Completed the London Marathon on Sunday and am now back home and have had time to reflect. The whole event was great. We went down to London as a family a few days before hand and made it into a mini family holiday; so we've done the Natural Histrory Museum, Hampton Court, and two days at Legoland. All of which were great, the kids had a wonderful time. We stayed at friends for few nights but moved onto to Dartford Hilton the night before the race. This was relatively close to the start, just a 20 min train journey up to Blackheath. Despite the number of runners staying at the hotel they insisted on starting breakfast at 7:30, which was too late for us. The hotel management agreed to provide a packed breakfast to take away and I also ordered room service. The room service at a horrific £15 consisted of the smallest bowl of muesli I'll ever have the misfortune of seeing and what I think was reheated toast. The takeaway was even worse an apple, an orange and a ham sandwich on white bread. I set off therefore starving, I bought a banana on the way and gorged myself on various energy bars I had in my kit bag. I kept an eye out for fellow Eden Runners and was delighted to see Alan Marshall waving at me in the GFA waiting area, we had a quick chat and were joined by Steve Angus from Border Harriers, everybody wished each other luck and soon enough we were called to enter our pens. I had long since abandoned hope of going sub 2:50, I'm just not quick enough at the moment but was keen to go under 2:55.
The race was pretty straight forward, all the things people say about it are true. The crowds were amazing. The cheering was incredible at times, the atmosphere is way beyond any event I have done including the only other huge event I have taken part in, the Great North Run. I will never forget the screaming and cheering at Greenwich in particular where the cramped streets seem to amplify the crowds enthusiasm to a crescendo. I instinctively felt a grin come to my face and the hairs on my neck stand up.
The hardest part for me was the south of the river, so much of the course takes place on the north bank that I was desperate to get across Tower Bridge and feel that I was making progress.
John Bridge picked me out from the crowds and gave me a cheer which gave me a massive boost over the next few miles. I passed Steve Angus at about 14 or 15 miles I think, he was struggling and trying to stretch something, I gave him a pat on the back and an hopefully encouraging shout, but I didn't see him again I hope he got round OK.
I had completed the first half in 1:24 and felt reasonably comfortable even though it was now getting hot.
I passed my family; cheering wife and children, at parliament about a mile from the finish and after waving I put on a bit of a spurt for the finish, not daring to look at my Garmin, I knew 2:55 was close. I swept up the last couple of hundred yards passing people and crossed the line delighted and relieved to have finished in 2hrs 54 mins 41 seconds. A sub 2: 50 will have to wait, I think I can get there but not this time next year perhaps.
I will definitely do it again next year and it should be extra special in Olympic year.
Wednesday, 20 April 2011
Wednesday, 13 April 2011
Black Toes and Lager
Off to London in the morning packing my kit already am sure I will forget something. I am looking forward to afterwards a nice pint of ice cold lager, fantasising already. The preparation has gone pretty well. I had a stiff calf and I must thank Stu for recommending Ray Pescod for some remedial massage because it worked like magic. I was slightly sceptical I thought it was almost akin to voodoo, but I am now a convert. I raced last Saturday at my favourite race of the year, The Coniston 14, though this year it was again the17 mile course as the bridge at water Yeat still hasn't been repaired from the storms a few years ago. The view around Coniston particularly towards the end with the Old Man in the Background is outstanding.
This was my 5th running of it. My first was my second most unsuccessful race, my right calf tore on the hill up to Brantwood and my foolishness at continuing to the finish caused a partial tear of my right Achilles.I returned a year later to complete it more successfully and since then it has become the only event I run every year. It is not only a beautiful race it is so well organised and friendly too, can't recommend it highly enough.
Despite my best intentions to run it slowly I did end up pushing it. I started slowly and was quite smug as I watched people race off into the distance. It was good not to be running against the field but just feeling what felt comfortably extended within me. I after a couple of miles i noticed I was running smoothly and consistently reeling people in most of whom seemed to be blowing like whales. I was delighted to have my best ever finish in the race in really quite hot temperatures and picked up a prize £55 voucher for the best running shop I know, Pete Blands. I have already mentally spent it!
