VLM (finally): or My First Marathon

I can't really believe it's take over a month to get writing about this: then again in some ways VLM has paled into insignificance this year and I'm still somewhat unsure it actually happened at all.

Pootled down to London nice and early (19th) to be met by Grandad and Mater* in Crystal Palace Caravan site where we were camping for the weekend - a kind of second 'own mattress'.  Grandad did the Crystal Palace Parkrun on the Saturday morning, some of which I spectated from the comforts of the caravan park, but then we headed over to the Expo - as Mater particularly wanted to go (I would have been happy picking up my number on the Friday).  Weirdly it went very well for me! Had my pack within 2 minutes of queuing (the queue got SIGNIFICANTLY longer after I'd picked up) and managed to grab my chip within 30 seconds of spotting the lines - all that political queuing in supermarkets has not been wasted!

Expo podium photo

The expo itself was amazing, although would have been far more fun if I had money to burn - were some nice photo opportunities (both paid and free) and managed to pick up my free goodie bag.  Then proceeded to luncheon (sandwiches of course) and to stocking up the caravan with carb-loading-goodness and post-marathon treats.  Managed NOT to crack into the bottle of champers I'd brought with me - but more on that anon.

The morning of the race dawned clear and sunny - and actually managed to sleep the night before thanks to a rather handy meditation app I have on my iPhone - that I pretty much always forget about.  Had a champions breakfast of fried egg on wholemeal toast (with just one luxury of brown sauce). 

Marathon breakfast (on caravan plate)

Grandad had offered to take me to the start via the bus (which he has done himself before) and was definitely a better choice than the crowded tube.  He was being all chipper, which was particularly useful as the nerves were setting in, and delivered me safely to the balloons of the blue start.  I was rather amused to see that there was a local church provided for last minute prayers - rather inconveniently fenced off. Can't fault the VLM organisation for the starting pens. Loads of loos, bag drop off was seamless, massive screen to distract one from imminent doom etc.  Everyone I bumped into was chatty - in the toilet queue and eventually in the long queue for the start.

Missed the silence for Boston runners (we were slightly beyond the reach of the tannoy) - but as I was wearing an armband for solidarity I didn't feel guilty.  But did eventually get to the start line after about 25 mins and set off on my personal marathon hell.** I was quite near one of the Runner's World pacers, so decided to stick with the 'sub-5' guys as much as possible ... oh how that plan fell apart. I should note at this point that Grandad had advised that if I was going to have to walk, I would be best incorporating walks steadily.  This may have been great advice for a run-walker, but for the under-prepared it turned out slightly disastrously ... however - more anon.

I promised myself I was going to have a walk break every 5 miles - but I got to the 5 mile target and was feeling totally fine (despite the lack of prep**) and made myself head on to the 6 mile/10km point. This is where I made my silly decision and walked - therefore freezing my joints and making the next 30km rather horrifically painful.  It was a hot day, but I was trying to eek out my sports drink as much as possible (knowing I can't drink lucozade because of the particular sweetener they use) - and without taking on too much water to make me sick.  

A side note here to mention how amazing the crowds are at London. Whatever race you have done, and however great you think the crowds are, I bet they are not a PATCH on VLM supporters.  You cannot go more than 5 yards AT A TIME without being offered a sweet, a drink, or a supportive yell. I particularly remember running around a corner in the middle of my VERY long walk section, and hearing the crowds chanting my name as I ran round.  Those memories will stay with me the rest of my life - or at least I hope they will. 

Having started walking after 10km, I found any running sections incredibly painful.  Somehow all my joints had seized up, and were not really wanting me to run (although I did manage some sections) but by the 10 mile mark I had given in to resolving that I was going to be walking a lot of the course.  It was a FAB day weather-wise (perhaps even too hot and sunny) and this was not the chore it might sound to be.  I DID manage to run past most of the official photographers who started snapping around 11 miles at the Tower Bridge so many of my official photos are of me running (even for brief periods).

Me crossing Tower Bridge

The ancient parents (note, for this reference, read Arthur Ransome) had stationed themselves at about 9.5 miles for photo opportunities  - and promised to re-appear between Tower Bridge and the 21-mile-mark (remember this promise, it becomes significant later).   After much cheering from them in the moment of passing, I realised I had a rather annoying blister and asked the roadside support if plasters were obtainable.  These were cruelly promised, and then denied (after which the blister randomly stopped annoying me - I should name it Bunbury).  Spent a bit of time running with a gladiator and a Dalmatian (including being pressed upon for the odd photo opp) but generally was plodding along at a fast walk.

The halfway point reached - the cries from the marshalls turned from "You're nearly there" (how cruel!) to "at least you have beaten Mo Farrah" - but I have to admit my resolve was beginning to fail me.  I then began looking out for the Parental units as well as a lady from the GRW on Faffbook who was out on the course supporting people (but I suspect we missed each other purely due to the masses).  By 15 miles I was really flagging and even my fast-walking-pace had slowed considerable.  It got to the point where all the marshalls were asking if I was ok - and therefore I must have looked pretty low (I certainly felt it).  

Flagging ...

Just after the 17 mile mark, I had a gel go wrong, I'd had too much water, and I was feeling pretty sick and horrid.  So I decided to take a comfort break (available at least every 2 miles - good on you VLM!) - and whilst sat down, I decided to check my phone. Now, there are many people in my life who for very good reasons detest social networking: on the 21/04/2013 I was so grateful for it.  There were SO many people on Facebook and also Twitter who were sending messages of support - I was TOTALLY overwhelmed!!!!!!! It is ENTIRELY down to you all that I got off my arse, gave myself a kick up the backside, and told myself that I was going to cross that finish line even if I had to CRAWL! 

