Filed under: half marathon training, hastings half marathon, running | Tags: great north run, hastings half marathon, running
I won’t be running the Hastings Half on Sunday. No, not because of the lack of training but because I’ve come down with some kind of viral infection that has caused me to cough almost non-stop since Monday afternoon. I’ve even had two days off sick from work and spent them zonked out on the sofa, which really isn’t like me.
I think it would be a little foolish to run 13.1 miles, so I’ll be part of the support crew for Emma. She wouldn’t have anticipated running on her own when she signed up; there were five of us to start with. Slowly we’ve all deserted her, with dodgy knees, a bad back and a work summons among the excuses. It seems the least I can do is cheer her on, hopefully with a mouthful of fish and chips.
Worse still is that I seem to have missed the ballot for Run To The Beat as well as the Great North Run. Only charity places available now for both events. I don’t object to the idea of running for charity – I’ve raised several thousand by running two London Marathons for Whizz-Kidz, the Spinal Injuries Association and T4Trust – but I do find it difficult to ask the same family and friends, yet again, for sponsorship when they know I can run a half-marathon with relative ease. I’d also feel uncomfortable taking a charity place if I didn’t raise the minimum pledge.
When did running get so popular?
Filed under: gym, half marathon training, hastings half marathon, running | Tags: half marathon training, hastings half marathon
With only two weeks to go until the Hastings Half, and the prospect of a boozy hen weekend in Brighton next weekend, it was with some trepidation that I embarked on my longest training run on Sunday with my running partner.
There’s a reasonable footpath out of Twyford, along the river and into Dinton Pastures, a pleasant little country park, where are plenty of trails to run around. Unfortunately the maps within the park bear little resemblance to the actual footpaths, making it difficult to work out how far you’ve run. However, we ran at a steady pace for an hour and 39 minutes, so I would estimate that was a good 10 miles. I was surprised to feel pretty good throughout the run, despite my lack of any running at all over the last two weeks in Australia. Further proof that walking is better exercise that I gave it credit for.
The Reading Half took place at the weekend. I was reliably informed by a couple of girls at the gym this morning that it actually started on time: a feat never before achieved, to the best of my knowledge. Jolly well done to all that took part, especially the girls who ran it in about 1:46. I’d just be happy to crack two hours, but I don’t think Hastings is going to be the place to do it, even if I do get to the gym most mornings this week.
Filed under: half marathon training, hastings half marathon, running | Tags: artarmon, half marathon training, hastings half marathon, running
I’m in Australia visiting my oldest friend, her husband and gorgeous 17-month old son. He’s into learning new words, and I’ve taught him how to say “bamboo”. Random but amusing.
Clare and Bryn live in a suburb of Sydney – Artarmon - on the north shore. It’s a really nice, leafy area just fifteen minutes from the City on the train which runs reliably every few minutes and is clean. First Great Western could learn a lot.
I managed to get out for a short run on my first morning here which was more of a run-walk-run-consult map-run affair that allowed me to get my bearings. The cycle and walking paths are absolutely excellent, and teaming with people commuting to work on foot or on two wheels. I was out for about forty minutes and, after a 53-hour day, that was quite enough in the heat and humidity.
This morning, armed with a new iPod Shuffle bought at Heathrow during a tortuous delay, I extended my route out east and down through Flat Rock Gully – a pretty, wooded (and cool) creek. From there, I ducked under a striking suspension bridge and into Tunks Park whose marina opens onto Long Bay, part of Sydney’s Middle Harbour. It was a stunning run, and I enjoyed every minute of it. Even the incredibly steep climb back up from Flat Rock Gully back towards Artarmon. Good training for the Hastings Half.
Running seems pretty big in Australia. Lots of people run with their dogs; others on their own or with other people. I was over at Manly yesterday and there were hoards of beautiful people bouncing along the promenade in the heat of the day. I thought only mad dogs and Englishmen (and women) were silly enough to risk heatstroke in the midday sun. Apparently not.
