Howdy, Stranger!
Categories
Options
P&D Spring Marathon 2021
The materials in this website are in no way intended to replace the professional medical care, advice, diagnosis or treatment of a doctor, qualified personal trainer, therapist, dietitian or nutritionist Runners's World, Part of the Hearst UK well-being network © Copyright 2017
Comments
The parkrun itself is quite notorious for being hilly and it's all trail (grass and dirt path...some grass is quite long and some of the dirt is rooty) so it wasn't going to be a fast one.
I walked a mile there from the nearest station (which made me a little nervous as there's no pavement) then dumped my bag and went for a warm up. I managed to get lost during this so had to stop and ask some golfers to point me back to the visitor centre, and I only just made while the RD was wrapping up his speech. Not the best start!
The park is beautiful - lots of wildflowers and lovely carved wood sculptures - and I could smell the lavender. That made up for the fact it was a bit of a slog - I got through the first lap but faded on the second. It was warmer and muggier than I expected and I regretted wearing my parkrun t-shirt instead of a vest. I was a bit disappointed to be over half an hour (30:30) - I'd expected to do around 29. But never mind...another parkrun ticked off and it was beautiful.
Minimal (wtfp) 6m yday, legs felt ok but thought i should give myself an easier day. Few too many frothies and late night watching the triathlon, but 21m done today in an easy time on feet style. Because i did my long run on sunday last weekend that gives me an inflated 92m for the week. 6 weeks til Brighton.
Solid training SQ - great to have a first 20 in and a very impressive track session too. I see you backed that long run up with another one.
Must have a closer look at those BAC sessions TR. Good long run from you too - frothies, late night and easy pace sound like a sensible combination.
Bit of a mixed bag this week (cut-back). Ran a GA run too fast on Wednesday and struggled on the last couple of the 10 x strides at the end. It was a pretty warm day but I didn't notice how warm it was until then. Yesterday's recovery was pretty sluggish - generally tired and the high humidity and warmth didn't help. By contrast I did this week's longest run (12.5 miles) today rather than tomorrow and again felt too fresh i.e. ran too fast. Will be interesting to see if how tired I am on tomorrow's recovery and on Monday's LT.
3 mths to go for me until mara day yet.
Have a decent weekend everybody.
Cal - good news from the doc, sounds like a challenging PR / conditions, plenty of time to chip away at those times.
Hazel - such a balancing act between absorbing the work/miles and over doing it but it sounds like you are listening to the feedback so crack on.
TR - big week however you cut it up, 6 weeks doesn't sound long.
Not so much of a report as more a historical record coming in, apologies.
Waiting 2 years for this event, I was determind to give a good account of myself.......so I ran a lumpy (20,000ft) 100 miler 2 weeks before.
Sub-optimal preparations continued when my car died on the hard shoulder of the M6 on the way up to the Lakes the day before the event. Stood watching lorries roll past I recalled some of the adversity people had posted about on FB in getting to the event, a failed ignition coil pack wasn't one of them. Breakdown offered a hire car so a good few hours later I was on my way again.
So, via an unscheduled Travelodge, I arrived at the event camping field nice and early Friday morning for a 6pm start. A bag of nerves, registration and kit check passed smoothly leaving plenty of time to pack the rest vest and eat whilst baking under a cloudless sky.
Coniston to Seathwaite 7m 2162ft
After the briefing, the nerves ratcheted up a couple of notches and suddenly it was time to go. It was good to finally direct the nervous energy into some running although a steep incline within a few hundred metres brought about some walking. Despite a controlled effort, I was soon drenched in sweat. The heat didnt recede despite climbing, indeed, it wouldn't recede for the whole race. Carefully nursing my quads, I descended to Seathwaite, just pausing for some fluids.
Seathwaite to Boot 7m 1263ft
The next section had less climbing but experience told me Grassguards was always a bog, I was ready for it this time in my waterproof socks. Only it was bone dry and I could feel the sweat building up within my socks. Boot was soon reached at mile 19 for more fluids, I think I was still nibbling what I carrying at this stage.
