR session and latched onto the first group that I saw; unfortunately for me this was Group 5. I managed to stick with them for a while but they were just too quick for me. Thanks to Dave for running round with me, sorry I held you up. In the second session the whole group did speedwork in the (near) ice, which was interesting. The third week it was Kirkstall Hills up and down the side roads between Burley Wood Crescent and the gym. I think someone said there were nineteen, but I lost count. I’m sure it was more than that. Last week we did what I thought was some sort of interval training but which I now learn from Michael’s blog was a fartlek. Told you I know nothing about running.
In order to keep up with my programme I need to do “70 minutes steady”. I reckon this to be about 9 miles at 8:00 pace. There is still some snow in the fields which I guess will be boggy with snow that has already melted so I reluctantly reject a run around the Chevin and head towards the city centre. This run will be an abbreviated version of my long Sunday run, but I’ll get back onto Otley Road at Hollin Road a little below Yorkshire Water treatment plant.
This is a familiar run that I know to be 9.06 miles. At half way I check my watch and its 36:10. I’ve never managed a negative split on this run partly because it’s pretty much down on the way out and up on the way back. I do the second half in 39:17 for a total of 74:27. This gives a pace of 8:13 overall, 7:59 out and 8:27 back. I really struggled on the way back and couldn’t have gone much faster. The Sunday run must be still in my legs. I remember little of the run other than I found it surprisingly difficult. I recall seeing a runner heading towards me and when he passed I tried to mimic his running style longer stride and more upright posture. I could only keep this going for a minute and was soon back into my tired shuffle.
It seems to be a recurring theme from my last three timed runs that I’m falling a little short of my desired pace. I’ve put this down to a minor injury, difficult conditions underfoot and tiredness respectively. I guess if this trend continues I’ll need to seek advice and amend my programme.
Monday, 22nd February – 62 days to go
When I get up on Monday morning I’m feeling remarkably chipper. No particular aches or pains or after effects from yesterdays exertions. I don’t get complacent though; previous experience suggests that if I get away with no ill effects the day after exertions then they may catch me up the day after that. I don’t understand the science of this but know it to be true. Another bit of science that I can’t get my head around is the recovery run. I would think an extra hour in bed would be far better for me, but there’s no point in getting someone who knows about these things to come up with a programme if you’re not going to follow it.
The snow has almost disappeared from the pavements and road, but I still choose my trail shoes as there may well be some tricky bits. I set off on a familiar route up Church Hill and Old Lane then round Hilton Grange. Briefly onto Harrogate Road, back down Old Lane to Occupation Lane, Moorland Road and home. About four miles in about 40 minutes. Can’t be more precise as I didn’t wear a watch.
In the evening I go alone to Tony’s as Liz is away with work. Warm up then a mixed circuit of upper body and core. I’m knackered at the end of it, particularly my arms.
When reflecting on my long run I was pleased I’d done it in spite of the weather. There were mixed reports from others who went out. Liz Memory Mapped the run for me and it turned out to be 16.3 miles. One hour twelve out and one hour twenty two back.
I was completely surprised to hit the wall at only 15 miles. I thought this happened around 20 miles and wasn’t allowed on a training run, just reserved for a proper race. In retrospect I should have taken out gels and drinks but I don’t like carrying stuff. I’ll not make the same mistake again. I should have kept up with Marathon Talk. Due to incompetence I only got round to downloading the first six podcasts last week. I was going to follow Tom’s Venice Marathon tactics and catch up slowly over a few weeks but have realised that the advice is time specific as well as generic. Will catch up in this week.
Even though I’ve done both my long runs quite slowly I’m not discouraged by progress to date. I’m a little behind schedule but should be able to get back on track without pushing too hard.
The snow has almost disappeared from the pavements and road, but I still choose my trail shoes as there may well be some tricky bits. I set off on a familiar route up Church Hill and Old Lane then round Hilton Grange. Briefly onto Harrogate Road, back down Old Lane to Occupation Lane, Moorland Road and home. About four miles in about 40 minutes. Can’t be more precise as I didn’t wear a watch.
