Training has gone exceptionally well so far this week. My training week starts on Sunday (yes, I know that's a bit unusual but it just fits better with everything else in my life) and apart from strength work it was just a steady 6 miles (10 km).
Monday afternoon was a long fartlek of just over 19 miles (31 km) which basically comprised alternating 6:50 at 10k pace with 4:00 easy. That went very well indeed on an undulating route and the following morning I did another long run - more than 22 miles (36 km) this time. Again I couldn't believe how easy it all seemed [8:11 per mile/5:05 per km]. I seem to be flying at the moment and I'm not sure why. Feels good though.
Wednesday afternoon was to be the most difficult session of the week ... 5 x 1 mile (1.6 km) in 6:16.2 each. Made even more difficult by the strong westerly winds in Wharfedale. As I hadn't done any similar training for about 12 months, and I'm still in recovery mode (just about), I wasn't sure how I would fare. I used the Otley 10 mile markers along Pool Road which meant reps 1, 3 and 5 were with a tail wind while reps 2 and 4 had a head wind. The times were 5:58.2, 6:29.2, 6:16.2, 6:23.2 and 6:16.5. The mean was 6:16.7 and considering the strong winds I very pleased with that.
Rest day today.
Yesterday I also received an email from UK Athletics confirming my selection for the World 24 hr Championships in September. Very relieved after everything that happened in June. I know that a few other runners have still to prove their fitness so I don't really understand why this confirmation email has been sent. To everyone I presume.
Planning can now go ahead - pacing and nutrition mainly but also training for the next eight weeks can now be finalised. For the nutrition plan I will use the ULTRArace 100 as the starting point as, in general, that worked very well indeed. Just needs tweaking. For pacing I'll probably use ... well, I know what my targets are. And what I'm capable of.
Right, got to go, no more time. More later.
OK I'm back now, sorry about that. Worries regarding Fay, work, health sometimes take priority over this blog. I'm sure you understand.
After editing some of the above I'm not sure I should be blogging about selection just yet as it doesn't seem to have been officially announced just yet. Anyway congratulations to JP, PR, SH, DMC, EG, KH, MD and JS.
A couple of things I've just noticed: (1) I'm the oldest person in the team and (2) the youngest man is a couple of years older than the oldest woman. Hmmmm
Showing posts with label UK Athletics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label UK Athletics. Show all posts
Wednesday, 11 July 2012
Sunday, 24 June 2012
ULTRArace 100
This will be just a short, preliminary report - no doubt I'll gather my thoughts for a proper report in a week or two.
You know it takes me a while to get those things together.
A month or so before the race I set myself a target of 16h 30 and I was about 5 minutes ahead of this until about 59 miles when I needed an emergency toilet stop. At about 69 miles I was sick three or four times. When approaching the 80 mile checkpoint I tripped/fell and whilst dusting myself down, locating the pain, limping, etc I ran past the turn and continued for about three quarters of a mile before realising - this means I ran about 1.5 miles EXTRA this year.
Makes up for last year I suppose !!!
At 80 miles I was scheduled to finish in about 17h 20.
So I dug in deep and finished in 16h 41:16
Pleased with that for three reasons:
(1) an hour quicker than last year
(2) to run a very fast last 20 miles after those mishaps was very satisfying
(3) UK Athletics wanted me to run sub 18 hours to prove my fitness ahead of September's World 24 hr Championships - just a bit of added pressure
Disappointed with only finishing second though.
Many thanks to Hugh Pearson for being a great crew person ... and to Rory and Jen for organising a fantastic race. I only wish there were more events of this type in the UK.
And not forgetting those people who anonymously donated via PayPal using the link on the right. I welcome your faith in me and hope that faith is beginning to be rewarded.
You know it takes me a while to get those things together.
A month or so before the race I set myself a target of 16h 30 and I was about 5 minutes ahead of this until about 59 miles when I needed an emergency toilet stop. At about 69 miles I was sick three or four times. When approaching the 80 mile checkpoint I tripped/fell and whilst dusting myself down, locating the pain, limping, etc I ran past the turn and continued for about three quarters of a mile before realising - this means I ran about 1.5 miles EXTRA this year.
Makes up for last year I suppose !!!
At 80 miles I was scheduled to finish in about 17h 20.
So I dug in deep and finished in 16h 41:16
Pleased with that for three reasons:
(1) an hour quicker than last year
(2) to run a very fast last 20 miles after those mishaps was very satisfying
(3) UK Athletics wanted me to run sub 18 hours to prove my fitness ahead of September's World 24 hr Championships - just a bit of added pressure
Disappointed with only finishing second though.
Many thanks to Hugh Pearson for being a great crew person ... and to Rory and Jen for organising a fantastic race. I only wish there were more events of this type in the UK.
And not forgetting those people who anonymously donated via PayPal using the link on the right. I welcome your faith in me and hope that faith is beginning to be rewarded.
