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Berlin Marathon Training: Week Four

6/30/2017

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Week Four = a quarter of the way through my sixteen week marathon training programme - time is absolutely flying! This week has certainly started to feel like marathon training though...

MONDAY: following Sunday's Round Sheffield Run event my legs were sore today and I generally felt physically tired. I went to Body Pump but could feel it was more effort than normal.

TUESDAY: interval day, and despite my Garmin seeming unable to register a correct pace (I was definitely not running 4 min/mile pace and hopefully not running 11 min/mile pace!) I enjoyed the workout.  6 miles of 5 x 1000m with 200m recoveries was on the plan and I managed to keep all reps between 6.57 and 7.11 min/mile pace. Abs class after. 

WEDNESDAY: after a physically demanding day at work I was not very inspired to get home and lace up my trainers for 7 miles in the persistent heavy rain. I did though; and after a bit of a mental battle during mile one in which my head was trying to convince myself this was pointless, I slotted into a really nice rhythm. I was supposed to run an easy 9 min/mile pace, but finished with an average of 8.21 min/mile. Perhaps I was not as knackered as I felt after all!? Body Pump class straight after soon dispelled that thought though - that was a struggle!

THURSDAY: one of those runs which was just really horrible. I was working late so had the morning to get my run in. I set an early alarm and drew back the curtains with great intention. It was still pouring with rain. I could not face getting soaked to the skin again, so decided to give it an hour to clear and also try bank a bit longer recovery from my evening workout yesterday. Of course it did not stop raining,  which did not put me in a great mood to begin with. ​As I started running I instantly felt like I had no energy, each step seemed an extra effort - not a great feeling with 7 miles ahead!
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The plan was for alternating miles, an easy mile (approx 9 min/mile) followed by a hard mile (sub 8 min/mile pace). My resulting splits look alright on paper - 9.01, 7.36, 8.40, 7.43, 8.47, 7.51, 8.51 - but in practice it was such a struggle. I even stopped a couple of times, sheltering from the rain and wind driving into my face and gave myself a mental pep talk. A run completed - but not one I particularly enjoyed!

​FRIDAY: Rest Day

​SATURDAY: Lincoln parkrun, minus cake this week, but this time with my sister! The first time my sister ever completed a parkrun was in Lincoln when she was last visiting me, so it was always on the agenda to take her back to Boultham Park on her next visit. I had a real struggle of a middle lap today, but I rescued a good time thanks to a quick first lap, and finding some energy from somewhere for the final loop. I finished as 3rd female in 21:35, my friend was 4th female in a new PB, and my sister 5th female also in a massive new PB (see image). A good morning. 


SUNDAY: with my sister over for the weekend and a long run on my training plan I decided a good option was to find a local race for us to do together rather than asking her to run round streets with me. We opted for the Race For Life Half Marathon at Clumber Park. Full blog to follow - but we managed a 5th and 6th female placing, finishing in identical times (quite apt for identical twins!) but only after mastering a whole load of hills in the process!
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Round Sheffield Run 2017

6/27/2017

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My Round Sheffield Run 2017 can probably be summarised in a few words; a top 20 finish, 11 minutes quicker than last year, no twisted ankles, and a whole lot of fun! But the race definitely deserves more than just a few words…
 
My friend and I took on Round Sheffield Run in 2016 for the first time; it was totally unknown to us and just something my friend had spotted and thought looked different to try. It turned out to be one of the standout events of 2016 for us both. Needless to say we eagerly signed up for 2017. The race comprises of 11 timed stages of running totally 20km, with 4.5km worth of recovery breaks in between the stages, and is set along simply beautiful trails and parkland in Sheffield. The event also allows you to compete as a pair, which is another novel concept and one which really allows you to share the experience with others.
 
The race starts at Endcliffe Park in Sheffield; itself a beautiful location. My friend and I had chosen an early start wave, and as I checked in our timing 'dibber' at the start line checkpoint, it felt relatively calm around us and not at all like the mass fanfare of some races. It was quite refreshing to be honest! Stage 1 is a gentle introduction to what is to come; the route weaves through picturesque woodland on a mix of paved and dirt tracks, with a few very gentle inclines thrown into the mix. One thing I learnt from 2016 was not to bother with my Garmin, I turned it on just so I could track the distance I covered, but the important thing is to check in the ‘dibber’ at the start and end of each stage as this is what tracks your time.  
 
