The Mad Runner

Winter is here

2009-12-18T17:49:00.000Z

Working from home, with my view from the window, it looked cold. As I worked from dawn till dusk it seemed to grow colder with every passing minute - I think we know where this is going [wink]. By midday it was snowing. By five past it had stopped. The cold did for me and in the end I didn't get out for a run. On the plus side I did get some quality work done - the back of the coding, the screens and a few finishing touches to the documentation, has been well and truly broken. Moving into the testing phase next week - whoo hoo.

Anyway, back to the world of (non)running I put in another hour on the bike. Over the last few sessions I've been slowly increasing the resistance as my feeling of increased fitness grows. Tonight I decided on the same session as yesterday - and I'm bloody glad I didn't notch it up a bit. It was a flippin' struggle. My legs feel jellified.

On other matters, the battle of the bulge is on again with another Christmas meal on its way tonight. Two in two days can't be good but I have at least managed to shed a few pounds - no, not in the monetary sense, all though now I mention it, anyway - over the last fortnight. Back under the big eleven - topper.

All done and dusted

2009-12-17T21:18:00.000Z

No dusting actually - get serious. The ubiquitous hour has been completed. Now I can sit and rest a while. Aiming to get out for a run tomorrow but nothing too fancy...

On your bike

2009-12-17T20:21:00.001Z

Hard at it - stop it...

Can't think of a good title

2009-12-16T21:57:00.000Z

Not that any of my normal titles are really that good but they are at least a tad better than tonight's offering.

The weather remained just on the right side of really cold - call me The Mad 'Three layers' Runner - make that The Mad 'Three Layers, Hat and Gloves' Runner.

Sean was pacing around quite nicely on his kilometre reps - I just about managed to keep up - but then Rick and I were only coming in on alternate 300m reps to help with the pacing. Sean was bang on 72 seconds per lap for his five reps. That put me on 54 seconds for my three hundreds which is about as fast as my little pegs have gone for quite some time.

I'm pretty happy with my efforts. A couple of the reps were off a 54s recovery while the other couple were off a two minute recovery - it all depended on which what part of Sean rep we were mixing in on and whether the it the three hundreds came during a rep or split across Sean's recovery or not. Does that make any sense at all? It does to me.

The come back continues...

Keeping it all going

2009-12-15T18:28:00.000Z

I got out for another lunch time run with Martin - he didn't get out last week while I was away, naughty. We went up over Dundry on the clockwise route. Conditions were cool but it was raining - always a bonus. It was not our fastest effort and to be honest we didn't stop chatting during the entire run. It was still a good time so considering we chatted it wasn't too bad.

This evening I am to climb aboard the good ship Exercise Bike and sail across the living room to a place that I like to call In Front of the Telly - a highly magical place where tiny little people can be seen and heard - it's like having a miniature theatre in your living room - magic...

The end of a long week

2009-12-13T18:55:00.000Z

Well I felt good and strong on Stage 2 of the Calderdale Way Relay. I reckon my week of boot camp has paid dividends. I was strong on all the climbs which has been a weak point of late. It almost felt like the old me, grinding on up to the summit - not there was an awful lot of climb on our stage, only 1,400 feet but while those around me had to stop I kept on grinding which felt bloody marvellous I can tell you.

I ran with a guy called Rob Rawlinson and although I got the better of him on the up he was a bit more mental on the down and caught me back up so over the nine miles we were about even so we were well paired - as both runners have to cross the finish before the next pair can start - it being a relay and all.

This week has seen me put on just over 62 miles in eight days and more than 15,000 feet of ascent. It's been a right brill holiday and, more importantly, a gert brill training camp.

Right, now I'm off the recover...

The Ras Aran Route

2009-12-10T15:47:00.000Z

I'm beginning to feel the strain from this weeks exertions. Today saw me clock up my fifty third mile on my fifth consecutive day of running, starting count from Sunday's Cardington race. Total ascent is now in excess of 13,000 feet. Tomorrow I need a rest day - and probably Saturday too - I'm running leg 2 of the Calderdale Way Relay on Sunday and want to be on top form for the team.

The Ras Aran route, for those who don't know it, is an out and back affair starting from some villiage that I don't rightly know the name of - and come to think of it, wouldn't be able to pronounce it even if I did - and heads almost due south up and along a ridge to the high point of 905 metres before turning around and heading right back down again.

