Run Richmond Park 10k - Race Report

I generally struggle to think of good titles to the majority of my posts but today, I have a few so here are the others that were under consideration:

'Every little helps' and
'Tales of the Unexpected'.

As I mentioned earlier in the week, I was a little apprehensive about this Richmond Park 10k today. It's not my favourite place to run and it was originally signed up for myself and LG to do. However, seeing as she didn't fancy running for 2, eatingtrees was bought in as a substitute and to give me someone to gossip with.

It was a small event and felt quite like a small town local event in some ways. The weather was pretty poor but at least the wind generally stayed away so it was just a cooling breeze and the odd torrential downpour to run through. If I'd taken notice of the KM markers then my pace would have been interesting to say the least. The first lap had splits of 4:11, 6:32, 11:15ish, 19:09 and 25:46. You're having a laugh. A 2:21 km. I wish!!!! However, the 5k lap distance seemed correct judging by my 5k time. Mind you, it seemed I was on for a PB!?!? Unexpected to say the least but I had a long way to go and more undulating terrain to deal with first. The second lap was as wet as the first and as I came into the finishing area, the PB was in sight but it would be damn close! I was pushing hard and my breathing was more like wheezing I think but as I crossed the line, it registered 51:37. A new PB by a mere 4 seconds!!! That'll do. I'm certainly not in the best shape but I have to be happy with that. It's like Prague when I only got it by 3 seconds but it all counts!

I didn't have (and still haven't had) any twinges, aches or pains so all in all, it was a success. The main downside seems to be wet running top onto nipples. I don't need to explain but showering is painful!

3 weeks til the Lisbon Half and I just have to double the distance and I'll be fine. Yeah right. I'm looking forward to it but something tells me it ain't gonna be quick!

Almost

I nearly went for a run last night. Honestly, it was so close. I had the route planned and everything. It was a 4.85 mile route that had a planned stop at 4.1 miles at the fish & chip shop to pick up dinner. OK, it wasn't going to be the healthiest route but it was going to have an enjoyable end to it! There was a bit of drizzle while I was coming home from work but by the time I'd said hello to LG, checked the post and taken off the grown-up shoes that were doing their best to blister my toes, the heavens had opened and at that point I knew in my heart of hearts, the only way I was getting to the chippy was in the car. And I did. And it was tasty. And it wasn't the best preparation for the Richmond Park 10k tomorrow.

I'm kind of looking forward to it and kind of not. See I don't enjoy running round Richmond Park. There are just too many people and cars to make it enjoyable and worthwhile. However, I'm hoping that as it's an event, it'll be slightly better! Here's hoping anyway. But what I do know is that it'll be good to run with eatingtrees again and basically have a bit of a gossip most of the way round, loyally supported by our number one supporter, my Lovely Girlfriend.

I also appeared to have said the final 'yes' to the London to Brighton bike ride sometime in June with eatingtrees, jogblog and iliketocount. 55 miles on a single speed that I built?!?! It's gonna hurt but the plan appears to be doing it for a bit of fun and not take it too seriously which interests me a lot more than cladding myself in lycra and trying to power my way there. Plus, for everyone else's benefit, I won't be wearing lycra. That's a win-win for everyone I reckon!!

Happy Anniversary (sorry I'm late)

I just realised I started this blog 1 year and 10 days ago! In that time I've written 93 posts of complete and utter drivel! I thank you for reading those previous 92 and hopefully this one too. When I started it, it was firstly, to keep a record to keep me motivated and secondly, to give me something to do while sitting at my desk at my previous job as there was never much going on. I can guarantee you one thing.... Now I've started the new job, I will never, ever have to time to sit at my desk and write it there. No chance! Now, I have to join most of the others and write it in the evening which takes some concentration when the immensely awesome Ski Cross (and curling) are on the TV every night!!! A slight side-note... A big shout must go to the amazing Amy Williams. Hurling yourself down a shed load of ice on a modified tea tray and reaching speeds of over 140km per hour just for a medal!!! LEGEND! Doesn't she know you only have to run a 10k to get one?!?!? There's something about the Winter Olympics that appeals to me more than the summer ones. Yes the guys and girls in the summer are awesome athletes but lets be honest, the screw-loose mentally of the majority of the Winter athletes just rocks. I know it's dangerous and accidents happen and lives are sometimes lost (R.I.P Nodar Kumaritashvili) but when you get a pot-head ex-convict who's American and racing for Canada down a little course trying to beat 3 others, it creates a truly genius spectacular!

