Went out with the club for an easy 7.5 mile run. I didn’t push it too hard, I just wanted to see what hurt from the long run the day before. I’m happy to report nothing felt too sore or tired and I went round the route in 1 hour 48 secs.
A 30 mile week – that means I don’t have to run until next week !!
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
22 miles round Loch Ordie
On Monday 22nd Feb I went back and ran the route that nearly killed me last year when I sank into the peat bog. This year I reversed the route and took the dog and a marathon running colleague, Graeme, with me.
I’d done a 13 mile training run a couple of weeks before but this was my first longer run in this year’s preparation. The weather was perfect - a crisp, cold, clear day and as we gained height to the north of Loch Ordie we were running on hard packed snow, with a crispy layer on top, which gave excellent grip and made for really easy running. Thankfully the ground was frozen hard so there were no bog encounters this year. The views over to Lawers & Schiehallion were stunning.
The last few miles were a bit of a struggle for both of us and inclines were walked but we did the 22.6 miles in 4 hours 16 mins, which I was happy with for a first run.
I’d done a 13 mile training run a couple of weeks before but this was my first longer run in this year’s preparation. The weather was perfect - a crisp, cold, clear day and as we gained height to the north of Loch Ordie we were running on hard packed snow, with a crispy layer on top, which gave excellent grip and made for really easy running. Thankfully the ground was frozen hard so there were no bog encounters this year. The views over to Lawers & Schiehallion were stunning.
The last few miles were a bit of a struggle for both of us and inclines were walked but we did the 22.6 miles in 4 hours 16 mins, which I was happy with for a first run.
Post Match Analysis
So why was 2009 not as good as 2008 ? I’ve decided to look for reasons why in the hope that it will help with preparations in 2010.
2009 – Good Points
I started my training well and was doing good mileage early on in the year.
My knee problem was pretty much fixed by a physio and some surgical tape (it wasn’t tracking properly).
I became more familiar with the route through John Kynaston’s training runs, this helped in particular crossing Rannoch Moor.
2009 – Not so Good Points
Possibly my training peaked too soon ? In 2008 I built up steadily and kept going as the chart below shows. To my shame the chart also highlights how “relaxed” (or possibly undisciplined) my training schedule is.
The chart also shows that I hardly ran at all in May 2009. This is probably due to me having a horrific run at the end of April in the Highland Fling. I’d been running well but it was the first warm run of the year and cramp first hit me going up Conic Hill then hit my legs regularly over the next 36 miles. This run was a major de-motivating factor !
2009’s race was a solo run for the majority of the length.With the exception of someone coming out a few hundred metres to run in to a checkpoint with me I had no pace runner this year. Psychologically this makes a big difference as there's no one to take your mind off the bad bits and get you fired up, but as I was within 4 hours of the leader for most of the race it was against the rules, and when I was eligible for one I had run so far on my own that I wanted to finish having run all the way solo.
I didn’t even really have the company of other runners after Rowerdennan, in 2008 I ran a good chunk of the way with Craig Liddle, in 2009 the last 70 miles were really lonely.
2010 – The Year Ahead
Training this year has suffered a bit of a blow as I was too late applying for the Highland Fling and didn’t get in. For me this 53 mile race over the bottom half of the Way was ideal prep 2 months before the main event as it was a pretty good gauge of form. The theory being doubling your Fling time will give you a rough time for the big race – it’s not too bad a rule of thumb.
So this year’s training is resembling 2008’s and if I’m going to improve on my time, which I’d like to do, then, at the risk of stating the obvious, as the race draws nearer I need to up my miles. Training has started gently but I did a 23 mile run the other day and in 2008 I didn’t run more than 10 miles until the beginning of April when I did a 22 mile run. So lets see how we get on ……..
2009 – Good Points
I started my training well and was doing good mileage early on in the year.
My knee problem was pretty much fixed by a physio and some surgical tape (it wasn’t tracking properly).
I became more familiar with the route through John Kynaston’s training runs, this helped in particular crossing Rannoch Moor.
2009 – Not so Good Points
Possibly my training peaked too soon ? In 2008 I built up steadily and kept going as the chart below shows. To my shame the chart also highlights how “relaxed” (or possibly undisciplined) my training schedule is.
The chart also shows that I hardly ran at all in May 2009. This is probably due to me having a horrific run at the end of April in the Highland Fling. I’d been running well but it was the first warm run of the year and cramp first hit me going up Conic Hill then hit my legs regularly over the next 36 miles. This run was a major de-motivating factor !
2009’s race was a solo run for the majority of the length.With the exception of someone coming out a few hundred metres to run in to a checkpoint with me I had no pace runner this year. Psychologically this makes a big difference as there's no one to take your mind off the bad bits and get you fired up, but as I was within 4 hours of the leader for most of the race it was against the rules, and when I was eligible for one I had run so far on my own that I wanted to finish having run all the way solo.
