I had planned a long run yesterday afternoon, hoping to do 14 - 16 miles offroad as the weather was so nice. Due to having to work on Saturday I had some hours to play with, the weather was kind so I thought I would do a long run in the afternoon. I planned to get some miles in but pick some stuff that was easier to run no massive climbs/descents.
I decided I would go from Abbey Village, up Great Hill, along the top and down into Belmont, go explore some new paths over Turton Moor then back towards Darwen Tower then back to car. I had a butty before leaving work and setting off my stomach felt full, I had a few burp breaks on the way up Great Hill. My legs were heavy, not sore but not frisky but I wasn't bothered as I was going to take things easy.
It was gorgeous on the top of Great Hill, I sat at the shelter for ages and basked in the sun (nearly dozed off!) then set off along the flagged path on the top. There was a helicopter flying around, hovering low so I faffed a bit watching that.
About half way along the flagged path I suddenly went from full stomach to hungry, odd. I had a gel and a good drink of water and carried on. A bit more faffing trying to figure out what the heli was up to then I was dropping down into Belmont. At 6.7 miles I was almost into Belmont when I felt my stomach really empty and my legs going to jelly. Really? How can that be? I've only been running for just over an hour (been out for a lot longer than that though!).
I sat down. This wasn't a good situation, my car is at least 5 or 6 miles away! I've never bonked badly on a run before, cycling a few times but at least you can crawl along on a bike and roll down hills. I need something in my stomach, its empty and gels are just not going to cut it. I checked my pack, I often carry a bit of cash in it for just in case moments so I had a look and there were three pound coins in it! Hurrah, hope Belmont has a shop.
The gel that was in the front pouch of the pack has leaked a little and everything is very sticky, took a bit of persuasion to get the coins out and separate them. I teetered off to the village to look around. There was a little post office and in I went and swapped one very sticky pound coin (he wasn't impressed) for a Mars bar and a packet of Starburst.
Its a measure of how hungry I was as I don't really like Mars Bars but I scoffed the lot in about five seconds and had a few chews. Then started heading up towards the reservoir. I noticed a bus stop and thought about checking out the times but decided against it. I got to the reservoir and got the map out and looked at my planned route and thought (I really did), if I give it 10 minutes or so to digest this Mars Bar a bit I may then be ok to continue on round Turton Moor.
Hello!!!! Once I get to this stage its usually a fairly steady downward trajectory and the sensible thing is to pick up the Witton Weavers Way and get back to the car, I reckoned at least 5 miles still to go. Eventually enough glucose got to my brain and I took the sensible option. It was a slow jog along the Witton Weavers way, which was almost as dry as a bone. I at least know that the undulations are a bit cruel when your tired as I've crawled along here in a similar state on a bike before but soon I was back at Tockholes Woods.
I did think about walking from here but decided to get to 12 miles before stopping running, how sensible an idea that was I don't know but I wanted to get back to the car. I picked my way like an old woman down the cobbles of Mill Lane, couldn't really process information fast enough to pick a good running line and I was pleased I was close to the car. I stopped running at 12 miles and walked the last half mile back to the car, my legs feeling battered but I had at least stopped feeling hungry. How does that work?
I had recovery drink waiting to be made up in the car so I had that as soon as I got back - the water was warm so it was a bit ick.
I'm currently sat here in eating everything in sight mode and have revised my plans for the weekend. I was intending on riding at Glentress today on the way to my folks but I'm postponing it to Monday and riding on the way home instead.
Really didn't see that one coming, not good.
Friday, March 20, 2009
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Night Ride
After much faff on the motorways both trying to get to work and come home I nearly didn't go riding yesterday. I made myself get my stuff together, ate a couple fo mini egss and a bar and drove like a woman possessed to Riv (apart from where I got stuck behind the 20mph doddler from Limbrick on- there is always one!).
I finally rocked up at 6:55 pm, we were supposed to be setting off at 7 but when I got there everyone was still faffing so no worries. I was on the Titus again as not sure the On One brake is completely sorted yet and I actually wanted to complete the ride. I couldn't get my rear light on the seatpost, ah well cars will just have to flatten me or I'll make sure I'm not last on the road sections.
