Tag Archives: vegan

Ridgeway Run 2012

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This was my 3rd time at the Ridgeway Run and once the mist cleared it was obvious we were in for a treat of a run on a beautiful sunny day without even the wind that made itself felt during last years edition. I met Peter and Simon at the start, about a kilometre walk from the HQ where we were to finish. I’d promised myself I’d take it nice and easy, targeting 1:35, so as to spare my sore foot and there’s not many starts as easy as this – I didn’t hear any countdown or bang – we just started shuffling, then walking, then eventually jogging along narrow Marshcroft Lane.

Peter left us behind soon enough and somewhere during the second mile I realised I was running much too fast and let Simon go ahead. Much of the first 3 miles are uphill and what with kissing gates and some huge puddles to get round we suffered minor congestion leading to a brief walk several times on the ascent. I passed Simon then he must have passed me as I snuck behind a tree for a leak. I caught him again at the water station near the Bridgewater Monument at the top of the main climb.

A couple of miles along a wide track through the woods then a sharp descent down a bit on gnarly single-track. Soon enough we were on the Ridgeway which takes the form of a partly sunken track through chalk grassland at this point. Then up and over the two lumps on Pitstone Hill and into the long final descent through woodland avoiding walkers and trying not to trip over roots and steps.

The last mile and a bit was mostly tarmac which I know peeves some runners but for me was a chance to expend a bit of the energy I’d been hanging onto and get myself to a comfortable 1:30:45 finish 378th of 559 and only 30 seconds slower than last year.

I decided to give the long queue for the technical shirt a miss as I have too many running shirts as it is. I grabbed a bottle of water though and went to see Simon finish. Peter appeared from somewhere having finished 5 minutes before me and we posed for a photo. Peter and I then went into Tring proper to visit the vegetarian, mostly organic, Anusia Cafe where we refuelled on vegan soup and cake.

Two days later, the ibuprofen having long worn off, my plantar faciitis appears to have got a bit worse. Maybe running up that hill wasn’t so good an idea after all but it was fun. I’d run the Oxford parkrun the day before, not fast at 26:22 but not exactly a rest day either. I’m hoping that a few days of nothing but the easiest of taper running will allow it to recover enough to survive the Abingdon Marathon on Sunday – after that I think it’ll be time for a bit of a rest, nothing more than 10ks for the rest of the year, and I’ve already dusted the bike off to get a few miles in the saddle instead.

Bristol Half 2012

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What with my last 2 half marathons starting too fast and ending too slow; nagging plantar faciitis in my left foot and failing to manage my hoped for 9 minute mile marathon place for the duration of a flat 15 mile training run I have had to lower my sights a bit. So the revised plan is to go for 4 hour 10 minutes at Abingdon Marathon, that’s 9:30 pace, and Bristol Half would be an exercise in consistency rather than speed with me trying to stay under 9 minute miles for a 1:55 finish. Fortunately I’m not the driven, ambitious sort so it was with a sense of optimistic relief that I found myself driving down to Bristol on a dull but dry morning.

The usual getting lost and confused on the way too and at the start resolved into me finding Vegan Runners Lisa, Andrew and Daniel in Millennium Square with Helena and Jasmijn there to support. This was my first really big event, apparently expecting 14,000 runners, which meant various different wave starts. I was in blue start same as Daniel and he did a fine job of getting us to where we belonged. We then hung about for a good 20 minutes before the expected shuffle, walk then run towards the start timing mat and we were on our way, Daniel soon leaving me behind on his way to a 1:46 finish.

Soon enough we were running up the Portway, a wide stretch of road along the Avon Gorge that we had to ourselves. We passed under the Clifton Suspension Bridge continuing to run about 3 miles along here. We cheered the two racing wheelchairs shortly followed by the bunch of 4 Kenyan men leading the race as they came  back past us on the other side of the road. I spotted Andrew coming the other way, a good ten minutes in front of me. Then my turn for the U-turn, an encouraging reminder that there were thousands behind me, I spotted Vegan Runners Lisa, Claire and Paula coming the other way.

