Wednesday 31 December 2014

My Training - December


 215km  160km  20km  7 hours

Christmas. It's wonderful isn't it. Home to the parents for champagne and charades. Not you? No, me neither. Rather, at home in London with the girlfriend. Thankfully I got some time off from work this year (yay to the new employer...evil eyes to the old one) and so there were no excuses to not keep up the training into the new year. Even the Christmas parties (all two of them) could not distract me from my schedule.

I hope it's a fast one!

For the first few days of December my ribs remained 'cagey' but I powered through regardless and all was soon resolved. With this new zest for life I celebrated my ability to once again grate carrot (refer to November post) with a homemade coleslaw.

I trained again (...must make that payment) with the new running club - VPHTHAC - boy they're some fast fellas there. I'm very much looking forward to racing for them and becoming more known within the club for both athletic and social reasons. It's good to be chasing heels. Hopefully I'll catch a few pairs throughout next year. The accountant in me is also buoyed by the £2 I won't be required to pay on race entries, now that I'm a club runner. Kerching!

December was the month I found Strava (find me as: Craigy Norris). Yet another distraction to my life, but the sense of community is welcomed and it's great to see how my friends are getting on. A pat on the back (kudos) is rather pleasant too. The more you are 'out there' so to speak, the more you push yourself I find. Not to be the fastest but to showcase continuous improvement is very important to me.

See you on Strava

Daria - my beloved Felt B12 - came in from the cold (finally) just before Christmas and I've been riding her in the spare bedroom ever since. Filthy innuendos aside, training on the turbo is the safest way to go hard on the bike and the continuous requirement to pedal means a better use of time than coasting along the roads. Though what Ironman taught me last September was that I failed to log sufficient road miles. Henceforth, I'll be getting out on my bike often with the primary focus being hill repeats. Somewhat hard to achieve statically at home.

Lovely Daria Werbowy

All this turboing allows for a lot of ultramarathon video watching on youtube. I find an ironing board the perfect companion to rest the laptop and keep nutrition at arms length. It quells the boredom (never) of a two or three hour ride sans scenery and also provides great inspiration for what lays ahead for me. One video I've watched a few times now is this one on the Badwater Ultramarathon which gets you through two hours - no sweat.

Perfect cycling weather

The best (training) news of the month was that London Fields Lido now has floodlights! What this means for me is that open air swimming is now possible after work. Never a morning person, I've already plotted my run/swim/run commute home. The 50m heated pool is my favourite to train in and I really value having such a fine facility close by. Over the festive period, I swam there in relative solitude, such were the bone chilling temperatures and mass exodus of the Hackney hipsters for Christmas. How will I progress my swimming this year, is the question I am asking. I have no qualms with distance, but I'm seeing little progress with speed. Learned technique and speed work is the answer. Damn, should have asked for paddles and a pool buoy for Christmas...

Let there be light

In the gymnasium I kept up with the weight pushing and I'm pleased to report the fruits of my labour are evident - I managed to carry the Christmas tree on my own this year (to the car). 

Still looking for some early year races. Do let me know if you've entered anything yourselves. Might even be tempted to enter a half-marathon having recorded a 1:28 over the park recently, so the mind now thinks "do a 1:25 then that sub-3 marathon may be on the cards". 

In February, there will be a lot of running (details to follow)...maybe I'll take January easy.

Saturday 20 December 2014

In My Bag


Here's what I purchased recently (and hopefully my final 'non Christmas' order) all in the name of fitness.

Running gloves


Where better to wear your hi-viz than on your hands as you hold them aloft in the middle of the road to a disgruntled van driver.



Ooh get me and my two pairs. Well, after stacking it like a drunkard earlier this year, the rips in my existing gloves are proving a little drafty for those winter morns. These gloves provide a warm fleecy inner to tackle Jack Frost. Maybe I should have just got these in a hi-vis...


Shorts


It's pretty clear from this blog post alone, that I adore Nike products. Their Dri-Fit fabric is sensational and a joy to run in. I own many pairs of these as the inner short keeps you 'locked in' and the handy zippered pocket is useful for keys and a credit card.



