The Hills are Alive with the Sound of @%$£

Training Day : 30
Session : Hill Run
Distance : 23.84 m
Avg/mile : 24.01/m
Time : 9hrs 20min 24secs

For Debbie's article on first races for the My Race magazine we decided that it would be a good idea to go on a hill run as one of them.  But this is Debbie and I that we are talking about 1 hill isnt enough.  No. How about 1 Munro then.  Nah, too easy.  How about 7 munros.  The entire South Glen Shiel Ridge.  Yeah that sounds like something we should do.
Went up to the Cluanie Inn to camp on Saturday night but arrived after it had got dark and had to use the lights to put up the tent.  Debbie was a bit freaked out by some of the vehicles going along the road during the night and a rutting deer as well so it wasnt the best sleep but we awoke nice and early so that we could be home early that night.  Ok time to move the car to the start.  Nope it didnt start.  Flat battery.  Great.  So 2 hours later and £100 less well off the AA fixed the car and we where off.  Within 1 mile though my back was feeling a lot more sweatier than usual and I found I had a leak in my Platypus.
Today was just not going to plan.  So after the 7 mile run to the beginning of the hills we were finally on our way up.  I was photographer for the day 
and so would run ahead to get some shots of Debbie for the magazine article.
So far the weather had been great but by the time we got to the first munro the weather came in and we spent the rest of the 
day in mist and cloud and had a couple of issues with navigation too.
At the end I was tired but really enjoyed the day.  Ok it wasnt fast but this is what running is all about.  Going out with 
friends or family and having a purpose for the run.  Like I said to Debbie while doing it. Running on the hills is just like walking on the hills but with less clothes, less food and less grip. It is tough but certainly worth it and in the end 7 munros is not something to be laughed at.

George Cummings Race

Training Day : 29
Session : Road Relay Race
Distance : 2.70m
Avg/mile : 5.34 /m
Time : 15min 00secs

This is the first race of the winter season.  I had ran it once before and remembered that it was hilly towards the end.  I struggled to get there in time after getting lost on the way and was worried when Athole put me on the first leg but I was in the B team so not as much pressure on me.  I managed to stay with Stephen Mulrine, who was running the A team first leg, for the first mile and then managed to overtake him.  Maybe I shouldnt have because he overtook me a couple of hundred metres later.  I finished in 15 minutes dead.  Very happy with my time and very knackered after it.  This was Debbies first relay and she did really well.  I think that she enjoyed it.

Wednesday Training Run

Training Day : 26
Session : Tempo Run
Distance : 8m
Avg/mile : 6.50 /m
Time : 54m 41s

Crow Road Circuit.

5km Time Trial

Training Day : 25
Session : 5km time trial
Distance : 3.12 m
Avg/mile : 5.55 /m
Time : 18min 28secs

5km time trials are bad.  5km time trials after a tough half marathon are really bad.  I started this without much hope of getting a good time but I was happy with what I got.  It was tough and the usual people, Ali and Alex finished before me.  I had to laugh at the end when Debbie waited on my pal Dougie near the end who was struggling.  Then just before the finishing line he sprinted off and left her.  ooops.

Gone with the Wind

Training Day : 23
Session : Prestonpans Half Marathon
Distance : 13.12 m
Avg/mile : 6:29 /m
Time : 1hr 25min 02secs

This half was meant to be a training run but as usual I try to race it.  Started off well but after 4 miles I ended up running into the wind until the 10th mile where the course turned but ended up all uphill.  I really struggled through out.  A very tough race and not such a good time.  On a positive side the organisation of the race was first class with all the mile markers bang on.  I would definitly do it again if only they could promise that the wind wouldn't enter too.

Saturday Strides

Training Day : 22
Session : Strides
Distance : N/A
Avg/mile : N/A
Time : N/A

Went out with my wife Debbie today to do some strides.  Strides are a weird thing before a race.  I think that they are meant to loosen everything up but I feel like a wassack doing them.  So around the park we went and I actually felt quite good and ready for tomorrow.

