Since the canal run I think I've recovered pretty well. Apart from some persistent but v mild lateral infrapatellar discomfort I've been fine. Fine but slow.
Last week I did 30M running 4 times inc 2x8m in Cumbria at the weekend
This week I've also run 30m but with the weekend to come.
So Sunday is BOO to FW which is 35M. After that I will have an easy week and aim for some decent mileage over the Easter weekend.
Friday 27 March 2009
Sunday 15 March 2009
Glasgow to Edinburgh
54 miles
9 hours 17min
9th/19
Up at 5am to get a good breakfast of beans and sausages (thanks Liz) then we picked IB up and got the 6.45 to Glasgow train. The journey was fine and definitely better than dragging Liz into Glasgow.At the station we met Davie and had a coffee then got a taxi to Ruchill Park
What an uninspiring place to start a race. A small group of bedraggled runners and support registered, got themselves ready and after a brief preamble set off. The vast majority there has some association with the WHW so I knew quite a few people.
We set off at 9am and headed straight onto the canal. Lucy went straight into the lead and stayed there until the end. I set off steadily near the back and chatted to Sharon who was worried @ some damaged ribs. I let her go after 4m as she was a bit faster than I wanted to go.
I hooked up with IB for a while until he stopped for a pit stop.
I was @ 2hrs at Auchinstarry (13.1m). We had a strong tailwind practically the whole way so progress was relatively fast.
At the Falkirk wheel i met AB and LT for the 1st time and gulped some excellent chicken soup down and headed on thro 2 tunnels. The section from FW to linlithgow (22.6-33m) was my best. I passed @ 6 people. I had also got my ipod on at this stage which helped alot.
After Linlithgow I was still fine and passed Neil which was where I was to stay in the race.
I met the girls again at Winchburgh (39m) and has a wee stop and sat down for the 1st time( big mistake !). It tok me about 20min to iron the aches and pains out of my pelvis/upper legs. After that we turned into the wind. This was tough. Thank goodness it wasnt run E-W.
It was a bit of a struggle to Ratho which was 7M to go. I felt pretty nauseated at this stage and had pretty well given up on the idea of eating or drinking much.
From there on it was a struggle until 2-3m to go when I picked up and ran pretty well (or at least it felt that way) into the end at Harrison Park.
Sadly there was only a couple of marshals there as the girls had had trouble finding it. I curled up in the marquee and waited for them. IB came in soon after and we headed off back home.
So what have I learned ?
Well I was delighted to feel so good up to 40m. I felt really competitive.
After that I struggled with nausea. I dont know what to do @ that as I had eaten pretty well. Hopefully this race will simply give me more stamina which will help.
I could have done with some coca cola in the latter stages.
The soup was great.
Thanks to LT and AB for all their support.
I wont do this one again as it is pretty dull in the 1st 20m especially and expensive at 50GBP. However I am pleased to have it under my belt.
9 hours 17min
9th/19
Up at 5am to get a good breakfast of beans and sausages (thanks Liz) then we picked IB up and got the 6.45 to Glasgow train. The journey was fine and definitely better than dragging Liz into Glasgow.At the station we met Davie and had a coffee then got a taxi to Ruchill Park
What an uninspiring place to start a race. A small group of bedraggled runners and support registered, got themselves ready and after a brief preamble set off. The vast majority there has some association with the WHW so I knew quite a few people.
We set off at 9am and headed straight onto the canal. Lucy went straight into the lead and stayed there until the end. I set off steadily near the back and chatted to Sharon who was worried @ some damaged ribs. I let her go after 4m as she was a bit faster than I wanted to go.
I hooked up with IB for a while until he stopped for a pit stop.
I was @ 2hrs at Auchinstarry (13.1m). We had a strong tailwind practically the whole way so progress was relatively fast.
At the Falkirk wheel i met AB and LT for the 1st time and gulped some excellent chicken soup down and headed on thro 2 tunnels. The section from FW to linlithgow (22.6-33m) was my best. I passed @ 6 people. I had also got my ipod on at this stage which helped alot.
After Linlithgow I was still fine and passed Neil which was where I was to stay in the race.
I met the girls again at Winchburgh (39m) and has a wee stop and sat down for the 1st time( big mistake !). It tok me about 20min to iron the aches and pains out of my pelvis/upper legs. After that we turned into the wind. This was tough. Thank goodness it wasnt run E-W.
