whw 19.02.10

whw 19.02.10
A cold winters morning.

Thursday, 14 April 2011

THURDAY 14TH APRIL

With my new shift pattern in work i am working sat/sun and was off work mon/thur. So did a run from knightswood to grt western rd / botanic grns / river kelvin / garscube est / dawsholme then through westerton forrest to my house. My run was ok and my legs only got sore the last 2 miles, ankle a bit niggly but not stop me running. Went to la vitas in george square for late lunch and we all had a lovelly time and wine with lunch during the week is just the business.
Miles today. 8.58m.

Wednesday, 13 April 2011

WEDNESDAY 13TH APRIL

Was meant to be coaching tonight but got held up in work so had to cancel the session.
Ran home from work tonight this was my first run since the glasgow to edinburgh race. My legs felt fine, thighs a bit heavy and only 1 twinge in my ankle.
Total milles 5.44m.

TUESDAY 12TH APRIL

REST DAY

Monday, 11 April 2011

MONDAY 11TH APRIL

Had a plan in the back of my head to run back from coaching tonight but my right ankle is like a balloon and bruised so will try and rest as much as my 2 kids let me.

Sunday, 10 April 2011

SUNDAY 10TH APRIL

Rest day

Total mileage for the week 81.75 miles.

Comments, ankle swollen, hip feels ok, lost 6 lbs during the race and looking forward to my next training run " GOD KNOWS WHEN"

RESULT 9HRS 39MIN 52SEC  ( 18TH )

GLASGOW TO EDINBURGH 56M

Well this was my first ultra of 2011 and its been the hardest iv trained for a long while, so what was my plan for this race - failing to plan is planning to fail. My normal tactics is start at the back and try to slow less than everyone else a good tactic when running ultras. So what was my plan for today Pain - i had decided to make the most of my training and see how a faster start would be like in a ultra. The start of this race is in ruchill park just opposite partick thistle ground and i thought of bobby ross ( why would you leave a club you had ran for the last 39 years i was told that is twice as long as a morgage, marriage and in britain 3 life sentences.
Start, 9am my plan went as normal i ran close to the top 20 runners and felt comfortable with my first mile in 7m 51 o my god i normally only run at this miling for 1 or 2 miles of my 10 miler run o hey ho it was a down hill start. The miles ticked by and i had averaged 8.40 for the first check point at 13 miles. My plan had been 9 minute miles average so not so bad. My right ankle was starting to get sore at 14 miles and seemed to locked at the extended position but my calf was good and it was getting warmer as every mile went by.

The second check point was at the falkirk wheel at 22 miles which were all inside 8.50 miling and it was getting warmer again i stopped here as this was were drop bag point for the rest of the race. I had 4 gels to pick up and 2 rice pudding which i eat up the hill to the tunnel the chocolate all got left at the check point as i knew it was hot and getting hotter and choc is not what you want in the heat.

The third check point was at about 34 miles my average miling was getting slightly slower with the average miling 10.20 miling, so what happened here first i went through the marathon in 3hrs 58 min and hit the halfway point in 4hrs 20 min. My ankle was agony and slowing me down the heat was slowing me down and i had ran too fast the first half. This check point i had a longer break i took my shoes/socks off and put my feet in the union canal and changed my socks.

Check point four was at at 43 miles and my average miling had slowed more and i had made a mistake in my sis carbo drink i had made up a double dose for the next 2 check points but mixed it into 1 bottle which was only just about sip-able. Average miling sub 11 minute miling but my ankle was ok for a few miles but started getting sore again halfway through this leg.

Check point 5, this was the shortest leg of the race and i was limping badly and getting hip pain in the right side due to my ankle. Average miling this leg was sub 12 minute miling.

Final leg, my ankle was very very sore, my early pace had left me struggling more than usual, the heat had taken its toll on my body, my right heel was burning and my right hip was in spasm. Average miling for this leg was sub 13 minute miling and my last mile in 10.36.

I had finished a broken man i was very uncomfortable and only able to shuffle along at a snails pace, after a chat with the race organizer for 15 minutes and a hand shake to the wnner grant jeans ( he clapped everyone who finshed ) cant say iv ever seen a road or cross country winner stay at the finish and cheer the other finishers. Ultra runners are different from other runners, but in a really good way.
I finished in 19th place in a new pb of 9 hrs 39min, pb by about 8 min.

