Yesterday was spent creaking from the long run. Today I want to gently get back on it. I decide to run back from Grove Park.
I don't push too hard. It is light after the clock change and for most of the run the sun is out. Towards the end a little tiredness returns to my legs. But I'm feeling fit. Bring on the marathon...
4.5km 26:03
Tuesday, 27 March 2012
Monday, 26 March 2012
Biggin Hill and then back for a taper
The clocks have changed, the kids don't want to go to bed. I need to do my last long run before starting the taper for the Brighton Marathon. Eventually my wife takes over and I am off.
I decide to run up (and I mean up) to Biggin Hill. I have been training by running my long runs to Time rather than distance. This makes sense today as the pace will be slow, as on the way out I will be gaining height quite rapidly.
I cruise down to Hayes. I run, slightly nervously, through the road in the dark common. I have brought my bright torch which help somewhat. I pass through Keston and onto Leaves Green.
Two police motorbikes scream past ahead I can see lots of blues-and-twos. I can see the Police have shut the road. I ask if I am allowed through, and I am. I pass a serious 3 way car crash. One car has been cut open. The front has been ripped of a top-end Mercedes.
As I near the turn around point, I spot a petrol station. I stop and get some supplies. I run a little further and turn back. At this point I know I have completed my Marathon training. I wanted to get this run done, and by reaching the far point I knew that I had done it and would make it back(I have to get home!). From here to the big day is a gentle taper.
I run back, past the accident and across the common. It's easy running downhill and the pace is faster. I have my wine gums on the hill on Pickhurst Lane. It doesn't feel too bad. I have had 3 gels, wine gum and half a bottle of sports drink. I have stopped to wee, fiddle with the IPhone.
The training has gone well. The last couple of weeks has been dogged by too much work and I would have liked some more sessions but I have really given it a good go. Just need to pray now that the big day is not too hot.
When I get home my wife has left some freshly baked Banana Muffins out for me.
25.5km 2:53:48
I decide to run up (and I mean up) to Biggin Hill. I have been training by running my long runs to Time rather than distance. This makes sense today as the pace will be slow, as on the way out I will be gaining height quite rapidly.
I cruise down to Hayes. I run, slightly nervously, through the road in the dark common. I have brought my bright torch which help somewhat. I pass through Keston and onto Leaves Green.
Two police motorbikes scream past ahead I can see lots of blues-and-twos. I can see the Police have shut the road. I ask if I am allowed through, and I am. I pass a serious 3 way car crash. One car has been cut open. The front has been ripped of a top-end Mercedes.
As I near the turn around point, I spot a petrol station. I stop and get some supplies. I run a little further and turn back. At this point I know I have completed my Marathon training. I wanted to get this run done, and by reaching the far point I knew that I had done it and would make it back(I have to get home!). From here to the big day is a gentle taper.
I run back, past the accident and across the common. It's easy running downhill and the pace is faster. I have my wine gums on the hill on Pickhurst Lane. It doesn't feel too bad. I have had 3 gels, wine gum and half a bottle of sports drink. I have stopped to wee, fiddle with the IPhone.
The training has gone well. The last couple of weeks has been dogged by too much work and I would have liked some more sessions but I have really given it a good go. Just need to pray now that the big day is not too hot.
When I get home my wife has left some freshly baked Banana Muffins out for me.
25.5km 2:53:48
Sunday, 25 March 2012
Confidence Boosting, Barefoot Park Run
I've been having some confidence wobbles ahead of the big marathon. Today I decide to do Park Run as I don't feel ready for a 20miler today (but I know it has to be done this weekend, as the last one!). I have been doing my long runs and so have not been to Park Run for a while. The old legs feel a little jaded and as the weather is nice I decide a bit of barefoot action is the way ahead.On the first lap my feet are cold from the morning dews. I am not pushing hard and rather enjoying the run. The second lap the feet have warmed up. I can see Mike from the club in front and start to pick him off. I never quite reach him in the end.
At the end I can't sprint as that really can hurt my feet. I do pick up the pace. No way was this a full-race effort with the thought of the 20 miler in my mind. When I look at the time, I am surprised. It is a quick time, 20 seconds off my PB (remember no Sprint finish and no race effort!) and my 5th fastest ever.
Because of the amount of longer mileage I have been doing, I could understand my 5km time slipping. The opposite seems to be the case. My confidence soars.
