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I ran a very good pace 6 miles in the forest this morning, and my legs felt light and strong. Fingers crossed, I have made a good recovery from Sunday.
Youngest Son deferred his VMLM place; he'd been having persistent hamstring problems, and decided deferring a year would be preferable to dnf-ing. He was very disappointed, especially as he'd been so committed to his training plan; but Middle Son assured him that the training wouldn't be wasted. So, it'll be back to London next year. We watched the race from the 6 mile point, and then (crossing under the river via the Greenwich tunnel) from the 17 mile point; YS had a friend running in it, so we were able to cheer him on; and indeed cheered a whole lot of complete strangers on (including a giraffe, a banana, two telephone boxes and the ubiquitous rhinoceros). Lots of people had their names on their shirts so could be cheered by name. I saw one of our club runners. Then we went back and watched the highlights on TV.
Did the Burgess Park parkrun on Saturday. 38 mins, 1st in age group. No, don't ask how many in my age group. But there were 12 people behind me, all considerably younger.
TE (HS) what a brilliant result at Southampton, - you must have been so pleased!
Congratulations on the forthcoming job change, glo2.
Liked the blog, WtnMel. Glad St. George himself was running!
And glad BIW is fully back on the website.
Coming back by train from London I found I was sitting next to a 70-year-old woman who was proudly wearing the VMLM T-shirt and medal. Her time? 7 hours and 40 minutes.
Bright and sunny and I'm doing a forest run with Karen this morning.
Columba, it's strange that you no longer get notifications. I never did with the old forum, but I do get them with the "updated" one. Your youngest son was very sensible to defer his marathon place. No point struggling and making the injuries worse. I imagine it must be almost as good watching the race, as partaking. Well done getting first in your age group in the parkrun, it's very satisfying finishing ahead of younger runners. I was really pleased with my Southampton result. I trained really hard for it and reaped the rewards. I didn't have any gels or energy drinks, just plain water and 3 jelly babies. Great respect for the 70 year old lady taking 7 hours 40 minutes. That must be tougher than the elite running sub 2 hours 5 minutes.
After finishing my cycle ride home takes me back along the course so I get a good view on the tail-enders and I see what a struggle it is for them. I'm trying to encourage Mrs JB to do it - but when she first tried last year she was rather embarrassed with her 35 minutes....hence my data on finishing times.
HS: amazing what you can do on 3 Jelly Babies! I'm hoping you are right about the jump to the next level of performance as I feel I'm on a bit of a plateau. It's a good plateau and I'd have chewed off the arm that offered it to me earlier this year - but we runners tend to be a bit impatient. So thanks for the words of encouragement.
Rest day for me today.
Yesterday I did my 3rd Park Run, my first run was back in February, when my wife said I was going with her. I really enjoyed it, but she wasn't exactly happy as I finishing front of her and I've not done any running since cross country in school in 81.
After the first run I had a nasty cough (which I caught from someone at work) and it took 6 weeks to get rid of it, partly down to having asthma.
My biggest problem is confidence as being over weight, I don't mind running in the Park run as you can blend in. But I need to go out on my own training, but can't get myself out when I get home from work early. One of the reasons is I don't know how far I should go in the week so that I don't suffer on a Saturday, but I want to improve.
I usually go cycling on a Sunday morning and a Wednesday evening. Sunday can be up to 70 miles and Wednesday upto 35 miles.
I have had a gait test and have bought some Asics Gel Nimbus running shoes. I have used them twice now and while they feel fine the problem I have is socks, as in my soles seems to get very warm.
I couldn't believe I enjoyed running but I do, my best time is about 34.5 mins. But I feel I'm jogging and not running and to improve slowly.
Dry at present, but heavy rain forecast later this morning. Typical Bank Holiday weather. Ran a good pace 10 miles in the forest yesterday morning with Karen. The ground was rock hard, so it was quite tricky running over hard rutted mud tracks. Will do a short run soon, hopefully before the rain.
Aquarius, there were over 1,000 runners at the Southampton parkrun on Saturday. The highest ever. The organisers believed this was because the previous weekend was the Southampton and London marathons, which incentivised runners to turn out. I've never run it, because I prefer the smaller fields with less congestion. Why do some runners that should start at the back, start at or near the front. They are a danger to themselves and other runners. I believe that gels can be useful if you believe they will help, but I don't feel the need in races. I do, however, sometimes use them during long training runs. Hope you will be feeling better so that you can partake in your relay race on Wednesday.
Welcome to the forum WorksS25, and hope you will stay with us. To be able to cycle 70 miles is very impressive. I don't cycle these days as I'm too nervous of the traffic. It's a good start for you by doing the parkruns, as you can blend in with runners of all shapes and sizes. Many "runners" walk a lot of the run when they first start and progress to be able to complete the whole 5k without walking. Jogging round is what new runners do, and when I first started running in my thirties, I didn't worry about mileage, or pace. I ran 3 or 4 miles in my lunch hour with other workmates, probably three times a week, and a longer run on a Sunday, up to 11 miles. I then gradually built up my mileage. If your target at present is to run good times in parkruns, then you don't need a high weekly mileage. You do need to do some speed work though. Once a week would be best to start with, and then increase to twice. There is a good article in May's RW magazine with 5k and 10k workouts. You may need to consider reducing your cycling mileage, if you want to seriously train for faster running pace. Hope this is helpful, and don't feel guilty about taking rest days, they are essential to allow the body to recover.
I don't want to push too hard too early, as that's the fastest way to get injured I think.
In what way will I need to cut down with the cycling, is it to do with what muscles you use or the way you use them that is not helpful?
