This month has been an up down month, but the good news is the down parts are now what use to constitute normal weeks. Progress!
The first week I managed 3 runs and also did some marshaling at Pollok. I was quite jealous that they were doing the alternative route and I had never done it before. A good week.
Then the second week I just did one run. But that run was down at Greenock parkrun where I managed to get a seasons best of 27.48. Best time across any parkrun I have done since been back running. Greenock is one of my favourites now.
The the third week I did 3 runs including Pollok parkrun where I just managed to dip under 30 minutes.
Then this week just the one run at Pollok parkrun and I got to do the alternative route! Loved the new hill. \I did feel a bit rusty after having a very lazy week but got round without walking.
In the weeks I did 3 runs in December, I managed a 10k in each and both felt way better than the 10k races I did this year. Planning on getting another 10k training run in before the year is out.
A few stats from this year:
Ran 35 parkruns - 18 Pollok, 8 Strathclyde, 2 Greenock, 2 Falkirk, 1 Tollcross, 1, Eglinton, 1 Ayr, 1 Victoria, 1 Springburn (that should add up).
Best time at Pollok for the year: 29.10 right at the start of the year - only came close 2 other times throughout the year. Other parkruns seemed to produce better results - ie - December's Greenock run.
Ran my 50th parkrun in July (Finished the year on 66 parkruns)
I have now run 50 parkruns since returning to running August 2014.
Volunteered 7 times this year - taking my volunteer count up to 46
Ran 2 10ks - Kielder 1.06.40 and Mens 10k Glasgow. 1.04.03. Glasgow may have been slightly quicker but Kielder was my highlight of the whole year. Incredible place.
Pleased to be keeping the running going even when its not as fast or far as I know I'm capable of. But I knew this before and it has been reemphasised now. You only get out of it what you put in. I have a lot to thank parkrun for as I have really enjoyed visiting new parkruns as well as good old Pollok, Next year I plan to step it up a gear, post on plans to come...
Saturday, 26 December 2015
Monday, 30 November 2015
November
Only did 2 parkruns this month but it has been far from a bad month. On the first Saturday of the month I was down to volunteer at Pollok parkrun doing number checking. I was quite glad I did as I had been ill the few days before and was not up for running.
The second Saturday I did Pollok coming in at 30.30. I really don't know how I managed it as I was feeling rubbish from 1k onwards but unlike previous attempts where I would stop and walk I just kept going and managed to get round. So you could call it my best worst parkrun this year :-)
Then the week after I decided just to lie in and go running in the afternoon. It was a bad one and this time I had to run/walk from about 1.5 miles onwards.
Then this Saturday I was heading up to Creiff to celebrate my Dad's birthday but I knew I could still sneak in a cheeky parkrun before hand. So I was off to Strathclyde parkrun. I wouldn't say I really attacked this parkrun but gave it a reasonable effort. I remember overtaking quite a bit. There was this really tall guy I overtook in the last km and although he was moving quickly he was barely lifting his legs off the ground, where as I felt like I was giving it a lot more. All of sudden in the last 200m he sprinted past me - I did think he was holding back! The good news from this run was that I finished in 28.23 in some pretty wild weather. A sub 28 is not far away.
I have mentioned 3 runs here which would normally be the end of the post. But sorry. It is not the end of the post. I managed another 7 training runs on top of this. Making it easily by best month so far this year. Yes there was some bad runs but there were good runs too. Especially today where I managed 4.5 miles in 45 minutes. The best thing about it was I was getting faster all the way round and still felt good at the end.
I get the sense December is going to be a challenging month if weather forecasts are anything to go by. But with a lot of good training done in November. If I do have a good December it is going to set me up really well for 2016.
The second Saturday I did Pollok coming in at 30.30. I really don't know how I managed it as I was feeling rubbish from 1k onwards but unlike previous attempts where I would stop and walk I just kept going and managed to get round. So you could call it my best worst parkrun this year :-)
Then the week after I decided just to lie in and go running in the afternoon. It was a bad one and this time I had to run/walk from about 1.5 miles onwards.
Then this Saturday I was heading up to Creiff to celebrate my Dad's birthday but I knew I could still sneak in a cheeky parkrun before hand. So I was off to Strathclyde parkrun. I wouldn't say I really attacked this parkrun but gave it a reasonable effort. I remember overtaking quite a bit. There was this really tall guy I overtook in the last km and although he was moving quickly he was barely lifting his legs off the ground, where as I felt like I was giving it a lot more. All of sudden in the last 200m he sprinted past me - I did think he was holding back! The good news from this run was that I finished in 28.23 in some pretty wild weather. A sub 28 is not far away.
I have mentioned 3 runs here which would normally be the end of the post. But sorry. It is not the end of the post. I managed another 7 training runs on top of this. Making it easily by best month so far this year. Yes there was some bad runs but there were good runs too. Especially today where I managed 4.5 miles in 45 minutes. The best thing about it was I was getting faster all the way round and still felt good at the end.
I get the sense December is going to be a challenging month if weather forecasts are anything to go by. But with a lot of good training done in November. If I do have a good December it is going to set me up really well for 2016.
Sunday, 1 November 2015
October
Well this month started well enough with the Kielder 10k which has its own post.
The following week I was down at Strathclyde parkrun. It was a good steady run and I was pleased to dip below 29 minutes for 28.59.
The next week I made the trip up to Callender park to run my second Falkirk parkrun. After the first time I really wanted to conquer that hill this time. So I started off slower. Maybe a bit too slow as when I looked behind me after 100 meters there was only 5 people behind me. But I stuck with the plan and found when I began climbing up the first hill I was gradually overtaking people. When I got round to that hill this time I had plenty of energy and managed to get to the top without walking. So mission accomplished. I had a look at my time when I got home and it was 31.23 which was actually 12 seconds slower than my first time there. So maybe I could have given it a bit more here. Still really enjoy running at Callender park though, it is one of my favourites.
