Or, bugger me, that's less than a month to go...
The big event seems to have snuck up rather alarmingly. Whilst my attention has been diverted with matters such as pounding round the training miles, impending unemployment, booking holidays and making a valiant attempt at the company record for most hours in a week spent in the deli bar, that number on the countdown has got very small. Scarily small.
I suppose the fact that in recent weeks my vest has arrived from Marie Curie, my registration instructions and number (4018) have been dispatched and I've started the process of booking a hotel should have alerted me to the impending arrival of the need to actually DO this thing rather than just talk about it. It's all been a bit conceptual so far, but I'm starting to get a little bit excited. And nervous. Actually that's not true, I've always been a little bit nervous. Except when I've been very nervous.
This has been the last cutback week, and I've ended up doing even less than the modest amount the Programme wanted. A gentle 4 mile recovery on Monday after the Alloa half and a rain-infested 8.5 on Wednesday was it - needed to sort out paperwork on Thursday lunchtime, and was feeling the beginnings of a cold.
Despite it being cutback, I'd added a 20 miler today to cover for one of those I missed through injury / illness. Learning from last time, I ran FROM Home to Dalmuir, thus taking the dreaded uphill finish out of the equation. I also decided that I needed to do one longer run at a slightly higher pace than last time, so I settled on 30 seconds slower than the "target pace" I ran at Alloa - 8 minute 20 second miles. And I stuck almost exactly to it. The pace on the Garmin barely varied 2 seconds each way all run. Metronomic.
As is the way with the Scottish spring, weather conditions were officially "mixed". Seasons swapping every 15 minutes. This meant I had to don one of my windproof base layers to combat a strong cold wind. It has been some time since I wore said garment, and several lbs have been lost in the intervening period. This has turned it from "snug" to "loose and chafing". God, my nips hurt.
And another thing. Cyclists. Twice today groups came the other way and refused to go single file, forcing me off the SHARED pathway and into the trees. Arrogant, ignorant bastards.
Anyway enough ranting. A positive. If you look at the JustGiving widget on the left, you'll see 100%. Just come off the phone to my Mum and the pledges she'd had from folks at church have got me over the £1000. In the midst of all the fun, there was also a serious point to this.
So THANK YOU, again, to everyone who's donated to Marie Curie Cancer Care and, today, to the good people of St. Peter & St. Paul's Parish Church in Stokesley.
Music. Only 4 to go, and I was tempted to abandon the playlist rules and just stuff on what I liked. But I came across a YouTube clip that actually combines two playlist songs in one. A Dustland Fairytale by The Killers with a bit of Can't Help Falling in Love grafted on the end. Nice.
Week's Summary: 3 runs, 32 miles: Long run, 19.7 miles
Miles since acceptance: 631 (1015km)
Saturday, 27 March 2010
Sunday, 21 March 2010
5 weeks and counting
Or, Stars on '45.
Getting to the business end now. Had a bit of a mid-week downer, as I was just starting to get sick of the endlessness of it all. Miles, runs, Programmes, plans. It seemed like I used to run because I liked to, but now it's because I have to. So, I did the miles, did the Tempo at Scotstoun despite feeling dog-awful and struggled through a rubbish Pace on Thursday.
But really, this week was all about today. The advice is always to do a half-marathon as race preparation about this far away from the main event. Get used to racing, rather than training, again; test the kit out; work out a race plan and try and stick to it. Well, Scotland in late March doesn't have many events, and I somehow managed to overlook the one that starts less than 10 miles from my front door last week (Balloch to Clydebank) and enter the Alloa Half Marathon today.
I had to think quite hard about whether to actually do it, given that I've missed at least one longer run from the schedule, but eventually decided the racing was a better idea. I devised a race plan that was intended to test my ability to run at, or just inside, my target marathon pace. I need to do 8-minute miles to hit 3:30, so the plan was to run the first 10 miles just inside this, then push on for the last 3. The intention was really to see whether I arrived at 10 miles feeling like I could run the same again at the same pace. Then go for it.
So that's what happened. Alloa is a decent sized run (about 1000 runners), well organised and marshalled, over rolling countryside under the Ochil hills. Seemed a quite serious effort, with almost half the runners affiliated. So, I just turned up and did my thing. Paced myself between 7:45 and 7:50 for the first 10, averaging 7:48. And felt really comfortable - breathing a lot less that the people I was passing and legs not too bad. So at 10 I went for it and ran at about 85% for the rest of the race. Largely, it must be said, because of the helpful downhills. Did the last 3 miles at 6:52 pace, saved a bit for a sprint finish and did 1:39:28. Great psychological boost at this stage.
Now, the spooky thing. And the reason for this week's sub heading. I turned 45 in January. My vest number for today's race was 45. I was in the MV45 category. Have a wild guess at my finishing position within this category. Yep. 45th. Does anyone know if the number 45 is lucky?
Anyway, the music will NOT be Stars on 45. But it will be related. One of the So45 compilation efforts featured the intro to this. As with so many things in life, it all comes back to The Boss. Fire.
Tenuous. Me?
