DFW Running Club!!

RichOneday_2

kmstuart wrote: »

Phew harder work than expected that run. Still 11.55 miles down, aprox uphill for 5.75 then about turn. Time was 1:54:18 ave pace of 9:54 even with several walk breaks. Have decided my next race is unfeasable as there is still a hint of hip problem plus i'm no way fit enough to go 4 time as far a week on saturday. On the plus side i can recoup most of my train fare i think. More when i return from the shower.

Thats a great effort at any time, kms, but with a niggling hip problem quite remarkable.

What was the intended race?

chickadee

Right then. That's it. I'm going to get some distance runs in. Considering also, I ran 8 miles-ish on Saturday morning (1h 20m) I am feeling even better about this morning, as my legs weren't fresh for those hills. I had a chat with OH about the race on the drive home and I think I'm holding myself back because I don't feel confident about my ability to maintain my speed in the later stages of the race, so I loiter behind other runners instead of confidently going past them. Next time I am going to run my own race and not follow the crowd. I can understand why these top sportsmen need a psychologist as well as a coach, nutritionist, physio, etc..... I'm rapidly coming to the conclusion that winning (whatever that is for each of us) is all in the head.

RichOneday_2

chickadee wrote: »

Right then. That's it. I'm going to get some distance runs in. Considering also, I ran 8 miles-ish on Saturday morning (1h 20m) I am feeling even better about this morning, as my legs weren't fresh for those hills. I had a chat with OH about the race on the drive home and I think I'm holding myself back because I don't feel confident about my ability to maintain my speed in the later stages of the race, so I loiter behind other runners instead of confidently going past them. Next time I am going to run my own race and not follow the crowd. I can understand why these top sportsmen need a psychologist as well as a coach, nutritionist, physio, etc..... I'm rapidly coming to the conclusion that winning (whatever that is for each of us) is all in the head.

I agree.

You've also got to bear in mind that you weren't training for this race. If you were you would have been doing 400m/800m reps, faster hill work and you would have tapered before the race.

There were actually 6 ladies under 40 minutes today, on a course like that, and a lot of the difference is just consistent training, specific training and, as you say, believing you can do it.

You certainly finished looking fresh enough today!:D

hypno06

Thanks rich - more milage it is then!

kms - 11.5 miles is a fair way! Don't put yourself down at all! Perhaps you just need to take things a little easier for a few days/weeks?

chickadee

RichOneday wrote: »

You certainly finished looking fresh enough today!:D

You are starting to sound like OH now. :eek: "You must not be trying hard enough if you can still talk straight after you have finished." He said that to me right after the race today! :rolleyes:

In the results listing you just dipped under 7 min-miles for the race today. On a course like that, that is fantastic. Well done. What do you think you will do in Dewsbury when the course is flat?

They got my category wrong in the results list and I should have been 5/14 in my F40 category (I am most definitely not M40!!) so I am pleased to have been ahead of 64% of the other F40s. Can you tell I just love tables of numbers?

hypno06

Oh, I got my new trainers - a newer model of my old faithfuls which have done me well over 3 years.......if this pair last me half as long I will get my money's worth.

kmstuart

Right thats better warmer now. First of i suppose is a mention of how long i've been running etc. Cant remember precisly why i started running but it was around august/september 2006. I suspect someone said i'd never run a marathon. Anyway first race was october 2006, a nice local half, on the back of i tihnk it was 5 weeks running including a cold for the final week. Managed 2:18 in the classic newbies style of going too fast and having to walk every so often.

Still since then i have completed 57 races. 2 mile races, 2 5k's, 6 10k's, 11 10 mile races, 13 halves, 11 marathons, 1 ultra (40 miles) and 11 other races mostly trail races but a annual 9k race more or less on my birthday that i've done twice too.

2008 went something like this which i blogged on www.fetcheveyone.com which is a great running website.

2008 in review part1 jan to june
Jan 2008

January saw me preparing for my first ultra which was on Feb 1st. Started the month of with the fetch mile race in Manchester at the council house (City of Manc Stadium to the uninitiated) on a chilly day and a long drive down. Like who does a 300 mile round trip to run a mile Did the mile in 7:20 which I was happy with despite going off way to fast although reflecting almost a year now I should probably of carried on going as fast as I was and hung on as long as possible rather than easing off to a more sensible pace like I actually did.

