Recovery

After 4 days recovery I decided to don my running shoes once again. Really wanted to go earlier, I’ve been jittery since Sunday!

This wasn’t the easiest run – legs felt very heavy, and struggled up a few of the hills. It’s only after completing the very ‘flat’ Manchester Run that I’ve realised how hilly these practice routes are. Still, it was good to be out running again.

The weather is now very warm and sweaty, can definitely feel summer arriving.

-
Time:  23 mins 30
Distance: 4.27 km
Pace: 10.9 km/hr

Great Manchester Run – The big day…

It was strange getting on a packed Sunday morning train full of people in shorts, vests and lycra. We (unwisely) sat opposite a 6’8″ fellow runner, who apparently was almost on Gladiatiors 16 years ago. With me being 6’4″, there wasn’t much leg room.

Arrived in Manchester around 10.15, navigating through the huge crowds to our starting position. Following a mass warm-up session instructed by a random guy on a cherry picker, and a performance by a singer nobody had heard of, we set off shortly after 11.20.

As planned, I ran at a leisurely pace with my girlfriend for the first 4km or so. The weather had been chilly, then the sun came out and all felt good. All apart from one thing – I  drank too much pre-race water, so had to stop for a toilet break. Didn’t fancy the bushes, so added a minute or two to my time waiting for the porta-loos. Damn queues!

Upped the pace slightly around 5k as I passed the first DJ stage. Kept this up for a bit before cooling off in the runners’ showers.

I hardly spotted any distance markers throughout the course which threw me a bit – was unsure how to pace myself. Hadn’t been keeping track of time either. The general plan was to conserve energy for the first half of the run, then speed up for the remainder.  Before I knew it, I spotted an 8km marker so tried picking up the pace, weaving in and out of the crowds past a bongo band, ending with a 400m sprint to the finish line. Stupidly, I forgot to check my time on the big clock.

Didn’t feel particularly out of breath and recovered fairly quickly. Picked up my finisher’s pack of goodies, then met up with our enthusiastic supporters for a post-race meal. All in all, today was a good day. Nice to see the city from a different viewpoint. There was a nice sense of community too, and lots of strangers cheering you on.

Checked the race results online at home, and have to say I’m a bit disappointed with my finishing time (01:00:58). Really wanted to finish in at least under an hour. I was being (in hindsight, overly) cautious with the pace, as to avoid struggling towards the end, but could’ve pushed myself so much more. And not filled my body up with so much water. Ah well.

Anyway, big thanks to everyone who wished good luck and sponsored us, it’s very much appreciated. If you haven’t sponsored us and are feeling generous, you still can. Also very well done to my girlfriend, who finished with a very respectable time of 01:03:32. She has put in loads of effort over the past few months.

Not quite sure what to do with this blog now! Still plan to continue running, so will probably continue to write boring tales of sore feet and abusive fat kids in cars. May even aim to do another 10k!

Medal

Goodies

-
Time: 01:00:58  (5k time 00:34:07)
Distance: 10km
Pace: 9.84 km/hr

Overall position: 16230 out of approx 36000
Age group position: 8809
Gender position: 11608
Age group & gender position: 6165

The last run

This was probably my last practice run before Sunday, it felt ok. One or two niggles but hopefully they’ll clear up.

Got my first “hello” from a fellow jogger tonight, along with some encouragement/abuse from a chubby kid in a car. I suspect the latter.

We’re running in the blue wave on Sunday, 11.20 start time. It’s on TV and everything! Although, the programme starts at 10am and lasts 90 minutes, leaving just 10 minutes of possible fame.

Anyway, wish us luck!

-
Time:  23 mins 30
Distance: 4.3 km
Pace: 10.9 km/hr

Another one

Ran a fairly small route this dinner time, taking in some countryside. Slightly faster pace than yesterday.

Going swimming tonight to soothe the muscles.

-
Time:  17 mins
Distance: 2.98 km
Pace: 10.5 km/hr

5 days and counting

Following a heavy weekend involving a friend’s stag party, I got back to training today (feeling slightly sluggish).

Opted for a moderate distance at a comfortable pace tonight (although I really wanted to get some faster ones in), as not to do any damage in these final 5 days before the run. Finished the route with an unplanned vault over the cemetery wall – I took a de-tour and got locked in!

Our race packs arrived yesterday, including starting times, race numbers etc. It all feels real now!

-
Time:  36 mins
Distance: 5.9 km
Pace: 9.8 km/hr

10 days to go

In these last 10 days before the big day, I plan to include few fairly short but well-paced runs to improve overall fitness. Following a half hour swim yesterday, this was the first.

-
Time: 22 mins 30
Distance: 4.23 km
Pace: 11.2 km/hr

Poorly-timed Sunday run

I spent the first  kilometre of today’s route running through smoke and dodging swerving cars. A local factory had caught fire, so fire engines were all over the place and traffic was backed up. I timed this one badly.

