Flora London Marathon Training Blog - make a difference
15 November 2007, 02:18 PM
#31
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Thursday 15th November 2007
Well it's Thursday and guess what..... Race Day
I was going to do the 5 mile race route today but not time myself as i didn't want to push it before the race at the weekend.
Well that plan went straight out the window when I hit start on the stopwatch...... I thought "what the hell" and started to push.
I started quick and but thought I'd blow up well before the end and coast in slower than before... I was skipping along (not actually skipping!!) attracting the usual encouragement from the young locals of laindon.... Is there nothing better to do around here?
Anyway after negotiating the housing estates, I got to the woods and the the turning I call Narnia... lol, that's because it's a crossroads of paths in the middle of some woods with a lone lampost on the junction... By this time I was doing fine and thought i'd post a reasonable time? Well that was until some "foul" play......
Yes, it was going well untill I turned the corner at full speed not seeing due to the carpet of leaves on the floor, that hid the large pile of horse "droppings"......
Well I then skidded along for a couple of metres before hitting the deck hard.... Well I'm sure someone said this kind of thing was lucky!!!!
Anyway, I brushed myself off and now smell like the Horse of the year show, shot off (partially to make up time, but mainly in case I was seen). I was soon up to speed and even had the run of the various road crossings with traffic.
I got to within a mile of the finish and i still hadn't been passed.... This I was guessing meant I must have been fast? Then a couple of minutes later as i turned into the gates of work, I got passed by half the pack!!!!
I tried as much as i could to stay with them, but it was mens against boys and they pulled away. I got to the finish and I had given it everything I had.... I'd noticed that if my body or mind started to slow, I could speed up if I moved my arms quicker..... try it it actually works.... your legs will start to move at the same pace....
I crossed the finish line and looked at the watch.... 39'46..... a new PB!!!!!!
I'd also managed to break the 40 minute barrier, so Im really pleased.....
The best thing though was (touch wood), no pain!)
Justgiving - Ian Brazier's Fundraising Page
Just over £250 need for first target
Well it's Thursday and guess what..... Race Day
I was going to do the 5 mile race route today but not time myself as i didn't want to push it before the race at the weekend.
Well that plan went straight out the window when I hit start on the stopwatch...... I thought "what the hell" and started to push.
I started quick and but thought I'd blow up well before the end and coast in slower than before... I was skipping along (not actually skipping!!) attracting the usual encouragement from the young locals of laindon.... Is there nothing better to do around here?
Anyway after negotiating the housing estates, I got to the woods and the the turning I call Narnia... lol, that's because it's a crossroads of paths in the middle of some woods with a lone lampost on the junction... By this time I was doing fine and thought i'd post a reasonable time? Well that was until some "foul" play......
Yes, it was going well untill I turned the corner at full speed not seeing due to the carpet of leaves on the floor, that hid the large pile of horse "droppings"......
Well I then skidded along for a couple of metres before hitting the deck hard.... Well I'm sure someone said this kind of thing was lucky!!!!
Anyway, I brushed myself off and now smell like the Horse of the year show, shot off (partially to make up time, but mainly in case I was seen). I was soon up to speed and even had the run of the various road crossings with traffic.
I got to within a mile of the finish and i still hadn't been passed.... This I was guessing meant I must have been fast? Then a couple of minutes later as i turned into the gates of work, I got passed by half the pack!!!!
I tried as much as i could to stay with them, but it was mens against boys and they pulled away. I got to the finish and I had given it everything I had.... I'd noticed that if my body or mind started to slow, I could speed up if I moved my arms quicker..... try it it actually works.... your legs will start to move at the same pace....
I crossed the finish line and looked at the watch.... 39'46..... a new PB!!!!!!
I'd also managed to break the 40 minute barrier, so Im really pleased.....
The best thing though was (touch wood), no pain!)
Justgiving - Ian Brazier's Fundraising Page
Just over £250 need for first target
17 November 2007, 03:30 PM
#32
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Saturday 17th November 2007
Well had a rest day yesterday as I was still in pain from physio and work was busy.
After work I did go to the running shop and was analysed to see what may be the problem with my legs....
This is process is more technical than getting your scooby mapped!!!!!!
I spent a couple of hours trying on different trainers, running on the treadmill, being video'd and everything about my running style was studied.
It was decided that the support in my current trainers was worn and over £120 later I was kitted out in some new rubber !!!!!!! (this included £23 for 2 pairs of socks including discount!)
So back to today.
I decided as I wanted to wear the new footwear for the Chelmsford 10K race tomorrow, I'd take them out for a little run.
Well 5 miles later and no pain
Ready for tomorrow....