Somewhat more motivated, I started looking more keenly for the re-appearance of the Ancient Parents - if only so I could have a bit of a hug, a slightly bigger bit of a cry, and then carry onwards.  However, they were nowhere to be seen amongst the hoardes of amazing people who had turned out to cheer (I can't say enough about how brilliant they were).  I have however to shout out to a lady, who will probably never ever read this, who was stood around the 21 mile mark with a bag of bananas - which after all the scientifically-prepared gels did more for me than anything else!

By 22 miles I had resolved finally that I was going to finish this bugger, and tried a bit more running to try and loosen the joints.  It was painful, but each short run made the next one easier - and as the miles began to tick down to the finish, I was getting more and more emotional, but also more positive that I was going to cross that line and earn my bling.  

The Lucozade tunnel of inspiration (or whatever the hell it was called) was a welcome bit of calming head-space (and coolness) - as well as a final pit-stop.  Coming out of the tunnel, the 25 mile mark was not too far off  - although photographing it got me a 'don't stop now' from the spectators.  I had given up on finding Grandad for my hug by then, and instead texted him to say where I was.  

25 mies (!!!!!!!)

Had a few mini-races (no more than a few feet) with my surrounding runners, and then finally spotted the houses of Parliament - which I managed a rather painful jog past.  However, for those whose grasp of geography is far better than mine, this meant I was very close to the finish line, and somehow as it got closer all those aches and pains became less important, and getting that last bit ran was overtaking me.

The Final Sprint

I did have a challenge (as it was HMTQ's Birthday) to get the crowds by Bucks Palace to sing Happy Birthday - which (being brilliant spectators that they were) was achieved EVEN THOUGH I started stratospherically too high even for me, never mind a normal human vocal range.  I then managed to garner enough strength to belt my way sprinty-wise the last 600m or so to the finish - to pick up my medal, be un-attached from my chip, and to rescue both kit bag (easy) and Parental Units (surprisingly complicated) in St James' park where they had decide to picnic rather than making themselves available for hugs/tears on the course.

BLING!!!

Then (only slightly stiffly) made our way back to the caravan for chocolate milk (mostly me), steak (rare in my case) and champers.  This was somewhat of a double celebration as the handing in of my tome  - that which had scuppered my race prep - was also imminent - and the champagne had in fact been saved from my FIRST graduation back in 2007! 

However, it must be said that this tome (by which I mean my PhD thesis) is the reason this blog is so darned late! The week after VLM - after the champers had worn off - was then devoted to getting the last bits written, proofed and printed out for handing in.  About 400 pages later, and much MUCH poorer, my final thing was bound and dropped into the post-grad office.  

The VLM may have been a challenge, but it was a short-ish one (even considering I had been training since November on and off) but the PhD was first an idea in my head in 2004 in my second year of Uni - and now it's finally in and done and bound and waiting a viva to examine, and in many ways the marathon seems to pale in relation.

It only struck me today (well yesterday by the time this is finished) after much much singing, and a concert that my music director and I went for a later dinner and bumped into an Edinburgh Marathon finisher, and my MD (who is totally AGAINST the idea of sport - well if he has to do it***) BRAGGED about the fact I had run VLM  - in a very 'she knows what she is talking about when advising about marathon recovery' way.  This kinda shocked me as in many ways the PhD has seemed more of an achievement - especially as I know so many runners who are FAR better at the whole distance thing than me.  I did wear my medal home with pride tonight though (why it was in my handbag is a stupidly long, but sensible story). 

This has turned into a rather rambly blog - but I hope it at least explains why a) it was so long in coming and b) my first marathon experience.  I say first, not because I'm planning on another one in the next week or two, but more that at some point I would like to train properly and get the time I reckon I am capable of (sub-4.30) rather than my woeful run/walk (mostly walk) time that is currently my Marathon PB of 6.29 ... 

P.S. I did actually run for charity - the restoration appeal for my church in Edinburgh - so the link to sponsor (if anyone can spare a pound or two) is http://www.everyclick.com/ospmarathon

P.P.S As a final pic ... my thesis. And 5 years of my life.

*For those new to the blog - both my ACTUAL parents - with soubriquets for various niece-related reasons

** Again, for the newer readers, there were very important reasons my training was abandoned - so I knew right from the beginning this was going to be a TOUGH race

*** I should note - he is a GENEROUS sponsor ...

Sunday morning jogging

There is nothing particularly remarkable about this morning's run: it's not long, it's not particularly fast, and there's no amazing training aspect to it ...

... However!! This is the first run I've done since VLM (yes I know I  still owe you a blog/race report) and it's also the first time in a VERY long time where I've woken up and just felt like going for a run.

The sun was out, the birds are singing, I was awake early and I live next to a park ... it all just felt like a good excuse to throw on a pair of trainers (even though I only have my trail shoes in the house atm) and just run.  Couldn't be bothered with bum-bag or arm bands, and my watch had a flat battery, so I just ran techno-naked.

Guestimate stats below (based on setting my stopwatch off on my phone before I left, and stopping it again when I got home)

Good Run Guide Stats

Wilmslow Half Marathon: Race Report

Report a bit late in coming but here goes ...

