Surrey Spitfire 20

Boy, was that hard work. Our aim was to run a marathon pace of 8:30 minute miles (we are going for 3:45 in Brighton) to see if we could hack it. It was a rainy, dank morning and I really didn't feel like running and neither did my brother. But run we did and the weather was kind as by mile 4 its had stop raining and was a very nice temperature. We started way too fast running sub 8 for the first 2 but we settle down and we hit just below the 8:30 pace every mile on the first 10 mile lap.

We had over 4 minutes 'in the bank' as we started lap 2 but it was starting to hurt. My stomach was horrible due to the gels and maybe the clams I had last night. I felt I was hanging on and it wasn't surprising give I hit the half marathon point at about 1:46; my PB until the Brighton Half.

I dug in, knowing I just had to keep going to beat my previous PB of 1:53:26. My brother has bursts of speed but I could see he was working hard. The last mile was agony but I was under the 2:50 mark. My brother decided to sprint the last 500 meters but I let him go.

I was delighted with my PB and it gives me a real chance of a 3:45 in Brighton.

Time: 2:47:05
Position: 235 out of 661
First: 1:50:39
Last: 4:16:53
Nutrition: Water at every opportunity. High5 gel (x1), Clif Blocks (x1), SiS Gel (x1).

It only took seven years

I arrived in Brighton having only run 10 miles that week and 3 miles in the previous 3 weeks due to my twisted ankle. I had sort of been given the all clear by the Physio. I had done the runs she had suggested and then had all gone well without and pain during or after. Then I tried a fast run on Saturday which also went OK so I gave myself the green light.

The plan was to run Brighton but only gently. Just get round, get the thirteen miles in my legs and test the ankle at the next level. Trouble was, running with my brother has many benefits but some drawbacks, some of which was the same. Namely competitiveness.

So it was on the start line that I thought I'd just run the first few miles with Phil. I thought that with the combination of my ankle, my 3 weeks out and a slight cough/cold I had, there was no way to run the 1:47 my brother was after but I'd do a few at 8 minute miles. The first three were 7:49, 7:47 and 7:45 which were fast. My heart rate was high and it felt hard. I stuck with it and it did get easier. The next three were 7:46, 7:44 and 7:29; pretty consistent.

What to do? Risk my ankle flaring up on me to get a good time or pull back and wonder what could have been? I knew 8 minute miles was a 1:45 time so I was under that. Four more miles and I'd reassess. 7:23 (oohh), 7:38 (good), 7:48 (on track) and 7:43 (blimey, that hurt).

The last mile was really tough. By the end of it I told my brother to go on as I could see he was starting to pull away. I didn't want him feeling he hadn't given his all due to me. Mentally, this allowed me to take my foot off the gas and I did an 8:35.

I was cross. I couldn't let this slip. I told myself that I had to endure 17 minutes of pain and made myself go faster. Mile 11 was 7:52. A PB was mine but by how much. I wanted to go faster to finish with a sprint but couldn't; my legs had nothing. 8:18 for mile 13 and the finish in sight. I lumbered towards the end and the last 0.1 mile in 1:05.

A PB and a good one. My previous PB was set on the 3rd August 2003 in Battersea Park. A run organised by the shop Run and Become; several laps of the park designed to be flat and fast. I had given it all and just failed to get under 1:45 but was delighted at the time. I'd run 21 half marathons since and the closest I had got was a 1:47 at Tunbridge Wells.

I could not have been happier with 1:42:40, over 3 minutes quicker than my previous PB. My brother got 1:40:18 which was incredible for his first ever half marathon (but he now has to do another to get under 1:40. Its going to bug him).

Update

Not posted for a while.  I think my altered header says it all.

I've had a good week so far.  I played football on Tuesday.  I've not played for a while and managed to grad a last minute place with the group I used to play for.  I sent the first 5 minutes being rubbish, clattering into people and losing the ball.  Then I remembered how to play, or rather remembered what I'm good at and chased people down, winning back balls and making easy passes.  I even scored a cracking goal turning someone and firing far past.  Great fun.

Today I went for a run and decided to do some hill reps.  I did a 2 mile warm-up and then 5 loops of a half mile circuit that contains a short but sharp hill.  I went flat out each time and got my HR up to over 180.  I gave everything on the last go and nearly lost my lunch at the top.  A very slow cool down and stretch was needed after that.  I love HR graphs.  They never lie.  Can you spot the 5 hill reps?  I tried very hard on 3 and 5!!!

