Round and round

Hey up googleblog have changed their interface - I don't remember them asking.
Track night and despite the dark, dampness of the evening had fun with the core session of 5x800m off 2min recoveries.
Kept them pretty even, and sl quicker for the last one, what was slightly frightening was looking at my times from 4 years ago - 25sec quicker for each 800m. Decided not to be depressed about that, but found a nice little goal over the winter.
I think I'll convert this particular session gradually to Yasso 800m's over the next couple of months.
Probably won't make the next week as not at work and track is on the way home from work, we'll see.
I fancy doing some pyramid type version of pain next time.

A little tempo time

Dark(ie not light) and a bit mindless but felt like a good hour in total invested in running. Enjoyed the solo head space too.

But a nice 4.5mile tempo run, half a mile further, 10 sec a mile quicker and 7 beats per minute slower than 2 weeks ago, so though not swift (7:48 pace), slowly moving forwards.

Hopefully if i remember tomorrow I'll enter the Brass Monkey to give a nice proximal goal to see me through the next 3months and edge that half mara time towards next years goal of sub 1:40 (there I've gone and said it!)

Rest day tomorrow aka work til you drop. plan is to make it to the track on Thursday for some 800's and then 10 days off work.

Long run with Ian

My bro in law Ian and family were staying this weekend, always a welcome prospect as we all feel so comfortable in each others company.
During the last 18months though things have acquired an additional attraction as Ian has taken up running and so not only can we share each others company on a run, but we can discuss in a way that is presumably rather tedious to our beloveds left at home the Lore of Running - I for one can talk about running far more capably than I can run!.
Anyway, what with my work, and a sequence of large meals to fit in, our running window meant deferring the All Blacks success to much later (thanks sky+) and we went out early this am.
A quick coffee and toast and then 7:45 set off from the old bridge, we ran a bit futher than planned, as Ian had an attack of the "gingerbreads" so we need to find some woods. We tracked beyond Bolton Abbey, up to Storiths, then back across the fields to the Beamsley Road and back home.
A tidy 12miles at a sensible long run pace.
We enjoyed the stunning early morning autumn scenery, and there was a quality of conversation (about much more than running thank goodness) that made the running bit almost go unnoticed.
I like my long runs much better with company.
Ian is coming back after abscence with foot problems and I'm moving slowly through the gears again, so for both of us there was satisfaction with the running distance too.
Back in time for breakfast, churchness and one of my Linda's splendid Sunday dinners before catching up on the RWC, loved the drama - and with the Mackem's winning and Man Utd being humbled, nice weekend!

Track time

Things ticking over nicely, enjoying training sessions 2 to 3 per week, and slowly moving forward and injury free.
Tonight decided to go down to the track at greenhead all new amd lovely since it was rebuilt. Did 10x400 with the usual warm up and ministry of silly walk strides, bounds, and bottom slapping. Track busy but well behaved. Did efforts in just sub 1. 30, still a little off the pace, but incremental Andrew, incremental..
Felt chipper afterward. So entered myself into Coniston 14 for March, now its 14 miles again.

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.