The Running Thread Part II

Graham27

Just coincidence it's a Sky blue running shirt?!

It's our Marathon tomorrow, it's quite a big deal as not much happens here. I was going to marshal, but didn't as my newbie runner missus was going to do a stint in the relay and I wanted to cheer her on. She's just had to cop out on docs orders as she has a tummy bug. Bah!

I'll just need to spectate now. Really looking forward to it though, it's usually a great vibe. Hope the weather holds! I'll be glad when it's over, right enough. There's too many decent runners knocking about the place at the mo

Abbeygoo

I did notice that the Macclesfield half marathon had more hotties than normal. It really helps if you can follow a nice bouncing bottom for a couple of miles - takes the pain away!

GBDG1

You're too kind mate!

mossym

nice running achievement last week, but not for distance or speed, but ran the length of copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro and back. not sure if they do it every sunday but they closed the street nearest the beach and the normal running lane that is there and the street were full of people walking/runnning/cycling, was pretty cool to be down there. was a bit of struggle as we'd been out on the beer every night for a week at that stage and it was also high 20's in temp, but nice landmark to have done

Elrond

OK, time for some shameless charity fund raising

I'm running the Royal Parks Half Marathon on Sunday in aid of The Children's Trust. Thanks to Abbeygoo for sponsoring me already but just trying to do a final push.

So, please take a look at my page and click on the donate button to help me reach my target because children deserve a fair chance in life and to experience what others do and any money you can give will help that.

Virgin Money Giving | Fundraising | Stuart Leaver's fundraising page

Graham27

Just a quick bargain pointer: Barrington Sports have 30% off RRP for a few days to celebrate 30 years in business. I think it finishes on Monday night.

I guess it's just another way of branding a sale, and some things work out the same price as elsewhere anyway, but there are some decent deals

Elrond

Well, I can now say that I have completed an official half marathon after completing the Royal Parks Half Marathon yesterday. While I find that training can get a bit dull, races are anything but and I had a very enjoyable 13.1 miles and enjoyed every bit of it.

I training PB was around 1:49 and I was aiming for around 1:45 because unlike my hilly training route, it was undulating. I was starting in the blue pen and got there earlier enough so that I was right at the front of the pen but then noticed that the 2hr pacer was right behind me but that wasn't a problem, just meant that I had to run faster than him! It took 6-7 minutes to actually cross the start line, but after that there was congestion, but nothing a bit of weaving and staying at the sorted out.

After the first two or three miles around Westminster, I was slower than I needed to be but I wasn't going to panic and make it up quickly because I still had 10 miles to go. At one point, the runner in front of me suddenly moved out the way to leave me facing this woman who had stopped almost in the middle to turn around and I assume to look for a friend. After being hit almost twice, she had a look of fear and then decided to move out the way. As this was going to be the first time I had used water stations, I decided to to use the first one but rather just get an idea of what to expect at the next.

Going down The Mall, I decided to get a bottle of water, easy, had nothing to worry about. Then I found that it can get a bit dangerous as someone threw there bottle to the side and it flew past my face! That happened a couple of water stations later as well!

It was then back into Hyde Park and after a while into Kensington Gardens and by this point I had slowly caught back up to the pace that I wanted. My legs were actually feeling quite good so I picked the pace up a bit more.

Then came the 800m sign and the downhill finish straight. I saw someone from the same charity as me and was determined to beat him and so put the after burners on. After a while I started to think where the 400m sign was but it never came, then I started thinking that maybe I had gone past it or that there wasn't one. After a while I saw it but determined not to slow, that 400m went much quicker. Then I crossed the line knowing that I was officially a half marathon runner and was one step closer to my goal, well as many steps as I had just done

My chip time was 1:43:45 and I am really pleased with that time. Getting down to 1:45 I felt was tough but to beat my training PB by 5mins and going under 1:44, I couldn't argue with that

Time to re-think the expected finish times on my entries for the Brighton half and full marathon next year!

kez

nice report and great time - well done.

i went for a 5.5 mile run this morning at 6am.  managed 8'25"/mile which is a bit quicker than normal.  maybe i should go out in the cold more often

Abbeygoo

Nice one Sleaver, great commentary (loved reading that!) and more importantly, a brilliant time. I'm about 10 minutes behind you.

The training regime continues and I have laid my pre-Xmas plans all out in front of me. A combination of gym work (core, leg strength, cross training) and outside runs incorporating pace over 10 miles and slower, longer 13 mile runs.

Really looking forward to it - hope the weather stays like this forever!!

GBDG1

I've invested in some Nike Lunar Glide 4s, i'm seeing off the last of my cold, my knees feel OK, blister is getting better.

I've had a weeks rest and I've almost lost my mind through boredom. The full on pre-christmas assault on exercise starts tomorrow...

p.s. Well done Sleaver - how dare you beat my time [insert excuse about hilly course here]