GNR Just For The Joy Of It

Ill prepared and physically and emotionally weary, and I hadn't even started. I nearly didn't bother but so pleased I did. This week I read a blog of Ryan Hall a sub 2:05 marathoner(that 's super speedy) , it was titled the greatest runner and Ryan took the approach "what would Jesus say", which whilst not every one would agree with this rationale, I suspect few at today's GNR would disagree with his judgement. Ryan suggested the greatest runners would be those with the greatest heart and joy in their running. The race was started by FlyMo and Emma Egging whose husband Red arrow Jon died recently, having set us on her way she ran the race. Seeing the red arrows on their race flypast with no 4 position vacant was more spine tingling than usual. So many stories and emotions make this a race like no other. I passed a bloke running carrying a fridge on his back raising money for the homeless (and presumably fridge less) , one young lady had written on her back the fact that in May 2010 she had a liver transplant ,-"respect" , I could go on. Any way I decided inspired by Ryan not to be a running grump to run for the joy of being able to run(and the somehow poetic appropriateness of running away from Newcastle to Mackem territory) and enjoyed every minute (well most of them) on my way to South Shields, with the usual assorted motley crew that make up the field. As ever the Geordies out did themselves encouraging the runners with more than a little mirth and maddness. My 1:53 was slower than my slow run last year, but loved the run too much to care. Had a good relax with the dodgers,swapping stories celebrating the wonderfulness of it all and sharing the runners high at the Sue Ryder hospitality at the end, I even got myself a bit of physio, (some lovely lady who introduced me to new extremes of pain, I'll never be impolite about dentists again). Mrs Mackem managed to nurse her painful heel around and did so quicker than previously and did so running naked(without a watch).
Back next year - You Bet!

Steady away

After a burst of running activity last weekend, it was eyeballs out Monday to Thursday at work and home, so no time to run.
So Friday I took to the road with Mrs Mackem to test her painful foot and to catch up. So a slow 9km from old bridge to old bridge via Addingham - the scenic route. Her foot survived and I enjoyed the slow run and talking with my wife.
Today I needed both to run, but to get an idea of a realistic pace for the GNR for which I'm ill prepared next weekend.
So the plan was a steady warm up, then 4miles at about 8:20 to get an idea whether that was too fast, or too slow, or as Goldilocks was looking for "just right".
Not unusually I got my watch screens all mixed up so did my miles in 8:10, 7:50, 8:15 and 8:25 - also it was very warm, so I'm not too sure I'm any wiser!

So currently my plan will be 8:25 for the first 8miles then pick it up a little. However I will try another 4miles on Tuesday at planned half marathon pace, with my hrm on and I'll chase the little man on my watch.

Tomorrow I'll be out with my friends from Airedale Hospital running from Ilkley, nice and slowly just to catch up and keep the legs ticking over before the GNR.

Running man

Time to blog again. after an unseemly pause from blogging not unconnected to not a great deal of running and a great deal of weight gain. I have accepted that I set unreasonable short term goals, then am so wown out that I don't run for a week then try and catch up and get so worn out ......
So new start
Enjoy it
Still goal orientated but incremental.
No marathons next year
Lose some weight
Recognize that my job is knackering and do harder sessions when my brain and body are fresher.
Short runs are allowed and not a matter of shame.
The internal dialogue was deeper than that but I'll spare the blog the more gruesome details.

So this morning as still in Durham after the wash out that was the cricket I got up early and took the cycle path route over the reclaimEd slag heaps then down to the river and boat house on up to cathedral square and back with 4 good hill efforts on the way back. Lovely morning to run this route and felt with the hill efforts I had done a good session.
So only10 km but enough, then back home my wife tempted me out again early evening for a slow10 km. Twice in one day, not sure which of those resolutions I was thinking about there.