I struggled to keep up - that is to say, I didn't keep up at all and fell several minutes behind Helen and Brown Dog to the summit but I coped better on the descent. At ten and a half miles and about 3,000 feet of ascent it's a slightly tougher route than it first appears to be. The weather was as best we've seen it this week and with some respite in the clag we could admire the views - it was still bloody cold though, with some snow in places. Still, it's over now and I can put my feet up and relax.

Up the Rhinogs

2009-12-09T18:17:00.001Z

I can now appreciate why odd fell runner goes astray in the Rhinogs fell race. The terrain is a little on the wild side.

We didn't recce the entire race route as we couldn't be arsed to drive the 30 to 40 miles required to get all the way around to Llanbedr from where we are staying. Instead we drove four miles up the road, parked up and ran across to the Rhinogs from this side.

Our first ascent was up to Rhinog Fach. We found a well defined path which took us all the way. At the top the clag was down but that was no problem for my trusty forerunner gps. From Rhinog Fach it got rocky and the going slowed. Eventually it opened out onto open fell and we motored across to Moel Fre - although some might say 'motored' was a little bit of an exageration, perhaps pootled might have been more apt.

Anyway, from Moel Fre we moved off the race route and headed down to the road and followed that in the general direction of Rhinog Fawr to save some distance. Eventually we made it to the end of the road and headed back into the mountains. After what seemed like hours, miles of boggy swamps and some hundred feet of ascent we made it to the top of Rhinog Fawr. The descent was not without incident.

Top tip, when running a long run - and at 24km and 4,800 feet of ascent, I think we can consider this a long one - do not save the rockiest, most technical bit until you are completely knackered - doh.

The descent was slow going as we traversed from boulder to rock, from rock deep heather - it got even slower when Pedwar became transfixed to the spot with fear and wouldn't go any further. After some cajoling from Helen - not to mention twenty wasted minutes - he finally made it down.

On the final 2 mile run in we discovered that Brown Dog was limping on her front right. Nothing seems broken but it will probably put her out of action for tomorrow's run. Me, on the other hand? Well I've run a lot more than my normal weekly mileage in three days and although my calves ache, my quads burn, my back is sore and my arms have dropped off - I should be good for another run tomorrow.

Boot camp continues...

Rhobell Fawr

2009-12-08T14:57:00.000Z

With the rain just about holding we went for a recce of the Rhobell Fawr race. Parking at Tyn-y-Groes, some 2 miles away from the race start, we pootled up hill along the road before heading onto the bridle path and the race route proper.

It's one of those out and back affairs but interesting all the same. The section across the open hillside was bleak - not to mention boggy. The summit was in the clag and visibility was low. Helen pulled away from me as we approached the top but due to my superior line I arrived at the summit first - I shall, of course, pay for that last comment - oh well. Not wanting to get too cold at the trig we didn't hang around long before heading back down.

In all we covered 11.5 miles and just over 2,500 feet of ascent. After my third day in a row I feel a bit tired so I need to rest up. The worst is yet to come as we head off to recce the Rhinogs tomorrow. The terrain looks fearsome and it's going to be a much longer run than anything we've run so far...

Easy but wet, very wet

2009-12-07T14:03:00.000Z

We rolled out of bed late - what are holidays's for if not to have a massive lie-in? Then it was up and at 'em as we headed out with B and P for an easy run.

It was pouring with rain and more than a little chilly. At one point it almost stopped raining but that was me being silly - of course it wasn't going to stop raining.

We covered 11km and 1,200ft of ascent in an awe inspiringly slow time of one hour and fifteen minutes - simply stunning.

Tomorrow we have a more strenuous run planned up some mountain. Do you know you can't move for mountains up here in the Snowdonia National Park? - funny that.

Boot camp is well underway. I intend to have lost a few pounds by this time next week, coming home a leaner, meaner running machiner...

Hallelujah

2009-12-06T17:33:00.000Z

First off, Helen claimed her third consecutive victory in a row in the woman's race, a feat never before achieved - I, on the otherhand, did not.

