tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20875535518485611822024-03-13T03:10:57.631-07:0051 RunnerOk then, 53 now. Next year it'll be 54. But I'm not changing it. You dig?Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2087553551848561182.post-64022806059004710352016-04-05T06:33:00.001-07:002016-04-05T06:34:58.913-07:00Where's the hay?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjoR-XnibWg_CecR5IYB65lcYiEZKrJuo976Nxvz_QUSdkIQH7KYrqbIKH1wlcKARGw8ei1zuVtttD4dP_Jp2llWUs1bkJ7ZYkFDHLuA_u2eNRBuJnzjG6EoxRKfh74gHBc5uPVibGbkc/s1600/where%2527sthehay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjoR-XnibWg_CecR5IYB65lcYiEZKrJuo976Nxvz_QUSdkIQH7KYrqbIKH1wlcKARGw8ei1zuVtttD4dP_Jp2llWUs1bkJ7ZYkFDHLuA_u2eNRBuJnzjG6EoxRKfh74gHBc5uPVibGbkc/s400/where%2527sthehay.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
Weeks' mileage totals beginning Monday 11th January 2016: </div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
82-60-122-72-130-58-142-80-150-90-150-80 </div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
Nearly in the Basel barn. 2 weeks to the taper.....</div>
<br />
<br />
Nothing silly now.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2087553551848561182.post-36869681484055521542015-10-05T04:15:00.000-07:002015-10-05T04:17:54.284-07:0024 - Season 2 (Sri Chinmoy Self-Transcendence 24 Hour Track Race, 19/20 September 2015, Tooting Bec)<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCYYHeVmjppv8qE-L9MB9gaei-9HsGpZxrjGzddx8Lqke7-ro8mHoPiYCftd7DwDocH_Oj15gmWDOaNQhl0zfrKI6thWAM02-NTJBtIrtZdQsIXOO5DmN9N3XffZzIFDtLiyRPnIL-5gQ/s1600/Say+what+you+see.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCYYHeVmjppv8qE-L9MB9gaei-9HsGpZxrjGzddx8Lqke7-ro8mHoPiYCftd7DwDocH_Oj15gmWDOaNQhl0zfrKI6thWAM02-NTJBtIrtZdQsIXOO5DmN9N3XffZzIFDtLiyRPnIL-5gQ/s400/Say+what+you+see.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Say what you see.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Psychology's a fascinating subject to talk over with friends. But sooner or later someone will put a dampener on proceedings by getting out a piece of paper with a Rorschach ink blot on and shoving it under your nose. 'What can you see there?', they will cry. You don't really want to get involved, but you feel obliged, so you mumble something about Kendo Nagasaki's wrestling mask, two ghosts sorting through a rubbish tip and Basil Brush not speaking to his brother. Then there'll be a bit of a free-for-all and it's only a matter of time before one of the group asks you those two classic psychology questions, debated by students of the subject for decades:<br />
<br />
1) If a tree falls in an uninhabited forest, does it make a noise?<br />
<br />
and 2) Isn't running round a track for 24 hours just really boring?<br />
<br />
You answer 'No' to both. Most people will agree with you on the first question, but not the second. It's counter-intuitive to them, they can't have it - it must be boring! There's only one way you're going to persuade these poor, piteous souls of the truth of the matter. Yes, it's time to wheel out your big gun - anecdotal evidence.<br />
<br />
Here's mine.....<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrB2DpCfoa9xQsQD2L8TvsmFWGrPB68BHOu4D9ptn6xTi2zbxMnPjBTkwE8epZGCP-YSadTIDMJk2hMdrrugCDs1650h-avPvpDO_u4TNgTfIJ8w5IrOmNqKs6iMdNDPHbMJmFhoWeq4o/s1600/red_line.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="6" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrB2DpCfoa9xQsQD2L8TvsmFWGrPB68BHOu4D9ptn6xTi2zbxMnPjBTkwE8epZGCP-YSadTIDMJk2hMdrrugCDs1650h-avPvpDO_u4TNgTfIJ8w5IrOmNqKs6iMdNDPHbMJmFhoWeq4o/s320/red_line.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Yay, it was back to the Bec for the 24 hour track race! I'd been looking forward to this all year and now it had rolled around, get in! I'd had an unusual preparation, not competing at all at any distance since last year's race, more by accident than design, yet I was feeling optimistic. The LVSD (Long VERY Slow Distance - patent pending!) training had gone pretty well, I felt a bit stronger than 12 months ago after 14 weeks of Plodville, Arizona high mileage, exclusively on the roads, and I was in the right place mentally for the fray ahead.<br />
<br />
My plan was a simple one, to repeat what worked for me last year, when I managed 122 miles for 5th place on my debut at the format - no hard targets, apart from somewhere around 35/36 miles at 6 hours in, let them all go early and relax, think flow and minimal effort, no getting at it at any stage in the first 12 hours, remember there are big changes late on, stay positive, hold my nerve, believe and come back strong. I hoped to improve my total by sticking to 2 minute (or less) walk breaks each half hour for the whole thing, and was only planning to stop for the loo or to stick extra Vaseline on my feet, apart from that, Relentless Forward Motion was going to be the order of the day! <br />
<br />
My brother Matt was my So Solid Crew and we had a game plan of how we were going to roll with drinks etc., so we set up our table (I'd decided against the ironing board this year!) on the backstraight outfield on Saturday morning, in a happy, relaxed and positive mood. The weather was mild, no rain was forecast, we were set fair. Game on! <br />
<br />
Roz Glover arrived and started setting up close by, waiting for her support crew, Mimi Anderson, no less - class! Next to us was Gyula Sarosi from Hungary - one of 16 countries represented in the 45-strong field. On our other side was Barry Bradley, who I first met in a double marathon in Kent last year, and who very kindly got me a chair at the end of last year's 24 hours, when I was feeling mucho fainty!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgza8IMtmrzCTlzt3FgHoWIZae_yXvKCROrTrKkQZek3ThySbBtRCNxcg-MAnZ1iDwWpaplN0m_wKOfcFADL8UfeCLFdzO3mOHb4xlGntbcts-OHSEYlimJwfMTIxbF0R1nVoTRNn0sqVU/s1600/Briefing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgza8IMtmrzCTlzt3FgHoWIZae_yXvKCROrTrKkQZek3ThySbBtRCNxcg-MAnZ1iDwWpaplN0m_wKOfcFADL8UfeCLFdzO3mOHb4xlGntbcts-OHSEYlimJwfMTIxbF0R1nVoTRNn0sqVU/s400/Briefing.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shankara giving us all the gen. (Photo: Runandbecome)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Race Director Shankara gave us the briefing at 11.15am, and then we met our first lap counters (I'd have 4 during the course of the event), mine was Balavan, just like last year. I was feeling quite relaxed, but there was an air of anticipation around and, as time ticked down towards the 12-noon start time and I lined up well towards the back, I fancied there might be a burn-up from some parties early on. I may be distantly related to Nostradamus, or at least Doris Stokes. There was!<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8h7yvx5MARkJYAUsmgozq0v3H1TqieQG1wX5ntBu1C3vhbfbYWPPFU3748pkCSdZjq0UqHkmfAoS8JV1R492XEojiRm9aFNrt-PWA0TrV8DKWRgKN4dnJ6OmLjI7JO_iCl1meKPuY8uE/s1600/And+they%2527re+off%2521.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8h7yvx5MARkJYAUsmgozq0v3H1TqieQG1wX5ntBu1C3vhbfbYWPPFU3748pkCSdZjq0UqHkmfAoS8JV1R492XEojiRm9aFNrt-PWA0TrV8DKWRgKN4dnJ6OmLjI7JO_iCl1meKPuY8uE/s400/And+they%2527re+off%2521.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Burn-up about to commence - and they're off! (Photo: Runandbecome)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Straight away Jonathon Errington reprised his fast start from last year, and Damo Taylor was also tanking along. I found myself being lapped by these and plenty of others more or less straight away, but I was content sticking roughly to 10 minute miles on the outer edge of lane 1, and watching them all steam past on the inside! I ensured I fell a bit further behind when I made myself walk for 90 seconds on the half hour, start as you mean to go on! After an hour, when Shankara updated the leaderboard, I was 16th on 6 miles. Considering I was 17th at the halfway point last year, I'd started plenty fast enough, just needed to forget about pace for a while and run easily on feel.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZb_RyZoCwfliKBRjVCDLY-l4iF08efEgcrLtdGMx3dz02OoUS_5uMGVLyYAFZiSl45kirX7QQntnz6QO0nHrvshGWRGnacPjwtcV8vbq4QHZD1GHOd9uTL8ZyLQnsQe2asXCKNoAbEvM/s1600/Early+days.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZb_RyZoCwfliKBRjVCDLY-l4iF08efEgcrLtdGMx3dz02OoUS_5uMGVLyYAFZiSl45kirX7QQntnz6QO0nHrvshGWRGnacPjwtcV8vbq4QHZD1GHOd9uTL8ZyLQnsQe2asXCKNoAbEvM/s400/Early+days.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Early days, leaving space on the inside for the burn-up merchants! (Photo: Matt Smith)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Over the next couple of hours, I chatted with Dave Richards, a fellow 2014 competitor, Andrew Saville, who was in the same Kent race as Barry, and Jon Fielden, who I'd been told to look out for by a mutual friend. Each of us were steady starters and we were all feeling quite chipper at this early stage.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj9FZoBj6cofE-62TD5QchX6bUYOm2_T4tpoi5CXWhBm5mX-012spZHWmGgdnfCBEqjjZLcT8XrlrqJhRMWUgV8peDEA0-8TA8o7bI54TrDjopdmXTMLRDyMnIfG78oeV8-iAmLBVUUO0/s1600/Sometime+in+the+first+4+hours%2521.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj9FZoBj6cofE-62TD5QchX6bUYOm2_T4tpoi5CXWhBm5mX-012spZHWmGgdnfCBEqjjZLcT8XrlrqJhRMWUgV8peDEA0-8TA8o7bI54TrDjopdmXTMLRDyMnIfG78oeV8-iAmLBVUUO0/s400/Sometime+in+the+first+4+hours%2521.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First 4 hours, everyone's feeling chipper! (Photo: Runandbecome)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
4 hours in we had our first change of direction, clockwise now for the next 4, which was a relief to me. My right hip (an overuse niggle which had started 3 weeks earlier) had been bothering me for a couple of hours, but stopped as soon as we turned, result! Luckily, it wasn't to return for the rest of the race! I had 24 miles on the board at this point, happy days, even pace, more or less where I wanted to be, Jon was right behind me, we were both already 6 miles behind Damo, who was flying!<br />
<br />
Matt was doing a great job with the crewing. We'd got a good little system going, I would tell him what I wanted apart from squash (gels, cheddars, malt loaf, yoghurt bars or salt tablets) a lap or two before my walk break, then he'd pass it to me as I started walking. After 5 hours Matt told me I'd drunk 5 litres to that point. That was good news, I was eating and drinking plenty early on, which I needed to - I knew I'd get less able to stomach things in the last quarter, but it wouldn't matter so much if I'd kept on top of the fuelling up to there.<br />
<br />
In 2014 I broke the race down in my mind into 4 6 hour blocks, and I'd gone with that again. 6 hours came around and I was 12th on 36 miles, feeling pretty good, so all hunky dory, one quarter down, no dramas, still positive, still rolling. Damo remained out front on 42 miles, but Graham O'Loughlin wasn't far behind him now in 2nd, followed by last year's first man Michal Masnik, Gyula Sarosi, Ali Young, Beth Pascall and Val Glavin.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqtuPGGju5WJn4bjmbqnM42Q2vDVQMJjirMEnvl9muaX1gChICNBqRtRYeGDANuNFKRwYJlpe-8NriXhwl-6LDOH0Z9vlrnZv_kMJro_YimwBu2wPReOjHzGYwhgFUUm20ENLREaGDjKk/s1600/Lap+counters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqtuPGGju5WJn4bjmbqnM42Q2vDVQMJjirMEnvl9muaX1gChICNBqRtRYeGDANuNFKRwYJlpe-8NriXhwl-6LDOH0Z9vlrnZv_kMJro_YimwBu2wPReOjHzGYwhgFUUm20ENLREaGDjKk/s400/Lap+counters.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Balavan, third left, me, furthest right - I may have just used my catchphrase! (Photo: Runandbecome)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I got a new lap counter somewhere around this point, Dave, and I'm sure Balavan was relieved! You can get a bit paranoid they haven't seen you and marked you down as you go past sometimes, and my catchphrase for the event could well have been 'Did you get me, (insert name of lap counter here!)?' I hold my hands up to that one! The lap counters do a great job.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKQUWWDHaufbSt4mEN95PC86T_n7tZBtHzEWwOAt4VRaFAjHbKjdx5kjvRTngcFlzqAeH5uiojpmiJEtCn7qxN9yke4DvvB0lziSYSIZdzWr9Jaco2W2qNRNijGTn9vAEA4sxcb3eUImA/s1600/Shankara+updating+the+leaderboard+7+hours+in..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKQUWWDHaufbSt4mEN95PC86T_n7tZBtHzEWwOAt4VRaFAjHbKjdx5kjvRTngcFlzqAeH5uiojpmiJEtCn7qxN9yke4DvvB0lziSYSIZdzWr9Jaco2W2qNRNijGTn9vAEA4sxcb3eUImA/s400/Shankara+updating+the+leaderboard+7+hours+in..jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shankara updating the leaderboard after 7 hours. (Photo: Runandbecome)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Not long after Shankara revised the 7 hour order, Graham was first through 50 miles in 7.15, a minute clear of Damo, who had run into trouble and would soon retire. I was more than an hour behind them, but still plodding away ok. Nathan Taylor and Chris Finill, both looking good earlier, would also encounter difficulty and withdraw before too long. The race was beginning to change. <br />
<br />
Here are some things that happened over the next few hours. I stopped for 4 minutes to recoat my feet in Vaseline, time well spent (no trying to chase it back, now!). I had a chat on-track with the great William Sichel and the highly amusing Johnny Hallneby from Sweden, who both looked to be going ok. I slightly alarmed the spectating James Adams, who I'd never met before, by blurting out as I ran past him, that his Twitter post about crapping outdoors was the funniest thing I'd read in ages. The temperature dropped. The floodlights came on. I changed into a long-sleeved top and gloves. And I slowed down.<br />
<br />
I was sticking to the 90 second walk breaks, but could feel my run pace had eased and that was confirmed when the halfway mark arrived at midnight. I was now on 69 miles, but was still making ground through the field, and had moved into 8th place. At this point I was 6 miles ahead of my race last year, when I went 63/59 (funnily enough, 59 miles was the 4th highest back half total last year, which shows that for ordinary runners like myself, speed is immaterial, but strength over the second half is huge). So I was happy with the way things were going and I thought I could hang on to the run/walk pattern for a while yet, and hopefully come back at least as strongly this year. But it was still a long way home from here, so I knew I had to keep taking an hour at a time and stay in the present!<br />
