What next?

For a while now I have entertained the thought of doing an Ironman. I am attracted to the challenge of doing an endurance race, being reliant on my physical abilities rather than my knowledge.

I am dyslexic and as an adult I have questioned my memory, knowledge and comprehension. Colleagues, friends, family and experience tell me that I shouldn't worry but I remain sceptical.

My physical abilities, however, has been tried and tested, time and again. I have had injuries and set backs but I have always recovered to take on new and bigger challenges.

So...

Buchlyvie Half Marathon, 16th November 2008

The morning of Buchlyvie half marathon was stunning. The weather could not be more perfect. It was a crisp, cool morning with no clouds in the sky and no wind.

I started the race from the back, keen not to fall in to the trap of running too quickly at the start.

I still ran an 8.30 split for the first mile. The second mile was worse at 8 min! I gave myself a talking to, I had to slow down or I wouldn't finish. For the next 6 or so miles I ran 9 minute miles. This was still quick for me but I felt comfortable.

I should have been stronger and slowed myself down to nine and half minute miles because by mile 9 I was hitting the wall. My splits got longer and longer. I probably could have walked quicker than I was running by the end!

I turned the corner on to the homeward straight only to be faced with 2 laps of a muddy playing field!




I started walking. The muddy field was too much for me. I walked round the final corner and started running again, sprinting to the finish line.

2:05.46 by my watch.

Whilst I was disappointed that I had not run under 2 hours, I was philosophical. I had only been training for 11 weeks and that had been mixed. I had enjoyed the experience. It had reaffirmed that I can keep going, even if I'm struggling.

Praying to the recovery god!

Half marathon training

Training has been a mixed bag. After I sprained my ankle I didn't run for several weeks, but rode my bike to and from jobs, cranking up quite a few miles.


Training started in ernest in September. I ran a short run on Mondays and Wednesdays with the occasional Tuesday. I then did a long run on a Saturday that built up over the weeks. My mileage varied from 6 miles a week to 21 miles a week.

Although I followed the programme from the Internet, I didn't worry about missing a Tuesday run. I continued to commute to work on my bike so it seemed daft to run if I didn't feel like it. Indeed, my fastest 5K time was after a rest day in which I was supposed to run.

I also had a series of trips away that made training hard. It started with a weekend in Glencoe where I spent 7 hours climbing Bideon Nam Bar on the Saturday. On the Sunday, Kate and I ran along the West Highland Way from Glencoe to Kinlochleven which was spectacular. I had five days in Glen Etive with work. No running could be done as the bothy is surrounded by bog! I came home with the worst cold that I have had for a long while. It eventually lasted about three weeks!

I followed Glen Etive with a trip to Frankfurt for five days to visit a friend. Although I was still recovering from the cold, I managed a 2 hour game of touch rugby that left me stiff for 4 days and a 5K run around the centre of Frankfurt. The run round the city was great!

Finally I went to visit my brother, sister-in-law and niece in High Wycombe for 4 days. This photo is from my 8 mile run along the Thames. A stunning day!

In the ten weeks of training, I certainly learnt that the normal runs in town could be very boring. I contrast, however, I learnt how wonderful running can be to see new and different areas.

Programmes, ankles and races

I searched the net for a half marathon training programme and I found one that would have me ready for a half marathon by mid October. I then looked for a race. Jedburgh half would do. Nice and close to home.

So I go south to visit the family, do a couple of short runs, visit the niece, go for a run in the woods and... sprain my ankle. Bugger...

Maybe I wont run Jedburgh half, maybe I'll do Eddie's half in Fort William in early November.

During the second week of working on the Tattoo fireworks I went over on my ankle again. Bugger... bugger...

During the Bank of Scotland fireworks I caught my ankle again! Bugger, bugger ... BUGGER!

Maybe I wont run Eddie's half, maybe I'll do Buchlyvie half, 16th November 2008.

Weakness's and bribery...

What is my weakest section of a triathlon?

Running.

I simply don't do it, if it can be helped.

So I set myself a goal... I would enter a half marathon. Easy!

I needed some kind of bribery to help me train... I decided on a new bike. If I followed my running programme, I would buy myself a new bike suitable for racing rather than commuting like my current bike.

Where this current madness started ...

In 2007 I competed in 3 Triathlons - North Berwick novice, Stirling sprint and Gullane beach triathlon. In 2008 I competed in the same races in the hope I could do better...

I didn't...

At North Berwick novice triathlon I was ____ slower (2007-____, 2008-51:28); at Stirling sprint triathlon I was 4 minutes slower (2007-1:21:55, 2008-1:25:38); and at Gullane beach triathlon I was 10 minutes slower (2007-3:08:48, 2008-3:18:07).

I felt like I had a choice either I could quit competing in triathlons or I could do something about it.

I don't like quiting ...