10 Done...10 to Go.......

I was a wee bit suprised to discover that my training schedule rewarded my 16.2 mile long run last Sunday with an 8mile run on the Monday!  I was expecting a wee 3mile recovery run!!  I did get a wee 4mile one on Tuesday though; a 30min Tempo run on Wednesday and a rest on Thursday.  Another 8mile run on Friday and I was ready for my 4mile run on Saturday.  

My 10th Strathclyde parkrun

When the gorgeous Couper Twins, Claire and Louise, told me that they were coming down to Hamilton on Saturday and would be taking in the Strathclyde parkrun I, of course, agreed to join them.  I was feeling good as I made my way to the lochside location and, after a warm up, I joined with 150 others for the free 5k.  



Claire Couper

With little if any adieu the bumper turnout were set on our way at 9:30am.  It was cold and a bit windy too but I decided to run with just my shorts and a vest on.  I settled into my pace as Claire shot off towards the front of the pack.  I was a bit surprised to find that, regular Edinburgh parkrunner, John McGlynn was on my shoulder.  I glanced at my Garmin as we reached the 1k marker to discover that we were running at 4:12min/k.  I was happy enough with thatnbut noticed that John dropped off the pace a bit, perhaps saving something for his testing 12.5k race on Sunday.  A beep of my Garmin, indicating 6:52, confused me until I remembered that I changed the laps from kilometres to miles.  The organisers had chosen to use the alternative route this week and I kept to my task until reaching the turn around point, where I increased the pace a little.  A caught a runner after a few metres but then found that there was someone pushing me on.  It took him a while but a gut in a yellow top eventually overtook me and slowly opened up a gap.  Garmin beeped to reveal a 7:08min/mile. "Not good enough" I thought and I made chase after 'yellow vest' (Iain Crawford).  I managed to catch him and was happy to sit in just behind him for a while but I noticed that he was slowing, so with about half a mile to go, I overtook him and, keeping up my pace, caught another runner (Pat Smith) before crosing the line in 29th place with an, initially dissapointing, time of 21:54.

I say dissapointing because I know that I could run faster but I was holding myself back for my planned 17mile run on Sunday.  I was hoping to get a Seasonal Best though and I did, by some 22secs.  After a warmdown back to the cafe and a quick change, I joined the Coupers and a few of the regulars for a coffee and a bacon roll, courtesy of the women's race runner.  Claire had run a new course PB of 18:23 and had placed 4th overall.  Julie Beveridge also ran a PB to place 2nd in the women's race in 20:09, with Jill Logan placing 3rd in 20:51.  In the men's race, Steven Lawley was streets ahead finishing 102 seconds in front of his nearest challenger, in a new PB of 16:32.  Anthony Edgar beat his brothers, sisters, father and almost everyone else to place second in 18:14, with Hamilton's Neil Robbins completing his 40th parkrun in a time of 18:19, to place 3rd.

Louise had placed 9th in the women's event in 23:45.

Although it was only my 10th Strathclyde parkrun, the regulars always make me feel very much at home and I always enjoy participating in the event.  The free coffee and bacon roll, was just the icing in the cake.

I'll Drink to Running





NDA @Sammies

As the hours passed away, I started to think about my regular Saturday nights out which I had missed for a few weeks now as training took precedence.  However a quick poll on Facebook showed that there was significant support for me going to the pub AND doing my long run.  I enjoyed my night at Sammies, there was a new band and a few new faces too.  A good night's sleep, a bowl of porridge and I was rteady for my long run.  With my Garmin playing up, I had sketched out a route of three figure of eights around Pollok and Bellahouston Parks, which meat that I could park at Cartha RFC and have regular access to my supply of sports drinks and jelly babies without having to carry them.   I saw Carole Spy and her friends entering Pollok Park as I parked my car.  Jimmy Irvine was doing his usual run on the grass to protect his joints as I started off along Dumbreck Road. I continued onto Haggs Road and towards Pollokshaws Road.  I met Eleanor O'Rourke running in the opposite direction. "Didn't you go to the pub then" she asked.  "I did indeed" I replied.  Although "I'm Proud to be an Ayrshire Atheist"   the Calvanist in the Scottish Psyche required me to pay for last night's sins.......

I continued along on to Pollokshaws Road, where a right turn took me into Pollok Park, along the riverside walk, past the House and Lochinch and I was soon running past my car, a couple of left turns and I was making my way along Mosspark Boulevard.  A right turn down Corkerhill Road took me onto Paisley Road West, where I headed east and then took a right back onto Dumbreck Road and back to the car for a refuel.

It was a good morning for a run. I ran the second lap anti clockwise to freshen things up a little.  The slow release carbohydrates from the porridge, boosted by the sports drink and jelly babies kept me both physically and mentally strong but there was no getting away from the fact that my legs were beginning to tire and ache.  However I kept to my task and completed my run, with a slightly faster pace than last week's.  A warmdown walk back to the car, some stretches and a recovery drink and I was on my way back home for a cold bath, a hot meal and a lie infront of the box watching the rugby.

Summary - 10 Weeks to Go

I had run my 10th Strathclyde parkrun with an SB and clocked up my 98th parkrun overall;  I had completed my 8th week of my VLM training schedule and although my legs are still sore and tired, there is still another 10weeks of training to get them ready for the big day.  Remember you can keep me motivated by sponsoring me here:

Strathclye parkrun results