tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49113784238723824302024-03-14T00:42:36.880+00:00It Never Gets Easier You Just Get StrongerRichard Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06714527298987145965noreply@blogger.comBlogger100125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4911378423872382430.post-22771745062288936032019-10-23T20:17:00.003+01:002019-10-23T20:17:37.386+01:00Havering Half Marathon - A New BeginningMy first race in over 3 years and I was standing in the middle of my former secondary school playing fields recalling how long it had been since I felt nervous about a race.
I've never blogged about what happened to me injury wise that stopped me running properly over the past 3 years but suffice to say I have taken a huge step back fitness wise but a huge step forward in terms in terms of Richard Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06714527298987145965noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4911378423872382430.post-89578763896458381662016-03-30T19:22:00.000+01:002019-10-23T17:42:54.170+01:00Brentwood 1/2 marathon Report 2016 - Grit your teethThe Brentwood half marathon has always had a place in my heart as it's my local race and have run it many times before both pacing friends and setting personal bests. I felt that this year I should run a sub 1:30 based on recent sessions in training despite not doing much of a taper. However, I had been suffering all week with sore calves (blamed on new minimal support work shoes, more on this Richard Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06714527298987145965noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4911378423872382430.post-81592570608257710982016-03-21T23:08:00.001+00:002016-03-21T23:08:31.825+00:00Every day is a good day to runIt was on November 24th, 118 days ago that I last had a full day off running.
I actually cannot remember anything about that day but I do know that I had been slowly rebuilding the weekly miles since the Autumn 100 mile race and with finding out that I was in the London marathon for April I thought I would embark on being as consistent as possible with training in order to set the bar high and Richard Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06714527298987145965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4911378423872382430.post-21947257570982286202015-11-21T07:51:00.003+00:002015-11-21T07:51:55.302+00:00Base CampIt's now been several weeks since the Autumn 100 and I am back out running daily. Well I say daily but I didn't run yesterday so perhaps not quite back into the old routine yet. For the first 10 days after the race I didn't run at all. I took the opportunity to rest completely.. In retrospect this seems to have worked quite well, the immediate body aches and pains went fairly quickly and mentallyRichard Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06714527298987145965noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4911378423872382430.post-52075028684489820902015-10-23T14:38:00.002+01:002020-05-31T13:10:43.713+01:00Smiling through the Centurion Autumn 100mLast Saturday I had the great pleasure of joining around 200+ ultra runners for the Centurion Autumn 100 mile race. The route is a series of 4 x 12.5 mile out and back sections along both the Thames Path and Ridgeway national trails. This was the final race in the Centurion series this year and due to the format of the race was looking forward to seeing for a change the front runners doing their Richard Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06714527298987145965noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4911378423872382430.post-74697574025029037242015-10-13T11:01:00.002+01:002015-10-13T11:01:53.082+01:00High Weald Challenge 50km Race ReportWow it's been a long time since I last blogged. I seem to go through phases of this have not really identified a root cause for the lack of writing. Never the less I think it's time to write up about a few things that have been happening over the summer and the upcoming final race of the season. Over the summer I have battled with injury since the Thames Path 100 (different calf problem) and withRichard Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06714527298987145965noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4911378423872382430.post-19641382519583778902015-05-18T21:53:00.002+01:002015-05-25T13:53:39.508+01:00Ace of BaseIt's been over two weeks now since my last race and it's finally time to get back to running.
I took the first week completely off after the Thames Path 100 miler and enjoyed indulging in eating what I wanted, sat on the sofa drinking some beer and not thinking about running at all. It was bliss to be honest however after 7 days of slouching I started getting twitchy and was thinking about Richard Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06714527298987145965noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4911378423872382430.post-73526401397629173602015-05-07T09:36:00.000+01:002015-05-07T09:42:38.154+01:00Surviving the Thames Path 100-miler"How did that feel?" As I thought about the question I took one look around me trying to absorb the surroundings, the sounds, the smell (hmm maybe not that) and then the memories came flooding back.