Thursday Training at the club

Training Day : 20

Session : Tempo Run

Distance : 7.44m

Avg/mile : 6:43 /m

Time : 50 min 0 sec

Tonights run with the club was with Ali, Alex from Springburn and Mark.  Great.  I am meant to be tapering for the Prestonpans Half on Sunday.  Should I drop a group.  Nah.  I am too competitive for that.  So off I go and I found that the pace wasn't too bad.  Managed to stay with them for 4 miles and the Ali cursed it.  "How is this pace for you Marco?" and BOOM... I was 20 metres behind.  By Crow Road I could see that Alex was starting to lag behind the other two so this gave me the impedus to go faster and try to get to the end before him.  To be honest I also used my knowledge of the lights at Anniesland Cross as well and managed to finish before him.  I felt great.  For the first time I had finished not in last but second last.  Progress.  I then spoke to Ali Winship the fastest Female in the club.  "What time did you get Marco?" "50 minutes dead" I replied "What about you Ali?"  "Errm 49 minutes 27 seconds"  Ok she is running amazing at the moment but I thought that I was getting better.  Oh well.. Must try harder Marco.  

Jeely Legs

Training Day : 19

Session : Hill Run

Distance : 7.52m

Avg/mile : 8:07

Time : 1hr 1min 0 sec

Well its all a bit keen when you decide that it is a good idea to go and run the Stoneymollan route at 6:30 in the morning but it was totally worth it.  A beautiful fresh day with lovely views from the top.  After running the 1km reps yesterday it had crossed my mind that maybe I was biting off more than I could chew and it was really tough trying to run the whole way up the hill but I made it even although my legs where like jelly when I got there.  The reward was the view of Loch Lomond with mist over the Loch.

I broke the time that we normally run the route on a Saturday by 5 minutes so that was a bonus too.

Ready, Steady, GO!!!

Training Day : 18

Session : Recovery / 1km Reps

Distance : 4.8m / 5.49m

Avg/mile : n/a  /  7.10 /m

Time : n/a  /  39.19

So after a day off it was time to get straight back to it.  Last time during training I used to love doing a double session on a Tuesday.  A run in the morning with reps in the evening.  I missed the run in the morning but decided to go out with some of the lads from work and ran an easy 4.8 miles through Glasgow Green.

In the evening it was back to the club for some 1KM reps.  Lins, Stephen Mulrine and Alex made up the rest of the group for the session.  I ran the reps as following : 3:20, 3:19, 3:23, 3:31, 3:28, 3:35.  The recovery period between each rep was 1:30 which was a bit short for me.  Good session but I was knackered at the end.

On a worse note Celtic lost 2-0 to Shaktar in their first champions league game. bah!

...and on the 7th day he rested

Training Day : 17

Session : Rest Day

Distance : N/A

Avg/mile : N/A

Time : N/A

Ahh a rest day at last.  Not quite 7 days of training but it has felt like it.  Went to the gym with Debbie today and went on the bike.  I feel that my quads and muscles around the top of my left knee are a bit stiff and affect my running when I am tired.  Hoping this might help.  I did 25mins on the recline cycle and did about 10k.  Feeling great and looking forward to running tomorrow.

First Long Run

Training Day : 16

Session : Long Run

Distance : 13.45m

Avg/mile : 7.36/m

Time : 01:42.13

Well here we go.  Back to the long runs.  I like doing long runs but the problem is the time that they take.  Especially later on in training when you are over 20 miles but still doing them fast enough for them to affect you.  The run itself isnt too bad but take into consideration the preperation and recovery after it and half of the day is gone.  Anyway none of this on this run as it is only 14 mile. Only!!  Yes as later on in training I will be running 3 times this amount.

Back to today.  I went out with Lins and ran toward Cameron House Hotel.  The weather was really wet and windy and I felt sorry for the people running the Lomond 10k.  Not many hills today and it was good to just have a relaxing run.  Watched some of the 10k race and met up with some of the finishers.  Matt from Bella came in first with Alex from Springburn in third.

I started to feel tired after about 11 to 12 miles and was pretty happy to finish the run and get my wet clothes off.

