A lovely evening, sun shining, no wind - perfect for running.
3 mile run with R and H before dropping them of at home and running another 3.5 miles.
It was one of those evenings when you feel really good, running becomes,dare I say ... easy.
After 6.5 miles tonight I did a further 30+ minutes turbo.
Last nights turbo was tough, tonight much easier.
Revs were at 80 to start with, soon reaching 90+ with the last 15 minutes at 100.
A really good evening session.
Looking forward to running hard tomorrow.
Not yet sure where I'll be running, but will be running hard.
This is probably the main thing that came out from my recent race.
I think it's easy to not push really hard in training, so that's an area I will try to readdress.
I was recently reading about Kenny Stuart - King of the Mountains and his attitude to training - inspiring!
The article is here
Saturday, 7 May 2011
Thursday, 5 May 2011
Great video
A friend emailed this link over.
It's Ricky Lightfoot, a top fell runner vs a top downhill mountain bike racer.
A great little video - click the link and enjoy!
Click here
Tonight after a badminton run around for an hour I jumped back on the bike and did 40 minutes turbo.
Now, I've not done any turbo for a few weeks and ... it showed!
I set the tension at 30 out of 50 as I normally do, but because I've not done any for a while I found it hard work!
In the first few minutes my revs were at 80 (just). 5 minutes later I was at 83 (just) and so it went on. After 15 minutes my legs were tired, but I upped the revs to 90.
After 20 minutes I was at 90 revs, but it was hard work. This carried on for 40 minutes in total.
Hard work, but after it was over OK.
When you think I was doing 40 minutes easy with the tension at 30 then increasing the tension to 40 and 50 and still finding it OK it just shows that if you want to be good at something you need to keep doing it.
Note to self - More turbo needed!
It's Ricky Lightfoot, a top fell runner vs a top downhill mountain bike racer.
A great little video - click the link and enjoy!
Click here
Tonight after a badminton run around for an hour I jumped back on the bike and did 40 minutes turbo.
Now, I've not done any turbo for a few weeks and ... it showed!
I set the tension at 30 out of 50 as I normally do, but because I've not done any for a while I found it hard work!
In the first few minutes my revs were at 80 (just). 5 minutes later I was at 83 (just) and so it went on. After 15 minutes my legs were tired, but I upped the revs to 90.
After 20 minutes I was at 90 revs, but it was hard work. This carried on for 40 minutes in total.
Hard work, but after it was over OK.
When you think I was doing 40 minutes easy with the tension at 30 then increasing the tension to 40 and 50 and still finding it OK it just shows that if you want to be good at something you need to keep doing it.
Note to self - More turbo needed!
WB 2/5/11
It's been quite a quiet week really.
I'm struggling to get miles in at the moment.
I was a bit tired, thighs were achy after the Hameldon Fell Race Sunday, but nothing too sore.
Monday turned into a rest day in general, but did include a 2 hour walk, with a bit of running in the afternoon then a run with two of my girls (R and H.)
I'm trying to incorporate a few of these in a week for them and also as a few slower runs for me - time to recharge.
Tuesday was badminton for an hour. Lots of quick running. Felt pretty good at this point.
Wednesday I went for a run with R and H again, about 3 miles in 30 minutes with a bit of climbing involved. They struggled a bit, but in a few weeks I expect the slow runs to get quite a bit quicker!
Thursday is badminton for an hour.
Friday I'm going to do a road run / trail session in the early evening, I'm thinking of trying to get a 10 miler in, time permitting - I'm not a lover of road running, but when I'm struggling to get miles in during the week, then road / trails will have to do.
Over the weekend I want to get out to Pilgrims cross to start upping the miles again.
Hopefully that will take me to about 40 miles for the week.
If I can keep this mileage up things will be going well!
I'm struggling to get miles in at the moment.
I was a bit tired, thighs were achy after the Hameldon Fell Race Sunday, but nothing too sore.
Monday turned into a rest day in general, but did include a 2 hour walk, with a bit of running in the afternoon then a run with two of my girls (R and H.)
I'm trying to incorporate a few of these in a week for them and also as a few slower runs for me - time to recharge.
Tuesday was badminton for an hour. Lots of quick running. Felt pretty good at this point.
Wednesday I went for a run with R and H again, about 3 miles in 30 minutes with a bit of climbing involved. They struggled a bit, but in a few weeks I expect the slow runs to get quite a bit quicker!
Thursday is badminton for an hour.
Friday I'm going to do a road run / trail session in the early evening, I'm thinking of trying to get a 10 miler in, time permitting - I'm not a lover of road running, but when I'm struggling to get miles in during the week, then road / trails will have to do.
Over the weekend I want to get out to Pilgrims cross to start upping the miles again.
Hopefully that will take me to about 40 miles for the week.
If I can keep this mileage up things will be going well!
Monday, 2 May 2011
Great Hameldon Fell Race - 1st May
A new month and my first race of the year.
