Duncan went to the pub today to watch the rugby with 'egg man, dude' and unfortunately dogs weren't allowed in the pub. I therefore used the time between dropping Duncan off at the pub and picking him up to go for a run with Ruby. It was 3pm at this point and we parked up at the end of George's Lane as I fancied a run which didn't involve Ruby getting filthy again so I thought we'd just stick to George's Lane, run along to the Pigeon Tower then turn back and retrace our steps.
The weather was absolutely amazing today and I was running in shorts and t-shirt for the first time in about six months. Even before my run I wasn't cold. Due to the weather, the trails were really busy. I don't think I have ever seen that many people up on George's Lane before, except for on Good Friday. It was absolutely heaving and looked like Strangeways was having a day trip as it seemed to be full of yobs (that makes me sound like an old lady doesn't it?).
Ruby again seemed to be struggling. It may have been down to the heat but I'm not sure as it wasn't particularly warm yesterday when she was also struggling. We did get to a big puddle though which Ruby had a drink from and then went for a paddle in, which came up almost over her back - so much for keeping her clean today! I let her have a paddle for five minutes and then we continued on our way. She was still being really slow. I just jogged along and let her go at her own pace as I don't like to push her. We carried on to the Pigeon Tower and then went down the slippery slope to the right hand side of it, onto the driveway and then climbed back up to George's Lane.
We then ran back towards the car but, just after Wilderswood car park I decided to have a change of scenery and we went down the public footpath which takes you along to the fishing pond and down onto Wallsuches. From there we carried on along to Chorley Old Road and then back to the car.
Just to prove how slow it was, our average pace for this run was 11.47 minute mile! Now to say it was a pretty flat run and that most of the track isn't too rough underfoot, that's pretty slow going.
The thing is, I think Ruby is only pretending to be slow because, whenever we saw another dog up ahead, and at one point sheep up ahead, she started running fast and pulling on me along so she can't have been that tired. Then we we passed them she'd go really slowly again. I wonder if it has anything to do with the new hands free lead which is quite heavy, maybe it's tiring her out pulling on the heavy bungee so much?
I hope she gets back up to speed soon as I don't want her to stop enjoying our runs because they're getting too much for her. Hopefully it's just a couple of bad days. I might give her a rest tomorrow and Tuesday and just walk her and then run on my own. I might also see if there's any difference when she's back on her old lead.
Total distance - 5.3 miles.
Week's total distance - 30.75 miles
Sunday, 9 March 2014
Saturday, 8 March 2014
Faster Ruby, Faster!
I wanted to go out this morning with the WFDBWGUA lot but due to a change in Duncan's plans, this didn't happen. The three of us went to my mum and dad's in the morning as it's my dad's birthday today so I put off my long run until the afternoon.
Duncan dropped us off at the end of Coal Pit Lane and we ran along to the trespass stone, then up to Smithills Reservoir. We ran around this but once at the other side turned back as I didn't want to run up the boundary wall again with Ruby as she kept sinking in the mud last time and as it's been raining so much I'm guessing it's not any drier yet. We went back to the trespass stone then turned right towards Holden's Plantation. We started heading towards the mast road, which is where we started to see some of the runners from the Bolton Hill Marathon coming towards us. They were only about 3 miles from the finish by this point and were looking very tired. I decided to run along the marathon route in the opposite direction to cheer on the runners as they went by. We came out onto the mast road and then headed down the path past two lads onto George's Lane. We stopped at the drinks station and had a natter with the marshals, before continuing along George's Lane and to the gate opposite the bottom of the Pike. We turned through the gate and headed down the field (the route of the Pike Race). It looked like torture for the marathon runners having to make this climb so far into the race. They were all in good spirits though and said a cheery hello to us as we passed. One of them asked if they could borrow Ruby for a bit so she could give them a tow up the hill. We headed down the road towards the school but turned right then left, taking us down the other side of the school through some really muddy ground which the marathon runners were struggling to walk up. We came out onto Lever Park Avenue, crossed over and followed the path which runs alongside the road towards the barn.
After the barn, we turned left and headed towards the prep school, before turning right past the bowling club. The runners were very few and far between at this point and so we now stopped continuing along the marathon route and we turned left and followed Dean Brook back into Rivington Green. We then headed up to top barn and up through the terraced gardens back onto George's Lane. As we ran along George's Lane towards the kennels, we started passing the marathon runners again. By this point, Ruby was barely moving. She was trotting along really slowly and had been since we were at the top barn. I found myself keep saying 'faster Ruby, faster' but she just didn't want to. Maybe she was having an 'off day' - it happens to us all!