The enormity of having to run a half marathon after quite so big a break was hanging over my head somewhat on Sunday morning: I fuelled up with some hot cross buns which were nice and stomach proof but I was feeling rather nervous!

Grandad having gone out at stupid-o'clock that morning to put the last signs out, Mum had been charged with giving me a lift into Wilmslow to the carpark where the car had been left (unlocked as it turned out!) and I dropped my bag off. I was planning to sit in the car for half an hour to stay warm but I was in the need of a bathroom break so I toddled off down to the Wilmslow Rugby Club which was race HQ.  Just as well, because the toilet signage was not ideal and I ended up queueing 45 mins (in 2 different queues) because the set of loos Grandad had said would be quiet were actually really busy because people didn't seem to have spotted the sea of portaloos! Sometimes insider knowledge doesn't always work ...

It did at least take my mind off the whole thing - and I got to the start with a couple of minutes to spare. At least (like any big race) I got to the back of the start! Took another 4 mins to cross the line - which was fine as it was all chip timed anyway (for any non-running friends!).

Start line photo

Set out at a nice steady/comfortable pace that I thought I could keep up for a while - aided by a bit of Bach, Handel and Schubert.  I know the whole  racing with an iPod thing is rather controversial but I justified myself on a number of reasons: a) I only had one earbud in so there was no way I couldn't hear what was going on around me (and in fact for a while was holding a perfectly good conversation with it in); b) I was listening to quite quiet music anyway and the volume wasn't up; and c) I like having the music to keep my brain off niggles/keep me company.

My tactic of starting at the back and picking people off slowly was quite heartening - I did pass a reasonable number of runners even by the 1 mile mark (whilst not trying to go any faster).  There were some fabulous supporters on the route - loads of locals had come out to support and the marshals had been drawn from all sorts of local groups who were absolutely fantastic (especially as they were stood outside for hours in about -4 wind chill!).

Can't remember how far in we were when I made a silly joke about a runner tripping over another runner's feet (asked if it was race sabotage) and ended up making firm friends with two ladies who ran the whole way with me and kept me going when I wanted to stop! E and B were lovely: both local runners and wanting to pace round for a nice steady finish - we had some brilliant chattage and it was great to have people to talk to (I also very soon dumped my one ear bud!).

We felt like we got through the 10k marker on target (and in fact at a decent pace for me - 1.05.54 - considering my fastest parkrun time is still just below the 30 min mark).  The water stations before and after were welcome 5 second walk breaks (I've not mastered the art of running and drinking) and offered both cup water and bottles. B was particularly a trooper: she twanged a muscle in her groin at about 4 or 5 miles, making hills particularly painful, and ran all the way to the end! 

Was really happy to see a school friend and her soon-to-be-husband somewhere around the 9.5 mile mark who had come to cheer me on - the only advantage of the weather everywhere else being so awful being that her own planned event for the day had been called off! Her other half took some brilliantly cheerful pictures of me, E and B considering we were running up a hill at the time!

Lovely cheerful running pic

My thighs were really starting to give up on me as we went through 11 miles: I was quite impressed I'd made it that far without a walk break but after a brief pause to eat one of my nutty-marzipanny chunk things I found it really hard to keep going.  E and B were brilliant - even pulling me along for a few metres at one point but from 12 miles onwards I was definitely needing the odd walk break - and particularly in the last mile I was trying to stretch out my thigh muscles and my hips. 

I did manage to pick up the pace a little as we came to the end but was NOT up to a sprint finish - I think this was all my own fault from not preparing well enough - but I did manage to knock 25 mins off my PB from Haweswater last year so I was pretty happy with that.

I got a bit of cramp in my thigh after I crossed the line (have to say that the Red Cross guy spotted immediately and came over to offer advice) but E and B had crossed the line a wee bit before me and had waited :D Very pleased I managed to get as far as I did without walking (a first) and maybe would have made the whole way if better warmed up/better prepared etc.  Feeling a bit better about VLM in 4 weeks but still pretty terrified!

Survivors pic

Grabbed a sausage in a bun and headed back to the Rugby Club to meet up with one of the GRW-ers who was also running and had very kindly waited for 3 million years for me to finish so we could say hi.  She got a PB and her first sub-2-hour HM so very proud! 

Definitely should have stretched out a bit more (didn't because of cramp and thought the hike to the Rugby Club would help) - and 3.5 hours on a train later was not the greatest way of cooling down! Been rather stiff and creaky the last few days, but hopefully will be loosened up enough to go for a short toddle tomorrow to get me back into training.

Watch didn't want to start in the morning - but here's the GRG route/stats as much as is useful from my time! Stats also available from TDL as well (including wee vids).

P.S. I was nice and shared my mars bar from my goodie bag with Grandad - he missed the sausage butty though (might have been just as well as I had a distinctly wobbly tummy after!)

Wilmslow Eve

So there's been some pretty serious radio-silence on the blog the last few weeks: partly through lack of blogging although I do also have to admit the running has gone somewhat down the pan recently thanks to blasting my PhD every day I possibly can.  Full of terrible excuses I know, but it's meant I'm going to be approaching the Wilmslow Half Marathon tomorrow rather more rested than I intended!