A lot of people had passed me during the first few miles but I had put 1:45 down as my original finish time estimate all those months back and I was aware that I might have started in the wrong wave altogether. Feeling fine though and by half way those around me were at a compatible pace and a few were already starting to flag and drop back. Daniel had warned me that just as you think you’ve finished the ‘goes on forever’ Portway you cross over the Avon then find another long stretch to be patient with.

I swallowed the energy gel I was carrying just before a water point about mile 9, they turned out to be handing out free gels so I’d soon replaced it with a freebie. The last few miles seemed pretty convoluted and I was tiring a bit, I could feel my foot starting to complain despite the ibuprofen I’d taken an hour before the start. There were a couple of short inclines, reviving support and music round Castle Park, a cobbled bit (well setts really I suppose) that weren’t nice to run on. Several times we were running with a flow of runners coming the opposite direction as we seemed to meander all over this bit of Bristol.

Well after the 12 mile marker, when it should be almost over, a stream of runners flow the opposite way and I’m dismayed to think the course can be that far over distance to allow us to back track all the way along there. The penny drops, I’ve already done that bit, those guys are all behind me. I pass 13 miles on my Garmin and realise I need to push now if I want my 1:55 so I manage to speed up a bit, even so a Honey Monster tears past us at an alarming rate dropping about 30 runners on the finish straight.

The Garmin reads 1:54:48 later to be confirmed by the chip times. I’m 4,512th out of what I believe to be 9,975 finishers. I’m pleased it’s gone to plan for a change and reckon I could have been just a little bit quicker as I’m not totally knackered.

After the race I meet-up with Andrew, Jasmijn, Daniel and Helena and we go to the Cafe Kino where I refuel on a fine vegan all day breakfast before the long drive home.

Cafe Kino after the Bristol Half 2012

The official photos are very pricey so instead I buy one of the special offer personalised race videos available on-line and have a play at editing it.

 

Slow Running

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I’ve been wondering, with a touch of dismay, where my running speed has got to these last couple of months. It’s not as if I had much in the first place but recently paces I achieved earlier in the year and hoped to build on seem way out of reach.

Back in February I scraped a half marathon PB of 1:44:03 at Wokingham. Not long after PBs at the Banbury Run and the Compton 20. I ran just a few seconds short of my best parkrun time during April without even trying for a PB. But since then nothing has been fast.

So, as a vegan, the first thing I wonder is whether there’s a problem with my diet. I eat a fair amount of vegan junk food along with my fruit and veg. Then there’s the beer which probably doesn’t help. But no – I eat the same now as I was eating earlier in the year and for several years now, I did give up beer for a month last April but Wokingham was in February so hardly relevant. I’ve been weighing myself regularly for the last couple of months and remain a stable 61 kilo. I’ve also been looking at what I eat and trying to spot possible deficiencies – not a thing I usually do – most of the time I just eat what I fancy – and I can’t see any cause for concern. Nope, I don’t think it’s anything to do with my diet!

Oxford parkrun #41

So why are my parkrun times 90 seconds slower? Why am I struggling, and often failing, to keep my shorter runs under 9 minute miles? Why am I thinking it’s going to be tough to get in under 1:50 at Burnham Beeches Half this coming Sunday, I’m not even considering a PB attempt. Why have my recent attempts at speedwork felt more like a short dash before I give into my moaning body rather than the satisfying, tough but even effort they should be? Maybe most important why does the idea of getting under 4 hours at the Abingdon Marathon begin to feel more like a dream than a target!