I still can't believe it...I lived through my first 100-miler! Last Saturday (and Sunday!). I joined 274 other runners at the Thames Path 100 mile race that starts in Richmond and finishes in Oxford.Richard Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06714527298987145965noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4911378423872382430.post-32630085157508443622015-04-08T17:41:00.001+01:002019-10-22T19:12:42.139+01:002015 South Downs 50 - More Up than Down
Back in the early part of the year I had no intention of running an ultra until later in the year as I was preparing for a spring marathon (PB attempt). However things had changed quickly when the opportunity came up via waiting lists clearing for some of the Centurion waiting lists and one of them had been the Thames Path 100.
Stupidity and fast broadband speeds enabled me to sign up quickly Richard Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06714527298987145965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4911378423872382430.post-57684236797882125922015-03-31T22:46:00.005+01:002015-03-31T22:46:57.604+01:00Mini Taper for South Downs 50Well the past few weeks have raced by and it's only a few days until the start of the South Downs 50 mile ultra. I can't actually believe how quickly time has passed. One minute the dark mornings were still with us and now the clocks have moved forward and the lighter evenings are here again.
It's been a fantastic block of training these past few weeks and as I was wanting to go into the South Richard Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06714527298987145965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4911378423872382430.post-14982011538870115162015-03-08T23:10:00.000+00:002015-03-08T23:10:07.619+00:00The most important 8 weeks everAs I closed my laptop..the deed was done..I had initiated a dramatic change of direction to my running calendar for 2015. The logic behind this decision some weeks ago..hmm well there is no logical thinking quite frankly behind this.
The damage you may ask? Well..I signed up for a hill trail 50 miler and a 100 mile trail run (mostly flat). WTF had I done. Prior to this questionable decision I Richard Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06714527298987145965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4911378423872382430.post-43609578955712252532015-02-18T18:18:00.001+00:002015-02-18T18:30:56.037+00:00Keeping it aerobicThe past couple of weeks since returning from Paris have been both very busy in terms of training and work. In fact at the beginning of last week I began to feel a little fatigued coupled with a slight cold that I had picked up.
At first I ignored it and tried to push through it but noticed that my resting HR was hovering around 49-50 which is around 5-6 beats higher than I would expect. The Richard Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06714527298987145965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4911378423872382430.post-33538015442331475472015-02-02T23:12:00.003+00:002015-02-02T23:12:28.027+00:00Recovery and ParisFollowing a good day out at the Winter Tanners 30 mile trail event I took a week of very easy short runs to help with recovery. I was surprised that I could actually get out for a very easy run the next day and even though it was an awkward plod it did go someway to help the pump some fresh blood through the legs which were a little sore.
I followed it up with a few more very easy short days of Richard Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06714527298987145965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4911378423872382430.post-42252600217504628282015-01-25T21:06:00.002+00:002015-01-25T21:23:11.761+00:00Tanners 30Two weeks ago I finally got around to running the Winter Tanners 30 mile trail event put on by the LDWA. I have often wanted to kick off the running year with this one but it hasn't fit into my schedule however having paid my yearly subscription to the LDWA back in September I thought I might as well sign up in order to use it as a good training run on the trails. I am not naturally suited to Richard Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06714527298987145965noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4911378423872382430.post-44497821266408907362015-01-01T20:26:00.002+00:002015-01-01T20:26:57.021+00:002014 - The year that was2014 was a year that promised so much but half delivered.
Wow that statement sounds pessimistic and like I am feeling down but last year really was but when I reflect on the year that was this cold new years day I see the two polar sides of my running.
From January - early May I enjoyed the most consistent and highest volume of running building up to the Halstead marathon that I have ever had. Richard Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06714527298987145965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4911378423872382430.post-19312545416916038202014-11-17T00:11:00.005+00:002014-11-17T00:11:41.692+00:0036 Days Of RestHi everybody it has been 36 days since my last run.
During that time I have gone from feeling deflated, angry, hopeful, accepting, calm, excited, surprised, self-pitying, stubborn and a whole host of other emotions that quite frankly have made this period of non running extremely challenging in ways that make me feel like I am battling some sort of addiction.
OK..so addict is strong word and I Richard Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06714527298987145965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4911378423872382430.post-84292381732499589372014-11-04T20:36:00.003+00:002014-11-04T20:39:10.126+00:00End In SightWell it was follow up appointment today with the physio and I was actually looking forward to this as my calf has come on leaps and bounds during the past week.