<br />
Graham remained in the lead at halfway on 77 miles, but was starting to come under pressure and would retire, leaving Michal as the third leader of the race, shortly after 2am.<br />
<br />
Matt had played a blinder crewing and he filled up my drinks bottles on our table at 3am and went off for a well-earned kip. Miranda took over my lap-counting duties from Dave. Jon and Roz's crews were keeping us competitors entertained with trivia questions as we circled, both ones I could answer (Where was Martin Luther King assassinated? Memphis, Tennessee. Slamdunk!), and ones I couldn't (What is the capital of Croatia? Errrrrmmm. Don't dream!).<br />
<br />
Matt made a quick return to trackside an hour later, he couldn't sleep! I'd kept rolling ok, although my overall pace had dropped again to around 5 miles an hour. The main thing was I was still in a good place up top.<br />
<br />
Drama lay ahead as the leaders closed in on 100 miles. Michal hit the milestone first in 16.26, with Ali and Beth now in 2nd and 3rd, within 12 minutes of him. Val Glavin was 4th to the ton in 17.10, but she hit big trouble soon after and collapsed on the track. An ambulance was called, but happily we heard later she was ok.<br />
<br />
I passed 100 miles in 5th in 17.54, an hour and three quarters faster than 12 months earlier. When Matt saw that, he started getting excited about 130 miles being possible for me. I agreed it might be on if I could stick to the pace I was on all the way home and not cave. <br />
<br />
When they'd updated the 18 hour positions I was 4th, as Val was out, and we had another new race leader; Ali was now 1st, Beth 2nd and Michal had slipped to 3rd. I could see Michal had started walking and he left the track for treatment a few minutes later. The scores on the board said he was on 106 miles, with me on 100 and Gyula on 98. I figured I could take back the 6 miles if Michal had to walk it in from here - first man might still be on! Gyula had returned to the track after a break and must have done a similar calculation, as he soon started making ground on me, running strongly.<br />
<br />
The sun came up halfway through the next hour and I grabbed some porridge from the brilliant Sri Chinmoy volunteers. At that moment, in my state of deep fatigue, and quite unexpectedly, this was possibly the loveliest food I have ever eaten in my life! Words can't describe how good it tasted!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje9MXLrfJ5feKMj-jCWmnaOQwT-sgP3CiCC8u7GZpmJ6r2mEPtQjmR3o7EoslccPxtZGFLTmkZME7usVZS7MpmiggqYFyOpNMGN_WT9PU8U3VB06YnVKq5WN7Ah5w6gYIszJYjD71y2X8/s1600/Dawn+hasn%2527t+long+broken%252C+5+hours+left%2521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje9MXLrfJ5feKMj-jCWmnaOQwT-sgP3CiCC8u7GZpmJ6r2mEPtQjmR3o7EoslccPxtZGFLTmkZME7usVZS7MpmiggqYFyOpNMGN_WT9PU8U3VB06YnVKq5WN7Ah5w6gYIszJYjD71y2X8/s400/Dawn+hasn%2527t+long+broken%252C+5+hours+left%2521.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dawn has just broken, coming up to 5 hours to go. (Photo: Runandbecome)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Michal didn't return to the track so, with 5 hours to go, Beth had become the 5th overall leader of the race on 113 miles, with Ali just behind, I was 3rd on 105 miles, and Gyula next on 104. The front two were out of reach, but 130 was still feasible. First though, there was a bit of a battle coming from behind!<br />
<br />
Over the next hour Gyula tried to close and I responded - we spent the whole 60 minutes surging against each other. Of course, when I say surging, I mean it in the context of the 20th hour of a 24 hour race - what that translates to is two men running through treacle slightly less slowly than they did during the 19th hour. Gyula would overtake me and go half a lap up, then I'd reel him in inch by inch and go clear myself, then he'd come chugging back past, then.....you get the picture! <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbio-JTDye258U6ZMxN_m9gAElkeYnoA9TNFuhQMURA5IM_LFmnJp8cPuQ-D8-FHwkha8VdalrcBnz9avZrU7H7r7xKhu_CTs4CPzB0SfNLvP0zSe9-v1uFZqbNrXr5uqFh3dOd_cDsoU/s1600/Are+we+suiciders+-+yes%2521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbio-JTDye258U6ZMxN_m9gAElkeYnoA9TNFuhQMURA5IM_LFmnJp8cPuQ-D8-FHwkha8VdalrcBnz9avZrU7H7r7xKhu_CTs4CPzB0SfNLvP0zSe9-v1uFZqbNrXr5uqFh3dOd_cDsoU/s400/Are+we+suiciders+-+yes%2521.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Are we suiciders? (Photo: Runandbecome)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After we'd played the hour out doing this, I caught him up for the umpteenth time and thought I'd run with him for a bit. We looked at each other and laughed. 'Are we suiciders?' Gyula asked me, 'We still have 4 hours left.' 'Yes', I said, 'it's going to be 4 hours of hell!' We both laughed again. The laughter of the mad by choice! <br />
<br />
Gyula then left the track to get changed and I gained a couple of laps - I kept tabs on him when he returned. And gradually, the final few hours ticked down. <br />
<br />
Matt kept trying to get me to drink small amounts, though I was getting less keen to, particularly as I was feeling light-headed every time I stopped. I was also getting a bit warm as the morning temperature rose, so we performed a moving t-shirt swap, which was a wonder of logistics! At the sharp end, Beth had asserted and forged well clear, and Ali had changed into flip-flops to walk out her last couple of hours! I'd run through a few scheduled walk breaks to establish a comfortable cushion over Gyula. The first 4 positions looked settled with 60 minutes left.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2gOR1oNrTwP_g2SIFQ3cPpqFIufMcGr8TMJd4uy7F5kajbQ3l-H246rBsN_jqrsOpshgguKSyLyAekiTJ1DTj4yZ8ygTzpBuMyUv3DLp9ySLCAxagsmfXYApdpZCzsxV_tconQzUizxo/s1600/Last+hour%2521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2gOR1oNrTwP_g2SIFQ3cPpqFIufMcGr8TMJd4uy7F5kajbQ3l-H246rBsN_jqrsOpshgguKSyLyAekiTJ1DTj4yZ8ygTzpBuMyUv3DLp9ySLCAxagsmfXYApdpZCzsxV_tconQzUizxo/s400/Last+hour%2521.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside the last hour (Photo: Matt Smith)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In the last hour I hooked up with Johnny Hallneby - we were in good spirits, the end was in sight. I told him about my battle with Gyula, and he said he was keeping a similar eye on Adriano Scaglione, who was duelling with him for 6th (eventually this would come down to a sprint finish, you couldn't make it up!). With half an hour left, I checked my mileage with my final lap counter, Nandante, and she told me I was over 128 miles. I was running very slowly, but the 130 was in the bag - beautiful!<br />
<br />
I plodded out the remaining time, Matt joining me for my last couple of minutes. The hooter went, Matt dropped my numbered marker for the part-lap measurement, and we were done. I immediately felt a bit faint-tastic when I stopped, so had my traditional 10 minute sit-down, then I was ok.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgECthyXsm56XF83A4tMweMF-4toUgXc6T68an1A2G9pa3VpLhI6CXIYW4EJE7u2UUqqHXQv_nV5EjdG5SLWBJ2Ldk48GoxCakENY4QOkE64LSejHt9k4FTV_ZupWrOlNA9czqnGLZmBjk/s1600/The+final+standings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgECthyXsm56XF83A4tMweMF-4toUgXc6T68an1A2G9pa3VpLhI6CXIYW4EJE7u2UUqqHXQv_nV5EjdG5SLWBJ2Ldk48GoxCakENY4QOkE64LSejHt9k4FTV_ZupWrOlNA9czqnGLZmBjk/s400/The+final+standings.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The final standings (Photo: Matt Smith)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Beth had won with an amazing 143 miles, all bar a few yards, Ali had run a great race in 2nd, ending on 135, and I'd come 3rd on 131. I'd done 9 miles more than last year, improved in both halves of the race and learned a bit more about the event - happy days!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOt9lyMkqiA5HtAmkNOxjdphlG2f-vup97c7UFwn6www2djJyW5FBy_5pVR4Ufk8NfTURM9o3c7X5mryFUvTWrTZrKNLvsTMs-qgRzXuYo2G7PwFbjSle-Qi-dRyLWS9goVUXv6ynYNAI/s1600/Prizegiving.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOt9lyMkqiA5HtAmkNOxjdphlG2f-vup97c7UFwn6www2djJyW5FBy_5pVR4Ufk8NfTURM9o3c7X5mryFUvTWrTZrKNLvsTMs-qgRzXuYo2G7PwFbjSle-Qi-dRyLWS9goVUXv6ynYNAI/s400/Prizegiving.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the prizegiving with Devashishu (Photo:Runandbecome)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
There were 33 of us left on the track at the end and everyone got a trophy or memento at the prizegiving, which was a lovely way of rounding things off, and quite emotional. The shared experience aspect of this event is difficult to convey, but it is more powerful than in any other race I've done since I started in cross-country as a kid. Maybe it's because it all unfolds over that 400 metre space and you see everyone else's triumphs and disasters, or perhaps because you never get marooned alone during the rough patches in a way that can happen in other ultras. Most likely it is due to the happy energy the volunteers give out to the runners, all the way through the 24 hours. Whatever the reasons, that side of this event is a little bit magical.<br />
<br />
I particularly liked the races run by Natasha Farid and Jon Fielden. Neither of them came away with what they were looking for at the start, but both adapted to adversity early in their races and battled away in a good-humoured way for a long time, to bring home results that will hopefully pay them back in future. Both very impressive.<br />
<br />
Thanks from me to Matt, you were fantastic, bruv! And a massive thank you to Shankara, Devashishu, Tarit, and all the lap counters and volunteers - the affection we competitors have for the event is testament to your enthusiasm and professionalism - you did us proud!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM8ASlz8V1M5VO44dAqKKc7es_AzMfR-xi4db5ycOKkrCNROfrbve0tGcc6_-1Uzg8x5CFwf8Xay6QqTp43R-2aX54FT7CR6v32qHBA0m4TbBfEBja44GazDqtyIC_Ohgf84h2TGlVjcQ/s1600/red_line.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="6" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM8ASlz8V1M5VO44dAqKKc7es_AzMfR-xi4db5ycOKkrCNROfrbve0tGcc6_-1Uzg8x5CFwf8Xay6QqTp43R-2aX54FT7CR6v32qHBA0m4TbBfEBja44GazDqtyIC_Ohgf84h2TGlVjcQ/s320/red_line.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
So no, not boring at all! <br />
<br />
45 people turn up to run round a track for 24 hours. Admittedly, it doesn't sound a very attractive proposition. But if you're thinking of having a go, I'd encourage you. I don't think you'll find it boring. You may well find it brutal but, if you play the cards you have patiently and well, you'll most likely find it joyful. Either way, you'll remember it.<br />
<br />
Finally, thanks to my fellow 2015 competitors - I salute you all! What a blast it was! We shared something which was greater than the sum of its parts - I'll treasure the memory.<br />
<br />
Same time next year?<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://uk.srichinmoyraces.org/london-24/previous-results/2015" target="_blank">Official Results Page</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2087553551848561182.post-950223505862139422015-09-07T01:23:00.000-07:002015-09-07T01:23:16.348-07:00Where's the hay?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXi1yAqa-yIl4SLHsqR7ZOK85SJb-_bG-6kIeHcXreiEPiL8ZV29ZT-qWlRmMTKGS10P6FEf_rqFf6Ixqg91jECzDoTnIA9fqh94ijuw4LKap3zrO8o80SMKuSOundvzChNf2INpwzYkQ/s1600/where%2527sthehay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXi1yAqa-yIl4SLHsqR7ZOK85SJb-_bG-6kIeHcXreiEPiL8ZV29ZT-qWlRmMTKGS10P6FEf_rqFf6Ixqg91jECzDoTnIA9fqh94ijuw4LKap3zrO8o80SMKuSOundvzChNf2INpwzYkQ/s400/where%2527sthehay.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Did my last long run yesterday afternoon, a 29.3 miler at
the end of a 150 mile week, 7 laps with a couple of uphill drags each lap, 6 x 90
second walk/fuel breaks with the clock running, 4 hours 36 mins, 9.25 mpm average, hip
playing up but not too bad, in control all the way, won't need to go that fast
in a fortnight.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Since the beginning of June, weekly mileage totals:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
85<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
92<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
80<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
114 1/2 <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
84<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
125 3/4<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
84<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
144<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
26 1/3 (hol)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
145 1/2<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
26 3/4 (hol)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
150<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
118 1/4<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
150<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
12 days taper now.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
The hay is in the barn.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2087553551848561182.post-61566110618761453242015-09-04T08:46:00.002-07:002015-09-04T08:46:29.111-07:00Looking forward to the tapir, sorry, taper.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgo1ir2r5iTGS5i7CgDBpTUOQIP2HdhTrM0gE72DX1s9hMaafmgAYZsyhmJccxUqF-ENQuaOPVa0fVomCAB49JvXDwbXCJ3h0z_m74sMcM4bFeIew93pXRJr74SDplVMd7hqKyI4437ZA/s1600/tapir.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgo1ir2r5iTGS5i7CgDBpTUOQIP2HdhTrM0gE72DX1s9hMaafmgAYZsyhmJccxUqF-ENQuaOPVa0fVomCAB49JvXDwbXCJ3h0z_m74sMcM4bFeIew93pXRJr74SDplVMd7hqKyI4437ZA/s400/tapir.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Getting lots of niggles now, including a new and quite unpleasant hip one, which has slowed the Plodville, Arizona pace down to between 10:30 to 11:00 mpm. Overload City, close to breaking point I think with all the miles, will have gone 150/118 and bits/150 last 3 weeks by Sunday night. Just 3 days to go, including today, until the 12 day taper starts, and by God, I need it. Almost grinding to a halt. This morning, on my 10 miles to work, I actually fell over on tarmac, there was no reason for it, I just tripped over my own feet about 3 miles in, gave my shoulder quite a whack, but no lasting damage done - just very deeply fatigued.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Anyway, did the 5 and a bit lunchtime, hip twingeing, got to do 14 and a half home, then two fives tomorrow, then a final 29 long run Sunday, then I come down.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
