Two things are crucial for a blogger. The first is a reliable internet connection, which after an aborted attempt to change providers and a loan of an ethernet cable I now have. The second is to be involved in the subject that one is talking about.
There is an argument that I am involved in what my blog says, namely that it is entitled "how not to run a marathon" and I have done so little running since Christmas that I am neck deep in the how not to aspect.
With only 4 weeks to go until my next marathon (Brighton, April 10th) I thought I'd take look back at this years runs and my reasons (excuses) for not running more and also how my marathon training is going now that most people are heading towards the point of tapering before the big day.
At the end of December, as we headed towards a new year, my mind was full of the things I'd like to acheive in running in 2011. A sub 4 marathon, a 1hr40 half marathon, 10k in less than 40mins, or would it be the number of marathons I did in the year (2 in 2010, should I push for 4 in 2011?), maybe go faster over the shorter distances and get as many league points as possible.
It was with all this in mind that Christmas came and went and I did no running, after all it was only a few days of eating and drinking. Then the new year and a lovely trip to Padstow (disappointing fish and chips from Rick Stein) again no running, but it was only a few day of drinking and eating. The new year trip also meant I'd missed the first WSFRL race of the season.
January was so cold and the sofa was so comfortable, combined with a shift pattern due to which I missed most Arunners club nights meant I had to play my new PS3 games. But there was a league race to do, I got off the sofa for that.
Plumpton was on a sunny but chilly Sunday morning, it was three laps of the racecourse and an out and back section on a country lane. A distance of little over 4 miles. I finished it but it took a while. Other club runners who had kept up the running where way ahead of me and I even got asked if I'd gone round twice.
Worthing Lido a week later was a bit better. Again a distance of about 4 miles but this time flat along the seafront. I started of slowly in attempt to pace myself, I thought I'd gradually work my way up the field. This I did but then came what is now my traditional mid race walk and 30 or 40 runners merrily overtaking me. My time was, I felt, fairly reasonable but still not as quick as I had been.
Since these races I have been to the running club a bit more often (3 or 4 times in two months) and even had a fairly good handicap run, 5k in 22mins, improving on my last performance by 9 secs. But apart from that nothing.
That is until the beginning of March and something has clicked. Never put off tomorrow what you can do today, never run tomorrow what you can run today. I think the spur was the improved handicap time. This showed me that I was getting back some of my lost fitness.
I have already this month spent more time in the gym than the previous 3 or 4 months and have been on the roads a few times. My speed is improving as is my endurance. But what is driving me?
The weather is warmer, I've finished the PS3 games but the sofa is still comfortable. I haven't decided what my running target for the year should be, I'm not raising money for a charity. Do I feel better in myself after a run? Not especially. My drive is my diary. A realisation has dawned on me, Marathon was only 6 weeks away, then 5 and now 4. I kept on saying I'd start my marathon training tomorrow, but I'm running out of tomorrows.
I'm going to go out for a run today, and tomorrow. Depending on the weather.
Monday, 14 March 2011
Tuesday, 30 November 2010
Some of my running firsts.
You may have read about my first attempt to run on the treadmill and the near vomiting and out of body experience it caused. Well here are some more of my firsts.
First 5K.
This was the Lindfield fun run and was also my first race. I really didn't know what to expect and was a little intimidated by the sight of tracksuited runners doing laps of the small park as a warm up. They were running faster than I would normally run and they were only taking it easy. Fortunately most of these "professionals" were entered in the 10k that ran at the same time.
It was a cold and damp spring morning but I soon warmed up as the race began. Being a fun run there were a lot of children in the 5k. They burst away from the start en masse, there enthusiasm certainly not dampened by the drizzle. Their sprint start was soon halted by the first hill after 100m and the adults could pick their way through. I soon crested the hill and there was a nice downhill tarmac section and the speed felt good. I found myself running on my own through a riverside meadow which was knee deep in wet grass with only a few runners ahead to try and catch up with. Eventually I came across a 1 sign and thought "what a long kilometre that was, I don't think i'll make it" But I kept going and picked off a couple more runners, then the 2 sign came and then the 3, as I ran down another hill a marshall told me it wasn't far and he was right. The race was 5k yet the markers were in miles! I rounded the corner and sprinted past another runner in the last 100m. I'd finished my first race in 7th, my first 5k in 23mins.
My first league race.
The Arunners are part of the West Sussex Fun Run League. My first race was Hove Park 5k. This race was 3 laps of the park.
