Saturday 30 January 2010

A trip to the dentist may be needed....

I`ve received my race number for next month`s `Moonlight Challenge`. I thought it would be a fun event & somewhere different to put in a LSR for my London marathon training.

It`s a lapper - laps of 6.55M, so 5 laps for the full distance (32.75M), 4 laps for 26.2 and 3 laps for 19.65M.

I also managed to talk two running friends into entering too as their Goofy Challenge was sadly ruined by the snowy conditions early in the year.

Whilst they do the full distance, the plan for me is to do 3 laps - that distance makes a sensible training run.........good plan, right?......

....but it`s like playing with a wobbly tooth - you know you shouldn`t but sometimes you can find yourself doing it by accident...well running 26.2M (4 laps) in training for a 26.2M event is just daft but everyone has heard about over distance training..........

to be continued.....

Monday 25 January 2010

Just what the Doctor ordered....

What a great weekend`s running which to be honest I wasn`t really expecting.

I`ve recently, with a cancelled 10Km race and the snow & ice, been a bit concerned about the lack of speed sessions this year - lots of miles ran but no actual fast running this year, so on Saturday morning it was a real relief to go round Basingstoke`s parkrun in 22.56 - just 63 sec outside my PB. A little close time wise to running a half marathon the next day but it was a good boost.

I just hoped the `Road Work` Gods were with me, as almost straight after the parkrun I faced a minimum 4 hour trip up to York luckily enough they were. Literally I got there & was invited out to York for a bit of pre-race food with Kelly & her OH & her friends, which was very unexpected & was very pleasant, even managed an unplanned tour of the city too

Come race morning, I was up, showered, had breakfast at a very early time and left for racecourse (Race HQ) in plenty of time.....which, in fact was luckily as I managed another tour of the local & surrounding area - opps.

Arrived & found the cafe, where I saw and had a quick chat with Stringy, MrSJ (& family), Andy Sly, Rtg, lfc runner, Bunny Phobia & RichardB. Dropped bag off, and bumped into Princess Purple Bubbles who decided to show me her knickers :-O Must go to more races if that keeps happening. LOL only joking she was actually proving that they matched her Avatar picture. Then outside for a warm up and nearly fell over Shiesly & Kelly and made me way to the start area. Great to see so many people beforehand.

Now as early explained I really didn`t know what time I would aim for here - to prove this I wore two pace bands - 1.40 & 1.45 - one on each wrist. I`m sure that was a big enough window. So with this in mind I managed to squeeze into the starting area around the 1.45 marker. I did thou have a couple of aims for race - One being pace work / steady splits, so made an effort not to race off in the first mile and the other aim was to run more relaxed and with decent form and lastly to enjoy it.

Soon we were off - So mile one down & steady - tick. Mile 2, 3 & 4 were quicker but felt, and surprising ok. Saw Kelly up ahead, and gained on her quickly which was a surprise. I tried to get her to tag in behind me but without luck as that would have made a nice run. :-( Through Mile 5 in 37.xx mins - 5 minutes better than my official 5 mile PB (I so need to get a decent 5 mile PB time), even my 10Km split was close to my 10Km PB (maybe 44.30) - still felt relaxed. I kept thinking "swinging the legs to the rear", "shorten strides with mid foot landing" & "arm swings".

Sips of water at mile 6 and still felling quite relaxed. Mile 7 & 8 seemed to pass quickly enough - I think I called young man. Gel & water at mile 9 and into the homeward section. Passed a few runners going over the first of the bridges, which was encouraging. Round the corner, up & down the last bridge and seeing the finishing arch was a nice sight. Just about to pull into the finish straight and Rtg cycled passed me - which was a shock as she was meant to be a back sweeper!!! Gave a little sprint towards the end & heard shouts of "Come on Mr. K" from Shiesly from above the clock & through the finish. So pleased with the final time - smashed my PB by 4 mins 36 secs.

Went to meet up with Shielsy. Congratulated Andy with his time - I was pleased I managed to pass the 10 mile marker by the time he has finished his race ....just (1.15.xx v his time of 1.17.50) Missed a few finishers but did cheer a few in - always good to see!

Splits - 7.25, 7.19, 7.20, 7.18, 7.31, 7.39, 7.36, 7.28, 7.32, 7.46, 7.33,7.33, 7.25 & the last bit 0.54 (0.14m - 6.24/m)

Final time - 1.38.20

Missed seeing & thanking Jovi Runner but I can say from Saturday morning at the parkrun, to the meal with Kelly & her friends on Saturday night, meeting all those above, to running in this wonderful event I can say it`s one of my best running weekends I`ve had & defiantly worth spending 8 hrs + in the car for - thanks to all. It just goes to show you do not know what`s around the corner.

Same time next year then???