No real side effects afterwards either, except black and blue feet. My feet don't usually suffer much and it's typical that the first time would be just before London. Of all the things I worried about as a consequence of running Coniston it wasn't feet with toes that look like frostbite. I am sure they will be fine by Sunday though.
Here's to a cold damp London Sunday and an ice cold lager afterwards.
This was my 5th running of it. My first was my second most unsuccessful race, my right calf tore on the hill up to Brantwood and my foolishness at continuing to the finish caused a partial tear of my right Achilles.I returned a year later to complete it more successfully and since then it has become the only event I run every year. It is not only a beautiful race it is so well organised and friendly too, can't recommend it highly enough.
Despite my best intentions to run it slowly I did end up pushing it. I started slowly and was quite smug as I watched people race off into the distance. It was good not to be running against the field but just feeling what felt comfortably extended within me. I after a couple of miles i noticed I was running smoothly and consistently reeling people in most of whom seemed to be blowing like whales. I was delighted to have my best ever finish in the race in really quite hot temperatures and picked up a prize £55 voucher for the best running shop I know, Pete Blands. I have already mentally spent it!
No real side effects afterwards either, except black and blue feet. My feet don't usually suffer much and it's typical that the first time would be just before London. Of all the things I worried about as a consequence of running Coniston it wasn't feet with toes that look like frostbite. I am sure they will be fine by Sunday though.
Here's to a cold damp London Sunday and an ice cold lager afterwards.
Saturday, 26 March 2011
London Calling (in 3 weeks)
I haven't blogged for a while, I wasn't sure what to say, but as I am now within three weeks of the London Marathon I guess it's time to waffle on again.
In the last month training has gone well, so for example in the last 8 days I've managed to run 96 miles.
The longest run a 25 miles with just over 2000ft of ascent in 3 hours 20 left me feeling almost confident, that I can get into the low 2hr 50s. I, as you might expect, keep comparing this years preparation to last years preparation for my first marathon and I fair up pretty well overall. There are ups like I've done lots more mileage but downs like almost no speed work and have raced just once since last July and I wasn't exactly fit when I did. Furthermore on the down side I started from a much higher fitness base last year and I was racing regularly (for me anyway) and so had a reasonable level of speed in my legs. To counter balance that I faded massively in the last 7 or 8 miles and I am really confident I won't struggle as much this time. I am expecting to go slower for the first 18 ish but be more resilient over the last 8 and be overall slightly quicker.
Why do marathon's take up so much of my emotional effort compared to other distance races? I do not analyse the prep for other races with anything like the intensity I do for the marathon, it is slightly odd how the marathon draws you in, captures you and won't let you go.
I suppose I shouldn't really worry about the time, after a running free autumn and early winter I really started to worry I'd never run again and so to be able to get out without thinking and run the fells or a 20 miler on the road is a great feeling. Whatever time I post it is a lucky honour to feel fit again and be able to feel like I'm flying. I live in what I can say is the most beautiful part of the world and running here is never a chore. Views like the one above are common and tonight coming back next to ullswater I had misjudged sunset and so was running in the dark I marvelled at how smooth and serene the lake was and the mountains around a beautiful silhouette, it was like being part of a fairy tale. It is an honour and a pleasure to run in such a inspiring environment.
Anyway before I start getting too carried away I'm off to start tapering!
In the last month training has gone well, so for example in the last 8 days I've managed to run 96 miles.
