Bolton
Posted on Mar 15, 2013 under Uncategorized | No CommentOvernighting at the Beehive near Bolton. It is karaoke night and the poluce are in on an exercise. Offputting, but I’ll cope…
Quadzilla Day 3
Posted on Feb 21, 2013 under Uncategorized | No CommentIt was a snowy day in Toytown.
(It’s taken a while but I have finally got round to blogging this. The reason I haven’t blogged much was because it’s a faff typing on a tablet. I brought a keyboard with me to make the job easier, but in the rush to get out of work and onto the bus to the train to the train to Walthamstow on Wednesday, I left the adapter on my desk which allows me to attach the keyboard to the tablet.)
Clown!
There was remarkably little change between days 2 and 3. I set out at easy pace listening to the radio, and consistently hit my markers. For a couple of laps there was a flurry of snow, and the grass round the lake was resistant, so running was easy. Listened to Graham Norton on Radio 2 where I discovered that, on the very show that I watched last night, Marky Mark of Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch had been off his tits on alcobooze. I didn’t notice!
Lapped consistently, steady pace, no gut issues and again with a couple of laps to go I found myself at consistent 10mm away from 4 hour glory, so I eased up. Spotted Lesley outside the pub as I was coasting in and had a bit of a wave.
Finished ahead of schedule again, so I stood around a bit and waited. Caused a bit of consternation but it was all a bit of fun.
Recovery in the pub as usual, then a return with Lesley to CMK.
Suddenly got an appetite back as well, so I’ve refuelled with Teriyaki Salad, a chicken wrap, crisps and a pizza from Zizzi!
Day 4 coming up. I’ll finish that whateer happens!
Day 2- a better day at the office
Posted on Feb 08, 2013 under Uncategorized | No CommentAfter day 1′s disaster, I was worried about day 2. I had real issues getting any food down last night, even a visit to Red Hot World Buffet failed to yield value for money.
Obviously the improved night’s sleep had great value, though. Got to the Travelodge to meet Keith and David and that short walk shook the stiffness out of my legs.
Coffee and a clearout at the pub.
It was as cold today as yesterday but I had my usual winter kit on so was more comfortable. Started off with the intention of running 9s and today that pace felt right. I had the radio keeping me company as well, which allowed me to disassociate.
The laps were all consistently under 9 and Karen and Foxy both told me I looked better. I was taking less time feeding and things just felt right.
Lapped Lesley on lap 5. She wasn’t enjoying it much- the scenery just doesn’t match up to her bread and butter fells.
Scored 21 on the first round of “Popmaster” but epically failed round 2.
At the start of lap 6 I stopped to adjust a sock and was not happy with the amount of blood on my shoe. The positive, though, was that it has taken almost 50 miles before the habitual blister has erupted.
By lap 6 it was obvious that I’d go sub-4 so long as I could maintain 10mm, so I eased back to protect the feet and the quads which were starting to rebel.
Got to the finish at 3.54. For fun, therefore, I decided to prolong my record of 3.57 finishes, walked in slowly, then sat on a bench just to pass the time. Thus also earning me some sponsorship money!
I’m happy with that, though I’m feeling it now.
Watching “Pointless”. Football on Sky tonight.
Quadzilla Day 1
Posted on Feb 07, 2013 under Uncategorized | No CommentIt was a cold and windy day in Toytown. And I had been awake from 5am.
I really hadn’t had the best possible preparation for a marathon. My train to London had been cancelled, so I had to get a later one. Which left me no time to eat en route, so I ate Chinese on arrival in Walthamstow. Didn’t finish eating until gone 11. Then pretty much turned in.
Still wasn’t ideal.
Arrived into MK before 8. Got to the lake. Picked up breakfast from Karen. Met Lesley, decided on kit and set out for a run.
Guts wouldn’t play ball though. So I couldn’t get up to speed. And as it was a cold day I couldn’t get warm.
Did one decent lap after my first comfort stop before the rot set back in again.