Boot to Wasdale Head 5.4m 974ft
The next stage to Wasdale Head is one of my favourites. Fairly benign, for me its a race to see how far I can get before the head torch comes out. Down to the road this time which was a sans head torch PB. Just about to enter the check point, out of the darkness came a hey Macca, great to see AWC. More fluids and some sarnies were downed from Wasdale for the big climb up to Black Sail Pass.
Wasdale Head to Buttermere 6.9m 2336ft
At the top of the climb a chap behind me thanked me for slowing him down, I think he meant pacing him, back handed compliment of the year ! The descent over rocks felt slower than the climb up but not to worry, another ascent soon appeared. Going over the top I seemed to be leading a small group and I recall someone saying “are we confident we are going the right way”, I wasn't and I wouldn't follow me if I were you but an indistinct path soon turned into another definite path albeit with a few rock scrambles. Buttermere soon reached at 26 miles for a change of socks.
Buttermere to Braithwaite 6.5m 1880ft
The next section to Braithwaite is a steady but deceptive climb with a drop at the end. Waiting for me at the end was a bowl of rice pudding and a milkshake, both sucked out of their recepticles as gravity wasn't working fast enough. I passed AWC on leaving the checkpoint and headed off as the sun slowly rose on my way to Blencathra.
Braithwaite to Blencathra 8.5m 1568ft
A lot of people dont like this section as there is 2 or 3 miles alongside the A66 but its flat so I try to make the most of it.
Blencathra to Dockray 7.7m 1368ft
Blencathra was reached shortly after sun rise, 5.40am to the sight of a checkpoint of face painted 1970s rockers, think Kiss, brilliant. A piece of buttered toast and a party bag of sweets hit the spot and set me off on the next flat section feeling good. I think the piece of toast must have carried me all the way to Dockray at mile 49 and from there its a short drop to breath taking views of Ullswater. Good job Ullswater looked so good as it would be in and out of sight for the next 7 or 8 hrs.
Dockray to Dalemain 10.1m 1214ft
The main aid station at Dalemain at mile 59 was reached just before 10am, just under 16hrs on the race clock, 90mins or so before the 50 runners would be heading off. Another change of socks from my drop bag and more food hoovered up, I felt I was here a bit longer than intended but marched out for Pooley Bridge, again another favourite, reminding me of a family holiday and plenty of encouragement from people milling around the village.
Dalemain to Howtown 7.1m 965ft
Howtown to Mardale Head 9.4m 2510ft
It was warming up nicely again, just in time for a refuel at Howtown before the climb of Fusedale to the highest point on the course. Fusedale was summited steadily, a passing walker promised there was a nice cool breeze on the top but I didn't feel it. It was on the descent here and around Haweswater that the leading 50 runners soon started to pass. To a man and woman the encouragement they gave was brilliant, humbling even. It was very timely as the crawl around the reservoir to Mardale Head seemed never ending.
Mardale Head to Kentmere 6.5m 1677ft
The CP was eventually reached where more volunteers enfused their energy for the sharp climb up to Gatescarth Pass, again pulled along by the passing 50ers. There is a steady mile or two downhill on the next section which I felt should be run but I didn't have the strength or confidence to lift my feet over the many rocks so tried to keep up a decent walking pace. From here on in the biggest climbs are behind, bar one last sting in the tail.
Kentmer to Ambleside 7.3m 1975ft
Kentmere was reached and despite the smoothies looking good, I didn't trust my stomache so went for pasta instead. This fuelled me up the next rock strewn climb and it was a case of trying to run as much of the next downhill as my now complaining quads would let me, not an awful lot to be honest. It was somewhere along here, give or take a few hours, that a passing runner shouted “ bangin' epic”, a moment and lift I'll never forget, soon followed by my next door tent neighbour with similar positivity. In fact, all the way to the end I was filled with high octane fuel from passing runners.