However, I guess I can but give it my best shot, pace myself, and aim to get around without pulling a muscle or walking too much (like the last 3 miles of Haweswater).  VLM has seemed such a long way off for so long, and it's been rather too easy to rely on the fitness I built up over the weeks of training prior to starting the actual marathon training, so I'm guessing tomorrow is going to be somewhat of a sharp shock! 

Spent most of the morning putting race bags together (felt it was the least I could do after all the effort the organisers have put in to actually get me into the race) - and I do rather want to earn my first medal! 

Wish me luck ...

Longrun Lessons Learned ...

My long run today was rather more tiring than I expected it to be, and a bit of a struggle to finish - not because I had any particular pain but because I could barely bear to pic my feet up by the end.  It wasn't as tough a run as the last long one - but can't say it was one of my favourite long runs ever!

Stats from GRG (as missed a bit of actual run distance off the Garmin version), although I think the last two miles went a bit weird - probably do an average over the last two rather than take the numbers too seriously!

Having thought about it I think there were probably two main reasons for this:

Pace

I think my biggest mistake lay in my pace: the RW plan I'm following suggested I should be aiming at 1:45 which equates to 10.30 min/mile pace. Now if I'd stuck at that I might have been fine.  However, instead I bombed off a wee touch faster, and had a sub-10 mile in there too. I know I'm gradually getting faster, but that's still 5k pace (or possibly 10k) ... not 10 miler.  It was only when I started getting to the 5th or 6th mile and my legs were distinctly tired that I realised I had probably pushed myself too hard!

No	miles	Time	Pace	AHR
1	0.999	10:13	10:14	153
2	1.034	10:12	9:52	176
3	1.009	10:00	9:55	177
4	0.989	09:53	10:00	180
5	1.006	09:38	9:35	181
6	1.015	10:59	10:49	181

Pace for the first 6 miles ... I should note that mile three was slightly cheaty in two ways: 1) I had to cross a busy road junction and had to keep stopping, and 2) I had a sneaky water break (which mean pausing to retrieve said water from my backpack and taking the opportunity to dry my glasses off while I was at it).

After mile 6, I took shelter in a bus stop to take my gel thing and a bit more water, but it was a bit of a struggle to get going again after and although my actual running pace looks fine from the stats, after the 7.5 mile mark I was taking far too many breaks.  I did get to 10 miles in the allotted time but this was set for people aiming for sub-4.30 and so I should have perhaps given myself a bit more lee-way, or tried to stick to the 10.30 pace that would have given me even splits.

Fuelling

Although I'm trying to be careful to make up for long runs with calories, I tend to do it on the day rather than fuelling up the night before.  This might be ok if I did my long runs in the evenings, but this morning I had a lovely but not hugely calorific breakfast of an egg on toast - which of course I ran off before I was even a quarter of the way in, and even taking on fuel didn't seem to help that much (although I might well have given up without it).

I thought back to my Cumbrae run, which although very painful I didn't have the same issues (and in fact wasn't particularly famished after either, which is unusual). But of course the night before, I'd been cooked a lovely three course meal  - of which I had small portions - but it was good food and not trash.  I guess I need to do some proper carb loading the night before now my runs are getting longer and longer and not leave everything to the day.  It's not like I don't have a good idea of how much I'll burn off per mile!

Hopefully lessons learned for next week!

Stopped off at the cafe in Cramond for Cullen Skink served with a wholemeal savoury scone (which was a nice idea, but they need some practise at making scones!), and a slice of Ecclefechan tart for pudding. I have to admit that once I'd cracked into the soup - which was rather potato and leek heavy and relatively low on the fish - I could have easily done without the pudding (or gone for something like a biscuit instead) but as I'd ordered it I thought I might as well crack on!

Did a bit of a long walk back to the further bus stop - not intentionally to burn more calories or as an additional cool down - but more because the nearer one had a 20 min wait and at least I kept a bit warmer by walking! Bus driver was very chatty (it's the end of the line so they hang around for 10-15 mins sometimes until they move off again), but it was nice to be in the warm and not having to run back!

Some stats ...

I decided to try and work out how many hours training I've done so far for this whole marathon business: partly so that when I go 'live' with the fundraising site for my church, I can encourage sponsors with how dedicated I've already been! Particularly impressed with January, given that I had a week off. 

Marathon training statistics so far ...

I was also quite pleased that my 'easy 5 mile run' from the RW training plan ended up being at the pace it suggests for my 10 miler on Saturday (which I'm planning to do to a favourite cafe - and more importantly a bus stop).  I'm not sure if it was the fartlek on Monday that helped me pick up my pace, or the fact I switched to Schubert Winterreise for my playlist - which is one of my favourite pieces of music ever (despite being rather later than I usually go for).

Stats from GRG as I had to guess the time for last half mile. VLM = 74 days to go!

Fartlek fun

Managed to squeeze my run into one of the few periods today when there wasn't a hail blizzard; in fact the weather could almost be classed as rather nice! My planned run, nicked from the RW sub-4.30 plan (more anon) was a 4 mile Fartlek divided into 1M jog, 2M Fartlek, 1M jog.  The first mile was fine, and I rather enjoyed the fartlek bit even if I did kinda over-do it a few times and have to have recovery walks rather than jogs.  The only real reason I cut off the last 1M jog in the end was that I had reached Morrisons and wanted to pick up a few items that I forgot on my shop on Friday. 

