Running on Empty

This morning I headed out early because I have a very busy day ahead.  I didn't have any breakfast so was feeling really energyless (I usually eat at least a flapjack or something before I run because otherwise I feel totally lacking but just didn't have time today).  I ran through Rivington and then headed up through the terraced gardens onto George's Lane.  The climb up through the gardens was really tough as I felt so lacking in energy.

When I got onto George's Lane, however, I suddenly felt pretty good and got a good pace on for the next two miles back home and felt really strong.

Anyway, got to go get some work done now!

Total distance - 5 miles 

https://www.strava.com/activities/295233900

Vernons 5k

Tonight I took part in the Vernons 5k race.  I haven't done a 5k for about 18 months or so and my aim was to get under 24 minutes.  I did it in 23.19 (watch time, haven’t seen official time yet).  I felt great all the way through and probably could have pushed even harder but I still have that fear of burn out.  I also have a bad back at the minute and it did start to ache half way through so I’m sure I could do better once I sort that out.  I intended to use my Garmin as a pacer but I was too scared to look at it throughout the race because I was worried that if it said I was running too slowly, rather than spur me on, it might make me thing ‘what’s the point’.  Silly I know but you know my mind works in mysterious ways!

At the end, there was a girl in my sights and I tried my usual sprint finish to get past her but, unfortunately, all her team mates at the finish line warned her of my approach and their shouts and cheers brought her home ahead of me.  I would be disappointed but I love team spirit like that, and it’s one of the best parts of racing which is weird coming from me, seeing as I shy away from races where there are lots of other Horwich runners because I feel embarrassed.

Speaking of which, I was warming up with a guy named Nigel and when I told him that I was a slowcoach and he might not want to warm up with me he said ‘I’ve seen the vest you’re wearing, you can’t be a slow coach’.  I then said that my goal was a sub-24 time and his reply was ‘Seriously?  But you guys are all really fast!’.  Nice to know Horwich have such a good reputation, shame I don’t live up to it ha ha. 

There were a couple of other Horwich runners out tonight – Gareth Booth and David Barnes.  I’m not sure of their results as they aren’t out yet but I’m guessing Gareth was up front somewhere.  David was probably just under a minute in front of me as I had him in my sights for almost the entire race. 

My greatest achievement of the night probably wasn’t my PB but my great manoeuvring skills at getting my van out of the space it had been blocked into.  This is something I really dislike about races – parking!  So many people are trying to park in a small space that cars just end up abandoned everywhere.  I had parked out of the way in a layby but other cars had parked behind me, in front of me and at the side of me! 

Total distance – 3.1 miles plus warm up and cool down.

https://www.strava.com/activities/294377785

Has Summer Gone Already?

What is with this weather?  The other week I was getting sunburnt and now I’m getting the woollens out again.  All the cars on the street were frozen when I got up this morning.  I hope it warms up soon, I really dislike being cold.

I just had an easy run with Ruby today through the terraced gardens and along George’s Lane. 

I should have done a hard session really, given that I haven’t been out much in the past week but I’m racing tomorrow so didn’t want to do anything strenuous. 

I’ll definitely get back to the hard training after the race though and the race itself is hard training of course. 

Total distance – approx. 4 miles

Baths Maths!

No that doesn't mean that I was doing sums whilst in the bath, but refers to a little game we played part way through today's run.

I met up with Ed, John and Julie at the barn this morning and we set off towards Healey Nab.

We ran up to the cairn in Healey Nab and then down through the woods and out onto the road before heading down into White Coppice.

From here we took a route I have never taken before which involved going over a ford in the road and up a hill, before continuing into a field.  This is where navigation got a bit ropey and to keep us amused Ed came up with his rhyming game.  He had to give clues to two words which rhymed, for example 'unstable seaside animal' = 'wonkey donkey'.  On my turn, I couldn't think of anything but had just run past a bath being used as a trough so I came up with a rather pathetic 'clean sums' = 'baths maths'.  Needless to say, the game didn't last long.

After a bit of map reading and finding our way through the fields, we came out onto a trail which leads to Brinscal but we turned off this and came out onto the road which eventually leads around to Great Hill.

Julie and John were heading out for four hours but I didn't want to be out that long today and neither did Ed so from Drinkwaters we headed back down to White Coppice and round Anglezarke back to Rivington.

As usual, a good fun morning with plenty of laughter!

Total distance - 13.1 miles 

https://www.strava.com/activities/292158188

Mmmm Pasty and Peas!

Tonight was Lostock AC's duathlon and they all met up on George's Lane at the bottom of Two Lads.  I went to the start but wasn't competing and instead was waiting for Kathryn and Maggie to run up from the leisure centre to go for a run on the tops.  

Whilst waiting for them, I took a few pictures of the start of the race...

When they arrived, we ran up to two lads and waited around a bit whilst watching some of the race action.  We then headed off up to the mast then the trig point and then off down the diagonal to the wooden bridge.

I wanted to keep my feet dry tonight because I was going straight out afterwards and didn't have a change of shoes/socks so we decided against going up Noon Hill and cross country to the Pike and instead ran along the lane to the Pigeon Tower and then went up the Pike from there.

Just time for a quick piccie at the top of the Pike before the sun leaves us for the evening...

I took the girls back down through Tigers Clough as I thought it might be somewhere they hadn't been before but Kathryn had been this way a few weeks ago with Albert & Co.  It's still a lovely way back down though and we then cut through the field of horses, coming out just at the back of my house and then heading down dog poo alley to the leisure centre.

After the run Kathryn and I went to the Con Club for pasty and peas with Lostock AC for their post-race chill out and club meeting.

A top night with a great bunch of people!