Well, with the pleasantries out the way, I had a gert ace race. I was 3 minutes quicker than last year and believe it or not, a pb!!! My first pb for - well, I can't remember how long - but we are talking at least two years if not three. Mind you I have only run the race once before and that was last year when I was at my most rubbish. It does at least mean that maybe I have reached my nadir and that I'm finally on the way back up.

We met Pat W and Mike B at the start. Helen beat Pat but not Mike. I beat neither. Still I had a bloody good run, really worked hard and did I mention, beat last years time by three minutes.

I'm a bit knackered know but it's good to know that upping the training a tad is beginning to show through.

And it's stopped raining, here in Snowdonia. For how long? No one knows...

Thirty five

2009-12-02T21:02:00.001Z

Yes, thirty five seconds quicker on my lunchtime run up over Dundry than I've gone before (At least this year). Neither Martin or myself really felt up for it but within a few minutes we were tanking along. OK, 'tanking' is probably over stating it a tad but we went well. It was our ascent that gave us the time, reaching the top those 35s quicker than the previous fastest. From there we held things together back to the office - although Martin did pull away in the last kilometre as I faded a fraction. I have to say I felt much the better for it.

Onto tonight's session - yes, for it was yet another double day for me - I ran the same six 400m's with a similar recovery as last week. Sean started 100m back and just about caught me on the first few. Rick is starting to pick things up ahead of next Sunday's Gwent League.

My splits were up on last week but my legs felt heavy. Within the first 50-200 metres of each lap I was relying on my mental strength to keep me pushing to the finish. I kept it together to register splits of 81, 80, 78.5, 76.5, 74.5 and 77s. Which statistically speaking - nerd-i-ness alert - means I ran the session a cumulative five and a half seconds quicker than last week - and that's in addition to the quicker lunch run - I believe the statement 'booyaka' is in order at this juncture.

What is this thing we call winter?

2009-12-01T21:53:00.000Z

It's taken till December but today saw the first frost of the winter - at least in my neck of the woods. Is it me or does December seem well into winter for the first frost? And I chose today - or rather work did - for an out of office experience. It was cold. I wore an extra layer but by the end of the day I was chilled. Anyway, enough of the sob story.

I didn't feel like a run in the cool evening breeze - even though it wasn't raining for once. I chose the bike again. Better than nothing but not quite a run. Still, I feel it in my quads. Up tomorrow is a lunchtime run - hopefully - and then my usual evening track session.

You know what Monday means...

2009-11-30T21:08:00.000Z

the Gadget Show - yeah - and an hour on the bike - yeah - eh?.

I really notched it up a bit for tonight's session. My legs are feeling rather jelly like right now. I haven't even ventured forth to the shower just yet on account of still radiating vast amounts of thermal energy - but, I hasten to add, zero greenhouse emissions - nor, for that matter, any non-greenhouse emissions either - I think I'll shut up now.

Not sure what I'm going to muster up for tomorrow's training. I'm out of the office so a lunch run is out. Will I still have the energy by the time I get home? That's the bigy.

Well that;s the Blorenge for another year

2009-11-28T18:14:00.002Z

I really felt like staying in bed and missing the Blorenge but H convinced me to go.

Conditions were as wet as I known them - no surprise there then, in the midst of this heat wave we're having - but it wasn't any more slippy on the steep, treacherous woodland section on the way out and back.

I went out - as has become the norm - 'steady'. Overtook a few on the way to the top and held on the fast run back. I was hoping to collect a few scalps on the descent but in the end I'm happy to settle for all square. My time (33:18) was a minute slower than last year but I didn't feel I fully committed to the race this time around. All in all it wasn't too bad. (I was 28th of a record field of 75 on account of it being a Championship race so a lot of the North Wales crew came down to run).

Now onto more important matters. I won my first ever monetary valued prize!!! EVER. OK, so it wasn't cash but a ten pound voucher for running stuff is almost as good - unless, of course, you don't run, in which case it would be a bit rubbish. Anyway, I was third senior man in the South Wales Summer Fell Series - how that happened, heaven only knows, but the stats don't lie and along with said voucher I won a sacred mug. The holy grail of the South Walesian fell running scene. A mug. 'The' mug......

Over the top

2009-11-27T18:25:00.000Z

As you might have guessed from the tweets I got out for another Dundry run with Martin. He was a man possessed. From the first road crossing onwards there was no stopping him as he moved steadily out the front door.

