Saturday, October 30, 2010
Will see your 12km for my 14km
Wanted to do a 28k run this afternoon but the second lap did not occur. The first lap took 4 minutes longer than a couple of days earlier too...Just did not feel up to it - the core work out must have got to me, that along with the good cooking from the Mother in-law. Just can't help stuffing my face. On top of that we had a racklette yesterday so all that potato and cheese must have weighed me down. I felt lardy all the way round.
Core Workout
I certainly can't bring myself to do a core workout at the moment. So while at the Settons have managed to do some log splitting, does that count?
Pretty hard to do with a 2.5 year old in toe. Pick up axe, tell O to move away, put down axe, move O to safe distance, pick up axe, tell O to move way etc. Get a few decent swings in and split a few, do it all again. (Logs upwards of 1.5 meter in diameter so they took some effort)
He loved it anyway wifey and J came out to help too, the weather being fine and all needing a core work out but not wanting to do one.
Pretty hard to do with a 2.5 year old in toe. Pick up axe, tell O to move away, put down axe, move O to safe distance, pick up axe, tell O to move way etc. Get a few decent swings in and split a few, do it all again. (Logs upwards of 1.5 meter in diameter so they took some effort)
He loved it anyway wifey and J came out to help too, the weather being fine and all needing a core work out but not wanting to do one.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Magic Mushrooms
Just seen a report on French TV. A guy was suggesting that a mushroom could cure just about everything. (New version could even give immunity to HIV) The mushroom was used (allegedly) by the Chinese 1993 Olympic Track team as a performance enhancing aid.
Cordyceps is the magic mushroom. On the internet, the following is attributed to it: (Reminds me of guys trying to sell me tiger balm - never bought any of that either)
* immune system enhancer
* anti-tumor properties
* liver tonic (enhances function and repairs damage - has been used in the treatment of hepatitis and cirrhosis of the liver)
* nerve tonic (relaxes the nerves without producing a feeling of grogginess)
* relaxes the heart rate and causes short term lowering of blood pressure
* reduces total cholesterol and triglyceride levels
* has an inhibitive effect on platelet coagulation
* has testosterone like effects on the body
* bronchi-dilator
* anti-aging properties
Cordyceps is the magic mushroom. On the internet, the following is attributed to it: (Reminds me of guys trying to sell me tiger balm - never bought any of that either)
* immune system enhancer
* anti-tumor properties
* liver tonic (enhances function and repairs damage - has been used in the treatment of hepatitis and cirrhosis of the liver)
* nerve tonic (relaxes the nerves without producing a feeling of grogginess)
* relaxes the heart rate and causes short term lowering of blood pressure
* reduces total cholesterol and triglyceride levels
* has an inhibitive effect on platelet coagulation
* has testosterone like effects on the body
* bronchi-dilator
* anti-aging properties
Who needs New Hampshire
Living in France has advantages and disadvantages. Weather is generally the best part of where we live. If the weather is too hot, too cold, too windy to run, the next day will be fine. Rarely 2 days pass when the weather is so depressing that I can't bring my fat arse of the chair. [I have other excuses I can bring to play, too much work, the kids, illness etc. )
However this week has been an exception. The Sirocco wind had been blowing since Sunday evening along with it being cold and generally horrible. Wednesday the weather broke, but I was traveling to the Setton so no run was allowed. Today I got out for a run round the lake (14k 1:06) and it was gorgeous. Who needs to go to Massachusetts or New Hampshire to see the leaves turning. It was not sunny all the time, but when it came out the trees where just magnificent.
However this week has been an exception. The Sirocco wind had been blowing since Sunday evening along with it being cold and generally horrible. Wednesday the weather broke, but I was traveling to the Setton so no run was allowed. Today I got out for a run round the lake (14k 1:06) and it was gorgeous. Who needs to go to Massachusetts or New Hampshire to see the leaves turning. It was not sunny all the time, but when it came out the trees where just magnificent.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Hydration system
I tried using a rucksack with hydration system today. The first time I have tried one of these bags when running. The bag itself was pretty dam good. It sat well and did not move very much (Ultimate Direction - Wasp, review here)
I needed something to carry a waterproof top, telephone and gels as I was doing a 30k and the weather was not good and more importantly I wasn't sure I could finish. Hence the telephone.
Drinking from a bag sucks though. It was exactly as I had imagined. With a water bottle, you can squirt it into your mouth and so reduce precious seconds of no air flow to the lungs. Slowing down to a walk works well or on an easy down hill. In future, the bag will be used on the longer runs when I need to carry stuff. But just for water, better with a bottle.
I needed something to carry a waterproof top, telephone and gels as I was doing a 30k and the weather was not good and more importantly I wasn't sure I could finish. Hence the telephone.
