Racing and Training 2018

Did some reps on the right (north) side of the SDR bridge. Liz Mounfield was leading the groups (5 & 6). We did 6 * approx 600 metres. I felt weary. This was my 6th consecutive day of training. It felt like one day too many. S&C at the Velodrome tomorrow if I feel like it.

I did the High Cross horror for the first time with group 5. I am putting hills into my schedule and building the mileage up.

I did a track session organised by NEWTs with Lliswerry guesting! We did a three laps to warm up. Then we did 700 metres of dynamic exercises.. sideways running, skipping, bum kicks baby steps etc. The we did some technique drills. Then we did 12 * 400 metre reps. I was with a group who were tasked to run them at 2:05 pace. We started close to that but got quicker. Each rep plus recovery pair was 4 minutes thus... 02:01.5, (01:58.1), 02:03.1, (01:57.1), 02:00.1, (02:00.0), 01:58.5, (02:01.3), 01:57.8, (02:01.5), 01:57.2, (02:03.9), 01:53.7, (02:05.7), 01:52.8, (02:07.1), 01:48.3, (02:11.7), 01:50.7, (01:49.8), 01:49.2, (02:10.8), 01:43.1

I ran down from the top of Beechwood Avenue with Chelsea. We met Karen Berry at the Cross Hands. We continued to the NISV. We then did a short straits lane loop (Just mne and Maria David). The rest did a longer loop. Maria gave me a lift home. I did 8.27 miles.

am I ran to the Riverfront. I did the Riverfront parkrun. I ran and walked home. Feeling a lot better and more positive.

pm I did a shortened Six @ Six. I was tail running with Laura Rendell & Colin Tebby. We did the Newport 10K route but missed out the Stevenson Street out and back. Steve Crowther led the group which included: Louise, Allysha, Chelsea, Jon Kendall, Sam, and Richard Talbot

pm I did the Champagne mile on the track. My Facebook October group status was thus: Did a warm up and then a fast (ish) mile on the track. Been feeling crap for a month or two. You may have noticed. After the warm up this evening I felt really good. Decent mile time too.

pm I did a shortened Reverse Greyhound Run. ... kind of.  Shortened Reverse Greyhound Run I ran from my house down to the Civic Centre car park. I arrived there just in time to turn round and run back with any group that I could hang on to the tail of. I got to the telegraph pole at the highest point of Christchurch Road and then turned, jogged back to my house, and put the kettle on. Thanks to the real tail runners for keeping me company!

am ,  Did the 8 am session from the NISV. It was the Beechwood Bimble. Which is nice when you are finally at at the top. It's a shortish run but I wasn't going to volunteer to do extra mileage.

am I ran down to the Riverfront. I did the parkrun. I jog/walked home. feeling the left ankle a bit by the time I got through Maindee!

I lead Six @ Six with Carl Elliott tail running. We did the Newport 10K course. There were 12 of us, it was a really enjoyable session. Me, Sam, Allysha Perryman, Chris Stevens, Karen Berry, Janine Lane, Alison Carter, Julia Groombridge, Maria David, Yvonne Forsey, Laura Rendell / James, Carl Elliott.

pm Interval session on the SDR aborted due to moorland estate idiots throwing fireworks at us. How sad is this world? Did a run out to the Llanwern Bull and back instead.

pm Five very tired 1 kilometre laps in Caerleon. I was going to do 10 * 500e plus 300f but I was so tired I stopped after 1 warm up lap and 4 reps. Maybe yesterday's massage didn't help.

am After a few days of non-running social stuff a nice easy (ish) 10K with the 8 am crew was just the thing to wash the cob webs away. New chum... Karen Berry, also ran... Martyn, Chris Davies, Louise, Chelsea, et moi.

pm I did intervals on the track (variable pace) 4 * 1200 (in lane 3 so more than 1200) 2 minutes recovery Interval (1) 1200 at marathon pace - 7:01 Interval (2) 1200 at 10K pace - 6:31 Interval (3) 1200 at 5K pace - 5:39 Interval (4) 1200 at marathon pace - watch malfunction (I may have pressed pause button  instead of lap button.

pm I did my first ever Tuesday club run from the Civic Centre. We did the Caerleon Canter. I went with Group 4 ... they turned at the Ship but I went round Caerleon one way system. I was last back... except I met Andy James & Keith james on Newport Bridge so I ran from there back to the Civic Centre with Andy. I had to run quite hard. Harder than was probably good for me so soon after the Rugby 10 mile.

I did the Rugby 10 mile road race. The conditions were perfect though it was a little chilly wandering around just in my racing kit. i could have worn throw away stuff and left it at the finish ... I'm sure it would still have been there at the end. I am waiting for the official results because their computer crashed but my Garmin clocked me at 1:22: something and that is half tidy. A bit sore afterwards so looking forward to a sports massage with Daniela on Monday and a couple of days rest & recovery. I had a couple of burgers with two free sausages after the race. Waiting around for the results which didn't come (see above) the BBQ people late on were giving the food away.. so that was nice. Saw William, Ollie & Charlie in the ball pit after. Also visited the T & C Club. Is the Hillmorton Manor a viable option for an overnight stay? It's cheaper than Travelodge.

6 @ 6 was delightful. A shorter easier paced affair this evening due to some events what are occurring at the weekend. It was so enjoyable that I was tempted to do a swift parkrun before my main event of the weekend ... the Rugby 10 mile road race on Sunday. Eventually sanity prevailed and I rested on the Saturday.

I did a track pyramid session with Chris Gentle leading group 4 from the sidelines. We did 200, 400, 800, 800, 400, 200. Note however that we were in lanes 5 and 6 and no compensation was made for the stagger. I ran reasonably well. I note that it does take me a while to recover. After next Sunday's Rugby 10 mile road race I have no need to "force the pace" but rather building steady mileage and adding additional easy sessions might be more beneficial.

I did the Barnstaple Half Marathon as a training run. I had to park at the Leisure Cente (which is just over the Town bridge). This necessitated a 1 mile walk to the event HQ. I noticed that after the marathon had started at 9am that one or two places did get freed up in the Sports Centre car park. I decided to run with the 2 hour pace man. I did that until 8 miles then picked up the pace for the last 5 miles. Towed a couple of young ladies in my wake. Steph Wade supporting as usual at 13 miles. Felt a bit stiff and sore afterwards. Had Sunday Lunch at Dawn's Stumbles. ... and coffee with Kay. After driving home and feeling tired I slept for 12 hours - 6:30 pm to 6:30 am