I'd been looking forward to doing a long run this weekend, both Saturday and Sunday.
But it was not to be - cramps meant I only managed a 6.6 mile run today at a run-n-walk pace of 9:15 per mile. Urgh! At least I went, I suppose, but tomorrow I'll make sure I take tablets before I go, and hopefully manage a lot better.
I did consider going for a second run later on, now that I feel a bit better, but the other half didn't feel like it, and to be honest, I didn't really. Tomorrow will be longer, but at least even if I don't manage more than the eight miler I'm thinking of, we've still covered 31 miles this week, including today, so over the week the mileage ain't too bad.
Still no membership numbers from the RRA. Okay, so its not even been a week yet, but I'm getting twitchy. I want to sign up for the Great Eastern, as miserable and depressing as it looks. I guess maybe I was a little spoilt, doing Grunty Fen first. It was pretty. The Great Eastern appears just to be a run through gloomy housing estates and underpasses. I suppose at least it'll encourage me to get a good time - I'll be running faster just to get out of there!
Saturday, September 16, 2006
Thursday, September 14, 2006
Oh dear!
Well, its been a while since I updated this, isn't it?
The Grunty Fen race went well. I really was very nervous; but when we got to the venue there were plenty of 'normal' looking people, as well as the 'hardcore' looking runners. We started at the '2 hour' finishing time start, but I guess a lot of people were too hopeful, as we overtook a lot of people in the first few miles, and didn't get overtaken by them again.
It was a really hot day - around 25 degrees, apparently - and I was thankful of the water stations and sponges. I finished in 1hr 56 minutes, which was slower than what I was hoping to get, but at least I finished and my time put me as finishing in the fastest 2/3rd of people, so at least my fears of coming last were for nothing.
The race has been the reason for the lack of updates though. I've actually felt quite glum. A mixture of a feeling of anti-climax after the race, and grumpiness at the fact that there isn't another one to do until October (and we've not even registered for that yet). Even though I know I'm being unfair on myself, I'm also annoyed that my time wasn't faster, and thats made me grumpy too.
Still, I've started to feel a bit better. It was a valuable learning experience. I know now that while running without a watch in training is fine, having one in a race is a very good idea and I think I'll have to rectify that come the next race. Likewise, you need a bigger bag to put stuff in, and a plastic bag to stuff your outdoors shoes in, because otherwise they have to go in with your after-race clothes, which isn't nice. Ha, shame next month's finances look a little shaky!
We ran on Monday (only 4.6 miles but the time was okay), and yesterday (the 6.6 mile route in a slightly faster pace than Grunty Fen). Tonight is a five mile run with some 'fartlek-ing' built in - well, thats the idea anyway, we'll see how it goes.
The Grunty Fen race went well. I really was very nervous; but when we got to the venue there were plenty of 'normal' looking people, as well as the 'hardcore' looking runners. We started at the '2 hour' finishing time start, but I guess a lot of people were too hopeful, as we overtook a lot of people in the first few miles, and didn't get overtaken by them again.
It was a really hot day - around 25 degrees, apparently - and I was thankful of the water stations and sponges. I finished in 1hr 56 minutes, which was slower than what I was hoping to get, but at least I finished and my time put me as finishing in the fastest 2/3rd of people, so at least my fears of coming last were for nothing.
The race has been the reason for the lack of updates though. I've actually felt quite glum. A mixture of a feeling of anti-climax after the race, and grumpiness at the fact that there isn't another one to do until October (and we've not even registered for that yet). Even though I know I'm being unfair on myself, I'm also annoyed that my time wasn't faster, and thats made me grumpy too.
Still, I've started to feel a bit better. It was a valuable learning experience. I know now that while running without a watch in training is fine, having one in a race is a very good idea and I think I'll have to rectify that come the next race. Likewise, you need a bigger bag to put stuff in, and a plastic bag to stuff your outdoors shoes in, because otherwise they have to go in with your after-race clothes, which isn't nice. Ha, shame next month's finances look a little shaky!
We ran on Monday (only 4.6 miles but the time was okay), and yesterday (the 6.6 mile route in a slightly faster pace than Grunty Fen). Tonight is a five mile run with some 'fartlek-ing' built in - well, thats the idea anyway, we'll see how it goes.
Friday, September 08, 2006
Woo hoo!
Really, really not long to go now!
Wednesday's run sucked. It should have been 10 miles, and I was doing okay until about mile 6, when my insides went into meltdown, and I had to change my route (since the other half was running with me, there was no chance of calling for a ride home) and ended up carefully walking the last half mile home. But I took comfort from the fact that at least I felt good until then.
