I enjoyed Monday's run so much I thought I'd do it again.
Well, almost. I ran the same outward leg, but adjusted the home leg a little, leaving Cannon Hill Park past the Holder's Lane allotments, along Holder's Lane and Moor Green Lane entering Highbury Park at the corner of Yew Tree Road. This cut about a third of a mile off the total. I did this for two reasons, firstly to introduce a little variety so that it wasn't just an out-and-back route, and partly to recce that new section to use in a four mile loop from Cannon Hill Park which I hope to use by adding it to other routes which start or finish, or indeed pass through the park.
For once on a new route I managed not to get lost!
It was a lot cooler than on Monday, thankfully, and I remembered my bottle this time, although I only drank half of the 250ml, and most of that was during the five minute break at the station, washing down the gel.
Speaking of gels, I tried a banana gel in my porridge this morning, in place of the usual honey. This may sound strange, but there was a reason. I'm planning a Lake District hill-walking expedition in the summer and will be 'wild camping' - camping up on the hills rather than in proper campsites - so that I don't have to keep dropping down to road/lake level each evening and climbing back up each morning, and can therefore spend more time walking the ridges. I'll need to carry everything I need for the whole trip on my back, so weight reduction is paramount, particularly the tent, rucksack and boots but right down to the food and the gear needed to cook and eat it. Basically, a few gels would be lighter and easier to carry than a jar of honey, and of course designed specifically to provide the energy required for endurance exercise.
Unfortunately it wasn't as nice as I'd hoped - there was a strong banana smell but not much taste, and it wasn't as sweet as half a spoon of honey. Given that I'd also be using water rather than milk, I may have to find an alternative!
Tomorrow I'm resting again in preparation for Sundays race, so I've volunteered to help out at Cannon Hill parkrun. According to the roster I'll be operating the timer. Like Brueton parkrun, with 149, Cannon Hill had a record turnout last week of 163, so I'm exercising the timer button thumb - I hope I'll be able to keep up! Good luck to all the runners tomorrow.
Friday 29 April 2011
Thursday 28 April 2011
I'm Trying to Keep Up!
I was aware that I'd missed posting about yesterday's run, but when I sat down this evening to catch up I realised I haven't posted since Saturday! So, please accept my apologies, and I'll catch up in brief.
After the extended run home in the heat following Brueton parkrun, I took Sunday off, as I planned another long run on Monday.
When I set off in the morning I realised that it was going to be another scorcher, and that the day I'd chosen for rest would have been the best day to run, as it would have offered respite from the heat. Never mind, it was a lovely morning so I determined that I should make the most of it.
My plan was to double up my run home from Cannon Hill parkrun last week - via Dad's Lane, Highbury Park and up Alcester Road to Moseley, then back the usual way - starting with the reverse of that route, and in Cannon Hill Park doing a little loop round the main lake and pausing for a few minutes rest at the station to have a stretch and a gel. It's been a while since I've had a gel and I plan to use one in the Hinkley Half Marathon next weekend, so I thought I'd just check that it didn't disagree with me.
I did my best to keep the pace down and I must say I really enjoyed myself. The Bank Holiday sunshine had brought loads of people out, especially in the parks, and it was lovely to see so many smiling faces, particularly on other runners.
Overall I ran about 11¼ miles with a five minute break in Cannon Hill Park. Unfortunately I remembered the gel but left my water bottle at home, so I was a little dehydrated by the time I got back!
My weekly run with Joe was on Tuesday evening again, and although we both professed to be tired, we got round pretty quickly - the fastest we've done it anticlockwise, at least since we started recording our times.
Last night I slipped in a hill session. I'd realised that I hadn't done any hills in over a month, so the originally planned short easy session had to make way. It was slightly tougher than the usual five hills over five-and-a-bit miles, adding about half a mile and an extra hill. Tougher also perhaps because of the miles I'd done earlier in the week.
Well, I've caught up with the blog posts, and come Sunday afternoon I'll be ahead on miles for the week, and catching up with my annual target (1500 miles, or about 29 per week - have I not mentioned that?)
Today is another rest day, as I'll be hitting the pavements again tomorrow morning - I suspect there'll be nothing much on the telly...
After the extended run home in the heat following Brueton parkrun, I took Sunday off, as I planned another long run on Monday.
When I set off in the morning I realised that it was going to be another scorcher, and that the day I'd chosen for rest would have been the best day to run, as it would have offered respite from the heat. Never mind, it was a lovely morning so I determined that I should make the most of it.
My plan was to double up my run home from Cannon Hill parkrun last week - via Dad's Lane, Highbury Park and up Alcester Road to Moseley, then back the usual way - starting with the reverse of that route, and in Cannon Hill Park doing a little loop round the main lake and pausing for a few minutes rest at the station to have a stretch and a gel. It's been a while since I've had a gel and I plan to use one in the Hinkley Half Marathon next weekend, so I thought I'd just check that it didn't disagree with me.
I did my best to keep the pace down and I must say I really enjoyed myself. The Bank Holiday sunshine had brought loads of people out, especially in the parks, and it was lovely to see so many smiling faces, particularly on other runners.
Overall I ran about 11¼ miles with a five minute break in Cannon Hill Park. Unfortunately I remembered the gel but left my water bottle at home, so I was a little dehydrated by the time I got back!
My weekly run with Joe was on Tuesday evening again, and although we both professed to be tired, we got round pretty quickly - the fastest we've done it anticlockwise, at least since we started recording our times.
Last night I slipped in a hill session. I'd realised that I hadn't done any hills in over a month, so the originally planned short easy session had to make way. It was slightly tougher than the usual five hills over five-and-a-bit miles, adding about half a mile and an extra hill. Tougher also perhaps because of the miles I'd done earlier in the week.
Well, I've caught up with the blog posts, and come Sunday afternoon I'll be ahead on miles for the week, and catching up with my annual target (1500 miles, or about 29 per week - have I not mentioned that?)
Today is another rest day, as I'll be hitting the pavements again tomorrow morning - I suspect there'll be nothing much on the telly...
