2000 Miles

A nice easy 3 miles (not timed) around the woodland trail with Harvey and four deer, and that’s 2000 miles, to quote Gordon Ramsey… Done!

Harvey has decided he likes chasing birds. The thing is though, is that he sucks at it! He sees the bird, it flies away, he can’t work out where it’s gone. So bad at it is he,  that today I had to clean bird poo off his face. One of our feathered friends had got him right between the eyes!

Happy Christmas Readers, have a good one, and if I can’t be bothered to blog before New Year, enjoy that too!

Almost ******’ There!

Right now, I reckon that, ‘Sir Harvey of Winalot’, is one of the happiest dogs in Britain…and one of the most exhausted!

We’re just back from another walk (4 miles), we had a wee outing between lessons today (about 1 mile), and this morning we did this…

10:00 4.5 miles 32:00 approx

no splits  Approx 7:06 min/miles

This was supposed to be an easy run, but you know what I’m like. What’s more, for the first time in ages, I felt pretty good and actually enjoyed my run. We headed for the woodland trail (in the car!) and completed 3 laps of the full 1.5 mile circuit. Harvey had a great time, exploring the area and chasing me, and if he got tired, he ran in front of me and slowed down. Thus causing me to slow down, or as happened twice, fall over him!

Right at the start of the run I saw the deer that live in the area. It’s always nice to see them, but especially at Christmas (I’m sure the one with the big red nose was missing though!). Sadly however, before he’d even seen them, Harvey’s presence had scared them off. We also passed another guy walking his (stupid little) dog, and Harvey behaved impeccably. Unlike the other dog, it ran under my feet and got kicked. Harvey looked at it, and I swear, tutted at it’s poor behaviour/stupidity.  

I can’t put into words how much I appreciate Mrs pacepusher’s decision to allow me to get Harvey. As I explained to her I would have waited, as was the plan, until January, had it not been for this dog. I knew as soon as I saw him that he belonged with me. I adore this dog, but I guess I still adore Mrs p more!

Anyway, enough. At this rate, this blog is gonna need to be added to a dog lover’s, or a wife appreciation blogline, rather than be associated with the WHW race and it’s runners!

So back to the usual crap… I was made fully aware of the quality of Linwood’s youth today. As I passed a boy of about 10 years old wearing full NED clothing, he shouted, “**** (yep, he said duck!) you“, and stuck two fingers up in the direction of some fellow quality youngsters clad in Burberry. The reply of, “really young man, I think that’s uncalled for!” surprised me. Well it would have done, if he hadn’t actually shouted, “suck my **** (yep, he said lollipop!)”. I had to cover Harvey’s ears! In my day we had gangs of Casuals and Mods etc. (not that I was in a gang… I was way too cool for that!?!?!?) yet we’d all meet up in the school grounds to play football (Steven Pressley of Rangers and Celtic fame was one of the crowd). After a game, we’d all shake hands. It’d be like that infamous moment during which ever World War it was (Mrs p?) when the two sides put down their weapons and had a kick about (I’m sure the Germans won that one on penalties too!). We would say happy Christmas, not shout at each other with this kind of language. It continues to shock, and sadden me, when I hear it. 

Well, 2.25 miles to go to reach the 2000 mile mark for the year. I’ll try and get it over and done with in the morning if Harvey has the energy (OK, OK, if I have the energy!) and then I can stick to walking for the rest of the year. Although I think Harvey is getting the running bug too!

P.S. I’ve just noted my excessive use of brackets (Sorry!) in this post.

The Iron Soldier

20th December 09:35

Milngavie to Drymen 1:58:04  Average 9:17 min/miles

approx 30 mins stop for some delicious vegetable soup and a can of ‘full fat’ Coke!

Drymen to Milngavie 2:00:25  Average 9:25 min/miles

There’s not a lot to say about yesterday’s run that JK hasn’t already said.  I had a bad run. Various problems all based around not feeling 100%. I had headaches, temperatures, and a very strong urge to be sick (maybe it was just worry that I’d left Harvey with Mrs pacepusher and she might take him back to the pound!). She didn’t, they got on fine and shared two walks… she loves him really!

It was just before Drymen when I really started to feel ill yesterday, and in the cafe, there was genuine concern from others. Phil suggested calling a taxi for me, Marco suggested he run back to Milngavie and drive back to get me, and Sharon went into her handbag (?) to find me some painkillers. Thanks to you all, but there was no way I was stopping unless I physically couldn’t run another step. Just short of 23 miles a big wave of sickness hit me again. My answer? “I want this over with”. Suddenly, much to my surprise, I had a new lease of life, and approaching 24 miles my GPS was showing 6:30 pace!

