Long Sunday Run

No marathon to run...... so the question is why do long runs? the answer to this is; on a personal point of view, long runs enable me to train, do speed work, and recover faster.

This weeks long run inco-operated the Rothwell 10k -which I will be running in a few weeks time. The total milage was 16.76 miles in 1:57:31 mins - all done at an average pace of 7-01 minutes per mile. Sounds easy? not for a 35 minute 10k man like me and my legs hurt a lot even today(wednesday).

Because I felt so good after the few days resting up when I hit the road again it felt like I was gliding along. I suppose this is the equivalent of a tapering effect, and is probably how I should feel when I am actually racing.

The Rothwell 10k race is scheduled for bank holiday Monday the 4th of May. I was looking at the entries and once again there are some good runners listed to run. Ian Fisher, Andy Pearson, Carl Thackery, John Convery and Tim Midgeley were some names that stood out. I will not be worried about them, as I will be running my own race trying to beat the 35 minute mark again. This is just to prove the Wakefield 10k was not a one off sub 35.

The Rothwell Harriers really do a good job of organising and increasing the popularity of this event. It is usually a 'book early' race because the numbers have been restricted in previous years. This year they have increased the amount of entries to 1000 and this has helped those who like to leave it to the last minute(like me).

It's Legoland -You're Not Running

This time I was caught red handed, the running trainers were found in the suitcase rapped up in a jumper. The question of why I needed a rather large watch to tell the time(Garmin 305) was also not easy to explain. The thoughts of a full English on the menu were also largely ignored, the search for the hotel gym - and more importantly a treadmill to train on took precedence over all the hotel luxuries.

The seasoned runner needs his(or her) daily 'fix' of running to be able to function. They become impossible to reason with, often miserable and unwilling to help(thats me anyway). I decided the battle with the wife wasn't worth starting and no running was the easier of the two options. Once I had got over the 'cold turkey effect' of not running I began to rather enjoy the break.

The Legoland Adventure was a kids paradise with seventy acres of rides and fun things to do. Power walking between the rides and using the pushchair as an added resistence effect created a kind of active rest for me. The only drawback was the drive down -220 of mostly motorway miles. The use of my brothers Tom Tom Navigation System helped somewhat, and directed us straight to the hotel carpark. Total miles 220, with 4.5 hours travel, 2 stops - average pace 1 minute 20ish per mile.

Thanks for reading.

Wakefield 10k - Out and Back - New V40 P.B.

It's early April and that time again for the annual Wakefield Hospice 10k Road Race, organised by Wakefield Harriers. There was a large turnout for this years race, with a healthy mix of runners running for fun and club runners. Each year they seem to change the course and this year it has been changed to an out and back one. I think they have got it right this year and they have probably copied the format from the Leeds Abbey Dash and Dewsbury 10k, which have proved massively popular, thus raising large amounts of money for good causes.
The conditions were perfect for running, sunny and cool with very little breeze. Amongst the line up at the front(of those I recognised), were: Andrew Pearson(longwood), Carl Thackery(Hallamshire, now V45). There was also Kevin Ogden(Spen), Ricky South(Holmfirth), Andy Whitworth(Meltham), Paul Hallas(Wakefield), and long time no see Duncan Clark(Abbey Runners). The race started on a slight downhill which doesn't suit me as I prefer to start steady whilst not loosing too much sight of the front runners. The race started at the Lawefield Road end of Thornes Park and turned left up Horbury Road to the 5k mark and back down again. As expected Andrew Pearson from Longwood took the lead early on. On the returning 5k he had at least a minute on second place and showing no signs of fading. My battle was between Kevin Ogden from Spen and Ricky South from Holmfirth. I was also aware of Paul Hallas and Andy Whitworth not been too far behind. Me and Kevin Ogden were stride for stride up until about the 8k point. He looked easy and the high mileage weeks, in training for the London Marathon, paid off for him in the final stages of the race. Having caught Ricky South up from having a 20 second lead I thought I would beat him to the line. He seemed to pip me at the finish, and although the results show that I beat him I think they are wrong(Sorry Ricky). I finished in 34-56 and first V40, the first time I have broken 35 mins for 10k(as a V40). There's also no way I can ease back on the training or take an extra day off. With plenty of runners of V45 still regularly breaking 33mins it's no end to the training !