Saturday 23 April 2011
Race Report - Brueton parkrun Event 40 - Where Do I Go From Here?
I can scarcely believe it myself. I won't fully believe it until the official results are posted or I get the official email. I'm refreshing the page every few seconds, getting impatient. By my watch? 19:30. Another twelve seconds off my PB? Cannon Hill parkrun have a quick course, but Brueton is clearly quicker still.
On a really gorgeous sunny morning masses of runners, joggers, call them what you will, turned out - many sporting the red and white of England and St George (myself included) some in Easter costumes, a few in fancy dress (even a few in orange - that's next week chaps!)
I spotted Derek there as I jogged in from Solihull, though from a distance I thought he was wearing a Scotland top to be awkward! To my knowledge, he has no Scottish blood in him - I suspect he's Brummie through and through. It was just a blue and white top over his Tamworth vest.
Chris was there too, with his girlfriend and dogs.
With the extra announcements about St George's Day, Easter and chocolate bunnies for all, my watch lost track of the satellites before the start so I was desperately trying to re-set it as Nick prepared to send us off. It was more important to have a time than be able to track my pace, though, so in the end I set it to stopwatch (or 'Indoor') mode.
It was nice to see a small group of Sparkhill Harriers near me so I exchanged greetings and good wishes with my ex club mates, then we were off!
I started with a mix of abandonment and restraint, if that's possible - I wanted to get a good start (and leave my mates behind!) but didn't want to blow it.
I had a couple of good dices along the way making and losing places as the race progressed, but unsure how I was doing. Passing the finish funnel on the first lap a glance at my watch suggested that I was well inside PB pace, but that just worried me that I'd set off too fast!
I'm still checking the results as I type, by the way - nothing yet. Cannon Hill parkrun had theirs up ages ago - another big record attendance of 164! Well done guys and girls - see you next week.
On the second lap a Knowle & Dorridge runner I'd been battling with managed to break away, and then with just a few hundred metres to go a young lad in a '10' parkrun shirt edged past but didn't break immediately - I stayed on his shoulder but when we both started sprinting his younger legs carried him away.
I was just a little disappointed that I'd let a couple past late in the race, but then they were rather younger than me!
That was forgotten anyway, when I checked my watch in the finish funnel.
I hung around to cheer Phil, Charles and Mick in, but missed Derek and Chris - they must have come through while I was busy recovering my breath! I caught up with Derek at the registration queue, sensibly getting some shade.
I jogged back to the car park with Derek then set off for home. I'd mapped out a route and made myself some guidance notes - it should have been around 6.44 miles... should, but what I took to be a footpath from the satellite image turned out not to be - either it never was or a fence has been erected since the aerial photos were taken. That threw me a bit, and I had to make a quick decision - left or right? I tossed a mental coin and went left, hoping to work round and back onto my route.
Unfortunately there was no obvious way back and I ended up way off course and pretty much lost! Keeping the sun more or less over my left shoulder I managed eventually to get onto familiar roads and to get on track, having added a couple of miles or so!
From there it was a relatively slow and uneventful jog home, though I was wilting somewhat in the increasing heat. I was glad to get home.
Still no results!
Well, another week, another race - in fact it's eight days to my next one - Centurion Running Club's Grand Prix 5 Mile, the one carried over from Christmas. I spoke to Nick at registration (briefly - he was kind of busy) and he'll be there again, no doubt in his parkrun Tee-shirt!
I'm just hanging on for the results before I finish off and post this... Is there an emoticon for 'thumb-twiddling'?! The footie will be on soon. I really shouldn't complain, after all I know very well that parkruns are run entirely by volunteers and are of course totally free (does that count as a plug?) I just want to see it in black and white! I'll put the kettle on.
Right. I'm trying to think of some clever way to relate what just happened to a well known phrase involving watched kettles. Never mind, I have my cup of tea and (fanfare) I have my results! The results page hasn't been updated yet, but I've received the email.
And as surprising as my result was, it's unsurprising really that they confirm my time, not as 19:30, but 19:31. Near enough? Oh yes, I'd say so!
And now the full results are up - 14th of 149 and 1st over-50 (from Derek - he'll be happy with a sub-20 minute PB). Hopefully York City will make me even happier - now I'm listening and waiting for that result - sounds positive so far!
The problem with knocking a substantial chunk off your PB is that it makes it that much harder to beat again! Looking on the bright side I guess I have my next parkrun target - to get my Cannon Hill time down to my Brueton PB!
On a really gorgeous sunny morning masses of runners, joggers, call them what you will, turned out - many sporting the red and white of England and St George (myself included) some in Easter costumes, a few in fancy dress (even a few in orange - that's next week chaps!)
I spotted Derek there as I jogged in from Solihull, though from a distance I thought he was wearing a Scotland top to be awkward! To my knowledge, he has no Scottish blood in him - I suspect he's Brummie through and through. It was just a blue and white top over his Tamworth vest.
Chris was there too, with his girlfriend and dogs.
With the extra announcements about St George's Day, Easter and chocolate bunnies for all, my watch lost track of the satellites before the start so I was desperately trying to re-set it as Nick prepared to send us off. It was more important to have a time than be able to track my pace, though, so in the end I set it to stopwatch (or 'Indoor') mode.
It was nice to see a small group of Sparkhill Harriers near me so I exchanged greetings and good wishes with my ex club mates, then we were off!
I started with a mix of abandonment and restraint, if that's possible - I wanted to get a good start (and leave my mates behind!) but didn't want to blow it.
I had a couple of good dices along the way making and losing places as the race progressed, but unsure how I was doing. Passing the finish funnel on the first lap a glance at my watch suggested that I was well inside PB pace, but that just worried me that I'd set off too fast!
I'm still checking the results as I type, by the way - nothing yet. Cannon Hill parkrun had theirs up ages ago - another big record attendance of 164! Well done guys and girls - see you next week.
On the second lap a Knowle & Dorridge runner I'd been battling with managed to break away, and then with just a few hundred metres to go a young lad in a '10' parkrun shirt edged past but didn't break immediately - I stayed on his shoulder but when we both started sprinting his younger legs carried him away.
