Yorkshireman Half here I come

Ok it’s not til mid-September but I’ve just entered this The Yorkshireman Half Marathon organised by Keighley & Craven Athletic Club. It starts and finishes from Haworth, Bronte country. that’s an area of the country I know nothing about so why not spend a few days up there, knacker yourself, then eat cake and drink beer.

I’m still running…and drinking

Well a lot’s happened since my last posts in March last year. I won’t dwell on it but suffice to say I’ve now got all the time in the world to devote to my two favourite pastimes.

I finally achieved my aim of running a sub-40 10K at Brighton in November. Perfect conditions coupled v little training after an injury meant I was really fresh for this one. Excellent post-race beerage with the usual suspects plus a guest appearance from Richard and Ash. Chris got us to the Basketmakers Arms and almost managed to get us chucked out after overdoing the pub-singing.

Kingston run

Snow, sleet, early Sunday morning – yes it’s another of Robin and his merry band of marathoneers’ masochistic ‘fun’ runs. After the first two miles from Clapham Junction station the route is all along the Thames towpath so runners are free to run at their own pace, without the need to loop back. Damian is really hard – he must be. Shorts and shirt. Madness. Suzy had yet another new toy – her camelback drinking back pack type thing. I felt OK but had had enough by the time I got to Richmond. 11 miles was plenty for me. The wonderful Roy was wiating with clean and dry clothes at Richomd so I buggered off to McDonalds for breakfast, leaving the rest to battle on in the cold for hours longer. Thankfully for them – they only have 3 weeks of marathon training hell left.

PS – I’d just like to let everybody know that I am still drinking. Fear not – just been concentrating on red wine rather than beer lately. After my v drunken night in early March I’ve been behaving until it’s time to fall off the wagon again.

Box Hill relay – 15th March 2008

Almost forgot about this one – might as well have done because I felt pants. I ran the 2.1 mile leg of this 4-leg relay marginally quicker than my pace for a 10 miler or half-marathon. Reason again to try and better my mile and two mile times. Cadged a lift home from new-girl Josephine who ran really well – as did Justin and Matt M. The first time I’d ever been to Box Hill. Lots of bikers and black sheep.

Maidenhead Easter Ten – 21st March 2008

On a bit of high after Hastings I managed Chris’s speed session on Tuesday – just about. Tired legs though. Decided to rest up after that and lined up bright and early for this 10 miler on Good Friday morning. A sprinkling of Striders adorned the grim Nortel industrial estate for the Maidenhead Easter 10. A harsh wind blew but we were pretty lucky with the weather. I started off slowly once again, as this had worked so well at Hastings. I tucked in behind Chris between 3-5 miles until my cough gave me away. We then helped each other through the second half of the race – managing to achieve a good negative split and not be passed. I was really pleased with my 1:08:05, kicking away in the last mile to get away from Chris – who is currently on a bit of a running downer. Let’s hope he gets his spring back soon.

Good runs from Damian, Simon and Colin – new V60 club record holder. Also good to see Justin coming back. Darren started off way too fast and just doesn’t have the endurance – that must have hurt. Even though I’m running well I still don’t feel I’m running that fast so I’m going to rein in the longer distances and focus on speed during April and May. Who knows where that will go

Thoughts though are with the Vale of Aylsebury AC runner who was ambulanced away at the finish – just a reminder of what we put our bodies through – scary.

Hastings Half Marathon – 16th March 2008

Some good running news at last. I decided to do this after completing the hour and a half club run the week before. Calling on the generosity of Striders once again I expertly scrounged a lift from Robin. We arrived in plenty of time but failed to find the pre-race portaloos – instead walking up to West St Leonards station.

The start was pretty chaotic – they do have to do something about the positioning of that changing/late registration tent. Without Chris to pace me I attempted to start conservatively and went through the first mile point in 6.50 – a touch too fast. As most of you know the first few miles, in fact the first half of the race, is mainly uphill. Despite this I passed 3 miles in just under 21 mins.  The very long slow drag between 3-5 slowed me down – very over-cautiously worried about taking too much out of the legs too early.

Sussex Beacon half marathon – 17th February 2008

Not a race I want to remember. I started off well, running alongside Chris – advising me to not do my usual trick of going too fast. It felt like I was dawdling along but I have to say it must have worked. I let Chris get away from me between 2-3 miles but felt very strong at half way. I went through 8 miles in 54m something – feeling pretty good despite running back into the wind. Just after 8 miles though my left knee seized up. I tried to carry on but decided against it – my first DNF.

Lots of PBs for other Striders, including Simon, Ian and Matt O’Hare. A few pints of Guinness in the Pitcher & Piano, followed by 2 pints of Dark Star’s Brown Ale in The Evening Star

Southern Railways did their best to try and spoil the day. A 6.50 train in the morning, followed by standing all the way back. Perhaps I’ll try and get a lift in future.

Invitational XC at Lloyd Park

Took part in the Croydon Harriers’ Invitational yesterday. The mother of all hangovers made me struggle through the 10K. Another fantastic run from James Buchanan to win for Striders. James is quite scary. He trains super hard with all his core strength coming from his boxing training. He brought along Martin, his boxing coach from Dynamo Boxing - who seemed to enjoy the 10K. Well done to Kerry too who is coming back to form.

Lots of cakes, as per usual, to celebrate Suzy’s birthday – who swears she’s in her mid-twenties. I raised a glass of orange juice & lemonade, followed by a ginger beer. Nice

XC pubs

Ok so I’ve been bad at keeping this up-to-date. A lot’s happened since I last updated. I ran the Brighton 10K in mid-November in 40.21 – almost achieving my goal of breaking 40m. I WILL do this in 2008.

This year I’ve started with the 7.5m XC in Lloyd Park (heavy going), a speed session on Tuesday 8th and the third of the 4 Surrey League XC yesterday (12th Jan) in Richmond Park. Only 5 miles it was a breeze compared to Lloyd Park. Conditions underfoot, despite the rain, were surprisingly good. It was more of a road race to be honest. I finished 12th Strider. Two points to note Chris was the only vet in our 10 scoring positions – almost unheard of – and James finished a wonderful 8th. When he actually does some training I’m going to be very scared.

The point of this post is to highlight that the XC season isn’t just about running. We stopped at this establishment in Barnes afterwards for a few beers

12th Jan Halfway House
A good pint of Brakspears – followed by another one until I realised I had to get back to Croydon sharpish to scrub up and head out. A 5 min jog to Barnes station and with good connections at Clapham and EC I was home in Warlingham in under an hour. Not bad. I’ll try and add the other pubs that we’ve visited after the various XC races this season – as I remember what they’re called.

Reigate Priory relays, 3rd November 2007

My lower leg stiffened right up the next day and didn’t ease up so I was glad I had the osteopath booked again. Again she managed to free the ankle so much that she even advised that I could run on it if I wanted to.  This time i decided to have a gentle jog on the wednesday which didn’t feel that bad.

By Saturday the leg felt fine so I joined Chris, John Ralf, Dave and Alan for the Reigate Priory relays of 6 x 2.5 miles -  enjoyed alongside the women’s team of Sarah, Susie and Kerry. Excellent home-made cake from Sarah to finish the day off – and a beer as we missed the 15:34 train…