Run | Number 104 | Chase Me

Over the winter months, every few weeks, Bushfield stage a 5k Chase Me race. For those that don't know this means you are given a handicap time and the slowest set off first whilst the fast people chase. The aim is to not be passed & everyone finishes roughly at the same time. The handicaps for this were based on the last chase me as opposed to a recent 5k time. My last chase me took me 37 minutes. Money was on Rachel or myself to win as we have both improved drastically since this. I did my calculations and worked out she would just beat me. I passed the woman in front of me within 5 minutes and was feeling really good, I had set off far to fast but after months of long slow runs it felt nice to really give it some. I even manged to make it to the marshal point before the marshal :)

I managed to get to 4.5k before Rachel passed me, and I crossed the line less then a minute after her. This was also the fastest 5k I have ever done, crossing the line in 29:39. Woohoo

Run | Number 103

Distance - 8 miles
Time - 1 hour 27 minutes

On Tuesday, Rachel and I headed out for 10 miles as I am worried about missing a few longer runs in my half marathon training. Unfortunately we only managed 8 miles. It got dark a hell of a lot quicker than we imagined, and the route I had planned was closed so we had to think on our feet. 8 miles on a Tuesday evening after a day at work is pretty good going though I feel.

Gym | Week 22

Monday

Rest

Tuesday

8 mile run

Wednesday

Rest

Thursday

3.1 mile run - Chase me race

Friday

Rest

Saturday

Rest

Sunday

1 True Grit - 10k Obstacle course

Run | Number 102 | Green Wheel Relay Race 2013

Mental note: Never ever run a race when hungover!

On Sunday I took part in the Green Wheel Relay. This obviously consists of a relay around the whole of Peterborough's Green Wheel course. Split into 7 legs including: Embankment - Eye, Eye - Newborough, Newborough - Ferry Meadows, Ferry Meadows - Norman Cross, Norman Cross - Stanground & Stanground - Embankment.

I took the third leg, Newborough - Etton, which was just awful, I was so worried about getting lost, but thankfully our bike support was excellent, when approaching a junction, Craig would cycle on ahead to make sure he knew where I was going. As mentioned earlier, I may of been hungover due to a friends birthday, on top of this it was really hot on Sunday, this did not make for good running conditions. Part of my leg was a 2 and a half mile stretch along a straight gravel path, nothing to focus on but what was ahead of you.

I managed to finish my 7.3 mile leg in 1 hour 22 minutes, so not too bad considering. This turned out to be a really good day and it was really fun to support not only the other Bushy's but everyone else.

My team ended up coming 10th and the other Bushy team 12th, not to make excuses but both of the Bushfield teams on the 4th leg went wrong with one guy doing 15 miles instead of 8 (he wasn't very happy as you can imagine). I also heard another team went wrong on a different leg so maybe signage needs to be addressed for next year but I had no problems at all. 

Probably my 2 best race photos ever!

Run | Number 101

Distance: 4.4 miles
Average Pace: 10:50's

On Thursday a couple of us went for a nice gentle run, I was a little worried as their gentle normally means my full pelt, but I think I must be getting faster/ fitter as this pace did feel easy. I could tell I was working but I wasn't struggling to breath by the end of it. The route we had planned was meant to be 5.5 miles, but unfortunately it turned out to only be 4.4 miles. A shame as I wanted to do further, but still good as I'm breaking in my new trainers. A solid training run I felt

Gym | Week 20 & 21

So I went on holiday in week 20 but I did manage 2 5k runs on the treadmill on Monday & Thursday, and I swam lengths one day, so not to bad for a rest week.

