Rising Sun

Saturday night, and Jerry has organised one of his super night runs.  We always end up in fantastic Kent pubs.  But as I usually drive there, I have to decline the beer.  Tonight we are starting in Shoreham and so I can get the train there with the plan of a couple of "Kentish Ales"

I arrive in Shoreham and the station is a little way out of town.  It is pitch black a apparent the residents decided against street lights some time a go.  I use the IPhone to navigate my way into town.

We meet up and are soon off.  A number of fellow nutters have done the Beachy Head Marathon.  It's a good friendly bunch, refreshingly free of whingers.  I haven't run since Beachy Head but this is a great run to get back into it.  The pace is easy, plenty of stops and you don't have to worry about dropping off the back as people will wait.  It tales a while to loosen the legs but then I am fine.  

There are various comedy moments involving the threat of bulls in fields.  Jerry announces half a mile  to the half-way house.  I zoom to the front in anticipation.  Jerry had warned us, that it may be a little rough and ready.

The pub looks like a quaint cottage from outside.  Inside it is pure genius.  The only way I can describe it, is something like Withnail and I.  Most of the drink options looked off.  On every surface was some kind of memorabilia, with most of it appearing to come from the second world war.  Feral-like cats,  a bizarre parrot.   The landlady after serving us, returns to her side of the bar and an old portable television propped up on a chair.  Despite needing the toilet, I decide to pass on the toilets with its "LOOS" sign.  There are no other people in there, and it doesn't look like they are expecting many other patrons.  The odour is unique and vigorous.

I quip:

"Is this a Wetherspoons?"

After the beer, I am revived and we are off again.  We are utterly alive from the experience we have just had and the conversation, quips and reflections keep on for the rest of the night.

The return 5 miles is soon dispatched and we head to a pub a little nearer civilization to reflect on the night.

Even if you were a billionaire, there would not be a better night, out running in the beautiful countryside with a great bunch of people and experiencing the, frankly, utterly bizarre.

An amazing night, enjoyable running and experiencing something, that in reality can't possible exist.

16km (time not really relevant)

Beachy Head Marathon

I'm not racing.  With the new baby, the training has been consistent just not long.  So the plan is to go out and run gently and enjoy the marathon.  No heroics, relax and enjoy the scenery.

But this is the brutal Beachy Head Marathon.  The first half is a bit up and down, but enjoyable especially in the Vivo Barefoots.  The fast half is in around 2:10, but that's cool, I'm chilling and enjoying.  There's been hills, but I've dug in and crawled up them.

I've a little pain in the left foot.  The stony rocky paths are taking their toll on my left foot with the Vivo Barefoots.  But in terms of a relaxed movement, the super flat footwear experiencing the surface is working well.

Then the second half kicks in.  I had planned to run the whole lot, but suddenly sometime after mile 13, I have to walk, you can't run up this kind of hill.  And that is how it continues for the next 13 miles.  These hills are like nothing I have ever experienced.  As a one of challenge, I'd struggle to run up a single one of them.  As a series of about 10 at the end of a marathon????

It's all right though.  Everyone around me is walking.  And to be honest walking is a real struggle.  We all battle on, encouraging each other on.  We walk up the hills, and shuffle down the other side.

Eventually after much slogging there is a big downhill into the finish (we ran up it on the way out).  I look and see the clock is a couple of minutes short of 5 hours.  A nice round mark, but there's no way I can make it there.  I say to the woman next to me
"Hope you weren't looking for under 5"
The marshall says, if you sprint you''ll make it.
Suddenly it dawns on me that it may be possible.  I look at the crowd, count 3-2-1 and then open up full speed.  As I cross the line I markedly point at the clock to show I made it under 5 hours.

I see the woman the other side of the finish and apologise for my idiotic comments.

I love running, but somehow this was different especially the second half.  I'm proud of the way, I dug in and made it home.  But it wasn't through running excellence, more by walking/hiking.  Which is good, but I'm exploring the athletic envelope at the moment.

