I think a title like that deserves some explanation. Just done a ten miler. I had meant to run with the running club this morning but the weather was hosing it down. Horrid! So I demonstrated my invertebrate nature and went back to bed...
I did go running when the rain stopped at 15:00 as forecast. Skins, Gore base layer, Adidas rain jacket, Hilly headband and running gloves. Gotta love that technical gear! All together too warm though so I lost the gloves and headband and soldiered on...and on and on etc. Didn't stop for 10 miles. Took it nice and easy - no rain, no pain and a 10 mile pb @ 1:44.
Chuffed.
I wonder if I can take it even easier and run a whole half marathon without stopping....hmmm?
Sunday 25 January 2009
Saturday 24 January 2009
Good form/bad form
I'm a firm believer that given nobody is 100% exactly the same it follows that we all move differently. I think trying to shoehorn in Good Form - adjusting one's running technique - solely for the purposes of aesthetics is wasting effort.
What I believe to be a good application of technique adjustment is where poor form causes injury. Forget speed or looking great - if what you do makes you broke then ya gotta change something, innit?
I saw the physio/podiatrist this week as my old orthotics are coming to the end of their 12 month life. I mentioned I was starting to feel a little tight in the IT Band area. Okay - refreshed orthotics help but I have minor bit of 'form' to work on. Take a look at my London Marathon sponsorship page (go on chip in while your at it!). See how my second toe, knee and hip are somewhat out of line? That's the problem. The result of these poor Biomenchanics is friction on the IT Band.
Working on it.
Right - got my first sponsors this week - Hurrah! The beggin letters really start in Feb...
Followed the training plan this week pretty well:
Mon - recovery run on t'mill
Tue - Gym
Wed - 5.5 miles
Thu - utterly friggin knackered - rested.
fri - Gym
Resting/blogging today. Wokingham Half Marathon dress rehearsal tomorrow. I must be mad as the weather today is really quite nice (I hope Kate enjoys the dry!) but tomorrow looks rubbish. I'm hopeful for less rain I admit but not overly fussed. I spent money on the right gear so I'm going to get it ready now.
More updates in the coming week.
Waddle on chums as The Penguin says.
What I believe to be a good application of technique adjustment is where poor form causes injury. Forget speed or looking great - if what you do makes you broke then ya gotta change something, innit?
I saw the physio/podiatrist this week as my old orthotics are coming to the end of their 12 month life. I mentioned I was starting to feel a little tight in the IT Band area. Okay - refreshed orthotics help but I have minor bit of 'form' to work on. Take a look at my London Marathon sponsorship page (go on chip in while your at it!). See how my second toe, knee and hip are somewhat out of line? That's the problem. The result of these poor Biomenchanics is friction on the IT Band.
Working on it.
Right - got my first sponsors this week - Hurrah! The beggin letters really start in Feb...
Followed the training plan this week pretty well:
Mon - recovery run on t'mill
Tue - Gym
Wed - 5.5 miles
Thu - utterly friggin knackered - rested.
fri - Gym
Resting/blogging today. Wokingham Half Marathon dress rehearsal tomorrow. I must be mad as the weather today is really quite nice (I hope Kate enjoys the dry!) but tomorrow looks rubbish. I'm hopeful for less rain I admit but not overly fussed. I spent money on the right gear so I'm going to get it ready now.
More updates in the coming week.
Waddle on chums as The Penguin says.
Sunday 18 January 2009
16 miles passed and still alive!
Hundreds of years ago, the cleverest folks around thought the human brain would explode if humans travelled at over 40mph. The hundred mile an hour barrier was next followed by the invisible wall in the sky - the sound barrier. All the barriers (perceived, psychological and supposedly scientific) were broken.
I always thought my legs would fall off after running 16 miles. It seems this is not the case. A lot of this lark is mental. Some would say you have to be mental to start but in all seriousness keeping going, gritting it out, 'gutsing' through a tough bit be it cold, up hill or through a low blood sugar spot is as much about psychological as physical. The training is as much for the brain as it is the body.
It wasn't easy I can tell ya but I did it and survived and intend to 'up' my record distance by 1 mile every two weeks or so until I hit 20. Then taper and hope.
I'm going to maintain the three runs a week I'm current managing - recovery on t'mill on Monday, 6+ miles mid-week and two gym sessions. The only days I am going to get up at stupid o'clock until the 26th of April are gym mornings. The rest of the time I'll be setting the automatic cat feeders and getting up at a more sensible hour.
Right now it gets harder because the weather is fairly crap but pretty much all my training is in the dark FFS. Gotta keep it sensible and positive - not letting the training become a chore is essential.
Till next week, here's the summary:
Monday, Sports Massage
Tuesday, Gym
Wed, rest
Thu, 6 miles
Fri, Gym
Sat, 16.12 miles
Sun, rest and stretch
total mileage (not including the mill) - 22.12
I always thought my legs would fall off after running 16 miles. It seems this is not the case. A lot of this lark is mental. Some would say you have to be mental to start but in all seriousness keeping going, gritting it out, 'gutsing' through a tough bit be it cold, up hill or through a low blood sugar spot is as much about psychological as physical. The training is as much for the brain as it is the body.
It wasn't easy I can tell ya but I did it and survived and intend to 'up' my record distance by 1 mile every two weeks or so until I hit 20. Then taper and hope.
I'm going to maintain the three runs a week I'm current managing - recovery on t'mill on Monday, 6+ miles mid-week and two gym sessions. The only days I am going to get up at stupid o'clock until the 26th of April are gym mornings. The rest of the time I'll be setting the automatic cat feeders and getting up at a more sensible hour.
Right now it gets harder because the weather is fairly crap but pretty much all my training is in the dark FFS. Gotta keep it sensible and positive - not letting the training become a chore is essential.
Till next week, here's the summary:
Monday, Sports Massage
Tuesday, Gym
Wed, rest
Thu, 6 miles
Fri, Gym
Sat, 16.12 miles
Sun, rest and stretch
total mileage (not including the mill) - 22.12
Sunday 11 January 2009
Warning - extreme gore!
I really started to get back into some solid training this week. Hugely busy at work too but still getting the hours in - a total of 21 miles this week which is steadily improving with one 14.67 mile run - my longest and best yet. Avg. heart rate of 145bpm and right on marathon pace. I probably could have gone on to 15 but I thought it best to 'up' the mileage in a more controlled fashion.
Huge credit to Bob though who came out and ran the full 14.67 for his longest run ever too - the guy is amazing!
Two gym sessions this week - one with PT supposedly being gentle - pffft! Good session though.
The mid week run was my longest ever mid week run!
All going well.
Sports massage tomorrow.
Same schedule for this week - maybe a slow run around 5k tomorrow to recover.
Ah, yes....I forgot the gore. Well, for the 14 miler on Sat I forgot my running socks. Technical gear does work you know...carrying on the theme of biggest, best and furthest ever, here is my best blister ever - enjoy. Not suitable for the squeamish though. Be warned. I'll be draining it later. ;-)
Huge credit to Bob though who came out and ran the full 14.67 for his longest run ever too - the guy is amazing!
Two gym sessions this week - one with PT supposedly being gentle - pffft! Good session though.
The mid week run was my longest ever mid week run!
All going well.
Sports massage tomorrow.
Same schedule for this week - maybe a slow run around 5k tomorrow to recover.
Ah, yes....I forgot the gore. Well, for the 14 miler on Sat I forgot my running socks. Technical gear does work you know...carrying on the theme of biggest, best and furthest ever, here is my best blister ever - enjoy. Not suitable for the squeamish though. Be warned. I'll be draining it later. ;-)
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