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RW Forum SIx – 3.30 – 4.00
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Rob - good mileage from you. Your running seems like it's in a good place right now.
DadAgain - good week for you too. I quite like it when it's on the colder side for faster runs, it gives me an incentive to go faster to keep warm!
Nick wow 2 weeks time flies!!! Hope everything goes well for you.
Manchester date is out 8th April!!! I've looked and reserved several hotels that week.
Rob- good to hear you're in for Manchester- have you done it before?
Good week of running this week for me, not that I've got back to doing a lot of mileage but a few successful shorter runs and feeling stronger. Tuesday did a run and gym visit, yesterday another short run.
Today did 5.6 miles in total built around parkrun. The parkrun I did in 21:58 which while it is a bit away from 'fast' for me is pretty decent for two weeks post marathon and while quite tired. So I'm happy enough with that.
Tomorrow I'll do something just a wee bit longer but not too long yet.
Ali - glad you're back out there already, it will probably take at least 3-4 weeks to recover properly from the marathon so I wouldn't worry too much about your times. I felt my easy runs were slower for a good 4-6 weeks post-marathon this year. Might have just been warmer weather but I think there could well have been some residual fatigue there.
No running for me last week. Not really had time but might get out tonight, have plotted out a 10 mile route that looks quite nice from home so will see if that works (not 100% sure whether I can cross the motorway where Strava thinks I can so it might end up being shorter). Also my pain on the outside of my foot is still bothering me. Not enough to stop me doing anything, and it eases fairly quickly once it is warmed up, but hurts most mornings.
I was pacing 4:15 (6:00/km) - so expecting a comfortable long run. Ended up the entire race had a field of 25 (including 6 of us pacing!). It was multiple loops, so despite not running with anyone the whole way I did get to talk to a few people as I passed them or they passed me every now and then. Also at the same time were similarly small field events for 100km, 50 miles, 50km and 25km so there were a few people scattered around the 6.25km loop from the slowest ultra-shufflers to some pretty rapid runners.
[anyone interested in pictures do a facebook search for "Gold Coast 100" - I'm in the hiviz vest and orange visor]
Finished the race feeling just fine (not like any other marathon I've ever run!) and realized that despite the comfortable pace I had gone slightly too quick (3:15 seconds ahead of schedule) and was only a couple of minutes behind my time from Berlin 2 years ago where I bust a gut running a quick first half and denotated second half for a 4:09.
I guess I'm getting fitter?
less than 3 weeks to go now before Gold Coast Marathon where I'm actually feeling pretty confident about having a crack at 3:30!...
Ali, it will be my 1st Manchester. I want no messing flat as f*ck marathon to focus on time. After missing my PB at MK by 66 secs I'm determined to get another marathon PB while I can (35 next may could start going downhill anytime). Ali I sweat a lot in marathons and think this is why I am cramping, I need to find something but my problem is I don't believe anything works however if I find something then i'll use it as a placebo (bit like gels, I run for 3.5 miles a gel and gives me something to focus on).
Nick I leave nothing to chance, I will 100% know my movements for the Manchester weekend, Mrs R gets annoyed with me as we cant just go out and enjoy a day out, its gotta be planned to military precision. Nick don't do too much... your other half will need you on your feet lots in the next few months/ 18 years.
DA - would love to pace a race, have considered parkrun but really fancy having a crack at pacing 2hr half marathon, love to think people will rely on you for their time. Sounds like you had a good pacing experience too! How did you find the laps, I did a (well 3) marathon of 22 laps, the event is brilliantly organized but after a 3rd I don't think I could do it again! Will have a look at the photos when at home, work block social media
Sticking to offroad running at the moment. Only gentle undulations 13 mile run home from work on Saturday bit warmer than I'd like. Decided to have a rest day on Sunday as been upping the distance. 15 miles this morning pushed the pace a bit more than normal sub 8.50 pace. Will get 2 or 3 short runs in during the week and 18 miles along river lea early Saturday then out in Camden.
More free stuff, Unilite head torch, On twitter they were asking for people to review and blog about them, Elle saw the post and they sent us a couple.
Rob - I'm sure you will do really well st Manchester if you get a decent training block in.
So, we had our baby last week - very exciting! A lovely little girl, and amazingly she came on the actual due date (Wednesday). My wife went into labour on the Monday and we got home from hospital on Saturday, everything ok was just kept in for some precautions. Unsurprisingly didn't get any running in last week.
I think if they keep the same course it'll probably grow in size as people get to hear about it and use it as a warm up for the main Gold Coast Marathon (which is Australia's best marathon, closely followed by Melbourne)
Congrats on your daughter Nick - thats great news. Back off the running and enjoy parenting for a while!
Nick Congratulations and glad all is well!
