Well, a week ago I was scheduled to race on 21 March in my first Duathlon of the year.
Then I remembered it was Sports Relief on 19 March (tomorrow) and that last year when I watched it I vowed to myself I would do something this year.
An email came round from work saying that people were taking it in turns to cycle for 5 mins on a cycle machine, with the aim to keep it going from 9-4pm. People can guess the total distance travelled for £1, and the Company will match it.
Putting my thinking cap on, I decided that I would walk from 9-4pm, and people can now guess how far I will walk in this 7 hour period as well! I am hoping to do a marathon along the canals of Birmingham but I will need to motor I think to achieve that. The rucksack will hinder me as well, although all those flapjacks and energy drinks will be needed. Just hope the weather is fine!
It looks like we will raise around £1,000 for Sports Relief which is great and I will have put something back into this life I take so much out of, and help those less fortunate than myself.
So, the Duathlon is a non-starter on Sunday. I'm sure I'll be exhausted after 7 hours of walking and racing Sunday is a recipe for injury, no matter how much I want to race. To compensate, I have entered for a 10 mile time trial on 5 April. The last race before Fountains - and means a 3 week break from races before Fountains so should be raring to go and hit Fountains hard.
The 10 mile runs I'm doing should make the 10k races a walk in the park!
Thursday, 18 March 2010
Thursday, 11 March 2010
The First and the Last
I had a thought today as I drove to work ... and it is unusual for me to think on this journey as I am on automatic pilot ...
"Race every race as if it were your last".
If this were the case, how would I approach my "last" race? Would it be any different than normal? Would I care about tactics? Would I care about pain? Would I even feel pain?
One answer I would need to know in my "last" race was how fast I could truly go, to the extent that I had pushed myself to my physical limits. I would need to have crossed the finish line knowing there was nothing else I could have given to achieve a better time or result.
With that in mind, there will be no quarter given in races from now on.
On a more "lighter" note, I received confirmation that my latest pair of Brooks T6 racers were pinging their way to me. Not that I need another pair of running shoes, but it's better to keep a healthy stock, and in any case, I'm mainly just buying them from vouchers won, so they are free!!! I have £25 in vouchers left - so will put the difference to buying another pair of Adidas Adizero Adios shoes - beginning to rival the T6 as the Halliday shoe of choice.
As planned (for once!), I stuck to the training schedule of a 10 mile run last night. I felt really good (for once!) as I embarked on a training session, and decided to try and trim the 59m 13s current PB. Going through the halfway stage at 29m 20s I knew I was there and (with a magic sprint finish for the cameras) turned in a 57m 56s. Job done and with 2 months to the Ripon 10 miler, who knows where I'll wind up.
"Race every race as if it were your last".
If this were the case, how would I approach my "last" race? Would it be any different than normal? Would I care about tactics? Would I care about pain? Would I even feel pain?
One answer I would need to know in my "last" race was how fast I could truly go, to the extent that I had pushed myself to my physical limits. I would need to have crossed the finish line knowing there was nothing else I could have given to achieve a better time or result.
With that in mind, there will be no quarter given in races from now on.
On a more "lighter" note, I received confirmation that my latest pair of Brooks T6 racers were pinging their way to me. Not that I need another pair of running shoes, but it's better to keep a healthy stock, and in any case, I'm mainly just buying them from vouchers won, so they are free!!! I have £25 in vouchers left - so will put the difference to buying another pair of Adidas Adizero Adios shoes - beginning to rival the T6 as the Halliday shoe of choice.
As planned (for once!), I stuck to the training schedule of a 10 mile run last night. I felt really good (for once!) as I embarked on a training session, and decided to try and trim the 59m 13s current PB. Going through the halfway stage at 29m 20s I knew I was there and (with a magic sprint finish for the cameras) turned in a 57m 56s. Job done and with 2 months to the Ripon 10 miler, who knows where I'll wind up.
Tuesday, 9 March 2010
One Shot
As the great songsters JLS say "You only get one shot, so make it count".
