First off, best wishes to Tusca, sounds pretty scary.
No goals for me at the moment. My previous aims for a fast spring 5k on the track have been quashed by all the niggles I have been suffering. I've come to realize now that I don't have the training in place to go for it and I doubt I'd risk putting spikes on for a while anyway. I'm just enjoying being healthy at the moment and don't want to put any other pressures on. Looking at the next few weeks it seems as if racing is going to be a big part of my training anyway. I actually have races lined up for the next 4 weekends!
I am travelling to England for our yearly visit to family and friends on Thursday and am planning two races over there. This weekend a 10k at Chirk Castle near my parents' house in Wales. I believe it will be the first time I have ever raced in Wales despite having lived near the border for 16 years of my life! Then the following weekend I'm going to be visiting friends in the South and me and a couple of buddies are planning a 5k in Windsor (the afternoon of the London Marathon).
Then back in Charlotte I'm doing a 'Run for the Money' charity 5k my first Saturday back and then a big 5k race the following Saturday, the second race in the Grand Prix series here. I missed the first race so need to start playing catch up. So it will be one hard session and a race each week for the next month. If I can get through that healthy maybe then I can think about the next goals!
Since the race on Saturday I've had two easy days of 5.3 and 5.1 miles and the legs seem to be okay. Also, I am on a 'streak' of 16 days at the moment. I've usually been one to take at least one day off each week. Looking back 16 days is my joint second longest streak ever! 24 days to beat!
Monday, March 31, 2008
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Elizabeth 8k
Today saw the 22nd running of the second oldest road race in Charlotte. Weather was very good, slightly cloudy, breezy and temperatures in the 50s. The race winds around the beautiful Elizabeth neighbourhood on a gently undulating course with several long straight sections and a fast run into the finish.
My legs were feeling really good in the warm up (3 miles) but that was tempered by the fact I was still suffering the effects of a hacking cough and cold. Considering everything, goal was to hit 5.30s and see where it got me. Led from the gun, expected another guy to take it out but he didn't so I basically ran on my own the whole race. Felt pretty strong throughout.
Mile markers were misplaced or non-existent and I didn't look at my time until finish line so was pretty much running by feel. Finished in 27.13. Very happy with the effort and calf was fine. Will take it easy next couple of days though! Had finished my two mile warm down but bumped into Joe and Megan so ran a couple of extra miles with them. Megan won the women's race and is heading to Boston for the Olympic trials in a few weeks. First time I'd met her and I discovered she is an absolute mileage monster- planned on heading out for another hour later in the day!Felt light headed and needed lots of food when I'd finished my warm down! Won a free 1 hour massage for my troubles. This was a good race, well organized and plenty of food and drink afterwards.
Spent the rest of the day resting my weary legs as much as possible and eating like a horse while I played with Sophie, whose Mom and sister had gone out to do a bunch of girlie activities. Just about to watch the Carolina Louisville game which is actually being played in town tonight. Still can't believe the importance of College sports here compared to England where apart from the Boat Race, games are just an excuse to have a big drink up afterwards!
Good luck to Tuscaloosa Runner tomorrow. He's been quiet in preparation for his race the last few days. I hope the sesamoid is cooperative and let's him perform as his training has merited....
My legs were feeling really good in the warm up (3 miles) but that was tempered by the fact I was still suffering the effects of a hacking cough and cold. Considering everything, goal was to hit 5.30s and see where it got me. Led from the gun, expected another guy to take it out but he didn't so I basically ran on my own the whole race. Felt pretty strong throughout.
Mile markers were misplaced or non-existent and I didn't look at my time until finish line so was pretty much running by feel. Finished in 27.13. Very happy with the effort and calf was fine. Will take it easy next couple of days though! Had finished my two mile warm down but bumped into Joe and Megan so ran a couple of extra miles with them. Megan won the women's race and is heading to Boston for the Olympic trials in a few weeks. First time I'd met her and I discovered she is an absolute mileage monster- planned on heading out for another hour later in the day!Felt light headed and needed lots of food when I'd finished my warm down! Won a free 1 hour massage for my troubles. This was a good race, well organized and plenty of food and drink afterwards.
Spent the rest of the day resting my weary legs as much as possible and eating like a horse while I played with Sophie, whose Mom and sister had gone out to do a bunch of girlie activities. Just about to watch the Carolina Louisville game which is actually being played in town tonight. Still can't believe the importance of College sports here compared to England where apart from the Boat Race, games are just an excuse to have a big drink up afterwards!
Good luck to Tuscaloosa Runner tomorrow. He's been quiet in preparation for his race the last few days. I hope the sesamoid is cooperative and let's him perform as his training has merited....
Friday, March 28, 2008
Back to the starting line
Looking forward to racing again tomorrow. Checked the course out today and legs felt really zippy, best they've felt in a long while. Cold is receding too as I hack more and more crap off my chest so i should be good to go
So the week played out as follows
Sa- 8.25 on Ocean Isle Beach (7 pace)
Su- 10.8 on Ocean Isle roads (6.40)
M- 6.8 (7.07)
T- 5.3 inc 6*800 (90 secs), average 2.32
W- 7.83 (6.33)
Th- 7.17 (6.40)
F- 5.55 (6.47)
So the week played out as follows
Sa- 8.25 on Ocean Isle Beach (7 pace)
Su- 10.8 on Ocean Isle roads (6.40)
M- 6.8 (7.07)
T- 5.3 inc 6*800 (90 secs), average 2.32
W- 7.83 (6.33)
Th- 7.17 (6.40)
F- 5.55 (6.47)
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Cold lingering
Can't shake this cold. Yesterday I figured I felt rough due to the effects of the previous night's festivities but today I'm still not feeling great. My youngest has the flu so I hope I'm not coming down with that.
