The Irony Of It All

16:41 5 miles 37:46

1 8:33 2 7:16 3 7:22 4 6:51 5 7:43  Average 7:33 min/miles 

So yesterday was a rest day, a day for sitting in, putting the feet up, and enjoying (or enduring?) a little television. So, obviously, it was great weather. OK so there was occasional rain, but nothing compared to today. Wind, gale force, and rain, lashing! And what was I doing today? Sitting in, resting, taking it easy? Nope. Running 5 miles through Pollock Park’s steeplechase course. There were the hurdles, huge tree branches blocking the way, and water jumps in the shape of flooding right across the path! As JK (no not Rowling!) would say “this is what we might be faced with in June”, and he’s right of course. Usually I would have quite enjoyed this run, but I was trying to have a nice easy run in the lead up to Sunday’s race.

It was just me and Mrs pacepusher tonight as Miss Pump is scared of the wind. She ran on the treadmill instead, leaving us to brave the elements. It was actually not too bad once you were out there… well it was dry anyway! I took it easy early on, running much of the first mile with Mrs pacepusher, then pushed on a little, maintaining a reasonable pace for the next couple of miles. During mile 4, I put in a few strides of about 200 meters, hence the faster pace, then caught up with Mrs p, had a quick chat, then ran back to the gym. I find this kind of pre-race run hard as I can never settle into a pace. I’m always concerned that I’m too fast, then too slow, then too fast, then too… you get the idea! Still, hopefully that will keep the legs in fine fettle for Sunday’s half.

Great news! Crazyboy has passed a late fitness test and is coming to Liverpool with me… hurray! I like the feeling of camaraderie when going to races, and of course the added competition. I’m a little apprehensive about the run on Sunday. I haven’t raced, other than the West Highland Way training run (he says tongue in cheek), since the NYC Marathon, so I don’t know what to expect. I guess we’ll soon find out though. Fingers crossed! The weather forecast isn’t great. Wet would be the word, with winds of 15 mph. Still according to the BBC website, visibility will be ‘very good’, so we shouldn’t be bumping into each other as we run around the streets of Liverpool!

Do you need ID and proof that you’re not a Manchester United fan to get into Liverpool? Perhaps I should dig out my Bradford City ID. That said, we stopped them getting into Europe when keeping ourselves in the premiership in 2000 (alas allowing Leeds United to take their place), so that might not be great either. St. Mirren maybe?

I was going to watch some television for the remainder of the evening. However, as I’ve already run today, I’m scared in case I accidentally catch an episode of Eastenders and have to race out of the door for a second run. Maybe I should watch a DVD instead! 

The Perfect Motivation

I have finally realised the secret to keeping motivated. Usually, a hint of Drizzle, and I’m contemplating giving my run a miss, but not anymore. I have the solution!

Obviously being injured makes you desperate to run, but of course that injury means you can’t, so that’s pretty pointless in the motivation stakes. The secret, I discovered during a rest day yesterday, is to turn on the television. It starts when you get in from work, if you survive Countdown, you’re faced with… “Three boxes. One of which contains the trainers I’ll wear on Sunday, and no questions. Except one, Deal Or No Deal”. An ingenious game show devised for the needy and greedy to win money with little, actually no intellect. I’d love to go on that show and just open the boxes from left to right, no messing. No so called strategies, or desperate ‘feelings’ from a higher power, just open them left to right. Even better, just open the flipping box I’ve brought to the table, and we can all go back to the pub 30 minutes sooner. Don’t get me wrong, I’m addicted to this show, but let’s be honest, it would be time better spent out running.

If that’s not enough to get you out there, Hollyoaks will be on soon after. Again, I was addicted to this show, but now that it contains the characters Amy and Ste’, I can’t cope. They have become the most annoying ‘young and in love’ couple since Martin and Sonia in Eastenders! The trainers are nearly on my feet already!

Speaking of Eastenders…. If you’ve lasted this long without bursting out the door in a sprint, Albert Square’s goings on, will get you out there. I’d rather run in a hail storm with hurricane force winds than watch Eastenders! In the days of the aforementioned Martin and Sonia, I would have to turn off the telly or leave the room, now though, with Stacy’s mum, it’s the mute button I’m reaching for whenever she comes on screen. Her voice is so shrill that 6 pet dogs across Britain became acutely deaf during yesterday’s episode due to their owners failure to turn the sound down!

