September 2014

[Charliecat5]

So this is how it goes…

At the end of my last blog for August I mentioned that it had been a good week, but as a consequence, it was sure to go wrong next week. The trouble is my legs somehow got wind of this and were refusing to play ball this evening. The question is, who told them? Given that the only parts of my body involved in posting that piece were my eyes and fingers, it has to be one of them; but of course, none of them is admitting to it.

I’m still in charge (just) so insisted that we went out, but achieving any sort of pace was not happening… I had only climbed to the top of the steps onto Juggs Road when my legs started their moaning about how hard they worked last week, and how therefore they deserve a rest this week. It got worse: half way up to the top of Kingston Ridge I had a full blown rebellion on my hands with a complete refusal to go any further. It was only after pointing out that there was a curry waiting at home and there was only one way to get there, that they reluctantly agreed to carry on.

My feet moaned as well, but they always moan and not even my legs can be bothered to listen to them.

Anyway, 4.8 miles at a fairly sedate pace (9.20 min/mi).

[marathondan]

Miles banked: good job. The next one will be better. But don't tell the legs.

[glaconman]

I wouldn't worry about bad runs, tired legs or not running well all the time.

If your energy levels are low have an easy run. If they are high have a hard run. Try and have 2 hard runs per week but don't let the other runs interfer with them; so keep them easy.

Do you get out on your mountain bike still?

[Charliecat5]

I wouldn't worry about bad runs, tired legs or not running well all the time.

If your energy levels are low have an easy run. If they are high have a hard run. Try and have 2 hard runs per week but don't let the other runs interfere with them; so keep them easy.

Do you get out on your mountain bike still?

I cease to worry about them now... they are what they are... but it does fascinate me the old mind over matter (aka various body parts) stuff that goes on with my running.

I am trying to up the miles now, so moving away from 3 mile mid-week runs to ones nearer to 5 miles and then a longer one at the weekend. The aim is 20 miles a week, albeit I know work will sometimes will prevent this. Increasing my pace is another interesting challenge; when I put my mind to it, I tend to run faster, but so much of my running I tend to 'zone out' and slip back into a fairly sedate turn of speed. I need to do some fast hill reps to build pace, but, you know, it takes additional effort doesn't it!

Mountain biking has taken a real back seat; I went out a couple of times before my holiday but mostly it is sitting there abandoned in the back of the garage quietly sobbing. I really should get out on it more. not just to cross train, but also because I love it so much.

[Charliecat5]

My new mate Jurker* tells me that I need to do more stretching and recommended that I buy The Wharton' Stretch Book: Active Isolated Stretching - 59 stretches for over 55 different sports and everyday activities.

Apparently it's the dogs wotsits, not only providing a good repertoire of different stretches that have been tested and proven with numerous olympic athletes, but also offering a short, sharp approach which means you can have a meaningful session in about 20 minutes.

Perfect I thought, as I can never be bothered to do stretching although I know it is important... but even I can spare 20 minutes after a run.

So last night was the night. Because it was all new to me, I set aside an hour to work out my (their) moves. I did amongst other things: trunk rotators, a piriformis (no I don't know either), an anterior deltoid, a soleus and a gastrocnemius. I drew the line at toe flexors.

Then I went to bed full of excitement about the thought of waking up free of muscle pain, full of suppleness and ready to SPRING into action.

Ha! The alarm went off at 6am this morning... and my body felt as though it had been steam rolled by a herd of stampeding hippopotami. Bugger... I have committed to keeping this going for at least 3 weeks - because apparently after 3 weeks their programme will become a habit difficult to break. Wish me luck.

*Scott Jurek

[marathondan]

20 miles a week is great target, if you can keep that up year round it's 1000 miles a year which I think is very much the best that the likes of us can manage. For me its more like 500 per year. Don't forget you should be replacing your shoes every 500 miles (if they're cushioned).

My philosophy on stretching was always that so long as I was remaining injury-free, they were an unnecessary luxury. Now I am starting to get injured more often, I'm doing a few minutes at the end of each run - just the most obvious running muscles. I don't think stretches are going to help your running performance - just maybe improve your recovery and injury-avoidance. One can spend too much time on these things.