What a great sight it is too see all the runners in their club vests. I made my way to where the Arunners had set up camp and discussed race plans with a few of the club. Then it was into a circle for warm ups and then final toilet stops before heading to the start. The race itself started with a mad dash which the leaders kept up all the way round. The good thing about the short laps was being encouraged by the front runners as they came past and being able to encourage the back markers as I passed them. At least I hope I was encouraging!
This was also the first race in which I had to pit stop for the toilet. I had to make do with the nearest bush and when I popped back out I hoped that no-one thought I'd been hiding in there until the race was nearly over! Toilets breaks seem to have become a habit in my races, I always go before a race but a few minutes in I feel the urge. I can't think of a much worse sound in a race than the footsteps of half the field passing by while I'm tucked behind a bush!
I finished the race fairly well and in 22mins 2secs.
My first 10k.
This was at Arundel and what a treat it was. Starting off in the town centre you are quickly in the grounds of the castle and then through into Arundel Park. The first half of the race is pretty much all uphill, not too steep but long. Fortunately the Arunners run in Arundel on a regular basis so it wasn't a shock. It was a warm day and I was able to pass a lot of people who had been caught out by the hill after a fast start. The course planners have been a bit cruel and put the finish halfway up the high street. After a nice downhill back through the castle you turn into the high street with great encouragement from the sizeable crowd. This encouragement is desperately welcome as the steepness of the vision is muscle killing and determination wilting.
This is where I picked up my first running injury. Sprint finish for the cameras and overtaking one last runner I pulled my Hamstring. I crossed the line happy but hurt in 48mins.
My first Half-Marathon.
My Mother-in-law works for a Hospice in Northamptonshire. Each year the organise a fund raising 10k and half-marathon. www.cransleyhospice.org.uk Being a dutiful husband and son-in-law I was signed up alongside my wife to run the Half.
This was going to be the farthest I'd ever run so two weeks before I ran 10 miles and it went okay.
Strangely for a race which starts and finishes in pretty much the same place it is more uphill than down. I don't know how they managed that!
It was a scorching hot day and there was little shelter on the lanes. I found the whole thing tough going but the water stations seemed just the right distance apart and the marshalls were all friendly and encouraging.
When I got to the end I was exhausted and very pale. I was handed a bottle of water, the heaviest bottle I've ever picked up. Then, just to finish me off they handed me my memento. Not the usual medal but a paperweight. I'd just run 13 miles and they thought what I needed was a heavy piece of glass to carry! They made up for it with a chocolate bar and milkshake which really helped my recovery.
The big one... My first Marathon.
Brighton 2010. Wow, what an experience. My training was close to non-existent, injury and laziness put paid to any plans I'd thought of following. But I had survived a few 10 milers and a half marathon in the few months before.
It seemed like the whole of Brighton had turned out to watch as we twisted our way through the city streets and then out into the country. The numerous switchbacks meant we were able to see friends ahead or behind us a different points. It was great to encourage each other with a wave or smile. I managed to run the first 15 miles without stopping, the farthest I'd ever ran. From then on it became a run for 2 miles walk for 2mins and then run a mile walk for 2mins. At 20 miles I caught up with a fellow Arunner and we ran together for a couple of miles, I was pleased to hear after the race that my company had helped him on to a pb.
Crossing the line in 4hrs 7mins I didn't know what to feel. I was happy to have finished, but had no one to celebrate with. Surrounded by thousand of people but on my own.
I sorted out my kit and had a recovery banana, it wasn't long and my wife finished her race and we could go through what we had just done.
We got hope and pulled out the sofa bed, stairs were too hard. Saying good night and never again we went to sleep. Two weeks later my wife ran her 2nd marathon, nine would have to wait, but only 6 months. So much for never again!
You may have read about my first attempt to run on the treadmill and the near vomiting and out of body experience it caused. Well here are some more of my firsts.
First 5K.
This was the Lindfield fun run and was also my first race. I really didn't know what to expect and was a little intimidated by the sight of tracksuited runners doing laps of the small park as a warm up. They were running faster than I would normally run and they were only taking it easy. Fortunately most of these "professionals" were entered in the 10k that ran at the same time.
