Success!

I achieved my goal! I was targeting a time of under 2:50:00 and I finished in 02:42:10 chip time. In my previous race at the same location in December last year, I clocked 3:03:07, but the conditions were icy with temperatures below zero. This time, the weather was just right, not too hot or too cold.

Results: I placed 277th out of 289 overall, 99th out of 105 females, and 8th in the V50 category. Looking at these stats, it may seem like I didn't perform well, but just completing the race is a significant accomplishment.
There were pacers in the race, but the last one was at 2:20:00. I felt that having a pacer for a run/walk strategy might have been distracting. Having a chip is convenient as you don't have to worry about starting at the front.
I felt fatigued at the finish line, but I believe I could have pushed myself a bit harder. Considering I have to pull out of this race in April this year due to injury, I'm pleased with my result.
I experienced some knee pain and a slight discomfort in my butt – there's still lots I need to improve.
Now, I'm enjoying a well-deserved recovery week and contemplating my next steps.

      

#running #achievement #carsingtonwater #runthrough #halfmarathon

Peaking

Tomorrow is race day. I will be participating in the Run Through Carsington Water Half Marathon. I must admit, I am feeling a bit nervous. I have put in the hard work and completed the training, but I can't help but wonder if everything will go smoothly on the day.

The last time I was at Carsington Water, I was there to support my husband during his run. I had signed up for the race as well, but unfortunately, I had to sit it out due to a strained groin that made running painful. Since then, I have learned a great deal and focused on strength training and improving my hip mobility to prevent injuries. I feel more fit and strong now. Running has always been a challenge for me, but I can see definite improvements.

During my training, I have completed runs of 11 and 13 miles at paces of 13:29 and 13:40 per mile, respectively. My goal for the race is to maintain a pace of 13:00 per mile, aiming for a finish time of under 2 hours and 50 minutes. If I am unable to finish within this time, I will not progress to the next stage.

Today, I am resting and have been tapering my training this week. According to my Garmin Fenix 7S, I am at my peak and in optimal race condition.

I have prepared all my gear, packed water and snacks, and taken precautions to prevent blisters by clipping my toenails, taping my toes, and applying 2Toms. The alarm is set for an early start tomorrow. I plan to have a bowl of porridge for breakfast before embarking on the 1 ½ hour drive to the race venue. This will allow me enough time to park, have a snack, go to the loo, get my shoes and running vest on, register for the race, go to the loo again, and warm up before the race begins at 9:30 AM.

#Garmin #CarsingtonWater #runthrough #Peaking #HalfMarathon #Pace

New start

This week I started a new training plan, new shoes, new insoles, new socks and a new strength plan at the gym. I also have a new running vest which I will be trying out soon.

My new goal is the Run Through Carsington Water Half Marathon on Saturday 16th October. 

I've also booked to do the The Malton10k  - "Le Sans Arret" on Sunday 15th September. This race starts at a very civilised 10.45 so no early start required. After the run there is live music, Sunday market, street food and entertainment. There is also a fun run option with food and drink stops along the way!

My new Topo shoes, combined with toe socks and supportive insoles are working well so far. I haven't done any long runs in them yet, but so far so good.

I have lost a bit of running fitness over the last few months while I've been recovering from my injury but I hope to gain that back quickly. I've got some help at the gym with a more targeted approach to my strength days. I previously did the JD classes as my strength workouts plus occasional home workouts provided by my running coach. I now have a new programme which I aim to do twice a week using the gyms strength equipment with a few 1-1's with coach @sophiebtye. I'll mix this up with my running coaches strength sessions and an occasional class.

#injinji #topo #running #newstart #strength #carsingtonwater #runthrough #visitmalton #sophiebtye @jdgymsdoncaster 

Injury

 

Two weeks before I planned to run a half marathon at Carsington Water, I've injured myself. I was initially annoyed by this but I've now pulled myself together and I'm using this as a lesson on how to improve.

                     

This is how the injury developed:  I was doing great and was really pleased with my progress. I had only missed a couple of training sessions over the 3 month plan and I could tell that my fitness was increasing. I was doing my last long run before tapering for the half marathon. The run was going well until the last 3 or 4 miles, I was getting tired and my legs felt fatigued, so I walked the last bit (I couldn’t run in the woods anyway due to the slippery mud). I didn’t slip or do anything unusual. The next day was rest day, then I did a strength class and cross-training as usual and was fine. The next day I went out for a sprint session and felt a bit stiff/sore in the groin area while doing the warm up jog, but this eased when I got going. I did warm up before going out 😉. I did a few sprints but it didn’t feel right, so I didn’t push as hard as I would normally. After doing a few more sprints, I knew I wasn’t right so came home, doing a bit of light jogging en-route. The next day I really knew I had done something. It hurt if I lifted my left knee, crossed my legs or stepped forward to run putting weight on my left leg. I couldn't run, even for a minute.  It was painful to turn over in bed and I wouldn't have been able to drive if I hadn't got an automatic car.

