Shades Marathon Training

SHADES

Rcouture - a run along the Seine sounds divine, but in reality perhaps not so great. 

Ian - I looked at the weather for Boston for Monday and it looks perfect for you.   Humidity in the 50's which is very low. 

  We have humidity in the 90's for the first couple of hours tomorrow, then dropping to 80's.

Keith - new car 😊, you did well to get down on one tank.

I expect you'll be at the breakfast van when I arrive in the morning 😋

Robert - enjoy your marshalling.   You'll be at Dorney for many races unless you use your race entries elsewhere.     You run well at Dorney though.


Have actually done some carbo loading today, thought I'd better as I haven't done the long runs so I'll need what help I can get.😕

Ian5

Shades-Up until this morning it was amazing weather,now it looks like a slight headwind 21-26 which could make for a tough end

Cal Jones

Rcouture...yes the Thames Path is great. I actually really love the part between Battersea Park and Wandsworth...once it goes past Putney it gets rather pebbly which is not my favourite surface, to be honest.

Ian, let's hope that wind drops!

SHADES

Ian - a slight headwind might not be so bad.


Morning Cal, up early for your run?


Mist here this morning and fortunately no sun forecast today but temp 12 to 14 all day with a light breeze, wouldn't want to be in the sun all day as I'll be out there for a long time.   Have decided not to go with vest as very unlikely I'd be able to run the whole distance, luckily my club short sleeved top is light weight, so with arm warmers should be fine.   New arm warmers, so long since I've raced I couldn't remember where I bought them. 

Big_G

Cal, good luck with your parkrun. That’s some going, getting to 100 locations, with the logistics etc. I suppose the obvious question is which one was your favourite, but I suppose that will be hard to answer!  I’m on 32 locations but only have one now that is within an hour away from me, and another 8 that are within 2hrs. I think probably my favourite is Eden Project. I do have a trip to London planned in June and I’m hoping to do one there if I can, but we shall see. 

Robert/Rcouture, I did the same when running in Rome, and also similar in Budapest and Bilbao on their rivers. I haven’t ran on much of the Thames at all though, and I’ve never ran in Paris.   Budapest was very good as they’ve got a single lane running track around a small island there (3.2 miles I think it was), overlooking the Danube, with water fountains for a drink around it as well. From memory there was a running club based there, and there was a timing gantry on one side of it. 

Rcouture

Shades/Keith - Look forward to the reports 

Big G - I’ve never been to Budapest but that looks ideal. Flat too presumably. 

I went out and had a crap tempo session. Way too hot at feels like 21 and early afternoon sunshine so it was my own fault really as needed a bunch of water breaks from the fountain. I even stopped 3min short of planned 30 which never normally happens. Anyway 10 miles banked including WU/CD and no knee issues so we move on. It’s weird as much as I believe in MAF training but from an injury perspective I never have issues with faster stuff. I tend to get niggles and problems due to mileage (inc dumb lack of rest days) and possibly even my form at slow paces. I notice it as niggles that I have tend to disappear once I transition from warmup to a session. 

Robert OHara

Shades - There's a few races I've got my eye on, one at the Olympic White Water centre just down the river they have an evening half/ 10k and plan is a few drinks after, also they have a 10 mile lap of Wendover Woods (one that I need to do 5 times so will use that as a training run).  Great work on the carb loading 

Big G was looking at city breaks and Budapest appealed and even more so now.

Rcouture this warmer days catch us out early in the year.

Enjoyed marshalling was a very short stint and got £20 and a free race entry which if I was interested in tri could be worth upto £100.  Got to my point and did 5.2 miles of the 6.2 mile course.

Big_G

RCouture, it wasn't pancake flat, but pretty flat.  Again, from memory, at one end I think there was a slope down, and then a slope back up the other side but definitely not what can be described as hilly. I did a couple of runs on different days around there, as a few of us had an Airbnb about half a mile away.  That was total luck for me, as I had nothing to do with deciding where to stay!  It was one of those where someone said 'will this place be okay?' and probably more or less without looking I said 'yeah, fine!'  I don't know how often the track is replaced/maintained, but when I was there it was good quality (that pic above isn't mine by the way). 

Robert, Shades has done the marathon there and I think enjoyed it, if you were thinking of combining a city trip with a marathon  I am getting into trouble a bit with this as my OH, although very, very supportive, isn't a runner and of late she has enquired along the lines of "So, after you've done the 100 then, will we be able to go somewhere that doesn't necessarily involve a marathon.....?".  My immediate reaction was "Errrm, is there such a thing as a city break and no marathon?", but I managed to keep that thought to myself and replied with something vague like "Let's see...".