The longest run a 25 miles with just over 2000ft of ascent in 3 hours 20 left me feeling almost confident, that I can get into the low 2hr 50s. I, as you might expect, keep comparing this years preparation to last years preparation for my first marathon and I fair up pretty well overall. There are ups like I've done lots more mileage but downs like almost no speed work and have raced just once since last July and I wasn't exactly fit when I did. Furthermore on the down side I started from a much higher fitness base last year and I was racing regularly (for me anyway) and so had a reasonable level of speed in my legs. To counter balance that I faded massively in the last 7 or 8 miles and I am really confident I won't struggle as much this time. I am expecting to go slower for the first 18 ish but be more resilient over the last 8 and be overall slightly quicker.
Why do marathon's take up so much of my emotional effort compared to other distance races? I do not analyse the prep for other races with anything like the intensity I do for the marathon, it is slightly odd how the marathon draws you in, captures you and won't let you go.
Anyway before I start getting too carried away I'm off to start tapering!
Monday, 14 February 2011
Sheffield and Brussels
I've been desperately trying to find the time to run and start to increase my miles as I attempt to get in condition. London is on the 17th April and as yet I am still doing weekly mileage of about 25 miles. Have I got enough time to get fit enough?? The race is in 9 weeks a 2 hr 49 min marathon seems a long way off at the moment. On the positive I am feeling stronger with each run and the injuries seem under control. I am even being distnctly less lazy because I'm stretching, warming up and even done a few drills focusing on technique!
Since my first post running has continued to be squeezed in around other activities, this has meant that I've run in Brussels. I was there for a couple of days with work and got in a quick 6.5 miles one evening. It was a real treat to run somewhere flat. I headed off from the hotel in a random direction and found myself in a park with lots of runners. I smiled at each of them on each circuit as I came across them but all averted their gaze a few women looked genuinely scared. I guess in a large city there is no runners code of shared identity and common interest. I wouldn't dream of running past someone here without acknowledgeing them, but I suppose I don't meet many so it's always a pleasant surprise. People in cities do tend to have a well practised ability to ignore strangers, I suppose it comes from being cornered by drunks and social misfits. I hope I don't fall into either category.
I also squeezed in a run when I volunteered to take my daughter's schools cross country team for a run last saturday. I felt like Brian Glover from Kes ( which is not a good thing) because I ran to meet them at Aira Force and took them over the fell before returning them to their parents in the car park and running back home. I couldn't help but suspect that the parents thought I must be a bit mad.
This weekend we took the juniors from the running club to Sheffield for the Indoor Athletics, what a great event that was. It was watching the athletes warming up and stretching and looking so damn lithe and athletic that has inspired me to do some stretching and drills. If a 20 something super athlete needs to do that much in a pre race routine then I a 41 year old can just bloody well sort himself out and do some as well.
At least I've done some proper runs in the last few days 13 1/2 on sunday over the Dodds, in some pretty shitty weather and 8 1/2 tonight which I did pretty fast, when I could see, the batteries on the head torch failed about half way through and I kind of stumbled the way home from there. I am determined to get a good week in this week, 35 miles +.
Maybe I will get around to speed work in a couple of weeks.
Since my first post running has continued to be squeezed in around other activities, this has meant that I've run in Brussels. I was there for a couple of days with work and got in a quick 6.5 miles one evening. It was a real treat to run somewhere flat. I headed off from the hotel in a random direction and found myself in a park with lots of runners. I smiled at each of them on each circuit as I came across them but all averted their gaze a few women looked genuinely scared. I guess in a large city there is no runners code of shared identity and common interest. I wouldn't dream of running past someone here without acknowledgeing them, but I suppose I don't meet many so it's always a pleasant surprise. People in cities do tend to have a well practised ability to ignore strangers, I suppose it comes from being cornered by drunks and social misfits. I hope I don't fall into either category.
I also squeezed in a run when I volunteered to take my daughter's schools cross country team for a run last saturday. I felt like Brian Glover from Kes ( which is not a good thing) because I ran to meet them at Aira Force and took them over the fell before returning them to their parents in the car park and running back home. I couldn't help but suspect that the parents thought I must be a bit mad.
