Here's the reason I've been away:
The Forest of Miracles
It all started with a nasty virus that forced me to stop running. It gave me time though to finish my album. Have a listen and let me know what you think.
I am back running now though, and getting back to full fitness. I'll be blogging races again in September. Stay tuned!
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
A little cross country: The Lordshill 10
This was a race of mixed emotions for me. I produced, fitness-wise, my best performance ever, running a PB at a very relaxed sub-marathon pace. I finished 3rd in my age category and I assume I am due a Hampshire bronze medal (to be confirmed). My pace and HR data predict that I'm on target for a sub-1:30 performance in the Gosport Half Marathon to claim my London championship place.
You'd think I'd be happy!
Truth is, it was something of a wasted effort as yet again it was a very poor turnout from the Victory women and we failed to field a team. At this rate we are heading for demotion and Harry Redknapp won't be able to save us. What is up with our girls this year? We did brilliantly last year!
One more whinge while I'm in the groove: yet again we have a 'road' race with a major chunk of off-road, with a mile of unsurfaced trail and a finish on grass, with a very tight (and unnecessary) hairpin on very wet grass right at the end which left me struggling for grip in my racing flats. Is this the taste of things to come? Are we to expect that one by one all our road races will move off road? Should we trade in our flats for trail shoes? I gather that the Gosport Half Marathon now includes a cycle path - I hope it's properly surfaced - this is my crunch qualifying race and I don't want to come unstuck with bottlenecks and trying to run at speed over uneven ground!
I imagine the organisers at Lordshill are under the same pressures as Gosport to take the race away from busy roads. The way the new course was 'sold' to me though was that it is now flatter and faster without the killer hill at 7 miles. Thing is though, I know hills slow you down, but that killer hill was the defining feature of the old course. It was what gave the race its character. Take it away and you take away the spice, potentially making for quite a bland race. Add to that the inclusion of the unsurfaced section and the tight and slippery grass finish and I'm unconvinced it's an improvement.
Having said that, it's a pleasant enough course, certainly faster than the old course, but with sufficient undulations to slow the times a little - maybe still a PB course though. It's just a shame I don't like getting my racing flats muddy!
Here though is why I'm really happy with my performance:
7:04 131bpm
7:16 142bpm
6:41 142bpm
7:04 143bpm
7:10 143bpm
7:03 142bpm
6:58 143bpm
7:04 143bpm
7:27 143bpm
7:05 144bpm
overall: 1:11:20 7:08/mile 142bpm
That's less than marathon effort (145bpm). By the time we factor up the pace to 150bpm for my half marathon attempt in 2 weeks time I'll be flying. Fingers crossed for sub-1:30 at Gosport and my London Marathon championship place!
You'd think I'd be happy!
Truth is, it was something of a wasted effort as yet again it was a very poor turnout from the Victory women and we failed to field a team. At this rate we are heading for demotion and Harry Redknapp won't be able to save us. What is up with our girls this year? We did brilliantly last year!
One more whinge while I'm in the groove: yet again we have a 'road' race with a major chunk of off-road, with a mile of unsurfaced trail and a finish on grass, with a very tight (and unnecessary) hairpin on very wet grass right at the end which left me struggling for grip in my racing flats. Is this the taste of things to come? Are we to expect that one by one all our road races will move off road? Should we trade in our flats for trail shoes? I gather that the Gosport Half Marathon now includes a cycle path - I hope it's properly surfaced - this is my crunch qualifying race and I don't want to come unstuck with bottlenecks and trying to run at speed over uneven ground!
I imagine the organisers at Lordshill are under the same pressures as Gosport to take the race away from busy roads. The way the new course was 'sold' to me though was that it is now flatter and faster without the killer hill at 7 miles. Thing is though, I know hills slow you down, but that killer hill was the defining feature of the old course. It was what gave the race its character. Take it away and you take away the spice, potentially making for quite a bland race. Add to that the inclusion of the unsurfaced section and the tight and slippery grass finish and I'm unconvinced it's an improvement.
Having said that, it's a pleasant enough course, certainly faster than the old course, but with sufficient undulations to slow the times a little - maybe still a PB course though. It's just a shame I don't like getting my racing flats muddy!
Here though is why I'm really happy with my performance:
7:04 131bpm
7:16 142bpm
6:41 142bpm
7:04 143bpm
7:10 143bpm
7:03 142bpm
6:58 143bpm
7:04 143bpm
7:27 143bpm
7:05 144bpm
overall: 1:11:20 7:08/mile 142bpm
That's less than marathon effort (145bpm). By the time we factor up the pace to 150bpm for my half marathon attempt in 2 weeks time I'll be flying. Fingers crossed for sub-1:30 at Gosport and my London Marathon championship place!
Monday, September 22, 2008
Slugging it out: The Stansted Slog 2008
I thought I'd give the Stansted Slog a go as a pleasant alternative to the usual Sunday run, although as most of it is run on trails that we run every Sunday anyway it wasn't really that much of a change. I really should have taken a camera with me, but if you want an idea of the look and feel of the race then my Sunday Run post is pretty much it (in fact Stansted House is the backdrop of the first photo).
