The Running Thread Vol 2

[SpydieNut]

Well I found out yesterday at Langdale that I was underprepared for the race. I thought I would take it slightly easy on lap 1, walk up the steepest hill and save myself for lap 2. Maybe it was still too quick though as I was at the end of lap 1 at 1hr 47 and shortly thereafter felt my legs start to fade. Walked up the large hill 1.5 miles after the start again and on the way down my right calf started cramping in a big way, I've never had that before. Pushing off was fine but swinging the leg through when the calf was relaxed and it cramped 5-10x in quick succession and then land on the foot, push off and repeat. Then my quad on that side cramped on uphill and soon got to a point that it was doing it even if I walked up a hill. Suffice to say the 2nd lap wasn't pleasant and I walked the last 2.5 miles and by the end of that all I wanted to do was lie down.

So I think the long and short of it is that I just didn't have the legs for it-but will be better prepared next year. I thought my preparation was on schedule this time, but 5 weeks ago hurt the sole of my left foot on a trail run that needed 2 weeks to settle, although still not fully. Then I got back to some 10-15 mile runs in the last 2 weeks but clearly it wasn't enough.

I also felt that the watering stations were too far apart really-every 3 miles and then they only had water to drink and would usually be 1/2 a small plastic cup. So I'd take 2 at every station and also had a handful of jelly babies when they had them, but still felt dehydrated by the end. Maybe next year I take my Camelbak.

Lay on the grass at the finish for about 30 min, flat out and just sipping some water and then went to Stickleback for a sandwich. Almost too tired to chew . No appetite but knew I needed to eat - and couldn't even finish the chips as I didn't have enough saliva even and it was just too dry to swallow. But after about an hour I did feel better and then drove back to Manchester.

Still, I don't feel as bad today as I thought I might. So will just go for a trail walk and stretch and then get back out on the road next week.

[BossHogg]

On my way home foot sore and weary after finishing GNR, didn't break any records, but happy I completed it.

[egor110]

Today i did a scheduled 11 mile half marathon training run.

Did 8 with a member of the club i go to who's a bit slower than me then did the final 3 on my own and was down into 7 min miles !

12 miles up in the hills next sunday and that's all my long runs done before Bristol half.

[tenohfive]

SpydieNut said:

Well I found out yesterday at Langdale that I was underprepared for the race. I thought I would take it slightly easy on lap 1, walk up the steepest hill and save myself for lap 2. Maybe it was still too quick though as I was at the end of lap 1 at 1hr 47 and shortly thereafter felt my legs start to fade. Walked up the large hill 1.5 miles after the start again and on the way down my right calf started cramping in a big way, I've never had that before. Pushing off was fine but swinging the leg through when the calf was relaxed and it cramped 5-10x in quick succession and then land on the foot, push off and repeat. Then my quad on that side cramped on uphill and soon got to a point that it was doing it even if I walked up a hill. Suffice to say the 2nd lap wasn't pleasant and I walked the last 2.5 miles and by the end of that all I wanted to do was lie down.

So I think the long and short of it is that I just didn't have the legs for it-but will be better prepared next year. I thought my preparation was on schedule this time, but 5 weeks ago hurt the sole of my left foot on a trail run that needed 2 weeks to settle, although still not fully. Then I got back to some 10-15 mile runs in the last 2 weeks but clearly it wasn't enough.

I also felt that the watering stations were too far apart really-every 3 miles and then they only had water to drink and would usually be 1/2 a small plastic cup. So I'd take 2 at every station and also had a handful of jelly babies when they had them, but still felt dehydrated by the end. Maybe next year I take my Camelbak.

Lay on the grass at the finish for about 30 min, flat out and just sipping some water and then went to Stickleback for a sandwich. Almost too tired to chew . No appetite but knew I needed to eat - and couldn't even finish the chips as I didn't have enough saliva even and it was just too dry to swallow. But after about an hour I did feel better and then drove back to Manchester.

Still, I don't feel as bad today as I thought I might. So will just go for a trail walk and stretch and then get back out on the road next week.

Considering the way it bucketed down the evening before I was relieved for you lot that you at least got half decent weather. I did notice a few people with Salomon style vests; I might bring mine next year given those comments. You likely to be doing it next year as well.

[Tycho]

Did the Farnham Pilgrim this morning in 4.21.10 and manages a 14min improvement over last year's race and only 4mins from a pb I managed in London! Well chuffed. The weather was a bit hot for my liking and I hope my legs recover enough for the Purbeck marathon next Sunday.

[RizzoTheRat]

Tycho said:

Did the Farnham Pilgrim this morning in 4.21.10

You must have come in not far behind the bloke who managed to throw up pretty much all the way from the gate off the road to the finish line, he looked like he might have overdone it a bit Good time, hot day and that's a tough course.

