Fourth running of the Thames Hare & Hounds 2nd Sunday 5 event, and the fourth time I've made it. I'll be on holiday for the fifth event, so here ends my 100% participation streak.
Race plan was simple, go out harder than I have before, and hang on for a PB. Normally I find myself with someone to chase, but this time I ended up having a tussle with someone all the way round the second lap, and down to the finish.
His sprint finish was far faster than mine, so he was a good few seconds clear at the end. I hit my objective though, running hard throughout to come in at 41:38, a new PB by 94 seconds, a big chunk of improvement.
I found out afterwards that Olympic 10,000m athlete Julia Bleasdale was also running - she combined it into the middle of a 17 mile long run, and in doing so won the race and set a new women's course record of 29:51. Wow!
Showing posts with label Thames Hare & Hounds. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Thames Hare & Hounds. Show all posts
Sunday, 16 August 2015
Sunday, 12 July 2015
Race report: Thames Hare & Hounds 2nd Sunday 5 #3
The third running of the Thames Hare & Hounds 2nd Sunday 5 - the new regular 5-mile race held on the second Sunday of every month. It's a great little run, low-key and "local" feeling, but with good running club standards from the TH&H members that I get some stiff competition. Last time I managed to come last, despite putting some serious effort in, so this time my race objectives were triple-printed: A) Don't walk up the Toast Rack; B) Don't come last; C) Go for a PB.
I drove up to the Windmill carpark on Wimbledon Common, it's a couple of km from the start/finish so a jog down makes for a good warm-up, and a gentle stroll back is a nice cool-down afterwards.
Today's run was a little different, it was doubling up with a local school for their off-road fun run. At the start there were a couple of dozen little kids - everything from three to maybe seven or eight years old would be my guess.
They looked cute with their giant race numbers on, and there was lots of excitement from them! I was expecting them to be doing a lap or two of the playing fields, or "out round the cone and back" - but nope, they were doing a full lap of the same course the grown-ups were! A little over 5km, all off-road, including up the Toast Rack!!
The kids had a great little warmup, jumping and bouncing, and then we all lined up to start. I was a bit concerned... I've seen kids start at the front at parkrun and the big risk is they just get mown down - but not this time. The little darlings shot off into the distance, leaving us oldies for dead! I laughed out loud for the first minute or two - running surrounded by tiny kids was hilarious - they were going at absolute full tilt, and all the parents were lagging behind yelling "pace yourself!", "slow down!", and the like. They'd slow down dramatically, then speed off past you again, then slow down - it was certainly not like any other run start I've experienced!
In any case, it was perfectly safe and I didn't see any collisions. And you know what? Quite a few of those tiny kids disappeared int the distance and I never saw them again...
I found a good pace, including running up the Toast Rack hill, and pushed down the other side. I'd overtaken a few of the kids and was running mainly on my own. Coming to the end of the first lap the kids and parents turned right to go back to the start/finish, and the 5-milers took a left for a second lap.
After the corner I could see a few people in the distance, including the woman I'd had a sprint finish to beat in the first race back in May. I kept the pace up and managed to run (sort of!) up the Toast Rack for the second time - first time in the three races I've not walked a bit. I overtook one of the cluster in front (yay! not last!) and set my sights on the next person.
I overtook him a few minutes later, and still had the woman in my sights - she was also finishing at a good pace. Completing the second lap, turning right this time, and just under a kilometre left. I managed to reel her in a bit, and as we turned for the final 200m out of the forest and onto the playing fields, I pushed hard. I was certainly gaining on her, but there just wasn't enough race left - plus I was running out of lungs and legs. She beat me by about 20m.
The hard finish was good for my time, certainly a 2nd Sunday 5 personal best. The course start/finish was again in a different place so we've had three different routes now. I'll keep track of average speed as well as overall time.
I drove up to the Windmill carpark on Wimbledon Common, it's a couple of km from the start/finish so a jog down makes for a good warm-up, and a gentle stroll back is a nice cool-down afterwards.
