Family: Wife Rachael, daughters Amelia (4 yrs) & Jemima (2 yrs)
Profession: Design Technology Teacher at Aylesbury High School
Started Running: 2001
Full marathons: 9 so far …(London ‘01 – ‘07, New York ‘04 and Paris ’05) … 10th will be Amsterdam in October!
Half marathons: Various number of times doing Kingston, Wycombe, Burnham, Watford, Reading, Silverstone, Woodstock and in ’06 the Great North Run.
PB’s: 4.11 and 1.51
I am looking forward to making the Great North Run a real achievement this year as I really underperformed last year. When I run I enter my own little world – my time – my space – my pace! The need to improve my pb’s are a source of motivation. Training is usually alone, on the road around where I live and work. I always run the full marathons for charity … I feel I can only call upon the generosity of my friends once a year! I love the atmosphere at the events and the crowds are always an inspiration. I usually wear a silly hat - Tigger accompanied me around London this year!
7 comments:
If only I kept up the training runs after I did the FLM! Every year (well the last 7) I say that I will keep running but unfortunately the "I'll start again next week approach" becomes all too easy. Anyway ... being a teacher I have just had 6 weeks 'off' so that means I should have been training loads. Well, I have done a fair bit but not enough! The training session at GSK got me more fired up and last Sunday (2nd Sept) I ran/jogged the Kent Coastal half marathon and did a time of 2.12 - rather disappointing but worth the effort. A very scenic loop from Cliftonville to Broadstairs and back but the use of iPods and mp3 players were banned! The beaches along the route looked too inviting. Bit more undulating than I expected but seeing as I live in a valley then the hills should not have been a problem! I was glad to get some LS refueling inside me during and afterwards though. The best bit? Eating fish and chips on Margate beach and spending the afternoon building sandcastles.
This week has seen a steep hill run and Sunday will entail an 11 mile undulating run around the chilterns!
What goes up must come down! That's the good thing about having to run uphill. I was planning a slightly longer run but ended up doing a 9.5 one instead. Early porridge breakfast but I also included a LS fuel drink and a gel! By 8.45am I was on the road, heading uphill for the first 5 miles and then a more gradual downhill return home culminating in a time of 1.30. I was a minute faster than last time! I sipped at the Caffeine LS drink for the first half and by the time I got to the last two miles I was still feeling really energetic!
A few more runs this week and then next Saturday afternoon I will be at Blenheim Palace for the Woodstock 12. This is a two lap circuit of the grounds - very pleasant but some hill climbs too!
21 days time and GNR will be all over!
Where do you get your time & energy from? You are inspiring. As it is your first GNR it will be a PB whatever!
Enjoy,
Love Neil Rosie et al xx
Now that I have my new LS running top and shorts I will look the part at Blenheim Palace (Woodstock 12) on Saturday afternoon! Will they make me go faster though?
Woodstock 12 today - Saturday 15th Sept.
It was 3 laps of undulating private roads within the picturesque grounds of Blenheim Palace. There is one main hill at 2, 6 & 10 miles. Preparation included LS drinks and gels and wearing my LS running outfit. I looked the part at least! I felt heavy legged at about 6 miles but came through with a final time of 1.59. I was determined to beat the 2hr mark and since getting home I have checked on my time from the same run last year. I'm 13 minutes faster! So the saying 'no pain no gain' really did apply today! My family were watching today - they don't ever come to the shorter runs - but it was great seeing them 3 times en route and then at the finish. My two little girls shouting 'Run Daddy run'!
Only two weeks to go until the GNR - I really hope I can do a better time than last year. A couple more runs this week and I'll slot in another long one next weekend.
Post a Comment