Drinking from a bag sucks though. It was exactly as I had imagined. With a water bottle, you can squirt it into your mouth and so reduce precious seconds of no air flow to the lungs. Slowing down to a walk works well or on an easy down hill. In future, the bag will be used on the longer runs when I need to carry stuff. But just for water, better with a bottle.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
To much Brie
I thought I was going for a run this afternoon and had a huge slice of Brie with some pasta at lunch in preparation. A problem occurred when I was just about to nip out for a blast around my local trails when I was pinged to enter a meeting.
The meeting lasted longer than I had expected and I ended up having to pick up J from school directly after the meeting ended (ironically so she could do some Athletics at the club with school)
So no run this afternoon and I was starting to feel fat. Just in case I was not obese enough I tucked into a few "Croc Sec" and honey Waffles that I had brought for J's snack.
When I got back to the house at 6:30 wifey was back and she agreed to give me a pass out for 40 minutes. Woooeeee. My first trail run in the dark. Fantastic. It was actually in the twilight with a full moon, but in the trees it was pretty dark. At the end I think I had managed to run off the Brie if not the waffles.
The meeting lasted longer than I had expected and I ended up having to pick up J from school directly after the meeting ended (ironically so she could do some Athletics at the club with school)
So no run this afternoon and I was starting to feel fat. Just in case I was not obese enough I tucked into a few "Croc Sec" and honey Waffles that I had brought for J's snack.
When I got back to the house at 6:30 wifey was back and she agreed to give me a pass out for 40 minutes. Woooeeee. My first trail run in the dark. Fantastic. It was actually in the twilight with a full moon, but in the trees it was pretty dark. At the end I think I had managed to run off the Brie if not the waffles.
Running Stats
It occurred to me this morning that looking at the position you arrive in any given race may not reflect your position in time that you arrive. This is only true of finishers arrive in a normal distribution.
This for some reason occupied some time this morning. First I tried looking it up on the Internet and I did not find a nice graph showing frequency of arrival compared to time. So I had to do the leg work myself. I managed to get the times of one of my races into Excel then calculate the frequency of finishers based on a 2 minute intervals. Here is the graph. Frequency is the Y axis, time is the X axis.
I should probably try the same thing with a bigger race (Only 165 finishers in this one)
This for some reason occupied some time this morning. First I tried looking it up on the Internet and I did not find a nice graph showing frequency of arrival compared to time. So I had to do the leg work myself. I managed to get the times of one of my races into Excel then calculate the frequency of finishers based on a 2 minute intervals. Here is the graph. Frequency is the Y axis, time is the X axis.
I should probably try the same thing with a bigger race (Only 165 finishers in this one)
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Beaujolais Marathon
I have to decide this week if I am going to enter the Beaujolais Marathon. Last year I was beaten comprehensively by it. Like last year I am short of long runs.... I find it so hard to get these in mostly from a timekeeping point of view, balancing kids, wife and job. [And then getting cold feet in cold weather]
I looked at my times from last year leading up to the marathon and woe is me. My times last year over 8-10k where quicker. However, I am in substantially better health and I feel stronger. Ahhhhhh..... it would be so much easier if somebody else was forcing my hand.... Suppose I had better do it, barring ill health on the day. The slower times are probably down to doing more and not just age. (I am convincing myself here)
That means getting out and doing 30k this weekend (no matter what) I did my longest run last year at exactly the same weekend - 28km round the lake des Settons.
I looked at my times from last year leading up to the marathon and woe is me. My times last year over 8-10k where quicker. However, I am in substantially better health and I feel stronger. Ahhhhhh..... it would be so much easier if somebody else was forcing my hand.... Suppose I had better do it, barring ill health on the day. The slower times are probably down to doing more and not just age. (I am convincing myself here)
That means getting out and doing 30k this weekend (no matter what) I did my longest run last year at exactly the same weekend - 28km round the lake des Settons.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Frotting revisited
I managed to get my arse of my lovely padded chair today and brave the cold.
Which brings me to my point. I used my anti-frotting pants today for no real reason, just a change. As I was running I remembered what happened when I needed to use them because of "groin area" chaffing. They worked, in that the groin chaff was eliminated. There was a down side though, I got a different chaffing near to the groin and between my arse cheeks.
Today I worked out why I avoid the arse cheek problem in normal shorts. When I notice the oncoming chaffing in normal shorts I either leave the inner to "ride up" or purposely put it there as a piece of protective material. In frotting shorts this is not an option.
The second bit of chaffing is from a seam, again no option unless I become a eunuch. But I do quite like wearing them so maybe I should go and buy a better quality pair (These where less than E10)
Which brings me to my point. I used my anti-frotting pants today for no real reason, just a change. As I was running I remembered what happened when I needed to use them because of "groin area" chaffing. They worked, in that the groin chaff was eliminated. There was a down side though, I got a different chaffing near to the groin and between my arse cheeks.