Stage 2 is affectionately known as King of the Mountain – which gives a clear indication of what to expect. Last year this stage ruined my legs; at the time I was struggling to run hills, so 2.5km of gradual ascent was not ideal! My friend and I braced ourselves for the challenge though and began to steadily attack the climb. There was damp almost humid moisture in the air at this point and as the narrow rocky path rose steeper and steeper through dense woodland, passing by running water and rocky sculptures, I felt like I was in a different country – definitely not in Sheffield! We eventually reached the top and it felt victorious. It had been a tough climb, but my legs felt literally a million times better than last year when I took on the same ascent, and this year we only stopped to walk at a couple of points where it was almost physically impossible to run it was that steep. I loved it.
 
Stage 3 and 4 are predominantly downhill; which is basically a lot of freewheeling fun. Downhill actually seemed to be our weakness though. As we carefully pinpointed our way through tree roots, rocks and hidden pot holes, others absolutely flew down beside us without a fear in the world! As road runners we definitely lack that level of confidence on this terrain. We even shared a joke with a fellow running pair who commented that their marathon training friend would be dreading this part through fear of injury. My friend and I are currently training for the Berlin Marathon – this was definitely us we agreed!
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Onto Stage 5, and as we walked the liaison to this stage I could feel that whilst the downhill sections may feel easier than running up the hills, they were rather shredding my legs. It is quite easy to forget the toll downhill running plays. I had also forgotten the rather cruel start to Stage 5. Before even being able to place your 'dibber' into the checkpoint you are required to climb a long step of steep stairs, warming the quads up nicely for further hills to come. Stage 6 however does offer some relief, comprising a brief and welcomed downhill sprint.

​How my friend and I had forgotten Stage 7 from last year I don’t know! For me this was almost as tough as Stage 2. With my legs becoming increasingly tired, the long gradual and seeming never ending climb of this stage was a real test. My friend and I took it in our stride though; I was proud of us as we ate up the distance, overtaking a number of other runners in the process. Last year I walked a lot of this stage; it was just too much for my legs. This time we did not stop once though.  

 
Stage 8 reverted back to downhill running. By now my friend and I had agreed this event is virtually a brutal form of interval training, with fast downhills mixed with steep uphill sections and walking breaks. These all require the recruitment of so many different muscles fibres in your legs that it acts like a constant, but exciting, shock to the system. It is ruthless, but we were loving it.  

​Stage 9 cannot be forgotten simply for the memorable view you get of Sheffield. This stage begins to head back towards the start, and after emerging from woodland trails and rural settings, you begin at the top of a very steep hill with sights of the vast urban city spanning below. It is a beautiful contrast. Thankfully you run downhill at this stage, and whizzing past this amazing view, my friend and I could not resist sparing a few seconds of sprinting to grab a couple of photos!

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​Stage 10 is much more urban than the previous stages, but obviously still includes hills. Starting at the foot of a residential street, a long ascent follows, before turning sharply back into woodland for yet more climbing. Again my friend and I steadily rose to the challenge; we both knew neither of us was going to succumb to walking by this point. Our competitive edge also came to the fore as we neared the checkpoint at the end of this stage, upping the pace to beat other pairs to check in our 'dibber'. We had not been racing the course by any means, but I think we both knew and felt we had ran much more assured than last year and these extra seconds could now count.
 
Stage 11 is the final sprint finish, a short 400m back across Endcliffe Park, neither up or downhill, but simply flat running across the grass. It is amazing how little is actually left in your legs at this point, but my friend and I pushed as hard as we could. It was a bit surreal running into the finishing arch; we had somehow ended up running virtually alone by this point, and as we completed the final few metres it seemed as everyone was cheering just for us – it almost felt like we were the winning duo! Smiling, I triumphantly placed our ‘dibber’ into the finishing checkpoint – Round Sheffield Run complete!
 