Friday, 24 February 2012
speed work, races and the BBC
Speed work today. Lots of short reps ... well, ten anyway. Not easy with a gale force wind blowing so that some reps were 20 seconds per mile (12.5s/km) faster than others but with less effort !!!
A good training session though and I hit my targets for AVERAGE pace which I'm pleased about in the conditions. Also working hard on form as mentioned in the previous post.
I'm pleased that Pam Storey appears to have finally got her ultra races off the ground with the news that she's planning to stage a 48 hr and a 24 hr race in Horsham, near London in August. I really would love to take part in the longer of the two but it is a bit close to this year's World 24 hr Championships - early September in Poland.
That's if I'm selected of course. And therein lies the problem ... UK Athletics have not yet announced any selection criteria or guidelines. Plenty of stuff for other international events but nothing for this when common sense dictates that the longer the race the more notice the athletes should have so they can plan the rest of their season. Long races means long recovery.
Perhaps the powers that be have decided not to send a team to Katowiche. Stranger things have happened ... but I just wish they would tell the athletes.
There's been a good article on the BBC website recently about sleep and how humans evolved to take sleep in four hour blocks and not eight hours at a time which most people believe. Of course ultra runners - especially multi day runners - have always known that short periods of sleep are best.
Continuing with the BBC, an episode of Horizon next Tuesday may prove interesting. It's entitled The Truth About Exercise.
A good training session though and I hit my targets for AVERAGE pace which I'm pleased about in the conditions. Also working hard on form as mentioned in the previous post.
I'm pleased that Pam Storey appears to have finally got her ultra races off the ground with the news that she's planning to stage a 48 hr and a 24 hr race in Horsham, near London in August. I really would love to take part in the longer of the two but it is a bit close to this year's World 24 hr Championships - early September in Poland.
That's if I'm selected of course. And therein lies the problem ... UK Athletics have not yet announced any selection criteria or guidelines. Plenty of stuff for other international events but nothing for this when common sense dictates that the longer the race the more notice the athletes should have so they can plan the rest of their season. Long races means long recovery.
Perhaps the powers that be have decided not to send a team to Katowiche. Stranger things have happened ... but I just wish they would tell the athletes.
There's been a good article on the BBC website recently about sleep and how humans evolved to take sleep in four hour blocks and not eight hours at a time which most people believe. Of course ultra runners - especially multi day runners - have always known that short periods of sleep are best.
Continuing with the BBC, an episode of Horizon next Tuesday may prove interesting. It's entitled The Truth About Exercise.
Thursday, 29 September 2011
recent race
Over the past few days there has been lots written about the Commonwealth Championships in various places and here I attempt to bring them all together.
- lots of stuff on the IAU website
- this appeared on the IAAF website
- UK Athletics put something on their website after being prompted by me
- England Athletics has some stuff too
- Welsh Athletics has something here
- the news from Scottish Athletics is here
- Multidays.com has a piece that also includes a short video clip
- blogs which have some good stuff include William Sichel and John Kynaston (with two excellent videos)
- finally there's some stuff on the two official Commonwealth Championships websites ... here and here
As for me ... well I'm recovering nicely at the moment despite my left shoulder being still painful at times. Today I've started looking around for a race or two in the first half of next year before the World Championships in Poland (if I'm selected of course).
- lots of stuff on the IAU website
- this appeared on the IAAF website
- UK Athletics put something on their website after being prompted by me
- England Athletics has some stuff too
- Welsh Athletics has something here
- the news from Scottish Athletics is here
- Multidays.com has a piece that also includes a short video clip
- blogs which have some good stuff include William Sichel and John Kynaston (with two excellent videos)
- finally there's some stuff on the two official Commonwealth Championships websites ... here and here
As for me ... well I'm recovering nicely at the moment despite my left shoulder being still painful at times. Today I've started looking around for a race or two in the first half of next year before the World Championships in Poland (if I'm selected of course).
Wednesday, 31 March 2010
An article recently appeared in the Bradford Telegraph & Argus which can be read here. And if you missed the official team announcement by UK Athletics - here it is.
About that race ... the official website now has started posting team lists - and there are some interesting names NOT appearing. Two that immediately spring to mind are the top Japanese runners Ryoichi Sekiya (over 263k last year) and Mami Kudo (254.425k last December - new women's world record). Also missing from Brive will be Martin Fryer who won the Commonwealth Championships last year for Australia.
Following my coffee policy mentioned in a post earlier this month I've been drinking Starbucks French Roast this week. It seems to be an acquired taste - very dark roasted (burnt almost) and smoky sweet - but I seem to be enjoying it more with each passing day. Something good from Taylor's Of Harrogate next week, more on that later. Perhaps.
Monday, 4 August 2008
World Challenge & European Championship 2009
The International Association of Ultrarunners have just announced that the 24 hr championships for next year will be held at Ciserano (in Bergamo, Lombardy), Italy on the 2nd and 3rd of May.
