I was planning to take it fairly easy this week after the weekend's mud-fest. I went out for an early run with Jackson on Monday morning but kept to a pretty relaxed pace. At lunchtime though, I noticed that I'd lost my place at the top of the on-line training rankings and had to do at least 20 minutes of workouts to get back to the top again. So I reluctantly stopped by the gym and did 10k on the rower in just over 40 minutes which proved enough to regain my ranking! It shows how these training websites can act as motivation to train harder and longer- but the danger is that it can get a bit obsessive and over competitive.
Tuesday I didn't go for a run but had kick-boxing after work. It was a pretty good session and I felt pretty tired at the end so giving the run a miss was probably a good thing.
Today I did a 7k run along the Thames path and ran it at a fast pace - partly due to the fact that I couldn't spare much time and decided that rather than cut the run short I'd just aim to get round in less time. And tonight I'm off to yoga for a good old stretch!
26 November 2008
24 November 2008
Turbo X trail race...
For the second week in a row the plan was to get extremely muddy, this time on the army training land at Bordon where the Saab-Salomon Turbo X race was held.
The race organizers sent out an email on Friday advising that the military had been out testing their vehicles on the course and had churned it up nicely! There was also the prospect of snow falling during the race.
As it happened, I nearly missed the race altogether. I was poodling around the house on Sunday morning, thinking I had plenty of time to spare when I noticed that the race started at 10am and not 10:30, as I'd somehow gotten into my head. So I grabbed my gear, jumped into the car and shot off - arriving with about 10 minutes to spare!
Luckily the snow had stayed off but the conditions were still pretty miserable with sleety rain and grey skies.
The first 4 or 5 miles of the race was a fairly quick x-country run with the odd hill and a few sandy puddles thrown in. After the half way point though it become much more hard-core with deep, freezing cold water to wade through and a lot more in the way of hills.
Towards the end of the race came what is known as the X Zone, which is a sort of race within a race; through deep, foul-smelling bogs which, at one point, I was so stuck in that I couldn't get my legs out and had to grab an overhanging branch to pull myself free. This sort of challenging stuff continued for about a mile and then it was a back to relatively dry land and short-ish sprint to the finish. I got round in 1hr 37 which put me about halfway through the field, and not bad for a 10-12 mile run in such conditions.
The next race I've entered is the Grim Challenge which takes place in two weeks time on the Army tank testing ground at Aldershot - so I'm anticipating more mud on that one!
The race organizers sent out an email on Friday advising that the military had been out testing their vehicles on the course and had churned it up nicely! There was also the prospect of snow falling during the race.
As it happened, I nearly missed the race altogether. I was poodling around the house on Sunday morning, thinking I had plenty of time to spare when I noticed that the race started at 10am and not 10:30, as I'd somehow gotten into my head. So I grabbed my gear, jumped into the car and shot off - arriving with about 10 minutes to spare!
Luckily the snow had stayed off but the conditions were still pretty miserable with sleety rain and grey skies.
The first 4 or 5 miles of the race was a fairly quick x-country run with the odd hill and a few sandy puddles thrown in. After the half way point though it become much more hard-core with deep, freezing cold water to wade through and a lot more in the way of hills.
Towards the end of the race came what is known as the X Zone, which is a sort of race within a race; through deep, foul-smelling bogs which, at one point, I was so stuck in that I couldn't get my legs out and had to grab an overhanging branch to pull myself free. This sort of challenging stuff continued for about a mile and then it was a back to relatively dry land and short-ish sprint to the finish. I got round in 1hr 37 which put me about halfway through the field, and not bad for a 10-12 mile run in such conditions.
The next race I've entered is the Grim Challenge which takes place in two weeks time on the Army tank testing ground at Aldershot - so I'm anticipating more mud on that one!
21 November 2008
End of the week...
Another early morning run on Thursday but didn't push it too much, just a steady jog round the usual Hankley circuit. Jackson chased a few rabbits and squirrels but didn't manage to catch anything. I dread him catching something because he refuses to come anywhere near me in case I take his prize away from him. This can mean that I have to hang around for ages waiting to grab him before being able to drive home. Not a good thing when it's cold and wet and I have to get back in time to drive to work!
No run today - Friday - but knocked off 7542 meters on the rower in 30 minutes during lunch.
I'm planning a short run tomorrow and then the Turbo X race on Sunday. There's a good chance of some snow - so should be interesting.
No run today - Friday - but knocked off 7542 meters on the rower in 30 minutes during lunch.
I'm planning a short run tomorrow and then the Turbo X race on Sunday. There's a good chance of some snow - so should be interesting.