Sorry, that side-note was stupidly long! Anyway, the lack of time in my evenings made me decide to run home tonight despite an extremely sore lower back from sitting at my desk too long. It's a shade over 5 miles door to door so after scaring my news colleagues with me in shorts after only 7 days there, I headed out into the traffic. This route will never be a quick one and never a pleasant one as it's along main roads at rush hour but it's a means to an end. It means once I'm home, I'm home. I don't have to venture out again which is a relief now I have more time. I felt fine and it wasn't quick but that's to be expected on that route. It was exacerbated by the fact that with 2 miles to go, I could no longer see out of my glasses (yes I forgot the contacts). I tried to take them off to clear but they steamed up immediately as soon as I tried to put them back on so it was 2 miles without them. That's 2 miles of looking 6 yards in front of me and trying to avoid the dark shadowy blurs that turned out to be people coming towards me. All in all, a success.

A final great thing is the fact that I've found out the new work place has showers!! It's looking like I can start cycling most days again but this time, it'll be on the hand-built mean-machine bodge job!! WAHOO!!!!

2 out of 2

On the face of it, that's a good score. It's not. Not once you get into the detail. The first 2 is the number of runs. The second 2 is unfortunately, the number of weeks! Absolute crap. I went for a run around where my parents live the week before last (10k) and then managed a meager 6.5 miles on Saturday when I intended to do at least 10. It just wasn't happening. I've just not put the effort in this year and it shows!!! I have Lisbon in 4 weeks and nothing will stop me doing that but time/energy/motivation needed to aim for a PB just ain't there. Needless to say, Wokingham Half on Sunday won't be happening. I'll aim for the Richmond 10k the week after with eatingtrees. I may also sign up for a few shorter 10k's after Lisbon to keep the fitness ticking over. Obviously I have a few other things on my mind that are more important at the mo. Thanks for all the congrats messages to my last post by the way. Much appreciated.

I've started the new job and am well and truly in the rat-race once again. I had forgotten that people in the city have an inability to smile while travelling around. Cheer up you miserable buggers!! Anyway, I'd also forgotten what it's like to actually use my brain which I'm certainly doing. Extremely busy. It's hard work and I'm constantly thinking which is great and how it should be. My brain is one big mush by the time I get home which means I'm only good for lying on the sofa and dribbling. At the previous place,  the maximum brain capacity used was deciding whether I needed to go to the toilet or not. (I generally did by the way. It gave me something to do to kill time).

SUMMARY: Just in case you can't be bothered to read the above: Everything's great except the running. Which this blog is about. Arse.

What a week!!!

The life of an unemployed man is not a quiet one. I thought it would be. You know, get up, chill out, go for a jog, chill out, sleep. Hmmmm, not so much. With the interviews, signing on, speaking to recruiters, housework, bike building, bike part buying, plus a few other bits, I have to make time for my runs. So I haven't. At all. Not since the last blog. Rubbish!

On Thursday, instead of driving myself slightly insane around the house, in a moment of unexpected decisiveness, I put my gear on a headed out for a run. I needed a loop and I needed to get at least an hour out considering I have a half marathon in 2 weeks and am not in any way ready for it. I picked out the 7.2 mile route along the river and thought I was ready. I needed a distraction on the run. Music wasn't going to work today. I just wanted to complete the distance so didn't give a monkeys about the time and therefore didn't need the motivation. So Audiofuel was deleted and replaced by the Chris Evans audiobook. It worked to, I enjoyed just trundling around and listening. 7.2 miles was completed in 1:03:39 meaning a reasonable pace of 8:51. Can't complain at that.

So, why else has my week been good. Well to put me in a good mood, the bike's finished!!!  I think it looks absolutely awesome for a hand done bodge job by yours truly.

Secondly, I've had a job offer. I'm waiting for the T's to be crossed and I's to be dotted but so far, it's all looking good. Thirdly and without a doubt the most exciting thing.... I'M GONNA BE A DADDY!!!! We went to the hospital this week for our 12 week scan and it's all good. So far. So good! We're absolutely ecstatic and can't wait. Right, I'm off to do some research on buggy's I can run with. See another thing stopping me going for an actual run!