Saying goodbye to my trusty dibber, we received a print out of our overall result. Our official time (which excludes all the walking transition stages) was 1:46:31. This was 11 minutes quicker than our time set last year and we later discovered we had finished as 17th Female Pair overall. I really was pleased with how well we had performed together.
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Round Sheffield Run is such a unique event; I cannot compare it to anything else I have ever completed. I love it for that reason though. It is a challenge, but it is not impossible, and being able to run with a friend as a team makes it extra special. We will be back again I know it, not just because we enjoy it so much, but because we also believe we still have the potential to improve on our time. We just need to get a bit better at speeding down those hills! ​
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My 50th parkrun

6/26/2017

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‘It is good seeing you in your happy place’

My friend sent me the above message recently; the happy place she was referring to was Lincoln parkrun. I had never really thought of parkrun in that way before, which is quite strange considering it does bring me no end of happiness. I realised she was very right though. No matter what is going on in my life parkrun is always there. If I am having a good week, parkrun makes it better; if things are not so great, then the thought of parkrun motivates me to keep going. I can run well at parkrun with things feeling effortless, or I can feel like I am forcing my legs around in a bit of a struggle, and yet I am still happy. I do not even need to run at parkrun to feel good, since volunteering brings me equal levels of joy.

This Saturday morning I ran my 50th parkrun. It has been a long time coming, however having completed the vast majority of my parkruns at my home event in Lincoln, I wanted my 50th to be here. I also wanted to be able to share reaching this milestone with my friend and running buddy. Careful planning for months in advance had therefore led to this particular Saturday morning, which shows just how important it was to us both.

When parkrun first started in Lincoln I could not make most Saturday mornings. When I did get to go it was a treat, something I really looked forward to and an enjoyable morning with friends. Now I get this boost of happiness on weekly basis. I never imagined reaching 50 parkruns; the first time I ever visited a parkrun, Lincoln on Valentines Day 2015, I was too scared to even print a barcode and had to be heavily encouraged by my friends to join them. I definitely do not need encouraging now! My 50 parkruns have created a lot of memories, there are too many to even begin to list, and I equally love seeing the pleasure and reward it brings to so many others.

For our 50th parkrun my friend and I decided to make some special cakes to share our milestone celebration with our fellow parkrunners (see image). These took us many hours on Friday evening; my friend agonising over whether she had enough icing leaves on her parkrun cake, whilst I stared in disbelief as I iced the parkrun logo onto a seemingly never-ending line of 90 cupcakes. It was all worth it of course, and it was lovely to be able to stand at the finish chatting and handing cakes out to both new and familiar faces; the social and community element is equally what parkrun is about after all.
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Cakes aside, running my 50th parkrun felt special too. Obviously it was still the same three loops of Boultham Park I have completed many times before, but it just felt extra meaningful. I didn’t set out for a PB in particular, but I just ran as hard as I could. Lap one was quick and lap two began to hurt, but the volunteer marshals really spurred me on and by lap three I was determined not to slow. The call of ‘there’s only half a mile to cake’ from one marshal on the third loop most definitely gave me an extra boost! By the time I made an attempted sprint for the finish funnel my legs were weary, but I stopped the clock at 21.24, my second fastest time on record - I’ll take that! Stood catching my breath I glanced back at the funnel hoping to see a familiar figure crossing the line; and there indeed was my friend. I knew it had to be a PB for her and it was - an extra success for the morning.
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parkrun is a special thing to be a part of regardless of whether you have completed your first parkrun, 50 parkruns or 200 parkruns. I am also biased into thinking that Lincoln parkrun in particular is simply a wonderful community to belong to. Lincoln parkrun has been there when I needed it, and I am extremely thankful for the volunteers who continue to make Lincoln and other parkrun events possible, not just for me, but for the thousands of other parkrunners worldwide. Thank you for giving us all a happy place. ​
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Berlin Marathon Training: Week Three

6/25/2017

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I spent this week not just successfully ticking off my planned training sessions, but also counting down the days until the weekend - which promised to be an even more running inspired couple of days than normal (if that's even possible!)

MONDAY: Body Pump class - being inside a relative cool, air conditioned studio was welcomed to the intense heat outside!

TUESDAY: this week's intervals were much better than last week. Mother Nature was kind to me and it was not as hot as predicted (although still warm!) and I successfully managed my 6 miles with 3 x 1 mile reps without keeling over. I was pleased with my interval splits; 6.59, 7.01 and 7.20 min/mile respectively, and I tried to keep my recoveries in between slower and more like actual recovery!

WEDNESDAY: in an attempt to beat further hot conditions I rose for an early morning run. My plan was for a steady 6 miles, and after a long hill climb at the start which helped wake both me and my legs up, I accomplished it. Body Pump later. 

