. 

Some of you will know that I have been feeling that I’m not running as well as  I was last year and that I started my training in not such a strong place

My parkrun times seem to be consistently getting slower and this Saturday parkrun at 34.44 Was probably one of my slowest ever, my legs were hurting, and my right leg foot feel misshaped somehow as if the inside of my leg had shrunk and I was running on it lopsided somehow with my foot curling up.  I walked several times I experienced a twinge in my left leg and my blooming aching left hip which had not ached for weeks seemed to be saying “hello, I’m still here don’t get carried away, you’re not 20 anymore!”

I wasnt feeling confident of a good run at the Brass Monkey but although I was saying that it was just a training run for me, I wanted to use it as a measure of where I am in my fitness and training. How much slower am I really, what does my body feel like running that kind of distance. Now you can still read last year’s report at http://morekayslondonmarathonchatter.blogspot.com/ week 3,  where I took you through mile by mile to my PB of 2.12.04. I was expecting a similar race story but a slower time this year.

But here is how my race felt

Mile one – nine

Initially my legs ached a little but not too bad, I went off at a good pace but didn’t allow myself to get carried away, Though I was worried  when for  a while I kept with Vikki. I spotted a HPH vest in front, Rona and ran till I caught her, I spotted Gill from Kirkstall and ran till I caught her, I spotted another HPH, Geoff and caught him,  I had my gel then  spotted the girls from Eccleshill so kept going till I caught them . . . I took my gloves off, my hands got cold I put my gloves on my hands got warm, off , on all the way round . .!

Mile nine and half to twelve and a half

I wanted to walk – I didn’t, I spotted two more HPH vests, Zoe and Russell I began to do the maths, a new Brass Monkey PB was looking very promising and IF I could keep sub 10min mile going possibly a new Half Marathon PB, I caught Zoe and Russell and kept going but with no one I recognised ahead my pace slowed, plus I had forgotten to allow for the two little hills at the end.

Mile twelve and half to 13.1

Before I knew it I could see the race course and the wonderful Paul Sanderson who runs back to support us all in. I just couldn’t quite summon up enough drive in my legs to break 2.09 but I did knock 1 min 11 seconds off last years brass Monkey for a 2.10.53 finish.

Now the Brass Monkey would not be complete without stopping off at the Fox and Grapes for dinner afterwards with 25-30+ HPH runners and supporters, it was great to catch up with everyone and listen to their races but as my legs started to stiffen I wondered how I was going to do my last session of the week, winterswim round 5. But having rearranged my Saturday to try fit in with someone else schedule Adele and I had no choice but to do the swim this afternoon otherwise we would miss the round!  Strangely it was my arms that felt more tired than my legs.  Swim done and some ten hours after I left I arrived back home

Dutifully I check facebook and smiled at all the ace reports and stories from HPH and other running buddies, I updated my Jantastic runs, 5 runs done for the week, entered our winterswim times and had a quick check of the results and guess what?

 I’m back to being ranked number one! Now I ‘m sure by morning it will have changed but if your quick you can check it out at http://www.winterswim.co.uk/winterswim_2010.php?sort=tot_rank_asc&round=5

Just one thing left to do before I drift off to sleep . . . . enjoy my  Yorkie Bar, ok so it’s not for girls but I’m not just a girl . . . .

 . . . .  I am a Hyde Park Harrier Girl and together we can tackle any race and any chocolate bar going!

The Midweek Grumpy Blog

 

Today I have done what i think is my first ever double run day.  I did a slow 4 miles at 6am (my supposed recovery run – which is possibly a bit hilly to be called a recovery run) and then at 6pm I stepped on to the treadmill to do an Interval session.

I have often done a double training day where I might run and do body pump or swim but the phenomenon of a double run day is normally left to those people I see as being running gods, at least compared to me they are!

But today, due in most part to my commitment on Jantastic to do 5 weekly runs I had to do a double run day. I missed a session yesterday as I wasn't feeling too well so decided to rest. But i’m sure that many of my running friends would not bother mucking two sets of kits for the wee bit of mileage I did but hey ho!

Following on from Tom marathon evening talk I have decided to keep mixing my interval session up so that my body doesn’t get used to it but this means I can’t compare my weekly sessions to check progress so thought I’d try drop the data into a graph (see above) to plot how I’m doing!  Now i was trying to do a type of pyramid session but it looks more like a game of snakes and ladders to me!

I didn’t sleep well Saturday, Sunday or Monday, I am feeling a bit grumpy this week and lacking . . . . . well  just something . . . .  . . . . . . . . .

After a chat with Liz, i have been looking at what might be disturbing my sleep pattern,  I’m trying and failing to cut back on coffee, i'm kept awake by thoughts of a personal letter that  I had write, the reaction I was expecting (and got), worrying that my cupboards and fridge are nearly bare, that my petrol guage is nealy on red whilst my bank account IS red, there is still a week to payday,  (Peter you know how you say I only call when I am hungry or have man troubles, well expect a call!), my house is already in a marathon mess, and I cannot keep on top of the laundry, I am grumpy with the kids, the cat, TSR and myself 

But what is really on my mind is a sense that I am not running as fast or as strong as I was this time last year and I know Sunday will be the test of that. Last year at the Brass Monkey half marathon I got a PB which I later broke at Liverpool, but I’m just not feeling it! My training is reasonably consistent, though I have dropped some cross training this week, partly because I haven’t felt a 100% and partly because I want to try save something for Sunday. But if I’m honest I know its those few extra pounds I’m carrying that are slowing me down, or maybe it’s just because I’m a year older?