In the evening I go alone to Tony’s as Liz is away with work. Warm up then a mixed circuit of upper body and core. I’m knackered at the end of it, particularly my arms.
When reflecting on my long run I was pleased I’d done it in spite of the weather. There were mixed reports from others who went out. Liz Memory Mapped the run for me and it turned out to be 16.3 miles. One hour twelve out and one hour twenty two back.
I was completely surprised to hit the wall at only 15 miles. I thought this happened around 20 miles and wasn’t allowed on a training run, just reserved for a proper race. In retrospect I should have taken out gels and drinks but I don’t like carrying stuff. I’ll not make the same mistake again. I should have kept up with Marathon Talk. Due to incompetence I only got round to downloading the first six podcasts last week. I was going to follow Tom’s Venice Marathon tactics and catch up slowly over a few weeks but have realised that the advice is time specific as well as generic. Will catch up in this week.
Even though I’ve done both my long runs quite slowly I’m not discouraged by progress to date. I’m a little behind schedule but should be able to get back on track without pushing too hard.
Wednesday, 24 February 2010
Sunday, 21st February – 63 days to go
Up early for the long run to find a light dusting of snow. By the time I’ve had my cuppa and brekky there are flurries of snow. While waiting for toast to digest I watch Winter Olympics on the red button. I realise I’ve watched the loop twice in order to avoid going out into the cold. I put on extra layers of clothing and after much dithering I decide that a cross country trek to Harewood is not a good idea. It’s now snowing hard so I decide to stick to the main road. I will head off towards Otley as far as the Dyneley Arms and then back. If it’s too slippery or the snow gets worse I’ll just have a two mile run and crawl back under the covers; if it’s not too bad I’ll continue towards the city centre as far as the Library pub and then head back. If I have the energy I can then carry on to the Dyneley Arms and back to extend the run by another two miles.
I set off in my trail shoes and find that there is just enough snow underfoot for it not to be slippery. I make reasonable time to the Dyneley Arms and on the way back I can see my own footprints heading out. I’m pleased to see that I ran out with a reasonably long stride; no shuffling here. I have already stashed a couple of water bottles in the front garden. I have a glug of water and leave the bottles and head towards town.
The pavement isn’t slippery, but the road hasn’t been gritted and is very dangerous. What little traffic there is moves very slowly. As I approach Adel there are a couple of runners heading towards me. One of them is wearing shorts! Who would look out of the window this morning and think “Hmm looks like a shorts day”?
I’m mostly running with my head down as it starts snowing harder. I leave the A660 and head down Adel Lane, cross the ring road and onto Weetwood Lane. No donkeys out at Hope Farm just a forlorn looking Shetland pony sheltering under the gazebo thing. Church bells ringing as I get back to Otley Road very appealing (ha). Organized religion has no attraction for me, but the sound of the bells is comforting.
Pavement needs care now as there are people about and the snow has already been walked over. When I briefly run under cover in front of the Arndale Centre I realise just how much running on and in snow is slowing me down. This run isn’t about pace or time on feet; it’s definitely about reaching a destination, turning around and heading back. I know I’m not going to be able to stick to my schedule but it was important for my confidence to get out this morning and do a long run.
I’ve not really felt the cold, but when I run alongside the park at Woodhouse Moor the temperature seems to dip and the wind picks up. I’m relieved to reach the junction with Clarendon Road and head back. One hour twelve minutes at the half way point which I reckon to be about eight miles. It’s the one and only time I will check my watch on this run.
I’m now running back up the hill and into the snow. My mind begins to wander; I try and think about running instead of the usual disconnected rambling thoughts. On the Fetcheveryone website there’s a graph that (possibly) shows a correlation between the distances of one’s five longest runs and one’s finishing time. If the chart is to be believed then my five longest runs ought to total 100 miles or more if I’m to meet my target time. I know I’ve only got six more long runs scheduled and I don’t feel that I’m ready to move up to the twenty mile mark just yet. Change my line of thought as this line isn’t very positive.