12 days on easy street should see me right.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I still have the faith.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Let's get to Sunday night.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Home straight to the taper.</div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2087553551848561182.post-68411475580558936472015-09-01T03:14:00.000-07:002015-09-01T03:14:22.508-07:00Heheheheh<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0FQczPF0PZ8EwjogGd_wZy09EhM_KpHsPpOM2yX_tvkNljIO90wGhfbh-sFTgzCe90Sof19C3xL32NVWPMZH6aHqOH-tcRYYGSfvyqfYkpeLLIJMD3hQy9jvGT_MQa-wqBD5gVlkTF_Q/s1600/Waveform.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0FQczPF0PZ8EwjogGd_wZy09EhM_KpHsPpOM2yX_tvkNljIO90wGhfbh-sFTgzCe90Sof19C3xL32NVWPMZH6aHqOH-tcRYYGSfvyqfYkpeLLIJMD3hQy9jvGT_MQa-wqBD5gVlkTF_Q/s400/Waveform.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
6 days to go before the taper.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Just had a 9 day block to yesterday of 5 long runs on alternate days with 2 x 5 milers on the easy days. Have gone 29-5/5-23-5/5-29-5/5-23-5/5-29, the equivalent of 5 marathons in 9 days, all of it slow, bulk work but with the ebb and flow of the hard/easy pattern. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Feeling strong.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Hard easy hard easy hard easy hard easy hard.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Heheheheh.</div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2087553551848561182.post-70744667049095908012015-08-20T10:19:00.000-07:002015-08-21T06:28:26.126-07:00More than one way of looking at things.....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqffyfHgwkmhwpyOkvAInQ2z0BA7axQCRXmnwbizEG8RDxjjMQkLhOmaBHP5m60VR0TIO2lgZJ0XzstR8YMto0u-A_CkYgarbAyY3S4tqcNF9uWIsHDRTpMhQ25bAFbqURsliLkEjSJCA/s1600/_81303140_jastrow_alamy624.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqffyfHgwkmhwpyOkvAInQ2z0BA7axQCRXmnwbizEG8RDxjjMQkLhOmaBHP5m60VR0TIO2lgZJ0XzstR8YMto0u-A_CkYgarbAyY3S4tqcNF9uWIsHDRTpMhQ25bAFbqURsliLkEjSJCA/s400/_81303140_jastrow_alamy624.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I keep thinking I'm getting a cold, feeling a bit clammy, hope it's nothing apart from nerves. Nerves, hahahaha, 4 weeks plus to go and nerves! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It's going ok this week, should have 80 miles on the board since Monday by tonight, knackered but bound to be. On track for around 150 by Sunday night.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Anyway, I was thinking about training for ultras, and how there are a number of different ways of going about it. A guy called Chris Finill will line up at Tooting, he is 55 and has a stellar running CV, with some amazing ultra performances, has gone over 150 miles in 24 hours! He only runs 40 miles a week, but very high quality I think - that obviously works very well for him. A lot of ultra advice online will emphasise quite high volume, but also talk about including tempo runs and some speedwork, and they go on about differentials, how it will be much easier at a slower pace etc. - I think most people sign up to this school of thought and it works great for a lot of them.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Then there's me.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I'm doing big mileage, all of it slow, I have rarely been under 9 minute miles in the last 12 weeks, maybe half a dozen times, and only then in the last mile or two of 29 mile road runs. Most of the running I've done has been between 9.30 and 10 minute mile pace. Occasionally I have been 10.30 to 11 minute pace if I have been doing a very long run and things haven't been going my way. And the slowness doesn't faze me, I don't fret about it, indeed I think the 10.30 pace long runs where it's been a struggle are precisely the ones that will pay me back big time in the second 12 hours at Tooting.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I'm going my own way in training, doing the old experiment-of-one stuff, because I've been running long enough to know what suits me and what invites injury for me. We're all different and off-the-peg schedules ignore that - some people thrive on speedwork, others get injured. I'm not fast nowadays, I can do a parkrun in 21 and bits eyeballs out, but can maintain that pace for a half-marathon if I train for it, my strength is my strength, if you like. We all know what our strengths are, if we've been running for a while. I think, work on your strengths, not your weaknesses, and play to your strengths. So, I can handle volume, but speedwork and high intensity I'm not totally comfortable with, if I add the two together and increase, at some point I will get injured - this much I know.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Ok. So my aim is a 24 hour track race. Last year, off the back of training for an off-road ultra where I peaked at 95 miles a week but averaged more like 60, I came 5th with 122 miles. The winner did 144 miles. I was 17th at 12 hours, on 63 miles. I did 35 miles for the first 6 hours, with a 2 minute walk break every half hour, then switched down to a one lap walk break which I maintained for the rest of the time - a lap equated roughly to 4/5 minutes walking.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I thought about this a lot before I started my schedule at the beginning of June. It's an event where nothing happens quickly. An average pace of 10 minutes per mile won last year. Strength in the back half gains you stacks of time and distance. At first I thought I would have to start a fair bit faster to improve significantly but, when I looked at the splits, I decided I didn't need to speed up much, but instead train to be stronger from 6 hours to the end, to stick to 2 minute walk breaks for as long as possible, hopefully for the entire thing. In short, I needed to condition my body to run slowly when deeply fatigued, and to keep doing that, and to mentally get to a place where I knew I could run again and again at a slow pace when completely knackered. As that is exactly what I will need on the day. To my way of thinking, 16 hours in, when my body is screaming at me to stop, the memory of numerous 30 minute tempo runs isn't really going to be of much use to me, but recalling plenty of 29 mile road runs whilst deeply fatigued might just be what will help me grind it out. You have to go your own way in training, as in life - be true to yourself and do what is right for you.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And the way I decided to do that for Tooting was to run high volume at a similar pace to what I expected to run in the event. So that's what I've been doing for the last 12 weeks, and here we are now churning out 150 miles of Plodville, Arizona in 7 days.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The theory is mine own! I like it, it makes sense to me, it has a simple logic. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We'll find out whether the theory works or not in 4 weeks' time! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
But, I have faith in it. It's a good job, at this stage! I'm already committed to the plan, totally committed, committed like a pig.<br />
<br />
Ham and eggs. Ham and eggs. The chicken's involved. The pig is committed.<br />
<br />
Salute the pig.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2087553551848561182.post-28422451016792914832015-08-17T04:20:00.000-07:002015-08-17T04:20:05.514-07:00Counting Down<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2fOm7AwG7Y-p4FaZAW5Zg7hqEGLRTuHA0srJnQdC6-yS9eFofRWXjDBRE7vtv3TixC3W2BXJKCyGlX-8OjHyvuagnARPSKyCfxfjQDwQlk1fwg3SoUCmBfWAV2ZLuYdQsKakGn93FQfE/s1600/21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2fOm7AwG7Y-p4FaZAW5Zg7hqEGLRTuHA0srJnQdC6-yS9eFofRWXjDBRE7vtv3TixC3W2BXJKCyGlX-8OjHyvuagnARPSKyCfxfjQDwQlk1fwg3SoUCmBfWAV2ZLuYdQsKakGn93FQfE/s400/21.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
Well, 3 weeks heavy volume stuff to go, then a fortnight
taper. Since I last blogged here, rounded off that week at 144, then
Amy's first holiday week at 26 and 1/3, then back up to 145 and 1/2, then the
second hol week just gone at 26 and 3/4. Have done 500 crunches a day
during the hol weeks, all helps.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
I'm more or less where I want to be, got the confirmed field
for Tooting and had a butcher's at the contenders, it's a bit stacked at the
sharp end, but I can only control what I can do, so I'm just concentrating on
that. I will most likely aim to go 150/85/150 from here, then come down
for a fortnight before the race. My bro Matt is going to be support crew,
so that is a result, it will be a family affair.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
It's about having faith in the training I've done and not
buggering it up from here on in, 3 weeks of what I've done before, slow heavy
volume work, imprinting the default setting of running slowly under the weight
of deep fatigue, specificity coupled with positive thinking, build the
confidence, rehearse the feelings, and the hay will be in the barn. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
21 days' more work. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
Finishing touches.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
Nothing fancy, nothing new, no heroics.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
Business as usual.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
It's close, now.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
Come on then.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2087553551848561182.post-15370418422462876662015-07-24T08:25:00.001-07:002015-07-24T08:25:50.716-07:00Slow down, you're movin' too fast<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV3yTktNpVjKqMLlxMFj6BB_HZYKLv7wbca7Xs4QkhTb0OtzrRJiUGpW_aZldshnmYXYVdm7KbMaM7WLOnUfXRHzsdbHFBxfd_AT1IdOWTnzVcqmNaQZeZeufuMLVNurcPcXblj9kSGnw/s1600/LSD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV3yTktNpVjKqMLlxMFj6BB_HZYKLv7wbca7Xs4QkhTb0OtzrRJiUGpW_aZldshnmYXYVdm7KbMaM7WLOnUfXRHzsdbHFBxfd_AT1IdOWTnzVcqmNaQZeZeufuMLVNurcPcXblj9kSGnw/s400/LSD.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Well, it's quite surprising what your
body can adapt to in terms of volume, if you keep the intensity low.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or, in plain English, you can do a lot of
miles if you go slow!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Once I've run home tonight, I will have racked up slightly
over 103 miles since Monday morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>May
end up with 140ish by Sunday night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then
a mega easy week to follow, holly holly daaaaaayyy.<o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">The foundation will be down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>8 weeks of build:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">85</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">92</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">80</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">114 ½</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">84</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">125 ¾</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">84</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">140 ish</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">I could go to sleep standing up at the moment, but it is
definitely coming together.<o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Deep joy in the eyebold.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2087553551848561182.post-77075725810905069332015-07-20T07:40:00.001-07:002015-07-20T07:42:53.228-07:00Just like Oregon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqkHJ0HE9sBH10Gw8MI1ZMmw6jek0hhPmF0IgPbM9leHTjINppsJkYQCv40IU9hJSe2ujz1u422Y2FJr9hQqTdrvsCnnD0SMLhDw48gR3EEf4Yr-mWmG6LOjYt2ltNdaPI08mXf3KSIHg/s1600/skunk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqkHJ0HE9sBH10Gw8MI1ZMmw6jek0hhPmF0IgPbM9leHTjINppsJkYQCv40IU9hJSe2ujz1u422Y2FJr9hQqTdrvsCnnD0SMLhDw48gR3EEf4Yr-mWmG6LOjYt2ltNdaPI08mXf3KSIHg/s400/skunk.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Back on it today. Ran in this morning, 10 miles slow, right knee a bit twingey, keep a weather eye on that bugger. Lunchtime, did the usual 5 and a bit round Blackbird Leys - an eclectic mix of sights and sounds on the Leys today!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Passed by a couple of likely looking geezers on pushbikes, deep in conversation, ''E give me some decent skunk 'e 'ad', one said to the other, as they cruised by. A red kite whistled overhead, a little lost maybe? 4 learner motorcyclists, looking proud as punch, gunned it down the road in a less-than-menacing cordon.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Running. Banned substances. Birds of prey on the hunt. Easy riders on the highway. Just like Oregon!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Anyway.....</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Last heavy week before I come right down for a 30. Might touch 130 with a bit of luck by Sunday. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Be bold.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
But manage the fatigue and the niggles!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
