Monday 7 February 2011

A New Course, Of Course

The title ‘A New Route, Of Course’ just didn’t sound quite the same, however, and whatever the title, the general theme of this years Virgin London Marathon seems to be running new routes. For the second week ‘running’ (no pun intended) I have run a new course; well, some on well used routes but in essence, the majority is new. This week I ran to Easton Maudit, it has been some years since I ran out this way; not for any other reason than I just got used to doing the same stuff as before. The strong winds played a part in running it this time. I’ve always found it beneficial when running long to head out into the wind and return with the wind behind me. It doesn’t always work (especially when one churns out the same routes) but it helps.

In the modern computer age its easy to check the weather and wind direction before a run, just as it is to map out a new route. When I started running some 16 years ago I would look at the OS map, plan a route and then check the mileage in the car, twice, just for accuracy. Nowadays, there are a plethora of mapping sites just begging to plan your ideal route for you. I use MapMyRun, mainly as it has a feature to follow roads, this makes it much quicker to plan routes. I now have a new course to the south-west and east, a nice new northerly route I guess will be next. That’ll probably incorporate the A6 to Kettering or, part of an existing circular route to the Addingtons.

This could be the year that has more new routes than before - that means more course pb’s

Good mileage this week 45 - fifth consecutive increase this year. It will most probably be lower this week in preparation for Sunday’s race at Stamford. 6 runs out. I don’t like running 6 times a week, however slow some of the sessions are; it always seems like I’m over doing it.Five is just about right. No speed sessions - second week without so a bit down there.

Bring on the new week.

Thursday 3 February 2011

A 20 mile run....

….., usually indicates that a marathon is somewhere on the horizon; and of course, a marathon is on the horizon although at just under 11 weeks away this is probably the earliest 20 run during marathon training. Following the success of last weeks 15 mile race at Folksworth I knew it would be a good run; so, with a slightly new route to take in Upper Dean and Hargrave on the way out, and then the runway at Chelveston airfield along with the new footpath from Higham school to Shirley Road bridge I ran my inaugural 2011 20 mile training run. Well, actually 20.64 miles to be Garmin precise. Using the MapMyRun website I tracked a route of 20.4. Using the ‘follow the road’ feature for speed the actual distance normally ends up shorter; but of course, for mega distances it ends up longer - ‘sod’s law’ I think.

It is also the first 20 mile circular route, I usually prefer out and back (for reasons of 20 mile accuracy) and local geography. I’m sure this one will be run many times.

I mentioned Shirley Road bridge, this has recently been repaired after being left to deteriorate after 40 years of non-use and that's another story.

Round-up
January -
180.64 best January ever and 45 up on last year
21 runs - 3 up on last year
2 races 2 pb’s - MK parkrun (first running) and then Folksworth (great pb)
Pace 7:36 m/m
Summary - excellent month, great foundation for a great London but don’t overtrain.