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Shades Marathon Training
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Cal, well done on another parkrun, if you're in need of a W and if you're interested in chasing compass points (west) I can recommend Westmill out where we are, lovely trail run stunning surroundings and nice coffee shop after, bit of a train trek but can always offer a lift from the train station.
Well done on the 6 miles progression run, good sign fitness is there.
Decided against parkrun as being sensible, and am out for a few beers tonight at my local, (pub I used to manage and live) as have my fav pub band (the one last time I saw them I was swimming across the dance floor). Hope to be up early tomorrow morning for 3-6 miles and want to see Hertford's poppy display it looks special from the photos.
Good luck with the races and travelling tomorrow
As Mavericks we can wear old or new kit, we don't have rules like that.
Hope you can get a decent meal tomorrow night, are there any pubs nearby perhaps?
Keith - maybe a tad too soon to go up to 100 miles as Traviss's is in March isn't it? No Boston isn't on anymore, I'm still chasing RD for my race fee to be refunded, I think I'll do one final letter then file for a CCJ.
You could nip over to Ireland and do the Listowel Endurance race I did this year, 12 hour race there too and round a park, good tarmac surface.
Cal - ouch to the sore quads.
Robert - no swimming on the dancefloor tonight
Big G - I've just been looking at races for next year and checked the Trotters website to confirm the date of the Ladies 10km, a week later next year, means it's likely to clash with Barnstaple for me although that date isn't out yet.
No running for me today, still don't feel 100%, will run tomorrow
Cal, shame about that parkrun potentially being cancelled. Have there been complaints for people, or is there another reason it may be cancelled?
Robert, I think that section of the SWCP is tough. It was warm conditions this year and our Trotter took just over 12hrs to do it. As a comparison, he did the 34-mile DD in under 6hrs. I know it's totally different terrain etc, but I think it would be described as challenging!
Topolino, well done on the run. For me, my first marathon was in 2010 but hardly did any until 2017, when I kind of got the bug. Shades is partly to blame - just a warning
It's much nicer weather here this morning. Quite cool, but no rain and the sun's out. No running for me though, unfortunately.
Will be nice weather for your drive today.
Just looking at accommodation for Loch Ness, even more expensive now but I can't book until flights come out, I expect prices will go even higher then!
Shades, no swimming last night! hope you feeling better soon!
Topolino the climbing you're doing is making my glutes wince!!!
Big G, had a read of a few blogs reviews of classic quarter, seems a tough section of the path so may need to consider that for another year to give both events their full attention. Hope you have a good drive!
Decided to stay in last night, weather was a bit crap and once it stopped raining fireworks started and our dog isn't a fan, we have had to lose our internal doors as he has destroyed them when there have been fireworks. He's a 15 year old staffie so probably wont be around much longer so we'll get some doors once he's gone.
5 miles for me around mid day, no screaming glute or any pain from the hip so fingers crossed on the fix. WIll have another easy week this week before considering stepping back up.
Yesterday was Cognac marathon. I have done this marathon quite a few times as it's my local one and it really is a lovely race. Not too big - yesterday there were about 480 runners for the marathon - and a course which takes in a few chateaux, an Abbey, a distillery, sleepy villages and lots of vineyards. There is a bit of support (if you count grannies leaning out of their windows or the odd group of exciteable children) and several "animations" in the form of a couple of people strumming guitars or hammering away at bongo drums. I like it anyway.
I hadn't done anywhere as much mileage as I would have liked so my initial goal of going for another sub 3:30 had gone out of the window some time ago and been toned down to aiming for around 3:40/45. I'd also had a bit of a pain in my heelbone which I'd been pretending wasn't there but had been getting worse so I hadn't run for about a week before in the hope that it would just disappear (it hasn't).
I got up reasonably early on race morning and painted my toenails green, put my lucky pants on and then started running round packing my race stuff. Ate some cereal and chucked a couple of bananas in my bag to eat in the car. Left about 20 mins later than planned and arrived with about 20mins to go before the start which is actually pretty good for me. However they had moved the admin bit since last time so we had a longer walk than anticipated to pick up my cognac/tshirt etc - I had my bib already but hadn't got round to fixing it on my vest. Anyway, all that resulted in a gallop to the start and OH heaving me over the railings with 4 mins to go until the gun went off.
