Hill sprints
By Dave | Tuesday, January 15, 2008
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I had a rest day yesterday did nothing but some upper body weight training. This morning I was going to go for a run but decide to have a large breakfast. this afternoon i made up for it with a run with some hill sprints in.
Caution required
By Patrick | Monday, January 14, 2008
I have done five runs in six days with both speed sessions and hill training. Maybe I have been too hard at it. I feel a slight numbness in the legs and some pain in my right foot. Intensive training means increasing the risk of injury. I have learnt the hard way that it is important to put in days of rest even when you are on roll and just want to train more.
No training today therefore. If the pain goes away I´ll be back on the road during the weekend. After that, only three more weeks of hard training before the taper starts.
Running with altitude
By Paul | Friday, January 11, 2008
Having been away in the Himalayas for most of December walking at Altitude near Everest you would have thought that all of it would have been some use for when I got back here. Having lived meat free and an endless supply of Ra Ra Noodles I thought my body would have been fitter…. can you see where this is going?
Returning to work the first days cycle of 14 miles was a push over, apart from the very windy conditions and the lack of a rear mudguard for the wet roads it went well, the following day I cycled back in equally a good time without pushing myself that much. The other night I decided that I had to test the foot injury and do a run so opted for the treadmill without any support for the foot. In just over the hour I had done 10 km, a nice pace for me and felt fine. the altitude theory was it appeared working well…. one day later my legs feel like they have been kicked all over the place. However, not to be out done or demoralised I have a 18 miler planned for tomorrow with a 30 mile cycle later in the day, lets hope I can drive back home at the end of it..
Training summary
By Dave | Thursday, January 10, 2008
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Hi, sorry not been in touch 4 a while been away on a course in surrey. I have been keeping up on my training upping my mileage and doing more runs in the evening to get used to the dark and cold. There are a couple of nice routes here. One along the canal, which has been good practice for running along the Thames. Just like to say thanks to Ed and Chief for keeping me going and taking the time out for training
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That’s me on leave now, glad to get away have had a busy couple of weeks and not had the chance to keep up on the training
23/12/07
Brill I’ve just had a great week training upped my mileage added weight and im feeling great just the Christmas and New Year period to get over.
06/01/08
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
I’m back to work now and ive been bad since I last jotted down some notes. Ive only do 1 run and some hill walking in Scotland over the New Year. No enough by far. So back into it full throttle!! I`m also doing this for charity this year along with 2 more ULTRAs so if your reading this and you want to donate please go to this website, its for the DOWN Syndrome association as I have a 5 year old daughter with DOWNS.
08/01/08
Hi again, been building back up again 8 miles a day with weight and in the dark, early mornings again. Just chilling tonight with a glass of port and some stilton. I’ve got 2 running partners now and a mate of mine from the Black Isle (Inverness) is also taking part we’ve been swopping training tips.
Getting momentum
By Patrick | Wednesday, January 9, 2008
I am starting to gain some momentum in my training. I have run 4×12 km in the last 5 days and I begin to feel more comfortable running at a faster pace than before. I managed 200 kms of running in December despite some illness and really bad weather. I hope to manage between 250 and 300 kms in January.
I have also tested how it feels to run with a loaded backpack. It feels ok, at least when I run at a slower pace. I really don´t know how it will feel to carry 4 kgs during 10 hours of running. I still haven´t bought a headlight. Sone I can´t postpone it anymore.
Another 50-mile Weekend
By Andy | Wednesday, January 9, 2008
I had planned to run with Pat again on Saturday but unfortunately he has fallen victim to one of the circulating bugs, get well soon Pat!
I decided nevertheless to do the same route that I had planned only it seemed a lot harder on my own. Basically I ran cross country from Fordingbridge to Salisbury and back – about 28 miles, a lot of it over hills and through mud. I had been given a weather forecast of no rain so I was somewhat surprised to be battling through wind, rain and even sleet for part of the journey. Even so I enjoyed the route despite feeling very tired at the end.
On Sunday I spent ages looking at maps to find a different but easy to navigate route but in the end went out the back door and kept going without a definite plan. I ended up following the Castleman Trailway from Ringwood through to just South of Wimborne. It was mostly flat and very muddy but as close as I can get to replicating the Thames Valley Path. Despite my reluctance to get out the door I again enjoyed the run and strangely felt less tired than yesterday once I had got going. Total mileage was about 27 miles so I was pleased again to get another 50+ miles down over the weekend and even more pleased to still be running fairly strongly at the end.
Training on course
By Tony | Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Xmas was upon me very fast and the will to train was very minimal.. But with a couple of tick over run/walks I was more than pleased. Honest!!