Well I have decided to prepare as well as i can in the time i have left before Sunday, I need   

1)    FRIDAY – Rest - which means no spin in the morning L

2)   SATURDAY - Easy parkrun – no body pump L
3)   SATURDAY - Afternoon - the house work can wait - I might even have an afternoon nap!

4)   Plenty of good food – Italian would go down a treat Saturday evening (hint hint)

5)   Plenty of sleep  . . . . .

so night night!



        . . . . the number of runners that lapped me at parkrun on Saturday . . .

      

 My question to all you mathematicians and statisticians out there, based on Saturdays field how fast (or slow depending on your perspective) would I have to run to ensure I didn’t get lapped?  Now I’m an old fashioned girl so can I have that in minute per mile please? 

This is just typical of one of the many things that run through my mind when on a long run, on other occasions I have designed an ergonomically efficient, aerodynamic and aesthetically pleasing water bottle for runners.  At other times I day dream of holidays in faraway places. I write to do list in my head that I forget as soon as I have finished. . . . . . anyway back to this week’s long run.  Originally I had wanted to do 10mile on Friday before a mini taper for the Brass Monkey next Sunday.

But once again I had to tweak my programme as my LSR was somewhat shy of the planned 12 miles last weekend. And then when I compared my training diary with my work diary I realised I had planned to finish a wee bit early on the day I was supposed to be packing my office up and supporting one of my teams as we prepare to move all the way from ground floor to the first floor!

So I had to do my 12mile on Saturday morning but not wanting to miss my weekly parkrun fix I decided to run 9 mile there do parkrun and get a lift back with Harp. But I struggled to get up and so only had time to do 6 miles before I got there, running round and round wellington for a few minutes as I waited for the start. As I crossed the finish line I grabbed my number and then kept running, I knew if I queued to zap my barcode I would not get going again and so I did another lap then found someone to zap my code quickly then another lap and a half before running back and forth in front of the refectory until my Garmin eventually confirmed I had completed my 12miles.

Sunday was the long awaited 2^nd race in the Peco Cross Country League, now having trained (spin and run) Friday, 12 miles and 20 lengths in the pool Saturday I wasn’t expecting my strongest run around Bramley Falls Wood and knowing the area a little I already knew that  UNDULATING meant Bl**dy Big Hills!. 3 laps of  a course that had some gentle slopes two imposing hills and what can only be described as a wall of mud that somehow you needed to grow wings and fly over, add in a fallen tree that you had to hurdle over (it was only little) and the wind which only calmed down as the rain started ( I was about half way round by this point) and we had a great time at Bramley Falls Wood. 

Mike nearly at the top of the hill and Helen at the bottom

After the first lap and the screaming in my legs had stopped (or at least I stopped listening to it) I settled into a much stronger run than I expected, yes I walked a few times, but thanks; to Harp shouting go for it the second time I approached the wall of mud I did somehow grow some wings and seemingly fly up this embankment; to Dave for his advise on technique as he stood at the top of the steepest hill and the muddiest most technically challenging parts of the course; to Sam and team Dooley who cheered us on and caught my gloves as I flung then at him!

Me doing my best to get up that hill!

I have also to give a mention to Shane, who gave me an encouraging call as he flew passed me the first HPH to lap me, but who gave so much effort he needed medical assistance at the end, supported by the HPH team and other runners till the ambulance arrived, he is, I understand now recovering well.

I also want to mention Mike who is a newer member of our club and had posted that he had baked post-race peanut M&M cookies, as my run turned to a walk I thought about those cookies waiting and started to run again!

After we cheered all our team back in we made our way to the Abbey Inn where the course information had clearly stated that ALL muddy dirty shoes AND clothes should be removed before entering!

A great race, a great day. . I even had half a Larger to celebrate!

Wet Dirty and Smiling as we head for the pub!

Thanks To Dave McGuire for the brilliant photos above!

Here is a summary of my weeks training

date	10-Jan	11-Jan	12-Jan	13-Jan	14-Jan	15-Jan	16-Jan
am	Rest Day	Swim  - 34 lengths			spin √	parkrun + = LSR √	Peco  Cross Country Race 3
pm	Sports Massage, an hour on just my hamstrings	run club+	Intervals √ & body pump √	Swim -Adele X	LSR X   Easy run instead	Swim –with Adele 20 lengths √	Should have done bodypump but opted for rest instead
Miles		6	4		10	4	4
Achieved		5.5	3.73		4	12	5.2

Kay Is Ranked Number ONE

I had a 12 mile run planned for Sunday morning with Nicky and Liz but as Nicky and I struggled to stay on our feet as we gingerly walked/skated our way to Liz’s house we decided to  abandon our run, but as the day passed on the sun came out and the ice melted so I decided to take myself off for a solo run, telling myself I would just do a few miles, and then I did a few more and a few more until I had eventually run a 9mile circular route. Although this was a solo run it didn’t feel that way as I waved to Tess and Jaz doing their interval session and then stopped to talk to Ralph and Janet twice who were running a circular 12 miler in the opposite direction!   