But be bold!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Etc.!</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2087553551848561182.post-27474500731563940172015-07-17T07:54:00.000-07:002015-07-17T07:54:00.020-07:00Easy Street<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYvlMx0WznjZnOfBQHbpKiwSfdJLdNhUUfDz3DpsQ0afPgIW1okHv2JN-aMHThc-JJmcY0EoC0DTUtxFUI7S82U6A4akzA8rCUSR_i3w36_M8Thn6k8f1nQqFUNdv7EwOyx83D-Y63FPk/s1600/Easy-Street1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYvlMx0WznjZnOfBQHbpKiwSfdJLdNhUUfDz3DpsQ0afPgIW1okHv2JN-aMHThc-JJmcY0EoC0DTUtxFUI7S82U6A4akzA8rCUSR_i3w36_M8Thn6k8f1nQqFUNdv7EwOyx83D-Y63FPk/s400/Easy-Street1.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Did a 29 last Sunday at the end of the 125 and 3/4 - since then have gone (Mon) two 5's, (Tue) 23, (Wed) two 5's, (Thur) 29, (today) a lunchtime 5, with the fractions 79 on the week so far. Got Amy this afternoon until Sunday, so no run until Sunday night now for 84 on the week. Pleased to have 3 easy days, need it a bit now, yesterday's 29 was 18 minutes slower than Sunday's and much harder! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
But we have got to 7 weeks down with no dramas. Monday back on it for one more heavy volume week before I come right down for a recovery week. If I get to the end of next week on plan, the 8 week foundation for Tooting will be in place.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Ay. Caramba.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2087553551848561182.post-54802933171547021892015-07-13T04:10:00.000-07:002015-07-13T04:10:47.419-07:00On track<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCDLr6YL0zwCxlBTqB7iWmJTrdoIK0U3da61-MKUPBzjI0C3YzwsadcGpyVAoRDR4zSR89D5x68ywNNq8rYsa4Q1lR5c8Itb0WLxqVc40JZa48rwBr8taeIV293rJaOJVhoxElk_nCoYs/s1600/On+track.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCDLr6YL0zwCxlBTqB7iWmJTrdoIK0U3da61-MKUPBzjI0C3YzwsadcGpyVAoRDR4zSR89D5x68ywNNq8rYsa4Q1lR5c8Itb0WLxqVc40JZa48rwBr8taeIV293rJaOJVhoxElk_nCoYs/s400/On+track.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Six weeks down, on track. Was looking back at the weekly mileage for the period last night (follows a fluctuating pattern, depending on whether I have Amy with me for the alternate weekend), reads ok - 85, 92, 80, 114 and a half, 84, 125 and three quarters. Count those fractions!!! Yesterday I did a 29 in 4.32, under 9 and a half average, rounded off with 8.50, 8.36, 8.22, pretty strong all the way, within the comfort zone, had already done nearly a ton on the week prior, getting into my stride now, starting to eat up the work. All good. Need to repeat, avoid injury, keep the intensity low, listen to my body and keep pushin' on!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Got another two weeks of this, planning an 80ish this week, then 130 plus next, then I will come down for a week to 30ish with Amy for a week's holiday, then back up to 130ish, then another holiday week of 30ish, then 3 more heavy weeks, then 2 weeks taper, then game on. I'm thinking the holiday weeks will work now, will allow the training effect to take place and give some ebb and flow.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I'm starting to have faith in the training I've devised and I can feel it working. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Just need to keep on track for the next fortnight, and the strong 8 week block foundation for Tooting will be there.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Beautiful!</div>
<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2087553551848561182.post-59717559108974232362015-07-10T09:10:00.000-07:002015-07-10T09:10:23.102-07:00Big Rocks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi0XyaNgO0gE_f0kHj1eMminuo0PD7bl604vCFP8O6ljV8y29prKeap2MjEpafTBBex6PtknR1pjP5fM4_S_9MU4UR9kAudqZbWBr1xViUTHfDklsQe3C3hCp6ysigljriCPQHQm1ISZM/s1600/big+rocks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi0XyaNgO0gE_f0kHj1eMminuo0PD7bl604vCFP8O6ljV8y29prKeap2MjEpafTBBex6PtknR1pjP5fM4_S_9MU4UR9kAudqZbWBr1xViUTHfDklsQe3C3hCp6ysigljriCPQHQm1ISZM/s400/big+rocks.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
As the classic on-line wisdom says, put your big rocks in first, or you may not get them in at all. What are the big rocks in your life? Mine is my beautiful daughter, Amy, 11 years old and full of fun. The other day she said to me, 'Dad, I've got two new rules in life!' This sounds interesting, I thought, 'What are they, darling?' 'Well' she said, 'the first is, always try new things.' 'That's a good one', I said, 'and the second rule?' 'Think before you do things', Amy replied. Then we looked at each other for a couple of seconds. Then we both laughed for a very long time.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Coming in a long way second in the big rock list is running. That big rock is also going ok at the mo. I should be on 86 miles since Monday morning by tonight, then the plan is two 5's tomorrow, followed by a 29 Sunday for the 125. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It's all very slow.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And everything aches.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
But so long as nothing breaks.....</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It all counts.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Keep pushin' on.</div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2087553551848561182.post-23988227034392528032015-07-06T08:46:00.000-07:002015-07-06T08:46:43.455-07:00Keep pushin'<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ywO3iilGk6TA3NZyXq3iJNVTv9P0FbIYX_mlVGn9iGDmOFd7eLDJ0iJQlz88GS83IOdCqwbQpg_smYrUSgO9-Em5qY74upXRrteMT-J5J9-SAI2hkc2JcqMIqRsxxoGKHk8427es8x4/s1600/reo_10_keep_pushin_c.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ywO3iilGk6TA3NZyXq3iJNVTv9P0FbIYX_mlVGn9iGDmOFd7eLDJ0iJQlz88GS83IOdCqwbQpg_smYrUSgO9-Em5qY74upXRrteMT-J5J9-SAI2hkc2JcqMIqRsxxoGKHk8427es8x4/s400/reo_10_keep_pushin_c.gif" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Compoooter did say yes, but the 29 was one to remember. Lower back started hurting 8 and a half miles in on a downhill bit, halfway round 2nd lap of 5 - fairly painful, thought about canning it, but backed right off instead and tried to manage the situation and nurse it home over the remaining 20 miles plus. The pace was snail-like to minimise the impact, but I was able to grind it out in over 5 hours at an average pace, including drink and stretch breaks, of about 10 and a halves. Was quite pleased in the end, will be one to call on at Tooting; I'm firmly of the opinion those are the ones that make you in ultras, the training runs that feel fairly dreadful but somehow you battle through, rather than the ones that flow easily. The ones where you turn a negative into a positive and just deal with it. 2nd July, 29 BAAAAADAAAAASS miles, mark it down!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
3 easy days since, a 5, rest, and another 5 last night, happy recovery time with my beautiful daughter! I'm back on it today, dropped car off this morning at garage to see if they can figure out what the noise is(!), then 3 miles to work, 5 at lunchtime, nice and slow, got to plod the 10 miles home in a couple of hours, start the week with 18 in the bin. Start as you mean to go on! This week I'll be racking up 120 plus, but I'm going with plenty of runs of 10 miles or less every day to Sunday, when I'll be reprising the 29. The next 3 weeks are crucial, got to carry on getting the plod miles in, and keep my foot on the gas. Although speed is not what we're after, just RFM. Relentless Forward Motion. Think bulldozer, rather than porsche.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Have faith.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Hold your nerve.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Keep pushin'.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2087553551848561182.post-42754363837935112362015-07-01T08:30:00.000-07:002015-07-01T08:30:07.904-07:00Redlining<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOne4H-Q5i5LkvOHOg4NuSvttc_v6nydikVjh6wXWUU6zIPcOX2SF60B2ydD4RVOYgedsMfxPDZ5BUW9LNk0pSbstdt0Q9DXO3lE3vV5XqFVzT5D3AUb5aCCP-A79VNZoK5g_JfIrq9uM/s1600/redlining.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOne4H-Q5i5LkvOHOg4NuSvttc_v6nydikVjh6wXWUU6zIPcOX2SF60B2ydD4RVOYgedsMfxPDZ5BUW9LNk0pSbstdt0Q9DXO3lE3vV5XqFVzT5D3AUb5aCCP-A79VNZoK5g_JfIrq9uM/s400/redlining.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Yesterday afternoon (2 days after the 29, and two easy 5 milers Monday), I did a 23 miler. Felt pretty good from the off, it was 28 degrees or so, but a bit of a breeze, so heat wasn't a major issue. First 3 laps of 4 were fine, last one was suddenly grim in the extreme, feet very sore, ankles painful and a bit bruised at the end, lower back hurting a bit, just very uncomfortable for the last 6 miles. Caught up with me a bit.</div>
<br />
The time was 3.44ish, similar time to the last 23 I did, 9.37 miling, but struggled much more late on. Still ground it out, but a timely reminder to keep an eye on the load - I am redlining it a bit in terms of volume, just relentlessly ramping it up and going long again two days later.<br />
<br />
Lunchtime today did an easy 5 and a bit, first couple of miles not great but better than expected after. See how I go tonight, then have a think about tomorrow, whether to do another long one. Plan says yes.<br />
<br />
What does compoooter say?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2087553551848561182.post-67205706126980992632015-06-29T08:45:00.000-07:002015-06-29T08:48:46.086-07:00Movin' On Up<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIaV-4VjE2oUjnC_xsvhaERSQtM2CVOn4DnOhRfK_mVh5nc5VjrwF6fqIC7z0nvcgHkDTJlq32tpnCjR8QVbUKg4Aaaa6MDrVRxaU85TuMkJd1nFURTPjwkfhBsPdztkQPKhe_JKtZ94c/s1600/Garmin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIaV-4VjE2oUjnC_xsvhaERSQtM2CVOn4DnOhRfK_mVh5nc5VjrwF6fqIC7z0nvcgHkDTJlq32tpnCjR8QVbUKg4Aaaa6MDrVRxaU85TuMkJd1nFURTPjwkfhBsPdztkQPKhe_JKtZ94c/s640/Garmin.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
29 miles yesterday, 5 laps of 5.8 miles, stuck to about 10 minute miles for the first 4 laps, kicked it down a bit last one, last 3 miles 9.08, 8.45, 8.21. 114 and a half on the week. Don't forget the half a mile. Everything counts in large amounts. Getting strong. Finished it about 7pm last night. Managed to walk out of the stable sound this morning, hobbletastic for the first couple of miles of a 5 miler at about 13 minute pace at 7.45am, Creakville, Arizona, but eased a bit after, no lasting ill effects. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Repeat.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Absorb.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Come on down.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And smell my roses. </div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2087553551848561182.post-50664933776546675352015-06-25T02:42:00.000-07:002015-06-25T02:42:25.128-07:00Getting there<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEialV9SdAOVObigrMbSU0SXjwfYUY_VqgJ0bc9VzA4-jKgzqE3Uv6G40jex2u4e8Ws0_cbO9CoJunR8SKIFwbIS6rh04DeO_9k6c5ejpprA0OqXvO6VGkf63bO5XwWMOO43lNwBbt_dTWg/s1600/23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEialV9SdAOVObigrMbSU0SXjwfYUY_VqgJ0bc9VzA4-jKgzqE3Uv6G40jex2u4e8Ws0_cbO9CoJunR8SKIFwbIS6rh04DeO_9k6c5ejpprA0OqXvO6VGkf63bO5XwWMOO43lNwBbt_dTWg/s640/23.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Tuesday night's run - the average pace is a bit misleading, included 3 stops at the house for drinks, letting the clock run, a couple of delays for trains at the level crossing and 4 fairly steep hills, about a quarter of a mile plus each time, pace was nearer 9.15's, all within the comfort zone. Third one of this length or longer in 10 day period. Last 3 weeks, 85, 92, 80 (including weekend I had my daughter Amy so only 10 miles in last 3 days of week) - beginning to absorb it, very tired but no injury issues, just niggles. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
First week over the ton this week, then the next 4 weeks are crucial before I have Amy for a week's hol, and then another one a fortnight later. Need 5 weeks of consistent high mileage before that hard week/easy week period, with at least one run a week of this kind of length or more, preferably two. If I can achieve that, game on for Tooting.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The two crucial things are to keep batting away at it and to stay positive. Things are beginning to come together. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I likee. I likee a lot.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2087553551848561182.post-88309650885667987142015-06-15T10:04:00.000-07:002015-06-15T10:04:42.366-07:00Two weeks down<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihpgAWFRety1SKrHn4oHr6LTjCZcdyHslHrne9iHIgFelUJKsEgzUng03lr7kbmmqWsbMeIFspAlHd2VPKcbzfYnDr8ue_1m11nZOkv6vxzVB21pRm5Zv1Rs3gqEyVjDm1_SUFjH8o87s/s1600/Wave-returning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihpgAWFRety1SKrHn4oHr6LTjCZcdyHslHrne9iHIgFelUJKsEgzUng03lr7kbmmqWsbMeIFspAlHd2VPKcbzfYnDr8ue_1m11nZOkv6vxzVB21pRm5Zv1Rs3gqEyVjDm1_SUFjH8o87s/s400/Wave-returning.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Apropos of nothing, one of Maggi Hambling's stunning wave paintings, just because I love them. No one paints the sea like she does. She is a great artist, her paintings convey emotion, they speak to me, they move me. Lovely stuff.<br />
<br />
Now, running! Two weeks into the Tooting schedule, an 85 week and a 92 week. Learning to love the long run again, did 23.4 on the road yesterday, was ok, slow but consistent pace. Two 17.6's in the fortnight too, similar coming up this week, 17.6 tomorrow, 23.4 Thursday. Everything else is filler, the long runs are the key.<br />
<br />
Early days, but on track.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2087553551848561182.post-84726157841976345042015-06-11T05:31:00.000-07:002015-06-11T05:31:39.154-07:00Pollocks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNhCBgP3kR8ejemSnJH-2EO51aQe8S9-wiS9PhohIAFLPBVspigIcGQMjiffY6Ntc_Hm0cOW2aINQuD8-0iUplPDuJ_Zo_aLH0rk6-c-0AtYWJRs4Z5k5C2WjP50cH_8RRjfBT-BUyMC0/s1600/Erm....jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNhCBgP3kR8ejemSnJH-2EO51aQe8S9-wiS9PhohIAFLPBVspigIcGQMjiffY6Ntc_Hm0cOW2aINQuD8-0iUplPDuJ_Zo_aLH0rk6-c-0AtYWJRs4Z5k5C2WjP50cH_8RRjfBT-BUyMC0/s400/Erm....jpg" width="331" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Erm, well, I wasn't really expecting the 2015 canvas to end up like a load of Pollocks.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
