This week has been tough but I'm slowly but surely getting there. On Monday I went to the doctors and Tuesday I went to the Psychiatrist, so I'm getting the right help and the doctor gave me a sick line.
I have been running every day and just trying to get back to my normal self. I've left the garmin behind and not counting miles for now as at the moment my priority is to get better which I definitely am compared to this time last week but I just need to be patient.
Yesterday I did the park run. Usually when I ask to volunteer I just say give me anything. But this week I decided to be tail runner as it is a job I've never done before. I really enjoyed it. There were a few late comers which I let go pass and the usual good banter was had between runners and volunteers. Then the runners spread out and two girls were in last place. I just let them chat amongst themselves until the split where they informed me they were just doing 1 lap. Cool I thought, now I get a bit of a run! I didn't catch up with the next girl until the bottom of the glade and we got chatting and I told her 'don't worry, I'll be last today so you don't have too!' Then going up the last small steep climb caught up with another girl and chatted until I let them go ahead just before the finish.
In other news my brother's wife got a PB by nearly a minute! She has just joined Giffnock North too so looking forward to seeing her times improve even more.
Today I had a nice long lie in and will just been trying to rest more while keeping up the running. Onwards and upwards :-)
Sunday 30 January 2011
Monday 24 January 2011
Catch up - Running and skiing
Couple of weeks to catch up on
The first week I probably had one of the best weeks of training and really surprised myself . On Monday I had a rest day.
Tuesday I went to what I think is the hardest Merry. I took it easy for the first couple of reps then started increasing the pace and by the end of it I was sprinting up it. What I thought was a steep hill now it seems a lot less daunting.
Wednesday I can't really remember much about the run but did 4.7 miles.
Thursday I went to the club which I thought I wasn't going to make because my train was cancelled and had to get the bus home but I still made it. I'm glad I did as I had a great session. I went with the B group which only had 4 of us. I managed to keep up for 4 reps and was delighted to get them under 4 minutes. That was enough for me and for the last rep I just cruised round with the back of the C group.
Friday I did a run round Gogarburn with Alex which was great.
Saturday I was on the WHW with Sue, Ann and Mandy. I had a great time. We headed off from Auchentyre towards Crainlarich. It was really icey under foot and it was slow going out. Some bits were runnable but others were we just went on the snow on the side. We got to a river though which looked wild so we decided the best option would be to turn back and head towards bridge of orchy. At which time we put on our spikes and found it a lot easier to run back. I even found that spikes were fine on the trails which weren't icy. Lesson Learned! Once we got back to the road crossing we took off our spikes and went to Tyndrum. We jogged off for a bit then Mandy and I turned back as Mandy wanted a shorter run and I didn't want to burn myself out before the holiday. So Ann and Sue went off to Inveronan and back to Tyndrum where Mandy and I met them at the Real Food cafe.
So a fun day out. Sunday was off to France, skiing. The first half of the week was great and loved the skiing. The second half of the week I began to feel mentally worn out to the point I burst into tears on the slope. Sometimes I just think too much. This doesn't happen often, but when it does I really do need my friends and family to come through which they are doing with flying colours. I'm off work at the moment trying to recouperate but I hope to be back as soon as possible.
The first week I probably had one of the best weeks of training and really surprised myself . On Monday I had a rest day.
Tuesday I went to what I think is the hardest Merry. I took it easy for the first couple of reps then started increasing the pace and by the end of it I was sprinting up it. What I thought was a steep hill now it seems a lot less daunting.
Wednesday I can't really remember much about the run but did 4.7 miles.
Thursday I went to the club which I thought I wasn't going to make because my train was cancelled and had to get the bus home but I still made it. I'm glad I did as I had a great session. I went with the B group which only had 4 of us. I managed to keep up for 4 reps and was delighted to get them under 4 minutes. That was enough for me and for the last rep I just cruised round with the back of the C group.
Friday I did a run round Gogarburn with Alex which was great.