This was only the 3rd running of the event, which surprised me somewhat as it seemed to be one of those traditional events that everyone does and I'd yet to attempt. Maybe that's an indication of the quality of the organisation provided by Pompey Joggers. Certainly you'd be hard pushed to find a better venue, starting and finishing as it does in front of Stansted House. The toilets are also the best I've come across at an event, being the stone floored stable-block toilets used by visitors to the house. Good toilet facilities are always a great asset for any race - I'm not kidding here! It makes a big difference.
The weather couldn't have been better. It was rather cool in the shade but you soon warmed up in the unbroken sunshine. It was perfect running weather: all that sunshine and no overheating! The conditions underfoot too were perfect - hardly any mud and good firm footing.
I can't imagine why anyone would want to avoid any of the glorious hills of the South Downs, but for those wanting a slightly flatter shorter route there was the 8-mile Stansted Slug as an alternative to the 13-mile Slog.
At 10:30am precisely we set off and immediately I was running on familiar trails, albeit on a route parallel to our more usual path through Stansted Forest. There's something magical in running through woods on a bright sunny day as the light flickers and picks out fleeting features on the forest floor. It all seems somehow a heightened reality - who needs drugs when you have all this?
My aims for the day were to have a nice training run: a progression run where I start out slowly and pick up my pace throughout the race to hit half marathon pace at the end. I'd intended to stay with Diana for more than just the first mile, but as we ran through the trees I couldn't help start to pick up places one by one and I left her behind. It was also a relief to get past the big smelly brute ahead of me (some enormous guy, not Diana, I should point out). How can someone smell that bad only 1 mile into a race?
On we slogged past the beautiful Idsworth Church, this time approached from the opposite direction to our usual Sunday route. The setting of the church is amazing - right out on its own among the fields. Such is the lack of surfaced access to it, that a wooden bridge has been built at the foot of the hill, to keep the congregation's Sunday finery out of the mud that naturally forms in the hollow during the winter.
I'd been warned about the big hill we were about to climb, but in the description of how bad it was I'd assumed it was the near vertical climb further up the valley. In fact we were about to climb the hill I've done many times before: steep but runnable - it just goes on a bit. We got a small respite half way up and then continued to climb the now shallower gradient up on to the ridge. I'd commented to a fellow runner that I was relieved we hadn't gone up the steep bit. I now listened in amusement how my tale was being relayed back down the field "She reckons this is the easy bit and she's glad we haven't gone up the steep part!" "What??!".
As we got to the top of the ridge the runner ahead of me stumbled and nearly went over on his ankle. He commented that this was the last place to turn an ankle, being so inaccessible. I replied that if he was lucky "we might be in Air Ambulance territory". As I spoke those words I immediately heard the familiar low rumble of a helicopter behind me and I shouted "Wow, that was quick service". It wasn't as familiar a rumble as I thought though, as to my surprise I turned to see a Lancaster Bomber fly low over our heads. I later realised it was on its way to the Goodwood motor racing circuit for their revival meeting. What a spectacular sight! They don't build them like that any more.
On we slogged and we came to the really steep bit I'd mentioned earlier, though mercifully we were going down it. I love going fast downhill but I had to patiently wait behind the other runners due to the narrowness of the path. I suppose I could have launched myself straight over the edge of the winding path but I was concerned about what might be lurking in the long grass, cowpats aside. At the bottom of the hill I passed Rob who'd taken a wrong turn and ended up on the Slog course instead of the Slug. An unexpected treat for Rob then!
We were soon on to the only unfamiliar part of the course, as we ran up from Ditcham towards West Marden. People moaned about this afterwards, it being a long interminable slog up a big hill, but I didn't mind it: it was shallow enough that you could run with a reasonably normal gait - you just had to pace it and be patient. The reward at the end though was a steep well surfaced drop down into West Marden where I could now use my full range of descending techniques. I love running fast downhill!
Someone who isn't going to love running downhill is Andy whom I met climbing out of West Marden. I could see by his limp and the dirt on his back that he might have taken a tumble. He'd gone over on his ankle coming down the steep bit. I suggested now was a good time to drop out as we'd just passed the marshals at the drinks station. His reply was that he'd never yet dropped out of a race and he wasn't going to now. With 4 miles to go and the revelation that he thought he might have broken something, was this really such a good idea? He gave us a shock at the finish when, following treatment, we thought he had been taken off to hospital, but he eventually emerged with a strapped ankle, presumably intact.
Back to the last few miles of the race and I'd been having trouble picking up my pace due to the steepness of the terrain, although I had been overtaking a steady stream of runners right from the start. Now that we'd climbed out of West Marden though, the terrain started to flatten out and I was able to really pick up the pace and drive for the finish. I was pleased with my pace for the last few miles, almost to half marathon pace, though due to 8 miles and a heavy gym session the day before, there was a touch of fatigue preventing me getting my heart rate up to where it should have been.
As we basked in the sunshine at the finish, swapping stories and checking out the strapping on Andy's ankle, we witnessed a very tired Kevin arrive to complete his first (near) half marathon. He now knows he'll easily finish the Great North Run in 2 weeks' time. Well done Kevin!
It's a shame for Rob that after 13 miles of Slog, he was listed as last finisher in the Slug!
Fab day, great run!
