Missing Time

The evenings are almost dark now by the time I get home and so this was probably the last time I will run my favourite Wood Lane route for a while as there are too many potholes and not enough lights.

I was keen to go for a personal best. The route is about 5.5 kms or 3.4 miles. My previous best without fishcakes was 29:56. I decided to run without the help of fishcakes as I am due a fishcake doping test soon and need to clean my blood. I know if I am found with fishcakes in my system I might be banned from racing.

I set off at my fastest pace. Slightly faster than slow endurance. My leg muscles were burning with the effort as I pushed on the early part of my route which involves a steady uphill climb up to the thin air at over 100 feet. I felt my systems beginning to struggle and shut down at this altitude. Nevertheless I ignored the pain and pushed on down Wood Lane in the dark.

When I got to the end of Wood Lane I reached the corner with Boathouse Lane where the lovely downhill starts. I was hit by a blast of wind. It felt great. Like a cool shower. Totally refreshed I charged on removing my hat. There was a head wind against me but I was going downhill and still running well.

The front was quite blustery too but I settled into a nice pace knowing I was easily going to beat my previous time. I was so confident I had time to turn my head towards the chip shop and take in the lovely scent...thankfully I turned my head back just in time to avoid the litter bin. Now that would have been an embarrassing injury !

I kicked on home and arrived totally out of breath. I must have shaved a good minute or two off my previous best. I couldn't believe it when I looked at my watch - a measly 14 seconds quicker after all that effort !!

I had run at full pelt at 8:42 pace and yet my slow endurance run on Saturday of over 13 1/2 km was at 9:01 pace. No way !

After racking my mind for a while I came to the only logical conclusion a sane person could make. I had experienced "missing time" . I had of course been abducted by aliens - probably on Wood Lane. It was the only possible explanation and would explain the feeling of tiredness when I reached Boathouse Lane. I had been PROBED. Obviously in their excitement of examining such a finely tuned athlete they had forgotten to stop and then restart my stopwatch...and I had been worried about my time. Silly me ?!!

What am I getting into ?

I have read a little more about the Madrid marathon this week and it looks much harder than London.

In particular, on reading around on the web only 120,000 runners out of 200,000 who have ever run the marathon have finished within the deadline of 6 hours. That is not a great percentage. This is due apparently to the heat (even in April Madrid can be pretty hot), the humidity, the altitude (around 2,000 feet) and the challenging hills. I realised Madrid would be pretty hot but I think what has shocked me are the statistics - only 60% finish. When I have run races (my two half marathons when I was 17 and more recently the Hoylake 10k) I tend to finish races in about the middle ie in the top 50-70 %. So statistically as things stand perhaps I have only a 50% chance of finishing.

That is why I have decided to run in 2010 and not 2009. I think an even wiser decision than I initially thought. I am now aiming to ease up on the training front and want to be ready for a Blackpool marathon in early April. This would be my first marathon. I might be kidding myself but that is the target. We will see.

The Madrid marathon does look spectacular though just take a look at this picture :



I continued with my training today and am now up to over 8 miles without stopping/walking. I am quite chuffed really as my pace was 9 minute pace as well which is fine for me.

Up to now I have been running "clean"... no ipod, no water, no fancy gadgets. How running has changed since my earlier years. There is now a possibility of mild dehydration on runs due to the fact that I am out on the road for over an hour and so I have ordered a hydration system (posh water bottle to the rest of us). Will be trying it out next week hopefully. I am really excited about that as it sits on my bottom like a bumbag and comes with a very long straw. Let's hope I don't trip over it.

I have now finished running for my wife, Helen and am so grateful to her for getting the ball rolling with donations and for her 100% love and support. I am very lucky to have her.

The even better news is I am now running for my German mother-in-law Renate. I heard gun shots on my run today and I must say politically incorrect thoughts did cross my mind...

I am now suffering for you "Oma" - enjoy it while you can !!

Robert

A run of two halves (and the fishcakes)

I have been injured by mosquitos over the last few days as unfortunately my ankles (or should I say trotters) swelled up after being nibbled on Sunday afternoon. So no running for me until today.

I was a bit silly as I didn't really eat much lunch at work and when I arrived home was beginning to feel light headed. Probably idiotic to go for a run tonight I thought... but aha... my two sons had not finished their supper and daddy was about to take advantage. Fishcakes and a bit of a potato waffle. I pounced on the leftovers. It all went in the microwave and within 2 minutes I had hoovered it up. Great home cooking.