I didn’t even really have the company of other runners after Rowerdennan, in 2008 I ran a good chunk of the way with Craig Liddle, in 2009 the last 70 miles were really lonely.
2010 – The Year Ahead
Training this year has suffered a bit of a blow as I was too late applying for the Highland Fling and didn’t get in. For me this 53 mile race over the bottom half of the Way was ideal prep 2 months before the main event as it was a pretty good gauge of form. The theory being doubling your Fling time will give you a rough time for the big race – it’s not too bad a rule of thumb.
So this year’s training is resembling 2008’s and if I’m going to improve on my time, which I’d like to do, then, at the risk of stating the obvious, as the race draws nearer I need to up my miles. Training has started gently but I did a 23 mile run the other day and in 2008 I didn’t run more than 10 miles until the beginning of April when I did a 22 mile run. So lets see how we get on ……..
Monday, February 22, 2010
Formatting ?
Does anyone know how to format these types of blogs ? They seem to have a life of their own, looking good on the preview then when you publish it looks nothing like it didbefore ! Drives me mental !!!
2009 Race – A Quick Report
Compared to 2008, my run in 2009 was quite disappointing compared to 2008. If my finishing times had been reversed I would have been delighted with the progress between both years, all I wanted to do in 2008 was get near to 24 hours - strange how perceptions change !
Not really going to dwell too much on the 2009 race but suffice to say I felt quite good for most of the race, getting to the head of Loch Lomond feeling particularly fresh, but I just didn’t seem to be running that fast.
Stopping at Rowerdennan
I had a long stop at Tyndrum and found it a bit difficult to get going, but Rannoch Moor was a much more pleasant experience this year compared to last, and I felt good coming in to Kings House, but again stopped too long and struggled to get going from here again, but felt better going over the Staircase.
I made up a few places coming out of Kinlochleven and felt ok going through Lairigmor, but the last leg was really difficult, not like 2008. I could sniff a sub-21 hours time and tried to push it but it just wasn’t there. I basically crawled over the line in 21 hours 1 minute and was absolutely shattered !
Shuffling over the line
I must say a big thank you to my support crew, the A Team – Gav, Nat, Tom & Zoe and Team 1 – Gaynor, my Mum and Jamie. They did a great job taking shifts so that they were never far away and I definitely think I have the easy bit. I hope no-one ever asks me to be a support crew member, I think it would be too difficult !
The A-Team !
Team 1 !
Now down to the serious business of preparing for the 2010 race …..
I'm Back !
I haven't updated my blog for a looong. It's something I've keep meaning to get round to but I think after a disappointing couple of races last year I kind of lost my enthusiasm a bit, but 2010 is a new year so here goes.
Firstly I must make mention of the passing of Dario Meleragni the driving force behind the WHW race, he seemed to live and breathe the race showing so much enthusiasm it was infectious. I was always amazed at how much he knew about EVERY runner at the prize giving, always able to make some unique comment I'm sure it made everyone feel special.
My first encounter with Dario wasn't how I would have liked - he refused my entry to the 2008 race ! With hindsight he was right, I had never run further than a half-marathon, and he made me qualify stating "if you finish the Highland Fling, you'll get in the race". True to form the day after I finished the race he was on the phone congratulating me and confirming my race number. I first met him the day after I finished the 2008 race. He was very complimentary and seemed to know a lot about me, yet I was grateful he refrained from going in to too much detail at the awards that year, he knew just the right thing to say.
Getting my 2009 goblet from Dario.
I only met him a few times yet I'm glad I was able to tell him just home much the race meant to me through my illness, I don't think people realise that finishing the race was such a powerful motivating factor to get well but I hope I conveyed that to him. He will be sorely missed by everyone involved in Scottish ultras and the 2010 race will be difficult for those who knew him, and particularly so for the organising committee, but I’m sure he will live on in the race.
Firstly I must make mention of the passing of Dario Meleragni the driving force behind the WHW race, he seemed to live and breathe the race showing so much enthusiasm it was infectious. I was always amazed at how much he knew about EVERY runner at the prize giving, always able to make some unique comment I'm sure it made everyone feel special.
My first encounter with Dario wasn't how I would have liked - he refused my entry to the 2008 race ! With hindsight he was right, I had never run further than a half-marathon, and he made me qualify stating "if you finish the Highland Fling, you'll get in the race". True to form the day after I finished the race he was on the phone congratulating me and confirming my race number. I first met him the day after I finished the 2008 race. He was very complimentary and seemed to know a lot about me, yet I was grateful he refrained from going in to too much detail at the awards that year, he knew just the right thing to say.
Getting my 2009 goblet from Dario.
I only met him a few times yet I'm glad I was able to tell him just home much the race meant to me through my illness, I don't think people realise that finishing the race was such a powerful motivating factor to get well but I hope I conveyed that to him. He will be sorely missed by everyone involved in Scottish ultras and the 2010 race will be difficult for those who knew him, and particularly so for the organising committee, but I’m sure he will live on in the race.
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