As I ran I thought about my super busy week and all the things I had done and tried to remember all the things through the week that I had thought “oh must remember to put that in my blog” now thank fully for you my memory is not always so good, otherwise you might be here till Christmas!

But the first thing I wanted to tell you about was the many fundraising activities that are going on at the moment to help support Liz and I to achieve our targets for age uk.

David is Garmin scribbling - challenged by Liz to scribble age UK as he ran www.thediaryofalondonmarathonvirgin.blogspot

Jaz is cooking - curry evenings to support Liz’s page and she is still taking bookings

Sue is knitting - headbands to add to the age uk target

Liz is Laminating - parkrun bar codes 3 for £1

Adele is reading her cupcake book and getting ready to bake bake bake

Kay is creating training programmes – to support some fellow HPH reach their targets

Harp is www.iamhb.com –A big thank you to Harp for designing our Hyde Park Harriers Calendar that arrived this week and is featured in Liz blog  http://www.lizjones4ageuk.blogspot.com/2011/01/chapter-eighteen-calendar-girl

Thanks to everyone above that is giving their time and inspiration to help our fundraising efforts for age uk. If you would like a new headband /curry evening/laminated bar codes/baking/ personalised Garmin scribble/training programme let me know and we will see what we can do

We still have a way to go to reach our target so if you have a hidden skill or talent or bright ideas that can help us reach our targets let us know!

As for my training this week in brief my week looked like this

Date	03-Jan	04-Jan	05-Jan	06-Jan	07-Jan	08-Jan	09-Jan	Total	Total achieved
am	Rest Day		easy run √		spin √	parkrun √	LSR √
pm	Core & Stretch	body pump  √   run club - Intervals √ + 2	# Swim -200 √	Run with Hills √	Swim with Adele     Core & Stretch	Swim -Adele  √	bodypump √
Miles planned		4	3	6		4	12	29
Achieved		3	4.07	5.5		3	9		24.57

If it is ticked I did it if it isn’t ticked I didn’t!

Although I am 4.5 miles short of my intended total mileage for the week I completed my target five runs for jantastic http://www.marathontalk.winterswim.co.uk/jantastic.php and am pleased with my sessions!  But my biggest shock came when I entered my winterswim time and discovered I was ranked number one!!! http://www.winterswim.co.uk/winterswim_2010.php?sort=tot_rank_asc&round=3

Me Ranked Number ONE at something sporting. . . .now admittedly it lasted for less than 24 hours and I have now slipped to 3^rd place behind Harp (no less), but WOW never in a million

years would I have thought that I would be Number ONE!

I had to be a bit flexible this week changing things around so that I could attend the Marathon Evening talk held at the university on Wednesday evening. I have had the opportunity to listen to Tom Williams talk about all things Marathons on several occasions, but never in such a setting to such a large audience.  The audience was mixed from someone who has done over 30 Marathons to those who have never done one and have said on more than one occasion they never will (you know who you are) but I will let you into a secret now, when you listen to Tom talk about marathons you will one day find yourself on the start line of some Marathon somewhere!

As I say I have heard Tom talk about Marathons before but there is always something to learn something new to think about or try different and for me I brought away 3 things I want to make sure I do different /better to last time.

1)    Sleep

2)    Nutrition

3)    Changing my interval sessions

It also fascinates me how different people in the same room listening to the same thing can hear completely different things, so as I left and said to Nicky “I think I need to go home and tweak my training programme” Nicky said “yes, you have too much on it and need more rest” when what I had heard was maybe I don’t need to taper so early and I could fit another weeks hard training in!

And finally for this week . .  . . . .

You may have noticed above that Monday, which was in fact a Bank Holiday, was my rest day which in reality meant I spent the day catching up on all the cleaning and tidying. By the time the kids came home I had a nearly (I never seem to total achieve this) clean & tidy house from top to bottom.  Only thing was I had managed to block my Dyson.  So I got Dan to get his tools out and have a go at unblocking the vac while I set to doing the last bit of washing up.

Now I’m not sure how but as Daniel was sorting the Vac he knocked the living room light and broke the fitting which blew the fuse and throw the house into darkness, just at this point I was emptying the washing up bowl only to discovered that the B!**^$ u-bend on my kitchen sink had come undone again flooding my cupboard and floor with mucky water! But quick as a flash, Dan sorted the fuse and mended my U bend, we moped up the floor and between us managed to unblock the Dyson all laughing as we did!  The room light is still not fixed though!

Now I know you might be thinking what has that got to do with running but I felt that these five minutes on Monday summed up the chaos that is often my life . . . .  add in a 16 week marathon training programme and hold on because things are about to get messy!