USA 2011 Training Summary - Week 21

The Run Geordie Run Training Summary is brought to you in association with Northern Runner, 52 Low Friar Street (Just down from the Gate), Newcastle.

Why not visit the Northern Runner shop and let the experts examine your feet to recommend the best shoe for you. Alternatively, click on the link to the left to go straight to their website.

Monday 23rd March - Personal Training Session. (01:30:00).

Thursday 26th March - Personal Training Session. (01:30:00).

USA 2011 Training Summary - Week 20

The Run Geordie Run Training Summary is brought to you in association with Northern Runner, 52 Low Friar Street (Just down from the Gate), Newcastle.

Why not visit the Northern Runner shop and let the experts examine your feet to recommend the best shoe for you. Alternatively, click on the link to the left to go straight to their website.

Monday 16th March - 5 mile run, Treadmill. (00:42:51).

Monday 16th March - 6 mile run, Jesmond Dene. (00:55:45).

Tuesday 17th March - 6 mile run, Town Moor. (00:46:58). PB!

Tuesday 17th March - 5 mile run, Treadmill. (00:40:03).

Wednesday 18th March - 11.6 mile run, Gosforth Tour. (01:48:08).

Thursday 19th March - 5 mile run, Treadmill. (00:40:41).

Friday 20th March - 17.1 mile run, Gosforth to Shotley Bridge. (03:07:42).

Saturday 21st March - 1 mile run, Tynemouth Beach. (00:11:01).

Saturday 21st March - Beach Bootcamp. (00:45:00)

Saturday 21st March - 12 x run up the steps. (00:34:45).

Saturday 21st March - 3.8 miles, Metro Centre to St James Park. (00:38:14).

Saturday 21st March - 3.9 miles, St James Park to Metro Centre. (00:41:02).

Sunday 22nd March - 7 mile run, Shotley Bridge to Ebchester and Back. (01:22:47).

Week 20, Day 7 - 3.6 miles short of the target!

I managed a 7 mile effort tonight down a dark and windy Derwent Valley to take this week's tally to 71.4 miles. My heart just wasn't in it and I quite literally lost the will to run and gave up 3.6 miles short of the end. It's not as if I didn't have enough energy or that my legs gave up on me. I just couldn't do another mile! I hit a mental block!

I'll be talking through the week's events with Mark and David tomorrow and I've got a feeling that they won't be too disappointed. I'll post a full review of the findings and where I go from here early next week.

It's no great disaster in the grand scheme of things and it's still the most mileage I've ever managed in training. Ever! Although it's some way short of my record of 182 miles in a single week. I suspect I've paid the price for some pacy runs early on in the week and perhaps a bit of dehydration has had a part to play. Those pacy runs certainly boosted my confidence so they've served some purpose. But speed isn't going to get me from one side of the USA to the other so I'm going to have to try and be sensible!

The plan for the next 2 weeks is to concentrate on getting more strength in my legs in the gym. Then in 3 weeks time I'll be tackling a 50 mile week in Egypt of all places. That should be quite a challenge. The week after that will be more gym work before attempting another 75 miles the week after. If that goes to plan then I'll look to sustain that mileage or add another 5 miles on as per my original schedule. I'll make that decision nearer the time.

Week 20, Day 6 - 64.4 miles done, 10.6 left on Mother's Day!

Since Friday's long run home it's all been a bit of a struggle! I managed 8.7 miles yesterday afternoon after a very tough Beach Bootcamp session in the morning. I wasn't able to do my planned run immediately after Bootcamp and 12 lots of very tough steps in King Edwards Bay. Instead, I parked my car at the Metro Centre and ran to the match and back later in the day. Running back down the Scotswood Road wasn't the best after a 1 - 3 defeat by Arsenal.

I haven't done the sums yet but I think my average times per mile have plummeted meaning that the quality of my running has tailed off somewhat. On the plus side, the feeling of tiredness that I've got now is exactly what I'm after. This is the feeling that I once used to get after running 30 miles per week. It's testament to my training that it's kicked in after 64 miles, Beach Bootcamp and 12 lots of steps!

