My life in a nutshell - running tag

Ten breathtaking miles in the snow

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 21:30:00 GMT

I went for a 10 miler today in the snow. It was one of those fantastic runs that you remember for years afterwards. It was cold (sub-zero) but crisp and dry, not damp at all. The snow was pretty thick still, about 10cm off pavement. I ran one of my usual routes down to Sandridge then over the hill to Ayers End then back over the hill again to Nomansland Common and then home.

The snow was very powerdery, like icing sugar and it had been windy so the drifts were deep. The sunken lane behind Pound farm had filled up to knee height but the farmer (or somebody) had cut a narrow path through it. There were loads of hardy St Albans folk out enjoying the weather and breathtaking views in the bright sunlight. On the top overlooking Sandridge there was even a family having a picnic on a rug.

The path at the top of the hill had drifted up and there was no easy way thru. I jumped straight in. It only came up to just below my knee but the shock was incredible. It was like jumping into an ice bath. All the heat seemed to get sucked out of my calf muscles. It only lasted for about twenty metres but was a real trial to get through. I warmed pretty quickly as soon as I got out and brushed the snow off (bare legs).

I don't like to pause on runs, especially when its cold, but the views and the silence was so spellbinding several times I halted to drink it in for a few seconds.

Got back to St Albans feeling pretty good. Managed to do it at nine and a half minute mile rate which is nothing clever but the going was tough.

Finally completed a long run as planned

Sun, 06 Sep 2009 21:39:00 GMT

I finally made it round a 20 mile training route. Five weeks from now (unless there are yet more problems) I will be recovered after running 26.2 miles in the Leicester Marathon. Every other time I have run a marathon I would have run three or four 20 milers by this point. I should be starting my taper in two bloody weeks! It's been a non-stop litany of illness, work commitments, family stresses and obligations and just about everything else. We went to a party last night and I had to abstain from drinking so that I could make it out this morning.
The good news is that I made it round in one piece, felt pretty good during and was fine afterwards (no puking or crippling aches). I did two gels, one at 1:15 and another at 2:15 and ran with a bladder pack so I had plenty to drink. I am contemplating running the race with the pack. The only reason I can think not do so is that I look stupid. This doesn't sound like a good reason for not doing something beneficial, especially as I will look pretty stupid anyway...

Marathon training starts here

Sun, 28 Jun 2009 21:04:00 GMT

I started marathon training this week. I have chosen to run the Leicester Marathon which is just over 15 weeks away so a good target for the standard length training plan. I hacked together my plan based on the FIRST reduced mileage schedule. It will needs lots of refinement but is a good starting point.
Off to a good start. I ran 16 miles on Sunday. Unfortunatly since it was a very hot day I got back and puked. I was feeling sick then Edith jumped on me, twice. I then retreated to the bathroom for safety and was greeted at the door by a cheerful Jamie who announced that he had 'Just done a great big poo.'. The stench was more than I could take and I lost my lunch.

Great race!

Sun, 01 Mar 2009 21:09:00 GMT

I did a half marathon for the first time this year, coming in at a respectable 1:41:24. Thats about the same as last year I think which is crazy considering how over weight I am and that last year I was training for a marathon. It is five minutes slower than by best time which was on the same course though.
It felt really good running in a race again. There were lots of long hill climbs and some epic (for me) battles. There's nothing like pushing your self up the hill and keeping pace with a fellow runner then managing to pull ahead of them and stay ahead. It was especially good a couple of times as my fellow competitors were making lots of noise and breathing very heavily whilst I was making minimal effort. Great stuff.

My bike is screwed

Thu, 29 Jan 2009 23:03:00 GMT

The gears have been wrecked since I came off on the ice in December. And they are getting worse. The brakes are a shadow of their former selves and last Friday the rear break arm sheared off. I had to take it off completely and ride home in the dark in pouring rain with no rear brake. Not clever.

I am thinking of buying a new bike. Its not worth forking out for a Halfords one again. It degraded very quickly and their servicing is poor. The cheapest one from the bike shop is £300. I want to get it from a shop rather than online so that I can get it serviced regularly.

One the other hand, not cycling in has meant my legs dont feel as tired. Both nights this week I have run home from work in 38 minutes or less. That's three minutes faster than I have managed for the last couple of months.

Having said that, the bus is terrible. Four pounds for a service which leaves you standing around in the cold for at least 15 - 20 minutes at either end, is crowded, full of noisy teenagers and is often late or in the evening, non-existent.

First long run goes pear shaped

Mon, 12 Jan 2009 22:31:00 GMT

Yesterday I did the first run over fifteen miles I have attempted since last April (wow, how did it get to be so long!!). I had done lots of child care (IMHO) on Saturday so Helen owed me the time to do a proper run on Sunday. She slept in so it was ten before she was up and I didn't get out until eleven. Three hours since I ate (can you guess what happens?). I had mapped out a new route which I have been piecing together for a few weeks now. According to my manual map wheel it was about 17 miles. Quite a distance, especially since I have been on a strict diet this week. Turns out I had measured wrong. It was twenty miles of hills, mud and cold wind. I did manage over 17 miles before having to run walk the last three. When I got back I was in a state. Helen was going mad, partly because I was an hour later than I should have been, partly because thats the natural state to be in after three and half hours with my kids on your own and partly because I had lots of chores to do which wont going to happen. I spent the rest of the day in that awful limbo of being so thirsty but puking heavily whenever I drank anything. I did manage to help Helen put a mattress in the back of the car (she had to get it out herself) but that triggered more vomiting.

Oh well! Not a bad tally for the week, forty miles run, over thirty cycled and six pounds lighter (on the day after puking)!

Buntingford 10

Sun, 28 Dec 2008 20:00:00 GMT

Did the Buntingford 10 in a respective 1:15:36 today. Better than I had expected given that I was dragging all these extra kilos around. There must be something about the hills on this course that makes your fats bits drag, I experienced the same sense of elephantiasis of the arse I did on the same race last year. Chatted to some other Striders before and after the race which was nice and got some good training tips for the marathon in the new year.