Niggles & Cross Training

It has been a couple of weeks since my last blog and to be honest I haven't been doing much running.  In some ways the recent snow has been a bit of a blessing as conditions were not ideal for running, but I have had a niggle with my left glute/hamstring so had taken an enforced 9 day rest until today when I took part in the Canterbury 10.

CANTERBURY 10

We (Me, Mich & Max) drove to Canterbury in monsoon like conditions, but as we got closer to the venue, things were looking up and in fact the sound of the claxon blew the last of the clouds away and the 750+ runners were treated to blue skies (although a bit windy)

I got round in 1hour 23 mins, although my mile splits were a bit erratic I am glad to report that I got round with no repercussions and to be honest felt pretty good which shows a rest can be just as good as run.

Canterbury 10 Stats

I had been tweeting with Mark, one of the current Project 26.2 runners, but we didn't manage to meet up.  He was too fast for me finishing 10 minutes ahead of me.  PWR had a good showing with 20+ members taking part.

My traditional post run session is to now Google the closest public swimming pool to wherever I am running.  I can then get changed into my swimming gear, have a shower and then an hour messing around in the pool with Max.  Max even noticed in the changing rooms today that somebody else had a similar idea as he said "Daddy that man has dirty legs like you"

OTHER RUNS

The only other two runs that I have managed on the last two weeks was a run with Petts Wood two Tuesday's ago and a Friday lunchtime session with Jamie, the chap from work who I am helping with his London Marathon training.

CROSS TRAINING

I did have a different workout on the Saturday that we had all the snow.  I had made the decision not to run, but Mich said she would.  So whilst Mich (in pink) was running Parkrun with  fellow PWRs Rachelle (in yellow) & Jo (in black)...

Max and I were building a Parkrun Snowman (with a sports bottle lid for a nose)!

So now I really have to step up my training if I am going to get to the start line of the Brighton Marathon in April!

Until next time
TJH

It's good to share

As I mentioned in my last blog, I knew I had tweaked my left calf muscle during the first mile of the Knacker Cracker on New Year's Day.  When I woke the next day I had the dreaded DOMS (Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness) and I suffered these for the next 2 or 3 days, in fact worse than I experienced after the London Marathon last year.  Just goes to show how tough the Knacker Cracker 10k is!

But in addition to the DOMS, my calf just didn't feel right so I took the sensible option of complete rest for a week even though this meant me missing the first run of the year with my club Petts Wood Runners and missing a Thursday night track session (also with PWR).

So it was Wednesday this week when the sharing began.

Firstly at lunchtime, I went for a gentle 3.5 mile run at lunchtime.  This run had a duel purpose.  One to test the calf and two to partner and provide guidance to a mate from work who this year is running the London Marathon.  His first marathon!  The run was a success from both perspectives.

Wednesday evening saw me travelling to The Guardian newspaper offices in Kings Cross as I had the privilege of being asked by the Multiple Sclerosis Trust to present (as a former London Marathon runner for the charity) at their London Marathon reception evening for all the runners that will be raising money for the MS Trust this year.

I think the presentation went down well, people laughed in the right places and I saw people taking notes.  Although they might have just been writing a message to the person next to them asking 'who is this clown'  Either way, it was nice to pass on information and guidance based on my experiences.

Who would have thought 18 months ago that a 17st+ beer swilling bloke by the name of 'The Hippo' would be passing on Marathon running advice a year and half later?

Today, I introduced Jamie (my mate from work) to a HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) session.  So we ran along Regent's Canal to Victoria Park and then did some speed work before a slow jog back.

Again, no issues with the calf muscle, so full training resumes next week.

Where possible I like to have a picture or two in my blogs.  As you would have saw from my last blog, I was wearing orange attire in my last race.  In fact I even got a mention in one of the Runner's World runner reviews!  Anyway I will leave you with a few action shots.  Enjoy! or maybe feel sick ;-)

Until next time
TJH

Pre race Fancy Dress parade

Slogging it up the first hill

What goes up, must come down

Final charge to the finish!

Christmas (& New Year) Crackers

To start, Happy New Year to you.

I have a confession.  Since achieving my sub4 marathon in November, I have taken the foot of the gas somewhat and have only been running once or twice a week and over the last 2 or 3 weeks food and booze consumption has definitely exceeded my calorific requirements. 

But hey, every now and then you earn a break.  I am dreading getting back on the scales, but serious training now restarts with the Brighton Marathon in April as my next big target.