Running has been ticking over for me, 3 weeks till my 50k. Weight I had lost has been gained again! No discipline here on that front.
Damn it got hot again!!! That race never fails to cook you in the last 10km. There wasn't a cloud in the sky and despite being only 22C the radiant heat was really oppressive. A beautiful winters day for spectating and sitting around in the sun doing nothing. Not so great for the last 12km of a marathon.
Still.... 3:28:41!!!!! An 8 minute PB improvement I am absolutely delighted.
(Does this mean I get evicted from this thread now?)
DA congratulations, huge PB and battled on! Whats the target now you have the sub 3.30? Go longer/ shorter/ faster?
Nick, hope you're enjoying fatherhood!
I had an easy week last week 25 miles. 2 weeks from FVC 50km.
have entered Manchester marathon, will be entering NDW 50miler next may, holiday Turkey booked for June and back end of 2018 think i'll only enter 1mile-half mara distances for 6 months.
Rob - enjoying it so far, first 2 weeks went very quickly, back at work today
I actually got out for a run at the weekend. Only did 4k though.
https://www.aldi.co.uk/2-in-1-bike-trailer-&-stroller/p/077476148141100
Hope you're all getting some summer miles in, or getting used to shitty nappies of having well deserved breaks.
FVC 50 miler done 5.24 (11 mins faster than last year) died again towards the end, was muggy and warm.
Race report to follow!
Went to watch the Marathon on Sunday, great day but alot of walking following the runners around a 4 lapped course, walked more than a half marathon through the day. Monday went to watch to the stadium, only really interested in Laura Muir's 1500m which was a bit of a disappointment.
Hope life is treated everyone well! Can't wait to have a chance to race Mo Farah at a marathon one day, the last time I raced him, he didnt even finish :-)
In the meantime this year I've run PB's at 3km and 42.2km - its time to try to fill in some of the blanks in between. I have a half marathon on sunday where I get my one shot this year to beat my 1:38:20 PB which is going to be challenging as I dont feel like I'm in A1 condition at the moment - and then a week later I have my one and only shot at a 10km race where I need to target 42:58
I think that may be the first time I've ever run a negative split in a race - damn it felt good (about 2min -ve split)!
Now feeling confident that I can have a good crack at the 10km next weekend!
DA that's a great PB for a half marathon, Negative splits are amazing, have only ever done it once and that was 2 years ago when I did my marathon PB.
Enjoy the 10k, I hate the races myself, lots of pain for too long a time.
Last week I passed a huge training milestone 62.3miles (100km!!!!) consisted Tues 15 miles, Wed 13 miles, Fri 7 miles, Sat 13 miles Sun 14 miles. Trying to get legs used to running on tired!
This week planning 70+ miles.
Tues 7-8 miles
Wednesday up London Elle's birthdat
Thurs 7-8 miles
Fri rest
Saturday 16-18 miles
Sunday 13-15 miles
Monday 26.2 Cakeathon lapped event
Aim to get through the cakeathon race, off road 4.5 mile laps, 8 hours to complete as many as you can/ like, just going to eat cake, run with friends at different points when I can.
As you may know I like to plan my races a good year or two ahead. Have just booked my 1st 50 miler in May 2018. NDW 2000ft gain from point to point with total 5800ft elevation!!!! Wish me luck on that one. Looking forward to a Holiday in June then probably going to stick to plan of aiming for some decent times on shorter distances. Have some fun and not have to train for 4 months a race.
successful weekend... week went to plan inc 17 miles sat, 13 miles sun and a very hilly and hot 26.4 miles on sunday at cakeathon. Went very slow for the 1st half 2hr 54 and did the 2nd half under 2hr 30mins. 2800ft elevation and finished feeling good and recovered well, no soreness just tired legs.
5 weeks tomorrow till Atlantic Coast Challenge yikes!!!!
Very happy with that, now having recorded PB's this year at 3km , 5km, 10km , 21.1km and 42.2k !
Celebrated this weekend with a gentle 32km run that accelerated away from the 22km mark and finished the last 10km at HM pace - waaay quicker than Marathon pace.
Fair to say I'm looking forward to Melbourne Marathon in 6 weeks time and wondering if 3:25 is a possible target.
those are some impressive times DA! Brilliant stuff and a decent long run!
3.25 a defo target! don't go out silly, as you can see from your long run you have it in you to have a good finish!
No plan as such for the next 4 weeks before Atlantic Coast Challenge, just 3-4 runs between 4-10 miles a week plus a long run just to keep ticking over.
Got to concentrate on losing a few lbs, back to where I started months ago... if I can lose a bit of timber it's got to help lugging myself around 3 marathons.
So...when I last posted 3 months ago I'd just had a baby and got out for my first run since, which was only 4k. The next week I did a parkrun in 20:44, was very pleased with that considering the lack of recent running, but mainly I wanted to beat a couple of mates from the squash club who were doing it, which I did. My wife came along with our daughter too and sat in the sun and watched.
