Brief post to give my result from London.
2:47
not the result I was hoping for but it's my best time in 3 years.
I realised at 8-10 miles that I wasn't gonna do anywhere near 2:40, and I then ran very hard from 12miles, hoping to make some time gains, which I did, but at the expense of then blowing to bits at 21miles. I then struggled to hold onto my form and lost a lot of time in the final 3 miles.
Fuller report to come
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Taking it easy
Less than a day to go until London marathon
I arrived in the capital yesterday and visited the expo and a couple of other places for some shopping.
This morning I slept late and then completed the shortest run of the year. I was back at my hotel approx 20 minutes after leaving it, having done five or six 'efforts' of just 30-40 metres in a nearby park.
I am now having a leisurley lunch near Charing Cross, having worked up a healthy appetite sitting on an open topped bus being a tourist.
After checking in to another hotel at Covent Garden (much better placed for train to start and a quick shower after the race) I will take another bus tour to fill the rest of the afternoon.
Apologies for any spelling errorrs and lack of photos, but am on the iPhone posting this. Hopefully someone will get a decent shot of me in the race which I can then include inmy race-report post once I am back home.
I arrived in the capital yesterday and visited the expo and a couple of other places for some shopping.
This morning I slept late and then completed the shortest run of the year. I was back at my hotel approx 20 minutes after leaving it, having done five or six 'efforts' of just 30-40 metres in a nearby park.
I am now having a leisurley lunch near Charing Cross, having worked up a healthy appetite sitting on an open topped bus being a tourist.
After checking in to another hotel at Covent Garden (much better placed for train to start and a quick shower after the race) I will take another bus tour to fill the rest of the afternoon.
Apologies for any spelling errorrs and lack of photos, but am on the iPhone posting this. Hopefully someone will get a decent shot of me in the race which I can then include inmy race-report post once I am back home.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
(Crash Bang) Wallop
Sometimes when out running, something noteworthy happens. For instance I might see a Heron take to flight from it's riverbank perch. Sometimes something noteworthy and rare happens, such as coming across two young deer in the middle of the road on the Talkin circuit. then sometimes something noteworthy, rare and really quite worrying happens. Such a thing happened earlier this evening.
I was running steadily along the pavement, facing the oncoming traffic. on the opposite side of the road was a filling station. A car coming towards me slowed right up and stopped in the road to turn right, into the filling station. Another car also came to a stop behind the first one as there was insufficient room to pass. I took no real interest in the situation until approx 2 seconds after I had passed by when
Wallop
The car turning right had began to turn right and had been hit by an oncoming vehicle. Immediately prior to the crash I had heard tyre noise but I'm not sure if it was the oncoming car braking frantically or the right-turning car wheelspinning to try to get across quickly.
The drivers were out of the cars and appeared uninjured. Now I'm not a doctor but I'd say both cars are now scrapyard fodder. I couldnt say whether the oncoming car was going too fast, and thats why the right turner failed to make the gap, or if the right turner didnt see the oncomer, or possibly even faltered/stalled as he tried to make the gap.
As I jogged on I did think to myself that such an incident could easily happen to any of us at any time and might not necessarily be any fault of our own.
The remaining few miles of my run wer rather less eventful with just a Flock of Pink Flamingos roosting on a bend of the River Eden and a herd of Wilderbeast roaming across Rickerby Park
Oh, by the way - 4 Days until London Marathon
I was running steadily along the pavement, facing the oncoming traffic. on the opposite side of the road was a filling station. A car coming towards me slowed right up and stopped in the road to turn right, into the filling station. Another car also came to a stop behind the first one as there was insufficient room to pass. I took no real interest in the situation until approx 2 seconds after I had passed by when
Wallop
The car turning right had began to turn right and had been hit by an oncoming vehicle. Immediately prior to the crash I had heard tyre noise but I'm not sure if it was the oncoming car braking frantically or the right-turning car wheelspinning to try to get across quickly.
The drivers were out of the cars and appeared uninjured. Now I'm not a doctor but I'd say both cars are now scrapyard fodder. I couldnt say whether the oncoming car was going too fast, and thats why the right turner failed to make the gap, or if the right turner didnt see the oncomer, or possibly even faltered/stalled as he tried to make the gap.
As I jogged on I did think to myself that such an incident could easily happen to any of us at any time and might not necessarily be any fault of our own.