This was only the 3rd running of the event, which surprised me somewhat as it seemed to be one of those traditional events that everyone does and I'd yet to attempt. Maybe that's an indication of the quality of the organisation provided by Pompey Joggers. Certainly you'd be hard pushed to find a better venue, starting and finishing as it does in front of Stansted House. The toilets are also the best I've come across at an event, being the stone floored stable-block toilets used by visitors to the house. Good toilet facilities are always a great asset for any race - I'm not kidding here! It makes a big difference.
The weather couldn't have been better. It was rather cool in the shade but you soon warmed up in the unbroken sunshine. It was perfect running weather: all that sunshine and no overheating! The conditions underfoot too were perfect - hardly any mud and good firm footing.
I can't imagine why anyone would want to avoid any of the glorious hills of the South Downs, but for those wanting a slightly flatter shorter route there was the 8-mile Stansted Slug as an alternative to the 13-mile Slog.
At 10:30am precisely we set off and immediately I was running on familiar trails, albeit on a route parallel to our more usual path through Stansted Forest. There's something magical in running through woods on a bright sunny day as the light flickers and picks out fleeting features on the forest floor. It all seems somehow a heightened reality - who needs drugs when you have all this?
My aims for the day were to have a nice training run: a progression run where I start out slowly and pick up my pace throughout the race to hit half marathon pace at the end. I'd intended to stay with Diana for more than just the first mile, but as we ran through the trees I couldn't help start to pick up places one by one and I left her behind. It was also a relief to get past the big smelly brute ahead of me (some enormous guy, not Diana, I should point out). How can someone smell that bad only 1 mile into a race?
On we slogged past the beautiful Idsworth Church, this time approached from the opposite direction to our usual Sunday route. The setting of the church is amazing - right out on its own among the fields. Such is the lack of surfaced access to it, that a wooden bridge has been built at the foot of the hill, to keep the congregation's Sunday finery out of the mud that naturally forms in the hollow during the winter.
I'd been warned about the big hill we were about to climb, but in the description of how bad it was I'd assumed it was the near vertical climb further up the valley. In fact we were about to climb the hill I've done many times before: steep but runnable - it just goes on a bit. We got a small respite half way up and then continued to climb the now shallower gradient up on to the ridge. I'd commented to a fellow runner that I was relieved we hadn't gone up the steep bit. I now listened in amusement how my tale was being relayed back down the field "She reckons this is the easy bit and she's glad we haven't gone up the steep part!" "What??!".
As we got to the top of the ridge the runner ahead of me stumbled and nearly went over on his ankle. He commented that this was the last place to turn an ankle, being so inaccessible. I replied that if he was lucky "we might be in Air Ambulance territory". As I spoke those words I immediately heard the familiar low rumble of a helicopter behind me and I shouted "Wow, that was quick service". It wasn't as familiar a rumble as I thought though, as to my surprise I turned to see a Lancaster Bomber fly low over our heads. I later realised it was on its way to the Goodwood motor racing circuit for their revival meeting. What a spectacular sight! They don't build them like that any more.
On we slogged and we came to the really steep bit I'd mentioned earlier, though mercifully we were going down it. I love going fast downhill but I had to patiently wait behind the other runners due to the narrowness of the path. I suppose I could have launched myself straight over the edge of the winding path but I was concerned about what might be lurking in the long grass, cowpats aside. At the bottom of the hill I passed Rob who'd taken a wrong turn and ended up on the Slog course instead of the Slug. An unexpected treat for Rob then!
We were soon on to the only unfamiliar part of the course, as we ran up from Ditcham towards West Marden. People moaned about this afterwards, it being a long interminable slog up a big hill, but I didn't mind it: it was shallow enough that you could run with a reasonably normal gait - you just had to pace it and be patient. The reward at the end though was a steep well surfaced drop down into West Marden where I could now use my full range of descending techniques. I love running fast downhill!
Someone who isn't going to love running downhill is Andy whom I met climbing out of West Marden. I could see by his limp and the dirt on his back that he might have taken a tumble. He'd gone over on his ankle coming down the steep bit. I suggested now was a good time to drop out as we'd just passed the marshals at the drinks station. His reply was that he'd never yet dropped out of a race and he wasn't going to now. With 4 miles to go and the revelation that he thought he might have broken something, was this really such a good idea? He gave us a shock at the finish when, following treatment, we thought he had been taken off to hospital, but he eventually emerged with a strapped ankle, presumably intact.
Back to the last few miles of the race and I'd been having trouble picking up my pace due to the steepness of the terrain, although I had been overtaking a steady stream of runners right from the start. Now that we'd climbed out of West Marden though, the terrain started to flatten out and I was able to really pick up the pace and drive for the finish. I was pleased with my pace for the last few miles, almost to half marathon pace, though due to 8 miles and a heavy gym session the day before, there was a touch of fatigue preventing me getting my heart rate up to where it should have been.
As we basked in the sunshine at the finish, swapping stories and checking out the strapping on Andy's ankle, we witnessed a very tired Kevin arrive to complete his first (near) half marathon. He now knows he'll easily finish the Great North Run in 2 weeks' time. Well done Kevin!
It's a shame for Rob that after 13 miles of Slog, he was listed as last finisher in the Slug!
Fab day, great run!
