Cutting a frustrated figure at home right now, unable to run due to a muscular tension problem in my back that I have been suffering from ever since my escapades at Stanley Park on Wednesday night!
Luckily for me I was working at local physio Brian Porter's house yesterday, so fortunately for me he managed to fit me in for some treatment. Molly was also kind enough to help out with a massage last night too. Plus, I also had a massage off Sue Samme this morning, and rather than my usual leg massage, we focused on my back again.
The consensus is that I am suffering from my back muscles locking out due to the pressure and tension I put them under on Wednesday. Because I have been focussing on long run after long run, it has come as a bit of a shock to the system throwing in a sub 5 minute mile paced 4 miler!
The pain isn't as intense now, but I am listening to the advise of those around me and to what my body is telling me. Two days off isn't going to do me any harm at London at this stage of the training cycle. I am still hoping to get my longish 16 mile run in at a gentle pace tomorrow, but now that we have got all the hard sessions out of the way it is all about arriving on that start line in London in two weeks time in one piece!
So therefore, this afternoon will be spent with my feet up, a couple of heat packs on my back and a DVD!
Saturday 11 April 2015
Thursday 9 April 2015
Blackpool Interclub (race 1) 2015
Wednesday night saw the first race of what is a highlight series for me each season - the Interclub Grand Prix.
Teams from Preston, Blackpool, Red Rose, Wesham, Lytham and Chorley annually fight it out for positions both individually and as a club, in what is a real regional battle. This year a little bit of extra spice and interest has been provided in the shape of a new seventh club (and race) to the series in the shape of Thornton.
Each race is traditionally between 4-5 miles long and is fiercely contested throughout the field as every runner battles to earn each and every last position for their team.
As has been the case each year since I joined Wesham Road Runners, Blackpool hosted the first race of the campaign. This meant a 4 mile course, taking in two laps of Stanley Park.
Having managed to fit my long run in a day early over the long bank holiday weekend, I approached this race in good shape on the back of a couple of days worth of easy running and a leg massage the previous night.
Once the gun went, myself, David Rigby and Rob 'coach' Affleck (both Preston Harriers), quickly moved to the front of the field and opened up a gap on the other competitors. I managed to get my nose in front early on and it stayed that way throughout the first lap, as we moved increasingly away from the rest of the field in a close pack of three.
In the early stages of lap two, Dave made a bit of a move into the lead and held it for about half a mile as we negotiated the section of the lap through the woods, bringing us out on the outer parameter of the course near the hospital.
Before we re-entered the park however I had regained it and managed to hold off throughout a high paced final mile into the finishing straight. My final mile split came in at 4:41, my quickest ever single mile! It hurt, but was well worth it when I crossed that finish line in a new PB time of 19:50.
Now, last season I finished in 3rd place overall in the series, improving on 4th place the year before and 5th place in my first full season the time before that. So this year, the aim is to improve again and hopefully go at least one better again! To that end, the season could not have started any better.
It was a fantastic occasion, as Wesham had a massive turnout with many new runners, both at the front end, but also supported admirably through the field too. The presence of Thornton Cleveleys and also the growing power of Red Rose in terms of numbers also boosted the success of the race, as more than 350 runners turned out in total.
A great spectacle to have played a part in, and one that I will remember for a long, long time.
That was my final race before the marathon too, and after an 8 mile progressive tempo with Rob Affleck and Gethin Buttler tonight, there are not too many effort runs to go now.
Rob Danson x
Teams from Preston, Blackpool, Red Rose, Wesham, Lytham and Chorley annually fight it out for positions both individually and as a club, in what is a real regional battle. This year a little bit of extra spice and interest has been provided in the shape of a new seventh club (and race) to the series in the shape of Thornton.
Each race is traditionally between 4-5 miles long and is fiercely contested throughout the field as every runner battles to earn each and every last position for their team.
As has been the case each year since I joined Wesham Road Runners, Blackpool hosted the first race of the campaign. This meant a 4 mile course, taking in two laps of Stanley Park.
Having managed to fit my long run in a day early over the long bank holiday weekend, I approached this race in good shape on the back of a couple of days worth of easy running and a leg massage the previous night.
Once the gun went, myself, David Rigby and Rob 'coach' Affleck (both Preston Harriers), quickly moved to the front of the field and opened up a gap on the other competitors. I managed to get my nose in front early on and it stayed that way throughout the first lap, as we moved increasingly away from the rest of the field in a close pack of three.
In the early stages of lap two, Dave made a bit of a move into the lead and held it for about half a mile as we negotiated the section of the lap through the woods, bringing us out on the outer parameter of the course near the hospital.
Before we re-entered the park however I had regained it and managed to hold off throughout a high paced final mile into the finishing straight. My final mile split came in at 4:41, my quickest ever single mile! It hurt, but was well worth it when I crossed that finish line in a new PB time of 19:50.
Now, last season I finished in 3rd place overall in the series, improving on 4th place the year before and 5th place in my first full season the time before that. So this year, the aim is to improve again and hopefully go at least one better again! To that end, the season could not have started any better.
It was a fantastic occasion, as Wesham had a massive turnout with many new runners, both at the front end, but also supported admirably through the field too. The presence of Thornton Cleveleys and also the growing power of Red Rose in terms of numbers also boosted the success of the race, as more than 350 runners turned out in total.
A great spectacle to have played a part in, and one that I will remember for a long, long time.
That was my final race before the marathon too, and after an 8 mile progressive tempo with Rob Affleck and Gethin Buttler tonight, there are not too many effort runs to go now.
Rob Danson x
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