Last week I was back Pollok park where it was raining quite badly right up until kick off. So there were a lot of puddles throughout the course. Meaning it was slower going but fun all the same coming in at 30.27.
This week I have been on holiday and it has given me time to reflect on my running for this year and also plan what I want to do going forward. I managed 3 runs on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. No parkrun on the Saturday though due to a dodgy night sleep. It is actually the first Saturday since April where I have not run on a Saturday, most of course being parkruns.
Anyway back to analysis of this year. When you look at my times compared to end of year last year. For Strathclyde parkrun I have improved by about 20 seconds. Then for Pollok parkrun I have come close to beating 29.08 I recorded last year but never have. Now don't get me wrong, I have thoroughly enjoyed doing all the parkruns this year. But I have not been improving at all. Now it is obvious why and I have been saying it in my posts all year about lack midweek runs. But its almost like I can just turn up and get round 5ks and 10ks at slower times and be happy with that. I know doing 3 miles a week may see improvements for starter but from past experience you need to put in the work if you want to get faster. Now I think its time to challenge myself more which in turn will spur on the motivation to get out more, but at the same time will mean less parkruns. I'll see if it works and if not I can always go back to doing "At least I got out there" parkruns once a week.
The following week I was down at Strathclyde parkrun. It was a good steady run and I was pleased to dip below 29 minutes for 28.59.
The next week I made the trip up to Callender park to run my second Falkirk parkrun. After the first time I really wanted to conquer that hill this time. So I started off slower. Maybe a bit too slow as when I looked behind me after 100 meters there was only 5 people behind me. But I stuck with the plan and found when I began climbing up the first hill I was gradually overtaking people. When I got round to that hill this time I had plenty of energy and managed to get to the top without walking. So mission accomplished. I had a look at my time when I got home and it was 31.23 which was actually 12 seconds slower than my first time there. So maybe I could have given it a bit more here. Still really enjoy running at Callender park though, it is one of my favourites.
Last week I was back Pollok park where it was raining quite badly right up until kick off. So there were a lot of puddles throughout the course. Meaning it was slower going but fun all the same coming in at 30.27.
This week I have been on holiday and it has given me time to reflect on my running for this year and also plan what I want to do going forward. I managed 3 runs on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. No parkrun on the Saturday though due to a dodgy night sleep. It is actually the first Saturday since April where I have not run on a Saturday, most of course being parkruns.
Anyway back to analysis of this year. When you look at my times compared to end of year last year. For Strathclyde parkrun I have improved by about 20 seconds. Then for Pollok parkrun I have come close to beating 29.08 I recorded last year but never have. Now don't get me wrong, I have thoroughly enjoyed doing all the parkruns this year. But I have not been improving at all. Now it is obvious why and I have been saying it in my posts all year about lack midweek runs. But its almost like I can just turn up and get round 5ks and 10ks at slower times and be happy with that. I know doing 3 miles a week may see improvements for starter but from past experience you need to put in the work if you want to get faster. Now I think its time to challenge myself more which in turn will spur on the motivation to get out more, but at the same time will mean less parkruns. I'll see if it works and if not I can always go back to doing "At least I got out there" parkruns once a week.
Sunday, 4 October 2015
Kielder 10k
What happened?! A blog post which for the first time this year that is not entitled with a month name!! Well I thought this one deserved a blog of its own and didn't want to wait till the end of the month where I might forget.
On my last post I did say I wasn't going to do this and that was posted just last Saturday. But after further thought I just put last weeks run down to a bad day. I have been running not badly at parkruns recently and I am not just going to lose the slight fitness I have at the moment in such a short period of time. Plus I really wanted a medal and a t-shirt and didn't want to regret not doing it and waiting for another year.
So onwards to yesterday. I set off at 8.30am and made my way down to Kielder with only a few navigational mishaps with a short stop at Gretna services. I got there about 11.30am which was ideal as the race started at one. They ran shuttles from the car park to the start which were excellent as I got on one straight away, So I got to the start at 11.45, with plenty of time before the 1pm start. I passed the time reading runners world. Then I dropped off my bag in the baggage area at the finish and walked to the start. The weather was ideal conditions for running. Cloudy about 10 degrees. It wasn't the day for views but it really is a stunning area.
Anyway to the race. I positioned myself at the back of the 55 minute - 1 hour 15 minute section. First of all the run bike run guys headed off and immediately double backed down a path parallel to the single track road we started on. Once they were gone we started moving forward. When we got going the pace was very much dictated, which I was happy about as it meant I was not going out to quick. After about 1/2 a kilometer the route turns off the road and on to a trail. Initially everyone slowed right down due to the narrowness of the path but it soon picked up again.
After a kilometer, I was warned by one of the guys I spoke to on the shuttle about the hill and not to attack it as it was to early on. So as many people continued to run up it. I decided with my limited hill training just to move right over to the side and walk the hill. It was fairly steep and pretty much lasted the whole of the second kilometer. As the steepness reduced I did start to run again and overtook quite a lot of folk who the hill took too much out of them. When I use to run I would always attack hills and use to love it but due to fitness levels at the moment I thought this approach would make for a more enjoyable experience for the rest of the run.
Everyone had really spread out after 3k and the kilometers from then on seemed to fly by. I was walking for bits where there was hills but I was running quite a bit too. I loved the trails which were surrounded by trees. This really was my kind of race. There was a water station after 3k and one at 7k. The second 5k was definitley easer than the first in terms of hilliness, but there was still a few undulations. Unlike the Mens 10k earlier in the year I felt a lot better in the last 5k and I put this down to having a better strategy and maybe even being a bit fitter than I was back in June.
The last k I actually speeded up! There was a great atmosphere at the finish where I got my medal, t-shirt, goody bag and banana. Overall I had a great experience and so glad I did go. Its not a PB course and if you go with the approach to enjoy the day you will not be disappointed. I ended up completing it in 1.06.40. So only 2 and half minutes off my flat mens 10k time from earlier in the year. So pleased with that. The organisation was amazing and its such an amazing part of the world. I definitely want to return to do the half/or the marathon one day to explore more.
