January 2013

[Bierzo Baggie]

Ideal conditions for me are say, 4ºC and raining lightly.
Don't like it too hot but too cold can freeze yer bobble hat!

[Sweder]

Despite no further snowfall the downs remain cloaked in white. I knocked out an enjoyable 5.3 mile tempo run, crunching up to Blackcap and back. Three ladies stopped me on the way up to ask the best way to Cooksbridge. They were well wrapped up with a couple of hounds in tow. I pointed out the most direct route and pressed on. As I stepped away to leave one of the blurted out
'We're very impressed by your legs!'
I'm fairly sure she meant by the fact that I was wearing shorts (it really wasn't that cold, around freezing with a slight wind chill). A felt a huge grin spread across my face as I set off, running hard up the face of Mount Harry.

I worked in a couple of quick sessions, around 6'30" m/m pace for 2 minutes a go. My WH3s crunched through the powder top without a hint of a slip. Lovely! My legs tired towards the end, the aftermath of Sunday's marathon effort no doubt.

It's just started snowing again tonight. Whilst I'd planned to rest tomorrow (and Friday) as a pre-Almeria mini-taper I may have to nip out 'early doors' simply to enjoy the fresh layer. It'll be gone soon enough and there's a whole year to wait for the next lot.

On, on.

[Sweder]

Despite general meltage on the Sussex streets the hills hung on to their crunchy white cape. This made for an interesting final pre-race speed session. Normally I try to run intervals at a given pace. Not today.

5 x 60 seconds 'fast as you can in ankle-deep snow' with 60 seconds recoveries, followed by a 4 minute tempo session trying to average 7'30" (fast race) pace. At times the dial crept up to 8 m/m and I finished well below 7 m/m, hurtling down a slippery slope at what felt like break-neck speed. At the risk of sounding like a broken record the Mizuno WH3s are superb in these conditions.

From here on it'll be a gentle lope in the morning then up at Sparrow's Fart on Saturday for the red-eye to Almeria. The Rookmobile will be crammed with running talent. Louise from Lewes, Cam, Gillybean, Marian and Ladyrunner from Brighton. Simon and his moll will join us at Gatwick. Quite the Spanish-bound armada.

Vamos!

4.3 miles, speed session
Track du jour: Motörhead, Eat The Rich

[Antonio247]

Despite general meltage on the Sussex streets the hills hung on to their crunchy white cape. This made for an interesting final pre-race speed session. Normally I try to run intervals at a given pace. Not today.

5 x 60 seconds 'fast as you can in ankle-deep snow' with 60 seconds recoveries, followed by a 4 minute tempo session trying to average 7'30" (fast race) pace. At times the dial crept up to 8 m/m and I finished well below 7 m/m, hurtling down a slippery slope at what felt like break-neck speed. At the risk of sounding like a broken record the Mizuno WH3s are superb in these conditions.

From here on it'll be a gentle lope in the morning then up at Sparrow's Fart on Saturday for the red-eye to Almeria. The Rookmobile will be crammed with running talent. Louise from Lewes, Cam, Gillybean, Marian and Ladyrunner from Brighton. Simon and his moll will join us at Gatwick. Quite the Spanish-bound armada.

Vamos!

4.3 miles, speed session
Track du jour: Motörhead, Eat The Rich

This year il looks like you're going to do a PB in your 9th half marathon in Almería, S.

Looking forward to meeting you all on Saturday at the airport.

Have a safe journey!

Saludos desde Almería

[The Beast of Bevendean]

Gosh, is it Almeria time already? Bon voyage to you and the Sussex contingent, and good luck to all RC-ers competing. I shall follow the tweets with interest. One year, I really must join you

[Mid Life Crisis Marathon Man]

Yes best of luck to all Almerians - gosh it has come around fast hasn't it? Go get 'em, Sweder.

[Sweder]

Thanks all. Quaffing a pre-flight latte at Gatwick South Costa, just one of many rituals to be observed this weekend. Ici nous alons ...

[Sweder]

Apologies for the lack of news. The Almeria Weekend proved just as eventful as it has in years past. Due to a family emergency* I've spent the past 36 hours strapped to a series of public transport vehicles. I don't even know my official finishing time. There are only three things about the race I can be sure of.

1. I finished well outside a PB
2. It was warm
3. My legs are utterly shredded

More as soon as I have chance to draw breath.

*everyone is OK, so far as the emergency is concerned. Or, to use that well-worn phrase, 'as well as can be expected under the circumstances'.

[Antonio247]

Apologies for the lack of news. The Almeria Weekend proved just as eventful as it has in years past. Due to a family emergency* I've spent the past 36 hours strapped to a series of public transport vehicles. I don't even know my official finishing time. There are only three things about the race I can be sure of.

1. I finished well outside a PB
2. It was warm
3. My legs are utterly shredded

More as soon as I have chance to draw breath.

*everyone is OK, so far as the emergency is concerned. Or, to use that well-worn phrase, 'as well as can be expected under the circumstances'.

It's a pity you had to leave yesterday morning, S. We missed you a lot.

Hope your family emergency is already solved.

Your official finishing time is one hour 42 minutes twenty second. The real time would be one minute less approximately. Well done, S.!

Looking forward to meeting you again, S.

Saludos desde Almerìa

[Mid Life Crisis Marathon Man]

Yep that time still makes some of us here look fairly ordinary, so well done. Trust your mother's better and things settle down for you soon.

[Sweder]

Running in soft, rain-soaked hills after a hot, hard road race is akin to trading a bed of nails in for a memory-foam mattress. We've had enough precipitation in Sussex to get Noah's dander up, much of it still slithering through chunky veins of downland mulch as I started my lunchtime lope. My legs rejoiced! Four days since they'd felt as if they must surely shatter they scampered across southern England like naughty young dogs on day release.

The days since the Almeria Half have been filled with a round-robin of early/ late train and bus journeys interspersed with silent bedside vigils. The sheer release of being outdoors - in watery sunshine, no less - bounding over impossibly slippery trails was enough to fuel my jets. I even thrashed out a twenty minute high-tempo session (sub 8m/m) on the way home. Status Quo chipped in, the excellent Mystery Song adding a few ounces of spring to my heels. I defy anyone running to that to not give it the gun as the Masters of the Three Chords break into the raucous, driving heart of the piece.

Five muscle-flushing miles, warm blood chasing the rust away. On Monday, shuffling at snail's pace through the maze of Madrid airport whilst nursing the grand-daddy of all hangovers, I'd wondered if I'd ever be able to walk properly. You have to love this running malarkey.

On, on!