Shooeeees As Promised

Finally the shoe pic. Can you tell new from old? (I'm still in that sweet stage where I don't want to get them muddy... awww, bless.)


But there is more news. Despite only having one day off since my BIG run of the week - I went for a run with TheO yesterday, and my delightful little black pup. There's nothing as cute as watching a young dog bound along, and then decide to paw her nose, with both paws simultaneously, between bounces.

So, the actual run, you might want details, rather than the ramblings of a mad dog-owner:

5k run on the F.L.A.T whoo hoo.
9.37
9.26
9.50

I don't know where the extra 0.1 of a mile is so the splits are roughly 1.033333 miles each.

28.54

Minus 40 seconds of dog time - lack pup held up paw and refused to move - she had a thorn (invisible to me, but some wiping and general attention and she was good to go).

Huge admission: I walked for 0.1 of a mile too - after kneeling down and dealing with the evil pup it took a little while to coax the legs into speed mode. I'd just completed 2 miles in less than 19mins and was settling into the run properly when she complained.

At the end of the run I was a bit down heartened, having to stop really irritates me. I was hoping to have all sub 9:30 sections as I've been really missing the flat, fast, runs.

But on reflection it really pays to have everything written down in a running log as:
It turns out this is my best ever 5K - my previous best was slogging my guts out for 28:50. I managed to pretty much equal this despite walking for a wee bit AND stopping for 40 seconds to deal with a dog paw.


Chuffed! (And scared stiff about my w/end race - 5 miles, a small field, I might come last, Liz McColgan set the course record, there's a little hill...)

Training, training, training

Hooo Haaaa, me legs are knackered. Did the 10 mile stint today, stats below:

10 miles in 1:43.11
Average Pace 10.19 /mile
Calories burnt - 1441

Splits:
11.03 - all uphill from short steep to gentle rise - it's all a climb
10.52 - 50/50 uphill and downhill (gentle downhill)
9.12 - pretty flat, gradual downhill
10.24 - 50/50 uphill downhill. Had to walk for 0.15 of a mile on a very steep UP
9.40 - flat/gentle down
11.12 - gentle up most of the way, small bit flat
10.12 - 50/50
11.05 - generally a gentle up
9.52 - 50/50
9:35 - all delightfully downhill

Other points to note about this run.
It was very, very sunny and bloody hot at some points (out of the Baltic wind). Might have a tiny bit of a tan (mental note, wear more sunblock).

Used SiS Go Gel for the first (and last) time. OH.MY.GOD that has to be one of the most foul experiences known to humanity - it is minging. On a family site it would be unwise to mention what I thought the texture was like. I never want to think of it again, ever, ever, ever. (On a marginally more positive note it worked really well; I felt like 'the wall' was approaching at about 7.5 miles - I had my gel with gallons of water and felt fine through to the end.) Think I might emulate Paula and get some jelly beans or jelly babies - anything unrelated to that weird, clear, goo. Bleurgh

The CamelBak was brilliant, yet again, but I've managed to lose the clip that holds the water-line in place. I knew this would happen, I just didn't expect it so soon. I've retraced my steps but to no avail. Damn it. I was a bit concerned that I drained it dry at the end of the 10 miles, but lots of that would be trying to get rid of the goo taste.

Used the new trainers again (I know, probably stupid). I thought a quick 4 mile stint was enough of a wearing in and lo - it turned out to be true. They are brilliant. No blisters, no settling in period, they really, really, rock.

Had some good runs in Northumberland but I can't wait to get back to something a little flatter. This week has probably done me the world of good, and I can take rolling countryside in my stride now; but I like a nice, flat, fast course for preference. I think my heart has had enough of dragging this lardy arse over the gradients anyway.


Hmmmm, making chicken fricase (sp?) tonight, with no real recipe just an idea of what might work - fingers crossed.

xx

Curse of the slow.

What the blazes has happened to me this week. I am Captain Slow (lets hope that phrase isn't trademarked by TopGear).

4 miles in 40.36
Average of 10.10 a mile

Splits:
9.28 (0.8 flat, 0.2 uphill)
10.08 (0.4 uphill, 0.6 downhill)
10.47 (0.6 uphill, 0.4 downhill)
10.10 (0.2 downhill, 0.8 flat)

Where have all the (for me) fast runs gone. This should have been a 38min run ... and the 5k time was 31min- wtf is happening? I've had a relatively sensible diet (so sensible in fact that I've just eaten some chocolate and given myself a screaming sugar headache - that'll teach me). I'm hydrated (although not with the free SiS lemon & lime free sachet handed out with Runner's World last month - mingingly foul of foulest). I'm well rested. I'm eating my usual brekkie, resting then running. What is going on?

