For various reasons, including work, partying and the weather have not run much this week. Last time I was out was Park Run on Saturday.
So today I have to go running. Was out last night, so I'm not feeling tip-top.
I run down to Blackfriars, along the Thamesside Path. It's a really low tide, and the muddy Thames beaches appear and you can smell the smell of the Thames. After a while I don't feel up for it. I turn back down Upper Thames Street and head back to Guildhall.
Not a great run in terms of performance, but it's important to be back on my feet.
25" 4k?
Thursday 30 September 2010
Monday 27 September 2010
Plain old Park Run
A plain Old Park Run. Run in normalish shoes. The first lap, on the shaded side of the park by the woods, it's a bit chilly. By the second lap the coolness feels fresh.
I don't run really hard. A late night, surfing the internet had left me relaxed.
On the finishing straight, David from my Wife's work cruises past. On my day I would have put up a battle but not today.
A year ago a cruised park run would have been 24'30, so progress is being made....
23'36
I don't run really hard. A late night, surfing the internet had left me relaxed.
On the finishing straight, David from my Wife's work cruises past. On my day I would have put up a battle but not today.
A year ago a cruised park run would have been 24'30, so progress is being made....
23'36
Friday 24 September 2010
Weird Neck Crick
I move a meeting at work to avoid it clashing with my lunchtime run. I slip on the aquas and zoom off. Down towards Blackfriars, down the Southbank, across Charing Cross foot bridge and back along Victoria Embankment. It's nice running in something which is not big chunky running shoes.
I'm hungover from the night before and my new policy of not eating my way out of a hangover making me suffer a bit. Suddenly I get a crick in my neck and come to a stop on the edge of consiousness. I feel lightheaded. I stop, compose myself and continue off.
Weird.
I run the rest pretty uneventful.
5k-ish 30 minutes-ish. Weird Neck Crick
I'm hungover from the night before and my new policy of not eating my way out of a hangover making me suffer a bit. Suddenly I get a crick in my neck and come to a stop on the edge of consiousness. I feel lightheaded. I stop, compose myself and continue off.
Weird.
I run the rest pretty uneventful.
5k-ish 30 minutes-ish. Weird Neck Crick
RAF Run
It's the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain. I'm reading a book on the subject. I happen to Wikipedia the great, great New Zealander Keith Park. I happen to notice they have erected a statue to him, last week in Waterloo Place off Trafalguar Square.
I have to run to take a look. The great thing is that, on route, is the statue of Dowding and Harris. I stop to admire these other RAF heroes.
I'm running in what used to be my favourite running shoes. They are big and clunky. I joke in my mind
"And people run in these thing?"
It's been raining all day, but I use the rain radar to find a gap for the run (Parallels with the Finest Hour there, scanning the Radar...)
Unfortunately all the tourists take a break in the rain to crowd the streets. I get to the statue, stand in awe and turn to return back.
The run was good, the inspiration greater
5 miles 40ish minutes, lots of Civilians.
Tuesday 21 September 2010
Clubbing
Tuesday night and off to the usual PWR club run. I enjoy group 4 lead by Richard. Perfect standard for me and a good friendly bunch of people.
We run up the big hill that is the Orpington bypass. 3 miles of long slow drag. But it's not a drag and is hugely enjoyable. I push the pace at the front.
As we near the finish, Richard lets the group break up. Four of us go off the front. The pace picks up. Suddenly my shoe laces come undone. (I love the Pirahna's but this happened at park run the other day. Something to be careful of in case it happened in a race) I stop and drop off the pace. I see the other three streak of into the distance. I get up and sprint off. Eventually, I manage to fight back. But it has taken it out of me. We run for a bit longer before I feel refreshed and push the pace again.
Suddenly I realise I don't know the way and have to relent. This happens a couple of time. The pace is then picked up again. Rob starts to stretch away pursued by James Wong. The pace for the last mile and half has been very fast. I had peaked to early, mistaking where the finish was. However, ahead I see group one coming to halt and I realise we are at the end.
