Sunday 30 January 2011

Impressions

Second time for me at the Lakeside for me, well running wise anyway. I did the shorten version back in 2009 & last year I popped up to York for the Brass Monkey so it was nice to be able to do this one again PLUS it `s the closest event to me – the start line is less than 2 miles away - always support your local events*. So after a warm up of less than 2 miles I met up with the Dan & Dave from the club. After a cup of tea & a bit of fluffing around we were called to the start area for the off.....

Now I could not help thinking it would be just so funny if Mike Gratton kicked this one off with an impression of Martin Fitzmaurice by saying “Are - you - ready.....Ladies & Gentleman....Let`s go - running....” then blow the hooter........................but he didn`t - off we went anyway.

First mile at an easy pace which suited me & is typical of Dave`s running, 2nd mile was a bit quicker - half way through the 3rd mile Dave got bored and sped off, whilst Dan & I settled down on a steady pace. About 3.5M we hit the canal which wasn`t as muddy as it could have been (I had been doing a bit of canal work recently at the Frimley Lodge parkrun anyway). Kept it steady we us passing a number of folks where it was possible. Just after 7M we had the `steps` - a nasty change of pace but it mean we were off the canal & back on the road.

As we swung around the corner we had a nice downward section of road where we could see runners in front & slowly picked a few more off. Turned another corner I could see a few more then a space – I pushed the pace a little and caught these few & got into that gap. I could see Mike (Gratton) on the corner & the entrance of Lakeside. Just one pedestrian to negotiate around (which could have got trickly) and into the home straight. I could tell someone was right on my shoulder – it was Dan (thank goodness). We could see Dave shouting at us and we went through the finish neck & neck – which was a great result.

Finished with a `Check-out` time of triple 19 - double 4.

(well nearly 65.13)

Split Summary ====

1) - 1m - 9:08(9:08/m) - 139cal
2) - 1m - 8:44(8:44/m) - 142cal
3) - 1m - 7:48(7:48/m) - 141cal
4) - 1m - 7:59(7:59/m) - 142cal
5) - 1m - 8:09(8:09/m) - 143cal
6) - 1m - 7:59(7:59/m) - 143cal
7) - 1m - 8:03(8:03/m) - 142cal
8) - 0.96m - 7:27(7:45/m) - 131cal

(Garmin was short and miles were out as if you look at the downloaded route I should have been very, very wet - but I wasn`t)

Route - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/64710626

Results – http://www.racetimingsystems.com/public/results.aspx?raceid=1391

Tendon update – Still a bit stiff, been to the phyios for a massage, ultrasound & a zap. Been given some exercises to do & cream (which really smells of peppermint) but it`s `ok` - manageable. A few easy weeks now.

*I don`t really count Frimley Lodge parkrun as a event as parkruns are so part of my weekly running but it feels odd not being a regular there & fully supporting it & boosting the club`s presents there :-/

(PS still not got the hang of this linking & why Garmin Embed works on some occasions & not all beats the heck of me :-/ )

Tuesday 25 January 2011

So last year ...............

Stubbington Green 10Km - A new one for me, well I say that only because it was cancelled last year :-/

So an early 10Km outing, not that was `racing` it anyway - a decision I made fairly quickly after entering the Tanners 30. The sore tendon also ensured I didn`t go too fast. So come race day and it was another good turnout from members (past & present) with 9 + 1 members. It was a bit a friends fest anyway with loads of faces I knew & loads of clubs being represented. I wasn`t driving which was quite unusual but the good thing was that he liked to get to a race early too. Went for coffee 1st & manage to lose ourselves in the race HQ - opps. Soon enough it was warm up time and I wanted a good slow warm up - managed a mile about 10/m which was perfect.

This event is a sell out - there were over 1,300 finishers with varying abilities (00:32 to just over 01:23). Soon enough we moved from the `holding area` and down the road to the start - and we were off. The plan was 60:00. I had so many comments from friends who went past about my pace.

Yet again the 1st mile too fast, despite a slower second mile it was still too fast BUT I was concentrating on where my feet were landing - shorten stride with mid foot landing rather than landing out in front, on the heels & pulling on that tendon. Third mile again too fast - ok so not going to hit my pacing target but no issue with the tendon and I could enjoy the course & could see why it produces some fast times - undulating with twists & turns. The small section by the sea was very open & if you didn`t mind sea spray in your face the views out to sea were quite good. From there it was back up into the village & then round the last turn, into the home straight and through the finish.

Time wise - 56:53 - a bit quicker than planned but only 3 mins faster.

Watched most of our club runners come home - Ankle was generally ok with the walk back to the car acting as a cool down.