42km 4"59:50

Leadenhall Loop

Still taking it easy ahead of Saturday and 26.2 miles over Beachy head and the Seven Sisters.  However think previously I have over tapered.  I go stale if I don't run.  So I think a few km just to keep things ticking over is good.

So at lunch, I fit in a quick Leadenhall Loop as I shall call it from now on(to save on typing).  I do this run pretty often and it is one of my favourites.   Down to Paternoster Square, on to Blackfriars, along the river to the Tower, back through Leadenhall and then hammer it down London Wall.

The run down London Wall is the best bit.  It must be downhill, and the fact that it is so close to the finish means I can really pick up the pace.  But it is crowded so I have to dance and skip through the crowds.

Today the sun was out like a lovely Spring day with optimism of a long summer ahead.  Except it's not.  It is autumn, and more like the dieing embers of a year before the onset of a cruel winter.  Nice and pleasant, all the same.

I'm not racing on Saturday and I aim to take it easy, but good to be in shape

5km 29:34

Silly Ouchy

Runners area usually in three states, about to have an injury, injured or coming back from an injury.  The funny thing is that since ditching the padded running shoes, I have had few running injuries.

What I have had is stupidity injuries.  Stubbing my toe.  Embedding bicycle pedals in my leg and so on.

So at lunchtime today, I am running down the embankment, when I trip and land right-arm first on some Iron railings.  At first I am embarrassed and jog on a bit.  Then I feel physically sick with pain and think I have broken my arm. 

I stop and regain some composure.  After 5 mins, I am sore but I don't think the Marathon is in danger.  So I turn and run back. 

Funnily enough, the stop means that I glide along.  I'm not pushing because of the marathon, but it feels good.

The arm appears only to be heavily bruised.

3.5km 25mins

Run home in the autumn

I was in work early so I left at 5pm.  I get to Cannon Street and get the train to Lewisham.  No heroics required with the Marathon on Saturday, just a nice steady jog.

I forget and take the path to Beckenham Place Park.  Then I realise it is still light enough to run through the woods, and so I do.  It is a lot more autumnal in the woods then last time, and I almost lose the path a couple of times.

It started of hard, but by the end I am cruising along, nothing spectacular mind.

I love Autumn.

8km 50:00

Round Park Run

A fairly straight forward Park Run today.  Didn't really push or strain an air of beeriness and the Marathon next week put pay to that.

The park had an icy mist hanging over it which gradually burnt off during the run.  Beautiful.

My next run is the 50th.  It would be good to PB but with the marathon and the onset of winter, it may be a challenge.

5km 23:26

Stubbed Toe

A quick 5km down the embankment at lunch.  Was planning to run home so I go in the aquas.  I'm also mindful of taking it easy ahead of the Beachy Head Marathon.

Then I stub my toe which really hurts.  It is the problem with the aquas I have at work which are a little bit to big.  I have done this before, which shouldn't stop me running after a couple of days, just annoying.

5km 28:30

Petts Wood Runners 10km as the Sweeper

I've toyed whether to add this as a run, as most of it was done at a fast walk but...

I was the last runner marshal the Petts Wood 10km along with Paul, a fantastically bright and funny character.

We followed the same last runner the whole we round.  She was experienced and determined, just slow.  We had a good chat all the way round.  After about 1km, I got bored and took my shoes and socks off.  I ran the next 5km barefoot.  Though as the pace was so slow it was hard to run barefoot(you need the high cadence to help with the running gently.  Hard to run a high cadence at walking point)  At one point it got a bit to rough and I started to drop off the back of even walking pace.  Apparently a lot of the paths were made with debris from the blitz.  I decide to put my shoes on and catch up.   Given that I was on official duty I put my socks and shoes back on and left them on the rest of the run.

While there was occasional pain, it surprises me  how tough your feet really are.  So despite having to wimp out, the rest of the day my feet are fine (no worse then the pain I felt running in shoes on last nights long, late show)

It was great to have experienced the Petts Wood 10km from a runners perspective.  Being on my feet for so long in the humid conditions surprisingly hard.

