Stressed.Wet. Tired.....Happy birthday?

deep seated urban decay, a photo by ultraBobban on Flickr.

Well as birthday weeks go, it has been pretty hard work. I've found running a real challenge with some stressful and long days at work, late evenings returning home. Usually a splash around the mean streets of South London is just the tonic to liven my spirits and put a spring in my step but this week it was too much to pull on the waterproofs and get out.

In actual fact I should look on the bright side. More time at home in the evenings and a bit of recovery time before the double marathon next weekend. But it's never like that is it? I feel like I am putting on weight, I feel slow and lethargic.

Having said that, a 17 mile wet plod this morning started to lighten up at about mile 14 and I felt better. I should have stayed out another 5-6 miles but with chores to do and then a birthday lunch to go to in a mo, I need ed to curtain the run. The first 3 with Mrs UB to the running club and to run the beginners course, Eric joining us and then dropping the beautiful Mrs UB back at the house and then off to do more miles with Eric. I still managed 40 for the week though.

So its off for a drinking session now. Cider O'clock! Next week will need to see a change of priorities and I need to commit to a better training and eating schedule and importantly.....leave work on time!

Shoe Porn #3 The birthday treat

Shoe Porn #3, a photo by ultraBobban on Flickr.

It was a calculated purchase. I have been running in the same pair of Asics for 1000 miles. The green Asics Cumulus 13 were no match for the 12s. In fact.....I had the same problem about 4 years ago when I ran in Saucony and they evolved.....and I didn't like the feel.

But what you say.....has this boy forgotten about the minimalist zero drop revolution? No! Flat, minimal trail shoes are still in use....heavily! The road zero drops are in use, perhaps 3 days a week, but there are times when one needs to slip into something more comfortable. I mean, I wouldn't be sat in my suit on a weekend.......so why not a pair of cushioned shoes for a recovery run?!

I've been chatting to Eric about scales and posh electronic devices that hook up to the ANT+ to give you a readout of all things bodily. He told me to not waste my money.....there is a wedding coming up! So I had a good look at my bathroom scales and they also measure fat mass and water mass using an electric current. Add this to the sphygmomanometer, digital sat02 and pulsemeter, peak flow meter and vital capacity spirometer and I can keep a regular check of my stats. Not that I'll need that sort of jazz.......it's nice to know, but I would rather go with the flow.

So, 37 tomorrow and with work taking over for the next couple of weeks, this is the calm before the storm. Wet weather doesn't stop me but coming home from work at 7.30pm every day does. I've signed up for a bank holiday double: Bewl Marathon on Saturday and 3 Forts 27 on the Sunday. I'll need the monday off! But at least I can do a recovery run and imagine I am Dorothy!

Race Report... VLM

Not that I ran the race today, but reportage on my dearest friends who completed the course in our Capital's fairest streets.

Tappo, "Legend" went off at 6.10s which is a 2.45 pace. He was running at about 400th at this pace, but all of the people in front of him had either orange or green shoes so we weren't sure. However, he looked like a Trojan and had plenty in the tank at this point.

Richard went past and at mile 7, when I had spent most of my time with St Austell Running Club, planning random ultras, Rich went past at 6.47s looking like some sort of MACHINE! Rich joined the club as a timid 9 min miler (as Lily told me today) and has progressed to a 6.50s warrior. Not only that, he lives about 500m from me so occasionally I try to run home from the club with him....but I can't keep up!.

Rich hit top speed and was going for a sub 3. Nearly, nearly as we saw him at 21 and was gunning for that until he hit an 8.55 mile that scuppered him somewhat. By the finish, a 3.05 was in the bag! Amazing work.

Meanwhile....

Tappo. Legend (who gave a litre of bone marrow a couple of weeks ago....slipped from a 2.45 marathon to a 'mare with a 39 min 5k. Luckily he did not repeat Berlin and finished, but in 3.27. However at the EV bar afterwards, was quite quickly on the booze. Ace!