Justgiving - Ian Brazier's Fundraising Page
Well had a rest day yesterday as I was still in pain from physio and work was busy.
After work I did go to the running shop and was analysed to see what may be the problem with my legs....
This is process is more technical than getting your scooby mapped!!!!!!
I spent a couple of hours trying on different trainers, running on the treadmill, being video'd and everything about my running style was studied.
It was decided that the support in my current trainers was worn and over £120 later I was kitted out in some new rubber !!!!!!! (this included £23 for 2 pairs of socks including discount!)
So back to today.
I decided as I wanted to wear the new footwear for the Chelmsford 10K race tomorrow, I'd take them out for a little run.
Well 5 miles later and no pain
Ready for tomorrow....
Justgiving - Ian Brazier's Fundraising Page
18 November 2007, 07:35 PM
#33
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Sunday 18th November 2007
Chelmsford 10k
Well start time was 2pm.... It was freezing but at least the rain was holding off
I was lucky as my in-laws live 30 seconds from the start line, so I had a last minute drink and headed to the start line with the family to see me off....
I was doing 8 minute miles when running the Thursday 5 miler at work so I was looking at something around 50 minutes for 6 miles......
I decided to opt for shorts but wore gloves as my hands were freezing the day before..... Just as we were about to start, I had the horrible feeling.... I needed the loo!!!! Well there was nothing I could do, we were off....
All I could think of was the ever increasing size of my bladder and how I would have to stop for a Paula Radcliffe!!!!
Anyway, I managed to put the pain to one side and tried to tag onto someone with the pace I wanted to set a decent time...
I got passed by a couple of people and tried to hang onto them (not actually doing that!), in the end I started to overtake people and I noticed at around 3 miles that I was being followed by a girl..... (never a bad thing) She kept trying to pass me but everytime she got close I gave it a little bit more...
I think she finally must of given up trying as when I got to 6 miles to couldn't hear her...? when I finished she came in a few minutes later....
Anyway.... 48'34, I was really impressed..... Only 20 more miles and that's the marathon in the bag!!!!!
Justgiving - Ian Brazier's Fundraising Page
Chelmsford 10k
Well start time was 2pm.... It was freezing but at least the rain was holding off
I was lucky as my in-laws live 30 seconds from the start line, so I had a last minute drink and headed to the start line with the family to see me off....
I was doing 8 minute miles when running the Thursday 5 miler at work so I was looking at something around 50 minutes for 6 miles......
I decided to opt for shorts but wore gloves as my hands were freezing the day before..... Just as we were about to start, I had the horrible feeling.... I needed the loo!!!! Well there was nothing I could do, we were off....
All I could think of was the ever increasing size of my bladder and how I would have to stop for a Paula Radcliffe!!!!
Anyway, I managed to put the pain to one side and tried to tag onto someone with the pace I wanted to set a decent time...
I got passed by a couple of people and tried to hang onto them (not actually doing that!), in the end I started to overtake people and I noticed at around 3 miles that I was being followed by a girl..... (never a bad thing
) She kept trying to pass me but everytime she got close I gave it a little bit more...I think she finally must of given up trying as when I got to 6 miles to couldn't hear her...? when I finished she came in a few minutes later....
Anyway.... 48'34, I was really impressed..... Only 20 more miles and that's the marathon in the bag!!!!!
Justgiving - Ian Brazier's Fundraising Page
19 November 2007, 12:56 PM
#34
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Monday 19th November 2007
Planned to do a 3 mile untimed easy recovery run.....
I asked if I could tag along with a group of guy's that run at the same time as me everyday and compete in the Thursday 5....
They were doing the 3.5 mile Holiday park run we set off at a easy steady pace.... Also in the pack was Les... He's the chap that id slightly faster than me, that I run with sometimes if I want to beast myself......
Well he had planned to go a different route so I thought I'd stick with him for a while, then as he went off I'd tag onto the others....
After about a mile he was just about to go off on the other route when he decides to join us...... Great so now the planned easy run turns into a power session of who can take the lead for as long as possible....
We swap positions all the way back until i decide to try and make a break for it with about .5 of a mile left.... I overtake him and try and give it 110% to open a gap....
This lasts for around 10 seconds and he catches me and does what I'd planned.... next thing i know there's a gap and i decide to throw the towel in..... It's actually the first time I've ever given up.....
I finish around 20 seconds behind him, but about 3 minutes ahead of the group I did want to run with....
Oh well...... So much for a rest!
Justgiving - Ian Brazier's Fundraising Page
Planned to do a 3 mile untimed easy recovery run.....
