Well...now that was a tough time! Completely knocked out of the game at, quite possibly, the most important part of my training period.
I've not been on top of the blog for exactly that reason. I've been trying to get things back on track. And it's been hard. VERY hard. You know when you've not done something for a while? and become sluggish and...well....lazy! It then becomes more and more difficult to get off your backside and go for a run and even when you do get out the enjoyment seems to have gone and your wishing it away, never really getting a rhythm and never really settling in to enjoy it. That's been me. For what seems like an age!
I think...I'm over that hill now.
I've been biking to work in Derby regularly now which has put anywhere between 80 and 160 miles in the legs for my 4 days on and then I'm trying to get a longer ride in as well. I'm aiming to get those longer rides up to the 100 mile mark soon (it'll have to be pretty bloody soon as it's under a Month to the big day!).
This week has seen the back end of a good set of races which have all forced me into focusing in on things. These races included Eyam Half Marathon which I thought would be a good one from training point of view as it's hilly. The Emergency Services Triathlon in Nottingham and The Wingerworth Wobble I know having 3 races in the space of 7 days isn't the ideal but it's worked a treat. Proving to me that I'm over the stupid feckin' illness and back on track! Unfortunately, it's also proved to me that my recurring shoulder pain is still about and is a serious threat to Celtman. Even now, 3 days after the Tri, I still have a pain in the shoulder. The light at the end of the tunnel is that at least I have the breast stroke to fall back on. Not something I wanted to do but...if needs must! I think the tactic would be to alternate and just feel what's happening with it during the swim. Hopefully even with breast stroke I should be able to manage it under 1 1/2 hours?
The best thing is that within this week I saw a couple of PB's!
Eyam Half Marathon was only my 2nd HM but it's a hilly one and the sun decided to pop out once it got under way. I'd layered up with my club running vest on over a t-shirt as it was a chilly start. 2 hills later and with the sun beginning to beat down I realised it was a mistake. Luckily I found a marshal and asked him if I could leave my t-shit on a fence post and come pick it up afterwards. He was a star and said he'd take it back to the finish for me! Stop no. 1. Stripping off, showing the big belly and moob combo to the world. Those women wanted me, and so did some of the men - I could see it in their eyes! Having just the vest on I soon realised that although I'd vaselined up on all the usual bits with a vest I need to put some on my armpits, which I hadn't seeing as I hadn't planned on running in a vest! frantically scanning the horizon as I continued running I saw an ambulance - RESULT! Stopping I shouted out, "Any vaseline!?". "Yes mate, in the back" - Stop no. 2. So I waited...and waited....he looked in drawers, in boxes, in the front, in the back. 5 mins later "Nope, sorry mate, can't seem to find it". Well thanks fella, thanks for keeping me waiting! My own fault really. Silly sod. I now needed to up the pace really. Only a few miles in and I'd stopped twice, one of them significantly. I ran along and met up with a guy running in a club vest, Steve. We chatted for a while before I moved on. Always good to meet new folks from the club. The run was a great one for views but the last few hills were a real killer. The very last section, the downhill into the village, I heard my name being called out. Almost stopping I realised it was Gary who'd I've not seen for a while due to the stooopid bug putting me out and it's just too late in the game for any swim sessions to do me any good now! A quick shout back and I was away again but I'd lost my rhythm and that last downhill section suddenly became very tough, weird? I got taken by a fair few on that section and it wasn't until the last section in the village where I managed a little upping of the pace to see me over the line in 1:49:39. A new PB! Considering the course profile, the weather and the stops I was very pleased with this but I was even more pleased with not walking. Good training for the Celtman, psychologically if nothing else!
I managed to catch up with Steve again after the finish. Apparently he had me in his sights the whole way and was hunting me down!
The Triathlon saw me come in on 1:16 after a very painful and nightmare of a swim. Coming out way at the back of the pack for the swim!
I can't say for sure but I think this, even with the swim, was a PB? Not much to be said for the Tri really, other than it was ridiculously hot and my transitions have gone to rat shit!
The end of the week saw me running 'The Wingerworth Wobble' which is a fell run by the Wingerworth wobblers, a very relaxed and very local running group. Unfortunately this was the day after the Triathlon and I really wasn't sure whether I should do it and possibly risk an injury. Needless to say I did it anyway, silly boy. The best bit about this race was the fact I could get on a bike, ride over, do the run and ride back! Relaxed and easy. Again, this run is a fairly hilly one but I actually felt quite good all things considering. I bumped into Steve again and this time we had a chat while running and I learned he's also into Triathlons having just done his first one at Southwell. In traditional style about a mile or so in I needed a pee so I nipped off and let Steve continue without me whilst I pee'd for England! lol! The rest of the run was as expected really, along a lot of the footpaths I normally run along. All except the finish. Straight up a fairly steep hill. No chance of walking as there's loads of people at the finish cheering you on so you don't dare stop, lol! There were a couple of club vests cheering me on including Debbie who finished first lady and minute ahead of me. I managed to finish in 40:57 which I thought was OK all things considered?
All in all, a good week for me. I actually feel like I'm back into my training again. It's just a pity times running out. Hopefully I can do enough to get me in a position to do myself proud at Celtman.
I guess we'll just have to wait and see?