Ambleside was something else. I was worried about taking a wrong turn in front of the cheering crowds and making an a*** of myself, but no fear, I just followed the cheers, someone even stopped the traffic at a road crossing. It was all a bit overwhelming in truth but I managed to hide my quivering lip behind a face wearing 95 miles, I think.
Ambleside to Chapel Stile 5.6m 768ft.
Again, another benign section with a few miles of flat good running along Elterwater that I felt I made the most of, Strava may well say differently. Chaple Stile reached in daylight, a first for me. A litre of coke consumed, I was on my way.
Chapel Stile to Tilberthwaite 6.5m 1270ft
I reached the end of Great Langdale before headtorch was required. A bit more rock scambling around Blea Tarn, a decent road descent then a march to the last checkpoint, Tilberthwaite.
Tilberthwaite to Coniston 3.5m 928ft
I had intended to march through here but I spied a volunteer making cheese toasties and my hither too race face was pulled off as I drooled over the chimnea. AWC appeared out of the dark and I think the sight of me devouring a cheese toastie was too much for him to bear, he had to get one himself. We summited the last cheeky climb together but lost each other somewhere on the way up. I have nightmares about coming down the wrong side of the Coniston fells and having to climb back up them so tagged onto a few runners ahead who seemed to know the way through the pretty featureless landscape in the dark. We finally started descending and on seeing I had 20 mins or so to dip under 31 hrs something clicked. My quads eased up, legs felt light and I felt the best of the whole race. A couple of 50 runners appeared out of nowhere like they had been placed there at that exact time to see me to the finish, I didn't want it to end.
Everthing, everywhere ends. After 30hrs 51mins, I was under the same gantry from where it all started. A marshal escorts you to the tent. I should know what happens next , I often get a lump in the throat at the end of a 100 but here, with my name being announced and the assembled spectators cheering, memories came flooding back, I lost it. This race has strong associations with my mum.
Brief summary, course pb, still chasing that sub 30hrs, very hot but with the travel, camping and running in the Lakes this is much more than just a race, I love it.
Cracking result from you too AWC - not entirely surprised you were so close to each other given recent results but great that you were able to share the experience during & afterwards. It’s hard to truly convey to those who haven’t experienced the terrain what you’ve been through.
Nice to hear parkrunning tales again Cal & great that you’ve had the all clear.
Hope you escape the bench soon NE
Nice training SQ, TR, Kate & Hazel
I’ve been AWOL enjoying the summer in Cornwall, Somerset, Devon & Snowdonia today. I’ve maintained my RED21 throughout in spite of the heat combined with some epic partying. I ran my 1st Old Showfields (Frome) ParkRun last week coming 7th with 19:29 which I was very pleased with. This week I missed it to do the Welsh 3000s in Snowdonia. Including the climb up Snowdon & the descent off Foel Fras it was 34 M with almost 13,000’ of climbing on scree, wet boulders, knife edge arêtes & occasional paths in thick clag above about 7 or 800m
The trips were pretty full on...hike up to wherever to look at glacial scenery then spend the evening writing it up. The weather was pretty awful the first time up to the lakes and the day we did Blencathra, there was still packed snow on the ground. As I was about halfway up, I lost my footing and started sliding down. I couldn't get my feet in no matter how I tried. Fortunately the very last boy in the line managed to grab hold of me and stop my rapid descent. I have no idea what would have happened if he hadn't but I have little doubt he saved me from injury (if not worse). I definitely owe him.
My plan for today was 16 miles (mostly flat since I ran hills yesterday, so I decided on a Thames/Wandle combo) but it didn't get off to the best start as I slept longer than intended and had to rush to get out by 6am, so skipped my warm-up which is never a great idea.