I'll be reflecting on this week's training with Mark Fleming and David Fairlamb next week. In the meantime I've got 10.6 miles left to run today. I'll be trying to run with as much quality as possible to end the week in some style. Given how tired I feel this morning, this will be easier said than done! But on this Mother's Day, just like most other days, I'll be thinking about my Mam (pictured) as I run down the Derwent Valley. If that's not enough to give anyone strength I don't know what will.

Week 20, Day 5 - 55.7 miles done, 19.3 left!

Yesterday was a bit of a disaster, in that I fell asleep after tea when I was supposed to be doing my 2nd 5 mile run of the day! Oops! Never mind, there's plenty of time to get that missed run in between now and Sunday as I stride towards 75 miles for the week. Incidentally, yesterday's 5 mile run was done on the treadmill in 00:40:41 with the last mile at 00:06:59. That's way too fast but I just can't help myself at the minute. I've spent years running at a 9 - 10 minute mile pace and I now want to put this new found pace to some use!

Anyway, back to today where I've just finished a 17.1 mile run home from Gosforth to Shotley Bridge in 03:07:42. This route is quite hilly once over the Redheugh Bridge. That climb from Team Valley up Lobley Hill to Burnopfield is a killer in places! I should add that I carried 1.5 litres of water in my hydration back back so there was a bit of extra weight. I drank almost all of it and stopped after 11 miles for a lemon drizzle muffin. Nice!

Today's run brings the total mileage for the week to 55.7 leaving just 19.3 miles to do before close of business on Sunday! Tomorrow will be the usual Bootcamp, 12 lots of steps and at least 10 miles! I've got a very good chance of getting the total 75 miles done! Watch this space.

Week 20, day 3 - 11.6 miles on a lovely sunny day!

John Brettell was the guide today for a brand new 11.6 mile tour of the places north of Gosforth (Brunswick, Hazelrigg, Wideopen, Peter Barratt's Garden Centre and the Findus Factory). John dubbed it the "Run Geordie Run Promotional Tour" as we were both wearing those rather splendid t-shirts of the same name available from this site (See the link on the right hand side).

 

It was a lovely day for a long run and it was nice to spend 01:48:36 in a decent temperature for once. I could definitely feel yesterday's 2 speedy runs in my legs and was grateful for the slower pace.

The run wasn't too problematic but I did find myself very thirsty at the end. I must think about taking on more fluid before a run as the temperatures start to increase over the coming months. 

So where does that leave me in week 20 of the USA training schedule? That's 33.6 miles done leaving 41.4 still left to do. I'll be doing 2 x 5 mile runs tomorrow at a sensible pace (how many times do I say that these days!) with a hilly 17.4 mile run home on Friday. That will leave me with only 14 miles to do at the weekend! 9 of those will be done after Beach Bootcamp and 12 sets of steps on Saturday and the final 5 miles will be left for Sunday. Sounds like a plan!

Week 20, day 2 - 7 years of hurt come to an end!

Well! What can I say! I've been trying to beat the 50 minute mark on one of my favourite 6 mile runs for 7 years now. Yes, a 7 whole years! Known to some as the "Mark Allison Memorial 6 Miles" this course starts in Gosforth, works it's way to Grandstand Road and goes all the way around the Town Moor via Claremont Road and back up the Great North Road (past my birth place as it happens!).

I felt rather rotten and very tired this morning after a bad night's sleep. Jack has been poorly this week and he was very restless during the night. I wasn't best prepared for a pacy 6 mile run that's for sure. The plan was to run with Carl Hudson who was planning 5 x 1200m efforts. I thought that I might manage the first few with him. I'm glad he was keeping tabs on the distance because I was just concentrating on keeping my breathing as regular as possible during the efforts at 00:07:40 ish pace. I was making a right old heavy breathing noise during the last mile and it's no wonder when you look at how quick I did it:

Mile 1 - 00:08:10
Mile 2 - 00:07:51
Mile 3 - 00:08:11
Mile 4 - 00:07:56
Mile 5 - 00:07:56
Mile 6 - 00:06:54

The final time was 00:46:58 which absolutely hammered my previous best time of 00:51:27. This time was set just a few weeks after I'd finished the John O'Groats to Lands End run in September 2007. I was in peak condition then. Where on earth does that put me now! And don't forget that I've still got over 2 years of training to get in! Jimmy Bell always said I'd beat 50 minutes and I've tried time after time after time to do it.

