An Ashtead Running Group virgin

Well last night I went for my first run with the Ashtead Running Group. Very nice people but mother-of-crap that hurt!! I think I've realised just how much of a slacker I can be when I run (or not) on my own.

Typically, the night I want to go out is the day I get held up at work and by the time i got home, I had approximately 4 minutes to get changed and out of the house to get to the pub where everyone meets. I made it. Just. Only after I ran. Which just caused more pain later I reckon.

After standing around in the cold for a few minutes with the others, someone stated that the medium group would be doing a particular route. I saw it. 10.77km. That was pushing the boundaries of my max distance over the last few months but after finding out my Ashtead 10k time, they all said the medium group was best so off I went, part of a group of 4.

The starting pace was pretty quick and I really had to concentrate on not falling behind but eventually, I settled in to it OK. Someone then mentioned that if we headed in to Epsom first and then continued, we could make it a little longer. OK I said while I silently wept inside.

Then came Chalk Lane hill.... That would be the bit between 3-5km on the elevation chart below then. There are a couple of things in my favour here. Firstly, I'd never seen this hill before so was only going on reputation and secondly, it was pitch black with tree cover, no street lighting and everything was done by the light of 2 head torches. That meant I couldn't see the top, the incline or my own feet. I think this helped a lot! We all made it up without walking although it was touch-and-go near the top for me but once there, we walked a little bit to get our breathe back. I'm not sure if they usually stop or whether they were just being kind but thank you anyway!

Some further decline and inclines followed and the pace was generally dependant on the the terrain but I pushed on and eventually finished the 10.92km route in 1:02:38. Hang on! This really doesn't do it justice. It works out at 5:45 min/km which is a lot slower than the 10k I did on Saturday! That was 5:15 min/km but without doubt, last night's run was the better and harder workout and much better for my long-term training. For the first time in a long time, my muscles were screaming at me by the time I got home and still ache a little this morning. I think that means I've pushed a little!

Eatingtrees recently mentioned that he had a goal of running the 10k in under 55 mins. I think he could do a lot worse than meet up with a running group, run with people who are all fitter and faster, along a route he doesn't know and therefore could get lost and left on his own. It certainly ups the motivation to keep the pace up! I'm looking forward to returning next week but this time with a head torch and something to eat! I've seriously over-estimated my own fitness level and now I need to up my game!

It has it's ups and downs

I really do have to lose some weight at the moment and as LG is putting me to shame with her running group, I yesterday, vowed to do a 10k this morning to blow some cobwebs away and get back into it.

I knew the course I had to run. Well when I say I knew the course, I knew the roads I had to run on but couldn't decide on the order in which to run them. Do I do this one with a fast downhill start and a punishing second half...

or do I do this one which is more undulating throughout?

I went for option 2 in the end. I decided there was no point in having a fast start if i was just going to be in a world of pain later on.

It was however, a thoroughly enjoyable run. 10.04km around the streets of Ashtead and Leatherhead in 52:44. I could feel my stress levels drop the more i ran. I just need to do it more often now.

Going forward, Ashtead has a running group that meet every Tuesday night which is meant to be very social and also my favourite price... free, so it looks like my Tuesday nights will now be spent running around in the dark with some other local people which suits me just fine and may be just the thing i need to increase my mileage. This is something i certainly need to do pre Grim as the less time i have to spend running around in the puddles and mud, the better!

Beanz Meanz Stitch

7 weeks to the day after giving birth to George, Lovely Girlfriend went on her first run yesterday. This was the first time since we found out she was pregnant back at the beginning of December '09. LG was just starting to get in to her running at the end of last year and numerous times during her pregnancy, she would tell me that she missed it and would love to get back out again.

Well now she can and through a local Ashtead running shop, she has joined a beginners running group with a few other people. This works perfectly as she doesn't have to run alone in the dark at night once I get home and can get her fitness back. £30 for 10 sessions which includes a training diary and 'homework' seems great value to me.

The only downside is that George pretty much whinged/screamed/cried from the moment she left until 30 seconds before LG's return. Picture the scene as LG walks in to a wide awake inquisitive baby lying on the bed with me looking like butter wouldn't melt and then picture my face which looks like I need a large glass of wine and some quiet time. He's a clever little bugger!!

