Archives for Distance category
Posted on May 15, 2011 under 10k, Races, Season's Best |
My first race report in a long time!
The day before had been derailed by some pesky hackers deleting various websites of mine or defacing them, so ended up trying to sort that out till late, rather than relaxing, and as a result got to bed late and probably got 4-5 hours at most.
Woke up, got up, and felt very groggy. Looked cold, and grey, and miserable outside. Got some toast and marmite and half an oaty flapjack down me then set off for the bus, which seemed to be late, so jogged round the corner to the next stop and eventually the bus came. For some reason there were no other runners getting on the bus, or on the bus, this year, normally there are quite a few, maybe they got on later.
Decided to hang out at Piccadilly Rail Station, and had great fun and games with the toilets with no paper in the paper holders… But got sorted eventually, then for some reason got caught short when I got to the start line so used a portaloo after the warmup and the queues weren’t too bad…
The field was quite dense and there was no way I was going to be able to push through to the front of the wave as planned, so I decided to just go with the flow, the Green Wave went off, and I switched on the Garmin, I was standing next to some guys dressed as Austin Powers, and oddly enough on the other side of me were two people wearing daffodil heads identical to the one I wore last year!
Then we were off, I crossed the mats and started the Garmin, and started to enjoy the atmosphere and the feeling of racing for the first time in a long time. I did a lot of overtaking, Garmin said I was going really slowly, but wasn’t sure, and didn’t really care, just wanted to enjoy it all, and felt good as the first K marker came up, and good as we went out on to Chester Road. I was overtaking many, many people, and saw a few 75 minute pacers around, I knew I would probably be under an hour so was just running my own race. Got to 4k and the drinks station past Old Trafford, took a bottle of water and drank it, then prepared for the long run back into central Manchester. Gave some kids high fives and gave Superman bloke a thumbs up, then started to pick up the pace, said “WoW!” to some blue Indian chaps, who seemed to appreciate it, then concentrated on the final straight, still feeling good with 3k to go.
I wanted to pick the pace up more, but did start to hurt a bit by that point, I’d caught up with the Green Wave by that point (who started some half an hour before me), there were people flying past me, I just tried to keep up the pace. With 800m to go I put on a burst of speed that had me going at 4:08 per k, but I couldn’t sustain it. My Garmin ticked over 10k in about 57 mins (which I had predicted based on my current training) and the finish arch was still a distant mirage. I was petering out a little but gave one last push, grimacing hard to get every last drop out of myself. I made it over the line in an official time of 57:50 and it took me a while to recover.
I nipped home and had a shower, before returning to town to catch the second half of the Great Manchester City Games 2011, and got a nice vantage point near the end, where I got some close up glimpses of Jessica Ennis, Tyson Gay, and the other runners, including Haile Gebrselassie who was doing a final interview, when asked if he would come back, he said “Sure!”.
The weather was crap, but it didn’t put a damper on the day, the atmosphere, the people, or my spirits one bit 
Posted on May 11, 2011 under 5k, Season's Best, Tempo Runs |
Went out for what was a planned easy run, but I got carried away. Set off quite quickly and decided I could keep up that pace, so went round a few random streets and paths round the local estate and ended up coming out half way up the Stockport Road Hill, legged it up that without losing pace and then I realised I might be on for a sub 28. Did the first k in 6:07 then the next ones were under 6 minutes, as I got to the last few hundred metres it was touch and go and really had to sprint (for want of a better word, it was was determination to make my legs keep going somehow!) for the sub 28 – I was at 4.98k with seconds to go, didn’t manage to stop the Garmin as I nearly went flying over a speed bump instead, but was prettty sure I’d done the 5k just before the minute ticked over… Was a tough run, and I would need to run that fast twice to do 56 minutes in the Great Manchester Run. If I set off at that pace I will be dead though, and end up getting the tram back from Pomona at Salford Quays… So I need to start off slowly and then see how I get on in the second half, but it’s looking like 57 minutes could be a challenging target…
Posted on May 08, 2011 under 10-15k, Long Runs, Milestones, Trail Running |
Decided to run a bit later in the day again to avoid the hot sun, though the weather looked a bit unpredictable anyway. Slathered the sun cream on as a precaution and set off slowly, hoping to do 5 miles at least and hopefully 7.
