Long run round historic Hartlepool

Another hard days drink the day before but I have an urge to run.  I decide to run to the lifeboat station I can see on the map.  I run there which involves going on a different beach.

I'm fascinated by the headland and the part of town over on the other side of the docks.  I don't know how far it is but I decide to run there.  There's lots of industrial heritage which I stop and look at.  In the old town I see a road that interests me, so I run up it.  At the top is a beautiful beach and a way to run round the headland.

It's lovely running by the sea.  There's also a heritage trail on my route through the town which I stop and examine.  I run for a bit and then stop to look at stuff.  It is this that probably allows me to easily run for that long.  Another truly wonderful run

1:19:55 8 miles

On the Beach in Hartlepool

I'm in Hartlepool on my brothers stag party.  For some reason I brought my running shoes.  After a very heavy days drinking, I get up and go for a run.  Round the marina and then down the beach.  I'm probably still a bit tipsy from the night before.

I stop on the beach to skim some stones but it is a beautiful run.  And I feel great for doing it (even if not great in other ways)  A good way to explore the town.

7km 45:00

Back from Lewisham

Still with a certain amount of lethargy I run home from Lewisham.  I decide not to go through the park as it will probably be muddy from the rain we had enjoyed while camping at the weekend.

As I run through the high street in Catford, a large gentleman steps out in front of me.  I'm travelling at a fair lick, somehow I skip past him.  I hurdle the road works by Catford Theatre.  Perhaps a little bit of the sluggishness is starting to go away.  My legs still don't feel 100%.

Soon I am in Shortlands and on the final stretch home.  I'll get round the Marathon in Bournemouth, probably under 4 hours.  Maybe try and pull something out the bag for Brighton in the spring.

8km 45:10

Back from camping run to keep ticking over

After a couple of days onerous camping, I get back home.  Everything has been unpacked and sorted.  However I need to keep the miles ticking over to even get round the marathon(I have long since given up on a time).

I get out with the kids in bed, just as dark starts to settle in.  Up the steep hill to Bromley North, down the high street and round Westmoreland road.  Not until the notoriously speedy bit between Westmoreland Road and Shortlands Road did I pick up speed (I have run fast down here after 20+ miles before....)

Good to get out, still worried about the lack of miles ahead of the marathon.....

5.5k m 31:16

19 miles long run up a big hill in the heat and with a slight hangover

I need to get some long runs in if I am to do this marathon.  But my life is hectic.  I was out last night and probably had 9 pints and a curry.  Tomorrow is going to be rainy and I never very good in the morning.  I had a few pints after work.  I think about abandoning the marathon.  Then from somewhere I find the motivation.

A couple of running podcasts and I set out just before 9 O'clock pm.  It's hot and humid and dark.  I crawl up towards the top of Westerham Hill.  To be honest I am done before the start of Biggin Hill airport but I keep on going, pushing myself.  I stop and get a drink and some wine gums from the petrol station.  I save half the drink for the route back when the petrol station will be closed.  I hide the bottle.

Towards the top of Westerham Hill it is dark with no street lighting in places.  Cars put their headlights on beam and dazzle me.  Eventually I reach the high point, turn round and head back.  Even though it is mainly downhill from here it is going to be a struggle.  There's not an easy quit option though.  I deliberately left my oyster card behind.  I have money but the bus will be hassle.  So I keep plodding.

Eventually I am home and it is almost half-past midnight.  I have a few drinks, shower and bed.

When I did this route as my final long training run for the London Marathon, I went a little bit further.  I did this half an hour quicker.  I guess it was not as hot, I was better trained and probably not slightly hungover.  I did enough tonight to prove that I'll get round the marathon.

19 miles  3:27:28

Opposite the O2

I am out partying later but decide to squeeze in a quick lunchtime blast.  It's raining but I decide to man-up and get on with it.

Over to the other side of the dock down the Thames opposite the O2.  I reach the turn around point quicker than when I usually run this route which is a bit of a surprise.

Wet but glad to get the run in.  Beer now.

5km 25:30

A sharpener

Down the park for 8 x 1:30 and then back.  In the twighlight, later in the dark.  I was feeling sluggish, but at the end I am running strong.

The perfect session to sharpen me up.  The running equivalent of a stiff drink.

8x1:30 with 1:30 recovery

Moon and stars

I'm working to get my running mojo back.  I've even contemplated pulling out of the Bournemouth Marathon.  Tonight I had to go for a quick beer after work.  My wife is out running so I toy with the idea of some intervals down the park to sharpen me up and wake me up from my malaise.

When my wife returns I decide to head towards Beckenham instead.  It is a clear night.  First I notice the stars and then the bright full moon.

At Beckenham Cinema I decide to turn it into a loop.  It's been hard and I've plodded.  Gradually on the way home I relax.  I start to just run without overthinking it.

I'm soon home and all the better for the run.

