Bad Day

I love REM, I didn't love the way I ran on the weekend at the Richard Burton 10k.

First up, no issue with the race itself, apart from a bit of chaos at the start of the fun run (Which I ran with my youngest) it was a smooth day and enjoyable, scenic course.

The fun run went well for the kids, my boy ran a mile PB of 9:19 and my oldest got round with little in the way of issues, if not exactly stressing herself. Good stuff!

Then it was my turn. Off I went, sensible 7:40ish first mile, up the first hill at a steady pace. Then the wheels came off, no idea what was wrong with me, but I was heavy legged, tired, had a headache. By half way, if I wasn't 5km away and had to run back anyway I'd have pulled up. But I was and so  got on with it.

It wasn't pretty and it certainly wasn't to the standard I wanted to produce but it was over 51 minutes later. The first time I've run 50+ minutes for a 10k since September 2016 in Swansea (Not including the Loop 10k, cos that's 1000ft climb)

But it's done now, I can only look back and learn. Even though I'm not really sure what went wrong. All I can do is step up the training, even though I thought I'd been running ok.

It's a long way from the end of the world but it is a hit to the old confidence.

Positives from the weekend though, i did my Level 1 officials course, completed the online section today and have enough experience events to pass already. So hopefully that'll be done soon! See if I can get to level 2.

The London issue

Yes, there are other marathons, I've run a few, but I wouldn't mind a crack at London.

Yes, I can qualify with a good-for-age time... well no, I can't, I'm not fast enough. Never was and am pretty confident never will be. Also that's not guaranteed anymore anyway.

Yes, I can run for a charity, I've even had some contact me, but an (average) £2000 minimum or I have to pay it myself target feels beyond daunting. I know I wouldn't manage it, so I'll leave that to competent people.

If you hadn't gathered, I had a no for London yet again next year.




Quelle surprise!

Of the last 10 years I've now had 9 no's and 1 forgot-to-enter-the-ballot-oops. There could still be hope in the shape of my club ballot but that's potentially not 'til Christmas, so if I don't get it all the other spring marathons will be full/more expensive. It probably has about the same odds as the real ballot and honestly at the moment, rejoining for next year (a requirement if you get the place) is something I'm seriously considering not doing.

It's really not the end of the world I know, but I really would like a go at this race one day. But sadly resigned to the fact it'll never happen. Also the ballot system in general is balls, so many applicants for almost no places, months of delays for a process that could be done relatively quickly.

I know the race loves the build up and publicity and making a spectacle of itself almost as much as it loves overcharging charities, but it's just plain annoying from my side.

As I have written before, I think my target is now going to be Newport. I'm told it's a flat fast course and with a bit of work I think I could clock my second sub 4 hour.

I ran tonight (last night by time I put this out) and it went pretty well, I did what I set out to achieve. 7 fairly steady miles which will hopefully give me a bit of confidence come Saturday and the first (and easiest) Cross Country fixture of the season.

I honestly think the easiest way for me to get into London long term is to come 42nd on a reality TV show at some point. I'm off to practice my naked baking or something.

The miscalculation...

I've said this before, I really like the Manchester Marathon.

I entered the Manchester Marathon.

I realised I can't do it... too late...

I somehow managed to get a refund...

Newport Marathon anyone?

Well it was a minor mistake which has been rectified. In the short term I have other things to be concerned about. I'm still only training once a week, this isn't enough and if possible I'm still getting less fit. This weeks run in particular was awful, as I tried making it hilly, which I couldn't do...




Taking into account a few factors, some of them form related some of them not, my motivation to run, train etc is pretty much dead. I need to make some changes before I'm essentially written off.

As of next week I'm going to try and find the time to get at least 1 more in, build the miles. But I think I already know I'm too far behind to do anything worthwhile in Cross Country next month. I could of course still do it for distance / race practice, but in all practicality would I be better off getting more training miles in and not destroying what confidence I have in, what is a very high quality field?

Closer to the time of any marathons etc I can start introducing proper 'long runs'. I've not hit 10 miles since I had to go to the hospital in Mountain Ash months ago and ran over from the Tyd. From the random pains I still get in my hand/wrist I know I'm not going to the gym any time soon, so it's gonna be graft out on the tarmac!

I'm tempted to do 1 longer and one shorter, but faster then try and extend the longer one a bit as I go. For the short one parkrun is currently a no go due to child classes, but there's plenty of places round here with easy to measure distances to get reps going.

If everything is going OK, it looks like I'll be entering Newport when it reopens next month! Something I think I need to do, as I'm aimless at the moment. Give me a target and I'll work to it.