Total distance - 6.5 miles 

https://www.strava.com/activities/290688304

Unscathed… more than can be said for Kathryn

Surprisingly, my tumble down the hill yesterday has left me relatively unscathed.  I have no mark on my head and, despite the grass stains, no bruised knees either.  The only visible war wound is a slight bruising to my left bum cheek.

Kathryn, however, couldn’t say the same thing!  She had been running in the Lakes at weekend, doing a race recce, and had trudged through some heather and is now covered in cuts all over her lower legs.  Just in time for shorts weather! 

We ran along the canal with Alex (I hope, I’m useless with names and I’ve met the guy a few times now so its inexcusable if I’ve got that wrong!) and every man and his dog was out today in the sunshine.  Oh and a good few geese.  It’s a bit scary running in close proximity to geese as a work colleague was telling me that he got attacked by some last year whilst running along that canal.  I just have visions of me falling into the canal trying to get away from them. 

As usual, we ran out to Old Trafford and back.  We were both quite tired from our weekend’s running exertions and Alex was tired from his gardening so it was a bit slower paced than usual. 

Running back along Canal Street it was so tempting to stop and get a cold pint of cider! 

Total distance – 5.4 miles

https://www.strava.com/activities/289228630

Today's Run and Weekend Overview

Still feeling motivated, I fancied a bit of cross training on Friday and so went to Chorley for the spin at altitude class.  Josie, Suzanne and Nadine also went so we had a fun group.  Unfortunately Erica couldn’t make it because she had visited Maria earlier in the day and her foot isn’t looking too good at the minute so she was resting up.  Hope it gets sorted soon Erica!

I can't believe the amount of sweat which dripped off my nose during that class, it was just pouring out!   

I have realised lately that when I'm struggling with a hard exercise session, it's always my legs which tire before the rest of me.  I can still have loads of energy and not be out of breath but my legs will just stop working.  Think I need to get some strength training into them.

With that in mind, yesterday I did one of my workout DVDs (I have over 50, sad as that may sound).  I did one of Nell McAndrew's DVDs, which are really hard work and fast paced.  There were quite a lot of squats in it which should be good for building the leg strength.  I have to take them quite slowly though as I need to focus on my form when squatting because otherwise my knees bow inwards which is a recipe for injury.  

* * * * * * * * * * * *

This morning I went out with the Lostock lot again from the lower barn.  Out today were Ray, John, Brian, Mark, Mike, Scott and Niall.  They looked a speedy lot so I knew I was in for a tough session and I wasn't wrong!

We set off through Rivington and turned in past the bowling club, heading over to White Coppice.  When we were running alongside Anglezarke my left leg was starting to feel weird again and I thought I might have to turn back but it seemed to ease off a bit after that.  I really don't know what's wrong with it as it isn't pain, it's more of a numbness/tingling feeling in the calf.  A bit like a dead leg.  I get it whether I run or don't so haven't bothered stopping running.  

We had a little rest at White Coppice for a photo opportunity... 

Photo courtesy of Ray McGloin

L to R - Brian, John, Mike, Scott, Mark, Niall, me

From White Coppice we started the climb up to Great Hill.  I was running at the back until Ray stopped to take a photo and then rejoined us behind me.  All I kept thinking was 'Please overtake me so that I can walk without anybody noticing' but he stayed at the back.  Even though I was willing him to pass I'm so glad he didn't because I kept on running and didn't walk so obviously I was more capable than I thought.  This is the joy of running with others! 

I managed to run all the way up to Great Hill, which I have done many times before but usually at a slower pace. 

Another short rest and photo opportunity on Great Hill...

Photo courtesy of Ray McGloin

L to R - me, Scott, Ray, Mark, Mike, Brian, Niall

We then ran along the flagging towards Spitlers.  I can't tell whether that's a smile on my face or a grimace.  

Photo courtesy of Ray McGloin

L to R - Mark, Scott, me 


Another photo at Hordern Stoops before the big climb!

Photo courtesy of Ray McGloin

L to R - Scott, me, John, Brian, Mike, Mark, Niall

Ray and Scott left us at this point as they had to get back to the barn quickly and the rest of us were heading off up and over.  I can't believe they made me run up the steep path up to the top of Winter Hill.  They're evil this lot! 

I was absolutely exhausted going up here and was practically crawling on all fours at one point.  John gave me his great coaching advice about keeping a steady pace though and eventually I made it to the top.  Pretty much all down hill from here.  Or it would have been if they hadn't thrown in Two Lads and the Pike before letting me rest! 

I can't believe I managed to run all the way up the Pike (albeit very slowly) as I was absolutely knackered by now.  As you probably know, I made a promise that I would never walk up the Pike though so I had to stick to it.  

Yippee, downhill now! 

We ran along to the Pigeon Tower and then down the muddy path to the side of it, which is where I took a tumble.  I actually did a somersault on my head so it's a good job it was on the grassy bit to the side of the rough track and not actually on the track or else it might have hurt a bit.  I banged both knees, my left hip, left elbow and my head.  John heard my 'aaarrgghhhh' but nobody actually saw anything so dignity was still in tact - except that I told them all about it anyway! 

As we were heading down the lane from the top barn back to the bottom barn, all of a sudden a huge burst of speed came from everyone and I found myself doing a sprint finish.  What's that all about?  Seriously, I think they're trying to kill me. 

Really enjoyed the run and am now sat on the couch barely able to move but it's all good training!  

I might not be able to make it next week and then am on holiday for both weeks after so please don't think it's because I didn't enjoy it and don't want to go again - I'll definitely be back the week after!  

Thanks again guys, you really pushed me on and made me work.


Total distance - 13.1 miles

https://www.strava.com/activities/288340691/overview