London Marathon 2013

Spent the weekend away at the big smoke. Friday afternoon was a mosey around the London Marathon Exhibition and wondering if I'll ever manage another marathon. The anticipation of those taking part was palpable.

Saturday was a trip out in the lanes of Hampshire on the bike as I clung onto the back wheel of an old mate who can't slow down on a bike. Averaged almost 20 mph for a training run. I clearly need to man-up.  Then, later,  joined a crowd of runners on Saturday night for their pizza party.

Today watched our kid take on her second marathon and she dun pretty good clocking a 3:22...getting a bit close to her old mans marathon time for comfort. They had a nice, though warm day for it.  The leg extension those elite guys get is truly phenomenal.   The photo at the top was taken around the 11 mile mark.
I was rewarded for all the traipsing around with a steak and chips and a shandy in the Silver Cross off Whitehall afterwards. Quite a few in tears at the end from one or two runners; testament to this draining event. Photos on the Flickr site soon.

Thirsk Sportive

I've only ever done two cycling sportives. One of these was in pretty hostile, sub-zero conditions at the Captains Cooks event last year. The Newcastle Cyclone was my second. The Thirsk sportive was my third. I took loads of kit down with me to protect my from the elements out in the North York Moors. Having checked the forecast the night before it wasn't a bad outlook. It was even quite good.

The event offered 3 possible routes...or if you were with me, four. As we set off in small groups I got talking to a local bloke who was only doing the short (35mile) event.  After eight miles or so we climbed up past High Kilburn, a cheeky little 3rd category climb that had a few off their bikes. Passing the spectacular skeletal remains of Byland Abbey, a victim of the reformation, the fog lifted a little, but it was still grey. Around 300 were doing the event. Over the course of the route there were relatively few sizeable groups to sit in with, but early on I found myself with a group of eight and we soon turned north up Farndale. There was a little more climbing but nothing thankfully too taxing. However, the group split, leaving only 3 of us to together arriving at the first feed station (Church Houses) and passing a lad with a nasty head injury who looked like he'd misjudged the fast and gravelly descent and was being tended by two others.  One of the lads with me asked 'you alright?' as he rode by. Patently not, I thought.

There was little perceptible wind through the lanes which were lined with mossy, drystone walls and budding hedges. There were a lot of sheep and slurry spreading was in full flow on the farms. Bit of an assault on the nose. After the first stop, the road split and, as I'd only signed up for the medium route (77 miles), I turned right back down the valley. I soon passed a couple of lads on a short climb and found myself on my todd coming out of Hutton Le Hole, but making sure I gave the photographer an exaggerated thumbs up.

The sun was breaking through now and the clagg burning off and, as I pedalled, I wondered how I was going to fill the next 2 hours. Following a nagging cross wind, I turned into a useful tailwind at Malton and with the smooth B1287, a flattish road with smooth tarmac, the speed went up and I clocked along at around twenty mph. By then I had reverted to imagining I was in the Tour, a small group were trying to catch me and I was out in Breakaway Land. Every motorbike that came past had an imaginary blackboard and I spent 10 miles waiting for the team car to pull up. I wish.

As I came through Hovingham I noticed a second feed station on the right in the hall, but no bikes were parked up. I cracked on for a mile then pulled up, wondering if I should have turned in the village. I turned back and stopped to ask in the hall. Yes, it seemed I was on the right route and as I came out, a small group came powering past not stopping for drinks. The signs suggested riders were to u-turn back on themselves. As there were a load of kids sitting around I thought they had been messing around with the signs.

I caught the group of eight up and ploughed on leaving them behind at Stonegrave village. After 3 miles the road began to climb and with Oswalkirk in sight, a motorcycle marshall passed and pulled up in front of me.
-'Sorry to inform you but your off course, lad' he said.
I turned back and 5 miles later back in the village, the turn I had missed became evident. 

The urgency had evaporated now and progress was slower. The sun was now out and things were pretty warm.

After 70 miles I drained the last of my bottle and was rewarded with a little cramping incident on a sharp pull, but rode through it and was pleased to see the signs for Thirsk shortly afterwards. The last 10 miles were in a southerly tailwind and I crossed the line with a couple of lads from Darlington Tri.  Having rode 87 miles, the time was really academic, but it had been a good day out. It was warm and dry. After loading up the bike and grabbing an Americano, my cheeks were rosy and burning, but given the mileage and time in the saddle, I'm not sure its my face I'm talking about.
Good event made great by the weather. Not many daffodils around. Loads of sheep.  Upwards and onwards.

Longtown & the Blyth 10k 2013

Ten years of competitive running has taught me a few things. I have a good idea about pace judgement now.I know when to keep a little in reserve and which events suit me and which don't. However, something new of late is the deterioration in my powers of recovery. This winter at least I can't be accused of overdoing it. Thursday nights track session comprised a 1200m, two eight hundreds and four x four hundred metres and was quite a high octane session for so early in the season. The last few laps were done in around 64 or 65 seconds.  I knew there had been some hard work done as I lay on the settee afterwards watching the 'No Country for Old Men' on the Tele. As a watched Tommy Lee Jones I was occasionally distracted by the nerves in my calves firing involuntarily. This resulted in the skin dimpling at all angles, like some strange leg-timpani.