I was just a little disappointed that I'd let a couple past late in the race, but then they were rather younger than me!
That was forgotten anyway, when I checked my watch in the finish funnel.
I hung around to cheer Phil, Charles and Mick in, but missed Derek and Chris - they must have come through while I was busy recovering my breath! I caught up with Derek at the registration queue, sensibly getting some shade.
I jogged back to the car park with Derek then set off for home. I'd mapped out a route and made myself some guidance notes - it should have been around 6.44 miles... should, but what I took to be a footpath from the satellite image turned out not to be - either it never was or a fence has been erected since the aerial photos were taken. That threw me a bit, and I had to make a quick decision - left or right? I tossed a mental coin and went left, hoping to work round and back onto my route.
Unfortunately there was no obvious way back and I ended up way off course and pretty much lost! Keeping the sun more or less over my left shoulder I managed eventually to get onto familiar roads and to get on track, having added a couple of miles or so!
From there it was a relatively slow and uneventful jog home, though I was wilting somewhat in the increasing heat. I was glad to get home.
Still no results!
Well, another week, another race - in fact it's eight days to my next one - Centurion Running Club's Grand Prix 5 Mile, the one carried over from Christmas. I spoke to Nick at registration (briefly - he was kind of busy) and he'll be there again, no doubt in his parkrun Tee-shirt!
I'm just hanging on for the results before I finish off and post this... Is there an emoticon for 'thumb-twiddling'?! The footie will be on soon. I really shouldn't complain, after all I know very well that parkruns are run entirely by volunteers and are of course totally free (does that count as a plug?) I just want to see it in black and white! I'll put the kettle on.
Right. I'm trying to think of some clever way to relate what just happened to a well known phrase involving watched kettles. Never mind, I have my cup of tea and (fanfare) I have my results! The results page hasn't been updated yet, but I've received the email.
And as surprising as my result was, it's unsurprising really that they confirm my time, not as 19:30, but 19:31. Near enough? Oh yes, I'd say so!
And now the full results are up - 14th of 149 and 1st over-50 (from Derek - he'll be happy with a sub-20 minute PB). Hopefully York City will make me even happier - now I'm listening and waiting for that result - sounds positive so far!
The problem with knocking a substantial chunk off your PB is that it makes it that much harder to beat again! Looking on the bright side I guess I have my next parkrun target - to get my Cannon Hill time down to my Brueton PB!
Friday 22 April 2011
Run For Fun
After really enjoying yesterday's run home, I decided to head out this evening with no plan and no expectations. I just went for a run.
OK, I suppose there was a plan in as much as I didn't intend to go far or too quickly, but other than than I made it up as I went along. I stayed local, but ran a footpath, a park and some roads I haven't seen for a while, let alone run on.
Remembering the heat of yesterday evening, I left it fairly late to go out, but it was still very warm, so I was happy to keep it short. I'm resting now until Saturday's parkrun.
Brueton parkrun are having a fancy dress day to celebrate St George's Day and Easter, but as I'm going for a time I'm afraid I shan't be dressing up!
OK, I suppose there was a plan in as much as I didn't intend to go far or too quickly, but other than than I made it up as I went along. I stayed local, but ran a footpath, a park and some roads I haven't seen for a while, let alone run on.
Remembering the heat of yesterday evening, I left it fairly late to go out, but it was still very warm, so I was happy to keep it short. I'm resting now until Saturday's parkrun.
Brueton parkrun are having a fancy dress day to celebrate St George's Day and Easter, but as I'm going for a time I'm afraid I shan't be dressing up!
Wednesday 20 April 2011
Sunshine, Hills and Exhaust Fumes
Today I cobbled together last Thursday's route home from the office and Saturday's home from Cannon Hill parkrun to make up what I thought would be a fairly tough but pleasant 7.6 miles.
I left the office just a little earlier than on Thursday, and immediately wished I'd left it a while, for the temperature to drop a few degrees and for the traffic to die down a little. Once I was across Belgrave Middleway the traffic eased, with the exception of foot traffic in Cannon Hill park, where there were hordes of locals out enjoying the sunshine (and why not?). Highbury Park was much quieter for some reason (could it be the 'water features' make so much difference?), and then the roads through Moseley and home were pretty much normal.
There's quite a testing hill from the river Rea up Dad's Lane, through Highbury park and continuing up Alcester Road, peaking, appropriately, at the junction with Hill Crest Road. After that it's largely downhill, particularly the half-mile long College Road, but with a last little tester about a mile from home.
I felt good this evening, at peace with the world (well, most of it), and running for fun.
I definitely intend to have another go at Brueton parkrun this week, and I'm already starting to get my 'race head' on!
I left the office just a little earlier than on Thursday, and immediately wished I'd left it a while, for the temperature to drop a few degrees and for the traffic to die down a little. Once I was across Belgrave Middleway the traffic eased, with the exception of foot traffic in Cannon Hill park, where there were hordes of locals out enjoying the sunshine (and why not?). Highbury Park was much quieter for some reason (could it be the 'water features' make so much difference?), and then the roads through Moseley and home were pretty much normal.
There's quite a testing hill from the river Rea up Dad's Lane, through Highbury park and continuing up Alcester Road, peaking, appropriately, at the junction with Hill Crest Road. After that it's largely downhill, particularly the half-mile long College Road, but with a last little tester about a mile from home.
I felt good this evening, at peace with the world (well, most of it), and running for fun.
I definitely intend to have another go at Brueton parkrun this week, and I'm already starting to get my 'race head' on!
Tuesday 19 April 2011
Problems? No Problems.
Well I had a few connection problems on Monday evening, so I've fallen further behind on my postings. I've also fallen further behind on my running, as I failed to motivate myself out of the door last night.
My run home after Cannon Hill parkrun on Saturday took me down the cycle route along the river Rea through Holders Lane Rec, up the hill of Dad's Lane to get into Highbury Park, and from there up Alcester Road to rejoin the usual route from Moseley. Just a touch over 5½ miles, and very nice too. Of course knowing you've just clocked another PB will lift your mood. I'd have liked to do a few more miles actually, but as I've mentioned I was short of time.