Apparently at the end we were running 6:30 minute miles. Overall according to James we had done 8:34 min miles over all. It's still mild enough still to be in only a running vest. A great run, with pace being pushed. Perfect to get over the frustrating day at work.
6.7 miles, around an hour (8:34 min miles)
We run up the big hill that is the Orpington bypass. 3 miles of long slow drag. But it's not a drag and is hugely enjoyable. I push the pace at the front.
As we near the finish, Richard lets the group break up. Four of us go off the front. The pace picks up. Suddenly my shoe laces come undone. (I love the Pirahna's but this happened at park run the other day. Something to be careful of in case it happened in a race) I stop and drop off the pace. I see the other three streak of into the distance. I get up and sprint off. Eventually, I manage to fight back. But it has taken it out of me. We run for a bit longer before I feel refreshed and push the pace again.
Suddenly I realise I don't know the way and have to relent. This happens a couple of time. The pace is then picked up again. Rob starts to stretch away pursued by James Wong. The pace for the last mile and half has been very fast. I had peaked to early, mistaking where the finish was. However, ahead I see group one coming to halt and I realise we are at the end.
Apparently at the end we were running 6:30 minute miles. Overall according to James we had done 8:34 min miles over all. It's still mild enough still to be in only a running vest. A great run, with pace being pushed. Perfect to get over the frustrating day at work.
6.7 miles, around an hour (8:34 min miles)
Nice shirt
Usually I find the run to work 10 minutes quicker than the run back. This I think is because it is down hill into the Thames Valley. Having done a PB (Both ways) last week in the aquas, I think on the way to work it could be even faster.
It's a fairly standard run. Enjoyable but doesn't seem so fast. I then hit the magical London Bridge point. From here I always fly. I think it is running in crowds. I love the thrill of running through crowds. In New Zealand last year I did some trail running and loved it. It is a similar buzz working my though the crowds, with plenty of changes of pace and flicking in and out of the crowds.
In the end the time was a couple of minutes slower than the run home the other day. Done in the aquas, so it felt great.
Unfortunately, I had used my backback for mountain biking the other day. The sweat also leaked through, leaving my workshirt with nasty sweat, mud and oil stains. Will need to use the rucksack liner in future....
10.3 miles 1:45:00
It's a fairly standard run. Enjoyable but doesn't seem so fast. I then hit the magical London Bridge point. From here I always fly. I think it is running in crowds. I love the thrill of running through crowds. In New Zealand last year I did some trail running and loved it. It is a similar buzz working my though the crowds, with plenty of changes of pace and flicking in and out of the crowds.
In the end the time was a couple of minutes slower than the run home the other day. Done in the aquas, so it felt great.
Unfortunately, I had used my backback for mountain biking the other day. The sweat also leaked through, leaving my workshirt with nasty sweat, mud and oil stains. Will need to use the rucksack liner in future....
10.3 miles 1:45:00
Sunday 19 September 2010
Sunday evening stroll
Long day in the car and traffic jams driving to see some friends on the other side of London. On the way back we had to stop and Mc Donalds to recharge the kids. I willfully resisted the Salty-Fatty-Sugary Fayre myself. I had been well fed at my friends so felt a run was in order (Especially after missing Saturday's park run with a hangover)
I start of okay, and run up to Bromley North and down the high street. I then start to struggle. At Westmoreland Road I head for Beckenham, down the High Street towards Penge. I swing off and head for home.
On the iPod have Fighting Talk. It comes to an end and I stop to put on Spotify for some music. Suddenly my mood is lifted and I zip off. Mindfull of the fact I want to run to work, I try and rein myself in. But now I am enjoying it and keep pushing the pace. In the end I am sad to get back to the house but feel great.
The time was slow, but all my training runs seem to be slower than I expect esp. when I measure them with gmap.
Route here: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=4052103
6.4 miles (10.25km) 1:01'46
I start of okay, and run up to Bromley North and down the high street. I then start to struggle. At Westmoreland Road I head for Beckenham, down the High Street towards Penge. I swing off and head for home.
On the iPod have Fighting Talk. It comes to an end and I stop to put on Spotify for some music. Suddenly my mood is lifted and I zip off. Mindfull of the fact I want to run to work, I try and rein myself in. But now I am enjoying it and keep pushing the pace. In the end I am sad to get back to the house but feel great.