THURSDAY: a progression run was on the plan today, something which I find I have to be very disciplined to complete successfully. As is usually the case when I attempt these type of runs my first split was much quicker than I would have preferred - 8.28 min/mile - which then meant I had to be even more considerate with my pacing to ensure I did not end up sprinting the final miles! I gradually increased my pace though, finishing with splits of 8.28, 8.17, 8.10, 7.57, 7.45 and 7.19. 

FRIDAY: Rest Day
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SATURDAY: a special parkrun to start a wonderful running weekend. Today was my 50th parkrun, and I was lucky to be able to also share reaching this milestone with my friend and running buddy (see image). We ran Lincoln, our home event and where we have completed the vast majority of our runs, and we also brought some special treats to share our celebration with our fellow parkunners and thank the volunteers for continuing to making parkrun happen - full blog to follow!

SUNDAY: day two of the running weekend and a return trip to Round Sheffield Run, a multi stage trail race, with my fellow 50th parkrun friend. We took on the event last year and absolutely loved it, it was one of the surprise standouts from 2016. This year’s event was just as wonderful; and running as a female pair again meant we really got to share the race together. It is a lovely concept the whole event - and an added bonus was we knocked 11 minutes off our time from 2016. Full blog to follow - seems I have a lot of writing as well as running to do next week! ​
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parkrun Tourism: Tring parkrun

6/19/2017

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The sight of hundreds of lyrcra clad runners clustered around a single point at a park on a Saturday morning is now not so strange thanks to the phenomenon that is parkrun. However this Saturday morning, Tring saw a rather disproportionate number of runners descend on their local parkrun event, nearly all dressed in apricot coloured running gear. The parkrun Annual Conference was being held in nearby Berkhamsted and what parkrun conference would be complete without a parkrun visit on the agenda? I had been fortunate to be invited to the conference after recently taking on some volunteer work associated to a new project parkrun are delivering. So I too donned my apricot pakrun running vest, proudly bearing the name of my home ‘Lincoln’ event, and joined the 150 plus conference delegates to experience Tring, boosting their usual Saturday morning attendance by around 150 in the process!
 
Saturday morning was absolutely beautiful; the air had an early warmth about it which did not take an expert to forecast a hot day ahead. After a few glasses of wine Friday night I had been convinced by fellow delegates that running down to Tring from Berkhamsted before parkrun was a good idea - to be honest they did not have to try that hard to convince me. No one knew the route exactly, but there was a lot of enthusiasm. It was in fact a great idea, and as the sun was slowly rising into the clear blue sky I joined a number of runners to complete the 6.2 miles down to Tring, weaving our way through beautiful countryside, and probably surprising a few early morning drivers who were most likely not used to seeing a mass of runners out so early!
 
As we arrived at Tring park we joined the other delegates to create a sea of apricot. The park looked amazing, a green rolling landscape with the quirky addition of cows dotted around – Tring even have a 'cow marshal' volunteer role and a cow bell to ring if you set a PB! There had been much talk about the Tring course. Some had ran it before and knew what to expect, but the majority of us were Tring parkrun tourists for the first time. I knew there were hills, and the first kilometre was said to be a particularly ‘character building’ hill. The new runners briefing was possibly the largest I have ever seen, and the volunteers joyfully explained to us what to expect from the course – no shock, hills.
 
Taking my place in the starting huddle I knew this was not going to be anything like a PB run – my home Lincoln parkrun is fast and flat! – but I aimed to simply enjoy the route and push as hard as possible. The first kilometre was certainly character building. From the start we began a climb up a long grassy hill, definitely not the sprint start I am used to at Lincoln! As I reached the summit of this lengthy mound the course turned and continued to climb further, this section was even sharper now and wound through welcomed woodland shade. At this point Chrissie Wellington, British triathlete and four time Ironman Champion who now works for parkrun, overtook me – at least I was briefly in front of her for a kilometre! Finally the route stopped climbing and it soon became apparent the hills were worth the burning quads. A brief spell of flat along the top of the ridge let us experience the views below which were quite simply stunning.
 
