Archives for Distance category
Posted on May 12, 2013 under 10 Miles, All Weather Running, Long Runs, Milestones, Season's Best |
Have neglected this running blog of late, my running has been on and off with injuries but thankfully more on lately!
Got up to 8 miles last week, then a long walk on Monday, followed by some pretty hard running at SRC Hyde which I only occasionally get to with work at the moment.
Had planned to do 8 miles today, it was pouring and cold, at about 6k my right hamstring started tightening (it was the left I pulled months ago!), I gave it a rub and was ready to turn back, but a jog round a park and it was Ok so I headed back on my planned route through Reddish to Belle Vue. It did keep tightening when I sped up but fitness wise I felt great, very happy to be running and looking like a madman in the rain! As I neared home I was at 14.5k and thought why not go the long way round and make it a nice 10 miles, so I did, and it’s been a long time since I ran so far and really didn’t want to stop at the end as I could have gone on all night, but I don’t think my legs would have thanked me for it in the long run 🙂
Posted on Apr 01, 2013 under 5-10k, 5k, Injuries, Slow Runs |
Almost a nice (rather than ice) spring day so thought I would try a very slow run. At first planned on 3k, then 2 miles, and in the end got through 5k. Kept the pace extremely slow and felt very comfortable, just didn’t want to risk another pop of my hamstring, which thankfully behaved itself, hopefully I can keep running, even if it’s very slow for now!
Posted on Mar 21, 2013 under 5-10k, 5k, Regular Runs |
Needed to get a run in, so opted for a short 5k, given time constraints, and the terrible weather predictions. Not particularly quick, but ran at pace in places towards the end. Not sure when the next run will be, need to protect my limbs and bits from the vicissitudes of the weather!
Posted on Mar 18, 2013 under 10-15k, Club Runs, Long Runs |
Not been to the Sweatshop Running group in Hyde for a while due to my work commitments, but a rare free Monday evening saw me champing at the bit! Setting off reminded me of runs just before Christmas in the middle of winter, so cold was it, my hands were going numb waiting for the bus – hard to believe it’s mid March, spring needs to get a move on!
Anyway my plan was to double up and do both the 5k and 10k runs. There was a nice greeting when I walked in the shop from some familiar friendly faces and I enjoyed catching up with some people, then we were off for this “flatish” affair that had some suspicious hillyish bits thrown in. Ended with a nice run along the old railway lines at Hyde where I discovered a different exit route to the one I was expecting!
Then it was back to the shop and attempted to keep warm and supple while waiting for the next run to start, and then off we went, with the darkness almost fully descended now, I felt I was starting off at a good pace but people I used to run with were off miles in front their training has obviously been paying off! Was wary of trying to go too fast and make the same mistakes as before, with injury or just blowing up, so reigned my speed in quite a bit, sometimes running at the back or moving up and down. By the end was feeling it in my lungs and legs but maintained form, and even managed a spurt of speed up Norbury Street or whatever it’s called (just a long steepish hill!), and made it up the hill, then eased down on the last few 100 yards to the shop, not wanting to risk an injury with some pointless sprint finish.
So with both runs was 15k or roundabout 9 miles ish, not bad, and no problems with my legs apart from a bit of tiredness!! Good to be back and hope my schedule allows me back some more soon!
Posted on Mar 10, 2013 under 10-15k, All Weather Running, Long Runs, Milestones, Trail Running |
Time for the Sunday long run, and for a spring day in March the weather was a bit grim – blowing a strong icy wind, freezing cold. Still, the sun was out and shades went on, but only managed to sweat and feel warm when shielded from the wind at brief times in the woods.
Started off towards Hyde, went past Sweatshop and glanced in the window but didn’t see anyone, then headed up to the old railway tracks and ran to the end out towards the hills, then all the way back to Denton. Bumped into a number of friendly dogs and a chap who asked for directions to the canal paths, to get to a pub outing with some mates, I was a bit lost at the time so just told him to head for Gibraltar Bridge and he could get the canal from there.
Got quite muddy in places and the ascent up Stockport Road was a bit of a killer, but made it, then trundled and plodded the last km and rounded off to 13k, or just over 8 miles, just as the Garmin was about to die!
Posted on Mar 06, 2013 under 5-10k, 5k, Regular Runs, Tempo Runs |
Had to go to Ashton to bank a bit of cash, so decided to get the bus in running kit and then run back.