5.5km 33:20

Back from Lewisham

I'm trying to get back into the running habit.  I've still some disruption to my running plans coming up including a weekend camping and two stag dos (One evening, one for 4 days...)

I run back from Lewisham.  It is a bit of a struggle but I've known worse.  I fly through the woods without ever hitting anything near graceful or elegant.

I power up the hill.  I scare a crow at the top of my road and if flies into someones house window!

5miles 47:15

Back on it

I didn't run much on holiday, just too tired and relaxed.  I've treated it a bit like I have been injured for a couple of weeks.  I don't think I am going to run a PB at Bournemouth Marathon but I want to get round.

Tonight I decide an hour to get back on it.  I head towards Petts Wood.  After an hour I turn round and head for home.

Nothing spectacular.  The knees were a bit grumbly as well.  Getting back on it though.

10km 1:00:50

Quick Blast on Holiday

I wasn't in the mood to run. I wasn't even inspired by Mo Farah's performance in the world championship 10km. A strong coffee later and I am ready to run. But I don't fancy hills.  Hard when you are in St. Ives. 

I decide to run to the beach, slip my shoes and run up and down the beach a few times. I get to the beach and it is high tide. The waves are proper dumpers on the high part of the beach. I run a little way down the coastal path before hitting a big hill. I turn and head back.

Through town I flow. I zip and flick through the crowd before once again powering up the hill. A short run but a little bit fartlek.

4km 20:41

Levant Church

I'm aware I should be running as we'll as relaxing on holiday. I've been in the surf all day with the kids.  Tonight I head down the coast in the opposite way.

I blast through town and down towards Carbis Bay. The plan is to run 30 mins and 30 mins back. Hopefully before it gets too dark though I have my torch. 

After a while I see a sign to Leland Church.  it will take me past the half hour to make it there but I decide to push on. Up and down steep steps, through huge sand dunes and stretches of sands all the time the sea relentlessly roaring below me.  Eventually I reach the granite classically Cornish building but still with a gothic feel.  I turn and head back.

I see a Cornish looking gentleman walking his dog:
"nice easy run I said to my self"
I say to him.
"they haven't locked you all up yet then?"
(Implying that I am mad)

Later darkness sets in.  I turn thee torch on. I still manage a wrong turn and head down some steep steps. At the bottom, on the eastern jaw of the bay, is an old gun emplacement with a chair in the middle. I stop and admire before correcting my mistake. 

Soon I return to St. Ives.  I power up the hill back to the cottage. An amazing run.

8 miles 1:32:29

Wonderful Sunset Run

I'm on holiday in St Ives Cornwall. I decide to run town the coastal path.  First kids have to be dispatched to bed. I realise that a long run may end in the dark so I charge the torch.  I also download the OS map to my phone.

I run round the harbour and then up to the chapel on the island.  I run across the back of the beach before reaching the coastal path in earnest.  Then it is beautiful.  Reminiscent of Godley Head in NZ and some of the runs I have done there.

I try and diligently follow the cliff but it is not easy and it is not sign posted clearly. I become aware that I am running inland and possibly back on myself. I resort to the GPS and OS map.  I then run an insane route through hedgerows and over granite stiles (all on genuine footpaths) to get back to the coastal cliff route.  Gradually I notice that the sun is setting.  I don't think I have ever seen the sun set properly. I have had chances but not taken them. So I stop and watch the sunset.  It disrupts the run, but, hey.  

The rest of the run I flow through the tricky technical path. By the time I return to the harbour I am buzzing.  The harbour is now also buzzing with tourists. Well, there's nothing I like more than a bit of crowd surfing. I flow through the masses and then hammer along the quay side. I power up the steep hill to the cottage.

One of my best runs ever.

8 miles 1:48:00

Not as far as planned

I was going to run a loop around Greenwich Observatory at lunch today.  But I have a weird pain in my ribs.  After a few minutes running I decide to cut it short.  I feel tired and am not running strong.  It's probably last nights exertions at the track in the heat.

I run round Millwall dock.  Sometimes running makes aches and pains go away.  Sometimes they make it worse.  Sometimes they have no effect.  Today?  No effect.

4.5km 26:00

Hot intervals

It's the hottest day of the year.  32c or so. I've been in an air-conditioned office all day.  Tonight it is 1mile, 2x800, 4x400, 8x200.  I don't feel great but I get on and do it.

The aim is to run even splits.  This is helped if you have even rest breaks.  They are meant to be 90 seconds.  I time the breaks and try keep the rest of group from going to soon or taking too much rest.

After a while I'm in interval mode and crank them out.  The best bit is the 8x200.  We all take a turn leading.  Virtually everyone zooms off and finishes first when they lead and are being hunted down.

Then before I realise we have done the last one.  I feel like I could do some more, but it I feel fantastic.  I've run the splits pretty even.  One 400m I smashed and one 200m.  The rest I maintained my discipline.

A good session, where I could feel myself growing.

1mile, 2x800 (90sec rest), 4x400 (90sec rest), 8x200 (60sec rest)