Archives for Long Runs category
Posted on Jul 18, 2011 under 10-15k, Long Runs, Milestones, Slow Runs |
I should get money to make the sun come out, I really should! It had been chucking it down all day and the skies were pure November – ideal conditions for a a long run! This time I was not to be fooled though, so took baseball cap, shades, and dabbed a bit of sun cream on my arms – and sure enough, no sooner had I started the Garmin, there was this big ball of heat in the sky, burning the clouds away! So the shades went on for a while.
This was a planned 8 miler, on a route with some serious hills, plenty of declines but some nasty inclines too. Last time I attempted this route was a sunny evening and I came a cropper at 4k ish feeling quite ill, and did start to feel a bit puffy early on, which is possibly due to the long spiral incline early on. This time I nearly came a cropper at a junction, I could see a car some way down the road on my left, but felt I had plenty of time to cut in front of it. Don’t know what the driver was playing at, as instead of slowing as he came to the junction, he sped up, which resulted in a near collision and me practically rolling over the bonnet of the vehicle while having the horn blasted at me. This reminds me to be more careful, as the driver was obviously lost in conversation with the passenger and only saw me at the very last moment. For the rest of the run I stopped and tip toed across every junction…
Anyway, it may have been a burst of adrenaline from this that led to a 5:33 km and then a sudden drop in my motivation. Felt like I was blowing up, and stopped the clock at 5k and went in a shop for some gatorade. Drank some and set off, having to walk in phases, and then tackled the big hills on this route, and was glad it started to rain again. I recovered on the long downward stretches and started to wonder if I could maybe do 9 miles. I was feeling better than earlier in the run, so decided to just keep going.
As I went over 13km, I felt I could get to the 14.5km mark, but I hit some kind of wall at that point and started to feel really depleted, presumably my glycogen stores were starting to run out, I felt a little sick, and my legs were feeling heavy. I forced myself to keep going and it hurt so much I almost had tears in my eyes, but I gritted my teeth and finally ran down the last km, and was really, really, really glad when I staggered to a stop and hit the stop button on the Garmin, 9 miles in 1 hr 34 minutes, longest on my feet this season, and longest distance.
I think I will have a few rest days now!! 
Posted on Jun 26, 2011 under 5 miles, Lancing Runs, Long Runs |
5 Miles along the Lancing coast – from girlfriend’s house in Lancing to Worthing Pier, and back again.
Very, very hot – look forward to running City of Manchester 10k in the overcast rainy conditions of Manchester, my southern-based warm weather training could pay off – was a scorcher, had to walk, but at least didn’t blow up like my last run. Will try to squeeze in a few jogs this week in preparation for the race, maybe the enforced rest lately could be an advantage
Posted on Jun 19, 2011 under Long Runs |
When I set out, it seemed quite breezy out, and a little overcast, so thought 6.30 would be a nice time for an evening run. After 2k I was feeling good, although I was aware the sun was on me and I hadn’t put any cream on… Oh well I thought, and the next km was up a hill which I took very easy. At about 3k I started to feel not quite right, I was getting thirsty, and also feeling pretty hot, and my lungs were working very hard. I took some water, and slowed the pace, but suddenly the thought of stopping to cross an intersection was like an oasis. I started again, but something had gone, I felt I had no energy at all the the thought of the 8 miles circuit filled me with dread, I was starting to feel a little sick too. So unfortunately I had to stop at 4k, and it took a while to recover, I also got the munchies but was a while before I could get to food.
Strange run. Might try again tomorrow, if I am going to burn up might as well get it over with earlier in the day.
Posted on Jun 12, 2011 under 10-15k, Long Runs, Musings |
I’ve been interested in Buddhism for a while, and increasingly in Zen lately, and I must say that running in the rain has a certain Zen quality about it – just being, living in the moment, one moment after another, feeling the beauty of the wetness instead of trying to keep it away with layers of clothing. Also there’s something very childlike about splashing and sploshing through puddles without a care in the world.
There’s also something manic about me, which relishes the funny looks I get from folk wrapped in their raincoats, which says “You crazy mother******”. I do feel crazy at the time, like I’m invincible, like nothing else matters, totally in the moment. Or perhaps they are the crazy ones, huddled against the wet, or standing in doorways smoking their death sticks while they watch the crazy runner get a bit wet, unable to partake of the pure joy of being. I wish they’d give it a try!
For the record I did 7.2 miles, I did one of the kms in 5:12 which left me a bit out of it for a while, and was going to stop at 10k, but then decided to make it 10 miles for the week and pulled in an 11th km of 5:44 before slowing to a crawl and stopping on 11.6k. Not had much chance to run this week, so was good to get out.
Why would a little torrential rain stop me? Every rain drop, like every moment, is just part of the picture of how things are. Maybe it’s just the endorphins, but I do feel a certain Zen quality right now.