Wasn’t the nicest of runs, route mostly clogged with traffic and therefore fumes, and plenty of obstructions and speeding lunatics steering chariots of deadly metal as fast as possible for no reason, though one or two were polite enough to let me cross.
Had to slow down at one point when my pace was edging under 9 minute miles as didn’t want to risk any injuries again, but was happy to dip under 10 minute mile pace for most of the run and feel comfortable running a bit quicker with no niggles, hopefully building back up slowly will see me ready for a good outing in the Great Manchester Run in May!
Posted on Mar 03, 2013 under 10-15k, Health, Long Runs, Milestones, Trail Running |
Something of a Sunday long run, and just under 7 miles is certainly quite long considering my breaks due to injury lately. Was nice to get a substantial distance under my belt, and felt good, though the first few K and the last few were quite tough, in different ways.
Set off down Town Lane, plan was to run out to Reddish Vale and see how I got on. Felt pretty cold to start with, and took it easy, enjoying the the uneven ground and the greenery around me. Bumped into a bunch of vans who looked like they were getting ready for pony trekking, then began the descent to the park, where I started to feel a bit odd, and had to stop for a moment as my heart felt slightly odd and I felt a tingling in my fingers. I put my hand on it and it seemed to have a weird fluttery extra beat, which occasionally happens at rest. I walked for a little while and it went back to normal, and I carried on slowly, and felt no ill effects after this, despite going uphill after this.
I took a few detours and ended up going uphill into Reddish, did a loop of some houses and got a bit lost so went back the way I came, through the park, and then the climb back to Denton, passing ponies along the way. The long steady incline had me working hard and by the time I got to Town Lane I was starting to drag a bit, a chap sweeping his path pulled aside and said “won’t get in the way of your training, stay cool mate,” so I gave him a thumbs up and dug in for the last couple of km. Was just about out of steam by 11k, and petered out, but was nice to have been out running for well over an hour with no niggles, and at times was running as fast as 10 minute miles! Will work on that, one run at a time, for the moment I am just enjoying getting out and enjoying the trails, will be even nicer when the sun pops out!
Posted on Feb 21, 2013 under 5-10k, 5k, Injuries, Jogs, Slow Runs |
Really wanted to get out for a run and just get some exercise hormones flowing after quite a stressful and strange week.
Figured I might try 2 or 3k, and at first thought the hamstring was going to pop straight away but it didn’t. Kept the pace very slow, and when I got to 3k, decided to keep going at the same slow pace, and although there as a slight twinge after I’d stopped at traffic lights, it passed and I was able to complete 5k in 38 minutes without the hamstring popping painfully, so it’s a start!
Posted on Feb 16, 2013 under 3k, Injuries, Jogs, Slow Runs |
After my last entry, I managed to get back to the Sweatshop Running Community in Hyde and run a full 10k as backmarker, gathering pace at the end (as far as I gather pace these days) and while I was vaguely aware towards the end of the hamstring, it was fine and had no further sensations.
Next day was fine, until suddenly I was walking down the street and it kind of popped again. Rest up for several days, tried to run 2 miles at a very slow 12 minute mile jog, and it was popping horrendously by the end end so I had to give up.
Took about 2 weeks off, during a time that was so stressy I really really needed some exercise, and then went out tonight, ran a very sedate pace, but by the end of 2 miles my left leg was not happy all over again.
Really don’t know what to do, if two weeks total rest from running doesn’t seem to have helped, where do I go from here? No, I can’t afford physios etc. 🙁 What I don’t get is after the initial trauma, it wasn’t long before I was back running, didn’t seem to have any problems, now I’m resting for 2 weeks and can’t get through 2 miles at a very slow pace…
Have tried massaging and stretching in the meantime, doesn’t seem to have helped.
Posted on Jan 26, 2013 under 5-10k, 5k, All Weather Running, Easy Runs, Jogs |
Tried to run in the week, but had to come back in as it was far too slippery. Missed both SRC runs due to work or ice, so was nice to get out and just run, even though it was raining, cold, and a few bits of slushy ice still about (it always reminds me of the sugar at the bottom of my weetabix bowl for some reason).
Just a jog really, very slow, but didn’t get puffed out after 10 days off, and no hamstring twangs, though I would be surprised if anything could twang going at the sedate a pace! Onwards and upwards, again!
