Submitted by Graham on Tue, 2008-06-17 12:34
I'm doing the great north run from Mencap again this year. I started training a bit earlier than I did last year and I'm already to the point of running 7 miles. I even took part in the Great Edinburgh Run (10k) this year. The brothers are all in a challenging mood so I'll be doing the Winterton 10 mile run at the beginning of July and the Great Wales run (10k) at the end of July. This year I'm aiming for around the 2 hour mark for the Great North Run. Still got lots of training to do if I'm going to be anywhere near that.
Submitted by Graham on Mon, 2007-10-01 04:00
I really was not looking forward to this event. Having done it last year I knew how much the hills take out of you so I was dreading the long climbs towards the end. I'd done much more training this year so I just kept trying to tell myself this year was going to be different. I could do it this year. And none of that being ill afterwards!
We got out to the start nice and early and met up with the two brothers willing to take on the challenge again this year - Richard and Matthew (David was away in Las Vegas for someone's wedding or something). Richard was starting up near the front somewhere due to his decent performance last year, I was starting near the back somewhere due to being a plodder and Matthew had somehow blagged a mid field starting spot.
Submitted by Graham on Sat, 2007-07-28 03:00
Managed 9 miles in 1 hour 22 minutes down and back up the Taff trail. That's the furthest I've run this year and was a great time for me.
Submitted by Graham on Tue, 2006-10-03 01:47
... until next year that is!
I'm a little disappointed with myself as I didn't manage to run all the way. But I completed the course in about 2 hours 25 minutes, better than I thought I'd manage when I originally took on the challenge but not as good as I hoped I might manage after all these weeks of training. It turns out that the hills were much worse than I thought they would be and I'm not nearly fit enough to tackle the full course in one go. Even with the four or five walks I took I still ended up well and truly shattered by the end of the course. Something everyone with me got to share in as my stomach decided to empty itself all over the floor. Yep something disagreed with me - it was either all the running or the lucozade sport or a combination of the two. Nevermind I felt much better after that and scoffed down an after run snack and we joined the queue of traffic to leave the finish line.
Submitted by Graham on Thu, 2006-09-28 23:18
Well, I've done my last training session tonight. There is nothing else now between me and the Great North Run. My left shin was a little painful but I ran through it and by 30 minutes it wasn't anything to worry about. Just need to sort out my music mix now and I'm ready to go!
Submitted by Graham on Wed, 2006-09-27 05:00
Completed another 4 miles tonight in slightly better than pace time. The gym is still too hot. Think Thursday's final run will have to be outside and may be a little slower to start winding up ready for the big run. No aches or pains but heart rate was up to 180 at around 30 minutes. I'm putting that down to the heat in the gym as my 7 miler on Sunday didn't get up to 180 at all.
Submitted by Graham on Tue, 2006-09-26 05:00
The gym still seems to be way hotter than it is outside but I managed to complete today's 4 miles in just under my aimed for pace. Only another 2 runs before the big day. I did get a few complaints from my left shin today but it stopped after around 20 minutes so I don't think it will be a problem.
Submitted by Graham on Sun, 2006-09-24 21:48
I set out to cover 6 miles around Wandsworth today but after yesterday's stop start session I wanted to cover a little more ground. I felt pretty good at 3 miles so I carried on for another half a mile before I turned around to head for home. I covered the 7 miles in 1 hour 8 and a half minutes so averaged 6.2 mph rather than my aimed for pace of 6 mph. Will now be calming it down a bit over the next week with 3 more 4 mile runs planned before the big day on Sunday.
Submitted by Graham on Sat, 2006-09-23 22:00
It turns out that the area surrounding our house is rather hilly. It's a bit of a shame that I hadn't fully realised that before I decided I'd attempt 8 miles closer to home. It started out pretty well. I got no complaints from any joints or muscles. But then It started getting a bit hilly. I'd never fully appreciated how hilly these roads were as I'd only ever been along them in a car. Hills disappear a lot quicker when you're going 40 mph+ and not having to put any effort in. I got as far up each hill as I could and then carried on a brisk walk for the rest. This was very much a stop start session but I covered 8 miles in the end in just under 1 hour 25 minutes.
Submitted by Graham on Fri, 2006-09-22 00:00
Ran another 4 miles tonight, found it much easier than Tuesday's effort and even ran better than the 10 minute mile pace I'm aiming for. Need to find somewhere to run 8 miles on Saturday now.
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