Are you running yet? No? Well get this image in your head. Ian Beale in nothing but his pants. I had nightmares last night! This man, who is supposed to be loaded, yet continues to look like a tramp, is being seduced by a character called Clare. The exact same actress, that played the exact same type of character, with the exact same name, in the exact same story line, in Hollyoaks. Is she that bad an actress that she can only remember one name? Minimal research reveals the real name of the actress. Yep, you guessed it, she’s called… Gemma! Oh well, It would have been good if it was Clare!

 
           The Tramp and… what was her name?

It turns out that Eastenders Clare, was in the show about 10 years ago, playing Nigel’s (I don’t know who he is!) stepdaughter, so it’s the Hollyoaks writers that have no imagination. Although they’re probably the same people with different coloured pens to help them remember what show they’re writing each time!

Go on, lace up those trainers and turn off the telly!

Actually, thinking of Countdown again, perhaps Carol Vorderman would be useful in working out predicted split times for the West Highland Way Race. I’ll e-mail Chanel 4 Now!

I’m A Big Girl!

19:14 10.5 miles 1:16:52

1 8:05 2 7:27 3 7:21 4 7:52 5 7:29 6 7:22 7 7:19 8 7:07 9 6:43 10 6:49 10.5 3:15 (6:28 pace)  Average 7:19 min/miles

A good run tonight, and I feel much better for it. My legs have been feeling terribly stiff  (that sounds so old fashioned… terribly stiff old boy!) yesterday and today, and I think that type of run was what I needed. I really enjoyed it tonight, taking some pressure off by taking it easier for most of the run and letting the leading few go on ahead. At first I ran with the front runners, but knowing I’m racing on Sunday, I held back, and joined the main group. I did let the legs go with a few miles to go though and was really impressed with my splits at the end of a longer run like that, especially as I didn’t feel like I was pushing that hard. Michael lead the way again. I think I should start to call him ‘Rocky‘ after the rooster in Chicken Run!

Once again I have to issue a ‘How Annoying?’ award to some joyous little sh… oops, Neds! Again we became the target of an unprovoked attack from a hill, home to some boarded up flats, resembling the baricade from Les Miserables. A large stone landed just between myself and Ian, so thankfully we’re both fine, and the onslaught continued on the other runners behind. It’s so unnecessary and makes me sooooooooooo angry! If I had tin cans piled on my head in a triangular formation, was standing in a fairground, and was charging 50p a go for three bean bags, then fair enough. But I’m not. I’m out running with other like minded folk, minding our own business, so leave us alone and throw stones at each other. You’ll have just as much fun, and you’ll hopefully reduce your own NEDanderthal population by a few!

On a lighter note, right at the start of the run, Ian lost his footing and headed towards the ground head first. He recovered with a fantastic forward roll, back to running manouvre, that left him unscathed. It was quite remarkable!

Sadly, it looks as though Crazyboy won’t be making it to Liverpool this weekend, his legs not fractured (thankfully) but is still really painful. Michael is at a wedding on the Saturday night, and so is unable to take his place, and Mum and Dad, who I’ll be staying with on Saturday night, are going to a party, so it’s going to be just me and The Long And Winding (Lonely) Road!

It’s official. I am a big girl. I own too many pairs of trainers. There, I’ve said it! You see the thing is I have to decide what pair of trainers I want to wear on Sunday in the Half-Marathon, and I can’t. I have (believe me I’ve narrowed it down already!) three pairs to choose from. I have a brand new pair of Saucony Grid Paramount sat in a box chomping at the bit to be let loose, a pair of Saucony Fastwitch Endurance, and a pair of Mizuno Wave Aero III, the latter two both being racing shoes, and both which have been favourites at different times. I don’t want any sleepless nights as I need my rest leading up to the race, so what do I do? Perhaps the ladies out there could offer some advice? Is it important to have them match my club vest? I’ll also be looking for a matching handbag and nail varnish to colour coordinate with the chosen pair!

Again, In Awe Of You Readers!

Thanks to all of you that read my blog. I have now achieved over 1000 hits in less than two months. I’m quite pleased with that. I really enjoy writing my blog, I find it a great way to reflect on the lighter side of being a runner, and training runs fly by as you plan your next post on the move! I’m judging from the number of hits that a lot of you like to read it too, which makes it all worth while!

I’m fighting the urge to run today. I’m definitely due a rest day, but my trainers keep looking at me with a sense of neglect. My trail shoes actually have a tear in one of their eyes due to under use… they seem to only get out a couple of times a month at the moment. After the London Marathon I think they might get a shock as I plan to do more off road work in the build up to the West Highland Way.