So what have I been up to.  Well on Christmas Day, I along with 96 others turned up at Norman Park for Parkrun.  The conditions were frankly ridiculous, but in all honesty great fun.  Wind, rain, mud lots of it, some parts submerged ankle deep in water and just to rub salt into the wound, the sun even made a fleeting glimpse between the clouds.  Not conditions for a PB, but nevertheless a morning run to pre-empt the afternoon's gluttony.  Alas I have no photos as I don't have underwater casing for my camera.  I managed to splash round in 25:11

Christmas Day Bromley Parkrun Stats

On Saturday, Mich was keen to run Parkrun.  She is not a fan of the mud and as I wanted to run as well, that meant Max would be coming along in the buggy.  I knew that conditions at Norman Park would not be conducive for trying to push the little man round. 

We are very fortunate where we live with probably a dozen or so Parkruns within a 10 mile radius.  So we drove to Herne Hill and took part in the the Brockwell Park event.  A small but friendly event in a lovely park (so lovely that we returned on the Sunday Morning, as Max had spied the extensive kiddies playground). 

The highlight, was seeing Mich finish, she will be the first to admit that she is not the fastest, but I was surprised at her finishing speed.  It transpires that there was a 1st time lady who had inadvertently taken a shortcut and Mich was determined not to be last to somebody who had not ran the full distance.  I am pleased to say that Mich achieved her goal.  It is amazing what a bit of motivation can do.

Brockwell Parkrun Stats

A few months ago when it seemed a good idea, I signed up for the Knacker Cracker on New Years Day.  I had a great New Years Eve Party at a friends house which included me spending an hour on the decks dropping some TUUUNES! 'DJ CV IN DA HOUSE' sorry got a bit carried away there.  But due to the run, this meant that I limited myself to just 2 beers all night.  So for the second year running I have awoken on New Year's Day without a hangover, unlike my wife :-)

I got to bed just gone 1:30am and set my alarm for 8am.  Alas Max's internal body clock alarm goes off at 06:30am.  Who needs sleep!

I left home at 9am, arriving at Box Hill just gone 10am.  For those of not familiar with Box Hill, this is an infamous hill in Surrey predominantly used by cyclists and was included in the Olympic Cycling Road Race.

The weather was absolutely perfect, sunny, fresh and no wind.

I donned my gear and then made my way to the start to collect my number along with another couple of hundred of (fool)hardy souls. 

This is the point where I reveal that the Knacker Cracker encourages fancy dress and I would say that 95% made the effort, so here it is, the disturbing photo that you have been warned about.....

Didn't have time to wax, and as you can see, not a natural blonde!

There was some tremendous outfits all round including the Village People, lots of Disney characters, Nuns, Hot Dogs, Xmas Puddings and many many more.

Before the start of the event, there was a fancy dress parade and then everybody sang the National Anthem before we started.  The jogging start quickly turned into a walk as we climbed the first hill.  I was getting quite a few wolf whistles and one cheeky chap even squeezed my boob.  I felt violated I can tell you.  Another lady who was running down a hill whilst I was running up said 'Nice boobs' I wanted to repay the compliment, but managed to bite my tongue.

The course is bloody tough, as you go down one hill, the 'faster' runners are already on their way back up, but are either walking or have pained expressions on their faces which basically worried you even more.  Camaraderie amongst the runners is brilliant and the marshalls are also excellent.  There are also a lot of the general public out for a New Year Day walk.  I mostly got lots of laughs and smiles, but did also get a couple of disgusted looks! 'Face Bothered'!

In the first mile, I managed to strain my left calf, but there was no way I was going to bail out of this, so just did some gentle stretching and didn't go to mad.  I managed to finish the 10k in 1:14:23

Knacker Cracker Stats

At the finish I was presented with a Medal, Cap, Technical T-shirt (with a list of all the runners names on the back), a bottle of water, soup & cheese and pickle rolls.  I even won a mystery prize in the raffle which was a Leith Hill Half Marathon Paper Weight. So I am going to have to do that race at some point now!

I must admit that I was disappointed not to win the fancy dress prize, but the judge was a young girl and a) she has probably never seen BayWatch, b) was quite frankly probably disturbed at my outfit and c) chose the chap as the Mad Hatter.  His outfit was good to be fair!

Well, day one of the New Year and this could quite well be my favourite event of 2013.  Great organisation and excellent fun!

Info, more photos and a video of the event can be found here KNACKER CRACKER

Now all I have to do is rest the calf for a while and start some serious training.

Incidentally, now you have seen my ridiculous outfit, I can reveal the following.

1) Whilst getting ready at home, Max said "Dad, why have you got boobs" I couldn't really explain.  I am just concerned that he may go to pre-school now, saying that he has 2 mummy's!?

2) I had to stop off at the services for a pee on the way to the event.  I had tracksuit bottoms and a hoodie on and no wig, but had to walk with my arms crossed to try and disguise my cleavage.  Luckily it wasn't that busy, but I still got a few strange looks :-)

Until next time

TJH a.k.a Pammy