We passed the kennels and then turned right following the path by the side of Wilderswood back home.
Once home, Ruby went straight into her bed and lay there looking sorry for herself. She seems to have perked up now though after her shower so hopefully she was just a bit tired and there's nothing actually wrong.
We're off to Viva Espana at 6pm with Brenda and Tony for some tapas so I'd better start getting ready!
Total distance - 11 miles
Duncan dropped us off at the end of Coal Pit Lane and we ran along to the trespass stone, then up to Smithills Reservoir. We ran around this but once at the other side turned back as I didn't want to run up the boundary wall again with Ruby as she kept sinking in the mud last time and as it's been raining so much I'm guessing it's not any drier yet. We went back to the trespass stone then turned right towards Holden's Plantation. We started heading towards the mast road, which is where we started to see some of the runners from the Bolton Hill Marathon coming towards us. They were only about 3 miles from the finish by this point and were looking very tired. I decided to run along the marathon route in the opposite direction to cheer on the runners as they went by. We came out onto the mast road and then headed down the path past two lads onto George's Lane. We stopped at the drinks station and had a natter with the marshals, before continuing along George's Lane and to the gate opposite the bottom of the Pike. We turned through the gate and headed down the field (the route of the Pike Race). It looked like torture for the marathon runners having to make this climb so far into the race. They were all in good spirits though and said a cheery hello to us as we passed. One of them asked if they could borrow Ruby for a bit so she could give them a tow up the hill. We headed down the road towards the school but turned right then left, taking us down the other side of the school through some really muddy ground which the marathon runners were struggling to walk up. We came out onto Lever Park Avenue, crossed over and followed the path which runs alongside the road towards the barn.
After the barn, we turned left and headed towards the prep school, before turning right past the bowling club. The runners were very few and far between at this point and so we now stopped continuing along the marathon route and we turned left and followed Dean Brook back into Rivington Green. We then headed up to top barn and up through the terraced gardens back onto George's Lane. As we ran along George's Lane towards the kennels, we started passing the marathon runners again. By this point, Ruby was barely moving. She was trotting along really slowly and had been since we were at the top barn. I found myself keep saying 'faster Ruby, faster' but she just didn't want to. Maybe she was having an 'off day' - it happens to us all!
We passed the kennels and then turned right following the path by the side of Wilderswood back home.
Once home, Ruby went straight into her bed and lay there looking sorry for herself. She seems to have perked up now though after her shower so hopefully she was just a bit tired and there's nothing actually wrong.
We're off to Viva Espana at 6pm with Brenda and Tony for some tapas so I'd better start getting ready!
Total distance - 11 miles
Friday, 7 March 2014
The Quiet Before the Storm
There are a couple of days missing from my blog this week and the reason is that I had Wednesday down as a rest day and yesterday I was going to do a hill session. I was all geared up for it but then Duncan rang with a better offer - the pub in Tockholes where the beer is cheap before 7pm on a Thursday. At first I resisted and was adamant I was going to do the hill session but then I made a decision... I'm going to give myself a break until the first of April. I go on holiday soon and when I get back I'm going to get into some really intense training. I'm determined to get faster and I figure that fresh from my holiday would be a great place to start so, until then I'm going to just enjoy myself. Obviously I'll still be running, just as I am now, but I'm just not going to beat myself up if I miss a session. Come April though, I won't be missing any sessions without very good reason, the pub not coming into this category. Duncan, you have been warned!
Tonight's run just took us along to the barn, to the pigeon tower car park and then a zig zag up to the pigeon tower. We then ran up the Pike via the steep grassy route to the side of the steps. From there we went down onto George's Lane which some scumbags have decided to tip all sorts of rubbish along. TVs, bags of plaster, chipboard, mop buckets, you name it. I don't in any way defend this disgusting behaviour but I think Bolton Council have a lot to answer for, closing all the tips.
After being disgusted at all the rubbish, we then ran along to the top of Old Rake and back home.
Total distance - 5.5 miles.
Tonight's run just took us along to the barn, to the pigeon tower car park and then a zig zag up to the pigeon tower. We then ran up the Pike via the steep grassy route to the side of the steps. From there we went down onto George's Lane which some scumbags have decided to tip all sorts of rubbish along. TVs, bags of plaster, chipboard, mop buckets, you name it. I don't in any way defend this disgusting behaviour but I think Bolton Council have a lot to answer for, closing all the tips.
After being disgusted at all the rubbish, we then ran along to the top of Old Rake and back home.
Total distance - 5.5 miles.
Tuesday, 4 March 2014
Pancake Day!
Happy Shrove Tuesday!