I felt very tired and ploddy and figured I'd shake it off during the run, but I never seemed to make it out of first gear and most of my miles were over 11 minutes. I persisted, telling myself that if I could do 16 while feeling like this, it'd be good practise for my marathon.
Most of the route was tried and tested, but I'd decided to check out a park I hadn't been to before just after Morden Hall Park. Unfortunately, I got a bit lost trying to find it and ended up on an industrial estate. I saw trees and figured it was the park but it was actually the back of one of the Wandle sections I usually run through, so stopped to read a map there and get my bearings. I found my way back to Mitcham but it meant an extra mile so in the end I did 17 (though that included a minute or two trying to figure out where the hell I was).
On the one hand I'm happy I got 17 in the bank, but on the other, I am not exactly filled with confidence. The last two times I've done October marathons I've been banging out 20s by August, and at a faster pace than I could manage today. I am way behind where I should be and it's not like I can catch up in September as I have a full race schedule (two half marathons and two 10Ks). I could definitely use some advice on how to proceed.
Macca - cracking effort, cracking report. Not surprised you were a bit emotional at the end, good to connect with your mums memory. I like to think that i dont need much inspiration to get me out the door, but you certainly inspire me to get out there at times.
Jools - i wandered if you were on yr travels, sounds good. Well done on the streak too.
Cal - put some miles before and after some of those races to get up to 20m. Ive done something like 4m, hm, 3m before and even 5m, 10k, 9m before. Or do a long run midweek. You can even do both for a few weeks to get extra long runs in ?
Turbo intervals here today, was pretty tired so a bit of an underperform.
Cal, I’d agree with some of the advice. Choose to race some of the races all out, with easy miles around, and then use the others as MP testers with plenty miles before. That is, of course, if the marathon is your priority.
First 70M week in a long time, bolstered by a few very easy recovery doubles (some buggy, all 9m/m+), but also a second 20M of the campaign. Calves still very stiff at this point, and the entirety of the water cycle seemed to unleash itself upon me. So never going to be fast. 7:30 average even including 3 x 15 min steadier efforts. Definitely character building!
Nice one SQ, plenty of time for more 20s yet too.
12m run home tonight.
Jools - cracking photos but you would never find me going up anything like that !
Cal - Sounds like my school trips Welsh Borders / Eskdale - I do wonder how more kids didn't get into trouble when I look back at close shaves and I'm risk adverse. Agree with the others, tag a few miles onto the half and try to run at MP, and treat the 10k as speed work outs. Coming back from injury I'd be inclined to bank a decent marathon without worrying too much about the time, easier said than done though.
Hazel - physically I felt relatively ok afterwards, more mentally tired. Maybe the heat stopped me from digging to deep into a hole. I carried powdered tailwind with me (surprising how bulky it gets with a few measures) and I went for flapjack type food wherever I could find it. I hate to think how much coke I must have downed.
SQ - good to step up the mileage with some easy runs, the 1st 20 always feels the hardest.
TR - thanks. I guess I'm lucky in that 99% of the time its no effort to get out the door, 12m on a Monday feels like a long way away for me, well done.
43miles off 6 days felt about right last week. Will take each day as it comes this week.
Macca, there's no way teachers now could do the sort of trips we did at school, that's for sure. When I was teaching, there were all sorts of risk assessments to fill out - it was verging on silly. There was a small playground next to the swimming pool where I used to take the kids and I wasn't allowed to let them play while they waited for the minibus due to not having a risk assessment for the swings and whatnot. Idiotic.
7 miles today - a very ploddy 6 recovery and then another mile with some strides in it because I need my legs to wake the hell up for tomorrow.
Another BAC track session today. 3.5M jog there and back. Main set of 10 x 1200 (converted from 10 x 5 mins), 200 jogs and 400 after the fifth. Marathon pace and a slight progression each time to tempo.
5:05, 5:05, 4:55, 4:56, 4:54 / 4:48, 4:45, 4:44, 4:44, 4:41
Great session and really pleased with the progression. A controlled session, that never quite hit 6m/m, but certainly working by the end. Enjoying the precision that track allows. And also the feeling of getting fit!
