Author: MarathonMannUK

Carlton, a village about one mile from where we live did a publicity campaign a few years ago, to change the name of the village to “Rhubarb”.  It did this to highlight the need to protect the brand of the local “forced” rhubarb grown in the region known as the “Rhubarb Triangle”.  Sine 2010 the term “Yorkshire Forced Rhubarb” has Protected Designation of Origin awarded by the European Comission (political point not necessary here) highlighting the quality of this product.

As I ran through the villiage, struggling a little in the heat and wind, I reflected on my 150 mile plus acheivement last month and the slowness of  my very gradual return to fitness. I remembered something my Physio said “sometimes less is more” and a friend’s comment that although he has been running really fast times he has “never ran less”.

I have always observed that with me, high mileage goes with good performance but it occurred to me that I might have got the cause and effect the wrong way round.  Maybe the fitness causes the ability to up the mileage rather than the high mileage causing the fitness!  Given the comments of professionals and friends alike it’s more than maybe.

So, here’s the new month resolution: it’s going to be quality (like the rhubarb) rather than quantity.  I’m going to go back to running 4 times per week taking proper rests and not get obsessed with larger and larger mileage goals.  Maybe I’ll run 100 in July and maybe I won’t but the important thing is that it isn’t my goal.

“But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭19:30‬ ‭NIVUK‬‬
http://bible.com/113/mat.19.30.nivuk

We are nearly at the end of June and my monthly total of running is 152 miles, which I am really chuffed with since it’s the best I’ve done since 2011!  In December of that year I achieved by best ever monthly total of 179 miles.  Back then I was routinely running 5K parkruns in under 22:30 and in January 2012 I got a half marathon PB of under 1:45.  It was shortly after, that things unraveled for me when I started to get heart fibrilations.

It makes me so thankful that I am free of those problems now but looking at those running logs has reminded me that it takes months and months of hard work to get back to those levels of fitness.  I have got off to a really good start over the last few months and I have lots of supportive friends to encourage me.

At the running club we did a “beep” test last night and I scored 7:2, which in my book isn’t brilliant but it’s a base to improve on.  I did an 8.5 mile run tonight and found it hard going; I am tired and think it will be best to rest now for now but I am feeling positive at what I have achieved so far this year and what I have to look forward to.

The photo below is the Tyne Bridge which I passed today, part of the venue for the Great North Run which I will be running later this year.

“But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.’” 2 Chronicles‬ ‭15:7‬ ‭NIVUK‬‬

http://bible.com/113/2ch.15.7.nivuk

I love exploring new running routes and it seems to me however much I explore my local area, there is always more to discover.

We are very fortunate around here to have plenty of local parkruns to choose from and it has been the custom over several years on New Years day, to stagger start times to allow people to “do the double” by running two parkruns on the same day.  To add to the challenge, it is also cool to run between the two venues (if possible).  This year I managed to do this stunt between Pontefract and Nostell (see what a difference a year makes).

Next year, I fancy doing this with Woodhouse Moor and Temple Newsam, an especially good challenge because Temple is considered one of the most challenging parkrun routes in the country!  The route from Woodhouse is not so much long (around 5 miles), but a little awkward, because you need to traverse Leeds city centre and find the various paths and trails to avoid the main non-pedestrian-friendly, roads.  So, today I decided to recci the route (nothing like a bit of long-term planning).

So, I took a bus into the City Centre and then jogged past Millenium Square and the LGI, through the university campus to Woodhouse Moor.  I then set out, guided by Google Maps because I didn’t really have a Scooby as to the intricacies of the route. If you don’t mind wearing earphones and a voice barking instructions at you, it’s surprisingly good and seems to know about all the footpaths.  The first bit through the city centre was quite tricky because it was busy with ambling shoppers.  It got better as I ran through housing estates and then along cycling and footpaths and it was a relief to get off road.  Although it was a warm day making the going quite hard, I enjoyed running the route.  When I reached Temple Newsam there was some kind of event on and there were lots of people enjoying a day out in the sun.

The run home from Temple Newsam was quite lonely because you go through some rather desolate areas round the landfill and there is plenty of ups and downs so quite hard in the heat.

Overall, a really enjoyable run and now I know how to do the Woodhouse to Temple dash!

“By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night.” Exodus‬ ‭13:21‬ ‭NIVUK‬‬

http://bible.com/113/exo.13.21.nivuk