Week's summary: 4 runs, 35 miles: Long run 13.1 miles
Miles since acceptance: 599
Getting to the business end now. Had a bit of a mid-week downer, as I was just starting to get sick of the endlessness of it all. Miles, runs, Programmes, plans. It seemed like I used to run because I liked to, but now it's because I have to. So, I did the miles, did the Tempo at Scotstoun despite feeling dog-awful and struggled through a rubbish Pace on Thursday.
But really, this week was all about today. The advice is always to do a half-marathon as race preparation about this far away from the main event. Get used to racing, rather than training, again; test the kit out; work out a race plan and try and stick to it. Well, Scotland in late March doesn't have many events, and I somehow managed to overlook the one that starts less than 10 miles from my front door last week (Balloch to Clydebank) and enter the Alloa Half Marathon today.
I had to think quite hard about whether to actually do it, given that I've missed at least one longer run from the schedule, but eventually decided the racing was a better idea. I devised a race plan that was intended to test my ability to run at, or just inside, my target marathon pace. I need to do 8-minute miles to hit 3:30, so the plan was to run the first 10 miles just inside this, then push on for the last 3. The intention was really to see whether I arrived at 10 miles feeling like I could run the same again at the same pace. Then go for it.
So that's what happened. Alloa is a decent sized run (about 1000 runners), well organised and marshalled, over rolling countryside under the Ochil hills. Seemed a quite serious effort, with almost half the runners affiliated. So, I just turned up and did my thing. Paced myself between 7:45 and 7:50 for the first 10, averaging 7:48. And felt really comfortable - breathing a lot less that the people I was passing and legs not too bad. So at 10 I went for it and ran at about 85% for the rest of the race. Largely, it must be said, because of the helpful downhills. Did the last 3 miles at 6:52 pace, saved a bit for a sprint finish and did 1:39:28. Great psychological boost at this stage.
Now, the spooky thing. And the reason for this week's sub heading. I turned 45 in January. My vest number for today's race was 45. I was in the MV45 category. Have a wild guess at my finishing position within this category. Yep. 45th. Does anyone know if the number 45 is lucky?
Anyway, the music will NOT be Stars on 45. But it will be related. One of the So45 compilation efforts featured the intro to this. As with so many things in life, it all comes back to The Boss. Fire.
Tenuous. Me?
Week's summary: 4 runs, 35 miles: Long run 13.1 miles
Miles since acceptance: 599
Saturday, 13 March 2010
6 weeks and counting
Or, goodbyeeeeeee..
Getting the big news out of the way first, I've accepted a severance package to leave the place I've worked since 1994. Not particularly nice, but it will give me the chance to take a few weeks out, recharge, and decide what I want to do with the rest of my working life. Mixed feelings as always: plenty that I won't miss, but plenty of people that I will. Made some really good friends, but I guess those friendships will transcend wherever we all happen to work. 3 weeks to go, then a well deserved break - I suspect "Taper" is going to happen somewhere like Dubai or Sharm...
Got back to the first full week of proper training for what seems like ages - last 3 have been off injured / gentle re-introduction / ill. Still a bit energy-lite on Monday and felt a bit sorry for myself, but I got a bit of a talking to and picked the rest of the week up. Reasonable speedwork on Wednesday and a longer pace run on Thursday.
Had planned to finish my unfinished business with the Arrochar to Home run today, but there's a train strike on and the West Highland line wasn't running. Cue hasty replanning. Much playing with MapMyRun found an alternative. Head the opposite direction on the trains that were working, get off at Dalmuir, run along the canal to Bowling, up to Dumbarton, then following a previous route up the Leven to Loch Lomond and finally over the hills to home.
Ironically the route up from Dumbarton was last used after we lost our main contract, the event that precipitated the need to restructure the company and ultimately cause me to leave. Anyway, it was a nice day, and a pleasant enough run, but bloody hell 20 miles is a long way. After running for seemingly ages, and starting to feel a bit tired, I looked at the Garmin to find I'd done 9.3 miles. Not even half way. Anyway, I plodded round on 8:45 minute mile pace, and just about managed the 3 horrible hills in the last 3 miles. But I was tired. Tired enough for a little post-bath snooze after I got back.
The tiredness wasn't helped by the realisation about 15 miles into the run that the reason I get the train to out then run back, which leaves the hills at the end, was moot today. There's only one train back from Arrochar, so if anything went wrong & I missed it I'd be stuck. There's a train every half hour from Dalmuir. So I could have started with 3 miles downhill, then enjoyed a flat run without the mental torture of "god, the hills" hanging over the whole run. Next time...
Music has been a challenge this week. Much going on in my head, for many reasons, and only a couple of songs jumped off the playlist today. Both by the Manics, but I went with the one that has one of my favourite lines, and one that seems appropriate for someone who's trying to look forward. No Surface All Feeling.
"What's the point in always looking back, when all you see is more and more junk". Genius.
One of those odd home-made YouTube jobs, but in this case it'd got loads of the Manics best video efforts, so I'll let it pass.