Now from what I've understood - fartlek is supposed to be 'speed play'(?); I'm sure the accumulated knowledge of the GRW will correct me if I'm wrong! What I was aiming for was briefish bursts of speed - either between two points, or sometimes when there was a string of lampposts, accelerating at every lamppost for a given number of posts.  I have no idea if this was technically the right way of going about it, but it was actually quite fun!

Knee was generally behaving: it made it's presence known a few times (mostly when flying downhill) but wasn't really painful - was also trying to keep an eye on my technique and see if I could work out what was making it say "oi" when it did - so hopefully I can keep that up on my next planned run and stay injury free.

Have tried to incorporate some of the speed work from the sub-4.30 plan into my marathon plan (although got a bit confused with my weeks when doing it).  I'm not actually planning to TRY to hit the sub-4.30 pace as I think that's rather too far ahead of where I am at the moment. However, I thought if I could take some of the speedwork/hill work exercises and maybe do walking recoveries etc on those runs if I feel too pushed, then I MIGHT break 5 hours?

Stats from Garmin site here (although I'm pretty sure I never did in fact manage 1.38 min/mile pace at any point!!!)

Fingers crossed anyway!

Patella collapso ...

As the GRW-ers know, I've had a week off from running this week for the sake of my knee (sorry Jantastic). I've been good, and trying to rest it, although I had to take the bandage off after a day or so because it was annoying me!

Buggered knee! This was the Sunday ...

My long run last weekend around the Isle of Cumbrae started well, even if I did have to head out in the dark at 7.30 to get it in before my big day of singing. Quite happily ran the first three miles, including some wee hills, and then paused briefly to remove a layer (at which point I was quite glad of the low population of the island, and the early start, because I had to strip right down to my sports-bra to get my long-sleeved top off!).  For no reason in particular that I could tell, when I started running again, my knee was niggling me a wee bit.

I should explain at this juncture that I damaged my left knee with a wonky triple-jump when I was at high school (no posh surfaces for us - rock hard field doesn't do a good job as a shock-absorber) and it's come back to haunt me every now and again ever since.  Usually when it starts niggling on a run, it does it for about half a mile, and then behaves itself again - so I really thought nothing too much of it and carried on. Paused again for a comfort break (not really needed but an excuse to stop an assess the knee) and with a bit of patella wiggling it seemed to be fine.

Alas - that wasn't the end of it - after about another 5 mins it started hurting properly! So I stopped - gave kneecap another wiggle and a bit of a massage and then plodded off again. It was going in spates of fine-painful-fine (especially painful when the camber of the road meant my left leg was lower than my right - something I have noticed to affect it before).  

When I finally got to the point of thinking I might just have to give up and hobble back,  I had a slight issue - I was halfway round. Now much as I enjoyed the views from running around a sparsely inhabited island, it did mean that there was no hope of public transport the way I had come - although a (very) slim chance of catching the ferry slip-Millport bus if I carried on my planned route.  I had my phone with me, but my host didn't have a car (and was unlikely to be awake). I'm not sure if the island has a taxi service or not, but I didn't have enough cash to pay them anyway.

I made the decision to carry on with my run-hobble-pause on the original route I had planned, and actually made decent time considering ... a couple of the middle miles are painfully slow (emphasis on the painful) and I have to say that the descent into Millport itself hurt quite a lot.  But having returned to my host's flat and climbed the 3 flights of stairs my knee felt stupidly ok. Not as it turned out completely better but more of that anon.

After this I decided to take at least a couple of days off running (even if it was going to mess up Jantastic) as I figured I'd started the marathon training so early that hopefully I wouldn't lose too much fitness and better to have my knee in good form rather than missing VLM ... especially as I've now admitted to relevant people for whom I'm planning to fund raise. A couple of days off has turned into pretty much a week - although I'm now beginning to miss it, so may run tonight or tomorrow if I can fit a short one in to test how my knee is going. It seemed fine this morning: it's been stiff or noticeably annoying the rest of the week, so fingers crossed it's back to normal for now. 

I also have to make the decision for Febulous as to how long my long-runs are going to be: I was (if you remember) planning to reconsider my training plan and maybe follow the RW one from now on ... I'll have to have a look at that and see how it fits into my planned races for the next couple of months.  Can't quite believe how far I've got with this whole training plan - even with the week of rest for my knee!

Route around Cumbrae here, with crazy stats (especially the very last 3/4 mile!). It is a beautiful island, and I would definitely recommend running around it if anyone gets the chance.

Panoramic view - must have taken it when I was de-layering at about 7.45 ...

Garmin fail ...

Not sure what was up with my Garmin today: really didn't want to pick up satellites even at the McEwan hall (which is usually not a problem); and the map produced was pretty off the mark! 

Was nice seeing so many in the new beginners group for JogScotland today - and they seem to be getting on really well already! The rest of us set off for a run around Holyrood/Queen's Walk. I wanted to try pushing myself a bit more today, as the chest infection is slowly starting to sort itself out (although I've been using my inhaler for the first time in years).  The weather wasn't so cold today, so deep breathing wasn't as painful as it has been in recent weeks. 

At the top of Queen's walk we split into two groups: one went back to the McEwan up the short but steep route via the Commie pool; and the front group went off to the Innocent Railway tunnel and back.  We did a fast push up the tunnel itself (with the leader being pseudo-grandad and making me keep my speed up) before heading back to the start.  I have to say that the faster bits really did hurt - my lungs and arms (bizarrely) rather than my legs in particular - but I'm glad I managed them and didn't give up, even if my chest was trying to explode after.  Just a shame that there is no signal in the railway tunnel so I don't know what pace we were going at - but I guess it must have been 9 min/mile or slightly under from the effort level.