Back home after the mile for a 8 mile run, no further as I recall being a tad heavy legged for some reason. A nice easy 10 miler the day after followed by a couple of 5/6 mile early (6am) tempo runs during the week. The weekend was Man Utd at home plus the intention of two runs on the Sunday the first with a mate. Unfortunately he was having footwear issues so only a little under a mile was managed before dropping him off and going home to do a 16.5 mile treadmill run as it was tipping down back up north.

Couple of runs during the next week followed my a 17 miler at the weekend was the last of my preparation for my first marathon on 2008 at Epney. Had decided that the easiest way to prepare for my ultra was a few weeks of long runs and a marathon the week directly before. Epney marathon went ok and was also being run as a PB attempt which was scuppered as I got cramp in my left quad around 20 miles in. Did clock 4:50 which was only 5 mins off PB pace in the end.

Feb 2008

The main race this month was Tring2Town a 40 mile ultra alongside the grand union canal from Tring into Brentford. The ideal first ultra as its flat and also point to point. Slight drawback in a 4am wake up call as I was staying in London but it wasn’t too bad honest Full report for this race (and all others) is already in my blog so I’ll just be brief. I enjoyed it and will be doing it again, not the 2009 one as despite having a entry a lack of cash as well as being sensible and avoiding overdoing things due to a sprained hip. Pleased with my time of 8:22 and was targeting sub 8 for this years one.

Week after Tring2Town was a fetch invasion of a Trailplus weekend in the forest of dean where I was probably a bit daft and did too much too hard/fast and triggered my occasional shin splints which put paid to any more running in February, still it was a good weekend so I cant complain too much.

March 2008

Silverstone half was to be the first and only race this month due to my shin splints. Did a test run a few days before the race and felt nothing at all despite doing 1/3rd the distance and several weeks of total rest. Looked hopeful and went down on the day, handily it’s a noon start so I have time to do the driving on the same day. Met several fetchies there including CanaryYellow who was in direct competition on the day due to his challenge of who can finish nearest their current half PB. Bumped into Contro who was pacing @ 9 min mileing so I in hindsight realise was rather foolishly decided I’d follow round to a new PB. All went well for a few miles then the shin splints reappeared so I slowed down enogh to run without pain and ended up clocking 2:12 which was abut 15 mins off the time I wanted. From here it was basically more total rest until April.

April 2008

Was meant to have been running the paris marathon but was in no way fit enough to do it. Handily as the eurostar and time of work was booked and I was in a free apartment (Thank SarahL) I still went off to support. Was a good time over there and as I dashed from one vantage point to another tracking Sarah and Blister round the route I felt zero pain in the shins so was also optimistic it was better properly this time. The less said about the journey home the better I think as my blog covers that nicely.

A 5 mile run midweek with no pain hand me thinking things were defiantly better than last time so I decided that as I was going down to support a mate at [URL="javascript:showGlossaryDefinition('FLM');"]FLM[/URL] I’d head over to wimbledon for the 5k on the Saturday morning. This I did after some route checking so I didn’t get lost heading to the start. Warm up went ok and then the 5k race went ok too, well as much as 5k’s go well. Lets just say it wasn’t easy but I put that mostly down to lack of running fitness.

Following weekend was the first of the Lakeland trail race series at Hawkshead, one I’d missed the year before because of injury. Unsurprisingly I barely made the 15k in under 2 hours mainly due to lack of fitness. Did have a very pleasing un in Tatton park the day after care of Homer though so all was not bad.

A few more middle distance runs this month plus a long run up the cycletrack exploring a new route where I managed to bump into my boss walking his dog was the last of the preparation for May’s Marathon Madness.

May 2008

May was to be the month of many marathons, well 4 in 3 weekends which is a lot by the average persons standards. Started off with a few mid length runs followed by a trip down to Essex to visit my uncle and Halstead Marathon. This one was bloody hard as it was 30 degrees and I was sticking to the tarmac. Not surprisingly I took 5:38 as it was too hot to run and I have been known to suffer from the heat in the past. I was however pleased I rehydrated well back at my uncles BBQ.

Next up was the district double which is White Peaks marathon on the Saturday in the peak district followed by Windermere marathon on the Sunday up in the lake district. Now white peaks I found quiet hard as following the old disused railway lines make the climbs deceptively non existent. Clocked 5:07 for this one and was finding it a bit of a struggle later on.

Windermere however I found a lot easier despite its hills. I was struggling from tired legs over the latter half but it was the first time I’d ever done back to back marathons. An insane sprint finish saw me sneak under 5 hours which was a pleasing result.

