I'm thinking 2009 could be the time for my first Marathon. I've got my entry in through the online ballot - all I can do now is wait and see.
Monday 21 April 2008
London Marathon 2009
Wednesday 16 April 2008
Lance Armstrong - my new training partner
I had a great training run with Lance Armstrong yesterday afternoon. After 8 minutes of steady warm-up, we did a bunch of intervals - 4 minutes at 80% effort followed by 4 minute of recovery, repeated 4 times. Lance is a great training partner - very motivational, just when you need it.
Ok, no, I didn't really go running with Lance. He was busy. Instead I downloaded a 40 minute Nike + workout from iTunes - Lance Armstrong: Run Longer Coaching Mix - $13.99 very well spent I think as I'm going to use this at least once a week from now on.
Tuesday 8 April 2008
Purple Patch Runners
I've toyed with the idea of joining a running club for a long time. I nearly went along to Maidenhead AC after work to have a run with them once or twice, but my desire to get home after work and see my kids before they go to bed has always got in the way of that. Nevertheless, I've still been interested in joining a club to try and strike up some kinship with fellow runners.
Whilst looking at future races, I came across an organisation called Purple Patch Running. They organise training weekends and a number of races throughout the year. They also have a running club - Purple Patch Runners. They're sort of a virtual running club - they have no premises and no 'club' night on which they meet up and run. They also have a list of targeted races at which members can meet up. Members get all the usual benefits of being a member of a running club - affiliation to UK Athletics, discount on race entry fees, etc.
The Maidenhead Easter 10 was my first race as a Purple Patch Runner. I wore my club vest and I saw another one too (going past me at speed!). I hope to see more at future races.
Maidenhead Easter 10 - 21 March 2008
I work in Maidenhead and the route of this 10 mile race intersected with part of my usual lunchtime training run route. It started off with two laps around a business park and then out into open fields (where it was incredibly windy). The route took us around the outside of White Waltham Airfield and then back round to the business park to finish.
The business park sections are a little dull from a scenery point of view, but it did mean I was able to run past my wife and kids who were there cheering me on, which was lovely. Once out of the business park, it was all paths across fields and country lanes - a great route.
I finished in 1:27:42 which was very consistent with my half marathon time at the beginning of March.
As I was coming in towards the finish of this race, I saw a couple of ambulances and an air ambulance. I later found out that someone collapsed shortly before the finish line and was taken off to hospital unconscious. This morning, I read that this runner has sadly passed away. My thoughts go to his friends and family.
Friday 4 April 2008
Reading Half Marathon - 2 March 2008
This was my first half marathon and I really enjoyed it. There were a little over 11000 runners which meant that the pack never really thinned out much, but the support along the route was fantastic and the weather perfect. I bought a bag of jelly babies and put 13 in my pocket before the race - one for every mile completed. I don't know if they really helped or if it was a placebo effect, but looking forward to a jelly baby after every mile did seem to make the race go quicker.
I had trained up to about 8 miles so I was definitely feeling my legs after 10 miles or so. By 11 miles I was starting to cramp a little but I kept going and finished in 1:57:11 - under 2 hours which was my goal. The finish in the Madejski Stadium was fantastic.
All in all a fantastic day and I'll definitely look to do this event again. I also enjoyed the distance - more half marathons for me I think!
G3 2008 Race 2 - 9 Feb 2008
The second G3 2008 race was even harder than the first. Near Newlands Corner (the start/finish) is St Martha's - a church on top of a hill. This race took us up the narrowest and steepest way up that hill - affectionately known as Martha's Back Passage. It seemed that everyone had to walk up that hill as it was so steep. The views from the top there are amazing, so it was well worth it. Excellent fun in the mud, sand, mud, sand, hills, etc.
The course was actually just about 7 miles (6.96 on my Garmin, although others reported it to be 7.29), so longer than 10K. I finished in 1:15:52.
Thursday 3 April 2008
G3 2008 Race 1 - 12 Jan 2008
For the new year, I fancied a real gritty challenging trail run. The G3 10k running series has fast become the litmus test for 'a challenging run' so seemed ideal. Three different courses are raced over three dates, all starting and finishing from the same venue: Newlands Corner, Guildford, Surrey. Approximately 10k xc running across the North Downs using sandy trails, woodlands tracks and grassy fields.
The first race started at 8:30 in the morning and it was cold (2°C) and wet. I felt for the organisers who'd been there since 3am setting up the course. A challenging run it was indeed - lots of up and down hills, mud, mud and more mud and lots and lots of fun in a beautiful location. I finished in 1:08:43.
Austin Trail of Lights 5K - 8 Dec 2007
I was in Austin for a couple of weeks in December with work and this 5K race happened to be on at the time. Every December in Zilker Park (just across the river from downtown Austin), a trail of more than 180,000 lights is setup and to open it, they hold a 5K race.
The race started at 6:30pm and it was hot (75°F) and humid. There must have been around 5000 people in the race - it was absolutely rammed. I recall feeling massively out of place when they played the US national anthem (and everyone sang along) just before the start.. very odd. Anyway, the race started and it took ages for everyone to get over the start line. There was no organisation at the start and it turned out that loads of people were walking, and had got themselves near the front, so hundreds of people were struggling to get past them. Still, the lights were pretty cool.. I finished in 26:55.
Wednesday 2 April 2008
Puma Urban Escape 10K Trail Run at Hankley Common - 28 Oct 2007
Now this was a tough race. It was cold, absolutely lashing it down with rain and very windy. The course was 2 laps, part of which was very open and exposed to the wind and rain with some huge and very sandy hills.
Great views, hard running, crap weather and good company. What more can you ask for?
I finished in 1:00:26 - I was a bit gutted not to get in under an hour but considering the weather and the horrible sandy hills, it wasn't too bad.
Tuesday 1 April 2008
Poppy Hill 10K - 14 Oct 2007
Hidden behind the famous Sandhurst Military Academy near Camberly, Surrey is an area of forest designated by English Nature as an 'area of Special Scientific Interest' that is usually closed to the public. Inside this fenced enclosure are some gorgous trails through mixed woodland and areas of open heathland with just enough hills to make it interesting.
These trails were the scene of my first real trail race and I really got hooked after this one. The start/finish line was on top of a hill which had to be climbed twice during the race - once after only a mile or so and once just before the end of the race. It was a nice day if I recall correctly and the course was mostly dry with a few sandy patches and the hills weren't too bad.
I finished in 58:54. It was a great location - I'll definitely look to do a run here again.
Dunsfold Aerodrome Cancer Research 10K - 16 Sept 2007
This 10K was supposed to be at Loseley Park, but was moved at the last minute due to the foot & mouth outbreak to Dunsfold Aerodrome, the airfield where Top Gear is filmed.
I raised £260 pounds for Cancer Research doing this race. Many thanks to everyone who sponsored me!
As a result, this was a fast, flat two laps round the airfield and I got a new PB of 52:40, which still stands (probably because every 10K I've run since has been off-road and up and down hills).