The time was slow, but all my training runs seem to be slower than I expect esp. when I measure them with gmap.
Route here: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=4052103
6.4 miles (10.25km) 1:01'46
Friday 17 September 2010
An act of god?
Today's Hare and Hounds 5 mile handicap time trial is impacted by the Pope's visit. The routes is changed to avoid clashing with the crowds and the Pontif.
This is annoying. I decided that this would be my first race in the aquas to see how fast I could race in them. With a wealth of historical data I would be able to assess their impact. Unless the course was changed.
Still I give it a good go. It is still more enjoyable running in these even in the strain of a race. Inevitably Marc zooms past me early on and disappears in to the distance. Every month he seems to be faster and faster but his handicap time doesn't seem to move.
Was caught 500m from the finish on Blackfriars Bridge by one of the elite guys. Paul Savage also flew by on the bridge shouting:
"Hello Aquaman"
I sprint into the finish and finish around mid-pack. Someone Garmin's the route at 5.18 miles, potentially longer than usual.
I'm not sure what my conclusion is. I think I could run faster in "normal" shoes, but I finished mid-pack so it couldn't have been too slow.
5.18 miles 39:45
This is annoying. I decided that this would be my first race in the aquas to see how fast I could race in them. With a wealth of historical data I would be able to assess their impact. Unless the course was changed.
Still I give it a good go. It is still more enjoyable running in these even in the strain of a race. Inevitably Marc zooms past me early on and disappears in to the distance. Every month he seems to be faster and faster but his handicap time doesn't seem to move.
Was caught 500m from the finish on Blackfriars Bridge by one of the elite guys. Paul Savage also flew by on the bridge shouting:
"Hello Aquaman"
I sprint into the finish and finish around mid-pack. Someone Garmin's the route at 5.18 miles, potentially longer than usual.
I'm not sure what my conclusion is. I think I could run faster in "normal" shoes, but I finished mid-pack so it couldn't have been too slow.
5.18 miles 39:45
Wednesday 15 September 2010
Back in business
It would not have been good to run on the foot the last few days. Yesterday, I had a poke around with my foot and out popped a tiny, but razor sharp piece of brown glass. The foot still hurt after that.
Today it felt better. I so enjoyed the run home in the Aquas on Friday, that I decide to use them today. One of the issues I have always had with running in minimal shoes, is that it, frankly, hasn't seemed as fast. However the run home on Friday had made me question that (a PB remember!)
Today, I start off fast. But, as ever in the aquas enjoyable. I decide to the loop, Paternoster Square, Blackfriars, Thameside Path, Tower of London, Leadenhall, London Wall. I keep up the pace and really feel like I am running fast. But it is enjoyable, and you don't tire in the same way.
Duncan at the running club runs in Vibram Five Fingers. And he is fast (way faster than me) I wonder if first you have to learn to run minimally. Then once you have learned how to run, then you can learn to run faster. I'm kind of thinking, learning a new golf swing. You need regress before you can progress.
Friday is the Hare and Hounds 5 mile time trial. I think I may run in the aquas. This will be a good indicator of performance. Though I am minded, that the longer the run, the more you would benefit from the minimal style of running.
Through Leadenhall, I do some extreme running, and skip and dance through the crowds. You just couldn't do it the same in chunky running shoes.
It was good to be running again, and to get away lightly with the glass in the foot.
28"30 around 5km. Lots of traffic light stops.
Today it felt better. I so enjoyed the run home in the Aquas on Friday, that I decide to use them today. One of the issues I have always had with running in minimal shoes, is that it, frankly, hasn't seemed as fast. However the run home on Friday had made me question that (a PB remember!)
Today, I start off fast. But, as ever in the aquas enjoyable. I decide to the loop, Paternoster Square, Blackfriars, Thameside Path, Tower of London, Leadenhall, London Wall. I keep up the pace and really feel like I am running fast. But it is enjoyable, and you don't tire in the same way.