I didn't feel too tired before the run but as I tried to reduce the speed at which he pulled away I just ended up getting more and more fatigued. The hill was a struggle - and he claimed he struggled too, but I didn't seem to gain any.

I reached the top to find Martin out of sight. As I ran back down - at least running the anti-clockwise loop it's all downhill from the top - I hit a massive puddle with no option but to pile on through - water to the ankle - doh.

I'm glad I keep getting out there on a lunchtime. It's good to have someone to run with - or on today's performance, run miles behind - but it doesn't seem to be getting any easier. I'm sticking with it...

Have they lengthened the track?

2009-11-25T20:47:00.000Z

I managed to get out for a run at lunch with Martin. He posted a cracking time yesterday, 19:09 in the wind was a great effort. We were both a bit tired as we chugged up over Dundry against that damned wind - again. Does the agony never end? Do we have to spend all eternity battling the demon that is 'a strong gust or two'? OK, that's probably over stating it a bit. We ran watchless but I have a feeling we might have been a few seconds slower than last time.

There is no rest for the wicked - and after yesterday's appalling time, I am truly wicked - but not it a down with the kiddies, good way - I headed out to the track for some more penance.

Sean was back and running strongly. It was still windy but not as bad as earlier in the day. I ran six 400's with a goodly recovery. I started slow and sped up. My first was a lack lustre 84s! - now that's what I call lack lustre. Then came an improved 81s, a 79s, two 77s and a final push for a 75s. My legs were feeling very heavy and although I only managed six I'm still pleased.

Now I rest.

You know your in trouble when...

2009-11-24T22:00:00.000Z

You get the 'burn' in your legs half way up the second flight of steps to your office - doh.

It was windy tonight. Possibly the windiest I've know it at the Bridge Inn. And being the Bridge, what wind there is, is right into you on the way home - bummer.

I ran like fourteen sacks of potatos. I'm obviously not over my five and a half hours of running on the weekend. I don't feel in any way stiff - stop it - but my legs feel tired. It seems strange but I thought I might go all right tonight - but I was wrong.

I intend to head out for a run at lunch tomorrow and then hit the track later on. That might seem too much but I'm so flamin' slow right now I could run a million miles for one of your smiles, my mammy - what the hell was that - ...run a million miles and it wouldn't make me any slower. I need to up things...

Disconbobulated

2009-11-22T18:36:00.000Z

Well I am - totally.

It's been a great weekend though. Totally pants weather, mind, but that didn't spoil the fun. Friday's drive up the M6 - leaving at 5, such that we did - was actually pretty good for once. There was none of the normal stop start above Stafford. We moved along at a steady pace and got up to the Hebdon Bridge area right on schedule - M6 as it is, that doesn't happen often.

We stayed at the luxurious Hotel du Anne and Bill - a most excellent establishment with on suite self catering cottage available at reasonable prices in the heart of some truly great countryside on which to run - brilliant.

Saturday's Tour of Pendle went fine until about 13 miles when I ran out of puff. The last few miles were killer, including two of the steeper climbs. I finished in 3:27 but was on for somewhere near 3:10 before I faded. Helen was second in under 3 - I wonder when she'll stop bragging about by how much she beat me - doh.

The Calder Do in the evening was fun. I had drooping eyelids not to mention drooping legs by the end but everyone seemed to have fun.

Then this morning we went out to recce the Noonstone race, we'd arranged a semi official club recce with lots of agreed attendees. Due to various illnesses - read hung over - there were only four of us in the end but it was good all the same. The race is run over some quite wild moorland and it was 8 miles of mostly tough going - and boggy, most definitely boggy.

The drive home was uneventful and soon, very soon sleep will come...

Just a quickie

2009-11-20T16:38:00.000Z

Things have been a bit - read, unbelievably - hectic. We are just about to head up north and I've not had time to train nor gert nuffin' since Wednesday. Not that I intended much, mind, but my planned easy hour on the bike didn't happen due to unforeseen required house maintenance - bugger.

