Bagel 17 miles

Bagel 17 miles by britrob at Garmin Connect - Details

Went for a long run on Saturday. I expect the term 'long run' to start meaning different things as I progress through the spring. But 17 miles was
certainly long enough yesterday. Didn't start very well and felt pretty drained after only 3 miles! I stopped and had some water and an early gel pack. This
seemed to spark me in to a bit of action and although the pace was a bit on the slow side, it was steady.

I'm going to try and get some miles done this week with a shorter long run on Saturday. Would be good to get in the region of 35 miles for this week.

Bagel 14 by britrob at Garmin Connect - Details

Bagel 14 by britrob at Garmin Connect - Details

Nearly 18 months since a blog. I decided to blog once again to chart my progress, or otherwise, to my major running goal of 2012. The goal, at least the first goal is to compete and finish in one piece, an Ultra-marathon. An ultra is defined as a race over and above a full marathon distance, so anything over 26.2 miles. The ultra I have entered is the North Face Challenge near Washington DC, USA (http://www2.thenorthface.com/endurancechallenge/races/2011/dc/index.html). Not only is this an ultra, but a trail ultra at that. The race itself is on 4 June so that gives me 3 months to build on my base fitness and stamina. That should be ok, but I need to stay clear of injuries or lay-offs caused by illness, job, holidays, plague etc. To that end, I'm not planning on 'racing' between now and then but planning to gradually increase base mileage incorporating as much trail running as possible. It's going to be tough going, but am excited by the challenge! Yesterday for example, I ran a fairly slow 14 mile route. It's difficult to draw back on the pace and focus on cranking out the miles but yesterday I managed to stick to the goal quite well. I just have to keep saying 'forget the pace, slow is good, slow is good'. Will add the route to the blog if I can remember how! Will keep you informed! Rob

Poorly buttock

Lack of blog = lack of running = niggling injury.

I think I pulled my piriformis playing football a few weeks ago and certainly didn't help it by running up & down Leckhampton Hill with Dave just 24 hours later. The result, predictably, a few weeks off running. It feels like the hamstring in my left leg has shortened and actually makes my hobble when running. I've treated it and stretched it out and have now started some slow, short outings. Still not 100%, but I figure if I take it slowly and gradually build up (imagine that?) then I should/could be on the road to recovery.

Just as well no races planned or booked for. Will spend the next few weeks just gradually building up and getting some miles back.

Possibly go tomorrow, but will leave such decisions to closer to the time to gauge how my buttock is feeling...so to speak.

Stop Thief!

Decided to hit some mile reps tonight rather than a long run. Quite warm for running miles as quickly as possible and given that, not bad times. Reps 1 & 3 were a little downhill and the times probably reflect that (5.43 & 5.52) so reps 2 & 4 a little slower. Weird thing happened though. I took my water belt and left it at the start of the country lane where I had planned to start my reps. I came back after mile 2 and had a drink and then placed the belt and water bottle in the long grass behind a sign. On return from lap 4 the belt and bottle gone! Nowhere to be seen! Now there was nobody around and who would stumble across that and think 'Great I'll have it'. The only thing I can think of was a curious and sweet drink attracted animal dragged it off. There was a small animal track close-by. Rabbit? Fox? either way they are probably high on my honey and fruit juice mixture right about now!

Nottingham Hill

Still got tired, achy legs but that didn't stop a cracking little run. I've done this route a couple of times before and it really is very nice. Nottingham Hill is tough, windy and fairly long but the views from the top back across towards Tewkesbury, The Malverns and over into Wales are worth it. Just over 8 miles, most of it off-road equates to a good morning's workout. Not many other people around despite the glorious conditions. Only one moment of concern when crossing the very final field: cows (or bulls, potentially) but turned out to be the nonplussed, not interested cow variety of bovine. Thankfully.

The week ahead probably consist of a long-ish run Tuesday night, possibly a lunch run on Wed/Thurs and a work run Friday. Weather looks good!

Leckhampton Hill

Ooh me legs felt that! Not too muggy tonight but have had tired, achy legs for a few days and I suspect this will do little to ease the pain. Nice route though. Bit of road to the base of the hill and then onto the tracks up through the woods until it broke out on the bottom of the escarpment. A nice view back across Cheltenham from the very top before dropping back down the hill to the bottom. Just a 4 mile run back to the start from there!

I topped up my mileage last week with a steady lunchtime run. Sometimes it pays to slow things right down and have a nice pleasant run ;)

Past week

It seems much of my recent running has been done in very humid conditions. Last week, in the US, I ran four times and each one finished with me resembling someone who has just got out of the bath fully dressed. The four consisted of a couple of local trail runs (8 & 6 miles), a 5k race (awful awful conditions) and a 7 miler in Patapsco State Park (really muggy, but really good). On return to the UK I thought I'd be prancing around given my 'conditioning' but a run on Tuesday night (see above) clearly demonstrated I was still jet-lagged or have completely lost form. It was hard! 11.5 miles the latter part of which was a shuffling stumble.

Double run today which included a sweat-filled run to work and then a much more pleasant short outing at lunchtime.

Next week is the White Horse 5k which is a very popular club speed session. Not sure what I'll be expecting in terms of time, a sub 18 min would be very nice thank you.