Tuesday 21 July 2015

A bit better

My last few runs have been shocking, the worst I can remember. Feels like running through treacle.
Today I did a flat 5 miler and it felt a bit better. I averaged 8.36 and the last mile was the fastest.
Still no idea how to progress but will continue with the diet and slow running for now.

Friday 17 July 2015

Struggling

I found the HR limited running very frustrating and decided to bin it earlier this week.
The diet is OK but it is fair to say that it's novelty value has worn off. There is a lot in the news about sugar and it's evils at the moment so I feel part of the zeitgeist.
My weight has evened out at 11st 11lb.
The running with the exception of yesterday has been OK. I am ticking along at about 8.30 pace and not feeling like I want to run any faster or that I would feel comfortable any faster. Yesterday I ran around the old fortnight run and struggled a lot. I felt v sluggish and it just didn't get any better.
I don't really feel I know what I am doing at the moment but will carry with what seems right.

Tuesday 7 July 2015

maffetone

I'm probably posting a little late but better late...
In the last 2 yrs i've been wearing plastic heel cups, in the last 18 months calf guards. It takes me some time to get ready for a run nowadays. In fairness I went most of last year without an injury. Had a disastrous Niagara falls marathon last october. I completely fell apart in the last 10 miles and crawled in in 3.52. This follows a pattern in marathons since 2009 when I have struggled +++ i the last 6 miles.
I have had an OK year so far but haven't raced. Got a parkrun 5K of 19.12.
4 weeks ago I pulled a calf and during my rehab and holiday I read Christopher  MacDougalls latest which I have to say was a fantastic read.
In all of that is a fair bit about Maffetone's method. Essentially this is a bout getting close to a hunter gatherer diet and running in a fat burning zone.
How does it prevent injuries? By training slower.
I decided v quickly to have a go at the 2 week detox. Liz has done it as well.
I wont go into what it entails.
Well I have just finished the 2 weeks and it has been OK. So now I can eat carbs and fruit if I want to and see what effect they have. It will be good to eat less nuts much as I like them.
I started running 10 days ago. The idea is to stay below a heart rate which is worked out by subtracting your age from 180.
So, that's what I've been doing.From a calf rehab point of view it has been a good thing. I am trotting along at an average of almost 11 min mile pace. My watch is constantly beeping so I walk until it stops. Hills are impossible. There has been no improvement in my pace yet. I did my longest run so far this morning of 5.5 miles and averaged 10.48/mile.
Oh, I have lost weight as well. 6.5 lbs in 2/52, amazing. I am now at my lowest weight since I left school at 11.10. No need to lose anymore.
I am waiting for his book to arrive and relying on what info I can glean from the internet. It's hard to see how I am ever going to run normally like this but for the next 2 weeks or so I am in no rush to push things.

Friday 27 September 2013

Just over a week to go

My hamstring has slowly recovered after the massage. I have only run 16 miles so far this week but that's probably OK. The important thing is to be on the start line.
I did a speed session last night and ran 2.3 miles hard and it was OK. My run today was painfully laboured though. My energy levels just haven't recovered from my cold but I have 9 days yet so let's hope.

Monday 23 September 2013

2 weeks to go

Things have gone a bit downhill since the last post.
I had a rubbish week off with a cold and poor weather and managed 40 miles in 2 weeks. However last week in spite of feeling below par still I did 44 miles including a 15 and a 13.
Plan is to try and keep things on course this week then taper. I have picked up a tight hamstring but had a massage last night which should help.

Thursday 5 September 2013

SWCHR

Another highly successful day at Comrie. I ended up running leg 4 again after some last minute changes. In admittedly ideal conditions I recoreded my best time for this leg of 49.28 beating my best in 2006 of 49.38. The weather ewas breezy but the ground bone dry. I set off with a Carnegie guy a few secs behind in 6th place. By the shakey bridge I had caught a Carnethy runner and after hammering down the Maam Rd I passed a Corstophine runner going up the monument road. I ran out of steam coming through the woods and the Carnegie runner went past me and away finishing 20 secs in front. Still, a good run, probably my best since March. On Tuesday I did an 18 mile road run so I have 2 18 milers on the road and 2 20 mile TDSs. Chester is 4 weeks on Sunday and I am feeling quite good about it. The 18 miler was a hilly one and an average of 7.50 pace seems OK

Thursday 29 August 2013

A couple of 10Ks

Have had a busy August.
The Forfar 10K went pretty well. It was an undulating course with a strong headwind for the 2nd half.
I finished 9th out of over 300 runners in 39.57. I also got 3rd MV40.
Last Sunday the Perth 10K took place. Unfortunately the course was short due to some marshalling errors and I got it to be 6miles. I ran 37.35 and came 30th out of 600 so not bad.
I have done 2 TDSs this month and an 18 mile road run. Feeling tired but OK.
Yesterday I drove up to Braemar and did Carn Fidhler and Am Sgorsach. Luckily I was able to cycle 7 miles in but that still left over 12 miles to jog/walk.
It's the swchr this Sunday.