That was only the first session of the day and I still had 5 miles to do on the treadmill at teatime! "I'll take it slow" I thought! That plan went out of the window and my final time was 00:40:03 which is the 2nd quickest 5 miles I've done in modern times. I don't really count the treadmill miles though as they are all flat and can't be compared to the running I do outside. Still, I was very pleased with that time so soon after smashing my 6 mile PB.

My long standing 10k (6.2 miles) PB is 00:43:45 set back in 1995 on the Kielder run. I've got someway to go to beat that but I reckon that if I get down to my fighting weight then I've got a chance. I'll save that one for 2010! In the meantime, I've got 53 miles left to do this week for a total of 75 miles.

I can't end today without saying a massive thank you to Brooks Sports who supply me with running shoes and various other bits of kit. Incidentally, all of my recent PB's have been achieved in Brooks Glycerin 6 and 7 shoes. They should call them Brooks Slippers as they are so comfy! Anyway, I received a consignment of goodies today from Brooks Sports including a load of socks and some short sleeve base layer training tops. Both the socks and tops are the usual superb quality I've come to expect from Brooks. I really appreciate their support. Their shoes saw me through one major run in 2007 and God willing will see me through another in just over 2 years time! 

If you'd like to try Brooks shoes for yourself then why not get yourself along to Northern Runner, 52 Low Friar Street (Just down from the Gate), Newcastle. If required, they'll take a good look at your feet and will always recommend the best shoe for your foot type. 

Week 20, day 1 - Off to a flyer!

I still had that steps session in my legs on both of today's runs but there was still a lot of quality in both the 5 and 6 mile runs. The 5 miler was done early on on the treadmill in the Northern Rock gym in 00:43:51. It was later down to Jesmond Dene to do a few hills and this 6 mile effort was done in 00:55:45. I really felt my calf muscles at the end of that one!

So that's 11 done and 64 left this week. Tuesday's plan is to do a quick 6 mile run round the Town Moor and an even quicker 5 mile treadmill session after work.

USA 2011 Training Summary - Week 19

The Run Geordie Run Training Summary is brought to you in association with Northern Runner, 52 Low Friar Street (Just down from the Gate), Newcastle.

Why not visit the Northern Runner shop and let the experts examine your feet to recommend the best shoe for you. Alternatively, click on the link to the left to go straight to their website.

Monday 9th March - Personal Training Session. (01:30:00).

Wednesday 11th March - Spinning Class. (00:45:00).

Thursday 12th March - Personal Training Session. (01:30:00).

Saturday 14th March - Beach Bootcamp. (00:45:00).

Saturday 14th March- 21 x run up the steps. (00:52:51). PB!

75 quality miles is the target for week 20!

If I put as much effort into next week's training (week 20) as I did in yesterday's session on the steps at Tynemouth then I have a fighting chance of completing all of the planned 75 miles. It's a big week of training and one where I'll learn a few lessons no doubt. The main lesson, once again, will be concerned with consuming the best quality and quantity of food to support all of the exercise. The daily principals are simple - Porridge for Breakfast, Carbs of some sort for lunch and lean meat and salad for tea. I'll be throwing in plenty of fruit too. Those are the principals. Putting it into practice is almost as difficult as doing all of the running!

Yesterday saw me tackle a new personal best of 21 sets of steps in King Edwards Bay, Tynemouth following a very tough Beach Bootcamp. The usual crowd were there and a few people also managed personal bests, even Dave Fairlamb I think! At the time of writing this post almost 30 hours have passed since that steps session and my calf muscles are still very sore. I'll be looking to get rid of this soreness with my first run of the week at 7 am tomorrow morning! Great!

I'll hopefully get things off to a good start tomorrow and 11 miles are the target. I'm again looking for more quality next week in my running. To keep things interesting I'll be aiming to beat an average pace of 08:58 set 2 weeks ago for 70 miles. That in itself is going to be a tall order but it should keep me focussed. Watch this space for further updates during the week!