I got into my kit and the light headedness began to pass. It was a beautiful crisp evening with a full moon so too good an opportunity to miss.

I just thought I would do another 5km or so and take my time. Just get round. Nice and steady does it ... I don't want to faint or anything. Within 1km or so I had a stitch and was beginning to regret my greedy binge. Then I got to Brook Lane. Now I know why it gets that name. Strangely the unadopted road I run along, Wood Lane was flooded at the Brook Lane junction. I had to stop and go around the grass verge (grannies came into my mind - see earlier post). Things were not going well. I plodded on.

Finally I reached the lovely downhill run to the Boathouse Inn. I settled a bit more into a nice slow but steady pace. Then I felt it. I can't put my finger on it - just a surge of energy came. It took me a few moments to work it out and then the penny dropped. The fishcakes it must be the fishcakes !!

I began to accelerate down towards the Boathouse Inn. Some drinkers were leaving the pub. As I drew level with them they were murmuring to each other in respectful tones and nodding. I just caught a word ... "fishcakes". They had noticed too. I nodded back at them knowingly.

This was wonderful I haven't run like this since I was a teen. The front at Parkgate is not a quiet place even during a cool Autumn evening. I noticed a change. I no longer saw pity in people's eyes when they looked at me. I saw admiration and I kept hearing the same word over and over ..."fishcakes".

Then the mother of ideas came to me. I was approaching the Chinese fish and chip shop. Dare I ? ... I might run like the Gods if I was to pop in and "top up" ? No. I must not. I will save that one for another day. Parkgate is not quite ready yet.

I flew towards home and in the distance I saw a stranger in the dark. To my disbelief he shouted to me "Get a move on Robert". It was my neighbour and one of my sponsors Barry. All I could muster was a "bl**dy hell... it's you" such was my surprise. I was brought down to earth again with a bump.

A great run back though and you know what, I may have found my secret weapon !!!

First run of over one hour

Running for over an hour probably isn't a big deal for long distance runners but I felt I reached a milestone today. It was unseasonally warm and I planned to run over 12k or nearly 8 miles for the first time. The longest distance I have tackled in recent history.

My plan was to do a loop around Parkgate and then follow the Wirral Way up to the deserted railway station at Hadlow Road in Willaston and back. The Wirral Way follows the now disused Hooton to West Kirby branch line.

I don't seem to get on well with morning runs due to a complete lack of energy. We had also been woken at five in the morning by one of our young boys..great preparation ! I ate my boiled egg and soldiers, got kitted up and then set off at 8:45.

It was a glorious morning today. Blue skies and a distant mist shrouding the bottom half of the Welsh hills. If only I'd had a camera. My legs felt very heavy and so I settled into my slow endurance pace of around 9 minute miles. I was plagued with doubts as to whether I could keep going for 12k but you just have to plod on and get through it. Usually I feel comfortable at this pace but it was about 30 minutes into the run before I relaxed.

The best parts of the run were running through a deep cutting in the sandstone on the Wirral Way. The sandstone has many pick marks where it was hewn by hand. It is very cool and shady in the cutting but not one for the evening or quieter days. It was also great to meet a fellow runner who ran with me for a km or so as I approached Hadlow Road station. Hadlow Road station is now deserted but has been restored to a 1950's working station with ticket office etc etc. I'm sure I'll return with family when I have more energy !

Running back made me realise I had been going uphill and the huge energy boost from my boiled egg and soldiers started to take effect. I was running a lot faster and I just love running back home. Always a tonic when you are getting closer and closer to the end.

As I came off the Wirral Way close to home I was met by my two young boys and wife. Always a welcome sight wherever I am (unless I'm with my mistress...only joking !!) . The first 30kms of my "journey" are dedicated to her..my wife not my mistress. lol

I can now say I've run for over an hour. Final time 1 hour 11 mins and it feels like it. Slow but I kept going and clocked up another 12 kms. I'm now on the M56 near Helsby...running the wrong way on my virtual map. Well I thought it would be more realistic... my next goal to reach the M6 on my map and south !

