300+ and still going strong

Not a bad week this week. My first ten plus miler on Monday was survived, if not particularly comfortable and that's been followed up with a further 20 miles over the course of three runs, mixing it up a bit. The first of these, on Wednesday, was another run with the backpack, getting off the train at Bromsgrove and running back to the car at Droitwich along the canal. A nice run once you pick the canal up, all downhill with some pleasant scenery, although the weather was a bit against me with a couple of really heavy downpours forcing me to shelter. Still, good to do that one for the first time and I'm quite happy to give it another go, hopefully making it a weekly event as its far more relaxed running away from the train rather than towards it, with the inevitable time pressures that brings. Thursday I did a bit of "speed" work, although "slightly quicker than slow" would be a better definition. Then last night I signed the week off with a seven mile run, aiming to complete in under an hour, which was achieved reasonably comfortably. The pace aspect seems to be improving with regular miles under eight minutes on the flat, but its distance where I need to focus in preparation for the Malvern Half Marathon - there's a definite need to get a few more ten mile plus runs under my belt before then, as long as I can find the time and mental strength. Still, rest day today, the triple century now behind me. The sun is in the sky and the motivation's high. Total mileage to date: 309.58.

One in the bank

Thursday night. Dreary and weary. Rain falling steadily. Home warm and cosy. J: "are you going for a run?". Me: "Yeh, I've got to". J: "You don't have to". True, I didn't have to, and it would be easy not to have. Very easy. It wasn't a fun run, and I didn't feel great afterwards, but I guess if I'm going to get to where I want to be, it was important to get out there on Thursday night. I planned a negative split, running at a (very) easy pace out along the canal from Blackpole to Offerton and turning on 30 minutes. The rain was consistent and the canal was eerily quiet - no boats, few ducks and me, plodding on. Sniffing. It was hard work to keep going and I'm not sure it actually did me any good, but I just about got back within the hour so mission accomplished. One for the bank. Total mileage to date: 269.42.

Crowle 10K

Nice. A little on the warm side, but no wind and a bright morning made it excellent conditions for a romp around the lanes of Crowle. The kids both ran in the quarter mile fun run - C setting off like a rocket and then stopping every 50 yards, S keeping a lovely, steady pace and actually finishing just in front of her brother - so it looks like we've got one sprinter and one endurance runner. Individuals with individual needs as ever. In the main event I managed to knock six minutes off my time from two years ago, coming in in a steady 48:21, making me 142nd out of 470 finishers. Not bad, but tempered by the realisation that I'd have to improve by a couple of minutes even to make the top three in the over 60's category (in fact I was beaten by a chap who proudly proclaimed to the crowd on the run in that it was his 68th birthday the next day). All encouraging stuff though and if I can keep the training going for the next few weeks then I'd hope to crack 2 hours at the Malvern Half on June 7th. Just need to keep on chugging along.

Bagman

Okay, so I made a few errors of judgement last night. Number one, I should have left my work shoes in my locker at work rather than stuffing them into the backpack - the extra weight was a real killer. Secondly, I should have had a trial run adjusting the straps on the backpack for a comfortable fit. Getting those two right might just have reduced the flapping and flopping up and down up and down which afflicted me from the start of the run. Finally I should have simply allowed more time, taking into account the slowing effect of the backpack. D'oh. As it was I ended up pushing it right to the limit with no time for slippage - not helped by being unable to access the canal where I thought I could and the number of rather rough areas which had to be crossed. I made it. But by the skin of my teeth. And spent the entire journey watching the sweat dripping consistently off my head disappear into the rough ridged carpet on the train floor. There are lessons to be learned in that. Total miles to date: 262.47. Weight: Hmmmmm.

Slow coach

I know that at least one person is reading this blog occasionally, even if he isn't bold enough to become my first follower. Step forward Paul Scanlan. And having discussed one or two issues with him (I await his alternative theories on Asthma treatment) I'd like to offer him the position of unofficial body coach and nutritional advisor. Come on Paul. If you think you're ready for the responsibility step up to the plate and devise me a programme which is going to keep my muscles and intestines in the best shape over the next six months. You know you want to.

Run, run as fast as you can

But not too fast, I'm no Gingerbread man. Hampered by a calf strain the last couple of weeks, and trying to adapt to a new working routine now that I'm back in the Insolvency Service, so the mileage has dropped off a little, but I've managed a couple of confidence boosting runs this week which have put me in reasonable stead for the Crowle 10k on Sunday. Birthday gifts bought a boost too with some smart new gear from Janey Baby, not least a wonderful lightweight jacket which must have made me the only runner in Worcester praying for rain, which never came. I'm also breaking in a new pair of trainers - New Balance 859's as recommended by the running shop in Birmingham - which hopefully won't blister my right instep like the Mizunos have tended to. Birthday money also funded a lightweight backpack and the plan next week is to get a run in after work by heading from the office down the canal to University and picking up the train there, or alternatively getting off at Bromsgrove and running back to Droitwich to pick the car up. As ever, its just a case of getting into the right routine. Onward and upward. Total mileage to date: 246.77. Weight: moving in the right direction.

Curioser and curioser

One of the fun aspects of running is slapping on the i-pod with all songs shuffled and wondering what song is going to come up next. The contrasts and coincidences can be wonderful. On a long-ish run the other day I was forced to listen to an interview I'd given in relation to a piece of writing several years ago. After the interviewer rounded off with "thank you Rob Clarke" the classic XTC track "Mayor of Simpleton" kicked in...... there's a lesson to be learned in that.