After getting a bit over-zealous to escape the madness, I relaxed the pace a little and finished in a respectable time.

Took a de-tour on the way home to my parents’  for a cuppa, then added a 0.75km ‘bonus run’ back to base (not recorded).

-
Time: 37 mins 50
Distance: 6.75 km
Pace: 10.7 km/hr

Warming up

Over the past couple of weeks I’ve felt a noticable change in the temperature. Definitely time to ditch the long jogging pants.

We opted for a shorter run this evening through the nearby countryside. Felt a bit of a strain in my right leg from Sunday’s 8.2km, hopefully it’ll clear up with a bit of rest.

-
Time: 19 mins
Distance: 2.97 km
Pace: 9.4 km/hr

Sunday – Day of rest

After watching the London Marathon this morning and feeling totally inadequate, myself and the girlfriend decided to try out a longer distance than usual.

We kept to a comfortable pace, the plan being to up it a little for race day.

I finally splashed out a pair of  running shoes yesterday. This was a good test, with a few hilly sections and different surfaces. They seem a lot more supportive than my tatty old trainers.

Here they are, complete with that nice ‘new shoe’ smell (probably comes in a can, like that ‘glossy pizza spray’ at Pizza Hut).

-
Time: 53 mins
Distance: 8.17 km
Pace: 9.2 km/hr

Long time no run

Yesterday was my first run in 10 days. Whoops.

I went swimming for the first time in years last week, and for a couple of long-ish walks, so not all bad.

My ‘recurring calf muscle injury‘  seems to have cleared up, at least temporarily. Maybe it just needed a rest.

After 10 days off, my pacing was a bit rusty, so (my body) found it difficult.

Only about 4 weeks to go now!

-
Time: 23 mins
Distance: 4.23 km
Pace: 11 km/hr

It’s the weekend

I seem to have developed a recurring calf muscle injury, it slowed me down today. I think the purchase of some decent trainers is in order.

Despite this, I enjoyed today’s springtime run (with my girlfriend). The weather seems to be getting much warmer, hence sweatier. Suppose I’d better buy some shorts too.

‘Free’ exercise is getting expensive.

-
Time: 21 mins
Distance: 3.4 km
Pace: 9.7 km/hr

Easter Monday

I seemed to sprain something early on in tonight’s run, and couldn’t seem to shake it off. I also felt really dehydrated, so was happy to arrive at the 24 hr garage around half way through for a drink. Then realised I had no money on me whatsoever…

I stumbled through the second half, finishing in just under target pace, then collapsed on the couch with a big bottle of water. Found this one a bit tough.

-
Time: 33 mins
Distance: 5.45 km
Pace: 9.9 km/hr

Longest so far

I recently watched a documentary about Eddie Izzard’s amazing 43 marathons in 51 days, which makes my 10km seem like a walk in the park. Worth checking out on iPlayer if you get time.

Last night’s running conditions were cold and blustery, whilst at the same time refreshing. After completing the planned distance of around 5km, I got a slight case of the Forrest Gumps and ‘just kept on running’. Not quite as far as he did though.

I recently discovered we’re actually starting the run in the 55-60 minute category, not 50-55 mins as previously thought. Which means yesterday’s average pace was just within the new target of 10km/hr.

-
Time: 40 mins
Distance: 6.82 km
Pace: 10.2 km/hr

Old stomping ground

Today was meant to be a day of rest, but I got itchy feet around 9pm.

I opted for a new route through the area where I grew up, which hardly seems to have changed in 15 years.

Mental note – introduce songs to the playlist that do not reference hospital visits, danger, and death.

-
Time: 23 mins 10
Distance: 4.07 km
Pace: 10.5 km/hr

Unimaginative post title about running through the rain

I enjoyed tonight’s run. It was pouring down, which meant the streets were fairly empty, and I had a new soundtrack in the headphones.

I know I’m not running huge distances, but I find the level of difficulty depends a lot on state of mind. For some reason I just seemed to ‘zone out’ today, not really considering my position in relation to the finish line. Like a nice relaxing walk, but with added pain.

At one point, probably inspired by this man, I was half-tempted to ‘high-five’ a fellow runner as an act of camaraderie. As my looming shadow bound through the dimly lit stretch of road towards the slightly vulnerable-looking female stranger, I decided this was probably a bad idea.

There was one slight ‘hiccup’ where I upped the pace too much, leading to bit of a pounding chest. Ironically, this was the exact moment the chorus to this song kicked in.

All in all though, I’m quite happy with this one.

-
Time: 23 mins 35
Distance: 4.25 km
Pace: 10.8 km/hr  (Personal Best!)