Next race - Bramley 20 on the 14th Feb, where I have been given a plan - 1st 5 miles @ MP + 45, then the 2nd 5 miles @ MP + 30, then 4 miles @ MP + 15, then 4 miles @ M, then the final 2 miles at whatever is left in the tank.

Good plan eh.....All I need to work out now is what my MP is now (based using the Brass Monkey time the predication is 3 hrs 24 mins - thud !!!) - any guesses???

Tuesday 12 January 2010

Red flag to a bull...

I want to enter this race but I do not have the 4.30 marathan qualiflying time - due to the fact I have not run a marathon - I have run 2 ultras (Midnight 30 = 6hrs 50mins & DotD = 5hrs 22mins). I sent them a carefully worded e-mail and this is their reply...names & events have been deleted..

"K,

I am sorry but your times in the walking event, caesars camp trail and the Doyen of the Downs 30 are not comparable at all with a marathon race.

The `Blankety Blank` is not a fun or walking event where competitors can take all the time they want.

There will still be places left for the `Blank`, probably, after the London marathon so if you achieve the qualifying time of under 4:30, I can accept your entry.

We have to have all competitors off the moors by the cut-off time of 1600 hours which is why we have a qualifying time. Your times, at the moment, are not good enough to achieve this.

Regards

`Blankety Blank`
______________

Saucy fellar - I am not terrible happy with this but will use this to motivate me so I have decided to write out a cheque & entry form (Dated the 25th April 2010) and I really hope there are places left so I can post off said cheque & entry form on the afternoon of the 25th April using the nearest postbox to the finish line of the VLM and in the meantime it will be stuck to my wall just above my London Marathon Plan.

Sunday 3 January 2010

Tomorrow is a planned rest day

The year so far plus Tadworth 10 race report

Bright and busy start to the year – 3rd day & clocked up 3 races – I know too many but it`s sooo great to be outside & running.

Two of these races were parkruns (both Basingstoke) – 23.39 on New Year`s Day & 23.05 yesterday, which maybe a little on the faster side than I wanted but happy enough as today`s race was never going to be a PB attempt, more of a leg stretcher – a training run at a faster than normal pace. I didn`t even look up last year`s time.

Last night I kept checking the website just in case it was cancelled as there is a road section that`s pretty fast downhill & then turns 90 degrees left that might be of concerned but no dreaded note being posted up. Arrived there in plenty of time as I wanted to see the conditions – yep COLD. After fluffing around with shoes & gloves (felt like a right tart) – went with the Mizuno Wave Harrier II. A mile warm up – basically that`s how far the start is away from the car park we formed into the starting area. One of the funniest starts I think I`ve seen – the starter, after sounding the hooter begging not to be knocked off the small steps he was standing on as the runners went either side of him.

After a slow start we made our way down off the racecourse, just inside the path I saw Mr Itch sitting down holding his ankle – never a good sight to see a runner of that calibre down & out. A few metres up another runner out. Mile one marker came up – mmm too slow really. Pushed on, up the muddy track which had a nasty rise to it but happily passing runners. Due to the icy conditions I made sure I shorten my stride & kept my feet under me otherwise one Bambi`s older brother impression coming right up. Mile two quicker. Mile three & four quicker still – getting back to the time I ideally wanted (1.20 – 8m/m), then came mile five beep – opps but it was uphill along Ebbisham Lane but my quick calculation ok-ish. Unto lap two, down the hill & up the muddy narrow path – I`m sure it wasn`t this steep earlier. Mile Seven beep came up - 9 mins 23 seconds /mile – what happened there – drifter into ultra pace – not good!! Only three miles to regain any time. Down the step road section and into the connecting woods & up along the lane again and through the finish.

A bit disappointed with time as ended with 1.22.52 but all in all an excellent training run. (Just for info - Last year`s time 1.24.03 but I know I didn`t race the two days before & it wasn`t so icy.)

Splits 8:50, 8:36, 7:44, 7:42, 8:13, 7:58, 9:33, 8:11, 7:49, 8:17

A good early year testing event with friendly & encouraging Marshalls – the brass band at the start & finish was an added nice touch (as was a thermos of hot coffee waiting for me back in the car – must be getting old..)

Back in time for an extra long soak in the gym `s Jacuzzi.

Other News;

Virgin London Marathon plan is drawn up. Main areas of concerns – keeping the runs as scheduled (miles & pace) but fitting around in my general weekly plans. Ohhh and keeping those races in check but generally (ish) they fit with maybe the exception of Maidenhead 10 on Good Friday. Also disappointed to see that during wk 8 it does not say “30 mile – easy” as my planned Moonlight 32 ultra would have fitted in nicely....maybe one race for next year then. J

Next Race – Next Sunday Stubbington Green 10Km.