Thought I'd work off the calories in advance of eating them today with a good speed session this morning. Duncan dropped me off on his way to work over on Rivington Road. I decided to run without Ruby today so that I could get in a good session without having to stop every five minutes for Ruby to have a sniff or go to the toilet.
My intended session was a mile warm up with 5 x half miles at 7.45 minute mile pace (you may not think this is very speedy but it is slightly faster than my 5k PB pace and is off-road, muddy and not flat) with quarter mile jogs in between, followed by a mile or so cool down. The session went really well and I felt pretty pleased with myself. I've set out below the pace for each of the five half mile reps:
Rep 1 - 7.38 pace
Rep 2 - 7.26 pace
Rep 3 - 8.03 pace
Rep 4 - 7.46 pace
Rep 5 - 7.39 pace
Rep 4 was the one I found the hardest and had the most uphill so I'm quite surprised that the pace is better than that of rep 3.
The reason I'm so pleased is that the vast majority of this session took place over uneven and muddy ground and it wasn't entirely flat either.
Total distance - 5.65 miles
No running this evening, just a leisurely stroll around Belmont with Ruby and Duncan before heading to my mum and dad's house for delicious pancakes (some with just sugar and some with Cumberland sausage, fried onions and ketchup!). Hope you all enjoyed your pancakes too!
Thought I'd work off the calories in advance of eating them today with a good speed session this morning. Duncan dropped me off on his way to work over on Rivington Road. I decided to run without Ruby today so that I could get in a good session without having to stop every five minutes for Ruby to have a sniff or go to the toilet.
My intended session was a mile warm up with 5 x half miles at 7.45 minute mile pace (you may not think this is very speedy but it is slightly faster than my 5k PB pace and is off-road, muddy and not flat) with quarter mile jogs in between, followed by a mile or so cool down. The session went really well and I felt pretty pleased with myself. I've set out below the pace for each of the five half mile reps:
Rep 1 - 7.38 pace
Rep 2 - 7.26 pace
Rep 3 - 8.03 pace
Rep 4 - 7.46 pace
Rep 5 - 7.39 pace
Rep 4 was the one I found the hardest and had the most uphill so I'm quite surprised that the pace is better than that of rep 3.
The reason I'm so pleased is that the vast majority of this session took place over uneven and muddy ground and it wasn't entirely flat either.
Total distance - 5.65 miles
No running this evening, just a leisurely stroll around Belmont with Ruby and Duncan before heading to my mum and dad's house for delicious pancakes (some with just sugar and some with Cumberland sausage, fried onions and ketchup!). Hope you all enjoyed your pancakes too!
Monday, 3 March 2014
Stats
I spent some time today analysing my results from the whole of the Mid Lancs Cross Country league yesterday, comparing these to three other athlete’s results which were similar. My three strongest races were Burnley, Liverpool and Barrow. All three of these were relatively flat and not terribly muddy so I think there might be a pattern emerging. Hyndburn, where I didn’t perform well, was REALLY muddy (that’s the race I went over on my ankle in and ended up in the first aid tent afterwards), and Blackburn was very hilly AND muddy. Kendal is the exception which breaks the rule. I was last out of the four runners I analysed at Kendal, however when looking at my Garmin stats, my pace was faster than at Barrow and was actually the third fastest pace of all cross country races I’ve ever done. Perhaps all the other girls in my analysis were just having a really good day. I do wish I hadn’t worn spikes at Kendal though as there was quite a lot of path I could have run on had I been in fell shoes which would have taken a good few seconds off my time. This just backs up what I said yesterday about struggling with hills when I hit them at speed so it's good that I know what I need to work on.
Total distance - 3.3 miles
Here’s the example of my stats where you can see how much better I performed in the above mentioned three races. I have used three comparators and have put down our positions in the race, together with my position between just the four of us:
Burnley Liverpool Hyndburn Barrow Blackburn Kendal
Me 81 – 1st 78 – 2nd 88 – 4th 40 – 1st 65 -3rd 65 – 4th
Garstang runner 1 83 79 71 43 58 60
Garstang runner 2 92 105 76 44 63 54
Red Rose runner 94 76 52 0 68 51
As you can see, in Burnley and Barrow I was the fastest of the four of us and, in Liverpool, the second fastest. All three of the other ladies beat me in the overall league standings and are all in my age category or younger so they will be my targets for next season. Annoyingly, the results only use your best four races but if you add up the points from all six races, I actually did much better than Garstang runner 2.