I think about my blog. Before I started it I just had a vague idea that I wanted to record my first marathon. I didn’t intend it to be a stream of incoherent babble (perhaps I’m in touch with my feminine side! Sorry ladies, only joking). The words of Ms Schmich float into my mind “Keep your old love letters. Throw away your old bank statements”. My chosen form of recording things is usually a spreadsheet. My first long run would have been recorded as date, route, distance, time – a bank statement equivalent. Whilst my blog falls down on the love letter analogy it seems to make sense to me. Something that the boys say on Marathon Talk also has some resonance. Getting to the start line is equally hard as running the race. I want to record the whole meandering experience of my first marathon not just the race itself. I have a strong suspicion that if I do make it to the start line then the race itself will be just a blur (and not because I’m moving so quickly). Thanks to everyone who has given me positive feedback on the blog. Thanks especially to Sam for his kind words and encouragement.
I head towards home and stick to Otley Road all the way up towards Weetwood roundabout. There are so many side streets and drives with drop kerbs that are difficult to judge with snow still falling and settled on the ground. My knees are getting jarred and achy. Another of Mary’s phrases comes to mind “Be kind to your knees. You’ll miss them when they’re gone”. I decide that her advice would make a decent blueprint for an organised religion and it’s only as long as a single newspaper article.
It’s a real drag getting up the hill across the ring road and past the cemetery. It hasn’t stopped snowing the whole time I’ve been out. I push on past the Lawnswood Arms and by the time I pass the Parkway it stops snowing. Suddenly I can see properly and I pick up the pace a little. By the time I reach home it’s snowing hard again. I have another glug of water from the bottle I’ve stowed in our front garden and head off up the road for the final two miles. Just past the Britannia I start to feel peculiar and consider turning back, but I’ve just gone past a couple enjoying the snow and think it would look strange if I suddenly stopped and ran past them. I continue on to the Dyneley Arms and turn for home. I can’t feel my knees and am getting light headed. I feel dreadful. In the words of Marwood “My heart’s beating like a f*!*ed clock”. I’m going slower and slower and eventually have to walk. I want to lie down at the side of the pavement and curl up into a ball. I start to run again but only very slowly. It’s like someone’s nicked all the bones out of my body.
I’m home. Two hours thirty four minutes, the longest I’ve been on my feet. I tell Liz I’ve had an “out of body experience”. I try and explain and she says all matter of fact “You’ve used up your glycogen stores. You’ve hit the wall”. I can’t process this right now. Liz has a massive smoothie ready for me which I neck in one go and ask for more. I have a quick hot shower and then scarf down a bowl of porridge before collapsing into bed for two hours of solid kip.
I set off in my trail shoes and find that there is just enough snow underfoot for it not to be slippery. I make reasonable time to the Dyneley Arms and on the way back I can see my own footprints heading out. I’m pleased to see that I ran out with a reasonably long stride; no shuffling here. I have already stashed a couple of water bottles in the front garden. I have a glug of water and leave the bottles and head towards town.
The pavement isn’t slippery, but the road hasn’t been gritted and is very dangerous. What little traffic there is moves very slowly. As I approach Adel there are a couple of runners heading towards me. One of them is wearing shorts! Who would look out of the window this morning and think “Hmm looks like a shorts day”?
I’m mostly running with my head down as it starts snowing harder. I leave the A660 and head down Adel Lane, cross the ring road and onto Weetwood Lane. No donkeys out at Hope Farm just a forlorn looking Shetland pony sheltering under the gazebo thing. Church bells ringing as I get back to Otley Road very appealing (ha). Organized religion has no attraction for me, but the sound of the bells is comforting.
Pavement needs care now as there are people about and the snow has already been walked over. When I briefly run under cover in front of the Arndale Centre I realise just how much running on and in snow is slowing me down. This run isn’t about pace or time on feet; it’s definitely about reaching a destination, turning around and heading back. I know I’m not going to be able to stick to my schedule but it was important for my confidence to get out this morning and do a long run.