I do have to confess that I didn't manage to get out yesterday: planning to do a short run tomorrow morning before I head out towards Glasgow to get my Jantastic runs in, and then long run on Cumbrae on Saturday morning.  I guess if it weren't for Jantastic I wouldn't be quite so bothered about dropping a run, but I figure if I can get at least a mile in tomorrow, it will count and not wear me out too much for my long island-based run.  Do have to squeeze in a little time for actually learning the music too ...

Altered stats from GRG here ...

Snow-Mousie ...

Not a testament to my snow-sculpting skills (although I do a good line in Snow Cat), but more a comment on my run ...

Nearly left the run until tomorrow, as I have lectures etc to prepare, but after working on Romantic Symphony for rather longer than I intended I needed a break! Managed to find a gap in the snow so got my togs on (practically all the ones I own) and got myself out of the door. I don't think my garmin wanted to go, as it was being a TOTAL pest finding satellites: nearly gave up and used RunKeeper but a change of window seemed to work. 

My aim had been to get out and do more than a mile today: I had a few possible ways to go off the start of the route depending on how my chest felt and how the weather was doing. In the end I did the second longest - the route I'd planned last week before I got a bit lost - and did 4 miles.  It was nice and slow, practically glacial in fact as the ground underfoot was slushy snow, but that must have done the world of good for my heart etc. I have to admit that I classed it as 'cross country' in GRG (stats here too) - but that was partly because I would have been better off on skis. My knees are definitely feeling the slightly slidey underfootness now! On the run however they were just a TINY bit niggly - and I felt like I could have easily run twice as far being nice and cosy warm in my many layers (have to wear more now I've lost weight). Mojo seems to have reappeared, so rock on!

One particularly comic moment was after about a mile when the blizzard renewed and I found myself snowed into my own glasses ... if the abominable snowman was training for a marathon he probably would have looked something like me in a snow storm (although probably taller if he needs to scare anyone).  Thankfully when I changed direction soon after the snow got blown out again, or I might have had to try running sans goggles ... and given that I find my feet difficult to spot without them, I'm not sure curbs would have been too easy.

I have to say, I was getting a tad annoyed with other runners tonight ... I must have passed 6 or 7 other people AT LEAST on my way round and not a SINGLE one returned my nod (or wave in one blizzardy case).  Cyclists however (mostly on their feet pushing bikes) mostly smiled or said hi.   On our run in Cheshire on Sunday,  every single runner, cyclist and dog walker managed a hello (including 2 separate clubs in about 4 groups) ... admittedly some of them were Grandad's club, but most weren't and the difference between there and Edinburgh is frankly shocking. I can forgive the man who nearly brained me with an umbrella (as he wasn't looking) but do come on Edinburgh runners - smile at people occasionally! Especially if they are bright orange and covered in snow ...

Four Villages - Cancelled

(c) Run Helsby

Thanks to the rather inclement weather, the organisers of the Four Villages Half sadly had to cancel the race yesterday - which was a shame (if understandable given the amount of snow on the course) and in some ways a relief as I didn't have to make a decision about whether to run it with my chest in a bit of a state.  

However, Grandad and I decided to go out for a run anyway, and did one of his regular running club loops around Manchester airport - we did actually bump into a good number of runners from his club (and another local club) who were out having also missed out on the Half Marathon.  It's quite a nice route taking in some bridle paths and footpaths, but mostly on nicely maintained ones (and with the ice it wasn't too muddy).  Couple of the hills made me a little wary of the cough - but that was more because I was taking them at Grandad speed and not my own! Stats from GRG here.

Despite the weather, the ground underfoot wasn't too bad: there was the odd icy patch/wobbly bit but mostly it was easier to keep running rather than walk.  I can't say it would have been much fun had a thousand other runners been over the snow before me though.  My chest is definitely improving although I did have a bit of a shock getting into the (relatively) warm car and wheezed a few times - but a nice cup of horlicks is calming it down quite nicely and sugar was replenished by sharing my emergency fun-sized mars bar before we drove back to the house.

I think my legs would have been up to the Half Marathon; they certainly don't feel too worn out after a 5 1/2 mile run. But I'm not CERTAIN my chest would have lasted another couple of hours out in the cold - although I do have to admit that the breeze was almost warm this morning as opposed to the icy blast you normally get in Edinburgh.

Grandad is on the organising committee for the Wilmslow Half - so is trying to get me a sneaky place on that for my training purposes for VLM - if not I'll try and get in to the Inverness (although that of course doesn't come with the free accommodation).

Grandad looking at planes

Two minds ...

Today was a day of two minds: two minds about doing my run because I have a stupid rotten cough (again!); two minds about half marathon at the weekend - partly because of cough but also partly because I've not been able to run a decent distance for a while; two minds about whether I've chosen the right career given the rather depressing pile of marking I've been doing; and two minds about whether I can make it to VLM at all.  

Not sure why I've been feeling so blue recently - the bad sleeping habits I've got into don't seem to be helping much (nor is the cold weather that seems to be setting off my asthma).  I also seem to get cold very easily at the moment  - although that could be the lack of the padding I've had for the last few years.  Having said that, the diet isn't going brilliantly at the moment either - or at least I've hit a bit of a plateau weight wise. Now this may be because I'm building muscle mass (I certainly still seem to be fitting into clothes better) but it would also be nice if it were reflected in pounds and ounces.