So I finished strongly, but it was a long day and to be honest, sadly not as enjoyable as it should have been. I met some new people and had a chance to catch up with a few familiar faces, but realistically, this was one of those bad runs that let you know how to appreciate a good run. You know I wasn’t feeling great as I didn’t take a single photo!

Today, I took Harvey for a walk. He’s currently hard and fast asleep, having just demolished his dinner. I walked him 10 miles today, up the cycle track from Brookfield to Kilmacolm and  back, stopping for a pint of lager for me and a water for my boy! We had great fun, and I’m really enjoying learning just how clever he is. I didn’t have him on the lead at all today (only 3 days after getting him), he walked at heel, he sat and stayed until called, and he ran around like a nutter when I let him. I was thanked by runners and cyclists for keeping him out of their way, and one runner said, “I wish they were all so well trained”, I guess the shoe has been on the other foot so many times. Then a walker who also had her dog off the lead, said, as Harvey walked perfectly at heel, “Wow! What a well trained dog!”. 3 days he’s been with me! I can’t take the credit for his initial training, but he seems to get better and better each time we go out… he’s an absolute gem, and I’ve been really lucky!

Those of you that don’t know this cycle track, won’t recognise the figures below which guard the track between Bridge Of Weir and Kilmacolm. These iron soldiers mark the 6 mile point from my house, and anyone that has run the out and back route with me, will know that I have to salute the captain (the silver figure) otherwise a bad run will follow. It’s stupid, but once you’ve done it once or twice, you can’t take the risk. So anyway I was glad to see that Harvey didn’t choose to pee against him, otherwise I suspect I could never have run that way again! 

      

 

After yesterday’s run, I have only 6.75 miles to go to reach my 2000 mile target. As I think yesterday showed, my body has had enough this year. I told JK yesterday that I won’t be taking part in any of the club races over the remainder of the month. I will complete the remaining miles with some easy runs with Harvey, and then I’m going to put my feet up until the New Year, doing nothing more than walking with Mrs pacepusher and Harvey. It’s been a very long year, and I think some rest is well over due.

Harvey, is still asleep!

Our First Outing

Crazyboy has suggested that my new buddy be named pawspusher, rather than Harvey. I think not, but I loved his comment about pawspusher and pacepusher fighting it out to be first home! We’re such a nation of animal lovers. After almost a year of blogging, I tell you I’ve got a dog and I get more comments than ever before!

14:00ish 4.5 miles not timed

After a long walk this morning, I took Harvey for his first run this afternoon. We ran to the Linwood River Woodland Path, and battled our way through wind, rain, and decidedly deep puddles, most of which I ploughed through, whilst the Harvster ran round them. I was intending on just doing 3 miles to ease him in gently, but he seemed to be suffering less than me so we did another lap of the river! At times I was running as hard as was physically possible in the conditions whilst Harvey trotted along at what can only be described as a fast walk… oh to be a little more aerodynamic, have four legs, and the endless energy of a Collie!

Anyway, he’s now hard and fast asleep… although I suspect that if I suggest a (and I’ll spell it so he doesn’t know what I’m saying!) W.A.L.K. he’ll jump up as though he’s done nothing all day. I get the feeling he’s going to keep me busy.

He was in the ‘dog house’ earlier today. I had to leave him on his own for a couple of hours, and whilst I was away he scratched wood off the door. After being told off, head down, he plodded off to his bed without being told. He stayed there for about half an hour until soft touch here called him through to the lounge!

My New Running Partner

Hi, my name is Harvey and I am the new addition to the pacepusher clan. I’m about 9 months old, and I am a Collie cross (I think dad might have been a Rottweiler). My last owners didn’t want me. They spent all their time with their other dog and just ignored me, they even left me with a muzzle on all the time! I’m not nasty so I don’t know why they did that. Anyway, they eventually dumped me at the Scottish SPCA centre where some lovely kind people looked after me for a while, but my kennel was cold, and noisy because of all the other dogs.

All I wanted for Christmas was a new home and some love, so every night I said a prayer and wished that somebody would come for me. Today they did. My new owner, pacepusher, picked me up earlier this afternoon, and brought me here to his nice warm home, with nice treats and toys. I’m on my best behaviour because I don’t want to go back to the kennels, so when I’m told to sit, I do, and when I’m told to lay on my bed, I do that too. I don’t mind, we’ve already been for a three mile walk since I got here, and my new owner says that next time, we’ll run it. I can’t wait because I love running! 

I’m sure I’ll speak to you all again soon, and maybe even meet some of you sometime. I’m off to curl up on the floor at pacepusher’s feet now as it’s been a very long, but happy day for me.

P.S. It’s very hard to take my photo because when I do stop and lie down, I’ll get all excited if you come near me and I won’t sit still!