With that in mind, Sunday's big news was that (unless my mathematical ability has deserted me) I have secured the Centurion 5 mile series title. This is an event which has been going for some 40 years so I'm very pleased to add my name to the list of winners.
Sunday's race went well - there were two competitors who potentially could have beaten me in the series (you need to do 4 races to qualify). I set off like the proverbial rocket with the aim of breaking them before I broke myself (I did not want to leave anything to chance by relying on the last race on 11 April to have to beat them). The plan worked and I came second, knocking 20 secs off my PB for the (off road) course - 26m 54s. I had a bit of a stomach bug and spent most of the rest of Sunday in bed, but it was job done. The winner was a new (dutch) athlete (and so can't qualify for the series), who spent the whole race running right behind me and clipped my heels 3 times. One more time I'd have swung for him - obviously no racing etiquette in Holland! I'm not sure what times I'm capable of on a 5 mile road - maybe sub 26m 30s now.
Today feeling better and had an hour session on the cross trainer which I really enjoyed. Will probably do a 10 miler on the treadmill tomorrow night. I did a good 59m 13s last week, so should shave a few secs off that. The aim is to be 10 mile race fit for Ripon on 9 May. I want to be able to attack a 10 mile course, rather than just struggling around ... we'll see!
As I have won the Centurion series, I will not be racing in their last race on 11 April. I'll see what shape I'm after a duathlon on 21 March, and triathlon on 28 March, but it's not beyond the realms of possibility that I'll solely focus on training after that and not race until Fountains (25 April). Having got my race tactics from "Master" Dunn, I want to be in peak condition for that.
Spent some of my vouchers on some new Adidas Adios trainers. They are great, although not as good as the Brooks T6 racers in my opinion (they are super great!). I'll do my 10 mile run in the Adios tomorrow night. I tried two other Adidas shoes - the Mana and the Ace - but they were nowhere near as good as the Adios. If they are good enough for Alistair Brownlee they are good enough for me!
My son Rowan's 5th birthday tomorrow. Working from home and so that means I can enjoy the all important Tea Party!
With that in mind, Sunday's big news was that (unless my mathematical ability has deserted me) I have secured the Centurion 5 mile series title. This is an event which has been going for some 40 years so I'm very pleased to add my name to the list of winners.
Sunday's race went well - there were two competitors who potentially could have beaten me in the series (you need to do 4 races to qualify). I set off like the proverbial rocket with the aim of breaking them before I broke myself (I did not want to leave anything to chance by relying on the last race on 11 April to have to beat them). The plan worked and I came second, knocking 20 secs off my PB for the (off road) course - 26m 54s. I had a bit of a stomach bug and spent most of the rest of Sunday in bed, but it was job done. The winner was a new (dutch) athlete (and so can't qualify for the series), who spent the whole race running right behind me and clipped my heels 3 times. One more time I'd have swung for him - obviously no racing etiquette in Holland! I'm not sure what times I'm capable of on a 5 mile road - maybe sub 26m 30s now.
Today feeling better and had an hour session on the cross trainer which I really enjoyed. Will probably do a 10 miler on the treadmill tomorrow night. I did a good 59m 13s last week, so should shave a few secs off that. The aim is to be 10 mile race fit for Ripon on 9 May. I want to be able to attack a 10 mile course, rather than just struggling around ... we'll see!
As I have won the Centurion series, I will not be racing in their last race on 11 April. I'll see what shape I'm after a duathlon on 21 March, and triathlon on 28 March, but it's not beyond the realms of possibility that I'll solely focus on training after that and not race until Fountains (25 April). Having got my race tactics from "Master" Dunn, I want to be in peak condition for that.
Spent some of my vouchers on some new Adidas Adios trainers. They are great, although not as good as the Brooks T6 racers in my opinion (they are super great!). I'll do my 10 mile run in the Adios tomorrow night. I tried two other Adidas shoes - the Mana and the Ace - but they were nowhere near as good as the Adios. If they are good enough for Alistair Brownlee they are good enough for me!