Turning to tonight’s run, this was just another easy one (as I did have today down as a rest day but the beautiful sunshine was calling to me) along to the top barn and back. As we got near to home we bumped into Jan from the club and ran the rest of the route with her which was nice as I find that last bit up the path from the school to my house to be the hardest (just because it's at the end of the run and is slightly uphill) and Jan helped take my mind off it. I told Jan about my problem with hills in race and she suggested a 2 Lads session I should do to help with this so I'll give that a go, possibly later this week if I can run without Ruby.
Sunday, 2 March 2014
Trotters 5 (Second Race of the Weekend)
Still feeling tired from yesterday's race and with a strange pain in the side of my foot, I decided to just jog around this one and not take it too seriously. I promised myself at the start that I wouldn't care how well I did and what my time was. Of course, me being me, this didn't happen and I still found myself disappointed at the end with my pace, which was a nine minute mile pace(!), something I haven't done for a long time in anything other than very muddy, hilly races, like some XCs and all fells.
I started off quite well really, but didn't set off too fast like I usually do. It was something of a rolling start to be honest as they race started whilst we were jogging up to the start line. The course was two laps and each lap had an uphill section and it wasn't until the top of the first uphill section that I started to tire a little. This won't have been helped by the fact that I had been awake since 4.00am and had a bad stomach all morning. Once I started going downhill though, I got a second wind and this lasted all the way to that hill again. The second time round, people around me started to walk and it's really easy when people around you start walking to walk yourself but no way was I doing that. This wasn't a fell race, this was just a gentle incline and walking it wasn't an option so I overtook quite a few on there which I was pleased with. Again, once at the top and when we started going downhill, I got a huge rush of energy back and again overtook a few other runners. The downhill pretty much lasts all the way to the finish which was nice. Looking at my Garmin stats later on, my last mile was by far my fastest, with the fourth mile (the one with the second hill in it) the slowest. In fact so slow that it dragged down my entire average.
It wasn't a bad race, few too many roads in it for my liking but I think I'd do it again. The curly wurly in the goody bag was enough to bring me back!
I really feel that I need to practice more speed on hills. I find running on hills in training quite easy because I'm just plodding up and down them but when I hit them at pace in a race, I get pretty floored by them. I need to get my backside to the hill sessions again on Thursday nights and really sort this out. Steve was ace last time and had me sprinting up Factory Hill, which is what I need. It's hard work and makes me feel like chundering but it does me good in the long run.
Speaking to Gemma at the end of the race really helped as we had a discussion about not caring what other people think. I think that's why I found my time disappointing today, not because I'm disappointed myself, because I only set out to jog round, but because I'm bothered about other people seeing my time and thinking it's rubbish. I need to adopt a more carefree attitude as one of the things which makes me dread racing is worrying about what people will think if I get a bad result, which I know is ridiculous but I can't help the way I think. Gemma really helped by telling me that nobody will look at my times and think they are rubbish because people don't think like that and will respect the fact that I'm out running and racing all the time and not just sitting on my backside doing nothing.
Total distance - 5 miles (plus warm up)
Andy will probably despair at this but at 4.30pm I took Ruby out for an easy run. The thought of running outweighed the thought of walking so off we went (this is the joy of dog ownership - you HAVE to go out). It really was an easy one though, nice slow saunter to the barn then up onto 'the driveway' up to George's Lane, past the kennels then back down by the side of Wilderswood.
After a good warm down, a bath with a glass of wine was in order which I think was pretty well deserved. Just waiting for the take away now...
Total distance - 4.35 miles
Week's total distance - 25.25 miles (approx)
I started off quite well really, but didn't set off too fast like I usually do. It was something of a rolling start to be honest as they race started whilst we were jogging up to the start line. The course was two laps and each lap had an uphill section and it wasn't until the top of the first uphill section that I started to tire a little. This won't have been helped by the fact that I had been awake since 4.00am and had a bad stomach all morning. Once I started going downhill though, I got a second wind and this lasted all the way to that hill again. The second time round, people around me started to walk and it's really easy when people around you start walking to walk yourself but no way was I doing that. This wasn't a fell race, this was just a gentle incline and walking it wasn't an option so I overtook quite a few on there which I was pleased with. Again, once at the top and when we started going downhill, I got a huge rush of energy back and again overtook a few other runners. The downhill pretty much lasts all the way to the finish which was nice. Looking at my Garmin stats later on, my last mile was by far my fastest, with the fourth mile (the one with the second hill in it) the slowest. In fact so slow that it dragged down my entire average.
It wasn't a bad race, few too many roads in it for my liking but I think I'd do it again. The curly wurly in the goody bag was enough to bring me back!
