Week three of the programme brought greater distances totalling 33 this week, with 12 miles being the longest. That was run with my pack on the way to work on Thursday giving me a feeling for what lies ahead as those runs get inexorably longer.
I had a sports massage on my legs this week too which was good and seemingly needed as it hurt. A lot. There were many knots in my quads and calf muscles, though my hamstrings and Achilles’ were remarkably fine. I think this is as a result of all the hill climbing. Post massage the 12 miler to work and subsequently the 10 mile early morning jolly round Derwent & Howden Reservoirs were far more tolerable so I think I’ll be signing up for more rub downs in the future, however painful they are at the time.
Biggest downside to this week was my knee starting to feel sore again. Not sure if this is down to new shoes, tired legs, increasing mileage or recurrence of the original injury from February.
Tuesday, 25 May 2010
Monday, 10 May 2010
So far, so good
Well, all appears to be going well. I've increased the mileage to 31 this week, included a hill training session and the long run is up to 10 miles. The knee is not protesting too much either which is good.
My birthday this week resulted in a shiny new pair of trainers, a new backpack (a popular model amongst MdS veterans) and some funky Injinji socks which fit your feet like gloves with little toe pockets. The claim is that they reduce blisters by stopping your toes rubbing together. Two 10 mile runs in them (and the new trainers) have resulted in no blisters, so maybe there's something in it.
Was also up in Edinburgh overnight at the weekend for a friend's 40th so I had to do some shuffling of the training programme to ensure I wasn't trying to run 10 miles with a potentially large hangover. Fortunately, I was able to run on Saturday morning before we left Sheffield, and even better luck; the hangover never materialised. All in all, a good week.
My birthday this week resulted in a shiny new pair of trainers, a new backpack (a popular model amongst MdS veterans) and some funky Injinji socks which fit your feet like gloves with little toe pockets. The claim is that they reduce blisters by stopping your toes rubbing together. Two 10 mile runs in them (and the new trainers) have resulted in no blisters, so maybe there's something in it.
Was also up in Edinburgh overnight at the weekend for a friend's 40th so I had to do some shuffling of the training programme to ensure I wasn't trying to run 10 miles with a potentially large hangover. Fortunately, I was able to run on Saturday morning before we left Sheffield, and even better luck; the hangover never materialised. All in all, a good week.
Sunday, 2 May 2010
It's the final countdown. Well, nearly.
99 weeks to go and the end of the first full week of "proper" training.
The half marathon was, as expected, hard work. I managed the race rather badly and went off too fast trying to keep up with my wife Angie, but conceded defeat at 10 miles and limped home in 1 hour 56 mins. Still it was under 2 hours which was the target so I can't really complain I guess.
This week has been the first week of properly following a programme of sorts. Cobbled together over a curry and a pint with Richard, we've got ourselves a plan - it's fairly flexible and may change as we progress, but we have something to work to. And so far so good. The week culminated in a fantastic 10 miler round the Derwent Reservoir feeling good and enjoying being out in the early morning fresh air.
No knee problems to report, one or two blisters which are a hangover from the half marathon and legs that are a bit shocked by the distances increasing a little, but all good so far. Let's hope it lasts another 99 weeks.
The half marathon was, as expected, hard work. I managed the race rather badly and went off too fast trying to keep up with my wife Angie, but conceded defeat at 10 miles and limped home in 1 hour 56 mins. Still it was under 2 hours which was the target so I can't really complain I guess.
This week has been the first week of properly following a programme of sorts. Cobbled together over a curry and a pint with Richard, we've got ourselves a plan - it's fairly flexible and may change as we progress, but we have something to work to. And so far so good. The week culminated in a fantastic 10 miler round the Derwent Reservoir feeling good and enjoying being out in the early morning fresh air.
No knee problems to report, one or two blisters which are a hangover from the half marathon and legs that are a bit shocked by the distances increasing a little, but all good so far. Let's hope it lasts another 99 weeks.
