Saturday 16 April 2011

Week 7 Training - We was mobbed!

Apologies for the lateness of this post - been a little busy this week!

A week of surreal experiences, along with a reality check on my running. After a late night trying to 'sell' my subject to the delights that are Year 9s 'doing' their options, I moved my runs which unfortunately meant I would run 5 days in a row this week - not good!

I ran Wednesday's interval session pretty hard and am starting to feel my recovery between efforts improving each week - it was also great to read British Heart Foundation's recent research showing the benefits of interval training for the heart. See more here.

Thursday was a somewhat inspirational day as the Watoto Childrens' Choir came to perform at my school. With the youngest member at just 8 years old the performance was absolutely stunning. All of the children are orphans from Uganda and really helped put life into perspective, making me appreciate how lucky I am to have the positive and comfortable life I, and those around me, enjoy.



Friday's tempo run was something of an anticlimax as I got so excited at finishing with an unbelievable pace of 6min30secs. After several goes at re-mapping the route on googlemaps I then realised I had missed one short lap, resulting in a more realistic, but still encouraging, 7:30/mile pace.

Saturday's hill session was when the fatigue really kicked in and has to be my hardest run so far. I know hills are supposed to hurt but I'm a bit of a wimp when it comes to lactic acid in the legs - something I'll have to get used to.

Saturday was also the day I experienced my first flash mob in Meadowhall, Sheffield. Added to this surreal experience was also the fact that my Mum was part of the mob, as a member of the BEVOX choir. See more in the video below.



Sunday was, as usual, Long Run day and a steady 8 miler finished off a fun but tiring 21.5 miles of running.

Off to Canada next week so may not manage all my scheduled runs. With 115 miles and 21 weeks to go until my marathon I think I can allow myself a slight reduction in running - I am on holiday after all!

Til Next Week,

Steve

Monday 4 April 2011

Week 6 Training - Blood, Wet and Tears (R.I.P Sandfield I knew you well)

So 20.5 miles of running in one of the most memorable weeks for a long time. Water and various other liquids were a running theme (no pun intended!) of the week which started with Tuesday's interval session. Lets just say it wasn't raining when I left, see the photographic evidence below for what happened next! I also started with my first blister of this running campaign, although it could only be graded as a man blister it did hurt a little during the run - I know I need to be prepared for much more blister pain in the future!



An easy 3 miles after rehearsal on Wednesday was somewhat dryer as was an enjoyable 4 mile tempo run along the beautiful Spring kissed Treeton Dyke on Thursday evening.

Friday was the start of a very special weekend which saw me back on stage with 95 other performers to see off Sandfield Theatre in Nottingham and pay tribute to the amazing and inspirational figure that is Alistair Conquer. This man has inspired and shaped the lives of 1000s of young people through is tireless dedication to arts education over the last 18 years.

Bald caps were the order of the day for use in a number of sketches and skits of Alistair, my ear almost getting severed as my supposed old friend Kelly helped cut the cap round my ears - only to end up with an ear which didn't want to stop bleeding. That aside it was a brilliant event to be a part of and had me blubbering like a baby during a poignant scene as the Integrated Group of performers with learning difficulties paid their final respects to Sandfield.

It was quite something to be back alongside so many old friends who I hadn't seen for 15 years or more and be back as a member of Nottinghamshire Education Theatre (or Nottingham Youth Theatre as it's now known).

All this busyness of the weekend didn't stop the running you'll be pleased to hear and a 7.30am Saturday run around my old stomping ground in West Bridgford, Nottingham was a great start to a fabulous day.


After a late, late night on Saturday I was still determined to make my 7.5 mile Sunday long run and, although I wasn't too enthusiastic at the start, I did feel pretty good throughout - taking it at a nice easy 9.30/mile pace.

Next week should hopefully see me hit the100 mile mark in my training including an 8 mile long run next Sunday. I'm really starting to feel the benefit of my running fitness wise and seem to have more and more energy after each run, long may my enthusiasm last.

I have been asked by a couple of people for some paper sponsorship forms which I should hopefully receive from British Heart Foundation this week. Again thanks to everyone for your continued generosity and support in this worthwhile cause.


Till Next week,


Steve