The remaining few miles of my run wer rather less eventful with just a Flock of Pink Flamingos roosting on a bend of the River Eden and a herd of Wilderbeast roaming across Rickerby Park
Oh, by the way - 4 Days until London Marathon
Monday, April 19, 2010
Lets go back in time
5 Days until London Marathon
Last Wednesday, with still over a week to go until London, I had a go at the Round the Houses race in Keswick. I didn't find time to blog about it until now but didn't want to miss reporting on it and the day in general as it was a really great day in terms of weather, racing, fun with dogs, views of the hills and photos I took.
I was working in the Lake district. The race was in Keswick at 7 oclock which meant I had a lot of time to fill after finishing work at 4 oclock. I took the dogs to the lake edge just down from a layby on the A66. They had a whale of a time retrieving sticks from the Districts only Lake and I took the opportunity to practice my photography skills with these images being my best results of the day.
Scamp and his sister having a whale of a time in the water
This is my favourite of the 'view' photographs I took
Heres a closer one to show the far fells more clearly
Scotty (left), George (right) and Scottys mate Chris
The race went OK. I started a bit too fast and then really struggled during the final 10 minutes. I can attribute this to a lack of racing such short distance.
My good pal Mike Scott made a return to racing after 18 months and proved (as I suspected) that he is still a force to be reckoned with. Also racing was George Thompson who wont mind me saying he is well over 50 (years of age) now. Ten years ago George was significantly slower than me - he is all the inspiration anybody from 20 to 50 needs to buckle down, train hard and get the most they can out of themselves - its never too late.
Milly raced too but was taking it easy, aiming for 6:15 pace. It's a good sign that he found it impossible to run that slow. Although I know he wasn't racing properly, the results show finishing times not excuses and a two minute gap between us allows me to say ' c'mon youngster'
I was 13th from over 150 entrants, so despite being almost two minutes slower than my course PB, I am clearly in half decent shape and have in fact decided I like racing and intend to run a lot more events than last year. I reckon I can go sub 35 mins for a 10k by the end of the summer.
I had hoped to get some photos of the race itself. This would have required somebody taking them with my camera. Millys family were at the race en mass but turned up so late that I had to take the camera back to my van for safekeeping else I wouldn't have had time for a warm up.
I am hopeful that one of them will be able to take it and get some photos of London Marathon while I am running.
(also apologies for the terrible formatting of this post - I am still new fangled with the options and after messing up I cant be bothered to begin again)
Last Wednesday, with still over a week to go until London, I had a go at the Round the Houses race in Keswick. I didn't find time to blog about it until now but didn't want to miss reporting on it and the day in general as it was a really great day in terms of weather, racing, fun with dogs, views of the hills and photos I took.
I was working in the Lake district. The race was in Keswick at 7 oclock which meant I had a lot of time to fill after finishing work at 4 oclock. I took the dogs to the lake edge just down from a layby on the A66. They had a whale of a time retrieving sticks from the Districts only Lake and I took the opportunity to practice my photography skills with these images being my best results of the day.
Scamp and his sister having a whale of a time in the water
This is my favourite of the 'view' photographs I took
This was the view from the Lakeshore. Centre frame is Keswick, with it's white painted houses. Behind Keswick, with remnants of snow in the gullies is the bulk of BG leg 2 clockwise. With Clough Head hidden by Dodd (forested pimply mound on the far lakeshore) From L to R theres Great Dodd, Watsons Dodd and Stybarrow Dodd, then the dip down to the high point of Sticks Pass, then Raise, Whiteside and finally Helvellyn. To the right of Helvellyn but much nearer are Bleaberry Fell and High Seat.
Heres a closer one to show the far fells more clearly
Scotty (left), George (right) and Scottys mate Chris
The race went OK. I started a bit too fast and then really struggled during the final 10 minutes. I can attribute this to a lack of racing such short distance.
My good pal Mike Scott made a return to racing after 18 months and proved (as I suspected) that he is still a force to be reckoned with. Also racing was George Thompson who wont mind me saying he is well over 50 (years of age) now. Ten years ago George was significantly slower than me - he is all the inspiration anybody from 20 to 50 needs to buckle down, train hard and get the most they can out of themselves - its never too late.