20 November 2008
Wednesday - run and yoga....
I'd planned a day off from running and intended to go to the gym for a session on the rower and then a yoga class after work - but the sun was out and it seemed a shame to be indoors. So I did the Thames path 8k run again and, in the process, dosed up on some vitamin D!
The yoga class was pretty tough as I hadn't been along for a couple of weeks and I seemed to have lost some flexibility. I really do need to go regularly or pay the penalty of being unable to get my body into the right postures without cramping up. I definitely feel a lot better after yoga though - it seems to energize me for a few days.
And with new found energy I jumped out of bed this morning at 5:45 am and took Jackson for a x-country run - arriving back home at just after 7am.
An excellent way to start the day!
The yoga class was pretty tough as I hadn't been along for a couple of weeks and I seemed to have lost some flexibility. I really do need to go regularly or pay the penalty of being unable to get my body into the right postures without cramping up. I definitely feel a lot better after yoga though - it seems to energize me for a few days.
And with new found energy I jumped out of bed this morning at 5:45 am and took Jackson for a x-country run - arriving back home at just after 7am.
An excellent way to start the day!
18 November 2008
Thames Path
Luckily, I work close to the River Thames in Chiswick so a lunchtime run along the Thames Path is always an option. A nice flat run certainly seemed a good idea after all the hills of the Hellrunner so Monday lunchtime I set off on an 8k jaunt down to Hammersmith Bridge and back up to Chiswick Bridge. I was feeling surprisingly energetic after the weekend's efforts and managed a decent pace throughout the run. There are always a few rowers out on the Thames and the occasional motorboat which I try to catch up and overtake - just to keep up the competitive spirit!
Took Jackson out for an early run around Hankley Common this morning. It was overcast and dark at 6am so I had to use a headtorch for most of the run.
Here are some views of Hankley Common - this is where I'm doing most of my training for the MDS. You can see there's plenty of sand to practise on!
Took Jackson out for an early run around Hankley Common this morning. It was overcast and dark at 6am so I had to use a headtorch for most of the run.
Here are some views of Hankley Common - this is where I'm doing most of my training for the MDS. You can see there's plenty of sand to practise on!
16 November 2008
Hellrunner
The Hellrunner is an eleven mile cross country race which has some added extras to make it more interesting; those being loads of steep hills, plenty of muddy puddles, the so called 'Bogs of Doom' and the 'Hills of Hell'.
The weather today was dry and mild which was a bonus for this time of year but the recent wet spell meant the puddles and ditches were brimming over with foul smelling muddy water.
The first three or four miles I found pretty tough until I'd warmed up and managed to get into a steady pace; then it was just a case of trying to keep running - up the hills, down the hills, back up them again, through the mud, through the water, up the sand dunes, through another waist deep muddy bog, up another really steep, sandy hill and so on.....
I finished the race covered from head to toe in a coating of gritty, ochre coloured, smelly mud/sand, crossing the line in an hour and forty three - five minutes faster than last year. So a good result.
And at the end of the day I still had enough in me to spend an hour on the squash court with James and Rich. And won a few games too!
Next Sunday I'll be having more fun in the mud with the Saab Salomon Turbo X race. Looking forward to that.
The weather today was dry and mild which was a bonus for this time of year but the recent wet spell meant the puddles and ditches were brimming over with foul smelling muddy water.
The first three or four miles I found pretty tough until I'd warmed up and managed to get into a steady pace; then it was just a case of trying to keep running - up the hills, down the hills, back up them again, through the mud, through the water, up the sand dunes, through another waist deep muddy bog, up another really steep, sandy hill and so on.....
I finished the race covered from head to toe in a coating of gritty, ochre coloured, smelly mud/sand, crossing the line in an hour and forty three - five minutes faster than last year. So a good result.
And at the end of the day I still had enough in me to spend an hour on the squash court with James and Rich. And won a few games too!
Next Sunday I'll be having more fun in the mud with the Saab Salomon Turbo X race. Looking forward to that.
13 November 2008
A steady 6k..
Sometimes, when you've had a long day at work, driven home in the traffic, it's raining and dark and you're feeling a bit knackered, the idea of heading out for a night x-country run doesn't have much appeal. But I tell myself it's got to be done and I can't let up on the training. And besides, Jackson's keen to get out for a run after being stuck indoors all day. So off to Hankley Common we go, armed with headtorch and mobile phone. Once up and running it's not too bad - in fact it's a pleasure to be out in the fresh air, sploshing through the puddles and working the body for a bit after a day sat in an edit suite staring at a screen.
