Minnis Bay Relay

Today was leg of Minnis Bay Relay.  I was in the B Team again with Lucy and Kirsty.  This time I was running 3rd leg. When it was my turn, a Folkestone runner left just before me and I was able to catch him up and I also caught other runners along the way and got past.  I felt strong tonight.

Time 17:29
Distance 2:29

Splits 7:35, 7:45, 7:24

Last year time 19:23
Splits  8:07, 8:53, 8:35

Folkestone 10k

What a hot morning today, going to be sweltering, oh well. Can't moan about the sunshine.  This was Folkestone's first 10k which started along the seafront. A straight out and back route. It was a struggle running in the heat and at each water station I poured water over myself to cool me down.  I was aiming to get sub 50 but knew was unlikely in this heat.  Along the way, the marshalls were great and friends from the club cheered very enthusiasticly, Poppy winning that title.  Not long after the turning point we ran into a swarm of bees, I have never seen anything like it, I was ducking beneath the bees until we got through the other side. I was lucky not to get stung. The last stretch I was struggling, just too hot. Not a pb but still pleased considering just how hot it was.

Time 52:56
Splits 7:43, 8:17, 8:22, 8:40, 8:54, 8:54, 8:29

6 mile run

Sunday night I was persuaded by Tim, Will and Mark to join them for a 5 mile run with Lauren. I agreed. We started off at Chambers and ran down the High Street and the Old Street and then getting onto the seafront.  When we reached the seafront a gap started to form with Will, Mark and Lauren running ahead. I was running quick, doing under 8:30 minute miles.  The turn around point was in Seabrook at the garage and then we run up Sandgate Hill and then onto home. We ended up running 6 miles.  I was pleased with my run, as I was running quite quick and a PB for Sunday could be possible if the wind is on my side.

Distance 6 miles
Time 51:28

Splits 8:17, 8:18, 8:28, 8:35, 9:27, 8:21
(9:27 split was Sandgate hill) without that I could of carried on running at the pace I was running before then. Also I could of carried on running after the 6 miles at the same pace too. Felt strong.

PB King and PB Queen go for a run

The sun is shining so the shorts came on.  This morning Tim and I went for a 10 mile run and I took him on my marathon training route.  It was really windy. My thighs were a little achy from yesterdays run, must of been where I was lifting my legs quite high from sprinting.  When we reached the turn around point by the Imperial we were running head on into the wind.  So we decided to cut across to get on the canal path and take a bit of shelter from the wind.  I made Tim run up Zig Zag path and he did it without stopping and had some banter along the way with some walkers.

Distance 10 miles
Time 1:34:43

Splits 9:25, 9:21, 9:21, 9:34, 8:50, 9:15, 9:09, 9:12, 10:03, 10:36

Canal Path

This morning I did the session down by the canal.  Today there was Catherine, Faye and I that were running and Tina and Grahame watched and helped with the times.  We did a warm up and then we were ready for a tough session, there was no where to hide when I had Faye beside me.  The session was 5 x 90 secs, 5 x 60 secs, 5 x 30 secs and 5 x 1 secs very tough.  It was quite warm and we were in the company of flies and lucky for me I kept my mouth shut!

90 secs 6:42, 6:54, 6:59, 7:23, 7:16
60 secs 6:51, 7:12, 6:40, 7:11, 6:56
30 secs 6:32, 6:36, 6:19, 6:28, 6:31
15 secs 6:54, 6:36, 6:10, 5:52, 6:20

Had a very productive session and I was certainly pushed!! I was like I had my personal coach.

Club Relays Folkestone

Today we have had a mixture of weather, sunshine, rain and hail and I was just hoping for tonight to be dry.  We all gathered in the carpark by the seafront getting into our teams.  We were getting ready and Tim pulls out his new trainers which were the brightest that anyone has seen.  Off Tim went for his warm and upon his return you could see him miles away from the glow of his trainers.  I was running with Lucy, going first leg, second leg for me and Kirsty running third leg.  During the first leg, it absolutely chucked it down, later learnt at the club that Lucy had missed that rain cloud!!!  Lucy had a good run and then it was my turn and felt quite good just a little achy from Sunday.  I ran back and off Kirsty went.

PB 21:13
Splits 8:02, 8:17, 7:42

2011 22:12
2010 24:01

Deal Half Marathon

This morning Tim picked me up and then we went to pick Andy up. Tash also met us at the meeting point as her children from school were racing, so off we went.  In the car I was asked about my time, so I said I tell you exactly my time as I have my book. From then on, I had the mickey taken out of me.  This would be my 11th Half Marathon, and my 3rd Deal Half.  I have a pb to beat today, 2:05:16 and the course record for me which was 2:13:42.

As I have done this course before I had great pleasure in explaining that the long hill you run down near the beginning is the long hill that you have to run up!!!! So we went and it wasn't long before I came to my first hill, there were lots of hills and some of which were quite long.  I didn't give up and ran up all the hills.  Along the route we were faced with tractors and some cars, burning bonfire and horse manure which was steaming which gave a lovely aroma!! It was certainly a tough course.  There was coke on offer which surprised me, had said really, went I went past.

