Total kms run have increased significantly by 318, number of runs has decreased by 13 while the km/run has gone up from 13.91 to 14.85. 16 races (same as last year) and 69 cross-training activities (up from 27). Running was scaled down significantly in Nov and Dec due to hip injury.
Another easy, nice run in cold, dry and sunny weather on undulating forrest ground with a NY buddy. Hip ok during the run, but felt it again afterwards.
Nice run in cold, dry and sunny weather on undulating forrest ground. 5 minutes warm-up (with my mum!) before I put the foot down. Hip ok all the way round and best in weeks.
Magic distance swam for the first time in a single go before I headed off to hospital. Now wired up with an ECG over the weekend (no showers!); picture for illustrative purpose only...
Nice run. Bitterly cold, but sunny. Last run for a while. Physio treatment to get my hip sorted out properly will start on Monday and I am not allowed to run, but can swim, cycle and do bits of gym work.
First (almost) painfree run since the marathon. However, started feeling the hip about 2 hours after the run. Right calf quite bad the morning after. Must be getting old...
New York Marathon - 3:58:55 What an experience! Absolutely amazing event. Never heard so much noise in my life.
No real problems all the way which was great given the hicups over the last few weeks. Course and conditions more difficult than anticipated, so happy with a sub-4 hour time.
km 5: 27:44 km 10: 55:40 (27:56) km 15: 1:23:52 (28:12) km 20: 1:51:52 (28:00) HM: 1:57:59 km 25: 2:20:06 (28:14) km 30: 2:47:44 (27:38) km 35: 3:16:49 (29:05) km 40: 3:46:15 (29:26)
5km - 25:38 (inaccurate) 7.5km - 37:01 10km: 48:36 What a chaotic race! The torrential rain and floods certainly didn't help, nor did the fact that the buses didn't arrive an hour late at the finish. Quite nice course, especially crossing the bridge from Asia to Europe at the start and the amazing finish in front of the Blue Mosque. Came 291st out of over 1200 men! Certainly a race to remember...
First run in a week alongside the Bophorus! Did an hour at moderate speed to see I am and it looks like that things haven't changed a great deal. usual pain started after 20 minutes and got worse after the run. Bought some Turkish anti-inflammatories (I hope).
Couldn't post earlier since Google Blogs (amongst most other user-content sites) have been blocked by the Turkish Government - I guess the people are not ready for for Freedom of Speech yet...
Been to see the physio today to get an opinion on my hip pain and it appears that it is caused by some damaged nerve tissue at the spine! Nothing serious (apparently), but need to do some silly stretches and go back next week.
A new PB in a fantastic race with the most amazing crowd. Speed was pretty constant (first half in 1:56:29, second 1:57:25), apart form the last 30 minutes when I was really struggling (again). The course is extremely fast, but only if there aren't thousands of runners around you all the time which was mentally and physically very exhausting, especially towards the end.
My hip felt surprisingly good and caused very little problems (maybe the Japanese tape I got applied on the expo the day before did the trick) - my lower back and a sore stomach from the half-way point made up for it. I also made the stupid mistake to wear racing shoes on the long distance which was very painful in the last hour. It was the first marathon I ran with compression socks and I must say they caused me major problems during and particularly after the race. I constantly felt that my blood flow was restricted. When I rolled them down after the race I thought my calves were about to explode - I got severe cramps when I took them off.
All in all a fantastic race and given the circumstances, I am happy with the result. 3:50 is doable on a better day!
km 1: 6:04 km 2: 5:30 km 3: 5:43 km 4: 5:34 km 5: 5:30 (28:20) km 6: 5:34 km 7: 5:33 km 8: 5:21 km 9: 5:30 km 10: 5:26 (55:46 / 27:36) km 11: 5:21 km 12: 5:32 km 13: 5:32 km 14: 5:26 km 15: 5:27 (1:23:05 / 27:19) km 16: 5:27 km 17: 5:26 km 18: 5:28 km 19: 5:19 km 20: 5:51 (1:50:37 / 27:32) km 21: 5:20 km 22: 5:26 km 23: 5:21 km 24: 5:27 km 25: 5:32(2:17:44 / 27:07) km 26: 5:24 km 27: 5:24 km 28: 5:33 km 29: 5:38 km 30: 5:24 (2:45:10 / 27:26) km 31: 5:30 km 32: 5:21 km 33: 5:45 km 34: 5:25 km 35: 5:38 (3:12:51 / 27:41) km 36: 5:48 km 37: 5:35 km 38: 6:04 km 39: 5:42 km 40: 5:40 (3:41:41 / 28:50) km 41: 5:47 km 42: 5:31
Start: 0:19 Mile 1: 8:00 Mile 2: 7:53 Mile 3: 7:53 Mile 4: 7:51 Mile 5: 8:02 Mile 6: 7:56 Mile 7: 7:39 Mile 8: 7:48 Mile 9: 7:51 Mile 10: 7:48 Mile 11: 7:48 Mile 12: 7:52 Mile 13: 7:48 PB by 2 minutes (ignoring the time lost at the start). Was tough to keep up the pace towards the end, but all in all very pleased. Roll on Berlin!
Just found out that I will be in Istanbul for work at the weekend when the Intercontinetal Eurasia Marathon and 15k race is on which runs across the Bosporus!
Given that it is the week before New York, I will be going for the shorter distance.
Blew up again! This time at 30km which is an improvement but still not good enough. Last 6k were very tough when I got sick again; at least I didn't have to thow up this time...
First run over 30km. Speed was (too) good until I blew up at 25k. Managed to get back ok, but got very sick (I'll spare details) about half an hour after the run. Might have been the gel I took for the first time, or the speed or the fact that it was 25 dgrees.
