Lincoln Wheelers Boxing Day TT 7.7miles

Guess who's back !

After a 3 month time trialling hiatus following the end of the time trialling season back in September, today was the technical start of the 2014 season for me with the first part of the Lincoln Wheelers 'Winter Double' taking place.

Its a 7.7 mile course in the shape of a large triangle and last year I managed a time of 20.13. This year I hoped for 18 something but was using my new bike for the first time and getting used to a new position and with a lack of real persistent training during the Autumn months it really was pie in the sky to expect that sort of improvement !

I went off at number 3 so that I could get back to HQ early for a bit of a jog as it was a really nice morning, about 5 degrees with a westerly 8/9 mph wind. I could see the steam coming out of the nearby power station and reasoned that I could expect a good fast last 3 miles.

How did it go ?
Well, the first straight felt good and then I found that my speed wasn't as fast as I'd left it back in September !  I noticed every rise in the road which is not a good thing and battled hard to change gears and keep my legs spinning. At the point that I'd ridden 11.40 for 5 miles back in early September, I now passed the same marker in nearly 13 minutes !

Time for the last 3 miles then and that lovely back wind that I'd estimated - nope, no backwind to be felt and I struggled to pick up any more pace. I crossed the line in 19.37 - 36 secs quicker than last year but over half a minute down on where I should have been - next ride is the second part of the double on New Years Day - hopefully we will see a little improvement !

5th place on the day.

Bolsover 10k

Today was to be my last 10k of the year and a trip back to Bolsover where I last ran in 2011 bringing home a PB at that time of 54 minutes - so this was not a course that I was superstitious about.

This 10k run starts and finishes now in the grounds of Bolsover School and was said to be a flatter affair than in previous years as the Castle had been taken out of the equation. I was really looking forward to this race following my recent training runs with Lincoln & District Runners (LDR) where I have been feeling quicker week by week.

I arrived relatively early and chatted to friends from both UK Netrunner & LDR before making my way to a last minute toilet stop and lining up ready for the 10.30am start ! There was no gun or klaxon, just the field moving from a walk into a run in a quiet transition.

The first mile takes you through the suburbs of Bolsover and seemed to be a little downhill if anything with the only climb being jumping over sleeping policemen on the roads of the estates. I ran at a good pace and once I had settled down into a groove and got round anyone holding me up I found a 7.17 time for the first mile.

Mile 2 was mostly downhill and with a wind at our backs it was no surprise that it was the quickest of the day as I posted 7.07 for it !  Then the rises and falls started and mile 3 was slower - was it the terrain or had I started to blow up ? (in any case, I slowed to 7.32) but did pass the 5k marker in 22.18 which if accurate would mean a 5k PB for me !!!

We were now in full rolling territory and into a headwind coming back. It was hard work with the wind and the ups and downs and I coped by latching onto other runners and using them for sensible pacing. 7.36 for the 4th mile then, but during the latter stages of the fifth mile I started to feel groin pain which was uncomfortable. I dropped off my pace and I was aware that I shortened my stride to compensate for the injury. 7.48 for the 5th mile and a relieved Mr.Newham passed the Bolsover sign signalling our return during the last mile.

We were back in the Estate with the sleeping policemen and yes I was right it was downhill in that first mile ! I did keep up the same pace of 7.48 for that last mile, and picked things up a little for the finish which registered as a first sub 47 minute run for nearly 18 months. Happy bunny I am !!!!

Mile splits :
7.17
7.08
7.32
7.36
7.48
7.48
7.32 average 46.53  282nd /813 finishers

282/813

December Parkruns

Peterborough Parkrun 28.12.13 22.33

Heidi and I decided to mix a shopping trip to Peterborough in with being Parkrun tourists and headed to the park which is just off the A1 for our first visit. It takes about an hour to get there from Lincoln and is a gem of a run !

It is a two and a bit lap affair around the scenic Ferry Meadows Country Park and today saw a bit of sunshine too ! I decided to try and run 3 evenly paced laps and made my best effort of the year so far : 6.58, 7.07 & 7.22 to leave an average pace of 7.15m/m and a year PB of 22.33 - roll on 2014.

Lincoln Parkrun 21.12.13  22.42

A new Parkrun best time for 2013 and also my fastest outing in just over a year - proof that I'm getting to where I want to be ready for the 2014 season.

Before I had even started, I had a plan to get a good time - I had worked out that I needed to hold 3 steady laps at the same pace of c.7m15s per mile - simple enough plan then !

In reality, I did what I always do - I went off far too fast and was running at something ridiculous like 6.40 when I hit the witham turn for the first time. Clearly I couldn't keep that up and I soon started to slow and struggle. The first mile clocked 6.53 which was a first mile best as far as I can remember - but it was far too fast which meant that I was again hanging out of my backside for the second lap which registered 7.17.