I went to see a physio who said I'd got adductor tendonitis/bursitis of the Iliopsoa (hip flexor) muscles. What I think has happened is that the exercises in the class at the gym change slightly each week and we did one where you shuffle side to side, then touch the floor with your hand, switch and go the opposite way. This puts a strain on the inner thigh. Doing this particular exercise on top of the increased distance and sprinting I’ve been doing, has strained the muscle and irritated the tendon. The physio also pointed out that I have an exaggerated curve to my lower back, anterior pelvic tilt and weak glutes and I'm compensating for this by using other muscles. I've spent 37 years sat at a desk which is the worst thing you can do for your glutes!

I also have internal snapping hip syndrome. I've had this for as long as I've been running. When I warm up and swing my leg front to back or stretch my left leg in certain positions, I feel a pop deep within my groin/hip. This is caused by the tendon from the Ilipsoa muscle flicking across the front of the hip joint. It hasn't been a problem up until now and it wasn't painful, but it is a symptom of something not working as it should.

It has taken 2 week for the pain to go away during normal daily activities - in that time I've done some targeted stretching, trigger point massages, light strengthening exercises and low-impact cross training.

Next I need to ramp up the exercises to strengthen all the glute muscles, hip flexors and core.  At the moment I can't do a single leg bridge so when I can do those, I'll know I'm improving!

Winter Training

I've found Winter training to be pretty challenging at times. I've had to deal with the cold, icy paths, frozen water, wet feet and mud!

I'm currently on holiday in beautiful Cornwall and don't have access to my usual training facilities. So I ended up doing some sprint intervals on the beach and unfortunately got caught in a hail storm. I got a few sideways glances from the few locals who were out walking their dogs! I was only wearing a t-shirt and thin waterproof jacket (as well aa trousers, hat and gloves!) and the hailstones were quite painful due to the strong winds. As I was only going to be out for a short while and I was quite near to the car, I didn't want to wear lots of layers - I'm always hot while running and especially while sprinting!

Despite the bad holiday weather, I managed to complete a few long runs including a 10-mile easy run along the Camel Train from Padstow to Wadebridge and back. The photo shows the Little Petherick Creek Bridge, a former railway bridge which crosses the Camel Estuary just outside Padstow. Although the weather looks beautiful in the photo, it was actually very windy, and I almost lost my beanie hat while crossing the bridge. I wore my rain proof jacket - for the wind rather than the rain, but the top of the jacket flapped in the wind and kept hitting me in the face and the hood acted as a sail! The sound of the wind running through the bridges steelwork was quite eerie.

Despite the obstacles, I'm hoping that my continued training throughout the winter will pay off in the summer.

Next event: Carsington Water Half Marathon, Saturday 20th April 2024

Forest Runner, Sherwood Forest 10k

I'm working towards a half marathon at Carsington Water on 2nd December.  As part of my training I've entered a couple of races.  I say 'race' but I'm not racing with anyone. I have my own agenda and a time that I would like to achieve. 

So on the 1st October I ran the Forest Runner, Sherwood Forest 10k, my first proper timed 10k. I completed it in 1:20:40 which is a little slower than I wanted but I ran the whole way (ie no walking) which I'm claiming as a win. The race is on forest paths and rough tracks, which I enjoy, but it is much harder to run on those surfaces than it is on the road. You have to pick you feet up and watch where you are running! There are also quite a few hills which are always challenging.

We started the race in fine weather but by the end it was raining so I finished in an unattractive hot wet mess!  The compere tried to engage me in conversation but I had no energy to stop and chat! I had to go and sit down for a moment as I get a little wheezy at the end of a run when I've pushed myself. Then I headed to the cafe for a well earned cup of tea and something to eat. While sat in the cafe, my Garmin watch gave me a high heart rate alert (twice) but I don't think I need to worry, it was because my heart rate hadn't yet returned down to normal levels.

My next event is the Rasselbock Roliston Rumble on the 17th November. It is a looped course and I plan to do 4 loops which is approx. 17km or 10.7 miles. I hope to complete this in around 2.5 hours.

Withdrawn

I’ve made the sensible decision to withdraw from the Firelighter Race as I just wasn’t ready for it. Hopefully someone else will be able to take my place in the race.  

I’m still working towards completing the Firelighter, but it might take me a while to get there.

So, I’ve started a new training plan and entered the Carsington Water half marathon in December. Until I can do a half marathon in under 3 hours I won’t progress onto the next stage. This means I’m not putting myself under too much pressure. I will concentrate on increasing the distance and getting faster at my own pace.

Although I won’t be doing the race, I will be at the finish line to cheer along the finishers. 😃👊

       

#Carsington Water  #Firelighter Race  #Anglesey  Half Marathon  #Running  #Training