SHADES

Big G - I'd forgotten about the running track in Budapest.   I never got a chance to use it as my hotel was too far away, I can't actually remember if I did a recovery run the day after the marathon, might not have as we had a very early start for onward trip to Vienna.

Oh dear, lots of folk assume that when you're aiming for the 100 you might not continue with the marathons afterwards.

Rcouture - can recommend Budapest marathon, yes flat and lots of statues to see on the way round.   I was part way through the marathon and there was Big G sitting on a very high wall, he was on a lads weekend.

That's a bonus that you don't seem to pick up injuries/niggles from speedwork, usually that's one of the main reasons a runner gets injured.

Race report coming up...

SHADES

Strawberry Fields 50k

Not a pleasant drive down to the race. I left at 7:30 and the A30 was jammed with bad tempered grockles heading for Cornwall,  haven't seen such bad driving for years.  

Race venue was perfect, masses of free parking, farm shop, restaurant, nice toilets.   Met up with Keith, admired his lovely new car, had a good natter.   Quite a few regulars from the 100MC and the Plym Trail events.   Only 4 of us doing the 50k, others doing marathon and half marathon.  A lot of the runners doing all 4 days, Keith included. We all started at the same time but the marathon runners from a different place.   We were escorted a couple of hundred yards down the road and we started with the half marathon runners.   We'd been given clear instructions on the route and all turns were well signposted except for one junction with no sign but we were told to turn right, in fact the whole course was turn right, turn right etc.   Each lap was 3.53 miles, slightly shorter lap for the first one, then 8 full laps.    Short section on the main road then we turned right onto a quiet road with some houses, slight climb, turned right and then onto quiet country roads, with the occasional car.   Each lap seemed to be a gradual climb in the first half of the lap then 2nd half with gentle downhill, no real hills but as time went on the climbs seemed harder.   

During my first lap I witnessed a road rage incident.   A truck passed me carefully on a very narrow road, just enough room, then a car came towards the truck, no way they could pass each other.   The driver stopped his truck 6 inches from the bumper of the car.   The truck driver got out and shouted at the car driver "F**k off, I will wait here all day if that's what it takes, you've just passed a passing place".   I ran past the vehicles and a few minutes later the truck passed me and the driver gave me a wave and a thumbs up so he quite rightly made that car reverse. 

The drink station was at the end of each lap, we just popped into the car park took what we needed and then back onto the course,  worked very well.   The start of each lap was a pavement on a busy road, I just started my 2nd lap and on the pavement coming towards me was an Easter Procession with a chap carrying a large cross and about 30 people following behind including a priest.   I couldn't run on the verge as it was too rough, the road was too busy so I ended up running through the procession, saying 'sorry', 'thank you', I felt terrible but they all kindly moved out of my way.   

My first lap hadn't gone very well but by the time I settled into the 2nd lap I was running quite well and kept that up until I got to 14 miles and the wheels started to come off.   My knee started to hurt and the inside of my ankle, same leg.   My 2nd toe was getting sore and I was getting a hot spot under the ball of my foot, all of this on the same foot/leg.   At 17 miles I really was struggling, and still had more than 14 miles to go, I seriously considered dropping out.   But I took on some jelly babies, couple of painkillers and a caffeine tablet and my 2nd salt capsule and my aches started to ease, I suspect more to do with the caffeine tablet than anything else.    I had slowed a lot and was worried about any time limit or keeping the race organisers waiting, but at 19 miles I caught up with two of the 50k runners and I assumed they were a lap ahead of me but after checking our Garmins we were on the same lap.   This gave me a great boost mentally, one of the runners went on ahead and I did the next few miles with the other guy, eventually I moved ahead of him, and we eventually finished in that order.    I had slowed a lot but my head was in the right place and I kept going.    At 23 miles I spotted Keith in the distance and just as I thought I might catch him he took off, but at the end of the lap he was at the drink station and we stayed together for the first half of Keith's final lap.   I got to marathon distance in about 5:20, which considering my lack of long runs was better than I expected.    Kept plodding on, sure I was on for a 50k PW but finished in 6:30 which was not a PW, this being the only 50k I've done that wasn't flat.  Garmin had the total climb at 1565 ft.   Conditions were generally good but it was very humid.

Legs don't feel too bad, will do a recovery run in the morning.   Then I plan to repeat the whole process on Monday, I will probably ask for an early start just to take any pressure off timewise.

The only medal I've ever had with strawberries on it.