Looking back I think doing the Northants Ultra shortly after that horrid MK Marathon in the endless rain was the start of my troubles. I trained myself to slow right down to 12 minute miles and maybe got too comfortable with them. Perhaps I should have had a weeks break after for a proper recovery, I felt I was coming back ok though. Then that stomach bug left me weak for a bit and despite missing the Jericho Run because of it I maybe ran the NSPCC Half, shortly followed by my 10 mile Real Relay leg in the rain, before I’d got my strength back.

I’m not convinced by any of these physical reasons though. I reckon my body is up to going a bit faster but my mind is holding me back. Instead of slowing me with phantom aches and pains my central governor is taking more direct action and having a go at my motivation, smothering my ability to suffer with a comfortable ‘why bother’ blanket just when I need to push a bit harder. A haze of mild depression partly fuelled by the very inability to progress it helps create.

Anyway I’ve written this drivel down as it helps to clarify and I might want to look back at it. I started it this morning and have since run a rather pleasing interval session where I hit my target pace and time. I shall do my darnedest to get under 1:50 at Burnham Beeches. This is the turning point!

 

Otmoor Challenge 2012

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They tell me 666 is the number of the beast and the beast in question seemed to be a bit of a donkey.

The Otmoor Challenge is never going to be a fast half marathon (though I notice the winner got round sub 1:15) what with a mixture of wonky farm track, stubbly rough strimmed grass, muddy puddles, stiles and a long hill. Last time I’d run in 2010 it had been hot and I’d suffered, taking off too fast then finishing in just over 2 hours after a walk up the hill. This time I did much the same but struggled with the strong south westerly wind rather than heat – I’m not a quick learner.

The plan was sub 9 minute miles all round to finish under 1:59. The first 3 miles, mostly off road, I was running more like 8:20s and passing too many people. I realised this wasn’t going to work by the time we’d hit tarmac and slowed a bit through the villages of Murcott (water station), Fencott and Charlton. I tried to pace myself by an older Alcester runner but he proved a bit inconsistent, speeding up every time there was roadside support – they all seemed to know him – then slowing after. Still too hard and by the time we hit Oddington at 6 miles I just couldn’t keep it up (though I did pass the Alcester chap).

Just to add insult to injury we left the road again here turning on to a tree lined track directly into a really strong wind. Then there were signs warning of rough track, roots and lumps to watch out for, slippery wooden bridges. A going on forever stretch on rough grass by a field where you could see runners way up ahead. It was hard to pass here as only a narrow path was runnable but plenty of people managed to get past me non-the-less. More water at Noke. I was fighting to keep the miles under 10 minutes by now and was keeping myself running with a promise of a walk up the hill at 10 miles.

The Otmoor Challenge offers a walk as well as a run and we occasionally passed bunches of walkers who had presumably been on route for about 4 hours by this stage. They all had a cheer for us and one bunch of kids would ran past us to stop and cheer then ran past again for a repeat – this didn’t quite have the intended effect as it made me feel even slower but couldn’t help but chuckle.

We turned onto the hill, the narrow road that led up from the Otmoor RSPB reserve to Beckley village. I ran the first bit then ran and walked the rest making sure to discipline myself to just walk to ‘the 3rd telegraph pole’ or whatever so I was in control. Just me walking near the bottom but quite a few more pedestrians near the top I noticed.

Another drink at the Beckley water station then last bit of climb before launching myself down the grassy slope that was our reward. Several stiles slowed things down a bit but after some woodland then track we were back on tarmac for the final blast. I almost managed to regain my 9 minute miles along here but it was all very hard work, even with the turn into the finish in sight it just seemed too far. I pushed best I could though and finished in 2 hours and 13 seconds, about 30 seconds faster than my 2010 attempt.

I was totally stuffed and very nearly threw up. After a drink and a sit down I decided to have a go at welly-wanging, perhaps this would prove to be where my talents really lay. Unfortunately, what with weak arms from the run and a total lack of coordination, I proved to be rubbish but possibly safer than the strong runner who had a turn before me and threw his second welly straight up in the air for it to land more behind him than in front. Riding the fixie home back over Beckley hill was tough!