Sunday, September 07, 2008
The Oxford and Cambridge boat race: Southern Counties Veterans Athletic finals Ashford 2008
We looked out over the deserted track and infield of Julie Rose Stadium as it submerged under a deluge of epic proportions. The rain had come too late to interfere with the battle between Cambridge and Radley (near Oxford) who, as we stood watching the waves of torrential rain batter the stadium, had just been named joint winners for 2008. Despite our best efforts, we couldn't sink the 2 crews, finishing just behind them in third. After my soaking in the first event of the day, the pole vault - more on that later - the rain had in fact held off until after the last event to make for a very enjoyable, if windy, day.
My main, and arguably only, contribution had been the 3000m towards the end of the event. We went into it with a good chance of victory, so needing as many points as we could muster - no pressure then! I've been suffering cramps and spasm in my calves for the last couple of months, whenever I do races or speedwork, so had hoped there wouldn't be quite so much pressure to run hard. In the event though things played out quite well.
With Steph running A-string, myself B-string and Marilyn our V50 runner, we had a strong line-up, but we were up against it when it came to Cambridge Harriers: they had the UK W40 champion Clare Elms on their team along with someone who looked like she could have been Clare's sister running B-string. The regular creases in the B-string runner's vest suggested it had just come out of its wrapping - I hope they hadn't recruited her into the team just for that event - that wouldn't really be in the spirit.
The race started and the first lap went by at quite a sedentary pace - real championship running. The quality soon started to show though as the Cambridge women picked up the pace. Steph gave chase but I realised my battle was with the B-string runners and this worked out quite well for me as the Cambridge B runner took off with her team mate at a pace I knew I couldn't match, leaving me still running comfortably on the shoulder of the Herts and Phoenix runner in 2nd place. Radley were somewhere behind but this didn't surprise or concern me as their strengths seemed to lie very much with field events and sprints rather than endurance running.
I was running at around 10k pace, putting in 100 second laps, although the effort seemed greater due to the strong headwind in the home straight. My Herts quarry seemed strong, lapping consistently, but I knew I had plenty in reserve - hopefully this wouldn't be too brutal a race for my fragile calves.
With each lap I monitored my friend's breathing as I heard shouts of "good tracking Susie" from my team mates at the side. The most telling evidence of her condition came on each running of the home straight. I was unable to get any real drafting due to the angle of the wind so just sat on her shoulder and monitored her effort. The first few laps she ran strongly, but with 3 laps to go she was noticeably struggling into the wind. With 2 laps to go I was now having to slow slightly to remain behind her in the straight. I knew the time had come to make my move.
She picked up her pace again as we swung out of the wind and I moved along side her along the back straight. As we rounded the bend with under 600m to go I heard a little voice echoing from a running book in my head "When you make your move, make it decisively". I picked up the pace and powered past her into the wind, sensing the gap widening behind me.
I felt good! In fact I felt great! With 200m to go I picked up the pace again with Pete shouting "Easy!" from the sidelines. Did he mean to take it easy or that I made it look easy? My second surge was fairly pointless as I'd already sealed 2nd place B-string, but it felt good to finish strongly to the cheers of my team-mates.
Steph got 2nd A-string behind Clare and I got 2nd B-string behind their other extremely talented runner, who in fact beat Steph into 3rd place on the track. I think their V50 also won. We got good points, but unfortunately lost ground to Cambridge.
My time was slow: 12:29.5, but I was pleased with how I ran. My penultimate lap was a full 10s faster than any of the previous laps, and my last 200m was covered in a comfortable 44s - my mile PB pace. Satisfaction in 7½ laps!
A major source of my apprehension before the 3000m was my performance in the pole-vault at the start of the event: I failed to make the opening height of 1.40m and so despite Cambridge not fielding a vaulter I failed to score any points - you'd have thought I'd get a point for at least trying!
My pole-vaulting hadn't started well. I watched in frustration at the men warming up (ie practising!) as we searched in vain for someone who could get me access to a stadium pole I could borrow. When I finally found one I was left on my own to warm up in a heavy shower, while everyone else sheltered. I managed 3 jumps onto the mat, just enough to establish that the pole was far longer than I was used to and I should be holding it well down the pole. It was then time to jump for real over an opening height 30cm higher than I'd normally be allowed to start at in the league. I'd cleared 1.40m several times in practise a year ago, but after my torn stomach muscle I hadn't jumped since. I was nervous! It didn't go well! I think we'll leave the story there!
Apart from the pole-vault it was a great day with some great performances from the team. If only we'd been at full strength, we might have had those 7 points we needed to win. Here's to the finals next year: watch out everyone - we'll be back!
My main, and arguably only, contribution had been the 3000m towards the end of the event. We went into it with a good chance of victory, so needing as many points as we could muster - no pressure then! I've been suffering cramps and spasm in my calves for the last couple of months, whenever I do races or speedwork, so had hoped there wouldn't be quite so much pressure to run hard. In the event though things played out quite well.
With Steph running A-string, myself B-string and Marilyn our V50 runner, we had a strong line-up, but we were up against it when it came to Cambridge Harriers: they had the UK W40 champion Clare Elms on their team along with someone who looked like she could have been Clare's sister running B-string. The regular creases in the B-string runner's vest suggested it had just come out of its wrapping - I hope they hadn't recruited her into the team just for that event - that wouldn't really be in the spirit.