The performance at yesterdays Longtown 10 miler near Carlisle was therefore, not surprisingly, lamentable, and I ran the race like a bag of hammers. It was a Springtastic day and the temperature almost rose to double figures.
The field of around 100 set off over a course that promised much.  I fancied at top 15 placing. However at around 4 miles my attempt at speed dropped off the scale as the hills appeared and for the next 2 miles I struggled badly. The technique was pathetic and I was doing well to keep it below seven minute miles. The last 4 miles were mostly flat or downhill and I tucked in beside a Dumfries runner and an unattached whose elbows were just the right height to crack me in the nose, should I try to tuck in too closely into the slight headwind. The Dumfries lad kept turning around to check on my progress, but he needn't have been worried as the tank was empty. At the 9 mile mark, Dumfries man took off and unattached followed, leaving me to eat their dust. How social is that?  I was aiming for a sub 62, but fate dished out a slow 63 and I couldn't argue with that. The spread was good afterwards with free tea, so not all bad. The winner was Russell Maddams from Keswick finishing in 55mins. The course  reminded me of the Templeton 10 (Dundee). 

This morning I took our kid to the Blyth 10k and ran around with the camera (see Flickr site)  before knocking out a crisp 25 miles on the bike. I've got the Daffodil Sportive at Thirsk next week and am hoping for things to warm up a little although to be fair if the weather holds, I'll be thankful. Having paid for a bike racing licence for this years season, I'd better get my finger out a book a couple of criteriums. Nothing like getting shelled out of the bunch after three laps!

Blyth Results at http://www.blythrunningclub.org.uk/bv10/BlythValley10kResults2013.pdf )

North Tyneside 10k 2013

It was cool but calm conditions for the two thousand or so runners at this years North Tyneside 10k. A straight coastal run from North Shields to the Lighthouse, it looked like Ian Hudspith (Morpeth) and Aly Dixon (Sunderland Strollers) were the front runners. Photos (batches 1 and 2) on the gallery (Flickr site). Results of the 2013 race here on link below:
http://www.northtyneside.gov.uk/pls/portal/NTC_PSCM.PSCM_Web.download?p_ID=543670

Highland Training Camp

I’ve been in the north topping up my accent. The criteria for the holiday was a cottage with a real fire. Just as well. It’s been so cold in the last week that if I sat any closer to the fire I might as well start to rotate and baste myself in gravy. Strangely, there was also a pub nearby.

I brought the bike and early in the week journeyed out to the 'lost' villages of Tummel Bridge, Kirkmichael and Weem on various trips before returning with rigid digits under two pairs of gloves and socks.  I came across a purple toad crossing the road on Tuesday. It was moving so slowly it looked to have the action of a staggering drunk; drunk with the cold. The pass over Kinnaird was barren and snowy as I returned from Kirkmichael, taking time to wave to some frozen students paddling in a gurgling stream. I remember those field trips. 

I ran around 4 miles in the lanes past the Edradour and Bells Distilleries and then found a nice riverside trail along the Tummel which ate up a total of 9 miles. However, as I moved back up the hill crossing the golf course, I ran into the snow line and my plod was arrested by some high deer fences which I think are really human fences in disguise.  I’ve seen one or two other runners around but most have more sense and are busying themselves, no doubt, in the gym or whatever. 

Yesterday was the best though. I intended to run to Killiecrankie but took a trail up by Craigower and ended up ploughing through the deep snow at around 600m just below Ben Vrackie. In the early morning sun it was pretty splendid. I came across three small deer grazing on the heather. They took off pretty damn sharpish. I nearly came a cropper once or twice on some buried rocks but all in all, the run was a photographic event and I wished I’d had the good camera. Two hours for seven miles. Pretty slow stuff but don’t forget the two thousand feet of ascent.

Having missed the Nigel Barge 10k last weekend, I made an effort to run the Normans Law hill race today, a five miler with 900ft of ascent. It was pretty muddy and I grappled with the muddy and snowy conditions with a pair of Salomons that are overdue for the bin. I did alright in the run though and mostly enjoyed the copious soup, tea and cake, as did the 113 others who took part. It would have been £3 but I havent yet renewed my Scottish Athletics membership so it was a straight fiver. Still....pretty good value.  

bald cyclist sips tea at cafe

Andy Burrows was just a name and a tune I heard on the radio last week. So was Artmagic. Now I'm listening to both, (though not at the same time) as I drag my meagre musical collection into the decade. A1.
Came across a bike race yesterday. I, myself, have been working the cycling in with the running of late. The result is a drop in pavement pounding mileage and an increase in pot hole hell riding. Gordon Bennett; the roads are sh**te.  My Council tax bill landed with a thud this morning. I really wonder what I'm paying for (except for the repair of tyres and bent wheels). The road miles are up now to about 80 or 90 a week which is no small feet in this boreal, nipple-numbing cold.  Can't believe I'm bothering to keep the fridge and freezer plugged in.
Saturday's 40 miles was a lonely affair, brightened only by a trip to the Cafe'd Capheaton, a favourite bikers haunt in the middle of nowhere (or in the middle of Capheaton if you happen to be one of the nine villagers from thereabouts).  I think it can be found just at the back of the wardrobe and just a little way ahead of Mister Tumnas's pad. When I think about it, I think my ears are getting abit Mr Tumnas. Its the cold you know. Best start checking my hooves.  Not easy cycling when you've got goats legs, believe me.

Yesterday was a wobbly 15 mile run through the lanes. It was hard work. I took my bumbag, just in case I got caught in a squall. I wish I had filled it with a small entertainment centre, a copy of the 1954 Eagle and some mince and carrot sandwiches. I might have had a modest gravy filled picnic at the top of the hill as the sleet kept trying to get some momentum.  It looks likely that the next few races might be up north, so I'm shaking out my passport and can't wait to see how the tram's coming on in auld reekie.  Aye that'll be right! What a good idea that was....

Run Northumberland Half Marathon 2013

The run northumberland 2013 was held on a different course this year. It was probably as hilly as the previous course and the weather was brassicks, but the crowd was bigger. Felt happier taking the snaps than running in a bitter easterly. Photos on Flickr site.