Tonight I had no bother with motivation, although Joe was at pains (literally) to tell me how tired he was. Even so, what seemed a relatively easy run turned out once again to be our fastest for the route. Somehow we both seem to be improving without too much effort!
Joe's away this weekend, so I'm going to take a break from Cannon Hill parkrun to head over to Solihull, to see if I can bring my time at Brueton parkrun below 20 minutes, and who knows - maybe another PB. The course at Brueton Park is pretty flat and fast.
My run home after Cannon Hill parkrun on Saturday took me down the cycle route along the river Rea through Holders Lane Rec, up the hill of Dad's Lane to get into Highbury Park, and from there up Alcester Road to rejoin the usual route from Moseley. Just a touch over 5½ miles, and very nice too. Of course knowing you've just clocked another PB will lift your mood. I'd have liked to do a few more miles actually, but as I've mentioned I was short of time.
Tonight I had no bother with motivation, although Joe was at pains (literally) to tell me how tired he was. Even so, what seemed a relatively easy run turned out once again to be our fastest for the route. Somehow we both seem to be improving without too much effort!
Joe's away this weekend, so I'm going to take a break from Cannon Hill parkrun to head over to Solihull, to see if I can bring my time at Brueton parkrun below 20 minutes, and who knows - maybe another PB. The course at Brueton Park is pretty flat and fast.
Sunday 17 April 2011
Race Report - Cannon Hill parkrun Event 34 - Another parkrun, another PB!
After last week's effort, knockimg 5 seconds off my 5km Personal Best, I felt I could put in another good performance at Cannon Hill parkrun, and scrupulously applied the same regimen, although this week I only had one day of rest. Nevertheless I knew I was unlikely to do even better, so would have been happy with anything under 20 minutes. Just three months ago I'd have been delighted with sub-20!
Somehow today didn't feel the same - I felt fit enough, but despite the motivating music, the warm-up and stretching I just didn't feel 'in the zone'.
It was such a beautiful spring morning though that I was happy to go through the motions and just see what happened.
Derek, my new nemesis(!) had turned up again, so there was a little bit of competition there. He told me he'd decided not to go off quite so fast this time, hoping to have the strength to finish quicker.
There was a big field again, despite all the other races going on this weekend. I positioned myself close to the front, but almost from the start I found myself going backwards. I probably lost around half a dozen places in the first kilometre, but then seemed able to hold position for quite some time.
I knew I was ahead of Derek, but was expecting him to slip past at some point - I never look round but I suspected he might be tracking me, biding his time for a reversal of our last clash!
Fergal did his bit for me again, helping me to focus on the job in hand during the two slightly up-hill sections where I have a tendancy to drift off. With the large field I found I was catching more tail-enders, and having to run round them - I even had to call 'excuse me!' when, on my sprint finish, a gap I was aiming for suddenly closed in front of me. I could hear someone bearing down on me over the last few hundred metres, and was convinced it was Derek, so put my all into fending him off, only to find that it was someone else entirely, a chap in the green and white hoops of Tipton Harriers. We thanked each other afterwards - me for him pushing me on and him for me pulling him along!
I checked my watch, feeling fairly confident that I'd gone sub-20 again, but was astounded to find that, albeit unofficially at this stage, I'd clocked yet another PB, shaving off a further couple of seconds!
Derek came in very soon after, and I gave him a shout, and anyone else I knew. Joe came in pretty soon too, so I knew he'd done well.
When the results came out Joe and I had both improved, Joe knocking 3 seconds off his Cannon Hill time (though his parkrun best still stands from Brueton parkrun back in August) and my PB of 19:42 confirmed, although eighteen places further back, in a finishing field of 139 (also a record for Cannon Hill). Derek, alas, fared less well, slower by thirteen seconds.
Derek joined me for his warm-down - the first mile or so of my run home. It seems we may come up against each other again sometime soon.
Apologies for the late posting, by the way. After my run home I had to have some lunch and head off to visit friends for the remainder of the weekend, and as it's getting quite late now I think I'll leave my account of the run home until tomorrow. Then again, as I haven't had time for a run today (Sunday) I may go out tomorrow whe I get home from work...
Somehow today didn't feel the same - I felt fit enough, but despite the motivating music, the warm-up and stretching I just didn't feel 'in the zone'.
It was such a beautiful spring morning though that I was happy to go through the motions and just see what happened.
Derek, my new nemesis(!) had turned up again, so there was a little bit of competition there. He told me he'd decided not to go off quite so fast this time, hoping to have the strength to finish quicker.
There was a big field again, despite all the other races going on this weekend. I positioned myself close to the front, but almost from the start I found myself going backwards. I probably lost around half a dozen places in the first kilometre, but then seemed able to hold position for quite some time.
I knew I was ahead of Derek, but was expecting him to slip past at some point - I never look round but I suspected he might be tracking me, biding his time for a reversal of our last clash!
Fergal did his bit for me again, helping me to focus on the job in hand during the two slightly up-hill sections where I have a tendancy to drift off. With the large field I found I was catching more tail-enders, and having to run round them - I even had to call 'excuse me!' when, on my sprint finish, a gap I was aiming for suddenly closed in front of me. I could hear someone bearing down on me over the last few hundred metres, and was convinced it was Derek, so put my all into fending him off, only to find that it was someone else entirely, a chap in the green and white hoops of Tipton Harriers. We thanked each other afterwards - me for him pushing me on and him for me pulling him along!
I checked my watch, feeling fairly confident that I'd gone sub-20 again, but was astounded to find that, albeit unofficially at this stage, I'd clocked yet another PB, shaving off a further couple of seconds!
Derek came in very soon after, and I gave him a shout, and anyone else I knew. Joe came in pretty soon too, so I knew he'd done well.
When the results came out Joe and I had both improved, Joe knocking 3 seconds off his Cannon Hill time (though his parkrun best still stands from Brueton parkrun back in August) and my PB of 19:42 confirmed, although eighteen places further back, in a finishing field of 139 (also a record for Cannon Hill). Derek, alas, fared less well, slower by thirteen seconds.