Not being one to mess about it was straight back into the saddle when we returned to work. After arriving back late Friday I was up bright and breezy to conquer checkpoints 2-4 on the real-time TM08 course..
So it was the same routine as before in that my running partner met me at CP4 (which has a very nice tea room if you find the time to have a brew lol). We left my car and used hers to drive up to CP2. The weather was nice and chilly but not too bad. The route to CP3 was very mushy in parts due to all those ungratefuls who walk on the Tow path each day. But we jogged and tabbed our way along the route, which is easy to follow taking you past Cookham and through a part of Maidenhead into Bray Locks… Here you will find a couple of benches to rest on and a wooden hut for a quick change of clothing and the call of nature. (If required). This we did in 2 hours (not the call of nature the leg) which was way too fast for what we had planned, this being due to the two of us thinking we were Seb Coe and Paula Radcliffe. Not Arthur and Martha Higginbottom from Slouchville.
The next stage, after taking a nice 30 min break saw us then heading for the gatehouses and welcome teahouse at the finish. This leg, like the CP2-3 one has areas that are very mushy/muddy and slippery under foot. In some areas you can keep off the beaten track and run on firmer ground but for certain areas you have to put up with what is a slush pit type short bridal path.. The scenery is picturesque in parts, if you take the time to look. Especially when you get near to Windsor Castle. Going through Windsor (although only a small part of it) makes you stand out in a “Where’s Wally” style way as the shoppers in their normal wear are affronted by folk in lycra and muddy shoes carrying packs trying to look like athletes. Once again this leg is well sign posted and can be done without the use of a map (although one by the rules HAS TO BE CARRIED). So after sight seeing in Windsor and from Victoria Bridge we cracked on and completed the leg in 2 and a half hours. So all in all 5 hours including the break..
No aches were felt as we went in to collect our nice warm cuppa and a bite to eat.. Admittedly when I returned to my home and tried to get out of the car I had to remind my brain and body that the concrete blocks below my waist were in fact legs, and were needed to get into my home..
So Start to CP4 now complete and no issues at all. We are going to complete the shortest legs CP4 to finish in the next couple of weeks and intend to do them at the time we reckon we will do on the day. So head torches will be out and a late finish is anticipated. But as this will be when we know the Mong rats (private joke) will attack our bodies we have decided to just tab rather than run/tab to see how we fair time wise over the 16 miles..
If anyone has any questions about the route from the Start to Check point 4 please ask and I will answer as best as I can. For those who do not know the route there are toilets at each of the locks as far as we have noticed and anyone can use them. Some require a key from the Lock Keeper all have been friendly when we have approached them.
Happy new year to you all.. See you very soon….
Tony
New Year’s eve and back to the circuit training
By Andy | Monday, January 7, 2008
New Years week was never going to be too productive due to various commitments and my cold is still hanging around. I managed a quick trip to the gym on New Years Eve before the centre closed and then spent the evening in good company with some running mates and their children until the small hours. It was great fun as usual despite not drinking as I was driving. I was ill during the early hours and felt weak when lining up for the local New Years Day Quarter Marathon but kept a steady (not fast) pace around before collecting award at the end for completing all of last years League Races again.
Back to circuit class on Wednesday when the expected large post Christmas turnout didn’t show. Then managed a short run Thursday (6 miles) and a gym session Friday. Planning another long weekend to keep me used to the endurance.
Cold and icy
By Patrick | Monday, January 7, 2008
The temperature was minus 5 this morning and the roads were icy and empty. Not the best conditions for a morning run. But I managed a slow 12 km run anyhow. Not a good run. But still more kms in the bag and hopefully something that will make me mentally stronger. You need to be strong in the mind if you want to finish a tough race like the Thames Meander.
50-mile Weekend
By Andy | Wednesday, January 2, 2008
On Saturday morning I went to Pats house and we ran out from there along the beach onto the Sandbanks ferry and onto the Isle of Purbeck. From there we ran along the beach, up the cliffs and over the hills to Corfe Castle and then cut back across to the ferry before running back home. All in all it totalled 27 miles and I enjoyed all of it – even some of the hills which had us walking hands on knees up them. Luckily the rain from Friday had gone but had been replaced by high winds which made one or two of the ups and downs a touch more interesting.
On Sunday I ran from home North up the Avon Valley Path as far as Downton and back – again about 27 miles. No wind or rain but loads of mud and was pleased that once I had covered a few miles I managed to run most of it including some of the hills. My legs are definitely getting stronger. I also covered some paths which I had not been on before. Unfortunately about 5/6 miles from home I developed a nose bleed which meant I had to walk a lot of the last few miles. The good thing though is that I still felt strong and capable of running and another weekend with 50+ miles completed is a confidence booster. Will be looking to do similar mileage next weekend.
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