Getting better

last week has been good

1. Thornton Bridge and back from natalie's parents house - 62 mins. Felt hard

2. 1 hr run from natalie's parents again

3. Bestwood park from work 59:28 again! 8.35 miles on garmin : 7:05 miling - not bad for 4.5 miles is off road

4. 1 hour with beth on sat - slow but nice to run with beth

5. 10 x 1min hills on forest fields on sunday.

feeling upbeat - getting slightly fitter - just need to keep it going...

New Goals

Right ...

Plan for the next few months

1. Helly Hansen Challenge 31st jan

2. The Beast 28th Feb

3. Clumber Park Duathlon March sometime

4. Join Absolute Triathlon and start swimming

5. Get a turbo trainer for Xmas and cycle 30mins per day minimum

6. 100 pushup challenge in 6 weeks

This week

Bestwood park from work in 59:28

Jog round Woodthorpe x3 from work about 45 minutes

5 x Forest fields today - suffered badly - 57:45.

Lazy

Not managed to get out much in past couple of weeks.

Missed the dovedale dash at the weekend - lazy and raining, so need a new focus.

Will report back soon

Picture

34th Fittest

So - the Men's health 10 (12 actually) k survival of the fittest obstacle race...

loved it.

started in wave 2 (15 minute intervals) and took it easy for first hay bale wall. Over that without damaging any ankles, then picked up a few places up to trent bridge. By 2nd obstacle about 10 in front of me - through some scaffolding stuff and over a 6 foot wall. Long slog to Holme Pierrepoint and the army assault course - picked off about another 4-5. Through the assault course with ease and up to the river in the top 3. through the water and I think I am first in my wave, but running through the back of the previous wave so hard to tell. caught beth by about 7k, oushed on through sewage tunnels and burned out cars to the city ground and up and down their steps. 2 guys came back past me just before then so clung onto their tails.

Wall of fear was just that - needed a leg up unfortunately but good sprint to the finish!!

Knew I must have done well as top 3 in my wave and 9 waves - so really pleased with 34th out of 2500 finishers.

Since then - 8 miles last wednesday - usual work lunchtime run - about 1:00, then new shoes - nike air equalon - so just a jog on sat.

8 miles again tuesday - 59:35 but a heel blister!!

saw ursula and had an xray - no new changes on chest so pretty pleased. Lucy and Natalie down with snotty noses though so only a matter of time

Chronic cough

So what have I been up to since the 1/2 m?

Not a lot!!

Probably got out on average 2x per week - memorable runs in the last 4 weeks are:

a beautiful misty sunday morning run along the banks of the trent from the le jeunes house - about 7 miles or so in 53 minutes - really enjoyed it.

10 x 1 min hills last saturday

6 x 3 minutes hill up woodthorpe park on wednesday

both of the above in preparation for mens health 10k on saturday - see http://www.mhsurvival.co.uk/

also got a bit of a cough back - delaying going to see ursula til after saturday - don't want to know if it is coming back...

1:33:47

Well - not been on line for a few weeks, but here is a summary, from memory:

A long run of 122 miles went well til 8-9 then struggled.

A 9 Miler in 63 - 6 laps - pleased as this is where I thought I was at before my 1:24 at eyam 2 years ago! - foot really hurt after this session - ? bruised, ? stress Fracture...

10 days off, then 2 x 5 miles jogs the weekend before the 1/2 M. Foot still sore but not too bad.

Then a light jog for 40 mins 3 days before the Nottingham 1/2. Tried out the Nike Zooms to see if i thought I could run in them for the race, but they offer so little support I think it would have been foolish to try them on 13 miles

and so to race day:

Really wanted to beat 1:30, but that is 6:50 miles and I can't seem to get below 7:00 for 9 or so so it was a big ask!

Felt fine on the day, foot not sore. Forgot to put the Garmin on - left it in the kit bag! Pleaseant day, about 16 degrees but a bit windy.

Felt great at the start - too good I guess as I went through first mile in 6:16... Really tried to keep it steady, but I get swept along woth the flow too easily. Felt fine til 4 miles, then hit the first of the serious hills up to the university and people started to flow past me. By 6 miles i was done for and the 1:30 pacer came past. Had no chance of staying with him - was really struggling all round Wollaton Park. Never felt more like dropping out of a race. Kept waiting for Beth to come past - she was up for a 1:33-34 and as I did not have the Garmin on I had no real idea of finish time...

By 10 miles I rallied a bit, struggled again at 11-12 and tried to push 12-13.

Splits : 6:16; 6:46; 6:30; 7:26; 5:58; 7:44; 7:00; 7:05; 7:25; 8:30; 7:17; 7:39; 7:14; 48 seconds.

Wow - 9-10 was dire!!!

So where does that leave me:

1. Terrible pacing

2. Sore for three Days

3. Disappointed, but can go under 1:30 still

4. Want to get out and stretch the legs today.

5. Going to start cycling soon to get into the rhythrm of this before the winter.

6. Mens Health 10k in 4 weeks...