For Once, Accidental Pacepushing

19:14 8.75 miles 1:05:06

Splits are a bit messed up as I caught the lap button on my GPS with my jacket sleeve…

.12 1:03 (8:42 pace) 1 7:49 2 7:49 3 7:32 4 7:42 5 7:57 6 6:52 7 7:09 8 6:59 .64 4:14 (6:40 pace)  Average 7:26 min/miles

Another club run and another case of pacepusher ending up at the front without meaning to! The pace was steady away early on, with the group of about 7 chatting and easing themselves in. Davie was pushing on and kept having to return to the group, whilst I was sitting back chatting to Chris (hope you appreciate my return to frequent blogging, hope I didn’t bore you with my chat, and well done on you run in foreign lands!) then suddenly, just after passing my house (I hate doing that, and the guys know it!) Davie dropped back, and there I was at the front… d’oh! I was trying to take it easy. Then Davie appears again, starts chatting to me, and before I know it, I’ve been dragged along at a faster pace and we’re well ahead of the group.

Well you can’t drop back again, and nobody likes running in no mans land, so I just stuck with it. Just before the hill into Kilbarchan, JK appeared having chased us down, and the three of us carried on with the pace getting faster and faster. I had to work hard to stick with them, and they lost me up the final hill. Only for me to reappear next to them on the downhill section, as predicted to Davie by JK… have I ever mentioned I love running downhill?

So another run for 2008, and another 8.75 miles closer to 2000. The plan is to get to the magic milestone asap, then take the rest of the year off. I think my body needs it!

Thanks for the Birthday wishes from those that commented, and Happy Birthday Subversive Runner for whenever yours is at this unfortunate time for Birthdays… there really should only be one persons Birthday in December, the big mans, cause he ruins it for the rest of us!

What Have I Been Up To?

Sunday 7th December

12:25 15.5 miles 3:01:55

Average 11:44 min/miles

Rowardennan to Inversnaid and back.

       Mrs pacepusher approaching Inversnaid.

It’s amazing how different the WHW can be when you run it in the direction you are not used to. The return run of this route was really uphill, much more so than you notice when you’re running to Inversnaid.

Monday 8th December

09:38 9 miles 1:07:42

Average 7:32 min/miles

A bit too far on tired legs, but I had to go and get my car from Mosspark and I hate buses!

Thursday 11th December

12:28 14.07 miles 2:46:23

Drovers Inn to Inversnaid – Average 11:30 min/miles

Inversnaid to Drovers Inn – Average 12:09 min/miles

Total – Average 11:50 min/miles  

The Loch was incredibly still and with some snow on the hills, I just had to take the odd photo opportunity!

After the WHW JK group had run this route almost two weeks previous, I was never alone on my solo effort. Throughout the run I kept spotting the name badges that the guys had worn, but had fallen off whilst they ran. I counted at least 6 and they were still readable. I even spotted a folded over sticker with the letters CAR on it. I assume on the other side was OLINE. Mrs pacepusher, you and several others are officially litter bugs!

Mum and Dad were staying this weekend so too much Christmas spirit equals no running. Last night the plan was to go to the running club, but… well  it was my Birthday! Actually both myself and Mrs p were feeling a little under the weather, and plans to go out for a curry developed into a take out… and very good it was. However I was awake at 3am and hardly slept until my alarm went off at 7am.

Today I woke up feeling almost as bad as I had about 3 weeks ago when I had ‘real’ flu. Some magic pills seemed to ease the suffering, but I was concerned that old age might have finally caught up with me, however, I was still able to use my mobile phone, the laptop and the DVD player so I think I’m OK for another year.

So this afternoon feeling strangely well, I went for a run. I had tired legs and tight calves early on (probably due to last weeks WHW efforts and a few days off) but things eased off and I felt as though I got considerably faster with each mile.

15:15ish 5 miles not timed

I kind of wish I had been wearing my GPS, or at least my watch today, as I’d be really interested to see my splits. I felt like I was flying over the last couple of miles for the first time in a long time.

Another 5 miles done, and that leaves just 45.5 to go before 2009 to make the 2000 miles. With 24ish to run on the WHW on Saturday (fingers crossed, touch wood, etc.) it’s in the bag!

So that’s it. You’re now fully up to date. I’ll try and get back to regular blogging from now on!

Running On Gas

14:00ish 5 miles not timed

I was intending a run of about 8 or 9 miles today, but I didn’t feel great, probably as a result of yesterday’s efforts. So I decided to cut the run down to 4 or 5 miles depending on how I felt. Approaching the ‘decision point’ I felt OK so decided on the 5 mile route. The problem with this was the road closure due to gas mains work.  A quick chat with the workmen and I was allowed to proceed. However the road (and path) was literally ‘closed’, so after making them stop the digger (health and safety folks!) I continued past on the rather dirty and slippy grass verge, breathing in the gas fumes as I went. This wasn’t the end of the troubles though. Brookfield was mobbed due to the road closure. Usually I’ll see one or two cars through this section, but today it was like the M25 on a Friday evening. Several times I had to use the grass (mud) verge to save my life, and a couple of times had to simply run behind (or wait behind) slow moving cars. Back on the road to home things were a little calmer and I made it home in one piece, glad that this was only ever intended to be an easy run.