I asked if I could tag along with a group of guy's that run at the same time as me everyday and compete in the Thursday 5....
They were doing the 3.5 mile Holiday park run we set off at a easy steady pace.... Also in the pack was Les... He's the chap that id slightly faster than me, that I run with sometimes if I want to beast myself......
Well he had planned to go a different route so I thought I'd stick with him for a while, then as he went off I'd tag onto the others....
After about a mile he was just about to go off on the other route when he decides to join us...... Great
so now the planned easy run turns into a power session of who can take the lead for as long as possible.... We swap positions all the way back until i decide to try and make a break for it with about .5 of a mile left.... I overtake him and try and give it 110% to open a gap....
This lasts for around 10 seconds and he catches me and does what I'd planned.... next thing i know there's a gap and i decide to throw the towel in..... It's actually the first time I've ever given up.....
I finish around 20 seconds behind him, but about 3 minutes ahead of the group I did want to run with....
Oh well...... So much for a rest!
Justgiving - Ian Brazier's Fundraising Page
20 November 2007, 02:25 PM
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Tuesday 20th November 2007
Afternoon.... well firstly I'll let you know about my attempt to get my new trainers exchanged as I thought they were slightly too large....
Well the shop I got them from didn't want to know about changing them, so I've had to replace them with yet another new pair.....
That's around £180 in the last 2 days on trainers..... Also they are only good for between 250-500 depending on weight of runner etc.... That's not a lot when I'm going to be doing around 45 miles pers week!!!!!!
Anyway, it's pouring and blowing a gail outside, but I decided to run anyway!!!! HARDCORE! There were only a couple of us nutters in the changing room and I was starting to wonder if this was such a goood idea?
Well I decided on 5 miles and started at a slowish pace as i did really have a recover run yesterday.... I was enjoying taking it easy and feeling what to new rubber on my feet were doing.... The going to pretty grim with driving rain and being soaked from head to toes..... and passing over the grass and mud proved tricky at times....
Anyway, I was only passed by one chap and I did try and keep with him but he was twice as fast as me and i didn't want to race yet again....
I just trogged around the course and ended up taking loads longer than normal... I wasn't worried as the conditions were poor and i was taking it easy anyway.....
Justgiving - Ian Brazier's Fundraising Page
Afternoon.... well firstly I'll let you know about my attempt to get my new trainers exchanged as I thought they were slightly too large....
Well the shop I got them from didn't want to know about changing them, so I've had to replace them with yet another new pair.....
That's around £180 in the last 2 days on trainers..... Also they are only good for between 250-500 depending on weight of runner etc.... That's not a lot when I'm going to be doing around 45 miles pers week!!!!!!
Anyway, it's pouring and blowing a gail outside, but I decided to run anyway!!!! HARDCORE! There were only a couple of us nutters in the changing room and I was starting to wonder if this was such a goood idea?
Well I decided on 5 miles and started at a slowish pace as i did really have a recover run yesterday.... I was enjoying taking it easy and feeling what to new rubber on my feet were doing.... The going to pretty grim with driving rain and being soaked from head to toes..... and passing over the grass and mud proved tricky at times....
Anyway, I was only passed by one chap and I did try and keep with him but he was twice as fast as me and i didn't want to race yet again....
I just trogged around the course and ended up taking loads longer than normal... I wasn't worried as the conditions were poor and i was taking it easy anyway.....
Justgiving - Ian Brazier's Fundraising Page
21 November 2007, 07:06 PM
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Wednesday 21st November 2007
Well didn't have long to run today as I had a meeting, but decided to cancel that and go for a 7 miler!!!!!!
Well that was the plan.
Yesterday's weather was terrible, so I took no chances and wore running leggings, thick socks, a long sleeved shirt with a shirt on top.....
What was it like outside.....? Lovely
Anyway 2 miles into the run and I start feeling rough? I decide to turn for home and head back.....
Whilst jogging back I notice that I'm starting to really slow down and I'm actually seriously over heating..... sweat is pouring off and I just manage to get back to the changing rooms before collapsing in a mess!!!!
I take off all my kit and all of it is wringing wet!!!!! Big mistake...
Anyway, lesson learned and I'm now going to pack for all weather!!!!!
Please make this effort worth it.....
Justgiving - Ian Brazier's Fundraising Page
Well didn't have long to run today as I had a meeting, but decided to cancel that and go for a 7 miler!!!!!!
Well that was the plan.
Yesterday's weather was terrible, so I took no chances and wore running leggings, thick socks, a long sleeved shirt with a shirt on top.....