Geese, bats and telescopes

I didn't think my run this evening would be so memorable. I am just getting over a cold (probably shouldn't have run on Sunday) and so was a slightly nervous as to whether I would be ready to run. I'm glad I did. The great thing about running is getting out there and seeing things. Night time is closing in now and when I set off it was dusk.

I forget about nature being a pen pusher. The first thing I noticed was the approach of a hundred or so geese overhead. It was so silent down below and the noise they made was wonderful as they approached the River Dee and the marshes. I was then jogging down the hill to the Boathouse Inn in Parkgate when I noticed a bat flying around me....I might avoid running on halloween this year !

All went well and after arriving back at home, final part of my running routine is to take a drink from a local spring which is a couple of minutes away on the edge of the marsh. As I approached a big dog appeared from nowhere. "Here we go " I thought. I must have looked like a massive bone to him and the smell well .... mmmm... Would you believe it there were two stargazers with a telescope sat on the edge of the marsh. We had a brief chat about what they could see (hardly anything just clouds) whilst Rottweiler licked its lips expectantly. No runner today Fido !!



As far as the run is concerned I have made a start at last and feel so much better after having received fantastic support from many of my friends and clients. Thank you everyone who has donated or pledged money so far. The ball is in my court.

Seaside Run 5k, the big puddle and the granny

Today was the big start and a chance to get some km's under my belt with the Seaside run 5k event starting in Leasowe. This is a regular monthly event (March to October) and I had started my new running "career" with the previous race in September. I was surrounded by a mixed field of athletes ranging from excellent club runners to novices. I would say my standard falls somewhere in between.

I was finely tuned for the event and had spent an hour studying the map of the course and laying down my race plan. I was determined to beat my previous best time of 24:35 for this race.
I had memorised times for landmarks...the top car park 6.5 mins, Leasowe Castle Hotel 10 mins, the left dogleg 15 mins, above Green Lane 17 mins and the final car park 21 mins. I was prepared for anything.

It was a bit nippy at the start to say the least with quite a bracing wind to deal with but I stormed down the road past the lighthouse and climbed up to the prom. My God..cold. There was a steady wind that just cut into you. I battled on ..top car park under 6 mins...oh dear too fast, legs heavy, Leasowe Castle Hotel 10 mins spot on ...yes ! Left dogleg 15 mins ...spot on. I was going to do it ... I avoided children , dogs the odd cyclist ...nothing could stop me now.

I came around a corner with less than 1 mile to go .. up ahead was a really massive puddle on a narrower part of the path. No problem. THEN TO MY HORROR I spotted her.. a pensioner picking her way slowly around the puddle. A silent scream rose in my mind. NOOOO ! ...she was in the way. There was no way I could go through the middle of the pool we would both be drenched. As I approached I thought "keep calm , keep calm" I will just go around the other side there is bound to be a dry strip... I got closer. NOOOOO ! There was only one dry path and the pensioner in the dark coat was gingerly walking slowly down it.

This puddle must have been a good 10-15 feet long it was going to take time. My mind raced. I was still on for a Robert record .. I nearly shouted at her "GET OUT OF MY WAY !!!" No I just couldn't ...she could be my mother. I heard the breath of runners gaining behind me. Should I push her out of the way or lift her ?.. No ! It was too late. I found myself following her jiggling like a toddler bursting for a wee. It seemed to take an eternity and then I was free on the other side of the pool and trying to find my rhythm again.

Next target time over 18 mins. I was a minute behind. I had been caught by an athlete behind me but I think he felt slightly sorry for me after the puddle incident and did not overtake me. We finished the race together ...and the time of 24:27 by my watch..unconfirmed.. but I had done it. A new Robert record with a stiff cold wind in my face and a granny to negotiate. If only she knew ...

Running in my wife's clothes !

Having a Spanish mother I feel the cold....it was cold, dark and wet tonight for my final training run before blast off on Sunday. Autumn has arrived with a bang and do I have the correct running gear ? ...well not quite. Wifey does though.

She has some lovely tracksuit bottoms..so for tonight I donned my wife's tracksuit bottoms. They fit perfectly (almost) and were lovely and soft and warm.

The worst thing about running in the semi-dark though so far is you can't see the puddles or I suppose anything else for that matter. Good plus though .. people don't realise I'm wearing my wife's clothes. Maybe this cross dressing thing will grow on me.