Dilemma

8.20am. Have woken up after a terrible night's sleep with a very sore tooth and a rather swollen patch in my mouth that made my breakfast difficult to swallow. Am thinking abscess!? Really stuck now whether to stay behind and try and find an emergency dentist or take the trip to Manchester and do this 10k race. Why do these things always happen at the weekend? This couldn't be worse timing!

And Toothy Tales of Torture...

16.45pm. Well, this Platt Fields 10k being the only road race planned for a while I set aside the tooth ache and went to Manchester to race instead. The dentist's answer machine message advising of the £115 call out fee was an additional motivator to try and live with the pain. I'm now less sure the race was worth the toothy sacrifice as we parked up at Platt Fields in shimmering heat and stifling humidity. The race was 1 small and 3 large laps around the park perimeter and incorporated the Northern Vets 10k champs. The 3 of us (me, M and old club mate Sally M) were all preparing our excuses; panicked by the heat and humidity, we all resolved to start out steady and just hoped we could get round in one piece. I was feeling less than fresh when 12pm arrived and prepared myself for a tough time on the start line but remained hopeful to be up in the prizes; by this stage thoughts of a decent a time had gone out of the window. Anyway, I think its safe to say that the race was absolute torture from the first mile. I'm not good at running in the heat and today was a mixture of baking stretches in full sun interchanged with hot, suffocating and humid tunnels of vegetation hell! Hope you're getting the sticky picture..

I ran a pretty cautious first mile but the splits just went downhill after that and I finished well down on what I'd hoped to do with a final time of 37.11. The other two had an equally tough time with Sally finishing 2.5 mins down on her last 10k time and M feeling so bad on this airless and stifling course with his dodgy chest that he had to stop 2 miles in. Times for the day were generally down by 1-2 mins for most so am trying hard not to freak out at my final result.

Reflecting on the race, the biggest challenge was to keep going, I was very close to stopping in parts, especially on this multi lapped course and quite a few didn't make it through. I was relieved to win the ladies race and I've some very nice vouchers to show for it, I also managed 10th position overall and came home with another impressive trophy for the NVAC Champs V35 prize. I'm so glad its over though, Summer racing is too hard.

A Fine Pair

Nice change today as we ran with very good company this morning on an easy 4 mile recce of the relay route around Danefield Forest in Otley. Nigel A came over from Pudsey to act as our trusty guide and along with our mate Tricky we ran a nice, easy and very loopy route around the forest tracks. These old legs felt strangely tired but am trying not to read too much into this other than the usual pre-race panic that I'm not fit/fast/fresh enough for the efforts of a road race. I'll stop being a scaredy cat once the gun has gone at 12pm tomorrow and I've got the race started. My pre-race nerves are always ridiculous, even for really low key events so no surprises that I'm already stressin'.

Had a very welcome invite to refuel on a coffee and biscuits at Dragons club later in the morning and chewed the fat with a pair of good running pals, Kevin O and Tricky. Both are great runners and equally immersed in the sport themselves but somehow they still manage to be incredibly supportive, positive and generous towards those around them. Anyway, after eyeing up all those muffins, croissants and other devilish things in the cafe I decided to rescue that box of forlorn looking blueberries in the fridge and rustle up a delicious pancakey snack. Only for pre-race fuelling purposes of course ; )

That Friday Feelin'

So glad Friday's here at last after what seems to have been a very long week and the torture having to go to work, when waking to glorious sunshine every day. Its great to put this week to bed and after a very easy short loop for my run tonight I've enjoyed a very slobby evening eating lots of naughty stuff and watching trash on TV. Legs have felt pretty tired these last two days so am cutting down the miles at least until the race is done & dusted this weekend. A short and easy recce of the Danefield relay route tomorrow morning should preface a very chilled Saturday, doing very little except for fun stuff, enjoying time at home with M and cooking some good food. Ah, the simple comforts of home.

Daydream Believer

Have had a the crappiest day imaginable today at work and spent half of the afternoon wishing I could just zap myself out of the office into some alternate reality where you only work when you want to, trainers grow on trees and cake is the healthy low calorie option.

I really needed my run tonight; a steady 7 from home via Draughton windmills dropping to Bolton Bridge and home along the river. Got back just in time to see the finish of our local fell race; a classic straight up and straight down route via Beamsley Beacon. Now going to drown myself in some trashy TV and hope tomorrow brings better things. Thank you world for the running at least.