Post mortem: at home I weighed myself and I suspect that I may have been a bit dehydrated despite using several drinks stations, the wind was too strong for any sweat to stay so I may have been fooled. I’d been wearing my heart rate monitor and the download suggested I was actually running near full effort for most of the race, even those slow miles and particularly at the end. More 10k pace than half marathon. On top of this it was only 13 days since my ultra race and I’d already run 15 miles this week so maybe a bit more recovery time for my ageing body would have been in order. Unfinished business here and next time I am definitely going under 2 hours!

I may be a mediocre runner and an incompetent welly-wanger but my first effort at cooking vegan pizza on Friday was not to be sniffed at, we made short work of that!

Northants Ultra 2012

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After really enjoying the Compton 20 at the beginning of April I’d inevitably (for me) started contemplating a trail ultra marathon. The contrastingly miserable Milton Keynes marathon, for which it rained most of the time, turned contemplation into serious investigation – I needed an antidote. A look on the Runners World calender unearthed something called the Northants Ultra 35 – Shires and Spires which was not too far from home and promised rolling countryside so I entered.

I promised myself that I would not start if the weather looked at all nasty or if I didn’t feel up to it or if I was even vaguely injured come the day. The MK Marathon would have to do as my longest run – after all I’d had a fair amount of walking practice during it. I ran walked a hilly trail 22 miler leaving myself just a 2 week taper during which I fussed about what kit I’d need and watched the weather get gradually hotter. I concentrated on serious carbo-loading and pre-hydration the 2 days before and was actually weighing 2kg over average by the night before.

The start was bustling with music and early sunshine. I picked up my number and my map book, ate and drunk some more, and used the loo round the side of the stately Lamport Hall whose grounds we were in. We were asked to gather at the start for a briefing then 8:30 am and we were off – no rushing about just a gentle jog along the front of the hall and out onto the road.

The result of my inquiry regarding whether any vegan food would be available at checkpoints – fruit for instance – hadn’t been very reassuring so I was prepared to fuel myself on energy gels and sweeties with a couple of other items in case I could face any more sweet and sticky. To this end I’d discovered late that I could carry 4 extra gels by wedging them behind the already jammed full pouches on my bottle belt. They say never try anything new on the day and sure enough a few hundred metres down the road I had to stop and recover 2 I’d dropped, I held them in my hand along with the other 2 which were also trying to jump ship. In my other hand was the waterproofed map book with it’s red line on extracts from the OS map which I couldn’t make any sense of while on the move. I don’t like running with stuff in my hands so this wasn’t a good start, particularly as it was already warm enough for my hands to be getting slippery with sweat.

Within a mile we were descending a long hill which we knew we’d be climbing back up in 34 miles – it was a great start though and a bit of chatting and jogging and not as much walking as I’d promised myself and we were at the first checkpoint at Cottesbrooke, about 4 miles in. I ate my second gel and dumped the map, I had my Garmin to navigate by with backup map and compass so this seemed dead weight. With only 600ml of water capacity on a hot day I made sure to drink all my water before each checkpoint then drink at least 500ml as well as refilling the bottles.

A couple of minutes and I was off again, a chap with local knowledge had already confirmed an imminent long climb after which most of the run would be undulating, Tracklogs reckoned about 750m total climb for the 35 mile course. Despite running what felt very slowly my Garmin suggested I’d gone off too fast so I made a point of taking it extra easy and walking most of the hill then jogging along the ridge listening to my iPod while taking in some fine views and generally enjoying the sun which was to reach 27 degrees C later in the day. Checkpoint 2 at Naseby, almost 9 miles in, arrived soon enough and I refilled my water and set off alone munching a Nak’d bar which didn’t go down very well in the heat.