First good run in weeks. The first mile has been changed and a stupid loop introduced which is not only steep, but also adds 200m to the first mile... My stopped time was 15 seconds faster.
Treated myself to the new Tanita BC545 Body fat analysis with segmental measurement and visceral fat indicator. Being a sucker for that sort of thing, this is a very impressive piece of kit.
Really good race. Hadn't planned to run that fast and took it easy for the first few miles before putting the foot down. Missed PB by 20 seconds which isn't too bad on a tough course like this.
KM 1: 4:36 KM 2: 4:46 KM 3: 4:46 KM 4: 4:39 KM 5: 4:41 (23:37) KM 6: 4:40 KM 7: 4:47 KM 8: 4:40 KM 9: 4:35 KM 10: 3:49 (Mostly downhill!) Good news is that I improved my 10k PB by 45 seconds.Bad news is that I tripped 3 hours before the race and sprained my ankle a little bit. It was fine during the run, but hasn't been good since. Biofreeze, anti-inflammatories and some rest will hopefully fix it before Wednesday.
Easy recovery run in a nice little park in Waterford. I have been wearing my new orthotics - they feel very good, but will take a little while to get used to.
km 1 - 5:41 km 2 - 5:15 km 3 - 5:00 km 4 - 5:28 km 5 - 5:13 / 26:37 km 6 - 5:09 km 7 - 5:06 km 8 - 4:51 km 9 - 5:12 km 10 - 4:49 / 25:11 / 51:46 km 11 - 4:45 km 12 - 4:44 km 13 - 5:10 km 14 - 4:45 km 15 - 4:56 / 24:20 km 16 - 4:49 km 17 - 5:02 km 18 - 4:37 km 19 - 4:50 km 20 - 4:32 / 24:04 / 48:24 km 21.1 - 4:51
Amazing! Felt really bad before with flu-like symptoms and a lot of sweating. Started easy and the turbo kicked in at the half-way point. Couldn't have been better! New PB.
Last minute call to step in for injury-related absences. Took it easy on the first leg and put the foot down on the second. I did another 5kms getting to places and pacing people.
Easy recovery run; a bit longer than planned and no problems.
First outing with my new Garmin Forerunner 405 which is a very impressive piece of kit! Details of each are from now on available from the Running link above.
Big Sur International Marathon - 4:04:51 [Results]
That was tough! Hilly all the way, windy and over 25 degrees by the time we finished. A race report has been posted on the Up & Runners site. Photos are on the MarathonFoto site. Slide shows have been put up by the Monterey County Herald and KSBW.
Early morning jog along the very scenic sea side in Monteray.
Yesterday's preparation was slightly different: Jonny and I cycled the Golden Gate Bridge on a tandem and then got sun burned driving in a Cabriolet on Highway 1! Went to the marathon expo today and listened to Dean Karnazes. Also been whale watching in the afternoon which was pretty amazing (pictures taken with iPhone, hence the lack to quality). Now going for carbo-loading before I hopefully get a few hours sleep.
Quite a good run, albeit 2 almost-AFs during the first hour. Second half 4 minutes faster than first and going on wouldn't have been a problem. 2 weeks to go - tapering time again!
km 1 - 5:12 km 2 - 5:17 km 3 - 4:59 km 4 - 4:52 km 5 - 4:39 / 24:59 km 6 - 4:40 km 7 - 4:44 km 8 - 4:43 km 9 - 4:40 km 10 - 4:26 / 23:13
Decided to take it easy at the beginning after the long run yesterday, a bit of a niggle in the groin area, strong and bitterly cold wind and even some snow.
Decided to increase the mileage a bit after receiving notification that I have been accepted for the Big Sur International Marathon (apparently the largest rural marathon in the world) in 3 weeks time!!!
How is that!!! New PB in the worst possible conditions. Start a complete shambles - almost lost a minute -, 5 degrees cold, rain / sleet and a quite tough and undulating course. Looks like the winter training is finally paying off.
Bit of a bizarre race and much faster than planned. Gale force winds and very cold for this time of the year. First 5 miles very easy, then 3 miles undulating and finally 5 miles flying....
Absolutely fantastic. Didn't expect to go cross-country and end up being covered with mud from top to bottom, but hey... Almost 20 miles in 3 hours - a lot of fun!
km 1: 5:52 km 2: 5:51 km 3: 5:51 km 4: 5:44 km 5: 5:40 - 0:28:58 (28:58) km 6: 5:49 km 7: 5:35 km 8: 5:36 km 9: 5:28 km 10: 5:43 - 0:57:11 (28:13) km 11: 5:33 km 12: 5:43 km 13: 5:47 km 14: 5:33 km 15: 5:50 - 1:25:43 (28:32) km 16: 5:32 km 17: 5:31 km 18: 5:31 km 19: 5:34 km 20: 5:40 - 1:53:33 (27:50) km 21: 5:18 HM: 1:59:25 km 22: 5:17 km 23: 5:27 km 24: 5:35 km 25: 5:37 - 2:20:48 (27:15) km 26: 6:05 km 27: 5:34 km 28: 5:21 km 29: 5:29 km 30: 5:37 - 2:48:56 (28:08) km 31: 5:32 km 32: 5:34 km 33: 5:32 km 34: 5:33 km 35: 5:37 - 3:16:47 (27:51) km 36: 6:09 km 37: 5:45 km 38: 5:45 km 39: 5:50 km 40: 5:51 - 3:46:07 (29:20) km 41: 5:48 km 42: 5:51
It was 19 degrees in the shade - problem was that there was no shade to run in... I drunk well over 2 liters during the race and still got dehydrated.The course was more undulating than anticipated, but all in all a fast and very scenic. Excellent organisation and top water stations.