It was a cold and damp spring morning but I soon warmed up as the race began. Being a fun run there were a lot of children in the 5k. They burst away from the start en masse, there enthusiasm certainly not dampened by the drizzle. Their sprint start was soon halted by the first hill after 100m and the adults could pick their way through. I soon crested the hill and there was a nice downhill tarmac section and the speed felt good. I found myself running on my own through a riverside meadow which was knee deep in wet grass with only a few runners ahead to try and catch up with. Eventually I came across a 1 sign and thought "what a long kilometre that was, I don't think i'll make it" But I kept going and picked off a couple more runners, then the 2 sign came and then the 3, as I ran down another hill a marshall told me it wasn't far and he was right. The race was 5k yet the markers were in miles! I rounded the corner and sprinted past another runner in the last 100m. I'd finished my first race in 7th, my first 5k in 23mins.
My first league race.
The Arunners are part of the West Sussex Fun Run League. My first race was Hove Park 5k. This race was 3 laps of the park.
What a great sight it is too see all the runners in their club vests. I made my way to where the Arunners had set up camp and discussed race plans with a few of the club. Then it was into a circle for warm ups and then final toilet stops before heading to the start. The race itself started with a mad dash which the leaders kept up all the way round. The good thing about the short laps was being encouraged by the front runners as they came past and being able to encourage the back markers as I passed them. At least I hope I was encouraging!
This was also the first race in which I had to pit stop for the toilet. I had to make do with the nearest bush and when I popped back out I hoped that no-one thought I'd been hiding in there until the race was nearly over! Toilets breaks seem to have become a habit in my races, I always go before a race but a few minutes in I feel the urge. I can't think of a much worse sound in a race than the footsteps of half the field passing by while I'm tucked behind a bush!
I finished the race fairly well and in 22mins 2secs.
My first 10k.
This was at Arundel and what a treat it was. Starting off in the town centre you are quickly in the grounds of the castle and then through into Arundel Park. The first half of the race is pretty much all uphill, not too steep but long. Fortunately the Arunners run in Arundel on a regular basis so it wasn't a shock. It was a warm day and I was able to pass a lot of people who had been caught out by the hill after a fast start. The course planners have been a bit cruel and put the finish halfway up the high street. After a nice downhill back through the castle you turn into the high street with great encouragement from the sizeable crowd. This encouragement is desperately welcome as the steepness of the vision is muscle killing and determination wilting.
This is where I picked up my first running injury. Sprint finish for the cameras and overtaking one last runner I pulled my Hamstring. I crossed the line happy but hurt in 48mins.
My first Half-Marathon.
My Mother-in-law works for a Hospice in Northamptonshire. Each year the organise a fund raising 10k and half-marathon. www.cransleyhospice.org.uk Being a dutiful husband and son-in-law I was signed up alongside my wife to run the Half.
This was going to be the farthest I'd ever run so two weeks before I ran 10 miles and it went okay.
Strangely for a race which starts and finishes in pretty much the same place it is more uphill than down. I don't know how they managed that!
It was a scorching hot day and there was little shelter on the lanes. I found the whole thing tough going but the water stations seemed just the right distance apart and the marshalls were all friendly and encouraging.
When I got to the end I was exhausted and very pale. I was handed a bottle of water, the heaviest bottle I've ever picked up. Then, just to finish me off they handed me my memento. Not the usual medal but a paperweight. I'd just run 13 miles and they thought what I needed was a heavy piece of glass to carry! They made up for it with a chocolate bar and milkshake which really helped my recovery.
The big one... My first Marathon.
Brighton 2010. Wow, what an experience. My training was close to non-existent, injury and laziness put paid to any plans I'd thought of following. But I had survived a few 10 milers and a half marathon in the few months before.
It seemed like the whole of Brighton had turned out to watch as we twisted our way through the city streets and then out into the country. The numerous switchbacks meant we were able to see friends ahead or behind us a different points. It was great to encourage each other with a wave or smile. I managed to run the first 15 miles without stopping, the farthest I'd ever ran. From then on it became a run for 2 miles walk for 2mins and then run a mile walk for 2mins. At 20 miles I caught up with a fellow Arunner and we ran together for a couple of miles, I was pleased to hear after the race that my company had helped him on to a pb.
Crossing the line in 4hrs 7mins I didn't know what to feel. I was happy to have finished, but had no one to celebrate with. Surrounded by thousand of people but on my own.
I sorted out my kit and had a recovery banana, it wasn't long and my wife finished her race and we could go through what we had just done.
We got hope and pulled out the sofa bed, stairs were too hard. Saying good night and never again we went to sleep. Two weeks later my wife ran her 2nd marathon, nine would have to wait, but only 6 months. So much for never again!
