Slack blogger Stu dares to show his face ..

Well it's been a slow old blog recently.

Running has been going really well. Completed 2x runs home from Hung -> Devizes, and several 10'ish miles local routers. Come on the Ridgeway!

Today, Body Rump, and was quite a class. I've felt fairly rough all week, so thought I'd best down load weights. That didn't happen.

Weights
Warm up 10Kg
Squats 22Kg (+2)
Chest 12Kg
Clean & Press 20Kg (+3)
Triceps 5Kg, then 10Kg
Biceps 12Kg

Haven't done any gym since last Friday's BR. Managed 22Kg squats, and 20Kg for C&P, for both the most I've done before. Very pleased.

Tonight I plan to do a few climbs up Cherhill, stopping by on my way home.
Atleast 2 laps, 3 good, 4 amazing.. we will see.

Finger pulled OUT!

Hello, it's been a while, but I'm trying to get back in keeping this lovely blog up to date with my training.

With the Ridgeway creeping up in just under 2 months now, it's time to pull the finger OUT.

Last week was a slow start creeping running back in to the regular routine, which it hasn't been. So this week, Tues I did a nice trot with RC round Bowood.

Last night I fired up a much longer distance, round Calne a bit (dull!) then out to Chip along the cycle path, following the A4 back. About 15 miles.
Pleased there, as it's been a while running that distance. I also didn't get home til 7.30pm due to be out at a customers site, so was tricky getting my act together & mind focussed on running. Really didn't want to!

Today was body pump at lunch.

Weights
Warm up 10Kg
Squats 20Kg
Chest 12Kg (-3)
Clean & Press 15Kg (-2)
Triceps 10Kg
Biceps 12Kg (-2)

Please with the 20Kg for squats, after run last night.

Newbury 10k

Bayer 10k

Course was very nice. On the off the route across the canal bridge & up Northbrook street was very congested, and quite slow. Things eased up turning past McDonalds and heading to the Lion pub. Climbing Strawberry Hill, was about the only hill on route, which didn't take too much out of me thankfully, then we headed the back roads of the Speen in parallel with the A4, which came out by the A34, and out back down to the canal etc. Nice route! Saw Mike at Northcroft, then Skull & Tony a little further along Northcroft Lane, then coming out on Northcroft Street, there was my folks, Harry & Grace all cheering - fantastic! Massive boosts those cheer points! Throughout the race I felt confident & my pace was good.
Yea, so when I crossed the finish line, shattered, checking my data seeing was 47mins, I was a tad suprised! It certainly 'felt' quicker. I had aimed for a PB, but equalled my previous from about 4 years ago.

Thoroughly enjoyed the run. One I'd probably do again next year, and have a bash at a PB'er!

Our runners were:
Lycra-Lou (50:51)
Tim (52:22)
JP (55)
Anthony Sulls (58:08)
Sonya (DNF)*

Other runners:
Steve Dimond (44:20)
Peter Crozier (46:03)
Leah Martin (01:07:41)

*Sadly Sonya pulled out with a hurty foot.

The day then really kicked off.
Showered at Tims, quick pre-lunch pint in the stunning sun outside at the LSB, before meeting the gang at Strada for a slap up lunchy, beers, grappers & espressos! Lara caught up with us about 3pm, back from hen do in Sheffield.
Our next move was back to the LSB for 10 further hours of fun. Aspall cyder for me!

What a fine day out of FUN.

Garmin data.

For tea for Fri AND Sat evening was Indian. Not ideal for runners, but damn tasty!

Yips, it's Friday!

Morning Session

Had to run our Laa to work this morning in Newbury as she's hen do'ing it up with Abi in Sheffield, so no masses of time to play with the gym.
I did manage a 10min bike on hills at L18, then a couple of weight machines before a good stretch & jumped in the pool for ten mins. Sauna & jacuzzi.


Lunchtime Rump

Deserted!

Just Ferne, SiS3x & me, with BeeJacks.
Good class though, he made us all huddle right up to the front which was good, pointing out a couple of errors with my movements & positions. Dead row, need to stick my arse out more, and crunches, pulling too much on my neck.

Weight-wise, very good. Debating taking it easy with Sundays 10k, but in the end I thought I'll forever be putting me weights off because of a run etc, so just loaded up and went with it.

Weights
Warm up 10Kg
Squats 20Kg
Chest 15Kg
Clean & Press 17Kg
Triceps 10Kg
Biceps 12Kg

Pleased. It's been WEEKS since I've loaded that sort of iron on board.
I'm writing this Sat morn, and can feel the backs of my hamstrings. That'll be great for tomorrow! hmmm.. !
Suprised myself I managed the 12Kg biceps. Just got through, by the skin of my teeth!

Thurs Efforts

Brizzle Moring Gym

Hit the stepper machine, I wanted to get some hills done in the bank for Wincle a week Saturday. Did the L18 hills sess, but this time for 20mins, last few times have been a half hour, but a little out of practice.
YUPS, it's was a ferocious killer & dripped half my body weight of liquids out on the sweaty floor.
Great sess that, need more of those.

Our Dazzler was there flashing the iron. Sore from intense 2 hours of footie the previous eve.

Evening RC

Sprints at the Rec Club.
Usual routine, warm up lap round the big field, then split in to teams of 3, for approx. 10 mins of sprints up & down one end of the 1st field.
My team was Sandy, the new older gal and Paul. I was running against Simon & nice-Dave. My efforts were about 60-70%, perhaps a belter on the hill trainer tired me out this morn, coupled with marathon on Sat, but didn't feel like pushing it, mentally.

We were due to have a meeting about replacing Neil's duties, rescheduled for next Thurs after the Cherhill climb back at Nicholas place.

Simon, Tony's son (15/16 years-ish) who is now club captain is doing very well encouraging people, keeping people focused, quite mature for his age. It's very good to see.

Laa couldn't make this one, car battery died so was late at work sorting this.

Weds LunchTrail Trott

Lunchtime Trotter

With Bazzie out with sore leggies (Exmoor marathon on Sat) & wanting to save something for his MB'ing this weekend, with the lads in North Wales, I took to the course we went out on the previous week, on my todd.

Very warm afternoon, and pleased I could push myself at a really good rate round the trails of Hungerford.

I remembered my Garmin, so here's the data.

Thurs Gym & RC

Thurs morning gym session in Bristol, almost didn't happen. After yesterdays run with Baz, combined with a nice break, the bed was looking too comfy, but managed to drag tired corpse out for a little sess. 10 mins cross-trainer L16, Hills.
Moved on to various weight machines, with a couple of free weights 7Kg, biceps x2.
Leg press at 85Kg, happy with that.

RC Speed Session

Hills.
Took this session very easy with Saturday in mind.
New format for hills. Tony had us all start from the top and we all sprinted down, as soon as Simon (who is the quickest) got to the bottom we to stopped where we were, then marked this point with some tape he bought along. This would be our handicap start point. Faster ones had further to go running back up the hill, there we'd get 1:45 rest. During that time you had to jog back to your handicap start point again for the next rep, of which there were 8 in total.
Simon had the furthest to run, then nice-Dave, then probably other-Dave, Nichola, Tony, Paul, myself, Lara then a new girl Sandy. Sandy did well, she looks about mid-sixties, happy girl used to do tri's a bit some years ago.

Weather-wise, very warm this eve, sweat fest for all & smell of barbies in the air .. torture.

Tony announced Simon was now club captain after Neil handing in his wings, and wanted me to help get the website up and running again. Might have to go begging for help & advice on that one.