Despite all my blue thoughts, I did manage to get out for a run, and even managed my planned four miles with a bit of an unplanned hill session. I meant to try out the Marathon Talk suggested training for the week (with a 1 mile warmup, 1 mile gentle, 1 mile steady, 1 mile fast) but I saw Arthur's Seat and thought I might as well try to circumvent it! Having said that, a hill session with the state my chest appears to be in wasn't the best of ideas - especially given that I'm supposed to be singing for Princess Anne at a University official do tomorrow. 

However, stats from GRG here - and JogScotland tomorrow (possibly with inhaler in tow!) Need a mojo transplant pretty urgently if I'm to get round the Four Villages on Sunday ...

Mojo absent ... run done

What with the recurrence of this stupid stomach muscle pain, I can't say my runs this week have really been ones where I've wanted to bounce out the door.  I've also been feeling really run down and tired which hasn't helped - I suspect I've been eating far too much rubbish since returning from the parentals. 

However, Jantastic must go on and with some encouragement from the Wallers I re-jigged my route to be safer in the dark, and tried to get myself into the mood.  I also made a point of making sure that I hydrated properly (as this is one of the things I'm probably guilty of not doing properly).

Run was pretty slow, but then it was an LSR, and ended up as a bit of a shopping centre tour - had a quick detour/comfort break at Cameron Toll and then passed another two before I got to Musselburgh! Not sure why mile 4 was SO comparably slow - although it might have been because there were a lot of major roads to cross and I had a slight detour to map read (a few more signs might be nice at roundabouts Edinburgh Council).   My Garmin was also being a bit of a pain and not stopping/starting properly (perhaps because of the cold or similar) - GRG took another minute off the time ...

I had my gel at the halfway/five mile mark - which was slightly easier to eat than the normal packet ones and didn't taste too horrible - I then sipped water occasionally and had my almond cube at 9 miles - none of which seemed to cause any stomach problems so I'm rather pleased with Decathlon! If nothing else, the almond cubes taste scrummy!

There were definitely a few chunks of the run (would be a bit unfair/pessimistic to say moments) that I was feeling pretty much in the zone and the running was relatively easy.  There were others (particularly the last mile) where I could have given up and cut the run short in a heart beat. The detour in Musselburgh off my planned route meant that I actually made the 10 mile mark in Portobello rather than having to face the hill up to Morrisons.

However, for once the run was only the START of my problems! Hopped on a bus to take me to the Morrisons cafe (feeling a tad wobbly! although with some chocolate) - only to discover that the cafe was closed.  Even though I put my dry clothes on that I'd carried in my rucksack, it was still blinking cold - the temperature must have dropped about 10 or 15 degrees subsequent to me leaving the house! Mostly I was ok but my hands were pretty cold.

Eventually got on another bus that was going to take me to a chip shop (I was getting desperate by this point) from where I could theoretically walk home - but after barely managing half my chips (probably more like 1/3 - which at least is good for the diet) I was still freezing and rather too tempted by the line of taxis waiting outside the nearby theatre and hopped in one for the journey home.

Rather cold and damp I then buried myself under my duvet with dressing gown and extra blankets - but it did take a few hours for my feet to warm up (should have gone for a hot water bottle/micro-clanger). 

I can't say it was the most pleasant/easy long run I've ever done, but it was definitely an improvement on the last time I did 10 miles and it was rather a mental victory over myself - particularly that last mile! Now just got to do another 3 miles next week (although I do have 2 rest days before and the opportunity to carb load!)

Stats for comparison from the equivalent run last year below ....                                                         

                                            W7 D2 Marathon training          MT W14 R4 LSR

                                                 Fri, 17 Feb 2012 12:56                Fri, 11 Jan 2013 17:12

Distance	10.51 mi	10.00 mi
Time	2:21:11	2:01:40
Avg Speed	4.5 mph	4.9 mph
Avg Pace	13:26 min/mi	12:15 min/mi
Calories	1,262 C

Jantastic 2013

Marathon Talk's Jantastic Challenge 2013 started today, a challenge I rather bombed out of last year.  I've kept my planned runs to 4 runs a week to fit in with my marathon plan, although I'll be reconsidering that of course in two weeks after the Essar Four Villages.

Today I also had to finish a cover letter for a job application which a friend is going to proof read for me, as well as emailing my referees to check they were happy to write nice things about me.  This took up most of the morning, after which I braved the drizzle to meet up for lunch/window shopping with a Uni friend who lives across in Glasgow.  My final hurdle of the day was a rather tedious committee meeting which went on FAR too long, and after which I had to lock the building.

I can't say I was particularly in the mood for running after all that!

However... I got home, got changed, set the watch off and figured that I'd get a run in even if it was shorter than my planned 4 miles just so I could tick off the run on Jantastic.  In the end I meandered around the roads a bit and so managed to get my 4 miles in after all and felt pretty good for it although that stupid muscle is still twingeing a bit.  Glad to get the first run under my belt, and going to do JogScotland tomorrow as I've had to rejig my week quite a bit to fit in a recording all day Saturday. 

Stats from GRG.  And got a 10 miler to plan for Friday ... yerk!

Long Run

No parkrun for me this morning because a) I had a 7 miler planned and b) I had a rather long day travelling back up to Scotland on the train yesterday (have ended up going via Glasgow).  After a bit of a long lie and a rather scrummy bacon sandwich I set out with a rather vague plan in my mind for what route I was going to take.  