Monday

Rest (you know as I haven't had enough this week)

Tuesday

Run 4 miles - 11 minute/mile pace

Wednesday

Rest

Thursday

Gym

Treadmill - 5 minute warm up
Ab crunch - 10 reps x 8 sets - 27kg
Rotatory Torso - 10 reps x 8 sets - 27kg
Shoulder press - 10 reps x 8 sets - 18kg
Converging shoulder press - 10 reps x 4 sets - 14kg
Bicep curl - 10 reps x 6 sets - 18kg
Tricep curl - 10 reps x 8 sets - 23kg
Seated medicine ball twists - 50 reps x 4 sets - 3kg
Crunches with medicine ball - 50 reps x 4 sets - 3kg
Plank - 30 seconds x 2

Run 4.4 miles - 10:50 pace

Friday

Rest





Saturday

Rest


Sunday

Green Wheel Relay - 7.4 miles

Run | Number 100

Distance: 4 miles
Time: 43 minutes 45 seconds

Ran with Sarah as a recovery run as she completed the GNR on Sunday, I wanted a 'easy' run as I hadn't done much whilst I was away and I'm breaking in my new trainers.

Review | New Balance 890's

A couple of weeks ago I took the plunge and ordered some new trainers online, the New Balance 890's to be precise. I absolutely loved the look of these, a lightweight trainer with support around the midsole and ankle, I thought these sounded perfect. I ran in these for around 2 weeks and absolutely loved them, they were light and they felt bouncy under foot, although about 2/3weeks in I notice pain in my left ankle, which I can only describe as a dull throb. After a few more runs this pain creeped up to my knee and I knew something was wrong, I immediately started icing and elevating in a bid to dull the pain which definitely helped, I also switched back to my old trainers and found the pain disappeared. Great but this left me in another predicament of still needing some new trainers.

I would just like to say I think the 890's would be a great shoe for a midsole runner, unfortunately I heel strike and there just isn't enough support for this, so please do not let this put you off as I think they are a great trainer.

So off I went to Advance Performance again to have my gait analysed. I've now had this done twice and I really can't fault their expertise and customer service. I tried on numerous pairs of trainers, I really liked the Adidas supernova's but I still felt like I needed a little extra support, I also loved the Asic's gel but once again not enough support (silly left ankle).

I eventually chose the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 13, in a none garish colourway (as much as I love pink I'm fed up with it on my running kit). These felt so comfotable as soon as I put them on & felt really supportive on the treadmill. I took them out last night for an easy 4 miler and they felt fab, no pain today whatsoever but I will do a proper review when I've used them for a few weeks.

Update | Weightloss 2

It's been a little while since I updated on my weight loss, sometimes it feels really unreal that it's happened to me and not someone else. I recently got back from holiday and on looking through the photo's I realised quite how different I look now, therefore I decided to do this comparison. These photos are pretty much taken a year apart. I can't believe I ever got myself into that state in the first place and I sure as hell hope I never end up like that again. I'm so much happier now then I have been in a long time. I better keep off the chocolate haha!

Run | Number 98 & 99

So I went to Marrakesh and it was lovely, probably not my best idea a month before a half marathon, but I'm looking at that all inclusive as extra carb loading (that counts right!).

I wasn't a total slacked, I managed to 5k runs on the treadmill in the gym, how to people run on a treadmill it makes me so bored and I find it so hard. I was aiming to do it 3 times that week but by the Saturday I just couldn't face facing a wall in 36 degree heat, not fun.

Now I am back and I have 2/3 weeks of proper training before the tapering begins.

Run | Number 97

Distance: 10 miles
Pace: 10:36

On Saturday I knew I needed to fit a long run in before going on holiday. I didn't really have a plan just anywhere between 8-11 miles. I hate how you can plan a route in your head and by the time you're half way round you've realised its only 3 miles and you need to keep going. I ran up to Ferry Meadows through the woods and made it round the lake to the finish of parkrun, stopped to say hello to everyone from Bushfield who had taken part, have a toilet stop & fill up my water bottles and carried on home, I even turned down the offer of a lift home.

This is the first long run in ages which I have a ran by myself and I managed to stick to 10:36 pace, lets hope I can do that in 4 weeks time.

Have I mentioned in 4 weeks I will hopefully be a half marathon runner, blisters on feet and medal in hand. Oh god!

