Saturday 31 December 2011

13 mile run with company

I had company today, Stephen and Mark joined me to do 13 miles. We did my usual route and at mile 5 had arranged to meet Kirsty and Jo at the bottom of Horn Street. They weren't there so we decided to run to the garage as they were coming from that direction. I had to pop into the garage to get some water as I had drunk most of mine due to being so dehydrated from being so hungover yesterday. As we came out of the garage we soon saw Kirsty and Jo. We ran to the light railway and turned back and headed along the seafront. Kirsty and Jo left us when they completed 5 miles and we were at 10 miles at that point.  It was so warm today and got quite hot, should of left my jacket at home. Zig zag path killed me today but Stephen and Mark were fine. Was good today having company.

Splits 9:41, 10:03, 10:04, 9:51, 9:42, 9:51, 9:42, 9:46, 10:00, 9:50, 9:29, 9:18, 9:14, 9:33, 10:56
Time 02:08:14

Thursday 29 December 2011

Club night

Tonight has been the quietest night I have seen. We had split into two groups for two different sessions.  It was only me and Tina tonight for our session. When we started out, it was chucking it down! By the time we got to the Leas after our warm up the rain had stopped. We did our dynamic stretches. The session tonight was 6 x 1 min with 1 min recovery and then 6 x 30 sec with 30 sec recovery. For the 1 min rep we ran downhill and then we alternated it by running up hill. For the 30 sec rep, we ran 2 downhill and then 2 uphill.

Splits for 1 min 6:26, 7:23, 6:36, 7:47, 6:43, 7:27
Splits for 30 secs 6:37, 6:47, 7:15 7:19, 6:45, 7:14

Distance 4:36
Time 48:42

Wednesday 28 December 2011

Steady 8 miles

Today I had a day off so I went out for a steady 8 miles.  I was running into the wind most of the way and got caught out in the rain for most of the run.  My pace was quite consistent.

Splits 10:03,10:28, 10:21, 10:04, 9:23, 9:13, 9:53, 10:51
Time 1:20:14

Tuesday 27 December 2011

Club night 6 miles

Tonight we did a 6 mile run, easing ourselves in gently after Christmas. I couldn't get the satellite signal on my watch straight away so the splits for 5.47 miles. I was pleased I was able to keep up the pack.

Splits 8:38, 9:02, 9:18, 9:10, 8:44, 9:02

Actual distance 5:91
Time 53:20

Monday 26 December 2011

Boxing Day Fun Run - Cross Country

I had my Dad with me today to cheer me on and take pictures. There were over 600 runners competing, it was such a bad dash at the start which was not very nice, there were feet and elbows everywhere people barging through and kids shouting GET OUT OF THE AWAY which was horrible. It wasn't too long before we had managed to space out a bit more. There were a few bottle necks along the way, first one being at the little bridge. I wasn't sure what to do as I did see others taking a short cut through the stream. I saw Kirsty in front going through the stream and thought, if she is going through and then so am I.  I felt stronger today as my calves didn't feel tight. I saw Faye along the way who gave me a cheer. So glad I had my spikes on and managed to pick people off on the hills. At the finishing line Kevin shouted to me that my pink trainers were no longer so pink! Felt I had a good run considering all those hills.

Time 30:40
Position 281 out of 630, so was pleased with that

Saturday 24 December 2011

Practice Boxing Day Run - Christmas Eve

Today we met up at Brockhill Park getting a feel for the Boxing Day run at Saltwood. A Cross Country fun run which I have not done before.  Today I put in my 12" spikes as it was going to be muddy. We did the course at a nice steady pace.  There were quite a few hills which were difficult and noticed that my calves were feeling quite tight.

Splits 11:13, 12:43, 12:56, 10:46
Time 47:15

Distance covered this week 18:41

Thursday 22 December 2011

Club night - Christmas Light Social Run

Tonight was a social run at the club to look at some Christmas lights. Some of us were wearing festive hats for the occasion. We saw some tasteful as well as tacky lights and made the appropriate noises.  It was a nice steady run including stopping to look at the lights

Splits 10:52, 12:05, 13:34, 10:32, 10:52

Distance 4:37

Time 51:04

Wednesday 21 December 2011

6 steady miles

Tonight I did the usual route from the gym. I did 6 miles and kept it steady.

Splits 9:58, 10:26, 10:14,10:10, 10:13, 10:17

Time completed 1:01:18

Tuesday 20 December 2011

Winter Handicap and Marathon Draw

Tuesday is finally here, the night of the marathon draw. I haven't stopped going on about it today telling friends that I am going to find out tonight.  Firstly I had to run the handicap. I started off at 2 mins but I was on my own this time.  As soon as I got into the Golden Valley I managed to pick people off who had started off on scratch and 1 minute.  I felt better this time and felt stronger. Towards the end of the second loop I had started to get overtaken by runners who had started after me.  When I ran down the hill, Paul flew past me at great speed but when we got to the up hill, I soon over took him and then he caught me up again.  I got a PB tonight so the training is paying off. Was just under a minute I had managed to knock off.