Saturday I was on the WHW with Sue, Ann and Mandy. I had a great time. We headed off from Auchentyre towards Crainlarich. It was really icey under foot and it was slow going out. Some bits were runnable but others were we just went on the snow on the side. We got to a river though which looked wild so we decided the best option would be to turn back and head towards bridge of orchy. At which time we put on our spikes and found it a lot easier to run back. I even found that spikes were fine on the trails which weren't icy. Lesson Learned! Once we got back to the road crossing we took off our spikes and went to Tyndrum. We jogged off for a bit then Mandy and I turned back as Mandy wanted a shorter run and I didn't want to burn myself out before the holiday. So Ann and Sue went off to Inveronan and back to Tyndrum where Mandy and I met them at the Real Food cafe.
So a fun day out. Sunday was off to France, skiing. The first half of the week was great and loved the skiing. The second half of the week I began to feel mentally worn out to the point I burst into tears on the slope. Sometimes I just think too much. This doesn't happen often, but when it does I really do need my friends and family to come through which they are doing with flying colours. I'm off work at the moment trying to recouperate but I hope to be back as soon as possible.
Sunday 9 January 2011
Kilpatrick Sandwich with not much filling
The week started with a run in the Kilpatrick hills and ended in the Kilpatrick hills.
Monday was my last day of my holidays so I wanted to make the most of it. I looked at the weather forecast and it was to get worse as the day went on so I got up early, checked what time the sunrise was and timed it to arrive at the foot of the hills at half 8. I headed up the long road hill and found I was walking earlier than usual. I still managed bits of running after. I was surprised to get to the top, 1.6 miles in 19.47 which is not far off my PB of 19.25. As I continued, I realised that although there was a flatish bit after, I was still ascending. In fact it doesn't actually stop ascending till the 2.2 mile mark. I had a look at Runnning ahead after for the elevation to find that it was 1000ft which is about 300 meters. I know the elevation isn't always accurate with these programs but I find with hills they tend to be more accurate than in cities. After the 1.6 mile mark I actually felt stronger and was able to run all the way up to the end of the road, round on to the small hill. Then down to the resevoir. As I was descending off the small hill down to the resevoir I landed awkwardly and felt the inside of my knee twist. It was fine to run on but sore if I landed in the same awkward position which didn't happen much for the rest of the run so I didn't think that much of it.
It was icy in places but it was all easily avoidable. I decided then not to go along the side of Greenside Resevoir but to go up Cochno Hill. The grass was a lot longer than I remember and not really any bits I could run until I reached the path at the top. Last time I just turned right along the path and down to the resevoir. This time I decided to go to the top of the hill so turned left. I must have been about 30 metres from the top when I saw three runners just coming over the top of the hill. The first people I had seen on the hills all day.
I was getting ready to say Hi when they came closer I realised one of them was Marco who I'd met at the run at Pollok Park the previous Friday and was out with a couple of his Garscube buddies. They were heading down and then up the slacks which is where I was going to go after going to the top of Cochno. So I decided to join them and watched Marco flying down Cochno showing us how it was done. They were just going for an easy run so we walked most of the slacks. When we reached the trig point he said if I would like to join them for the rest of their run. But I decided 7 miles that was enough for my first run in the hills in a few months. So I headed south while they headed west. I had a good descent considering the ice and managed to complete the descent in 15.31 so thats my new PB as before it was 16.11.
Afterwards that niggle was getting sorer but I couldn't figure out if it was an injury I could run through or not. I went for a 4 miler in the evening and I could feel it at times so I decided after to lay off running until it was fine. Tuesday and Wednesday I had off and by Thursday it felt like it had gone so I went to the club for a session round the Merries. I decided to join the C group again tonight because it was icy and wanted to be careful with the leg. Good news was that it was fine. To be honest I'm crap with what things are called in the leg apart from calf, hamstring quad so I still don't really know what it was. It did feel more like a joint thing.