I will look for the magazine in the week. Thanks again for the welcome and advice.
Works25 - a very warm welcome from me too. You'll get nothing but good advice and positive comments on this thread. I'm a bit of a parkrun addict, so I'd encourage you to keep doing these and monitor your march up the placings! There are some scarily fast 50-54 competitors around but you shouldn't be in any way intimidated. There are so many PRs around that - depending on where you live - you can shop around and find the best one for you. Or simply enjoy the varying challenges of different courses. What is your local one?
Had a really good run today as I went to the 6K event in beautiful East Sussex countryside. This was lovely - a bone dry, gently undulating X-C course taking in some bluebell woods (I think we heard a nightingale); a friendly, well-marshalled genuinely local event starting from and ending on the cricket field; a combined 6k family type event and a 10k for more serious runners.
Naturally I chose the 6k (!) and bull-dozed my way through the village children (in fairness there were some adults too) to a 2nd place. I don't trust the official timing and gave myself a 26:23 having gone through 5k in sub 22, which was about what I was expecting. The reality check was a 10K 60+ plus guy passing me around 4k, so I mustn't get carried away. I don't often come 2nd (in fact I think I've only come 1st or 2nd in two races in my lifetime) but it was one of those situations where the guy in front was 100 metres away, the one behind me was 100 metres away so there wasn't much point in a sprint finish!
I'm not focusing on anyone else's times or anything, all I need to gauge my own performances.
Bright and sunny and off for a recovery pace run later.
WorksS25, The cycling mileage is not really an issue with muscles, but I was just thinking that if your priority is increasing your running pace, you might benefit from spending more time running. A lot of runners do use cycling for cross training when running is their main priority.
jb, congratulations on your 2nd placing in the 6k, it sounds like a really nice course. It's an unusual distance to race, and I'm wondering why they decided on it.
I had intended to do an easy pace run yesterday, but was feeling good, so decided to push the pace, and ran 6.55 miles at tempo pace. I got home just before the rain, so possibly that might have been my incentive for getting a move on.
Roadrunner22 - and 'hi' to you too.
Happy running everyone and stay healthy and injury free!!
Will do something today but not much. Possibly two races coming up this weekend - usual parkrun plus there's a very tempting 5K or 10K choice in a pretty village setting. Would stand a chance of an age category win (looking at last year's times) and that's a very attractive prospect.
Today is a rest day, and yesterday I ran 4 miles at recovery pace enjoying the warm sunshine.
jb, that must have been embarrassing, being taken for a tail ender. There is a 10k HRRL race that I do every year that is 3 complete laps and then a short lap to the finish, which is a turn off the main route. I always have a slight worry that the marshalls might try to send me round again.
glo2, I'm wondering why you only have 2 stars. Nobody has been awarded 4 yet and I wonder what you have to do to earn them. I would certainly encourage you to do the marathon, otherwise you may always regret not doing one. Time taken is relatively unimportant for the first one, and you never know, you might want to do more. I've done 14 so far and doing the NF Marathon in September. Your training appears to be spot on, training 5 days a week including a longer run at weekends. There are many different ideas regarding before and after the long run, some rest the day before, some the day after, and some, including me, neither, unless Sunday is a race, and then I rest for 2 days before. My usual routine when I don't have a Sunday race is rest days Wednesday and Friday.
One thing that you could help me on: I often see references to 'pirates' but I confess I don't know what it means in a running context.
I used to be a GSD owner too, but she (like her owner) was very much the runt of the litter!
HS - I would fear for the life of the marshal who tried to do that to you!
Just back from the local park where I did silly little intervals, sprints and shuttle runs and thereby bemused the local dog-walkers.
Did my duty this morning and voted in the local election. We have a pyramid session this evening on a grass track. The last time I ran on it was about 30 years ago when I was a member of Team Solent, now Southampton Athletic Club.
DBIW, it's good now that you are back and we can all see you again. Glad to hear that you, John and the dogs are well, and you are both still running and swimming.
jb, I'm looking forward to when you can inform us that you have attained the magical 80% WAVA.
Aquarius, you asked if it was my first parkrun since my knee problem: No, I have twice run the Tooting Common parkrun while staying with Elder Daughter, who lives in Balham just a short distance away. In spite of what John B says about there being "so many parkruns", I actually live about 40 miles away from my nearest, so rely on running them when visiting friends and family. Congratulations on 2nd place in the 6k, John.
Surprised about the dogs on long leads in a parkrun; I thought the rule for running with dogs in a parkrun was that they should be on a very short lead.
6 miles with the running club on Tuesday, - cross-country, which in this neck of the woods means very steep hills, ruts, roots, rocks, stiles and streams. A lot of walking was done. A quiet little 3 miles on my own this afternoon.
I always vote, because of the suffragettes.
Bright and sunny and my car has just gone off for its annual service. The rep who collected it recognised me being interviewed before the Southampton Marathon by the Meridian News Team. I haven't seen him since last year, so I was amazed that he remembered me. Today is a rest day from running.
Columba, that 6 mile cross country sounds encouraging. Your knee must be making good progress.
A very tough pyramid session on the grass track last night. I couldn't believe that it was 30 years since I was there last. The session comprised two sets of 30, 60, 90, 120, 90, 60, 30 seconds, with 30 second jogs after each effort. There was a 2 minute recovery between sets. I was very pleased with my splits, the quickest being the first 30 second effort of the second set at 6.13 minute mile pace. I didn't believe I could ever run that fast any more, but it would be good if I could keep it up for a longer distance.:#