An easy bimble to set off with whilst others finish faffing and the trails are pretty dry and its warm!!!!!!!!!!! Shame its not daylight. Because it was such a nice evening most of the ride was done at chatty pace and I could actually ride my bike tonight rather than fall off it which was great.
We did the new bit of trail in Healey Nab which was interesting to say the least as I had no idea what it was like, I'm glad I had my Joystick on my head as it was quite twisty. There were a few drops that I had no idea waht was on the other side and as it was so twisty there were lights everywhere so I couldn't see exactly where it went or even if the track was still there. I loved the tight bermed corners though there was at least one where if you got it wrong you were off down a fair way. This was a good section for me as by the end of it I felt I was actually riding my bike rather than being a passenger.
I managed to get stabbed in the ear by a branch going up the rock step (one of these day I will stay away from the buch at the side of the track) and down into the gully which was reassuringly muddy. I was feeling pretty good actually and decided to attack the road hill, which was a a complete waste of energy as I just succeeded in pogoing the bike up and down. It made it harder than usual to get up the rest of that section.
Ed and Drew left us at the bottom of the climb up to the pigeon tower as time was getting on a bit. A nice social chat up to below the Pike then up the cobbles to the Pike itself. I took advantage of the rear suspension here and didn't have to push to get the back wheel over the cobbles. Up to the Pike then back down and along the track by the reservoir which has now had all the technical interest flattened out, shame.
Back to the car and it was nearly 10 pm, oops. I still had to feed my friends cats, make my tea, sort bike etc. I didn't finish my tea until 11:30 pm but as I was planning a long run tomorrow I knew I had to eat it.
What a difference dry trails and a warm night make.
I finally rocked up at 6:55 pm, we were supposed to be setting off at 7 but when I got there everyone was still faffing so no worries. I was on the Titus again as not sure the On One brake is completely sorted yet and I actually wanted to complete the ride. I couldn't get my rear light on the seatpost, ah well cars will just have to flatten me or I'll make sure I'm not last on the road sections.
An easy bimble to set off with whilst others finish faffing and the trails are pretty dry and its warm!!!!!!!!!!! Shame its not daylight. Because it was such a nice evening most of the ride was done at chatty pace and I could actually ride my bike tonight rather than fall off it which was great.
We did the new bit of trail in Healey Nab which was interesting to say the least as I had no idea what it was like, I'm glad I had my Joystick on my head as it was quite twisty. There were a few drops that I had no idea waht was on the other side and as it was so twisty there were lights everywhere so I couldn't see exactly where it went or even if the track was still there. I loved the tight bermed corners though there was at least one where if you got it wrong you were off down a fair way. This was a good section for me as by the end of it I felt I was actually riding my bike rather than being a passenger.
I managed to get stabbed in the ear by a branch going up the rock step (one of these day I will stay away from the buch at the side of the track) and down into the gully which was reassuringly muddy. I was feeling pretty good actually and decided to attack the road hill, which was a a complete waste of energy as I just succeeded in pogoing the bike up and down. It made it harder than usual to get up the rest of that section.
Ed and Drew left us at the bottom of the climb up to the pigeon tower as time was getting on a bit. A nice social chat up to below the Pike then up the cobbles to the Pike itself. I took advantage of the rear suspension here and didn't have to push to get the back wheel over the cobbles. Up to the Pike then back down and along the track by the reservoir which has now had all the technical interest flattened out, shame.
Back to the car and it was nearly 10 pm, oops. I still had to feed my friends cats, make my tea, sort bike etc. I didn't finish my tea until 11:30 pm but as I was planning a long run tomorrow I knew I had to eat it.
What a difference dry trails and a warm night make.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Ooh, that was warm.
I arrived back at work after my lunchtime run beetroot red and radiating heat from my face. I was a little over dressed for todays speed session. I seem to have been avoiding doing some really hard sessions for a while so today's interval session was 4 x 800 metres (half a mile for me) with 90 second recoveries.
I headed down towards Lytham for just over two miles of warm up, as it was into the wind I it was quite refreshing. I set off far too fast for the first interval as usual and finished the half mile at 7.10 mm (3:34) average. The were supposed to be at 7:30 mm at the fastest, oops here I go again overdoing it but the marker was set to I thought I had to try the remaining ones at that pace. I had a quick pitstop in the loos before setting off on the next one (finished coffee too close to run).