Today I worked out why I avoid the arse cheek problem in normal shorts. When I notice the oncoming chaffing in normal shorts I either leave the inner to "ride up" or purposely put it there as a piece of protective material. In frotting shorts this is not an option.
The second bit of chaffing is from a seam, again no option unless I become a eunuch. But I do quite like wearing them so maybe I should go and buy a better quality pair (These where less than E10)
Monday, October 18, 2010
Porridge
When I can't face the all bran for breakfast, I am eating either weetabix or porridge. (High fiber stuff for the gut problems)
Whenever I make porridge in the morning I can't fail to smile as it reminds me of the time next to the Tamba Cosi in Nepal when Graham made the most god-awful bowl of the stuff - contrary to popular demand not to put salt in, he added twice as much as was needed. Normally you just go make a new batch, but on the banks of the river where wood is precious and food even more so (self supported kayak trip) we just had to eat it.
Third day off from running - the weather is just too bad. Tomorrow I will not have a problem getting out. I have a 2 hour telephone meeting in the morning, that never fails to make me want to move a bit.
Whenever I make porridge in the morning I can't fail to smile as it reminds me of the time next to the Tamba Cosi in Nepal when Graham made the most god-awful bowl of the stuff - contrary to popular demand not to put salt in, he added twice as much as was needed. Normally you just go make a new batch, but on the banks of the river where wood is precious and food even more so (self supported kayak trip) we just had to eat it.
Third day off from running - the weather is just too bad. Tomorrow I will not have a problem getting out. I have a 2 hour telephone meeting in the morning, that never fails to make me want to move a bit.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
30km
I had a route planned to do a 30km run this morning. I had been thinking for days what order and how to link the trails around the house to get to this distance without repeating any stretch and with as much off road as possible.
But what happened? Why am I writing and not doing? Well, two major things problems occurred. The first, we where invited out last night. And during the meal, I was thinking, "Oh great, I can eat as much of this rich food as I like as I will run it off in the AM" but the demon red wine got to me. At 7AM when I woke up, the last thing I wanted to do was go for a run.
But, I forced myself into something to run in, then baff, I looked outside the window. Cold, rainy and dark. Just at that point the kids started waking up providing me with the perfect excuse for not getting outside. (That is the second time after dining with Max I have had problems the next day)
Then I convinced myself, well hey, this is a good thing because my ankle is a bit stiff.... Now at 12:30 just before lunch I am regretting my wimpish behavior.... Maybe I will get out this afternoon while the kids have a siesta.
But what happened? Why am I writing and not doing? Well, two major things problems occurred. The first, we where invited out last night. And during the meal, I was thinking, "Oh great, I can eat as much of this rich food as I like as I will run it off in the AM" but the demon red wine got to me. At 7AM when I woke up, the last thing I wanted to do was go for a run.
But, I forced myself into something to run in, then baff, I looked outside the window. Cold, rainy and dark. Just at that point the kids started waking up providing me with the perfect excuse for not getting outside. (That is the second time after dining with Max I have had problems the next day)
Then I convinced myself, well hey, this is a good thing because my ankle is a bit stiff.... Now at 12:30 just before lunch I am regretting my wimpish behavior.... Maybe I will get out this afternoon while the kids have a siesta.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Breathing
I read somewhere that you should be aiming at a ratio of 1:2 or 1:3 breaths to stride ratio. At a couple of places on my run today I tried working out my ratio.
Impossible, counting two things at the same time while trying not to fall over. And I am not even sure what that ratio means. Each breath out/in or both.
Impossible, counting two things at the same time while trying not to fall over. And I am not even sure what that ratio means. Each breath out/in or both.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Ouch Tomorrow?
By Thursday of last week, I still had stiff legs, but I know there will be no way of doing the Beaujolais Marathon unless I get some miles in. So off to the 9 Clochers I did trot. A very undulating course in absolutely stunning countryside (about 30% trail). Just inside Beaujolais, about 15 minutes from the house.
By doing the race I was forced to do the miles, in this case nearly 24km. While on the run, I quickly realized the only way to survive was to slow up a bit and let myself go on the down hills otherwise the quads would get trashed pretty fast.
So I did exactly that and enjoyed looking around a bit. But the results where much better than I had hoped. It took 1:50 (129th from nearly 600) (52 V1 from 243). I even managed a wrong turn until a kind sole shouted at me to turn around.
I had chance to say hello to Owens teacher who was standing at the side of the road encouraging the runners.
The start village is a beautiful 16th Century fortified town. The route took us to other similar towns and next to fields of vines.
So I did exactly that and enjoyed looking around a bit. But the results where much better than I had hoped. It took 1:50 (129th from nearly 600) (52 V1 from 243). I even managed a wrong turn until a kind sole shouted at me to turn around.
