Archives for August, 2008
Posted on Aug 14, 2008 under Info, Misc, News |
Some people have said to me that running is bad for you, and just wears out the body quicker! I find these are usually people who are a bit jealous thay I’ve got off my backside and have got fit, and usually they smoke and drink and have a lot of ailments, and don’t do 30 minutes exercise in a year, never mind a few times a week!
So I was delighted to read news of a serious long term study which appears to prove that running IS good for you, and keeps you looking and feeling younger and healthier even as you grow older 
Running on a regular basis can slow the effects of ageing, a study by US researchers shows.
Elderly joggers were half as likely to die prematurely from conditions like cancer than non-runners.
They also enjoyed a healthier life with fewer disabilities, the Stanford University Medical Center team found.
Experts said the findings in Archives of Internal Medicine reinforced the importance that older people exercise regularly.
Read more from this BBC Article…
Posted on Aug 12, 2008 under 5-10k, 5k, PB's, Tempo Runs, Time Trials |
Colder days seem to suit me for 5k time trial type runs - just wanted to run 5k as fast as I could today and ended up knocking a little off my PB again, about 5 seconds - felt a bit laboured the first half and got a bit caught up in traffic at the junction near Haughton Green Road, but managed to get across road without stopping. After 3k was 20 seconds under 25 minute pace, but seemed to slow a bit in the penultimate k before putting on another burst for the finish and getting caught up with cars again! Finished 5 seconds quicket than last 5k, was knackered but it felt good.
Am not sure how well I am going to be prepared for Birchwood this Sunday, as with one thing and another may not get too much running in this week. Have been feeling tired after a busy work week last week, and not been sleeping too well - next couple of days am tied up, so may try another 5 k on Friday and a nice easy 5 on Saturday, just to keep the legs loose - I doubt I am going to gain or lose much in the way of fitness with 3-4 days to go, so will just have to see how it goes. I am aiming for sub 53 (no delusions of grandeur about sub 50 - will take it off one minute at a time if I have to!!)
Posted on Aug 10, 2008 under 10-15k, Long Runs, Regular Runs |
Ran around the backstreets before heading into the woods, and round usual 10k time trial route.
This was supposed to be my long Sunday run, but I set off too quickly, and got a bit mixed up as it was on my 10k time trial route again (note to self - must do long runs elsewhere!). I felt a bit heavy legged and hot as the run progressed.
It was cold when I started and felt ideal, but sun came out and soon got hot, so I cut the run to 11k with a steep uphill climb up Stockport Road at the end. Ran a decent pace across the 11k but nothing special, and was pretty knackered by the end - will try to run a bit more often this week, and need to get some more longer runs in, as I think this is what’s affecting my pace over slightly longer distances.
With the Birchwood 10k coming up, I want to get some tempo runs in this week, along with some easy runs, but nothing too hard as want to make sure I have plenty of energy saved for the race!
Posted on Aug 07, 2008 under Uncategorized |
Was stressed with a big work project I was planning for, and some last minute changes almost made me abandon this run, but I felt I could do with a few laps round the streets just for relaxation and stress relief, so toddled round 5k’s worth on what was a very warm morning, and felt better for it afterwards.
Posted on Aug 05, 2008 under 5-10k, 5k, Milestones, PB's, Tempo Runs |
About time I did one of my 5k time trials, last week I ran more miles than ever before in a week with a mixture of an easy run and a couple of longer runs, but have been getting slower and slower - so wanted to get back to some quicker running over a shorter distance to make sure there is some speed in my legs!
The weather was kind today - almost chilly and threatening to rain, overcast but not humid. Set off a bit too fast I thought, but was able to keep going at that pace for 4k and felt great, although in the last k I could feel I was tiring. Pushed on and went as quick as I could for the last few 100 yards, but seemed to overshoot my normal lampost finish by a good few strides before the Garmin clocked 5k - but still finished 5k in 24m 45s - a new PB for my personal time trials!
Posted on Aug 03, 2008 under Uncategorized |
Ran along canal to Guide Bridge and back, was sunny before I went, but started raining just as I left the house. Kept a slow but steady pace, was nice to run along the canal, felt Ok at first, and mainly ok, until hitting the hill near the end which was a bit tiring.
Did 12k at average pace of about 6 mins per k - not fast, something seems to have happened to my pace lately.
Enjoyed the run though, and did it mainly for pleasure and relaxation today.
Posted on Aug 01, 2008 under Uncategorized |
Bit of a strange run really, but an interesting one to show that with running, there will always be downs as well as ups! Had a few work things to deal with before going on run, but got warmed up, didn’t do weights today like I normally do. It seemed pretty hot outside, and off I set off for a 10k time trial on my normal route to see if there’s been any improvement, as I haven’t run a timed 10k in training for a bit now (just the Moonraker 10k last Sunday!).
Started off quite sedately until I got into a comfortable rhythm at about 4k, passed 5k in about 27 minutes, slower than I had anticipated - but I was about to get even slower! I would have been happy with about 54 but during the second half of the run I seemed to be going backwards, the pace on my Garmin slowing, and I kind of slowed down to a jog at the end as I was finding things a bit hard going but not too bad, just felt demotivated because the time was nowhere near anything like what I can run 
Stumbled over 10k in 56m 52s - a totally disastrous time really for me, 3 minutes slower than my time 3 weeks ago on that route, and almost 2 minutes slower than my race last week, which was a lot hillier and hotter and I really struggled with. Not quite sure what happened, whether it’s the couple of less intensive training weeks I’ve had or if the race last week really knocked it out of me (then again I have just had the one easy run since then, so should have recovered somewhat). Also, perhaps the fact I have not run so many training 10k’s lately has messed up my ability to pace the distance - I might do one a week, as I enjoy doing the distance in training and it was working before, looks like stopping running my race distance in training is a change that hasn’t really worked for me.
But I will try again, and also keep researching