Today's run was a little different, it was doubling up with a local school for their off-road fun run. At the start there were a couple of dozen little kids - everything from three to maybe seven or eight years old would be my guess.
They looked cute with their giant race numbers on, and there was lots of excitement from them! I was expecting them to be doing a lap or two of the playing fields, or "out round the cone and back" - but nope, they were doing a full lap of the same course the grown-ups were! A little over 5km, all off-road, including up the Toast Rack!!
The kids had a great little warmup, jumping and bouncing, and then we all lined up to start. I was a bit concerned... I've seen kids start at the front at parkrun and the big risk is they just get mown down - but not this time. The little darlings shot off into the distance, leaving us oldies for dead! I laughed out loud for the first minute or two - running surrounded by tiny kids was hilarious - they were going at absolute full tilt, and all the parents were lagging behind yelling "pace yourself!", "slow down!", and the like. They'd slow down dramatically, then speed off past you again, then slow down - it was certainly not like any other run start I've experienced!
The usual layout, 2 laps for the 5-milers, one for the children
In any case, it was perfectly safe and I didn't see any collisions. And you know what? Quite a few of those tiny kids disappeared int the distance and I never saw them again...
I found a good pace, including running up the Toast Rack hill, and pushed down the other side. I'd overtaken a few of the kids and was running mainly on my own. Coming to the end of the first lap the kids and parents turned right to go back to the start/finish, and the 5-milers took a left for a second lap.
After the corner I could see a few people in the distance, including the woman I'd had a sprint finish to beat in the first race back in May. I kept the pace up and managed to run (sort of!) up the Toast Rack for the second time - first time in the three races I've not walked a bit. I overtook one of the cluster in front (yay! not last!) and set my sights on the next person.
Pace and altitude: Spot the Toast Rack x2 and the sprint finish
I overtook him a few minutes later, and still had the woman in my sights - she was also finishing at a good pace. Completing the second lap, turning right this time, and just under a kilometre left. I managed to reel her in a bit, and as we turned for the final 200m out of the forest and onto the playing fields, I pushed hard. I was certainly gaining on her, but there just wasn't enough race left - plus I was running out of lungs and legs. She beat me by about 20m.
The hard finish was good for my time, certainly a 2nd Sunday 5 personal best. The course start/finish was again in a different place so we've had three different routes now. I'll keep track of average speed as well as overall time.
Slowly upping the average speed - I'm aiming for a shade over 12km/h to go for sub 40 minutes
I'm very happy with that - good progress over the three months. My long-term objective for this race is to get under 40 minutes.
I was amazed by the tiny kids - some of them ran really hard and didn't slow down at all (I certainly hadn't caught them all on my first lap). A real contrast to a parkrun I was at recently where I heard a mum tell her crying daughter "5km is too far for little girls, you can run when you're older" - tell that to this lot, over 5km, all off-road, including down the side of a river with steep banks - and they were fast as anything.
When I was walking back up to the car I saw the youngest of the children finishing, a child laughing and happy just going down the field toward the finish area. She was no taller than my knees, and seemed to have had the best morning ever! A good reminder of just what kids are capable of - and it's normally far more than we realise.
Sunday, 14 June 2015
Juneathon day 14/30 - Thames Hare & Hounds "2nd Sunday 5 #2" Race Report
This morning was the second running of the Thames Hare & Hounds running club's Second Sunday 5, a new regular 5-mile race race held on Wimbledon Common on the second Sunday of each month.
I ran the first event a month ago and finished about two-thirds down the field. The field was smaller this time, and everyone looked quite capable - uh oh! We started on time at 09:30 and, no exaggeration, everyone else shot off into the distance! I managed to keep the back couple in my sights, but due to the twists and turns of the course by the end of the first mile I could only see the red shirt of the chap in second to last place.
I ran up the hill on the first lap, but on the second had to walk at the start. I used the down hill on both occasions to push hard and try and minimise the impact of my very slow uphill running. For the entire race I was running on my own, but for the last two miles I couldn't even see the guy in front, so it was up to me to buckle down and keep applying the pressure. I pushed hard right to the end and, despite coming dead last, was proud of my performance. I don't think I could have pushed any harder, and finished drenched in sweat!