But there is some clarity emerging from the chaos. And a little peace of mind. It's regularly trotted out that forgiveness sets you free - the surprising thing is that the cliche is true!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And, as always, there is redemption to be found in running. My running mojo has returned! I have begun the Tooting schedule, one and a half weeks in, kicked off with an 85, aiming for 100 this week, all very slow, but I am enjoying every step of the training. Getting stronger, feeling calmer.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Who knows, we may just be able to replace the Pollocks with a sunny Rothko!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQAdbAx3wJMBV8ztS1fG5k2EbhwDOpupARwD9U8qP9XSLikFzG4gvmc9lbnTnvaFwdxpcaflKa_VtFF9MxuxMJ4ctpYlMNYMUd1OI3lNl1eAQrh5t1BPf872sj6HSX6_PAVPYlr-medw4/s1600/Sunny+Rothko.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQAdbAx3wJMBV8ztS1fG5k2EbhwDOpupARwD9U8qP9XSLikFzG4gvmc9lbnTnvaFwdxpcaflKa_VtFF9MxuxMJ4ctpYlMNYMUd1OI3lNl1eAQrh5t1BPf872sj6HSX6_PAVPYlr-medw4/s400/Sunny+Rothko.jpg" width="307" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2087553551848561182.post-73353615874297884062014-12-31T07:04:00.000-08:002014-12-31T08:41:55.968-08:00Blank Canvas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbEiZp9jRzHAgBXUGHwo-TOl_egH3yaYR4VqcaAjb-eXA61HXh81FC2jVTtl1oumWG7XM4yCbqBXDwfD8261v2-E67WqLDOCAZsqxRxQpn50zTyM1SVm7Yi7pG6gFsFiX1vrJ8bGcTsp4/s1600/blank+canvas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbEiZp9jRzHAgBXUGHwo-TOl_egH3yaYR4VqcaAjb-eXA61HXh81FC2jVTtl1oumWG7XM4yCbqBXDwfD8261v2-E67WqLDOCAZsqxRxQpn50zTyM1SVm7Yi7pG6gFsFiX1vrJ8bGcTsp4/s1600/blank+canvas.jpg" height="640" width="420" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This is the best time of year. 2015 is a blank canvas. Anything is possible. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
How are you going to paint it?</div>
<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2087553551848561182.post-71474308131714928932014-11-19T09:17:00.000-08:002014-11-19T09:17:35.999-08:00The Die Is Cast<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9NkIwbaTOM-5EdhOgMHvaqDmSTrAtR91iK72l0vC1aY_hLNvR1-qOvagqkpiyayajduIGx_GY5jPnpTb1XhSNAEP1215MZzPNCnebjZhyphenhyphen-4GWcVAUUkQ2bpScUpQnZqt33kF0R7YGnSs/s1600/The+Die+is+Cast-Alea+Jacta+est.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9NkIwbaTOM-5EdhOgMHvaqDmSTrAtR91iK72l0vC1aY_hLNvR1-qOvagqkpiyayajduIGx_GY5jPnpTb1XhSNAEP1215MZzPNCnebjZhyphenhyphen-4GWcVAUUkQ2bpScUpQnZqt33kF0R7YGnSs/s1600/The+Die+is+Cast-Alea+Jacta+est.jpg" height="263" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">.....and the game is afoot!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
2015 targets, then:<br />
<br />
UNO - Thames Path 100, Richmond to Oxford, May 2nd<br />
<br />
DOS - Endure 24, Aldermaston, June 13th<br />
<br />
TRES - Self-Transcendence 24 Hour Track Race, Tooting Bec, September 19th<br />
<br />
A Ding Dang Doo!<br />
<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2087553551848561182.post-26617372195876368202014-10-14T12:08:00.001-07:002014-10-14T12:09:28.827-07:00Power To The People!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ww4sJqD3gqTFjp4KvlhrzoClpyEswprFZDZ8b05i8jL_dP2WKdV0tiYCdG7JzBnw7mvMKcK2Q-A0d085CEbSIx956mjdD18MIFAhjsGbjR82ocI7vM4V0kBT6eVVVFMxiPa8DV1ZIAE/s1600/PTTP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ww4sJqD3gqTFjp4KvlhrzoClpyEswprFZDZ8b05i8jL_dP2WKdV0tiYCdG7JzBnw7mvMKcK2Q-A0d085CEbSIx956mjdD18MIFAhjsGbjR82ocI7vM4V0kBT6eVVVFMxiPa8DV1ZIAE/s1600/PTTP.jpg" height="240" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wolfie ponders the location of the Battersea Travelodge.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Yes indeed, we were headed to Tooting Bec for the Sri Chinmoy Self Transcendence 24 Hour Track Race, no less. It started at 12 noon on Saturday, 20th September, so we drove up on Friday afternoon to stay overnight and be nice and relaxed. Ahahahahahahahahaha. Thank you Google Maps for the 4 hour drive to find the Battersea Travelodge. (Whenever I see the word Battersea, I always think of the old Scottish comedian Chic Murray, who used to do a joke where he was telling his mate he'd been away in London, and his mate said 'Did you see the Battersea Dogs' Home?', and Chic said 'I never knew he'd been away'. He also used to do a bit about coming out of a Glasgow pub on a Saturday night and falling over in the street, and a policeman asking him if he was drunk - he said 'No, I'm trying to break a chocolate bar in my back pocket'. Ok, just me again, then.)<br />
<br />
Anyway, back to the 4 hour drive, my wife Liz and I were a little stressed when we eventually found the joint - it's never nice to be beeped at and it takes a while to learn the correct response when driving in London, but I think I got the two finger salute down to a fine art after a while. Fight fire with fire, that's my motto. We checked in ok eventually and went next door to a nice little chilled Italian place called Bella Amia, meal was pretty good and just what we needed to destress. Liz had a large wine, but my body is a temple obviously, so orange juice and lemonade only, no devil's buttermilk for me.<br />
<br />
I slept ok, not particularly nervous as I had no great expectations of the race; it was my debut at the 24 hour track format, the 45-strong field was stacked with experience and talent, it was only 4 weeks after the Ridgeway, not really enough recovery time, and I wasn't sure my knee was up to the task. Apart from that, things were looking mighty fine.<br />
<br />
We had porridge and coffee in the room early Saturday morning, then drove to the track, only 3 miles down the road, but it took 3 goes to find the entrance. I may have to reconsider that job application as a professional routefinder.<br />
<br />
We got there by 9.30am, parked on the track outfield and set up the tent for Liz and the aid table for me. When I say aid table, what I really mean of course is I put up an ironing board. Oh yes, I'd found this great tip on the net, use an ironing board as it is higher and stops you having to bend down as you run past. What a corker, I thought, everyone will be doing that, so in it went with the rest of the stuff. I was surprised to see, then, that all of the other competitors seemed to be putting up folding tables and mine was the only ironing board. They seemed to be giving me funny looks, perhaps they were waiting for me to get the iron out and start ironing my shorts. But more fool them, because it worked a treat, so listen up fellow ultra divs, if you need a stationary aid table, use an ironing board. Never be afraid to go against the herd, hallelujah. <br />
<br />
On the ironing board I placed a box, containing everything I might need except clothes. What was in this box? You may well ask. Plasters for the nips, a needle (would come in useful), some wound wash (ditto), Friar's Balsam, cotton wool balls, Vaseline (the foot lifesaver for ultras!), salt tablets, ibuprofen, immodium tablets (if you pack them you won't need them, etc.), chamois cream (to avoid chafing of non-feet bits you wouldn't want chafing), instant cold pack, freeze gel, Voltarol gel, drink bottles, squash, water, malt loaf, mini-cheddars and jaffa cakes.<br />
<br />
The clothes were in another box, which I stuck in the boot, wasn't planning to change that often unless it hammered down and I didn't want any of the fresh gear getting wet if it did rain. I took a few changes in case I needed them, the most important things being plenty of socks and two spare pairs of shoes. I was starting in Saucony Phoenix road shoes, taking a really old comfy pair of Asics in case I got probs, and some Kalenji Kipruns, which I had mistakenly bought half a size too big - they were still ok to run in slow, I wasn't going to be going fast and I packed them just in case I had foot issues (this would prove to be a hugely lucky master stroke!).<br />
<br />
A couple of cars down from us, James Elson had turned up and was setting up his table. James is the head honcho for Centurion Running and has won all kinds of top trail races, including the GUCR. I was keeping hallowed company here! I knew he had successfully done the Bob Graham Round just a fortnight ago, so it was a quick return to action for him at Tooting. His table fuel was interesting; Pepsi, more Pepsi, sliced white bread, cheese and milk! Nice one.<br />
<br />
I got changed into long shorts and a lightweight trail top, both of which I'm used to and comfortable with, plastered my feet all over with Vaseline, on with my Tu socks, a fiver for a pack of 5 pairs from Sainsbury's, they are excellent, you don't need fancy gear, Sauconys on, grabbed my cap - then it was over to the trackside briefing at 11.15.<br />
<br />
Shankara, the race director, ran through everything we needed to know, including track etiquette, where you move to the outside of Lane 1 to let faster runners pass on the inside, sounded fair enough. I'd be bearing that in mind, as I was set on my usual mega-slow start, my plan was to be able to run all the way through, with small regular walk breaks from the off - I'd been a bit disappointed that I'd had to walk long bits of the second half of the Ridgeway, mostly because of knee probs, and I didn't want that to happen again - so it was essential to ignore everyone else early and do my own thing.<br />
<br />
I'd read <a href="http://enduranceprojekt.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/sri-chinmoy-self-transcendence-24hr.html?utm_source=BP_recent" target="_blank">Nick Thomas's blog</a> about his experiences racing here in 2011/12/13, where he finished 9th, 4th and 4th, running 6 laps, walking 1 all the way, and he'd been out with the washing for a long time before he came through them - that kind of strategy appealed to me, so I settled on 28 minutes run, 2 minutes walk to start with, then I was going to switch down to walk a lap each half hour when I got tired and maintain that for as long as I could. I was going to ignore lap times, run on feel, and stay well within my comfort zone for the first few hours. I'd emailed Nick and he'd been kind enough to reply, saying 'after 4 hours, it's 90% mental - accept it will become very hard and, the longer you go, the harder it will get'. Ha ha!<br />
<br />
Half an hour to go and I was looking forward to it, still not nervous, just hoping the knee would be ok. I had a feeling the race at the front would be between James Elson, an Irish guy called Brian Ankers, whose running CV looked a bit tasty, and last year's 2nd, Fionna Ross. I thought Fionna held the aces, having recorded 134 miles here a year ago, but the other two had the potential to do something special. Was going to be fun to watch it unfold! When you read the programme notes about all the entrants, it really was a little bit of a shirtflap-ripper.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://run.runandbecome.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/24h-Programme-2014-Web.pdf" target="_blank">Race Programme</a></div>
<br />
10 minutes before the off, we were all introduced to our first lap counters - we'd have a few of these over the course of the 24 hours, they each seemed to be recording laps for three or four runners. My lap counter for the first few hours was called Balavan, and he explained to wave at him every time I passed the lap-counting tent, to make sure every lap went down. I also spotted Tejvan amongst the counters - I'd met him before a few years ago at the Sri Chinmoy Summer Race Series at Cutteslowe Park in Oxford which he organised, so we said hello. <br />
<br />
Then the 45 of us assembled on the track, me edging towards the back, and at 12 noon, we were off. We started clockwise and were to change direction every 4 hours. A chap called Jonathan Errington set off like his shorts were on fire and was soon lapping everyone. I ignored that and everyone else's pace, and just jogged round very slowly, everything well within my comfort zone, that was the plan. Grab a drink from the volunteer aid table every half hour and one of mine every hour with a salt tablet in from the ironing board. <br />
<br />
At the end of each hour, Shankara would put people's positions and mileages up on a big leader board by the finish line, and that seemed to be a focal point for all of us. I expected to be way down early and, if my pacing worked out, to maybe come through a few second half. After the first hour I was 26th, no problemo, after 2 hours, 22nd, then in the third hour had two stops, for the loo and to put more Vaseline on my feet, had felt a couple of hotspots - so 3 hours in I was back down to 27th. I didn't react to this, just noted it, ok, any time off the track drops you down, noted - one thing I wasn't going to do was start chasing time, so I just continued unconcerned at my same plod pace, walking for 2 minutes every half hour. <br />
<br />
Up front Jonathan Errington looked to be slowing and the leader now was Max Newton, wearing a Vegan Runners vest - he looked very smooth, in control and was running strongly, but a bit further down others seemed to be running well within themselves, and we did have 21 hours to go - I had a feeling we would have lots of changes in store at the sharp end! To give an idea of how fast Max was running at this point, he passed the marathon mark in around 3 hours 35 minutes - 5 miles ahead of me!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWwVDjGHFysAItrYJK0nPFNV11hoaIsT0uMTbh_Q53HpYvENwZ9zzuQ_6BaHMxhm2_Xa6sJrM7eqocjT6HNJQKAkOwK-VvC-_PBs-LRkD2xRu6YXTTagAlCg_P6XqXH6qw6OZRFH2RgKo/s1600/Leader+Passes+Marathon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWwVDjGHFysAItrYJK0nPFNV11hoaIsT0uMTbh_Q53HpYvENwZ9zzuQ_6BaHMxhm2_Xa6sJrM7eqocjT6HNJQKAkOwK-VvC-_PBs-LRkD2xRu6YXTTagAlCg_P6XqXH6qw6OZRFH2RgKo/s1600/Leader+Passes+Marathon.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leader passes marathon (Photo: Run and Become)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