Tom whizzed past next. Woolly is in the midst of transcontinental flights, stag parties, house buying and as such, states that his training is off pace. 2.59 last year and this year taking it easy and really enjoying himself, the "dude" runs in a relaxed 3.19

In next was the winner of all trophies in the club, Spenser. Did he go out too fast? Perhaps. He was close to Woolly after 7......but what I like about Spen is his resilience and the fact that he has run some tough marathons over the last few weeks, whereas everyone else is using this as a goal race, means that his fitness is right up there. Get in! 3.32 on the day

Then comes the club stalwart Tom P.......running well inside a PB, he eventually went on to run 3.33. Never without a smile on his face. Phenomenal!

Hard work on the marathon is made in the final few miles. Last time I saw Jason on the 26.2 mile strip, he was sporting Disney plasters on his nips and drinking Stella afterwards. Straight out of the traps, one wonders what this nutter could really do with some training. I think 3.15, with his build. Total legend. Even though he drives a people carrier. Get back to the club fella!

Where do I go from here? Tom H ran a 4.09, Di ran a world record in a Bernie Clifton fancy dress. John Clarke didn't get arrested and Nathalie finished her first marathon.......amazing!

So. Back to training for me and a hard fast 80-90k this week. Rock on!

Refuel....

Who ate all the pies?, a photo by ultraBobban on Flickr.

After the Black Dog marathon yesterday and an internal fuel shortage, I have been looking forward to dinner tonight for a refuel. Not that I want to eat pies....it will be fish, quinoa, bughur wheat and a big salad. Not even a cider will touch my palate!

After a late finish at work it was time for a recovery run following the marathon. After a creaky start I was pleasantly surprised with an 8.30s, as I had expected to hobble around in 10s for a couple of miles. After Crystal Palace park I decided to pop in some quicker miles and further surprised myself with a couple of 7.30s and after a really hot bath.....the legs are all fine. This confirms my running out of energy theory from yesterday, particularly on the back of a 140km week.

Work now permits me only 60-80k this week so it will be good to get in some recovery time. Ace!

Bungay Black Dog Marathon Race Report

It would be really easy to start a posting with a set of negative experiences as to why everything was not perfect on the day. I'll try to avoid the pain of that for you but there was a significant spanner in the works, of which UK Team Ultra runner Stuart Mills would refer to as "Race Focus Energy" and I would add the suffix to this phrase as "Oh fucking hell!"

I picked up the utterly loquacious Jerry S from deepest Chislehurst this morning, not more than a dozen hours after texting the legendary 100 mile runner, who now looks to be a fully operational Death Star; ready for battle again......"It's a long shot Jerry, but do you fancy a marathon tomorrow?" "I'll drive!" I quickly turned Radio 4 off and the in car entertainment switched to all things totally random, sometimes running related, often not. We arrived at the Norfolk/Suffolk border without passports, but that was OK, as the farmer and his sister/wife/mum were all sound asleep together with the Black Dog itself. After picking up our chip timer and numbers, bags were dumped, racing gear was applied amid bright sunshine, only to turn to squally showers and hailstones.

And so, travelling very light (no backpacks, no water bottles, no waist belt) as this was only my 3rd and Jezza's 4th road marathon, I stashed 2 gels, a buzzbar and a bottle of George's "Game" which running buddies will know as....."oh God Rob...you've turned up with Fairy Liquid again!" (It is a water melon bright green) in a hedge between the 12 and 13 mile mark of the 2 lap undulating course.

Off to a conservative but exploratory pace (it is my first road marathon in 3 years), marathon 27 quickly settled into a metronomic pace of 7.37s, despite the early undulations and squally winds, as well as a 100km week with a 20 hour taper. Stopping at mile 3, to tie a loose lace, I was pleasantly surprised to meet up with Master JS, as we had not agreed any race strategy and he had gone off quickly. At this point I must give praise for the hypo-corpuscular gent that I think has lost about 3 stone since the Gatliff?! (only he will know! - Men, as you know, do not inquire about such trivialities, although I do hope his suits have been adjusted accordingly for my wedding!)

Lace tied, I laid down 12 miles of 7.37s but returned to aforementioned stash on to find.....nothing. I hunted about, believe me! Like an urban mange-inflicted fox searching for carrion.........but nothing. Either the tree that I was sure I hid my quarry in was so nondescript or some bar steward had claimed the tasty sugary treats for themselves.......