The overall pain levels have come down quite a lot and I am walking OK but I know we are not out of the woods yet. I was advised by the physio not to stretch the calf this past week so that it would have time to heal. Apart from going Richard Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06714527298987145965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4911378423872382430.post-49042321209095738722014-10-31T15:12:00.001+00:002014-10-31T15:12:05.645+00:00More RehabWell things have changed a whole bunch in the last week since my sports massage. It seems that the physio didn't identify nor treat a secondary problem on my leg. WTF!!
I had felt both pain in my shin and in the back of the calf previously which had been tackled however what had been masked was pain in my peroneal tendons on the side of my leg. This manifested itself by Monday this week and I Richard Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06714527298987145965noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4911378423872382430.post-58715978183644585462014-10-23T21:00:00.000+01:002014-10-23T21:00:12.145+01:00Ouch!It's been a long week and even longer one without the ability to run at all.
After the disappointment of not racing at Chelmsford I have pretty much focused 100% on getting the calf back to 100% normal. The obvious answer is that I should book a sports massage but where ever I tried locally the answer was about 7 days wait. The pain in my calf was bad enough that I couldn't wait that long.
Richard Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06714527298987145965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4911378423872382430.post-11382448049378279632014-10-17T07:52:00.001+01:002014-10-17T07:52:25.016+01:00Everything was going so wellWell, the last time I wrote anything about my training was some time ago. Since then it's been a roller coaster of a summer with building works at my house, work being busy and somehow squeezing in a fair amount of training.
Thing's hadn't started so well back in the early summer but during August and September things started to flow really well. The past few weeks I have been averaging Richard Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06714527298987145965noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4911378423872382430.post-88074713021221107912014-08-19T14:44:00.001+01:002014-08-19T14:44:18.802+01:00Ticking alongWell it's been another dismal start to the Premier league football season for my team West Ham United and although I hope things turn around quickly the writing seems to be on the wall based on their performance that we are in for a very long and drawn out season.
Training wise things have going along nicely and during the past few weeks I seem to have found some fitness again. Resting heart Richard Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06714527298987145965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4911378423872382430.post-63262768182629225362014-07-13T19:21:00.001+01:002015-01-01T19:57:31.842+00:00Indulgence Wow..9 weeks since the Halstead marathon and I have hardly written a post and my running frequency took a huge hit.
Since Halstead I took some time out from running as my knee / thigh issue hadn't cleared up. The niggle first developed about 3 weeks before the marathon but didn't hinder the last few weeks up to the race. After taking a traditional recovery week after the marathon I Richard Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06714527298987145965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4911378423872382430.post-29567291883474552022014-05-16T20:57:00.003+01:002014-05-16T20:57:41.883+01:00So where to next..The sun is shining the rain has gone and it suddenly feels like summer is almost here yet I haven't stepped foot outside the door for a run since Sundays marathon.
I deliberately planned in 4 days of nothing but eating loads, sleep lots (I wish) and reflect on what was a very satisfying performance. It's the first time I planned in some proper downtime and I think it has really helped me Richard Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06714527298987145965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4911378423872382430.post-15483144002326794452014-05-14T00:16:00.003+01:002014-05-14T00:16:35.909+01:00Every Cloud Has A Silver LiningOne year ago, I was recovering from a very disappointing performance at my first official marathon race. After the event I was very honest with myself that you cannot fake racing hard over the marathon distance i.e. you have to put in the mileage, hard sessions, the long runs in order to give yourself the best chance of achieving your goal time.
Last year the goal was 3:30 and I had a very rude Richard Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06714527298987145965noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4911378423872382430.post-8185822379505453972014-05-10T16:43:00.003+01:002014-05-10T16:45:04.235+01:00CountdownIt's almost time for my first real race of the year. Tomorrow I will be driving the short journey to Halstead, get my race number, and after a somewhat good sleep hope to smash my PB. The unanswered question really is what is the target. I'm reasonably confident I can deliver a sub 3:15-3:20 but have trained with the specific aim to break 3:10.
There are a few hills on the course that could Richard Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06714527298987145965noreply@blogger.com0