My freshly minted training plan says a steady 5 or 6 miles so I decide to run back from Lewisham. I'm caught at work with a corundum but I am determined to run.
The weather is perfect, cool and no rain. The traffic is kind and I focus on good form. A slight niggle in the right ankle but nothing to troubling at this point. The time is fairly decent as well.
When I get home my 4 year old son says "After a long run you are all stinky". I probably am.
44:18 8km
Wednesday, 2 January 2013
Easy, easy lunchtime
I want to get back into two runs a day. When I did this previously my performance improved significantly. So today I go for the easiest of runs down the canal towards the Olympic Stadium but get nowhere near it.
There's lots of people out, perhaps a January New Year thing. I'm enjoying it and feel tempted to pick up the pace. I remind myself that I will be doing a steady 5 miles later and reign myself in.
I have run this route before when heavily hungover and today I get further. The big training push has started...
5km 30:00
There's lots of people out, perhaps a January New Year thing. I'm enjoying it and feel tempted to pick up the pace. I remind myself that I will be doing a steady 5 miles later and reign myself in.
I have run this route before when heavily hungover and today I get further. The big training push has started...
5km 30:00
Tuesday, 1 January 2013
New Years Park Run
It's at 10:00 today, and despite it being New Years day I'm not to hungover. I equip my feet with full mud kit though (Trail Shoes and Waterproof Socks)
There's plenty of people from the club here. I set off at a decent pace ploughing through mud and puddle alike. After the first 1.5km, I'm even keeping up with Rob and Jenny. This is clearly a mistake. Another km or so and I start to struggle. I feel tired. I keep going but at a slower pace. I remind myself that this is a New Years trot.
At the finish I put in a sprint and move up a couple of places. The time is still more than 20 seconds slower than last time and it probably wasn't as muddy.
Later I look at everyone else's times from the winner downwards. And to be honest, everyone had lost about the same percentage from their expected time so it's not to bad.
5km 25:20
There's plenty of people from the club here. I set off at a decent pace ploughing through mud and puddle alike. After the first 1.5km, I'm even keeping up with Rob and Jenny. This is clearly a mistake. Another km or so and I start to struggle. I feel tired. I keep going but at a slower pace. I remind myself that this is a New Years trot.
At the finish I put in a sprint and move up a couple of places. The time is still more than 20 seconds slower than last time and it probably wasn't as muddy.
Later I look at everyone else's times from the winner downwards. And to be honest, everyone had lost about the same percentage from their expected time so it's not to bad.
5km 25:20
Saturday, 29 December 2012
Back to Park Run
It's been a while since I park-runned. I suggested my wife did it, but she bottled it due to the mud. And she was probably right. I think about going barefoot but in the end I wear the Evo-Skins.
I see some familiar faces at the start. And it is muddy. Compared to Thursday night it is not too bad. A number of people gingerly tip toe round the puddles. I plough through them. We come to a particularly muddy section, I pump my arms and plough through.
Down the back straight it is to hard to run on the stony path so I run on the grass. I almost slip over, but pull it back. I then run with a little more concentration. There is no way the time is going to be decent, but in the finish I pull back a couple of places.
The final time was one of the worst I have run but given the muddy conditions and gusty winds it is no surprise. I would be interested to know what my straight-up 5km time is though, just to make sure I am on track.
5km 24:57
I see some familiar faces at the start. And it is muddy. Compared to Thursday night it is not too bad. A number of people gingerly tip toe round the puddles. I plough through them. We come to a particularly muddy section, I pump my arms and plough through.
Down the back straight it is to hard to run on the stony path so I run on the grass. I almost slip over, but pull it back. I then run with a little more concentration. There is no way the time is going to be decent, but in the finish I pull back a couple of places.
The final time was one of the worst I have run but given the muddy conditions and gusty winds it is no surprise. I would be interested to know what my straight-up 5km time is though, just to make sure I am on track.
5km 24:57
Friday, 28 December 2012
Back to the Rising Sun
I didn't think the night run was going to happen but it fell into place. I drive to Knockholt and meet up with 3 people I've never met before. Jerry had pulled out earlier with a cold but it turns out he is coming.
We run up a steep hill and Jerry is wheezing. We go off road and straight away start slip-sliding. I soon learn to run on my toes where there is more grip. It is pitch black and I have my super-bright torch strapped to my head. Soon we settle into a rhythm. As we get to Otford, Jerry calls it a night. The rest of us push on. The pace is a little bit fast; it doesn't bother me as I go at my pace. If I fall back, then I fall back.