I was quite far back and it took what felt like ages (in reality about a minute or so) to get over the line and then we were off.
The last time I did this marathon was 2015 and they have changed the set up and course so for the first 8km we were with the 11k runners. Unfortunately this accounted for an awful lot of people on narrow roads where you were completely hemmed in. Although I intended to start easy I was horrified when I realised that the first 5k had taken me 30mins. Once we had peeled off from the others I was able to get into my stride a bit more but knew there was no way I could catch up on lost time without having a massive burnout. I stuck to around 5:15/5:30 kms for the rest of the race and though it felt quite comfortable I couldn't go any faster really either. On a positive note nobody overtook me from 20k onwards and I just trundled on but I was still willing the kms away especially from the 35k point. Mind you I always do will these last ones away, doing all sorts of head games to take my mind of things and the will to just stop!
I crossed the line in a time of 3:52 which I feel neutral about. It is ok but that is about it. I think this is maybe the beginning of the end and I am just doomed to getting slower as I get older.
I had a few cognac schweppes for the free apéritif afterwards and bought some new YSL liquid eyeliner which helped to raise my spirits a bit but still
Now I am going to have a winter of base training and reflect on my plans and goals for next year and my running in general. No races planned for the rest of the year but am hoping to do that coastal trail race that I like (the one where I won a giant biscuit last time) in February.
I have my session in that freezing box tomorrow evening (can't remember the name of it offhand) so will let you know how that goes. Not looking forward to it really but there you go.
MF, that’s annoying feeling you were getting held up at the start. I had the same at Yorkshire. I don’t think it’s inevitable you’ll get slower!! You said yourself your training wasn’t as good as you’d like, and you’ve been really busy at work etc, so I’m sure if it all comes together you’ll do a good time at another event.
I’ve arrived at Reading with no issues - it was a good drive really. No fish and chips available though unfortunately, so had to get a Burger King. Not ideal, but that’s the way it is and I’ve ran well on that before. I misread the race instructions the other day and thought it was 2xout-and-backs, but it’s actually 4x. Not sure what shoes to wear at the moment in terms of road shoes or trail shoes but I’ll decide tomorrow when I get there. If it’s only a short section of mud I expect I’ll just go with road shoes.
I saw on their Facebook page that someone is collecting race shirts for a charity to send abroad (I think) so I’ve brought a bag of about 20 up with me, and threw away about 5 others that are too worn. Better they get some use than sent to landfill and they were taking up space too although I’ve still got more than I need. I reluctantly gave away my new Yorkshire shirt - the logo on it is massive, but also really stiff and so it doesn’t sit comfortably. I washed it after one use but it’s still the same so it’s in the bag. I almost put the 50 parkrun shirt in, which I don’t expect I’ll wear anymore, but took it back out at the last minute - not sure why really! I think I had visions of me getting another shirt and kind of lining them up, but the next shirt is 250 which will take years to get to, if I manage it.
Robert - good to hear you didn't get trashed on your night out!
The firework parties/displays seem to go on for a longer period every year, worrying for pet owners. So your staffie obviously is in charge in your house, he sounds a right character. Doors are useful in a house.
A pain free run after an injury is a joy.
mamafox - thank you for your lovely report. Still a very good run, sorry to hear you're disappointed with it. As well as the time you lost in the first 5k, what you also use up in adrenaline/stress of not being able to run your own pace also has a detrimental effect. It's definitely not the beginning of the end, you know that your training wasn't as you would have liked and that you were lacking on the mileage that you need to run your best.
Enjoy your ice box today, how are the legs?
Big G - I believe Teignmouth have 2 route options for their parkrun, maybe one is for the bad weather and also high holiday season perhaps?
Sorry to hear you had to resort to a Burger King. Hope you can get a decent breakfast.