To sum up - a really good event & worth doing. Next year I wouldn`t mind giving it a bit of a go.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/63684763

Split Summary
====
1) - 1m - 8:40(8:40/m) - 137cal
2) - 1m - 9:19(9:19/m) - 139cal
3) - 1m - 9:00(9:00/m) - 139cal
4) - 1m - 9:10(9:10/m) - 141cal
5) - 1m - 9:08(9:08/m) - 138cal
6) - 1m - 9:11(9:11/m) - 139cal
7) - 0.28m - 2:24(8:39/m) - 38cal

As a precaution a couple of days off.

Monday 17 January 2011

Winter Tanners 2/3rds

First time out for me at a LDWA event - as billed on their website ....`A challenge walk (run) of circa 30 miles (or 20 miles) on Surrey footpaths and bridle-ways with minimal support in weather conditions which may beadverse, so only strong walkers (runners) should take part" – and like their instructions short & sweet but so spot on.

So maybe the best preparation was not to tread on a kerb and slip off apavement in the week before the event and to be totally honest the Achilles Tendon on that side has been stiff for a while but why do you always `do`the same side when doing silly things??? - thought it `might` be ok but always a struggle - going slowly would be a bonus.

Myself & Alan got to the (free) car park without any problems and sawwalkers & runners buzzing around - the start for runners was any time from08:30 - 09:30 - after a bit of fluffing around we starting at 08:58.

Armed with our Camelpak type of rucksacks & route instructions (20M & 30M plus copies) we were off - 1st mile was not really a problem, as bit fastfor the 1st part but Alan did point out that it was to warm up, then found a natural pace. Just as we clicked over the mile (not that any mile markers or routes were marked out) we found the path flooded by the river so aftera quick diversion (up & over the road) and back on course. Walkers and runners everywhere so it was a bit easy to follow someone in front but I wanted to get used to the instructions and more importantly the abbreviations for example & for those who don`t know.....

"03.1M - 176529 - Cross RD, thru car park and along TK. In 50Y, FL thru KG (next to wide gate). Keep ahd ascending fairly steeply for 750Y (at fork either TK will do). The latter part & most of the ascent is on a wide grassy ridge. When this levels out, BR to keep to the R edge of the shortgrass (near to brambles / hawthorn etc immed on your R). This will channel you onto a TK with brambles etc both side. In 120Y ahd thru KG (by widegate). In 1/2M, FL & 30Y later, at X-TK, TL. In 300Y ignore 2 TKs on your Lto cont with fence partly dilapidated) on your L."

(For those who have run the Munro or the Picnic before that `ascending fairly steeply` part is where you run down pass the bemused cows to a turning point & run back up, again past the bemused cows - who were still there, looking bemused by it all )

Running wise - Ankle wise ok still warming up. Instructions wise - we had aslight wobble at 4.5M but back on track. Scenery wise - just simply fantastic, there is nothing better than being out in the middle of now here enjoying the countryside and out running. Said hello to the odd golfers, or anglers or horse riders but mostly we were there along maybe seeing a glimpse of a runner or walker in front - maybe once in a while passing one or two.

Into this series of muddy fields section - I could not my shoes for all the mud. After another wobble just after 9M we found the 10M checkpoint......................

At the checkpoint – cold drinks, jelly babies & biscuits – there was two sign posts 20M & 30M I decided that 20M would be enough and changed map & instructions over. Briefly chatted to Sandra, Ian and her dog (who was looking very, very clean). Also said hello to Hellyd – who laughed at me when I said I doing the 20M and off we went.

I was doing the `map` reading for the next part – which was fun – reading out the instructions, working out the abbreviations & trying to keep upright. I guess about 12.5M we were back on the `full` course as we seemed to be getting `overtaken` by runners. Just after 15M we went up into this wooded section where I did wonder if anyone ran up, finally cleared that section & a very steep grassy section but the bonus was as you broke over the brow of the hill you could see the next checkpoint. Where they did great cups of tea and it would have been rude to only have one cup.

Finally got going and along the road and down (yes down) in a wooded section and past one of the nicest YHA hostels I`ve ever seen. Then came the part where I had been looking forward to - I mean looking forward for miles ....The instructions said simply

"TL along RD for 6Y then TR thru gate"

Yes 6 yards of road Wasn`t too pleased with what followed it -a massive steep hill (but from there is was downhill).

As we neared the end there were runners everywhere - some we past, some we ran with & some sprinted past us - which was all quite odd as it wasn`t like near the year of a race where you bust a gut & move heaven & earth to beat the runner in front. Back around the corner and into the car park where you check in.

Back to the car to freshen up and eat before setting off home.

