Sunday is the day for LSD - no, not the psychtropic drug popular among the freaks of the 1960's generation but rather Long Slow Distance. The rest of your week might be spent doing shorter runs, tempo runs, interval training, hill runs and so on but Sunday is the day for mileage: putting those miles into the marathon bank. LSD may be mind altering none-the-less! I find I have to convince myself that I'll just run for an hour, then, when the hour's up, it's easier to think, 'well I may as well carry on for a bit longer, another half an hour maybe?' today I managed to trick myself into running for 2 and a half hours, which I'm quite pleased about, also felt that I could go on for longer, which feels like a good sign.
It's amazing how much rain there seems to have been in the last few days. All my regular off-road running routes had turned into a scaled down version of the Great Lakes and at points I really did have to run through rivers freezing my feet to blocks of ice! The levee seems to have broken; even the canal path is flooded. Felt quite satisfying though; a somewhat challenging bit of training!
The marathon approaches: 55 days to go today. I feel like an explorer standing with Mallory in the foothills of the Himalayas contemplating the enormity of Everest - the question (in mountaineering parlance) is, 'will it go?'
Some really good fundraising as well as training this week. I'm currently organising a raffle at the school and people have come up with some really good prizes: a pilates session, a manicure, bottles of wine, guitar lessons and a scooter trip around London to name but a few. All excellent stuff and hopefully we can really push that thermometer up a bit. Thanks very much to you all.
Stairway to Heaven
Photos from the weekend - thanks very much to Matt, Tim and Jen for some really enjoyable climbing.
The Song Remains the Same
Back to some serious training and serious fund raising... thank goodness I appear to be well again. Still feeling tired at the end of the run but I'm hoping this is just a bit of a blip - send your positive vibes in my general direction, if you would be so kind!
Remarkable weekend at my brother's in Leeds which we spent running, swimming and climbing on the practice wall (and watching a Viking ship burn (felt quite sad about that one)) - photos will follow I just need to download them from my camera.
The associated gurus (you know who you are...) thought that I should set the fundraising target for £1000 and duly that is what I have done; so please, please sponsor me because I can't quite see how I can raise this much! It has to be said though that if I was running 26 and a bit miles round London knowing that I had the potential to raise £1000 for Christian Aid it would make the whole thing seem very much more worthwhile! Currently this is what propels me out of the house in the dark, rain and cold.
Online donations are now up to £142.56 with gift aid (please gift aid it if you're a UK taxpayer) and pledges from staff and students at school are around the £200 mark so it's all looking quite positive at the moment. Fundraising plans at the moment include - cake baking, a raffle, a quiz and some busking. I read recently in a running book that preparing for a marathon is like having a second job I kind of wonder, with the fundraising, whether it's not like having 3 jobs! I'm very grateful to the people who have sponsored me and helped me so far. If you are able to help in any way I would be eternally grateful... I'm signing off now because I've run, showered and eaten my lentils and I must sleep; but I shall return with the photos tomorrow!
Remarkable weekend at my brother's in Leeds which we spent running, swimming and climbing on the practice wall (and watching a Viking ship burn (felt quite sad about that one)) - photos will follow I just need to download them from my camera.
The associated gurus (you know who you are...) thought that I should set the fundraising target for £1000 and duly that is what I have done; so please, please sponsor me because I can't quite see how I can raise this much! It has to be said though that if I was running 26 and a bit miles round London knowing that I had the potential to raise £1000 for Christian Aid it would make the whole thing seem very much more worthwhile! Currently this is what propels me out of the house in the dark, rain and cold.
Online donations are now up to £142.56 with gift aid (please gift aid it if you're a UK taxpayer) and pledges from staff and students at school are around the £200 mark so it's all looking quite positive at the moment. Fundraising plans at the moment include - cake baking, a raffle, a quiz and some busking. I read recently in a running book that preparing for a marathon is like having a second job I kind of wonder, with the fundraising, whether it's not like having 3 jobs! I'm very grateful to the people who have sponsored me and helped me so far. If you are able to help in any way I would be eternally grateful... I'm signing off now because I've run, showered and eaten my lentils and I must sleep; but I shall return with the photos tomorrow!
Whole Lotta Love...
So, it's taken a long time to recover but I've finally managed to get back to the running. Went out last night for about 45 minutes, felt ok but slightly dizzy when I got back. Feel ok today and I've managed a session of yoga and deep tissue massage so I think I'm on the mend. This illness is all very frustrating but the good news is that my 3 peaks certificate turned up today as did my running number for the Hastings half marathon; really looking forward to this one. It seems that this race is the trendy one to do in preparation for London; it involves about 5,000 runners and is very steep - if you have a look at their very nice website: http://www.hastings-half.co.uk/ you can see how steep by clicking the button marked route map; the profile of the gradient is something to be believed!
Thank you to those people who have donated to my charity this week via the Virgin Money Giving page (see attachment on the left) it'll be good to see that thermometer start to change colour!