Had a few decent chats on the way round, but as I had no rhythm I didn’t have a running partner. So it was a struggle.
Finally struggled in in 4.26. Joke from Karen implying I had one lap still to go. Then it was a relax in the pub before going to the hotel.
I had a go at eating. And sleeping. And eating again. Probably not enough, though, but my guts don’t want it.
I’m currently trying to relax in my room. Definitely getting an early night tonight.
Then on to day 2.
Stupid trains.
Posted on Feb 06, 2013 under Uncategorized | No CommentI’m out of kilter now. Stupid trains. Cancelled one from Grimsby town. Now an hour late. Have to be up in ten hours to get to MK.
Ready?
Posted on Feb 05, 2013 under Uncategorized | No CommentSome of my luggage is with a clubmate who’s also off to MK, so I can travel as light as necessary. Just got to try to get an early night tonight and eat as much carbohydrate as possible tomorrow.
Then the real challenge starts.
Taper
Posted on Jan 31, 2013 under Uncategorized | No CommentI’m at that point now where I just want to get out running long again.
Not done anything longer than 16 miles now since the beginning of the month.
Hotel’s booked, train tickets are paid for, and I’m ready to go.
Only one problem. I was planning on staying in Walthamstow on the Wednesday night. I won’t arrive there until about 10, and have to get up at 5.30 the next morning to get to MK. So I won’t have time to eat anything decent, nor shop for any breakfast.
Things start badly, then…
Winter Enigma 1
Posted on Jan 05, 2013 under marathons, Review | No CommentI decided in November that I should get some kind of idea of the nature of the Enigma Route round Caldecotte Lake before the fun and games of the Quadzilla, and as Ash at the club was entered into this transport wasn’t an issue, so it was a bit of a no-brainer.
I had a nice evening at Furzton Lake, an expensive couple of slices of toast this morning and a ten minute drive to the windmill. Got number and expelled waste, and set off.
The plan was pretty much to run with Ash so long as we both felt comfortable with the pace, so we ran and chatted and ran and chatted and crossed the finish line five times together.
I enjoyed the friendly nature of the race, the way that everyone said hello, the snacks on offer at the end of the lap. We stopped after each lap for about a minute to refuel, kept being overtaken by the famous Keith Luxon on the pit-stop.
At the end of mile five I decided to try to avoid getting overtaken by Luxon again, so I stopped for a shorter time and tried to pick the pace up. I hadn’t intended to do anything other than get round, but at that time it was feasibly possible with a bit of an effort to maybe scrape 3:30, and Ash wanted a longer stop, so I tried to put the hammer down. Not having gone out with the intention of running sub 3:30, however, it was a fruitless endeavour which resulted in a huge blowing-up at mile 24.5 and Luxon trotting comfortably past to defeat me by a long way. In fact, it was all I could do at the end to stop Ash catching me! I didn’t want that.
I didn’t like being lapped before I’d even got half way, but short laps coupled with a fine athlete with one intention, a course record, meant that I did have to suffer that!
I’d like to be back tomorrow, but I can wait until February!
Enigma
Posted on Jan 04, 2013 under Uncategorized | No CommentEnsconced in my room at the Furzton Lake Premier Inn. I’m looking forward to tomorrow’s fun and games…
Events 2013
Posted on Jan 01, 2013 under marathons, Preview | No CommentJan: Winter Enigma Day 1
Feb: Enigma Quadzilla + Sleaford Half or Golden Fleece Challenge
Mar: Gin Pit Double
Apr: Brighton Marathon + Scunthorpe Half
May: Windermere Marathon
Jun: Kent Roadrunner Marathon + Hertfordshire Hobble
Jul: Thunder Run
Sep: Great North Run
Oct: Mablethorpe + Frankfurt
Nov: I’m thinking of Rutland Water again, or possibly Luton or an Enigma Double
Dec: Possibly an Ultra at the Gatliff 30.