Ran out towards Dane Bank as the skies darkened and spots of rain began to fall. Took on water at a few points. Was at about 5k when I got to Debdale park so thought I’d run up to the reservoirs then turn back, which should leave 3-4k to complete my target distance, but I ended up carrying on and found a nice bit of trail running, so took a risk and followed this, I knew vaguely where I’d end up but not how far it would be. Was lost for a small amount of time, then found familiar territory and ran along a bus route in case I totally ran out of energy.
As it happened I crossed the 7 mile mark as I was nearing home, and jogged a little extra to make it 11.5k to get nearer my house. Was tired, but could have gone on a little further. No sign of last week’s knee pain, though I did have a little hamstring niggle which I rubbed in the park for a bit, but it didn’t feel too much of a problem.
Somehow I have managed to run 12.74 miles for 2 weeks in a row! Plan to take this week as easy as possible before the Great Manchester Run next Sunday.
Posted on Apr 29, 2011 under 10-15k, Injuries, Long Runs, Milestones, Slow Runs |
Lovely late afternoon sunshine was the setting for a planned 7 mile long run to get some distance in my legs, though I was a bit concerned as I had been experiencing shooting pains at rest in my left knee, which was odd as there was no pain running. As my mum always used to say, probably a bit of arthritis or something…
In any case I set off at a sedate pace and straight away started to wonder if I would be able to last for 7 miles, but kept the pace slow and steady. At about 2k I got the pain in my knee again and slowed, almost calling the run off, but just decided to keep going slowly. Ran all the way out to Debdale Park, then through the park and up past the reservoirs, before turning back and going back through the park again. I was feeling strong in a cardiovascualar sense, but as I left the park and started to think I might reach 7 miles after all, the knee started to complain and I still had a way to get home. It was either carry on or abort and get the bus. I slowed considerably, and started to flag in every way, but set myself a target of 5 miles, and when I crossed that set 10k, and finally, as I was really flagging and my knee was really protesting, I just did another half a k for good measure, and ended up at home feeling very tired and depleted, and needed to eat half a packet of biscuits to replenish energy…
Update: thankfully over the weekend there was no comeback knee-wise from the run, so it may just be the joint working to strengthen itself as i increase the mileage, but am not going to go too hard on it with the first race in a year only 2 weeks away…
Posted on Apr 27, 2011 under 5k, Easy Runs, Trail Running |
Had an appointment in the morning, so was running later than usual, but quite enjoyed the idea of running late afternoon – maybe long runs would be better early evening to avoid glare of the sun overhead!
Set off at a very easy pace, downhill into the woods for a little bit of scenic trail running, and walked up the steep hills for a breather. Got hot in the second half of the run with the sun and inclines, but took it very slowly as I wound back up the hill of Stockport Road to reach home, sprinted past a girl jogger at the end as I was feeling good and could have maintained a much quicker pace, but enjoyed the easiness of the easy run in the afternoon sun!
Posted on Apr 25, 2011 under 5-10k, 5k, Tempo Runs, Time Trials |
With more running in my legs I was hoping to be able to run around 28 for a 5k time trial, but it was not to be, although was my fastest run in a month. Admittedly a couple of big hills on this route stopped me going sub 29 for the first time, and so the run is not to be grumbled at – was nice to run consistently at sub 30 pace and just get the legs used to going a a bit of speed. Hopefully the longer runs, and some shorter quicker ones, will all come together and get me close to 55 minutes on race day…
I have entered a 5k race (East Manchester Legacy 5k) the weekend after the Great Manchester Run so hopefully can aim for a time at that! 