Keith M Stuart

I concur it was humid espcially in the morning. Oddly i have 1600 odd foot climb from a lap less (2nd lap is cancelled mostly due to my out and back being up a steepish hill for 0.7 miles or so). Wasn't going that hard being it is day 1 of 4 for me and a tad hilly. Finished in 5:47 with a bit of back and forth near finish to bump up distance as i was about 0.1 miles short.

My grumbles bodywise were achy left hip and going down that hill near the end (and start) semi trigggering knee grumbles too but that had stopped come later on.

Will see how things go tomorrow but i probably wont bother with the 50k at this point as it's not that flat shall we say and it will take quite a bit longer. Maybe enquire about early start time options for Monday as if it takes as long as today it would be getting on 4 before i leave and I am driving part way home Monday up to Tewkesbury.

SHADES

Keith - Jenny's pic of you post race, with your furry friend is a great photo.   She's posted them on FB.

See you Monday.    I believe they're doing 8 a.m. early starts, on Monday too.

My Garmin measured the 50k as 31.45 miles, Tim did say it was a little over distance.   So probably about 31.2 miles I guess.

Keith M Stuart

Keith M Stuart

No idea if it will display for all or not but thats the pic. I have since shaved btw

Ian5

Keith/Shades-Well done on completion today.
Covid test done and all checked in now so ready to go in the morning,I have a couple of hours in work to complete bits then leaving by 8.

SHADES

Keith - that's a good picture.

Ian - hope the travel goes smoothly and you have a memorable trip for all the right reasons    You've waited a long time for this one.  🙂

Big_G

Keith/Shades, well done on the race. Shades, shame about the idiot drivers!  Was there any faff with the Covid measures in the end?  I saw some of the pics and recognise a decent amount of the runners from the likes off Plym Trail and the RED events. Shame about the humidity though as those conditions are really draining. 

Dad was moved from the main hospital to a community hospital last night so hoping to try and go and see him today.  I’m off to a parkrun today, and OH and Tigg are coming, and will go for a walk afterwards. I haven’t ran at all since last Saturday so hoping there’s an improvement today. We shall see. 

SHADES

Big G - the humidity wasn't too bad as it wasn't hot, but maybe the first humid run that most of us have had this year so we felt it a bit.  I loved the course, only negative is that for a fair bit of it the road noise from the A30 is annoying.   But I expect the A30 was at it's busiest being GF.   Some lovely views of Dartmoor.   

Davey wasn't there, finishing his training, I think he's there today and tomorrow, nor sure about Monday.   But before I had a chance to bring up the subject of the Covid rules somebody else did and TL said he thinks Davey got a bit carried away.  I think he hastily copied stuff from previous Plym Trail race info.   So no masks, no social distancing, no mention of Covid at all.   There might have been sanitiser, I don't know.  No need to carry a buff. 

That's good news about your Dad, hope he's comfortable there.

I see no Torbay parkrun, travellers on the site.  


Keith - good luck today, hope you're not aching too much.


Had a terrible night's sleep, as I often do post race.   When I got up, my knee is a bit sore, as is my foot and legs a bit stiff.   I realised last night that I only have one pair of race shoes on the go and don't want to wear the same ones on Monday so had to take a new pair of 1080's out of the box and use for my recovery run this morning.  Knee and foot very sore for first mile then started to ease and by the time I'd finished the 5 miles legs were feeling much better.    I am tired though, will have a lazy day and no running tomorrow.

Ian5

Through the airport with no issues at all,very big queue to pick bags up that had been incorrectly packed so those of us with common sense sailed through.

SHADES

Ian - good, that went smoothly.

What is the matter with these people that they can't/won't pack a bag properly.  😠

Big_G

Lanhydrock parkrun for me this morning, which is a trail course in Cornwall. It’s up there amongst the toughest that parkrun do (although I think they have changed the course in recent times), but it is a lovely route. Straight down a tarmac path, out along a trail to do two loops, and then up another, steep long path, which takes you out above the start/finish area for a gentle 200m or so back down to the finish. Lots of first timers (me included) as I suppose their numbers swell at peak times. 

The vast majority of it was in the woods, where the bluebells were out, and it was a nice, picturesque run. I took it very easy in terms of effort and the knee was much better than last week’s run, but it’s still not right. Hoping a Physio can shed some light on the issue when I seem them week. 

Cal Jones

Rob, I went to Budapest in 1986 (While Interrailing)...Iron Curtain days so very interesting. But I loved the city. It'll be a lot more expensive now, but definitely worth visiting.

Shades, sounds like a tough race. I'll have to try caffeine for my sore feet in future. I hope your aches and pains ease up. I always sleep horribly after a long race (sometimes after a shorter one too, but definitely after a mara).