On my last post I did say I wasn't going to do this and that was posted just last Saturday. But after further thought I just put last weeks run down to a bad day. I have been running not badly at parkruns recently and I am not just going to lose the slight fitness I have at the moment in such a short period of time. Plus I really wanted a medal and a t-shirt and didn't want to regret not doing it and waiting for another year.
So onwards to yesterday. I set off at 8.30am and made my way down to Kielder with only a few navigational mishaps with a short stop at Gretna services. I got there about 11.30am which was ideal as the race started at one. They ran shuttles from the car park to the start which were excellent as I got on one straight away, So I got to the start at 11.45, with plenty of time before the 1pm start. I passed the time reading runners world. Then I dropped off my bag in the baggage area at the finish and walked to the start. The weather was ideal conditions for running. Cloudy about 10 degrees. It wasn't the day for views but it really is a stunning area.
Anyway to the race. I positioned myself at the back of the 55 minute - 1 hour 15 minute section. First of all the run bike run guys headed off and immediately double backed down a path parallel to the single track road we started on. Once they were gone we started moving forward. When we got going the pace was very much dictated, which I was happy about as it meant I was not going out to quick. After about 1/2 a kilometer the route turns off the road and on to a trail. Initially everyone slowed right down due to the narrowness of the path but it soon picked up again.
After a kilometer, I was warned by one of the guys I spoke to on the shuttle about the hill and not to attack it as it was to early on. So as many people continued to run up it. I decided with my limited hill training just to move right over to the side and walk the hill. It was fairly steep and pretty much lasted the whole of the second kilometer. As the steepness reduced I did start to run again and overtook quite a lot of folk who the hill took too much out of them. When I use to run I would always attack hills and use to love it but due to fitness levels at the moment I thought this approach would make for a more enjoyable experience for the rest of the run.
Everyone had really spread out after 3k and the kilometers from then on seemed to fly by. I was walking for bits where there was hills but I was running quite a bit too. I loved the trails which were surrounded by trees. This really was my kind of race. There was a water station after 3k and one at 7k. The second 5k was definitley easer than the first in terms of hilliness, but there was still a few undulations. Unlike the Mens 10k earlier in the year I felt a lot better in the last 5k and I put this down to having a better strategy and maybe even being a bit fitter than I was back in June.
The last k I actually speeded up! There was a great atmosphere at the finish where I got my medal, t-shirt, goody bag and banana. Overall I had a great experience and so glad I did go. Its not a PB course and if you go with the approach to enjoy the day you will not be disappointed. I ended up completing it in 1.06.40. So only 2 and half minutes off my flat mens 10k time from earlier in the year. So pleased with that. The organisation was amazing and its such an amazing part of the world. I definitely want to return to do the half/or the marathon one day to explore more.
Sunday, 27 September 2015
September
I managed 3 parkruns this month. The first one was at Falkirk's Callender park. I have been to the park twice before for the National XC's and it was just as good as I remembered. The parkrun course was of course different but thoroughly enjoyable. I read the course description on the website before hand and just mentioned that there was a wee hill, so I was confident that I could start a bit quicker. So that's what I did and it was pretty flat round the first k, as I made my way round the lake. The course then turns into the woods and up a gradual climb which just went on and on. At the top I was so exhausted I was struggling to run down the other side! I did though and followed the route round getting myself ready for the "wee hill". As I approached it, I looked up and said to myself "this is not wee!!!" I have no doubt been up way harder hills in my time but I just was not prepared for this at all and I was still recovering from the gradual climb. So I just decided to walk it. When I got to the top I actually felt better and was able to run comfortably the rest of the run coming in around 31 minutes. Definitely one of my favorite parkruns I have done.
The next week I opted for a more flat run so I was down at Strathclyde. I knew from the start that I wasn't really on my game today to try and beat my PB at the event so just toughed out a 30 minute run.
The next week I was at Pollok Park, I wouldn't say I was going for it here either but I certainly felt better than the previous week. I wasn't really expecting a good time but was surprised with a 29.21 which is only 11 seconds off my best at the course this year so was very pleased with that.
Yesterday the plan was to do volunteering at park run in the morning then a longer run in the afternoon. Well one of the two went well! And that was the volunteering. I had a great time with my marshall buddy Steve and meeting various other people including John Kynaston for the first time whose blog I have been following for years and has provided much inspiration in that time and was not short of good advice for me about running in the chat we had. Also met John Softley who just hit his 250th parkrun. The run in the afternoon I was just going to take easy and do about 4 1/2 miles. but I got to 1 1/2 and just had no energy. So just walked and cut it to 3 miles. I was meant to to do Kielder 10k next weekend and was hoping for a good easy run yesterday to prove I could get round ok. But this has put doubts in my mind especially as its such a long way to go too. So may just end up at a parkrun.
The next week I opted for a more flat run so I was down at Strathclyde. I knew from the start that I wasn't really on my game today to try and beat my PB at the event so just toughed out a 30 minute run.
The next week I was at Pollok Park, I wouldn't say I was going for it here either but I certainly felt better than the previous week. I wasn't really expecting a good time but was surprised with a 29.21 which is only 11 seconds off my best at the course this year so was very pleased with that.
Yesterday the plan was to do volunteering at park run in the morning then a longer run in the afternoon. Well one of the two went well! And that was the volunteering. I had a great time with my marshall buddy Steve and meeting various other people including John Kynaston for the first time whose blog I have been following for years and has provided much inspiration in that time and was not short of good advice for me about running in the chat we had. Also met John Softley who just hit his 250th parkrun. The run in the afternoon I was just going to take easy and do about 4 1/2 miles. but I got to 1 1/2 and just had no energy. So just walked and cut it to 3 miles. I was meant to to do Kielder 10k next weekend and was hoping for a good easy run yesterday to prove I could get round ok. But this has put doubts in my mind especially as its such a long way to go too. So may just end up at a parkrun.