Posted on Apr 20, 2011 under 5k, Hill Work, Trail Running |
After Sunday’s outing didn’t want to run too far, as knew I would still be recovering from the longest run in a year. Decided to run towards the local woods and take in a bit of scenery on this sunny day. Felt ok at first, especially on the downhill bits of trail, but would pay for the view later going up the big Stockport Road hill – where I did quite a bit of hill work in the last couple of years. This would be my first taste of that hill in quite some time, and it really sapped me, the first part being a sharp, leg-killing inclinde, followed by a gentler, but lengthy upwards slope. Combined with the sun, it really had me wilting, and as I reached the top I was aware my pace was pretty slow, but I plodded on, and felt my legs were starting to complain just a little, so eased down to a stop at the planned 5k without trying any heroics, feeling very hot, but pleased to have negotiated the big hill.
May do a little more hill work in the next two weeks, would be good to have it in my legs for the Great Manchester Run! I don’t really seem to be picking up any speed at the moment, though must try a 5k without hills maybe next week just as a time trial to see if I can closer to 28 than 30, or my 55 target for Manchester is going to remain a pipe dream…
Posted on Apr 17, 2011 under 10k, Long Runs, Milestones |
Got up quite early and put the Virgin London Marathon on the tv. Noticed it was sunny outside. The elites finished their races in the time it took me to fully wake up, drink coffee, and eat breakfast! But I was quite inspired to try a run in the sun.
Splashed on the sun cream and donned my shorts and blue Nike tick running top. Went out and let the Garmin find a signal, then set off feeling OK but a little weird, having not run since the precious sunday. I ran through Victoria park and then out through Dane Bank. Was wondering if I could make 5k at that point as felt a bit puffy. At 2k I felt a jolt of pain in my hip and back but it just seemed to be a spasm and went away – and at that point I started wondering about running 10k. After all, I have done quite a lot of running lately and maybe my approach has been a bit hyper cautious – it’s not like my legs will have softened up or anything. I was getting hot at 5k and glad I had taken a bottle of water with me, took some sips after I got delayed at a road crossing, and had doubled back so I could go down the road that leads back to one of the main roads in and out of Manchester.
Safe in the knowledge I had my trusty travel pass with me I kept going, feeling the heat, feeling it in my legs, but keeping going. I thought if the London Marathoners could do 26.2 miles today, I could managed 6.2 I got a bit lost, took a sip of water, and ended up in a very cosmopolitan part of South East Manchester… running through Levenshulme and into Longsight I had a burst of speed and then had to slow down, staggered over a kerb then got my balance, and eventually crawled down to about 12 minute mile pace, but I did it, I had run 10k… I jumped on a bus and eventually got home, after noticing a parade of mocked up London buses going bast the roundabout at the Manchester Apollo…
And I realised that today was also the day of the Bolton 10k, where I got that awful injury a year ago that ruined all my running plans for so long. It was as if I came full circle, and back to full form.
The Great Manchester Run is only weeks away and I know I can run the distance now. Just need to take it steady and see how close I can get to around 55 minutes. Have also entered the City of Manchester 10k in July, and spotted one or two more local races. Feeling good now!
Posted on Apr 08, 2011 under 5k, Tempo Runs |
Had a bit of trouble to start with, as Garmin would not pick up a signal – then realised batteries had run down completely so it needed to be tuned in from scratch, so waited a bit for that, was lovely and hot and sunny.
Got going, felt like I was flying most of the way, but I think the longer run was still in my legs as I was struggling near the end and only just managed to do sub 30 (have done 29:01 recently). Was good to run a little faster and feel comfortably running at what is currently a tempo pace.
I think next run out, is definitely time to lose the light tracksuit bottoms, and bring out the shorts for the first time!
Posted on Apr 03, 2011 under 5k, Regular Runs |
Just a 5k run in the rain. Garmin fouled up half way round so had to stop and restart and seemed to gain a hundred meters. Wasn’t sure if it was the rain or the loose battery casing again. In any case is good to be up to 5k – need to be up to 10k by May!!