Derek joined me for his warm-down - the first mile or so of my run home. It seems we may come up against each other again sometime soon.
Apologies for the late posting, by the way. After my run home I had to have some lunch and head off to visit friends for the remainder of the weekend, and as it's getting quite late now I think I'll leave my account of the run home until tomorrow. Then again, as I haven't had time for a run today (Sunday) I may go out tomorrow whe I get home from work...
Thursday 14 April 2011
A New Route
My ankles were a little sore this morning. I put this down to the countless steep little bridges on the canal towpath. I wanted to run home from work again this evening, but felt I should find an alternative route. The obvious, and shortest, way is along a very busy trunk road with lots of junctions, and it's not very pleasant. I know plenty of people who run between the city centre and Cannon Hill Park before or after a parkrun, or even both ways, and knew that it wasn't too far, and as I often run home after a parkrun, and have occasionally run there before (though only when volunteering), I figured I could probably run from the office home via the park. A glance at the A-Z confirmed that it would actually be shorter than my usual route, and roughly mapping it in Good Run Guide I made it 5.45 miles. Most importantly, though - none of those pesky little bridges!
I was concerned that there might be a lot of traffic in the first mile or two, but even at 5:30 it seemed reasonably quiet. The weather was pretty good, though raining very lightly to start. I managed not to get lost, and before I knew it the floodlights of the Edgbaston cricket ground hove into view and I was onto more familiar roads.
I had expected to take around fifty minutes, but did it in 41:50!
I'm sure I'll be using this route again, and probably some extended versions too, after I get mapping again. It makes a pleasant change from the canal, and importantly it's lit, so it can be done without having to leave the office quite so early in the winter months.
There were a lot of runners around again... if they're training for London they need to put their feet up!
I was concerned that there might be a lot of traffic in the first mile or two, but even at 5:30 it seemed reasonably quiet. The weather was pretty good, though raining very lightly to start. I managed not to get lost, and before I knew it the floodlights of the Edgbaston cricket ground hove into view and I was onto more familiar roads.
I had expected to take around fifty minutes, but did it in 41:50!
I'm sure I'll be using this route again, and probably some extended versions too, after I get mapping again. It makes a pleasant change from the canal, and importantly it's lit, so it can be done without having to leave the office quite so early in the winter months.
There were a lot of runners around again... if they're training for London they need to put their feet up!
Wednesday 13 April 2011
A Wet Wednesday
This evening's run home was quite different to last Wednesday's. A dull early evening, a little bit chilly in the wind, which was of course against me most of the way, and largely in a light drizzle. On top of that, my route had to change slightly as the access I normally use from a road bridge to the towpath was blocked off for some sort of repairs. I had to quickly think which way to go without altering the distance too much. I went slightly wrong but realised that the bridge I was about to go under carried the canal overhead, so quickly got back on track.
Overall the route turned out to be just 0.05 miles shorter, and I ran about twenty seconds per mile faster.
Once back on course there were no further hitches. There were lots of runners around, whether in training for 'that' marathon I couldn't say!
Overall the route turned out to be just 0.05 miles shorter, and I ran about twenty seconds per mile faster.
Once back on course there were no further hitches. There were lots of runners around, whether in training for 'that' marathon I couldn't say!
Tuesday's Wednesday Session Goes Even Quicker!
We swapped things around again, Joe and I doing our weekly Wednesday session on Tuesday again, this time the other way round, and again went faster! His ligament certainly seems to be doing alright.
It was a warmish evening, there were no hold-ups with traffic, in fact drivers seemed to be going out of their way to be helpful. Could it have something to do with the weather? We chatted al the way round, or should I say I did, Joe contributing occasionally, and not while going uphill.
Not paying attention to our pace, I was rather surprised, though Joe confessed he'd thought it was going to be a good one.
It was a warmish evening, there were no hold-ups with traffic, in fact drivers seemed to be going out of their way to be helpful. Could it have something to do with the weather? We chatted al the way round, or should I say I did, Joe contributing occasionally, and not while going uphill.
Not paying attention to our pace, I was rather surprised, though Joe confessed he'd thought it was going to be a good one.
Sunday 10 April 2011
Pleasant Run, Unusual Injury
I had meant to do a fairly long run roday but with one thing and another I didn't have the time. In the end I went out without a plan and just headed toward the river.
Although it was a gorgeous day it was rather too hot for running, so I was quite happy not to do too long a run. I took the trail route along the river and just kept going until I had used half the available time and then turned round. Rather that than simply returning the same way I made a few minor changes, involving a short road section then going round the other side of the mill pool, down the other side of the river, and crossing a field, but finishing on the road back home. At least there was some shade from the trees.
It was such a nice day and I enjoyed the run so much I wished I'd gone out earlier when it was a little cooler so I could have stayed out for a bit longer.
I generally don't bother taking a bottle with me except on longer runs, but as it was so hot I took a small bottle of isotonic drink. Trying to drink and run at the same time though, I somehow managed to pull my jaw muscle when I belched!
Although it was a gorgeous day it was rather too hot for running, so I was quite happy not to do too long a run. I took the trail route along the river and just kept going until I had used half the available time and then turned round. Rather that than simply returning the same way I made a few minor changes, involving a short road section then going round the other side of the mill pool, down the other side of the river, and crossing a field, but finishing on the road back home. At least there was some shade from the trees.
It was such a nice day and I enjoyed the run so much I wished I'd gone out earlier when it was a little cooler so I could have stayed out for a bit longer.
I generally don't bother taking a bottle with me except on longer runs, but as it was so hot I took a small bottle of isotonic drink. Trying to drink and run at the same time though, I somehow managed to pull my jaw muscle when I belched!
Saturday 9 April 2011
'Cross-Site Scripting' Error - Update and Apology
I've been reading about the threat of Cross-Site Scripting, or CSS, or indeed XSS, and it seems it's a method by which a malicious website can bypass security measures on another site, using the user's information, held in cookies. I may be completely wrong of course, as I'm no expert!
