My first 10k

well I managed to start and finish my first ever 10k yesterday (27/11/2010). The race itself was sprung upon me a few weeks ago by a friend, and so I said I would do it.

The race itself is one that is fondly looked upon in the northwest (well preston area at least) and is called the Wesham 10K. This year was it's 25th aniversary and was fully booked up.

I must say I enjoyed the race immensly, although the weather was a numbing -3, and I was only in a t-shirt and shorts; Brrrrrrrr.

After an initial warm up, we headed off to the start line. Here I walked to the back (I'll be quicker one day) and chatted with some of the other slower racers. Then the race started and the chip timer started beeping us all out.

I managed to cross the 1st, 2nd and 3rd checkpoints in intervals of 9, 18 and 27 minutes. So I can safely say I can hold a consistent speed of 9mph. As it was my first race, I didn't want to burn myself out, and wanted to run the entire length. I suspect I could of gone a little quicker.

After the first 5k, I upped my speed to a staggering 8min&55 seconds per mile. yep, pretty pathetic really. The last mile I dropped back to 9mins and 30 secs (well they forgot to mention the hill!).

So overall I finished with a time of 55Mins and 50 seconds (which strangely is around 9mph).

Am I happy, well yes but I'm also annoyed that I didn't break 55mins. That will have to wait for the next race!!


Signing off

Alan Raby aka The Snail

Been a longer while!

well it;s been a while since I updated this blog. well that's mainly due to university getting in the way (started uni at the ripe old age of 36).

Anyway, since wrecking my foot after an 11 mile run, I finally got back into the spirit of things. I now cycle to uni, have joined the gym and run about 6 miles/wk and cycle around 25miles/wk.

So all in all, I'm as fit as ever, but doing a bit less running.

I've recently been upping my milage and I successfully managed a 10k at the gym, in a time of 1hr 5 mins. Pretty good going really, still had the legs to do more.

Also managed at the gym a 27 min 5km, which I was quite proud of.

So, although a lot of my running is now gym work, I'm a lot fitter than my last blog post.

Alan Raby

been a while

As you may or may not of noticed, the blogs have slowed down. Well this is mainly down to me havign a stress fracture on my foot.

Well, that's what google and hypochondria tell me anyway!

Stress fracture of the Navicular bone, on my foot. Huts like hell when I do anything other than walking on it, painful for a day or two after I try anything on it and hurts on the bone, and around it.

If it's anything else, i don't know.

Up and down, up and down...

 Had a grand old day out on Sunday. Quick 2 mile run to the nearest park, then 15 hill reps (about 600ft in total).

Strange but I always find these sorts f things, far easier than a plodding session on the road. I manage to run harder, further and enjoy it all. I suspect it's all about positive mental attitude, which for some reason I suffer from when running.

Perhaps I need an I-pod.

Half marathon Training

Well Yesterday I put in my largest stint running...ever. That "ever" makes me sound like 12 :)

Managed a leg busting 11 Miles, in a not too shabby 2hr.

By eck, it did hurt at the end a little.

Could of been one of the poorest days yet though, as I set off and all I could think of was all my aches and pains. Knees, feet, shins, Calves, goin, back...even a headache (who said excercise is good for you).


Anyway, after my initial Mile, i hada slow walk to try to get my head straight (I'm so bad on myself), then decided just to do another mile and home!!

Little did I know, I was about to do a mammoth run.

During the second mile, things started to click and off I went, on my usual 4/6 Mile route. After the 6 Mile came and went, I did the same lap again (well the 4 mile version of it).

I must say at the end, I was dragging my feet with me, but 11 Miles is 11 Miles. All set for my half marathon at the end of sept :)

Cycling and running!!

Obviously I'm being mental!

yesterday I was suffering the worst case of man flu, for 100 years (I was sure I had the plague), so today I decided to do a 35 Minute bike ride (7 Mile), with a 4 Mile run a few hours later (with a friend).

I actually enjoyed every single minute of both!!


So looks like I have a monday training partner now, she's training for a 10K race and wants to get fit. So she's stupidly asked me to help her.

She's either a glutton for punishment, or genuinly thinks my "No pain, no gain" style of training suits her :D

Sunny!

Finally a bit of sun! You'v got to love the English weather, and summers in-particular!

Anyway, did a bit of cycling, managed 11k (7 miles), chain fell off once, and every set of traffic lights turned Red as I approached :)

Still apart from the low flying Fruit that hit me on my shoulder, all went pretty much well (my knee gave me a little jip).

