I'd been out for just under two weeks. 13 days ago I was coughing up phlegm and it was thick green and had flecks of blood in it. My chest also hurt. Running for the train was tough and so Tenke's plea for a running buddy went un-answered for too long.
A week before the race I was definitely getting better, but not fast enough. Chest was still productive, but clear of blood and infection and the enforced taper was good. Work was busy, so that took my mind of the lack of training.
By race day I was feeling better. More on that later.
Mr Leaky arrived still sporting his handle bar moustache one hour before the appointed pick up time, so we were all wondering around the house in dressing gowns having enjoyed the extra hour in bed that the clocks moving gave us. Nice big cup of coffee to notch the hrt up a few bpms and some of Richard's family harmony wisdom and we were back on schedule and heading to the RZ with Attila and Tenke.
Attila had very kindly offered to be bag man, having already put in a stonking 50min performance for the 10km. His approach is no training, stay relaxed and enjoy it. I think he may have a point. He also had a point about the route, he was right, we should have taken the motorway as the lake road was closed due to the marathon and the third way does not really exist. But it the crazy route was good for two things. We saw a couple with two sheep which were on a lead. I have never seen that before. Mint sauce? Secondly, we saw a guy carrying by the crouch a life sized silver mannequin missing one arm and a head.
At the start we parked up and the place was buzzing. We did a tradition Q 4 the Loo and then a warm up. The warning sign was there, but I missed it. After a couple of km I was far too hot and even sticky. Normally, I break sweat at around 10km. Not in the warm up. Hrt was too high too soon. Massive spike. Went for some personal time and got in the zone.
I decide that I knew I could do a half in 1:35 so what was the point in knocking out another one of those? I was going to find the pacers for 1:30 and hold them for as long as I could and in addition I was going to ignore the Garmin for the first 5 km. I held them for 5km and let myself glance down at the Garmin. Spot on time wise, just that the hrt was already red line and I knew right then it was going to be a bad day. I decided to slow down gradually, but the recovery never came. They flooded past me in the thousands. I slowed more, but still they came and I never recovered. I consoled myself with the fact the 1:40 boys had still not caught me.
The red marathon markers made me think of Alain and I wondered how his marathon race was. The white markers for the half came a little after the red ones and I was struggling with the kms still to run as the ability to do simple arithmetic left me completely.
At about 6km I felt like I had carbed out. I needed food urgently. I took a gel and decided I really wanted it eat it, but waited until the next water station to take it so I could wash it down with some water. I noticed it was a small one and figured it would do me about 20min.
At 9km the wind switched direction and increased in speed. It whipped in off the lake and bounced of the high embankment and pushed us backwards. Horrible. Then I got cold. I'm never cold.
Found another gel and decided to eat it. That got me through a few more km.
With only 2km to go I realised the 1h 40m markers started 5mins after the first pen. Oh no! Now I need to pull a decent couple of km out of the bag to make it around in sub 1h 40m. I push on. No tropical fruit flavour gels so I skip them. WHY? I've lost it completely. I need something now. Grab some chocolate and hope. Perceived effort is massive. Still I cannot hold my place in the race. The km takes forever. I can hear the finish. I calculate minutes to finish and push on. Into the last straight. It is very long. I go wide. I try to kick. Nothing. I try again, nothing. I limp over the finish and hit stop. 1h 40m 01s my time. Official time 1h 40s 00.3sec. How galling is that?
Left Achilles tendon is trashed. Right hamstring is tight. Now remind me why did I not take the cancellation insurance out?
Still it was better than the last sick half I did in Bedford in 2008 with Kenny, which was 1h 43.
Richard did 2:05 having spent considerable time lying down in the road trying to shift a cramp.
Tenke was 1h19m and came 3rd. Well done Tenke!
Thank you to Attila for being such top chauffer and bag man.
Thank you to Richard for the lift and motivating me to keep going when I felt like stopping, the thought of that moustache going past me was just enough to push me along.
Garmin
Saturday 30 October 2010
Tuesday 19 October 2010
7m Botanical Gardens, bottom field loop and top field loop
Ran with Tenke and Zosia today and was humbled by their chatter on expected times at the Lausanne half. Scary moment when Zosia said it was not flat, but she meant just Lausanne in general and not the whole thing.
Tenke has pretty much talked me into running with the 1:30 pacer. But I will make a final decision on the day.
Hence forth the bottom field is Niall's loop and the one on the airport hill will be known as Zosia's field.
My guess is 7m in 49:30 so just off TRP and felt fine. Went fast down the airport hill which was fun, but the girls kept going up, but I was tired and needed to get back.
Saw a deer with impressive antlers just after the flamingos in the park.
On the home drag a bloke was going weird arm spins while running along. I looked at him quizically and his buddy behind him rolled his eyes and shrugged his shoulders at me, funny moment.
Tenke has pretty much talked me into running with the 1:30 pacer. But I will make a final decision on the day.
Hence forth the bottom field is Niall's loop and the one on the airport hill will be known as Zosia's field.
