Sunday, November 27, 2005
Christmas is coming..........................and guess who's getting fat????
Didnt do much running last weekend as predicted
skived on Saturday and then on Sunday went a run round
Beith. Get a bit fed up with that route as I
basically just run a loop round town twice. On the
way back to my mum and dads I found a nice back road
into the country which would be much better to explore
so might do that the next time Im through West.
On Tuesday at club night we went for a skate around
Dunbar. There was a bit of a frost so we had to be a
bit more careful than usual. We used the frost as an
excuse not to run round West Barnes and headed back to
club early.
Thursday night was also cold, but not as frosty.
Wasnt great for interval training though as there was
a bitter wind whilst trying to run round which made
the whole session even less comfortable than normal.
We did 4 x 400m in 2m30secs, then the rest of the
bunch did 2x800m but Sheila Morrison and I did another
2x400m to catch our breath! (Its ok to move onto the
800m if you had a decent recovery at the 400m like Ian
Sills, but it takes Sheila and I about 2mins to do a
400m so we dont get much recovery time then!)
After the 800m we then set off on a mile (approx
1600m). Sheila and I set of first and we still
managed to be beaten by everyone else!
Friday was my realignment session with massage man in
North Berwick. Not bad cos I havent been for about
5 weeks and only my pelvis was slightly out of
alignment. That and a few tight muscles!
On Saturday Sheila Morrison and I did our first long
run since Jedburgh. We headed out at 9.00am on a 10
mile run. The rain was heavy and the wind was strong
and as we headed through John Muir Country Park it
started battering us on the right side of our body.
The weather was reminiscent of Jedburgh the rain was
so hard it was almost like hail. We ran through John
Muir to the North Berwick road, ran down to the Tyne
and along side this and then up by Knowes Farm up to
the old A1. The plan was that the route alongside the
old A1 would be more sheltered than the Park, but it
wasnt. We ran past Clarissa she was clever and out
in her car rather than running, and then crossed over
the old A1 and the new A1 up past a farm track and
round, joining the old A1 again at the roundabout
before West Barnes. It was a good run and we needed
to get a longer one in, but was so cold and wet that
my hands went numb for part of the run.
Today I went out again for another wee run. My
mileage has dipped since Jedburgh, and my food
consumption has risen, which led to me gaining about 4
pounds in one week. I need to redress the balance
.so
did a nice easy run from my house, into Dunbar, round
by the harbour, up by the pool, and along the back
road down to Belhaven bay where Brian picked me up. I
say nice, easy run as it is mainly downhill! It was a
lovely morning and I had some wonderful views on the
way. The route round town was similar to part of the
route we run on Tuesdays, and I must say its lots
better in the daylight!
Im planning to go for another short run tomorrow
morning as Im off work (not sure Ill stick to the
plan though
) Brian is going down to Peebles for his
last salmon fishing day of the year, so I might run
from Peebles down to Cardrona along the back road.
Another nice route as its scenic and surrounded by
trees and you follow the tweed along. Will update
later if I stick to the plan
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Thursday, November 17, 2005
Brrrrrrr........
Peebles was lovely but cold
But first things first,
I had another torture session last Friday morning. I
think the calves were even worse than the hamstrings,
so much so that my bruises came up nicely later on
that day. On Saturday I decided for some reason that
it would be a good idea to have a quick gym session
(something I never do) followed by a relaxing swim at
the MacDonalds Cardrona hotel. The hotel is quite
new and therefore so is the gym. I had a small run on
the treadmill to see if my legs still worked (which
they did, sort of). The swim was nice, but I could
feel the pain in my calves on nearly every kick.
On Sunday I ran alongside Megget Reservoir, then St
Marys Loch and onto Tibbie Shiels Inn. It was a
crisp day, probably about 5C, but with no wind so
really good running conditions. I took GPS, as I am
getting concerned that the readings arent accurate or
that I dont run very far or very quickly. GPS
advised that I ran 7.24 miles in 1 hour and 6 minutes
average speed 6.3 mph. I am now reassured that GPS
is doing ok
.that is pretty good for an easy run on my
own. Top speed was over 13mph which I think is
impressive, but of course I logged that on a down hill
stretch!