[Tycho]

RizzoTheRat said:

Tycho said:

Did the Farnham Pilgrim this morning in 4.21.10

You must have come in not far behind the bloke who managed to throw up pretty much all the way from the gate off the road to the finish line, he looked like he might have overdone it a bit Good time, hot day and that's a tough course.

Thanks, glad I did better than last year.

It was heavy going in the sun but managed to dig deep and keep going.

[Gargamel]

Tycho said:

RizzoTheRat said:

Tycho said:

Did the Farnham Pilgrim this morning in 4.21.10

You must have come in not far behind the bloke who managed to throw up pretty much all the way from the gate off the road to the finish line, he looked like he might have overdone it a bit Good time, hot day and that's a tough course.

Thanks, glad I did better than last year.

It was heavy going in the sun but managed to dig deep and keep going.

Hey both I also ran Farnham, was right behind you as I came in at 4:22. My kids told me about the puker. Tough, hilly and really a bit too warm, but all in all thoroughly enjoyable and great marshals.

also a PB for me by 16 minutes

[Tycho]

Gargamel said:

Hey both I also ran Farnham, was right behind you as I came in at 4:22. My kids told me about the puker. Tough, hilly and really a bit too warm, but all in all thoroughly enjoyable and great marshals.

also a PB for me by 16 minutes

Fantastic effort. Agree about it being a little too warm though.

[egor110]

tenohfive said:

Considering the way it bucketed down the evening before I was relieved for you lot that you at least got half decent weather. I did notice a few people with Salomon style vests; I might bring mine next year given those comments. You likely to be doing it next year as well.

Make sure you try one on 1st.

I'll be fked if I can get the left strap right on mine , I've adjusted it tied a knot in it and it still slips on my shoulder.

Camelback fits just right.

[ukaskew]

Out of interest how would you prep for a 102 mile event? There is one that finishes locally to me (Bath) with a maximum 30 hour cut off. If I remember correctly you have to have done at least a 40 mile race in the past few years just to be eligible.

Not sure if it's something I would consider working towards, but it's strangely appealing in the long term.

[cslwannabe]

BossHogg said:

On my way home foot sore and weary after finishing GNR, didn't break any records, but happy I completed it.

Good effort! Conditions were pretty tough. At least I had a decent starting zone so it was less congested than I was expecting having not run it since 2002 but it was pretty warm and I've certainly caught the sun.

[SpydieNut]

tenohfive said:

Considering the way it bucketed down the evening before I was relieved for you lot that you at least got half decent weather. I did notice a few people with Salomon style vests; I might bring mine next year given those comments. You likely to be doing it next year as well.

Will be back next year for sure - just better prepared and with a Camelbak

[Tycho]

RizzoTheRat said:

Tycho said:

Did the Farnham Pilgrim this morning in 4.21.10

You must have come in not far behind the bloke who managed to throw up pretty much all the way from the gate off the road to the finish line, he looked like he might have overdone it a bit Good time, hot day and that's a tough course.

Apparently there was a guy just before I finished whos hamstring went just before the finish. Apparently he pulled up holding his leg.

[Jacobyte]

Tycho said:

Did the Farnham Pilgrim this morning in 4.21.10

Well done, it was a tough course. I only did the half and was happy with 1:42.39.

[Tycho]

Jacobyte said:

Tycho said:

Did the Farnham Pilgrim this morning in 4.21.10

Well done, it was a tough course. I only did the half and was happy with 1:42.39.

Thanks, 1.42 for the 1/2 is very good, congrats. My road 1/2 pb is 1.44. How much elevation did the 1/2 have? The full had 2326ft ascent. Purbeck next Sunday has 3500ft which I'm not looking forward to now.

[UpTheIron]

ukaskew said:

Out of interest how would you prep for a 102 mile event? There is one that finishes locally to me (Bath) with a maximum 30 hour cut off. If I remember correctly you have to have done at least a 40 mile race in the past few years just to be eligible.

Not sure if it's something I would consider working towards, but it's strangely appealing in the long term.

I've tried two different approaches for running longer ultras (inc 100 milers). The cornerstone of both was simply lots of miles.

I did The Wall a few years ago my training was based on back-to-back long runs at the weekends (e.g. a marathon on Saturday and a 30-35 miler on Sunday), and 3 running days during the week (two rest days) where I would typically do 10/5/10 or 20/5/20 depending on how my mood took me. Fitting everything in gets difficult when doing it for weeks on end - if I missed a marathon at the weekend then I would run to work on the Monday (was 27 miles at the time). A fairly rigorous and regimented training plan helped me feel mentally prepared.