Thanks to everyone for their comments over the last week, and finally I think I’ll follow some of your advice. Firstly, I’ve peed on a stick, and I’m not pregnant Debs. Secondly, I think I’m going to have a day off tomorrow, “at last” says Marco, and finally, I’m going to follow my favourite advice, courtesy of Davie, and have a couple of medicinal beers tonight (hence why I’m planning a day off tomorrow!). Also thanks to Tim for the well wishes in attaining 2000 miles for the year… 89 to go!

You may have noticed that I haven’t been swimming in sometime, in fact, not since I finally managed to swim a mile in sub 40:00 mins. Well there’s a quote by Coach from the classic American comedy ‘Cheers’ which best sums up my feelings on swimming…

“I’ve been doing lengths in the pool. This morning I managed 3, it took me about an hour. (Gee, isn’t that a bit slow Coach?) Well I’d have been a lot quicker if someone hadn’t filled the track with water!”

Finally, I’ve just taken this photo out of the window with my phone…

Red sky at night… runner’s delight. Have a good weekend folks!

Still Fighting The Bug

After Monday’s disastrous run, I continued to feel pretty rough. So being the kind of sensible runner that I am… I’ve kept running!

Now I’m not completely stupid, so on Tuesday I went out for a tentative shorter run around the nice soft woodland trail.

12:30ish 3.5 miles not timed

I say nice and soft, but what I discovered was basically sheet ice throughout the trail. It was great fun though. It helped me keep the speed down, and provided a chance to impress the judges with the odd Triple Salko or two that were rewarded with perfect 10 scores!

Yesterday I attempted to run again, but after about 100 meters, I turned around and came home. I just didn’t feel well enough. Last night though, I had perked up a bit and decided to follow Mrs pacepusher to the club for an easy run with her group. Given the continued frozen conditions, we didn’t expect a big turn out, but a grand total turnout of 6 runners made us think that maybe we weren’t being very sensible!

19:17 7.5 miles 1:06:35

no splits  Average 8:52 min/miles

Max headed off alone for his run in his usual dedicated style, whilst the other 5 of us headed out together. It was a mixed bag of abilities and given the ice, we stuck together as best we could. My GPS wasn’t set for auto-lap so I don’t know the splits, but I suspect there was nothing consistent about the running speed. I certainly sped up over the last couple of miles, and had a few slower ones when the ice was bad. On the whole it wasn’t too bad, although Richard did take a nasty tumble fairly early on. I hope you’re OK today mate!

Which brings us to today…

12:31 5.5 miles 39:38

1 7:06 2 7:16 3 7:19 4 7:11 5 6:51 .5 3:55  Average 7:12 min/miles

I wasn’t sure how I felt today, but once out the door things seemed OK. Feeling good, I thought I would see how I would cope with an increase in speed. The first mile was fine, but all the others found good sections and bad, one minute I was flying, the next my legs felt like lead and I felt rotten. After pushing as hard as I could for the 5th mile, I eased off and trotted the half mile home as a cool down.

The ice was much better today, although there were some bad sections on the cycle track. Not least on the bridge crossing the dual carriageway. As I reached the crest of the hill, I felt myself begin to slip. It was great, I just let myself be taken by the ice and skidded a good 5 meters before continuing in my stride as though nothing ever happened!

So, hopefully I’m now on my way back to full fitness, but I’m not going to speak too soon. I’ve also now run 1906 miles this year, so only 94 to go to break the 2000 barrier. Fingers crossed, that shouldn’t be a problem now!

Kill Or Cure?

Kill. Definitely!

12:30ish 5 miles not timed

This was a disaster. At first, although breathing was hard, I felt quite good. By the end of the first mile however, breathing was really hard, and I realised that I was a little short on energy. After a mile and a half, I realised that running 5 miles was a bad idea and that I was out running at least one day too soon! So, did I turn around and just make it a 3 mile run? Did I cut the run short and make it just 4 miles? Nope. I completed the full 5 miles… just!

I don’t think I have ever covered this 5 mile route so slowly, I even had to take 3 walk breaks! Since returning home, I’ve felt sick, dizzy and generally still ill. I really don’t think I should have been running just yet, but give me some credit, at least I didn’t go to the club for tonight’s speed session!

So what will I do tomorrow, rest? I doubt it!