Running Two Extremes

The last week has been so busy, I've no idea how I'm managing to keep my eyes open. Running wise, there's been loads of variety which I've loved.

Last Thursday night was a really tough session at Horsfall track, where we upped the length of the intervals to 800 metre efforts, with 200 metres recovery. There are a few new people who have started this six week block of enhanced training, and I ran with Amanda and Claire both of whom are faster than me so it proved really good training, albeit really tough. I'm still mulling over a conversation with our coach, Brian Scobie about what time I should be aiming for at London. Brian's got such a no nonsense approach to running, and reckons without doubt I should be aiming for sub four hours. The thought of such a lofty goal fills me with fear; it's much easier to be vague and say I'm not aiming for a particular time, just hoping to go faster than last year. But as Brian pointed out, how many times am I going to run London, and how long have I trained for this? So, here it is in black and white, I want to be the best that I can be so I'm aiming for sub four hours at London (on the understanding that I will be proud whatever time I do!).

Racing in Derby

On a grey pretty miserable Sunday, I was up at ridiculous o'clock to get to Derby for the 26.2k Kilomathon England. I had entered this race some time ago, and hadn't really thought much about it since so it hadn't occurred to me that Derby is pretty hilly! As a result, I found this race tough going until about 15k when I finally found my stride and started to feel better. The scenery on this race was pretty non existent and support was sparse. The final 5k is run through the industrial estate of Rolls Royce - dismal doesn't even begin to describe it. Nevertheless, I think it was a great psychological rehearsal for London as the race markers were in kilometres which really played with my mind as the race seemed to go on forever. Twenty-six markers are a lot to count down.

Beautiful Aberdovey

From the ridiculous to the sublime, following another running form and efficiency enhanced training session on Monday which I am likening to an Olympic bootcamp (not that I have any experience of such a thing but this is what I imagine it would be like) by Wednesday I was in Aberdovey in Wales for work where Spring had truly arrived. The sun shone consistently for the couple of days I was there, and I managed to fit in several three mile runs along the sandy beach with water lapping a few inches from my feet!! How much easier it is to run in such a beautiful place after months of running in the dark, snow, rain around the concrete streets of Bradford.

So, the past week has really been one of extremes from the places I have run, and the types of training I have completed to the scary setting of a goal for London.

By this time tomorrow my final long run will be complete (17-18 miles planned), and the taper will begin.

Three weeks to go!

She Works Hard for the Money

Marathon day's getting nearer, and much to my excitement my information magazine arrived today, which was exciting and scary at the same time. Leafing through it, I started to feel a little overwhelmed as the enormity of what I have taken on hit me.

Looking at the map of the course, I realised that it was spread over three pages. It's a long way!!

But looking back over my blog posts since I started training in January, I think I've come a long way, though it definitely hasn't been easy. I've managed to be pretty consistent with my training, and it's definitely helped that I've had eight weeks of enhanced training via Bradford Athletics Network, which I've told myself is absolutely non negotiable on Monday and Thursday nights.

Fundraising for the British Heart Foundation is going well. Massive thanks are due to Martin, Becca, Lucy, Julie, Helen, Debbie, Steve, Karen, Julie and Sarah for their extremely generous donations to my marathon efforts over the last month or so.

This brings my fundraising total to £479, just £21 off my target with over four weeks to go. I'm so grateful, not only for the donations but also for the immense support I have received from just about everyone. There's no denying that these past 11 weeks, for the most part, I have been tired and pretty grumpy so thank you everyone, and especially James, for putting up with me (and making me so many teas!).

Sunday will see my final long race before the big day, Kilomathon, a 26.2k race in Derby, which I will Run for Japan - a challenge to cover 24,901 miles (right around the world) in 28 days with at least one run dedicated from every country in the World. To achieve this runners around the globe are being asked to dedicate just one run to the people of Japan and donate at least one unit of their home currency per mile run.

Then one more long run to do the following Sunday before my taper begins.

Now I just need to work out what I'm going to do with my time once all this is over.

Sleep?

I Heart Trimpell...

The Afterglow. Here's what I love about running...

It's done. I did it! Evidently the positive mantras worked wonders and I managed to not only knock 25 minutes off last year's time but also really enjoy the once dreaded Trimpell 20. Can't get much better than that!

After a chilly start, the sun shone throughout the race and everything just seemed a lot easier. I noticed on the race information that it is billed as having lots of great scenery, which I couldn't remember seeing any of last year so I made sure to take everything in which helped me to forget the stabbing pain in my legs after about mile 15.

Lots of friends were also running, and this is an out and back course so I got to see loads of people along the way - though I was a bit dismayed to see Chris Jones and Mick Hogan heading back, whilst I was still heading out (granted, they are very speedy runners). I'd told myself that I wouldn't see anyone I knew coming back while I was still running out.

Today felt like a really good dress rehearsal for London. I haven't run with a watch for ages so had no idea what splits I should go for on a race of this length; I didn't want to go too fast in case I blew up early on but equally didn't want to aim too low if I could do more. Given last week's time on Snake Lane, I concluded that I'd probably be okay with nine minute miles so that's what I went for and managed to stick with it pretty consistently throughout. I ran with Karen from Pudsey Pacers for about the first 10 miles, which really helped the miles to go down faster, and I felt pretty strong. I experimented with gels, and could really feel a high kicking in about five minutes after I had one, though I'd only taken three and probably could've done with one more so need to remember this for London.

Everyone else from my club and adopted clubs, HPH and Pudsey, did really well today, and I'm particularly in awe of Mick and Julie from ERR who ran today to support others as they aren't training for a marathon. I'm not sure I could do as much.

So, I'm signing off today with sleepy eyes and tired legs. Very happy.

Trimpell Trepidation

So the Trimpell 20 is tomorrow and it seems to have come around in no time at all.

There it is the Salt Ayre Leisure Centre, the start of the race, shown on the right here in aerial, with the dreaded track in view. Dreaded because the race ends with two laps of it. Two laps which very nearly made me give up when I was so close to the finish line last year.

Trimpell. Surpassed only in my list of most hated races by the Pudsey 10k. 

Whatever am I thinking putting myself through it again? Well, it's like this. I have to go back and check whether it really was that bad or if I've built it up to be something that it's not. Also, it forces me to run 20 miles without walking (too shameful) or calling for a lift to be rescued (can't do that again).

I've had a good week. It's been relatively restful. I had fun with the Saltaire Striders last Tuesday running three mile efforts and a brilliant time with ERR last night (can someone become a running club tart?!) running an easy pace six miler with Lisa who was making a guest appearance this week on a fleeting visit from Spain .

I'm filled full of pasta and my kit for tomorrow is laid out. New fridge is now installed (see previous post) so I can stick to my usual pre run breakfast. It's all looking good.

Now I just need to work on getting a positive head on.

Tomorrow, I will be saying what a great race it was...