Training Log Archive: Thraws

Legs much better already. No DOMS. What next?

C • What next? 1

Bike rehab.

Garmin has 26.5 miles but I think the gps was dodgy in Canary Wharf. Came to this with most of the biomechanical problems of last time, but two years of getting used to them. Training had been about what I could do rather than what I wished I could do and mindset going in was different: this time I would enjoy it. Live in the moment. Treasure the occasion. It was a good plan. Pace out the start was crucial. Going off in the 10.22 'wave' was frustrating as I had huge amounts of overtaking to do, but on the other hand I wasn't encouraged to pick up the tempo above the 7.45 miling I'd planned. Occasionally just shortened stride and reminded myself this was a marathon 'and not a sprint'. I think in the past the tendency has been to run the first half like a time trial and then see what's left. So when I got to mile 9, which is usually when I decide I can't keep this up, I was aware of loads left. Huge lift from huge crowds at Canada Water and a high five from Lu just before 11. Got the usual goose bumps going over Tower Bridge and started to plan for what I know is the crux, Canary Wharf. I'd had a sports drink as planned and took a gel when I saw them, but don't think I bothered with water the whole way. Got to the turn at Mudchute with some relief then actually felt strong going through 17 and 18 and started passing slowing runners, which was another boost. The crowds in North Colonnade were incredible and I must have had this huge grin on my face as I felt so much better than usual (as this is traditionally the point at which you start to just hang on). So rather than focus on the finish and counting down to it through Poplar and Limehouse, I tried to take in the surroundings and get in the moment. I was hurting but comfortable. Pace was gradually slowing, but not by much. We'd seen mile 23 (the Tower) the night before, and reaching it felt like the end was coming into reach. It almost comes into view after you dive into the tunnel and emerge on the Embankment at 24. I felt pretty good knowing I could pick up the pace if I wanted. From the 40k marker I was just appreciating what a magnificent event this is and trying to savour properly the huge sense of achievement it provides. I knew sub-3.45 would get me good for age at 60 so it was a sort of target, though I wasn't that bothered. Making it so comfortably (almost without trying?) was the cherry on the icing of what is the most remarkable day.
According to the results service I overtook 5532 people during the course of the race and was overtaken by 244. Felt like that as well. Was 253rd M50-55, but almost top 100 M60.

I'm a minute inside the 'tough' new qualifying time for Boston.

London calling.

Made the most of feeling 'ready' by fitting in one last 'hill' session to get heart working hard. Too nice an evening not to.

Virtual parkrun. Hard on the hills; otherwise easy.

Watch alerted me it had synced to phone while I was walking up the garden path. Bizarre tech.

Minor collision on way home with bike on wrong side of path on blind bend.

Well, I’d hoped for a boost. But didn’t get it. On the other hand, there were no real problems for this final shake out before LM#7. Steady effort out the start meant a few I’d expect to beat were ahead at halfway. I wasn’t bothered about position, but it was nice to pass them all the same. The strength I had in the last 2k was reassuring. So was the fact my biggest handicap early on was uneven ground. I’ve been training on good roads and I’ll be running on them next week. Had a good warm up so chest tightness wasn’t a problem. I’m far from perfect but I think I’m ready. (New route round rather than through final 'paddy' field probably added 300 metres/1 min 20 secs.)

Two hours spent checking the north west quadrant of the Chichester map.

Very very easy a/clockwise circuit. Just to keep the joints lubricated. And make the most of the glorious weather.

With Chidham and Bosham loops. Easy ride on a glorious day to deal with the niggles from yesterday. Loose chippings all the way back down the A259 and round Bosham too, but otherwise everything fine. Summer coming.

The usual pre-London Half Mara at race pace. Delayed from Saturday because of trip to Rum. Plan was to take it nice and easy and start at 8 min miling with a view to feeling pretty fresh at the finish. But just couldn't get into that pace and found regular 7.47s were perfectly comfortable. They'd have been more comfortable still if I'd remembered to warm up (raise heart rate) as it took until the fourth mile before the chest tightness went. At the turn in Shoreham Beach I suddenly realised I'd been running into a very slight headwind, which I'd have behind me for the return. Feeling alright at this point is a big psychological boost as well. Found myself picking up the pace (8th mile was 7.37) so decided that rather than finish fresh I'd see if I could gradually crank it up past Worthing Pier and into the finish. Splits for miles 12, 13 and 14 were 7.28, 7.18 and 7.07. Got average down from 7.48 at turn to 7.40. Very gratifying although the effort meant I had minor problems with right groin at finish. After the fatigue and physical niggles I endured in Scotland this was a real confidence boost. In the days left I feel that some short sharp efforts to get hr up are needed. Lewes 10k looks on. Average stride length 1.23.