Tuesday, 20 April 2010
First Race of 2010
It’s been touch and go whether I’d make it to this Sunday’s Sheffield Half Marathon but it’s looking like I’ll be lining up with 5,499 others for the 13.1 miles through Sheffield’s streets.
My last post before Christmas promised more effort, more focus, more training. In the immortal words of Meatloaf, two out of three ain’t bad. I’ve certainly been pretty focused, and it’s seemed like a lot of effort but as for more training, well……..
It all started so well with regular runs to and from work in January, despite the snow. I took it nice and steady, with a good slow build up, and then in early Feb something happened inside my knee which meant I was unable to run for a month. Trips to physio, GP and knee specialist determined it’s most likely a meniscal tear. I’m awaiting the results of a recent MRI scan on it to determine the next steps (excuse the pun).
Despite this, a long weekend of snowboarding, a bout of tonsillitis and further winter ailments, I’m back running and hoping for the best. There’s no pain as such now when I run (not in the knee at least) but it feels a bit odd, kind of tight and a bit tender. I gave it a real wallop when snowboarding too which hasn’t helped so I’m not sure if it’s the aftermath of that, or something linked to the original injury. I’ve only stretched the training runs to 75 mins max so far so the half marathon should be an interesting test – I’m certainly not aiming for a PB.
My last post before Christmas promised more effort, more focus, more training. In the immortal words of Meatloaf, two out of three ain’t bad. I’ve certainly been pretty focused, and it’s seemed like a lot of effort but as for more training, well……..
It all started so well with regular runs to and from work in January, despite the snow. I took it nice and steady, with a good slow build up, and then in early Feb something happened inside my knee which meant I was unable to run for a month. Trips to physio, GP and knee specialist determined it’s most likely a meniscal tear. I’m awaiting the results of a recent MRI scan on it to determine the next steps (excuse the pun).
Despite this, a long weekend of snowboarding, a bout of tonsillitis and further winter ailments, I’m back running and hoping for the best. There’s no pain as such now when I run (not in the knee at least) but it feels a bit odd, kind of tight and a bit tender. I gave it a real wallop when snowboarding too which hasn’t helped so I’m not sure if it’s the aftermath of that, or something linked to the original injury. I’ve only stretched the training runs to 75 mins max so far so the half marathon should be an interesting test – I’m certainly not aiming for a PB.
Wednesday, 23 December 2009
Back where I started
So, as 2009 draws to a close, a moment’s reflection on what progress I’ve made since signing up in April……..if I’m honest, not a lot on the fitness front. Things kind of got taken over by the building work which started at home in June and has literally only finished this week.
The limited blog entries thus far tell a tale of good intentions, one or two false starts and ultimately not many steps in the right direction. I’ve had a couple of notable additions with the Rat Race and Three Peaks, but the OMM never happened in October as Richard had confirmed man-flu and so we weren’t able to take part.
And as I sit at my computer today, in the run up to Christmas having been in the pub almost every night since last week, my body is bracing itself for another 8 days of gluttony and good living but rest assured, 2010 will see a marked shift in focus and attention with hopefully corresponding changes is fitness and lard levels.
Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year!
The limited blog entries thus far tell a tale of good intentions, one or two false starts and ultimately not many steps in the right direction. I’ve had a couple of notable additions with the Rat Race and Three Peaks, but the OMM never happened in October as Richard had confirmed man-flu and so we weren’t able to take part.
And as I sit at my computer today, in the run up to Christmas having been in the pub almost every night since last week, my body is bracing itself for another 8 days of gluttony and good living but rest assured, 2010 will see a marked shift in focus and attention with hopefully corresponding changes is fitness and lard levels.
Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year!
Tuesday, 20 October 2009
Peaks & troughs
I must break out of my recent "training" programme of nothing at all and then a silly long event or session. After the Rat Race in August, a rather lazy summer was rudely interrupted by a trip to RIbblehead to tackle the Yorkshire Three Peaks. It wasn't an organised event or anything but an informal trot around aas fast as we could manage, aiming to 1) beat some walkers we knew who were setting off ahead of us and 2) be as close to the cut off time of 5hours 10 for the official 3 Peaks fell race in April.