My watch time was 44:34 which is slower by 47 seconds than the last event, however the course was different this time due to another event in the park. I measured it longer, 8.32km as opposed to 8.08km. Therefore my average speed today was 05:21 per km, compared to last time's 05:25 per km. So, I'm claiming that as a victory! Next time they're going back to the first course. I'd love to see sub-40 minutes, so I need to hit 04:57 per km - training required...
This Sunday also marks the end of the first two full weeks of June and therefore my 14th consecutive day running for Juneathon, which marks the 16th day of this run streak. I remember when looking at training plans for triathlon a long time ago now being very concerned about running on consecutive days - now I'm up to 16 consecutive days. Run streaks are nothing new, there are people who have run every day for decades! At the moment, I'll just claim every day of my 5th decade so far.
I'm starting to wonder what happens on July 1st - will I be happy stopping at 30 days? There's a guy on twitter who ran every day for Janathon in 2011 and simply didn't stop, and he's still going now.
Edit: A couple of people have already tweeted about British Olympian Ron Hill's incredible (and still ongoing) 50 year running streak. Here's a link to a BBC article on his amazing achievement.
I ran the first event a month ago and finished about two-thirds down the field. The field was smaller this time, and everyone looked quite capable - uh oh! We started on time at 09:30 and, no exaggeration, everyone else shot off into the distance! I managed to keep the back couple in my sights, but due to the twists and turns of the course by the end of the first mile I could only see the red shirt of the chap in second to last place.
A "lollypop" style course, down from top, two laps, then back up to the start
I ran up the hill on the first lap, but on the second had to walk at the start. I used the down hill on both occasions to push hard and try and minimise the impact of my very slow uphill running. For the entire race I was running on my own, but for the last two miles I couldn't even see the guy in front, so it was up to me to buckle down and keep applying the pressure. I pushed hard right to the end and, despite coming dead last, was proud of my performance. I don't think I could have pushed any harder, and finished drenched in sweat!
Pace drops on the hills, more so on the second lap! Good pace increase to the finish, dug deep
My watch time was 44:34 which is slower by 47 seconds than the last event, however the course was different this time due to another event in the park. I measured it longer, 8.32km as opposed to 8.08km. Therefore my average speed today was 05:21 per km, compared to last time's 05:25 per km. So, I'm claiming that as a victory! Next time they're going back to the first course. I'd love to see sub-40 minutes, so I need to hit 04:57 per km - training required...
This Sunday also marks the end of the first two full weeks of June and therefore my 14th consecutive day running for Juneathon, which marks the 16th day of this run streak. I remember when looking at training plans for triathlon a long time ago now being very concerned about running on consecutive days - now I'm up to 16 consecutive days. Run streaks are nothing new, there are people who have run every day for decades! At the moment, I'll just claim every day of my 5th decade so far.
My Juneathon totals: 14 runs for 94.60km in 9:47:37
I'm starting to wonder what happens on July 1st - will I be happy stopping at 30 days? There's a guy on twitter who ran every day for Janathon in 2011 and simply didn't stop, and he's still going now.
Edit: A couple of people have already tweeted about British Olympian Ron Hill's incredible (and still ongoing) 50 year running streak. Here's a link to a BBC article on his amazing achievement.
Monday, 25 May 2015
New PB strategy working out well
After ramping back on, well, basically everything in order to focus on work and my (now not so) new job, I've been running for fun lately. Sometimes many miles in a week, sometimes not so many. And it's been fun! I've even enjoyed a few parkruns lately after an average of one per month in January and February. It's been good to see the parkrun family again.
Lately though I've missed the buzz of racing, running with a number pinned to my t-shirt. Mrs has been away a lot lately (she has a new job now too) so I found myself at a loose end a couple of weekends ago. Turns out Thames Hare and Hounds, one of the many local running clubs, were starting a new series of 5-mile events. To be held on the second Sunday of every month they named the series 2nd Sunday 5.
