Getting Closer...

One from the family album

Over the last few weeks I have been getting my teeth into the bulk of the training for the triathlon I am racing in September.  This has been pretty tough at times but have seen some reasonable improvements which has kept me going.  At times I have had to adapt and make do with the time I have had, but after all 'life happens'.  Over the last week seems my double sessions have become a swim, cycle or run followed by a couple hours walking round furniture shops.  Not what any good training plan would tell me but I'm not following one of them, been going free style.

Competing in a couple of races since last writing yielded a mixed bag of results.  Early on saw a 1 minute 48 second over 10 miles at Portland 10, arguably a tough course than my previous PB to (not many flat courses in the Dorset Road Race League).  This was yet another successful day for Bournemouth claim minimum points in the league for both women's and men's teams.  However racing over half marathon distance a few weeks later wasn't so successful, just managed to sneak under 78 minutes.  Legs were not really playing ball through this race lacked speed but felt reasonably strong.  Again more BAC success (well done guys, I could have had a lie in this time). Looking for another PB this was a bit of a knock but took this as overall training must be going ok, but we will have to wait until September to see if that is correct.  No more racing until the targeted race for now.

View of the Mendips, no wait I mean Spain

Training has consisted of a reasonable amount of running with cycling and swimming a couple times a week, usually totally around 140 miles and 12 hours of training. Spending a week in Spain on a family holiday gave me chance to get out on some trail running and get some decent assents in the legs .  Thought this was not much good preparing for a race with a flat run course, but seemed to have helped my all round strength particularly on the bike.  While back home I have been cycling in the Mendips for my big sessions which has seen me climb a decent amount on the bike.  Today I completed what is likely to be my last big weekend session due to a couple busy weekends ahead, but have taken confidence from decent distance and feeling strong for the majority of the 3 hour bike and 1 hour 30 minutes run.

With a slightly earlier taper than I had planned the weekday sessions are going to be kept at a reasonably volume may even try and get some speed back in the run legs.  Looking at today's session it seems that I have potential for a respectable finish but need to work on limiting my loses to the field on the swim so will try and increase the swimming, probably getting back in the pool when I move to Taunton (yes I will have a good moan about this, the swimming not the moving).  As race day gets closer rest will increase and will do some transition practice then it will be a case of fingers crossed.

Running in the sun. A learning curve.

Since my last blog I have had a couple of races the first of which was Poole 10k

and  this was followed by a half marathon at Cheddar Gorge while I was spending some time at home. These yielded a mixed bag of results and were entered with very contrasting expectation.

Following North Dorset Village Marathon I took a light week of training to recover but soon felt well recovered so tentatively forged on with a regular training load. This was a mixture of regular runs and the odd cycle or sea swim thanks to the nice weather. The variety helped me to do some longer efforts without racking up the miles on foot again, which I am sure helped with a good recovery.  I continued with the regular Bournemouth AC session gradually increasing the speed of efforts as my body allowed. In the last few speed sessions prior to Poole 10k form looked good clocking some 5 minute efforts close to 5 min/mile, this prompted me to have a go at running 33 mins for at Poole 10k (what a flop that was).

Poole 10k was an afternoon race and surprise surprise was sun, warm and slightly windy (typical South coast racing conditions it seems). Setting off I was on pace for the first mile and then was all down hill from there (unfortunately in my performance not the course). Heart rate shot up during this first mile and was unable to bring this down leading to the speed dropping, resulting in an average of 185 bpm for the 10k and a disappointing 34.48 (10th), but help me learn to manage competing in relative heat for the UK. After the race the general feeling was that it was not a day for going fast, which was reassuring.

Following completion of my university course I returned home (swim in the sea filled lake in the picture above) to attend an interview and to race a half marathon. While I was home having a bit more free time I also fitted in a Parkrun at Ashton Court which was 2.5 km up hill 2.5 km down, not being a fast course (17:05- 1st) but turned out to be good prep for the half marathon. I was informed this race was a bit hilly a some bits of rough ground. What this really meant was that it was full on trail with some hills you could only walk up. Thanks Dad! In the early miles I built a lead on the ascents and then was caught on the technical trail, again heart rate shot up in the heat but this time I managed to hydrate better and sustain a reasonable pace in places. Finishing in 2nd (1:37'58) over 2 mins behind the leader  and 4 mins ahead of third, I saw this as a successful first outing on trail and ultimately left me wanting to do more which I would consider a success for anyone (maybe even surprised some people turning up a obvious road runner).

Training for Weymouth Challenge Half triathlon is continuing with every bike ride being followed by a mile run with a few longer swims and rides. As I begin my unemployed graduate life I look forward to having more chance to train a bit more but obviously not sustainable for long, so prioritizing job applications and getting experience where I can (if anyone fancies paying me some mentoring then now is as good a time as any, three years as a physiotherapy undergraduate has taught me a lot about people vary is personality and ability along with me learning to train my own body so may be helpful!). I also have a weeks holiday in Spain to look forward to, will be packing the trainers and exploring the trail that leaves from the town we are staying in (looking forward to this reminding me why I run). Will also race a bit when I get chance but on the road this time I imagine for the time being and just continue ticking along with training triathlon training.