Run | Number 95 & 96

Distance: 5.1 miles
Pace: 11:17

Distance 6.3 miles
Pace: 11:03

I'm really working hard at sticking to my race pace for the GER, at the moment I'm looking at anywhere between 10:30/11:30 minute miles it all depends on the day so I'm trying to aim for a steady 11. Nothing too exciting to report at the moment, just continuing with training and trying to keep injury free.

Gym | Week 19

Monday

30 minutes treadmill - Speed 7-8
Shoulder Press - 5 sets x 10 reps - 9kg
Arm curl - 5 sets x 10 reps - 14kg
Chest Press - 5 sets x 10 reps - 11kg
Tricep Extension - 10 sets x 10 reps - 18kg

Mini circuit
Chest press - 20 reps - 5kg
Tricep Curl - 30 reps - 5kg
Squats - 30 reps - 10kg
Medicine twists - 50 reps - 5kg

x3

Tuesday

5.1 mile run

Wednesday

Rest

Thursday

6.3 mile run

Friday

Rest

Saturday

10 mile run

Sunday

Rest

Rant | Number 1

I've hurt my ankle :(

I've made it nearly 9 months without getting injured and I'm pretty sure it's down to my new trainers (boooo). I've been resting, elevating and icing and foam rollering and the pain when walking has gone altogether now. Tonight I am going to run using my old trainers and see if that gets rid of the pain.

Looks like I'll be taking a trip to Advance Performance and prepare to spend my life savings on another pair of trainers (slight exaggeration). Whoever said running was a free sport was very very wrong.

Run | Number 93

I felt like I had been slacking recently so on Friday night I decided to go out after work for a quick 3 miler. Boy it was hotter than I thought and obviously I didn't take water so I decided to be brave and strip down to my sports bra (thankfully no one jeered or threw up haha).

This hurt like hell but I really pushed it. I had to pause half way through as I felt a twinge in my ankle, thankfully it seems to be ok after a little rest and ice so touch wood we are ok. BUT.....I made 5k in under 30 minutes wooohoooo. I have no idea how I will ever do this again as we all know the next 5k race I do I won't be able to do it, so annoying. 

Run | Number 92

Strawberry Hill - My nemesis.

I really wasn't feeling up for this but as always I gave it my best shot. 6 miles completed with 2 reps up Strawberry Hill in 1 hour 09 minutes. Not my fastest but not my slowest so can't complain. 

Run | Number 91

Sorry I'm a little behind on posts at the moment. Last Sunday I set about my longest run yet. 11 miles. I set out with Sarah and Louise not really knowing what to expect. We set off at a fairly quick pace for my long runs but it felt comfortable so I decided to see how long I could keep this up for.

We finished 11.55 miles in 2 hours 06 minutes 20 seconds keeping an average pace of 10:55. That's really fast for me and I'm still surprised I managed to keep it up. I felt really strong until around the 9.5 mile mark, but I think this was due to the route we picked. We used our usual 9 mile Haddon route and added our 3 mile chase me route onto the end so I knew exactly how much further I had to go and I think this panicked me a little.  

Mile splits are below, as you can see I managed to keep them fairly consistent. If I can keep this pace for the full half marathon I will come in just under my target of 2 hours 30 minutes, so I really need to stick to this pace. I slacked this weekend and didn't go out for a long run, I just can't manage them week in week out as I can't recover in time. Saturday I am aiming to do anything between 8-11 miles as I'm going away on Sunday for a week. Not the best idea 6 weeks before my first half marathon, but I'm going to use the hotel gym and swim as much as I can to keep my stamina up.

1 - 10:36
2 - 10:46
3 - 10:45
4 - 10:46
5 - 10:44
6 - 11:04 (Hill)
7 - 10:32
8 - 10:36
9 - 11:00
10 - 11:04
11 - 11:02

P.s. my 10k time for this run was 1:04:45 that's 8 minutes slower than my last race, I can't believe how much faster I have gotten recently. 

Gym | Week 18

Monday

17 mile bike ride

Tuesday

Rest

Wednesday

Rest

Thursday

6 mile run (hill sprints)

Friday

3.1 mile run (fast)

Saturday

3.1 mile colour run 



Sunday

Rest