I can't say for sure what the third lap looked like but I wouldn't be sprised if it was as slow as 7.40, as my average dropped to 7.16m/m but a great time of 22.42 at the end of it.

Next years target set at running 21 minute 10k's.

Lincoln Parkrun  14.12.13 26.24

OK, so I'd been out last night on a Works do/ Wheelers pub crawl double header and although I managed to restrict myself to just a few halves I was mindful that I also had the Bolsover race tomorrow so treated the event as a relaxed club run.

I managed mile times of 8.30, 8.27 & 8.30 to come in at 26.24 with no stiffness felt afterwards - so you could say job done !

This also meant that I completed the Lucozade 'Chase The Place' challenge to try to win a place in the London Marathon next year.

Lincoln Parkrun 7.12.13  23.16

So, I was sat at home this morning getting ready for Parkrun , when Heidi shouts up to me to say we are cutting it fine - I look at my watch and its 8.52 - plenty of time, then it clicks - Parkrun starts at 9 - shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit !!!!!!

After a mad dash, we get to the Park at 9.02, I manage to run to the start and nearly get there before I hear the klaxon going off and the start is under way. Nothing for it, I start a sprint and as I pass the start line a marshall helpfully tells me there's already 40 seconds on the clock. By the 2nd bench though I've already caught the back of the field and start to thread my way through what would eventually be 111 people !

Got down to the Witham turn and the pace said 6.56, got to the end of the first lap and that read 7.10. I had expended far too much energy on that first lap zigging and a zagging, so tried to settle the pace down for the second lap. Couldn't tell you how fast I ran that particular lap nor indeed the last lap - all I know is that I made it up to 45th position on the day and that my Garmin said 22.38 in the end - albeit my official time from the gun was a still respectable 23.16 !

Heanor 10k (Matthew Walker Xmas Pudding Run)

Left Lincoln at 8.00am this morning ready for a 10.00am start and yes you've guessed it - arrived far too early yet again. Well, at least it gave us ample time to walk from the car park and get some race numbers plus have a look at the cheapies on offer at the running stall.

The race was also delayed by ten minutes (something about a large queue, probably at said running stall!) and we were not set on our way 'til about 10 past the hour.

Having taken part in yesterdays Parkrun I wondered how I would hold up in the first few miles and honestly for most of the first mile I was cursing my two race weekend ! The first mile is a lap of a trading estate, and it felt very hard and not very fast ! I didn't even glance at my watch on this first lap and it failed to vibrate at the mile split ! The second mile leaves the estate and heads out of Heanor - uphill !!!

The three years since I last did this race must have seen my memory wiped because miles 2 & 3 are predominantly uphill with some flat sections to suck you into a false sense of security - there is reported to be 58m of climbing on the course but I reckon you must do that in mile 2 alone. My watch did tease me with a vibrate at 2 miles and showed a second mile at a slow 8.02. Mile 3 was kinder in terms of the flat sections and I think I managed a 7.19 or something akin to that. At mile 3 something wonderful happens and there is a good mile or so of downhill and I made up some more time here ! In fact, it was great to continue to see my race average fall by a couple of seconds every time I looked at my watch, and mile five was soon completed with an average of 7.30 in tact.

The last mile is not so kind with two climbs contained therein and I was spent as I crawled up the second of these to cross the line with a better than expected 47.53 which was good enough on the day to finish 230/881.

November 2013 Parkruns

Clumber Parkrun 30/11/2013

After two weeks of Lincoln it was time for a change this morning and we headed out to Clumber Park to try another Parkrun that we hadn't gone to before.

It was St. Andrews day and the organisers had gone to the trouble to dress up and find some Scottish bunting for the finish area. It was a really pleasant atmosphere and I was really looking forward to the start of the two lap race at 9am.  I had googled the course and saw that it had 42m if climb, so I had presumed that it was going to be a slow course, however, as we were gathering I chatted to a chap who described it as fast with just one bump !

At 9am I found out exactly what the course was like - it was fast ! In fact the first mile flashed by in just 6.56 which was my fastest first mile all year. This first mile felt pretty much all downhill and was mostly run on forest trail - I felt on my limit but had moved into what I had worked out to be 5th place so I knew that I was running a good race. I tried to keep tight lines on the course too so that I could maximise my efforts.

At the end of the first lap there was the first short sharp climb and I managed to get up and over this without too much fuss and started my second lap in good shape. My second mile flashed up 7.27 but this included the climb from the previous lap so I was happy although blowing by now. I was still holding 5th place on the day but not for long, cos that last mile felt like a killer and I soon started to slip back places as the latter stages wore on.

The last climb up that hill really stung and my legs lost forward motion at the top of it. I eventually finished in 14th place of 65 on the day and a seasons best of 22.53 !

Lincoln - 23/11/13 24.50

With a trip to Heanor tomorrow for a 10k looming, todays outing at Lincoln was just about completing and not knackering out any part of my body.

