Downtime

Getting The Sunday Papers in

Hagg Bank Bridge

View Horsley Wylam Ovingham in a larger map

 

Taking a 9 mile walk just to get the papers in seems a little excessive perhaps.

There's a good description of the Hagg Bank Bridge over on Cycle-Routes.org and yes it does look like The Tyne Bridge, that's because it was the predecessor of both the Tyne Bridge and the Sydney Harbour Bridge in Australia.

10K: Wiped Out

Thynedale 10K

Nearly 600 finishers by runnerwanderings

Pensive

0:54min My goal achieved; under an hour, still standing at the end of a very hot and humid race. Pacing as usual a bloody nightmare, went through the 3 mile marker in just 23mins but started to flag badly through miles 4 and 5. It's the first time I've run with so many people and spectators, the encouragement was clearly helpful. The Pie and Peas in Ovingham School dining hall was like eating in a turkish bath.

Training: Flat Out

Ovingham to Wylam and back

River Tyne

I have decided running on the flat, or nearly flat is way way harder than running up hill! How, you may ask yourself, does he reckon that? He is mad. The problem seems to be all about pace.

On the up hill sections of a run, like last Tuesday's run up Causey Hill near Hexham, you can naturally pace yourself, gravity, friction and so all help to find a natural rhythm. On the down hill sections a similar state is achievable and a rolling forward slightly out of control hurtling gait seems like a recovery run.

On the flat a desire for speed and possibly an unfamiliarity seems to take over me and I end up averaging well over 6mph and completely knackered too quickly. I need more practice, loads more or a pacemaker. However there isn't time before Wednesday and I'm losing confidence fast.

No rest for the knackered

Back on the treadmill

Too soon perhaps? Last night's regular training run didn't seem to be faster than ususal and the GPS record when examined afterwards confirmed it; a measly 7.11 miles at an average of 5.5mph. However I was at the back of the field most of the evening and suffering.

Obviously that's going to get me nowhere in the forthcoming Tynedale 10k, well not nowhere hopefully 10k but in terms of placings... well you know what I mean. The fact was I was still knackered after our afternoon walk in the Lakes last weekend. I'm still finding it difficult not to eat everything in sight. The fridge is now empty save for some garlic stuffed oilives bought in Keswick market on the Saturday we were there.

So the plan for the next few days, the 10k is on the 1st July, is build up the constant run capability. Road work, maybe down by the Tyne at Corbridge. We'll just have to see how it goes over the next week or so. At least I don't have to wear rubber like some Triathalon Training