This month for me was National flat parkrun month with mixed results. Out of the 4 on offer this month I did 3.
First up was Catterick parkrun in Yorkshire which was my first time at the event. My parents and I were travelling down for a family reunion in Harlow. So we drove to Scotch Corner on the Friday which is pretty close Catterick and stayed there overnight. Meaning it was a 10 minute drive in the morning to get there for the 9am start. At the first timers breifing he said that they actually got 500 people turn up at the first event but has now levelled out at about 150 runners per week. At this point I noticed someone with a Giffnock North hoodie who I later found out was Rob who I got chatting to just before the start.
The course is 3 laps and follows the ambulance road which goes in a circle within a horse race track. It is actually a genius route as it is practically flat and wide enough for folk to overtake slower runners. I enjoyed this run immensely and although the last lap I was struggling a bit, I was still pushing the pace. When I got about 200 meters from the end Rob was there and having already finished, he ran with me, encouraging me to dig in all the way to the end. Which I did and ended up with 29.15. Not only my fastest run of the year. But my fastest run since last November.
The following week was the first time this year where I haven't done a parkrun it was simply down to me and not external factors such as the weather. I woke up feeling very tired that Saturday morning and I think it was down to travelling so much over the previous 2 weeks and not really getting a break. I cancelled all my plans for the day and recharged the batteries.
The next week I headed for Victoria parkrun. Which didnt have the best start as I suffered from anxiety when I was making the journey across. Meaning my head really wasn't in the best place when I started the run. I had to run/walk half way into the second lap and finished in 33 minutes.
Then today I went to Troon parkrun with my Mum. This run was so much better in every way. I felt controlled the whole way through and really hammered the final sprint. I could have gone faster but today wasn't about that. It was just about enjoying my running again after the previous week. It was perfect conditions too and it's pancake flat as it goes up and down the promenade. Firstly it's a half mile out, half mile back. Then you go a mile out then a mile back. I was just off my Catterick time finishing in 29.17.
In terms of goals at the moment I think I'm going to try and do this 10 for 10 challenge which is doing 10 different parkruns in 10 different locations building up to more hilly parkruns. But if I can build up to it I might throw in a 10k too.
Saturday, 28 April 2018
Sunday, 22 April 2018
The unpredictability of the marathon
For a change I thought I'd do a combination of a general post and reflictive post about marathons. Not really surprisingly the reason for this is that over the last week the marathon distance really has been in the spotlight and it just got me thinking just how hard and unpredictable marathons are. Firstly I'll look at Callums performance from last weekend.
Callum was only a few miles from home when he collapsed in the commonwealth marathon and was odds on for the gold medal. The commontators throughout were talking as if the medal was already around his neck as soon as he broke free from 2nd place. But the thing was even if he didn't collapse I don't think it was a certainty. The reason for this is that pacing for an optimal marathon is so difficult no matter what your ability. You can practice your marathon pace as much as you want in training. But the point is - you have never ran 26.2 miles at that pace until marathon day. If you blow up at 24 miles it could add as much as 20 minutes to your time if you have to walk.
You could argue that the taper will take you to the start line as fresh as possible. But is there a way to get the taper absolutley spot on? The only way to do it is to run multiple marathons. Some people are lucky and nail marathon after marathon. But I think for the majority of us it is a bumpy road to success. Just look at Monday's Boston marathon where the winners, although very good marathon runners. The winners were far from being favourites. But the common factor with these 2 marathons was that weather played a big factor. Commonwealth games was the heat while Boston was the wind and rain.
For my first marathon in London back in 2004, I was very inexperienced. Started too slowly, then tried to make up time as I wanted to go sub 4. I went through half way feeling reasonalbly good in 2.07. Then at 14 miles I got cramp in both quads and had to jog/walk to a 4.48 finish. This was hard to take as my long runs in training went a lot better but now I realised I didn't do enough speedwork during the week or runs at marathon pace.
In 2009 I did the Loch ness marathon. For this marathon I followed a sub 3.45 plan pretty much to the T. I was in good shape having done the Helensburgh half marathon in 1.45. So I was in 3.45 shape. But getting to the line I had a different approach to this marathon. I had a watch but I didn't look at it the entire time. The first mile I just tried to figure out a pace which I felt as if I could run all day at. This made for a lot more enjoyable experience than London. I ran all the way to 22 miles then ran/walked the last 4 miles. I finished in 4.07 which was a massive PB and I was happy. It is an incredibly scenic course too.