Anyway, the problem as far as 'On The Road' is concerned, is that Google's 'Event' gadget, which I used to show details of races at the bottom of this page, is not too clever at protecting cookie info (or something!), so I've removed them for the time being. The same goes for the 'Share It' gadget (By someone called Barry Welch at Friend Connect Message Labs) which allowed users to share or bookmark pages on Twitter and/or Facebook, so that's gone too.
Unfortunately I don't have the skills to write my own gadgets (nor the time/inclination to acquire those skills) so those parts of On The Run will remain unavailable unless/until someone comes up with new improved gadgets.
So, I apologise if my blog caused any trauma , and for the now reduced functionality. I hope it doesn't reduce your enjoyment of my running adventures, such as they are!
FC Message Labs seem to be aware of the problem, as their 'Share It' gadget is no longer available to insert using the URL.
It seems strange that the Google gadget is poorly written, especially given that Google are reportedly buying out Blogger...
Anyway, the problem as far as 'On The Road' is concerned, is that Google's 'Event' gadget, which I used to show details of races at the bottom of this page, is not too clever at protecting cookie info (or something!), so I've removed them for the time being. The same goes for the 'Share It' gadget (By someone called Barry Welch at Friend Connect Message Labs) which allowed users to share or bookmark pages on Twitter and/or Facebook, so that's gone too.
Unfortunately I don't have the skills to write my own gadgets (nor the time/inclination to acquire those skills) so those parts of On The Run will remain unavailable unless/until someone comes up with new improved gadgets.
So, I apologise if my blog caused any trauma , and for the now reduced functionality. I hope it doesn't reduce your enjoyment of my running adventures, such as they are!
FC Message Labs seem to be aware of the problem, as their 'Share It' gadget is no longer available to insert using the URL.
It seems strange that the Google gadget is poorly written, especially given that Google are reportedly buying out Blogger...
Race Report - Cannon Hill parkrun Event 33 - New PB!
Woo-Hoo!
I really fancied myself for a PB this week and so I determined to launch a two-pronged attack:
My mood can only have been helped by the glorious Spring weather, which clearly also helped to attract what turned out to be a record field, by a good margin. I even remembered to switch the Garmin on to track down some satellites, and then to start the stopwatch.
The formula seemed to work, as I felt great from the start, and passing the bandstand the first time, at about 500 metres, I was lying in 7seventh or eighth position.
Being a bit nearer to the 'sharp end' than usual at this stage there wasn't much overtaking going on, and I found myself on my own for a while. Eventually a Bournville Harrier chased me down and got past - and I wasn't able to do much about it. I did pass one runner quite early on, but he looked like he'd given up on the race, for whatever reason, and was just jogging round. On the last lap I was passed by a group of three, including the first woman. This was around the 4 km mark. Shortly afterwards, though, the young guy, third of the group, slowed appreciably and I was past him again, but the other two were stretching their lead on me.
Somehow my mind wandered by the fish pond, a point where I usually slow a little, but turning toward 'Fergal's Corner' I got my concentration back, probably in expectation of Fergal's exhortations to up the pace! Fergal duly obliged, so of course I had to do my best to increase speed, especially as a glance at my watch told me what I was hoping - that a PB was definitely on the cards.
I pulled out all the remaining stops, but was really struggling to get the legs moving much faster. Nevertheless I made ground on the runners ahead, almost catching the young lady who had passed me a kilometre earlier. Coming through the funnel it dawned on me that today it was my leg muscles that were limiting me, rather than my lungs. This seems to suggest that the rest did me good, and that, to progress further, I need to combine rest with speed work. No surprises there!
Another glance at the watch confirmed a PB - I made it 19:43.72. I sneaked a look at Chris' clipboard and he had me down as 19:44 - fair enough. The result email arrived at 11:43 (as usual I was impatiently waiting for it, alternating between refreshing my email and the Cannon Hill parkrun results page!), and there it was in black and white: 19:44, 12th place of 129 runners, and first VM50-54. A PB by 5 seconds. Strangely, though, the email reported me as 9th gent even though the results page shows, as I thought, that there was only one lady ahead of me (and only just!), so I was actually 11th gent. No matter, the PB is the only important thing!
After chatting with various parkrun friends I headed off on a jog home - 3.76 miles, or, as I forgot to change my watch back from metric to imperial, 6.06 km.
I recall reading a letter in the free newspaper 'Metro' some time ago in which the writer asserted that 'you never see a happy jogger'. Jogging home in the sunshine with a shiny new PB under my belt I can tell you I had a big grin on my face!
I really fancied myself for a PB this week and so I determined to launch a two-pronged attack:
- Firstly, rest. After shifting my training sessions around earlier in the week I decided to rest properly on both Thursday AND Friday, and to get a good night's sleep.
- Secondly, recognising that I often feel terrible early in races - typically the first 1½ km of a 5 km race - and have to overcome my self-doubts (with some success, it must be said) I couldn't help but wonder how much faster I might go if I actually felt good in this important phase! To that end, I had a little jog and some gentle stretching while waiting for my lift, and then another good warm-up jog and more stretching before the race.
My mood can only have been helped by the glorious Spring weather, which clearly also helped to attract what turned out to be a record field, by a good margin. I even remembered to switch the Garmin on to track down some satellites, and then to start the stopwatch.
The formula seemed to work, as I felt great from the start, and passing the bandstand the first time, at about 500 metres, I was lying in 7seventh or eighth position.
Being a bit nearer to the 'sharp end' than usual at this stage there wasn't much overtaking going on, and I found myself on my own for a while. Eventually a Bournville Harrier chased me down and got past - and I wasn't able to do much about it. I did pass one runner quite early on, but he looked like he'd given up on the race, for whatever reason, and was just jogging round. On the last lap I was passed by a group of three, including the first woman. This was around the 4 km mark. Shortly afterwards, though, the young guy, third of the group, slowed appreciably and I was past him again, but the other two were stretching their lead on me.