All in, 16.4M at 6:46s, although this is with some GPS flattery. Adios again. Concrete calves due tomorrow.
Lovely to see a dad coaching his two children for sprinting and hurdles. Such a positive and friendly influence to them.
Cal - hope it goes well tomorrow, theres training gains to be had, so kick it hard and move on.
SQ - thats another good session there. I thought i didnt recognise 10 x 1200, but as you say its the 10x5min. Good stuff. Should have a bit more of a sub3 buffer than at Shepperdine.
8m eaay commute this morning, pretty tired and achey, but ive had a few bigger weeks. The turbo also hammers my legs on Sundays.
12m run home today
SQ - good progression and good overall pace. I think 10 reps might psych me out.
TR - consistent mileage as always. I’m in for London but it’s the week after Spartathlon so I’ll just be getting round I expect. Tripartite negotiations are ongoing between Macron/BJ and the SPO but all being well I hope to be at UTMB in 3 weeks, and maybe a local 10k this weekend. 5x1k today at 10k pace today in prep.
I hope you get to UTMB, Macca - are you doing the main event or one of the others?
Went out for a very slow 3 mile recovery this morning as I needed the fresh air, then took it easy for the rest of the day.
The race (Wimbledon Trail Race race 2) was all round better than the last one, largely due to it being 7 degrees cooler. However, thanks to all the recent rain it was muddier, unavoidably so in places. My first two miles were slower than the last race for that reason, plus some congestion after the start (that and I still really suck at coming down the Alps - the lumpy rocky hills) but after that I was able to let loose a bit and managed to reel in quite a few people on the way back. After a disappointing 11:40 for the technical and muddy mile 2, I managed a much more satisfactory 9:11 for the third mile. Mile 4 features the toast rack and in the last race I was so drained by the heat and humidity that I walked much of it, but this time I got up it without stopping and passed three people while doing so. 10:40 for that one but it has 40m climb and I wasn't really gunning it. I did, however, gun the last mile and managed 8:35 for that which is my old HMP. I started feeling a bit sick (a combination of effort and acid reflux) but still got past a few people, including one woman right at the finish, after which I had a good dry heave. I'm a little annoyed I didn't quite get under 50 minutes (Garmin time was 50:10), largely due to the muddy bits, but I was happy with how strong I felt thereafter and with the pace of the last mile. I think it's safe to say that sky races are not in my future, though.
Well done cal, good gains to be had.
Hazel - well done on the LT, its the effort that counts but you did well. That splat is like my kit after turbo time.
8m easy run in this morning
I've been ticking off the sessions, being away last week meant more hills than normal and I didn't get the sessions in quite the order recommended and ended up swapping the mp miles for ga as the legs were not going there! We'd also done quite a lot of biking and walking throughout the week. I also had the 5 @LT this week, was tough, the effort was there but the pace wasn't what it should have been but it was much hotter than I'd realised.
One of my clubmates caught me at the finish, about to go past the lady with 155. (I actually apologised to her as I went past.
Sounds like you balanced things well on holiday, Kate. A few swaps and adaptations are all part of it. Just keep the ball rolling.
Great snap, Cal. Sorry for the ongoing investigations.
Well done on the LT, Hazel. What is your target?
Absolutely loved your tripartite negotiations, Macca 😆. Excited for you to head to UTMB again.
An afternoon at the cricket planned today. As I’m not great at sitting down for prolonged periods, running there seemed the best option. Cheltenham - Worcester, 20.5M at 7:07 average.
A one way run is always at the mercy of the wind and did well for the first half with a nice tailwind. This then turned when I did, but not to my favour. So a tough 3 x 3M at marathon effort into the headwinds.
Good workout and nice to slot a third 20. Will seek to progress to 22 soon.
Also booked some accom for London. Only keen for refundable options!