The Business End

8 Days to Go

The big day looms ever closer, this time next week I'll probably be entertaining thoughts of an early night before the race when in reality I'll be lying awake all night. Before then, I reached another milestone with my final session of speed work of the whole programme.

To the general bemusement of my running comrades, I decided to enter the annual BRAT 5k that takes place around Rowheath. People wondered why on earth I was doing it a week before the race but there was method in my madness. 'The Plan' called for 8 miles running with 3 x 1500 hard reps, so I thought that an actual 5k race would be an adequate substitute.

There is also the fact that this particular race and I have unfinished business. It was the first proper race that I ever ran - only a few weeks after joining the club and only to try and impress a girl. After wheezing my way around for the first time and cursing myself for my stupidity I developed a special hatred for the event - compounded by the subsequent three years when I failed to dip under 20 minutes on each occasion.

This year, the race again lived up to billing with a hard slog over two laps leaving me absolutely knackered at the end. That said, I did manage to knock twenty seconds off last year's time so a good psychological boost for next week. No doubt despite my protestations I'll be back again next year - who knows, I might even learn to pace it properly rather than going all guns blazing at the downhill start and frantically trying to hang on at the end...

One more 12 mile run booked in for Sunday and then it's basically all over bar the shouting. Time to start packing.

Overthinking...

16 Days to Go

This is already getting ridiculous, I'm only three days into the taper and I'm already climbing the walls metaphorically speaking. It certainly wasn't this bad last year. Monday's club run was a nice, steady effort - apart from the first two miles which I did at a daft pace in order to catch up with Mike and friends. Not sure why I did this - it's obviously of no benefit, and there are lots of other nice people in the club to run with!

After a day off yesterday apart from a trip to gym, tonight brought another rep session. The plan of 5 lots of 600m runs was successfully executed over at Rowheath with extra points for dodging both the showers, a man flying a kite and the inevitable group of the youth. Managed to do the 8 miles and make it back before 7 o'clock which was a rare triumph.

Despite this activity, the mind is still racing ahead to the big day. I keep catching myself checking the weather forecast for Reykjavik - which is entirely useless since the race is still over two weeks away. There's meticulous planning and then there's a descent into outright madness! Hopefully Saturday's race at Stourbridge will help to burn off some nervous energy. 

It's either that, or start planning my Iceland itinerary...

Almost There...

23 Days to Go

I've made it to the final week of hard training before experiencing the twin dreads of any runner. On Monday it was getting lost - an impressive achievement considering there was a group of five of us and we were running in Birmingham where we all live. Still, made it back to the club having only run about two miles more than planned. Just remind me in future to ignore anyone offering an 'interesting' detour during a club run.

Tonight, brought an even worse fate - getting caught short whilst out on a run. Luckily I'd decided to do my reps over at Rowheath rather than Cannon Hill owing to the likely crowds post-cricket, so could just dip over to the Pavilion for my ablutions before resuming the 1km repeats. I don't think they were particularly quick (probably out that down to post-work malaise) but it's the thought that counts eh?

Tomorrow I think that I'll do the run home from work. It will probably be my last one for a fair old while which makes me feel a bit sad in an odd way...

As an aside, I noticed last night that there was a Reykjavik Marathon Strava group which of course I immediately joined. Sadly it was a bit underwhelming - comprising me and a bloke from Wallasey. Just hope that there's a bigger turnout on the day!

"A tide in the affairs of man..."

Week 10 - 58 Days to Go

A couple of days off from my weekend exertions so now back into training with abundance. Yesterday was the seemingly simple matter of an eight-ish mile recovery run. Unfortunately, the practicalities of running in warm weather when a bit ginger haunted me in abundance and it was a hard old slog - although bizarrely checking afterwards appeared to be almost exactly the same time as  the last occasion I ran the particular route. Strange indeed.

Today was tempered by the double whammy of a washing machine diagnosed as broken beyond repair and confirmation of changes at work. How this will affect me I am yet to find out, except that it will almost certainly hamper my ability to do my job. Roll on the end of the Masters course when I can hopefully secure alternative employment...

I tried to take my mind off things with the run - supposedly nine miles with 6 x 800m reps in the middle. Thanks to my woeful judging of distances, the choice of doing it on what passes for the track of Rowheath meant that by the time I got back I'd actually done about 10 and a half miles. Oops. 

On the plus side, the reps were consistently paced and no-one was about when I did them to laugh at me!

Rest Day tomorrow. I'm in two minds whether to head to the club or simply gym it. Variety is the spice of life after all...

Basics...

A great weekend in Liverpool, good to catch up with people but a sad reminder of the inevitable march of time. Not long ago I wouldn't have thought twice about two days drinking. Now however, I still feel a bit cherished two days on. 

So with the only PBs this weekend being the amount of booze consumed in a single twelve hour period, it was good to get out to the club for a run. Even better the longer nights are making canal runs a viable option. 

Sadly, I forgot to check my Garmin before heading out so upon reaching the Pavilion realised it was entirely out of battery. Another lesson in adequate planning.

I ran about 8 miles with Mike and Ian at a decent pace. You'll just have to take my word for it though won't you?

Back in the Saddle

I haven't been down to a Monday night session at my running club for the past ten weeks, mainly because of my other hobby, so I was looking forward to tonight and a good catch up. It is slightly odd  making friends through running, after all the conversation tends to dry up after the first few miles when the effort kicks in!

Sadly the weather put paid to my reunion plans as there wasn't a particularly big turnout and none of my usual crew put in an appearance. Thankfully, just as I was contemplating a lonely run around the Harborne Hills, Jon Hammond made a late appearance giving me someone to run with.

The run itself was just what I needed, nice and steady at around 8 minute a mile pace giving me a good recovery after the weekend. I even managed to put a slight kick on for the last mile and passed a few others from the club. Most importantly I felt good afterwards and ready for a harder workout tomorrow. All is good.

Although I'm not sure about the new flowerbeds outside the Pavillion - an accident waiting to happen...