Will the weather hold? Will I survive a 16 mile race in the hills? Will we all be doomed? And why did that chicken cross the road? Find out in a day or two... (excepting the chickens road crossing antics]

79 to 81 duh duh dah radio 2

2009-11-18T20:51:00.001Z

no, hang on, that's 88 2 91 - which is too slow even for me. No, I ran my laps in the range 79 to 81 seconds - except for the first one, which was 83 seconds - bummer. I'm getting ahead of myself.

Sean couldn't get away from work, so having arranged to transfer the generator to Rick in a secret car park rendezvous - I was wearing a dark rain coat, Rick was wearing dark sunglasses and a trilby as we made the transfer - we carried on to the track and ran eight 400 reps with a walked 100m recovery.

It was windy but thankfully the rain held off. I struggled a bit and after two or three was puffin somewhat. I have to admit I was slightly lagging and stretching out the recovery - Rick was having to wait for me, but only slightly, mind. I was bloody glad when it was all over.

I guess I should explain that I had already been out for a lunch time run up over Dundry - if you hadn't already read the tweet. It was a good run but a hard one - stop it. We - that's Martin and I - ran the clockwise Dundry route which today happened to be into the eye of the wind on the climb. We reached the top five seconds down on our last run but after a steady run in the second half, we got back thirty seconds up - with Martin still claiming the win - not that we were racing.

Another double run day which pleases me but I must taper from now for the Tour of Pendle on Saturday or I'll be doomed - doomed I tells ya, doomed...

Rest, sweet rest

2009-11-16T20:50:00.000Z

I thought about a lunch time run - for all of 2.3s. The weather has been rubbish. The forecast 4 tomorrow looks better - so I'm going to be giving some serious thought to a lunch time run. Honest, I'm going to be giving serious thought to it - I might not actually get out there, mind, but you can rest assured I will have given it full thought.

All the two's

2009-11-15T15:36:00.000Z

We went out for 20k this morning (/afternoon on account of being a bit wishy washy but eventually we did get out there) which included 2,000 feet of ascent.

At the start I ran like a bag of poo. Helen pulled away effortlessly on the first climb while I blundered along, puffing and panting like a tired, old pony. Eventually I found my feet - they were hiding behind a gnarled old oak tree, to which someone hadn't tied a yellow ribbon.

I feel sleepy now but I can't rest. It's been a good week of training for me but I must keep it moving forward. I've just entered the Tour of Pendle, a gruelling 16 miler for which I am totally unprepared. I have all of a week to prepare :)

Lovely weather

2009-11-13T19:38:00.000Z

This spell of wet and windy weather is just the medicine the doctor ordered to make one feel like running. It makes it an absolute pleasure to feel the drips down your spine and the wind blast a chill breeze across your face. Lovely. Just lovely.

NOT

Anyway, despite that, I did get out for a run with Martin up over Dundry but alas, I felt knackered. He beat me to a pulp and I was a minute slower than Wednesday. At one point near the top of the climb I was going so slowly that I was all but running on the spot! Eventually I made it over and onto the downhill back to the office.

The drive home was a nightmare. The good driving conditions really brought out the best in some drivers. And just as I thought the nightmare was ending, inside 5 miles of home, the traffic on the A40 ground to a halt. I turned tale, dipped down country lanes and finally made it home - a frickin' long time after I set out - not back of the net. Far, far from back of the net.

I'm tired now, so tired - and a bit grumpy, as if you couldn't tell. It is defo time to veg on the sofa - and I never did find out why the traffic came to a stop.

Helen in runs for England tomorrow in the Master Cross Country thingy up Birmingham way...

Easy does it

2009-11-12T18:18:00.004Z

I feel good after yesterday's training but - yes, there's always a but - I feel a bit lethargic. The weather is, how shall I put it, pants. It was an intensive day at work and the drive home through the spray was tiring. Tonight I rest, without guilt or fear of retribution, I rest.

Tomorrow I have another lunch time run planned with Martin. Dundry...

Addendum - sod taking it easy... Gimme back my speed!!!

I know I can't be idle if I want to go faster - and I really do want to go faster. I forewent the being a lazy bastard and hopped on the bike for a sweat producing hour - and I did produce some sweat - but that's probably too much information. My legs feel wobbly. In fact, I feel near bonked - to steal a biking phrase - so I'm off to get some carbs and a bit o' protein to refuel...