My son Rowan's 5th birthday tomorrow. Working from home and so that means I can enjoy the all important Tea Party!
Thursday, 25 February 2010
A race against time
My sole focus is on being fit for the Centurion 5 mile race on 7 March.
The hamstring is showing signs of (slow) recovery. I ran 8.5 miles tonight, albeit this was at around 6m 10s pace, so hardly breaking the speed of sound. Still, no damage done to the leg, although if I were a gambling man, I would say if the race were tomorrow and I went flat out the odds would be against me so far as winning were concerned. The run was followed by 30 mins on the bike, so a good session all in all, especially after 95 mins on the bike last night.
Fountains 10k is 2 months away - looking forward to that, and also seeing my parents loft conversion which should be nearly ready by that time.
Entered for my first triathlon of the year - East Leake on 28 March. Better get to the swimming pool - I haven't swam properly for about 3 months, but as long as I can get down to 7m for 400m I'm very happy. Will need at least two good sessions in the pool to achieve that, plus a bit of adrenalin! I'm hoping to venture outside on my bike sometime soon, although winter shows no sign of departing yet. Can't wait to put the super wheels on and fly.
Hopefully getting a small bonus from work soon. Can't really modify the bike any more, so looks like I will have to treat the wife to something instead! Life is tough sometimes.
The hamstring is showing signs of (slow) recovery. I ran 8.5 miles tonight, albeit this was at around 6m 10s pace, so hardly breaking the speed of sound. Still, no damage done to the leg, although if I were a gambling man, I would say if the race were tomorrow and I went flat out the odds would be against me so far as winning were concerned. The run was followed by 30 mins on the bike, so a good session all in all, especially after 95 mins on the bike last night.
Fountains 10k is 2 months away - looking forward to that, and also seeing my parents loft conversion which should be nearly ready by that time.
Entered for my first triathlon of the year - East Leake on 28 March. Better get to the swimming pool - I haven't swam properly for about 3 months, but as long as I can get down to 7m for 400m I'm very happy. Will need at least two good sessions in the pool to achieve that, plus a bit of adrenalin! I'm hoping to venture outside on my bike sometime soon, although winter shows no sign of departing yet. Can't wait to put the super wheels on and fly.
Hopefully getting a small bonus from work soon. Can't really modify the bike any more, so looks like I will have to treat the wife to something instead! Life is tough sometimes.
Sunday, 21 February 2010
The Snow must go on
As I am in hibernation (garage) training for the winter, this weeks snow has no impact on training whatsover.
I did venture out for a little run in the snow on friday though - well, to the garden centre to buy a sledge. Foolishly, one sledge was not going to be enough for two children, so it was another run to the garden centre to buy another! Some great little slopes in the local park which we will all be going down this afternoon.
Cycle training has gone very well recently, doing long sessions, and this easily compensates for my lack of running miles.
I am hoping that the curse of the hamstring has not returned. I have felt a twinge or two in recent weeks and so did not run on it for a week. I am going to see a recommended physio on Tuesday - and at £10 for an hour that's unbelievable value and hopefully can head this injury off before it begins.
It didn't stop my running fitness test yesterday though, although it did mean my 10k run was ended at 5 miles before I aggravated the leg (for once common sense prevailed). A 5 mile PB on the treadmill though of 26m 40s so I was pleased with that. The next barrier to break is the sub 26m 30s threshold. If both legs were 100% that would be do-able now.
It proves that not running but cycling hard can keep my fitness up and not affect performance, but I do need a speed session or two a week. I will throw in a cross trainer session at work this week that should strengthen the leg a bit.
Have been going through the race diary with Katy. My provisional plans are:
7 Mar - Centurion 5 mile
21 Mar - Market Bosworth (1485) Duathlon - 5k/21k/5k
28 Mar - East Leake Triathlon - 400m/20k/5k
11 Apr - Centurion 5 mile (will not run this if I have already won the Series - depends on 7 Mar result)
18 Apr - Derby Double Duathlon - 2k/10k/2k/10k/2k - will do this if have not raced on 11 April
25 Apr - Fountains Abbey 10k
9 May - Ripon 10 mile
30 May - Melmerby 10k
27 Jun - Rainton 10k
Right, got to go to get some high strength ibugel for the leg!
