Marathon Mann

A good friend, Roger offered me a spare ticket to see the World Series Triathlon in Leeds from the grandstand in Millenium Square.  Since the race went all around Leeds you didn’t really need a ticket but the prospect of a grandstand view was too good to miss.  This is the first time the UK leg of this world-wide series has been held outside London and it’s really great to have world class athletic sports on your doorstep.

So I got up bright and early on Sunday to do my own 6 mile run before Church and then off to Leeds in time for the 1 PM start to the elite races.  it was a brilliant day out and what a fairytale ending to the proceedings with the two Brothers Brownlee utterly dominating the men’s race and getting first and second in their home city. I have massive respect for these athletes not only for the fact that they are from my home city of Leeds, but the fact that they get involved locally and are really supportive of the local amateur sports scene.  I have no doubt mentioned in my blogging before that I met Jonathan in the reception of my physiotherapist, where we talked about my upcoming marathon training.

Looking at some of the photos I took of the race, I reflected that sometimes you can get a better view of how fast someone is running from a static photograph and it just goes to show how supremely good these guys are at running!

I also thought about my own running performance recently and despite all the miles I have done, how little progress in terms of speed I have made since I restarted training early March.  In the middle of last week I just had to rest because all the miles and early morning starts had completely shattered me.

Obviously, trying to stretch the envelope purely in terms of raw running volume isn’t as smart an idea as I thought.  Maybe I need to concentrate on quality rather then quantity and also give a chance for proper rest.  I’ve been doing 50 miles per week and this is quite a step-up from what I was doing in April and May (or from what I have ever done for that matter).  If I back-off on my mileage and number of running days I will still be running around 40 miles each week and that for me is as much as I have ever sustained!  I can make sure that as well as long runs, I do enough of the technical work like intervals, hills, sprints etc as well as building strength in the Gym.  I’d love to get in shape to do some reasonable performances in the July races.

“Know also that wisdom is like honey for you: if you find it, there is a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.”  ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭24:14‬ ‭NIVUK‬‬
http://bible.com/113/pro.24.14.nivuk

We got a Facebook message from Jason (who is our friend, the man behind Christian Runners UK, fun to be with and all-round good egg), saying that there was to be a 5K and 10K race today at the Caring for Life open day.  Now Caring for Life is a great local Christan charity supported by members of our church which does all sorts of good work for vulnerable people, so going to support them at the open day wasn’t a bad idea in any event.

There was nothing about a running race on the website or flyers (sheep racing yes, but people racing, no) so I must confess to be somewhat sceptical that there was a race at all.  Surely there at least would be a clue on the web site!  So, we went with running gear ready and daughter and grandson in toe for a grand day out.  And grand it was with lots to do including (watching) sheep shearing, sheep racing, bouncy castles, lots of animals to get near, admire & pet and things to buy and eat.

Surprisingly, there was also a 5K and 10K running race.

Given the blanket publicity, there was probably about a dozen of us runners, but wow, how about a race that doesn’t have hundreds or thousands, it was so cool.  The predominantly off-road 10K route took you to a place called Peter’s Pond which was stunning and then into Goldenacre Park for a couple of laps of the lake before returning to the farm.  It was a lovely route with a bit of gently challenging uphillyness at the end.  After doing Pontefract parkrun in the morning I was pleased with 55 minutes and Helen was even more pleased to WIN the 5K race (Jason won the 10K which he would, wouldn’t he!).

Overall it was a brilliant day and brilliant run, great people and a great atmosphere. Caring for Life is a wonderful charity; if anyone is interested, they have a farm shop and restaurant which you can visit and you don’t have to wait for the next open day.

Caring for Life’s motto is “Sharing the love of Jesus”.  “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” Matthew‬ ‭9:36‬ ‭NIVUK‬‬

http://bible.com/113/mat.9.36.nivuk

So after a couple of days of rest I went to see my physio for a pre-arranged checkup.  The good news is that everything is in order and I got a nice and painful massage to loosen up my hamstrings!  With physiotherapy, prevention is better than cure any day.

Then, feeling a bit more perkey, I decided to go out for a run.  With the temprature pushing 21 and me not taking water (bad move) or gels, after about 8 miles I simply ran out of steam.  It wasn’t that I couldn’t take another step or anything like that, I just lost the will to carry on.  I suppose what added to my lack of enthusiasm to carry on was the fact that I had run through some wet undergrowth and something had irritated my legs and I  had come up in a nasty red rash.  The last time I phoned for rescue was in the days when I was suffering for arythmia but this time it was more a case of listening to my body’s need for more rest. (I’m so glad I’ve got Helen who’s so kind and understanding, who came and rescued me).

I’m not complaining though because I’ve just run 8 miles and a total of 58 in June and if I look back on my life and put it in the context of where I have come from and what I’ve been through, that’s amazing.

I think if I had been running with someone else I might have carried on but there is a lesson there about taking account of the weather!

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah‬ ‭41:10‬ ‭NIVUK‬‬
http://bible.com/113/isa.41.10.nivuk