Saturday, 29 August 2015
August
August on the whole has totally rocked! :-)
First parkrun of the month I went to Victoria park in the westend of Glasgow for the first time. Its a pretty much flat 3 lapped course with a slight incline in the far side of the park to where it starts. I paced it pretty well and finished bang on 29 minutes. At the moment sub 30's are my aim so very pleasing.
Second parkrun of the month I was back at Pollok. I can't really remember much about this one but again I finished under 30. Just! 29.56 so a good solid run.
Third parkrun I ventured out to Springburn parkrun in the north of Glasgow. I had a look at some other folk I knows times before it and it looked like the course is a about a minute slower than flatter courses. So I thought sub 30 might be pushing it. This was again reiterated at the first timer briefing where the guy warned that it was an undulating course. It starts in the middle of the course then you do 2 and half laps finishing nearly where you started. The middle of the park is the highest point so its a downhill start. Although there is obviously uphills they are very gradual, and it does feel like a flat downhill course somehow. I paced it well, not walking any, and finishing knowing I couldn't have given it anymore. I went home to look up the results and expected to see 30 min something. Only to find 28.15! My fastest time since returning to running last August!
I was thinking of doing Pollok the next week but since I had such a good run at Springburn, I was curious what kind of time I could do at Strathclyde where I hadn't really given it a good effort there since last December. Most of my runs there this year have been comeback runs. I really did start this run aggressively. I managed until 3.5k to sustain the pace and then I had to slow a little. Unlike previously at Strathclyde there was a lot more people around me which helped keep me going. I made it to the line and thought that it was going to be a close call to match my previous best at Strathclyde which was 28.23. ....and when I got home and checked my result? 28.05! Another seasons best, fastest time at Strathclyde and best time since returning to running.
So today, could I get another good time at Pollok? Well this one had a twist. As my mate from uni Stu decided to join me for his first parkrun. We had a chat at the start if he wanted me to run with him. But he said he'll just try and keep up and if its not happening I was just to go on as he has not done any exercise in quite some time. So we started together and I didn't start as aggressively as the previous week. We got to about 1.5k and Stu just said for me to go on, I wasn't feeling that great myself but went on hoping it would get better. I got to 3.5k and just had to start run/walking to the end. Just not my day. But even then got home and saw the result and got 31.51 so can't complain about that time at all since I did have walk breaks. My mate Stu did really well too for his first parkrun finishing just under 34 minutes.
So overall a great month. I am down to do a trail 10k race at Strathclyde Park next week but not sure whether I'll do it or not given I was struggling quite a bit today. We shall see.
For anyone who reads this that does parkrun (or if anyone reads this lol) I found a cool thing on the parkrun website where you can see a list of all your parkruns you have done on the 1 page no matter where you did it and also shows you your best time from each year regardless of location. Just go to an event page for a parkrun you have never done before. Search for your name and voila!
First parkrun of the month I went to Victoria park in the westend of Glasgow for the first time. Its a pretty much flat 3 lapped course with a slight incline in the far side of the park to where it starts. I paced it pretty well and finished bang on 29 minutes. At the moment sub 30's are my aim so very pleasing.
Second parkrun of the month I was back at Pollok. I can't really remember much about this one but again I finished under 30. Just! 29.56 so a good solid run.
Third parkrun I ventured out to Springburn parkrun in the north of Glasgow. I had a look at some other folk I knows times before it and it looked like the course is a about a minute slower than flatter courses. So I thought sub 30 might be pushing it. This was again reiterated at the first timer briefing where the guy warned that it was an undulating course. It starts in the middle of the course then you do 2 and half laps finishing nearly where you started. The middle of the park is the highest point so its a downhill start. Although there is obviously uphills they are very gradual, and it does feel like a flat downhill course somehow. I paced it well, not walking any, and finishing knowing I couldn't have given it anymore. I went home to look up the results and expected to see 30 min something. Only to find 28.15! My fastest time since returning to running last August!
I was thinking of doing Pollok the next week but since I had such a good run at Springburn, I was curious what kind of time I could do at Strathclyde where I hadn't really given it a good effort there since last December. Most of my runs there this year have been comeback runs. I really did start this run aggressively. I managed until 3.5k to sustain the pace and then I had to slow a little. Unlike previously at Strathclyde there was a lot more people around me which helped keep me going. I made it to the line and thought that it was going to be a close call to match my previous best at Strathclyde which was 28.23. ....and when I got home and checked my result? 28.05! Another seasons best, fastest time at Strathclyde and best time since returning to running.
So today, could I get another good time at Pollok? Well this one had a twist. As my mate from uni Stu decided to join me for his first parkrun. We had a chat at the start if he wanted me to run with him. But he said he'll just try and keep up and if its not happening I was just to go on as he has not done any exercise in quite some time. So we started together and I didn't start as aggressively as the previous week. We got to about 1.5k and Stu just said for me to go on, I wasn't feeling that great myself but went on hoping it would get better. I got to 3.5k and just had to start run/walking to the end. Just not my day. But even then got home and saw the result and got 31.51 so can't complain about that time at all since I did have walk breaks. My mate Stu did really well too for his first parkrun finishing just under 34 minutes.
So overall a great month. I am down to do a trail 10k race at Strathclyde Park next week but not sure whether I'll do it or not given I was struggling quite a bit today. We shall see.
For anyone who reads this that does parkrun (or if anyone reads this lol) I found a cool thing on the parkrun website where you can see a list of all your parkruns you have done on the 1 page no matter where you did it and also shows you your best time from each year regardless of location. Just go to an event page for a parkrun you have never done before. Search for your name and voila!
Sunday, 26 July 2015
July
For the first Saturday in July I made the trip down to Ayr to run my first parkrun in Rozelle park. The route is like a horse shoe with an out and back followed by another out and back, then you do the first out and back again. Its a trail 5k with some sections on loose rocks along with mud so its not the fastest 5k but it is fun. I had a good run and finished in 32 minutes. I had a look at other peoples times and worked out that compared with other parkruns the course is about 2 minutes slower so that was a good effort.