Nice pic, Keith...the scruff suits you. 🙂

Saw your run on Strava, Big G...that is definitely one of the toughest, although it has been somewhat eclipsed by some of the newer ones. I would love to do some of the Cornish ones, particularly Eden and Lands End, but they're just too far away. Maybe one day.
Hope you get to see your dad.

I did my 100th different parkrun venue today at South Woodham Ferrers (a mouthful!) in Essex. Lovely parkrun just up from Burnham on Crouch, which I did earlier in the year, and rather similar (this one also borders the River Crouch) though this is a one lapper. It was a mix of (mostly stony) trail, a little grass and a little hard surface. As it wasn't wet I chanced my old Zoom Flys anyway and they were OK.
A few people I know came with, so it was a nice occasion, made even better by the weather. Actually felt quite hot towards the end.
Came in at 27:57...my third fastest time of the year so I seem to be recovering from the marathon. It also happens I needed 57 for my parkrun bingo, so was very happy to get that as a bonus.
My tourism will slow down a bit now, for financial reasons, but I'll still get out there when I can.
Celebrated after with coffee and cake (there's a stall there, and they did a fab gluten free coffee and walnut cake that wasn't bone dry like most GF cakes are) before taking the two trains and three tube lines back home again.

Big_G

Well done Cal!  How many have you got within running distance from you, as a matter of interest?  Yes, Lanhydrock is one of the toughest around I think, at least according to the recent list I saw published - 699/706 - although my old local of Parke is 691st. Mount Edgcumbe is also quite nearby and is a cracking course at 702/706 (novelty factor is that a good way of getting to the parkrun is to use a ferry, which I did the one and only time I’ve done it). On the other end of it though, Torbay (my current local) is only 23/796!
https://www.thepowerof10.info/content/itemdisplay.aspx?itemid=1702

I can’t understand how Eden Project is so high on the list (ie, easy) as it’s not a quick course, I didn’t think (24/706). Woolacombe (705/706) is one of the two I need to do in Devon still. 

SHADES

Cal - I went to Budapest in 2015, so quite a while ago but it was incredibly cheap.  I spent £30 altogether and that included a 3 course meal in a good city centre restaurant, prawns, steak and wine.  Tickets for the underground,  2 trips to city centre.  After the race, I bought coffee, 2 cakes and 2 large slices of pizza, that feast cost less than £2.   

The caffeine won't cure your sore feet but my experience yesterday does show how powerful the mind is as the caffeine gives the brain a terrific boost.   It's also good for me travelling home as I am less tired if I have a long drive.   Negative is an even worse night's sleep.  

You can try caffeine gels, I have 200mg tablets which don't upset my stomach.   Might be worth trying smaller dose tablets to start with, Pro Plus etc.




Congratulations on your 100th parkrun location.   It must be quite expensive travelling to so many.

Keith M Stuart

Finished eventually. Was way hotter than yesterday and various things were aching. Not yet looked at foot but think it's rubbed a bit. Ambled found in er 6:26. Just need to drag arse out of bed and use early start tomorrow. I suspect i'll fall asleep early tonight as i am kinda tired. Also def caught the sun today but oh well. I also know it was hot i struggled to eat my ice cream when i finished

SHADES

Well done Keith.  Sounds like a tough day.   Bit worrying when it puts you off your food.  😉

There's no shade on that course either.   I did say you'd be going home with a suntan. 😎

Hope it cools down for you tomorrow.

Keith M Stuart

Sun burn i will go with as i just peered into mirror. Being i am stripped ready for shower and thus nothing on a rather red neck then white wear top goes. Can also feel back of neck as that climb is sun behind. Might get a bit better when i wash off though.

Then i'll ring mother then er fall asleep probably

Ian5

Comfortable flight over,nice and smooth.
Checked in to my air bnb fine so all good,been up for 22 hours though so a good sleep needed before the expo at 9 tomorrow to get it done.

SHADES

Ian - enjoy the Expo and your shopping.

Keith - have a good run today.   According to the forecast supposed to be a little cooler for you today.


Rest day for me today, as race tomorrow.   Knee and foot aches have gone, just a little muscle tiredness but not much.

Keith M Stuart

I have some plasters from the garage to stick over my foot where it's rubbed a bit. Same foot i destroyed going across Scotland in October and its never been fully right since. Something to be aware of for future longer stuff i guess. Oddly a small blister on right toe too but so be it. Can't deal with other problem as it's a garage so supplies limited so no after sun etc. I'd perhaps glow in the dark currently

Def cooler when i ambled/hobbled garage just now but loosening up on the return trip as i expected. Now to eat something stick the plasters on and change into running gear and head on down and grab the early start.