Tuesday night was a town run again, cool and crisp but
no wind or rain so again good running conditions. An
hour was enough though
.
Tonight I have just done a Pyramid interval session.
The session was to run 500m, 1000m, 1 mile, 1000m and
then 500m. I tailored this to 500m, 800m, 1200m,
800m, 500m. It was freezing cold and my hands did not
warm up at all.
Now I have a hectic weekend ahead night drinking
(and eating) with work friends tomorrow, through to
Glasgow on Saturday for a spot of shopping and then
onto see one of Brians favourite Bands, British Sea
Power. Hopefully the night will be a bit better than
when we went to see them earlier in the year in the
liquid room. British Sea Power had just started to
play when I decided to faint, collapsing and losing my
handbag and jacket in the process. Looks a bit dodgy
when you faint at something like that but had only had
a pint of water when I got there. Thought I was going
to ruin the evening but in the end it meant that we
got to stand directly to the left of the band with a
really good view, so not so bad after all.
Sunday is rugby in Edinburgh and then back to work on
Monday. Not quite as glam as Sheila Morrisons
weekend in Paris.
Not sure when Im going to fit any running in!
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Thursday, November 10, 2005
You should see the bruises!
Am trying to be more disciplined about my diary
entries, certainly not the running! My sports massage
last week was interesting, although at least there was
no pretence from the guy that it was going to be
pleasurable. I was met with the question are you
ready for your torture session? My ITB band was fine
great stuff. Unfortunately my quads were really
tight, as was some muscle that goes along the
side/back of the leg. I have a nice row of bruises
now, which funnily enough look like finger prints,
running up my thigh. It took about 1 hour to do the
front of my legs, turned over and was met with a
comment that it would take about another hour to sort
out my calves. So Im going back tomorrow for that
pleasure.
My legs were a bit achy after the massage, and on the
Saturday, and on the Sunday
..
On Sunday Sheila Morrison and I had planned to go out
for a 10 miler, but for some reason Sheila thought it
would be nice to run across Belhaven Beach. Hmmmm
.I
think the tide had only just gone out, the beach was
soaking wet, very sinking and very difficult to run
over (especially with achy, bruised thighs). Then it
started to rain. Given our last two Sunday runs have
been long and very wet, we took the soft option of
cutting the run short to only 6 miles. Good choice I
think, I needed to hose my shoes off and have a shower
at Sheilas to wash the mud off my legs. Sheila
kindly loaned me some clothes to get home, although I
think I probably looked a bit of a laughing stock.
The socks were a nice tan check fake Burberry, and
the shoes were her daughters light blue converse
trainers. Interesting!
Because we skived the long run on Sunday, we decided
to do a longer run on the Tuesday. Not sure that Faye
or Lindsay were please that they suffered because we
were lightweights at the weekend but we took them
along for the ride. Trying to do a long run in the
dark around the streets of Dunbar is not easy but I
think we managed to do about 8 miles. The weather was
good running weather, not too warm or too cold, a nice
breeze but not too windy, and most importantly
..no
rain!
Turnout on Thursday night was small only 3 of us
turned up. Stuart ran the session as he isnt running
at present due to injury/illness so it was Anne, Faye
and I to run the session. The session was to run 5 x
1000m in 6 mins. I did the first, third and fifth
intervals as 1000m and the second and forth as 600m.
It was a tough session, felt a bit dodgy at times but
good. Again the weather was good. Shame about the
track Anne nearly ran into someone who decided to
start dribbling their football around the cones we had
to mark the track! Will need to hassle Sheila
Morrison for skiving again
Not particularly looking forward to my massage
tomorrow, but keep thinking it will all be worth it in
the long run (pardon the pun) and the guy is nice
(although a bit too cheeky he keeps saying that
Sheila looks good for her age
.)
Am off to Peebles for the weekend so if the legs
recover will get a few nice runs in around there and
update you all next week.
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Thursday, November 03, 2005
I won!!!!!
I really am getting a bit lapse at keeping my diary up
to date Sunday the 23rd was the last time I wrote,
following a very wet run around Dunbar. On Tuesday
the 25th we had a club run, round town again. Sheila
Kerrs knee wasnt quite right so she had to head back
after about a mile. We kept it going for a bit longer
but used Jedburgh as an excuse to cut the run short to
about 4.5 miles and to run slowly too!