The middle 2 parkruns of the month were run at Pollok and both were terrible! I was run/walking both of them and they took over 34 minutes each. I just wasn't feeling right. I did do some midweek runs too but they were just as bad.
Yesterday I thought, is it going to be 3 bad parkruns in a row - but the answer really was no! I got a shout out at the start because this was my 50th parkrun. Then about after a kilometer the event director came up from behind me and we started chatting and continued all the way to the end. I was putting in a real effort while she was cruising. I thought I was going to walk a lot earlier but I managed to keep going up to the last steep incline on the second lap where I started walking for a few seconds, but Liz was having none of it and said to start running again. So I made it round in 29.44! It almost felt like a comeback run after so many bad runs and don't get me wrong it was tough. But now I feel I've got something to build on.
I can't believe I have run my 50th parkrun. At this point last year I wasn't even running and had run just 16 parkruns. Now I have run 50. I know I said at the start of the year I wanted to reach 50 volunteers at the same time, but running it became more important especially with my fitness levels at the moment.
Again the focus in August has to be to try and get the midweek runs in. I've signed up for a trail race near Strathclyde Park in September so hope to get in reasonable shape for that.
The middle 2 parkruns of the month were run at Pollok and both were terrible! I was run/walking both of them and they took over 34 minutes each. I just wasn't feeling right. I did do some midweek runs too but they were just as bad.
Yesterday I thought, is it going to be 3 bad parkruns in a row - but the answer really was no! I got a shout out at the start because this was my 50th parkrun. Then about after a kilometer the event director came up from behind me and we started chatting and continued all the way to the end. I was putting in a real effort while she was cruising. I thought I was going to walk a lot earlier but I managed to keep going up to the last steep incline on the second lap where I started walking for a few seconds, but Liz was having none of it and said to start running again. So I made it round in 29.44! It almost felt like a comeback run after so many bad runs and don't get me wrong it was tough. But now I feel I've got something to build on.
I can't believe I have run my 50th parkrun. At this point last year I wasn't even running and had run just 16 parkruns. Now I have run 50. I know I said at the start of the year I wanted to reach 50 volunteers at the same time, but running it became more important especially with my fitness levels at the moment.
Again the focus in August has to be to try and get the midweek runs in. I've signed up for a trail race near Strathclyde Park in September so hope to get in reasonable shape for that.
Saturday, 27 June 2015
June
June signifies the end to the first half of the year. Its not been the best 6 months but its not been the worst either. Going by month, my running has kind of followed a pattern with January being a good month, February bad, March good, April bad, May good...........June?
Well June stopped that trend well eventually. The first weekend I was all set to head down to Ayr when I got a delightful infection in my wisdom tooth which was extremely painful. It shouldn't have stopped me running but it did. I found sleeping hard and instead of heading to park run I opted for a lie in instead.
But things certainly picked up the next weekend. With the Mens 10k scheduled the week after I wanted to do a dress rehearsal to see how I get on with the 10k distance, whether it was worth doing the Mens 10k and to hopefully act as a confidence booster that I could cover 10k having not gone over 5k in ages. So I headed for Strathclyde parkrun nice and early. I must have got there about 8.40 and walked to the start where I broke into a gentle jog. I completed the 5k route in just under 33 minutes and actually felt ok. I then waited at the start for about 15 minutes for the main event to kick off. Starting at the back, I had exactly the same approach as the first 5k, just nice and easy. Not surprisingly my legs were feeling it pretty early on but I persevered and got round in 32 minutes. This is exactly what I needed. I now knew that I could get round 10k even if I did have a 15 minute break at 5k! I knew it was going to be tough the following week but at least I had that in the bank now.
On the Saturday following since I wasn't running down at park run. I opted to volunteer instead as a marshal. It was also a good bit of light exercise for the Saturday before Sunday's main event.
My mum very kindly offered to give me a lift to the Riverside museum where the event started. It is a point to point course, finishing at Glasgow Green. So I would have had to get a bus back to the start otherwise (thanks mum!) . I was a bit concerned about which pen I was in as I had put down 59 minutes on the form which would have been more than doable if I had actually done any midweek runs. But I knew that I was going to be over an hour possibly an hour 10 minutes. But luckily I was in the last pen out of 3. The announcer guy was good although I found it quite funny how he kept saying that the first pen of runners were going to do it in under 35 minutes. I had no doubt there would be a few that were capable of it but not a third of the field! In the end there was 4 runners out of 1,300 who dipped under 35 minutes.
Anyway back to the race. I was pleased that I found myself at the right part of the field - ie the back!. Once we got onto the road which runs parallel to the expressway the field spread out so you could run as fast or slow as you wanted. The first 2k I found very comfortable which was reassuring. The 3rd k I was starting to feel it a bit. Then the 4th k you go over the Kingston bridge which was a novelty as always. Going into the 5th k I kept having a war with my head as 5k is usually the finish line but today it was half way. The course goes back over to the north side of the Clyde and up Buchanan street, along to George square. George square was about 7k into the race and by now I was struggling. I knew 7-9k were going to be the toughest and I wasn't wrong. I used the usual mental tricks to keep me going like counting and lamposting (just focus on the next lampost).
Just before 8k my mum was standing, cheering just before the arch which gave me a lift. 8-9k was a straight km and felt like it would never end. But it did I kept going and turned onto Glasgow Green for the final km. I didn't have anything left for a sprint finish but I didn't stop either. I was so happy to cross the line. My furthest run in 4 years and my first actual event in 4 years too. I finished in 1.04.03 so now I have a target to beat.
This morning I was back at Pollok for my first attempt at a 5k since last months 29.14. I was all set until I got a text from my brother asking if I was going to Pollok at 8 am. He has not run for ages so I decided just to run round with him. His daughter who is 3 also ran the first km and the last half km with us which was great. A true star in the making. In between I think my bro was struggling a bit but he kept at it and got round without walking.
