Skip to main content

Good Start to 2011

Compared to the past couple of years, 2011 has started off pretty well in running terms, and since the New Year, I've raced every week. Most of these races have been at cross country, strange really considering that mud, hills and off road are not a normal part of my vocabulary.

Thankfully the road running season has now started, and I'm back to what I feel most comfortable with. At the end of January, I did the Gloucester 50km race and I'm pleased to say that I won it in a time quicker than I did for the distance last year - 3.37.10 - nowhere near a PB, but considering I was only just getting back properly from injury, I'm really pleased with how the race went. The race also served as the England Team selection race for the Anglo Celtic Plate 100km at the end of March so now want to have a stab at that to see how I do.

I then raced a little closer to home - the Alsager 5 at the beginning of February. 5 miles is way too short for me, but it's always good to have a bit of a blast and blow off those cobwebs. Not a bad run considering, and finished in 31.58. It was actually quite nice to run alongside some familiar faces from the local clubs, and it was great to see so many of them having a great race and getting their own PB's.

Since then, training has been going ok. We did have a new puppy about 3 weeks ago - young Wilson, a collie x whippet - so he's been keeping us busy and taking up a lot of our time, but we wouldn't swap it for the world. He's now started to settle down a bit, which means I'm now starting to get some proper sleep and can focus on my running again and my next big race on Sunday - the Barry 40 mile Track in South Wales.



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Tackling the Iron Horse Ultra - 100-miles :)

Training leading into the Iron Horse Ultra had gone well, and even though I knew that getting close to my course record of 21 hours was quite ambitious, I honestly thought that I would be able to do if I had a good day But those of us that are runners will know that whilst running is a physical sport, there is also a mental element to running well, especially when it comes to racing those longer distances. It was the mental side that let me down this time, although it wasn't during the race that I struggled but rather the weeks leading up the race itself, and in hindsight the signs were there that I wasn't going to be able to perform quite as well as I was hoping.  Let me explain .... I like to think that for the most part, I am a good person, and I treat people with the respect that they deserve. Although some things do wind me up in life, I tend to be very laid back and easy going, taking things in my stride and trying not to make a big fuss about things. I'm also an intr...
1 comment
Read more

Crown King Scramble 50km

The Crown King Scramble 50km was everything I expected it to be, and more. With great organisation, a tough course, outstanding scenery and lots of jolly good fun - and the fact that I finished soaking wet with sweat with salt stains across my face and all over my clothes, covered in dust and dirt from head to toe, absolutely starving and in desperate need of an ice cold beer, with tired, heavy legs but a big smile on my face - they were all sure signs of a damn good race. The race started at 6am alongside the shores of Lake Pleasant just as the sun was about to pop its head above the nearby mountains. The air was still quite cool although it was certain to warm up as the morning went along, with temperatures well in to the mid 80's expected later on in the day. The atmosphere at the start was a mixture of nervous excitement and anticipation as we all knew what lay ahead - 50km or 31 miles of uphill running, climbing from around 1500 ft at Lake Pleasant to nearly 6000 ft in...
Post a Comment
Read more

Sinister Seven Ultra

 I knew going into the Sinister 7 Ultra that I wasn't as well trained for mountain running as I was this time last year. Twelve months ago, I ran the 50 miler with relative ease, finishing in a little over 12 hours and even making the podium with a third place finish, whereas this year, I hadn't been to the mountains once, and I knew I was in for a hard time. Regardless, I headed down to Crowsnest Pass with the goal of just finishing the race, even if I was DFL and only just made the 30 hour cut-off. After a rather soggy and cooler spring and early summer, July brought heat warnings and hit temperatures in Alberta, and the forecast for race day was calling for highs of 30+ degrees - it was going to be a hot one! I did the best I could to prepare for the heat, continuing with my lunch time walks at work, and then running after work when things seemed to feel even warmer than earlier in the day. I even did my longer weekend runs just after lunch during the hottest part of the day...
Post a Comment
Read more