Edinburgh the following weekend was the next and final marathon for May and coincided with the bank holiday weekend. Was also a big fetchie weekend too with meals on both the Saturday and Sunday nights. Had the pleasure of running with Plodding Hippo for the first 14 miles in a somewhat faster than PB pace before erring on the side of caution and having a wee walk beak whilst drinking, legs were aching later on but still managed a PB time of 4:37.

To finish of May there was the small matter of Garburn Trail race another one I had missed in 2007 with injury. This one is a 23k race with a climb up and over Garburn pass itself which is a huge climb. Annoyingly during this race I noticed a pain in my foot which caused a lot of walking and a 3:46 time. A trip to the doctors had me diagnosed with PF but I wasn’t convinced on this and a friend of Shades suggested it was my spring ligament in my foot which I think was probably correct as I’ve never had PF yet and touch wood wont get it.

June 2008

Into June and after a few weeks of rest to sort the spring ligament issue it was back into a few weeks of 5-7 miles at a time every few days with was not causing me any problems. Foot sorted it was off to near Wantage for a fetch Purple Patch running weekend. Plenty of things learnt here including how to win a quiz the easy way Also took some of the runs easy or stopped short as the foot was niggling a little. A nice long run with me adapting it by running beyond my group then doubling back to go back past them for a bit before turning to play catch up. Did this several times and managed to gain a few miles more than the actual distance.

July 2008

Early July had me doing another 5k and with the help of Homer a stab at a sub 25 time. Finished in 25:11 but then it was only my second 5k and I wasn’t at peak fitness yet. Also a twisty route down at Bramhall but I’ll be back soon enough to hopefully thrash a sub 25 time out. The following day I was racing a hilly half near the parents where I made the fatal error of following a young lady with a nice behind. Pretty much the only race up until then where I had blown up less than half way round. Kind of struggled onwards from there but still managed a course PB.

Quiet a few more runs over the month including some tempo/speed work before a 9k race on my birthday where I was close to going sub 50. Did however aggravate my shin splints doing it as well as too much speed work earlier in the month so it was another several weeks of rest to get shot of them.

August 2008

It was late on into August before I was running again and then it was mostly short runs just to build up slowly after my latest shin splint issue. Was also jogging to and from work as I had no car at this time due to a RTA in mid August. Still not heard anything from the police even now about what is happening but they get 6 months to decide.

September 2008

Still doing lots of short runs as well as to and from work but early on there was a 10k race just down the road so along with a colleague from work we headed down one evening for me to set a new PB. This I achieved quiet easily and managed 51:52 which was a decent drop in time and I feel even now bodes well for a sub 50 shot as I wasn’t fully fit then and it is a kind of hilly course.

Next up was the Glasgow half which wasn’t the easiest of runs for whatever reason, probably the usual too fast at the start problem. I think I declared to Ian and Lorraine S at the finish it was the hardest race I’d ever done including all my marathons. Still it was a half and it was done without any real problems two weeks before Berlin. The next week I did a local 10 miler with the intention of getting a PB but a combination of too fast at the start a hilly course soon had me send off my colleague and I settled down to a steady [URL="javascript:showGlossaryDefinition('LSR');"]LSR[/URL] pace for the rest of the run.

To finish of September I had the Berlin marathon, which was to be the first of 4 over 5 weekends, and a shoestring budget trip. The race went well speaking in hindsight as I clocked 4:26 a new PB by 10 mins and sub 4:30 for the first time. After the race and for a few days I was also cross as I could of gone faster but tired legs from lack of long runs had seen me lose out on a time nearer 4:15 as up until mile 18 or whenever it was (my blog says back in the race report) I was sticking to a 4:15 pace very nicely. The staying in a hostel thing was good too and I’ll almost certainly be back in 2009 and probably staying in the same place too.

October 2008

My next race was Loch Ness marathon which was a great race with great company. Managed 4:32 which was my second fastest marathon time too which in itself was good. A couple of runs at home including a 4 miler on the Saturday with me doing a steady mile then a fast one then repeating to wake the legs up an see if they could cope with a bit of speed. The Sunday was the GER with me using my uncles as a base again. This was a somewhat warm day for October but better control of pace saw me manage to PB by a few mins (1:57) even if I was struggling at some points. I felt after this race that with proper rest and suitable conditions a stab at sub 1:55 time is doable.