My weird stomach niggle was playing up again after about a mile, but seemed to be better than the other day along the canal.  Pausing for a few seconds each time it hurt badly seemed to work - and someone on the GRW also suggested a way of breathing through it which also seemed to help.  What is really odd is that after about 4 miles it completely stopped hurting.  Glad I therefore didn't give up and rest it after a mile!

Had a comfort break just before the 5 mile/1 hour mark, and had one of the new almondy squares that I got from Decathlon while at the parentals.  It was lovely and didn't give me a proper stitch or anything. Think it was doing the trick (or the comfort break did) as I got a bit of a second wind over the next mile or so before starting to flag a touch.  Didn't give up, but allowed myself to walk for a few metres before running again.  

After 7 miles I was coming back through the park where the Bupa Great Winter Run was being held, and as I'd made my target I allowed myself a few more walk breaks and to slow down a tad.  Stretched out and then toddled home for some pasta with mixed seeds and pesto for lunch.  Good start to the day and hopefully this is starting to deal with my silly niggle.

Stats from GRG this time: I think it was able to cope with the innocent railway tunnel better than the Garmin site.  Roll on Jantastic on Monday.

Canal Run

Today's run with Grandad was TOUGH.  We had planned to do it yesterday, and I'm not entirely sure why Grandad decided to switch (possibly hoping the weather would improve) - although we did discover my train tickets back up to Scotland were for tomorrow not today.

We'd done a bit of shopping in Macclesfield, and planned to run down the canal tow path and then back, a route that should have been about 6 miles ish.  Started off OK, although the two path was MUCH muddier than I had anticipated (the Edinburgh canal path has been turned into a cycle path) and I was slipping and sliding around a lot.  It wasn't raining so much as that heavy mist that permeates everything: staying-warm-wise this might have been a good thing (although I did get a nice light waterproof from Decathlon yesterday). But glasses-wise it was an utter nightmare!

My stupid stomach muscle decided to play up today too - I wish I could work out why! It starts out feeling like a stitch but then sorts itself out usually. Today it was being really annoying and kept twingeing back after a few hundred yards. Kept having to stop and walk a bit - very frustrating after such a good run on Tuesday.  We kept going though, walking when it was bad and then running for a bit, and ended up doing 4.5 miles (cut the planned route a bit short because of muscle pain). 

No idea what was up with me but hopefully a rest day tomorrow will sort me out! Grrr.

South Manchester Parkrun - Happy 2013!

After staying out last night rather later than I intended (although tee-total as I was driving) and having only had about 5 hours sleep, I woke up this morning coughing and choking so much that Grandad wondered if I wanted to run at all.  However, I was actually feeling relatively fine, and we got ourselves out to the Platt Fields Park for the New Year Parkrun.

The course loops around the park several times, so although you cover a lot of the same ground twice, it's not actually a lapping course: I'm sure this suits many, but I found I was looking at my watch a lot more than I'd have liked to, just to check how far into the race I was.

I warmed up with Grandad - one lap of the lake and a bit - and managed to keep up with his rather faster pace (his jog is about my race pace). So I hatched a cunning plan ... I asked him to run with me for the first few hundred yards at his jog pace, to get it into my legs, and then told him to bugger off and do his own run afterwards (so as not to slow him down too much).  My plan was to try and keep up the faster pace for the first mile, and hopefully not drop too far back in the second two (although of course I only had my watch to help me).

I knew that I needed to keep around 9:38 min/mile to get my sub-30 target, and my first mile (which was quite hard going) turned out to be 8:45! I knew there was no way I could keep that up the whole way round but hoped I could at least give myself a couple of good miles to allow me to drop back a bit at the end if I needed to. The loopy course was a tad depressing but the volunteers were amazing -especially as they'd come out on NYD.

We had been warned that there were some 'deepish puddles' on the route, but not to try and run around them because of some rather deep drainage ditch. Deepish was an understatement.  There was one puddle at about 2.5 miles that was shin deep on me! Now I know how Jesus felt ...

Was also nice that a lot of runners had hung around the finish to cheer the last people through on (although for once I was about 1/3 way down the field).  Grandad was also there with his camera (hence pic already) to snap me as I crossed the line - but there were also two official photographers.

Of course the BIG question is ... did I break 30 mins? Well ...

Grandad's Pic

I did it! I did it!! I did it!!!

Not only did I do it but I frelling SMASHED it! Official time (well impressed they're out already ... kudos to the parkrun team) is 29:12 :D Grandad even said he thought it was a rather slow course, and he was 15 seconds slower than Saturday even though he had to re-do his shoe-lace at Congleton.  That's another 98 seconds off from Congleton and a total of 192 seconds off my PB over our parkrun challenge.  Ratherproud.com.

[Update: forgot the stats from Garmin site: split 8.45, 9.36, 9.34, 8.22 (for the last few yards)]

Yesterday I also set my goals for 2013:

* Reduce weight to 8 st 13 lb (in the next 3 months)

* Get down to a 28 min parkrun - 9 min miles

* Get a 50% age grade or more (a)

* Run 500 miles over the year (I may up this ...)

* VLM time breaking 5 hours - GRG at the moment predicts 5:08

(a) As I've already got my age grade over 50% (nearly 51 this morning) I think I might revise that to 55% ...