I did venture out for a little run in the snow on friday though - well, to the garden centre to buy a sledge. Foolishly, one sledge was not going to be enough for two children, so it was another run to the garden centre to buy another! Some great little slopes in the local park which we will all be going down this afternoon.
Cycle training has gone very well recently, doing long sessions, and this easily compensates for my lack of running miles.
I am hoping that the curse of the hamstring has not returned. I have felt a twinge or two in recent weeks and so did not run on it for a week. I am going to see a recommended physio on Tuesday - and at £10 for an hour that's unbelievable value and hopefully can head this injury off before it begins.
It didn't stop my running fitness test yesterday though, although it did mean my 10k run was ended at 5 miles before I aggravated the leg (for once common sense prevailed). A 5 mile PB on the treadmill though of 26m 40s so I was pleased with that. The next barrier to break is the sub 26m 30s threshold. If both legs were 100% that would be do-able now.
It proves that not running but cycling hard can keep my fitness up and not affect performance, but I do need a speed session or two a week. I will throw in a cross trainer session at work this week that should strengthen the leg a bit.
Have been going through the race diary with Katy. My provisional plans are:
7 Mar - Centurion 5 mile
21 Mar - Market Bosworth (1485) Duathlon - 5k/21k/5k
28 Mar - East Leake Triathlon - 400m/20k/5k
11 Apr - Centurion 5 mile (will not run this if I have already won the Series - depends on 7 Mar result)
18 Apr - Derby Double Duathlon - 2k/10k/2k/10k/2k - will do this if have not raced on 11 April
25 Apr - Fountains Abbey 10k
9 May - Ripon 10 mile
30 May - Melmerby 10k
27 Jun - Rainton 10k
Right, got to go to get some high strength ibugel for the leg!
Thursday, 11 February 2010
The final push
Well, I had my first race for 5 weeks on Sunday, the Centurion 5 mile race.
Conditions were pretty good for racing, albeit the course was a bit muddy (it's off road). This was the fourth race in the six race series. Need to compete in 4 races to enable you to qualify for any prize at the end.
By my reckoning I am well in contention for the 1st prize - having had a 1st, 3rd and 2nd place finish in the previous races. There were a couple of runners there who had beaten me in previous races, so I stuck to my tried and tested game plan - "run as fast as you can for as long as you can". I was leading after the first mile, then an athlete who had not competed in the series cruised past me (I probably did a 5 min mile!) and as I was pretty much flat out I couldn't keep up. I felt pretty good for the rest of the race and broke MY course record my 16 secs. The winner broke THE course record so he truly was an uhber athlete! I managed to beat all my rivals which was good and shows the training is paying off. My times are saying that I should be about 33m 30s for 10k at the moment.
So, with 1st, 3rd, 2nd and 2nd place finishes, things are looking good for the overall prize. I think I need to run once more - to beat anyone who has a chance of overhauling me, and that should be that. I will be aiming to break my course record again.
Getting itchy feet (or should that be pedals!) and want to go out on the bike. Not been outside on the bike for 3 months. Duathlon season fast approaching, and the new tyres on the ZIPP and disc wheels need to feel some tarmac. March might be a busy racing month depending on the weather. It will interesting to see how I fare over my 20k route after my winter training on the bike indoors.
No idea when my next race will be. Certainly not this weekend - it's Katy's birthday and Valentine's day after all!
Word of the week - "OVERWHELM" ... which is what I have to do to my opponents when I next race!
Tonight's training was tough. Didn't want to run at all, but forced a 2k jog on the treadmill followed by a 10k run. Managed a 34m 50s 10k so quite pleased with that especially as no part of my body wanted to move!
Conditions were pretty good for racing, albeit the course was a bit muddy (it's off road). This was the fourth race in the six race series. Need to compete in 4 races to enable you to qualify for any prize at the end.
