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Moraghan Training - Stevie G
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On August 11th 2002, I was informed that during a race (which I won) Gordon Ramsay helped himself to one of the drinks laid out for the competitors.
Clearly it was an act of such audacity, that the memory of it has caused me sleepless nights ever since.
Well, it really is raining. I won't be going out working. Over 30 years back I used to have a job which involved repairing mains electric cables. They (joints) used to blow up after hot dry summers once the rain started. Unfortunately this often took until mid winter.
Fixing a blown joint in the depths of a sleety winters night is about as close to hell as I was prepared to get. I didn't last long doing that.
I might still go for a run. The rainwater is warm (ish). The lightning might be a factor though.
🙂
Quick skim over the last couple of pages. Everyone's too hot and Ric is laying out stories of days gone by. Par for the course
Nice session Pete.
Getting decent miles in - did 10.5 on Wednesday morning @ about 7:20/mile, 4 yesterday @ 7:45/mile then some gym work (don't feel as stiff today as I did last week after the gym work, so that's good news) and then 9 today with the last 6 @ 6:41-6:45/mile. Long run put off until Sunday as I'm going out with a mate for a hilly 15 miler. Longest run since the marathon last year I think!!
The weather's been a bit shit here the past few days. I think Summer may be officially over.
Good sessions CC.
When I did my 'no training' marathon I ended up running alongside Ramsay. He'd come past when I was walking and I'd overtake him with anything resembling running. It was embarrassing to be in such company.
Pretty wet this morning, return commute to work @ 6:50, I was supposed to inject some LT sections but I only managed 1 mile a 6mm.
Is anyone worse? I think as a person he is pretty much OK, seems to have a nice wife and 4 kids so can't be a complete arsehole in his private life, but publicly he just courts celebrity in the worse sense. A lot of people have an aim of making the Ironman finals in Hawaii and you have to post a fast time to get there, and he has appeared a few times and certainly has not got a valid time.
1hr 20 to drive the 10miles to work today! One of the few times where the old "i could have run it quicker" exaggeration would have actually been 100% comfortably done.
Do grassy parkruns often get called off when swamped by the way? Presume the Rye will be obliterated?
Or do they just re-measure around it?
Read about Tring, only 1 lap which has to be quite unique for a parkrun.
"steep" first 1km though!
Depends SG. If the winter swamping is a regular thing there might be an alternative course. Reading parkrun can be underwater for weeks at a time, so it moves elsewhere. If it's more an occasional thing, I suspect they just make the best of it. Nothing wrong with mud.
Good training all.
just saw a pic of the Rye and it is basically a river
I ran through the subway/underpass thing into maidenhead high street and it was nearly knee deep. I got some funny looks but it was fun.
On my run home down the A4 last night I overtook hundreds of cars. I reckon I would have beaten any car doing the same 8.5 mile trip.
Good stuff all - good celeb stuff PMJ, running Reg and CC82.
Took 3 hours to get to work. Absolute monsoon down to the station - heaviest rain I've seen in Leighton for the 12 years I've lived there. Left 7 ish and it was still hammering down by 8.30. Train delayed, changed at Watford etc..
Good session last night - 12 x 400, in 3 sets of 4. Each set had 400 with 60 secs recovery, 400 with 45 and a 400 with 30. 2 mins recovery between the sets. Think it was 70,69,69,68 - 69,68,67,67 - 70,67,67,62. Felt quite smug as everyone was bolloxed and I felt quite good, one of those nights I suppose! We all felt the first rep of each set was the hardest, presume something to do with your heart rate dropping?
SG; there's quite a few 1 lappers. Bushy, Richmond, Black, Northala Fields, Gunnersbury off the top of my head.
Reading decamps to Dinton Pastures at the first signs of serious rain (so maybe now!) and then doesn't return until what seems like about March/April time. Dinton always feels really hard work and I have never run a good time there, but not sure why as the surface is ok and the course flat.
Pleasant sunshine in north east Fife today. St Andrews parkrun was cancelled once this winter when the path was too icy.
The skies in Aberdeenshire have turned (partly) blue again, maybe not quite time to give up hope on the Summer just yet.