The Empire Strikes Back

Training Day : 15

Session : Hill/Trail Run

Distance : 7.66m

Avg/mile : 8.37/m

Time : 01:05:58

Just like the second Star Wars film is way better than the first I was hoping that the second time on the Stoneymollan Run with Glen and Lindsey would be the same.  And I was right.

I got to the Polaroid bridge before the guys and I was actually hoping that they wouldnt appear.  After last weeks struggle I wouldnt mind doing this run by myself to save the embarassment of having to walk up the hill.  But late as usual Lins and Glen appeared.  Lins looked a bit off colour and it transpired that he had been up drinking laste last night with his sister.  Great, if he runs better than me today then I have no hope and may as well just take up knitting as a hobbie.  Anyway off we went and like last week I was perfectly fine on the first hill and was really not looking forward to the second one.  I didnt need to worry I was first to the trig point (although I am sure that Glen could still reach the top faster than me with one leg hoping backwards)  I even managed to pick up the speed at the top and to my amazement (and I wouldnt say I wasnt a wee bit smug) Glen even noticed.  The rest of the run was easy and I was pretty happy when I got back to the house.  Much to my amazment last weeks time was 30 seconds faster than this week.  I must have messed up the timing last week because this week was much faster and easier feeling with no issues at the end.

Keep on Smilin'

Training Day : 14

Session : Medium Run

Distance : 8.25m

Avg/mile : 6.42/m

Time : 55.14

I felt quite down this morning coming into town to do my morning run.  Sure the running was really coming together but the news of the guy we saved not doing too well, some pressures at work and the rain lashing at the car wasnt helping.  I was hoping that this run would pick me up a bit.  

Todays run was the Crow Road Circuit.  It takes me from my work in St Vincent Street, along to Charing Cross, past Byres Road to Crow Road then up to Anniesland and back to town via  Great Western Road.

Felt really pleased with this run and if it hadnt been for stopping at traffic lights then I am sure it would have been under 6:30/m.  All the stiffness and heavy legs feeling from last week has gone but I am still dreading going out tomorrow with Glen and Lins again after the terrible run I had had the week before.

Grinding out the miles.

Training Day : 13

Session : Medium Run

Distance : 7.12m

Avg/mile : 6.39/m

Time : 47.22

After yesterdays nightmare going into work and not being able to run  I decided to do a circuit from the house.  This was one of my circuits from last year and probable one of the reasons I lost my mojo.  I just hated doing mile upon mile of miles past grim looking houses and litter strewn streets.  Anyway it is better to do this than not run at all.  I couldn't run at the club today because I had Mountain Rescue training.  I also found out that the older man who we had rescued last Wednesday had had a massive stroke and then a heart attack in the hospital so things were not looking too good.

This run takes me out of my house over past Bonhill down to Dunbarton and then to Renton and back to Alexandria.

I felt great during this run but a bit of a boob with choice of running clothing seen me trying to replicate sub-tropical temperatures by wearing my winter top.  No problems though because I felt so good I tried to race a train over a bridge.  I lost. Funnily enough.  It can go at 90 mph and is powered by 4 motors.  I on the other hand have 2 legs, could maybe get over 10miles an hour and had a bowl of chips for dinner.  Not a fair contest but hey I am competitive.

Got back home and had to rush to work but I was really pleased with myself after this one.

To be or not to be

Training Day : 12

Session : Rest

Distance : 0m

Avg/mile : n/a

Time : n/a

This is when things go all wrong.  Got up at 6:30 to do a training run before work but I went into work before hand to find problems and for some reason a lot of visitors so was unable to run.  Oh no is my training going pear shaped already?

The hills are alive...

Training Day : 11

Session : Hills Reps

Distance : 1.15m / 2.88m

Avg/mile : 9.42 /m and 7.52 / m

Time : 11.08 and 23.11

Well after recovering from the hills with Lindsey and Glen on the Saturday and then the 5 munros and epic drive on Sunday what better way to feel even better than to do even more hills but this time as reps.  Got to garscube to find that Alistair M wasn' there.  Great I can take it easier.  Oh oh, the Welsh guy is back.  The Welsh guy being an ex commonwealth Welsh guy.  Luckily he is just getting back into running and is slower.  Well slow for him.  We went to Dawsholm Park and I was put in charge.  The hill we ran took about 50 seconds to get to the top and we had a 1min 30secs recovery where we would jog to the beginning.  10 of these were plenty and I felt pretty knackered after it but managed to keep up with the Welsh guy who runs the reps with his dog.  By the 8th one even the dog was knackered and I am sure it was slowing him down.  I felt fantastic after this session.  Really good.

