Training Log Archive: Thumper

Was gonna take today as a rest day but thought I better get 13 miles in the legs before Sheff.

Off to wemberly today to watch the super reds with my old man so set the alarm for 4.45 for a faster long run. Didn't consider the darkness factor and didn't bring the head torch, so it consisted of 2 boring out and backs through not very nice areas from my parents house in Barnsley.

Sat on the coach now and every one around ME appears to have a cold. Excellent!

C • Barnsley... 1

Ah, the Road relays. I have a love/hate relationship with this event "(in both of its guises).

I spend the weeks leading up to it ruing the fact that I have to do it. We're often the bridesmaids (if that) and more often than not it falls on a period where the following week I have a major target race, or it comes immediately after a period of rest.

This weeks race came after a 4 day break (shortened to allow some running pre-relays. Fortunately I didn't bury myself at Cardiff once I'd realised it was most certainly not to be my day.

My legs have been relatively good on the return to running but still have niggles in the usual places. I was a bit anxious as to how today would go.

On the warm up it was clear that the course was quite cool with challenges to suit everyone. We knew we were outside the medal hunt, so the pressure was off and I was actually looking forward to racing. (As is always the case at the road relays, its very rare I don't enjoy it).

I set off with another runner from Sunderland (I think). I quickly rounded him and cracked on up the hill. My first mile came in at 5.00, which I was pleased with, but the second was 5.22, despite feeling like I was going ok. I didnt want to get carried away, not knowing really where my shape is now so tried to keep it constant and stay strong.

I caught a few more men, but I was unsure how many were on the same leg as me (turns out only 2 were). Towards the final hill, Keith informed me that Sale were just ahead, so I got as close to their man as I could for Connor to chase.

All in all, I was pleased with todays run and really enjoyed it. The course was good, but I didn't find it was as easy to socialise here as say Sutton Coldfield. I though my run was strong and, importantly I felt rested, so hopefully I can push on from here.

I thought results wise the team did great despite missing 3 of our star men, but everyone who turned out put a strong run in.

As for my feelings about the road relays. When I planned my season i didn't envisage us developing into the squad we have (although I had my suspicions). Next year we should be in the hunt for medals in XC and road relays and I will be structuring my plans accordingly.

Andy and I plan to encourage everyone to do the same as this could be the beginning of a glorious period for the club

On another note, I've got wind of some good guys turning out at Sheff half next week. My initial plan was to run a similar effort to last time, but it is tempting to go with the race unless A N Kenyan rocks up. We shall see. Priority is getting the mileage back up so dont wanna go crazy

C • Sheffield half 5

Took annual leave to get to my folks early and get a run in (staying there to break the Sunderland journey up.

Sadly we hit a massive traffic jam and Sophie has a chest infection so with constant hacking she inevitably puked up everywhere, delaying the journay as daddy cleaned her and the car on the hard shoulder.

Delayed my run and in the end I couldnt be arsed farting about to add on to the planned 9 miles.

Love running around Wintersett.

Around Linacre, HR up but legs handled it much better than normal after a break. Hopefully have lost sufficient fitness to be well rested.

Went for an explore of a potential new morning pre work run venue, didn't turn out to be much cop. Bit of a shame.

Body taken day one back better than expected, but had another fairly indulgent day.

After lots of to-ing and fro-ing with the Sheff Half organisers about how to get the trophy back to them (initially they were going to collect it, then they asked me to post it). I asked if they would discount an entry (i.e. the cost of postage) and they kindly offered a free number, so I can drop it off before the race and get involved.

So I'm now gonna have a pootle round. Quite excited actually, I enjoyed the route last year and when I've passed through Sheffield recently I've enjoyed seeing reems of runners out on the route at all times of day.

Tipping the scales at just over 11 stone so a rest has certainly had an effect.

Feeling tired but pretty stressed with the house and work, not necessarily linked to running related fatigue. Think I'll do some running tomorrow in prep for the road relays at the weekend. Have missed running even for just a few days.

Still don't know why I felt so dreadful on sat, but have a few new training ideas to try for this block and looking forward to seeing what works and what doesn't.

When I first wanted to get into MSK Physio I wanted to achieve a 2.20 marathon time as a "badge of honour" to make myself appealing to runners. Having now run a marathon competitively, I realise thats not achievable, (and no longer relevant seeing as I've gone down the neuro path), but as I get a bit older and think about life after running I would love to be a credible coach.

So my goal now is to achieve a portfolio of times and achievements that would make people feel that they would want to be coached by me initially until I (hopefully) prove myself capable of coaching.

So far my only time that fits the brief is my dam flask relays time of 17.33...

...so it's time to find out what's missing and achieve something..

Tired today

2 days of boozing on the trot and pizza/scotch eggs went down today.


Will start being healthy tomorrow. Feel quite tired and still a little blue