So a fantastic day - thanks to all the volunteers at LDWA. Who knowns I might be back next year to run the last 1/3rd :-/

Splits - 12:45, 9:38, 13:54, 16:52, 15:49, 11:04, 11:30, 12:29, 13:37, 25:36, 19:35, 16:50, 13:27, 15:13, 15:56, 25:25, 11:04, 14:49, 11:19, 11:38, 9:18 (0.9M @ 10:20)

(so only +0.9M extra) - 20.9 M in 05:07:48 - just a bit of my 20M PB then :-/

Route -



Next up - My 5 days rest (looking back my last 5 day break was the end of October / beginning of November), then a couple of easy weeks (Stubbington 10Km was always going to be easy run) & build up my fitness and miles for the back end of February and March.

Friday 7 January 2011

Traditional as......

Almost as traditional as Turkey, Mince Pies & Christmas pud with jelly & blancmange ......it`s the Tadworth 10.

With it being held on 1st Sunday of the year it`s a good way to shift those festive gained pounds. Even thou it`s now my 3rd year on bounce I still love this race - a multi terrain, undulating 10 miler at Epson Down racecourse. The course itself was nearly 2 laps of 5 - being off set by about 0.5M and from doing this race before I knew where the course slow ups, basically from the start (0.5M in) the course is at the lowest point (about 110 M) and rises to 180 M or so in the next mile or so added to that the track / road is very narrow - a natural bottle-neck. The race plan was that I would start slow and get quicker - working on a negative split run rather than progressive as the course wouldn`t allow that.

So a steady start, out from the start along a narrow ish track & down the bottom of the hill, up the track - all going well and steady. Then the wait for the 4 horses (!!) - OK this wasn`t in my plan - was it in their plan to disturb the race...who knows but if it was then someone didn`t tell the last horse rider - she look petrified !!! So the 1st mile went to plan - a slow start, speed up a little in the 2nd mile. Mile 3 and unto road it was quicker still. Mile 4 was much of the same - which was strange as about the course moves from downhill road to uphill & off-road. The final mile of the 1st lap is uphill & on a sandy uneven track. Back past the start but on road and through for another lap, then down the hill........

This time, where the horses were, it was much faster but still 60 seconds slower than the previous mile - somehow I manage to get boxed in (what a rookie !!!) plus I had a `breather` - I`m sure he was much closer than he was (ok course I would have minded if it was a lady runner but it wasn`t so grrrrrrrrrr ) !! Anyway picked up the pace when onto the down hill road section. Generally I was passing loads of folks which is always good & helped pushed me on. In the last 1/2M or so I had targeted 4 or so runners but as we closed in towards the finish they kicked a bit quicker than I thought they would and I could only pass one of them.

Still a pleasing run and gernerally mission accomplished.

Thanks goodness I had warm clothes and hot coffee in the car - I didn`t realise how cold I got esp after the cool down.

Route & Elevation..

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/61558832

Previous Results -

2009 - 01:24:03
2010 - 01:22:52
2011 - 01:21:03

Split Summary
====
1) - 1m - 9:50(9:50/m) - 136cal
2) - 1m - 8:28(8:28/m) - 143cal
3) - 1m - 7:35(7:35/m) - 142cal
4) - 1m - 7:35(7:35/m) - 141cal
5) - 1m - 8:07(8:07/m) - 140cal
6) - 1m - 7:58(7:58/m) - 142cal
7) - 1m - 8:51(8:51/m) - 142cal
8) - 1m - 7:54(7:54/m) - 142cal
9) - 1m - 7:57(7:57/m) - 137cal
10) - 0.89m - 6:49(7:38/m) - 124cal

Next up - Winter Tanners 30 (or maybe a 20 or 40 if I get lost) - a LDWA event

Saturday 1 January 2011

2010 by numbers................

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2 - 0 - 1 - 0

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1 - Bad joke already.....

2 - Ultras Completed (Moonlight Challenge & JW Ultra)

5 - Marathons Completed (London, North Devon, Abingdon, Athens, Benidorm)

7 - Pairs of shoes on the go (K-Swiss Konejo, K-Swiss Ultra Natural, Adidas Kanadia, Mizuno Wave Harriers 2, Inov-8 Mudclaws, Nike Lunarglides, Brooks GTS)

8 - How can I not mention those 8 seconds at London Marathon (04:00:08)

9 - PB`s (5M @ 38:37, 5.4M @ 45:05, 13.1M @ 1:38:20, 30 Kms @ 3:06:15, 20M @ 2:47:18, 21M @ 3:02:36, 26.2M @ 3:39:41, 30M @ 4:54:08 & 32.75M @ 6:04:56)

32.75 - Furthest mileage in one go.

43 - Parkruns ran.

54.65 - Highest weekly mileage (22nd – 28th Feb 2010)

80 - Races completed (Thunder run = 1 event)

101 - Lowest mileage for a month (December)

181 - Highest mileage for a month (January)

1576 - Miles ran

2011 - To be even better