Have a good race today, hope it's not too muddy.
Back running today, RHR was a bit raised this morning but I felt good and back to normal after 3 days of feeling just not right. Did a gentle 5 miles, starting my base training today. Mild but a bit of a headwind on the first part of my run.
Yesterday I did my bit in remembering those that made the ultimate sacrifice to give us the lives we have today..I ran the Remembrance Day marathon in less than ideal conditions, huge puddles lots of thick treacle like mud and hidden tree roots. Unfortunately one of those tree roots got me and I overstretched my right calf 2/3 of the way through the second lap. I struggled on and finished in 3:29:30. There was a 2 min race pause at 11am which was an emotional tribute..
Im going to take a week off to recover and then get training back underway ready for my next event 16 December.
What's your event on the 16th December?
I’m still running but no where near marathon distance, usually between 7-10 miles. If I had got a ballot place for London then I would have had to step it up but I was quite relieved to miss out!
I’ve worked more than I intended to but it’s been enjoyable and I managed a good few days off to enjoy the amazing summer we had.
Cal I went to Turkey for 10 days in June and had some dental work done, a big white filling at the back for £40 compared to £180 here. Dentistry is very good out there all very modern, which is in complete contrast to the construction industry where health and safety is non existent and people wear flip flops on site and ladders are often lengths of wood nailed together!
Apparently a lot of British people now go on holiday to get their teeth fixed as it’s very reasonable in a lot of countries, maybe a triple trip abroad, holiday, race and densit!
10 easy miles today. Before I went out there was small showers lasting for about a minute so I thought it's not to bad. Set off and after 2 miles the showers turned to rain for about 15mins so got soaked however still enjoyed the run.
Some pics of the amazing Dorney facilities.
In my last job one of the guys I worked with had a villa in Turkey and he booked 3 weeks leave from work, had to pull a few strings to get that much time off, but he came back with new teeth, implants I think.
Iain - hopefully the calf will heal quickly. I've noted your SVN event.
steven - is it this weekend your first off road race?
Big G - another good race from you and a good time considering your snacking and walking the muddy bits. Lovely photos, it's a really impressive venue, and looks like you had no wind there to deal with. I found it strange when I was driving there on race morning to hit rush hour traffic, the negative of a weekday race. I would do one of their events again, really nice people and a good race atmosphere.
6 miles for me today, good running weather. RHR is normal today and I feel fine so hopefully that mild lurgy is history.
Saw the physio yesterday. He is most concerned about the sore shin although I'm mostly concerned about my hip as it took cortisone to calm it down last time. He did some stuff and told me to take some days off, so I'm benched until Friday, at least as far as running is concerned. I think because I had such a good weekend last weekend (with the parkrun PB and the strong 21) I thought I'd recovered fully from Chester, when I obviously hadn't. It was that rainy 12 miler in the dark that did for me. I need to be more sensible going forward.
Just letting you know that the committee didn't like the idea of taking on DMV, which is totally fair enough. The Club Secretary did say that Sibleco would expect to see all the profits so they could donate to charity, so there would be a lot of work for the club, with no reward really. There were other concerns too so it looks like the race is no more, which is a shame.
Sorry to hear that Cal
Committee last night and I picked up a role for a club time trial, which is happening at the start of December. Basically, we have a handicap time trial, and the event was in danger of not happening (which would have been annoying for the Club Champs, as it's the final event of the year!) so I've offered to sort out the handicap. Being based on people's recent shorter distance times it sounds straight forward to estimate everyone's finish time, but there's always a lot of light-hearted chat about if the handicap is right. The aim is for everyone to cross the finish line more or less together, but that never happens, and it won't happen this year either! It's just a bit of fun really, with a meal etc afterwards.
Big G - I'm not surprised about the DMV races, not as if it's just a 10km which the Trotters could take easily in their stride.
I haven't heard of that ultra runner, I do subscribe to an online ultra magazine but as with the other online ones, I'm not very good at actually reading them, they're backed up in my Inbox. I've only done a couple of UK ultras this year and they didn't have any of the national ultra runners there.