Anyway I got out the door yesterday in the beautiful evening sun and ran an easy 7.85. One of those runs I really didn't want to do but got on with it and got it done. Felt very sluggish and heavy though. Today was 7.2 miles of the same, legs felt better but was tired afterwards and heart rate was up due to my cold. Getting up early tomorrow to check out the course of the 8k on Saturday. I probably shouldn't race but my legs are healthy and I'm desperate to get out there and race. If I have a good race I can put my feet up on Sunday...
Anyway I got out the door yesterday in the beautiful evening sun and ran an easy 7.85. One of those runs I really didn't want to do but got on with it and got it done. Felt very sluggish and heavy though. Today was 7.2 miles of the same, legs felt better but was tired afterwards and heart rate was up due to my cold. Getting up early tomorrow to check out the course of the 8k on Saturday. I probably shouldn't race but my legs are healthy and I'm desperate to get out there and race. If I have a good race I can put my feet up on Sunday...
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
BNO
Did a workout at the track last night. 6 800s with 90 second recovery. Goal was to go sub 2.30s but I was all over the place between 2.28 and 2.35. I wasn't pushing as hard as usual to protect the calf and I've picked up a cold so was feeling pretty weak anyway. So not a particularly good workout but the most important thing was that my calf was fine afterwards
Then after getting the girls down I was picked up by my chauffeur Tim and we headed into town for a few beers with Joe, Shane and Scott. A good time was had by all but I didn't get home till 2.30 which meant my 5am alarm call for a planned 5.30 run with Jocelyn, Scott and Chris was never going to happen.
So haven't run yet today. will be heading out before dinner. 70s and sunny here so looking forward to it, although i have a cold and am also still feeling the effect of last night's beers
Monday, March 24, 2008
Checking back in
So it's been a while! Have been keeping up to date with everyone else's news but been slack on my front, so thought it was time I checked back in.
Well the main reason I haven't been posting is, yes you guessed it, I've been fighting injury again.!
Following my last post I ran the 5k and actually won it, although the race turned out to be a bit of a fiasco. First of all the organisers in their wisdom decided to make it an out and back course on narrow trails, so you spent the whole second half of the race worrying you were going to crash into racers coming the other way and secondly they decided that 5k is about 3.4 miles. my time was 17.45 which I think I worked out as being low 16s for a 5k but I didn't care by that point!
So all was good at that point. Then went for a run with Tim the next day and 9 miles in my LEFT calf went on me, just like that. So cut a long story short that put me out for another two weeks. I've had some treatment and gradually built the mileage back up and am hopefully past this issue now. But how many times have you heard that before??
I've forgotten about my racing plans for the Spring now. I'm just going to see how things go. I am going to do less workouts and slow down my day to day runs and stretch like there is no tomorrow.
Other than that, all has been fine. Family are doing great and work has got a little bit less stressful the last couple of weeks. So hopefully I can get this blog up and running again starting with an update on today's run that I'm just about to head out the door and do!
Run was okay tonight. Ran 20 miles over the weekend at the beach so took it easy today, 6.8 at 7.08 pace. Felt very sluggish running in the evening for the first time in ages. Plus my guts were playing up. Still that is 9 days consecutive running now without a squeal from my calf so I'm going to try a light workout tomorrow night. More to get the legs moving again than anything. I've pencilled in an 8k race at the weekend and although I am not expecting much, would still like to put a decnt effort in
Well the main reason I haven't been posting is, yes you guessed it, I've been fighting injury again.!
Following my last post I ran the 5k and actually won it, although the race turned out to be a bit of a fiasco. First of all the organisers in their wisdom decided to make it an out and back course on narrow trails, so you spent the whole second half of the race worrying you were going to crash into racers coming the other way and secondly they decided that 5k is about 3.4 miles. my time was 17.45 which I think I worked out as being low 16s for a 5k but I didn't care by that point!
So all was good at that point. Then went for a run with Tim the next day and 9 miles in my LEFT calf went on me, just like that. So cut a long story short that put me out for another two weeks. I've had some treatment and gradually built the mileage back up and am hopefully past this issue now. But how many times have you heard that before??
I've forgotten about my racing plans for the Spring now. I'm just going to see how things go. I am going to do less workouts and slow down my day to day runs and stretch like there is no tomorrow.
Other than that, all has been fine. Family are doing great and work has got a little bit less stressful the last couple of weeks. So hopefully I can get this blog up and running again starting with an update on today's run that I'm just about to head out the door and do!
Run was okay tonight. Ran 20 miles over the weekend at the beach so took it easy today, 6.8 at 7.08 pace. Felt very sluggish running in the evening for the first time in ages. Plus my guts were playing up. Still that is 9 days consecutive running now without a squeal from my calf so I'm going to try a light workout tomorrow night. More to get the legs moving again than anything. I've pencilled in an 8k race at the weekend and although I am not expecting much, would still like to put a decnt effort in
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