Tonight I had hoped that I would have been writing about my attempt at breaking the 32 minute barrier for the first time at Salford 10k. However circumstances dictated that this target must wait for another day once more.
Ahh 'Good' Friday? For some maybe, but for me? Crap Friday sounds about right!
You see, my van decided to blow a gasket - or more specifically, a drive shaft - half way down the motorway on route to the race venue, and so my race was scuppered before I even got there.
Luckily for me, my Wesham team mate Karl Lee, who I had offered a lift to, still managed to make the start line as some fellow running friends were able to pick him up on their way past.
I stayed with my vehicle, and probably more by luck of the draw by getting a fantastically helpful member of the AA repair team, by mid afternoon the van was fixed and I was back home. This was beyond anything I could have expected, especially during the hectic Easter period!
Once back home, rather than stew over a missed opportunity and the race that never was, I decided to re-jig my plans for the weekend. I had intended to perform my last long run prior to the marathon tomorrow morning, on tired legs. However, since I hadn't exhausted myself by racing, I thought I might aswell bring it forward half a day. This allows me extra time for my body to recover before the first interclub race of this years series on Wednesday night, and hopefully will see me able to go quicker there now.
The long run itself was tougher than I had hoped it would be. I don't like carrying bottles, so ran the first 15 mile loop without water, which normally would not be a problem. But due to the events of the day I don't think I had taken enough liquid onboard. Also, due to the weather conditions I set off in hat, gloves, jumper and jacket, and thermal leggings. By 10 miles I was far too warm! So at the 15 mile mark (outside my house) I grabbed my bottle of water and gel that I had stashed, and stripped off down to my shorts - I had also stored a change of t-shirt in the shed! From here I felt a bit more comfortable and was able to continue and run the final 8 miles at a steady pace.
I finished up with 23 miles done in 2 hours and 38 minutes - or 6:51 pace.
Now that my long run is out of the way, it means tomorrow's run can be a shorter recovery run, and Sunday might now be changed to a tempo run, to replace the quick miles I had intended to get in today.
So all in all, not the day I had hoped for, but far from a disaster in the end. If you think positive, and banish the negative thoughts, then anything is possible!
London is another step closer, and then beyond that I can look to final crack that sub 32 minute 10k, I know it is in there.
I will leave you all with this question - a little test to see who has stuck with it and read all the way! Lol ;)
...any tips on very fast, very flat, very high standard fields over 10k between late July - August time?
Thanks for reading, Rob.
Friday, 3 April 2015
Sunday, 29 March 2015
Countdown to London!
I sit here tonight, believe it or not, just 4 weeks away from probably the biggest day of my running life yet.
In just 28 days from now I will know whether all the effort, time, training and dedication that I have put in to this experience will have paid off on the big stage.
Last time out at London, I targeted breaking 2 hours 45 minutes, and although I left it late I just about managed it in 2:44:55.
This time around I kept my intentions to run the marathon a bit quieter, not wanting to make it public until I was well underway with my training and knew that I was in the right shape to take it on again.
Te reason for this? Simple. I wanted to make sure I was able to perform better than last time around. I didn't see the point in going all the way to London just to repeat last years performance - as proud of that as I was. I make no secret of my desire to push myself to be the very best that I possibly can be in everything that I do.
So this year I set out with the ambition of running 2:40 in the marathon. The early stage of my training went better than expected and it quickly became apparent how far ahead of last year I was both in terms of training and performances. Running a fairly comfortable 72:36 at Inskip Half saw me move the boundaries and set myself a tougher goal of 2:37 for the marathon. This equates to 6 minute miling all the way around so would be a big achievement for me.
Although the training has continued to go well I have not moved my targets anymore from here. I am conscious of the fact that as the event is two weeks later in the year this time around it is going to be hot!
The marathon training kicked in a week earlier this time too, so along with the extra two weeks, brings it to a total of a 19 week training plan that I have worked off. I aimed to run a minimum of 1000 training miles in this time, but if I could I wanted to average 60 miles + each week, which so far I have managed.
I am currently 15 weeks into my plan and have ticked off 936 training miles, so approximately 62.5 a week on average - in comparison to last years 52 m/pw that I worked off over a 16 week training schedule last year.