Good luck with the handicap, unfortunately they never work out for lots of reasons, but it's all good fun.
I know I've said before that I've had tough Pilates classes but today she really worked us like never before, we were all trashed. Felt sorry for a couple of beginners, I kept whispering to them 'it's not usually this hard'. But it was a good class, think I will ache tomorrow. Instructor put us into one stretch, class was focusing on glutes today, and she warned anyone with a hip replacement to be careful and then said that the rest of us would probably need a hip replacement after doing that stretch. I struggled with a fair bit of the class but amazingly I could do that stretch OK and without pain. Am resting the rest of today though.
On the plus side, my parkrun 50 shirt finally arrived. I'm on 61 currently so I will at least get some wear out of it before I get my 100!
Mammafox, hope a few days have cleared the air, it's easy to be disappointed when our races don't come together for whatever reason. Still a reasonable performance and sounds like a nice race after the start fiasco. Worth an email to the organisers as if they get enough sometimes it's enough to make them change.
Jugula sounds like a good excuse for a holiday going to Turkey to get your teeth done, may use that as an excuse if I need some work done.
Iain hope the calf is okay, well done on another marathon, had a couple of friends there one from my club Julia prob took a bit longer than you to finish but it was her 100th.
Big G another good performance well done, looks like you had a decent bit of weather for your run! Well done on picking up the role and good luck, can imagine you can't please everyone and there are always going to be arguments.
Shades, sounds like a good class today, I keep on saying it I need to do more core work but doesn't seem to be many classes to fit around my work.
Cal, good news for you is the training is done and you wont lose much fitness between now and 2nd Dec, worth listening to the physio (we pay them loads of money) and rest will do more good than an extra session this close to the marathon.
Went to the physio, seems then strength work has helped as my results were a lot better than when I went a couple of weeks ago. Mentioned the FP in the foot and she massage under my arch, it was tight and Physio mentioned shockwave treatment. Will still continue the core exercises along side it, but wont be able to run during the 3 treatments which need to be done 4-7 days between. If I get going straight away I could be okay for start of marathon training mid December but does mean missing my 5 miler, start of XC and hitting 50 parkruns before xmas but a small price to pay really as priority is races next year.
Sensible for us both to rest, it seems, although I'm still intending to do my parkruns. I mentioned to my physio that I have lest discomfort when I run fast and he said it was because my form was better and I was lighter on my feet at speed. Makes sense.
steven, Remember my 1st was actually completely different was in Red Rock Canyon desert in Las Vegas 40 degrees and 500m elevation, got lost 4 times ran 16 miles for a half marathon! Good luck, you'll love it!
Cal I asked my physio the same and she gave me the same response.
All booked in for shockwave treatment next 3 Tuesdays.
Big G-Another solid race from yourself,think your clubs a bit harsh saying you can't wear the old kit.
Rob/Cal-Hope you both get over your respective niggles.
No running since last Sunday for myself as I've just not felt good,and a really busy week in work.Went for my lactate test today,probably should have delayed it a week as still a bit sniffy.The data is quite interesting and good to hear I'm doing my long runs at about the right pace,could even go slightly faster,and my speed work(when I bother) is actually a bit fast,as it was a present I don't mind too much but probably wouldn't pay for it myself.
A woman in my Pilates class has a pair of Nikes the same colour and they are very bright, can't look at them for too long, probably need to wear shades! They are very striking.
Robert - that's a good visit to the physio and doing your S & C exercises has certainly paid off.
steven - well I hope the weather is kind to you and you enjoy your first off road race. I'm sure it'll be the first of many.
Ian - that's interesting feedback on your LT testing. Good to know that you're there or thereabouts with your long run pace, but I think your PB results reflect that anyway.
Rest day for me today, from running that is. I signed up today for my first ever circuit class. I've always avoided circuits as I don't want the high intensity stuff so this class was called Gentle Circuits and is for over 45's. There were only 3 there younger than me the rest were a good few years older than me, I think 12 of us altogether. Only 45 minutes so I thought 'how hard can it be'