Friday, 29 October 2010
Running Music.
Go onto pretty much any running forum on the web and you will find a discussion topic about running with or without music. These discussion boards are not a place for the weak hearted, things can get rather heated fairly quickly.
In this blog I'll tell you when I run with and without music and why. You can also see what I listen to, this ranges from whatever is on my ipod to a specific running music playlist. Hope you enjoy my thoughts on this oft debated topic.
I'll start with my ipod playlist and go from there.
The playlist consists of 19 songs of various genres, some are in because of the beat, some for fun, some for lyrical motivation and others for the memories they invoke.
1. Ready to go- Republica
2. Boom!- System of A Down
3. All Sparks- Editors
4. Surfin' Bird- The Trashmen
5. My Doorbell- The White Stripes
6. Take Your Mama- Scissor Sisters
7. Throw away your Televison- Red Hot Chilli Peppers
8. The Bartender and the Thief- Stereophonics
9. What we do (for love)- De La Soul feat. Slick Rick
10. The New Style- Beastie Boys
11. I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor- Arctic Monkeys
12. Living for the Weekend- Hard-Fi
13. Lollipop- Mika
14. Electric Feel- MGMT
15. In this City- Iglu and Hartly
16. Golden Touch- Razorlight
17. Sunday Shining- Finley Quaye
18. Love it when you call- The Feeling
19. Hard to Beat- Hard-Fi
"Ready to Go" sets just the right tempo for pulling up your socks and you step out the door and take those first few strides. "Hard to Beat" gives just the right boost as the legs begin to tire and you push the last half mile or so with a bit more effort.
I listen to music when I'm on the treadmill, when out running on my own and occasionally on the way to races.
For someone who finds it hard to get out and run on my own having the music as company really helps. On longer runs I will use my playlist as it lasts well over an hour, for shorter runs I turn on shuffle and see what I get. This has thrown up some treats such as Cliff Richard followed by Arrested Development. On one occasion my ipod seemed to know exactly what I was running past as David Gray sang about Swans swimming on dark waters (or something similar) just as I was avoiding the giant Swans that own the slipway on the riverside.
In the gym the music is also the same, usually summer euro-dance hits, this is ok for a tune or two but being able to choose from a variety helps relieve the tedium of the treadmill. Usually I'll choose and album and listen to a few songs before switching to another. Mostly I stick to Portishead, The Cranberries, Massive Attack or Morcheeba.
When I am at a club run or during a race I find that being plugged in means I miss out on chatter and atmosphere. I saw an excellent T-shirt slogan during the Loch Ness marathon, it said "run at the speed of chat." This slogan could be the motto for our running club.
I've seen comments on the forums about people who blocked ambulances or missed out route directions because they couldn't hear what was going on around them. Unfortunately it seems that as in everyday life it is the few who spoil it for the majority. By all means listen to your music but be considerate. I don't wear my ipod in races but in training runs it is never at full volume so I have some awarness of my surroundings.
Apart from the Health and Safety issues of running on roads whilst plugged in (we're all grown ups here, let us get on with it) one of the main reasons I don't listen to music during races is because I'm a chicken.(The earphones just don't stay in my little ears!)
If I'm in a race and the rules say no personal music players then that is enough for me. I'm scared. Scared that I'll get caught after running a pb and disqualified. Now I'm never going to trouble the front of a field but the shame of having an official pull you out of a race in front of everyone, unbearable. I've never seen it happen, but the one time I plug in it will. And anyway, I'm hoping that when it does i'll be the one who gets promoted up the list for being a good boy!
Go onto pretty much any running forum on the web and you will find a discussion topic about running with or without music. These discussion boards are not a place for the weak hearted, things can get rather heated fairly quickly.
In this blog I'll tell you when I run with and without music and why. You can also see what I listen to, this ranges from whatever is on my ipod to a specific running music playlist. Hope you enjoy my thoughts on this oft debated topic.
I'll start with my ipod playlist and go from there.
The playlist consists of 19 songs of various genres, some are in because of the beat, some for fun, some for lyrical motivation and others for the memories they invoke.