On the final bit back, I was running fast down hill and then you take a turning to head to the finish which was an incline, my legs were very tired and I stopped to walk to have a bit of drink, I looked up and I see Tim in the distance, oops I better get running again which I did.

I could hear as I was approaching the finish, the count down to be under 2hrs which I did not quite make.  My aim was to finish in 2hrs.  I finished in 2:00:50 which I was very pleased with, especially on such a tough course.  If it was flat, I would certainly of finished in under 2hrs. I was also given a spot prize at the end!!

Time 2:005 - Position 6th in age Category

Splits 8:45, 8:35, 9:17, 8:50, 9:56, 9:19, 9:18, 9:14, 9:06, 9:16, 9:27, 9:47, 8:57, 8:34

2011 Time 2:13:42

Splits 9:40, 9:29, 10:26, 10:02, 11:15, 10:29, 10:19, 10:03, 9:36,10:01, 10:18, 11:19, 9:43, 9:02

2010 Time 2:17:02

Club night

We did the usual warm up around Lucy Avenue and tonights sessions was 2 mins, 4 mins and 8 mins with 2 mins recovery and 4 mins recovery x 2. As I have a cold and racing Sunday, Faye suggested for me to do 6 mins rather than 8 with Tina.  Thought great idea.  Tonight there was a group of us that ran together.  There was Faye, Tina, Jo and I which we did the 6 mins.  I felt strong tonight and was able to keep in front of the pack.

Time      Split
2 mins    7:59
4 mins    8:08
6 mins    8:20
2 mins    7:06
4 mins    7:26
6 mins    7:34

Good session tonight as we were running together and we were pulling each other along.  My splits were much quicker on the second rep.

First long run after the marathon

Bank Holiday Monday and fancied doing a long run to get back in the swing of things.  Will joined me and we set out to do 10 miles.  I took Will out on my marathon training route and we turned around by the Hythe Imperial.  We were both were feeling it around 7 miles and were struggling.  I had given Will my cold also we both had late nights. Near to the end we decided we would finish at the bottom on Zig Zag path, there wasn't a need to do 10 miles. After going up the steps to the coastal mark, we were close to 9 miles and we both gladly decided to stop at 9 miles. We both said if we ran on our own we would not have completed 9 miles and would of given up.

Splits 9:23, 9:22, 9:21, 9:26, 8:47, 9:18, 9:13, 9:05, 10:16 (last split walking up the steps)
Time 1:24:07
Distance 9 miles

The Track

First session at the track after the marathon.  I turned up after getting in at 2am and then getting up at 7.30am. Also I had a few Vodkas last night. Also I have a cold and cough so good preparation for a training session on the track.  I was keen to go on the track and felt ok and thought why not.  We did the usual warm up from the track.  The session was 10 x 300m with 100m recovery. I did not do 10 though.

Splits  Time      
7:23    1.19.2
7.03    1.19.0
7:09    1.18.2
6:59    1.17.9
6:58    1.15.8
7:26    1.21.4

I was pleased with my efforts. I was fairly consistent and got quicker. Last split shows I was tired.

The Three Kings

Earlier today Steve put on Facebook anyone up for the Three Kings. There was a bit of banter on fb saying I would see. Kirsty and I have said we would do the Three Kings but at a decent hour and after the marathon. So tonight was a decent hour and after the marathon. Kirsty and I were then persuaded to join Steve and Will. So from the club we headed to the town, ran down the Old High Street and then we were face with the face King, Remembrance Hill and that was tough. I kept going and didn't stop. I caught my breath back running along the Leas and then we headed down Sandgate Hill and spotted Jim and we ran with him for a little way. At the bottom of the hill we got a toot and it was Tim. We ran along through Sandgate and then it was the second King, Hospital Hill which I was dreading, I have never ran up it before. I have ran down it quite a few times as it is part of my marathon training route. It was long but it was a steady incline and I kept it going. We ran ran past the army barracks and then we took a turning down Oxenden Road and then it hit me about the possibility of running up the third King.  I said to Will its not that hill that is upright and next to the block of flats. Will said no.  When we were running down Oxenden Road, Kirsty and I could see that hill and again we asked Will and he said yes, its Romney Avenue.  We moaned at Will for lying to us but he said he had to as otherwise we wouldn't do it. When we got there, there was a long flat bit and actually it was a short sharp hill.  It was steep but it wasn't too bad.  We conquered it, we got to the top and worst of the run was over.  We then headed back to the club and Kirsty and I were dead chuffed we completed the Three Kings!!!!

Distance 7.5 miles
Time 1.10.12

Splits 9:24, 9:25, 9:11, 8:53, 9:24, 9:51, 9:25, 9:21

Great splits all under 10 minutes considering those hills!!!