Thursday's run was fantastic, although I've made a foolish error and I'm just waiting to see if I'm going to be punished for it on Sunday's half marathon race. We did a 10.21 mile run, and at a pretty good pace of 8 mins 31 seconds (making a total of 1 hour 27 minutes for the whole distance). Even though we've had better paces on other runs, I'm pleased because I felt good, and strong, and like I could have happily covered another 3 miles (although it would have taken me 1 hour 53 minutes at that pace).
But I wasn't aiming for the fastest time ever; that's what races are for. I just wanted to cover the distance, and we did, although right now my legs are quite achy. And thats my daft mistake - I managed to get confused about what day it was! I was under the impression that yesterday was Wednesday. If I'd clocked earlier on that it was Thursday, I wouldn't have done such a long run. I reckon I should be fine for Sunday but I'm officially resting up now until the race (I'll just go for a bit of a longer dog walking session tomorrow to stretch my legs).
I think I'm on a bit of a running high since discovering late Wednesday that its actually possible for me, as a non-US citizen, to enter the ballot for the NYC marathon. I'd fallen under the impression that it was only possible to do NYC from the UK by running for charity and raising £2,000 +, or paying some travel company around £1000 for race entry and flights and a couple of nights in a hotel (which is quite a bit over the odds, in my opinion).
It turns out that its a ballot, and I can enter just like anyone else, and after three rejections in a row, I'm in automatically! If I was a good bit faster, and could do a 7 minute mile, I could get in with a qualifying half marathon time of 1 hour 34 minutes, but I don't think thats likely to happen, and even if it did, the poor other half would have to get round the same distance in 1 hour 21 minutes...ouch!
So I'll be applying for 2007, then 2008, then 2009 - and trundling NYC in 2010! I've a 1 in 4 chance of getting in before then, but since I've never won anything in a raffle (except a packet of handkerchiefs as a kid), I'm not anticipating getting in via the ballot before my automatic "wow, you must really want to do this, huh?" place kicks in.
Wednesday's run sucked. It should have been 10 miles, and I was doing okay until about mile 6, when my insides went into meltdown, and I had to change my route (since the other half was running with me, there was no chance of calling for a ride home) and ended up carefully walking the last half mile home. But I took comfort from the fact that at least I felt good until then.
Thursday's run was fantastic, although I've made a foolish error and I'm just waiting to see if I'm going to be punished for it on Sunday's half marathon race. We did a 10.21 mile run, and at a pretty good pace of 8 mins 31 seconds (making a total of 1 hour 27 minutes for the whole distance). Even though we've had better paces on other runs, I'm pleased because I felt good, and strong, and like I could have happily covered another 3 miles (although it would have taken me 1 hour 53 minutes at that pace).
But I wasn't aiming for the fastest time ever; that's what races are for. I just wanted to cover the distance, and we did, although right now my legs are quite achy. And thats my daft mistake - I managed to get confused about what day it was! I was under the impression that yesterday was Wednesday. If I'd clocked earlier on that it was Thursday, I wouldn't have done such a long run. I reckon I should be fine for Sunday but I'm officially resting up now until the race (I'll just go for a bit of a longer dog walking session tomorrow to stretch my legs).
I think I'm on a bit of a running high since discovering late Wednesday that its actually possible for me, as a non-US citizen, to enter the ballot for the NYC marathon. I'd fallen under the impression that it was only possible to do NYC from the UK by running for charity and raising £2,000 +, or paying some travel company around £1000 for race entry and flights and a couple of nights in a hotel (which is quite a bit over the odds, in my opinion).
It turns out that its a ballot, and I can enter just like anyone else, and after three rejections in a row, I'm in automatically! If I was a good bit faster, and could do a 7 minute mile, I could get in with a qualifying half marathon time of 1 hour 34 minutes, but I don't think thats likely to happen, and even if it did, the poor other half would have to get round the same distance in 1 hour 21 minutes...ouch!
So I'll be applying for 2007, then 2008, then 2009 - and trundling NYC in 2010! I've a 1 in 4 chance of getting in before then, but since I've never won anything in a raffle (except a packet of handkerchiefs as a kid), I'm not anticipating getting in via the ballot before my automatic "wow, you must really want to do this, huh?" place kicks in.
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
Not long to go now
I really did manage to rest and not run on Monday, so yesterday (Tuesday) was interesting.
I'd assumed that I would speed round and feel great, having had a day off, but instead I had a bit of a problem getting my head in 'the zone'. I don't have a cold but over the last few days I've found that when I run my ears feel all weird, like I'm on a plane, and I can hear my breathing in my head. Its an icky feeling, but I've had it before when I've had a cold, so I'm wondering if maybe I have a little infection going on, or perhaps a touch of hayfever (I work in an office, so theres lots of coughing, sneezing, germ-ridden co-workers - and air conditioning - all waiting to attack my poor immune system).