It was a bit of a struggle to Ratho which was 7M to go. I felt pretty nauseated at this stage and had pretty well given up on the idea of eating or drinking much.
From there on it was a struggle until 2-3m to go when I picked up and ran pretty well (or at least it felt that way) into the end at Harrison Park.
Sadly there was only a couple of marshals there as the girls had had trouble finding it. I curled up in the marquee and waited for them. IB came in soon after and we headed off back home.
So what have I learned ?
Well I was delighted to feel so good up to 40m. I felt really competitive.
After that I struggled with nausea. I dont know what to do @ that as I had eaten pretty well. Hopefully this race will simply give me more stamina which will help.
I could have done with some coca cola in the latter stages.
The soup was great.
Thanks to LT and AB for all their support.
I wont do this one again as it is pretty dull in the 1st 20m especially and expensive at 50GBP. However I am pleased to have it under my belt.
Friday 13 March 2009
The day before
Tomorrow is the Glasgow to Edinburgh race.
Apart from a residual sore area on my right thigh I feel fine.
My hopes for tomorrow are to finish injury free and under 10 hours.
Thats not over optomistic in my view but this is a long way and just finishing is always a challenge.
I will aim to go off at 6mph for the 1st 20M and take it from there. Its all in the last 20m that matters so nice and easy for the 1st bit.
The forecast is for a NW wind (not too bad), rain in the morning and clearing and 10deg. So if thats what we get it'll be OK.
Apart from a residual sore area on my right thigh I feel fine.
My hopes for tomorrow are to finish injury free and under 10 hours.
Thats not over optomistic in my view but this is a long way and just finishing is always a challenge.
I will aim to go off at 6mph for the 1st 20M and take it from there. Its all in the last 20m that matters so nice and easy for the 1st bit.
The forecast is for a NW wind (not too bad), rain in the morning and clearing and 10deg. So if thats what we get it'll be OK.
Wednesday 11 March 2009
Inverness 1/2M
Last Sunday was the 25th running of this race and my 1st.
LT,IB,AB and I travelled up the day before and stayed in a geat B&B. It was a bit difficult getting a meal as the whole of Northern Scotland seemed to be eating out that night but we eventually secured a table and had a good meal.
I slept poorly but thats quite normal in a strange place.
We awoke to a windy, snowy day and after registering made our way to the cafe where we met my sister and PM up with the Crieff junior rugby club.
The race started at 1pm i very cold windy conditions.
I had briefly seen Beth form our club who was looking pensive.
I headed off smartly feeling pretty good. The 1st mile was 6.15 but thats as fast as i was to go.
The 2-4 miles are run into the wind and then uphill. My race was punctuated by energy surges then lows. At 4M i upped the effort but couldnt maintain any real speed.
The weather got worse if anything. I think I was OK until 11m then the last 2m into the wing were a real struggle.
The finish in the stadium was v welcome. I came home in 86.21 and 69th. Overall I am happy with that. I am sure the long run last Sunday slowed me. IB got under 90min which he was OK with.
The journey home was complicated by news of a 20 car pile up and heavy snow at Drummochter.
IB made the call to go home via Aberdeen. I was very focussed on my very chafed thighs having forgot @ vaseline before the race. It was a long drive back but not unpleasant as we stopped ar Fochabers for massive pancakes.
My thighs are recovering now after 3/7 and I did a 6m run today which will be my only run this week before Saturday.
LT,IB,AB and I travelled up the day before and stayed in a geat B&B. It was a bit difficult getting a meal as the whole of Northern Scotland seemed to be eating out that night but we eventually secured a table and had a good meal.
I slept poorly but thats quite normal in a strange place.
We awoke to a windy, snowy day and after registering made our way to the cafe where we met my sister and PM up with the Crieff junior rugby club.
The race started at 1pm i very cold windy conditions.
I had briefly seen Beth form our club who was looking pensive.
I headed off smartly feeling pretty good. The 1st mile was 6.15 but thats as fast as i was to go.
The 2-4 miles are run into the wind and then uphill. My race was punctuated by energy surges then lows. At 4M i upped the effort but couldnt maintain any real speed.
The weather got worse if anything. I think I was OK until 11m then the last 2m into the wing were a real struggle.