Whilst one would never (repeat never) wear these solely, they offer great compression and layer well with a shorter short. And let's be honest, it's never a bad thing having nine inches underneath your shorts.


Tops


What's not to love. Anthracite (college talk for Grey) and road safety 'Volt'. Tick.



I think the term 'compression' is a little far-fetched here but an absolutely perfect top to take away the chill. Running a marathon? Forget about all that Vaseline and plasters nonsense, just wear said garment and the only rub you'll get is that of congratulations from your loved ones on the finish line.



For compression, my go-to brand is Adidas and their wonderful Techfit range. Irregardless of their Philippine overhead and economies of scale, when you see what is involved in this garment, £19.95 is nothing less than extraordinary.



It's hard to believe that this is my first and only running jacket. My, I really brave those winter climes. Anyway, now I have one and it's all bright and yellow and orange, and it has a little zip pocket...and there's space for an LED on the back. I can't wait to test drive it!



Image of Postman Pat: Wikipedia

Thursday 18 December 2014

Roll on 2015...

I don't really mean that, but when it comes to running I'm kind of twitching at the thought of what next year will (hopefully) bring. Now in the depths of winter the race calendar is bare and it's all I can do but to train hard regardless. 

2014 shall be remembered as the year I completed my first Ironman - "Craig Norris you are an...", yeah yeah. But also a year in which I began to perform. Mediocre achievements as they were, I put down some credible performances this year of which I'm quite proud.

London 2 Brighton 100km - May 24th 

Possibly the worst weather I've ever been in, let alone run in. Past the half way mark I ran for 8km without seeing another runner, which was all new to me. Eventually finished in 12:02 (damn those 2 minutes) placing 25th - with my newly broken thumb.

Bowtie reception

Picnic Marathon - June 21st

An epic race. Respect to anyone who has completed The Picnic - there aren't many. Not the largest field but a 14th place felt incredible.

'M' for Man

Beachy Head Marathon - October 25th

An event I've taken part in on numerous occasions, this year managing to crack the 3:45 mark placing 70th in a strong and sizable field.

Sprint finish down the hill

Redricks Olympic Triathlon - September 7th

My BIGGEST result to date placing 4th (you don't need to worry that only 32 took part).

Just pipped the guy in red to the line

So next year...

London 2 Brighton 100km - May 23rd 2015

This shall be my 3rd attempt and after running a 13:33 in 2013 and the aforementioned 12:02 - you see where this is going - one hopes to record a nice 11 hour finish this time around. But conservative must I be, as three weeks later I'll be swapping kilometres for miles.

Not quite to the sea

Petzl South Downs Way 100 - June 13th 2015

This is really what 2015 is about for me - to complete my first 100 miler. To be on my feet for an entire day will be an incredible experience. I've got plans on what will follow, but until then I'm respectful of just what a step up this is.

That's Winchester to Eastbourne

Ironman Wales - September 13th 2015

Again, yes. Well there aren't many events around and such was the beauty of Tenby I sure as hell am not thinking of Bolton! It was quite evident this year that I need to pull my 'compression socks' up on the bike and in the sea. There are easy time gains to be had. I'll be aiming to knock off...an hour...but should it rain, I'll be happy with a minute.

What a start line

So, that's quite a wait until May. Over Christmas I'll look to book in some marathons/ultras for earlier in the year to give me some focus (and something decent to blog about!).

How's your race diary stacking up? What's the BIG goal for 2015?

Sunday 14 December 2014

In My Bag


Exercising almost every day across three disciplines requires a great deal of kit. Here's what fell through the letterbox (or less romantically, what was left with the concierge) recently.

Nutrition 


In training, I rarely take fluid let alone nutrition but for the longer jaunts and when racing I always carry gels on my person. This race pack is one of the best selling items on Wiggle and phenomenal value. A no-brainer and also includes a handy bottle for use on the bike. Ever wondered why every other cyclist has a High5 bottle in their cage?



25 gels for less than 50 pence each. If your cupboard has more bottles than glasses, then this is for you.