So what did i get out of the race well i loved all the sweat all the pain and all the discomfort of trying so hard. Would i do it again, yes but only when i can walk properly again What did i do wrong all of the above and didnt ease up for the race, would i change anything, no i bloody loved every pain staking second of it and it will make me tougher for the WHW in june 18th.

So why did my ankle get sore was it the new trainers or the thicker socks that cost £11 or was it the camber of the canal or that in april of last year, during the fling i twisted my right ankle at 19 mile and ran the next 34 miles in agony. Was it that after the WHW race that after a month that the swelling had went down to reveal a lump of ligament on the outside of my ankle floatting about. Who knows but i wouldnt change anything cause this is the joys of JOGGING FOR JESUS and as one of my many many training partners said (gary higgins) he always called me "no gain without pain HALPIN."

Friday, 8 April 2011

FRIDAY 8TH APRIL

Ran from house onto canal and along to next generation centre and went into the sweat shop, had a quick look round and got 2 pairs of socks for cheaper than 1 pair out of achilles heel and i was served straight away and the chap serving was very helpfull and its close to my house. So need to remember to go to the sweat shop rather than achilles heel, who are taking advantage of folk just wanting running shoes and leaving with a big credit card bill or even a new morgage.

GLASGOW TO EDINBURGH 56m
Spent this morning getting my drinks ready for tomorrow, there is 5 check points and so iv got 5 sis drinks ready with 5 gels to take. Food wise i will be taking my no brainer rice puddings at each check point and a bar of choc at each check point. I certainly wont take everything at the check pionts but at least its there if i want it. Most important thing for tomorow is the £5 in my bum bag to get a pint at the finish and unlike last year where i kept thinking for 56 miles a nice cold pint of guinness and was served a warm pint i will go for a glass of magners with ice. So heres hoping for a nice day tomorow and lots of interesting people to talk to and not to many dogs, people cycling and walkers with prams.
Good luck to everyone who is racing at the weekend !

Thursday, 7 April 2011

THURSDAY 7TH APRIL

Got a phone call to ask if id work today in the afternoon in the harley medical group to do a vasor, as suzanne was taking the kids to a friends for lunch i decided to work. So as usual if im working i run to work and run back as well. The sun was shining and i left the house for 1.30pm i ran along the forth and clyde canal onto the kelvin walkway and stopped off to get a new pair of socks and some gels for my race on saturday. So i stopped of at achilles heel and had to wait 5 minutes to be ripped off for 11 pounds for a pair of socks, while i waited for my hard earned money to be passed on the place was jumping with people talking about running shoes and being natural or pronator or as i heard a chap say "well your feet arent slapping," all i can say is i hope the people in the shop all have good jobs cause i couldnt afford a pair of shoes out of there. I really dont see the point of someone paying £80 to £100 for a pair of shoes that they will wear for 10 to 20 miles a week in the summer.
I have this week invested in 3 pairs of new shoes 1 pair from sports direct £48 for a pair of cumulus 12, cheapest price on the internet and 2 pairs of shoes from mnm direct costing £55. Now im trying to decide which pair to wear on saturday but maybe i should have asked someone in achilles heel and they may have got me to buy a pair of high mileage top of the range trainers, cause im running 56 miles on saturday. Well having worn the 3 pairs iv decided to wear the cheapest pair cause they feel the best for the canal and for me, so maybe im old fashioned but when i run i just bloody run and god willing i get to the end of the race and i might have a couple of pounds left in my pocket cause i never bought my shoes out of achilles heel other wise known as DAY LIGHT ROBBERS and i can afford a pint at the end of my run.
So ran 5.5m to charing cross and back 5.9 miles
Total mileage 11.39 miles.

Wednesday, 6 April 2011

WEDNESDAY 6TH APRIL (coaching)

Organized coaching to be at 10am today so set off at 9.30 and ran to coaching at scotstoun. Andrew was the only athlete that i expected and once id arrived he had already warmed up and done his strides. There was a athletics camp on inside so we went out and did some drills outside, then took a break and went indoors. We had decided to do sprint starts so did 6 + 20m. After a talk about everything it was 11amand time for me to run home again. Luckily the rain/wind had stopped so it wasnt too bud running home.
Total mileage 2.83 and 3.83 giving me 6.66 m.

Tuesday, 5 April 2011

TUESDAY 5TH APRIL

Due to being on holiday this week and getting a niggle in my left calf (again). I have taken the day off my main aim this year is to run a sub 26 hr westhighland way in june the 18th so i will try to keep my mileage at 75ish miles a week till then.

