Sunday 2 October 2011

Luberon marathon 2011


By a miracle, the knees were sorted, so the monumental planning that went into this race went ahead: I really did try to get everything right, even organising routes for my family and ensuring they had what they needed. Only of course everything did not go right. Cutting to the chase: I got a time of 3:15, sounds pretty reasonable? But a 17 minute positive split is probably not what it's about, right?! So apart from going too fast in the first half, what else? Inconsistent marshalling. Sometimes they were pointing in the opposite direction to the signs and generally left me genuinely praying that I was actually on the right route. At one point I definite was not. The wheels came off properly in the latter half as I encountered what seemed to be bigger and bigger hills and the temperatures cranked up toward 30, cramps, dehydration and even walking. Boo hoo hoo. What did go well (apart from my first half splits)? Wonderful Provencal scenery, diversity of landscapes and running surfaces ... and nutrition! Yes this was my one big success of the day, because unlike all of my other recent long runs, everything stayed where it was supposed to, and my emergency tissues lived to fight another day ;)
This was my second marathon, and yet unlike the Half, I feel i have yet to run one properly where I know I am in control of IT rather than the other way around. Role on spring season!

Monday 23 May 2011

8 miler

Good run, except last 10 mins were stitch-ridden so much slower. Final verdict: 8.36 mi in 55:50.
Inconsistencies in iPod reading.

Wednesday 18 May 2011

watered up!

Fab run, massively enhanced by the taking on of fluids and sugar sweets at the co-op in Bury Port! Being hydrated makes SO much difference!


See: http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/34647258

Wednesday 27 April 2011

Thorpeness

About 4 miles to neighbouring Aldeburgh and back. Pretty windy though hadn't realised how much until the return leg. Stomach still not great and this run is entirely fuelled by tea! Also an Aldeburgh public loo came in mighty handy...

Nike+ chip working again — it had somehow turned itself off.

Saturday 23 April 2011

Calibration and distances...

Tried to calibrate my running chip (Nike+ system). I don't get it. I used the google maps to give me a precise distance (770m), and my kit recorded a distance of 788m, which can be partly explained by having to weave a bit and slightly ambiguous turn point. BUT, when running the Half marathon in March, this same kit was being pessimistic, saying I was running less far than the mile markers were in fact indicating.
I feel the need to learn how courses are in fact measured - Marathon Talk actually said that this is a profession so there must be some info on this somewhere.

Monday 18 April 2011

Salé - Rabat

A great 10 miler today in just over an hour 20. First entailed a
couple of K in Salé before accidentally crossing over to Rabat in the
midst of substantial works to create a tram system connecting the two
cities. Once over on the other side, picked up pace for a short time
to near semi marathon pace, before pulling back for the climb over to
the atlantic coast, which impressively opened up after passing a
giant, landscaped graveyard. About 5 minutes later I hit my "half-way
point", as my iPod trainer lady announced it, it occurred to me that
it might be a similar distance back if I followed the medina wall. Ah
ha! I was wrong! Fortunately as well as interesting Rabat views -
particularly on the long return leg overlooking the valley between
Rabat and Salé and a stunning perched castle - I had my favourite
podcast "Marathontalk" to keep me going. Overall pleased, although a
bit too hot as still opting for what I feel might be slightly more
appropriate running tights in this conservative culture, and so not a
fast training session.

Salé - Rabat medina tour

A great 10 miler today in just over an hour 20. First entailed a couple of K in Salé before accidentally crossing over to Rabat in the midst of substantial works to create a tram system connecting the two cities. Once over on the other side, picked up pace for a short time to near semi marathon pace, before pulling back for the climb over to the atlantic coast, which impressively opened up after passing a giant, landscaped graveyard. About 5 minutes later I hit my "half-way point", as my iPod trainer lady announced it, it occurred to me that it might be a similar distance back if I followed the medina wall. Ah ha! I was wrong! Fortunately as well as interesting Rabat views - particularly on the long return leg overlooking the valley between Rabat and Salé and a stunning perched castle - I had my favourite podcast "Marathontalk" to keep me going. Overall pleased, although a bit too hot as still opting for what I feel might be slightly more appropriate running tights in this conservative culture, and so not a fast training session.

Saturday 9 April 2011

Agadir mountain salute!

5 miles
New cultural discovery: Moroccan runners greet other runners outside the city but keep to themselves when in the city!

Friday 8 April 2011

Agadir

8 miles in 1 hour. Just great - very warm even at 7 am along the seafront and through some of the city. It was mainly great though because of the smoothness of the run which had some fairly fast sections in it, and was the first run if this length like that since I injured my back a month ago in the Llanelli half marathon.

I look forward to running with means to add photos to this blog!


Wednesday 6 April 2011

Marrakech run

Maybe better as a blog?  Or both - can always email these notes to the blog address - yes! See about poss of images. From IOS device, this is included automatically.
First entry for a new running diary:


probably about 4 miles or so at varying paces, felt good, very little back stiffness. Aware today as temperature rose sharply of how much it is easier to run at "tempo pace" if I am comfortable, for as the heat turned up so rapidly, my desire to run at that pace dropped very quickly. I remember reminding myself that it didn't matter if I sweated into these clothes as I could soon wash them, almost as if I knew that I might hide behind this excuse.

Still not sure how I feel about the whole "utility runs" as I call them. These are essentially when a run is combined with something that needs doing or purchasing. The upside here is that not only that something needing doing gets done, but also that I get out in my trainers when I might otherwise not have done. However, there are definite downsides too, like having to wait in queues, carry money, breaking the tempo up, potentially having to carry something home, to name a few of the main ones!