I’ve not really felt the cold, but when I run alongside the park at Woodhouse Moor the temperature seems to dip and the wind picks up. I’m relieved to reach the junction with Clarendon Road and head back. One hour twelve minutes at the half way point which I reckon to be about eight miles. It’s the one and only time I will check my watch on this run.
I’m now running back up the hill and into the snow. My mind begins to wander; I try and think about running instead of the usual disconnected rambling thoughts. On the Fetcheveryone website there’s a graph that (possibly) shows a correlation between the distances of one’s five longest runs and one’s finishing time. If the chart is to be believed then my five longest runs ought to total 100 miles or more if I’m to meet my target time. I know I’ve only got six more long runs scheduled and I don’t feel that I’m ready to move up to the twenty mile mark just yet. Change my line of thought as this line isn’t very positive.
I think about my blog. Before I started it I just had a vague idea that I wanted to record my first marathon. I didn’t intend it to be a stream of incoherent babble (perhaps I’m in touch with my feminine side! Sorry ladies, only joking). The words of Ms Schmich float into my mind “Keep your old love letters. Throw away your old bank statements”. My chosen form of recording things is usually a spreadsheet. My first long run would have been recorded as date, route, distance, time – a bank statement equivalent. Whilst my blog falls down on the love letter analogy it seems to make sense to me. Something that the boys say on Marathon Talk also has some resonance. Getting to the start line is equally hard as running the race. I want to record the whole meandering experience of my first marathon not just the race itself. I have a strong suspicion that if I do make it to the start line then the race itself will be just a blur (and not because I’m moving so quickly). Thanks to everyone who has given me positive feedback on the blog. Thanks especially to Sam for his kind words and encouragement.
I head towards home and stick to Otley Road all the way up towards Weetwood roundabout. There are so many side streets and drives with drop kerbs that are difficult to judge with snow still falling and settled on the ground. My knees are getting jarred and achy. Another of Mary’s phrases comes to mind “Be kind to your knees. You’ll miss them when they’re gone”. I decide that her advice would make a decent blueprint for an organised religion and it’s only as long as a single newspaper article.
It’s a real drag getting up the hill across the ring road and past the cemetery. It hasn’t stopped snowing the whole time I’ve been out. I push on past the Lawnswood Arms and by the time I pass the Parkway it stops snowing. Suddenly I can see properly and I pick up the pace a little. By the time I reach home it’s snowing hard again. I have another glug of water from the bottle I’ve stowed in our front garden and head off up the road for the final two miles. Just past the Britannia I start to feel peculiar and consider turning back, but I’ve just gone past a couple enjoying the snow and think it would look strange if I suddenly stopped and ran past them. I continue on to the Dyneley Arms and turn for home. I can’t feel my knees and am getting light headed. I feel dreadful. In the words of Marwood “My heart’s beating like a f*!*ed clock”. I’m going slower and slower and eventually have to walk. I want to lie down at the side of the pavement and curl up into a ball. I start to run again but only very slowly. It’s like someone’s nicked all the bones out of my body.
I’m home. Two hours thirty four minutes, the longest I’ve been on my feet. I tell Liz I’ve had an “out of body experience”. I try and explain and she says all matter of fact “You’ve used up your glycogen stores. You’ve hit the wall”. I can’t process this right now. Liz has a massive smoothie ready for me which I neck in one go and ask for more. I have a quick hot shower and then scarf down a bowl of porridge before collapsing into bed for two hours of solid kip.
Tuesday, 23 February 2010
Saturday, 20th February – 64 days to go
I’m not really susceptible to addictions, but parkrun has become one of them. Brilliant idea by Paul Sinton-Hewitt and fantastic delivery in Leeds by Tom and the team.
