RACE NUMBER 8

The Great North West Half Marathon
24th february 11am

Race 8 = 1hr 49.55 (7 Mins off my pb if you don't count the seconds)

I learnt a lot from the last 7 races and put it to use for this one-
Tried the bin bag method!I had no mp3- I found myself getting into a ryhthem/meditation with my breathing- so much better.Also was more relaxed as I knew the course/had some race experience behind me.

I was glancing down at my watch and worked out the minute miling which was basically 8.30min miles upto about mile 10 I think.

Near the end I really pushed forward with my arms. Im thinking I could work on how I use my arms to gain speed for future as my arms tend to be lazy and waste energy!!

Can't believe this was only my 8th race.

Races this year I am looking at are:
Blackpool half
Southport Half
Chester Half
Race The Train (Wales 14mile I think)
The Great North Run
Lancaster Half

Possibly more.....
Next year London Marathon is on the cards.

Running isn’t a sport for pretty boys with visions of grandeur. It’s about the sweat in your hair and the blisters on your feet. It’s the frozen spit on your chin and the nausea in your gut. It’s about throbbing calves and cramps at midnight that are strong enough to wake the dead. It’s about getting out the door and running even when the rest of the world is only dreaming about having the passion that you need to live each and every day with. It’s about being on a lonely road and running like a champion even when there’s not a soul in sight to cheer you on. Running is about having the desire to train and persevere until every fiber in your legs, mind and heart is turned to steel. And when you’ve finally forged hard enough, you will have become the best runner that you can be. And that’s all you can ask for.

- Paul Maurer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUcdRLn3bgM&feature=share

2013

2013

BACK ON FORM

Have done no races since last blog other than a 2k santa dash with Kyra and a XC...
I booked in for The 4 villages on 20th Jan but it got cancelled due to the snow. I managed to keep my soleous niggle at bay , had throat infection/bad cold twice so milage went down then managed to build back up gradually to now feeling back on form.



After reading dads diaries dating back to 1972, I decided to set myself a goal of averaging out his milage for 1977 which is 28miles a week (1455miles in the year). Whilst this seemed achiveable to me, I had second thoughts because if one training run is missed it can set me back a good few miles so to keep this up for whole year could prove tricky.....

In 2011 I only did 369.93 recorded miles (on nike plus watch)
In 2012 I only did 651.70 recorded miles (on nike plus watch)

In 2013 I am aiming for 1455miles so it is a big jump!!!

In the year after : 1978  my dad averaged 36.50 miles per week (1902 miles in the year)...

2013 is the first year I am recording in a diary- I have planned all my races for the year this year so I have a feeling this is going to be a good running year for me....

‎"the slow long distance runner experiences a part of his/her unconscious and also achieves an altered state of consciousness that can be called a kind of western meditation"

 

 

 

"Running in the NOW, not the future, or the past"

Back In The Running

Its taken 3 whole months but I finally feel like I'm back in the running!!!

Took about 3 weeks off due to soleous and after that it felt now and then like it could or was coming back , especially when I increased the mileage a  bit too quick but its stayed away!!!



Due to well being I decided to build up gradually in mileage but train 6 days a week... This also lead to me getting 2 personal trainers that I have alternate Thursdays. Originally it was for well being and core work and a way of having an extra training day without the need to get a babysitter , also  to get my stomach flatter as people kept asking if I was pregnant!! I can feel the strength in my legs after just 3 sessions though and this is in turn is helping my running.

This is my weekly training plan from the last few weeks and I am hoping to keep this up over the next year.

Monday- Speed sessions with club (optional) or 7 miles
Tuesday- aerobics/core work with my mate Jayne and all our kids at my house!!
Wednesday- speed session with club (run to and from dunes (optional)- tot approx 9 miles)
Thursday- Personal training session- core work and leg strength
Friday- 3.5 miles easy
Sat- Rest
Sunday- 9-15miles social/easy

Today I discovered 'propper' off road running- least I know what the club XC will be like now....very muddy......a new running experience ....I am also entering London Marathon every year from now. I wanted to get faster but I think the sooner the better I get that experience of a lifetime!!