It is 5 weeks tomorrow until the Dublin marathon which Liz and I are entered for.
I have been increasingly concerned about my lack of preparation. I am easily the worst prepared for any marathon I have done before and it is a worry.
Today I ran 16m and completed 47m for the week both of which are the best I have done since June.
Of course I cant do anything but look forward and do my best. I plan a 20m run in 2 weeks and then its hoping for the best.
The watch is proving useful and interesting.
Sunday, 20 September 2009
Friday, 11 September 2009
A new toy
I have a brand new garmin 405. Does anyone know how to use it ??
I have had a couple of goes and I can get it to record distance and pace but not time!!
No doubt its just a matter of trying different things
I was a bit distressed to see yesterday how slow I was running. There's no doubt my chest infection has slowed me down but usually I wouldnt have the evidence staring at me from my wrist. I'm sure it will prove a valuable training aid.
The weather has perked up enourmously since Wednesday which is good as we have the annual Comrie hills relay tomorrow. We have a record 29 teams and I am race organiser/coordinator or whatever.It should be a great day.
I have had a couple of goes and I can get it to record distance and pace but not time!!
No doubt its just a matter of trying different things
I was a bit distressed to see yesterday how slow I was running. There's no doubt my chest infection has slowed me down but usually I wouldnt have the evidence staring at me from my wrist. I'm sure it will prove a valuable training aid.
The weather has perked up enourmously since Wednesday which is good as we have the annual Comrie hills relay tomorrow. We have a record 29 teams and I am race organiser/coordinator or whatever.It should be a great day.
Sunday, 6 September 2009
Switzerland
I got back from sunny Switzerland on Friday to discover Scotland has all but been submerged!
We had superb weather on the whole. A few grey days but lots of sunny ones as well.
The 1st week we were in the Bernese oberland. A place called Lauterbrunnen which looks up to several 4000m peaks. The Eiger is just around the corner as well. Its a truly lovely area.
We bought a 6 day pass for the area which meant we could go anywhere on the trains and cable cars in the area. We walked our legs off for 6 days and saw some stunnings places. A walk across the base of the north face of the Eiger was a highlight. Also a trip up through the Eiger to the Jungfraujoch (3500m) was another.
By the end of the week I had done no running bar a 4 miler and had been struggling with the old sore heel and a calf strain. On the saturday I was keen to do a run and did 6m alomg the cycle track to interlaken. Its a lovely run and I enjoyed it. Sunday was my Birthday and I ignored an embryonic cold and ran to Wilderswill rtn (14m). I developed a hamstring prob (what a crock) and then sank into the misery of a flu like illness. We were due a rest anyway so it could have been worse.
We did walk up the valley to the trummellbach falls which are extraordinary and were entertained by base jumpers flying over our heads as we walked along.
The day after we moved onto Neuchatel to stay with Phil. Sadly I couldnt really make the most of being there but we did a 3 hour gorge walk which was good.
I am just getting over what seems to have been a chest infection and hopefully will start running soon,
August really was a washout from a running point of view but we had a great holiday.
We had superb weather on the whole. A few grey days but lots of sunny ones as well.
The 1st week we were in the Bernese oberland. A place called Lauterbrunnen which looks up to several 4000m peaks. The Eiger is just around the corner as well. Its a truly lovely area.
We bought a 6 day pass for the area which meant we could go anywhere on the trains and cable cars in the area. We walked our legs off for 6 days and saw some stunnings places. A walk across the base of the north face of the Eiger was a highlight. Also a trip up through the Eiger to the Jungfraujoch (3500m) was another.
By the end of the week I had done no running bar a 4 miler and had been struggling with the old sore heel and a calf strain. On the saturday I was keen to do a run and did 6m alomg the cycle track to interlaken. Its a lovely run and I enjoyed it. Sunday was my Birthday and I ignored an embryonic cold and ran to Wilderswill rtn (14m). I developed a hamstring prob (what a crock) and then sank into the misery of a flu like illness. We were due a rest anyway so it could have been worse.