Somehow my mind wandered by the fish pond, a point where I usually slow a little, but turning toward 'Fergal's Corner' I got my concentration back, probably in expectation of Fergal's exhortations to up the pace! Fergal duly obliged, so of course I had to do my best to increase speed, especially as a glance at my watch told me what I was hoping - that a PB was definitely on the cards.
I pulled out all the remaining stops, but was really struggling to get the legs moving much faster. Nevertheless I made ground on the runners ahead, almost catching the young lady who had passed me a kilometre earlier. Coming through the funnel it dawned on me that today it was my leg muscles that were limiting me, rather than my lungs. This seems to suggest that the rest did me good, and that, to progress further, I need to combine rest with speed work. No surprises there!
Another glance at the watch confirmed a PB - I made it 19:43.72. I sneaked a look at Chris' clipboard and he had me down as 19:44 - fair enough. The result email arrived at 11:43 (as usual I was impatiently waiting for it, alternating between refreshing my email and the Cannon Hill parkrun results page!), and there it was in black and white: 19:44, 12th place of 129 runners, and first VM50-54. A PB by 5 seconds. Strangely, though, the email reported me as 9th gent even though the results page shows, as I thought, that there was only one lady ahead of me (and only just!), so I was actually 11th gent. No matter, the PB is the only important thing!
After chatting with various parkrun friends I headed off on a jog home - 3.76 miles, or, as I forgot to change my watch back from metric to imperial, 6.06 km.
I recall reading a letter in the free newspaper 'Metro' some time ago in which the writer asserted that 'you never see a happy jogger'. Jogging home in the sunshine with a shiny new PB under my belt I can tell you I had a big grin on my face!
Thursday 7 April 2011
'Cross-Site Scripting' Error
You may experience an error message saying something like this when loading this (and some other) blogs:
Blogger and Google are aware of this issue with certain widgets. Apparently it may be due to Blogger 'using Java Script to add a Script Tag to Google-analytics.com in the header' (whatever that means).
It effectively means that the 'Event' widgets I use to show races at the bottom of the page aren't working.
It doesn't appear to have any other effects, and hopefully it will be sorted out soon.
Blogger and Google are aware of this issue with certain widgets. Apparently it may be due to Blogger 'using Java Script to add a Script Tag to Google-analytics.com in the header' (whatever that means).
It effectively means that the 'Event' widgets I use to show races at the bottom of the page aren't working.
It doesn't appear to have any other effects, and hopefully it will be sorted out soon.
Wednesday 6 April 2011
Sunday to Monday, Wednesday to Tuesday, Thursday to Wednesday...
Having done last weeks long run this Monday, and then swapping Tuesday with Wednesday, Wednesday changed again. I was going to do Tuesday's hill session tonight, but this morning I decided to take my running kit to work and run home this evening.
I was glad I'd made that decision at four o'clock as we were experiencing system problems at work and unable to get much work done, so I 'clocked off' early. When I got outside I started to think maybe it wasn't so good a decision, as it was HOT! I think someone said it's been the hottest day this year.
Thankfully quite a lot of the first few miles through the city centre and on the canal towpath were in the shade, including the tunnels of course, but leaving the centre behind there was little respite, and by the time I got home I felt like I was melting!
I managed a reasonable time, considering, not that I was racing. The sunshine brought lots of people out onto the towpath, running, cycling, walking, boating, fishing, standing, sitting, drinking, chatting, snogging... and nearly everyone had a smile on their face! The notable exception was an angler who had a moan about the number of people on the towpath and making him have to move his Roach Pole (which was right across the path at a height of about 18 inches). They can be a surly lot, but then they do own the canal, don't they?
I was glad I'd made that decision at four o'clock as we were experiencing system problems at work and unable to get much work done, so I 'clocked off' early. When I got outside I started to think maybe it wasn't so good a decision, as it was HOT! I think someone said it's been the hottest day this year.
Thankfully quite a lot of the first few miles through the city centre and on the canal towpath were in the shade, including the tunnels of course, but leaving the centre behind there was little respite, and by the time I got home I felt like I was melting!
I managed a reasonable time, considering, not that I was racing. The sunshine brought lots of people out onto the towpath, running, cycling, walking, boating, fishing, standing, sitting, drinking, chatting, snogging... and nearly everyone had a smile on their face! The notable exception was an angler who had a moan about the number of people on the towpath and making him have to move his Roach Pole (which was right across the path at a height of about 18 inches). They can be a surly lot, but then they do own the canal, don't they?
Tuesday 5 April 2011
Wednesday's Session Goes Quicker on a Tuesday
Due to other commitments, Joe asked that we run together on Tuesday rather than Wednesday this week. He's seen a professional about his injury and it turns out to be a ligament - the one that connects the Peronius Brevis muscle to the little toe (5th metatarsal). At least I think that's the one he's describing. Anyway, he's been resting it and wanted to try it out tonight. He suggested joining me on my hills session, I guess so that if and when necessary he could jog from the bottom of one hill to the bottom of the next while I sprinted up and jogged down. As my week was already out of sync having run on Monday, I offered to swap Tuesday and Wednesday in my schedule, as it makes little difference to me. So we ended up doing our usual Wednesday route on Tuesday, going clockwise again.
Conscious of Joe's injury, we kept to a steady pace, or so we thought, and I asked Joe at two or three points if he was okay, but somehow we managed to finish quicker than we have at least since my records started! Analysing the pace chart there was a short section (between 1½ and 1¾ miles) where we were considerably slower than usual, though I don't remember any hold-ups, otherwise we were faster than usual pretty much all the way.
Joe reports no problems with his foot, which is good, so it was a very positive session in all respects.
We have no races planned for the next few weeks, parkruns aside, so we'll probably be running at two of the next three Cannon Hill parkruns and one at Brueton, though I may be due a bit of a blowout one of these weekends!
Thinking about the pile-up of races in May/June, I'm thinking it might be a little optimistic to try three half marathons in seven weeks, so Malvern and Allerthorpe might just have to go, and the Burton 10 might slot in instead.
