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.

Lunchtime Trail

Hungerford.

No gym in the morning, resting quads.

The usual Weds lunchtime Spin class looks to have been cancelled now, as Jay has left the leisure centre. Pete who usally stood in, hasn't picked it up either. Think they're moving on to an aerobics workout instead.

Ar lunch went for a pretty fast paced trail run around Hungerford with Bazza.

It was a lovely run out, sun out, not too hot, the run itself was about 3/4'ers trail, through fields, along the canal, by woods lined with blue-bells, very pretty trotting, but tough enough to satisfy.

Very pleased with the run, was a good pace (especially coming back from a break), expecting to burn out at some point, but was able to keep on trotting.

Good result, and I'm sure will be helpful training for Saturdays marathon in Exmoor.

Data from Bazza's watch.

Sore Quads

Unable to make Circuits this morning, as we're off to see Mark Beaumonts gig this eve, so in the Hungerford office.

After my run last night, the poor old quads are sore and moan-y.

Still, did a 30 mins cycle in the gym at lunchtime, level 16 on Hills.
Possibly could have popped the level up a notch, but being as the quads are upset with me, and Ive been out of the gym for a bit with holiday etc, we'll leave it there.

Couple of weight machines, nothing too intense.

Slight lack of distance training

Realised the other day that I haven't run anything over 6 miles since my Jurassic Coast Challenge, end of March. How on earth did that happen?
This weekend is the final & toughest of Endurancelife's Costal Trail Series marathon in Exmoor..

.. Panic time!
So, got home from work this eve and rushed out (well sort of) for an 11.5 mile trot. It's a route I've run a few times, nice cycle track along the old railway line from Calne to Chippenham, then back along the smelly A4 which has a couple of nice hills to dig in to. Unfortunately, my cheeky Garmin decided to go to sleep mode about 3/4'ers the way through, so lost a mile and a bit somewhere.

Run was fairly hard going, particuarly getting out the door in the first place, but once I was out there, no bother... what a lovely evening it was too.

Garmin data.

All quiet on the March front

Oh dear me.

What a lovely time we had in Marrakech, but the two of us came back with a little leaving gift from Morocco, in the form of upset tums!

Gym, swim, run, rump, all out the flippin' window!

Next week, we'll be back, fire it right back UP propers!

Eaten alive by stepper machine, again!

Bristol Gym

Off out this evening with Lara's mum in Bradford-on-Avon so working in the Bristol office for a change.

Session before work was similar to last Thursday.

Stepper, L17, 30 mins of (hell) Hills.
It's a flipping beast of a ride that. This time remembered to stock up on paper towl, and I needed it, 10 mins in dripping like a tap. Splott!
Helen came over to talk to me about half way through, coudln't really speak so she left me suffering. Can't really say if it was easier than last week, probably not.

Finished with leg work.
The machines where you open legs, and close legs, whatever they're called, am doing well on those at 125Kg.
The leg press I'm up to 85Kg. Happy with that.

Did some other lightish work on machines, and quick 9K free weighs, biceps & above my head lifts. (another excercise I should find the proper name for!)

Helen is looking good for running again, and may actually be doing the Edinburgh marathon for a chum. (to gain her 'good for age entry' to VLM 2011) :)

Back to work ..

Morning Circuits

Sleepy.

Almost didn't get out of the sack, 2 reasons: Daz text to say he;s feeling rough & wouldn't make it, AND, plenty of booze drunk over the bank hols. Still, made it, yee-ha!
Stations were a fair mix cardio & weights, struggled a bit, but plodded on. Good turn-out class size and atmosphere. No Lady GAGA CD!

We both said 'no' to running club this evening, we're packing & sorting for our wedding anniversary trip to Marrakech.

May Cherhill Challenge

Cherhill Handicap Challenge

Just Simon, Lara and myself this month for the Cherhill handicap challenge.

A little under 2 miles a steep 100m climb up to the Cherhill monument, before racing round the back, and down the slippery (very, when wet) chalk side back to the A4.

RABBITS RABBITS RABBITS!!

Lara kicked off first.
I went 3 mins after her.
Simon 2 mins after me.

Simon took me on about at the top, about a 1/3rd way round the 'doughnut' path following behind the monument, I caught up with Lara shortly after that.
Felt strong all the way round. This is excellent, as I had a slightly disappointing run on Tues eve in Heddington. This is also the first time I can remember where I have ran, although slowly, all the way up the hill. Usually have to break down in to a fast power walk were it gets particularly steep about 3/4'ers the way up. Coming down again, had a fast pace, long strides, feeling good. When I hit almost the final section, slippery chalky bit, cut back the speed there to be careful as it was wet rock, I've slipped there previously a few times - eeek!

My time:
14:47.
Last months:
17:38!

Woaa!

A smiley Stu for a monstrously sexy 2:40+ improvement there!

OK OK, OK, so 17:38 was the weekend after the Jurassic Coastal Challenge, probably does explain the difference a wee bit. :)

Checked back through my previous times on Garmin Connect. I've done the CHC about half a dozen times before:

2010 April 17:38
2009 Oct 16:51
Aug 16:31
July 15:01
June 15:44
May 14:32

PB was my FIRST run, 14:32. Today's 14:47 is not far off that! Yippie!!

Another strange thing to add to todays result was the 4 & 1/2 pints drunk last night. Pint & 1/2 at the Blackbird with Pete for his b'day after work, then 3 Stella's over the JW, very little tea either. It's a funny old world this trotting lark.