Much to my quads delight the course then treated us to a section of downhill; freewheeling on dirt track, I felt amazing. This sensation was short-lived though as the route turned back onto grassland and I was met with a visibly undulating route ahead, some mounds were steeper than others and my quads began to whimper again. I then came to what the volunteer at the run briefing had called something like ‘false hope corner’  (I cannot remember the exact wording now!), it seemed as though you were at the finish and the funnel was in sight, however a sharp left turn in the other direction told you otherwise. The heat was apparent now and my legs were getting heavy beneath me, I hadn’t been paying attention to my pace at all, but I glanced at my watch to see how far left I had to go. Less than half a mile; I could do this. But wait, there was another hill. Jokingly known as Heartbreak Hill, the hill falls just when you thought you had made it. A steep slope presented in front of me; I smiled and laughed with the marshal stood at the foot about this being some kind of torture, but I was determined to make my way to the top, and even mustered something from my weary legs for a sprint into the finish funnel. Finally, no more hills!
 
My time was 26:08, virtually five minutes slower than my usual Lincoln parkrun times, which indicates the sheer difference in terrains. Tring parkrun was challenging in a new way though, and despite the demanding course, I absolutely loved it. The volunteers at Tring were amazing too, and I took great pleasure from looking at the photos taken afterwards, which shows so many runners winding through the gorgeous landscape. I would love to run Tring parkrun again in the future and would recommend it to anyone; it is tough but as with all parkrun events, everyone is welcome and I was seriously impressed by some of the younger children, buggy pushers and more senior adults tackling the climbs. Moreover, who could resist the chance to get to ring the famous PB cow bell!
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Berlin Marathon Training: Week Two

6/15/2017

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This week's aim was to get my mind focused more on the fact I am marathon training again. Obviously following a training plan means I am not totally oblivious to it all! However I wanted to work on other areas of my life; improving my diet, getting back to better sleep habits, and also actually using my foam roller again! These are small things but I find they do help. I have managed a few added foam roller slots; forcing myself to get to the gym earlier than usual before classes and using the 'dead time' to release my muscles. My diet has been better (less chocolate!) and I am trying to get back into a routine of getting at least eight hours sleep a night. These good habits were however slightly thrown as I attended a very exciting conference at the weekend...

MONDAY: Body Pump class 

TUESDAY: an interval session which reduced me to a complete mess. Following a mile warm up I had 12 x 200m at 5k pace, with 200m recoveries in between. I have completed the session before and remembered finding it not too bad, just very stop-start. Today it felt awful though. I ran the intervals hard, and although at the time it felt like I was getting slower with each rep, I surprisingly actually managed to stick to roughly my 5k pace. Reviewing my splits afterwards though I noticed I ran the recovery periods too quickly, which is probably why I felt like death at the end; they were less like recovery and more just a continuation of running. I arrived at the gym for my abs class and must have looked as equally as rough as I felt since a few people asked if I was ok! Answer - er, not really!
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WEDNESDAY: an early morning run, not something I usually do, but I was working later and still wanted to make it to my usual Body Pump class in the evening. My plan said five miles, but I planned a route knowing it wold be a little more; if was running early I wanted to make the most of the morning tranquility and enjoy something slightly more rural, rather than plodding the desolate streets. I finished with 7 miles, averaging 8.17 min/mile pace, which for an early run, without breakfast and incorporating some hills, I was pleased with. I made it to Body Pump later and feeling fresher having not ran directly before the class, I upped my weights on some exercises, totally killing my arms off in the process! 

THURSDAY: another hard run thanks to a lovely combination of summer warmth and a gusty and equally as warm wind. It felt more of a challenge than it should to hit my target paces, but I kept on track, running 5 miles with the middle three under 8 min/mile pace. 

​FRIDAY: Rest Day and travel to my weekend conference - the parkrun Annual Conference. I had been fortunate to be invited after recently taking on some volunteer work associated to a new project they are delivering. A conference based around running – perfection!  


SATURDAY: a parkrun conference would not be complete without an actual parkrun! The plan was for us all to take part in Tring parkrun (massively boosting their usual weekly attendance by about 150 in the process!), and I also joined a number of fellow delegates in running the 6 miles down to Tring from our base in Berkhamstead before the 9am start. As you come to expect with parkrun, it was wonderful morning and very memorable course to experience - full blog to follow.