4 hours in we had our first change of direction and started running the traditional anti-clockwise way round the track. Max had increased his lead and was on 29 miles, loping along easily out in front, there were a few changes behind him and I'd climbed back up to 23rd place, 1 place ahead of 81 year-old legend Geoff Oliver, who was going well. My distance was down as 23 miles (they only put up completed miles) and I was happy with that, my thinking was anything faster than 6 miles an hour for me early would cost too much later on.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhctZpkcPTwNFIS8RUF-DCCuta1CKKlq24VAkiuMcgUBJ98_lQ0MmjTqRyw4oTXlmtC074xRzQ7a1QtPzutRJELoK0_w0fCZ9rZEhonlFIZMxD-WokoTlePG3Y7EXhKW0UcgFbqSUzs9io/s1600/4+hours.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhctZpkcPTwNFIS8RUF-DCCuta1CKKlq24VAkiuMcgUBJ98_lQ0MmjTqRyw4oTXlmtC074xRzQ7a1QtPzutRJELoK0_w0fCZ9rZEhonlFIZMxD-WokoTlePG3Y7EXhKW0UcgFbqSUzs9io/s1600/4+hours.JPG" height="640" width="475" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">4 Hours Leader Board (Photo: Run and Become)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Now, what about the boring question? Virtually everyone I told I was doing a 24 hour track race said the same thing, 'Won't that be sooooooo boring?' Errrr, w-e-e-e-ell, the answer for me is no. At this point, 4 hours down, I'm feeling pretty happy, I've got a smile on my face, there are 45 of us going round, so you can see and chat to lots of different people if you want to, particularly on the walk breaks, the track feels much bigger when you're on it, I'm waving to Liz and Balavan every lap, taking drinks on board, listening to my body, going through my checklist of shoulders down-head up, navel-to-spine, making sure I'm breathing easy, thinking about how my legs and feet are feeling - I'm really like a pig-in. The thing is I love to run, it's what I do, and I also love to run slowly for a long time, so why would I be bored? I quite like the no hiding place aspect of it as well, it's all going to unfold right here on this 400 meter track, ha ha. There's no artifice here, just what the Ironman Triathlete Mark Allen used to call 'a raw reality', the simplicity of a war of attrition. So, boring, no, enjoyable, yes!<br />
<br />
For the moment - ask me again in 19 hours!<br />
<br />
Shortly after this we lost Paul Hart, who had been running strongly in the first half dozen, and sometime after 5 hours James Elson went over to his support crew and called it a day. I called out to him to ask if he was ok as I passed and he said he was fine - maybe it was too soon after the Bob Graham.<br />
<br />
I was plodding on ok, 21st after 5 hours, 19th after 6 hours, at which point I had a new lap counter, (goodbye Balavan, hello Sahadeva!) and also decided to switch to longer walk breaks. I'd been thinking for a little while that the 2 minutes wasn't quite enough of a respite each half hour if I wanted to keep running all the way through, it was no more than half a lap and most often less, so I switched to running to the 30 minute or hour mark, then continuing round to the finish line, then walk one lap. To me this was the simplest way to do it, required the least thought, and that was the kind of plan I was going to need late on. (The post-race splits would show I was not far off 35 miles at 6 hours, so I wasn't going to keep that pace up for the full duration in my first one - it was a prudent switch with hindsight.) I'd decided beforehand that I would need to do this, so was still pretty positive, looked upon it as getting a good start for the first quarter of the race.<br />
<br />
But overall, with the longer walk breaks, I was now going slower, so my progress through the field slowed too. 7 hours, still 19th, 8 hours, up one place to 18th. Little fish are sweet. The longer breaks made it seem much easier, so I was in good spirits as we started our second clockwise session, one third of the race down and I was feeling like I could go on for a long while yet at this pace. I was drinking well and eating well too, had some vegetarian rice and fruit sponge and custard during the previous hour - the Sri Chinmoy team certainly take care of you!<br />
<br />
The floodlights must have been switched on sometime around here, and it was also around this time that another runner's Mum, there as his support, drew Liz's attention to a large rat about equidistant between them, in the gap left by James Elson's crew, who seemed to be making the most of some spilt food. The rat, not James. At one point he even ventured on to the track, but thankfully only in Lane 7, you don't really want to be shouting 'TRACK!' at a rat. Although how was he to have known the etiquette, he wasn't at the briefing. Sat at the side of a track in Tooting Bec in the dark with a large rodent; this wasn't turning out to be the romantic weekend Liz had so eagerly anticipated.<br />
<br />
I was still going ok, 17th at 9 hours, feeling positive, in my own happy little bubble, only mildly curious about the goings-on at the front, where Brian Ankers had come through to head Max, with Fionna Ross moving into third. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKeU8y0LOvP1zOAo1y5dyO3CJNOwZGUq7gvhTJ0fttGSfBemU6weDAwubVM5_ufA3lO4EycQwrlKSj3sg6-b0vupW9Ao5ydSh4K3FwGfOPSMiGdEQiRdpsROLbYpvh42VZyagtsOt51Z4/s1600/10+hours.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKeU8y0LOvP1zOAo1y5dyO3CJNOwZGUq7gvhTJ0fttGSfBemU6weDAwubVM5_ufA3lO4EycQwrlKSj3sg6-b0vupW9Ao5ydSh4K3FwGfOPSMiGdEQiRdpsROLbYpvh42VZyagtsOt51Z4/s1600/10+hours.JPG" height="640" width="476" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">9 Hours Leader Board - Beware The Chair (Photo: Run and Become)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
About 9.15 I got the feeling I needed to stick a bit more Vaseline on my feet, just a general feeling, nothing drastic, so I thought I'd do that on my 9.30 walk lap and change into my running tights and long sleeve top at the same time, maybe have some clean socks too. I asked Liz to get the clothes out of the boot so I could change as quickly as I could, and I stopped and sat down to change by the ironing board shortly after 9.30. The quick change plan went a bit out of the window when I took my socks off to reveal a massive blister on the side of my left big toe, which I had been completely oblivious of to that point. Liz passed me the needle and the wound wash and I drained and cleaned the thing, got some fresh socks and my night gear on, tried my old Asics, excruciating on the toe, so switched to the oversized Kalenjis and got back on the track. The 'quick change' had taken 15 minutes and I knew I'd pay for that, position-wise, but it was a lucky stop really, the blister needed seeing to, and it was fortunate I caught it that early. The Kalenjis were a bit tender round the toe for a couple of laps, then they were fine - result. <br />
<br />
At 10 hours, due to the unexpectedly long stop, I was back down to 20th, but still in a positive frame of mind - I'd averted a potential disaster, I was still full of running, albeit slow running, there was a long way to go yet and I reckoned I might get those 3 places back and a few more. Hopefully I wouldn't have to stop again for any meaningful length of time - game on!<br />
<br />
An hour later I was back up to 18th, still sticking to my 1 lap walk each half hour routine, feeling ok, noticing a couple more people beginning to walk for longer periods now. Sometime over the following hour I fell into conversation with Rupert Williamson during a walk lap. Rupert had been running strongly earlier on when we'd swapped ultra stories briefly and now said he was starting to find it hard work, though he was still a few places ahead of me. We both agreed that Brian Ankers was motoring and looked unstoppable. The nod from such a couple of sage judges proved to be the kiss of death for him, as Brian began to have injury problems a few laps later!<br />
<br />
And then we were at the halfway mark, another new lap counter (goodbye Sahadeva, hello Sanjaya!), direction change number 3, and I was up to 17th. 63 miles and bits in 12 hours, that was ok, more or less where I expected to be in terms of distance, my pace had slowed markedly since switching down to 1 lap walk breaks (albeit with a 15 minute pitstop), but it felt maintainable now, so I was sanguine about the chances of being able to keep grinding it out. I was actually feeling better at 12 hours down than I'd expected to beforehand, still enjoying it, still in good spirits. I had the psychological boost of being in the second half now. I liked the floodlit experience, felt hydrated, I was grabbing coke and electrolyte drinks from the aid station whenever I felt like them, and still on 1 salt tablet every hour, the blister wasn't a problem now, I felt warm enough and, as a fine rain started to fall, I found it quite refreshing! The most positive thing of all was my knee wasn't hurting - the Ridgeway had turned into a fairly grim affair from 6 hours in, as my knee started to complain about the downhills, but here, on the lovely Tooting flat track, everything was hunky dory. So far! <br />
<br />
Liz had gone to bed for a few hours. Well, when I say bed, I mean car - the proximity of the rat had put Liz off the tent, so a kip in the car was more appealing. Truly a weekend from the pages of Mills and Boon! <br />
<br />
Fionna Ross, last year's second, had taken the overall lead just before the halfway mark and there were some more changes all the way down, as the screenshot below of the men's field at 12.30am shows.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF0uRMMIjMswRP5qzvAFMOTMUeVLoGY9jenLEctF2-3IlkUXtq6sx1oisrTSviTgtqgmRerQsEKwJiJAWy5TorivyQcf6TCJB4yhsQ1-v26CAleU0PwEyIOz_Q1rH2HngBbzsNzk5vBkY/s1600/12.5+hours+men.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF0uRMMIjMswRP5qzvAFMOTMUeVLoGY9jenLEctF2-3IlkUXtq6sx1oisrTSviTgtqgmRerQsEKwJiJAWy5TorivyQcf6TCJB4yhsQ1-v26CAleU0PwEyIOz_Q1rH2HngBbzsNzk5vBkY/s1600/12.5+hours+men.JPG" height="302" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Men's Field 12.30am (Photo: Run and Become)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span id="goog_1756443603"></span><span id="goog_1756443604">By 1 in the morning my overall position had improved to 15th and it was evident from circling the track that, whilst Fionna and some of the frontrunners were still running well, more of the field were beginning to encounter problems and my Plodville, Arizona pace was beginning to look not quite so Plodville. I decided not to start calculating pace or speculating on how far up the board I may climb if I could keep running, but instead to stay in the present and concentrate on the process - 1-2-3, 1-2-3, easy cadence, baby steps, everything within the comfort zone, go through the body assessing how everything feels, keep the shoulders down and loose, head up but free, navel-to-spine, churn it out to the half hour point, then walk 1 lap only, and repeat!</span><br />
<br />
The fine mist of rain continued to fall as we entered the 14th hour, and I think it was around this point we had the excitement of an audible car accident close by. In fact, it was like a radio sound effect of a car crash; the volume of a racing engine increasing as it got closer, followed by the screech of hastily applied brakes, lasting for a longish couple of seconds, before a crunching impact. From most of the field, this brought the 'Waheyyyy' response, familiar from the lounge of a pub, when someone in the kitchen drops and smashes a plate or glass. I joined in with this, but then spent a couple of laps pondering how the distance provided by being unseen lends hilarity to an accident, even a potentially serious one. <br />
<br />
After that brief philosophical hiatus, it was back to thinking about the really important stuff - yes, 1-2-3, 1-2-3, you've got it! I was still managing to plod round 25 minutes or so of each half hour in a jog, getting more fatigued but remaining alert, and I was aware of two things - firstly, my fingers were starting to swell up like those things the dog off That's Life used to talk about, yeah, shoshages (not too alarming, that happened during the Ridgeway), and secondly, I was lapping some of the people, now walking, who had lapped me many hours before. When the 2am positions were posted by Shankara, I had gained another place and was now 14th.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqvTbr74qPGevTbcfcpK_0AJCbvlNe1GzGv5DKMcGRNcIgu0SbRLI80OboyLr4LrSOFogQ0Dw1GbeuQPBqPttQqWyPL6V-QmSK6deeAemF1vScoh9k2QhMfCIHZSfLhh5lHAHIiWelxfM/s1600/14+hours.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqvTbr74qPGevTbcfcpK_0AJCbvlNe1GzGv5DKMcGRNcIgu0SbRLI80OboyLr4LrSOFogQ0Dw1GbeuQPBqPttQqWyPL6V-QmSK6deeAemF1vScoh9k2QhMfCIHZSfLhh5lHAHIiWelxfM/s1600/14+hours.JPG" height="640" width="476" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="center">
14 Hours Leader Board (Photo: Run and Become)</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I'd done 73 miles by this point - at the time, from my vantage point on the track, I was just looking for my position alone, filing it away up top and carrying on regardless, not focussing on anyone else's race but mine. With the benefit of 20/20 hindsight however, it's clear that Fionna was on 87 miles, showing us all a clean pair of heels, but then the field was beginning to concertina behind her, with 8 runners on totals of between 80 and 83 miles, some moving through, others dropping back. There was still a lot to play for within this bunch.<br />
<br />
The rain stopped, I had a bit of cheese on toast, some jelly babies and 3 plastic cups of coke - yes, all was well with the world, we were still rolling. I remained in a pretty good frame of mind, the track was a quieter place in the wee small hours, but that was ok, it had a pleasant, calm feel to it and I was feeling mellow, plugging away. Plenty of the field were walking now, but I was keeping to the 25 minutes of plod, plod, plod for every lap I walked. 3am ticked round, 13th.<br />
<br />
During the 16th hour, Liz surfaced from the car, said hello, then sat in one of the camping chairs with her hat on, wrapped up in the duvet. Had she gone back to sleep? I wasn't sure as I passed by each lap. Yes. No. Yes. Yes. No. Yes. Yes. Yes. Ok, snap out of it, concentrate on honing that end-of-lap wave to Sanjaya into something special instead. Yes, that's the one, tap the top of your head in a mini-salute stylee, then a sweeping wave to end, mega-cool! These are the sorts of things you do after 15 hours, yes indeedy. <br />
<br />