The second one felt pretty good and was as it turned out even faster, 7.02 mm (3:30). I recovered well and set off on the third one, going pretty good until turning off the prom and up the main path along the road. The sun was out and I was behind the dunes and was being sheltered from the wind, it was like running into a sauna. I was boiling by the end of that one and had slowed down a bit as I felt I was overheating but 7.10 mm (3:34) pace again.
I actually stopped after this interval, stopped the timer for a bit, took my buff off my head and faced the cooling wind until I cooled down a bit - its probably not even that warm really but I'm so used to it being cold. I set off on the last interval and ran part of it into the wind which was just lovely and 7.12 mm (3:36)pace. Three out of four intervals were quite consistent, just one that was too fast.
I finished off with a bit of a jog along the beach before heading back to work. Nice to do a proper session again.
I headed down towards Lytham for just over two miles of warm up, as it was into the wind I it was quite refreshing. I set off far too fast for the first interval as usual and finished the half mile at 7.10 mm (3:34) average. The were supposed to be at 7:30 mm at the fastest, oops here I go again overdoing it but the marker was set to I thought I had to try the remaining ones at that pace. I had a quick pitstop in the loos before setting off on the next one (finished coffee too close to run).
The second one felt pretty good and was as it turned out even faster, 7.02 mm (3:30). I recovered well and set off on the third one, going pretty good until turning off the prom and up the main path along the road. The sun was out and I was behind the dunes and was being sheltered from the wind, it was like running into a sauna. I was boiling by the end of that one and had slowed down a bit as I felt I was overheating but 7.10 mm (3:34) pace again.
I actually stopped after this interval, stopped the timer for a bit, took my buff off my head and faced the cooling wind until I cooled down a bit - its probably not even that warm really but I'm so used to it being cold. I set off on the last interval and ran part of it into the wind which was just lovely and 7.12 mm (3:36)pace. Three out of four intervals were quite consistent, just one that was too fast.
I finished off with a bit of a jog along the beach before heading back to work. Nice to do a proper session again.
Monday, March 16, 2009
A Test Run
What a beautiful day today was, I didn't take my kit to work today but by mid morning I had decided I was going to go out for a run to see if I had shaken whatever had been wiping me out for the last week or so.
I did have the customary "can I be bothered" moment as I first got home but as Jez is away for the next however many weeks the alternative was just being in the house with the cat. As he isn't much of a conversationalist I got my stuff together and headed out the door. The plan was to do about three miles at long run pace (9:30mm or less than 160 if possible) and see how things were.
I felt pretty good from the off, legs very springy given a few days off though my left hamstring was tight. It will be from all the digging/faffing in the garden I did over the weekend (I didn't have a completely lazy weekend). I really enjoyed it, total endorphin high by the time I got home which was just fantastic. I speeded up for the last mile I was enjoying myself so much.
Just under five miles at 8:50 pace and looking forward to getting my training back on track - 11 weeks til M day!
I did have the customary "can I be bothered" moment as I first got home but as Jez is away for the next however many weeks the alternative was just being in the house with the cat. As he isn't much of a conversationalist I got my stuff together and headed out the door. The plan was to do about three miles at long run pace (9:30mm or less than 160 if possible) and see how things were.
I felt pretty good from the off, legs very springy given a few days off though my left hamstring was tight. It will be from all the digging/faffing in the garden I did over the weekend (I didn't have a completely lazy weekend). I really enjoyed it, total endorphin high by the time I got home which was just fantastic. I speeded up for the last mile I was enjoying myself so much.
Just under five miles at 8:50 pace and looking forward to getting my training back on track - 11 weeks til M day!
Whoosh!
...time just seems to have disappeared lately, not that I have been up to much.
Jez and I were in the Lakes for our birthday at the beginning of the month (yes we do share the same birthday). We celebrated getting another year older by walking up Fairfield from Patterdale, in the snow. I would write lots more about this as I took loads of photos but for some reason Jez's laptop ate them and they were never seen again. I was left with about 8 completely random photos on the memory card out of a few hundred. Only the Fairfield ones hadn't been copied elsewhere, ho hum.