I really feel that I need to practice more speed on hills. I find running on hills in training quite easy because I'm just plodding up and down them but when I hit them at pace in a race, I get pretty floored by them. I need to get my backside to the hill sessions again on Thursday nights and really sort this out. Steve was ace last time and had me sprinting up Factory Hill, which is what I need. It's hard work and makes me feel like chundering but it does me good in the long run.
Speaking to Gemma at the end of the race really helped as we had a discussion about not caring what other people think. I think that's why I found my time disappointing today, not because I'm disappointed myself, because I only set out to jog round, but because I'm bothered about other people seeing my time and thinking it's rubbish. I need to adopt a more carefree attitude as one of the things which makes me dread racing is worrying about what people will think if I get a bad result, which I know is ridiculous but I can't help the way I think. Gemma really helped by telling me that nobody will look at my times and think they are rubbish because people don't think like that and will respect the fact that I'm out running and racing all the time and not just sitting on my backside doing nothing.
Total distance - 5 miles (plus warm up)
Andy will probably despair at this but at 4.30pm I took Ruby out for an easy run. The thought of running outweighed the thought of walking so off we went (this is the joy of dog ownership - you HAVE to go out). It really was an easy one though, nice slow saunter to the barn then up onto 'the driveway' up to George's Lane, past the kennels then back down by the side of Wilderswood.
After a good warm down, a bath with a glass of wine was in order which I think was pretty well deserved. Just waiting for the take away now...
Total distance - 4.35 miles
Week's total distance - 25.25 miles (approx)
Saturday, 1 March 2014
Mid Lancs XC - Kendal (First Race of the Weekend)
This morning I woke up with a huge feeling of dread. Yet again, I started trying to talk myself out of racing today. This is making me think I need to knock racing on the head for a while. I'm just not enjoying it at the moment and I'm not entirely sure why. It's not really anything to do with not getting good times, I think it's more a self-consciousness thing. I'm not really sure what to do about it either but I really need to sort it out because I don't actually want to stop racing, I just want to start enjoying it! At the moment, the only part I enjoy is crossing the line at the end.
Last year I quite enjoyed Kendal cross country so went in with a positive attitude. The course was different this year as one of the fields it went into last year was closed off. The course for the ladies was one medium lap and two large laps. I was the sole representative for Horwich ladies and the only other Horwich athlete in my race was Nathan Townsend who was running in the under 17 men category (for anyone who doesn't know, the under 17 men and the senior ladies race is run together but the results are split afterwards).
I made the same mistake as I make in most cross country races - I started too fast. It's really easily done, especially in cross country because the start line is really wide spread and so it isn't very deep so it's easy to be swept along by all the fast girls (and under 17 lads) at the start. Having looked at my Garmin stats, I ran my first half mile in a 6.34 to 7.15 minute mile pace which is much faster than my usual pace, even my road pace! I was still doing a 7.30-7.45 pace into the second mile, which is when I began to struggle. I felt sick and my legs just had nothing left in them. They were completely drained of energy. I gave it all I had but had nothing left to give. When I crossed the line I just made for a grid on the floor to sit down on before I fell down.
I did take 9 minutes off my time from last year's Kendal XC but it's not really comparable because it was a different course. I think it is still a huge improvement though, given that the course distance was pretty much the same.
The men's team won the race, making then the overall winners! RED ARMY!!!!!
Total distance - 3.10 miles (plus warm up)
All photos courtesy of Mark Birbeck
Last year I quite enjoyed Kendal cross country so went in with a positive attitude. The course was different this year as one of the fields it went into last year was closed off. The course for the ladies was one medium lap and two large laps. I was the sole representative for Horwich ladies and the only other Horwich athlete in my race was Nathan Townsend who was running in the under 17 men category (for anyone who doesn't know, the under 17 men and the senior ladies race is run together but the results are split afterwards).
I made the same mistake as I make in most cross country races - I started too fast. It's really easily done, especially in cross country because the start line is really wide spread and so it isn't very deep so it's easy to be swept along by all the fast girls (and under 17 lads) at the start. Having looked at my Garmin stats, I ran my first half mile in a 6.34 to 7.15 minute mile pace which is much faster than my usual pace, even my road pace! I was still doing a 7.30-7.45 pace into the second mile, which is when I began to struggle. I felt sick and my legs just had nothing left in them. They were completely drained of energy. I gave it all I had but had nothing left to give. When I crossed the line I just made for a grid on the floor to sit down on before I fell down.
I did take 9 minutes off my time from last year's Kendal XC but it's not really comparable because it was a different course. I think it is still a huge improvement though, given that the course distance was pretty much the same.
The men's team won the race, making then the overall winners! RED ARMY!!!!!
Total distance - 3.10 miles (plus warm up)
All photos courtesy of Mark Birbeck
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)