BTW, I think that just running hills puts you at a great advantage over us flatlanders. Running uphill at normal pace is like running sprints on the flat. So your training already has a lot going for it. But yes, replacing one of your short runs with a hill rep session (say 5 mins warmup, then 2 mins uphill sprint and jog down, repeat ad nauseam) would increase your pace even more.

Have you thought about going along to a parkrun to test your pace over a shorter distance? Just hammer out the 5K as fast as you can, no strategy needed.

[Charliecat5]

Have you thought about going along to a parkrun to test your pace over a shorter distance? Just hammer out the 5K as fast as you can, no strategy needed.

I have, and friends try to persuade me, as we have a good parkrun not that far away (I could run there). But it just doesn't appeal... I know I should try it, but for me running (and biking) is all about getting out into the hills, finding isolation and crucially, getting away from people*. Thus running in a crowd doesn't float my boat.

*I consider Sweder an exception to this rule, particularly as he's more animal than human.

[Charliecat5]

Now, I am not one for moaning… but… I have a few things to get off my chest:

Nettles: I went for a 5 mile run last night on a route I haven’t done for a while, and there was about a half mile section where the footpath was absolutely covered in nettles. Now you have to understand that this wasn't just one or two nettles intent only on gently stroking your legs and teasing you with some little friendly stings... these were full on, evil, vindictive monster nettles.

Obviously being the crazy fool I am, I ran full speed through the lot (not that I had much option – other than to retrace my steps). My legs have been in agony since. However, you could say they got their just deserts after their appalling behaviour earlier in the week.

Blisters: I got another soddin’ blister last night, this time on the soft underbelly of my foot. I am really beginning to think that my running shoes are at fault – which probably means a trip to the running shop again for new ones. This is really annoying given I have only had my Nikes for a few months.

Horses (grip one): It is heading towards that time of year again, when the ground gets soft and the many stables in this area start riding their horses down the footpaths and bridleways, completely destroying them in the process. Last year several paths became impassable either on foot or bike. Very, very, very selfish in my humble opinion.

Horses (grip two): Poo! I get fed up with bloody horse poo everywhere. Dog owners have to pick it up; it would be frowned upon if I did my business on a public footpath, so why do horsy people think they can get away with it. Bag it up and put it on your roses.

In other news, although tired and not really feeling like it, and apart from the grips above, I had a good run last night – 5 miles in 45 minutes, uphill and down. In stretching news, I am still obeying Messer’s Jim and Phil Wharton and doing my stretches each evening. I have no idea if they are doing me any good but I’ll keep at it.

And lastly, this weekend I am planning my longest run yet… wish me luck.

Onwards and upwards...

[Charliecat5]

I did get up early this morning with the intention to go running, but some nifty calculations soon told me that I wasn’t going to be able to fit this in and attend the Lewes raft race at 10am (an annual pilgrimage to throw eggs at silly fools sitting on roped together barrels), do the weekly shop and sneak off to the Pan to watch the fabulous Lewes Ladies. So I abandoned the run this morning and watched four episodes of How to train your dragon instead – which I highly recommend.

So after the footie, I raced home, got changed and headed out of the door, with little idea where I fancied going. Then in a flash, an idea materialised. Up to the top of Kingston Ridge, along to the topmost end of the YBR, down Heartbreak Ridge (going down it was a pleasant change), along the valley and up Castle Nature Reserve before heading back to Kingston and home. It was hot, it was tough, I had some blister issues (same one as Thursday) but I ran 9.5 miles at a reasonable pace (not my best, but not my worse either). That makes it just short of 20 miles this week, but a good 40 over the last two.

I ran the first half with my ears plugged into New Model Army – best band in the world - but whilst enjoyable, I’ve realised after a four or five runs that I prefer a more natural sound track when running; you know, the sounds of the birds, the wind blowing through the trees, the wheezing donkey noises bellowing from my mouth and nose, the sound of stumbling feet and the hullabaloo of a freight train trying to ram its way through my chest... and I haven’t even started on the moaning coming from my legs and feet… the peace and tranquillity eh.