It started as a beautiful day, lots of fluffy sparkly snow and lots of ice around. The climb up onto Farifield itself was very steep but the snow was pretty good so kicking steps was the way to go, except when I booted hidden rocks, that hurt. We followed some fell shoe tracks up. The tracks were actually heading down the mountain and fair play to whoever it was because we only saw a couple of elongated prints where they had had a little slide, there had been no application of technical hands or arse.
Some quite thick snow over the top and I got a view from the top rather than the pea soup clag I had last time I was up there. It didn't last long as the weather was coming in and Helvellyn had disappeared in the cloud. Our plan was to head back via St Sunday Crag and down into Patterdale. Once the cloud came in the light went really flat and I found negotiating some of the little ridgy bits on the way down to Deepdale hause a little tricky as I just couldn't make things out properly. I had a little lateral foot slip on one of the narrowest sections which sharpened the mind somewhat!
At Deepdale Hause we decided against continuing with the planned route as it was snowing and the cloud was down and we had to gain a fair amount of height again. We decided to drop down into Deepdale and head back that way, and what a drop down it was! It felt vertical (and looked it when walking away), lots of side steps to get down. A long boring trog along Deepdale then into the pub in Patterdale for some beer and a humungous plate of food.
An easy day after walking where we go pick up Jez's new car then an MTB ride on Saturday 7th where I managed not to fall off, which is a good thing. The bad thing is I achieved it by riding like a complete wuss, really demoralising. I felt really shattered for some reason and wasn't particularly enjoying myself in the driving rain and wind. We headed out in the afternoon, just as the lovely morning was replaced by minging weather. Very wet and cold and for once wasn't bothered about the ride being short!
Sunday I was supposed to be doing a long run but just couldn't get myself to do anything, thought I might have had a bit of a sniffle. On Monday I woke up thinking I had a bit of a sniffle but I was fine in the afternoon so I headed out after work for a run. I mile easy, 4 miles at 8:40 and 1 mile easy again. I headed into Cuerden park where there are a few hills so I knew I would need to work harder on the easier sections to compensate for the hills. First fast mile was 8:47 and I never paid attention after that. In the end the tempo section averaged 8:13 mm which was far too fast and I had massively overcompensated for the hills and I had a feeling I was going to pay for it.
Tuesday I felt a little coldy but got up and cycled to work, I was feeling fine after about 20 minutes and had a really good ride in, little wind and an average of 16mph which is quite fast for me on the Spesh. The ride home was supposed to be a bimble but for some reason I pushed a little bit on the first few miles, I think it was just nice to be riding home in proper daylight. At Freckleton a roadie came screaming by me (as they do), then up ahead two blokes joined the Marsh Road in front of me. They weren't going particularly slowly but for some reason I decided to try and catch them.
I was averaging about 19mph (it has its own momentum I think the Spesh) and caught up to the first one, who was on a road bike but wearing fairly normal clothes. I had to wait for a gap in the traffic to overtake then I got passed, I had to accelerate hard but I was off. I haven't worked that hard on my commute for quite some time. It didn't take me long to get to the second guy but I had to wait a little longer to pass him. I remember looking at the computer and I think it was reading 23/24 mph as I accelerated to get past before I got flattened by the traffic.
I was working far too hard by then but I kept pushing at around 18/19 mphwhen I realised that I was reeling in the roadie who screamed past me earlier, think he must have backed off quite a bit. Unfortunately he got through the lights at the end of the Marsh Road and I had to wait else I think I would have got pretty close. I had to take it really easy for the rest of the ride home as I felt toatlly knackered, not a good sign and not very clever.
I paid for the hard efforts by being barely able to make myself get out of bed Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. I couldn't believe how tired I felt. On Saturday I woke up with a proper sniffle, at last, I have been trying to fight something off! I was stuck working on Saturday so I coudn't get to the XC race or go out for a run but I didn't mind as I was ill anyway. I rested again yesterday as still felt a little sniffly in the morning but woke up this morning feeling like a new me.
I hate when a cold is trying to get a hold for ages, there have been a few going round the office and I've done well not to catch one.
Jez and I were in the Lakes for our birthday at the beginning of the month (yes we do share the same birthday). We celebrated getting another year older by walking up Fairfield from Patterdale, in the snow. I would write lots more about this as I took loads of photos but for some reason Jez's laptop ate them and they were never seen again. I was left with about 8 completely random photos on the memory card out of a few hundred. Only the Fairfield ones hadn't been copied elsewhere, ho hum.