So all in all a good month :-)
Well June stopped that trend well eventually. The first weekend I was all set to head down to Ayr when I got a delightful infection in my wisdom tooth which was extremely painful. It shouldn't have stopped me running but it did. I found sleeping hard and instead of heading to park run I opted for a lie in instead.
But things certainly picked up the next weekend. With the Mens 10k scheduled the week after I wanted to do a dress rehearsal to see how I get on with the 10k distance, whether it was worth doing the Mens 10k and to hopefully act as a confidence booster that I could cover 10k having not gone over 5k in ages. So I headed for Strathclyde parkrun nice and early. I must have got there about 8.40 and walked to the start where I broke into a gentle jog. I completed the 5k route in just under 33 minutes and actually felt ok. I then waited at the start for about 15 minutes for the main event to kick off. Starting at the back, I had exactly the same approach as the first 5k, just nice and easy. Not surprisingly my legs were feeling it pretty early on but I persevered and got round in 32 minutes. This is exactly what I needed. I now knew that I could get round 10k even if I did have a 15 minute break at 5k! I knew it was going to be tough the following week but at least I had that in the bank now.
On the Saturday following since I wasn't running down at park run. I opted to volunteer instead as a marshal. It was also a good bit of light exercise for the Saturday before Sunday's main event.
My mum very kindly offered to give me a lift to the Riverside museum where the event started. It is a point to point course, finishing at Glasgow Green. So I would have had to get a bus back to the start otherwise (thanks mum!) . I was a bit concerned about which pen I was in as I had put down 59 minutes on the form which would have been more than doable if I had actually done any midweek runs. But I knew that I was going to be over an hour possibly an hour 10 minutes. But luckily I was in the last pen out of 3. The announcer guy was good although I found it quite funny how he kept saying that the first pen of runners were going to do it in under 35 minutes. I had no doubt there would be a few that were capable of it but not a third of the field! In the end there was 4 runners out of 1,300 who dipped under 35 minutes.
Anyway back to the race. I was pleased that I found myself at the right part of the field - ie the back!. Once we got onto the road which runs parallel to the expressway the field spread out so you could run as fast or slow as you wanted. The first 2k I found very comfortable which was reassuring. The 3rd k I was starting to feel it a bit. Then the 4th k you go over the Kingston bridge which was a novelty as always. Going into the 5th k I kept having a war with my head as 5k is usually the finish line but today it was half way. The course goes back over to the north side of the Clyde and up Buchanan street, along to George square. George square was about 7k into the race and by now I was struggling. I knew 7-9k were going to be the toughest and I wasn't wrong. I used the usual mental tricks to keep me going like counting and lamposting (just focus on the next lampost).
This morning I was back at Pollok for my first attempt at a 5k since last months 29.14. I was all set until I got a text from my brother asking if I was going to Pollok at 8 am. He has not run for ages so I decided just to run round with him. His daughter who is 3 also ran the first km and the last half km with us which was great. A true star in the making. In between I think my bro was struggling a bit but he kept at it and got round without walking.
So all in all a good month :-)
Saturday, 30 May 2015
May
Well this has been a good month. I made parkrun 5 out of 5 times. The main aim for the month was to get under 30 mins at Pollok
2nd May - I was at Pollok for my 40th parkrun. It was a pretty solid run coming in at 30.38.
9th May - I ventured out to Greenock parkrun for the first time. The weather was amazing and I really pushed it. The course goes along the prominade. It goes out for 1 1/2 k, then you turn around and go back for a km. Then you turn round and then go back again for a kilometer. Then one final turn around for the 1 1/2 k to finish. It is quite a quiet parkrun with under 100 running which meant there was no problem getting away at the start. I felt I gave a good effort and I was rewarded with 28.28 which is my fastest 5k time this year and only 5 seconds off my best 5k time since returning to running.
May 16 - I was back at Pollok and found the first km a bit slow. I think I may have started too far back here. Especially when you turn left off the road onto the path in the first k. The pace was pretty much dictated by the wall of runners in front. But after that bit there was no excuses and I just missed out on a sub 30 minute by just 7 seconds.
May 23 - Another bit of parkrun tourism as I headed for Irvine for the Eglinton parkrun. I have never been to the country park before and found the park to be amazing. The course as well really is fantastic. Even with between 150 and 200 runners there was no problems at the start and the first 200 meters can more than cope with the crowd before the runners spread out. It goes into a small loop for starter with the whole route being on paths and trails. Then it goes in to large loop round the loch. Then you go round the small loop, then down the straight to the finish. It works well because the fast runners don't have the issue of overtaking slower runners and the slower runners don't have the issue of faster runners breathing down there necks. The route I would say is nearly as undulating as Pollok and my time certainly reflected this as I was 1 second faster than Pollok the previous week coming in at 30.06.
May 30th - Today I was back at Pollok and really wanted to achieve my objective for the month and get under 30 mins. There was pacers today but I decided just to run my own run. I found I was positioned better today and that the first k I was running at a good pace. The 30 min pacer was in sight and in the 2nd k I did catch her and she said she was going too quickly. I was giving a good effort and found I was slowing in the 3rd and 4th k. The 30 min pacer overtook me again but I caught up on the last hill and kept going to the finish. I do not envy the job as a pacer at Pollok, as the course is so difficult to judge pace on and everyone has different strengths and weaknesses on descents and ascents. I was pleased when I got home to find that I finished in 29.14! Only 4 seconds off my best time at Pollok for the year and 6 seconds off my best time at Pollok since returning to running.
So things are looking up. :-) I'm still struggling with my midweek runs - getting them in and when I do I find I struggle and have to cut them short. But I'll get there. I am definitely in a better position than April and I'm looking forward to the Men's 10k next month. Might even get some season best's at parkrun too...
2nd May - I was at Pollok for my 40th parkrun. It was a pretty solid run coming in at 30.38.