As this is the North Downs some of the hills are hard, very hard. We descend into walking at a number of points, but always onwards
The mud is sucking my shoes off. When I get a chance I tie the laces tight and life becomes a lot easier. The seal skinz socks are excellent as usual. A couple of times we go wrong. This involves climbing over a barbed-wire fence but it's nothing that we can't sort out.
Eventually we make it to the craziest pub in the world. There is a meowing parrot and they get around 8 customers a day. We have a beautiful pint of Winter Warmer. The first few miles after the pub are easy as we are fuelled by beer. Then it becomes harder. I gradually tick of the landmarks on the way back. All I can think about is getting home and getting something to eat.
Finally we arrive back in Knockholt, I say a quick goodbye, pose for some photos and then back home to demolish the Christmas Leftovers.
The light was good, though some of the other head torches are better at defusing the light. A couple of the other guys suffered with battery issues. Not a problem for me. The shoes were good once I had tightened the laces to stop them being sucked off by the mud. The seal skinz were as usual excellent. My feet were clean and bone dry at the end despite wading through puddles. A fair bit of mental strength had got me round but clearly my fitness is not too bad.
25.6km 4 hours including pub stop
We run up a steep hill and Jerry is wheezing. We go off road and straight away start slip-sliding. I soon learn to run on my toes where there is more grip. It is pitch black and I have my super-bright torch strapped to my head. Soon we settle into a rhythm. As we get to Otford, Jerry calls it a night. The rest of us push on. The pace is a little bit fast; it doesn't bother me as I go at my pace. If I fall back, then I fall back.
As this is the North Downs some of the hills are hard, very hard. We descend into walking at a number of points, but always onwards
The mud is sucking my shoes off. When I get a chance I tie the laces tight and life becomes a lot easier. The seal skinz socks are excellent as usual. A couple of times we go wrong. This involves climbing over a barbed-wire fence but it's nothing that we can't sort out.
Eventually we make it to the craziest pub in the world. There is a meowing parrot and they get around 8 customers a day. We have a beautiful pint of Winter Warmer. The first few miles after the pub are easy as we are fuelled by beer. Then it becomes harder. I gradually tick of the landmarks on the way back. All I can think about is getting home and getting something to eat.
Finally we arrive back in Knockholt, I say a quick goodbye, pose for some photos and then back home to demolish the Christmas Leftovers.
The light was good, though some of the other head torches are better at defusing the light. A couple of the other guys suffered with battery issues. Not a problem for me. The shoes were good once I had tightened the laces to stop them being sucked off by the mud. The seal skinz were as usual excellent. My feet were clean and bone dry at the end despite wading through puddles. A fair bit of mental strength had got me round but clearly my fitness is not too bad.
25.6km 4 hours including pub stop
Thursday, 27 December 2012
Lunchtime to Greenwich Observatory
It's slow at work so I can fit in a longer run at lunchtime. It will be good to burn off some of the Christmas Excess. A couple of people on the office want to go on a short run, but I want to take this opportunity to do a loop through Greenwich Prk.
I set of and maintain a solid but steady pace all the way to Greenwich Park, including running through the foot tunnel. I power up the hill until I reach the observatory. At the view point I stop and tick a picture. I then work my way down the steep hill.
It's great feeling running and it's nice to be able to do that little bit futher. I do seem a little lacking in sharpness. Something I will need to work on with maybe some targeted intervals.
8.5km 51:25
I set of and maintain a solid but steady pace all the way to Greenwich Park, including running through the foot tunnel. I power up the hill until I reach the observatory. At the view point I stop and tick a picture. I then work my way down the steep hill.
It's great feeling running and it's nice to be able to do that little bit futher. I do seem a little lacking in sharpness. Something I will need to work on with maybe some targeted intervals.
8.5km 51:25
Wednesday, 26 December 2012
Boxing Day Late Run
Christmas Eve and Christmas day disappear into an alcoholic haze. Boxing Day could have gone the same way but didn't. So after getting back from the rellies and getting the worn-out kids to bed I head out for a run. It's a struggle but I need to get back on it.
I run for 15 minutes towards Hayes. My lungs feel a bit broken from too much boozing. I'm listening to a good running pod-cast and the time drifts by. Before I know it I am in the final straight back to home. The pace has not been electric but that's not the important thing.
I've taken time to indulge over Christmas but now it's serious training time
5km
I run for 15 minutes towards Hayes. My lungs feel a bit broken from too much boozing. I'm listening to a good running pod-cast and the time drifts by. Before I know it I am in the final straight back to home. The pace has not been electric but that's not the important thing.
I've taken time to indulge over Christmas but now it's serious training time
5km
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