It started as a beautiful day, lots of fluffy sparkly snow and lots of ice around. The climb up onto Farifield itself was very steep but the snow was pretty good so kicking steps was the way to go, except when I booted hidden rocks, that hurt. We followed some fell shoe tracks up. The tracks were actually heading down the mountain and fair play to whoever it was because we only saw a couple of elongated prints where they had had a little slide, there had been no application of technical hands or arse.
Some quite thick snow over the top and I got a view from the top rather than the pea soup clag I had last time I was up there. It didn't last long as the weather was coming in and Helvellyn had disappeared in the cloud. Our plan was to head back via St Sunday Crag and down into Patterdale. Once the cloud came in the light went really flat and I found negotiating some of the little ridgy bits on the way down to Deepdale hause a little tricky as I just couldn't make things out properly. I had a little lateral foot slip on one of the narrowest sections which sharpened the mind somewhat!
At Deepdale Hause we decided against continuing with the planned route as it was snowing and the cloud was down and we had to gain a fair amount of height again. We decided to drop down into Deepdale and head back that way, and what a drop down it was! It felt vertical (and looked it when walking away), lots of side steps to get down. A long boring trog along Deepdale then into the pub in Patterdale for some beer and a humungous plate of food.
An easy day after walking where we go pick up Jez's new car then an MTB ride on Saturday 7th where I managed not to fall off, which is a good thing. The bad thing is I achieved it by riding like a complete wuss, really demoralising. I felt really shattered for some reason and wasn't particularly enjoying myself in the driving rain and wind. We headed out in the afternoon, just as the lovely morning was replaced by minging weather. Very wet and cold and for once wasn't bothered about the ride being short!
Sunday I was supposed to be doing a long run but just couldn't get myself to do anything, thought I might have had a bit of a sniffle. On Monday I woke up thinking I had a bit of a sniffle but I was fine in the afternoon so I headed out after work for a run. I mile easy, 4 miles at 8:40 and 1 mile easy again. I headed into Cuerden park where there are a few hills so I knew I would need to work harder on the easier sections to compensate for the hills. First fast mile was 8:47 and I never paid attention after that. In the end the tempo section averaged 8:13 mm which was far too fast and I had massively overcompensated for the hills and I had a feeling I was going to pay for it.
Tuesday I felt a little coldy but got up and cycled to work, I was feeling fine after about 20 minutes and had a really good ride in, little wind and an average of 16mph which is quite fast for me on the Spesh. The ride home was supposed to be a bimble but for some reason I pushed a little bit on the first few miles, I think it was just nice to be riding home in proper daylight. At Freckleton a roadie came screaming by me (as they do), then up ahead two blokes joined the Marsh Road in front of me. They weren't going particularly slowly but for some reason I decided to try and catch them.
I was averaging about 19mph (it has its own momentum I think the Spesh) and caught up to the first one, who was on a road bike but wearing fairly normal clothes. I had to wait for a gap in the traffic to overtake then I got passed, I had to accelerate hard but I was off. I haven't worked that hard on my commute for quite some time. It didn't take me long to get to the second guy but I had to wait a little longer to pass him. I remember looking at the computer and I think it was reading 23/24 mph as I accelerated to get past before I got flattened by the traffic.
I was working far too hard by then but I kept pushing at around 18/19 mphwhen I realised that I was reeling in the roadie who screamed past me earlier, think he must have backed off quite a bit. Unfortunately he got through the lights at the end of the Marsh Road and I had to wait else I think I would have got pretty close. I had to take it really easy for the rest of the ride home as I felt toatlly knackered, not a good sign and not very clever.
I paid for the hard efforts by being barely able to make myself get out of bed Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. I couldn't believe how tired I felt. On Saturday I woke up with a proper sniffle, at last, I have been trying to fight something off! I was stuck working on Saturday so I coudn't get to the XC race or go out for a run but I didn't mind as I was ill anyway. I rested again yesterday as still felt a little sniffly in the morning but woke up this morning feeling like a new me.
I hate when a cold is trying to get a hold for ages, there have been a few going round the office and I've done well not to catch one.
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