300s

An apt Spartan theme for tonight's sesh at the club I think. I felt the weekend in my legs tonight but still ran reasonably well despite the very sticky and hot atmosphere on the rugby field. The air was thick with very annoying flies which I think have more than provided sufficient protein intake today given the number I seemed to choke on through the reps. The session planned was more speed that VO2 in focus so have swapped my plans around to rebalance with a fartlek session on Thursday. Tonight's session was 12x300 reps on the grass field with pretty short jog recoveries over 100m. Though pretty tough in the muggy heat I ran steady and managed to maintain pace through the full 12, perhaps dipping a little in the middle. Pace was 5.08-5.10 min/miles which isn't too bad on the lumpy and bumpy grass though I do wonder if the grass sessions offer the same benefits as the track.

I'm still torn on this club night dilemma. Though I'm keen to be participating in club training and feel some responsibility to go down on a club night I can't help but feel that the speed and VO2 work would be better served on the track where faster pace is more easily developed. The benefits of the grass will no doubt serve me well on the cross country later in the year. I might have to bob out the odd week and try and get some gutchuckin' 800s in.

Stop Me If You Think That You've Heard This One Before

I must stop having time off work. Though I did have a wonderful time over my long weekend I'm now faced with the cruel reality of a full and very long week ahead. Mondays are rubbish. I know I'm being a big moaner but the week ahead just seems like such a slog and I really need some quality Runningbear time. How do those Americans do it?! I hear 2 weeks a year leave allowance is a good deal for most employees...is that really true? Sounds like torture. I suppose the glorious sunshine today didn't really help with being stuck at a desk and generally moping around the office.

Tried to cheer up a bit with a nice and steady 7 out to Ilkley and back tonight with M. After the glorious sunshine all day the weather just turned mental tonight and we were splashing through torrents for the full hour. Despite having to swim across giant puddles and squint through sheets of pouring rain the legs still feel pretty good after the rigours of last week's training. I'll stick to another pretty solid training week before the race on Sunday and just ease down a day or two before. Though I'd like to be fresh and give it a good go, I don't want to compromise the training too much now I'm back in full swing. Am slightly nervous of what kind of time I'll manage (yikes). Just have to hope I've not lost too much to avoid any major blows to much needed confidence right now. All pinkies are firmly crossed.

The Big 100

No, 100 is not the number of Lidl treats I've scoffed since my last shop there 24 hours ago. This is a very significant number, as today a local running star will have raced 100 half-marathons since his athletics career started as a school boy. Terry L started his running career over 45 years ago and has achieved many running feats in his time. Having run a total of 100 sub-40min 10k races & no less than 100 sub-69min 10m races, today will be his 100th half-marathon race! Terry has shared his experience and passion for running with many local runners over the years. He continues to clock at least 50 miles per week, 7 days each week, whatever the weather. Here's hoping the sun has been kind for his slightly scary 2pm start at Freckleton HM today.

As for me, I enjoyed my favourite session of the week, my long run on the canal path from Silsden. I was joined by M and our old club mate Mark I for the first 6 miles. It was great to have company but the boys were less than eager to run the 16 I had planned so we parted company at 5 Rise Locks, just outside Bingley and I pressed on alone for the remaining miles. The sun was in full force but the shade of overhanging trees on the canal side and light winds made the run a treat. I was pleased with how I felt, especially after the track yesterday; the legs were comfortable running in my endurance zone and I found myself struggling to keep the pace down in the returning 8 miles; clocking a total of 16m at 7.08 pace despite my attempts to put on the brakes. I'm confident that my strength and endurance are returning; its just the speed that needs a bit of attention now. Settled in to watch the athletics again today; what a dream telly weekend we've had, what with all the 'new rules' drama, crashes and 'spikings' and exhausted athletes; who needs Arnie...

A Lidl Piece of Heaven

Have just sat down after a huge and delicious lunch; well earned after a hectic morning at the track. My plan this year was to build up my speed over the Summer (ready to attack the cross country season in the Autumn) but this plan has had its ups and downs, mostly downs with all the time out trying to get the mojo back. Anyway, since little miss mojo returned I've been doing my best to get in the VO2 sessions as much as is healthy for these 36 year old legs.

I was very grateful for M's company this morning. This was his first track session back after the op and the niggles of his sore tummy holes made by those pesky surgeons, (the holes got a bit infected so he's on extra strength antibiotics). He ran amazingly well and seems to have lost very little strength or speed over these last few weeks. We both repeated the session last week; 8x600m reps but with a shorter recovery (60-75 secs). The reps felt tougher this week for me at least, as was supported by my rep times which were a bit down on last week. I'm not stressing about it though, the recovery was much shorter and I've had a heavy week of mileage. I was also rather reserved in my pacing today, being wary not to push my luck and run too hard after a tough training week & I also need to save a bit for tomorrow's long run on the canal.

