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I may come along and watch, a chance to meet a few people is always nice. I am going to Bushy so I can make it on the way back.
Yeah, the daily fighting just to deliver the paper was tough
NM2 - from memory you were once described as a 'daddy long legs' - what colour singlet?
I'm likely to be racing in Indian / Irish colours - white singlet, green shorts, orange shoes, assuming that meets CRAB's approval in his role as forum fashion police. Tergart of 32:45 - 32:55, but seeing that Pug has returned, I'll go for the men's £150 sub 30 prize if Jools agrees to the above challenge.
I know that Geewok has previously mentioned running, but I guess that's unlikely unless he's planning to swim alongside in the boating lake.
Am I the only one who hasn't received a number then? :-(
Gobi Are you suggesting that my weight is unimportant?
TR[/b} Agree with you 16% is a lot of fat to carry for an endurance althlete. Starting to realise now how good my 3.01.54 was at Cardiff aged 48 with a fat score of 21%.
Compared to you mob I am severely handicapped with my weight, age and legendary short 28.5 inch legs. Not much I can do about 2 of the three variables, but at least the 5% drop in body fat over two and a bit years is something to celebrate.
I think they have one in Itchen (Southampton) !
Blimey Dull - 3h 01m at 20%.
I ran in our club 5m handicap on Thursday last week and still managed 30:27, despite only doing 12 mile weeks (yes that's right 12 miles over 2 sessions!) for the last month. That would still have given me a sub-38 10k. Anyway its all irrelevant now.
Question - is it advisable to buy track spikes in a half size bigger than trainers? I'm sure I read that somewhere.
[as i can't run i'm buying kit at the moment - Garmin last week, spikes this week!]
If I run sub-33 then I've been hiding my talents under a bushel for the last 6 years. I'll also die at about, ooh, 2K. I'm prepared to hang on in there for 2K, but not 8K.
"kept me entertained mid race whilst trying to work out whether I had it the right way around." My, we runners do get up to some crazy japes...
TR: I despair, I really do.
Jools, good - that means the pressure's off for my sub 30 attempt.
Can you think of anything more interesting to look at in Milton Keynes? HMs (and longer races) should be scenic, else they're sooo Dull. The first half of the Vegas HM (up the strip, at night) was ok, but for the second half I might have well been back in Milton Keynes looking at my (upside down?) race number.
Dull, What I am saying is that sometimes the strength of extra weight is actually a bonus. But that could be what I tell myself as a fat badger !!!!
TR, I don't get it.
Having done 11X 18+ milers this year up-to and including FLM07 and kept regular 12 milers since – will the distance stamina still be there? i.e. could I realistically race a respectable (but not optimal) marathon in September by fitting in up-to 5 or more 18+ milers in August – off 7-8 weeks training?
DanA – new to thread, but V impressed.
I would say yes.
I have run 3.06,3.06 and 3.05,3,17 both with 5 week gaps between.
The first 3.06 was 12 months after I started competitive running, and the 3.17 18 months after.
Of course the weather can always screw you up, but I'm sure you already knew that.
RB - well done on the PB HM 1:18 is easily gonnae be yours on the right day so that'll be another PB to look forward to.
TR - think I saw you post a 65min 10mile training run recently - bodes very well for a good HM.
I was quite tempted until I saw the price! $200!!!
Although I suppose if you work it out price per length it'd be ok - especially if you train in the kiddies pool.
On the subject of DS trainers which seemed to be getting a mention earlier on - they're the only shoes to have in my opinion - as long as you're under 75kilos apparently (so ASICS reckon anyway) - Oh, and they have to be red ones af course.
Coldfeet: Last year I went for GFA at Wolverhampton - was on target until I picked up an injury at 20miles - so depending on which faction you support on this forum, you might like to extraploate and say I could have got the time there.
Went to Normandy a month later after 2 weeks enforced rest in between and clocked a 2:59 on the last GFA qualifying weekend for FLM07.
The bad news is that Normandy is down to a half this year (must have been talikng to the cardiff organisers!), the good news is that Wolves is still on (1st w/e in Septe,ber.) Normandy was definitely quicker than Wolves, but I think there are worse places for trying to get GFA.
so 10.5 miles tonight at 7:40 pace...