Its half term and I've done a lot of the work I need to do so I'm off cycling all day tomorrow.  I want my cycling tan back just like Red.

As for swimming and tri, we don't talk about that anymore.  Shhhhhhhh.

The best laid plans...

Its always dangerous to leave passports unchecked until the day before a holiday!!!

My wife and the girls were meant to be flying to Lanzarote last Monday leaving me with a week to my self, free from any responsibility.  However, it turned out that my youngest had an out of date passport so there was no option but for a third of the travelling party to stay at home.  No lie-ins for me.  Arrrggghhh.

So we've made the most of it.  I had to ditch my mate Ed and go to Devon with the littlun.  My Dad looked after her for a morning so I could get a very pleasant 11 mile run in on my favourite ever route.  It is seriously hilly which I love and time goes out the window.  After the first hairy mile on the main road (no path), it is tiny lanes with no cars and stunning views.  I had to stop and take some photos.

I'm also shipping my daughter off to a club so I can at least go swimming and do a run or two.  I can't, however, ride as I can't be too far away in case I have to collect her early for any reason.

So tomorrow is a swim, maybe a short run and a stretch followed by a sports massage.  11 days until the marathon so I have to take it reasonably easy :-)

Salvaging a poor day

Today was supposed to be the Turbo X Salomon cross country 10. A wet, muddy run on difficult terrain; the ideal preparation for my cross country marathon. However, on Saturday night I realised the car was double booked.

My kids had a fashion show event (don't ask) in town and Cath needed to take them there and back so I would have to make my own way to Bordon in Hampshire. I looked at the trains but the usual rubbish Sunday morning service was in place with the first train getting into the closest station too late to make the start, even if I took my bike. So the only option was to cycle the 42 miles. An extreme day but worth it if I pulled it off.

Bordon is not too far away from Haslemere where I used to live so I thought I would be able to find it. I printed out maps, set the alarm for 5:40 am, got all my bike and running gear ready, fixed lights on my road bike and went to bed.

The alarm went off and I jumped out of bed and got breakfast ready fast. I knew that the sooner I could set off, the better. As the forecast had said, it was wet and windy but had stopped raining. I rode out in the empty roads towards Wimbledon, Kingston and Cobham. This was all familiar territory but it went wrong as I got to Aldershot. My map was done using A and B road numbers but all I could see were names which were no help. I knew I was going wrong but just tried to head in the right direction.

Time was slipping away and by the time I left Farnham, I was only just going to make it. It was then that I must have taken a wrong turn as I cycled and cycled looking for signs to Bordon but nothing. It was 9:55 when I saw a sign and in said 6 miles. Pointless. The race had begun and I was not going to be running it. I was gutted. It was a race I had been really looking forward too. Normal road races are ten-a-penny but these cross country runs are a lot rarer.

I had 50 miles on the speedo so I decided I would cycle home and make it a century and save something of the day. Trouble was, 5 miles later, the Almighty got angry and decided to flood Surrey. No one told me I was going to have to build an ark and my flimsy rain jacket was doing nothing. I could hardly see and it got quite scary.

I persevered for another 7 miles but decided I couldn't go on. It was beginning to shiver violently and I was worried I would get hypothermia. I got to Godalming and got a train home shivering all the way, having done around 65 miles.

I got home and sulked for a couple of hours. Outside the weather cleared so I go angry, got my running gear on and set out. My legs where tired and I was slow but I forced myself round my 11 mile loop. All was not lost. Nearly two thirds of a half ironman :-)

Not long enough

Post holiday + pre-work + rubbish weather = miserable Sunday.

I was supposed to do a long run. 15 minimum, 20 maximum. It was pouring down when I got up but I had to take my Dad to the station first thing so I was in no hurry to get out and run. I got back around 10:30 and had a little more breakfast as it was still foul outside. Then it was lunch and the weekly shop so more opportunities to procrastinate.

Finally it was 3pm and the last chance to get out so off I went. I kind of knew I wasn't doing 20 but thought I might make it to 15. I ran towards Wimbledon and was enjoying myself finding the miles were passing by easily. I didn't really think where I was going and passed over Wandsworth Common to Clapham Common and then down towards home. This was only 11 miles but it was dark and I was so close to home that I stopped.