I might take the day off training tomorrow or maybe drop in to a Yoga class after work. We'll have to see.
I might take the day off training tomorrow or maybe drop in to a Yoga class after work. We'll have to see.
12 November 2008
Back on the road...
Just by way of a change (and despite planning to stay off the roads as much as possible) I went for an 11.5 km run through Farnham, out towards Aldershot and back via Folly Hill. I got round in just over 59 minutes which was a pretty reasonable pace bearing in mind the long climb up to the half-way point.
It's probably a good idea to use a run like this to measure my progress in terms of speed so I'll try to repeat it every couple of weeks and hopefully shave a few seconds off each time.
I'll try to get back to off-road runs for the rest of the week and take things fairly easy before doing the 'Hellrunner' on Sunday. I'm looking forward to all the waist-deep mud and lung bursting hills that that entails.
I need to start thinking about raising some money for charity. If I'm going to be putting in all this effort I guess somebody should benefit from it apart from myself. I haven't decided on a charity yet but I'm leaning towards a local holiday camp for disabled children called 'Woodlarks'.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=vRlmwlrcloA
The other option (or maybe I can support both) would be SOS Children's Villages; a charity that helps street kids in third world countries. http://www.soschildrensvillages.org.uk/children-charity.htm
It's probably a good idea to use a run like this to measure my progress in terms of speed so I'll try to repeat it every couple of weeks and hopefully shave a few seconds off each time.
I'll try to get back to off-road runs for the rest of the week and take things fairly easy before doing the 'Hellrunner' on Sunday. I'm looking forward to all the waist-deep mud and lung bursting hills that that entails.
I need to start thinking about raising some money for charity. If I'm going to be putting in all this effort I guess somebody should benefit from it apart from myself. I haven't decided on a charity yet but I'm leaning towards a local holiday camp for disabled children called 'Woodlarks'.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=vRlmwlrcloA
The other option (or maybe I can support both) would be SOS Children's Villages; a charity that helps street kids in third world countries. http://www.soschildrensvillages.org.uk/children-charity.htm
11 November 2008
Moonlight run...
There was a full moon tonight and a cloud free sky so I went for a 10k x-country run with Jackson in tow. I wore a headtorch but to be honest I could have managed without for most of the run. The open ridges and valleys of Hankley Common were illuminated by the moon and it was only when passing through wooded areas that artificial light was needed.
So, with this morning's run, that's a total of 16k for the day; all cross country and mostly in the dark. I'm aiming to stay off road running as much as possible throughout the winter months in an effort to remain free of injuries and also to spend as much time as I can running on sand and rocks in preparation for the MDS.
So, with this morning's run, that's a total of 16k for the day; all cross country and mostly in the dark. I'm aiming to stay off road running as much as possible throughout the winter months in an effort to remain free of injuries and also to spend as much time as I can running on sand and rocks in preparation for the MDS.
Shoes..
The recent spell of wet weather has been a good test for the new trail shoes. They're New Balance MDS 1100s; a shoe which, though obviously designed for running in the desert, perform brilliantly on the muddy trails around Farnham and Tilford. They seem to be slightly wider than the Salomons that I've always used in the past. The extra width means more stability on rough terrain and more room for my wide feet. The grip is pretty good too and I've never felt in danger of slipping and sliding; a problem I had at times with the Salomons.
Training over the last few days has been pretty steady although I think I was fighting off a cold on Sunday and had a headache and the shivers. So I kept the Sunday morning run down to about 8k and called off the mountain biking I was planning for the afternoon. Monday I felt okay again and got in a run before work and a good session on the rower on the way home; knocking 20" off my 5k time! Had a good 40' x-country run this morning and maybe get out again later for a road run around Farnham.
Training over the last few days has been pretty steady although I think I was fighting off a cold on Sunday and had a headache and the shivers. So I kept the Sunday morning run down to about 8k and called off the mountain biking I was planning for the afternoon. Monday I felt okay again and got in a run before work and a good session on the rower on the way home; knocking 20" off my 5k time! Had a good 40' x-country run this morning and maybe get out again later for a road run around Farnham.
8 November 2008
A steady 16k
There's not been much in the way of fine weather recently and so it was that I set off on another dreary, wet and squally day for a 15k x-country run. I suppose it's to be expected at this time of year but those permanently grey, overcast skies are pretty depressing when they occur day after day.
The run itself was pretty routine and I arrived home muddy but not too tired and quite pleased with the way the training's going. There were some pretty steep hills to negotiate especially in the last 2k or so but it's all good practise for the next two weekends when I'll be running in the 'Hellrunner' and 'Saab Salomon Turbo X' races.