Duncan at the running club runs in Vibram Five Fingers. And he is fast (way faster than me) I wonder if first you have to learn to run minimally. Then once you have learned how to run, then you can learn to run faster. I'm kind of thinking, learning a new golf swing. You need regress before you can progress.
Friday is the Hare and Hounds 5 mile time trial. I think I may run in the aquas. This will be a good indicator of performance. Though I am minded, that the longer the run, the more you would benefit from the minimal style of running.
Through Leadenhall, I do some extreme running, and skip and dance through the crowds. You just couldn't do it the same in chunky running shoes.
It was good to be running again, and to get away lightly with the glass in the foot.
28"30 around 5km. Lots of traffic light stops.
Sunday 12 September 2010
Barefoot Park Run II
After yesterdays long run home in the Aquas, I'm not going to hammer parkrun in search of a PB. A nice gentle run, and what better way then completely barefoot?
I arrive in the car park, ditch my shoes and wander over to the start. The usual funny stares. Then the problem. I stand on something sharp. I'm still not sure what. I wonder if there is a thorn in my foot. I brush it away but there is still pain. Trouble is, I have to run now else I'm going to look stupid.
In the end the run is not too painful. David from my wife's work is there. He follow him for a bit but gradually he edges away. He said he was targeting 25 minutes but I know he is going faster. I feel like I am running faster than last time barefoot (24"15), but not as fast as with shoes. Maybe that is because I am not really pushing. It is is easy to run gently barefoot.
I finish with a characteristic sprint. I look at the time 23"59. Sub-24 minutes, barefoot, more than satisfactory. David finished 23"15
Back at the car my feet look muddy. I then realise that some of the "mud" is actuall dog-sh*t. Running completely barefoot feels great but I feel I have proved the point. As Richard pointed out maybe the next thing to try is in the Aquas.
I hope I haven't got something stuck in my foot.
5k 23"59
I arrive in the car park, ditch my shoes and wander over to the start. The usual funny stares. Then the problem. I stand on something sharp. I'm still not sure what. I wonder if there is a thorn in my foot. I brush it away but there is still pain. Trouble is, I have to run now else I'm going to look stupid.
In the end the run is not too painful. David from my wife's work is there. He follow him for a bit but gradually he edges away. He said he was targeting 25 minutes but I know he is going faster. I feel like I am running faster than last time barefoot (24"15), but not as fast as with shoes. Maybe that is because I am not really pushing. It is is easy to run gently barefoot.
I finish with a characteristic sprint. I look at the time 23"59. Sub-24 minutes, barefoot, more than satisfactory. David finished 23"15
Back at the car my feet look muddy. I then realise that some of the "mud" is actuall dog-sh*t. Running completely barefoot feels great but I feel I have proved the point. As Richard pointed out maybe the next thing to try is in the Aquas.
I hope I haven't got something stuck in my foot.
5k 23"59
Friday 10 September 2010
Who needs running shoes?
Friday night and I plan to run home. In the Aquas. I have now regularly run 5km in the aquas (little more than a flexible thin layer of rubber) The run home is 10.5miles. This will be new teritory. If I pull it off, then I know running shoes are a big scam. I also having my compression socks on. I probably look rather odd in aqua shoes and knee length socks.
Normally I walk-run (Run 9 minutes, walk 1 minute) the run home. In the aquas it so much more comfortable I am happy to run the whole way. A couple of times I get aches, but then my running style naturally changes and the ache goes away.
As I near my road, I look at the time. Usually running to work is quicker (it is downhill, being in the valley worn out over thousands of years by the Thames). The time is looking fast. My fastest ever. A few months ago I had pushed to do my first ever Sub 2-hour run home. My quickest to work run is around 1"48. At the finish the time is 1"41:38. Yet I feel refeshed.
In my mind, running in the aquas feels way slower. But I did park run 24"30. This makes me wonder how fast it could be. At no point did I feel the need to walk. Part of this could be explained by the fact I am in good shape at the moment after the summer season. Running feels so more natural, relaxing and to be honest, enjoyable.
Running shoes? Scam.