We did the usual 6.6 miler in 52 minutes. The other half took the lead for a lot of it - he was in fine form and set quite a fast pace. It was warm, too, around 23 degrees. I have a lovely pair of Nike shorts, but they are loose round my thighs which means that when I run they bunch up and chafe; perhaps a little bit of a design flaw there! My tight lycra ones come a nice distance down my leg, but look horrible. Yeah, I know what I look like shouldn't matter, but I can't help it!
I have seen a nice pair of Salomon XA shorts which have a tight thigh length inner liner, covered by a baggier outer shell. Sounds ideal but I'm not sure how much summer there is left, and perhaps I'd be better with another pair of running tights. Decisions, decisions (both isn't an option after the new trainers this month).
An alleged ten mile run tonight, heres hoping it goes okay and my head doesn't explode!
I'd assumed that I would speed round and feel great, having had a day off, but instead I had a bit of a problem getting my head in 'the zone'. I don't have a cold but over the last few days I've found that when I run my ears feel all weird, like I'm on a plane, and I can hear my breathing in my head. Its an icky feeling, but I've had it before when I've had a cold, so I'm wondering if maybe I have a little infection going on, or perhaps a touch of hayfever (I work in an office, so theres lots of coughing, sneezing, germ-ridden co-workers - and air conditioning - all waiting to attack my poor immune system).
We did the usual 6.6 miler in 52 minutes. The other half took the lead for a lot of it - he was in fine form and set quite a fast pace. It was warm, too, around 23 degrees. I have a lovely pair of Nike shorts, but they are loose round my thighs which means that when I run they bunch up and chafe; perhaps a little bit of a design flaw there! My tight lycra ones come a nice distance down my leg, but look horrible. Yeah, I know what I look like shouldn't matter, but I can't help it!
I have seen a nice pair of Salomon XA shorts which have a tight thigh length inner liner, covered by a baggier outer shell. Sounds ideal but I'm not sure how much summer there is left, and perhaps I'd be better with another pair of running tights. Decisions, decisions (both isn't an option after the new trainers this month).
An alleged ten mile run tonight, heres hoping it goes okay and my head doesn't explode!
Monday, September 04, 2006
Yawn
I am mega-sleepy.
Saturday was quite a good day. We stopped in at the local Up and Running, where they had a sale on - I picked up a nice pair of Concurve thermal trousers and matching top for £20 each - which was almost exactly half price. I don't need them yet, but it's not like winter isn't going to come, after all.
I also got what seemed like a nice Odlo top for £10 and a traded in teeshirt (part of an Up and Running promotion), which seemed like a bargain at the time.
Lunch was a meal from Burger King - we had a buy one get one free voucher, and with Friday's big run and Sunday's coming run I figured 'what the heck'.
Big mistake, as it turned out. The cold windy, slightly wet weather on Saturday night gave me a chance to try my new Concurve gear - (I wasn't meant to be running but I felt like just a little easy jaunt) I managed five miles before feeling rather sick from lunch and getting dreadful stomach cramps; I had to telephone the other half to get a lift home.
Sunday wasn't much better. It was hot (25 degrees), and I used it as a chance to try out my new Oldo top. But the top was about as wicking as a bin liner, and I felt ill from the off, only managing 7 miles (as opposed to 13.1) before having to call it quits and go home.
Bit rubbish on the running front all round, really. And Grunty Fen is getting closer.
Tonight I really am taking a day off. No, honestly I am. Not even a 3.5 miler. Hopefully I'll be all better on Tuesday. But that's the last time I'm touching a BK for quite some time!
Saturday was quite a good day. We stopped in at the local Up and Running, where they had a sale on - I picked up a nice pair of Concurve thermal trousers and matching top for £20 each - which was almost exactly half price. I don't need them yet, but it's not like winter isn't going to come, after all.
I also got what seemed like a nice Odlo top for £10 and a traded in teeshirt (part of an Up and Running promotion), which seemed like a bargain at the time.
Lunch was a meal from Burger King - we had a buy one get one free voucher, and with Friday's big run and Sunday's coming run I figured 'what the heck'.
Big mistake, as it turned out. The cold windy, slightly wet weather on Saturday night gave me a chance to try my new Concurve gear - (I wasn't meant to be running but I felt like just a little easy jaunt) I managed five miles before feeling rather sick from lunch and getting dreadful stomach cramps; I had to telephone the other half to get a lift home.
Sunday wasn't much better. It was hot (25 degrees), and I used it as a chance to try out my new Oldo top. But the top was about as wicking as a bin liner, and I felt ill from the off, only managing 7 miles (as opposed to 13.1) before having to call it quits and go home.
Bit rubbish on the running front all round, really. And Grunty Fen is getting closer.