SC - what's with the fecking 62 final 400m?? There's just no need to be able to run that fast, particularly at the end of a tough (on paper) session!
Abandoned my bike ride to work this morning and drive - as far as I can remember, that's the first time I've ever let the weather make me drive! I was also knackered after the thunder and rain kept me awake most of the night. Given the bloody idiots I shared the road with though, it would have been safer on the bike - nearly got wiped out twice in head-ons by people overtaking at high speed in the middle of the road, despite it being dark, raining torrentially and there being loads of standing water to avoid! Madness!
Cracking session Simon!
I've run the Rye when its been flooded SG - my slowest parkrun ever! Part of the reason they change the route is to stop damage to the park itself. Generally they will have an alternative course already up there sleeves, but need to be flexible. Surprised your folks' house isn't underwater looking at photos along that part of HW.....
They always get treated to a right old slurry of mud from the woods nearby, but never any risk of flooding luckily.
could be fun having a right old trudge round a swampy course, but after that ridiculous 18.47 dodgy adjusted time, i don't want to worsen my all time 5k record anymore!
Simon, nice one. Is there a specific plan to the breaks within the 12x400? How on earth are the 400s off 30secs coming out quicker than with 60 and 45?!
A couple of days in Germany with work. Horrendously hot and couldn't sleep because of the heat.
A tad chilly now I'm back home. 2 rest days W & Th and off out on the bike shortly. Ramsey is a cockwomble.
A few weeks ago Pete had me exclaiming at his comment about picking which parkrun literally at the last minute.
I'm going to wake up and do the exact same thing. 3 or 4 in mind. Let's see what the weather is like to see what level of trip I wanna make!
Iron, you big travel man you! Rock n roll. Will have to do your wife's course at some stage too..
Six miles in the rain this morning. Started out feeling duff with 8 min/ml plus fare but warmed up into low 7's.
Had been awake since 4 am with the rain overflowing the gutters. However, the ground is ok due to the drainage system I built earlier in the year.
🙂
Anyway, 12 miler at about 6.30 tomorrow then off to Manchester for footie
Easy spin this morning on the bike after volunteering at parkrun.
I like the Dinton course Pete. It does feel hard but it is generally fast.
Parkrun tourism continued today, as I strive to rack up 20 different ones to get into the parkrun "most different courses" table, and get the sacred acceptance to the parkrun tourism fb page.
Picked Maidenhead for a couple of reasons. It's the second closest, and thus closest I haven't done yet, and was pretty sure it'd be flat, as it's at the same venue as the summer 5k series.
Now, it's the same venue, but they've skillfully managed to trim the fastest sections off, the initial track/flat grass first 1.2ish miles, and the pure flat pavement/flat grass/track ending.
Mission today, was as always, run it as hard as it comes, and after recent expeditions, try and get less drama into the mixer.
Less of a pathetic warm up this week, 2 1/3miles or so, that was enough. Recognised a Burnham jogger called Claire, who I remember racing in the summer series a whole 10 years ago now. Vividly remember having to launder my breeks in the last 1/4mile of a couple of races to narrowly beat her in days gone by. She told me about the course layout, and the "hill", a short but very steep job she told me.
Had a quick little tog around, see what we're dealing with, found something that was about 20metres long but barely a hill, but then at pootle pace, they never do seem to be do they. By lap 2 i'd expect it'd feel something!
Anyway, bigger scene at Maidenhead than South Oxhey and Gadesbridge, but perhaps half as big as Wycombe, so perhaps 220 or so.
Scoured the landscape. Saw some teen in all the gear doing some warm up drills. Everyone knows people who do drills pre race are either blaggers or legends. Then wandered around watching quite a few people do that sort of odd pseudo stretching, where what they're doing isn't even close to doing a job, and even if it was it'd be stretching a cold muscle. It's a sort of mix of nervous anticipation and a "'ll give the impression I know what to do"
For all this "I know better" talk, I'd done no strides, and was strolling round in a tiny t shirt getting cold, wondering why on earth i'd interrupted a gorgeous sleep to come and monster round a nature reserve.