I’m really looking forward to the Liverpool Half-Marathon this weekend. It’s been great reading about Marco and Debs excellent times in Blackpool last weekend, and it’s really motivated me. I agree with them about Blackpool though. I ran the Marathon there (well 19 miles of it before injury made me give up) a while back, and the place really isn’t worth the stick of rock it’s written on!

  The Logo For The Race On Sunday 2nd March

There was a competition to name each of the mile markers for the race after songs by The Beatles. Here’s the winning entries, I think they’re quite clever.

Start/Finish area – Come Together
Mile 1 – I’ll Be On My Way
Mile 2 – The Long And Winding Road
Mile 3 – Don’t Pass Me By
Mile 4 – All Together Now
Mile 5 – I Feel Fine
Mile 6 – Why Don’t We Do It In The Road
Mile 7 – With A Little Help From My Friends
Mile 8 – It Won’t Be Long
Mile 9 – I Should Have Known Better
Mile 10 – Ask Me Why
Mile 11 – I’m So Tired
Mile 12 – Don’t Let Me Down
Mile 13 – The End!

Apparently I’ll also get to do some sightseeing on route. On about mile 8, I’ll pass 28 Ullett Road. What’s so special about this? I hear you ask. Well this was the former home of John Brodie. Who? again I hear you ask. Well… he invented, wait for it… the goal net! where would we be without that, eh?

Sadly it’s touch and go as to whether or not Crazyboy will still be joining me this weekend. He’s going for an X-ray on his shin tonight. He insists that if it’s not a fracture he’s running through the pain… needless to say, I have Michael, the headless chicken, on standby! 

Headless Chickens

19:17 8.5 miles 1:09:57

10x (3 mins (1 min)) 

It was wet and windy again tonight, not the sort of dark February Monday evening that encourages you to head out of your nice warm house! I wasn’t looking forward to running up the same cycle path, with the same headwind, that I’d run up the last two days at the start of the long runs. At least it was going to be dark this time except for the light from our head-torches.

It was a much steadier pace throughout tonight. A lot of the group had run in the National Cross-Country on Saturday, and others had run in a 12.5k (yep… that’s 12.5k!) race yesterday. My legs weren’t exactly feeling great after my two long runs either, and so I took things easy early on, then pushed a bit toward the end. I had a much more relaxed attitude toward the session than normal, and didn’t obsess about speed and who was trying to pass me. I just ran with how I felt, and the legs coped admirably!

Of course Michael made it look easy again, looking like he had just had a weeks rest, rather than being the fastest out of the group in Falkirk on Saturday. I’m sure Michael was a chicken in a former life. I reckon if you were to cut his head off he would just continue running aimlessly at high speed! 

I was surprised at how tired I felt during the run yesterday compared with previous weeks, and it was only when I was filling out my training diary last night that I realised why. I haven’t been doing my two long runs over consecutive days since the second week in January. Because of my knee, I have of course been taking a rest day, Running 20 miles on the Friday, and 18 miles on the Sunday, with a lazy Saturday in between. So that was actually my first real attempt at consecutive long runs, especially as both paced runs have hit the 20 mile mark. So that’s why I was tired, that’s why it hurt more than I expected and that’s why I’m now actually quite pleased with the run!

The second thing to note from yesterdays venture into the training diary, is the condition of my trainers. My Saucony Grid Omni 6 (or my slippers, as I like to call them because they’re so comfortable) have finally sold their sole to the Devil! After pounding 577 miles of concrete with my big feet in them, I think retirement is in order. Although always hard to let them go, I think it’s time they became… whisper, they might hear me… Body Pump/gym shoes!

Miss Pump managed to run 10 miles yesterday without too much complaining from her injured calf muscle, which is great news. However, after sending a text to Crazyboy yesterday to tell him we weren’t going to do Body Pump, he decided that also gave him the excuse not to do it. He didn’t run either (although we’ll let him off that for his dodgy leg), but he has been warned that any other similar examples of such lapses in training will result in him becoming known as Lazyboy on this blog!  

Blofeld, Bond and Mrs pacepusher Galore

07:24 20 miles 3:08:56

1 10:01 2 10:22 3 10:28 4 10:02 5 9:44 6 9:37 7 9:32 8 9:21 9 9:09 10 8:58 11 9:05 12 9:09 13 9:29 14 9:04 15 9:11 16 9:11 17 8:55 18 9:17 19 9:25 20 8:58  Average 9:27 min/miles

Ok, enough with the Bond thing! It was windy again, and the Mrs pacepusher Galore (Pussy Galore…  see what i did there?) thing has been in my head since the first mile of the run! If you’re new to my blog you’ll have no idea what I’m talking about. Anyway…

The alarm went off at 6:30 am this morning. Thankfully it was the relaxing sound of Sigur Ros’ and their great tune, Hoppipolla. Anything less soothing, and the alarm may have found itself flying across the bedroom, before accidentally colliding with the wall! It felt like the middle of the night and it was a real struggle to get up… 15 minutes after the alarm had first sounded.

