Guilt gets the better of me

I was going to get up early and do a quick hour round the common.  A few beers the night before stops the early outing.  So instead I go mid-morning.  I set off on the 3 commons circular walk. 

Then I feel guilty.  It is beautiful on the common, but I should be spending time with the kids.  I decide to cut it short and head back.  I only run just over 20 minutes. 

I head home and get my 2 daughters.  We go back to the common and go hunting for cool mushrooms to take photos off.

No amount of running now will improve my marathon for the better  Good to get a little run in.

22:00 4km

Round Millwall Dock

It's Matt's leaving drinks tonight.  I decide a quick 4 or 5k at lunch.  I somehow fall into running round the Millwall Docks.  It's hard, but I've been there, done that with hard before.  Then I remember the last time I probably run this route was with Matt.  A freudian slip perhaps?

Still good to get the run in   And so to beer...

4km 25:00

Back from Elmstead Woods

A new route that I don't think I have run before. One stop past Grove Park.  I was thinking about running back from Crystal Palace.  That starts as a big downhill.  This run start as a little downhill and into a big uphill.

I try to avoid crossing the road and end up running on the verge.  Eventually I get across the road.  The pace is pretty slow, but it is interesting running through Bromley North. 

Then it is down through Shortlands Park (as I shall call it) and a big puff up the hill.

4.5km 26:33

Eltham and back via Petts Wood

Didn't want to run tonight.  Had to run tonight.  My last longish run before the marathon.  Last week was the long, long run.  Tonight about 15 miles, enough to work me but not too far to tire me out.

The original plan is to run out to Woolwich common and back.  I head out through Grove Park.  It is a little on the lively side.  I run through Mottingham and on towards Eltham.  At Eltham I stop and get a drink.  I decide to do a big loop through Chislehurst instead.  At Chislehurst I decide to extend it on to Petts Wood.

At Petts Wood I realise that the run back should get me back right on about 15miles and 2 1/2 hours (The goal time/distance)

All night the pace was not electric but my form is good.  I can definitely run a marathon in this shape though not a PB.  Still feel a bit tubby and out of shape from too much partying.

I can't really taper as I have not be training hard enough to taper.  Just a few regular quick blasts I think.

15 miles 2:32:00.

Beckenham Cinema and Back

Was not feeling it again today.  Probably the weekend-beer disease.  After the kids are in bed I get some things on E-bay I have been meaning to do for months, nay years.  This inspires me so I decide to get out there just to get *some* running in.

Out to Beckenham Cinema and back.  It doesn't feel too bad and I trundle along.  I never really get moving properly though.  The time is pretty slow.  In the week or so before London, I did the same route 8 minutes quicker (and wasn't really trying)

Still got out there and did it.  Trying to get back into the habit of consistent running.  Which is good, given that I am running a marathon in 2 weeks.

5km 32:11

A drink in the Last Chance Saloon

The marathon training has not gone well.  I'd like to say it was due to the summer heat but in reality it has been more a victim of too much boozing.  The long run and the weekend was skipped due to a hangover.  I still felt rotten on Monday.  My final hope of getting a decent long run in before the Marathon was tonight.

During the day I toy with various 20 mile routes.  In the end I settle on Pollhill Garden Centre and back.  I am tired when I get back from work.  I put the kids in bed and head out.  My body is grumbly and I don't fancy it.  Yet the further from home I get the more resigned I become to my fate and the less likely I am to turn back early.  About 7 miles in I stop at a petrol station and refuel.  I run the last 3 miles up to Pollhill.

I stop and turn back.  My spirits are picking up.  I stop at another petrol station on the way back for another drink and some sweets.  And then it happens.   I start to pick up speed.  I get faster and faster.  The final 6 miles I absolutely hammer.  I am running as fast as I can move my legs and yet I do not tire.  My technique feels smooth and graceful.  It feels like I could not run a standard mile as fast as this.

Through Bromley there are various drunks and tourists milling about.  I fly through them like an express train, onwards.  I push all the way back home.

I don't know where it came from but I quite enjoyed it.

20 miles 3:15:00

Greenwich Loop and then Feel Good

I am planning the final big long run tomorrow.  After a couple of days off I need to keep running though.  I can't face a run after work today so I decide to go at lunchtime.  The Greenwich Loop is the aim.

I put on a good podcast about the internet, (metaphorically) sit back and run.  My form feels good but I'm just not running as fast as I was when I was London Marathon fit.  Still it's a lovely run and Greenwich Park is as beautiful as ever.

I didn't push too hard, but I noticed that at the start of the year I did it 7 minutes quicker...

When I've finished I feel great though...

8km 48:56

Wet, Wet, Wet

I look at the rainfall radar and I reckon I can squeeze in a quick half hour at lunch before it rains.  I head out for a gentle run down the river towards Wapping.  At the far point it starts raining.  Raining really hard.  I dart into a bandstand but I don't think it is a shower.  I wait 5 minutes and then go and get thoroughly soaked.

The running was fine, the wet not so.  As I walk into my building I see someone I know.  My hair is dripping and my T-Shirt stuck to me.

"I think it is raining out there", I say
They nod, understanding

4km 25:00

Back from Crystal Palace

After yesterday's efforts I have slightly sore thighs.  I still fancy a recovery run.  At Canada Water a Crystal Palace Train turns up after 3 mins.  I jump on it.

