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

Hill Repeats

Last week I was doing speed intervals on the flat, today I've been doing hill repeats. After a warm up and an easy jog I arrived at my hill (see photo). Starting about half way up, I had to run for 30 seconds up as fast as possible and then walk back down for a minute, repeating that 10 times. Not so long ago I couldn't have run up a hill at all, so I was pleased to find that I could actually sprint up a hill. I'm not saying it was easy, I was tired at the end of it and glad to get it over with, but I still managed an easy 10 minute cool down jog afterwards. My heart rate which is always high wasn't too bad considering what I was doing, with a max of 183bpm (I can get it up to low 190's doing a Parkrun!). My legs were definitely the weakest link.

#firelighter #fitness #heartrate #parkrun #running #training #hillrepeats #sprinting #runningandmovementhub #coach #speedintervals

Carsington Water Half Marathon

Saturday 2nd December 2023 Carsington Water Half Marathon:

I completed the half marathon in 03:04:17 chip time. Just over what I was aiming for but taking into account the conditions I am happy with that. It didn’t get above 0 degrees all day. The paths were icy in places so I didn’t want to run across it and risk slipping and injuring myself. I saw one guy slip over and one lady was turning back because she had fallen over. Even the water at the drinks station had ice in it! I started off with a run 3, walk 2 but ended up walking where there was ice and running where I could.

I was 376^th out of 384 runners

109^th Female out of 113 runners

9^th in my age category

                                                                         

I'm sure a lot of people didn’t turn up because it was so cold.  The total number of runners for the 10k and half marathon was 654 - there was supposed to be 1000 attendees so that is a whopping 346 no-shows! 

Despite remembering to tape my toes up this time, I still got a blister on my big toe which was the only one I didn’t tape up - it was caused by the tape on the adjoining toe! 

I was knackered at the end of the run – my legs were tired and my butt muscles were complaining!  I need to work on my strength and stamina.  Lots more work to do…

runthrough.co.uk #runthrough #running #firelighter #halfmarathon #medal
 

Rassebock Rosliston Rumble

Run Report November Rosliston Rumble.

I completed four loops of the course (17.53km) in 2:33:02. I wanted to do it in just under 2:30:00 hrs. The finishers medal was again a lovely piece of work! I don't know what to do with them. I suggest having medals that can be used for something - cup mats, jewellery maybe?

The course was very boggy and slippy in places so I had to walk in places as it really was impossible to run! If the course wasn’t boggy I definitely have done it within the time I wanted. 

Running on mud uses muscles I’m not used to using and it tires my muscles as I was tensing to prevent slipping. In wet weather/boggy courses, my shoes are rubbish.  My feet got a bit wet and I got a couple of blisters (despite using my trusty TwoToms!). My feet and toes aren’t great at the best of times - I usually tape up my toes even when doing long walks. I need to do that in future for anything over a 10k. The run started at 2pm so it was nearly dark when I finished. It was a strange run but I enjoyed it. 

There weren’t many runners there – only 19 entries. 1 person did 8 laps, 5 did 7 laps, 4 did 5 laps, 6 people did 4 laps (my husband and I included), 1 person did 3 laps and 2 DNS.

I was getting tired on the last lap – I was glad I didn’t have to do another but I could have done it if I had to, even if I had to walk most of it! My hips were a bit stiff after sitting, but my muscles didn’t ache much. I did a pre-run warm-up and stretches afterwards at home, it has become second nature to me now.

My next milestone is to do the Carsington Water half marathon on 3rd December in under 3 hours. It is on trails so should be easier under foot but there are some hills - 656ft of elevation – that's not a lot if walking but when running it is added difficulty - Strava give it a Hard grading.

I've settled on a 3:2 run:walk pattern and I should be able to complete the Carsington Water half marathon within my target time of 3 hours based on the time I completed this run but it won’t be easy with the added hills!

I used a Camelbak Mule waist pack to carry water which holds 1.5L but didn’t drink it all. Carrying water I don't need or use is a waste of energy so I need to work out how much water to carry. Drinks were provided at the aid station (as well as lots of goodies) but runners had to provide their own containers. I don't find it easy to suck enough water out of the tube and it kept coming loose from the magnet, so I think I will go back to bottles and find a running vest that fits me better. The waist pack is designed for cyclists but I find having bottles stored next to a reasonably sized chest is uncomfortable! I can't be the only person who has this problem 😕

Running food - I like the individual Soreen malt loaf bars as running food ….and jelly babies, who doesn't like jelly babies!

#Halfmarathon #blisters #Rasselbock #jellybabies #maltloaf #Soreen #TwoToms #Camelbak #CarsingtonWater

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

Staying on the path

At the moment I'm struggling to keep up with the training which is a shame as I was progressing well.

The first hiccup was the car breaking down whilst on holiday - after trying to get it repaired at short notice we had to make the difficult decision to scrap it and buy another.  Sorting all this out took quite a bit of time and I was without a vehicle for a few days - so I couldn't get to the Parkrun. To be honest I was quite tired and it was very hot and humid, so I missed a few other training sessions. On the way home from the holiday we decided to visit some friends and relatives who were on-route, so missed another Parkrun and a training session.  

When I got home, I had a few nights in my own bed then I've had to move in with the mother-in-law for a few weeks while she recovers from a hip replacement operation. Then 2 weeks later my sister in law is having a hip replacement and will also need support. This may mean that my husband and I will have to be in two different places which isn't ideal.

Despite the car issues, I had a fantastic holiday - after all problems and inconveniences are part of life and can't be avoided.  .....and looking on the bright side, at least it's not me having the hip replacement!

#hipreplacement #Parkrun #scrapcar #holidays #that'slife