The new month arrives, shivering, bedraggled, bemused. Rather like your correspondent.
March wrapped up with a whimper, so many good intentions whipped away on a wicked wind of despond. 113 kilometres, 3 megre klicks more than a year ago, poor preparation for the Brighton race just 13 days hence.
All that doom and gloom was washed away in glorious sunshine on a peach of a run this afternoon. I hit the hills after lunch, hounds bounding at my heels. We stormed Blackcap, dropping into the woodland behind the summit to plummet towards Plumpton. A sling-shot up the north face of Mount Harry offered a lung-busting climb, carving a livid V into the elevation map (below).
I felt good, running all the way to the top without pause, drinking in the sunshine and the soft landscape before hammering home at race pace. I could have run further but the time for banking mileage is past. In order to line up on the 14th in best shape I will focus on good hydration and healthy eating. On, on.
The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph
I like the concept of flicking a V to the elevation map . If the last few weeks have been an enforced step-back, there's no harm in putting in a few good mid length runs. Some folks - the marathontalkers for two, I seem to recall - favour the inverse taper, where you go light for a week, then step it up again, and then take it very easy in race week. But I think your holistic view of the coming fortnight is a wise one, too. Good luck mate
Good hydration I understand, but healthy eating? What the fook are you talking about man? You didn't get that heroic belly by wolfing down macrobiotic sprout-burgers. Drink Guinness and eat pastry-encased offal. You'll be fine.
I slipped out for the gentlest of jogs this afternoon. Partly because I wanted to mull over the horrors of Boston and what that might mean for city marathons to come, partly to test my sore calf. It was good to get a few miles under my slightly flabby belt, and the leg seemed none the worse for it.
Mostly I wanted to get out into the Sussex hills to remember my mate Moyleman. Chris passed away four years ago today. Regular visitors here will know Chris was my training partner and as good a friend to me as a man could wish for. I often think of him, usually when I'm on a long run, floundering. His voice comes to me out of the inner darkness.
'Suck it up, big fella'
Despite the terrible sadness of his premature death, whenever I think of Chris I wear a big grin. I remember his ready smile, his easy way with people, his direct approach to everything and his wicked sense of humour. Tonight I'll crack open a bottle of Hopping Hare and read his diaries here. Tina, Chris's lovely lady and a good friend, shares her Mum's wise words. 'You never get over it, but you learn to live with it'. And we do that by remembering, each in our own way, on days like this.
Cheers, mate x
The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph
Another gentle outing yesterday, 5.7 miles across the downs. The wind raged, apparently furious about something. I ducked into the sheltered woodland, following the slippery mud-trail over root and under branch to climb Mount Harry.
My calf behaved, though generally I felt sluggish, too easily fatigued. This can happen after a break in training/ long taper/ non-start. It happened when I missed out on Dublin through illness a few years ago. My bones felt heavy, weighed down by events.
Boston remains in the news and very much on my mind.
I shall be thinking of our American cousins on Sunday.
The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph
Bashed out a super sweaty five this morning. The early sea mist soon burned off, leaving the hills invitingly sun-drenched. Planet Rock provided the soundtrack, the highlight Been Caught Stealing' by Jane's Addiction. What started out as a gentle meander turned into a bit of a contest as two cyclists burned past me on the climb up Mount Harry. I put on a spurt, caught them and left them struggling up the steep face of Blackcap. A small yet satisfying victory for foot-kind.
I entered the Seaford Half yesterday. If I start now I might make the top ten this year.
The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph
(25-04-2013, 09:29 AM)Sweder Wrote: I entered the Seaford Half yesterday. If I start now I might make the top ten this year.
OK let's not now start the "putting yourself down" game Sweder. You know as well as anybody here that you will crack this wide open. Set yourself a fantastic target time and bloody well go for it!!
(25-04-2013, 10:04 AM)Mid Life Crisis Marathon Man Wrote:
(25-04-2013, 09:29 AM)Sweder Wrote: I entered the Seaford Half yesterday. If I start now I might make the top ten this year.
OK let's not now start the "putting yourself down" game Sweder. You know as well as anybody here that you will crack this wide open. Set yourself a fantastic target time and bloody well go for it!!
No excessive self-depreciation intended, mate. I'm at a fairly low ebb just now, running maybe twice a week, not far, feeling heavy and sluggish. All to do with dreadful circumstances, of course. I feel dumb just trying to keep anything going, so hard is it to string one day into another, on very little sleep, in the shadow of a mountain of undone things-do-do.
Forgive my whining, it'll pass. But let's be clear, Seaford will be a distraction, not a fanfare-blaring triumph.
I'll leave that to my fleet-footed friend Down Under
The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph
(26-04-2013, 01:05 PM)glaconman Wrote: A different type of running. But I guess distractions can be just as valuable as triumphs when life becomes testing.
Well said, G'man. Yes Sweder, do enjoy Seaford - that is the key thing. Running balances the scales for us and gives life a keen perspective.
But I still think you'll run better than you dare think just at the moment!
. If the last few weeks have been an enforced step-back, there's no harm in putting in a few good mid length runs. Some folks - the marathontalkers for two, I seem to recall - favour the inverse taper, where you go light for a week, then step it up again, and then take it very easy in race week. But I think your holistic view of the coming fortnight is a wise one, too. Good luck mate 