I did a 100 this year and I didn't have as much free time (or inclination) I simply squeezed in as many miles as I could - aiming for 100 mile weeks when time allowed. I couldn't have taken this approach a few years ago but have since realised that it is as much mental as physical. I was definitely fitter when I did The Wall however I still set a new marathon PB this year when a stone heavier and physically far less fit - makes me wonder what I really could have achieved 5 years ago!

Fuelling becomes more important in the longer races, and still after several years of running ultras I've still not worked it out properly... road marathons are still sports drinks & gels for me (sub 3 hours), but for the longer stuff I can't face the thought of gels, instead preferring proper food. My latest experiences with S! Caps + water (rather than sports drinks), chocolate milk, houmous and the odd orange or banana seems to work for the longer/slower events.

[Jacobyte]

Tycho said:

Thanks, 1.42 for the 1/2 is very good, congrats. My road 1/2 pb is 1.44. How much elevation did the 1/2 have? The full had 2326ft ascent. Purbeck next Sunday has 3500ft which I'm not looking forward to now.

Not sure about elevation, I expect it's about half of what you did; I'd have fallen to pieces if I'd tried that. I was told the rough/sandy/stodgy ground and climbing adds about 30-40 minutes to a "normal" full marathon time, as opposed to 10-15 minutes for the half.

Good luck next weekend, I hope your legs mend in time!

[BossHogg]

cslwannabe said:

BossHogg said:

On my way home foot sore and weary after finishing GNR, didn't break any records, but happy I completed it.

Good effort! Conditions were pretty tough. At least I had a decent starting zone so it was less congested than I was expecting having not run it since 2002 but it was pretty warm and I've certainly caught the sun.

I got dropped at the runners drop off point, then had to walk over a mile to the starting area, I was in pink zone K, so had nearly a mile to walk to the start line. I took it nice and easy and managed to run the first 3 miles without walking. I then alternated running with brisk walking and was making decent time until I got to eight and a half miles. My right ankle started to seize and was sending shooting pains up my leg every time I tried to run. I could still walk briskly, so I settled in to a good rhythm and started overtaking a lot of people who we're still running - I can walk at 4 miles an hour. At the 11 mile point, my thigh muscles started to ache, and my knees were starting to throb - I have arthritis in both knees. Then you hit that short downhill section before you turn left onto the sea front. That hill knackered my calf muscles and I was walking like a Thunderbird puppet! I was really struggling at that point, another runner gave me some energy gel, and that eased it. I set off again and tried to run but my legs wouldn't go, at the 800m out marker, I met a young lady whose hamstrings were playing up, so being a first aider, I stayed with her and talked her into the finish line where I passed her over to my Red Cross colleagues. I was as red as a beetroot and very badly sunburnt, my legs are still aching now but that doesn't matter, I finished it in, what I believe is a respectful time, of 3.21. Not bad for a nearly 50 year old bloke with bad arthritis in both knees, who only recently lost over 6 and a half stone, I've still got another 3 stone till I reach my target.

[egor110]

BossHogg said:

cslwannabe said:

BossHogg said:

On my way home foot sore and weary after finishing GNR, didn't break any records, but happy I completed it.

Good effort! Conditions were pretty tough. At least I had a decent starting zone so it was less congested than I was expecting having not run it since 2002 but it was pretty warm and I've certainly caught the sun.

I got dropped at the runners drop off point, then had to walk over a mile to the starting area, I was in pink zone K, so had nearly a mile to walk to the start line. I took it nice and easy and managed to run the first 3 miles without walking. I then alternated running with brisk walking and was making decent time until I got to eight and a half miles. My right ankle started to seize and was sending shooting pains up my leg every time I tried to run. I could still walk briskly, so I settled in to a good rhythm and started overtaking a lot of people who we're still running - I can walk at 4 miles an hour. At the 11 mile point, my thigh muscles started to ache, and my knees were starting to throb - I have arthritis in both knees. Then you hit that short downhill section before you turn left onto the sea front. That hill knackered my calf muscles and I was walking like a Thunderbird puppet! I was really struggling at that point, another runner gave me some energy gel, and that eased it. I set off again and tried to run but my legs wouldn't go, at the 800m out marker, I met a young lady whose hamstrings were playing up, so being a first aider, I stayed with her and talked her into the finish line where I passed her over to my Red Cross colleagues. I was as red as a beetroot and very badly sunburnt, my legs are still aching now but that doesn't matter, I finished it in, what I believe is a respectful time, of 3.21. Not bad for a nearly 50 year old bloke with bad arthritis in both knees, who only recently lost over 6 and a half stone, I've still got another 3 stone till I reach my target.

What was the furthest run you'd done in training ?