The race started and the first lap went by at quite a sedentary pace - real championship running. The quality soon started to show though as the Cambridge women picked up the pace. Steph gave chase but I realised my battle was with the B-string runners and this worked out quite well for me as the Cambridge B runner took off with her team mate at a pace I knew I couldn't match, leaving me still running comfortably on the shoulder of the Herts and Phoenix runner in 2nd place. Radley were somewhere behind but this didn't surprise or concern me as their strengths seemed to lie very much with field events and sprints rather than endurance running.
I was running at around 10k pace, putting in 100 second laps, although the effort seemed greater due to the strong headwind in the home straight. My Herts quarry seemed strong, lapping consistently, but I knew I had plenty in reserve - hopefully this wouldn't be too brutal a race for my fragile calves.
With each lap I monitored my friend's breathing as I heard shouts of "good tracking Susie" from my team mates at the side. The most telling evidence of her condition came on each running of the home straight. I was unable to get any real drafting due to the angle of the wind so just sat on her shoulder and monitored her effort. The first few laps she ran strongly, but with 3 laps to go she was noticeably struggling into the wind. With 2 laps to go I was now having to slow slightly to remain behind her in the straight. I knew the time had come to make my move.
She picked up her pace again as we swung out of the wind and I moved along side her along the back straight. As we rounded the bend with under 600m to go I heard a little voice echoing from a running book in my head "When you make your move, make it decisively". I picked up the pace and powered past her into the wind, sensing the gap widening behind me.
I felt good! In fact I felt great! With 200m to go I picked up the pace again with Pete shouting "Easy!" from the sidelines. Did he mean to take it easy or that I made it look easy? My second surge was fairly pointless as I'd already sealed 2nd place B-string, but it felt good to finish strongly to the cheers of my team-mates.
Steph got 2nd A-string behind Clare and I got 2nd B-string behind their other extremely talented runner, who in fact beat Steph into 3rd place on the track. I think their V50 also won. We got good points, but unfortunately lost ground to Cambridge.
My time was slow: 12:29.5, but I was pleased with how I ran. My penultimate lap was a full 10s faster than any of the previous laps, and my last 200m was covered in a comfortable 44s - my mile PB pace. Satisfaction in 7½ laps!
A major source of my apprehension before the 3000m was my performance in the pole-vault at the start of the event: I failed to make the opening height of 1.40m and so despite Cambridge not fielding a vaulter I failed to score any points - you'd have thought I'd get a point for at least trying!
My pole-vaulting hadn't started well. I watched in frustration at the men warming up (ie practising!) as we searched in vain for someone who could get me access to a stadium pole I could borrow. When I finally found one I was left on my own to warm up in a heavy shower, while everyone else sheltered. I managed 3 jumps onto the mat, just enough to establish that the pole was far longer than I was used to and I should be holding it well down the pole. It was then time to jump for real over an opening height 30cm higher than I'd normally be allowed to start at in the league. I'd cleared 1.40m several times in practise a year ago, but after my torn stomach muscle I hadn't jumped since. I was nervous! It didn't go well! I think we'll leave the story there!
Apart from the pole-vault it was a great day with some great performances from the team. If only we'd been at full strength, we might have had those 7 points we needed to win. Here's to the finals next year: watch out everyone - we'll be back!
Sunday, July 27, 2008
The Sunday Run
I thought I'd give you a flavour of what I do most Sunday mornings: the club run.
We're really lucky as we have the South Downs to play with.
I'll let the pictures do the talking.
We're really lucky as we have the South Downs to play with.
I'll let the pictures do the talking.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Distance runners shouldn't do field events: discus! Southern Vets League 5000m
This is the one-year anniversary of my worst ever injury, after trying the pole vault last year led to 4 months out with a psoas minor tear/spasm.
To celebrate the anniversary, last night I thought I'd try another field event: the discus!
To be fair, the discus is a lot easier on the body than pole vault, and at least I'd done the discus before: 30 years before!
The really insane thing though is that once again I took to quite a technical event with ease and after a couple of 20m-plus throws and a no-throw, I threw 25.01m to win the event!
It took me years to attain the Athletics Weekly standards in running and finally see my name in the magazine, but on my first attempt at discus I attained the standard! That will see me ranked 9th W45 so far this year in the UK - higher than any of my running rankings! How mad is that?
Almost as a footnote really, I then ran 20:39.7 in the 5000m, finishing 1st B string runner and 3rd on the track behind Karen from Winchester and team-mate Bev. I was a bit disappointed with the time after my 20:13 on the road, but I've been feeling a bit under the weather recently after so much racing. My calves are still feeling sore!
My maximum haul of 15 points helped the supposedly under-strength team to an easy victory by a large margin. We've made the southern finals. Result!
To celebrate the anniversary, last night I thought I'd try another field event: the discus!
To be fair, the discus is a lot easier on the body than pole vault, and at least I'd done the discus before: 30 years before!
The really insane thing though is that once again I took to quite a technical event with ease and after a couple of 20m-plus throws and a no-throw, I threw 25.01m to win the event!
It took me years to attain the Athletics Weekly standards in running and finally see my name in the magazine, but on my first attempt at discus I attained the standard! That will see me ranked 9th W45 so far this year in the UK - higher than any of my running rankings! How mad is that?