The Great Hameldon race is the first race in the Pendle and Burnley Grand Prix, so always attracts quite a large number of runners. On this occassion there were 180+ runners who set off around the 6 mile, 1100 ft course. The weather for the day looked great, blue sky, but not too warm. Gathered on the start line was Danny Hope, brother to Rob Hope. Over the last year, Danny has won a number of top fell races and regularly finishes in the top 3 of races. What other sport allows mere mortals to compete against the elite?
The gun went and away we went.
The route takes us around the football field, before heading up through the coppice. The pace was pretty quick at this point and in the back of your mind you always wonder if you've set off too quick. I'm sure this comes from not racing much. I reached the top of the climb, 3/4 of a mile into the race felling pretty tired already, at this point trying to put any negative thoughts firmly at the back of my mind. Emerging from the coppice brought us into a head on strong wind. Out of most of the running conditions I least like, a head on wind is one of my worst. I really struggle to take in meaningful breaths. Could this by down to asthma, don't know.
Anyway, the climb continued, I was about mid pack, I could make out runners in front of me, but the runners behind were quite a way behind. I followed the route along the bottom of Hameldon, before beginning the climb up the hill. This was tough! On reaching the trig, you turn and head home. This was pretty quick, but, not as quick as I wanted to go, or as quick as I've gone on training runs. Probably due to heavy legs from the race so far. The route took us out, avoiding the cross over of slower runners. The race at this point is a bit of a blurr, can't really remember the last climb, other than it hurt. The run off the coppice, through the trees was tricky and the last lap around the field to the finish could have been quicker.
On crossing the finishing line, the 'family' was there cheering me on - a real highlight!
When the girls saw Nick start has last leg around the field, off they went to run in with him.
On reflection a great race.
My Garmin under measures, it clocked the race at 5.75 miles, which was off putting, when you are trying to estimate the time you will run in.
Speaking to another runner after the race, his comment was - It's all pain! - Can't argue with that, because it really was.
I finished 3 seconds faster than 2 years ago and when I go over the race in my head, as you do, there were opportunities to go quicker. It is frustrating to think you could have done more. I'm already looking forward to next May! - My goal - 2 minutes quicker.
Note to self - To run better races, you have to run races!
The Great Hameldon race is the first race in the Pendle and Burnley Grand Prix, so always attracts quite a large number of runners. On this occassion there were 180+ runners who set off around the 6 mile, 1100 ft course. The weather for the day looked great, blue sky, but not too warm. Gathered on the start line was Danny Hope, brother to Rob Hope. Over the last year, Danny has won a number of top fell races and regularly finishes in the top 3 of races. What other sport allows mere mortals to compete against the elite?
The gun went and away we went.
The route takes us around the football field, before heading up through the coppice. The pace was pretty quick at this point and in the back of your mind you always wonder if you've set off too quick. I'm sure this comes from not racing much. I reached the top of the climb, 3/4 of a mile into the race felling pretty tired already, at this point trying to put any negative thoughts firmly at the back of my mind. Emerging from the coppice brought us into a head on strong wind. Out of most of the running conditions I least like, a head on wind is one of my worst. I really struggle to take in meaningful breaths. Could this by down to asthma, don't know.
Anyway, the climb continued, I was about mid pack, I could make out runners in front of me, but the runners behind were quite a way behind. I followed the route along the bottom of Hameldon, before beginning the climb up the hill. This was tough! On reaching the trig, you turn and head home. This was pretty quick, but, not as quick as I wanted to go, or as quick as I've gone on training runs. Probably due to heavy legs from the race so far. The route took us out, avoiding the cross over of slower runners. The race at this point is a bit of a blurr, can't really remember the last climb, other than it hurt. The run off the coppice, through the trees was tricky and the last lap around the field to the finish could have been quicker.
On crossing the finishing line, the 'family' was there cheering me on - a real highlight!
When the girls saw Nick start has last leg around the field, off they went to run in with him.
On reflection a great race.
My Garmin under measures, it clocked the race at 5.75 miles, which was off putting, when you are trying to estimate the time you will run in.
Speaking to another runner after the race, his comment was - It's all pain! - Can't argue with that, because it really was.
I finished 3 seconds faster than 2 years ago and when I go over the race in my head, as you do, there were opportunities to go quicker. It is frustrating to think you could have done more. I'm already looking forward to next May! - My goal - 2 minutes quicker.
Note to self - To run better races, you have to run races!
Friday, 29 April 2011
A short week - wb 25th April
After a couple of weeks off it was back to work Tuesday - as always it's like you've never been away.
Had two good weeks running, clocking up about 50 miles running each week, including other exercise.
Monday was a great 8 mile run with Nick, 5 climbs and 1400ft.
Tuesday - Badminton for an hour.
Wednesday - 5 a side football for an hour, then a 3 mile run with the girls.
Thursday - Badminton for an hour.
Now the fell racing scene is up and running with gusto. I'm not really one for 'Fell races' as such. I do enjoy the running out there, exploring, seeing how far I can get, how many climbs etc. I prefer that to racing. On the 1st of May however is a local race - Great Hameldon Hill, 6 miles and 1100ft. This is one of the few races that I tend to do each year. At present my hamstrings are a tad sore and I'd thought about giving the race a miss, but, I do think I'll be there. It will be interesting, because it is a route we run quite regularly as training runs.