My marathon training for today will be a run round the park. For once we’re up early enough for Liz to drop me at the lights at Shaw Lane so I can warm up with a one mile run to the park. I carefully avoid the piles of chunder dotted about the pavements by last night’s Otley Run students and start a circuit of the park. Paul is putting out the directional signs and kilometre markers so I join him. He’s on his own as Liz G isn’t feeling too good so won’t be running today. We join the throng setting up at the finish line and I do a warm up lap with Helen and Rick.
I report the results of last night’s foray into the world of marathon time predictors and Helen confirms that these are notoriously optimistic. Double your half marathon time and add ten per cent is her advice. I tell her I’ve just listened to the first Marathon Talk podcast and am impressed with the quality and she tells me they’ve got better since then, so that’s something to look forward to. Rick recounts a tale of being dragged across the kitchen by his daughter’s enormous puppy and we’re at the start line.
It’s a great turn out and there’s an award for Aamir who’s running his one hundredth parkrun this morning; as this is only race number one hundred and twenty three this is quite an achievement.
Until recently I’d been looking for a PB every week. Whenever I recognised that I wasn’t in that kind of form I would try and take George down. We’re of a similar standard but have a different approach; he sets off slowly and then winds it up for the last half of the race. I try and build a lead and hang on at the end as he’s got a terrific finish. Due to a combination of injury, snow & ice and more sensible marathon training I’ve stopped looking for a fast 5k time. There’s still unfinished business with George as he leads our personal series by some way, but I’ve been using the last few parkruns as practice for running at and around my marathon pace. Consequently, I’ve spent the last few races looking to tag on to someone who’s running between 22 and 24 minutes. Unfortunately for her, I’ve picked on Ellie and have run round with her for the last three or four Saturdays.
We’re off and I settle into a rhythm and catch Rick on the corner. Paul is really going for it today and is way ahead. Rick says he can’t get his breathing right in the cold weather so isn’t going to go for a PB today. We catch Ellie at about 1.5k and decide we’ll run with her for the rest of the race. Ellie likes a fast start and this time has looked really strong going up the slope on the first lap. We keep up a good pace until about 2.5k when Ellie lets forth a plaintive wail “I’m cold”! Fortunately, Rick is more of a gentleman than I am and offers up his running gloves. Ellie’s hands are so cold she can’t get her fingers into the gloves so Rick performs some sort of stately dance alongside her while helping her get the gloves on. Alison goes past just before the 3k marker and gives Ellie a shout of encouragement.
I’m convinced we’ve lost too much time with the glove exchange and that Ellie won’t get a PB today. Rick dispenses proper coaching advice about running style and visualisation and I make a mental note to try some of these techniques myself when I’m next trying to go for a fast one. The best I can do is blurt out “You can still do this Ellie, but it’ll really hurt”. I don’t think you’ll find that one in the coaching manuals. We keep up a good pace and by the time we get to the last 300 meters Ellie is away on a fast finish. We can’t keep up with her as she gets loads of encouragement from Sam, the marshals and those congregated around the finish line. That was a really good run in sub zero conditions. Ellie has improved her PB by nine seconds, Paul was four seconds off his PB and Alison has knocked a second off her previous best.
When I started to recognise parkrunners and their performances I was puzzled as to why people of different abilities sometimes ran around together. This must be a lose/lose situation I thought. Surely the faster runner will be frustrated at running at a slower pace, while the slower runner will feel under pressure to run at a pace that is faster than they would like? Now I think I’ve got it. Since running with Ellie I’ve understood that I don’t really go for it when I think I’m going for it. When it starts to hurt I pull back in a way that she doesn’t. Also, I’ve changed my view on runners with a fast finish; I used to think they must be running too slowly during the race if they can suddenly pick up the pace at the end. I can see this isn’t the case. Some people are just blessed with a fast finish. I reckon if I do some proper speed work I may be able to improve my finish. At the moment I seem to be upping the effort at the end of a run but this isn’t converted into faster movement.
So at the end of my first “real” week of marathon training where am I?