I took Friday off too just to be sure. Saturday a nice layer of snow came so I ran down to park run in my mircospikes. Did registration which was challenging with the cold. When I used to do registration I hardly recognised anybody. While I still don't know a lot I am recognising more and more names. One of which this week was Colin Knox whose blog I've been reading for a while. Unfortunately didn't get to chat as it was during the busy time. I decided after to do the park run as it's a good session at the moment with the 10 hills which I didn't expect to be included in this weeks report!
Today I headed back to the Kilpatricks. As the pavements looked dodgy so it actually looked safer to head for the hills with my microspikes. What a glorius day! Looking at the hills from the bottom most of the snow had gone but as I headed up the road, it was still a thin layer. Today I was slightly slower to the 1.6 mile mark taking 20.22 but ran for longer till I had to walk. Then the run turned awesome. The snow was still there as the sun hadn't got to the other side of the hills. The loch was frozen over and it was just a pleasure to be running in such amazing surroundings. I got to the end of the road where I usually turn right up the small hill. On a non snow day there is a path which goes over this hill but today it was untouched snow. As I pondered what to do I realised that my feet were getting cold just standing there as I was only wearing one pair of socks. So I decided just to turn back down the road which means I still covered 6 miles with a good amount of ascent.
I have been thinking a lot about ascent, training, the fling course and pacing which I plan on posting something about in the future. For now I'm planning another few jaunts on the WHW including a group run which Marco suggested going on at the end of the month. I realise that his training pace is probably my tempo pace but hopefully there will be "slower" people there and even if there isn't - just absorbing as much knowledge and tips as I can before blowing up, will be a training run worth while. I'd rather make the mistakes on the training runs than in the actual race.
Monday was my last day of my holidays so I wanted to make the most of it. I looked at the weather forecast and it was to get worse as the day went on so I got up early, checked what time the sunrise was and timed it to arrive at the foot of the hills at half 8. I headed up the long road hill and found I was walking earlier than usual. I still managed bits of running after. I was surprised to get to the top, 1.6 miles in 19.47 which is not far off my PB of 19.25. As I continued, I realised that although there was a flatish bit after, I was still ascending. In fact it doesn't actually stop ascending till the 2.2 mile mark. I had a look at Runnning ahead after for the elevation to find that it was 1000ft which is about 300 meters. I know the elevation isn't always accurate with these programs but I find with hills they tend to be more accurate than in cities. After the 1.6 mile mark I actually felt stronger and was able to run all the way up to the end of the road, round on to the small hill. Then down to the resevoir. As I was descending off the small hill down to the resevoir I landed awkwardly and felt the inside of my knee twist. It was fine to run on but sore if I landed in the same awkward position which didn't happen much for the rest of the run so I didn't think that much of it.
It was icy in places but it was all easily avoidable. I decided then not to go along the side of Greenside Resevoir but to go up Cochno Hill. The grass was a lot longer than I remember and not really any bits I could run until I reached the path at the top. Last time I just turned right along the path and down to the resevoir. This time I decided to go to the top of the hill so turned left. I must have been about 30 metres from the top when I saw three runners just coming over the top of the hill. The first people I had seen on the hills all day.
I was getting ready to say Hi when they came closer I realised one of them was Marco who I'd met at the run at Pollok Park the previous Friday and was out with a couple of his Garscube buddies. They were heading down and then up the slacks which is where I was going to go after going to the top of Cochno. So I decided to join them and watched Marco flying down Cochno showing us how it was done. They were just going for an easy run so we walked most of the slacks. When we reached the trig point he said if I would like to join them for the rest of their run. But I decided 7 miles that was enough for my first run in the hills in a few months. So I headed south while they headed west. I had a good descent considering the ice and managed to complete the descent in 15.31 so thats my new PB as before it was 16.11.
Afterwards that niggle was getting sorer but I couldn't figure out if it was an injury I could run through or not. I went for a 4 miler in the evening and I could feel it at times so I decided after to lay off running until it was fine. Tuesday and Wednesday I had off and by Thursday it felt like it had gone so I went to the club for a session round the Merries. I decided to join the C group again tonight because it was icy and wanted to be careful with the leg. Good news was that it was fine. To be honest I'm crap with what things are called in the leg apart from calf, hamstring quad so I still don't really know what it was. It did feel more like a joint thing.
