Monday 29 April 2013

5k to Ultra in 24 years

By now I've realised that I'm not quite fit enough for an ultra. Or even a marathon for that matter. Not that I ever thought I would be without many, many hours of training. But it has been good to see a little progress.

The training is having an effect - with a BMI in the high 31s at the end of last year, I just sneaked into the 27s this week, but there's still a long way to go to get to race weight.. 43.7 lbs to be precise.

Not that I'm getting obsessed with BMI, distance, calories, or any other statistical measure of performance. It's way too early to get into the detail and besides, I'm more a follower of the Dirk Gently approach; just do what feels right, follow your instincts and stop if something feels like it's going to go ping. You can't improve if you're injured.

From a very historical background in middle-distance track 24 years ago (!), learning to train for an ultra is proving to be a very different process. The "plenty of long runs" theory seems to be right as the results from last weeks track reps training and another 5k has left me with severe calf & thigh stiffness.

Maybe time to build some flexibility training into the schedule as it's no fun hobbling around like a 90-year-old. If this continues I'm seriously considering a stairlift, though two good videos I found by Andy DuBois should help.

On another point, now that the training is properly underway I'll be rescheduling the blog to a monthly round-up. My first event, the Cheltenham Circular Challenge is not until late June and it's going to become pretty repetitive listing "what I saw in training" for 8 weeks.

In the meantime, I'll be enjoying some excellent spring trails in Ashton Court and elsewhere, and hope everyone else will be getting out & enjoying the endorphins.


Monday 22 April 2013

Back on Track


Not too much distance this week, but I did finally drop in for a training session with Bristol&West AC, my first track training in 24 years (!) - the track is 200m from my front door but it's taken 8 months to get over there.

The session consisted of a few laps of the track, then 3 circuits of St George's park (including a reasonable hill) and a final 2x 1,000m burn-up. After my head reminding the rest of me that this was not a race, the legs refused to listen & I was left flat out seeing stars at the end. Funnily enough it wasn't the running that caused any problems but the stretching at the start.. I was left with adductors tighter than a badly-tuned banjo. Looks like I'll have to build some flexibility training into the routine.

Back on things LeJOG, I have been looking at kit options and especially where weight is concerned. Having hiked over to the Wye Valley this weekend with full camping kit, the extra weight made a flat 20mi a lot tougher than normal. Admittedly the pack was close on 60lbs, and I'm only planning on carrying a maximum of 20, but over 875mi every ounce will count.

So you want light kit? In the main, expect to pay at least double if not triple the price of cheaper non-brand alternatives. I quickly found there are many Ultra Running stores that cater for this market online, probably because there are huge margins on specialist gear. £160 for a vest-type pack, £200 for a waterproof 210g jacket/trousers. Ouch.

Modified mission - find light, decent but cheap alternatives. Time to take myself to the local sports & outdoor shops, or even break out the scissors, needle & thread. How hard can it be to make a decent backpack 8)

Next week the kit conundrum continues - Bivvi vs Hammock.

For now, a little humour...

Sunday 14 April 2013

Park(run) life

A first introduction to Parkrunning

With most of the week's training written off by a bug, there's not been much distance done, so on Saturday I jogged over to Ashton Court and joined the weekly Parkrun.

Since my last proper organised running was 20+ years ago, this free event was a good change from the usual there & back runs - I actually got to run with real people and not just against the Endo App. It was very well-organised & reminded me of the spirit of the old-style inter-club XC races I used to run in the the 90s.

I managed to put in a creditable performance (for current fitness level) in just over 23 minutes. Given there's a 100m lump of hill in the first mile it was surprising to get up this with no real problem. Most of my running has been on paths & trails & I was starting to wonder how to cope with the hills on the K2B.. Now I know. The same way as everything else. "Left foot, right foot, slightly faster than walking".

Short & Sharp was definitely true as it was over before I'd properly got my bearings, but happy to be competing & came in a reasonable 55th of 230. For something completely different I'll be adding this to the weekly schedule when I can, as it's 12mi there & back - a bit more if you add in a loop around the docks.

Sunday saw me take the old Bath Path in an attempt to run a full marathon for the first time, though the bug still had a small hold and I ditched at Bath rather then push it. First time I've bailed halfway since I started LeJOG training, though it did feel like the right decision. Plenty more time to step up the mileage, as there's still 423 days to go.

Saturday 6 April 2013

Still freezing

Subzero? Time for some wild camping


So what's the opposite of Glamping? This must come close.

After 3 weeks of making lists, I packed up at 10pm Friday night for an impromptu camping trip. Reading @Al_Humphrey's blog on microadventures gave me the drive to get out for the night & freeze under the stars. Turned out the temp dropped to -4C, tho with a decent 3 season bag and wrapped in many layers, it turned out toasty warm.

I took an old 35l rucksack which was perfect for speedy walking, though planning on getting an innov8 running pack to cut down on weight. I already have the kit list planned out (I actually have around 20 kit lists for varying treks & conditions.. saves faffing if you decide to go last minute), but the only way to see what really works is to get out & try it. I have plans for some long weekends across the welsh hills testing various kit combos, which I'm looking forward to. A whole summer of adventures !

One of my major considerations is weight. I have already aggravated the shin-splints by jogging with a heavy pack and the less I carry, the easier the run will be. Actually, scrub that "easy" in there.. I'm under no illusions that any of this will be a jog in the park, but with proper prep, it may just be possible.

As part of the research I've also been following anyone I can that is walking or jogging e2e.. and there are amazingly few people out there who aren't cycling. I came across a former record holder Sharon Gayter who set the women's record in 2006, subsequently broken by Mimi Anderson in 2008* covering 840 miles in 12 days 15 hrs and 46 mins. The Men's record is currently held by Andy Rivett who ran 875 miles in 9 days 2h 26min in 2002.

Time for Morrisons Pasties, bought warm this morning on the way back home, a cup of coffee & a browse of the Sat papers online.

*Mark's interview with Mimi is a pretty good insight into the mindset of the ultra-distance runner.

Tuesday 2 April 2013

Warm weather training

Not sub-zero for once 8)

Miles of sandy trails. Lovely.

An out-of-the-blue email from Canadian friends a few weeks back gave me & the Mrs the chance to spend Easter weekend on the Algarve and get away from the sub-zero spring we're having in the UK.

Quick flights were booked, bags packed and I optimistically included swimwear and several changes of running kit, most of which stayed in the bottom of the suitcase. Locals were in coats & jumpers, I was in Speedos 8)

Just my type of place in the off-season. A series of post-glory-days resorts with the usual high-rise timeshare apartments, though in late April the place is pretty much deserted. Strange to wander around with 95% of all homes shuttered up.

Germans, Brits & the Mrs were keeping the gift shops going so the resorts weren't entirely deserted, and spending a day in the mountains once the unseasonal rain cleared provided amazing views and some hair-raising corners. 

I managed to give the local brewers a fair bit more revenue, and as a result runs were shorter & completed in a less clear-headed state than usual. I cannot recommend training with a mild hangover, though it may be good for simulated altitude sickness.

Back to reality and the sub-zeros again on Tuesday, but for now..
Saude !