What a difference a year makes

What a difference a year makes. A year ago I was barely competing in any sport and yesterday got my first win over marathon distance which was also Dorset county championship.  My winning time was 2'40.29 which was a pleasant surprise, after only entering 4 weeks ago I thought 2'45 would be just around my limit but training clearly went well.

The originally race plan was to go off around 6'15 for the first half and the up the pace in the second half to see far bellow 2'45 I could go.  Don't think this even lasted a mile on a undulating course it was apparent that some miles would be quicker and some a bit slower, so with the legs feeling ok I just went by feel. 

After a couple miles I was over taken but thought it was just stupid to race the next 24 miles knowing that I would only be as good as my training so had to make the most of my engine and fuel over the distance.  The lead never went to more thank about a 100m I quickly reined it in going over some hills with a bit of speed. Over the half way point I had planned a up in pace running mile 14, 15 and 16 at 5.53 mins, 5.46 and 5.49 respectively.  This must be where the lead came from but all I knew was I could no longer see the guy who had led the early miles.  Then that point when you realize what the marathon distance is like came. From 18 miles I was hurting, slower and not quite as happy as I was earlier in the race, but this would only be temporary (about another 54mins- about the same as some of the winter efforts) so it was just a case of powering on as much as possible and hoping my lead was large enough.

After a bit of mumbling and grumbling the finish was just ahead so I dug in but in one last push and that was that 1st win and course record (apparently there was a slight change to the finish a few years ago). People were saying go for the course record at the finish as if I may miss it so did a bit of a sprint finish, well as much as I will ever sprint then heard it had stood at 2'42.  Was great to see a club team mate come in, in second in 2'46 having done a 61 mile ultra the previous Saturday, which I thought was so impressive and helped us to a team prize. 

At the finish I was met by family and could thank all the guys from the club who were watching.  With the race being half the way to home I could then head home for a nice roast dinner and freshly baked Easter biscuits (a little late I know but had to spend Easter weekend in Bournemouth).  The roast lived up to expectation, and ended up with me ending up on the floor with cramp much to the amusement of the family.

Where from here? So next big event is Challenge Weymouth half triathlon which is a middle distance triathlon, this is majorly out of my comfort zone but will a nice challenge.  This is so into the unknown to me I don't know what to expect but hopefully can learn more about how my body responds to different training and to take my first steps to possibly doing a long course triathlon at some point.  Will return to running for London next year and going to take some time to look for the races I really want to do,want to keep the fun which I am having at the moment but will take it a little bit more serious in future preparations no more of this 4 weeks of marathon training.

Quick congratulations to Steve and Jon for Bournemouth AC who ran for England over a 100 km on Saturday both putting in great performances.  With Steve breaking the British record and running one of the fastest times in the world ever over this distance.  Seeing this success within the club is just the best motivation to keep on training.

So far..

So far..

Making a move to the South coast of England at the age of 18 to go to Bournemouth University took a very ordinary start joining the rowing club enjoying the social side and just generally having fun.  I had always ran a bit but never anything really serious, but in May 2013 I decided to enter Bournemouth marathon.  Training for this was fitted around 3 weeks traveling around Europe followed by 9 weeks where I could get in a decent amount of miles to get round the 26.2 miles.  On a relatively hot day in October I got round in 2:55.05 and really enjoyed the experience and the running continued...

Prior to university I ran a bit, attended circuits a couple times a week but nothing regular or serious, I was to busy chopping it around the golf course for 8 hours a weekend.  Was not really a competitive runner made steady progress in School cross country but by no means the most talented of sports man.  Circuits were run by Ian Eisentrager's which I thoroughly enjoyed got me to a good level of endurance which I could apply as I wished.  The circuit sessions are quite frankly brutal at times but a great mix of people to training with which really push themselves.  At university was where I began to realize the endurance I had rowing for just under 2 years finishing with a 2 km PB of 6:38.5 but a new challenge was needed.  Participating in an individual sport fitted the bill with an ever increasing work load from university and allowed me to 'control the controllable' much more than was the case in rowing.  Rowing was great for  getting me into regular training, and taught me the importance of consistency, but with the time required for the training I felt that I could more effectively use my time else where.

Bournemouth marathon was the time lights went on in my head and longer (or what I considered longer) endurance racing was what I want to do.  Still being only 20 the training was chance to explore and with simple application and hard work improvements would come.  Joining the local athletics club (Bournemouth AC) where I really learnt what endurance racing was, 18 miles including speed work were training sessions on a Tuesday evening and 100 mile weeks were common for the guys focusing on London and longer races beyond London.  Within the road racing section of the club there is a great work ethic and some great results created (no coincidence I am sure).

I am know only a week away from my second marathon entered to make good use of the key sessions over the winter and to get experience over the distance.  The last 3 weeks have been about getting some real miles in with 70 Miles, 75 Miles and 50 Miles running under the belt it is time to get some rest and see how race day goes.  With the unconventional route into running, unconventional training is hardly surprise but with experience and hard work I can look forward to improvements for many years to come, one of the joys of getting into marathon running young.