9th May - I ventured out to Greenock parkrun for the first time. The weather was amazing and I really pushed it. The course goes along the prominade. It goes out for 1 1/2 k, then you turn around and go back for a km. Then you turn round and then go back again for a kilometer. Then one final turn around for the 1 1/2 k to finish. It is quite a quiet parkrun with under 100 running which meant there was no problem getting away at the start. I felt I gave a good effort and I was rewarded with 28.28 which is my fastest 5k time this year and only 5 seconds off my best 5k time since returning to running.
May 16 - I was back at Pollok and found the first km a bit slow. I think I may have started too far back here. Especially when you turn left off the road onto the path in the first k. The pace was pretty much dictated by the wall of runners in front. But after that bit there was no excuses and I just missed out on a sub 30 minute by just 7 seconds.
May 23 - Another bit of parkrun tourism as I headed for Irvine for the Eglinton parkrun. I have never been to the country park before and found the park to be amazing. The course as well really is fantastic. Even with between 150 and 200 runners there was no problems at the start and the first 200 meters can more than cope with the crowd before the runners spread out. It goes into a small loop for starter with the whole route being on paths and trails. Then it goes in to large loop round the loch. Then you go round the small loop, then down the straight to the finish. It works well because the fast runners don't have the issue of overtaking slower runners and the slower runners don't have the issue of faster runners breathing down there necks. The route I would say is nearly as undulating as Pollok and my time certainly reflected this as I was 1 second faster than Pollok the previous week coming in at 30.06.
May 30th - Today I was back at Pollok and really wanted to achieve my objective for the month and get under 30 mins. There was pacers today but I decided just to run my own run. I found I was positioned better today and that the first k I was running at a good pace. The 30 min pacer was in sight and in the 2nd k I did catch her and she said she was going too quickly. I was giving a good effort and found I was slowing in the 3rd and 4th k. The 30 min pacer overtook me again but I caught up on the last hill and kept going to the finish. I do not envy the job as a pacer at Pollok, as the course is so difficult to judge pace on and everyone has different strengths and weaknesses on descents and ascents. I was pleased when I got home to find that I finished in 29.14! Only 4 seconds off my best time at Pollok for the year and 6 seconds off my best time at Pollok since returning to running.
So things are looking up. :-) I'm still struggling with my midweek runs - getting them in and when I do I find I struggle and have to cut them short. But I'll get there. I am definitely in a better position than April and I'm looking forward to the Men's 10k next month. Might even get some season best's at parkrun too...
Sunday, 26 April 2015
April
Well today was the day I was meant to do my first race in 4 years but unfortunately it just hasn't turned out that way. The first weekend of the month I helped out down out parkrun, marshalling. I went out for a few runs the next week and had to walk after a few miles. I thought nothing of it, just putting it down to a bad run. But over the next few days I began to feel more and more unwell. To the point where I had to take sometime off work and visit the doctor. Turned out I had a virus. I kept thinking I'll be ok the next day. But days turned into weeks and I was only back in work Wednesday just past. So personally I think I made the sensible decision not to run Balfron today. I still haven't run over 3 miles this year and it would of been my first run off not training for pretty much the whole month where I would have built up to this.
But I did get out down to Strathclyde parkrun yesterday and had a good run. I started very easy and felt good as I increased the pace as I went round gradually picking people off. Finishing in 30.34.
I hope to have a better month in May and my target is to get back below 30 mins at Pollok parkrun and look forward to the Mens health 10k in June.
But I did get out down to Strathclyde parkrun yesterday and had a good run. I started very easy and felt good as I increased the pace as I went round gradually picking people off. Finishing in 30.34.
I hope to have a better month in May and my target is to get back below 30 mins at Pollok parkrun and look forward to the Mens health 10k in June.
Saturday, 28 March 2015
March
Since I wasn't in parkrun action in Feburary, I decided to ease myself back into it and head to Strathclyde park run for the first weekend in March. It was pacer day so I decided to go with the 30 minute pacer and stick with it. I felt comfortable all the way round and broke away from the pacer in the last kilometer to finish in 29.34.
Since that went so well I thought Pollok parkrun was the next logical step the next week. But half way round the second loop I started to struggle and had to walk on a couple of occasions. I still got round in 30.22 though so maybe just went out too fast.
I decided the next week to have a go at Pollok again and struggled big time! I actually felt ill after the first lap and had to do lots of walking in the second lap and ended up recording my slowest time ever for any parkrun (excluding tail running) in 33.18. Not sure what was up but it wiped me out for the rest of the weekend.
Today I really wanted to get back on top of things and headed back to Pollok for the 3rd time this month. It was the first time they have used pacers and I thought sticking to the 30 min pacer would be a good aim. That was until I started! She went zooming off and I just decided to run my own race from there. Like all of my Pollok parkruns this month I found it tough going but this time, I paced it better and felt better so I managed to go all the way round without walking, finishing in 30.16. 3 minutes difference from the previous week!
Its now a month to go till the Balfron 10k and I'm starting to feel like maybe its just too soon for it since I am still not comfortably getting round 5ks. I know exactly why. Its down to the fact that I'm just not doing any runs during the week, pretty much since the start of the year. I'm going to try and get out more in April but will need to motivate myself better and get myself into a routine.
Since that went so well I thought Pollok parkrun was the next logical step the next week. But half way round the second loop I started to struggle and had to walk on a couple of occasions. I still got round in 30.22 though so maybe just went out too fast.
I decided the next week to have a go at Pollok again and struggled big time! I actually felt ill after the first lap and had to do lots of walking in the second lap and ended up recording my slowest time ever for any parkrun (excluding tail running) in 33.18. Not sure what was up but it wiped me out for the rest of the weekend.
Today I really wanted to get back on top of things and headed back to Pollok for the 3rd time this month. It was the first time they have used pacers and I thought sticking to the 30 min pacer would be a good aim. That was until I started! She went zooming off and I just decided to run my own race from there. Like all of my Pollok parkruns this month I found it tough going but this time, I paced it better and felt better so I managed to go all the way round without walking, finishing in 30.16. 3 minutes difference from the previous week!