On Thursday Ian set us a nice easy session to set us
up for Jedburgh. We all had to run 800m at half
marathon race pace, in 6 minutes for each 800m. Ian
was being very optimistic with my race pace
suggesting I would manage 1hr 55mins for the half.
Sheila and I both had to aim for 4mins 22 secs for our
800m. The fun part though was that we were running
without watches
.
On the first two 800m Ian told us our time at the 400m
point which made it a lot easier. We were within 1-2
seconds on the first two 800m. The third we went 8
seconds faster and on the fourth 8 seconds slower.
The fifth we got just about right again!
Sunday was Jedburgh everything went as planned on
Sunday morning, I remembered that the clocks had gone
back so didnt turn up an hour too early for the bus
or anything like that. The trip down was good, it
helps take your mind off it when you are travelling
with the club and someone else is driving.
The weather seemed fair until about 5 minutes before
the start. Then the rain started, lightly at first,
refreshing. The route was scenic although not quite
the flat course that Sheila Morrison and Stuart
described it as
.I would probably say undulating with
flat bits. I was running well for the first 6/7
miles, doing approx 9 minute miles. But then I think
the added water from all the rain began to weigh me
down. From about 7 miles to 11.5 miles I ran with a
guy who was going about my speed. That did help
because I thing from anywhere at mile 9 onwards I
could have given up. Then the really heavy rain
started
.it was almost like hail. With a head wind
and heavy rain this wasnt the easiest run, or the
most enjoyable running conditions.
And then the hill
I had heard about this hill
briefly at mile 11/12. Nice man from Musselburgh
running club scared me before the race as he said he
walked up the past two years (and hes a good runner!)
so I was a bit concerned. On the way up I thought it
would be ok, but then I think I just got hacked off
with feeling a bit numb and cold from the weather,
plus out of breath from the hill and shock horror had
a walk for 2 mins. Oh dear. It was a bit tough
getting started again but I started off again whilst
still on the uphill and I think it helped me keep
going to the end I managed to pass a few people in
the last couple of miles which is always good.
Although it was disheartening when the marshals kept
saying we only had half a mile to go after running
for 2 hours, half a mile seems a very very long way.
So had a 30 secs stroll at about 12.7 miles too!
Anyway, finished in official time of 2.04.57 so got a
PB on a difficult course in difficult conditions and
lived to tell the tale. Also bet the goal of 2.05,
although slightly disappointed that I didnt run all
the way and couldnt keep up the early good form.
I spent the week before Jedburgh worrying that my
funny ITB thing would make it difficult for me to run
on Sunday and booked myself a sports massage with the
man from run-4-it for after Jedburgh. Didnt want to
waste my legs before
.now I have that please to look
forward to for first thing tomorrow morning! I am
scared
..
After the run the club headed back to Halhill for a
few drinks and then on to the Rocks for tea and more
wine. Interesting night led to Sheila having a
migraine the next day. Not sure how the two Ians
were
.. Lets just say I think everyone enjoyed the
night out!
Tuesday night was a club run again, and as it was the
first night of the month (and therefore a committee
meeting after the run) we decided to head out as a
full club for the first couple of miles. I somehow
think the men got an easier time of it they just
need to slow down to run with us, whereas I had to
make my weary half marathon legs try to keep up all
the way round West Barnes and not pant too much on the
way up any hills. It was a difficult run because I
was tired, but a great idea to all head out as a club
quite regularly we might be able to catch some of
these stray runners and entice them to club.
And tonight was the handicapped 5k run. Ian had given
me a handicap of 26 minutes which is pretty fair for
my run. Faye, Sheila Morrison and I all headed out
together. I pushed on and
.I won!!!! It was tough
though dont think I could breathe after about the
first 5 minutes of running. And I had the pressure of
not wanting to let anyone past me. I finished in a
time of 25.10 so a bit under the handicap but now
really concerned about what happens at the next one.
Anyone best get off to rest the legs prior to my
torture session tomorrow. If my legs survive Im
heading out again on Sunday for a 10 miler with Sheila
Morrison not sure what shape Ill be in then though.
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