Back to Work (for a rest)

Training Day : 9
Session : Rest
Distance : n/a
Avg/mile : n/a
Time : n/a

Ahhh Mondays. It always feels like I go back to work on a Monday for a rest especially after yesterdays fun.

Thats me been training for a week now and I have noticed that I am starting to eat a lot more again. The last time I was training hard I was eating breakfast before I left in the morning and then a bowl of porridge at 11am, 4 bagels for lunch, various snacks just before training and then a full meal at 9pm at night. With all the fruit etc as well that I was eating I was spending half my day running and the other half on the toilet. Oh well, lets see what happens this time. Debbie is being her usual insane self and is away to the gym this lunchtime so I am taking the easy option and surfin' the internet instead. Debbie and I have been talking about getting a caravan, (yeah thats us half way to becoming that old married couple) and I was sent this video by Paul. I wonder if Debbie's car could pull a caravan?

On a technical note I have now added a training Calendar to the side bar that has all my training on it.  Just click the Google button on the right.

Gone with the Wind

Training Day : 8

Session : Hillwalking

Distance : 11.6 miles

Avg/mile : n/a

Time : n/a

I decided that this time with my training I would incorporate a lot of hillwalking as well, so that I was hill ready for the WHW race.  It also helps to be hill fit for any Mountain Rescue callouts that I am involved in.  Running and hillwalking are different and although my fitness in general is normally good I have found that I never seem to be 100% fit at both running and hillwalking at the same time.  At the moment I feel hill fit but not running fit and hopefully by still doing hillwalking at the same time I can get fit at both.  So I thought that this would be an easy day and far more interesting than a long run.  When I planned the trip I decided that it would be fun to do the 5 munros at Ben Lawers.  Joining me for todays jaunt would be Debbie (of course), Jill and Carol from the running club, John (who I have known for years and taught me about the hills), Gus and a girl that I hadn't met before called Therese.

Debbie and Jill had invited Therese to come because the 3 of them are away to do Kilimanjaro next month and this was a get to know each other day out.

So the plan was to meet at 7am at mine and then head up to Killin for 8:30.

Apart from starting at completely the wrong place and having to walk a little bit longer than anticipated the first munro passed without any hitches.  Then on the way up the second munro the wind really picked up and we ended up spending the whole day being blown about the hill with little or no conversation because noone could hear anyone else or even walk beside each other without falling over them.  I was a bit worried about Jill, Carol and the new girl because they werent too experienced but they were totally fine.  Anyway Carol had just bought a load of Ski wear (?!?!, I think she got confused somewhere) and I think she was glad to be getting bad weather so she could test out the waterproofness and wind resistance of her new gear.  Jill on the other hand had decided to borrow a £250 brand new looking all bells and whistles "I'm going up Everest" jacket from a guy called Benny at the running club.  More on this jacket later.  The munros on the Ben Lawers ridge are pretty easy and Debbie and I were looking forward to getting back early, having a nice meal and an early night.  It was after all our one month wedding anniversary.

Back at the car I had to give Gus and Therese a lift back to their cars at the beginning of the ridge and as there was not enough room in the car for everyone I left the girls to get changed at the Ben Lawers visitors centre.

15 minutes later I picked the girls back up and off we headed home.  We reached Crianlarich to find that the road along Loch Lomond was closed.  Great. There goes the early home.  OK, we arent too bad, we will still be back by 8pm.  So off we drove towards Loch Awe with the plan to go to Inveraray and then back over to Loch Lomond via Arrochar.  The weather by now was getting pretty stormy and everyone was getting tired and hungry.