Almost as a footnote really, I then ran 20:39.7 in the 5000m, finishing 1st B string runner and 3rd on the track behind Karen from Winchester and team-mate Bev. I was a bit disappointed with the time after my 20:13 on the road, but I've been feeling a bit under the weather recently after so much racing. My calves are still feeling sore!
My maximum haul of 15 points helped the supposedly under-strength team to an easy victory by a large margin. We've made the southern finals. Result!
Thursday, July 03, 2008
Twitching: Promenade 5k race 2
3 races in 5 days: it started with a season's best 3000m in Walton, then a 5th place and a very welcome prize voucher in Purbrook and last night finished off with a 5k PB in Portsmouth. I got through it, but not without consequence: last night I had the worst case of night cramps I've ever experienced.
Although I couldn't feel it, I could see my calves twitching constantly. That wasn't so bad, but every time I fell asleep my calves would lock solid giving me a very rude awakening. I tried everything: compression socks, massage, cold packs, hot packs, isotonic drinks, salty drinks, and even drugs: Syndol contains a muscle relaxant so I thought I'd give that a go. Nothing worked. After 4 hours I finally dropped off to sleep properly and got a few hours of uninterrupted sleep before a rude awakening at 6am with another bout of cramp. Ouch!
The race went well though. My calves were a bit sore beforehand but I put this down to Tuesday's massage rather than any real tightness, and they soon felt OK once I was warmed up.
I had a good tussle with Rachel, who was also recovering from Purbrook after her 3rd place. We ran together for 3 kms before I dropped her. Her team mate Kaye tried to motivate her back into the race (my ears are still ringing!) but Rachel's legs were having none of it.
I had hoped for a sub-20, and the first 2 kilometres were very promising, but congestion around the lake as we tried to pass some slower men (one of whom dropped out after we'd struggled to squeeze past him on the narrow bit - injury or did he just give up? - odd) meant we lost some time. The slight breeze seemed to slow us a bit on the exposed part of the prom. Once I got back into some shelter for the final kilometre, my pace recovered back to sub-20. The result was 20:12 on my watch - a road PB by 10s. That leaves me hopeful I can dip under 20 on the track in a fortnight's time and hopefully also on next month's Promenade 5k.
Karrie won the race again - good luck to her in the GB 800m trials in 10 days time - go girl! I think I was in 6th or 7th - I haven't seen the results yet. Hopefully I'm in with a chance of an age group prize for the series.
A good evening's racing but not such a good night!
Although I couldn't feel it, I could see my calves twitching constantly. That wasn't so bad, but every time I fell asleep my calves would lock solid giving me a very rude awakening. I tried everything: compression socks, massage, cold packs, hot packs, isotonic drinks, salty drinks, and even drugs: Syndol contains a muscle relaxant so I thought I'd give that a go. Nothing worked. After 4 hours I finally dropped off to sleep properly and got a few hours of uninterrupted sleep before a rude awakening at 6am with another bout of cramp. Ouch!
The race went well though. My calves were a bit sore beforehand but I put this down to Tuesday's massage rather than any real tightness, and they soon felt OK once I was warmed up.
I had a good tussle with Rachel, who was also recovering from Purbrook after her 3rd place. We ran together for 3 kms before I dropped her. Her team mate Kaye tried to motivate her back into the race (my ears are still ringing!) but Rachel's legs were having none of it.
I had hoped for a sub-20, and the first 2 kilometres were very promising, but congestion around the lake as we tried to pass some slower men (one of whom dropped out after we'd struggled to squeeze past him on the narrow bit - injury or did he just give up? - odd) meant we lost some time. The slight breeze seemed to slow us a bit on the exposed part of the prom. Once I got back into some shelter for the final kilometre, my pace recovered back to sub-20. The result was 20:12 on my watch - a road PB by 10s. That leaves me hopeful I can dip under 20 on the track in a fortnight's time and hopefully also on next month's Promenade 5k.
Karrie won the race again - good luck to her in the GB 800m trials in 10 days time - go girl! I think I was in 6th or 7th - I haven't seen the results yet. Hopefully I'm in with a chance of an age group prize for the series.
A good evening's racing but not such a good night!
Wednesday, July 02, 2008
The great south run: The Purbrook Ladies 5
I love the Purbrook Ladies 5, as I've said previously on this blog. It's a true race, unlike most road races where you are drowning in a sea of men (which might be OK in other circumstances) unable to see who you are really racing against. Of course, this is my perspective at the front, but for the majority of us it's a fun event with a really good spirit of camaraderie. It's an excellent step up for those who've been introduced to running through the Race For Life. For me though, I love the chance to start a race from the start line: it's taken me a few years to feel I've earned my place there, but on Sunday I had my toe on the line knowing I wasn't going to win but feeling I was a real top 5 prospect.
It's uncanny how we all know each other's pace and have pretty much decided before the start roughly where we'll finish: the start line photo in The News reveals that with one exception the first 5 places were all on the front line. The remaining places in the top ten were all visible on the second row. The one absentee from the start line photo was an unattached runner who must have worked her way up from further back (she stalked me for the last few miles).
