Sunday 27 February 2011

This week

This week started off with intervals Monday, 6 miles Tuesday and 6 miles Wednesday. I didn't get an opportunity to run Thursday or Friday as was out with work and was very boozy. Today I ran the Cambridge Boundary run which is a marathon as a training run for 100 miler as I find it hard to run more than 20 miles on my own so if you enter a race then it makes you run the fall marathon distance. I woke up at 7.30 today and headed down to Cambridge which is a bout an hour and 15 minute drive from me. Turned up at David Lloyd in Cambridge at 9.30, I collected my number and sat in my car until 9.55 as was cold and race started at 10. I didn't feel very good this morning after this weeks boozing but todays run was just a training run. Kicked off at 10.05ish running around the streets of Cambridge then into fields, after 5 miles I was dripping and thinking today is going to be a long day. Most of this race is off road which isn't good when it's been raining as the ground is soft which makes it harder to run on but there you go. I got to the half way point in around 1.38 then kicked on through fields, footpaths and a bit of road running but not enough. I felt pretty weak at mile 20 but managed to push on to finish in 3.35-36ish by my watch.When I crossed the finish line I saw one of my clients James there which I was shocked to see someone I knew as you don't see many people at these small races but he was supporting his flat mate who crossed the line literally 30 seconds after me. He did very well considering it was his first marathon and in tough conditions. Writing this I feel pretty exhausted, I normally feel okay after a marathon but I think the boozy week and pushing my body in the other direction running wise has taken it out of me. 100 miler is 5 weeks yesterday so it's getting pretty close now. I need to get some big mileage weeks in and long weekend runs over the next couple of weeks. I just hope injuries don't stop me doing that. Looking at 100 mile training plan I am probably running a bit behind on the mileage but there you go, there's not much you can do when injuries and other things get in the way.I will still be on that plane 4 weeks on Thursday to give it my best shot. Game on !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Todays Garmin report - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/70450412

Sunday 20 February 2011

This week

This week has been relatively chilled.

Tuesday - Interval training (approx 4 miles)
Wednesday - 6.2 miles
Saturday - 17.6
Sunday - 12

Total - 39.8 miles

Was good to get a couple of long runs in this weekend,,,felling pretty tired now. I have the Cambridge marathon next Sunday so that will be good to get another long run in with under 5 weeks to go until Umstead.

Monday 14 February 2011

256.86 miles this year

I was just logging my mileage for this year and worked out that I am on 256.86 miles so far for the year. I am probably a bit behind schedule and I am currently icing my foot so maybe going a bit further behind schedule but if injured rest is important and if I stay injured, the physio is the next step. My next long run is the Cambridge Marathon a week on Sunday, I need to be okay for that as that's a good opportunity to get a long run in without having to go out on my own.

I watched this video last night and it gave me a lot of inspiration and stuff to think about it, what I have entered is going to be the hardest thing I have ever done.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXJ5ratO5XY

Sunday 13 February 2011

48 days to go

This week has been relatively quiet after the Thames Path 50

Wednesday - 10
Friday - 5
Saturday - 12
Sunday -8

I have had a couple of boozy nights out as a bit of release and now I want to get right back into training. I have a few niggles but should be okay, if bad I will just rest for a couple of days and see physio if have I to.

Wednesday 9 February 2011

Eased back in

Eased back in with 10 miles tonight, ran at quite a strong pace considering 50 miler on Saturday - 1.13.43. Bumped into a couple of people running along the seafront, one woman who had run on Saturday and who was running the Grand union canal - 145 miles non stop and the other guy was running the Thames ring this year - 250 miles. It's weird how running along Southend seafront on a Wednesday night and you bump into 2 people who are running these sort of races. My left knee did twinge a bit so icing as I am writing this and back of right leg stiff again so will need to get these 2 minor injuries ironed out pre 100, maybe another trip to the physio is due. I really enjoyed tonight's run, there's something about running in the dark, you feel like a warrior...anyway I do. Here is my garmin report from the 50 miler, my watch died after 7.40 but gives you an idea of the race http://connect.garmin.com/activity/67468636

Sunday 6 February 2011

Thames Trot 50

This weekend I was running the Thames Trot 50. A race along the Thames Path from Oxford to Henley of 50 miles. Friday night I caught the train to Oxford from Paddington and stayed in a hotel by the start of the race. I woke up at 7 had some brown toast with honey and a tea then I walked down to the start of the race for 8ish to register. I met up with a guy called Paul who I met through James at Jurassic coastal challenge and a couple of his mates Luke and Webbo. We began the race at 8.45ish a little later than official start time, we ran through Oxford and onto Thames path, we started off at a pace of around 9.30 min miles. We ran along the Thames path into wind for the first 10-15 miles, I was running with Paul, Luke and Webbo, then Paul and I ran for a bit then after about 20 miles I ran on. I took a couple of pain killers at 20 miles as legs and left knee were a little sore. Then after a bout 27 miles I started running with a guy called Dave, I ran with him from there to the end, he was a good bloke and knew the course as he had run the 2nd half as a training run. We stopped at various check points to load up on Water and bits of food, I didn't consume as many gels as last time, tried to take on sweets instead as I find with too many gels you start to feel nauseas. Unfortunately at 39 miles I started to feel sick so had to walk for half a mile. David was meeting his wife at 40 miles for some drinks and food, he gave me a Isotonic and then we ran the whole way in at a slow pace. Running the last few miles was tough but you have that end goal in your head and after running 40 plus miles with 10 to go you just count them down, the scenery running into Henley was picturesque and some of the houses were immense. We finished in 8.12 which I was happy with as wanted between 8 and 9 hours. Sitting in the chair with a tea at the end of the race I was thinking how am I going to run double this!!!I am going to set off a lot slower pace of 12 min miles, so aim to run 5 miles an hour which would take me to 20 hours. I am not aiming for a time in the 100 miler as my first one, all I want to do is finish the race pre the 30 hour cut off line. With 55 days to go I am so up for the 100 now, I just want to be on the start line now. I will probably rest for a couple of days now then get back onto the training. I would recommend todays race to anyone who wants to run an ultra in the UK. Go Beyond are very good at organising races and are quite well established.

Thursday 3 February 2011

This week

I hadn't run up until Saturday for a while so wanted to put in a run everyday up until Thursday and take Friday off pre 50 miler.

Sunday - 8 miles
Monday - Interval - approx 4 miles
Tuesday - 5 miles at lunch, 3 miles after work
Wednesday - 4.5 miles at lunch
Thursday - 6.2 miles

So I have run everyday and feel pretty good, injuries are there but only slightly, hopefully tomorrow's rest will help the legs recover for Sat. Today I knocked out 10k in the gym in 41 mins which was probably a bit stupid 2 days prior to 50 miler but there you go, I wanted to push myself. I think in a 10k race I definitely have 39 mins in me, so will have try that sometime this year. I am looking forward to Saturday, I just hope I don't get lost, it's going to be a great test, 50 miles on my own. Great training for 100, I won't run over 50 pre 100 so this will be my biggest training run. The run starts in Oxford and runs along the Thames Path and finishes in Henley on Thames, I am hoping for a good days weather and a good run!!!