Just as we passed Kilchurn Castle I was pointing out to everyone that that was the place that Debbie and I first camped when I heard this "OH NO" coming from the back.  Everyone was like "What?"  It was Jill.  "I have left Benny's jacket at the Visitors Centre" (an hour away)

So Jill.  I know I said I wouldnt say anything but does posting it to my blog count?  So we ended up having to drive all the way back to get it and then all the way to Callendar to get home and so the early night home turned out to be getting back at 10pm.  To be fair, Jill is black afronted with her mistake but I am sure that we will all get some milage from this.

Anyway training wise it was a good day out but not too strenuous.  I would like to start doing some running on the hills so that I can get the best of both worlds but with the weather the way it is that might be difficult.  My legs feel great and I am looking forward to the next session on Tuesday.

Run Fat Boy Run

Training Day : 7

Session : Hills/Trail

Distance : 7.6 miles

Avg/mile : 8.37min

Time : 1:05:23

Ok today was my big day and I failed miserably.  I finally got to run with local legend Glen Stewart who can run under 30 mins for a 10k.  Nothing like making it hard for yourself after one week of training.  Well why not make it harder for myself and choose a torturous hilly trail run which we call the Stoneymollan Route.  Cool.  I met Glen and Lindsay Cunningham at the Polaroid bridge in Renton at 8am and what a beautiful late summers morning it was.  So after being introduced to Glen off we went to the first major hill of the day.  Glen and Lindsey where yapin' away while I was in oxygen depravation but I still managed to keep up with them.  Not bad so far and maybe they dont notice that the sweat is pouring out of me.  Have they even started to sweat?  Maybe I ran to fast in an effort to be at the meeting point in time.  Yeah that was it.  Next there is a a lovely flat section past Carman Reserviour and then on to Cardross Road and then on to the tough section over Overton Muir and the trig point at 304m.  On the way up I was really struggling with Glen and Lindsay still yapin' away I slowly lagged behind and had to take a couple of short walking breaks which I am sure didnt go unnoticed by the guys.  We finally reached the trig point and and stunning views of Loch Lomond, the backs of the Campsies, Ben Lomond and Conic Hill with Glen and Lindsay discussing all manner of new and even harder routes I was content with getting my breath back and trying to compose myself.  Now my favourite bit, downhill.  Lindsay has been having some problems with a dodgy ankle for years so I know that I can hold my own on downhill sections and so off I went ahead and I started to really enjoy the run.  We met Debbie at the top of the Upper Stoneymollan Road and I now felt slightly embarassed as I thought that it might look like I was only showing off on the downhill cause I knew that my wife would be there.  It didn't help when Debbie shouted over to the other lads when they came down "Call yourself the elite team!"  EEEK, if only she had seen me spluttering on the way up. We said bye to Debbie and continued back down to Balloch and then home.

Just a short note about the film Run Fat Boy Run.  I found it pretty good especially the part with the blister.  Ok it was slightly predictable especially during the marathon race that was shown but all in all it was good entertainment.

Also on a technical note, I have decided to list each session at the top of each blog.  I noticed John Kynaston does this and so I thought that it was a good idea.  Thanks John.  Also I just wanted to mention that I watched John Kynaston's video on the WHW race and I just wanted to say that it really inspired me.  Thanks again John.  There is a link to John's blog on the right.

Training Day 6 (Rest)

Woohoo.  At last a rest day.  I am talking as if I have been doing mega milage when in fact I have hardly done anything but it is tough starting over from scratch again.

Anyway no rest for the wicked.  I am going to see Run Fat Boy Run in the cinema tonight for motivational purposes.  I think that it is about some guy that tries to run the London Marathon so that he can get a girlfriend.  A good enough reason if you ask me.  It stars Simon Pegg and is directed by the guy from friends David Schwimmer.  I hope it is good cause I didnt like the other film about the police guy.

http://www.runfatboyrunmovie.com/

Ok back to thoughts about training. I had a nice long lie but my crazy wife was again up at 5:30am. I really dont

know where she gets the energy from. After waiting on me hand and foot, cooking and cleaning and then up at the

crack of dawn to train. As she keeps saying to me "Your a lucky lucky man"

Today I feel so much better and lighter on my feet. It really is amazing to think that after only following the

Training plan for 6 days I already feel so much better.