I must just say at this point, all the lap counters were top-class, but Sanjaya was the cream of the crop, he even gave me lap times, unbidden. 'Very consistent, Simon, 3 minutes 4 seconds there!' Whaaaaat? 3 minutes 4 seconds? For a run lap? That means I'm running outside 12 minute miles, and once you factor the walk laps in. . . . . - but no, that way madness lies - lap times, lap schmimes, forget them, we will keep plodding on, we're still passing people, however slow we're going. Why am I saying we, there's only me? Pull yourself together. Both of you. Ok, 4am, 11th.<br />
<br />
And 4am means we're two thirds of the way down, and we have our penultimate change of direction, back to clockwise. 8 hours left and the front 4 have sorted themselves out a bit, it's Fionna Ross from Issy Wykes and Noanie Heffron, women filling the first 3 places, with Michal Masnik from Slovakia in fourth.<br />
<br />
I'm still going ok, may sneak into the top ten, but first things first, loo break needed, that coke was going down well. A jog off the track into the loos, to find the floor slightly awash, necessitating an unusual legs akimbo stance at the urinal. Mucho mistako, as on the way out I found the John Wayne impression had woken my knee up bigtime. How ironic, 16 hours plus of running hadn't made it hurt, but 1 minute of wide-stance aiming at the Armitage Shanks had hit a big 10 on the Painometer. OK, don't panic - I told Sanjaya on my return to the track I was going to walk for a bit, and grabbed a couple of ibuprofen from Liz as I went round. Hmmmm, one lap walking, felt maybe a smidgeon better, 2 laps walking, wasn't too bad after all, let's recommence very slow running. Miracle of miracles, running very gingerly it was okish, disaster averted. I ended up doing 4 walk laps instead of 2 during this hour as a result and, with very timid, knee-protecting running steps until it felt really stable again, this wasn't a great hour for me, but I still moved up a place to 10th by 5am.<br />
<br />
My knee seemed ok now and I was back on my tried and trusted pattern of 1 lap walk every half hour, still chugging along. I was starting to think I might actually be able to maintain this all the way to the end, then I thought no, don't get over-confident, stay in the present, just focus on these 25 minutes. I enjoyed this hour, felt like I maybe slightly picked up the run pace at times, and Sanjaya confirmed as much once or twice with a report of a 2 minutes 40 lap here and there. Hang on to your hats! Liz had woken up and I was a bit smiley, heading towards the three quarters down mark in a good place. Approaching 6am I had a quick change into a t-shirt, it was warming up a bit, and I ended the 18th hour still in 10th place, but having closed a bit of distance on the few runners directly above me on the board.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOUo1xyyQ1iulOuDaXH5Fm0_MzgxvQC_Q5MtrVywO6ZmQgb1t6T53uiGQ_8duzmXq4guJ75cHZvxhPCO9VC3J1bjhjr_A2m3mKWfYXkFiTIsW_N5svEqEahIjfT5XOHjqjFezEm49V0HQ/s1600/18+hours.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOUo1xyyQ1iulOuDaXH5Fm0_MzgxvQC_Q5MtrVywO6ZmQgb1t6T53uiGQ_8duzmXq4guJ75cHZvxhPCO9VC3J1bjhjr_A2m3mKWfYXkFiTIsW_N5svEqEahIjfT5XOHjqjFezEm49V0HQ/s1600/18+hours.JPG" height="640" width="476" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">18 Hours Leader Board (Photo: Run and Become)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
6 hours left and I was on 92 miles, averaging a bit less than 5 miles an hour now but, I figured if I didn't slow down much, I might just sneak over 120 miles. If! Then however much that would move me up the board, so be it - end total was more important than position - that was the way to go, just carry on with my own pace, don't race anyone else, just keep plugging away.<br />
<br />
This hour saw our final change of lap counters at the start (goodbye Sanjaya, hello Dave - yes, that's right, Dave!), and the switching off of the floodlights towards the end, as the sun rose. I had a very welcome bowl of porridge on a walk lap, went down a treat. I limited the walk laps to the usual 2 for the hour and was still feeling positive, more so when the positions were updated after 7am and I was up to 8th.<br />
<br />
5 hours to go, I think at this point we were all anticipating the end of the next hour, and the final change of direction - I know I was, I kind of thought if I got to there unscathed, I'd be home free. As the full light of day broke through, I had a quick mental check of how I was faring as I plodded along - knee was happy, feet felt ok, blister had caused no further probs, no cramp, salt tablets working well, I was still drinking quite a lot and having the odd loo break, always a sign of good hydration, temperature felt ok generally - oh yeah, and fingers still like shoshages. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiOPBt_005lb6LanjvtaxPu5omVjAF3AxMPBtfmi8ukNPrKNsSjxJW99XMJa-X1dCtzDE862ZCVodqNkXwSsvC8haIkvnOWneio9DRfH0G9DriIw-GH7Oro9BhKVd7ZyL1hFWrufW5ba8/s1600/Shoshages.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiOPBt_005lb6LanjvtaxPu5omVjAF3AxMPBtfmi8ukNPrKNsSjxJW99XMJa-X1dCtzDE862ZCVodqNkXwSsvC8haIkvnOWneio9DRfH0G9DriIw-GH7Oro9BhKVd7ZyL1hFWrufW5ba8/s1600/Shoshages.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shoshages (Photo: Run and Become)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The photo above contains an optical illusion - it does look like I'm walking so slowly I'm in no danger of being done for lifting, but I remember it being taken and I was actually running. Honest. 8am came and with it our last change back to anti-clockwise - the general mood of the field was boosted by this and some high-fiving even occurred at this point! The board was soon updated and I'd crept up one more place to 7th overall.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqygo5rNdS5KSFR4uBwg1X7Nwn42s6GNWhrKvl2XyjkJIwNi8nAVWn1iWDXWtKxFGXzBugttqRJh_XidMcPpj-NPyUCDgiO6ILUUjH8Pi0P6XHnzoJIIfq2HcEEw_bEz1F2T8L2fnL1Nc/s1600/20+hours.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqygo5rNdS5KSFR4uBwg1X7Nwn42s6GNWhrKvl2XyjkJIwNi8nAVWn1iWDXWtKxFGXzBugttqRJh_XidMcPpj-NPyUCDgiO6ILUUjH8Pi0P6XHnzoJIIfq2HcEEw_bEz1F2T8L2fnL1Nc/s1600/20+hours.JPG" height="640" width="476" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">20 Hours Leader Board (Photo: Run and Become)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I was on 101 miles officially at 20 hours, but I knew I was a bit nearer 102 than 101, having passed 100 miles in about 19 hours 40 minutes, so I was still on track to clear 120 miles if I could manage to keep rolling at the same pace. I'd settle for that.<br />
<br />
Just 8 half hour bits to go now, count them down and grind it out. I was still drinking a fair bit, coke, electrolyte or orange, but not eating from here on in - I'd eaten at regular intervals up to now, just didn't fancy it any more. I gave a wave to Liz and Dave every lap and kept plodding on at my constant pace, whilst around me there was a vague sense of reawakening of activity, as a couple of people who'd been off the track for a while came back on for the last few hours; this increase in activity would grow, the closer we got to the end of the 24 hours.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHtyotiLfrGqIXLOaoQm6WEZqkCZ1riZP4zftCmJfAbaNsrDOPfOzFAOPUDAvVFeYtl4dipr0NwEgsprnmGR3aFWuyynQemyH56GkWAXkl1XzEcFJk3_nrE_c3ovxrJpQt3aD2MmSWVn8/s1600/Wave+To+Dave.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHtyotiLfrGqIXLOaoQm6WEZqkCZ1riZP4zftCmJfAbaNsrDOPfOzFAOPUDAvVFeYtl4dipr0NwEgsprnmGR3aFWuyynQemyH56GkWAXkl1XzEcFJk3_nrE_c3ovxrJpQt3aD2MmSWVn8/s1600/Wave+To+Dave.jpg" height="337" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wave To Dave (Photo: Run and Become)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
As well as waving to Dave, during the next hour I also started asking him how many miles I had totalled when I hit a walk lap, so I could confirm I was staying on track for 120 by the end. When 9am arrived, I was keeping to my jog schedule, and still in 7th place.<br />
<br />
By this time, barring injury, I was feeling confident of keeping to the 1 lap walk each half hour pattern up to the final hooter - yes, there would be a hooter! I was properly knackered and there was no possibility whatsoever of any increase in pace, but I believed I could keep up my one-paced plodding and that was proving effective enough so far. I circled the track for the 22nd hour and, by 10am, I'd gained another position and was 6th.<br />
<br />
As the clock ticked away, with under two hours to go, a couple more of those who'd been off the track returned, and those who'd been on the track moving very slowly started moving slightly faster. Slightly! The finish line was almost in sight. I didn't start moving any faster though, it was just the usual plod round for me but, amazingly, by 11am, I found myself in 5th place.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg943OedR980iV6QPRW47gJ30ZUEA3Y4-ctdjNyiceNeu32zsJcnOpg64booNw-m-w6who6Tx1n-zNtIUa2jzCCz41qnls3ffULWx5ML8wKo4RECSqnxs3rw8j4l_GCmtEHx7r2yOaVUBU/s1600/23+hours.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg943OedR980iV6QPRW47gJ30ZUEA3Y4-ctdjNyiceNeu32zsJcnOpg64booNw-m-w6who6Tx1n-zNtIUa2jzCCz41qnls3ffULWx5ML8wKo4RECSqnxs3rw8j4l_GCmtEHx7r2yOaVUBU/s1600/23+hours.JPG" height="640" width="476" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">23 Hours Leader Board (Photo: Run and Become)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
With an hour left, I was on 116 miles, in sight of the 120, just had to carry on plodding! The 4th placed runner, and first man, Michal Masnik, was 8 miles in front, so I wasn't going to finish any higher than 5th, but I was only a mile in front of both Richard Kimmens in 6th and Stephen Mason in 7th. As we started the final hour, both of these significantly upped their pace and it wasn't long before they were lapping me.<br />
<br />
After my first walk lap several minutes into the last hour, I'd asked Dave for my total and he said 117 miles, so I must have been at least 116 and a half at 23 hours - it depended on how far over 115 they both were at the start of the hour, whether they'd have to lap me 4 times or more to catch me. That may seem unlikely but, as I passed Liz on the outfield with about 45 minutes left, I told her I couldn't increase my pace or I would grind to a halt in a couple of laps, I would just have to stick to the pace I'd kept to for hours and hope it was enough to keep me ahead of them. Both Richard and Stephen continued to outpace me and lap me, as more spectators began to arrive for the race finale. <br />
<br />
I decided not to have a walk lap halfway through the hour, but to keep jogging through to 12 noon - if I couldn't speed up, at least I could get a bit of extra distance by doing that. A few minutes from the end, we were all allowed a helper on the track, to carry the marker to put down for our final distances to be measured, so Liz joined me for the last lap and a bit. Richard and Stephen continued to steam past and I told Liz I thought they'd probably both overtaken me, but couldn't be absolutely sure. As we neared the final seconds, I waved at Dave for the last time.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkq96ti5kwzg14wlj0cWTqsCmdBkbXi1ZTF-XjYCyTXBDARVwmIKcGLpAoWQTJOU6cqIZJv072Rat2a363bugKnh386Fdqq1T6yCNChSE_mJeefbh1jz0ijY1QtthRtSdbRC9fLg3NH7M/s1600/Last+Lap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkq96ti5kwzg14wlj0cWTqsCmdBkbXi1ZTF-XjYCyTXBDARVwmIKcGLpAoWQTJOU6cqIZJv072Rat2a363bugKnh386Fdqq1T6yCNChSE_mJeefbh1jz0ijY1QtthRtSdbRC9fLg3NH7M/s1600/Last+Lap.jpg" height="640" width="354" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Last Lap (Photo: Run and Become)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We reached the crown of the bend as the hooter went and Liz put the marker down. I felt a bit faint as soon as I stopped, so went and sat down on the concrete on the inside of the track. I had a quick chat with Stephen Mason, neither of us knew the order the three of us had finished in, but we shook hands on the outcome, whatever it would turn out to be. <br />
<br />
Ten minutes or so later, the final finishing positions were posted on the board. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJoEG6GpsAKdKJ842DLmNwDc5lDMsAbArBnuz997WpNpnpFvKY4-rKIJFVwcRacRx0liYFSSFMP8e4VaEbG8ajmizUefEvfyvvqRueEOyQ6hrpEXreveF9k1GO8jA5OOXZuALCjnLcJQk/s1600/Final+results+board.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJoEG6GpsAKdKJ842DLmNwDc5lDMsAbArBnuz997WpNpnpFvKY4-rKIJFVwcRacRx0liYFSSFMP8e4VaEbG8ajmizUefEvfyvvqRueEOyQ6hrpEXreveF9k1GO8jA5OOXZuALCjnLcJQk/s1600/Final+results+board.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Final Positions Board (Photo: Run and Become)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Women took a clean sweep of the podium places, with phenomenal performances. Fionna Ross set a new Scottish record of 144 miles, and she and 2nd placer Issy Wykes (142 miles) went 5th and 6th on the All-Time British Women's List! Noanie Heffron placed 3rd with 132 miles. Michal Masnik was 4th and 1st man, with 127 miles.<br />
<br />
I'd edged over 122 miles and had just hung on to 5th; later it would be confirmed this was by a mere 282 metres from Richard, with Stephen a further 510 metres back in 7th - after 24 hours, less than 2 laps of the track separated the three of us! I finished as 2nd man and 1st V50, and had thoroughly enjoyed myself!<br />
<br />
I'll definitely do more of these. The format is like no other I've known - it's a unique kind of racing where you just have to ignore the pace other people are setting and concentrate on your own plan. It seems to suit me down to the ground and I can't wait for the next one!<br />
<br />
What a corker!<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: cyan;">RANDOM REFLECTIONS FROM 3 WEEKS DOWN THE ROAD. . . . .</span><br />
<br />
1. The race was professional, memorable and happy, which was down to Shankara and her team - they were great. Five stars!<br />
<br />
2. Having a support 'crew' is a huge help, and Liz was there for the duration. Good effort! X<br />
<br />
3. Competitor camaraderie is stronger than in any other event I've done - it all unfolds around a 400 metre track, there's no hiding place, you see it all - as a result there's a shared experience aspect to it which is unique.<br />
<br />
4. It felt like the event I was made for. It's like coming home.<br />
<br />