We achieved the first objective with ease, but coming in after 7 hours 30 mins wasn't exactly a storming result. The first hill (Whernside) was fine, and the descent off it was really good fun, but after only 2 and a half hours, on the way up Ingleborough, our legs were feeling it. A lot. Our strategy of walk uphill, run the rest, was amended to reflect the state of our fitness and so the day went on. Overall I think it was a fair performance given the lack of training we'd done for it, but I have liked to have done better - i.e. I should have trained more.
Following the Three Peaks, another period of mostly doing nothing (the odd mountain bike ride in the dark followed by the pub quiz isn't really training properly) this coming weekend is supposed to be the OMM in mid-Wales, following the pattern of just one massive training session per month which I've adopted recently. However, my training/racing partner Richard is currently popping Tamiflu instead of carbo loading and so our participation hangs by a thread and will need to be reassessed later in the week.
And after this weekend, no matter whether we race (I use the term in the sense that it is a race and we are participating - I don't think we'd be racing even if both of us were in perfect health) or not, I promise that I will be running more frequently as of next week.
We achieved the first objective with ease, but coming in after 7 hours 30 mins wasn't exactly a storming result. The first hill (Whernside) was fine, and the descent off it was really good fun, but after only 2 and a half hours, on the way up Ingleborough, our legs were feeling it. A lot. Our strategy of walk uphill, run the rest, was amended to reflect the state of our fitness and so the day went on. Overall I think it was a fair performance given the lack of training we'd done for it, but I have liked to have done better - i.e. I should have trained more.
Following the Three Peaks, another period of mostly doing nothing (the odd mountain bike ride in the dark followed by the pub quiz isn't really training properly) this coming weekend is supposed to be the OMM in mid-Wales, following the pattern of just one massive training session per month which I've adopted recently. However, my training/racing partner Richard is currently popping Tamiflu instead of carbo loading and so our participation hangs by a thread and will need to be reassessed later in the week.
And after this weekend, no matter whether we race (I use the term in the sense that it is a race and we are participating - I don't think we'd be racing even if both of us were in perfect health) or not, I promise that I will be running more frequently as of next week.
Tuesday, 25 August 2009
Ratified
It's a fading memory already but the return to longer "endurance" events commenced back at the start of August with the Rat Race Urban Adventure Race in Sheffield. Competing with Richard who's also coming to MdS 2012, it was a harsh reminder of the need to eat whilst exercising for long periods. Apart from the length of time actually competing (8 hours on the Sunday) there wasn't too much direct correlation with the MdS. Any running in the Rat Race was fairly short and sharp, most of the event was on bikes and I can't see us doing too many 110 ft abseils in Morocco. But it was good fun, and despite a long time out of the adventure racing or even endurance scene, coming in the top third was promising.
We also got confirmation of our entry into the OMM in October in Wales. This is much more akin to MdS - self sufficient, orienteering, long distance and carrying food and a pack. Just the temperature and terrain will differ - expecting bogs and rain/cold in October in Wales, and heat and sand in Morocco in March.
Not much else by way of training of late although I have invested in a pair of Vibram Five Finger shoes and been out running in them for that barefoot feeling. It was very comfortable and felt refreshingly light on my feet, although they are a peculiar sight and solicited many laughs from my friends. I'll be laughing when they're all laid up with injuries and I have uber strong feet and a perfect running gait. Hopefully.
We also got confirmation of our entry into the OMM in October in Wales. This is much more akin to MdS - self sufficient, orienteering, long distance and carrying food and a pack. Just the temperature and terrain will differ - expecting bogs and rain/cold in October in Wales, and heat and sand in Morocco in March.
Not much else by way of training of late although I have invested in a pair of Vibram Five Finger shoes and been out running in them for that barefoot feeling. It was very comfortable and felt refreshingly light on my feet, although they are a peculiar sight and solicited many laughs from my friends. I'll be laughing when they're all laid up with injuries and I have uber strong feet and a perfect running gait. Hopefully.
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