SUNDAY: a conference which allocates time during the morning agenda for a Sunday run is simply the best conference! After breakfast we split into various groups to enjoy some group runs around the local area. It was a joy to explore; I didn’t really have a time or distance in mind, and simply took pleasure from chatting to new faces and discovering new routes which I would probably never get the chance to run again. In the end we completed an 8 mile out and back run, mainly trail based with some testing inclines thrown in for good measure. It was the perfect start to the final day. Whilst the conference did not help too much with my aim to improve my lifestyle (very little sleep and much more wine consumed than I am used to!), it was certainly worth it. ​
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Berlin Marathon Training: Week One

6/11/2017

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So here I go again; the journey to Berlin has begun. To be honest I expected this week to feel different; the start of marathon training usually fills me with real excitement and a new extra level of drive. I have of course been committed to training this week, and have loved the structure of having a training plan already, but I just did not get that extra special feeling. I have also already spectacularly failed in my vow to eat less chocolate this training cycle - I am human and it is my absolute weakness! There are many weeks to come of course, and the realisation of full marathon training will undoubtedly hit me, and right now I am just happy to be on this journey back to Berlin.

MONDAY: I started my marathon training with a quick 3 mile run on the treadmill at the gym; a decision made purely so I could take my friend’s birthday present to give to her at our Body Pump class! I absolutely hate the treadmill, so this is good sign of our friendship that I was willing to withstand the dreaded machine to ensure she had her birthday gift!

TUESDAY: back on the road and back to intervals. I enjoyed this run a lot; 5 miles with 4 x 800m reps, and felt like I was running with real passion, which was also demonstrated in my interval pace splits which were all 7 min/mile or below. Abs class at the gym after, which I am going to try and keep up throughout my training. 

WEDNESDAY: 4 steady miles averaging 8.11 min/mile pace - too quick compared to what my plan recommended, but I always struggled to put the brakes on in these early stages of marathon training so have come to expect this now. Body Pump class after. 

THURSDAY: incorporating my run with going to vote in the General Election (by the look on peoples’ faces in the Polling Station I was probably the only one to do this in my area!), I ran another 4 tempo miles. I planned to run a 9 min/mile warm up and cool down, with two 8.30 min/miles in the middle. In reality I ran splits of 8.39, 7.54, 7.54 and 8.02 - see above re rubbish pacing!
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FRIDAY: Rest Day

​SATURDAY: after a few weeks of volunteering and a spot of 
parkrun tourism last week, I was pleased to be back running my home Lincoln parkrun event today. I woke with enthusiasm and eagerly drew back my curtains, only to be met with miserable grey skies and lashing rain - I must have resembled a small child as I threw a mini strop and cursed Mother Nature. Obviously I still went to parkrun, and was very happy to log a time of 21:30 which is close to my best times, and was also pleased for my friend who recorded another sub 22 minute time (see soggy post run image). Huge thanks to the Lincoln parkrun volunteers for braving the awful conditions and making our wonderful event happen still. 

SUNDAY: a nice, comfortable 10 miler with my friend; my legs felt fine and the miles ticked by almost effortlessly and without me even really noticing as we chatted away. There will be a lot more challenging long runs to come that is for sure, but this week I welcomed a nice introduction back to the tradition of 'long run Sundays' during marathon training. Next week the miles increase and I aim for my chocolate intake to decrease!!
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parkrun Tourism: Bury St Edmunds parkrun

6/6/2017

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​parkrun is a phenomenon which is rapidly spreading across the UK encouraging thousands to take part in physical activity. I love the image which is used sometimes; a map of the UK with every parkrun event identified by a light green flag, flags which are steadily sweeping across the country. It means that you can be almost anywhere in the UK on a Saturday and have a parkrun within reachable distance. A weekend trip back to my childhood hometown of Stowmarket in Suffolk therefore presented me with the perfect opportunity to try a new event and become a parkrun tourist for the morning (when you take part in an event at a different location to your home parkrun).
 
I actually could have chosen between two parkruns as my nearest locations, but opted for Bury St Edmunds parkrun due it being set in the wonderful Nowton Park. I spent many times here a child with my family and friends, walking around the grounds, getting lost in the maze, playing football on the marked out pitches, and climbing the wooden structures. It would be nice to go back after many years and be able to run around the grounds.