Milly raced too but was taking it easy, aiming for 6:15 pace. It's a good sign that he found it impossible to run that slow. Although I know he wasn't racing properly, the results show finishing times not excuses and a two minute gap between us allows me to say ' c'mon youngster'
I was 13th from over 150 entrants, so despite being almost two minutes slower than my course PB, I am clearly in half decent shape and have in fact decided I like racing and intend to run a lot more events than last year. I reckon I can go sub 35 mins for a 10k by the end of the summer.
I had hoped to get some photos of the race itself. This would have required somebody taking them with my camera. Millys family were at the race en mass but turned up so late that I had to take the camera back to my van for safekeeping else I wouldn't have had time for a warm up.
I am hopeful that one of them will be able to take it and get some photos of London Marathon while I am running.
(also apologies for the terrible formatting of this post - I am still new fangled with the options and after messing up I cant be bothered to begin again)
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Guess who broke wind?
6 days to London Marathon
Todays run was a very easy 10 miles. I was expecting to run about 66 minutes.
We took 66:30.
Mark has been accompanying us on our long runs for a few weeks now, and today Hayley (Mrs Milly) also came along too.
Mark laughs, Milly and Hayley get a waft.
Todays run was a very easy 10 miles. I was expecting to run about 66 minutes.
We took 66:30.
Mark has been accompanying us on our long runs for a few weeks now, and today Hayley (Mrs Milly) also came along too.
Mark laughs, Milly and Hayley get a waft.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Boring post. Full of data. No Pics
11 days until London Marathon
Reps
800m - 2:43
800m -2:33
400m -1:17
400m -1:09
5 minute walking recovery
800m - 2:40
800m - 2:30
400m - 1:17
400m -1:10
Only three miles of reps last night, and with a super long rest between the first and second half, which was supposed to allow me to run the second set perhaps faster than the first. This worked OK for the 800s but the 400s were 1 second slower.
Reps
800m - 2:43
800m -2:33
400m -1:17
400m -1:09
5 minute walking recovery
800m - 2:40
800m - 2:30
400m - 1:17
400m -1:10
Only three miles of reps last night, and with a super long rest between the first and second half, which was supposed to allow me to run the second set perhaps faster than the first. This worked OK for the 800s but the 400s were 1 second slower.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Mystery training partner quiz
14 days to London Marathon
I didnt really take todays run seriously. I didn't eat my usual high carb meal at tea time last night. I didn't get up early enough to eat a big breakfast and have it mostly digested before running. I didn't properly plan the route or put out drinks. I forgot to wear my watch and just wasn't generally in the same mindset as most for most recent Saturday runs.
The weather was fantastic. Warm and bright sunshine with scarcely a breath of wind. I say fantastic but if this was the weather for the marathon I would be concerned. Still - fantastic for sitting around in the garden post run.
I didn't want this run to be too hard or too easy, just a moderate effort throughout, which is exactly what it was. From the outset I could tell it was speedier than our usual long run pace, but it never felt as tough as the marathon pace effort of a Tuesday evening run. To learn that we had ran the 16miles at 6:37 was a little bit disappointing to be honest. I thought this effort would net a result nearer 6:30. Not to worry though, I am still confident for London.
I didnt really take todays run seriously. I didn't eat my usual high carb meal at tea time last night. I didn't get up early enough to eat a big breakfast and have it mostly digested before running. I didn't properly plan the route or put out drinks. I forgot to wear my watch and just wasn't generally in the same mindset as most for most recent Saturday runs.
The weather was fantastic. Warm and bright sunshine with scarcely a breath of wind. I say fantastic but if this was the weather for the marathon I would be concerned. Still - fantastic for sitting around in the garden post run.
I didn't want this run to be too hard or too easy, just a moderate effort throughout, which is exactly what it was. From the outset I could tell it was speedier than our usual long run pace, but it never felt as tough as the marathon pace effort of a Tuesday evening run. To learn that we had ran the 16miles at 6:37 was a little bit disappointing to be honest. I thought this effort would net a result nearer 6:30. Not to worry though, I am still confident for London.
Only a very small prize for guessing the identity of todays training partnerMilly didnt have a great run. He lost a stride length to me every hundred metres or so during the final 2 miles, had tight calves and is still struggling with getting his gel intake right. this is a minor worry for me as I want him to run a good marathon just as much as I do myself. For both of us now though there is very little we can do to improve our fitness so what will be (on 25th) will be. We intend to race a hilly 6 miler this Wednesday at Keswick which will be the final hard run of any distance.
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