Route here http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=4030102
10.6km 1"41
Normally I walk-run (Run 9 minutes, walk 1 minute) the run home. In the aquas it so much more comfortable I am happy to run the whole way. A couple of times I get aches, but then my running style naturally changes and the ache goes away.
As I near my road, I look at the time. Usually running to work is quicker (it is downhill, being in the valley worn out over thousands of years by the Thames). The time is looking fast. My fastest ever. A few months ago I had pushed to do my first ever Sub 2-hour run home. My quickest to work run is around 1"48. At the finish the time is 1"41:38. Yet I feel refeshed.
In my mind, running in the aquas feels way slower. But I did park run 24"30. This makes me wonder how fast it could be. At no point did I feel the need to walk. Part of this could be explained by the fact I am in good shape at the moment after the summer season. Running feels so more natural, relaxing and to be honest, enjoyable.
Running shoes? Scam.
Route here http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=4030102
10.6km 1"41
Thursday 9 September 2010
Down the canals
I usually run down the Wapping Canals when I'm in a bad mood. Today I have the urge to run that way, despite a perfectly sunny disposition (Maybe my new Lumie Zip Sad Light Box is doing the trick?)
I wear my original "Normal" running shoes. They feel strange and bouncy. On the run out it is hard work. I'm not dieing, but I can feel the effort. On the way back down London Wall I relax, I think about moving forward. I take the tension out of my thighs, and I start to move with ease. It's lunch time and there are lots of crowds. I flow in and out of people with grace.
38"00 6 or 7km
I wear my original "Normal" running shoes. They feel strange and bouncy. On the run out it is hard work. I'm not dieing, but I can feel the effort. On the way back down London Wall I relax, I think about moving forward. I take the tension out of my thighs, and I start to move with ease. It's lunch time and there are lots of crowds. I flow in and out of people with grace.
38"00 6 or 7km
Sunday 5 September 2010
In the knee length socks
I've bought some compression socks. So I take them out on my late long, slow Sunday run.
I head out along the A21 for an hour. I reach the Texaco garage. Stop turn round and run back. I stop briefly at a corner shop for refreshment. Sugar would be good, so I grab a Turkish Delight. They also have generic Lucozade. 39p, Orange Flavoured Glucose Drink. I buy it for a laugh. It tastes like Luzcozade, but in plain packaging.
I get back and look at the Garmin, remarkably charged for the first time in ages. 2hr20 seconds. So almost exactly one hour out, one hour back. The pace seems slow, it felt like faster. I ponder as to why the pace was so slow.
18.68km 2hrs 20
I head out along the A21 for an hour. I reach the Texaco garage. Stop turn round and run back. I stop briefly at a corner shop for refreshment. Sugar would be good, so I grab a Turkish Delight. They also have generic Lucozade. 39p, Orange Flavoured Glucose Drink. I buy it for a laugh. It tastes like Luzcozade, but in plain packaging.
I get back and look at the Garmin, remarkably charged for the first time in ages. 2hr20 seconds. So almost exactly one hour out, one hour back. The pace seems slow, it felt like faster. I ponder as to why the pace was so slow.
18.68km 2hrs 20
Saturday 4 September 2010
To PB or not to PB, that is the question
At the assembly league I had run what would normalise to a 23"10 5k. It was a hilly course, so in theory I should be able to break my park run PB.
Then night before was an England match, and I resist the lure of beer. In the morning I do full race preperation, with no breakfast, some strong coffee, PSP to drink. To spur me on I even load the iPod. I run in the lightweight Pirahnas. I ran in them on Tuesday, and absolutely loved them.
I start of steady and feel good. I see someone who looks like Johnny G run off the front.
I catch Richard halfway round the first lap and greet him with a jokey
"Not you AGAIN"
I keep running, feeling fast. The PB must be in the bag. On the second lap, Richard sails past in the way that he does.
I am running hard, squeezing every last drop of effort. It will be worth it for the PB that is odds on now unless something goes drastically wrong. The grass feels a bit slippy, but with this effort, it will not matter. Though I am trying race-hard, it doesn't feel as good and fast as Tuesday's club run had. Maybe I am built more for distance?