So the 4 week countdown is on, and I honestly cannot wait now, I'm raring to go!
In just 28 days from now I will know whether all the effort, time, training and dedication that I have put in to this experience will have paid off on the big stage.
Last time out at London, I targeted breaking 2 hours 45 minutes, and although I left it late I just about managed it in 2:44:55.
This time around I kept my intentions to run the marathon a bit quieter, not wanting to make it public until I was well underway with my training and knew that I was in the right shape to take it on again.
Te reason for this? Simple. I wanted to make sure I was able to perform better than last time around. I didn't see the point in going all the way to London just to repeat last years performance - as proud of that as I was. I make no secret of my desire to push myself to be the very best that I possibly can be in everything that I do.
So this year I set out with the ambition of running 2:40 in the marathon. The early stage of my training went better than expected and it quickly became apparent how far ahead of last year I was both in terms of training and performances. Running a fairly comfortable 72:36 at Inskip Half saw me move the boundaries and set myself a tougher goal of 2:37 for the marathon. This equates to 6 minute miling all the way around so would be a big achievement for me.
Although the training has continued to go well I have not moved my targets anymore from here. I am conscious of the fact that as the event is two weeks later in the year this time around it is going to be hot!
The marathon training kicked in a week earlier this time too, so along with the extra two weeks, brings it to a total of a 19 week training plan that I have worked off. I aimed to run a minimum of 1000 training miles in this time, but if I could I wanted to average 60 miles + each week, which so far I have managed.
I am currently 15 weeks into my plan and have ticked off 936 training miles, so approximately 62.5 a week on average - in comparison to last years 52 m/pw that I worked off over a 16 week training schedule last year.
So the 4 week countdown is on, and I honestly cannot wait now, I'm raring to go!
Northern 12 stage relays
This Saturday saw Team Wesham participate in the 12 stage relays (men) and 6 stage relays (women) where all the clubs from the north of England compete for a place in the Nationals.
It is team events like this, representing my club, that are my favourite part of competing. This year the relays took place in Sefton Park, Liverpool.
I would like to say a big thankyou to Kerry Eccles for driving me to the event, and Brian Jones, Helen Lawrenson and Lisa Minns for the company on the journey. It was a long, full day out, but well worth it.
Of the 12 stages in the men's competition, 4 of the legs were 'long' legs (approximately 4.7 miles) and 8 of the legs were 'short' (approx 2.4 miles).
I went out first leg for Wesham's 'A' team, which was a long leg. I got around the two laps in 24 minutes and 26 seconds, managing to pass the line in 15th place. This was a big improvement on my last performance at this event two years ago, and I am pleased to say that I managed to pick up some notable scalps on the day aswell.
I managed to reign back my hunger to go off early doors, and managed to build my way through the field in the second half of the race as a result.
I was pleased with my own performance and also immensely proud of all of the other members of our teams - as we managed to put out two full men's teams, as well as a very talented women's team.
Team Wesham's men came home in 52nd and 65th place overall, and the women managed a fantastic 25th place finish.
A great day of running, and a superb team event and experience.
It is team events like this, representing my club, that are my favourite part of competing. This year the relays took place in Sefton Park, Liverpool.
I would like to say a big thankyou to Kerry Eccles for driving me to the event, and Brian Jones, Helen Lawrenson and Lisa Minns for the company on the journey. It was a long, full day out, but well worth it.
Of the 12 stages in the men's competition, 4 of the legs were 'long' legs (approximately 4.7 miles) and 8 of the legs were 'short' (approx 2.4 miles).
I went out first leg for Wesham's 'A' team, which was a long leg. I got around the two laps in 24 minutes and 26 seconds, managing to pass the line in 15th place. This was a big improvement on my last performance at this event two years ago, and I am pleased to say that I managed to pick up some notable scalps on the day aswell.
I managed to reign back my hunger to go off early doors, and managed to build my way through the field in the second half of the race as a result.
I was pleased with my own performance and also immensely proud of all of the other members of our teams - as we managed to put out two full men's teams, as well as a very talented women's team.
Team Wesham's men came home in 52nd and 65th place overall, and the women managed a fantastic 25th place finish.
A great day of running, and a superb team event and experience.
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