Its now a month to go till the Balfron 10k and I'm starting to feel like maybe its just too soon for it since I am still not comfortably getting round 5ks. I know exactly why. Its down to the fact that I'm just not doing any runs during the week, pretty much since the start of the year. I'm going to try and get out more in April but will need to motivate myself better and get myself into a routine.
Saturday, 28 February 2015
February
In terms of months I have been running, this has probably been one of my worst. But in terms of months in general this has to be one of my favorites.
Out of the 4 parkruns on offer this month I ended up doing none. Not because I didn't want to but because life just got in the way.
The first one I was about to jet off for a holiday in India/UAE. I probably could have just made it to parkrun on the Saturday. But for those who know me, know that I don't like to leave things to the last minute. I was away for almost 2 weeks which meant another parkrun missed. While I was away I did manage 4 gym sessions which was really all the exercise I did all month and 2 of them had to be cut short due to stomach issues.
Then when I got back I was all set for Strathclyde parkrun to break me in gently and my car wouldn't start so that was that one out the window. Then this morning I woke up at 4.30am and my back was agony which ever way I lay. So I had a very disrupted sleep and decided it would probably best to leave it today. My back does feel better now though.
I did expect this month to be more of a chill month but not quite to the extent it was. But it was all worth it going to India and UAE which I had an absolute blast.
Here is to a fun filled, full of park running March!
Out of the 4 parkruns on offer this month I ended up doing none. Not because I didn't want to but because life just got in the way.
The first one I was about to jet off for a holiday in India/UAE. I probably could have just made it to parkrun on the Saturday. But for those who know me, know that I don't like to leave things to the last minute. I was away for almost 2 weeks which meant another parkrun missed. While I was away I did manage 4 gym sessions which was really all the exercise I did all month and 2 of them had to be cut short due to stomach issues.
Then when I got back I was all set for Strathclyde parkrun to break me in gently and my car wouldn't start so that was that one out the window. Then this morning I woke up at 4.30am and my back was agony which ever way I lay. So I had a very disrupted sleep and decided it would probably best to leave it today. My back does feel better now though.
I did expect this month to be more of a chill month but not quite to the extent it was. But it was all worth it going to India and UAE which I had an absolute blast.
Here is to a fun filled, full of park running March!
Saturday, 31 January 2015
January
This year certainly started off with a bang. It was double parkrun time! Not that I did one parkrun after the other but I was involved in both. I missed the bells to get an early night so I was up fresh and early on New Years day. Firstly I was helping out with marshalling at Strathclyde parkrun. Then it was up to Tollcross parkrun to run it. I couldn't quite believe just how tough Toll cross was. The course starts off going straight up a hill and I was huffing and puffing after that! There was various other hills round the course. But the main one you have to go up 3 times. On the last lap I gave in and had to walk. I just had nothing left. I struggled round to the finish in about 30.30 meaning I must have been making the most of the downhills! A great start to the year having finished it but boy did it take a while to recover from! I skipped the park run on the Saturday and vowed to get more hill work in. I managed one hill session and that's been it for various reasons I'll go into.
On the 10th I was back at Pollok parkrun and was pleased to finish in 29.10 which is only 2 seconds slower than my best 2014 time at the event. This showed that I had maintained my fitness from last year and I was in a good position. Then of course illness struck and I was off work. It took about 2 weeks to fully get rid of it and I managed not to get frustrated at the lack of progress I was making.
The weather then had its turn on making it difficult to run. I made it down to Strathclyde parkrun last week which was fun. They used the alternative course which was on the grass and is basically 2 times out and back. I did find it tough though especially the 2nd time. Unfortunately there is no record of the run on the site as it looks like my barcode must have not scanned properly. But from working out my time from other results I was about 33 minutes. Slowest ever at Strathclyde but it was on grass.
Today I planned to do Pollok but it was cancelled so off to Strathclyde again. This time they had an alternative route but it was 2 times out and back on the path. It was a wee bit icy and very cold so I had it in my mind before the start I would just take it easy today. I was pleased with just over 31 minutes and had plenty left in the tank.
Overall considering I've not really run much this month, I'm happy with where I am at the moment. I've signed up for my first event - the Balfron 10k in the end of April and will be edging back to Tollcross as I get more hill work done. I've had to change some other plans as the Kielder 10k clashes with Great Scottish run. I've decided I want to do Kielder as I quite fancy doing the marathon one year and the 10k seems like a good time to check out the area. Since there was a big gap between events I'm now going to do the Killin 10k in August
On the 10th I was back at Pollok parkrun and was pleased to finish in 29.10 which is only 2 seconds slower than my best 2014 time at the event. This showed that I had maintained my fitness from last year and I was in a good position. Then of course illness struck and I was off work. It took about 2 weeks to fully get rid of it and I managed not to get frustrated at the lack of progress I was making.
The weather then had its turn on making it difficult to run. I made it down to Strathclyde parkrun last week which was fun. They used the alternative course which was on the grass and is basically 2 times out and back. I did find it tough though especially the 2nd time. Unfortunately there is no record of the run on the site as it looks like my barcode must have not scanned properly. But from working out my time from other results I was about 33 minutes. Slowest ever at Strathclyde but it was on grass.
Today I planned to do Pollok but it was cancelled so off to Strathclyde again. This time they had an alternative route but it was 2 times out and back on the path. It was a wee bit icy and very cold so I had it in my mind before the start I would just take it easy today. I was pleased with just over 31 minutes and had plenty left in the tank.
Overall considering I've not really run much this month, I'm happy with where I am at the moment. I've signed up for my first event - the Balfron 10k in the end of April and will be edging back to Tollcross as I get more hill work done. I've had to change some other plans as the Kielder 10k clashes with Great Scottish run. I've decided I want to do Kielder as I quite fancy doing the marathon one year and the 10k seems like a good time to check out the area. Since there was a big gap between events I'm now going to do the Killin 10k in August
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