I suppose these dips just happen and I know that adding this extremely rolling landscape is going to knock the time a bit. I'm enjoying the running - I'm just feeling a bit despondent about the time - especially as I recently knocked out 8 sub9:30 miles in a row. I thought building up steadily at one extra mile a week would be able to maintain this pace- maybe I thought wrong.

Ah well, let me finish this post by saying a few more positive things.

1.Thank you to those that post - it's lovely to know that someone is out there reading rather than clicking through.

2. To all those who come over from RealBuzz - many thanks, I'll be back there soon (and back to my flat training ground - yipeeeeee).

And, finally a short review of the new trainers. (I'm sorry, by trainers I mean incredibly expensive and ridiculously over-designed running technology for the feet.)

I've only had two pairs of running shoes (as I've not been at this lark that long).
The Old are the Nike Air Structure Triax 9 - The New are the Nike Air Structure Triax X.

I loved the Old - they took me from complete beginner to where I am now. My feet have just about become runners' feet over that time. A little extra hard-skin here and there - prevents the old blisters occurring. And, the obligatory black-toe. They have done their time admirably. (So admirably I got another pair as they were in the sale as my 'second pair'.)

The New - well, the first wearing was the 4 mile stint this morning. They did well, no new niggles, no new settling-in blisters.

Excellent new cushioning - even bouncier than the last pair.
Shorter laces - whoooo hooo, just tie them, a quick knot and I'm done - to longer do the bows straggle around.
Only negatives - I think they might be a bit hotter than the old trainers (but this might also be a move to 1000 mile socks). And, this is quite a big negative, they are a little heavier, and I think my poor old legs could feel the difference (but that might also have been the damn hills).

I'll put a full review on Runners World when I can be arsed.

Lets hope the 10 miler at the weekend allows me to pick-up-the-pace a little.
Yours, with only a little despondency.

NEW shhhooooooeeeeeeeesssssssssssssss (my precious)

Yep - you've guessed it. New shoes day. I've even taken a pic so you can compare new and old - but I'll have to shoe-horn (har-de-har-har) it in when I get home and can access T'internet with real technology.

Went all the way to (delightfully pretty and damn right smashing*) Newcastle today. Found the shop I'd enquired at online. Did they have the new Nike Equalon? Did they *&%$. But, nevermind: I tried on the Mizuno things, and Adidas. Hmph, it appears my feet were made for Nike and no others. Mizuno - no cushioning,well that's how it felt. Sickeningly all the Adidias were far too narrow for my (quite frankly) neanderthal feet. (And given that Asics grip my heels like a blood curdling vice - my options are really becoming limited.)

So after all that I bought ... dun dun DUN - the new Triax 10 (and a pair of the old Traix 9). Got a free Adidas running jacket though.

Hmmm bought some gels too - thought I might try them out - see if liquid goo is my thing.
Very, very happy with the trainers - comfy and shiny and new; lets hope the poor old feet like their new housing.

Also got my hit from the greengodess - god bless her wonderful latte goodness (and damn her weird get-a-code-for-the-loo-security-locks). Then went and got some cultcha at the Baltic centre, after walking across and stopping (just for a second as I'm a ridiculous vertigo sufferer) to admire the wonderful Tyne view.*

* All opinions expressed may be ridiculously biased as my dad is a Geordie. (And we wont even mention the possibility that he has Maccum roots. He's going to kill me now... you may never get another post from me...)

Making it snappy - Unlike the Run

Right, I'm on dial-up at a friends - so it's their crap technology and their 'phone bill. I am going to try and make it snappy.

Route was: roughly 2miles in an up-hill-ish way on a quiet country road.
Then 5 delicious miles round-and-round (in hamster wheel-ish way) a small country lake. (It was ankle deep mud, slippy as hell, rolling landscape and pissing it down for miles 3, 4 & 5.)
Then 2 miles home in a mostly down-hill sort of way.

For some reason I turned into a snail, and I bloody loved it! Splits below:

Run time 1:39.31
Distance 9 miles
11.04 average pace (WTF)

10.44
10.01
10.11
10.55
12.09
12.30
11.50
11.31
9.35

Wow - I don't know what happened - the slipperiness was a serious factor - especially over these duck boards covered in chicken wire - you knew if you fell it would be like impaling yourself on a cheese grater... ick.

But it was brilliant. It was so nice not to push myself ridiculously hard, I don't care (that much) that I was 14 minutes slower than expected. It was a great run, really relaxed, really enjoyable really muddy. Didn't feel knackered at the end - mental note, push harder!!! Revelled in just being able to run that far. Felt horribly smug.

On a sad note, my trainers might have died, this could have been the last straw for them... good job I'm off to get some new ones tomorrow. I had to soak the mud and grime out (not for fashion reasons, just because they weighed a ton and stank) - they are stuffed with paper and lying by the aga - but they might have run their last, they look all bent out of shape... I'm very sad.