This weekend we took the juniors from the running club to Sheffield for the Indoor Athletics, what a great event that was. It was watching the athletes warming up and stretching and looking so damn lithe and athletic that has inspired me to do some stretching and drills. If a 20 something super athlete needs to do that much in a pre race routine then I a 41 year old can just bloody well sort himself out and do some as well.
At least I've done some proper runs in the last few days 13 1/2 on sunday over the Dodds, in some pretty shitty weather and 8 1/2 tonight which I did pretty fast, when I could see, the batteries on the head torch failed about half way through and I kind of stumbled the way home from there. I am determined to get a good week in this week, 35 miles +.
Maybe I will get around to speed work in a couple of weeks.
Thursday, 3 February 2011
Team Running
Ok I'm going to have a go at blogging I wonder if anyone will read it, if so I hope they enjoy it enough to come back!
Well it starts with the Pennine Bridleway Relay.
I had bumped into Stu Stoddart at Keswick X country and he suggested I should run a relay race set in the Pennines somewhere. I hesitated because I 've run very little through the winter, a combination of injury and workload. I haven't raced since last July and to misquote Carter 'I'm a big man but I'm out of shape.'
Running is essentially a solitary experience. It is your own discipline that gets you out in the coldest wettest winter nights. It is your own desire to perform well that gets you to drive on your own to a race of 500 people and shiver on the start line before flogging your sorry arse around a course to a new PB, that no one knows about or cares about or shares with you. And so with that as the background I found the Pennine Relay an immensely attractive idea. 10 of us travelling together, supporting each other, performing for each other, fantastic.
The 47 mile course is split in to 5 legs run in pairs, a short 5 miler for the speed kings is the shortest and a 12.5 mile leg is the longest. I was placed into the 3rd leg 8.5 miles with the most ascent and a hill described as a 'sting in the tail' and later on in the route description as not runnable. I have to say this information made me nervous I was entering the race poorly prepared with others relying on me. I was glad to be partnered with Stu, although much fitter than me we have a similar style of running, he was unlikely to head off too fast for me or burn me too much on the ascents. I also knew he would be supportive.
We left Penrith rugby club on the morning of the race at 5:30, an unholy abomination on a Sunday. The drive down was quick and easy and naturally one could only hope the race would be as smooth. Myself and Stu were uptight about getting lost on the route, though Stu was more concerned about this than me as my primary concern was the nagging doubt that I could I possibly keep up with him. I was beginning to realise there was a down side to this team orientated side of running, suddenly I was aware that I could let much more than myself down!
We loitered around the start at Rossendale feeling the nerves of a start but aware that our own races where hours away and eager to avoid burning energy we shifted around uneasily.
Anth and Sam ran our first leg, and did brilliantly bringing us home in 14th, Carl and Kim took over from them. It was cold and I worried that muscles would be ill prepared for the trauma ahead. We piled into our cars and headed to the checkpoint for leg 3. Myself and Stu plodded up the hill that was the opening half mile for our run as a way or warm up and route finding, I was exhausted but chose to keep this pearl to myself. Too soon Carl and Kim came home impressively in 12 and on the shoulders of Borrowdale. Stu's last words to me before the off was something like 'don't even try and keep up with them', I nodded and thought no worries there my friend.
The run itself found its own pattern Stu was indeed stronger than me and I could just keep up, it was a struggle and Stu could have gone faster but he did a great job of dragging me along. We stayed within sight of Borrowdale and quickly clawed in Bowland and closed in on Clayton. Fate lent us some help here though and both Borrowdale and Clayton missed a turn and we followed the route gaining several minutes on both teams. We handed over to Andy and Jon in 9th, could they keep that position? Leg 4 is for the speed kings and so it proved as we were clawed back and they did an amazing job keeping us in 9th to hand over to Gary and Mark for the last leg with Borrowdale Clayton and Bowland on their shoulder.
For us it was a quick dash to the finish and an eager wait for the green and blue shirts coming home. After 47 miles it came down to a sprint finish and we sneaked in at 12 with Bowland 13, 2 seconds behind.
