Garmin Scales

Grumpy_chap

Been a sluggish month - after the half at the beginning of the month, just things kept cropping up so not been out much.  Away this weekend, but all set to return to it from Thursday.

Grumpy_chap

Another sluggish month - I am getting more speed on short sprints but struggling with stamina for longer runs.
Anyway, this has been a weekend off exercise so should be fully refreshed for next weekend.

Grumpy_chap

I'm back 

After a really prolonged sluggish winter period when I found it a struggle to get moving, I have suddenly found my mojo so achieved two PB's for the year in the past two weeks and this week was only 20 seconds off my PB of all time.  Hopefully I can keep up the momentum and smash that PB!

Grumpy_chap

WOOHOO - What a month!

Despite the uncomfortably hot weather I have taken progressive steps off my year-PB and brushing an all-time PB which I am hopeful of achieving in the coming month.

I also entered a 10k and - despite the extremely hot weather and feeling exhausted, a few minutes off my PB for 10k - I achieved second place in category so £140 prize money.  Absolutely amazing - my first ever prize of any kind in running.

My VO2 max has returned to my all-time best - maybe if I can keep the trajectory, I will be able to achieve a best-ever VO2 max...

I was persuaded to start using the Strava app.  So far I have found it to be the most pointless tool ever.  I will leave it for this month to see if it grows, but currently minded to delete it.

Grumpy_chap

Well, this month continued on an upward trajectory, maintaining my VO2 max through the whole month and achieving 3 top-10 finishes in my local ParkRun.  Apart from one very wet week, my times have been near PB until yesterday when I smashed my PB by 26 seconds and broke through the next minute-barrier, so I am on top of the world.  

The TV mentioned that, for over-50's, it was very good for cardiovascular health to have blueberries on your breakfast cereal, so I have done so since 23rd July.  Now that I achieved a result, I will presumably have to stick with the blueberries.

I still find that the Strava app is of limited benefit - they offered me a free one-month trial of the subscription which means every activity results in an AI generated commentary. 
The Strava-subscription element that is nice is the prediction on times for 5k, 10k, half-marathon and full-marathon.  I was not that convinced about the accuracy, but for 5K on Friday, the prediction was 3 seconds away from what I achieved on Saturday so there could be something to the algorithm they use.  The 10k prediction is about a minute quicker than my best 10k, and the marathon prediction seems realistic (though I have never run a marathon to compare).  The odd one is the half-marathon prediction suggesting 5 minutes quicker than my half-marathon PB - that is a lot of difference.
I can't see that the prediction on achievable times is really worth £9 per month.

Grumpy_chap

I have continued with the blueberries.
I have ditched the Strava.
I was somewhat suspicious of the accuracy of the PB time right at the start of August so very pleased when I went out the week after and repeated the feat.
We had a break mid-August and then, one back home, I over-did it in a training run so my legs have been rather achy and times off the best.  I am hoping to get back near on Saturday assuming the weather / ground condition is favourable.

Grumpy_chap

In some ways a month of consolidation and rather a plateau but I have been putting in a bit more mileage ready for a half this weekend.

On the subject of mileage, I was speaking with someone about my 5k time peaking and then easing back and they recommended an online trainer who offers plans for free / low cost.  The "ParkRun improvement plan" (only £8) indicates 97 km per week running effort required.  Now, I truly think that is really rather more than I can make the time for and, I suspect, well outside the mileage most ParkRunners are covering.  I did not part with my £8.

Okell

97 km per week!!!

To improve a Park Run!!!

Have you got a link to this online coach?

I could do with a good laugh...

Grumpy_chap

Sorry @Okell, I have only just seen your post as I have been away and did not see any notifications on my phone.  I did not keep a link for the coach.

I was pleased with the half marathon at the beginning of the month, getting a PB almost 3 minutes below previous PB.  But it was not a clean half marathon as my splits were all over the place and I still landed 2 minutes and 10 seconds slower than my target.

My ParkRun times levelled off, and then 2 weeks holiday, but I was pleased to be back in ParkRun this week and got exactly my target.  I went for the target half marathon pace and came in 5 seconds out from target.  1 second per km seems like good pacing so I am happy with that.

Not quite sure how my mood will flow for the next couple of ParkRuns, but I have another half coming up at the end of this month.

Grumpy_chap

So, November went really well for the half marathon.  I have been following the training plan linked to my Garmin tracker and I guess it must be working as I managed to achieve a PB matching the target I was aiming for at the beginning of October.  Plus, this HM was far more steady through the whole distance so very pleased with that.

I don't know why, but faster HM outcomes seems to be accompanied by slower Parkrun outcomes, but I have gained 30 seconds or so each week for the past couple of weeks so that is going back in the correct direction.

I will keep on with the Garmin coach plan for the HM as it s free, gets my mileage up and does have a structure to the volume.  I'd like to at least maintain my HM time through the winter - next HM March - and if I can recover my Parkrun times in the same period that will be fantastic.