The finish in the stadium was v welcome. I came home in 86.21 and 69th. Overall I am happy with that. I am sure the long run last Sunday slowed me. IB got under 90min which he was OK with.
The journey home was complicated by news of a 20 car pile up and heavy snow at Drummochter.
IB made the call to go home via Aberdeen. I was very focussed on my very chafed thighs having forgot @ vaseline before the race. It was a long drive back but not unpleasant as we stopped ar Fochabers for massive pancakes.
My thighs are recovering now after 3/7 and I did a 6m run today which will be my only run this week before Saturday.
Saturday 7 March 2009
weight
Normally when I increase my mileage I lose weight fairly steadily. I reckon 35M is worth 1 lb of fat so if I maintain the same calorie intake and do 70m as i did last week I should lose 2lb.
At the moment I weigh 12st 2lb which is 2lb more than 6/52 ago when I returned from La Gomera.
So either I am eating too much or my metabolism has changed. I dont want to reduce my intake so maybe I will have to settle for being 1/2 stone heavier than I would expect to be.
This week I have run 3x doing 26m. Yest I did an 8m run up Glenlednock which was great. Lovely day and great scenery.
We are travelling up to Inverness soon with IB and AB to do the 1/2M tomorow. Its a new one to me and a chance to see how I'm doing. I hope I'm in sub 85min shape but there's been a virus going around and will those extra pounds be a factor ??
At the moment I weigh 12st 2lb which is 2lb more than 6/52 ago when I returned from La Gomera.
So either I am eating too much or my metabolism has changed. I dont want to reduce my intake so maybe I will have to settle for being 1/2 stone heavier than I would expect to be.
This week I have run 3x doing 26m. Yest I did an 8m run up Glenlednock which was great. Lovely day and great scenery.
We are travelling up to Inverness soon with IB and AB to do the 1/2M tomorow. Its a new one to me and a chance to see how I'm doing. I hope I'm in sub 85min shape but there's been a virus going around and will those extra pounds be a factor ??
Wednesday 4 March 2009
Recovery run
10.6m
84.14min
A return to winter today. I had a day off and did my reg run from Auchingarrich.
Apart from a few twinges and general slowness I was pleased with the run.
I am still pretty shattered but looking forward to an easier 10/7 or so.
84.14min
A return to winter today. I had a day off and did my reg run from Auchingarrich.
Apart from a few twinges and general slowness I was pleased with the run.
I am still pretty shattered but looking forward to an easier 10/7 or so.
Monday 2 March 2009
A big week
I managed 71 miles last week which is the furthest I've run for almost 2 years.
On saturday we has our biweekly time trial. I was a little slower at 32.22 but happy enough and most are improving.
Yesterday we has a big training run form Inverarnan to Kingshouse (31m). We had a v excited Kaz who did well in unpleasant conditions.
I ran conservatively with next w/ends 1/2 M in mind and was happy to chat to various people until Ochtertyre when it started raining heavily. The plus of the rain was that it helped wash off the vast amounts of cow dung we had already run thro. I felt it best given the conditions to push on and found myself alone after Tyndrum. That was until a Comrie family spotted me in the sleet.
I started feeling good at B.O.O and pushed on over Rannoch Moor. At the top I ran out of food and had to beg some choc from some kind walkers. After that I cantered dowm into KHouse with Jamie and finished feeling pretty good which was my intention at the beginning.
So V happy with that.
I did 218M in Feb making 410m for the year.
So now its time to taper for next weekend for the Glagow to Edin after that
On saturday we has our biweekly time trial. I was a little slower at 32.22 but happy enough and most are improving.
Yesterday we has a big training run form Inverarnan to Kingshouse (31m). We had a v excited Kaz who did well in unpleasant conditions.
I ran conservatively with next w/ends 1/2 M in mind and was happy to chat to various people until Ochtertyre when it started raining heavily. The plus of the rain was that it helped wash off the vast amounts of cow dung we had already run thro. I felt it best given the conditions to push on and found myself alone after Tyndrum. That was until a Comrie family spotted me in the sleet.
I started feeling good at B.O.O and pushed on over Rannoch Moor. At the top I ran out of food and had to beg some choc from some kind walkers. After that I cantered dowm into KHouse with Jamie and finished feeling pretty good which was my intention at the beginning.
So V happy with that.
I did 218M in Feb making 410m for the year.
So now its time to taper for next weekend for the Glagow to Edin after that
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