The next year I did Lochaber marathon in Fort William. I trained more than I ever had before and throughout February and March I was averaging between 50 and 60 miles a week. I was also a member of Giffnock North. Meaning the sessions I was doing were very high quality. I didn't follow a Runners World plan this time though but I did have a plan in my head. This time during training I ran 1.36 at Alloa half marathon and I got up to running 15 mile tempo runs which was also my target marathon pace of sub 3.30. It was an out and back course and the first half went well as I went out in bang on 1.45. I started slowing at 18 miles and had to run/walk the rest finishing in 3.53. Still a massive PB and sub 4. But after all the training I would be lyng if I said I wasn't disappointed this time. But on reflection that 15 mile tempo run at marathon pace which I had built upto I found tough so I dont know why I expected to be able to do an extra 11 miles at that pace. This is something I have only really thought about recently and now the result makes more sense.
Every year at this time always does the same thing to me. It inspires me at least for a while. I'm not sure whether I ll do a marathon again. But if I do I will follow the same mentality as I did at Loch Ness and try and maximise enjoyment rather than go for a time. The thing which draws me back to the marathon at the moment, is that whatever happens in the marathon. If you do the training, you are so much fitter than you were when you started out the training. Plus I do like medals and t-shirts.
I say all this about unpredicablity and then of course.........Kipchoge wins a marathon marathon........again today! :-)
Callum was only a few miles from home when he collapsed in the commonwealth marathon and was odds on for the gold medal. The commontators throughout were talking as if the medal was already around his neck as soon as he broke free from 2nd place. But the thing was even if he didn't collapse I don't think it was a certainty. The reason for this is that pacing for an optimal marathon is so difficult no matter what your ability. You can practice your marathon pace as much as you want in training. But the point is - you have never ran 26.2 miles at that pace until marathon day. If you blow up at 24 miles it could add as much as 20 minutes to your time if you have to walk.
You could argue that the taper will take you to the start line as fresh as possible. But is there a way to get the taper absolutley spot on? The only way to do it is to run multiple marathons. Some people are lucky and nail marathon after marathon. But I think for the majority of us it is a bumpy road to success. Just look at Monday's Boston marathon where the winners, although very good marathon runners. The winners were far from being favourites. But the common factor with these 2 marathons was that weather played a big factor. Commonwealth games was the heat while Boston was the wind and rain.
For my first marathon in London back in 2004, I was very inexperienced. Started too slowly, then tried to make up time as I wanted to go sub 4. I went through half way feeling reasonalbly good in 2.07. Then at 14 miles I got cramp in both quads and had to jog/walk to a 4.48 finish. This was hard to take as my long runs in training went a lot better but now I realised I didn't do enough speedwork during the week or runs at marathon pace.
In 2009 I did the Loch ness marathon. For this marathon I followed a sub 3.45 plan pretty much to the T. I was in good shape having done the Helensburgh half marathon in 1.45. So I was in 3.45 shape. But getting to the line I had a different approach to this marathon. I had a watch but I didn't look at it the entire time. The first mile I just tried to figure out a pace which I felt as if I could run all day at. This made for a lot more enjoyable experience than London. I ran all the way to 22 miles then ran/walked the last 4 miles. I finished in 4.07 which was a massive PB and I was happy. It is an incredibly scenic course too.
The next year I did Lochaber marathon in Fort William. I trained more than I ever had before and throughout February and March I was averaging between 50 and 60 miles a week. I was also a member of Giffnock North. Meaning the sessions I was doing were very high quality. I didn't follow a Runners World plan this time though but I did have a plan in my head. This time during training I ran 1.36 at Alloa half marathon and I got up to running 15 mile tempo runs which was also my target marathon pace of sub 3.30. It was an out and back course and the first half went well as I went out in bang on 1.45. I started slowing at 18 miles and had to run/walk the rest finishing in 3.53. Still a massive PB and sub 4. But after all the training I would be lyng if I said I wasn't disappointed this time. But on reflection that 15 mile tempo run at marathon pace which I had built upto I found tough so I dont know why I expected to be able to do an extra 11 miles at that pace. This is something I have only really thought about recently and now the result makes more sense.
Every year at this time always does the same thing to me. It inspires me at least for a while. I'm not sure whether I ll do a marathon again. But if I do I will follow the same mentality as I did at Loch Ness and try and maximise enjoyment rather than go for a time. The thing which draws me back to the marathon at the moment, is that whatever happens in the marathon. If you do the training, you are so much fitter than you were when you started out the training. Plus I do like medals and t-shirts.
I say all this about unpredicablity and then of course.........Kipchoge wins a marathon marathon........again today! :-)
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