What was it like outside.....? Lovely
Anyway 2 miles into the run and I start feeling rough? I decide to turn for home and head back.....Whilst jogging back I notice that I'm starting to really slow down and I'm actually seriously over heating..... sweat is pouring off and I just manage to get back to the changing rooms before collapsing in a mess!!!!
I take off all my kit and all of it is wringing wet!!!!! Big mistake...
Anyway, lesson learned and I'm now going to pack for all weather!!!!!
Please make this effort worth it.....
Justgiving - Ian Brazier's Fundraising Page
22 November 2007, 08:21 PM
#37
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Thursday 22nd November 2007
Well it was race day today....
I was slightly nervous as I'd had a bad week really and thought this could be the day when I get a bad time.....
Anyway, as I started I noticed that two of the faster runners were behind me before I even got going... They must have left out of sequence because as I've said before, the start is staggered....
Well I didn't want to get overtaken straight away, so I pushed right from the start. I'd chose a better set of running gear so had no chance of getting too hot! I could hear them behind me but I was sure they must have been taking another route as they would have had to have been waiting to start still normally?
At the point where the other route goes in another direction, I noticed one had gone, but the other guy had decided to do the race....
I could hear him breathing down my neck and as we go into the woods I expected him to pass... Well it took about 10 minutes, but he finally went past me and started to pull away...
I decided to try and at least keep the gap the same and keep with him. We caught a couple of other early starters up and passed them... and I tried to close the gap but it wasn't happening.
As we approached the finish, I did catch a little, but I thought I hadn't given it 200%, so didn't deserve to pass him. I still thought I had a little left?
Anyway checked the watch..... 38'58 mins!!!! yet another PB!!!! 35 here we come lol
Justgiving - Ian Brazier's Fundraising Page
Well it was race day today....
I was slightly nervous as I'd had a bad week really and thought this could be the day when I get a bad time.....
Anyway, as I started I noticed that two of the faster runners were behind me before I even got going... They must have left out of sequence because as I've said before, the start is staggered....
Well I didn't want to get overtaken straight away, so I pushed right from the start. I'd chose a better set of running gear so had no chance of getting too hot!
I could hear them behind me but I was sure they must have been taking another route as they would have had to have been waiting to start still normally?At the point where the other route goes in another direction, I noticed one had gone, but the other guy had decided to do the race....
I could hear him breathing down my neck and as we go into the woods I expected him to pass... Well it took about 10 minutes, but he finally went past me and started to pull away...
I decided to try and at least keep the gap the same and keep with him. We caught a couple of other early starters up and passed them... and I tried to close the gap but it wasn't happening.
As we approached the finish, I did catch a little, but I thought I hadn't given it 200%, so didn't deserve to pass him. I still thought I had a little left?
Anyway checked the watch..... 38'58 mins!!!! yet another PB!!!!
35 here we come lolJustgiving - Ian Brazier's Fundraising Page
25 November 2007, 10:32 PM
#38
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Sunday 25th November 2007
Well after Friday and Saturday spent as rest days.... it was back into it today...
This morning I ran in a 5 mile cross country race across various commons in Little Baddow.
I've never seen so many ups and downs on one course. One minute I'd be sprinting downhill so fast that my feet couldn't move fast enough, the next you'd turn the corner and face a steep muddy mountain!!!!!
I started off too fast, but I soon settled.... the problem with the terrain was that you could never get into a steady pace as you had to keep adjusting the efforts for the course.
I had no idea of the route and there were no mile markers, so I had no idea how far I had to go... at one point near the finish I hit another massive hill and loads of people were walking it, but I can't ever walk as I've been taught it's a sign of weakness (the army!).... half way up I started to gag as I couldn't take enough air in.....
Anyway, finished and the time was 44 minutes. Not bad for a serious off-road course.
Justgiving - Ian Brazier's Fundraising Page
Well after Friday and Saturday spent as rest days.... it was back into it today...
This morning I ran in a 5 mile cross country race across various commons in Little Baddow.
I've never seen so many ups and downs on one course. One minute I'd be sprinting downhill so fast that my feet couldn't move fast enough, the next you'd turn the corner and face a steep muddy mountain!!!!!
I started off too fast, but I soon settled.... the problem with the terrain was that you could never get into a steady pace as you had to keep adjusting the efforts for the course.
I had no idea of the route and there were no mile markers, so I had no idea how far I had to go... at one point near the finish I hit another massive hill and loads of people were walking it, but I can't ever walk as I've been taught it's a sign of weakness (the army!).... half way up I started to gag as I couldn't take enough air in.....
Anyway, finished and the time was 44 minutes. Not bad for a serious off-road course.
Justgiving - Ian Brazier's Fundraising Page
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