5. I found it easier than doing the Ridgeway, because it was flat!<br />
<br />
6. I think I can improve a bit at this. From the marathon down, even if I run well, I'm almost always disappointed with my racing performances nowadays, as I'm so far outside my pb's, most of which date from the time Grandmaster Flash and Melle Mel were topping the charts. So to find an event I think I can improve at and be relatively competitive in, at my age, is just brilliant. And very exciting!<br />
<br />
7. Whilst the race itself was enjoyable, the after effects were a bit of a shocker! I expected to have difficulty walking for a few days, but I've never had my ankles blow up like an elephant's before - the Wednesday after the race, that's what happened - major CANKLES!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdAvgFZJL_iJwha0SX3HaaHjCNhHoizQBySFk2e_kEMHySNV63Kxz_TznSLGC1YoIY8vZBU8tLPKV_5mDXptc0gzUqWxZjttywbcd68I2H6F7DwjXm0EXmd5zicEH2qu9myeDan6_T2XM/s1600/Cankles.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdAvgFZJL_iJwha0SX3HaaHjCNhHoizQBySFk2e_kEMHySNV63Kxz_TznSLGC1YoIY8vZBU8tLPKV_5mDXptc0gzUqWxZjttywbcd68I2H6F7DwjXm0EXmd5zicEH2qu9myeDan6_T2XM/s1600/Cankles.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What's worse than Shoshages? Cankles.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Took 2 days of elevating and icing to get rid of the buggers. Not too unusual when you Google it, but rather alarming if you've never had it happen before!<br />
<br />
8. On the same theme, what I didn't have afterwards was the stabbing left knee pain I had after the Ridgeway - good. What I did have was prolonged muscle soreness round both knees when running - not so good. I left it a week to start back very slow running and, by then, I was walking normally, pain-free. The first day back, I 'ran' a 5k in 36 minutes and bits, couldn't have gone any faster, and each step was accompanied by one of these involuntary exclamations - 'Ooooooh', 'Aaaaaah', and 'Eeeeeeh'. The soreness round both knees was excruciating. The next day it took over 37. Yesterday was the first day my knees haven't hurt, back down to a comfortable 24, nice one, but I was starting to worry slightly that the soreness was here to stay. A lesson to remember for next time - even if they go well, these events leave a mark and, for me, the recovery to a level where easy running is painless takes at least 3 weeks.<br />
<br />
9. They do some of these races abroad . . . . . . . ha ha! <br />
<br />
10. Same time next year at Tooting? <span style="background-color: black; color: cyan;">Can't wait!</span> <br />
<br />
<br />
FULL OFFICIAL RESULTS:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://run.runandbecome.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Self-Transcendence-24r-Race-2014-V3.pdf" target="_blank">Outright Results</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://run.runandbecome.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/24hr-2014-10k-Splits.pdf" target="_blank">10k Split Times</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://run.runandbecome.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/24hr-2014-6hr-Splits.pdf" target="_blank">6-Hour Distance Splits</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2087553551848561182.post-5880662363370437662014-09-09T03:52:00.000-07:002014-09-09T07:55:36.459-07:00Consistency<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjNiqEiXFDBCNbDU6GeZVxmPohNH8MoGNOFZaif9edZxzz1hxqCubTew7kJWdqbCewqD6fnTPjuPEQhaNhIgmlzulHcWcPb8RqjS4ZjKvptwcHKczgn6heWTrpn3JJylbff2BBsqVdkV0/s1600/backstreetsback.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjNiqEiXFDBCNbDU6GeZVxmPohNH8MoGNOFZaif9edZxzz1hxqCubTew7kJWdqbCewqD6fnTPjuPEQhaNhIgmlzulHcWcPb8RqjS4ZjKvptwcHKczgn6heWTrpn3JJylbff2BBsqVdkV0/s1600/backstreetsback.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Just like life in general, blogging is all about consistency. Little and often. Always stay current. Keep in touch. <br />
<br />
Ahahahahahahahahahahaaaaaa.<br />
<br />
Yes, I have been remiss, but I feel a glorious renaissance about to start.<br />
<br />
Now, why do people usually restart blogs after a hiatus of well over 6 months? Because they've got a new job in the City, their child has got into Oxford or they've joined a religious sect. And I've hit all 3 bullseyes!!! Praise be to Mammon, the Bullingdon Club Gits and L. Ron Hubbard.<br />
<br />
But no, not really. No, I'm restarting it for the best of all possible reasons.<br />
<br />
'Cos I feels like it.<br />
<br />
So, to get us up to date and ready to roll, here is a bullet-point list of the top ten running-related things I have learned since I last blogged here. Because life is all about learning. Grow or go. Think of it as an anti-round robin.<br />
<br />
1. It costs £34 for a chiropodist to shave the dead skin off the end of your hammer toe, with what looks suspiciously like a potato peeler. The toe-shaving conversation goes like this:<br />
<br />
'Does that hurt?'<br />
<br />
'No.'<br />
<br />
'Does that hurt?'<br />
<br />
'No.'<br />
<br />
'Does th-'<br />
<br />
'Eeeeeyayaaaayuhhh.'<br />
<br />
2. In the latter stages of an ultra, your fingers swell up like those things that the dog on That's Life used to talk about.<br />
<br />
Shoshages. <br />
<br />
3. The beat to Everybody (Backstreet's Back) is hypnotic and irritating in equal measure to run to, when you get to the shoshages stage.<br />
<br />
I don't own an ipod. I'm talking about the beat in my head.<br />
<br />
4. It's ok to talk out loud to wildlife on long trail races, but only if no other runners are in earshot. <br />
<br />
'Hello, horsey.' It cheers you up, as well as the horse.<br />
<br />
It's a win-win.<br />
<br />
'Hello, grassy. You're wet, but the grass back there is dry. Are you sad, have you been crying, grassy?' That really cheers you up, as well as the grass. In fact, your laughter may be verging on the manic. Like the Joker in Batman. And you can do the 'Waaaah, waaah, waaah' bit he does, as well, if you like - anything goes. It takes your mind off the pain in your knee.<br />
<br />
But remember, only if no other runners are in earshot. <br />
<br />
5. That pace that starts off feeling really, really, really slow - the one that is slightly outside ten minute miles - yeah, sooooooo slow, yeah yeah, that one.<br />
<br />
After 10 hours, that is like <strong>FLYING</strong>.<br />
<br />
6. If my left knee went on a dating website (not an ordinary dating website obviously, just one for knees, be realistic), its profile would look something like this:<br />
<br />
LIKES - Ibuprofen, freeze gel, frozen peas, elevation, rest.<br />
<br />
DISLIKES - Downhills, steep downhills, very steep downhills. Did I mention downhills? <br />
<br />
7. If you run for a very long time, you'll end up eating things you didn't expect to along the way, and they will taste wondrous. Rice pudding. Jacket potato and beans. Sausage roll. Some more rice pudding.<br />
<br />
You'll also end up eating one thing which won't taste wondrous. Cheese breadstick. Eeeeeyayaaaayuhhh.<br />
<br />
8. Impressions are good to keep you amused in an ultra. I quite like a bit of Tommy Cooper, 'My knee is abolutely killing me, fank you very much, aaahaha, aaahahaha'. <br />
<br />
But one impression which isn't much fun, and I speak from personal experience, is a lost headless chicken in the dark. It's easy to go wrong at night, even if you know the route well - familiar terrain looks different by headtorch when you're tired. Stopping for a couple of minutes at turnpoints to have a good look can save you bags of time later.<br />
<br />
It was a really convincing headless chicken, though. 15 minutes, in and out of a farm entrance.<br />
<br />
9. You can do much more than you think if you're positive. RFM is the key - Relentless Forward Motion. <br />
<br />
Keep moving and the down times will pass. Walk if you have to, but sometimes you think you have to, but you don't really - you'll see a headtorch light behind you and, miracle of miracles, you are running again. <br />
<br />
It's true what they say, ultras are mental.<br />
<br />
10. And when it's all over, the day after a long one, and you can't walk anything like normally - when you're hobbling towards the kettle looking like you've just lost a nut-kicking contest, and the loser's forfeit is to exit barefoot over a bed of hot coals - that's when you can count on your nearest and dearest.<br />
<br />
To laugh until they cry. And to fetch the camera to film your discomfort and stupidity, and capture it for all time.<br />
<br />
At that point, there is only one possible response. Give them the V's.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2087553551848561182.post-46027117839204613322014-01-27T10:17:00.000-08:002014-01-27T10:17:27.438-08:00Deek<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm2_Z8G94qOnxQt8YKkuREtavTPd92ekJvh_g_dNQEuVK7-Z0VRHb0o8XKE0WlCuRTh3eTZipsPwlxUWt3PduT3ivLkquwbkOrVOKwj6fx9vC5lF3QevTiafy0yJYNVmVtIaGQjWVUlhk/s1600/Deek.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm2_Z8G94qOnxQt8YKkuREtavTPd92ekJvh_g_dNQEuVK7-Z0VRHb0o8XKE0WlCuRTh3eTZipsPwlxUWt3PduT3ivLkquwbkOrVOKwj6fx9vC5lF3QevTiafy0yJYNVmVtIaGQjWVUlhk/s1600/Deek.jpg" height="295" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
The year is 1983, the event is the Rotterdam Marathon. Rob De Castella (Deek) of Australia is breaking the tape in 2.08.37, beating Carlos Lopes by 3 seconds. The field was stacked with marathon talent - Alberto Salazar, now Mo Farah's coach, then aspiring to be the world number one at the event, was soundly thrashed.<br />
<br />
400 metres out these two were well clear and neck and neck - the Portuguese runner was a much faster 10k runner than Deek, having won silver behind Viren in Montreal seven years earlier. There looked only one possible outcome, there was no way Deek could outkick Lopes.<br />
<br />
But he did.<br />
<br />
Because he believed he would.<br />
<br />
His belief came from his philosophy and Deek's philosophy was simple; he would train better and harder than anyone else. If it was on the schedule, it got done. No holes.<br />
<br />
He put it like this:<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;">'Nothing gets in the way of my workout. Nothing.'</span><br />
<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2087553551848561182.post-20559242523447322262013-11-14T01:00:00.000-08:002013-11-14T01:00:20.580-08:00Party Like It's 1979<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUu-8-ng-8VCDl57LHjOZ-oeZWJwv4SLoM6NEP_ZZ7PZF57JNNWujtiaBKUz8dLp7ETTHQllKUqMBx1KwEpB8WG3GVWJPiJRcQAaoOfzPWi6SGdTdyyiiKehAW_Ow4Om51pruVZO6mFX4/s1600/tomflemingbobhodge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUu-8-ng-8VCDl57LHjOZ-oeZWJwv4SLoM6NEP_ZZ7PZF57JNNWujtiaBKUz8dLp7ETTHQllKUqMBx1KwEpB8WG3GVWJPiJRcQAaoOfzPWi6SGdTdyyiiKehAW_Ow4Om51pruVZO6mFX4/s1600/tomflemingbobhodge.jpg" width="377" /></a></div>
<br />
And, as if by magic, it is. Here are Tom Fleming (left) and Bob Hodge, both top class American roadrunners, duking it out for third in the Boston Marathon of that year. They will both break 2:13 in the wake of a classic duel between Toshihiko Seko and Bill Rodgers, Boston Billy eventually prevailing for his third course win in a U.S. record of 2:09:27.<br />
<br />
Fleming won New York twice in the early 70's before they changed the course. He is remembered for the following quote, which captured the high mileage training philosophy of that time (there is an interview online somewhere with him where he says he operated best off 150/160 miles per week, but he and Rodgers experimented a couple of times with 200 miles!). . . . .<br />
<br />
'Somewhere in the world someone is training when you are not. When you race him, he will win.'<br />
<br />
Amen.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2087553551848561182.post-80794617252964765792013-10-23T09:58:00.000-07:002013-10-23T09:58:03.167-07:00Blaikie<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmyPbVWnT92I2ARNgNLts3Q_A85IaDRbR_8QGYRu2sl0nX8h5HuwovolZwBjppKbbnCwre64BEp2xM7KxJu87KWrUJWDLLoZrDN06Ki6VXzwicC8T5xErTsJ44gBEAucNrIKG5g6Rdx8Q/s1600/Blakey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmyPbVWnT92I2ARNgNLts3Q_A85IaDRbR_8QGYRu2sl0nX8h5HuwovolZwBjppKbbnCwre64BEp2xM7KxJu87KWrUJWDLLoZrDN06Ki6VXzwicC8T5xErTsJ44gBEAucNrIKG5g6Rdx8Q/s1600/Blakey.jpg" height="400" width="356" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">'Waaaaaaah,waaaaaa-aaaaaah Butler, oh my Gawd, I'll get you Butler, Waaaaaaah, waaaaaa-aaaaaah!' But no, not that one. That was Blakey from On The Buses, with Reg 'I've Never Been Remotely Funny In My Life' Varney. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">No, not Blakey, Blaikie. David Blaikie. Who he?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New;">David Blaikie is a little-known Canadian who promoted ultra-running for a good few years up to around 2001. The reason his name still crops up occasionally on runners' forums is because he came up with a wonderful quote about ultrarunning. I think what he said applies to distance running and training generally and, the first time I read this, I had that 'Oh Yesssss!' surge of recognition you get when someone encapsulates in words exactly what you feel. I also like it because it appeals to the hippy in me, which is never a bad thing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New;">Here it is:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New;">'Perhaps the genius of ultrarunning is its supreme lack of utility. It makes no sense in a world of space ships and supercomputers to run vast distances on foot. There is no money in it and no fame, frequently not even the approval of peers. But as poets, apostles and philosophers have insisted from the dawn of time, there is more to life than logic and common sense. The ultrarunners know this instinctively. And they know something else that is lost on the sedentary. They understand, perhaps better than anyone, that the doors to the spirit will swing open with physical effort. In running such long and taxing distances, they answer a call from the deepest realms of their being; a call that asks who they are.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New;">Beautiful!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New;"></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0