​The course was two loops and was predominantly off road. A quick chat with one of the friendly volunteers and an attentive listen to the run brief meant I understood to expect a few inclines along the way and some uneven ground underfoot. It was a warm and still morning, and despite rarely being back in Suffolk these days, I felt at home in the surroundings and among fellow parkrunners, and even recognised a few faces from my childhood.
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Proudly wearing my home Lincoln parkrun vest, I took my spot on the ‘start line’, finger poised over my Garmin start button, ready for the 3,2,1 countdown.  The start instantly climbed a gradual hill and was definitely a bit unsteady underfoot, I tried to combine my usual initial gusto with carefully pinpointing a safe running route. It certainly got my hearty racing! We then weaved through some thicker grassland before leading onto trail type pathways set on some more graduals inclines and which passed by woodlands and sculpture landmarks I recognised from my childhood. The morning soon became very muggy for running and I was grateful for the next section which saw us duck into woodland and shade, and also run downhill. Emerging from this woodland we looped around the football pitches I sent summers scoring goals past my dad on, and then headed back to the starting hill to complete lap one. One more lap to go.

​I felt I had completed the first lap well; without knowing the route I had just ran as hard as possible. It was certainly more challenging than my home Lincoln parkrun route, but a challenge I was enjoying. With the route now locked into my brain a little better, I tried to maintain my pace as much as possible on lap two, and push through the inclines. I did not really concern myself with my exact pace too much as I was running, but with half a mile to go I did glance down at my Garmin to see what time I was closing in on. It was here I began a zig zag battle with a fellow male parkunner, each of us pushing each other to get to the funnel. I pipped him to the post and turned to give a friendly smile. I finished in 22:16 and as fourth female, which I was happy with considering the course. If I went back I think I may be able to push to dip below 22 minutes, but it certainly would be a big test!

 
Strolling back through Nowton Park it was lovely to see the place again, and also appreciate how it too had been brought to life on a Saturday morning by parkrun.  A spot of parkrun tourism was a great way to start my weekend and still allowed me lots of time to get ready for my friend’s wedding for which I had travelled to Suffolk for. If you do find yourself somewhere different on a Saturday morning then I encourage you to seek out your nearest parkrun event; the idea of setting an early alarm on a weekend away or whilst on holiday may seem a bit mad at first, but you will definitely not regret a bit of parkrun tourism. ​
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The Limbo Week

6/1/2017

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This week has seemed strange. In the weeks following the London Marathon, the fact I had the Liverpool Rock n Roll Half Marathon in my diary was almost an extra motivation to keep going. I would obviously have continued to run and train even without this race, but it being there encouraged me to push myself a bit more; add in those dreaded interval runs, make that abs class even when I did not really feel like it etc. My sixteen weeks of Berlin Marathon training officially starts on Monday, so these last seven days have felt like a bit of a nothing week. I have felt torn between resting a bit more and preparing for my next big block of training, but also with the feeling that I wanted to just continue the momentum I have already built. In the end I am not sure which I achieved really!

MONDAY: after travelling back from Liverpool following a lovely long weekend and a new Half Marathon PB, I went to the gym. My quads were sore from the Half so I focused on upper body weights, enjoying the freedom of a quiet Bank Holiday weights area!

TUESDAY: I was tired today, and could have quite easily skipped any form of exercise. I pulled on my trainers though and bargained with myself to try a nice easy run. I managed 5 miles at around 8.30 min/mile pace, and then drew on some of my last motivation to go to an abs class at the gym. 

WEDNESDAY: a steadier run today; I still did not feel like I wanted to push myself crazily, but I picked up both the pace and distance a little, logging 6.5 miles before Body Pump at the gym. It was muggy out running and even more close in the gym studio.

THURSDAY: an extremely hot Body Attack class which left me feeling totally drained.
Picture
FRIDAY: with a weekend away at a friend's wedding on the horizon I fitted a long run in early morning. To quote the message I sent my friend post run 'it was 9.5 miles of horribleness'. The first five miles were actually ok, and I enjoyed venturing out along a route I had not ran in a while (see image). The remaining miles were not good though. As the morning rapidly warmed up so did I; I was thirsty, I could have done with a toilet stop, and both my legs and mental desire seemed to fade rapidly - I could not even face adding on the extra 0.5 of a mile as I went passed my own street. It was not enjoyable.  

SATURDAY: being in Suffolk for my friend's wedding gave me the perfect opportunity for some parkrun run tourism at Bury St Edmund's parkrun - full blog to follow. 

SUNDAY: Rest Day - I was really tempted to exercise or run when I arrived back home following my time away; it felt weird having a rest day on a Sunday which notoriously is my 'long run' day. I always try to give my body one day off a week though and with my journey to the Berlin Marathon beginning on Monday, I knew I had a lot more running to come..
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    Alice's Adventures In Running Land

    Read about my adventures in running land...


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