We did walk up the valley to the trummellbach falls which are extraordinary and were entertained by base jumpers flying over our heads as we walked along.
The day after we moved onto Neuchatel to stay with Phil. Sadly I couldnt really make the most of being there but we did a 3 hour gorge walk which was good.
I am just getting over what seems to have been a chest infection and hopefully will start running soon,
August really was a washout from a running point of view but we had a great holiday.
Friday, 21 August 2009
Thats more like it
Today I set off on a 10.6m hilly road run which I have done many, many times over the years at 8.30am.
All the injuries felt OK which is to say no loss of running form. I felt good for the 1st 3-4 m and OK for the rest with a good finish. It was also a stunning morning for a run and I really enjoyed it
The time was 76.02 which is about 6min off my pb for this run but 10min faster than i was running 3 months ago!!
The ankle is sore now but I seem to be managing it OK.
All the injuries felt OK which is to say no loss of running form. I felt good for the 1st 3-4 m and OK for the rest with a good finish. It was also a stunning morning for a run and I really enjoyed it
The time was 76.02 which is about 6min off my pb for this run but 10min faster than i was running 3 months ago!!
The ankle is sore now but I seem to be managing it OK.
Wednesday, 19 August 2009
This is why I am giving up ultra distance
I have a collection of niggles at the moment which I am sure is a result of doing 3 ultras this year.
I have a sore left heel(improving slowly but has been v v sore), a right sided hamstring strain( which is practically better) and 2 nights ago I acquired a mild left calf strain. I am documenting all this as a reminder to my future self that this is what I can expect if I do daft things like run 95m.
On the plus side I am running again and actually had a pretty good run last night in Perth (4.5m). I really do enjoy running well and freely which just isnt possible when ultra training.
I have no race planned now until Kilmacolm on the 20th Sept so I hope I can get some good training in whilst on hols in Switzerland.
I have a sore left heel(improving slowly but has been v v sore), a right sided hamstring strain( which is practically better) and 2 nights ago I acquired a mild left calf strain. I am documenting all this as a reminder to my future self that this is what I can expect if I do daft things like run 95m.
On the plus side I am running again and actually had a pretty good run last night in Perth (4.5m). I really do enjoy running well and freely which just isnt possible when ultra training.
I have no race planned now until Kilmacolm on the 20th Sept so I hope I can get some good training in whilst on hols in Switzerland.
Wednesday, 12 August 2009
Injury
I hate being injured but this one could have come at a worse time.
I had been nursing a hamstring niggle for a few days and foolishly entered the Comrie fortnight fun run. About a mile in I had to pull up with a hamstring strain. What a depressing walk back through the other runners. The next day my heel prob was alot worse so at least I was resting 2 injuries!!
I have rested it a week now and all is feeling alot better. Maybe I will try a short run tomorrow.
I had been nursing a hamstring niggle for a few days and foolishly entered the Comrie fortnight fun run. About a mile in I had to pull up with a hamstring strain. What a depressing walk back through the other runners. The next day my heel prob was alot worse so at least I was resting 2 injuries!!
I have rested it a week now and all is feeling alot better. Maybe I will try a short run tomorrow.
Monday, 3 August 2009
More wet runs
What a miserable spell of weather!
However I see the possible green shoots of recovery. I did a good 7.2m last Wed in 50min. Decent running at last.
On Sat I struggled 16m from home in truly miserable conditions, but hopefully it will bear fruit. 40m was achieved(in fact 43) so thats good. I do need to get my R hamstring sorted however.
So a light week with Helensburgh on Sunday. Sounds good. The target is under 90min.
However I see the possible green shoots of recovery. I did a good 7.2m last Wed in 50min. Decent running at last.
On Sat I struggled 16m from home in truly miserable conditions, but hopefully it will bear fruit. 40m was achieved(in fact 43) so thats good. I do need to get my R hamstring sorted however.
So a light week with Helensburgh on Sunday. Sounds good. The target is under 90min.
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