My guess is 7m in 49:30 so just off TRP and felt fine. Went fast down the airport hill which was fun, but the girls kept going up, but I was tired and needed to get back.
Saw a deer with impressive antlers just after the flamingos in the park.
On the home drag a bloke was going weird arm spins while running along. I looked at him quizically and his buddy behind him rolled his eyes and shrugged his shoulders at me, funny moment.
Saturday 16 October 2010
6.24 miles Allaman out on the high road and back via Perroy
Easy zone three run. Great to be out in the cool and was a dark start so I needed the head torch.
Jason rocked up just as the clock spun around to 7:30am, which was our away time and so that was just perfect. Very Swiss!
Ran past the new offices of Gumaco where Jason works and he decided to take of his running trousers and hide them in the bushes near the train tracks. So if you get there before Monday.....
Other interesting thing was I used some mind games on the hill pointing out to Jason that the pace on the hill up to Perroy had dropped and so I picked it up. This was just the start of the Psychological Operations leading up to the Gates of Perroy. At the bakery I ask if the race to the gates was on and Jason said "I'm not telling you as it will influence the out come." I read that as I'm hanging on here hoping to sprint past you just before the gates. Red rag to a bull and I kick hard. Just enough to put a couple of metres between us and hold the gap with the several challenges (which were pretty strong by the way) that Jason excerted. I held the gap, doing just enough to go through the gate first.
Last PsyOp comment was as Jason bent up double in the park, "Come on mate, instant recovery, back to pace, let's go!" He's saying OK but his face and body language are saying "I'd like to stop here for a bit and recover", but it is downhill home and the 5min route extension is declined and we reach the bakery after 55mins.
All in zone 2 and 3 except the fun at the gate.
Garmin here
Jason rocked up just as the clock spun around to 7:30am, which was our away time and so that was just perfect. Very Swiss!
Ran past the new offices of Gumaco where Jason works and he decided to take of his running trousers and hide them in the bushes near the train tracks. So if you get there before Monday.....
Other interesting thing was I used some mind games on the hill pointing out to Jason that the pace on the hill up to Perroy had dropped and so I picked it up. This was just the start of the Psychological Operations leading up to the Gates of Perroy. At the bakery I ask if the race to the gates was on and Jason said "I'm not telling you as it will influence the out come." I read that as I'm hanging on here hoping to sprint past you just before the gates. Red rag to a bull and I kick hard. Just enough to put a couple of metres between us and hold the gap with the several challenges (which were pretty strong by the way) that Jason excerted. I held the gap, doing just enough to go through the gate first.
Last PsyOp comment was as Jason bent up double in the park, "Come on mate, instant recovery, back to pace, let's go!" He's saying OK but his face and body language are saying "I'd like to stop here for a bit and recover", but it is downhill home and the 5min route extension is declined and we reach the bakery after 55mins.
All in zone 2 and 3 except the fun at the gate.
Garmin here
Saturday 9 October 2010
13.1 miles Hartford half marathon
Darren called me on wednesday evening to see if I fancied running in the local half Hartford half marathon.
Photos on here.
Official results here, bib number is 8551.
I decided I could do with a long run before Lausanne and so why not? So he signed me up and that was my long run sorted.
Now Darren is not known for his running prowess, so once he picked up my bid and runner's pack for me he swung by the bar where his buddies were hanging out and they were gobsmacked to see him rock up with with a race bag!
The big day arrived nd I had the best night's sleep of my trip. No street noise, nice hard bed, no noisy air con. Perfect preparation.
The start was 8am and we needed to pick up a friend of darren's who was doing the full marathon. They have a stunning lake side place about the size of the town I live in back home in Switzerland. I managed to elevate her stress levels even higher by bugging her about longest run to date, predicted time and so on. She did great finishing in 5:40 and the goal was finishing so she achieved that.
We got to the start over one hour early so I decided to stay with Darren to park the car in his office and walk back slowly. Cool as a cucumber with 30 to go I gave Darren my bag and headed off to get the hrt up to something more appropriate than he high 40s.
Having a bag man changes everything. No queuing and you can leave it to the end.
Unusually the half, full and 5km all started at the same time and place. So there were thousands of us. I jumped the barrier at the 8min mile marker with the idea I would move up the field during the race. The start had all the trappings of a big american event with the national anthem, flags, prayers and speeches. Great stuff.
I spotted Darren in the crowd snapping away and smiled and stood up straight. Elite away 30 before the masses and then it was race on. Roads were wide and closed on both sides so no boxing. The half full split was well signed and announced to my relief. By three miles I check the pace and was way too fast, mile 3 in 21 so eased of a bit. Rock bands every mile or so and pockets of crowds everywhere. High fives for the kids and enjoyed the run.
Started to tire at around seven miles but was boosted by a piper at mile 8. I shouted to him that I was from Scotland and he rewarded me with Scotland the brave!
Took a risk at nine and sipped the gator aid. Lime and ok. Took a whole cup at ten and that got me home. Through the Elizabeth park the kids had chalk messages of encouragement. Very sweet.