Speaking of long runs I've found another gem for refuelling. I dragged M via Lidl in Nelson on the way home for the usual stock of german sausages (for him), chocolate milk for me and a hunt for a new treat. It was a bonanza morning; these caramel wafers are a heavenly delight and perfect for a post track refuel in the car. They're not too crumbly and with a nice chewy (rather than oozy) caramel layer to really make your mouth water, if you like a snack with a bit of bite and texture that is. Runningbear is very happy with the purchase though I'm now wondering anxiously if the stock is sufficient to cover the week; particularly when M has also developed a taste for these fine treats. They keep calling to me from inside the naughty cupboard, what's a girl to do...they certainly top Tunnocks for any fellow wafer fans out there.

Into The Wild

Have enjoyed a lovely day off today, starting with getting all the house chores done by 9.30am and settling down to watch a DVD this morning with a pair of cuddly cats for company. Grizzly Man was loaned to me after a Monday morning chat with a work colleague discussing Into the Wild. I'm not sure what to say about this film; I'm left with mixed feelings and am still working out what I think of it. The grizzly death of its star Tim Treadwell was a very sobering start to the day so getting out into the hills was very welcome.

I opted for a bit of an adventure and the looming rainclouds didn't put me off. I drove out past Barden to just above Appletreewick at lunchtime for a change of running scene and enjoyed spectacular views across to Hebden, Burnsall and Simon's Seat. The weather was pretty wild and changeable but the waterside path at Grimwith Reservoir was pretty sheltered from the strong winds with barely a soul in sight except a windsurfer on the water obviously having the best time ever. The pace was relaxed and very easy to clear these legs of cobwebs after last night's heavy session. The views were spectacular on the track down to Raikes farm; the hills looked like the rugged shoulders of ancient beasts slumbering in the dappled sunlight. What a wonderful escape today was, life should be like this everyday. I've now collected yet another location for a future home to add to the collection. Back in our cosy house now & ready for some good food and a night in front of the telly with M. Life is good today.

Testing Tempo

Tonight was a toughie and rather than approach a 1x4m tempo effort I bottled it and went for 2x2m instead; have been feeling a bit zombie-like all day. The session planned was a 9 miler starting in Ilkley with M, warming up for a couple of miles before parting company and embarking on the first lactate threshold paced effort over 2 miles. This took me to the Burley roundabout for a quick mile recovery circuit around the village before returning for the 2m effort back into Ilkley. I wasn't looking forward to the session with the high winds and gusts all along this straight and exposed road. The mile splits reflected the challenge of running into head winds but my heart rate was the true guide tonight; I managed to maintain an effort falling between 4.9 and 5.1 for much of the way, spot on for a threshold workout. M had opted to do a different session tonight so we hooked up for the warm down miles bringing me to a total of just over 10 miles tonight. Phew, I'm glad that's done and dusted. I'm now ready to enjoy an extra long weekend. Have the house to myself on Friday with a sneaky day off and plan a day of slobbing in pajamas watching good films, except for the odd run or two of course. Back to the track on Saturday morning - it feels great to be hungry to train hard again.

Magical Misty Run

I somehow dragged myself out of bed this morning after another very late night and have yet again struggled to keep my eyes open through generally dull meetings in overheated rooms. I'm starting to get pretty desperate for a break from work and am counting down the weeks to my planned fortnight off in July. I've booked Friday off this week just to try and get some rest from the work slog and am already planning a lovely double running outing somewhere pretty.

Training seems to do a good job of perking me up in an evening at least and tonight was no exception in magical and misty conditions. I forged a new route out of two oldies tonight and clocked 9 miles in HR zone 3 over a moderately hilly trail route covering a climb to Draughton windmills on to Bolton Abbey with a loop to Cavendish before returning via the riverside path to home. The misty rain eventually cleared and the evening brightened up enough to dry out my drenched running gear on the return leg home. After mulling over my racing commitments I've reverted back to the original plan and aim to complete a lactate threshold session tomorrow. A visit to the track again this Saturday should round off another excellent training week. The looming 10k in the next couple of weeks is a stark reminder of the absence of any training to maintain threshold pace so I'd better get to it. Hills will have to wait.