In a Bridget Jones Diary meets Fetcheveryone style this is how it’s looking:
Weight 73.1 kg
Total Mileage 28.5 miles
Long Run 12.5 miles
Long Run Pace 10:00
Days without alcohol 5
I last got weighed just before I started the Thursday Distance Training sessions, I think it was Saturday, 16th January. I weighed 74.9 kg so 1.8 kg has disapparated since then. Not sure of my weight in “real money”. In a fit of pique I changed the scales from imperial to metric when I hit thirteen and a half stone and neither of us can remember how to change it back again.
My marathon training for today will be a run round the park. For once we’re up early enough for Liz to drop me at the lights at Shaw Lane so I can warm up with a one mile run to the park. I carefully avoid the piles of chunder dotted about the pavements by last night’s Otley Run students and start a circuit of the park. Paul is putting out the directional signs and kilometre markers so I join him. He’s on his own as Liz G isn’t feeling too good so won’t be running today. We join the throng setting up at the finish line and I do a warm up lap with Helen and Rick.
I report the results of last night’s foray into the world of marathon time predictors and Helen confirms that these are notoriously optimistic. Double your half marathon time and add ten per cent is her advice. I tell her I’ve just listened to the first Marathon Talk podcast and am impressed with the quality and she tells me they’ve got better since then, so that’s something to look forward to. Rick recounts a tale of being dragged across the kitchen by his daughter’s enormous puppy and we’re at the start line.
It’s a great turn out and there’s an award for Aamir who’s running his one hundredth parkrun this morning; as this is only race number one hundred and twenty three this is quite an achievement.
Until recently I’d been looking for a PB every week. Whenever I recognised that I wasn’t in that kind of form I would try and take George down. We’re of a similar standard but have a different approach; he sets off slowly and then winds it up for the last half of the race. I try and build a lead and hang on at the end as he’s got a terrific finish. Due to a combination of injury, snow & ice and more sensible marathon training I’ve stopped looking for a fast 5k time. There’s still unfinished business with George as he leads our personal series by some way, but I’ve been using the last few parkruns as practice for running at and around my marathon pace. Consequently, I’ve spent the last few races looking to tag on to someone who’s running between 22 and 24 minutes. Unfortunately for her, I’ve picked on Ellie and have run round with her for the last three or four Saturdays.
We’re off and I settle into a rhythm and catch Rick on the corner. Paul is really going for it today and is way ahead. Rick says he can’t get his breathing right in the cold weather so isn’t going to go for a PB today. We catch Ellie at about 1.5k and decide we’ll run with her for the rest of the race. Ellie likes a fast start and this time has looked really strong going up the slope on the first lap. We keep up a good pace until about 2.5k when Ellie lets forth a plaintive wail “I’m cold”! Fortunately, Rick is more of a gentleman than I am and offers up his running gloves. Ellie’s hands are so cold she can’t get her fingers into the gloves so Rick performs some sort of stately dance alongside her while helping her get the gloves on. Alison goes past just before the 3k marker and gives Ellie a shout of encouragement.
I’m convinced we’ve lost too much time with the glove exchange and that Ellie won’t get a PB today. Rick dispenses proper coaching advice about running style and visualisation and I make a mental note to try some of these techniques myself when I’m next trying to go for a fast one. The best I can do is blurt out “You can still do this Ellie, but it’ll really hurt”. I don’t think you’ll find that one in the coaching manuals. We keep up a good pace and by the time we get to the last 300 meters Ellie is away on a fast finish. We can’t keep up with her as she gets loads of encouragement from Sam, the marshals and those congregated around the finish line. That was a really good run in sub zero conditions. Ellie has improved her PB by nine seconds, Paul was four seconds off his PB and Alison has knocked a second off her previous best.