Monday, 4 April 2011

MONDAY 4TH APPRIL

Im on a weeks holiday this week so spent the day with the family and ran to coaching and back, my calf was sore today so 2 races in a weekend wasnt a good idea, but i did enjoy it.
Roshen, claire and james did 2(4 +200)m. With the 2 andrews and mark did 100/200/300m + 2 sets.
Total mileage 6.1 miles.

Sunday, 3 April 2011

SIX STAGE RELAYS

Did the six stage relays today i was the last runner in the b team, i was happy to just finish the race with no injuries so objective 1 completed. Average mile pace 7.02 for the race so faster today than the 5k yesterday 7.04 with double the distance and a bit windy today so happy with today. Total mileage 12.08
Weekly mileage. 74.54 miles.

Saturday, 2 April 2011

2ND APRIL POLLOCK PARK 5K

Decided to do this race last night and not to run too hard so it was up at 7.30 and get ready to leave for 8am. Felt tired running to pollock park, think i had a bit too much wine last night. It was 8.06 miles warm up and a steady 5k round the park. Warm down was 8.54 miles home. Result, 21m31sec.
Total mileage 19.65 miles.

Friday, 1 April 2011

1ST APRIL

Today i ran onto the forth and clyde canal ran up to maryhill where i ran onto queen margaret drive then into the botanic gardens and onto the kelvin walkway. Once i got to garscube estate it was through there and into dawsholme park and into westerton forrest and home.
This was a longer run than planned but thought id get a few extra miles in the bank for the week.
Total mileage 9.5 miles.

TOTAL MILEAGE FOR  MARCH WAS,      224.33 MILES.
TOTAL MILEAGE FOR FEBRUARY WAS  212.96 MILES
TOTAL MILEAGE FOR JANUARY WAS    263.10 MILES

THURSADY 31ST MARCH

Wanted to do something different tonight so i ran from gri along the clyde walkway then headed up pollockshields rd to minard rd then up past my old hockey club clydesdale and ran up to pollock park. Once in pollock park i did my usual route when doing the park run.
Total mileage. 12.87 miles

Wednesday, 30 March 2011

WEDNESDAY 30TH MARCH (coaching)

Today i ran from glasgow royal infirmary to scotstoun via the clyde walkway, govan and clyde tunnel. Giving me 7.55 miles.Training for andrew tonight was sprint drills and some run throughs and accelerations. Ran home from scotstoun giving me 2.55 miles.
Total mileage today 10.10 miles.

Tuesday, 29 March 2011

TUESDAY 29TH MARCH

Today was my wife suzanne birthday she is on her 40th birth year and i had no option but to have a rest day even though i went to work and took my running gear i was given the big ear !
Total mileage 0
Meaning i need to make up 10 miles in the next 5 days.

Monday, 28 March 2011

MONDAY 28TH MARCH (COACHING)

Ran from work to scotstoun via charing cross/kelvin walkway/annieasland/ scotstoun. Total miles 7.84
Coaching - sprinters- did 4 + 150m with accelerating last 50m.
                  middle distance- 2(200/300/200)m.
Ran home after coaching 2.5m
Total Mileage 10.34 miles.
Felt tired today but just plodded away.

Sunday, 27 March 2011

SUNDAY 27TH MARCH

Started my run at 7.30pm and the sun had set at 7.45pm it got dark at just about 5 miles and the weather was just perfect had a easy run and speeded up the last mile to catch the train.As i arrived at milngavie the train had just left, so it was 30 minutes to the next train i set of on my way home with a few extra miles.So only 1 fall and only managed to kick 1 stone and 1 very large rock. Wildlife on the way was 1 deer, 1 duck and wild geese flying over my head.
Total mileage 19.07 miles.

Saturday, 26 March 2011

SATURDAY 26TH MARCH

Awoke this morning and felt wrotten so my plan to do 10 miler went down the drain, so plan b was just to get a run done cause thats what i am a runner and not a man who has rest days 7 days a week. So i did the canal kelvin walkway and garscube estate through the forrest and home giving me a 5.57 miles my average heart rate was 176 which had me worried, till i remembered my heart rate monitor slipped down to my waist O GOD I MUST BE LOOSING WEIGHT better not mention this to the wife.
Total mileage 5.57 miles.