The next weekend I did a crappy run, the type I try to avoid, where I couldn't really decide what pace to do so went faster than easy pace but not fast enough that I was really pushing myself. Then didn't run for 2 weeks till another parkrun, 20:32, again fairly happy. Main reason I did it was because it was a nice day and my wife quite liked getting out to the park in the good weather. Then 3 more weeks no running at all, then we had a week's holiday which was great, nice and relaxing and good family time, got out for 3 easy runs that week did 20k altogether.
Then no running for 2-3 weeks, but then managed to get along to my club's track night which I really enjoyed last year. By this point my daughter had started generally going to sleep before I got in from work and only waking up once in the night, if at all, so it was getting a bit easier to get a proper amount of sleep and do stuff in the evening - I had played squash a couple of times before this. Anyway really enjoyed track night, highlights were the mile (5:39 - 10s quicker than last year) and 100m which I just won in 13.7s, also was quite pleased with a 65.6s 400m especially as I didn't feel completely recovered from previous events.
This sparked my interest in running again, my legs were in bits for a few days afterwards but then I was on holiday the next week again, similar to before got out for 3 easy runs, 8k each time, and managed a couple more the week after (which was last week), before entering my local 10k yesterday (it's literally 10-15 min walk from my front door). It starts and finishes in a field but is otherwise a road run, so given the wet conditions this wasn't ideal. But somehow I did it in 42:28, a PB of nearly 2 mins (though it's only my 3rd 10k) and an improvement of over 3 mins on last year's time in the same race (when it wasn't wet).
So that all bodes well, I am seeing how it goes in terms of running/squash/family time balance but have a rough idea of trying to get out running 3 times a week, squash once a week, which along with cycling 7.5 miles each day to the train station and back keeps me in decent shape. I have Milton Keynes marathon as a rough long term goal but will have to see whether I manage to get the long runs in after xmas, if I don't then there isn't much point entering. In the shorter term will try to get 2 easy + 1 hard run each week and see how we go. If I feel up to it might do 2 hard runs.
I liked MK, really well organised but if you looking for crowds there are next to nothing on course but I don't mind that so I really enjoyed the marathon, felt it was pretty flat throughout, 1st few miles are boring dual carriageway, after that pleasant scenery parks n stuff.... only incline is at mile 23 which is onlyto climb up and over a flyover but nothing really to worry about, the stadium finish is a nice touch, a great meeting point too for the start and finish (esp if weather crap).
All packed and ready for cornwall, starting to feel the nerves as it's brand new, navigation (most of it is keep sea to the right land to the left), terrain - there are stairs and boulders to negotiate lots of inclines and difficult downs too. Then waking up after day 1 to run a mararthon then day 3 have to run 30 hard miles.
Not heard from VLM ballot yet but will guess a no, but running manchester and NDW50 miler in may instead
Good to see some regulars on here and one or two new faces too.
DA - some fantastic running from you. And in the heat too. I can feel the dedication and am sure the goals you have set are within your grasp.
Rob - some great running from you too and interested to hear about the adventures in Cornwall.
Nick - sounds like congrats are in order for the little one. Hopefully everything has settled down by now.
Will try and pop on here more often as this might gibe me the motivation to get back out there and get some more miles in. I can remember knocking 50+ miles out per week. Now I would be happy with 20 + miles !!
Hi Carl, good to hear you still managing to tick over, bet it seems a while since you did the 2015 miles in 2015!!! Glad to hear you not being selfish... something I am guilty of, day after cornwall I was telling Mrs R how I planned to do Great Eastern Half next year but it could clash with a race she wants to do.... may have to let her have that one.
Okay so another rejection 8th for me, but on for Manchester
Atlantic coast challenge complete - the blog (very long below)
http://robsrunningatoz.blogspot.com/2017/10/atlantic-coast-challenge-long-haul.html
main points
day 1, 4000ft elevation, stunning weather 5hr02
day 2 another 4000ft elevation, weather awful, still stunning 5hr20
day 3, can f*ck off, it was hell!!!!!! I am a runner not rock climber! 8hr48
Brilliant fun, brilliant challenge, stunning views, organization was great and recommend 100%
next up stort 30, flat along the river in a couple of weeks
also booked Cambridge half next march
Nailed the race in Melbourne yesterday. All the stats say it out loud:
2 min negative split
Every one of the 42 kms between 4:30 and 4:48, average 4:41
10 minute PB
20 minute improvement in 12 months
BQ by almost 7 minutes
3:18:05.... loved every minute.
Thats Couch2BQ in almost exactly 4 years. I'm feeling really very proud of myself right now.
Now.... what to do in 2018?!