Another Race in the Diary

Just entered the Dublin Marathon.

London Marathon 2014 ballot has just opened but I see that the race date is whilst the MdS is still on. Arrgh!

Last Longish Run Before My First Trail Marathon

8.5 miles today in 1:11. 5 of those miles were on sand, which is hard work on the knees and ankles.

The Asics Gel Trabuccos are doing a great job and, for me, they are far better than my Salomon Crossmaxes. The Trabuccos could be the shoes for the London-to-Brighton run and maybe the MdS. I'll update this after the Richmond Park Marathon on Sunday.

Just a couple of short runs this week then the race.

After that, the ultra training starts proper...

First Weigh-in For A While...and the Weight is Still Falling Off

86.6kg today. I'm getting there slowly but steadily.

I was 93kg when I started this blog and 103 kg when I started running in summer 2011.

Need to get down to sub-80kg I think for the MdS.

Training between Marathons 3 weeks apart

So Brighton is done.  Next race - The Richmond Park Marathon on 5th May.

So what do I do between races?  I've taken the week after Brighton off.  First run back was at the weekend - just 4.5 miles mostly off-road and with 3 miles or so on a sandy bridlepath - wow, I had a sore ankle and knee for a couple of days after that!  Must have been the sand!  I had planned a long run on Sunday but I binned that due to the ankle and knee.  I've learnt my lesson about running through injuries the hard way!

Looks like I'd better start doing more training on sand - I think there'll be quite a bit of that next April!

Second run tonight - 7.5 miles in 58 minutes.  I'm fairly pleased with that.

What next?  I think 2 or 3 more similar runs this week, 1 long run at the weekend (about 15 miles or so) and then one easy run next week.

Going to run Richmond Park Marathon with a camelbak and electrolytes this time.  Hopefully that will deal with the cramps problem.  Now, which electrolyte tablets to use...?

Brighton Marathon: 4:08 New PB but...

Just run the Brighton Marathon. 4:08:26. Beaten my last PB by 24 minutes! Great, but I'm annoyed.

Felt really great until about 19-20 miles. My aim was to go sub 4-hour. I was at 20 miles at 2:59 and on target, but then - cramps! Both calves started cramping up and I just could not carry on running and had to stop to stretch. I was reduced to running for 3-4 minutes and then I had to stop to stretch for about 30-60 seconds. My Garmin had me completely stationary for 4.5 minutes!

Fitness wise I felt I ran a good race. The first 19 miles were done at around 8:40 minute/mile avge pace. I probably ran out of fuel about half a mile before the end so would otherwise have been a great race.

What causes muscle cramps and how do you prevent them? I wonder if hydration was an issue. I thought I had started with a lot of fluid on board and I took water at every aid station, but I did not need to stop for a toilet break at all - which I suspect was a bad sign.

Need to sort this out...

Last Run before Brighton Marathon and MDS 2013 Long Day is over.

Just been out for a 5 miler. 39 minutes. That's it now until the race. Ran with my heart rate monitor for the first time in a while. Running at around 8:30 minute/miles gives me a heart rate of 150-155. Think I'll set off on Sunday at around 8:30-8:35 pace.

This year's MDS racers have finished the Long Day. 75.7Km. Every day it seems that there have been some brutal climbs. Feet must be sore now. Good luck to all for tomorrow's marathon stage!

Last Long(ish) Run Before Brighton Raceday and Day 1 of MDS 2013

Target of 12 miles in 1:45 today.
Managed my 12 miles in 1:36.  Felt good with no problems.

The 2013 MDS started today.  I see that Mohammed Ahansal has won day one - 37.2Km in 2:50!  That's a 7:22 minute mile average or a 3:15 marathon.  In the desert with dunes!  Click here to follow the race.


Got a lot more work to do!

Warm Weather Training #2

Ran up this volcano...

Last run in Lanzarote.

Great morning, windy but otherwise excellent conditions.

No pack today - just a fun run.

Had to touch the black rocks at the centre of the crater - stone cold...what a disappointment!

...and into this crater at the top.

Back to freezing UK now and need to motivate myself to get out and run - Brighton Marathon in 10 days.

Warm Weather Training #1

Morning Run

Just had a week in Lanzarote and managed to get some warm weather running in.  Great opportunity to try out some kit.

This run was around a headland, scrambling up and down cliffs and beach running.  On my feet I had my old GT-2170s with Injinji liners under Thorlo Experia socks.  Not one grain of sand on my feet at the end...and no gaiters.

The Mammut Nubian cap is very comfortable and does the job. 

The Raidlight desert top, in my view, was superb.  Very light and cool, but not exactly flattering!  P20 SPF50+ worked very well too.

Took the Raidlight pack with 2x 1.5 water bottles in the side pockets with smartubes.  The tubes work well and they will be in my pack for the MDS.  The pack, however, is not wearing well.  It is very light and comfortable, but it has already worn a hole at the top of the back compartment where it rubs on a seam.

Another Race for the Diary!

Just a quick post...
Managed to secure a last minute entry to the Richmond Park Marathon on 5 May!

Hopefully I can just keep the momentum going after Brighton on 14 April...