Socks


You cannot have enough socks. Good job then, as I purchased another four pairs. I don't get blisters. Like, even after 100k when it's raining and muddy and stuff. When your gear works for you, don't go changing. I think 'Anti Blister', 'Elite Cushion' and 'Cushioned Dynamic' more-or-less mean the same.


Accessories


I've been watching a lot of Ultrarunning videos recently. All the guys have beards and long-hair and just look really cool. Sadly the hair situation ain't gonna happen, but I can certainly emulate their bottle du jour. On one side is a small compartment for keys, phone and a couple of gels and on the other is a strap to slip the hand through for effortless handling. 


Swimming


Training close to work and also close to home, I'm building 'two of everything' into my wardrobe. Up until now I've been Aquasphere since day one, and they've served me well but such are the reviews on the Zoggs I thought it best to venture astray.



When parading up and down the pool, I don't want to be faffing too much with my fluids, so the nozzle-free feature together with fine ergonomics should allow for swift turnarounds. Yes, I am quite manic.


Image of Postman Pat: Wikipedia

Saturday 6 December 2014

My Training - November


 182km  96km  18km  8 hours

November was full of running to a point then I injured my ribs and literally limped into December. Your thigh bone may well be connected to your hip bone, but your ribs…jeez they’re connected to every bloody thing! Running, swimming, lifting weights and worst of all sneezing, all come with teeth-gritting pain. Rolling out of bed of a morning requires some momentum and as I’ve recently learnt, grating a carrot is a nigh on impossibility.
I knew I had clattered into a wall whilst running the Men’s Health Survival Of The Fittest event, but powered through regardless (I was leading). My wall climbing was far from textbook, with an untested sprint-leap-crash-pull technique seeing me through. I’m unsure whether I’ve fractured a rib or bruised the muscle, but the diagnosis seems to be the same – painkillers and rest (yeah right).
I officially joined Victoria Park Harriers & Tower Hamlets Athletic Club (payment pending) and attended a Tuesday night speed work session – something I need to do more of. An incredibly chirpy bunch who conversed freely and positively, making the intro less nerve racking. One assured me that I’d be running half marathons in no time! That’s good to know…


Not quite got the race vest yet

Being part of a running club and training with faster guys will have an incredibly positive effect on my performances next year. It’d be great to buddy up with cyclists and swimmers too for similar progression. I swim long but I don’t work on technique. I turbo my ass off (in the warmth of my living room) but I don’t get out on the road as much as I should. This needs to change and whether I join a triathlon club or just smile at men in the changing rooms (could land me in trouble) I need to call on others somehow.
The dark nights may well dampen our mood, but personally I prefer training in the winter months for the solitude it grants. The lack of tourists and pavement traffic is also welcomed. My run routes are usually one of two – loops of Victoria Park and Hackney or commuting home along the River Thames from Soho. It was a pleasure passing by the poppies at the Tower Of London of an evening and I also found the delights of running aimlessly around the Olympic Park. 


Poppies from above

I worked out that my run commute is only 2 minutes off my tube commute (showering, changing and GPS-connection-waiting aside) but any attempts to beat public transport powered travel may result in my death. If you want high adrenaline on the cheap, run through Central London in rush hour. The nipping in between pedestrians and leaping over the boxes and bin bags is fun sure, but risky, especially in this head-down-social-media-checking world we now live. I’ve upped my Day-Glo wardrobe as appropriate.


Commuting through the city
My bike(s) are still in the shed. Note to self; Get your bike out and go for a ride! I really must. 
With the uber convenience of having a gym across the road from work, the majority of my swims are now taken in Soho. 'Media types' equal 'triathlon types' and whereas elsewhere I'm continually pi**ed at schmohawks clogging up the fast lane, here I'm being owned by torpedo-people in club branded trunks and caps. Technique is everything with swimming. I need to improve mine dramatically.

As far as the weights are concerned, my torso is looking increasing post-pubescent and I'm certainly feeling stronger. Aside, for people-watching alone it's well worth attending the weights room. 

For now, pray for my ribs so that I can once again grate carrot.