Splits 7:44, 9:30, 8:59, 8:42, 7:52

Completed it in 37:55

We then got back to the club and had some food and then places were drawn for London Marathon. There were 7 of us and 3 places going.  First place to be drawn was Becky, then ME - YAY I am so happy and then there was Malc.

Next we had team awards from the Team Captain and I had won a ladies prize. I was really chuffed. What a good night for me. I got given strawberry flavoured recovery drink.

When I got home, I soon got on the phone to my Dad and Nan to tell them the good news. Now tomorrow I will have to go to the Post Office to send off the form for London Marathon!

Sunday 18 December 2011

Steady 3 miles

Today I did a steady 3 miles, I had problem with my garmin today and it didn't start when I set out. Oh well never mind.

Spinning

I have now got my place for Great North Run 2012!

Miles covered this week 36:53

Saturday 17 December 2011

Long run 13 miles

It was a nice and fresh Saturday morning with the sun shining. There were patches of ice I had to dodge. On my way I saw my Mum and Nan in the car and then my Auntie and someone from the gym. There were quite a few runners out today, I saw one that was wearing a charity top so he must be marathon training too, first I saw him by Homebase and then saw him later by the Imperial which was funny.  I was quite a bit slower today compared to last week for some reason. I turned back later this week, turned back at the Light Railway Station. When I got onto the promenade, there were quite a few stones I had to doge due to the storms that we have had.  But when I got down past the rowing club it was really bad and the paths were totally covered so that made it really difficult to run through. I will have to change my route a bit next time.

Splits 9:40, 10:30, 10:12, 10:12, 9:34, 9:48, 10:00, 9:53, 9:51,9:44, 10:49, 10:26, 11:48

Time completed 2:12:26

Thursday 15 December 2011

Club night

Tonight we did the warm up to the Leas and did dynamic stretches. The session tonight was 4 mins, 3 mins, 2 mins, 1 mins with half recovery.

Splits 7:39, 8:11, 8:21,7:24

Distance covered 4.25

Wednesday 14 December 2011

6 mile steady run

Today I did 6 mile steady run. Weather was kind to me tonight!

Splits 10:05, 10:09, 9:59, 10:11, 10:17, 10:23

Completed 1:01:02

Tuesday 13 December 2011

Club night

We did the warm up to the leas and did dynamic stretches. The session tonight was 3 x 1 miles with 2 minutes recovery.  First mile was downhill and then uphill against the wind and last rep going downhill and then the rain came.

1st mile 7:45, 2nd mile 9:07, 3rd mile 7:53

Distance completed 6:28
Time 1:08:52

Tonight I handed in my rejection slip for the ballot for London Marathon, will hear this time next week if I have got a place.

Monday 12 December 2011

4 mile run with achy leg

Did my gym session lunch time. I did my usual routine.

I went out and did a 4 mile run. My right leg was achy from my fall Saturday and the bruise has come out even more now. Not long into the run I caught out in the down pour and I also saw Santa on his rounds!  On the run I was concentrating on the position of my arms.

Splits 9:41, 9:43, 9:00, 9:03  Completed in 37:25 not too bad considering my achy leg.

Another advent tip for you runners......Running is not only about the leg muscles - using the correct arm movement can make it easier. Relax the shoulders, hands and upper body, bend the arms at 90 degree angles and move them back to forth, not side to side.   ( I saw this on BUPA facebook page today after my run) Just like Dave said. 



Sunday 11 December 2011

6 steady miles with Lynda

Today I had company and Lynda joined me.  We were so good getting up and going for a run after our running party last night. As soon as we got onto the Leas we were hit by the wind. When we got onto the seafront the waves were really big and we were still running in the wind. We turned around just after 3 miles which was a relief. It was great having Lynda's company.

This morning I had woke up with achy legs and thought it must of been from dancing in heals last night.  It has only just about taken me all day to work out what it was from. Its just my right leg that aches. It was from yesterday afternoon, I had managed to slip backwards down some stairs carrying a ladder which landed on top of me. I have now got a massive bruise that has started to come up. My thigh and calf aches. I was so lucky that I didn't do any damage!

