Todays blog - Football, hill running, PB and Parkrun

Today's running blog, three points to discuss.

1    1. Last nights run

Last night before the crushing disappointment of England losing to Uruguay in the World Cup I headed out for a bit of a quick run.

My route was one that I have done several times but not recently and is a bit of a hill run. It’s basically running up out of a dip, back down into and then up the other side and down again and repeating this three times. The elevation of the course looks like this:

Although they are not massive hills and there isn’t a massive elevation rise it’s a testing run to try and run at speed and it keeps you working the full course.

Last night feeling good and running well in my new trainers I clocked a time of 32.49 with an average Km split of 4.31min/km which is the fastest average split I have run in a long time! 

Really pleased with the result I have looked over my previous times from early this year or in August and September last year when training for my last marathon in October and my time compares really well. Generally I was running the course in about 34 minutes so I am really impressed in knocking around 2 minutes off my time and it is a good indication that my training is progressing well.

2    2. Tonights gym session and burrito

Tonight after work I am heading out to watch the football and tonights match France v Switzerland is an entertaining prospect. But before the merriment of watching football out in a pub with the associated accompaniment of drinking I will be hitting the gym followed by treating myself to a burrito as a way of refueling after the gym and lining my stomach ahead of the drinking.

I am planning a core and ab circuit session with some body weight resistance exercises focusing on press ups and maybe some kettle bell work as well. I haven’t hit the gym in the evening for a long time and am looking forward to an afternoon session where I am a bit more awake and invigorated than what I sometimes am when training at 7 am in the morning.

Not wanting to curse myself now but I am also looking forward to the gym being quiet as it hopefully will be on a Friday evening, we will see….

3    3. Tomorrows Parkrun

Buoyed by feeling fitter and stronger and the success of my quick run last night as outlined in point 1 I am hoping for a good time in parkrun on Saturday morning. This does of course factor heavily on what happens tonight staying out watching the football as outlined in point 2!

Seriously though I know I have a good time in me and want to rival my PB which is around 21.55, my new trainers are also adding extra speed to my run. I know realistically new trainers will add a little bit of speed as they are firmer and stronger etc but they also add a big mental boost as I feel so much more confident and quicker running in new trainers.

Fingers crossed for some great weather and a great run tomorrow morning!

All the best to everyone else giving parkrun a go this weekend or running an event, run well everyone! 

Running home from work for the football

I fell a little short of my destination as I called my run off two tube stops early.

But overall I had achieved my goals of running a minimum of 20Km and getting home with time to spare for the football.

I had covered my desired distance of 20Km, I had bad cramp in my rught foot, the heat had taken its toll and time was getting on.

My total distance of 20.55Km was achieved in just under 2 hours which I was really pleased with when you take into account I was running with a backpack and all the stoppages at traffice lights and waiting to cross roads as well as two stops for water.

I was also impressed with how good I felt, at a steady pace 20Km was a comfortable distance easily achieved.

Running my commute is increasingly becoming a viable option as I was struck by how easy it felt to just pop on my trainers and run as part of my journey.

When taking a train or the tube gor the first time the experience is some what daunting. Am I getting the right train? Have I got my ticket? And all the other things you worry about but over time as you make the journey numerous times it just becomes routine and you conplete the journey without thinking too much.

The same is nkw true for me with running my commute, I used to feel I couldnt achieve it, running with a back pack would be too hard or I didnt feel comfortable with the route and running alongside roads. Now its a breeze and lacing up my trainers and running off is as second nature too me a lacing up my ticket and junping on a train. 

The run its self was easier than I thought and I was pleasntly suprised with how better my stamina levels are than what I expected. Also the weather conditions were more pleasant than I anticipated as there was a nice cooling breeze for the majority of my journey. 

Sure running alongside major A roads isn't the most pleasant of experiences but I did enjoy the variety it provided and the mental challenege of having to overcome the monotony of dull surroundings. 

When I got home I was rewarded with bring able to sit and enjoy the football and what a spectacle Spain v Holland provided?! I was so glad to have not missed out and really enjoy a great game and some great goals! I am looking forward to more occasions of running home for the football. 

So my quest to run all the way home from work continues although I am now only about 6Km off my target. I have pencilled in the 3rd July, the next run2work day as the day to give it ago. 

 

World Cup build up

You will have to excuse my break away from my usual topics to indulge in a little bit of world cup fever….

So you probably will have seen that there is something quite big starting today? The biggest show on earth to be watched by millions upon millions of people and I for one am really rather excited!

I can’t wait to see how Brazil handles hosting the tournament and if the team will live up to the expectations of being tournament favourites?

How are England going to fare? (I reckon they might squeeze through the group and then get knocked out by Columbia in the second round, which would be a decent achievement)

Who will be the stand out players? I am looking forward to seeing all the usual suspects but think Di Maria and Aguero for Argentina will have great tournaments as well as Lukaku, Hulk & David Silva.

How will my sweepstake team of Belgium feature in the tournament? (Realistically I know they won’t win but I am quite excited by the prospect of cheering on Lukaku, Kompany and co)

I have invetsed a little money in Brazil to win outright with Sergio Aguero of Argentina to be the tournaments lead goal scorer so fingers crossed!

But the big question will be how will the world cup fixture affect my training?

I am very much an early to bed and early to get up in the morning kind of guy and this is reflected in the fact I do most of my running in the early morning.

I generally really struggle staying up in the evenings watching TV, films or sport and have quite a reputation of falling asleep through things! So the prospect of late kick offs is not really going to suit me.

Planning to watch a few games out and about in pubs and bars with friends will obviously have a knock on effect on my training as well so I will be trying to cut down on my alcohol intake.

I was planning to go alcohol free through July with my marathon booked for the first weekend in August and this will still be my plan. I know I have the willpower to do it if I want to and missing out on a few drinks will not impact on my enjoyment of the football.

I guess it’s just another thing you have to sacrifice for the good of your running and training and a good time in my marathon will more than justify any sacrifices made.  

I am thinking of scheduling my runs in the evenings before the late kicks off so I am awake and alert to stay up for them and I will see how that works out….