I was unsure how well recovered I was from the previous day's 3000m. Someone had suggested that the 3000m might be a good warmup for the race, but I know my own legs better than that. Emma, the eventual winner of the race, had also raced 3000m on the Saturday, but things were different for her: she could afford the ease off a bit and still be fairly comfortable at the front. I had no such luxury!
At the gun, I tried to stay at a relaxed pace, fearful of how my legs would feel, and so was a little concerned at being in 3rd place behind Emma and Jane. I felt a little easier when Rachel and Angie went past me, taking the pressure off me. With hindsight, maybe I should have pushed harder, but I also had the thought of the Promenade 5k 3 days later - this was the toughest few days of racing I've ever attempted! I think in my mind I'd already settled for 5th by the end of the first mile, but still hoped I could catch a place or 2.
After 2 or 3 miles I was still in 5th behind Angie, but could now sense a runner behind me. She tested me on a downhill section and I could now see she was an unattached runner I'd not met before. These races can get a bit predictable without some new blood, so she was a welcome addition. I hope we can get her signed up for a club :-) I overtook her again on the next uphill section, but a short while later she was challenging again and I was able to use her to close on Angie.
As we neared the final run in, the 3 of us, Angie, myself and Victoria (I later found out her name) were together across the road. I couldn't help positioning myself between the other 2 for the photographer - one has to consider these things! I haven't seen the photo yet, but it should look good. With Victoria's help I cruised past Angie and chased Victoria down the final hill and up the short rise to the finish. I felt fresh but couldn't catch her. I finished in 5th - my best result yet in the Purbrook Ladies 5.
With hindsight I could maybe have pushed harder and finished further up, but I'm pleased with my 5th place on tired legs. My heart rate was quite low compared to what it normally is for this distance, so hopefully that's an indication that I can recover well for the Promenade 5k on Wednesday (tonight, as I write this).
It's a reflection of the lack of young runners that 3 of the top 6 were over 45. Hopefully though Victoria will be encouraged by her 4th place and keep her running going. If you're local Victoria then how about joining Victory AC? :-)
Talking of Victory AC, we had a good turn out, but didn't manage a team prize this year. Well done to Marilyn for yet another age group prize, this time over-60.
It's a great race. It feels as if it's fighting its place as the last bastion of competitive women-only road racing - long may it continue!
It's uncanny how we all know each other's pace and have pretty much decided before the start roughly where we'll finish: the start line photo in The News reveals that with one exception the first 5 places were all on the front line. The remaining places in the top ten were all visible on the second row. The one absentee from the start line photo was an unattached runner who must have worked her way up from further back (she stalked me for the last few miles).
I was unsure how well recovered I was from the previous day's 3000m. Someone had suggested that the 3000m might be a good warmup for the race, but I know my own legs better than that. Emma, the eventual winner of the race, had also raced 3000m on the Saturday, but things were different for her: she could afford the ease off a bit and still be fairly comfortable at the front. I had no such luxury!
At the gun, I tried to stay at a relaxed pace, fearful of how my legs would feel, and so was a little concerned at being in 3rd place behind Emma and Jane. I felt a little easier when Rachel and Angie went past me, taking the pressure off me. With hindsight, maybe I should have pushed harder, but I also had the thought of the Promenade 5k 3 days later - this was the toughest few days of racing I've ever attempted! I think in my mind I'd already settled for 5th by the end of the first mile, but still hoped I could catch a place or 2.
After 2 or 3 miles I was still in 5th behind Angie, but could now sense a runner behind me. She tested me on a downhill section and I could now see she was an unattached runner I'd not met before. These races can get a bit predictable without some new blood, so she was a welcome addition. I hope we can get her signed up for a club :-) I overtook her again on the next uphill section, but a short while later she was challenging again and I was able to use her to close on Angie.
As we neared the final run in, the 3 of us, Angie, myself and Victoria (I later found out her name) were together across the road. I couldn't help positioning myself between the other 2 for the photographer - one has to consider these things! I haven't seen the photo yet, but it should look good. With Victoria's help I cruised past Angie and chased Victoria down the final hill and up the short rise to the finish. I felt fresh but couldn't catch her. I finished in 5th - my best result yet in the Purbrook Ladies 5.
With hindsight I could maybe have pushed harder and finished further up, but I'm pleased with my 5th place on tired legs. My heart rate was quite low compared to what it normally is for this distance, so hopefully that's an indication that I can recover well for the Promenade 5k on Wednesday (tonight, as I write this).
It's a reflection of the lack of young runners that 3 of the top 6 were over 45. Hopefully though Victoria will be encouraged by her 4th place and keep her running going. If you're local Victoria then how about joining Victory AC? :-)
Talking of Victory AC, we had a good turn out, but didn't manage a team prize this year. Well done to Marilyn for yet another age group prize, this time over-60.
It's a great race. It feels as if it's fighting its place as the last bastion of competitive women-only road racing - long may it continue!
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Southern Women's League Walton
These league matches can be a long day, but I decided to catch the coach up to Walton with the team, rather than driving up on my own as I did last time. It was a fun day out in some gorgeous weather.
My job was to run the 3000m as the B-string runner, duly completing it in 11:55.9 and getting a 2nd place and some useful points for our 2nd place match result. It turned into a bit of a time trial, as the lead pack of A-runners disappeared into the distance (well, 100m in the distance anyway), leaving me on my own for most of the 7.5 laps with no one to pace off. It was a bit windy down the home straight, adding to my pacing problems. I started on PB pace but lost it after 3 laps before recovering my pace on the last lap. I was 13 secs off PB, but I was left feeling that a track PB of some sort is still possible this season given the right race.