Might try a 5k tomorrow to see if my times are improving!!

"Curry Run"

Strange name, I'm sure it's something to do with eating a curry for the winner of the series.

Anyway....Did the "Curry run" last night, with 8 or 9 Preston harriers, 7 Mile run across streams, hills, fells, trails,  bogs; hell even some slabs and stairs thrown in for good measure.

Very hard run, but pleased about the climb up the "Great Hill", managed part of it running, well running being the wrong word, think more of a jog slower than a walk..

Well got round in an amazing time of 1hr 27minutes (it's pretty good for me), but feel let down as I'm sure I could of done it quicker.

It's weird all this running, and I'm disseminated in doing a 7mile, 1300ft fell run, in under 1 and a half hours!!

no laughing!!!!

Sat down today at my PC, and nearly blacked out from a shooting pain in my right knee!! (why is it always my right leg??).

Looks like Ice will be the method of recovery tomorrow, plus a small jog to see the damage!

10k timed and done!

I suppose it is also my PB too, as it's the first timed and GPS tracked one.

So in celebration of a 10k in 1hr 3mins, I'm going to crack open a bottle of volvic, and dance the night away. Well that's a bit of a lie, I'm going to sit here, legs reeking of "Deep Freeze", and in muscle spasms!!

It was only supposed to be a quick jaunt out as I was feeling very fatigued from the 30mile cycling I did on Sat, but it went a bit further. My first mile involved me walking, stopping, scratching my arse and anything else but running!! Shame really, as I could of got under the hour mark, if I'd known I was doing 10k!!

Still, gives me plenty of scope to beat it now :)

Is cycling a good alternative!!

Today I spent 2 1/2 hours riding my sorry ass, up 1000ft of roads. By the end of it, I couldn't, if i wanted, go up any more hills.

felt terrific for doing it it, but is 21 miles of cycling, going to improve my running?

Well, it should help with my CV, as at times my lungs where popping out of my mouth. So hopefully, the next time I run, I should be able to go a little further (fingers crossed).

No doubt I will let people know how much of a superman I was today :)

Small Jog to keep me going

Now the race is off, I managed a 4Mile run (38 minutes), nothing too serious, just enough to loosen the old legs. Got a long long long long cycle on sat, can't wait :D

Race Off

Today's 10k is off. After myself suffering from the cold earlier in the week, my training partner Lindsey has succumbed to it too. Last thing anyone wants to do is jog whe4n under the influence of a cold, I know I didn't :D

1 mile run, and a PB

Like a week of PBs for me. First it was a PB for a 5 mile run hill run (57), then it was a PB for a flat 4 Mile run (37), now it's a PB for a 1 Mile run (7.30).

All in Prep for my 10k on Thursday (which to be honest I'm dreading a little, as the previous races all seem to be full of pretty quick racers!)

So a nice PB today for my 1 Mile, hopefully run tomorrow to break my 5k Record of 28 Mins...hopefully!

New PB for 4 Mile!

Well it might be, then again it might not, but since it's the firs time I timed doing 4 Mil.es, it's now classed as my PB :D

Anyway, thought I'd get a small run in for preparation of my first 10K this coming thursday.

The route takes me down a 200ft hill, then back up it, followed by a further 2 miles on the flats (pretty much).

The entire run took me 37minutes, which I am well chuffed about. was a little bit of walking in there (since my phobia of hills is back :( ) and a final 8 minute mile at the end (which again, quite pleased about).

If I can sort  out my hill climbing, I'll be thinking about knocking 3 or 4 minutes of this time pretty soon.

Little Run

Kept it simple today 8 minute mile, 10 minute mile, 12 minute mile (with a 150ft hill in there). Just turning over my muscles, rather than anything too strenuous.

no pain...

...amazingly!

was expecting a world of pain, but instead just my ankles! Very weird.

Race Day - Harrock Hill

Well the day has arrived, I've been eating pasta for the last week, like it was the only meal in the world. I've flooded my body with isotonic drinks, and I even bought a watch with a Chrono on it.

studied the map the night before, and the timings from runners the last time it was held (trust me to take part in a race that seems to consist of nothing but athletic clubs!).

Anyway, I'm here now. Legs feeling tender, which I'm worried about but I'm getting some good encouragement from my training partner Lindsey (A fully fledged Preston Harrier).

Anyway, after the 1 mile warmup run to the start line, from the pub (no I hadn't been drinking), we finally got into position (me further at the back).