Training Day 5 (Thursday Club Run)

After the fun and games of yesterday I am now feeling very tired.  I spent the whole day half asleep at my desk with even a Venti Caramel Macchiatto from Starbucks unable to keep me awake.  I was so glad when it was home time but I still had to go to the club for my Thursday night run and on the schedule tonight 7 miles.  Great.  I am half sleeping and my muscles are really complaining from upping the training and the Half on Sunday.

Arrived at the club to find good news though, Alistair Morrison isnt coming tonight as he is going to a wedding.  Great, maybe the pace will be slower.  Nope spoke to soon.  Who turns up, its Lindsay Cunningham.  He never comes to Thursday night training runs so why is he turning up tonight when i am a broken man.  Ok he isnt as fast as Alistair but he likes to train hard.  Alex from Shettleston and Stephen Mulrine complete our pack.

The route was from the Garscube estate, then all the way along Maryhill Road to St Georges Cross then back along Gt Western Road to Morrisons in Anniesland then back to the back gate of Garscube.  At least the route was easy to remember for a change.

We set off in what felt like at least 30 mins after the first pack.  Maz was in charge of the timing for when each pack went out and has only 2 weeks to go until the birth of her first child.  She must have been having a bad day and so kept us back for ages before letting us go.

I felt brilliant the minute we started.  All the stiffness in my legs dissapeared.  After what felt like an age I was beginning to wonder why my Garmin hadnt beeped to tell me I had covered a mile.  I took a look to find the battery dead.  It must be tired like me.  And the tiredness caught up with me when we got to St Georges Cross and I started to lag behind the others.

By the end I felt very tired but I completed the 7 miles in roughly 45 mins so again I was happy with that.  The rest of the group completed it in about 42 - 43 mins and Robert McFarlane who is always trying to race me but is running really well at the moment came in about 49 mins.  He really should join our pack because I think that time unfairly reflect his fitness as the pack below us probably took it slower at the start.

After the drive home I again got out of the car feeling very stiff and a bit cold.  Just happy to get a shower and perk up again.

Training Day 4 (Things can only get better)

Let me tell you about Debbie. Debbie is crazy. And this craziness gets her up at 5:30am to go to the gym. So as part of my new found training mojo I decided that I would join her and get up at the same time as her and go for a 6 mile run in town. We would only need to take one car with us and so it would save the environment too. Bonus. So off we go at some God awful hour with me half asleep and when we get to town I notice I have forgotten to wear my shiney new Wedding ring. Oh oh. Being newly married this wouldn't look to good so I ended up driving all the way back to get it. Mmm, so much for the environment and so much for getting up early. I still managed to do 5.5 miles before work at an average of 7min/mile which included a lot of stopping for traffic lights so I was happy with that. My legs are starting to recover from the half but I was still happy to finish and it was good to know that todays excercise was finished. Or was it?

I am a member of the Lomond Mountain Rescue Team. I love being a part of it but you do seem to get call outs at the most inappropriate times. Never when you have a wee afternoon off but always when you are in the middle of working late, out with the kids, having a romantic dinner, going to the cinema or having a domestic. And so as I prepared to leave work at 6:30pm knackered and away to see the kids I was called out. There hasnt been much activity in the way of call outs for a while and so I felt more so that it was important to get to this one. Anyway off I drove to Ben Venue at Loch Katrine. It ended up that 2 people required rescuing after one of a party of 20 walkers had had a suspected stroke and then another of the party had had a fall. So it was a late night and I finally got home at 2am.

It is on the BBC website




http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/tayside_and_central/6982287.stm

Training Day 3 (Club Reps)

Today at the club Debbie and I where given a new training schedule by our coach Lesley at Garscube Harriers.  It was great to finally get some direction with our training and I left the club with a loads of motivation and what I felt to be a new outlook.  Thanks Lesley.