Next up was Abingdon marathon where I was hoping to go nearer 4:15. Sadly I realise now I’ve reached the point where I cant expect to PB this soon after a another marathon PB but I still managed a 4:36 time and my 3rd fastest ever. Final race in October was Beachy Head marathon which is almost entirely off road and ruddy hilly but also great fun. Plodding Hippo was adamant I should add an hour to a road marathon time so on those ground my 5:35 time was pretty much bang on what I was doing in road marathons at the time.

November 2008

First race this month was Derwentwater 10 miler which I usually use as a fitness test for another flatter 10 mile race 2 weeks later. Oddly despite taking it easy and even walking up part of the main hill cos my hip was aching a bit (more on the hip later) I clocked a time 2 seconds off of my PB. If you believe the official results I did PB by 20 seconds or so but I know those where wrong.

Next race was Lancaster half which was meant to be a sub 1:55 Half PB attempt but a headwind in the first half and cramp soon put paid to that followed by a slip which completed knackered my hip injury which I had been ignoring up to this point.

Doctors on ringing up said it was just a strain cos of the slip and a bit of rest plus some anti-inflammatories was the answer. That was it for the rest of November running as I was very busy at work and never had time to test the hip out with some runs.

December 2008

Wanting to test the hip out I might have been perhaps a wee bit daft using the Stockport 10 to do this one especially on a sub zero day with very slippery conditions but then when have I ever been sensible. Naturally after 4 miles or so I could feel the hip problem an ended up walking a fair bit until the finish.

Another call to the doctors got me an actual appointment but naturally by the time this was due I’d been out for several short and slow runs so was pretty certain the problem wasn’t to bad. Doctor said it was a muscle strain and provided I was careful there was no need to stop running. I am to take it easy and build things back up slowly.

Not actually ran since as I was a little busy with work and have also had a cough/cold since last weekend but I’m intending to go for a run sunday (which I probably have done by the time I post this).

Addendum: Managed 4.6 miles this morning at what was supposed to be an easy pace but was sub 9:20 pace, oh well it was a wee bit chilly i suppose.

Summary of 2008

26 races done this year 2 miles, 2 5k’s, 1 9k, 1 10k, 2 trail races, 3 10 milers, 5 halves, 1 ultra (40 miles) and 9 marathons. In the process I’ve set 9 PB’s and a further 2 course PB’s.

Total distance to date (27th dec) 810.77 miles a new high.
Weeks spent not running 14

Allowing for weeks of not running ave weekly mileage is 21/22 miles approx.

Injuries during the year where a couple of bouts of shin splints, the first being worse than the second. One spring ligament problem and also a ongoing hip problem. Will be aiming to avoid as much injury next year I think as a quarter of the year out is way too much.

RichOneday_2

chickadee wrote: »

You are starting to sound like OH now. :eek: "You must not be trying hard enough if you can still talk straight after you have finished." He said that to me right after the race today! :rolleyes:

In the results listing you just dipped under 7 min-miles for the race today. On a course like that, that is fantastic. Well done. What do you think you will do in Dewsbury when the course is flat?

They got my category wrong in the results list and I should have been 5/14 in my F40 category (I am most definitely not M40!!) so I am pleased to have been ahead of 64% of the other F40s. Can you tell I just love tables of numbers?

You're like me then - you can pore over results for hours!:p

Well your OH sounded like an intelligent bloke so I don't mind sounding like him. Or did you mean that was a bad thing?:p

Yep, the 7 min/mile was the target, bearing in mind it was only two weeks ago when I managed that for 5K on a course of similar severity.

Dewsbury will be a big disappointment if it is slower than 39:59, although I am really targetting 38:00 with 4 more weeks of training to go. I'll get a better idea after the St. Albans 10 Miles in 2 weeks time, as that is a flat course - sub 1hr 08 mins there and the 38:00 is on for Dewsbury!:D

5/14 is pretty impressive, especially with room for improvement!;) It certainly looks better than 30/38 in M40:p .

kmstuart

hypno06 wrote: »

Oh, I got my new trainers - a newer model of my old faithfuls which have done me well over 3 years.......if this pair last me half as long I will get my money's worth.

How long did the last pair last? Just the norm is upto 500 miles per pair before any shock absorbing features etc become useless. I usually stop using a pair when i reach about 400 miles or so depending on what i'm running on. If i know it'l be soft under foot i might use older pairs a bit more, or even sometimes if its only a short run i'm doing.

You really have to be careful if they are old as it can lead to injury problems. I know its a pain changing them quite regulary (espcially as mine are £80 a pair usually and i need 2-3 pairs a year) but it is important.

hypno06

I had my last pair 3 and a half years :rotfl: