More Hills...

The weekend's festivities caught up with me quite severely after Monday's run so the next day any thoughts of running were ditched for an early night. The joys of growing old!

So tonight run was my first one out for a couple of days. It wasn't the greatest turnout, most of the Thursday regulars were deep into tapering for marathons over the next few weeks (good luck to everyone running Manchester this Sunday) so mostly I was on my own.

The session was continuous hills and, in a pleasant sign that summer is on the way, was held at Cotteridge Park. A short course, but consistent running up and down the hills. It was also a pleasant boost after recent weeks to overtake everyone (some more than once!) - in fact I was sufficiently emboldened to contemplate a trip to Cannon Hill on Saturday morning to try my hand at Parkrun.

Of course, they say that running helps to relieve stress. If this is true then my increased performance is probably due to recent events at work. The way things are going, I could be looking at a world record time at Reykjavik...

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?

The Calm Before the Storm

Hit the club tonight (I must admit that I quite like the new beer garden set up at the Pavilion - not sure if it's very Bournville though) but chickened out of the rep session. It was a strength one, which usually involves shuttle runs interspersed with sit-ups. The last time I did them I ended up pulling something in my back, obviously this was my fault but it's still left me wary.

Instead I went out for a steady run with Stu and John, a nice pace and excellent timing down the canal to get to Bournville just as it was getting dark. To be honest, the long run was probably the better idea  as there won't be much activity this weekend due to heading to the Grand National for a Stag Do. The bets have been placed and the pink shirt is specially ironed.

I anticipate no more running until Monday. Just the the aftermath of a race, the recovery time from drinking is getting longer. 

A Walk in the Park

Pretty simple idea today - a three mile-ish threshold run (the ish being how far it is around Cannon Hill Park twice and then back out again). It went quite well, as I felt truly terrible by the end but didn't appear to slow down during it. I'm still running quicker than the half marathon pace that I should be doing, yet more evidence that I need to sort out my pacing pretty sharpish.

The main problem was that the unnaturally pleasant weather meant that the park was pretty much packed by the time I got there, turning the run into an obstacle course at times. Starve obsessives can attribute the slight drop in place to the points when I had to weave around oblivious walkers.

In other news, I've noticed that my increase in performance can be directly correlated to stress at work. This means that tomorrow's run with the club will probably be at a world record pace...

Family Business

Not much running this weekend, Easter and the end of the University term meant that a visit from the parents was in order. I don't think my constant excuses about being too busy writing essays and reading increasingly ridiculous screeds about international relations really washed so they popped down for the duration.

Running comprised of a quick five miles on Friday morning along the canal with the added incentive of making it back before they arrived. I needn't have bothered, a combination of Bank Holiday traffic and Dad's admirable refusal to pay for the toll road meant they arrived long after lunch. 

As they left on Sunday evening, I decided that Bank Holiday Monday morning would see a reasonably long running effort. In the end, several milestones were reached - not only did I manage 10 miles feeling in reasonable shape (which I wouldn't have expected after last week) but also went out in just a T-shirt for the first time this year. Spring has definitely arrived.

So overall, little running but much pleasantness. As a northerner, I am obliged to hide my feelings but there is something to be said for just sitting around and having a catch-up - even a long Sunday walk to Cannon Hill was nice. One of my great failings is not making enough time for friends and family - particularly as I owe my parents more than I could, or the above mentioned general northern taciturn nature would allow me to admit. Hopefully this weekend went some way to remedying this. 

Run to the Hills

A continuous hill rep session at the club tonight, again with a poor turnout. If I was a lesser man, I'd have developed a complex about people realising I was coming back...

One thing that it is very important to learn when running is that there is always someone quicker than you (with the possible exception of most Kenyan runners). A new chap came down tonight to try out the club. During he recovery after the first hill he mentioned that he was running the Stratford Marathon in a few weeks. After the second he told me that he ran the Birmingham Half in 1 hour 20. On the third he'd learnt the route to shot off.

I managed to just about hang on his coat tails for the final two. Admittedly he wasn't really trying, but I'll take it.

Parents tomorrow. Best get tidying.

Speed Work....

Better today. 

One of the things about the training program that I'll be following for the marathon (more on which later) is the number of lactate threshold workouts (or for layman like me - running until you blow out of your arse).

As one of life's natural pessimists, the thought of these fills me with dread. Obviously this is completely irrational as I've done them before both as club training sessions or as quick runs when I have foolishly attempted to impress girls. 

So to assuage my concerns, tonight's session was a couple of miles warm up down to Cannon Hill followed by a loop around the park and back to Cecil Road as quick as possible (passing some slightly bemused club mates en route). 

To be honest it was probably too quick, even after several years the art of adequate pacing still eludes me but I felt good afterwards. I was even full of enough bravado to go back home up the Cartland Road hill.

All in all, a good session - although I expect partly fuelled by the frustration of the constant farce that is my current employment.