Archive for October, 2007
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Tuesday, October 23rd, 2007I had a bit more time today. So I did some weight training in the gym before I jumped up on the treadmill again for a 9 km run.
Treadmill running can be very boring if you don´t use the options available. I mess around a bit with the incline and add a couple of steep hills along the way. I also like to increase the speed a few times and do 500-1000 meters at a real fast rate now and then along the way. It isn’t the most economical way to run. But I am sure that it adds some quality to the training and it is more fun.
I am hoping for better weather this weekend and a long run in the woods on Sunday.
No Comments »Playing football
Friday, October 19th, 2007In my last post I said that a day makes a lot of difference – how right I was! I went to a circuit class at the Leisure centre on Wednesday and all went well until we had a quick 5-a-side warm down after the class.
Well if you put 10 men in a room and throw in a round object the results are obvious. Somehow all tiredness goes out the window and the competitive spirit kicks in. Quite literally in my case as I aimed a full-on kick at the ball and connected firmly with someones shoe which was firmly planted on the ground. I can only compare it to kicking a brick wall and with the usual running trainers soft toe non-support my toes and front of foot took the brunt of it. I limped home in great pain.
Woke up Thursday and examined the damage, foot had enlarged somewhat and turned a black /purple colour across the front and along the toes – not pretty. So I did what all sensible people do and went for a short run just to check it all works. The first couple of miles were painful but seemed to numb after that so I returned reasonably happy. Now 24 hours later the foot looks awful but feels a lot better so it won’t stop me – as a famous quote goes – “It’s only a flesh wound!”.
Thursday evening was spent with one of the trainers at the centre putting together a gym training plan to prepare me for the rigours of running with a pack again. A bit apprehensive as it involves a lot more weights than I have ever done before. Well, if it doesn’t help my running I can always do some upper body modelling with a bit of help from an airbrush. I intend to do the program twice a week until the end of the year when I will get it reviewed again.
No Comments »What after the TM?
Thursday, October 18th, 2007I rushed down to the gym and did a quick 7 kms on the treadmill again. Not a great run, but good to add a few more kilometers in to the training diary. I hope to do 45-50 kms this week. By next week I will be back at my usual dose of around 55 kms a week.
I am starting to look beyond the Thames Meander. What other races should I try for in 2008. A friend of mine who has done most of the worlds classic ultras - Comrades, Western States 100, Ultra Tour du Mont Blanc - is trying to interest me in the Grand Union Canal Run in May.
It looks like a great race. But 145 miles! I have never run beyond 62 miles yet. Entries open in November. I will have to decide then.
4 Comments »Dorset lanes
Thursday, October 18th, 2007What a difference a day (or a 3-4 hour run) makes. Still had the sniffles on Sunday morning, reluctantly crawled out of bed and did a long run through the lanes of Dorset with my running partner Jerry and all the lurgies miraculously disappeared. Has to be said too, it was a lovely run - perfect weather conditions, 27 odd miles so was a bit tired towards the end but ultimately satisfying.
Warmed down on Monday evening with a trip to the gym, felt a bit sore round the ankles but otherwise OK. Tuesday did a 10 miler at marathon pace around local roads in the pouring rain and actually enjoyed it despite carrying about a gallon of excess water in my clothing towards the end. Bodes well for Dublin.
No Comments »Running for real
Tuesday, October 16th, 2007Run for real. The important part of training is that it must be like the race. You will not be able to control the weather so be sure to run in the rain, in the snow, in the sunshine, in the dark. The long, cold, wet training miles will get you to and through the big day! Wear your back pack, fill it up! Eat and drink what you will on the day.
Run with a hangover. England’s rugby team have kept us all well oiled for the last few Saturday nights. Don’t use a hangover as an excuse not to run. It is perfect training for the effects of dehydration and a good mental challenge. Remember no matter how hard you train the body it is the top 3 inches that will make the biggest difference on the day.
Stop running. If it hurts then stop. We all know the difference between good and bad pain. 2 days rest and a trip to the physio might make all the difference. Every day you train keep in mind that you have to be able to do it again tomorrow or the next day. I’m not talking about wimping out on race day when you have a little blister but train smart (horrible American expression) It is quality not quantity. Hobbling round the Cotswolds for hours on end is not going to help.
No Comments »Treadmill workout
Tuesday, October 16th, 2007Lots of work today! But I ate my lunch at the desk and managed to sneak down to the gym and clock 8 kms on the treadmill. I feel pleased with myself. Now I have to prepare a presentation of the governments tax policy to a group of MPs.
2 Comments »Leicester
Tuesday, October 16th, 2007I know what Andy means about the sniffels, I have had them now for the past week.
Having already signed up to do the Leicester Marathon Sunday just gone, it was very tempting to stay in bed at 6am and forget about it. But alas no, like a good trooper I went to Leicester to run the ‘ Flat course’ except it wasn’t… the half marathon may well have been, but I think they forgot to mention that on the marathon application.
It was a good turn out considering, all shapes and sizes, plus the two marathon club members that put us middle aged boys to shame, they must of been about 70 if a day.!!! and they just waddle past, shame they don’t move like that when driving.. or am I just bitter?
Not a bad days running I guess. Having done 20 miles last Saturday and not much in between. 4 hours 35 mins, which is so so for me. I did say I plod, comfortable running.
It did cross my mind that I would still have the same again to do come February, but its all in the mind. I had set out to do 26 miles and finished, on the day in February I will set out to do 54 ish and finish. Now, off to learn how to walk again, with stiff legs…
The sniffels stopped for the day though, back now !!
No Comments »Awful weather
Monday, October 15th, 2007My LSD on Sunday didn’t work out as I had hoped. The weather was quite awful, cold wind and rain, and I really could not motivate to stick out long enough. I managed to do 15 kms at a comfortable pace and then turned home to dry out.
Sometimes you are just not up to it. But the weather will continue to get rougher so soon I will have to face doing long sessions no matter what the conditions are. That will be a good grooming for the conditions on race day Feb 16.
No Comments »Fastest time trial
Monday, October 15th, 2007Nice easy day off today, if you consider moving furniture around the house a day off. Also I seem to have acquired some kind of sniffle which seems to be more irritating than anything. As a result I have been taking it mainly easy this week, a 8/9 mile trot round local roads on Tuesday, Circuits on Wednesday and a 4 mile time trial on Thursday where I managed to get the fastest time of the 20 or so running (good job none of the fast boys were there!), so I can’t be that bad. On that basis I am going to do my last long run tomorrow before Dublin at the end of the month. It will probably be a road run along the lanes of Dorset between Wimborne and Blandford (about 26 miles). The countryside will be lovely – a few hills but mostly undulating. With a bit of luck I can sweat this bug away.
No Comments »Tempo training again
Friday, October 12th, 2007I try to vary my treadmill running to keep my spirits up. Today I used a method that learned through “The Lore of Running” (a great book!).
Instead of doing interval training to build speed you can run at a syeady increasing speed through a workout. I did 8 kms and increased the speed every km. The first km went in 6 mins, the second in 5m30s and then upwards. I finished of doing the last km in under 4 mins. It felt great! Maybee I will be able to become a faster runner?
I am looking forward to doing a long-slow disance in the forrest on Sunday. My first LSD in a month.
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