Monday 27 July 2009

A good wet run

Last week I ran 39m.
Yesterday I did 16m which is the furthest for a while. I met up with Phil and as the sole reps of the Harriers on a quite dismal day we ran the Glen Artney loop (11m) and I struggled an extra 5m around the fun run route. In fact is was a great run with Phil and we did it in good timed (93min).
The weather has been pretty miserable recently. I cant decide whether to be pleased as it makes running easier or otherwise because it is Summer after all.
I have no major probs at the moment although my left Achilles is sore again. The weight is down to 12 st.

Wednesday 22 July 2009

weight issues

This time last week I was weighing in at an enourmous 12st 6lb. Thats the heaviest I have been away from injury since I started running. We were away at the weekend and I felt I really had to try and do something about the weight. Clearly it is no longer the case that I can eat what I like so long as I am running regularly. I have done 3 30m+ weeks since the WHW and still gaining weight. So crisps and choc are out now and booze is out mon to thurs inc. I am delighted to report I was just over 12st 1lb today which will be fluid to some extent but still a big change.
So age is catching up in more ways than I thought. Next month I will be 45 so it is all about maximising what I can do now rather than doing what I want. I feel that I am starting to run a bit more freely now and am enjoying my running. I have hit 1300m for the year and would like to think I can move up to 40m/week for the rest of the summer. I have entered the Dublin marathon on Oct 26th so that is a good focus.

Monday 13 July 2009

Dario

Last night Ian phoned me to tell me that Dario had died whilst out on a hill run on the Lochnagar Hills. I presume it was his heart but I guess the PM will confirm that.
It is the kind of news that you can never expect and can only come as a shock.
Dario must be known to hundreds of people just through the WHW. Then there are all the other people he must have known. I'm sure the place the funeral taked place will be bulging.
Personally I found it very hard to react to the news. I suppose I felt upset but it takes me days sometimes to react to bad news. That is one of the things I dislike about being a Doctor. It hardens you to tragedy. Well I think it has hardened me.
I have definitely felt upset today. I think it was Ian's reference to the whisky evenings we had with him. They were good evenings and even though I could go months without seeing him I will miss him.
Poor Dario. 46 years, its nothing!

The news came at the end of a good day as well. We had the Crieff 10K which went well inspite of drizzle and rain. 250 people ran and had a good time I think.
Then we had a nice evening at Abbis. And all the while a tragedy was taking place further north.
Of course these scenarios play out every day dozens if not hundreds of times. Its always different when you are involved in some sort of way though.
As for the WHW race. Well it wont be the same without Dario. Thats for sure. I hope it carries on though. I'm sure thats what Dario would have wanted and I suspect his team will regroup under a different leader or leaders.

Thursday 9 July 2009

Carn Chalmain

Last Sunday we had a harriers day out to Glen Tilt. I went up with Phil and Doug to do the above Munro.
I was feeling pretty ropey for the run up the glen but a gel perked me up and I was very happpy with run up the hill. It was my 1st Munro for about a year and brought the tally up to 200 !!
We summitted 1h 45m after starting. we took an unconventional run down but ended up just where we started going up and met the other harriers doing an out and back from the carpark.
We headed back on the west path of the river and After running the last 3m alone I ended up back at the car after 3h 51min of running and feeling pretty gubbed.
I was v happy with how it went overall and my achilles behaved well.
So 15m and 31m for the week.

So far this week I have run twice, On Tue I did 6m from home v v slow and yesterday I did my 7.2m from Comrie in 55.56 which is not far off a PW. So very slow at the moment but hopefully better things to come.

Saturday 4 July 2009

Slow progress

I have been troubled with left achilles tendinitis.
Its more of a problem when I am not running than running but still pain.
I have managed a 5.5m run on Wed and today did 5.5m around the Crieff 10k course which was my best run since the WHW. Todays run was with Daniel who has alot of talent. He does need to train however, like the rest of us. I hope he gets into it over the summer and carries it into his university years.