I'm now annoyed that I didn't do more. My weekly mileage is good but my long runs just aren't long enough.

Big Weekend

Normally, after running a 15 mile race, I'd take the next day off. Not today. It was my wife's birthday and we were going to her sister's for lunch. My youngest daughter had a birthday party to go to first but my wife suggested she go to the party and I run to her sisters.

So the choice was to stay in bed for longer and run 13 miles or get up and go to a kids party. Even though my legs were like lead, I chose the run option.

I had to run with a rucksack as my wife didn't take my change of clothes which didn't make things easy. The weather was fine, too warm if anything. I walked up to the Common just to stretch my legs and then set off. Nothing really hurt and I didn't have any pain in the usual places but I just had no energy. I couldn't get any speed and just plodded along. I quickly realised I just had to get through it.

I thought I might get a few waves of energy and be able to pick up the pace but it never happened. Hills were the worst parts and climbing up to Crystal Palace was torture. I did have a couple of short walking breaks but eventually made it to Keston in around 2 hrs 15 mins.

So that was 28 miles in two days. I'm not sure I've ever run that far before in two days. I haven't run the day before or after any of my marathons and when I've run 20 mile training runs, I've not run more than 5 before or after. I new record I guess.

Weekend Running

I lazed around on Saturday morning listening to Adam and Joe and put off going out for a run. The Indian summer had well and truly ended and it was blustery and miserable out. I eventually got my arse out of the door at lunchtime and started on my 10k route.

The first few miles were terrible. My legs were so stiff especially my right calf. I had to stop and stretch several times as it felt like running with splints on my legs. I persevered and by about mile four, my legs started to loosen up and I got to enjoy that last section around Clapham Common.

The only thing I can think caused such sore legs was the football on Tuesday. My muscles and joints are not used to running with sharp changes of direction and my lack of core stability can't have helped.

Sunday was the long run, a minimum of a half marathon. I was worried as it was the longest run for a long long time and after yesterday's hobble, I thought it would be a real struggle. Fortunately, the weather was a lot better with sun and not much wind so it wasn't too hard to get myself out. I planned a nice route and set off around 1pm.

I ran to Clapham Common and then to Wandsworth before heading to Wimbledon Common. I have run on Wimbledon Common a few times but never run over the entire length and I was surprised how big it actually is and how many trails there are. It was good to run on loose stones and on uneven paths to get my ankles used to off-road running with three cross country races coming up.

It was then into Richmond Park and a loop through the middle and out through East Sheen gate. It was at 8.5 miles as I left the park and I was doing ok. Nothing was hurting too much and I was so much loser than Saturday. My right knee was a little sore but nothing to worry about (I hope). It was then off to Putney, Wandsworth and Clapham Junction. I was at 11 miles in Putney and it was starting to get tough but I was thinking it was 13 miles so not far too go.

As I ran on I realised I was 3 or 4 miles from home and I was going to have to dig it. It was a tough last 20 minutes and I was pleased to stop running but absolutely delighted I had completed 15 miles. I'm well on target now.

Long run done

Well, after missing my long run at the weekend due to a cold, I planned to do it on Tuesday night if I felt better.

By Monday I was feeling much better so I did my usual 5 miles while my daughter was at her swimming club which went ok. I wasn't the quickest but everything felt fine.

I was going to do the long run on Tuesday evening but Wednesday's lectures didn't start until one so I worked on Tuesday and ran in the daylight today.

The first 5 miles were terrible. My calves were so tight that I had to stop and stretch twice. Once they loosened up my feet started to hurt. I really wasn't enjoying it.

When I got to Wimbledon, I got up the hill to the village and switched my ipod from podcasts to music. I had downloaded Pearl Jams new album and I listened to that. It was superb and really got me going. I think the hill had stretched my feet out and with the music, I started to enjoy it. I ran easier, faster and looser. The miles felt better and before I knew it, I was in Wandsworth.

Then it was off to Clapham Common and home. Over 12 miles run which was good. I didn't time it as I'm not concerned with time at present, just distance. My feet and calves are fine but my right knee is sore so I need to monitor that closely.