Training Run 46

This run did not go particularly well.  I had completed almost three-quarters of the usual seven miles distance when I noticed the same gentle ache beginning to develop in my knee that had affected me at the end of the half-marathon recently.  I stopped running immediately and walked the rest of the way back to the changing rooms.  This was concerning for me and I decided that I would do more strengthening exercises from now on and always ensure that I stretch properly before any running that I do.  I may also see a physiotherapist but I'll see how things go for now.

Self-Transcendence 3x1 mile relay - 1 mile / 1.61 km, 6'20'' (team time 18'47'')

Tonight I joined in a 3x1 mile relay race with the London Frontrunners.  I was on the London Frontrunners F Team with Simon and Chris and I ran the second of the three legs.  I had never run a mile at speed before so didn't know how to pace myself for the distance.  I think I set off too fast because I know I was finding it really tough towards the end - the finish line seemed like it was miles away!  I also could feel a bit of niggly knee pain, the same as the one I got towards the end of the half-marathon.  I made it to the end though without overdoing it and helped our team to a time of 18'47'', with my individual lap being 6 minutes 20 seconds.  I have another one of these races to come in a few weeks, hopefully I'll have a better awareness of the pacing by then.

Training Run 45

Today Steven led the training session today, which consisted of 4 one-mile laps of a route within Regent's Park.  We were aiming to run this at mile pace, and trying to get each lap to be slightly faster than the previous one.

This was an enjoyable but tough speed session.  The weather was dry and warm, so conditions were perfect.  The final lap felt like a very long mile indeed!  I didn't feel any obvious pain, I just felt low on stamina and a bit fatigued.  I may still be tired after the half-marathon last weekend, so perhaps I should take it a bit easy and try and rest up a bit.

The Surrey Badger Half Marathon - 13.1 miles / 21.1 km, 1 hr 57'39''

After a couple of days of warm, sunny weather, this morning dawned grey and overcast, with slightly cooler temperatures than on previous days. As we arrived at Denbies Vineyard for the start of the race I felt relieved about this, as I hadn't particularly wanted to run in 25+ degree heat.

This was to be a smaller race than the others that I had taken part in previously, but it felt much more collegial and good-natured right from the start, with lots of friendly stewards and racers talking to one another. At the start we were warned about hills, and having not really studied the route in great detail I felt a slight sense of foreboding - had I bitten off more than I could chew by picking a very hilly course?

I ran the first two miles very conservatively, averaging 9.5 minutes per mile. Mile three was flat and alongside a busy road.  I ran it in 7 minutes which was very quick for me, and I reined myself in a bit after that, especially as mile four was mostly uphill. There were lots of water stations around the course, with people giving out jelly babies too (which were very much appreciated!) and I passed one of these just before mile five.

The middle of the race was steady and provided lots of beautiful views of the Surrey countryside and woods.  I really enjoyed the atmosphere and all of the marshals were very encouraging and friendly. Towards the end, at about mile ten, I realised that I might be able to get home in under two hours, so I ran a very fast mile ten (about 7 minutes). I immediately realised that this was something of a tactical error, as mile eleven was a slow and steady uphill stretch rather like mile four.  My right knee began to ache a bit at this point and I did find the last 3.1 miles quite challenging. I did manage to run down the last of the hills, back along the road and into Denbies, crossing the finishing line with a time of 1 hour 57 minutes 39 seconds.

I thought it was a very scenic race and I loved running through all the woods and countryside. It was also good to take part in a smaller race, as it felt like a more personal experience. At the end there was fresh melon, pineapple and oranges to eat and lots of water, before we were given our shirts and bottle of Badger beer. It was a great experience and I definitely want to run it again next year.

Training Run 44 - 5.6 miles / 9.01 km, 46'58''

I did my usual Monday night run with the Frontrunners, this time only to the Peace Pagoda, round it and back again, as I don't want to overdo it for the half-marathon on Sunday.  The weather was fine and my legs felt normal.  I didn't run particularly fast but I didn't want to overdo it tonight.  Everything seems to be going ok so fingers crossed for Sunday...

Training Run 43 - 4.26 miles / 6.85 km, 34'19''

It was still quite hot (though not as hot as it was on Wednesday!) and this was definitely running vest weather.  I ran one leisurely lap of Hyde Park with the Frontrunners and followed them for brunch afterwards.  The changing rooms were diabolically hot, I sweated more after the run than I did during it!  My running itself is going fine, there are no niggles that I am aware of and with the Surrey Badger half-marathon next Sunday I feel fairly confident that I am as well prepared as I can be.

Training Run 42

Today was the hottest day of the year so far and for our training run, Ed ensured that we were running close to the water fountains in Regent's Park so that we could keep hydrated.

We did several there-and-back sessions.  Initially we ran for 30 seconds in one direction and then 30 seconds back, with the aim of reaching where we had started from.  This was with the aim of ensuring that we ran consistently throughout.  We then did the same thing for 60 seconds, 90 seconds, two minutes and finished with two-and-a-half minutes in each direction.  I enjoyed this in spite of the heat - it was a beautifully sunny evening to be outside and I definitely found the pacing practice to be beneficial.