I took Friday off too just to be sure. Saturday a nice layer of snow came so I ran down to park run in my mircospikes. Did registration which was challenging with the cold. When I used to do registration I hardly recognised anybody. While I still don't know a lot I am recognising more and more names. One of which this week was Colin Knox whose blog I've been reading for a while. Unfortunately didn't get to chat as it was during the busy time. I decided after to do the park run as it's a good session at the moment with the 10 hills which I didn't expect to be included in this weeks report!
Today I headed back to the Kilpatricks. As the pavements looked dodgy so it actually looked safer to head for the hills with my microspikes. What a glorius day! Looking at the hills from the bottom most of the snow had gone but as I headed up the road, it was still a thin layer. Today I was slightly slower to the 1.6 mile mark taking 20.22 but ran for longer till I had to walk. Then the run turned awesome. The snow was still there as the sun hadn't got to the other side of the hills. The loch was frozen over and it was just a pleasure to be running in such amazing surroundings. I got to the end of the road where I usually turn right up the small hill. On a non snow day there is a path which goes over this hill but today it was untouched snow. As I pondered what to do I realised that my feet were getting cold just standing there as I was only wearing one pair of socks. So I decided just to turn back down the road which means I still covered 6 miles with a good amount of ascent.
I have been thinking a lot about ascent, training, the fling course and pacing which I plan on posting something about in the future. For now I'm planning another few jaunts on the WHW including a group run which Marco suggested going on at the end of the month. I realise that his training pace is probably my tempo pace but hopefully there will be "slower" people there and even if there isn't - just absorbing as much knowledge and tips as I can before blowing up, will be a training run worth while. I'd rather make the mistakes on the training runs than in the actual race.
Sunday 2 January 2011
Marcothon complete plus first race of 2011
This week has been a lot of fun on the running front.
Monday I headed to Roukenglen Park and did 5 times half mile reps on the grass, plus warm up and warm down. The route was interesting with the thaw kicking in, so there were big puddles to run through in places and there was still snow in other places.
Tuesday I thought the track might be on so I headed up to Williamwood school. I turned up and Neil who is one of the coaches and an excellent runner too, was there. The problem was the lights were all off! Another guy turned up but left again. After chatting to Neil for a bit I headed off for my own run. I wanted to get some speed work in so ended up doing a mini Fartlek session.
Wednesday I was already thinking about Thursday's run so I just did an easy 3.25 miles.
Thursday has its own blog
On Wednesday night, Debbie who set up the Marcothon challenge on Facebook sent everyone doing it a message saying they were planning on going down to Pollok Park and doing the park run route to celebrate completing the Marcothon. I sent one back saying maybe because I had a bed being delivered that day so wasn't sure if I was going to make it. But the bed was delivered at 8am so I headed down. 14 of us made it down and Richard, one of the park run directors was down too, to recce the course for tomorrows run. I thought my legs would be tired from yesterday, but although tired I was running fine and chatting took my mind completely off what my legs were doing anyway. It was great meeting everyone and I really enjoyed the run where we ended up doing 5 miles which equated to 2 big laps and 1 small lap. The course was still really icy in places and we were slowed to a walk to cross some of the bits or had to go in the mud at the side in places.
Picture of the Glasgow Marcothonees:
Marcothon complete! It was by far my best ever training month and I ended up doing 218 miles with 2 really good long runs. I've really enjoyed the challenge of running each day especially in this weather and also reading about how everyone else has got on with it.