Anyway, deciding that wine wasn't a good option (never said that before) and being slightly jealous the LG has enjoyed her run, I decided that I should get my butt out too. I'd eaten just over an hour a go so this should be fine right??

I decided to resurrect my Juneathon 5.14km route to get the legs moving. 10 mins gone, MUST STOP. The stitch I had was excruciating so a bit of a walk was demanded which doesn't happen very often. Apparently, beans on toast with grated cheese (I eat like a King) is not the best fuel for a quick 5km round the block.

Anyway, I managed to get moving again and loved running past the quite frankly, eeire Ashtead Common. The mist was just rolling across it. It could have been a horror movie! Past the church and up the poorly lit road saw me only looking down and trying not to trip up on the raised and cracked pavement. I made it back to the main road still without having fallen on my arse and then set in for the home stretch. No more walking after that first time but it certainly wasn't pretty. 5.14km in 28:03. My second slowest time ever on that route. Room for improvement then and maybe a little prior dinner planning will do me some good next time!!

Race Report - Ashtead 10k

Since moving, this is my home town race so I was looking forward to this one albeit once again, with no training to speak of. One day I'll write a post telling you how well training is going and how I've just smashed a PB. This will NOT be one of those posts.

Billed as an 'eco race', it meant they sent no paperwork out in the post and therefore you had to register in the scout hall. This meant it was a whole 15 minute walk from my house to the start and that included the slight detour to register. This is how all races should be. It had a huge family feel to it as there was a 2k fun run as well and everyone seemed to know everyone else. Well all apart from a lonely looking bloke wearing number 14. Yep, I was number 14. Luckily this was just a race number and had nothing to do with my required finishing position.

It was due to be an 11am start so at about 2 minutes to 11am, a guy with a microphone in what can only be described as the scariest union jack shorts ever, led everyone in a rendition of the national anthem. To say I was a little taken aback would be an understatement but each to their own.

I, like many others, knew this route like the back of our hands due to the fact that anyone who does any form of training around Ashtead Common will have run some, if not all of this route before. Mind you, that we also knew how completely evil the ground is during the first and last (due to this being an out and back event) km's. Stare at nothing but the ground because if you hit just one of those bumps badly, say goodbye to your ankles!

The rest out the course is undulates a lot but every bit of respite you have going downhill hurts doubly so on the uphill return leg. The marshals were great and they gave plenty of encouragement throughout the course and most people seemed great and encouraged each other too. Mind you, seeing those quick runners come back at you when you're at 4km and they're at 6km is a little depressing but a quick clap and a 'Well Done' and I continued on.

As I came onto the finishing straight (or field), I looked across and saw LG and George coming towards the finish which was nice although George obviously had no interest and was fast asleep the entire time! Nice encouragement son! 52:07 was the finishing time so quicker than expected and only 30 seconds off a PB.

Well that's about it really. Awesome medal and nice t-shirt seems bloody good value for a race just down the road. I'll be back next year trying to find those 30 seconds

I did it, I did it!

Finally got out for a run today and although I didn't blow any cobwebs away, I certainly dislodged a few. After getting up with George to allow LG a bit of extra sleep, I felt I needed this run and was going to take the opportunity as soon as I could. Turned out that was around feed o'clock so LG got up and took over George duty and I put my trainers on and headed out on an unknown route for an unknown distance for an unknown amount of time.

Now some cynics may argue that I kept getting lost. However, I put it to them that I was just taking multiple unplanned detours and you know what, it was a lot of fun. Various surfaces, various inclines and a lot of guess work (and yes OK, a couple of stops at the Common maps to check I was at least vaguely heading in the right direction).

After plotting it on runningahead, it turns out that my 8.47km were completed in 45:28 which I think is pretty good for me 2 weeks before the Ashtead 10k and under 3 weeks after the birth of my son!

While stinky and horrible, the lawn got mowed and now showered and dressed, I have pictures to frame, a cot to move and a trip to Tesco to complete. I'm going to try and get 10 minutes later and read a book but I'm not counting on it!