When I started to recognise parkrunners and their performances I was puzzled as to why people of different abilities sometimes ran around together. This must be a lose/lose situation I thought. Surely the faster runner will be frustrated at running at a slower pace, while the slower runner will feel under pressure to run at a pace that is faster than they would like? Now I think I’ve got it. Since running with Ellie I’ve understood that I don’t really go for it when I think I’m going for it. When it starts to hurt I pull back in a way that she doesn’t. Also, I’ve changed my view on runners with a fast finish; I used to think they must be running too slowly during the race if they can suddenly pick up the pace at the end. I can see this isn’t the case. Some people are just blessed with a fast finish. I reckon if I do some proper speed work I may be able to improve my finish. At the moment I seem to be upping the effort at the end of a run but this isn’t converted into faster movement.
So at the end of my first “real” week of marathon training where am I?
In a Bridget Jones Diary meets Fetcheveryone style this is how it’s looking:
Weight 73.1 kg
Total Mileage 28.5 miles
Long Run 12.5 miles
Long Run Pace 10:00
Days without alcohol 5
I last got weighed just before I started the Thursday Distance Training sessions, I think it was Saturday, 16th January. I weighed 74.9 kg so 1.8 kg has disapparated since then. Not sure of my weight in “real money”. In a fit of pique I changed the scales from imperial to metric when I hit thirteen and a half stone and neither of us can remember how to change it back again.
Friday, 19th February – 65 days to go
Today’s a rest day. Phew. Have only just warmed up from yesterday evening. Decide to follow advice of Paul S and not try to do too much post London. Tear up my application for Leeds Half. I’d really like to run it, but will get vicarious pleasure from supporting family and friends instead. I’m already booked into the three 5k John Carr series. First one is ten days after London so may not be able to give of my best. The equivalent race last year was my first race where almost all runners were club runners and I was completely intimidated. Set off from the back and didn’t really understand that overtaking someone wasn’t impolite. Nowadays I just barge past people (if I can catch them). Balance the disappointment of dipping out of Leeds by sending off applications for “Race the Train” run in Wales in August. We’re meeting up with family and are camping. Should be interesting.
I’ve dug the “fruit infusion” packets out of the cupboard and checked their sell by dates. Just over. This seems to indicate that it’s been about two years since I last tried them. The aroma is always fantastic, but they just taste like hot water. Nevertheless, I’ve decided to cut down on caffeine and give them another try. Obviously wasn’t too keen last time as there are fifteen of twenty left in one packet and seventeen of twenty in the other. Have decided that you’ve got to leave the bag in the water for a long time and then squeeze it hard to get the flavour. They’re not as bad as I remember. I’ve also found a few Bush Tea teabags at the back of the cupboard. Yippee. Joy unbounded. Think I can stand this regime for seven weeks as long as I get a proper cuppa first thing.
Have an hour with personal trainer in the afternoon. Liz can’t go ‘cos she’s got a telephone conference that can’t be rearranged. Tony, our personal trainer, has encyclopaedic knowledge of football from 1970 to present; ditto pop music (specialist subject heavy metal 1975 to 1990). He also knows much about human anatomy and how to fix it when it’s broken. We agree that his role over the next few weeks will be to concentrate on keeping me healthy with just a little core strengthening. Have a massage on aching calves and hamstrings. I had no knowledge of massage prior to Tony, but regard him as “old school” i.e. he thinks that the more he hurts me the better it’s doing me. Today is a level 2 massage. I rate his massages as follows:
Level 1 Easy. I’ve obviously got nothing wrong at the moment. This is usually on the Friday before a Sunday race when I want to go for it.
Level 2 Not too bad. I’ve got aches and pains but nothing that’s particularly worrying.
Level 3 Hurts. Usually concentrates on some specific area that I’ve been daft enough to announce is causing me discomfort.
Level 4 Unbearable. Always left calf. I have to take off glasses (I don’t know why), stop speaking (difficult anyway as I’ve stuffed towel in mouth), tears leak down my cheeks. It may sound like it, but this is definitely not crying.
Tony then straps my ankle with zinc oxide tape which should see me through to Sunday’s long run providing I don’t fall asleep in the bath too many times over the next couple of days.