The field had spread out somewhat by now and for a while there were no other runners in sight. After a couple of miles we were off the road and back on the paths again, I found a runner at a field edge trying to work out which way to go so we ran together for a while. Soon after I made the mistake of following him along a short path across a cropped field as my Garmin route didn’t look very obvious. We ended up wandering through a tall meadow to regain the Garmin route where I reassuringly saw some runners up ahead in the distance to confirm – it had only cost a few minutes so not a problem. We met another confused runner on the outskirts of West Haddon who had run before and seemed to think we should go through the village rather than round, she joined us on the correct route.

Soon enough we were at the Silsworth Riding School control at 16 miles. I refilled my water and drunk lots while eating a few crisps and wasting valuable time trying to get my Zero hydration tablets out of my bag. I felt fine and my pace was still ok but I could tell I was getting a bit muddled and clumsy and the endurance part of the day was really going to start!

Somewhere or another in Northamptonshire

I left with a small group, soon it was just 2 of us, then just me after my companion went shopping for water in one of the villages having failed to meet-up with his support team. Onwards, enjoying the music, walking the hills and occasionally the not hills, the halfway point came and went then the 20 miles. By checkpoint 4, Althorp, at 23 miles I was increasingly feeling the heat and was getting slower but not severely so. The time limit for the event was 9 hours and I held out some hope for an 8 hour finish but knew better than to force the pace just as I was about to go into that unknown territory after 26.2 miles.

The pace really started dropping after the 26th mile, the Garmin download suggests I was averaging only 16 minute miles now. I still felt good though which rather surprised me and it was reassuring seeing others with apparently more experience walking just as much and seeming happy and confident. I was eating my way through my supply of gels and sweets while continuing to drink, once getting a bonus fill-up from someone’s support vehicle.

I got slightly lost a couple of times, one pleasant diversion where I led a couple of chaps through what I think were the private grounds of yet another stately home, a less pleasant detour on a golf course where the Garmin wanted me to go straight through a hedge and only the appearance of other runners who headed straight for a partly hidden stile just 20 metres away made the route clear. Sometimes a map is better than a Garmin. (I’m not sure I’m getting events in the right order now – you know how it is.)

Yet another hill up to the 5th checkpoint at Teeton – which had become ‘tea-time’ in my now comfortably cooked brain – lots more water including half a bottle over my head then I continued upwards leaving behind the small party on the green including a cheerful young lady whose feet seemed to be held together with sticking plasters.

8 hours wasn’t going to happen now but I was going to finish in plenty of time so just plodded on run-walking and not thinking about that huge hill right near the end. I gradually caught up with a couple of ladies who were walking while I jogged. They left me behind quick enough when I slowed to walk a hill. Similarly I seemed to be running more often than a couple of cheerful chaps who still left me behind as I slowed to walk. I chatted with them briefly and commented that it was my walking speed I needed to work on if I wanted to gain time.

We gently climbed some cycleway for a bit which offered a welcome bit of shade then rejoined the outward route for that last hill. I walked up happily, now alone, then jogged a little along the road into Lamport crossing carefully when I remembered it was in fact the A508. I walked to the gate we had been told we would finish through (‘NOT the one you start out of as that will be locked’). A couple of hundred metres before the finish, before it came into sight, I ran without restraint for the first time in a good few miles and crossed the line to be awarded a medal to go with my technical shirt. Sitting in the shade drinking yet more more water I looked back on the day and chatted to a chap who it turned out came from Wheatley just 4 miles the other side of Shotover from me – we’d been training for this event over much the same trails.

Results show 8 hour 13 minutes – 119th of 132 finishers (138 starters). I thoroughly enjoyed the event and will have to restrain myself from entering any more this year, I could easily get sucked into this ultra thing and spend all my weekends getting slower and knackereder which would be just a bit too much like audax. Very tired with extremely wobbly legs the following day so was glad to have booked it off work. The only actual injury I seem to have gained is a blister on my right foot which is annoying and uncomfortable to walk on but all in all I think I got away with it lightly!