Enjoyable though,

9km 1"25:00

Last Long Run Before Beachy Head Marathon

Despite having a 3month old baby, thought it may be a laugh to train for a marathon.  I've been doing plenty of running just none of it long.  This weekend I must do a long run and then taper as the Beachy Head Marathon is in 3 weeks.

After running my 5km PB today and various sicknesses I am not feeling great.  I plan to get up early next day, do a 3hour run and then go and marshal at the Petts Wood 10km.  Not great but I resign myself to it.  Then I get a phone call.  They want me to be the sweeper (or last runner marshall) the next day.  Even though the last runner will be a snail, best not do it on top of a long run.

So I have to go out Saturday night and do it despite having run a fast, fast 5km this morning.  I am just justifying the flake-out to myself when my wife says:
"It's a amazing the way you can go out running like this tonight"
So now, I have to do it, and so I do.

I run 1.5 hours out down the A21.  After 45 minutes I am struggling.   But I keep going.   I get to the petrol station by Green St. Greet at around 1"27.  I buy a sports drink and some wine gums and turn back.  The last 45minutes is hard (though mainly downhill)  I allow myself a wine gum every 5 minutes.

The thighs are a little sore and my feet hurt but on I go.

I get home about 11:15pm.  I wake the wife up on the sofa, send her to bed and have a shower.  I collapse into bed exhausted.   That's the best thing about running late; being able to go to bed afterwards.

Today was about time on feet rather than distance.  It's a hilly route out down the A21.  I wanted to do this last long run before the Beachy Head Marathon and today I achieved that.

27km 2:53":00

Park Run PB

Given the current good running form, I decide a good crack at park run is in order.  Even though England are playing, I limit the beer the night before.  On the day, I have my racing shoes, racing socks, racing shorts and club vest.

There is history here.  When park run stated I comfortably beat David.  Then we were rivals then he destroyed me.  He has been injured for a year(or more).  I have got within a second of his time on my PB but no better.  Today is the day,  and I tell everyone including David himself.

The other thing is that this is my 48th run.  It would be nice to run a PB on my 50th run.  So I could hold off until then.  But then I decide to do the brave thing.  Run a PB today, and then try another one on the 50th run.  That way I could notch it up two steps....

I warm up by getting there half an hour early and running about.  Then we are off.  In summary, I follow Jenny and Rob all the way round.   I know they run mid 21 times or better so staying with them I should be fine.  It hurts and I gurn my way round.

With a km to go, I get past Jenny, but in in the finishing straight she takes me again.  I will not catch her, but I am inspired by her sprint.

 Across the line, I stab the watch, it must be a PB, probably by a massive amount.  It is a PB but by 3 seconds.  I feel it should have been much better.  But it was Windy and I struggled.

Still, job done.

5km 21:46 PB

Good

Last night's run home from Lewisham was fantastic.  Tonight I feel more tired.  To be honest I was going to get the Hayes train to Catford and run home from there, especially after being caught up by my boss.  This would get me home a little earlier for an extra 10 minutes with the kids.

When I get to Cannon Street there is only a train to Lewisham, so I get this, resigned to the slightly longer run.  I don't want to cheat the kids, so accept that I can't totally cruise.

I have an altercation with a cyclist who seems to think that he owns the pavement.  It delays me slightly along with a number of traffic lights.  I couple of death looks and barbed comments ensure that he is suitably offended.  W*nker.

As I reach Downham, suddenly I am aware of the magic appearing.  This is nice, I am fast elegant and flowing.  I keep this up all the way home.  This is really, really good.

Probably two of the most enjoyable runs of my life the last two nights.   And when I get home, it was even quicker than last night.

8km 43 minutes

Lunchtime Canal

The long term plan is run half way to work.  With three kids, average age 2.5, it isn't always happening.  Still I bought my lunch on the way to work giving me 40 minutes of pure run time at lunch.