Anyway in the abscence of much running information here's, This Week's Running top 10 (as formulated on the top of a few wintry Yorkshire hills):
Greetings pop pickers, in at number 10 this week is Run to You by Australian artist Bryan Adams. This week's number 9 is a non-mover although Kate Bush is still Running up that Hill. Down this week from number 6 to number 8 is Status Quo but they still haven't quite Run, Run Away from the top 10. Moving up the charts and definately not Running to Stand Still is U2 at number 7. So replacing Status Quo this week and up from number 20 to number 6 is Lindisfarne who are trying to Run for Home, will they make it all the way to number 1? tune in next week to find out, not arf! Number 5 is another non-mover for ELO, who'll just have to Keep on Running. There's a surprise entry for Iron Maiden this week, straight in at number 4 as they Run for the Hills. Level 42 are relatively happy to remain at number 3 for a fourth week as they keep it Running in the Family. Bruce Springstein may be Born to Run but he can't quite make past that number 1 finish tape as for five weeks in a row Tears For Fears show us their marathonic mettle - and possible meglomania - as with their 1986 Sport Aid release they tell us that Everybody Wants to Run the World. (Check out the YouTube link for a bit of a nostalgia).
Thank you to those people who have donated to my charity this week via the Virgin Money Giving page (see attachment on the left) it'll be good to see that thermometer start to change colour!
Anyway in the abscence of much running information here's, This Week's Running top 10 (as formulated on the top of a few wintry Yorkshire hills):
Greetings pop pickers, in at number 10 this week is Run to You by Australian artist Bryan Adams. This week's number 9 is a non-mover although Kate Bush is still Running up that Hill. Down this week from number 6 to number 8 is Status Quo but they still haven't quite Run, Run Away from the top 10. Moving up the charts and definately not Running to Stand Still is U2 at number 7. So replacing Status Quo this week and up from number 20 to number 6 is Lindisfarne who are trying to Run for Home, will they make it all the way to number 1? tune in next week to find out, not arf! Number 5 is another non-mover for ELO, who'll just have to Keep on Running. There's a surprise entry for Iron Maiden this week, straight in at number 4 as they Run for the Hills. Level 42 are relatively happy to remain at number 3 for a fourth week as they keep it Running in the Family. Bruce Springstein may be Born to Run but he can't quite make past that number 1 finish tape as for five weeks in a row Tears For Fears show us their marathonic mettle - and possible meglomania - as with their 1986 Sport Aid release they tell us that Everybody Wants to Run the World. (Check out the YouTube link for a bit of a nostalgia).
Struck Down!
All I've managed this week is an hour's cycle ride... I've spent the week struck down with the 'flu virus and unable to walk. It's been fairly horrible, as you can imagine, but I'm starting to feel better now. It's infuriating to lose a whole week's running and I'd really wanted to do some hill training this week but never mind. Maybe I've built up some antibodies that will mean I won't be ill in April. There's always a positive spin one can put on these things!
Most importantly this week, however, is that I've decided which charity I'm going to run the marathon for and I've set up a Virgin Money Giving page.
I've decided to run for Christian Aid a charity close to my heart and one that I've supported for a long time. Among other things Christian Aid works with partnership projects in some of the world's poorest countries; so any money you can donate will make a real difference in the lives of these people. The link on the left of the screen will take you directly to my sponsorship page; I've also included some information about Christian Aid and I recommed that you have a look at their website which gives a lot more information about projects tackling poverty and campaign work. The website can be found at: http://www.christianaid.org.uk/
Please give what ever you can. It would be really good to raise a significant ammount... it would make those 26.2 miles worthwhile! I do have a plan for selling each mile to the top 26 highest bidders. In other words if you're one of the top 26 you can buy whichever mile you fancy and I promise to dedicate that mile to you - you can even go and stand at that mile marker on April 25th, it will be your mile. Also this means that I can't fail on your mile; so I'll have to run the whole race! It's a win-win situation!
Most importantly this week, however, is that I've decided which charity I'm going to run the marathon for and I've set up a Virgin Money Giving page.
I've decided to run for Christian Aid a charity close to my heart and one that I've supported for a long time. Among other things Christian Aid works with partnership projects in some of the world's poorest countries; so any money you can donate will make a real difference in the lives of these people. The link on the left of the screen will take you directly to my sponsorship page; I've also included some information about Christian Aid and I recommed that you have a look at their website which gives a lot more information about projects tackling poverty and campaign work. The website can be found at: http://www.christianaid.org.uk/
Please give what ever you can. It would be really good to raise a significant ammount... it would make those 26.2 miles worthwhile! I do have a plan for selling each mile to the top 26 highest bidders. In other words if you're one of the top 26 you can buy whichever mile you fancy and I promise to dedicate that mile to you - you can even go and stand at that mile marker on April 25th, it will be your mile. Also this means that I can't fail on your mile; so I'll have to run the whole race! It's a win-win situation!
February 7th 2010 - Dazed and Amazed - Watford...
