2016 - January

[marathondan]

As Dan will no doubt observe, this is yet more hard-top pounding. In fact, pretty much every running step since the end of November has been on man-made surfaces. So long as the Downs remain a treacherous sludgefest, that will continue.

I observe everything...

[Mid Life Crisis Marathon Man]

As Dan will no doubt observe, this is yet more hard-top pounding. In fact, pretty much every running step since the end of November has been on man-made surfaces. So long as the Downs remain a treacherous sludgefest, that will continue.

I observe everything...

So long as you increase your cadence and land mid- or front-foot rather than heel-strike, I don't think the hard top surface should worry you too much.

The real killer is when us older blokes try to run too fast without turning our feet over quicker to compensate - then our stride increases, we heavily heel strike and the knees and ligaments suffer massively. That is what a small army of physiotherapists and podiatrists have told me over the years, usually in the same breath as and following the words "You're not 21 any more..."

[Sweder]

... usually in the same breath as and following the words "You're not 21 any more..."

Bugger, so that's the problem.
*sigh* I wish someone had told me this earlier

There were moments on Tuesday night, when we were running 'Indian Line' style - where the person at the back sprints to the front to take up the lead, repeat ad nauseum - when I felt positively spritely. Which is probably why my hamstrings are singing like high tension wires in a monsoon just now.

[Bierzo Baggie]

So long as you increase your cadence and land mid- or front-foot rather than heel-strike, I don't think the hard top surface should worry you too much.

The real killer is when us older blokes try to run too fast without turning our feet over quicker to compensate - then our stride increases, we heavily heel strike and the knees and ligaments suffer massively. That is what a small army of physiotherapists and podiatrists have told me over the years, usually in the same breath as and following the words "You're not 21 any more..."

That makes sense although in my case I tend to run on my toes so it seems to be the achilles tendon, ankles, calf muscles, etc.. that complain first. Running on hard surfaces and running fast seem to do most damage. Running with little pointy steps might avoid this, yes, maybe...
 

[Mid Life Crisis Marathon Man]

Well, as the old fellow keeps telling us, we are an "experiment of one". If it works for you, do it. If it doesn't work, toss it out the window.

[marathondan]

So long as you increase your cadence and land mid- or front-foot rather than heel-strike, I don't think the hard top surface should worry you too much.

Don't get me started...

Experiment of one.

[Sweder]

Signed off an interesting month with a jamboree bag of muddy, hilly, running fun.

Part One saw me and the Cat set off from the Prison a little after 8.15 am. We chugged down the hill towards the A27 before darting right onto the horse track and across low farmland. Before long we were  pounding through calf-deep mud and on up the rocky 100 metre stairway that is Sweder's Hill. Finally, I'd made it onto the Downs in 2016. The trail across the top of the field, skirting the gallops, was sticky and foul. I loved every corpuscle-tearing, hopelessly slippery step. Back past the prison, on down through the mizzle-draped town to finish outside the All Saints Church, ten minutes before the start of ...

Part Two: Twitten Run. Another fine gathering, this one an all-male affair. I felt pretty good after our 3 mile warm-up, my right knee a tad grumpy. I felt thirsty, so I ducked into Ground Coffee for a cheeky slurp of H20. I took it easy, hanging back in the pack for the first few climbs, to feel how my legs would respond. They felt good. My muddy offies did well on the slippery surface and I managed to get into the top four on most climbs.

CharlieCat reminds me of someone. He flies up every hill as if he's late for a hot date, pounds a relentless beat on the level, even 'cheats' by running in between Twittens (some of us walk, as per the 'rules'). He reminds me of ... me. Me circa 2007, in the heady days of regular two-hour blasts in the hills, a time when you could have called me up on a Thursday and said 'fancy a half at the weekend'. Firstly I'd have assumed you meant a race, not beer - who drinks halves, anyway? Secondly I'd have like as not snapped your hand off. It feels great to have that sort of motor on idle.

Le Chat has had a gruelling working week, with no running and plenty of debilitating travel. Yet here he was, flying along, relentless. It's good for me, this. I like someone to aim at. I used to have Chris, an impossible target, perhaps, but one I aspired to catch every time I chased him up hill and down dale.

After a few cups of (delicious) coffee we set off, CC5 and I heading back up Station Street (one of the Twittens) and on up the high street, climbing through the town, Past Shelley's and the Pelham Arms, towards the prison. He started to pull away again, as he had the last time we ran this way together. This time the gap stayed at around ten metres or so. I'm getting closer.

   
Top two: Twittens
Bottom two: Downland warm-up

Today: 12.5 kilometres (mixed terrain)
January: 75.4 kilometres
Zero junk miles

[Bierzo Baggie]

Feed that cat!

[Mid Life Crisis Marathon Man]

Part One saw me and the Cat set off from the Prison a little after 8.15 am.

Whenever I read that, I immediately think of "The Loneliness Of the Long Distance Runner". People who have seen it will know what I mean.

Great running though Sweder. Good effort.