I had chance to say hello to Owens teacher who was standing at the side of the road encouraging the runners.
The start village is a beautiful 16th Century fortified town. The route took us to other similar towns and next to fields of vines.
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Treadmill
I went to the running shop yesterday. I wanted to ask about a pair of shoes for running the Beaujolais marathon (did they think it would be OK to run in my Trail shoes?) Owen came along, I hate shopping but with a young kid tagging along it can make it interesting.
They had me run on a treadmill while filming my lower legs and feet. Then they had me ware a pare of shoes and filmed. At this point the seller got distracted by another customer while I checked out the prices of the shoes. Nobody was looking at Owen so he decided he wanted a go on the treadmill too.
I turned around just in time to watch the spectacle. The earth started to move for him, and he realized he needed to move to stay on the machine. He did for a moment until it started to go too fast, then just like a Harold Loyd film, he shot off the end of it. (I managed to catch him before he hit the deck).
They had me run on a treadmill while filming my lower legs and feet. Then they had me ware a pare of shoes and filmed. At this point the seller got distracted by another customer while I checked out the prices of the shoes. Nobody was looking at Owen so he decided he wanted a go on the treadmill too.
I turned around just in time to watch the spectacle. The earth started to move for him, and he realized he needed to move to stay on the machine. He did for a moment until it started to go too fast, then just like a Harold Loyd film, he shot off the end of it. (I managed to catch him before he hit the deck).
Friday, October 8, 2010
Two new laws of running
Two new laws, arrived at empirically from observing myself - Clearly highly scientific.
Law 1: Time spent running trail for any individual is a function of elevation gain. Horizontal distance is irrelevant. (Assuming no flat)
Law 2: All runners with children between the age of 1.5 and 2.5 will have Achilles problems. (I can only imagine this is due to carrying the child as opposed to using a push chair. After 2.5 the parent gets fed up or the child gets stronger and the Achilles gets better)
Law 1: Time spent running trail for any individual is a function of elevation gain. Horizontal distance is irrelevant. (Assuming no flat)
Law 2: All runners with children between the age of 1.5 and 2.5 will have Achilles problems. (I can only imagine this is due to carrying the child as opposed to using a push chair. After 2.5 the parent gets fed up or the child gets stronger and the Achilles gets better)
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Getting old again
The other week I was all excited to find out I was getting younger. It turns out that this was false.
This morning I woke up to my 4th day of stiffness due to the KMV just way too long, clearly the body is taking more time to recover in it's agedness. But it was not as bad as days before and I was starting to get a bit computer crazy so I forced myself out for a brief (and painful to start) 6.5km run. By the end I was enjoying the sunshine and looking around for conkers I could give to Joanne.
It certainly forced some blood circulation back into my thighs. I am feeling better this afternoon. Hopefully that has loosened me up for the 24km run on Sunday.
Given it took 4 days to recover from 2km does that mean my decrepit body will take 48 days to recover from the coming Sunday run?
This morning I woke up to my 4th day of stiffness due to the KMV just way too long, clearly the body is taking more time to recover in it's agedness. But it was not as bad as days before and I was starting to get a bit computer crazy so I forced myself out for a brief (and painful to start) 6.5km run. By the end I was enjoying the sunshine and looking around for conkers I could give to Joanne.
It certainly forced some blood circulation back into my thighs. I am feeling better this afternoon. Hopefully that has loosened me up for the 24km run on Sunday.
Given it took 4 days to recover from 2km does that mean my decrepit body will take 48 days to recover from the coming Sunday run?
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Recovery
Tuesday morning, 48hours after the KMV at Montriond and I am still stiff and unable to run. Funnily, it seems to be the thighs that are having the problems not the calfs. i.e. it hurt more coming down than going up. - And the race was uphill not downhill!
No wander I am sore though, this is the KMV:
No wander I am sore though, this is the KMV:
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Lost Bet
I need to do a forfeit after losing horribly the bet with G. To make it into the top half of finishers in the KMV. (Ski up a hill in a race - I don't ski so that will be fun). Also lost bet with Lee.
I made the 1km vertical in 68 minutes..... Near as damn it last. Something like 158th. Ha ha... No idea who the guys where in the race, but clearly going up hill like that needs different training and I am not there.
I am happy with the result - it was fun and the people where supper friendly. I needed to stop every 10 feet just to get rid of some lactic acid in my calfs. There where fantastic views from the top and I enjoyed the jog down (about 35 mins)
More to come ...
I made the 1km vertical in 68 minutes..... Near as damn it last. Something like 158th. Ha ha... No idea who the guys where in the race, but clearly going up hill like that needs different training and I am not there.
I am happy with the result - it was fun and the people where supper friendly. I needed to stop every 10 feet just to get rid of some lactic acid in my calfs. There where fantastic views from the top and I enjoyed the jog down (about 35 mins)
More to come ...
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