Labels:
Dave Broom,
Marathon
1 hour 40 minutes! Smashing my pb by 7 minutes! Above you can see some of the pictures from the day. This of course was the Watford half marathon, which was special for a number of reasons. Watford is the place of my birth and the place where most of my family came from (and the football team I support!). This was also the first competitive half marathon that I had run for quite a long time; and poiniantly the 7th of February would have been my mother's birthday, so it seemed very appropriate to run in Watford today.
My PB was set in Japan on a warm, Tokyo day and on a completely flat course. This was a very hilly course and very, very cold (note pictures above!) so doubly pleasing.
Also, I walked 18 miles around Dorking, Box hill and White hill with the Met Walkers on Saturday. This plus waking up with cold symptoms this morning did not make me feel that I would do particularly well...
As it was it felt like a good atmosphere, lining up with 2000 other runners and people wishing each-other good luck. As the race started I realised I felt good and was amazed to find I'd run the first mile in 7.57 (I was planning on an 8 minute mile but in the end I just felt good and kept at the same pace pretty much all the way round). It was a really nice course, out in the countryside round Watford and very well marshalled and supported - mile markers every mile and good drinks stations. The horses were a bit annoying: surely if the road is closed to cars it's closed to horses as well? And they stopped me from getting water at one of the stations but no matter.
It felt like a fast course and being a Met Walker and 3 Peaks club member the hills felt like a breeze (sort of...)
So: Mile 1 - 7.57 (suddenly there was the marker!), Mile 2 - 7.56, Mile 3 - 7.45, Mile 4 - 7.46, Mile 5 - 7.44, Mile 5 - 8.01 (long hill on that one), Mile 7 - 7.57, Mile 8 - 7.21 (starting to get back into my stride), Mile 9 - 7.48, Mile 10 - 7.43, Mile 11 - 7.21, Mile 12 - 7.32 (the end is in site, back on suburban roads and Cassiobury park seems very close), Mile 13 (and the extra .1 bit) 7.58.
What is really good, as I've said before on this blog, is if one can get support so thanks very much to James, Mark, Luisa and Milo for coming to Watford to watch the race, cheer and sound a rattle(!). Thank you so much to Luisa for making what was probably the best flapjack I've ever tasted (a cup of tea and a flapjack and lots of warm clothes and one is right-as-rain after these races...)
It goes without saying of course that they didn't know where I was at the end so missed my moment of triumph crossing the finish line in 1.40 but it is ever thus with these things. Probably the reason Francis Drake said he could 'see no ships' of the Spanish Amada coming towards England was that he'd been looking in the opposite direction at some fayre maiden at the crucial moment.
Anyway, fortunately we did meet up soon after the race, before I developed hypothermia, and went off to the junction cafe for a slap-up feast (see above).
So people to thank this week include James, Mark, Luisa and Milo for turning out to Watford and standing in the freezing cold, also again to Matt for the watch, which has now proved its worth. Thanks to Rachel for the Guiness and Bob Dylan evening (an unusual training method and one that I've not read in any running guides but which none-the-less seemed to work) and thanks again to Dad for the hills of Ischia; this half marathon was a chance to see how well the winter training had gone; the island of Ischia seems to have prepared me well for this challenge! Thanks also again to Flora for marching up those Yorkshire peaks; it's all grist to the mill. Dazed and amazed, a bit light-headed after this run and not in the best shape with the cold symptoms but really pleased to have acheived the time... onwards and upwards!
The Way of Yoga
I'm surprised that I don't read more in the running publications about the value of yoga. There's always quite a bit about core strength and the need to stretch and it seems to me that yoga is very much the answer to this.
I've done a bit of yoga over the years and more committedly over the last 6 months and I really can feel a difference especially in my lower back and left knee. Now the knee is still bad but without the yoga I think it would be terrible. I've also been having deep tissue massage once a week for about the last 10 weeks to try and sort my knee out. I have done everything for my knee: osteopath, physiotherapists, accupuncture, ultrasound, referral to a specialist, MRI scan... Nothing has worked. At least the deep tissue massage has had some effect and coupled with the yoga it forms a rounded therapy (my yoga teacher runs a massage therapy clinic at my gym).
It may be that yoga is a popular subject in the running press and I just haven't read the right articles, so I don't know, but I heartly recommend it; and some of the exercises are really good to do before a race - if you can find a bit of grass and you don't mind looking slightly odd! (why worry; we runners are odd, aren't we?)
I've done a bit of yoga over the years and more committedly over the last 6 months and I really can feel a difference especially in my lower back and left knee. Now the knee is still bad but without the yoga I think it would be terrible. I've also been having deep tissue massage once a week for about the last 10 weeks to try and sort my knee out. I have done everything for my knee: osteopath, physiotherapists, accupuncture, ultrasound, referral to a specialist, MRI scan... Nothing has worked. At least the deep tissue massage has had some effect and coupled with the yoga it forms a rounded therapy (my yoga teacher runs a massage therapy clinic at my gym).
It may be that yoga is a popular subject in the running press and I just haven't read the right articles, so I don't know, but I heartly recommend it; and some of the exercises are really good to do before a race - if you can find a bit of grass and you don't mind looking slightly odd! (why worry; we runners are odd, aren't we?)
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