By my reckoning I am well in contention for the 1st prize - having had a 1st, 3rd and 2nd place finish in the previous races. There were a couple of runners there who had beaten me in previous races, so I stuck to my tried and tested game plan - "run as fast as you can for as long as you can". I was leading after the first mile, then an athlete who had not competed in the series cruised past me (I probably did a 5 min mile!) and as I was pretty much flat out I couldn't keep up. I felt pretty good for the rest of the race and broke MY course record my 16 secs. The winner broke THE course record so he truly was an uhber athlete! I managed to beat all my rivals which was good and shows the training is paying off. My times are saying that I should be about 33m 30s for 10k at the moment.
So, with 1st, 3rd, 2nd and 2nd place finishes, things are looking good for the overall prize. I think I need to run once more - to beat anyone who has a chance of overhauling me, and that should be that. I will be aiming to break my course record again.
Getting itchy feet (or should that be pedals!) and want to go out on the bike. Not been outside on the bike for 3 months. Duathlon season fast approaching, and the new tyres on the ZIPP and disc wheels need to feel some tarmac. March might be a busy racing month depending on the weather. It will interesting to see how I fare over my 20k route after my winter training on the bike indoors.
No idea when my next race will be. Certainly not this weekend - it's Katy's birthday and Valentine's day after all!
Word of the week - "OVERWHELM" ... which is what I have to do to my opponents when I next race!
Tonight's training was tough. Didn't want to run at all, but forced a 2k jog on the treadmill followed by a 10k run. Managed a 34m 50s 10k so quite pleased with that especially as no part of my body wanted to move!
Wednesday, 3 February 2010
Paradise lost ... and found again
Well it has been a strange week.
Having had an almost perfect few weeks of training, last Thursday on the bike was hell. No power at all in the legs and a requirement of colossal mental strength to complete the 75 minute bike session.
Having just put it down to "one of those off days", I rested on Friday and then hit the treadmill on Saturday and did 9 miles, but again no power and was struggling at 6 min mile pace. My health deteriorated on Saturday and in bed by 6pm I knew things weren't right. Seems some form of virus had taken over.
48 hours later and the body felt ok so a tough 45 min session on the cross trainer dusted off the cob-webs and some of the old power was back.
Tuesday's run was again 9 miles, with 8 miles done at sub 6 min mile pace. Back on track.
Today was again on the cross trainer for a tough 45 min calorie burning session, followed by flap jack!
Big race, and my first race for 5 weeks awaits me on Sunday. The usual 5 mile Centurion Grand Prix race. Tactics are to power from the off and use the jet heels to go sub 27m. A tough ask but gotta aim high!
Not sure what to do tomorrow night. Will either be the long cycle or a speed running session, probably the latter.
Just had to take advantage of a free delivery and 10% offer on High 5 products. The arsenal of goods will be arriving soon to fuel the engine.
Having had an almost perfect few weeks of training, last Thursday on the bike was hell. No power at all in the legs and a requirement of colossal mental strength to complete the 75 minute bike session.
Having just put it down to "one of those off days", I rested on Friday and then hit the treadmill on Saturday and did 9 miles, but again no power and was struggling at 6 min mile pace. My health deteriorated on Saturday and in bed by 6pm I knew things weren't right. Seems some form of virus had taken over.
48 hours later and the body felt ok so a tough 45 min session on the cross trainer dusted off the cob-webs and some of the old power was back.
Tuesday's run was again 9 miles, with 8 miles done at sub 6 min mile pace. Back on track.
Today was again on the cross trainer for a tough 45 min calorie burning session, followed by flap jack!
Big race, and my first race for 5 weeks awaits me on Sunday. The usual 5 mile Centurion Grand Prix race. Tactics are to power from the off and use the jet heels to go sub 27m. A tough ask but gotta aim high!
Not sure what to do tomorrow night. Will either be the long cycle or a speed running session, probably the latter.
Just had to take advantage of a free delivery and 10% offer on High 5 products. The arsenal of goods will be arriving soon to fuel the engine.
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