Come home to find Liz chuckling at Russell’s blog – he’s run with Liz Yelling you know. Read through Kay’s running blog and Russ is spot on: Kay packs more into one day than an ordinary person can manage in a week. I wonder if it’s too soon to put in my order for a birthday carrot cake? Finish off with a read of Michael’s blog. All steely eyed determination. I’m looking for any anxieties or signs of doubt, but nothing yet. Must be just me then.
I put my PBs into some sort of race predictor program and the result is unexpectedly low. In turn I feed my PBs for 5k, 10k, 10 mile and half marathon into the programme. It predicts my marathon times as 3:07, 3:10, 3:06 and 3:07 respectively. Whilst I’m obviously flattered that the programme thinks so highly of me, I know I can’t run those times. Liz suggests putting in my Brass Monkey time. This comes out at 3:13, which is a bit more like it, but anyone who’s seen me at the end of a half marathon would testify that I would not be capable of picking myself up and doing the whole thing again in only 10 minutes longer.
I’ve dug the “fruit infusion” packets out of the cupboard and checked their sell by dates. Just over. This seems to indicate that it’s been about two years since I last tried them. The aroma is always fantastic, but they just taste like hot water. Nevertheless, I’ve decided to cut down on caffeine and give them another try. Obviously wasn’t too keen last time as there are fifteen of twenty left in one packet and seventeen of twenty in the other. Have decided that you’ve got to leave the bag in the water for a long time and then squeeze it hard to get the flavour. They’re not as bad as I remember. I’ve also found a few Bush Tea teabags at the back of the cupboard. Yippee. Joy unbounded. Think I can stand this regime for seven weeks as long as I get a proper cuppa first thing.
Have an hour with personal trainer in the afternoon. Liz can’t go ‘cos she’s got a telephone conference that can’t be rearranged. Tony, our personal trainer, has encyclopaedic knowledge of football from 1970 to present; ditto pop music (specialist subject heavy metal 1975 to 1990). He also knows much about human anatomy and how to fix it when it’s broken. We agree that his role over the next few weeks will be to concentrate on keeping me healthy with just a little core strengthening. Have a massage on aching calves and hamstrings. I had no knowledge of massage prior to Tony, but regard him as “old school” i.e. he thinks that the more he hurts me the better it’s doing me. Today is a level 2 massage. I rate his massages as follows:
Level 1 Easy. I’ve obviously got nothing wrong at the moment. This is usually on the Friday before a Sunday race when I want to go for it.
Level 2 Not too bad. I’ve got aches and pains but nothing that’s particularly worrying.
Level 3 Hurts. Usually concentrates on some specific area that I’ve been daft enough to announce is causing me discomfort.
Level 4 Unbearable. Always left calf. I have to take off glasses (I don’t know why), stop speaking (difficult anyway as I’ve stuffed towel in mouth), tears leak down my cheeks. It may sound like it, but this is definitely not crying.
Tony then straps my ankle with zinc oxide tape which should see me through to Sunday’s long run providing I don’t fall asleep in the bath too many times over the next couple of days.
Come home to find Liz chuckling at Russell’s blog – he’s run with Liz Yelling you know. Read through Kay’s running blog and Russ is spot on: Kay packs more into one day than an ordinary person can manage in a week. I wonder if it’s too soon to put in my order for a birthday carrot cake? Finish off with a read of Michael’s blog. All steely eyed determination. I’m looking for any anxieties or signs of doubt, but nothing yet. Must be just me then.
I put my PBs into some sort of race predictor program and the result is unexpectedly low. In turn I feed my PBs for 5k, 10k, 10 mile and half marathon into the programme. It predicts my marathon times as 3:07, 3:10, 3:06 and 3:07 respectively. Whilst I’m obviously flattered that the programme thinks so highly of me, I know I can’t run those times. Liz suggests putting in my Brass Monkey time. This comes out at 3:13, which is a bit more like it, but anyone who’s seen me at the end of a half marathon would testify that I would not be capable of picking myself up and doing the whole thing again in only 10 minutes longer.
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