A Merry Christmas

I have had a good couple of weeks training - I just need to keep it up into 2010.

I had a great cross-country run with my mate Justin last Sunday around Blenheim Palace. However it was very cold and icy and I managed to fall three times on the uneven ground. I am still sore in all sorts of places!

I am doing a 10k run on Boxing Day around the lakes at Poole Park. I don’t know whether Alison is going to make it (depends on whether she wants to get up or not) but the race is three laps so it should be good for spectators.

After this race, I will be concentrating on my programme to prepare for Wuthering Hike.

Pilates has finished for the Christmas break. In January I will be going into the mixed ability class. I will have to start practicing my positions as this will be quite a big jump in terms of difficulty.

I hope 2010 brings you lots of great injury-free racing, and would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a great New Year.

A day at the Seaside

I was up at 3 am to get ready for my pick up at 4. I had my porridge AND the 500ml of beetroot juice to complete the requirements for the six day test, not an easy task! After a three hour plus drive, me, Justin and Andy (fellow Witney Roadrunners who were taking part in the race) were glad to get to the Gower Peninsula and of a leg stretch and a tea. We registered and made our final preparations for the 9 am start.

About 150 people started the marathon (there was a simultaneous 10k and half marathon being run). The beginning of the route went straight onto the beach and we had a lovely run along the shoreline with the sea crashing in and keeping us company as we made our way towards the dunes. Once off the beach we traversed above the sea on the coastal path then cut inland and at around 3 miles we had a water stop (too soon I felt). After dibbing the dibber on my wrist I began to climb and my legs needed to work hard.

The ground on most of the course was very sodden and there was also a great deal of grass which made it very slippery in places, and made for some great descents. I had decided that I was going to take it steady for this race as I hadn’t run more than 20 miles since I had been ill, so I started at around 8:30 min/miles and managed to keep to that for around 14 miles when I slipped to around 9 min/miles. But I felt that I was running within myself so was very happy that.

The race was in the shape of a large clockwise loop taking in the best countryside the Gower had to offer, with up downs, woods and roads so by the time I found myself back onto the coastal path I was in no doubt that I was in an epic race. At about 20 miles I was still in control of myself, so I just kept pushing on and working really hard at not walking. The payoff was that I was not passed by anyone between here and the end of the race. There was a guy who I kept seeing as I got to the top of the hills (you have to have a quick look behind you - don’t you) who was closing all the time. At the end of the race he said he was not able to make any ground on me, which felt good. I forgot to say, the race had to be extended due to changes along coastal path so it ended up being a distance of 28 miles all in. I wasn’t too bothered about the extended course but it meant that there was a sting in the tail in the last two miles. A nice steep long hill (character building) and a killer downhill to the finish on a surface that would do justice to a ski slope. My kind of decent! I just let myself go and propelled myself forward as fast as my shot legs would carry me. I came over the line in 4: 35:58 which I was VERY pleased with, I had followed my plan and, “it had worked”.

My two mates both had challenging runs. One had an awesome run and came in 7^th overall. I was 21^st (4^th Vet 45). My other mate came in just under 5:30 hours. I was so pleased to have their company both going to the race and on the way home, as it made a really great change to have someone to dissect the race with and take your mind off the legs that feel like they want to explode!

Postscript

One week on and I have had a couple of runs. I did almost three hours yesterday (Saturday) and another two today (Sunday). I think that I the race plan I employed on this race will be the one I use for the Wuthering Hike, as I felt brilliant yesterday and it was only the loss of light (the head torch I had with me was too weak) which forced me onto the roads and home.

As for the beetroot, I think it was a winner! I felt I had plenty of energy in the latter parts of the race, a place I normally fade so I will try it again for my next race. Back to my programme next week and start getting some hills in and prepare for a fitter and stronger New Year.

Every Beet of my heart

No not a misspelling. I have decided to try, following a recent study at Exeter University, beetroot juice each day for six days before I race to see if it has any effect on my running. For those of you who know me, you will know I like trying out new theories to see whether they seem to work or not. I'll keep you posted!

I have had a short 3 mile run tonight just to stretch the legs out and am going to pilates tomorrow although I don't intend to push myself too hard as I don't want to ache like last week.

Countdown to Coastal

Just a week to go before the Coastal Marathon and I am looking forward to it very much.

So all I will be doing for the next week is a couple of tempo runs and a couple of shorter steady trots. The tempo runs seem to work for me on the Thursday before the race, so why not do it?

Pilates is going well. My instructor is also my sports physio and, in the same way that she punishes my body when she is mending it, she is now hurting me with Pilates. DAMM she is good!! I am feeling much freer in my running and feel sure my core is beginning to develop (my stomach feels like Tyson has been practicing on it). I am now need to practice more and keep it up to progress my skills.

The night running I have been doing is fine when it is XC but when I have to run around the town it is soo boring. I must be a bit strange, because I love night runs with a head torch and being able to just run.

Sorry

I have just been doing a bit of work on this blog and realised that a number of people have posted a comment.

I completely missed most of them so sorry for not acknowledging them I will from now on, SO thanks to all who took the time to read my blog and I hope to post more as my training progresses
Taz

Journey to the centre of my body

My training has been going well and the pace is beginning to come back. I am up to about 40 miles per week so heading in the right direction.

I have Three weeks to the Coastal Marathon so will begin to increase the tempo work next week and increase the weekend mileage/time as I feel I need to feel comfortable running for 4 hours and also more importantly GET SOME HILLS IN

As part of my aim to be as well prepared for the big races next year, I have started Pilate's AND it is fantastic I will be hoping to train up to advanced level in this discipline and feel that this will surley improve my core strength and balance.

Although I still have a flemmy cough it does not seem to have too much of an effect on my current pace.

I have also been trying to download some maps for my Garmin and failing badly (I my need help)

Back to it!!

Well, I have had my first full week back in training, and let me say it has been a hard one! I cannot believe how fast my fitness has gone, a good reason not to keep on top of your training. I have been slowly building my distances up to the 10 miles I did on Sunday. The thing is i feel by the effort I am putting in that I should be flying and then when I check the watch it says " no you are not and take it easy you are not superman" My normal tempo pace is around 7 to 7:20's so doing 8's to 8:20's seems strange, but I am determined to do this build up properly. I have a run in December to test my fitness (Coastal Marathon) and will look forward to that to test myself out. My first "A" race is Wuthering Hike in March and I intend in making a better job of it than I did last time. I will be posting my 2010 races soon along with the links if anybody fancies a go. Well happy running and post a comment if you wish.
Taz