1. Ready to go- Republica
2. Boom!- System of A Down
3. All Sparks- Editors
4. Surfin' Bird- The Trashmen
5. My Doorbell- The White Stripes
6. Take Your Mama- Scissor Sisters
7. Throw away your Televison- Red Hot Chilli Peppers
8. The Bartender and the Thief- Stereophonics
9. What we do (for love)- De La Soul feat. Slick Rick
10. The New Style- Beastie Boys
11. I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor- Arctic Monkeys
12. Living for the Weekend- Hard-Fi
13. Lollipop- Mika
14. Electric Feel- MGMT
15. In this City- Iglu and Hartly
16. Golden Touch- Razorlight
17. Sunday Shining- Finley Quaye
18. Love it when you call- The Feeling
19. Hard to Beat- Hard-Fi
"Ready to Go" sets just the right tempo for pulling up your socks and you step out the door and take those first few strides. "Hard to Beat" gives just the right boost as the legs begin to tire and you push the last half mile or so with a bit more effort.
I listen to music when I'm on the treadmill, when out running on my own and occasionally on the way to races.
For someone who finds it hard to get out and run on my own having the music as company really helps. On longer runs I will use my playlist as it lasts well over an hour, for shorter runs I turn on shuffle and see what I get. This has thrown up some treats such as Cliff Richard followed by Arrested Development. On one occasion my ipod seemed to know exactly what I was running past as David Gray sang about Swans swimming on dark waters (or something similar) just as I was avoiding the giant Swans that own the slipway on the riverside.
In the gym the music is also the same, usually summer euro-dance hits, this is ok for a tune or two but being able to choose from a variety helps relieve the tedium of the treadmill. Usually I'll choose and album and listen to a few songs before switching to another. Mostly I stick to Portishead, The Cranberries, Massive Attack or Morcheeba.
When I am at a club run or during a race I find that being plugged in means I miss out on chatter and atmosphere. I saw an excellent T-shirt slogan during the Loch Ness marathon, it said "run at the speed of chat." This slogan could be the motto for our running club.
I've seen comments on the forums about people who blocked ambulances or missed out route directions because they couldn't hear what was going on around them. Unfortunately it seems that as in everyday life it is the few who spoil it for the majority. By all means listen to your music but be considerate. I don't wear my ipod in races but in training runs it is never at full volume so I have some awarness of my surroundings.
Apart from the Health and Safety issues of running on roads whilst plugged in (we're all grown ups here, let us get on with it) one of the main reasons I don't listen to music during races is because I'm a chicken.(The earphones just don't stay in my little ears!)
If I'm in a race and the rules say no personal music players then that is enough for me. I'm scared. Scared that I'll get caught after running a pb and disqualified. Now I'm never going to trouble the front of a field but the shame of having an official pull you out of a race in front of everyone, unbearable. I've never seen it happen, but the one time I plug in it will. And anyway, I'm hoping that when it does i'll be the one who gets promoted up the list for being a good boy!
Thursday, 14 October 2010
The first post.... My Running History (and how the blog got its name).
When did I start running? Just about 2 years ago.
Why did I start running? The short answer is to get fit.
How did I start? My wife purchased a treadmill and so I thought I'd give it a go.
What did I want to achieve? To run a mile and a half in under 12 mins 12 secs. This was the RAF qualifying time for pre-selection, at this time I was considering enlisting.
Those tentative first steps....
It didn't go so well, that first time on the treadmill. Being a man I stepped onto the treadmill and turned it up fast! The last time I had run was approximately 5 years earlier in a previous get fit phase.
Two minutes later I was gasping for air and frantically grabbing for the speed control. "TURN IT DOWN!" my brain was shouting at me. Another 15 minutes later and I'd finished the mile and a half. I fell to the floor desperately trying to cool down and fighting the urge to vomit. What a disaster!
Getting better...
The next stage was joining the local gym. At this stage my target was to run the whole mile and a half without stopping, then I could concentrate on a time target. Over a period of a few weeks I cracked it, managing to complete the distance and time targets. I was surprised at how quickly things had changed.
The Running Club...
I would recommend joining a running club to anyone interested in running, even if you have just started running and are feeling a bit self-concious. My wife and I had our eyes open to a whole new world when we joined ARUNNERS (see link for more info) and have made many new friends.
There are so many people out there running and racing in a huge variety of events, there really is something out there for everyone.
How the blog got its name...
"How not to run a Marathon" could also be called "How to run a Marathon without heeding the advice of the experts." The title sums up my first to attempts at running the 26.2. I took an unconvential approach to training and injury recovery. The story of which will told in future blogs.
The future of this blog...
Between now and 2011 it will be a retrospective of my races and other running so far, then in the New Year it will (hopefully) become a monthly diary of my running year.
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