Lunch and back to the finish to watch the second Eden runners team home and then hurtling back up the country home.
A great result 12 place is a position we would have snapped up before the start and the team performed well and most noticeably performed as a team. In each pairing the guys helped each other, no doubt in each group one of the pairing helped the other more than was helped but none of this mattered or was shared, for we were a team and teams stick together.
Well it starts with the Pennine Bridleway Relay.
I had bumped into Stu Stoddart at Keswick X country and he suggested I should run a relay race set in the Pennines somewhere. I hesitated because I 've run very little through the winter, a combination of injury and workload. I haven't raced since last July and to misquote Carter 'I'm a big man but I'm out of shape.'
Running is essentially a solitary experience. It is your own discipline that gets you out in the coldest wettest winter nights. It is your own desire to perform well that gets you to drive on your own to a race of 500 people and shiver on the start line before flogging your sorry arse around a course to a new PB, that no one knows about or cares about or shares with you. And so with that as the background I found the Pennine Relay an immensely attractive idea. 10 of us travelling together, supporting each other, performing for each other, fantastic.
The 47 mile course is split in to 5 legs run in pairs, a short 5 miler for the speed kings is the shortest and a 12.5 mile leg is the longest. I was placed into the 3rd leg 8.5 miles with the most ascent and a hill described as a 'sting in the tail' and later on in the route description as not runnable. I have to say this information made me nervous I was entering the race poorly prepared with others relying on me. I was glad to be partnered with Stu, although much fitter than me we have a similar style of running, he was unlikely to head off too fast for me or burn me too much on the ascents. I also knew he would be supportive.
We left Penrith rugby club on the morning of the race at 5:30, an unholy abomination on a Sunday. The drive down was quick and easy and naturally one could only hope the race would be as smooth. Myself and Stu were uptight about getting lost on the route, though Stu was more concerned about this than me as my primary concern was the nagging doubt that I could I possibly keep up with him. I was beginning to realise there was a down side to this team orientated side of running, suddenly I was aware that I could let much more than myself down!
We loitered around the start at Rossendale feeling the nerves of a start but aware that our own races where hours away and eager to avoid burning energy we shifted around uneasily.
Anth and Sam ran our first leg, and did brilliantly bringing us home in 14th, Carl and Kim took over from them. It was cold and I worried that muscles would be ill prepared for the trauma ahead. We piled into our cars and headed to the checkpoint for leg 3. Myself and Stu plodded up the hill that was the opening half mile for our run as a way or warm up and route finding, I was exhausted but chose to keep this pearl to myself. Too soon Carl and Kim came home impressively in 12 and on the shoulders of Borrowdale. Stu's last words to me before the off was something like 'don't even try and keep up with them', I nodded and thought no worries there my friend.
The run itself found its own pattern Stu was indeed stronger than me and I could just keep up, it was a struggle and Stu could have gone faster but he did a great job of dragging me along. We stayed within sight of Borrowdale and quickly clawed in Bowland and closed in on Clayton. Fate lent us some help here though and both Borrowdale and Clayton missed a turn and we followed the route gaining several minutes on both teams. We handed over to Andy and Jon in 9th, could they keep that position? Leg 4 is for the speed kings and so it proved as we were clawed back and they did an amazing job keeping us in 9th to hand over to Gary and Mark for the last leg with Borrowdale Clayton and Bowland on their shoulder.
For us it was a quick dash to the finish and an eager wait for the green and blue shirts coming home. After 47 miles it came down to a sprint finish and we sneaked in at 12 with Bowland 13, 2 seconds behind.
Lunch and back to the finish to watch the second Eden runners team home and then hurtling back up the country home.
A great result 12 place is a position we would have snapped up before the start and the team performed well and most noticeably performed as a team. In each pairing the guys helped each other, no doubt in each group one of the pairing helped the other more than was helped but none of this mattered or was shared, for we were a team and teams stick together.
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