5km 22:07
Friday, 23 March 2012
Indulgent Run
I need to get some pace back into my running. I have been doing the big miles but need to get some speed in else I will fail due to being a one pace plodder. So tonight I plan a quick 4.5km blast from Grove Park.
However it is a beautiful day and I am sick of work. I dream of running across a sunny Beckenham Place Park. I decide to "treat" myself by doing the longer run back from Lewisham
Even though I get out on time, the sun is in the last death throws of the day. I feel tired but having watched a documentary about John Bishop last night, who cycled from Paris to the channel, rowed across the channel and then ran 3 back-to-back Mararthons, I was inspired. I just knuckled down and got on with it.
Today was one of those days where I got caught at the traffic lights, had to stop and fiddle with the IPhone and stop to sip a drink. I was also plodding again, so the pace wasn't electric. It was good to get the solid miles in.
The plan is to do Park Run tomorrow for a little bit of pace.
8km 46:30
However it is a beautiful day and I am sick of work. I dream of running across a sunny Beckenham Place Park. I decide to "treat" myself by doing the longer run back from Lewisham
Even though I get out on time, the sun is in the last death throws of the day. I feel tired but having watched a documentary about John Bishop last night, who cycled from Paris to the channel, rowed across the channel and then ran 3 back-to-back Mararthons, I was inspired. I just knuckled down and got on with it.
Today was one of those days where I got caught at the traffic lights, had to stop and fiddle with the IPhone and stop to sip a drink. I was also plodding again, so the pace wasn't electric. It was good to get the solid miles in.
The plan is to do Park Run tomorrow for a little bit of pace.
8km 46:30
Catch up run
I needed to run yesterday, but work got in the way and I didn't leave the office until gone 7. So today I need to catch up some miles so a double-bubble is on the cards.
I am woken in the night by the baby and then cannot get off to sleep. A bad nights sleep doesn't stop me cracking on. I get the train to Nunhead and have a pretty uneventful run in from there. Initially I feel the benefit of the extra days rest but then I descend in to plodding and don't even really pick it up in the city
6.4km 40:00
I am woken in the night by the baby and then cannot get off to sleep. A bad nights sleep doesn't stop me cracking on. I get the train to Nunhead and have a pretty uneventful run in from there. Initially I feel the benefit of the extra days rest but then I descend in to plodding and don't even really pick it up in the city
6.4km 40:00
Wednesday, 21 March 2012
Defiant Run
Work was conspiring to keep me there and deny me my second run today. But I am resolute and dispatch anything that comes my way. I leave the office and head to Cannon Street.
It's still light and I can feel spring is well under way. Next week the clocks change and then most of my runs will be home in the light. I will have survived a winter of running.
I plod on. The best bit is through the woods in Beckenham Place Park where the ground is a little bit wet with lots of give. I try and take a short cut and follow the path through the woods (rather than the trail down the railway line) but end up way off course. I have to run across the top field and down the steep bank to exit the park.
The slog up the hill by Ravensbourne Station is hard, but at the top I am able to go into cruise mode and it's easy back home.
8km 46:31
It's still light and I can feel spring is well under way. Next week the clocks change and then most of my runs will be home in the light. I will have survived a winter of running.
I plod on. The best bit is through the woods in Beckenham Place Park where the ground is a little bit wet with lots of give. I try and take a short cut and follow the path through the woods (rather than the trail down the railway line) but end up way off course. I have to run across the top field and down the steep bank to exit the park.
The slog up the hill by Ravensbourne Station is hard, but at the top I am able to go into cruise mode and it's easy back home.
8km 46:31
Up and early
I needed to run yesterday, but couldn't because of work. By the time I got home and had eaten then it was out of the question. Instead I commit to running half way to work to make up.
My son wakes up just past 6am and hour earlier than I was planning. The good news was that I was able to leave and get an early train. I get off the train at Nunhead. I look at The City a long way in the distance. It always looks further than it feels to run.
It sunny and not too cold. The run was pretty uneventful, but I get to work and feel alive.
38:31 6.4km
My son wakes up just past 6am and hour earlier than I was planning. The good news was that I was able to leave and get an early train. I get off the train at Nunhead. I look at The City a long way in the distance. It always looks further than it feels to run.
It sunny and not too cold. The run was pretty uneventful, but I get to work and feel alive.
38:31 6.4km
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