I went to a friends for New Year but was up and out early back down to Glasgow park run. I felt it was quite appropriate to finish 2010 doing a park run and start 2011 doing a park run. So Saturday I was going to run it too. I parked outside the park so I could get a warm up. I then mingled and said happy new year to folk before we headed off to the start. It was the second choice cross country course today which is 5 times 1km laps with 2 hills on each lap with the course following an 'n' shape. I had no idea how to pace this one so I set off at a pace I thought I could maintain. I have to say I absolutely loved this route, especially as I got really muddy and the trail which goes back down to the start is just awesome! I ended up finishing in 24.14 which was 30 th place out of 103. A great start to the year. Afterwards I went on another lap of the course for a warm down, talked to Martin who was marshaling and then chatted to more folk at the registration area where there was plenty of food since the Burrell was closed quite a few people brought some. Needless to say I made the most of it!
I went on a warm down back to the car and was just changing my shoes when Gillian and Alan, 2 of the directors pulled up. They were going to Richards for a post race coffee and asked if I wanted to join. So I went along for some more chat, drinks and biscuits. Then Francis gave out some parkrun t-shirts! Not the 'I've done 50 park run' ones obviously - but volunteer ones! It might be a while till I'll be wearing it due to the weather but come summer it will be out in force.
Today - I did no running! Yes I had a rest day, the first in 36 days.
Roll on 2011!
Monday I headed to Roukenglen Park and did 5 times half mile reps on the grass, plus warm up and warm down. The route was interesting with the thaw kicking in, so there were big puddles to run through in places and there was still snow in other places.
Tuesday I thought the track might be on so I headed up to Williamwood school. I turned up and Neil who is one of the coaches and an excellent runner too, was there. The problem was the lights were all off! Another guy turned up but left again. After chatting to Neil for a bit I headed off for my own run. I wanted to get some speed work in so ended up doing a mini Fartlek session.
Wednesday I was already thinking about Thursday's run so I just did an easy 3.25 miles.
Thursday has its own blog
On Wednesday night, Debbie who set up the Marcothon challenge on Facebook sent everyone doing it a message saying they were planning on going down to Pollok Park and doing the park run route to celebrate completing the Marcothon. I sent one back saying maybe because I had a bed being delivered that day so wasn't sure if I was going to make it. But the bed was delivered at 8am so I headed down. 14 of us made it down and Richard, one of the park run directors was down too, to recce the course for tomorrows run. I thought my legs would be tired from yesterday, but although tired I was running fine and chatting took my mind completely off what my legs were doing anyway. It was great meeting everyone and I really enjoyed the run where we ended up doing 5 miles which equated to 2 big laps and 1 small lap. The course was still really icy in places and we were slowed to a walk to cross some of the bits or had to go in the mud at the side in places.
Picture of the Glasgow Marcothonees:
Marcothon complete! It was by far my best ever training month and I ended up doing 218 miles with 2 really good long runs. I've really enjoyed the challenge of running each day especially in this weather and also reading about how everyone else has got on with it.
I went to a friends for New Year but was up and out early back down to Glasgow park run. I felt it was quite appropriate to finish 2010 doing a park run and start 2011 doing a park run. So Saturday I was going to run it too. I parked outside the park so I could get a warm up. I then mingled and said happy new year to folk before we headed off to the start. It was the second choice cross country course today which is 5 times 1km laps with 2 hills on each lap with the course following an 'n' shape. I had no idea how to pace this one so I set off at a pace I thought I could maintain. I have to say I absolutely loved this route, especially as I got really muddy and the trail which goes back down to the start is just awesome! I ended up finishing in 24.14 which was 30 th place out of 103. A great start to the year. Afterwards I went on another lap of the course for a warm down, talked to Martin who was marshaling and then chatted to more folk at the registration area where there was plenty of food since the Burrell was closed quite a few people brought some. Needless to say I made the most of it!
I went on a warm down back to the car and was just changing my shoes when Gillian and Alan, 2 of the directors pulled up. They were going to Richards for a post race coffee and asked if I wanted to join. So I went along for some more chat, drinks and biscuits. Then Francis gave out some parkrun t-shirts! Not the 'I've done 50 park run' ones obviously - but volunteer ones! It might be a while till I'll be wearing it due to the weather but come summer it will be out in force.
Today - I did no running! Yes I had a rest day, the first in 36 days.
Roll on 2011!
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