The Run #1 & #2 - Mooching around Battersea
I hadn't managed to get out for a run until Wednesday lunchtime. There was simply too much ice & snow around at home, bored of not running I chucked all of my kit into my work bag & dragged myself into London an hour earlier than planned so that I could run. My lunchtime runs (as you'll notice) don't take on much inspiration, I like to keep to a rhythm so avoid crossing roads where possible. Therefore on both Wednesday & Friday (when I repeated the trick), I left Westminster & headed to Battersea Park. I also lacked ambition & just skirted the top of the park rather than complete a full lap, I didn't need a lunchtime 10k.
Pace on both runs was intended to be easy. Despite this I found myself getting progressively quicker on my Wednesday effort, with so little tempo training achieved so far in 2015 I didn't fight it & was eager to see how comfortable I'd be going through the gears. A run is good for both body & mind, I found myself pleasantly surprised with being able to hold, maintain & improve pace.
The Run #3 - Gladstone parkrun
All the best plans are written in pencil they say. We'd had a day in London planned for weeks, so I'd looked at the parkrun map (surely regular readers won't be surprised at this) & found Wanstead Flats was close to our usual entry point for London, Redbridge station. I was even due to meet Simon from Hatfield Forest NT there, though we'd not be running together unless he wanted a new personal worst.
Our morning changed in pursuit of a second car. We've been in need of one for a while & after viewing some uninspiring choices I'd found what looked to be a pristine Alfa next to Wembley Stadium. Other viewers were lined up for Saturday, so could we get there early, they opened at half nine after all.....
Another viewing on the parkrun map (predictable I know) suggested that we could indeed get there early & I could still get a bit of parkrun tourism done en route. Gladstone parkrun has views of Wembley (I was told by the RD, wasn't able to take it in myself) so was the perfect solution.
It was, to quote the weatherman "chuffing cold" on Saturday morning, something that didn't seem to register as the group of runners waited, shuffling from side to side keeping warming waiting for the event to start. Events starting on time has been debated recently & I'm always a fan on starting to time where possible. I can understand the view point of it being a free event & relaxed, but if folks have plans (such as viewing an Alfa) to keep, delays aren't appreciated. All was forgiven when the RD started his briefing, he did so with charm & humour, getting everyone ready to run with a bit of audience participation. I certainly picked up some tips, which as someone on the road to Event Directorship is always good.
My change in course required some research beforehand, so I asked the UK parkrun tourist community what I should expect from Gladstone. I was happy to see the suggestion of road trainers, no need for trail, a welcome respite. I didn't read too much into the "a bit of up & down" comment, surely there was nothing to fear?
The run is a simple two lapper with a slight tail at either end. Turns out there is enough up & down to be a bit of a punisher, I'm sure my GPS is lying when suggesting only 44m elevation gain overall! I know realistically that a PB isn't going to happen, but felt I should still try to run on the limit & see what happened, could be messy, could be triumphant.
I'm not overly sure I'm getting much enjoyment from running at the moment, maybe enjoyment is the wrong word. The experience is still one I like, but my current lack of performance is frustrating & I find every run like this to be a grind. I don't expect to just enjoy the hills that were present around Gladstone, but when on form I can at least attack them, now I just feel like I'm surviving them. Now with Cambridge in mind that won't be an issue, the course is pancake flat. The week after sees a trip down to the Larmer Half & some truly tough hillwork. A visit to the dentist is more appealing at present!
Knowing my current limitations makes me a bit less precious about finishing times. I'd noticed a guy running back to pick up a wandering barcode, realised I could grab it for him & make his life easier. I also tried to chat to a fellow 50 shirt runner, he didn't appear overly keen to converse, perhaps it was a PB week for him & he was straining every sinew to get to the line. I couldn't even persuade a sprint finish from myself. Just didn't feel the need, it wouldn't have made a significant change to my finish time, a steady 26:23.
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| The grumpy runner returns |
The Run #4 - DNS
Sunday morning brought a familiar sensation, scratchy throat, bunged up nose & a persistent cough. The lurgy that had consumed me since mid January was once again back. No point in trying to get that 18km run in, best to put the kettle on instead & try to flush the illness out. I'm bored of being ill now, though also relieved that it is interrupting the half training & that the spring isn't dedicated to London Marathon training. My expectations for Cambridge are now very low, great round & get home is the aim, my 15th half marathon will not be for the glory.
I spent Sunday engrossed in parkrun paperwork instead. I'd also picked up a 2000 piece loom band kit, once all of the contents had been disposed of it was time to fashion it into a finish token sorting box.
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| A fine bodge... |
The Eat
We found some decent Dim Sum at the Drunken Monkey in London after a round of crazy golf at the Swingers pop up. Good food, though the service wasn't amazing, appears to be an issue when establishments build in a service charge. The pork buns were excellent as you'd expect though. I also impressed myself with my own ingenuity earlier in the week. Cooking up a hand prepared chicken schnitzel & forming it burger style with cheeses, avocado & cooked Serrano ham. Definitely made running around London at lunchtime worth while!
I did also discover the Toffee Kitkat. Feeling I can't comment on just how darn good it is until I've tried a decent sample size of maybe 50 or 100. Of course Nestle are welcome to send some to me to accelerate my testing.
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| 4 fingers of kitkat = approx 2km of running..... |
The Conclusion
I bought the Alfa.
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| Hmmmmmm Alfa. |
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