Mostly to show Jan she could ride over 50 miles comfortably. But also a new way to see the wonderful New Forest. We got overtaken a lot, but that was beside the point. We found our 12.5 mph pace and mostly stuck to it, although Jan left me trailing a few times when she had the wind in her sails. Easterly headwind between miles 10 and 30 slowed pace to under 11 mph, but we had our reward after turning round at Beaulieu. Ate and drank everything at the two food stops and really enjoyed the swish noise of tyres on the road. Didn't like the cold or the holiday traffic so much. The bike rack worked pretty well on the car as well.

A wanted Corbett in the Munro fastness of the wild west. An excuse for a last (?) visit to the rough tough region of magnificent mountains between Glenfinnan and Glen Shiel. And on such a perfect spring day everything would be visible. The long drive beside Loch Arkaig didn't seem as dull as I remembered, but I did keep stopping to take pictures of the reflections. I struggled again though once I set foot on the hill. When I climbed up on to the ridge above A'Chuil bothy, thinking the work was mostly done, I mistook pt 616 for the top and wondered what the rocky snowy peak to the west could be. It took ages to reach. Varied the return by descending via Coire an Eich, but the promising start got worse as I got lower. It was a relief to regain the track. In the tent later on I realised that this was the last Munro or Corbett (of 74 in total?) on OS Landrangers 33 and 40, what must be the two best mountain maps of Scotland. (Perhaps 25 or 19 are the competition?) What a profound sense of achievement that gave me. It had taken almost 25 years, but the journey from enthusiastic tiro to tired old hand had been an immensely satisfying one.

Had planned on a walk out to Orval to see the west side of the island, but worried that pace would make me miss the ferry. I was very tired and the tent would need taking down too. In the end just read in bed, mooched around Kinloch, then sat about waiting for the boat.

Rum Cuillin Traverse. Coire Dubh, Cnapan Breaca, Hallival, Askival, Trollabhal, Ainshval, Sgurr nan Gillean, Dibidil bothy, Kinloch. A Corbett-bagging pinnacle? When the weather looked set fair for Rum for a few days at Easter I couldn't resist it. Set off jauntily up the well-made path, then got slightly gobsmacked by the reality of the Manx Shearwater colony nesting grounds on Hallival. Other worldly! What must it be like there when the birds return from feeding all day after dark? The rock bands coming off the first hill were a sign of things to come. I managed to bypass the Askival Pinnacle by a faint path on the left, but the rest of the day was a battle with route-finding through the crags. The state of my shot knees (especially the right) didn't help either. After claiming both Trollabhal summits (saw the only people all day here) I got into all sorts of trouble descending to the Bealach an Fhuarain. It was reminiscent of the Skye Cuillin and its many dead ends. Thank goodness I had full visibility! Luckily spotted the detour via the scree chute up Ainshval. Being late made me hurry which made me more tired. I forgot to head south from the summit of Gillean and only managed to descend eventually with the help of a crumbly, wet and horrible gully, where I had a bad slip. Worst of all was the prospect of the boggy 9k path back to the tent. And it was even worse than I feared. Tried to stay in the moment and enjoy the sublime views of Eigg in the evening sunshine, but I was proper pooped and the path made hurry impossible. Lucky to make it before dark. Big day and managed to catch it all on gps.

Got the ferry via Eigg, pitched tent near Kinloch, then decided to spend afternoon breaking in new cheap boots by walking out to Kilmory Bay and back. Good track all the way. Found the accom and the very hide used in the Autumnwatch stag rutting years. Beautiful day.

Hour checking the south-east quadrant of the Chichester map.

Made it! Despite headwind, late-running eye appointment, and a very sore left hip first thing which I thought ruled out doing anything at all.

Good day to rest (because of the weather). Painful piriformis on left side.

Lying snow in the boondocks. Feels like minus 3.

Wow, felt great. Right over aches and fatigue.