Completed in 1:02:42

Splits 11:03, 10:19, 10:40, 9:58, 10:02, 10:39  
Distance covered this week 37:38

Saturday 10 December 2011

12 miles - great run

Today I am upping my distance and went out to do 12 miles.  Today I was running really well and felt good. The weather was perfect with the sun shining and only a slight breeze. When I turned around to run back along the seafront it was very still, makes a change from the wind. When I reached 10 miles, I managed a pb and did it in 1:31:29 which is 3 minutes off my pb, so I was very pleased and didn't even have to push myself hard for it, was just running the pace I was comfortable at.  After 10 miles I had to go up hill into the coastal park and then up ziggy zaggy path which made my pace very slow.  I could of continued at the pace I was running at if it wasn't for those hills. During the run I tried to concentrate on my arms but because I was running with a bottle, this was hard to do.

Completed 12 miles in 1:52:33

Splits 9:45, 9:31, 9:28, 9:23, 8:39, 9:05, 9:11, 8:56, 8:48, 8:46, 11:21, 9:43

Thursday 8 December 2011

12 mins hard and also club night

Earlier on in the week I had worked out a route near to work where I could run hard for 12 mins. I also made arrangements for a friend to take me to my starting point. Today she was sick but decided I would run back and have a slightly longer lunch. So at lunch time I ran hard for 12 minutes to see how far I could run. I also made my friends place bets so see how far I would run. Their guesses were 1.5 miles, 2.5 miles, 3.5 miles and 4.5 miles. I had managed to run 1:48 miles and was pleased with that.

Splits 07:58, 8:26.

I then decided to try and take a short cut back.  I entered a little housing estate and was hoping to come out the other side of it, back onto the main road. I was laughing to myself as I got lost in this housing estate and going down alley ways finding a dead end.  So in the end I covered an extra half mile running back. I just ran slowly.

Splits 10:25,10:20

At the club tonight there were only a few of us, the hardcore ones! We did the warm up to the Leas. The session was 10 x 1 min with 1 min recovery, 10 x 30 sec with 30 sec recovery. We ended up doing 5 x 1 min  downhill and 5 x 1 min uphill and into the wind which was very strong. Then the same with 30 secs.  Tonight we ran together, me, Lynda, Barry and Dave. We had to concentrate on the way we push with our arms. By the end of the session I got the hang of it. It was so hard and tough running against the wind.

Splits for 1 mins downhill : 6:31, 6:41, 6:39, 6:43, 7:14 - uphill 7:58, 7:34, 7:58, 7:43, 8:01
Splits for 30 secs downhill: 6:56, 6:48, 6:42, 6:49, 6:58 - uphill 7:56, 7:37, 8:05, 8:15, 8:23, 7:33

Sorry guys we did an extra 30 secs at the end!

Distance covered 5.90 miles

Tuesday 6 December 2011

Club night

Tonight we did the warm up to the Leas and did dynamic stretches.  The session tonight was 3 x 8 minutes. Tonight I was running with Lynda. The first rep was running down hill, second rep was running up hill and in the wind and last rep we ran downhill for 4 minutes and then turned to run up hill for 4 minutes so we managed to finish at the start and then run back to club.

Distance covered 6 miles

Splits 7:54, 8:43, 8:20

Monday 5 December 2011

First day of Marathon Training

I have had three days off running. I thought I would have a little break before marathon training. Today is the first day of my marathon training. Its either 19 weeks to Brighton or 20 weeks to London. I will hear if I am luckily enough to get a London place on 20 December.

Lunch time today I went to the gym. I did 1 rep of 10 lifting the ball with my legs and then lowering my legs without touching the floor. 2 x reps of 10 pushing the ball out with my feet and legs. 2 x reps of 10 laying on the ball and raising my legs in the air. 2 x reps of 20 abs and twisting my abs.  2 x reps of 20 laying on the floor raising lower back. I held the plank position for 20 seconds and side plank on each side for 20 seconds.

Tonight I went out for a brisk 4 mile run.  Time completed 35:20.

Splits 8:48, 9:16, 8:39, 8:39

Thursday 1 December 2011

2 runs in a day - very unheard of!

This morning I had set out at 7.30am to fit in a 10 mile run before going into work. Had arranged to go into work a bit later.  I wasn't sure I was able to make the club tonight and also I knew I would be drinking this weekend and wouldn't want to do a long run. So I did my usual 10 mile route. I was running over 10 minute miles until I reached about mile 7 and 8 and then was running 9.30 min miles.  Around 8/9 miles it chucked it down and I got soaked!

Tonight I did make to the club in time.  But it was raining! We ran to the Leas and did our dynamic stretches and tonights session was 8 x 90 seconds with 1 min recovery. We did 2 lots of 90 seconds before turning round and going up hill to do 2 lots of 90 seconds.  It rained throughout the session and only a few of us braved to turn out. Again was running with Lynda, lost her on the last rep as she just flew off ahead and I couldn't keep up. I was very pleased with tonights session. My legs felt fine considering I did 10 miles this morning and was able to run fast quite consistently.

My times were 7:56, 7:27, 7:42, 7:25, 7:39, 7:10, 7:54. Distance covered 4.5 miles