11.50 miles
1:16:51 (6:40/mile)
Mizuno Wave Creation 8's (59.7 miles)
Mile 1 = 7:01 @ 142bpm
Mile 2 = 6:34 @ 155bpm
Mile 3 = 7:00 @ 140bpm
Mile 4 = 6:45 @ 156bpm
Mile 5 = 6:23 @ 165bpm
Mile 6 = 6:17 @ 174bpm
Mile 7 = 6:26 @ 172bpm
Mile 8 = 6:38 @ 168bpm
Mile 9 = 6:58 @ 167bpm
Mile 10 = 6:58 @ 168bpm
Mile 11 = 6:30 @ 167bpm
Mile 11.5 = 2:46 @ 165bpm
Oh well... that's 42 mile in 3 days... not in Dans league, what a wuss I am lol
Weird though as just after Edinburgh I banged out a 7 miler, with the middle three miles in 6:10 average @ 172bpm... which to me says I've lost shit loads of speed and fitness... it's got 12 days to get back in my leg or I'm choppin' me plonker off to lose 10lbs ;-)
Pug
The girl who won the women's race last year though said the hill basically went from mile 4 to 13...... I'm in regardless.....
Looks like we've got a good turnout for Dorney - in no particular order - myself, JEJ, Nick Morgan 2, Jools B and MattTheRat. Any more for any more?
Remember Bramley - 20 x 7min miles at HR 158.
Did a comfortable 12 tonight in 83 min (av 6m 55 per). Slightly slower 2nd half - cos it was into a stiff old wind. There's a right old gale brewing now !
Got some data. The Hr monitor kept losing sync again - but I coul get it back by holding my wrist up by the chest strap. I mad sure that I took a few readings each mile and so HR was between 145 and 151. Mostly it was 149, it rose a bit if I let the pace creep up. It felt really easy and I could have gone lots further too. Bad news was my knee ached a lot in the last few miles - maybe to due leaning into the wind. But this time last week I could barely walk on it !
Now I'm no expert but that's got to be good news, hasn't it ?
So, over to the Prof's. What does it mean to me ?
Jools
Don't worry they all beat me too !
I've got some Red DS Trainers and they're the bllx - unfortunately they've done a few thousand miles and the replacements are only available in lime green!! FFS if it aint broke don't bastid fix it. Think they're a bit lighter too. Scoured t'internet in vain for another pair of red 'uns in size 9 - rarer than a Dull sub3 ;o)
As you were.
If so, still plenty of room for upping the pace at race time, but deffo a good work out and good news that it was so much lower than Bramley.
One word of caution though - what was weather (temp in particular) at Bramley compared to tonight? - Warmer daay will tend to result in higher hr for same results.
Warning - your HR can go upm as well as down, and your Sub 3 may be reposessed if you don't last the distance.
Thanks for the messages of support. Feet now up with cold beer close at hand. By popular demand, a race report. Enjoy...
Part 1
Well, I don’t mind admitting it, but I’m a bit flaky when it comes to finishing races. Normally I don’t fret over DNF’ing if it’s going badly, but this is one I was determined to finish. I consider myself primarily an ultra runner, rather than a marathoner (although have done more of the latter), and have done about a dozen ultras. But never a single dayer over 55 miles. Started the P100 last year, the week after Edinborough, and was ill-prepared and perhaps a bit half-hearted – therefore dropping out after 26 miles at the first sign of a niggle was no surprise.
This year I was determined to finish, so made sure I told quite a few people about it as an added incentive (including all of you). Also got my brand – that’s Relentless energy drink, in case you missed it! – to sponsor the event, so I had a good reason to complete. 37 starters out of 50 who had paid up, and 12 duathletes (there’s a 26 mile run – two laps of 48 miles on the bike – 26 mile run). We did one of the 48 mile laps.