A quick slice of toast, rucksack packed, and we were off. It was just me and Mrs pacepusher today, so we ran from home rather than the gym. Miss Pump and Crazyboy are starting to resemble volumes one and two of an Illustrated Sports Injury Encyclopedia! They are having no luck at all and we hope they’ll both be back fit soon. Mind you, Crazyboy did tell me last night that he’s doing the Liverpool Half-Marathon next weekend even if he has to hop around the course! Crazyboy by name…

The run started steadily, neither of us feeling great and the wind battering us for the first 5 miles. We ran the same route that I did yesterday, which was mentally tough for me. On my long runs recently I’ve just been making it up as I go along with my trusty GPS, which means you can’t imagine what’s still ahead of you when you’re tired. As I was tired from the start today, it was a long 20 miles!

Mrs pacepusher ran well, and worked really hard, whilst I ran badly and worked really hard. So we were both shattered at the end and gave the Body Pump class a miss… Sorry Miss Pump! I’ve just had a big sausage sandwich and I’m now feeling human again. I’m looking forward to just doing one run next weekend, especially as it’s only (only? how your perspective changes!) 13 miles!

The Scores On The Doors

09:17 20 miles 2:33:22

1 7:33 2 7:46 3 7:42 4 7:30 5 7:33 6 7:31 7 7:23 8 7:31 9 7:39 10 7:32 11 7:35 12 7:51 13 7:39 14 7:47 15 7:34 16 7:53 17 7:51 18 8:01 19 7:55 20 7:37  Average 7:40 min/miles

I’m not long since back from the National Cross Country Championships in Falkirk. Congratulations to you if you ran! It was good to see all the events and the course itself, and offer some support. I was keen to get my long runs in this weekend as I’m racing next week in Liverpool, but maybe next year… I’ve always said ‘I don’t do’ cross country, but that looked kind of fun!

The Start Of The Senior Men’s 12k Race

It was really hard getting up and out for my run this morning. The weather was awful. I got up as planned, looked out of the window, and went back to bed, deciding one 20 mile run would be enough this weekend. Once back in bed however, the guilt overcame me, and I got up again and ate my breakfast. I then made the mistake of getting comfortable on the sofa watching telly. It’s amazing what you’ll watch rather than do what you should be doing. Gladiators… for example, the 1995 final no less… how could I not? The haircuts and the outfits of all involved were worth watching alone! Still, I made it out eventually, although I almost tripped over my bottom lip on the way out of the door!

I’ll class my run this morning as a score draw, it is Saturday after all! We’ll call it, pacepusher 1, The Wind 1. I think I scored early on as I battled to maintain a good pace over the first few miles into a head wind, but the wind showed that it’s fitter than me. It finished strongly, hitting the net as I tired over the last few miles into what felt like the strongest wind of the run.

I was pleased with my run overall today. My aim was to keep the pace at sub-8:00 min/mile pace throughout, which I just about managed. It was only the 18th mile that let me down. There’s plenty of excuses I could give, traffic, the wind, shoelaces, whatever. But the truth is, I was shattered. I had to work really hard over the last two miles to get back to sub-8 pace. I’m now running my 20 mile runs at almost the same speed I was just before the NYC Marathon, but they don’t hurt quite so much! My endurance is so much better this time from all the West Highland Way runs. Today’s run was just over 5 minutes faster than 2 weeks ago, yet felt easier, so I’m really pleased

Onto the Scottish Division One scores… after the race today, it’s now John K 0, Ian B 2. They have a bit of a challenge going on this year. They have both set goals for the year, which for John, includes beating Ian in a race. For Ian however (nothing like putting yourself under a bit of pressure), it’s to beat John in every race.

John & Ian at the National Cross Country Today

Well done Ian, another one in the bag! I’ve put you on the right John so that at first glance it looks like you’re winning. I missed the photo opportunity on the first lap when you were leading!

Another 20 miles in the morning, this time nearer WHW training pace. Let’s just hope that Blofeld has gone underground so I can enjoy my run in peace, ‘Ahhh Meester pacepusher…’

Slimfast v’s Runfast

Everyday there seems to be a new diet on the market. We turn on the television and are bombarded with adverts like the one for Weightwatchers, with comments from the husbands like, ‘my wife was fat and unhappy and I didn’t fancy her anymore,  but now that she’s been to Weightwatchers she’s perfect’, or the beautician who claims, ‘it used to take four days to complete her treatment, but now that she’s been on the Weightwatchers diet and isn’t so big, it takes me 30 mins’. Charming I know, but that’s what they imply.