The course record is 36.12 set by Rob Hope in 2004! Now that's fast.
If I can get round in under 54 minutes, my time 2 years ago, that should put me about 1/2 way, I'll be happy.
Had two good weeks running, clocking up about 50 miles running each week, including other exercise.
Monday was a great 8 mile run with Nick, 5 climbs and 1400ft.
Tuesday - Badminton for an hour.
Wednesday - 5 a side football for an hour, then a 3 mile run with the girls.
Thursday - Badminton for an hour.
Now the fell racing scene is up and running with gusto. I'm not really one for 'Fell races' as such. I do enjoy the running out there, exploring, seeing how far I can get, how many climbs etc. I prefer that to racing. On the 1st of May however is a local race - Great Hameldon Hill, 6 miles and 1100ft. This is one of the few races that I tend to do each year. At present my hamstrings are a tad sore and I'd thought about giving the race a miss, but, I do think I'll be there. It will be interesting, because it is a route we run quite regularly as training runs.
The course record is 36.12 set by Rob Hope in 2004! Now that's fast.
If I can get round in under 54 minutes, my time 2 years ago, that should put me about 1/2 way, I'll be happy.
Tuesday, 26 April 2011
25th April - Bank Holiday Monday
Went for a run with Nick at 1.00pm.
Met at Clough Head Car Park, unsure of where, how far we were to go etc.
Having spoken to Nick when I got there, I was none the wiser, so we decided to head off on the reservoir side and just see where the run took us.
It would be fair to say that we both felt a little leggy, so the run was 'steady' and uphill.
We followed the route out towards 'Hog Lowe Pike' picking up the Rossendale Way - the views here on a clear day are something else!
Met at Clough Head Car Park, unsure of where, how far we were to go etc.
Having spoken to Nick when I got there, I was none the wiser, so we decided to head off on the reservoir side and just see where the run took us.
It would be fair to say that we both felt a little leggy, so the run was 'steady' and uphill.
We followed the route out towards 'Hog Lowe Pike' picking up the Rossendale Way - the views here on a clear day are something else!
A view of the valley
We carried on along the Rossendale Way - I mentined to Nick that for all the years of running around here I'd never actually followed the path. We had a bit of a discussion as to whether we actually were on the Rossendale Way, which we were before heading into the woods.
Abandoned farms on the Rossendale Way
Once in the woods we picked the pace slightly, heading to the second climb. The climb itself is only about 400ft and not a difficult climb at all, but towards the end of the climb, the track is very rocky and very steep and if you try to climb at speed it does get to you.
A bit of a rest here, before the next climb to Hog Lowe Pike.
We returned from here and ran out to the ,chimney' at Musburry Heights.
Chimney
I had a great decent off the hills here following the Rossendale Way until back up the climb for the second time. Again tough when you try to run at speed.
We followed the route back through the woods, before another short but steep climb back out of the woods returning to the Rossendale Way, before following our normal route off here back to the Grane Rd. We took at slightly different route back to the car, picking up speed quite sharply for the last mile.
A really great run with 5 climbs! (although some only small) - 1400 ft of climbing and 8 miles.
Friday, 22 April 2011
Penyghent - Friday 22nd April
Not run for a few days, but had a round of golf on Wednesday and played some badminton Tuesday and Thursday. Nick rang Thursday and suggested a run so run it was.
Friday am Nick was at the door at 6.55am. After a quick brew off we went towards Horton in Ribblesdale for a run up and around Penyghent.
We parked up down a little known side street, the sun was shining, what a way to spend a morning.
We followed the path out towards the farm, before taking the path upwards through the fields towards the bottom of the mountain. This bit always reminds me of the 'drag' to the bottom of Pendle from Barley car park - tough running.
Once through the fields we passed a few walkers, one replied to my "good morning" with "bloody idiots, running up here!"
The ground was really dry and dusty, not ideal for fell shoes. When we go back, if the weather is anything like then road shoes would be better.
We followed this path, climbing all the time.
Before we new it we were at the steep climb - this was tough!
The path turned into steps and up we went.
Virtually at the top we had a 1/4 of a mile run to the cairn.
We took the style over the wall and headed right by the wall in the direction of Plover Hill - a great run out to this point. Coming off Plover hill was a man made path with steps. I soon left these much preferring the fell to run on. On such a steep descent, my thighs were really feeling it.
At the bottom was a sign showing the way back to Horton in Ribblesdale. This we took, upping the speed over every mile.
The last couple of miles were over very rocky paths, not good / easy running!
Overall a fantastic run!
2000+ ft of climbing, over 8 miles in 108 minutes.
Not quick I know, but mile 2 we did in 23 minutes, because of the steepness of the climb, admiring the views and being slowed down by walkers.
The last few miles we did in about 7.5 minutes each - not bad for a recce.
The last couple of miles were over very rocky paths, not good / easy running!
2000+ ft of climbing, over 8 miles in 108 minutes.
Not quick I know, but mile 2 we did in 23 minutes, because of the steepness of the climb, admiring the views and being slowed down by walkers.
The last few miles we did in about 7.5 minutes each - not bad for a recce.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)