Back to town perceived effort was through the roof but no return on speed, just held the pace.
Great finish under the soldiers and sailors memorial and full on sprint to the finish. Nice massage and runners lunch. Saw the winners of the full marathon come in at 2:20, it was a close finish and number 2 nearly died at the line.
My time was 1:36 with a negative split so happy enough with that. Left calf injured slightly, but after a few days it seems to be improving ok.
Overall: 241st of 4612
Male: 189th of 2072
M40-44: 33rd of 307
Garmin
Photos on here.
Official results here, bib number is 8551.
I decided I could do with a long run before Lausanne and so why not? So he signed me up and that was my long run sorted.
Now Darren is not known for his running prowess, so once he picked up my bid and runner's pack for me he swung by the bar where his buddies were hanging out and they were gobsmacked to see him rock up with with a race bag!
The big day arrived nd I had the best night's sleep of my trip. No street noise, nice hard bed, no noisy air con. Perfect preparation.
The start was 8am and we needed to pick up a friend of darren's who was doing the full marathon. They have a stunning lake side place about the size of the town I live in back home in Switzerland. I managed to elevate her stress levels even higher by bugging her about longest run to date, predicted time and so on. She did great finishing in 5:40 and the goal was finishing so she achieved that.
We got to the start over one hour early so I decided to stay with Darren to park the car in his office and walk back slowly. Cool as a cucumber with 30 to go I gave Darren my bag and headed off to get the hrt up to something more appropriate than he high 40s.
Having a bag man changes everything. No queuing and you can leave it to the end.
Unusually the half, full and 5km all started at the same time and place. So there were thousands of us. I jumped the barrier at the 8min mile marker with the idea I would move up the field during the race. The start had all the trappings of a big american event with the national anthem, flags, prayers and speeches. Great stuff.
I spotted Darren in the crowd snapping away and smiled and stood up straight. Elite away 30 before the masses and then it was race on. Roads were wide and closed on both sides so no boxing. The half full split was well signed and announced to my relief. By three miles I check the pace and was way too fast, mile 3 in 21 so eased of a bit. Rock bands every mile or so and pockets of crowds everywhere. High fives for the kids and enjoyed the run.
Started to tire at around seven miles but was boosted by a piper at mile 8. I shouted to him that I was from Scotland and he rewarded me with Scotland the brave!
Took a risk at nine and sipped the gator aid. Lime and ok. Took a whole cup at ten and that got me home. Through the Elizabeth park the kids had chalk messages of encouragement. Very sweet.
Back to town perceived effort was through the roof but no return on speed, just held the pace.
Great finish under the soldiers and sailors memorial and full on sprint to the finish. Nice massage and runners lunch. Saw the winners of the full marathon come in at 2:20, it was a close finish and number 2 nearly died at the line.
My time was 1:36 with a negative split so happy enough with that. Left calf injured slightly, but after a few days it seems to be improving ok.
Overall: 241st of 4612
Male: 189th of 2072
M40-44: 33rd of 307
Garmin
Sunday 3 October 2010
6 miles and more in central park
In order to keep awake I decided to run around central park.
I was glad I did. Streets of ny were packed and i made slow progress. Got to the corner of the park and it all came back to me and I remembered where everything was.
Best bit was seeing the sun set on the skyscrapers. Stunning orange and red bouncing off the massive buildings and the clouds were awesome dude.
It was so cool I decided to ramp it up and do the reservoir loop one more time and seek some trp action.
Pretty much achieved and very enjoyable.
Garmin
I was glad I did. Streets of ny were packed and i made slow progress. Got to the corner of the park and it all came back to me and I remembered where everything was.
Best bit was seeing the sun set on the skyscrapers. Stunning orange and red bouncing off the massive buildings and the clouds were awesome dude.
It was so cool I decided to ramp it up and do the reservoir loop one more time and seek some trp action.
Pretty much achieved and very enjoyable.
Garmin
Friday 1 October 2010
Inverted Pyramid
Tough session in perfect conditions. Cool, sunny, not to busy.
4/3/2/1/1/2/3/4 minutes "on" with half the time just ran as recovery.
First 3min let me down, but other than that all was well inside TRP (7 min miles for 17 mins). So, now I need to cut out the recovery and keep it up for 73 more minutes!
In fact, it actually got easier. By the 3 and 4 on the second half I was going faster for longer, sure that is not supposed to happen. But it did.
Garmin
Off to NY for a couple of weeks, so don't expect anything here for a while!
4/3/2/1/1/2/3/4 minutes "on" with half the time just ran as recovery.
First 3min let me down, but other than that all was well inside TRP (7 min miles for 17 mins). So, now I need to cut out the recovery and keep it up for 73 more minutes!
In fact, it actually got easier. By the 3 and 4 on the second half I was going faster for longer, sure that is not supposed to happen. But it did.
Garmin
Off to NY for a couple of weeks, so don't expect anything here for a while!
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