Saw an ex work colleague, lovely girl in all senses, and met her suave, now husband. He may have the hottie, but can he do a mid 17 parkrun? Is probably a question he's never even worried about for a second
Erm, anyway. Humorous (for once) race director gave a nice speech. Ex clubmate agreed I probably shouldn't mention my tourism, being from a whopping 10miles down the road, and it was almost that dreaded time of getting on with it.
One of the worst set offs ever, not quite sure what he was going to set us off on... go? Ready, go? Ready, steady go? Ready, steady, eat your ready brek go? But we were off.
Monstered off, and we're in the lead. You have about 300-400metres on a path, avoid the massive huge bush in the middle of the field, and look at what is the most insane hairpin ever, as you have to decelerate to about 95% of the top speed to go round. Must be real fun in the midpack! especially this little into the race!
Anyway, another 40metres, and we have another really tight left hand turn, again decelerate like a bastard, and try not to slip on the dodgy muddy awkward bend.
We're winning still, and we're having this today, unless anyone catches up, then my racing heart being the size of a gnat's gnidger will kick in.
Anyway, a long straight, past some cheering kids, up to geezer, and we're taking a right hand turn round the back of the nature reserve.
Have run this way many a time In the 5k series, but for the first time ever, noticed that there's a blimming massive river next to it! Maybe it's because normally I've been caught by people by that stage whereas today i'm looking for a
Parkrun tourism continued today, as I strive to rack up 20 different ones to get into the parkrun "most different courses" table, and get the sacred acceptance to the parkrun tourism fb page.
Picked Maidenhead for a couple of reasons. It's the second closest, and thus closest I haven't done yet, and was pretty sure it'd be flat, as it's at the same venue as the summer 5k series.
Now, it's the same venue, but they've skillfully managed to trim the fastest sections off, the initial track/flat grass first 1.2ish miles, and the pure flat pavement/flat grass/track ending.
Mission today, was as always, run it as hard as it comes, and after recent expeditions, try and get less drama into the mixer.
Less of a pathetic warm up this week, 2 1/3miles or so, that was enough. Recognised a Burnham jogger called Claire, who I remember racing in the summer series a whole 10 years ago now. Vividly remember having to launder my breeks in the last 1/4mile of a couple of races to narrowly beat her in days gone by. She told me about the course layout, and the "hill", a short but very steep job she told me.
Had a quick little tog around, see what we're dealing with, found something that was about 20metres long but barely a hill, but then at pootle pace, they never do seem to be do they. By lap 2 i'd expect it'd feel something!
Anyway, bigger scene at Maidenhead than South Oxhey and Gadesbridge, but perhaps half as big as Wycombe, so perhaps 220 or so.
Scoured the landscape. Saw some teen in all the gear doing some warm up drills. Everyone knows people who do drills pre race are either blaggers or legends. Then wandered around watching quite a few people do that sort of odd pseudo stretching, where what they're doing isn't even close to doing a job, and even if it was it'd be stretching a cold muscle. It's a sort of mix of nervous anticipation and a "'ll give the impression I know what to do"
For all this "I know better" talk, I'd done no strides, and was strolling round in a tiny t shirt getting cold, wondering why on earth i'd interrupted a gorgeous sleep to come and monster round a nature reserve.
Saw an ex work colleague, lovely girl in all senses, and met her suave, now husband. He may have the hottie, but can he do a mid 17 parkrun? Is probably a question he's never even worried about for a second
Erm, anyway. Humorous (for once) race director gave a nice speech. Ex clubmate agreed I probably shouldn't mention my tourism, being from a whopping 10miles down the road, and it was almost that dreaded time of getting on with it.
One of the worst set offs ever, not quite sure what he was going to set us off on... go? Ready, go? Ready, steady go? Ready, steady, eat your ready brek go? But we were off.
Monstered off, and we're in the lead. You have about 300-400metres on a path, avoid the massive huge bush in the middle of the field, and look at what is the most insane hairpin ever, as you have to decelerate to about 95% of the top speed to go round. Must be real fun in the midpack! especially this little into the race!
Anyway, another 40metres, and we have another really tight left hand turn, again decelerate like a bastard, and try not to slip on the dodgy muddy awkward bend.
We're winning still, and we're having this today, unless anyone catches up, then my racing heart being the size of a gnat's gnidger will kick in.
