Great North Run Training 1

[doug]

As I said in the previous link Great North Run I'd had a bit of a set back with my knees getting knackered with gardening for the wife. However, acquisition of a mountain bike has certainly sorted them out. Well, at the start of this week I thought I was back on track, got a bike computer, mud guards and a gel saddle for Father's day. I was really looking forward to trying them all out, especially as I would be able to answer once and for all the exact distances I run.

Tuesday night disaster struck. I'd just finished Anne's Ice and hot pack treatments when I started to shiver, then just made the loo in time and Montezuma struck. I was on the go about every hour 'till 5 am Wednesday. Boy was I creased. Had to rest up a bit. Yesterday, being Anne's Birthday we did go out to see Troy - not quite as I recalled The Iliad - and had a pub meal after. Me a steak and Kidney pud, all I could manage. Then starved again till mid morning today for blood samples and BP. Good result BP was 123/69 53. Was told a very good sign of a healthy body, and I'm only 67 I said. Mind you might be dehydrated still. Anyway straight over to the market and promptly wolfed down a jumbo Hot Dog. Gone in seconds. Up to the Optician for annual check and told no change. Have had these retinal photo scans for the last couple of years £10 a time excellent technology. Again was told that all the evidence was of an extremely healthy lifestyle. So I'm fit as well as good looking andsome my friend. And I've lost 4 lb on the week - not a recommended dieting technique.

After a light lunch of a couple of bacon rolls I was off at long last for a spin on the bike. Gel saddle was a great improvement, going through the puddles alongside BOC at Birtley great fun. Noted the distances at all my jogging marker points. After the miserable week to date the open air freedom was enrapturing. Tooling along the flats and down the slopes with the old pipe chugging away was enrapturing. Gave King Coal a hearty wave as I puffed up past him then on and past the Beamish turn off and discovered the Beamish Shorthorns that I had been told were somewhere around there. Calf and thighs were pulling by then so cruised back home. Mostly downhill but with a few short sharp rises on the way a round trip of 12.9 miles.

I now have the exact distances for my jogs on that track - others to be clocked. Now the crunch. I had been relying on a pedometer for my jogging distances for those that remembered and was having difficulty getting consistant distances. I had been dialling in my pace lengths at the end of my runs when tired. I have a distance marked out in front of my house. I adjust my stride 'till I pass the pedestrian gate in the hedge count 10 paces and ram a hanky into the hedge at 10 paces. I have marked the pavement with blobs of paint at 30 and 35 feet. This results in a typical stride of 3.6 feet. Have just looked back at my 6.5 miler for 12th May which Turned out to be only 5.72 miles and 3.12 ft instead of 3.6 ft steps. The biggest shock was I'd only achieved 10.18 mins/mile instead of the 8.86 mins I thought.

I can only think I must be taking much shorter steps going up the hills and also going down. Some of the slopes are too dangerous for me to charge full tilt. I'm too precious to lose on the loose gravel in places. In addition, I have to slow down to a walk when crossing a couple of roads and also getting through the anti-vehicle barriers. Still I now know and will have to do better If I've any chance of catching Paula. :rolleyes:

Well that's a brief resume of the state of play for your fit as well as handsome friend.

[nellie2]

I'm really looking forward to this years race... keep us updated with the updates!

[bhuk]

So that was you on the bike in Birtley I will give you a wave the next time I see you :)