So, to return to Race Focus Energy.....mine went for an utter Burton as with only one Jerry Can of industrial orange juice for the whole course at mile 23 and no bottles....my reliance on water for the second lap was now a reality dawning in my grey matter. Going out a good pace, although luckily suicidal, I had to revert to DLF (Damage Limitation Focus) to prevent a DNF. I dropped my pace right down to 8.10s for a couple of miles and then at mile 19, had to revert to the strategy known as "Oh shit, I might not finish".......so quickly scanned any checkpoint for anything other than water...to no avail. Switching to a slower pace, I was able to keep going at a sedentary pace but was entering the land of being dizzy. The furthest I have run with no fuel whatsoever is 17 miles. I was at mile 20, a usual cheeky 10k to go and time to turn on the afterburners and hit 7.30s for the last few.........but there was nothing in the tank. My thoughts quickly turned to the half bottle of Lucozade in the grass verge, the almost empty gel packets on the floor around checkpoints.....NO! I must carry on under my own steam. Who knows what manner of micro-organism one could ingest! So to mile 24 and a shout of "C'mon fat bastard" or something equally derogatory pierced my ears and woke me from a hypoglycemic slumber. Jezza motored past with his notorious ultra shuffle.....beaming from ear to ear (unbeknown to me that he was heading for a PB!). I knew if I could get to the checkpoint 500m from the finish where the only supply of juice on the course lay, then I could at least finish the race. And then the hail began!

I trotted over the line thinking of the fella that I had overtaken early on in the race with 8-10 gels in a belt around his waist with intense jealousy and had I been able to access such sugary gems, I would have felt a whole load better. Save to say, a 3.43 was a crumb of comfort, snatched from the jaws of defeat at the Black Dog. I immediately summoned a Cheshire Cat, aka Jerry to get the bags, as I had a can of Coke in there. Luckily an old lady gave me a can of Sprite at the finish...which was so very needed as I was very very dizzy. Medal around neck, sunburnt of face, Sprite and a banana later, it was time to pick up a gargantuan Darrel Burger (?!) (mushroom, beef, onions and bacon.......incidentally named in honour of the last man to eat it and not have a coronary bypass. Once Jezza had changed his free water bottle.........Sponsored by Norfolk and Suffolk Water.......it had a leak (!), it was off back to the car for much frivolity and japery and once I had quaffed 2 more sugary cans of soft drink, a recount of tales from the belated JS and a recount of the race, it was time to turn our energies towards taking the piss out of the world again.

Gutted not to get a PB? I was for about 5 mins. Then, just pleased to have not ended up in hospital like so many of my friends who have marathon DNF'd. As it goes.....it is the fastest marathon since braking my leg....not bad after a total week of 140km running?

Destination: Nowhere.

Destination: Nowhere., a photo by ultraBobban on Flickr.

Well, it may not be as it seems. I had planned to run the Essex Trail Challenge Event this weekend....but was thwarted by an over zealous obstreperous official.....

To give you some background on this, it was an "entries in advance" event. I got my cheque and entry form in the post on Tuesday first thing, 5 days before the event. I followed this up by an email on Friday, stating if I could pick up my entry details on the day as it may be possible I would not receive my SAE back in time. This, dear reader......was the response.......

"Dear Rob,

The event closing date was the 7th April. Because of the holiday I kept the
list open until Tuesday when I had to close. We do not take entries on the day. I can say that your entry was not in by Tuesday. I am sorry but the event has been "live" since Christmas and all advertising mentions the closing date and also to look for confirmation of receipt of entry on the website."

(There was no closing date on the website!!! In fact, this un-named man gave me a non-LDWA event website that had a different entry cost to the LDWA (official) website and virtually no details of the event other than to "check the LDWA" for details.)

and then......"On the website you will find an article on challenge events and what to expect because I feel you are probably new to the game. All events have their own rules which you need to read carefully."

So as you might expect.....I blew my top! I do love running the LDWA events as they are such a different challenge with the crazy-arse directions to keep you on your toes, amazing checkpoints full of food and friendly people. I can only hope that in this society, there are people like this few and far between as this sort of behaviour can only be detrimental to self-navigate marathons.

However, after some conflab with my dear running buddy, Jezza...it transpires that there may be a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel. We may go and run the Black Dog in Bungay. I will decide by tonight.