Training Log Archive: RobB

Bristol Half Marathon. 1:10:47 (PB).

Was really oooming and ahhing about running. My legs had tightened up about 3 hours after yesterday's run and my hamstring was still a bit sore. Clare kept her opinions completely neutral, so there was no way should could receive blame in the aftermath of whatever happened. I figured in the end, that having done loads of stretching in the proceeding 3 days that biomechanically I should not be doing it too much damage.

Felt really good at the start and had to force myself to throttle back in the first 3 miles trying to stick to 5:20 pace. From about mile 4 onwards I was aware of a slow creeping tightness going from my glutes to my hamstrings and to my hip flexors but it wasn't painful. Got to halfway in 35:13 and so ran the second half slightly slower (35:34) but was overall satisfied. Finished 14th which wasn't too bad out of the 10,000 or so finishers.

Felt strong at the finish and certainly had some energy left. I was satisfied with the time, and feel I could run a bit faster. At least it was a pb. Clare ran amazing well to break 1:45 and her pb by about 7 minutes! - nice work.

Went for a sports massage afterwards. The guy was quite friendly, but kept tutting and sucking air through his teeth when he got to different "trouble spots". I asked him how bad shape my legs were in and he said that if I was a car I would not pass my MOT! Still time to sort these niggles out in advance of Chicago.

C • nice one! 13

Easy run from home once we got back. Legs felt ok, hamstring soreness was isolated to one lump in middle of right leg.

Run around Bristol. I could feel my hamstring a bit but not too much - if I hadn't been worrying about it I probably would have dismissed it as a minor niggle.

I was wearing my new racing flats - in go faster orange (Saucony Fastwitch). It was tough running and avoiding all the puddles at the same time.

Cross training on the elliptical machine at the gym. Was scheduled to do 6 x 1k, so transferred this to 6 x 3.00, with 2 minutes recovery. Got up a nice sweat, and pushed pretty hard, but not maximally.

Spin after work. Candyman cried off so it was just me and the Red Hot Chilli Peppers for company. Nearly didn't make it out at all because I could not find a pump with a presta valve. Eventually pulled about 5 different parts of pumps together to give the tyres some air, but there was room for a little more.

Went out to Strines and back again, nice and cruisey. Really enjoyed myself.

Run to work - right hamstring still sore and not feeling great (it was a nice way to spend 30 minutes).

Was planning on doing some intervals, but decided to give it a miss. Hamstring was sore and feeling a bit under the weather; that really annoying situation when you don't know if you are run down and dog tired because of training hard, or because you are on the brink of getting ill.

Steady run from home. Was planning on running home from work but realised that I had forgotten my shorts - not a good look. Struggled to get out the door, and my right hamstring was sore (as it was when I finished running yesterday). Stopped to do some stretching on route.

It was getting dark again when I got home; the start of the dark winter nights just seem to have crept up on me this week.

Run at lunch

Long run - from home out to Dam flask, 3 x round road loop with hill and then back down to finish. For the first and third loop did 90,30s and for the middle one I kept to 6.00 pace. Felt ok, but it was pretty miserable and was dusky when I finished.

C • bloody hell 2

Felt rubbish all day so had to really give myself a talking to in order to get out the door. When I actually started running I felt really good and had to keep holding myself back - my immediate reaction was I am going to get ill so made sure I had an early night.