Our A-string runner Bev was then called up to do the 1500m a short while later, an honour I had 2 seasons ago, which I'm not keen on repeating!
She looked strong but it was quite an effort. Well done Bev.
Unusually there was also a men's match on at the same time. It didn't feature our men, but I did spot some familiar faces from my online contacts.
We never run steeplechase, but the men got the chance to cool off in the hot conditions. It looked fun!
My job was to run the 3000m as the B-string runner, duly completing it in 11:55.9 and getting a 2nd place and some useful points for our 2nd place match result. It turned into a bit of a time trial, as the lead pack of A-runners disappeared into the distance (well, 100m in the distance anyway), leaving me on my own for most of the 7.5 laps with no one to pace off. It was a bit windy down the home straight, adding to my pacing problems. I started on PB pace but lost it after 3 laps before recovering my pace on the last lap. I was 13 secs off PB, but I was left feeling that a track PB of some sort is still possible this season given the right race.
Our A-string runner Bev was then called up to do the 1500m a short while later, an honour I had 2 seasons ago, which I'm not keen on repeating!
She looked strong but it was quite an effort. Well done Bev.
Unusually there was also a men's match on at the same time. It didn't feature our men, but I did spot some familiar faces from my online contacts.
We never run steeplechase, but the men got the chance to cool off in the hot conditions. It looked fun!
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Welcome to the asylum: The Midsummer Dream 2008
It seemed anything like a midsummer's day as we assembled outside the Hook and Parrot on Seaton seafront. Even the assembled superheroes were covering up before the start.
We had the race briefing from Dave Dungbeetle, before the wackiest start ever, as the clockwise runners faced the anti-clockwise runners (or clock-unwise in the language of the Axe Valley Running Asylum) and a scrum ensued as we tried to run through the other group of runners.
Off I set in a clock-unwise direction towards the first stop at the Harbour Inn Axmouth, to be greeted by the aforementioned Dave Dungbeetle.
and I was privileged to wear the famous hat.
We now were able to view some of the fancy dress on offer, such as Pompey's Tyrolean twins
and assorted flappers, cowboys and indians.
Our team had a hula flavour, desperately trying to make the most of the awful weather (although it had now stopped raining!)
On to Colyton and the next drink.
Now whatever you think is going on in this photo, I can assure you it isn't. It's just your average river crossing.
The very misty humid conditions gave a jungle flavour to some of the wooded parts.
On to Southleigh and the cream tea served up by the dough maidens.
It went down well!
A quick pose and on up a killer of a hill.
By now we were meeting the clockwise runners. A pack of dogs passed us as we pounded on up the hill.
Fortunately there was a reward at the top with a barrel of beer tucked away in a farm yard.
Eventually we arrived at the Fountainhead in Street, just outside Branscombe. More beer! (I had my first taste of perry - very nice)
The climb out of Street:
And on down to the seafront and a view of what we had coming up:
I was disappointed to find that the MV Napoli had been pretty much dismantled by now.
At least another killer climb gave a lovely view back to Branscombe beach.
Penultimate pub, but oh the irony: In Beer I had orange juice!
18 miles of running and back at Seaton and a seaside reward!
A fantastic run - huge fun, but it can take its toll on the legs in more ways than one. My shins are to be featured in a remake of the exorcist!
We had the race briefing from Dave Dungbeetle, before the wackiest start ever, as the clockwise runners faced the anti-clockwise runners (or clock-unwise in the language of the Axe Valley Running Asylum) and a scrum ensued as we tried to run through the other group of runners.
Off I set in a clock-unwise direction towards the first stop at the Harbour Inn Axmouth, to be greeted by the aforementioned Dave Dungbeetle.
and I was privileged to wear the famous hat.
We now were able to view some of the fancy dress on offer, such as Pompey's Tyrolean twins
and assorted flappers, cowboys and indians.
Our team had a hula flavour, desperately trying to make the most of the awful weather (although it had now stopped raining!)
On to Colyton and the next drink.
Now whatever you think is going on in this photo, I can assure you it isn't. It's just your average river crossing.
The very misty humid conditions gave a jungle flavour to some of the wooded parts.
On to Southleigh and the cream tea served up by the dough maidens.
It went down well!
A quick pose and on up a killer of a hill.
By now we were meeting the clockwise runners. A pack of dogs passed us as we pounded on up the hill.
Fortunately there was a reward at the top with a barrel of beer tucked away in a farm yard.
Eventually we arrived at the Fountainhead in Street, just outside Branscombe. More beer! (I had my first taste of perry - very nice)
The climb out of Street:
And on down to the seafront and a view of what we had coming up:
I was disappointed to find that the MV Napoli had been pretty much dismantled by now.
At least another killer climb gave a lovely view back to Branscombe beach.
Penultimate pub, but oh the irony: In Beer I had orange juice!
18 miles of running and back at Seaton and a seaside reward!
A fantastic run - huge fun, but it can take its toll on the legs in more ways than one. My shins are to be featured in a remake of the exorcist!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