I ran at what I guessed was a normal Tuesday night club run place and I think I achieved that with lap times of 8.08, 7.53 and a finishing average of 7.55 !

Happy with todays run and I don't feel too stiff for tomorrows Xmad Pudding race !

Lincoln - 16/11/13  22.58

Lincolns inaugural Parkrun took place this morning in Boultham Park after a few years of the organisers grappling with the local council. Finally, I have a Parkrun which is about a mile from my house and in a park that I know from my childhood - and best of all its flat !

There were nearly 300 people in the Park this morning ready to race, and I met up with lots of people from my various clubs before the race. My brother Dave also rocked up for a go, and Heidi did her 6th event - so it was also a family affair.

The pace was hot from the start and with the even gradient of the course I was able so knock out a 7.02 first lap. I felt the second lap was a lot slower, but the clock still showed 7.07 to maintain an average of 7.05 at that point. The third lap slowed a lot and I had some issue with my ankle again, but in all a finish of 22.58 was not to be sniffed at!


Rushcliffe - 9/11/13  25.44

With the Grafham Water Duathlon scheduled for the following morning, and with it being my 41st Birthday weekend, I thought I'd treat Heidi to a nice flattish fast parkrun.

So the plan was just to trot round and not push things too hard, but I found the more I relaxed the faster I went and was suprised to run an 8.18mm average to sneak in with a fresh finished 25.44.

Brigg Poppy Run 10k

Today was a return to 10k running, and my first standalone 10k of the year following my previous adventures with Team Newham over the summer.

I certainly picked a right old windy day for it too - with 21mph winds during the day leading up to the gale force winds expected overnight.

I rocked up at Brigg early enough to sit in my car for 20 mins, just so I could benefit from the 2 hours free parking, before making my way to registration to collect my race number of 398 for the day. There was a military challenge taking place at the same time where participants carried a heavy rucksack and wore boots throughout their 10k challenge. They were set off at 10.45am and it allowed me a further 15mins to warm up and estimate my place in the pack - there was no chip timing so I wanted to get as close to the front as possible.

There was a brief countdown before we were set off at 11.00 ! For the first mile I wanted to run a pace close to my usual parkrun first mile one, but as soon as we turned right out of the car park, it was apparent that the first half of the race would be run into a strong headwind - indeed I had to pull my visor down as far as I could so that it didn't blow off ! the first mile was hard work into the wind but I was satisfied enough to see 7.18 flash up on the Garmin at the end of it. Strangely, the field at this point had already strung out and I had plenty of room around me. the second mile slowed to 7.30 as expected, and in the third mile it was just a case of continuing to battle the wind, up a slight incline and down a farm lane to the turnaround cone. I've no idea how fast the third mile was but seem to thing I was averaging 7.31m/m at the halfway point which is only a few seconds outside my Parkrun PB !

As soon as I turned the cone, I felt the benefit of the backwind, however because of the battle with the wind I had no real energy left and tried to make the most out of it. Mile 4 was 7.37 and mile five a little slower at 7.51. As I had aimed to keep an average of 7.50m/miles before the race, I was happy to see that it was 5 miles before I even hit this benchmark. About 250 metres into the last mile though I got struck with really bad stitch and had to slow right down to a trot in an effort to reduce my breathing and to lighten the pain. This was annoying as I saw people coming past and must have looked like I'd badly blown up, but little by little I recovered and got back into Brigg with a 8.09 last mile. Now it was a strong run to the finish and crossing the line with a time of 48.18 which is my fastest 10k for 18 months.

Sheffield Hillsborough Parkrun

It was back to Sheffield this morning to pick up my bike from Planet X and having chanced Sheffield Castle Parkrun a couple of weeks ago, I thought I'd pick a faster flatter Parkrun and opted for Hillsborough - you know what comes next......

That's right, it's Sheffield and it's built on hills, therefore nothing is entirely flat !

Got there pretty much on time in any case, and we made our way to the centre of the Park. My aim for the morning was to break 23 minutes and when we set off at 9.00 am I very quickly found myself congested and had to take a route diversion along the grass. The first part of the lap is a nice gradual slide down towards Sheffield Wednesday FC's Hillsborough stadium before taking in a tour of some tennis courts and then a long slog of a rise to the highest part of the course before a downhill to the start.

First lap clocked 7.17 but it was hard as I really pushed up the hill and I think I paid for it on the rest of the lap. Second lap 7.30 - slower as I paced the climb better, and on the third lap, by the time I got to the top of the climb I was truly wasted and my speed dropped off a cliff. I hit 3 miles at 7.38 and I ambled over the line finally in a total time of 23.09 - a whole 9 seconds outside of my time a couple of weeks ago on that roller coaster of a course at Sheffield Castle.....mmmm.... somethings are not always what they seem.....flat indeed !!!