All was cross country, carrying a pack of kit/food/liquid/essentials, and navigable by ordance survey maps. I got into a small group at the front, but made a small map error which cost about 5 mins quite early. Pushed on for a reasonable lead towards first checkpoint (CP1) at 14 miles, but another map error meant I was joined by first duathlete (Andy
Andy disappeared off on his bike, and I was on my own again. After about 30 miles I was caught by Colm (who has a 1.14 half and 2.47 marathon to his name). We ended up running together for the next 50 miles. Some of the hills were absolutely brutal – if you’ve ever ridden the Mary Townley loop you’ll know what I mean. How those guys got their bikes round I’ll never know. We had to power walk the ups, and try and run on the downs and flats. By CP4 after 52 miles and 11 hours we were both knackered. The second group of duathletes had caught us up by this point, and we had been overtaken by Richard T.
Bizarrely just after leaving CP4 (having forced down a few mouthfuls of choccy and a bit of the sponsor’s own product), we both got our second wind and managed to put in 3 solid hours of running feeling fresh as a daisy. But by the time it got dark after 15 hours @ 11pm, we were up on high ground, it was freezing cold and it had started to pi$$ down with rain. CP5 came and went, and we were out in the hills again to CP6 at the end of the loop with only the return marathon to go.
It was only 8 miles from CP5 to CP6, but it took us 3.5 hours. Conditions were appalling. Visibility was almost zero. The paths were indistinguishable from the surrounding ground, and it was sooooo cold. In fact it was pretty dangerous; I don’t think I was too far from hypothermia setting in. We got lost several times and ended up adding a few bonus miles. All the fun of the fair, I suppose.
By the time we left CP6, it was about 2.30am. I didn’t at any time feel tired from lack of sleep, just fatigue from tired legs and shoulders. On the return leg now, and about two hours until first light, but it was not so easy retracing our steps from the previous afternoon. I was still keen to run all the flat bits and downhills, but Colm was beginning to really struggle. By about halfway to the last CP, I had to leave him behind and press on alone. I was coping quite well with the ups (must have the legs for it). But the downs were agony. My thighs were seizing up and I had blisters now on the balls of my feet and both little toes. But since each step was an explosion of pain, I figured I might as well jog as much as possible, since it hurt whether I was running or walking. Got to CP7 after 24 hours, took a five minute breather, and pushed on.
Just a case of one foot in front of the other now. Managed to get some running (ie, shuffling) going when I could. About 8 miles left and I passed a guy walking his dog. He asked me if this was the return leg of the same race he’d seen go past yesterday morning. When I told him it was the same race as yesterday morning, his face was priceless. Last couple of hours seemed to go on forever, and the pain was remarkable. But finally got up the last hill and adrenalin rush let me run in the last k. The finish line of an ultra is a pretty special sight, as I’m sure Gobi can vouch for. Finish time was 28h 40m. Richard T had won in 29.08. Awesome stuff. He won fair and square.
Colm, who I’d last seen at about 80 miles finished 4 hours after me. He must have had a horrific time of it, but credit to him for finishing. There were only 12 finishers (Andy being the only duathlete – only finisher in two years!!). Last six runners came in together after 39 hours.
Feet pretty mashed, but seen much worse. They, and my legs will recover soon; probably get out for a few miles next weekend. Got a couple of lagers on the go as I write this and feeling pretty pleased with myself. Mont Blanc paperwork arrived today so will go into it with lots of confidence come August.
When I finished, a journalist asked what my motivation was for completing it. Simple answer; because it was difficult. If it wasn’t, every fecker would be doing it. Guess that’s why we all do what we do. Did I enjoy it? Not really sure. At the time, it hurt of course, but definitely glad I did it now it’s over. Will I do it again? Ask me later.
At no point did I ever doubt that I would finish. As CRAB says, you can always put one foot in front of the other. It’s the mind that tells you to give up. Very true. I know I’ll never run a 5k like JeJ, a marathon like Padams, or be able to beat Gobi over a fast road ultra, but I feel pretty confident I could give most people a run for their money in that sort of race. Anyway, whatever it’s merits, I now have a shiny new PB for 100 miles. If you ever fancy it, I can thoroughly recommend it.
If you ever fancy it, I can thoroughly recommend it....
Thought about it - No, but thanks for asking :-)
Great effort mate. Like I said put my little pedal in the showers somewhat into perspective for me on Sunday afternoon.
As you were.
Have thought about doing the du myself, it sounds horrendous. Still got unfinished business with (the easier) IM though..