In the end the last half lap I am running up against 3 kids who I guess to be 11 or 12. They are matching me. Some how they look smoother and more natural. In the last 200 metres me and the last of the kids, start to sprint. Being bigger, I have a little more of a sprint and easily edge away to finish ahead of him. I applogise on the line, but I think he rather enjoyed the battle to be honest.
I look at the watch, my PB is 22:59", it's 23"12. Doh! I was convinced it was going to be a PB. I am really gutted.
Chatting with Johnny G after the run, he thought Thursday had taken it out of his legs. Don't know if I felt that. It was him that run off the front at the start though!
5km 23"12 (NOT a PB)
Then night before was an England match, and I resist the lure of beer. In the morning I do full race preperation, with no breakfast, some strong coffee, PSP to drink. To spur me on I even load the iPod. I run in the lightweight Pirahnas. I ran in them on Tuesday, and absolutely loved them.
I start of steady and feel good. I see someone who looks like Johnny G run off the front.
I catch Richard halfway round the first lap and greet him with a jokey
"Not you AGAIN"
I keep running, feeling fast. The PB must be in the bag. On the second lap, Richard sails past in the way that he does.
I am running hard, squeezing every last drop of effort. It will be worth it for the PB that is odds on now unless something goes drastically wrong. The grass feels a bit slippy, but with this effort, it will not matter. Though I am trying race-hard, it doesn't feel as good and fast as Tuesday's club run had. Maybe I am built more for distance?
In the end the last half lap I am running up against 3 kids who I guess to be 11 or 12. They are matching me. Some how they look smoother and more natural. In the last 200 metres me and the last of the kids, start to sprint. Being bigger, I have a little more of a sprint and easily edge away to finish ahead of him. I applogise on the line, but I think he rather enjoyed the battle to be honest.
I look at the watch, my PB is 22:59", it's 23"12. Doh! I was convinced it was going to be a PB. I am really gutted.
Chatting with Johnny G after the run, he thought Thursday had taken it out of his legs. Don't know if I felt that. It was him that run off the front at the start though!
5km 23"12 (NOT a PB)
Friday 3 September 2010
Waterloo Lunchtime
After last nights Assembly League run and the bike to work I was feeling in need of a recovery run. Next to barefoot in the aqua shoes seems like a good call.
I run across Paternoster Square and there is an Elvis impersonator crooning away. I I sweep past and on to Waterloo Bridge.
Sometimes when I run in the Aquas, I relax and really flow. I don't feel like I'm travelling fast, but I am clean, smooth and could run all day. On the way out I was not like this. On the way back, at about Ludgate I reached the Zen-like state
30" around 5km - aquas
Thursday 2 September 2010
Beckenham Assembly League
A quick 2.8 mile blast just down the road from me. It's the Assembly league so the standard is high. Richard and Johnny G are also running.
Before the race, Johnny is hilariously nervous. The race starts and I decide to use Richard as a pacemaker. On the big hill up to Ravensbourne, I overtake and push on. All the time wondering, worrying when Richard would overtake. I stay clear until the Mc Donalds and Richard sails past. He gets 200m clear and stays there.
They've moved the finish so that is is half way up the hill in Beckenham Place park. A struggle I was not expecting. I put on a token sprint.
Last year I had run 21:00. Today 20"42. Some of the guys had their Garmin's on. The route was 2.78 miles long, and a normalised 5k time would be 23"05. 6 seconds slower than my park run PB.
2.78 miles 20"42.
Before the race, Johnny is hilariously nervous. The race starts and I decide to use Richard as a pacemaker. On the big hill up to Ravensbourne, I overtake and push on. All the time wondering, worrying when Richard would overtake. I stay clear until the Mc Donalds and Richard sails past. He gets 200m clear and stays there.
They've moved the finish so that is is half way up the hill in Beckenham Place park. A struggle I was not expecting. I put on a token sprint.
Last year I had run 21:00. Today 20"42. Some of the guys had their Garmin's on. The route was 2.78 miles long, and a normalised 5k time would be 23"05. 6 seconds slower than my park run PB.
2.78 miles 20"42.
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