I run through the park, enjoying the last of the summer light.  The clocks will soon go back.  The run is fine but the thighs let me know they are there.

An enjoyable run and probably better to have run than not as part of the recovery.

6km 33:59

Battersea IAA 10k Event

 I can't remember what IAA stands for but it is basically a 10km championship for various financial institutions running clubs.  Last year I had set my 10k PB here and had absolutely flogged myself round.  Early in the season I had been running lightning fast 5ks but recently my form has dipped under an avalanche of holiday and beer.

My goal was to go faster than last year.  There is little ceremony at the start and we are off.  After about 200m my shoe lace comes undone.  So I stop to tie it up.  It means running through some back markers.  The first small lap round Battersea Park is not to bad.  Then the big lap, across the Thames and down the embankment.  The whole time I am reeling in people who have set off to faster.  My form feels good.

Before long I am on the final small lap.  It is always so much more enjoyable when you do not set off too fast.  I think a good time is on the cards.  I keep pushing all the way, running well.

I cross the line and poke the watch.  Now I am confused.  I can't remember exactly what my time was last year.  It was about this time.  Then it dawns on me that if I have beat last years time, then it is a 10k PB.  It is not until I am on the train home when I lookup my time I realise I beat last years time.  It's great to run a 10k PB.

I'm not in form.  I'd love to get in real shape (I should be now really given I am running a marathon...) and see what I could do.

10k 46:25 PB

All good again

England are playing in a big football match tonight so I will require beer.  I also want to do a little run.  Nothing too taxing as I have a 10km race tomorrow.  Though my current form and beer probably prevents the chance of a decent time.  Don't want to embarrass myself though.

I decide to do a quick blast back from Grove Park via the Off License.  I come out the station and bang! I am off, zipping in and out of the crowd.  I feel fantastic.  I try and slow down remembering that I am racing tomorrow.  But I feel great, I am running strong and it seems fast.

I do control myself but soon I turn off the usual route towards the beer.  It's hard to judge the time but it felt good.  I don't know how I can feel so bad one day and then next day top-of-the world.

With a heavy load of beer I run back up the hill to my house.  Even then this feels quite good.

4.5km 25:00.

Bright light of Croydon but then too tired

I've got four weeks before the Bournemouth Marathon.  Training has been woeful.  Too hard with the heat and holidays.  I start to wonder how I am going to get round.  I decide that if I pull off a 15 miler tonight, a long 20 miler at the weekend and then another 15 miles that should be enough.

So after the kids are in bed I summon up the motivation to get out.  I head out towards to Croydon.  The pace though drags.  I am struggling with 10 minute miles.  In the end I turn off the pace display and look at the distance.  I reach the far point and it is only 6.5 miles.  I loop back via Adiscombe.

It is not helped by the fact I know I have a 10k race on Wednesday.  I don't want to turn up and embarrass myself.  I feel hungry.  I consume the gel I had brought with me and this does perk me up.  Not enough to want to keep running.  I don't really fancy a late night either.

I run down the hill with about 11.5 miles done.  Ho-hum.  Pace is about 10 min/mile.  This years London Marathon training seems a long way away.

11.5 miles 1:53:57

Back from Lewisham

Tonights run varied as the day went on.  It swung between not at all, all the way home from work, just back from Penge and finally settled on back from Lewisham.

It still summer hot even though autumn can be heard coming up the path.  I settle in and run.  I listen to a new album on the IPod.  I pick the pace up a little towards the end.  Feel like I am cruising a few weeks after a marathon rather than building up to a few weeks before a marathon.  I'll get round but not sure why I feel so out-of-sorts at the moment

8km 46:47

Beckenham Assembly League at the end of Summer

I was going to jump in the car and do the run at 7:15.  Two problems.  1. My wife has the car 2. It seems to start at 7:00 and it is 6:36.  I get changed and run hard the mile or so to get there.  It looks like the run is not going to start on time.  I stand in the club house, sweating every where.

Eventually we line up.  I don't go off too fast.  As usual I pass plenty on the big hill, and get passed by many on the way down.  I get passed by man who appears to be wearing his pants.  I decide I do not want to be beaten by him.  Just past Mcdonald's I see Jenny.  It is like a repeat of the track as I follow her round for a while.  She seems to be struggling and I pass.

I'm running hard but it is not too bad.  On the final hill through the park I pass a number of people.  I sprint past a couple of more in the final straight.

I cross the line and then collapse in a pool of sweat.  Supposedly it is 28 celsius.  I look at the time, not bad for a 5km.  But it is not 5km, more like 3 miles.  Good to be back and racing.

I then have to run the mile or so back to get back to see the kids at bed time.

3miles 21:52

Back from Grove Park to regain some normality

I'm still not in a good-way after the stag weekend.  Just too much and haven't run at all this week.  I need something to perk me up.  So I decide on one of my favourite runs back from Grove Park.

It's meant to be 28 Celsius but it doesn't feel that hot.  I settle in and run.  I'm not running particular fast but then I wasn't really trying.  I want to get back in the saddle and running (If that is not a contradiction)

With some good house music I am soon home and feeling better having run.

4.5km 28:23