I believe there is a very good chance that UK Athletics will be sending a team to this event so I will be keeping an eye out for any selection criteria which may (or may not) appear on the UKA website.
In some ways having these championships in early May is good for me because in theory I could use the Tooting Bec race in October to gain the necessary qualifying standard to this race and also, as planned, to the Commonwealth Championships (Keswick - September 2009).
One downside though ... and I think it's a big one ... my wedding anniversary is on the 4th May (and so is Fay's birthday).
On a different note, Keir will begin studying for his GCSE's in September and his favourite subject is History. One of the topics he'll be studying is medieval Christianity in Britain (the rise and fall of the monasteries). We thought this a good opportunity to visit Fountains Abbey, near Ripon, tomorrow. And I thought it a good opportunity for a long run in the countryside, ie run home (I'm sure I can devise a route of approx 24 miles).
I believe there is a very good chance that UK Athletics will be sending a team to this event so I will be keeping an eye out for any selection criteria which may (or may not) appear on the UKA website.
In some ways having these championships in early May is good for me because in theory I could use the Tooting Bec race in October to gain the necessary qualifying standard to this race and also, as planned, to the Commonwealth Championships (Keswick - September 2009).
One downside though ... and I think it's a big one ... my wedding anniversary is on the 4th May (and so is Fay's birthday).
On a different note, Keir will begin studying for his GCSE's in September and his favourite subject is History. One of the topics he'll be studying is medieval Christianity in Britain (the rise and fall of the monasteries). We thought this a good opportunity to visit Fountains Abbey, near Ripon, tomorrow. And I thought it a good opportunity for a long run in the countryside, ie run home (I'm sure I can devise a route of approx 24 miles).
Wednesday, 25 June 2008
Otley - home of the ultra distance runner
First of all a big well done to Phil Robertson of Otley AC who has completed the West Highland Way Race (95 miles) in just under 28 hours - an amazing achievement. He was with Paul Tranter [another Otley resident] who has now completed the Marathon des Sables and the West Highland Way Race in less than five months.
For more details about Phil Robertson see his blog at http://www.runtothehills.blogspot.com
Just noticed, on the UK Athletics website the selection criteria for the IAU European Championships and World Cup 100k to be held in Etruschi, Italy on 8 November. Basically they are only considering individuals if they are confident of a top 15 placing. This means they have set standards of 7h 05 for men and 8h 15 for women. In the last 18 months only one man and two women have achieved this (Jez Bragg, Adele Salt and Emma Gooderham).
They have also set lower, team standards, of 7h 20 and 8h 30 but, again, I think that perhaps they are setting their targets a bit high as no other British runners have achieved this lower mark in the qualifying period which began on 1 January 2007.
I wonder what the criteria will be for the 24 hr World Challenge in Korea on October 18/19.
For more details about Phil Robertson see his blog at http://www.runtothehills.blogspot.com
Just noticed, on the UK Athletics website the selection criteria for the IAU European Championships and World Cup 100k to be held in Etruschi, Italy on 8 November. Basically they are only considering individuals if they are confident of a top 15 placing. This means they have set standards of 7h 05 for men and 8h 15 for women. In the last 18 months only one man and two women have achieved this (Jez Bragg, Adele Salt and Emma Gooderham).
They have also set lower, team standards, of 7h 20 and 8h 30 but, again, I think that perhaps they are setting their targets a bit high as no other British runners have achieved this lower mark in the qualifying period which began on 1 January 2007.
I wonder what the criteria will be for the 24 hr World Challenge in Korea on October 18/19.
Thursday, 7 February 2008
Priorities
As supected, it looks very unlikely that UK Athletics are going to send a team to the 24 Hr World Challenge which will be held in Korea later this year.
In fact there is no mention of the event at all on the UK Athletics website. Not even in the list entitled 'Major International Fixtures', but there is mention of that very important (!!!) cross country race on 13 January ... 31 Cross della Vallagarina which took place in Rovereto (Italy).
Priorities, priorities ...
Talking of which ... I'm still a little apprehensive about next Monday's return to running. I only plan to run 5 mins/walk 5 mins for 40 minutes in total but I've not run a step since before Christmas. I know I'm doing everything I can recovery wise but I'm still unsure ...
In fact there is no mention of the event at all on the UK Athletics website. Not even in the list entitled 'Major International Fixtures', but there is mention of that very important (!!!) cross country race on 13 January ... 31 Cross della Vallagarina which took place in Rovereto (Italy).
Priorities, priorities ...
Talking of which ... I'm still a little apprehensive about next Monday's return to running. I only plan to run 5 mins/walk 5 mins for 40 minutes in total but I've not run a step since before Christmas. I know I'm doing everything I can recovery wise but I'm still unsure ...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)