Running

On the subject of races named after cheese, I was supposed to be racing the Wensleydale Tri today.

Unfortunately, work and other things conspired against me so I never even travelled up. Really gutted as I love these more 'unconventional' races, and I tend to perform better than in flat races.

As it happens, my coach (who updates my schedule weekly) failed to schedule the race into my training schedule and so I did the prescribed training instead. However this probably puts our relationship on thin ice as they have now made the same mistake for all 3 of the races I've had scheduled so far this year.

slvlss>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Did the spitfire scramble 24hr relay over the weekend, had only ran 2x sub 4 mile runs since london marathon and only went out of obligation to my team as we had a lot of dropouts last minute.

struggled through 2x 6 mile laps going into saturday evening then when due to some craziness my next lap came around 3 hours earlier than planned my legs said no chance and my resolve broke so I spent rest of the weekend chilling in my tent trolling my teammates and the other RDC teams.

good laugh, good fun camping (even though sleep was more or less impossible as the campsite was active the whole time), well organised, pretty decent course with some beautiful views from atop the thankfully small hills.

only 2 bad things i can say about the whole event were mosquitos and the horrific state of the portaloos come sunday morning never have I been so close to vomiting purely from a bad smell.

A+ event would do again (but with actual training next time).

I was roped into the Cotswold 24 a few weeks ago. It was surprisingly fun, and we did surprisingly well (5th team overall, 3rd in category of 6 - 8 mixed).

The campsite had a 10pm quiettime, which meant you could actually sleep, and the portaloos were cleaned occasionally, although could have done with being cleaned more often.

4am runs in the pissing rain is a new experience though.

Had a really crap month of running and I was starting to think my first ultra marathon had destroyed my running forever, terrible ankle pain on all my runs and just couldn't run faster than 7:40 m/miles if my life depended on it.

Saturday morning running downhill I managed to trip on somebody's driveway, fly through the air and smash my whole left side especially my elbow into that lovely ribbed concrete surface.

I had a little cry and a sit down, then got up and I ended up having a lovely 20 mile run. Sunday morning ran our club championship half marathon, not great but compared to what I have been doing for the last month I was chuffed to bits with 1:31:16.

I've got four weeks now to get some time on feet before Jungfrau Marathon, in reality I'm just looking to enjoy it and be in some sort of form for Snowdon Marathon in October.

New chap came on the club run last Sunday- he was a nice fellow and quick.

Got home, looked at the route on strava, saw his profile as he was listed in the ride, 14:34 for a 5k.

Similar thing happened to me at one of our club speed sessions, new boy joined who was built more like a rugby player. I kept up with him on the first interval but then got completely blown away by him, I was a little upset until I stalked him on Runbritain and saw he has a 14:40 5k and 32:01 10k to his name :D

I'm thinking about doing a half marathon next year, is there any in particular that people would recommend? Preferably one that doesn't cost the earth, is somewhere around London, and (this might be a long ask) is mostly off road (pavement pounding is awful on my knees).

Look at the Down Tow Up Flow half marathon from Windsor to Marlow (or the other way around). It's probably about 95% towpath with only a couple of short road/pavement sections. Fairly well organised, and a nice route along the Thames (so pretty flat).

This.

@Dammit, @hats and me did this last year.

Except that @Dammit and me didn't even get to the start.

Which sort of means we won.

Thanks for the suggestion, that looks like a good one. Easy train access from London as well.

oof, I'm am sure that I am physiologically unable to run a 5km sub 15. Probably unable to do a sub 17. I would hope that if I trained, eat, rested and conditioned myself like a pro I could run a 17 something. This is based on absolutely no experience and about 30s consideration.

I live in Brum and the terrain here is rolling at a best. This is my run into work, down one side of a valley and up the other side

http://tpks.ws/Mw6x

Training for a half, and I'm tempted to bin interval work and just run to the terrain instead. Like the linked run, I'm normally starting off easy before going though a tempo heart rate and up to my threshold at the end.

Thoughts ?

If you're willing to do a super-hilly one, the only off-road half I've done is the Midsummer Munro, which takes you 3,000ft of elevation (hence the name) over the North Downs, including those lovely steps by Box Hill... twice. Not sure what your knees will make of it but your quads won't thank you. Classic race!

http://www.trionium.com/mm/

^ if it's working for you go with it.

I think I should try a normal one first. Maybe in the future not a natural hill climber

20.5 miles this morning with just over 2000 feet of climbing, pissed down for the whole run. As soon as I stopped the sun came out and it's now lovely out there :D

This afternoons 27 minute run was done at an average hr of 182 and a pace of 4:30 min kms, wondered why I felt like I had no ability to go faster!

Suspect 4 hours of cycling, not eating enough and dehydration were all factors - or at least I hope so or next weeks half ironman is going to be tough!

2 weeks of rest seems to have calmed down the hamstring strain. Wasn't great with the stretching, but swam every day for 11 days (including 2 days in the sea).

Played 5-a-side last two evenings and no twinges.

Will start off with a gentle partial run commute tomorrow. Somewhere between 5k and the full 12k with the rest done using a Boris Bike.

If that all goes well I'll give Parkrun on Saturday a go and then ease back into my routine as of next Wednesday when MiniGB goes back to school.

Achilles was throbbing like a bastard after PBP. Got pissed last night, now its better. Bring on Ring O Fire #guinnessisgoodforyou

Lovely 8 miles done this morning, 18 mile trail run tomorrow then Severn Bridge Half Marathon on Sunday. Then it's into taper for Jungfrau Marathon :)

Enjoy Severn I ran last year and it's reasonably tough. You'll want to start right up front if its anything like last year. I was about 6 rows back and that was perfect, it stretches back quite a way down the bridge.

Jungfrau Marathon

I was offered a place for this year. "Unfortunately" I was't able to take it.

Such a shame.

Have fun though!

Ooh, Jungfrau. I've got that on the bucket-list for when I run out of PBs on flat marathons. 2017 possibly. I like running on hills but I'm a bit rubbish running downhill, so in a strange sort of way Jungfrau looks like my kind of race. Good luck, look forward to seeing your report.

First run commute since lung troubles, 7.5 miles at 7.40 pace keeping hr around 80% no efforts. Still alive, yay. Might parkrun tomorrow morning.

Backed up yesterday with a trip to Parkrun. Next nearest was cancelled so this was a busy one. 19 and a bit, not bad.

Chatting to one of the regulars turns out she knows the top lung professor dude in the area so said she'll ask him questions my consultant has been vague with answers about re: exercise intensity post pneumothorax recovery. Result.