Camelback was amazing - especially as it's now been adjusted to fit my frame. Hmmm, drinking and running and breathing simultaneously - a whole new era dawns.

Keep running people.

Toot, toot, toooooot - A HUNDRED POSTS YOUNG

My 100th post - I can't believe I've made it this far.

Miles run - 294 - they creep up bloody fast, don't they! Damn it - new trainers necessary.

Races run - 1 (but 2, 3, and 4 are fast approaching).

Today was also a first.

I went for a run without a watch or Orwell. A brand-spanking new experience. I think it did me good. I was running with the HUGE BLACK POODLE (did I ever mention we look after dogs?).
Being a boy (the dog) he needed to stop and scent* every 100m. He was almost turned into poodle sausages by the end of the run. I set off on a 4 mile jaunt and I can safely say that 3 miles of it were absolute hell. Massive amounts of self-doubt, irritability and general grumpiness dogged my every step. Hmmm, beginning to think that the longer distances really do make a difference.

But I made it back to the car in 39min (checked on car clock) - this despite the huge anchor-like dog who kept stopping and shock horror walking for about 20 steps at the half-way point (I was really really pissed off - see above). So it was about my average 9:30 pace which is good to know. I think it was quite free-ing just thinking about the run in its entirety rather than in little 1mile/split chunks. (But I don't think I'll be repeating the experience in a hurry - too much worry, doubt, and anxiety.)

Also had a chance to test out my new Camelback "dream". I have to say it did its thing admirably well. It's nice to have somewhere to stash my mobile, some cash and the keys. (Even if I did feel like a pillock only running 4 miles, when my kit suggested some kind of ultra.) The decision to get a camelback was made as I'm off to housesit for a friend for 10 days and the idea of running round where she lives (great countryside, very quiet roads) without my phone and some cash was just too daunting to bear. On long runs it is also nice to have your hands free.

FRIDAY PHILOSOPHY

Some questions. Why did it feel so rubbish today? I honestly thought I was crawling along - I imagined (in my head ... hmmm, where else would these imaginings take place I wonder) that I was doing 10/11min mile pace and was genuinely surprised/pleased to see that 9:30 was still on the cards. Why do I get so anxious before a run? Like an over-excited child.

----------------

I should manage to blog from hers (even if it's *shudder* dial-up) - so wish me luck - I intend to have a super hard training week with lots of yoga and plain food - got to fill in the hours somehow!

ps A massive thanks go out to sheactive (not affiliated) who were ridiculously helpful and got my order of socks and camelback to me super-quick! Used them as they were one of the few places I could order said Camelback & 1000 mile socks - which ROCK MY (sad and pathetic) WORLD.

* By scent I obviously mean: piss copiously, so copiously that I have to jog on the spot and wait for him; I swear that dog is made of 3% wool, 97% urine!

New fastest Mile & Gear

Went to the gym yesterday - got to get those muscles up to scratch. Did my 1 mile (mini speed session in my head) and clocked up another best - 8.04 - delighted, especially as I wasn't dying at the end (and yes, this did mean I tried not to obsess about those 4 seconds - and failed). Although the 1 gym-mile will always be faster than in real life as when you get tired you can rest your arms on the sides and still keep going. A real run doesn't let you do that. I then did the usual bunch of machines - but not enough to feel the burn today... obviously didn't work hard enough.

Today I've spent my time (unwisely) trying to prepare for my week away from home ... where I will be mostly running (out of boredom).

Trekked to my local Sweatshop (a good 30min drive) to get some new trainers, socks, and a camelback as I know on a longer run I'm going to need the water - and it would be nice to have somewhere to put my phone, some cash, and a key! ( I can't stand running with something round my waist as it has to be tight enough to not move, which is just constricting and crap.)

No trainers - well, the new Triax (which felt weird) but no Equalon - I'm desperate to try them... they sound great. No Camelbacks - well, only a cycling specific one (which she had no info about and didn't know why they had that one... or why it was different to a running one). Both of these things they have online in abundance. And no 1000 mile socks.

Popped into JJB (I know, I know, always a mistake) and found lots of lovely running gear (hard not to be distracted by the pretty colours) but no shoes apart from cheap shite or Asics (which I can't wear as I have wide heels and they cut me to ribbons). Extremely frustrated.

Went to Starbucks to cheer myself (this worked nicely). Went home and ordered the camelback and socks online, with priority shipping. Just received confirmation that the camelback is out of stock for 3 days; tried to call and ask if other colours where in stock but 'website' person not there, I'll have to try tomorrow. Aaarrrrggghhhhh so frustrating, need these things to go away with on Saturday.

Was going to get stuff in Newcastle as special shopping trip but have discovered that their running shop (as seen online) has nothing I want and doesn't even stock Nike. Damn it. Nothing like making a plan and having it foiled at every turn.