Well, in the odour of Deep Heat around me, I braced myself for the run. Just over 5 miles in total, and a steepish hill start for the first mile. With my Calve still playing on my mind, I couldn't get in the right frame of mind but I just thought, set a time I would be happy with. That time was 1 hr, and I thought it would be hard to do it.

Well we started, and up the track we went. I think I may of started a little fast, but I had a point to prove (not being last, and beating an hour). Well I made the top, with only a little bit of walking (not my fault, the people in front of me started walking, and one retired!!).

Anyway, the first 1/2 mile done, then settled into a mile and a half downhill, which was pleasent. This is where things started to go wrong, getting to the 2 mile point and seeing the next climb, this one I knew was tough.

With the pain in my leg and my fast start taking affect, I had to do a walk/run combo to get up this first hill, then again on the next. So three miles in, and my mind is buckling. Luckily, I came to pass a man and a women walking up a muddy section (god bless my fell shies and his trainers!!).

At this point, I motivate the guy to run further and all three of us set off. For the rest of the route, there is no walking, and the final mile is a dream (downhill!).

I came in at 57 minutes, and 125th. Not last and under an hour. Job Done!

...my legs!!

OMG!!! My right calve muscles is on fire!! I'm going to suffer in my first race :(

Great Hill -

Done it again, phone call from Lins asking if I would like to go a 7 1/2 mile fell run up Great Hill (around 1500ft). Male bravado kicks in, knowing I'd had wine the night before, and a long bike ride...

..I said "Yes, no problem"

Glad I did, the course (affectionately known as the Handicap course), was brilliant. We nearly killed some old grannies flying past them, but again the climbs absolutely kill me (but strangely, I was better at them than before).

Apart from nearly falling into a stream and getting lost, it was fantastic. Not quick (round 1hr 30-40), but a lot of work for me (the last wood section was HARD!)

Can't believe I've got a race in 3 days, I hope my legs are fine in the morning...

Cycling through the pain

Went a bit crazy (for me), went on a fast bike ride, 9 miles in 40 minutes. Quite tiring, as I've not ridden for about 3 weeks!

Still, got a race on the 28th, so the extra training is nice. Pain in my legs has gone...

Ouch My Legs...

Think I overdid it that last week, calves in agony and shins hurting a little!! 1 week till Harrock Hill Fell race, hope they heal!

My first real 5k

Well a few years I did a 5k in Maastricht, Holland. went around with my sister, so not really a 5k time (45 mins). So today (mid July), I decided to do a 5k run at pace (well pace for me!).

After waming up with some stretches, I set off on my pre-planned route. As it was more to improve my speed, it was a jog, run, then walk 5k (so a little slower than I probably could do).

Overall, and startled by it, I managed it in 27 Mins, and 50 seconds.

So that is my new time to beat!

Winter Hill (Start of July)

Well this was an eye opener. My training up to this point was a few 2 mile runs, bit of cycling and some walking here and there.

Wow, talk about hard work! Took around 1hr 45 mins, for the entire circuit but what beautiful scenery! I just wish my body could run it all, rather than run/walk!

Still, what an accomplishment. Not smoking, and done my first Fell Run. Loved it!

Looked the noob too, in all my new gear (inov-8 rocklites 315 fell shoes are amazing!!)

4 weeks in...

been 4 weeks since I got back to Preston, 3 of which I've been running/Cycling. Only doing 1 1/2 miles of running, and 4 cycling. just getting into the spirit of things.

Lindsey called, and said would I like to do Winter Hill 8 mile, 1700ft. Being a bloke, I said "Yeah! No problem, will beat you to the top"

20 cigs a day...

...England playing in the world cup, and I gave up the cancer sticks. Going to need every breath I can take for this running lark!

Managed 1 1/2Miles in 15 Minutes, not bad for me.

The start

Well not so much the start, but a brief history in time of my start!

It all started with my move back to Preston, from Stroud, gloucs. Upon arriving back, I caught up with an old friend of my, Lindsey. She thought it a good idea that a bit of exercise in my life would be an idea, and so undertook to punish me....

As a bit of background, I will say I could run a mile in about 10 minutes, but that was as far as I could go. Was smoking 20 cigs a day, drinking like a fish and ate hamburgers for Breakfast. Ok maybe a little poetic licence there.

At 13 stone - 12, I was neither fat nor slim.

(please note this was the start of June)

and so it begins....

Alan Raby