Posted on Jun 04, 2011 under Long Runs, Milestones |
After yesterday’s aborted run I wanted to redeem myself a little, and also wanted to experiment with running a bit later, so rather than run first thing today, I got a lot of stuff out of the way and mowed the lawn as a warm up, after tidying my office as well and pulling weeds up. It was a hot day, but getting cooler in the evening, so decided to christen one of my proper sleeveless Nike running tops, which I don’t recall ever wearing…
I set off and the top felt really cool, allowing the air to waft over my skin. I felt great and was going at sub 60 minute 10k pace for a while. I’d prepared a bottle of water but managed to forget it, but had fortunately brought money, which was a good job, as I started to plan a long run in my head and knew I would need to take on liquid. I passed a shop and stopped the Garmin dead on 4k. Got a bottle of fruity flavoured drink and set off again.
Started to tire around 9k, but was still a long way from home. Decided to try to run all the way back, but was slowing. Legs were complaining a bit. Couldn’t quite work out in my head if 8 miles (the target I decided to go for) was 13.1k or 13.5k, so decided to aim for 13.5. Struggled on the Windmill Lane hills, and really started to hurt, whatever the distance it was my longest run in over a year, by a few kms. I could see a shop in the distance and it was like an oasis, so I decided I would stop there whatever the distance and get a drink, I was really suffering, and the thought of some bourbon biscuits when I got home seemed like heaven itself.
I crawled to a pained stop and got a bottle of Lucozade. I was still a ten minute walk from home, and it was surprisingly cold. My legs felt a little numb, as did my abdomen, but I had covered 13.4km, which as I worked out when I got home, is 8.3 miles, so I had done my first 8 miler in a very long time. It was relatively slow, but it seems the 10 day break I had is now paying off, after a couple of comeback runs where I’ve felt a little rusty to say the least. All bodes well for the city of Manchester 10k next month, and it looks like evening running may suit me – won’t have much time this week but will hope to squeeze a run in and there’s always the weekend!
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 23, 2011 under 5 miles, 5-10k, Long Runs |
Woke up in the middle of the night feeling a little sick, maybe something to do with the hot weather, or some deyhdration after a long walk in Southport the day before. Decided I wanted to do a 5 miler and set off in the middle of the afternoon. It had looked quite overcast early on, so I dabbed only a little suncream on, and took half a liter of water.
First problem was the Garmin, which cut out at around 1k, wasn’t quite sure when. Got it going, started running, then realised it was still stopped. All in all I was glad of the stops to sort it, as was already sweating a lot by this point and used the stops to take on water.
By 3k my water was gone and I was stopping at regular intervals, feeling very hot and puffy. I had planned a long loping route but my lower legs were complaining so decided to stay close to civilisation in case I had to stop. Considered cutting it down to 6k, and just got hotter and hotter, and kept stopping to catch my breath. In the end crawled and staggered over the 5 mile mark (7.83k on Garmin but made allowance for the amount I ran while it wasn’t counting), and was really glad to get some water.
So in some ways a really bad run, but good for mental toughness and just the fact I kept going will pay dividends, as I know I can, even if I do need to take a tiny walk break (though hopefully by the Great Manchester Run I will be fine and it will be a little cooler earlier in the morning!)
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 06, 2011 under 5 miles, Long Runs, Milestones, Season's Best |
My first 5 miler since… November. It seems a long time and my running has been going in fits and starts with all the colds. I managed to shake off the latest cold more quickly, maybe that is something to do with the spring weather!
I was tired after a few nights’ restless sleep, but know that time is ticking as the Great Manchester Run approaches, and I can’t afford any more laziness in saying “oh well, I will pick up the fitness as I go on…” So in a way having a race booked into the diary is giving me renewed motivation.
As usual, I had to force myself out through the door, and the first k felt a bit of a struggle – I soon had to unzip my running top and started to wonder whether I should have opted for shorts for the first time. But I kept going and planned to do at least 5k, with 6 or 7 being a possibility. I had taken my bus pass with me so had a bit of freedom to go wherever I pleased near the main roads, without the worry of having to run back if I went too far out. This seemed to help psychologically. I ran out towards central Manchester through Gorton, had an altercation with a car that tried to kill me and then yelled “dickhead” at me, which caused me to have an adrenaline burst and speed up for a while. I did some hilly backstreets then got back on to the main road. At 6k I started to think about doing 8.05k and crossing the magic 5 mile barrier, and figured it might be just what I need as a boost, since my training has been so up and down of late…
It did start to get a bit tough after that but I slowed down and just kept going, and towards the 5 mile mark I felt a rush of endorphins which just carried me through the final stages of the run. It was exhilarating to finally cross the barrier and know that 6.2 miles in May is going to be achievable – and if things go well I might even be able to start thinking about a half decent time – at the moment I want to at least beat the 58:12 I did for my first ever GMR, and who knows the 52:49 I did in 2009 might even be in reach. Will see how it all goes