We’ve had the Atkins diet (eat steak with fried eggs, get a high cholesterol and clog your arteries with fat, but you’ll be slim), the GI diet (eat something slow release in the morning and it’ll last you the whole day), the (if you read his blog) JK Spielberg, broken scales diet (lose the weight of your left leg during a 30 minute run), Scottish Slimmers et. al. and who could forget the Slimfast diet? …eat nothing, have a milkshake, lose weight!

The reason for all this? Well this is me, pacepusher, before I tried the new Runfast diet.

               
         A rather chunkier pacepusher completing (just) 
                 the 21st Great Scottish Run in 2002

With free membership, and an introductory starting pack for only £75.00 (includes new Saucony trainers, and free box) don’t miss out. Sign up today for the Runfast plan!

N.B. Please consult your doctor before embarking on any diet/exercise programmes… he says sarcastically!

Healthy Eating Is Bad For You!

19:48 5 miles 37:24

1 7:43 2 7:33 3 7:32 4 7:14 5 7:22  Average 7:29 min/miles

Here’s the thing. I like to eat healthily. I read the nutritional pages of Runners World, I mock TV chef’s that fill their menus with cream, I eat Mrs pacepushers fabulous home cooking, heck! I even studied a bit of nutrition at university. But here’s the thing they don’t tell you. Eating healthily breaks your teeth! Yes, this morning I rather annoyingly broke a tooth. Was I eating a toffee, a Snickers, or any other unhealthy treat? No! I was eating wholemeal toast and sugar free jam… how does that work? I’m going back to junk food from now on!

Like last Thursday, the hardest part of tonight’s run was getting out the door in the first place, but armed with trusty ipod shuffle and head torch, I headed out. I was running on very tired legs tonight and so aimed for my usual easy pace of about 7:30 min/miles. I was struggling early on but didn’t worry about the pace. I just kept running easy, and the legs began to loosen. Despite the decreasing proximity to home, I managed to resist the temptation to push the pace and kept myself slow (surprising I know). I got home in one piece, pleased that I’d been out, and looking forward to a rest day tomorrow before the weekends long runs. I’m planning two twenty mile runs this weekend. The first at marathon training pace, and the second at closer to WHW training pace.

I ran past Davie and Stevie from the club tonight. Being responsible club runners, we were both carrying torches to ‘see and be seen’ which meant I was blinded by the lights (wasn’t that a Streets song?) and couldn’t actually see who I was running towards until I’d already passed them, given a cursory “alright?”, which I probably shouted due to the music blasting in my ears! So if your reading guys, a proper “hello”, and I hope you had a good run.

Like Blofeld is to Bond, my evil adversary the wind, is starting to build in strength again today in preparation for my long run this weekend. Unlike 007 however, I’m yet to beat the bad guy, and the wind just keeps stroking it’s evil, white, Persian cat and whistling “Ahh welcome meester pacepusher, I’ve been expecting you” in my ears!

A Picture Paints A Thousand Words

19:13 7 miles 49:29

1 7:48 2 6:55 3 7:06 4 7:01 5 6:56 6 6:56 7 6:48  Average 7:04 min/miles

It was a bit warmer tonight and breathing might have felt a little easier than last night had I not ended up… yep… pushing the pace! The group set out, as usual, at a very steady pace and it wasn’t long before we started to split, and the usual suspects took to the front. No Michael or Davie tonight, but myself and Ian were there at the front to keep with Wednesday night tradition!

We were joined at the front by a new comer to the club called Mark. He had clearly bitten off more than he could chew and after about three miles dropped back. We eased off to let him gain on us, but he stopped to walk. We felt bad leaving him, but he said he knew where he was going, so we pushed on wanting to get the most out of our own runs. The pace kept building and I left Ian with about 2 miles to go. I was feeling really strong again tonight and enjoyed the slightly shorter than normal, but faster session. I’m really pleased with my speed and endurance at this stage in my training, and I’m very positive about the half-marathon, and full marathons, that are coming up before the big one in June. 

I’ve created a new page which you can access on the top right hand corner of this blog. It’s titled, ‘Nobody Said It Was Easy’, and shows photographs of me at the end of Saturdays West Highland Way run. All I’ll say is that a picture paints a thousand words!