[Sweder]

Excellent work, sir. I look on, supping vicariously from your pool of running pleasure, as my leg awaits surgery. I ran today - back to a cafe where I'd left my phone. I covered 100 yards - it felt like 1000 and honestly thought I was having a heart attack. It's a long road back but seeing you hammer out these runs is keeping me in the game, so thank you : )

[Mid Life Crisis Marathon Man]

Shit, look after yourself Sweder ~ and yes, well done Charlie, most excellent work, and I mean the mileage, not the wheezing donkey noises, though doubtless they were entertaining too.

[Charliecat5]

September was going so well. 40 miles in the bag; body and mind up for the challenge of 20 a week... then last night, at the speed of a germ ridden freight train I have gone down with a walloping cold. Sore throat and achy limbs. Thus this evenings 10 miler is cancelled and it doesn't look great for the weekend.

Boo hiss

[Bierzo Baggie]

New Model Army were a bunch of crusties if I remember rightly, a bit like the Levellers ?
Hope the cold cleared up.

[Charliecat5]

I've tried drowning it in whisky, and immersing it in chocolate, in spite of that it has preserved for over two weeks. Man flu, a horrible cold, the worse one I have had for years. But enough was enough, so even though my nose still dribbled and my cough still rasped, I set off for a run this evening.

An easy one was the intention. I would run a mile up Juggs lane to the end of the field and then simply run back. However, by the end of mile one I was feeling OK; alright, my breathing was a little heavy but you know, I was still alive. So a quick decision and I continued to complete the Kingston circuit which is 3 relatively easy road (well cycle path) miles.

The second mile wasn't too bad either and pretty quick (sub 8 min/mi), but holy crap, mile three! I think I coughed up most of my lungs... What can you do? I kept running. 3.2 miles at 8.15 min/mi. I need my bed now.

[Charliecat5]

New Model Army were a bunch of crusties if I remember rightly, a bit like the Levellers ?
Hope the cold cleared up.

Crusties! NMA were ahead of the whole Crusties movement... Honest.

[marathondan]

The second mile wasn't too bad either and pretty quick (sub 8 min/mi), but holy crap, mile three! I think I coughed up most of my lungs... What can you do? I kept running. 3.2 miles at 8.15 min/mi. I need my bed now.

A bold attempt, but it sounds like you gotta listen to your body. Else it will drag on even longer. Patience, grasshopper.

[Sweder]

The second mile wasn't too bad either and pretty quick (sub 8 min/mi), but holy crap, mile three! I think I coughed up most of my lungs... What can you do? I kept running. 3.2 miles at 8.15 min/mi. I need my bed now.

A bold attempt, but it sounds like you gotta listen to your body. Else it will drag on even longer. Patience, grasshopper.

Yeah, what the man said, patience. Or, in my case patients.
Off to see Doctor Doom in the morning ...

[Charliecat5]

“Summer has come and passed
The innocent can never last
Wake me up when September ends”

The breaking of September came with such hope and optimism. An exciting campaign of 20 miles a week, with an overall target of 80 plus miles. But the optimism came to a crashing halt in week two, when with very little warning I hit a wall of MAN FLU. Two weeks of aches and pains and a hacking cough; my nose being the only part of me managing to run. (Did you see what I did there?).

Last week, fed up of being prisoned in my own home, I ran a lowland route of three miles, which resulted in the loss of most of my lungs during the last mile, so this evening, before September gave way to October I had to hit the trials and get some miles under my belt. I waited, pacing in anticipation for my other half to return from work so I could pass the baton of childcare over and head out into the September evening. Mixed skies, a sun beginning to show its colours as it headed towards the horizon and the last sounds of the avian population fussing in readiness for bedtime – perfect conditions for a run. And it was a pretty good. 5 miles over to Kingston and up onto the tops heading into the sunset before turning back into the dusk for the journey home. It felt quick, my feet weren’t moaning and my head was running high on the opium of life. If only all running were like this (or indeed life).

The only negative was another bloody blister. New shoes are required… any suggestions are most welcome.

[Sweder]

New shoes are required… any suggestions are most welcome.

Get thee to a specialist, lad. Jog Shop in Kemptown is my dealer of choice. Ask for Yoda (Sam) - he'll get you into the right gear.

[Mid Life Crisis Marathon Man]

Yep, shoes are a very personal thing. Try 'em all.