Anyway, a long straight, past some cheering kids, up to geezer, and we're taking a right hand turn round the back of the nature reserve.
Have run this way many a time In the 5k series, but for the first time ever, noticed that there's a blimming massive river next to it! Maybe it's because normally I've been caught by people by that stage whereas today i'm
looking for anything to deflect the breathing/effort.
Another long straight, with quite a few dodgy ruts to get over, will remember this for lap two when there might be some lap 1 peeps to negotiate. Off the loop, up this 10metre "hill", get some monster revving up from some up for it marshall, and oh dam, we're doing the same lap again.
The whole second loop, I can swear I can hear angry footsteps, but on hearing no further advice/claps/calls from marshalls after I go past, I realise it's my only my own clodhop feet!
Occasional looks at the watch, and i'm not exactly smashing it, 5.50s, 6s, 6.20 at one place, all over the shop. But i'm leading, and like Dachs has never said "Winning be the ting". Tell myself to remember Oxhey, where i'd presumed a monster start, and incredibly bootleg standard of average winning times meant i'd already won it by mile 2, and strived to push on.
Passing tonneloads of back markers, who have ignored the keep to the left mantra. I forget all rules of overtaking, as sometimes I'm left, other times middle, then right, taking a few scrapes off bushes as we go. Am re-assuring myself that anyone behind will really have to be smashing themselves to make it up now, and get through the people!
Up the tiny hill again, passing people, which wasn't a fast affair, and we're into the run in. Just get round the massive hedge, and you can look back, I tell myself.
One look back, 100metres to go, no one behind, bootiful feeling running in for a 1st.
Obligatory taking of ages to dig the barcode out, and 2nd and 3rd steam in, perhaps 20-30secs behind.
17.38 today, which will do. Thought it'd be quicker than Wycombe, but it's not I don't think now. It is turning out that Wycombe aint too slow in the scheme of things!.
Next up will definitely be a flat pavement affair. Who wants come with next week?
5hours or so on, and I feel a little weary, hot hands etc. I'm sure it wasn't like this in the glory days
Good 1st SG, becoming a habit!
Got one myself today at Osterley which turned out to be my surprise destination
Mixed course; some tarmac, some hard mud, some grass and a twisty bit through the woods. Lovely location by the Stately Home and you wouldn't know you were so near Heathrow. Strange feeling as only one guy went with me from the start and I dropped him after 500m and from then a solo run. Usual fast 1st k in 3'31 then all in the low/mid 3'40's except the 4th which was a poor 3'55. Ended up 18'39 which is a more satisfying result than last week's Battersea 10k. I'd be up for your fast course meet up SG if its not too much of a trek.
I do drills before a race.
I don't think I'm an actual legend.
The 'hill' sounds a bit like St Andrews, where it's locally known as 'the hill that's no even a hill' on account of disagreement between different factions. I think it is an incline, but becomes a hill on the third lap.
You are indeed a legend Lit.
Pete, I'm getting a feeling for Fulham. You might well have been the one who first mentioned it!
Not into central London requiring a real monster of a trip, and it'll get Phil interested for sure.
Checking the results today, think there were about 7 or 8 under about 17.10.
Epic reporting. I'm sure it took longer to read than 17:38. Having done the Maidenhead course I know all of those corners and lumps.A good result; you;ll be a parkrun face before you know it.
Nicely done Pete too. I'd seen recently there was a park at Osterley but was unaware there was a matching parkrun.
He won't be a face if he goes to a different one every week.
Nice PR FFs chaps.
Bit tired myself, also have a sore knee. I did manage 7 miles though. Went out to a hill I like. I have the CR and another local chap has been trying to beat it but fell a few seconds shy last time. I felt duty bound to go and make it a bit tougher to beat. Which I did. Legs feel a bit shot.
Good thinking on the PR meet up SG, go and do the most convenient one and then suggest one that's a pain in the arse to go to
Wouldn't be clever to invite a thread of fasties to one I could win would it
But you're right on the spreading across load of different races. Aint the best plan if I aim to build something up with a local hotty.
Oh will you be here next week? Nah, i'll never be here again...see ya later