I head down towards the Wapping Canals via St Katharine's docs .  It feels hard.  Last night's magic has evaporated.  I get to Tobacco dock and turn back.  It's into the wind an I struggle.  As I turn into the tunnel by Tower Bridge the Wind is channelled behind me.  I realise the wind is playing games.

Finally down London Wall I start to pick up some speed.  A fat banker in a pin stripe suit wobbles all over the pavement.  I flow past him, and admonish him for his girth.

Not magic like last night, but still nice.

7k 37:02

Quickly home

Haven't managed to do the run back from Lewisham due to work. Today things have calmed down, so today I head for Lewisham.

I am not expecting anything spectacular but it is nice to be back in flat shoes.

Strangely I am flying along and I keep going and going. It's now too dark for Beckenham Place Park so I have to go the long way round past the Millwall Training Ground.

Feeling on form and flowing feels fantastic. Don't know where it is coming from but I keep drinking it in.

The time is 45 minutes. The usual rime is the wrong side of 50, and I got caught at lots of traffic lights. Even had to take a slight diversion to avoid a gang.

If only I could bottle this form....

8km 45minutes

Leadenhall Lunchtime

My favourite lunchtime loop, Blackfriars, Thames Path, The Tower, leadenhall, London Wall and back.

I am wearing, shock horror, running shoes for a change. They feel spongey and I worry about injury.

Initially it is hard but it gets easier. A couple of times I stop to twiddle with the IPod and I am surprised how easy it is to get going again.

Through Leadenhall and down London Wall I skip in and out of people; great fun.

5pm 28 mins

Getting better at lunchtime

I run at lunchtime down across Waterloo Bridge and back. I decided to wear the aquas. It feels fantastic. The pace is kept gentle with the plan to run home from Lewisham. 

I can't remember ever running across Waterloo Bridge but I really enjoyed it. 

In the end work intervened and I missed the run home.  Good job I got this run in. 

5km 30 mins

Long Airport Run

The alarm goes off at 5:15am and I am so tempted to roll over and go back to sleep.  I have prepared my kit the night before, and I know the Beachy Head Marathon is coming up.  I have done plenty of running but none of it over an hour.

I head of into the dark.  I summon up the courage to run across the common in the dark, all alone.   After a while I settle into a good pace.  Just before the sun comes up the light starts playing up.  It is switching itself off.  The battery seems to be charged, I wonder if it is overheating (it is strapped to my head and  I am hardly travelling at a speed to produce much cooling)

Down just past the Wilberforce Oak, as the sun gets higher in the sky there is a beautiful sun-rise.  I stop and take a photo, but the IPhone camera does not do it any kind of justice.  The lights of houses in the distance twinkling, the oranges and yellows.  Amazing.

I struggle to find the path I am looking for and have to run a couple of times up and down the road.  In the end I dig out the OS map on my phone and find it.

I run across a wide open field and feel great.  I am running for 3 hours and plan to turn around 1.5 hours into the run.  Knowing it has been a big slog up to Biggin HILL, and I wasted some time trying to find the path, I decide to tack on an extra 5 minutes on to the outward journey.  After 3 minutes, I come to a steep downhill.  Knowing I will have to run backup it, I decide to head back there and then.

After 2 hours I start to struggle.  I have deliberately not brought any food or drink to help my body to learn-to-burn.  I knuckle down, the pace slips but I keep going.

Back home I have a coffee and bacon sarnie made with homemade bread.  That and the sun-rise made it all worthwhile.

2"49:15 24km (Today was all about time on the feet though)

Gravel Park Run

I regularly do park run barefoot but today I decide to try and do it all barefoot including the tarmac and gravelly bits.   I'm pretty beery from the night before so the time is irrelevant today.

Which is good I start of slowly and struggle.  The tarmac grates the feet but is manageable.  The gravelly bit is too painful, possible because my feet are a little chilly.

At the finish people stream past me because I have no sprint on the rough tarmac.  I was previously convinced that running on gravel was possible today, I am not so sure.

5km 24:26