Maybe a run and a swim tomorrow. We'll have to see.
The run itself was pretty routine and I arrived home muddy but not too tired and quite pleased with the way the training's going. There were some pretty steep hills to negotiate especially in the last 2k or so but it's all good practise for the next two weekends when I'll be running in the 'Hellrunner' and 'Saab Salomon Turbo X' races.
Maybe a run and a swim tomorrow. We'll have to see.
It's Friday so no training.....
..but I did manage to sneak in a 1000m swim on the way home from work!
6 November 2008
Night run...
The original plan for today was to run a 10k from work at lunchtime. However, due to a busy schedule I had to work through lunch and couldn't get out. So... it was time for plan B which meant a late night run on Hankley Common with a headtorch. The run started okay but I soon discovered that I should have replaced the battery in my light as the beam became dimmer and dimmer until I was straining to see where I was going. Luckily, I'd stuffed a spare headtorch into my rucksack so I stopped and retrieved it, pulled it over my head and continued on for a bit before realising that the batteries were low on that one too. So I ended up wearing both torches; a combination that gave me just about enough light to find my way around.
Note for MDS: Make sure I carry enough spare batteries for my headtorch (and spare bulbs).
Note for MDS: Make sure I carry enough spare batteries for my headtorch (and spare bulbs).
5 November 2008
Other activities...
Went to kickboxing class at the company gym last night for a 90 minute session. I find that the lengthy warm up and stretching routine at the start of the class is doing me a lot of good as stretching is something I tend to neglect. The actual boxing training is pretty intense and provides a really good workout too.
Went for the usual early morning run today.
At 6:15am it's just about light enough to get around without running into something or turning an ankle on a tree root or rock. Pretty soon though I'll have to start using the headtorch to see where I'm going.
About to head over to the gym for a session on the rower and then a yoga class. So mixing it up a bit today.
Went for the usual early morning run today.
At 6:15am it's just about light enough to get around without running into something or turning an ankle on a tree root or rock. Pretty soon though I'll have to start using the headtorch to see where I'm going.
About to head over to the gym for a session on the rower and then a yoga class. So mixing it up a bit today.
4 November 2008
Another muddy run...
Kept to the plan and knocked off another 14k on Sunday, starting with a lap of Hankley Common with Jenny, and Jackson. When we returned to the car Jenny drove home and I ran back x-country with Jackson. The rain had pretty much stopped but the downpour from Saturday had left some serious mud to negotiate. The new MDS 1100 shoes coped well in the mire and we covered the total distance in about an hour and twenty five.
Monday morning saw an early run around Hankley at 6am. Felt pretty good at the time but nearly fell asleep at work later in the day. In fact I did actually doze off for a few seconds and awoke with a start midway through editing some football footage! Probably need to get to bed earlier.
Monday morning saw an early run around Hankley at 6am. Felt pretty good at the time but nearly fell asleep at work later in the day. In fact I did actually doze off for a few seconds and awoke with a start midway through editing some football footage! Probably need to get to bed earlier.
1 November 2008
Wet 'n windy...
and pretty cold with it!
We've got a 5 year old Springer Spaniel, 'Jackson', who's my regular companion when I head out for a run.
The two of us set out today for a 14k x-country session on a very unpleasant wintry afternoon but after a few minutes of feeling cold and miserable (at least I did, Jackson doesn't seem to care how cold and wet it is) we picked up the pace, warmed up and settled into the run.
I've made a point of keeping up the mileage over the last week since the Snowdonia Marathon and felt pretty relaxed today as I negotiated the sandy hills, muddy tracks and generally tough landscape - tough by Surrey standards that is!
Looking to do a similar sort of distance tomorrow. That reminds me - I need to stuff some newspaper into my trainers or I'll be stepping into a wet pair in the morning. Not very pleasant!
We've got a 5 year old Springer Spaniel, 'Jackson', who's my regular companion when I head out for a run.
The two of us set out today for a 14k x-country session on a very unpleasant wintry afternoon but after a few minutes of feeling cold and miserable (at least I did, Jackson doesn't seem to care how cold and wet it is) we picked up the pace, warmed up and settled into the run.
I've made a point of keeping up the mileage over the last week since the Snowdonia Marathon and felt pretty relaxed today as I negotiated the sandy hills, muddy tracks and generally tough landscape - tough by Surrey standards that is!
Looking to do a similar sort of distance tomorrow. That reminds me - I need to stuff some newspaper into my trainers or I'll be stepping into a wet pair in the morning. Not very pleasant!
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