First race of the year

Just run the Alton Water 10k in a quite pedestrian time of 1:15:40.  Five minutes longer than my pb set last November but around what I was expecting.  Run mostly on trails and with too many ups (and obviously downs) it is a  beautiful course around the reservoir. Just after the start you run across the dam, up though some lovely woods with the blubells in full bloom, on to a road where the rape in the nearby fields was it's brilliant yellow, down to Lemons Hill Bridge and back though some more woods to the finish.  On a nice sunny day it would be a great day out, but it was a bit wet at the start and cool all day but fun all the same.  Looking forward to doing this one again next year.

First evening back at the club

I went out on my first run of the year with the Felixstowe Road Runners (actually since November last year)  last night. I had a good session on the whole, the groups are friendly and encouraging but my lack of fitness was obvious.

After finishing the warm up -which became a session in itself just trying to keep in touch at the back, I was a bit tired.  Once the session started for real I was really found out and only completed about half of it.  Last November I would have been OK but I've gone a long way backwards since then.  The main problem was cardio-vascular, the legs where fine and this is what the sprints on the prom are designed to improve - next week it will be better!

With only 11 days to the Alton Water 10K I don't think it will be the pb race I was hoping for but we'll see, it may all come right on the day.

Money, Money Money

Just spent a load money on running today
Entry to the Royal Parks Half Marathon in October which is quick expensive but it is a good race -  more cost yet with accommodation and probably the theatre the evening before.  Seems I was one of the lucky ones as the race sold out in 2h 40mins


I've also just ordered a new pair of Asics GT 2150 to replace the 2140s that I've used for the last year clocking up 309miles so far.  I was hoping just to move over to my Mizuno Inspire 5 instead but I tend to run too quickly in them and keep coming back to my trusty Asics.  The intention was to buy a new pair of 2140s cheap as it is an old model but the few places that seem to still have some either didn't have my size or were selling them for more than I've bought the 2150s for.  We'll have to wait and see if the new model is better than the old.

New plan, new race

Well I'm back running again - just a couple of miles gently round to see how things would go and it all felt OK.  I've planned out the next 8 weeks with the Alton Water Run 10K on Sunday May 9th the next target race.  Over the next month I build back up to 6 miles on the long runs and  then get some speed work in before the race so will be looking for a PB of around 1:07 in 54 days time, I would need to break the hour mark to do an age adjusted lifetime PB, but I don't think I'll do that in this race.

While we had a good time in Bath and it looked like a good well supported race I think it is too early in the season for a half marathon for me and a 10K would have been a more sensible choice, especially if we have another winter like the last one.

Hop hop all the way home

It seems like my chances of starting the Bath Half is over with just 5 days to go. 

It was nice sunny evening and had plenty of time to jog gently round Gulper Rd before dusk, doing a shortend version of the Felixstowe Half marathon course (about 6 miles). I really looking forward to it after so much rain last week,  last real run before Sundays race and I did about 400m.  Pulled up with a cramp like feeling in the right calf - similar to the one I had in the left calf last July and caused me to have a couple of weeks off, bugger. 

Next morning the pain is still there when I walk (just as well I sit down most of the day) so unless there really are magical properties in the Bath water I shall be a spectator at the weekend.

2140-300

My Asics GT-2140 shoes completed their 300th mile at the weekend, I guess I should retire them soon but I reckon there are a few more winter runs left in them yet. The proved they were still comfortable for 5.6miles on Saturday, my longed run of the year and longer than scheduled.  It may be time to start using my Mizuno Inspire 5 and especially by new New Balance MR749 trail shoes more often, especially the NB along the now muddy trails.  The evenings are getting lighter in I'll soon be able to go off-road during the week - excellent.

Just 28 days to go

The Bath Half is beginning to get scarily close.  Managed to make the long run a bit longer than planned, but still only 4.4miles.  The mid-week runs both got longer too, and next week is another step up.  Finally managing to run at a more consistent pace and not going off like too quick and pay for it later. 

Things do feel like they are progressing and than each runs is taking me closer to being able to complete  - just as long as we don't have another prolonged cold snap.

Last run of January...

.. and just 35 days to the Bath Half.  Scary thing is that the longest run so far is 3.7miles, which I ran today, is only a third of the distance of a half marathon, and the longest in the plan only half way round.  I don't think there is a lot I can do about it, just stick to the schedule and see what happens on the day, hopefully the quality not quantity approach will work.

From next Friday I should have a bit of an extra help - hot water and lots of it.  For the last month the hot water side of our old combi-boiler has been a bit temperamental but a new boiler is being fitted in nest week -hooray.  Three days without central heating to come first though - I'll need to go running to warm up if the ice age continues.

First Run of the year

Finally the snow has gone and I went out for my first run of the year.  Struggled round a 2.5 mile course but great to be out training again.  The pace felt slow and easy but it must have been resonable because even with the occasional walk I still managed  12:15 pace, I was expecting at least a min/mile slower.

Re-planned the schedule again and there just isn't enough weeks to get from where I am to where I need to be.  Fit for the Bath Half Marathon on March 7th, just 7 weeks away.  Perhaps things will come back quicker and I can up the distances quicker than planned. 

More Snow - Less Running

With last December's bad weather continuing and getting worse I means I've had almost 6 weeks off running.  I've had a few trips to the gym and one run out to try and keep the body moving, but the weight is creeping up and the prospect of a PB in Bath in march all but gone.

Looks like I've got to re-plan the schedule once again, this time with beginners, get you round settings.

New Year New Blog

This is really a continuation of my Malcolm runs to Newcastle blog. This blog will last longer as I've set my self the challenge of a virtual run around mainland Britain - around 2800miles. There's no real time limit as but I'm setting the first day of the Olympics 2012 target.

In 2009  I did 317 miles and these are already on the map, having started from nothing on 23rd February.  An entry to the Great North Run at the first time of asking was the spur, I then won an entry to the Royal Parks Half marathon and finished off the season with the inaugural Adnams 10K.

The first race of 2010 will be the Bath Half Marathon, where I hope to get another pb and close to 2:30, though not training for most of last December may hamper this somewhat

The 2010 target is to get add another 750 miles in both training and racing, which should get me to at least John O'Groats I reckon.  It should be possible - 2 months extra training and a good base to start with and after all it's only just over a half marathon a week on average.