I signed up for the first one, turned up, and ran it. It was small and low key, with just 22 entrants I came a respectable 14th after busting a lung or two trying to catch the person in front of me for the last mile and a half (I did, with just 20m to the finish line). My 43:46 time sets a new PB for 5 miles (by default, as I've never run a 5 mile race before!). Strava log is here.
I enjoyed the course, and learned a new bit of Wimbledon Common. I shall certainly return on June 14th to try and better my time - and every other 2nd Sunday I can make it. I reckon it'll be a mud-bath in the winter, great fun.
Yesterday I again ran with a number pinned to my t-shirt. This time it was the Bupa Westminster Mile - a 1-mile event round St James's Park. I was running in the parkrun wave so there were many familiar faces. After a very enjoyable and scenic ride down the Thames Path I ended up in a bit of a panic jog to get to the start on time! I was really bringing my personal parkrun spirit to the day.
So it turns out running a mile is really hard. I had set myself a target of under 7 minutes - based on some finger-in-the-air estimation of finding a time in between my fastest ever 1km (3:45 but in much better/lighter shape than I am now) and my normal "fast last km" at a parkrun, which at the moment is around 4:40. 7 minutes equates to 4:21 which felt about right.
After a lung-busting first 800 yards (yards!, what's a yard?) I could feel my legs complaining - I haven't run hard for a long time. My pace dwindled a bit towards the end, but I managed a little push in the last 50m. I finished 549th of in an official time of 6:53 - happy with that, and another PB (seeing as I've never run a mile race either).
Play with the awesome Strava labs flyby tool here, and see how I stacked up against all the other starve users.
Me & Mrs, fun touristing at Gadebridge parkrun in Hemel Hempstead (photo by Tony Streams)
Lately though I've missed the buzz of racing, running with a number pinned to my t-shirt. Mrs has been away a lot lately (she has a new job now too) so I found myself at a loose end a couple of weekends ago. Turns out Thames Hare and Hounds, one of the many local running clubs, were starting a new series of 5-mile events. To be held on the second Sunday of every month they named the series 2nd Sunday 5.
The "2nd Sunday 5 pioneers" (photo courtesy of Thames Hare and Hounds)
I signed up for the first one, turned up, and ran it. It was small and low key, with just 22 entrants I came a respectable 14th after busting a lung or two trying to catch the person in front of me for the last mile and a half (I did, with just 20m to the finish line). My 43:46 time sets a new PB for 5 miles (by default, as I've never run a 5 mile race before!). Strava log is here.
Run down, complete the loop twice, then back to the start for a total of 5 miles (a little over 8km)
I enjoyed the course, and learned a new bit of Wimbledon Common. I shall certainly return on June 14th to try and better my time - and every other 2nd Sunday I can make it. I reckon it'll be a mud-bath in the winter, great fun.
Yesterday I again ran with a number pinned to my t-shirt. This time it was the Bupa Westminster Mile - a 1-mile event round St James's Park. I was running in the parkrun wave so there were many familiar faces. After a very enjoyable and scenic ride down the Thames Path I ended up in a bit of a panic jog to get to the start on time! I was really bringing my personal parkrun spirit to the day.
The start pen for the parkrun wave (photo by Steve Darby) - me in the middle talking to Mike!
So it turns out running a mile is really hard. I had set myself a target of under 7 minutes - based on some finger-in-the-air estimation of finding a time in between my fastest ever 1km (3:45 but in much better/lighter shape than I am now) and my normal "fast last km" at a parkrun, which at the moment is around 4:40. 7 minutes equates to 4:21 which felt about right.
Bumped into "parkrun pioneer" James Russell, one of the first 13 runners at Bushy Park event #1
Nice to have another medal for the collection
After a lung-busting first 800 yards (yards!, what's a yard?) I could feel my legs complaining - I haven't run hard for a long time. My pace dwindled a bit towards the end, but I managed a little push in the last 50m. I finished 549th of in an official time of 6:53 - happy with that, and another PB (seeing as I've never run a mile race either).
Play with the awesome Strava labs flyby tool here, and see how I stacked up against all the other starve users.
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