Week's summary: 4 runs, 43 miles (record): Long run 19.7 miles (record)
Miles since acceptance: 564
Getting the big news out of the way first, I've accepted a severance package to leave the place I've worked since 1994. Not particularly nice, but it will give me the chance to take a few weeks out, recharge, and decide what I want to do with the rest of my working life. Mixed feelings as always: plenty that I won't miss, but plenty of people that I will. Made some really good friends, but I guess those friendships will transcend wherever we all happen to work. 3 weeks to go, then a well deserved break - I suspect "Taper" is going to happen somewhere like Dubai or Sharm...
Got back to the first full week of proper training for what seems like ages - last 3 have been off injured / gentle re-introduction / ill. Still a bit energy-lite on Monday and felt a bit sorry for myself, but I got a bit of a talking to and picked the rest of the week up. Reasonable speedwork on Wednesday and a longer pace run on Thursday.
Had planned to finish my unfinished business with the Arrochar to Home run today, but there's a train strike on and the West Highland line wasn't running. Cue hasty replanning. Much playing with MapMyRun found an alternative. Head the opposite direction on the trains that were working, get off at Dalmuir, run along the canal to Bowling, up to Dumbarton, then following a previous route up the Leven to Loch Lomond and finally over the hills to home.
Ironically the route up from Dumbarton was last used after we lost our main contract, the event that precipitated the need to restructure the company and ultimately cause me to leave. Anyway, it was a nice day, and a pleasant enough run, but bloody hell 20 miles is a long way. After running for seemingly ages, and starting to feel a bit tired, I looked at the Garmin to find I'd done 9.3 miles. Not even half way. Anyway, I plodded round on 8:45 minute mile pace, and just about managed the 3 horrible hills in the last 3 miles. But I was tired. Tired enough for a little post-bath snooze after I got back.
The tiredness wasn't helped by the realisation about 15 miles into the run that the reason I get the train to out then run back, which leaves the hills at the end, was moot today. There's only one train back from Arrochar, so if anything went wrong & I missed it I'd be stuck. There's a train every half hour from Dalmuir. So I could have started with 3 miles downhill, then enjoyed a flat run without the mental torture of "god, the hills" hanging over the whole run. Next time...
Music has been a challenge this week. Much going on in my head, for many reasons, and only a couple of songs jumped off the playlist today. Both by the Manics, but I went with the one that has one of my favourite lines, and one that seems appropriate for someone who's trying to look forward. No Surface All Feeling.
"What's the point in always looking back, when all you see is more and more junk". Genius.
One of those odd home-made YouTube jobs, but in this case it'd got loads of the Manics best video efforts, so I'll let it pass.
Week's summary: 4 runs, 43 miles (record): Long run 19.7 miles (record)
Miles since acceptance: 564
Saturday, 6 March 2010
7 weeks and counting
Or, bugger it, more miles lost.
Sitting at home on a beautiful running day, when I was supposed to re-do the full Arrochar to Home run that I had to cut short when my thigh hurt. This time it's illness that's holding me back, rather than injury, but as everything that's entered my system in the last 72 hours has exited it quickly and enthusiastically, trying any form of exercise would be a risk. So here I sit, frustrated. But, as with the injury, there's no point pushing it. There's still time to get the miles in, but I'm starting to worry a bit about the lack of really long runs - 18.5 miles is still the longest, and I need 3 more in the next 4 weeks before taper starts.
The week started so well too. Did a longer recovery on Monday because it was so nice in the snowy, frosty sunshine. Then a very hard Tempo on Wednesday with 8 miles at 6:57 pace, Really tough, but very satisfying. In hindsight, I'd been feeling a little off during the day, so perhaps the extra effort tipped the system over the edge. And that was it. Week over.
This week's music is dedicated in equal measures to my training and my bowels. Born To Run. (Sorry, couldn't resist it...)
A really good video shot from just behind where I was standing at Hampden in July. There is no better live experience than The Boss, and the BTR sensation, especially from the pit, is something else. Simple musical perfection.
Week's summary: 2 runs, 17 miles: Long run n/a
Miles since acceptance: 521
Sitting at home on a beautiful running day, when I was supposed to re-do the full Arrochar to Home run that I had to cut short when my thigh hurt. This time it's illness that's holding me back, rather than injury, but as everything that's entered my system in the last 72 hours has exited it quickly and enthusiastically, trying any form of exercise would be a risk. So here I sit, frustrated. But, as with the injury, there's no point pushing it. There's still time to get the miles in, but I'm starting to worry a bit about the lack of really long runs - 18.5 miles is still the longest, and I need 3 more in the next 4 weeks before taper starts.
The week started so well too. Did a longer recovery on Monday because it was so nice in the snowy, frosty sunshine. Then a very hard Tempo on Wednesday with 8 miles at 6:57 pace, Really tough, but very satisfying. In hindsight, I'd been feeling a little off during the day, so perhaps the extra effort tipped the system over the edge. And that was it. Week over.
This week's music is dedicated in equal measures to my training and my bowels. Born To Run. (Sorry, couldn't resist it...)
A really good video shot from just behind where I was standing at Hampden in July. There is no better live experience than The Boss, and the BTR sensation, especially from the pit, is something else. Simple musical perfection.
Week's summary: 2 runs, 17 miles: Long run n/a
Miles since acceptance: 521
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)