Tonight I really am taking a day off. No, honestly I am. Not even a 3.5 miler. Hopefully I'll be all better on Tuesday. But that's the last time I'm touching a BK for quite some time!
Saturday, September 02, 2006
No turning back now!
So, I have done it. I have registered for the Paris Marathon, paid the money and got my bib number. I'm excited and nervous but its a long time till April, and as it says up there, there are other runs to do first.
The other half is in too, and we've both gone for 3hrs 45mins bibs. Which seemed like a good idea yesterday morning, when we signed up...our predicted marathon time based on our running now consistantly comes out around 3.48 - so a bit more hard work and we could do it, I reckoned.
But last night's 10 mile run was a bit of a disaster. The other half has some new trainers, and although they're the same as his old ones, he left it a bit too late to buy new ones, meaning that he hurt his legs - and they're still hurting now. So he was running slow, and around mile eight my knee started to hurt, so I slowed up, and we ended up with an 8.24 min / mile pace. Thats rather slow for us. It's a kicker too because I thought we were doing a little better than that.
Oh well. Hopefully we'll be a bit faster on Sunday's run. There's no run today because the car's off to the garage, there's shopping to do and my brother's coming to visit for the afternoon, so there's no time.
But maybe I can just fit in a little 5 mile run. I did 33 miles last week, and I've done 30 this week - and a little voice in my head keeps urging me on to better that number...
The other half is in too, and we've both gone for 3hrs 45mins bibs. Which seemed like a good idea yesterday morning, when we signed up...our predicted marathon time based on our running now consistantly comes out around 3.48 - so a bit more hard work and we could do it, I reckoned.
But last night's 10 mile run was a bit of a disaster. The other half has some new trainers, and although they're the same as his old ones, he left it a bit too late to buy new ones, meaning that he hurt his legs - and they're still hurting now. So he was running slow, and around mile eight my knee started to hurt, so I slowed up, and we ended up with an 8.24 min / mile pace. Thats rather slow for us. It's a kicker too because I thought we were doing a little better than that.
Oh well. Hopefully we'll be a bit faster on Sunday's run. There's no run today because the car's off to the garage, there's shopping to do and my brother's coming to visit for the afternoon, so there's no time.
But maybe I can just fit in a little 5 mile run. I did 33 miles last week, and I've done 30 this week - and a little voice in my head keeps urging me on to better that number...
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Tuesday
Considering my previous sporting non-achivements, running is such a strange thing for me to do. I was lousy at sports as a child; my weak left eye meant that catching or batting or throwing was a bit tricky, and my excess weight meant that even if I had caught, hit, or thrown the ball, I was generally too out of puff to do much else. I did practise Judo for a while, and I seem to remember I quite enjoyed that, until true teenage moodiness kicked in, and I gave it up in order to stay in bed.
But there again, maybe running is the ideal 'fitness activity' for me. It's a very individual sport; even though I run with the other half, in the end it feels like its just me against myself. On a good run, on a good day, I feel like I could run forever (or at least until my shoes gave out) - just set off and never stop. Perhaps this is something common to everyone who runs and has seen 'Forrest Gump' too many times, what do I know?
I didn't run forever last night; it was instead my 'usual' 6.6 mile run. I meant to run it anti-clockwise last night, thereby saving the evil hill until last, but I forgot and by the time I remembered I didn't feel like turning round. It seems a lot longer that way. We belted round the first third, slowed down a little for the middle third and then upped the pace for the end, so much so that I think we scared a few pedestrians, who for once actually moved out of the way - although when I think about what we probably looked like, I'm not surprised.
It took us 48 minutes, which is a 7.53 per mile pace. We've run quicker (7.16 per mile), but I'm pleased anyway.
In other news: my socks turned up. They're perfect. Thank you Kate!
But there again, maybe running is the ideal 'fitness activity' for me. It's a very individual sport; even though I run with the other half, in the end it feels like its just me against myself. On a good run, on a good day, I feel like I could run forever (or at least until my shoes gave out) - just set off and never stop. Perhaps this is something common to everyone who runs and has seen 'Forrest Gump' too many times, what do I know?
I didn't run forever last night; it was instead my 'usual' 6.6 mile run. I meant to run it anti-clockwise last night, thereby saving the evil hill until last, but I forgot and by the time I remembered I didn't feel like turning round. It seems a lot longer that way. We belted round the first third, slowed down a little for the middle third and then upped the pace for the end, so much so that I think we scared a few pedestrians, who for once actually moved out of the way - although when I think about what we probably looked like, I'm not surprised.
It took us 48 minutes, which is a 7.53 per mile pace. We've run quicker (7.16 per mile), but I'm pleased anyway.
In other news: my socks turned up. They're perfect. Thank you Kate!
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