Anyway back to tonights training and I was asked to take the top group out on a Fartlek run and told to take it easy with about 6 miles but with only fast bits of 100m to 200m.  I was so glad as my hamstring was still very sore and stiff so I hadn't been looking forward to tonights session but a nice stretch my legs Fartlek was just the thing.  Alistair Morrison wasnt so happy though.  He wanted a tough session and I was just in awe of him.  He had come in 11th place at the Glasgow Half in 1hr 09min 38secs and still wanted a hard session?  I left him to it with Alex from Shettleston and my group of 4 ran out to do our easy Fartlek.

The fartlek went ok but part of the route was up Boclair Road which with sore legs is a bit of a struggle.  The route ended up 5.5 miles with about 8 fast bits of 100m to 200m.

I was glad when the end came and felt very sore when I got home but so glad that training is now getting back on track.

Training Day 2 (Rest)

Cool.  Day 2 of the training plan is a rest day.  I really need it.  My hamstring on my right leg is really sore and stiff.  I have trouble walking.  So much so that Debbie was wondering what I was up to.

Results for yesterday are up.  I was 110th.  Not bad.

http://www.runglasgow.org/pdf/race-results-2007/gsrhalfmara-2007-pos.pdf

Debbie has signed my up for the Prestonpans Half Marathon on the 23rd September.  Its over beside Edinburgh somewhere.

Glasgow Half Marathon

Excellent.  What a way to start a training plan.  With a wee half marathon to see how out of shape I have become during the summer.  Last year I managed to run my PB for a half (1hr:16:53) but there was no way that I was getting that this year.

Just a little background information for everyone to why I am having to restart my training.  In March this year I ran the Paris marathon which although not a PB I still managed to get under 3 hours (just) which I was happy at because it was 30C.  For the marathon I had decided early on in the training to do an 18 week schedule and increase my weekly milage to 70 miles.  Bad move.  I think that I peaked at about 10 weeks and rarely ever reached the 70 miles per week.  I constantly felt fatigued, tired and felt that I was losing my mojo for running.  Anyway fortunatly for me I had entered the Devil of the Highlands 43 mile race from Tyndrum to Fort William in June this year.  I just wanted to finish it and wasnt really bothered about my time or place.  I had never ran over 28 miles so it came as a big surprise to come in 4th overall.  My mojo was back.  I had found something new.  Ultra Marathon running.

Only one thing stopped me immediately going back into full training again.  I was getting married and so I have been ticking along for the last few months running twice a week and going hillwalking.

So 3 weeks married and it was back to training, and to start with it would be the Glasgow Half Marathon.  This was also symbolic for me as it was the first race that I had ever done and so the start of my running "career" and so this would now be the start again or rebirth.

Anyway back to the half.

I decided to start back a bit in the white section so that I wouldnt feel the need to race off and try to keep up with people I used to be able to keep up with and so I thought that I would take it a bit easier.  This worked and I was soon running along feeling really great and starting to overtake some members of my running club and other familiar faces.  But soon the lack of long runs took its toll and I could feel that I was struggling.  Then a second wind at 8 miles and I managed to keep up with a guy called Kenny from Bela.  When I reached 10 miles I thought that I had enough in the tank to go for it to the finish and try to get under 1hr 20 mins.  This would be such a result for me after so long not training.  But no.  The minute I pushed I felt a shooting pain up the back of my leg.  My hamstring.  Lay off.  It went away.  Ok push again.  Ouch.  Lay off.  Still ouch.  Errm I hope I can finish this.  So I limped and spluttered along for the last 3 miles and finished in a time of 1hr 23min 05 secs.  I was happy enough with that.  But then I found out that Debbie my wife was at the finishing line too.  She shouldnt have finished for another 25 mins so something must be wrong.  I was worried.  I finally got through the finishing area and got to talk to her.  She hadnt been feeling well for the last couple of days and had struggled today because of it and pulled out after 6 miles.  I felt really bad because this was her first day back to training too.  But she is a brave wee soldier and she will be fine.

Welcome

After being embarassed by my wife into starting one (I thought that I was the technical one in the family) here is my attempt at blogging.  Really it is to help me with my training for the West Highland Way 96 mile race and beyond but if anyone finds anything interesting even a small bit then that is a big bonus.

So to all you runners, hillwalkers, athletes and couch potatoes, welcome to my Blog