Conscious of Joe's injury, we kept to a steady pace, or so we thought, and I asked Joe at two or three points if he was okay, but somehow we managed to finish quicker than we have at least since my records started! Analysing the pace chart there was a short section (between 1½ and 1¾ miles) where we were considerably slower than usual, though I don't remember any hold-ups, otherwise we were faster than usual pretty much all the way.
Joe reports no problems with his foot, which is good, so it was a very positive session in all respects.
We have no races planned for the next few weeks, parkruns aside, so we'll probably be running at two of the next three Cannon Hill parkruns and one at Brueton, though I may be due a bit of a blowout one of these weekends!
Thinking about the pile-up of races in May/June, I'm thinking it might be a little optimistic to try three half marathons in seven weeks, so Malvern and Allerthorpe might just have to go, and the Burton 10 might slot in instead.
Monday 4 April 2011
Running on Another Day Off
Once again a day off running becomes a day off work and thence a day 'on' running.
And once again I opted for a 10-miler, and even the same route.
Arriving home from York this (Monday) morning I had a couple of hours rest and made a few phone calls, then it was on with the running kit. The weather had cooled somewhat by this time, so I set off with two tops and a cap, and about a mile and a half in it started to rain. It never got heavy though, and I never actually noticed it stop. By the time I was half way though, the sun had come out and it was warming up - and my pace started to waiver a little. All in all though, my pace was reasonably steady, gradually slowing but with a couple of dips on the up-hill sections, as might be expected.
This was meant to be a steady run anyway, and my average pace was 7:50 minutes per mile, getting me round in 78 minutes and 17 seconds. That's my second fastest on this route, but I was wondering at one stage how I ever managed to get my PB down to 70:35 (Thirsk 10, November 2009)!
One of my targets for 2011 is to get my 10-mile PB down to under 70 minutes, but there aren't many 10-milers in my area, they tend to be early or late in the year, and I've already missed the early ones! I'm thinking I might try for the Burton 10 in May. It's described as 'Flat/undulating, with one minor hill', but let's face it - that could mean anything! Also, as it's two laps, there must surely be two hills...
And once again I opted for a 10-miler, and even the same route.
Arriving home from York this (Monday) morning I had a couple of hours rest and made a few phone calls, then it was on with the running kit. The weather had cooled somewhat by this time, so I set off with two tops and a cap, and about a mile and a half in it started to rain. It never got heavy though, and I never actually noticed it stop. By the time I was half way though, the sun had come out and it was warming up - and my pace started to waiver a little. All in all though, my pace was reasonably steady, gradually slowing but with a couple of dips on the up-hill sections, as might be expected.
This was meant to be a steady run anyway, and my average pace was 7:50 minutes per mile, getting me round in 78 minutes and 17 seconds. That's my second fastest on this route, but I was wondering at one stage how I ever managed to get my PB down to 70:35 (Thirsk 10, November 2009)!
One of my targets for 2011 is to get my 10-mile PB down to under 70 minutes, but there aren't many 10-milers in my area, they tend to be early or late in the year, and I've already missed the early ones! I'm thinking I might try for the Burton 10 in May. It's described as 'Flat/undulating, with one minor hill', but let's face it - that could mean anything! Also, as it's two laps, there must surely be two hills...
Sunday 3 April 2011
Race Report - Hull parkrun Event 53 - DNS
Well, I opted for Hull parkrun - possibly the lure of free cake, possibly just the opportunity to expand my parkrun CV.
Unfortunately I managed to get lost in Hull and then didn't find the correct park until too late. I should have allowed more time, but at least I know where it is for next time...
I parked up at about 9:15, and had a stroll towards the interior of the park looking for the race start area. Finding I was still quite a distance away (it's a big park!) I went back and moved the car nearer, then stripped off and went for a jog round. I paused for a chat with one of the marshals (I hope I didn't distract him too much from his duties!), and he told me where the start was and described the course.
I continued the opposite way to the race so as not to be taken for a competitor, though I did go off course a couple of times. It's a lovely park and the course, which is very flat and on broad tarmac paths, winds around a large lake and the East Park Animal Education Centre (I'm not sure why the animals need educating), where I think I spotted wallabies, deer, alpaca, peacocks, rhea and cranes.
I jogged around for about 3½ miles, finishing by going over the bridge across the lake (not on the parkrun route) and coming to the park's very own 'Khyber Pass', which I felt compelled to investigate, finding that it is in fact a folly built in the 1880's.
Checking the Hull parkrun website I see that they smashed their attendance record by twenty, with 196. My current PB would have placed me 23rd (2nd VM50-55).
I rarely have reason to visit Hull, but should I find myself there with the time to go for a run, whether a Saturday morning parkrun or not, I'd happily return to East Park. Perhaps I might take in a Hull parkrun on another visit to York.
Unfortunately I managed to get lost in Hull and then didn't find the correct park until too late. I should have allowed more time, but at least I know where it is for next time...
I parked up at about 9:15, and had a stroll towards the interior of the park looking for the race start area. Finding I was still quite a distance away (it's a big park!) I went back and moved the car nearer, then stripped off and went for a jog round. I paused for a chat with one of the marshals (I hope I didn't distract him too much from his duties!), and he told me where the start was and described the course.
I continued the opposite way to the race so as not to be taken for a competitor, though I did go off course a couple of times. It's a lovely park and the course, which is very flat and on broad tarmac paths, winds around a large lake and the East Park Animal Education Centre (I'm not sure why the animals need educating), where I think I spotted wallabies, deer, alpaca, peacocks, rhea and cranes.
I jogged around for about 3½ miles, finishing by going over the bridge across the lake (not on the parkrun route) and coming to the park's very own 'Khyber Pass', which I felt compelled to investigate, finding that it is in fact a folly built in the 1880's.
Checking the Hull parkrun website I see that they smashed their attendance record by twenty, with 196. My current PB would have placed me 23rd (2nd VM50-55).
I rarely have reason to visit Hull, but should I find myself there with the time to go for a run, whether a Saturday morning parkrun or not, I'd happily return to East Park. Perhaps I might take in a Hull parkrun on another visit to York.
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