A proud GB Coasters relay team member!

Morning Campers :)

I'm sure I didn't have July penciled in to be this hectic at the start of the year, but it seems that there's no let up in the race schedule. I did thin out a few races I'd normally do this month, but I still seem to be very busy!

Saturday 17th July : Coasters GB South Shields to Sunderland section.

This was a run of all seasons - started with torrential rain in South Shields at the handover, had a savage crosswind up the leas, then blazing sunshine as soon as I crossed the boundary into Sunderland. A canny run in my brand new (and very expensive by my standards) nimbus 12s which I bought in the morning.

South Shields Ferry landing Barry the Baton handover from Tim Taylor

Me on the Leas at the Great North Run finish area

Wearmouth Bridge handover to Philip Teece & team :)

Many thanks to my super photo & vehicle support man and all round great guy - my dad! Cheers Dad you're a star

Overall distance 9.18 miles, 1:16:50

More info on the coasters here: www.coastersgb.co.uk

15th July : Track session

Club track session 8x400m, watch battery died just as the session started, so times were approximate. Was doing around 100 sec laps. 30sec recovery

11th July : Strollers long run

Another mad Strollers training run, hills & dales jobby. Bloody knackered when we eventually got back to the Barnes. Didn't much help that it was blowing a hooligan, but at least it was sunny and not raining. I vaguely know where we went, but was unfamiliar with whole sections of the run - nice to get out and explore!

Overall distance 12 miles, 1:49:37

Strollers website link here

10th July : Newcastle Parkrun

I got several messages on facebook saying that Newcastle parkrun were hoping for 100 runners, so I dashed off before work to take part and help the cause. They got to their 100, and I got round in a reasonable time considering I'd already done two races that week

5k 22:53, 7th lady, 1st L35

Newcastle parkrun page here
Sunderland parkrun page here

8th July : Angel View Run 5m

Bit of a toughy but really enjoy running round this part of Gateshead. It was a bit difficult underfoot on the first part of the big hill as they've redone the surface with fairly chunky stone chippings, but I kept my form up the hill waved to hubby at the top (he was watering our allotment which you can see from the course) then motored back down the hill. Finished in 39:06 & got the 1st L35 prize and by some miracle we had a ladies team out and we won the ladies prize! , pretty happy after doing the Sunshine Run on Wednesday

5M 39:06, 7th Lady, 1st L35

Angel View results here

7th July : Sunshine Run

Had a canny run, even with the heat and the smoke from the staithes which were on fire at Dunston Simon (from Runners World) and Alan from my club both got away from me in the last kilometre, but I still got 4th lady in 22:47 I didn't make the podium this year, but I was 1st vet lady, so pretty happy with that. Well done to my brother in law Pete who did this race as his first ever 5k!

5k 22:47, 4th Lady, 1st L35

28th, Alan Jobling, 22.30
29th, Simon Jamieson, 22.32
108th, Peter Harvey, 28.09

Sunshine Run results here

So after a busy two weeks I was going to go over to Sunderland again this morning to do the Strollers long run, but I'm going to take a well deserved day off and watch the Open from St Andrews ...after I tackle the long and varied list of household chores I've got to do

Happy running folks!

Tags: Sunshine Run 5k, Angel View Run, Coasters GB

Busy busy busy

The last month has been mad work-wise, and more than a little crazy running wise too. I managed to notch up a total of 16 races, but with track meetings that's not so hard really, but I am looking forward to things settling down and getting back to normal!

Here's a run down of my crazy running schedule:

July:

Thu 1 track session 3.11mi 23:09 7:27min/mile (8.06mph)
10 x 500 - 2:20, 2:20, 2:20, 2:17, 2:19, 2:18, 2:20, 2:17, 2:20, 2:18 (aiming for a consistent pace)
Thu 1 gym session @ home (Alyson couldn't make it to Monkton, so I did the session when I got back home after my diving club.

June:

Wed 30 Hebburn loop 6.4mi 53:27 8:21 min/mile (7.18mph)
Tech loop with Jim & Alan + double backs

Tue 29 5k time trial 23:52 7:40 min/mile (7.82mph)
Jarrow & Hebburn AC 5k time trial. So hot I felt sick, not a good indication of how I should be running
Tue 29 warm up 3mi 24:46 8:15 min/mile (7.27mph)
Tue 29 warm down 0.85mi 7:42 9:04 min/mile (6.62mph)

Mon 28 gym session @ Monkton with Alyson W. Starting to see some improvements in my waistline at the least, even if I do feel like I've been beaten with sticks the day after.

Sat 26 races VAANEE T&F Champs Was a tad too warm for my liking, reached up to 29 degrees by the time we got going for the 3000m. It's a pity we don't do T&F in the early spring or Autumn.

800m 3:17 6:34 min/mile (9.14mph)
3000m 14:01 7:32 min/mile (7.96mph)
200m 35.4 4:52 min/mile (12.34mph)
1500m 6:33 7:03 min/mile (8.52mph)
400m 1:21 5:24min/mile (11.11mph)

Thu 24 track session 2.98mi 20:38 6:55 min/mile (8.67mph)
1000 800 600 x2 4:23, 3:13, 2:21 4:28, 3:33, 2:40

Wed 23 Run 5.75mi 45:50 7:58 min/mile (7.53mph) Warm up run before gym session
Wed 23 gym session @ Monkton with Alyson W.

Tue 22 road session 1.49mi 9:53 6:38min/mile (9.05mph)
4 x 600 slagheaps. Was too hot, felt lightheaded & had to stop 2:21, 2:28, 2:34, 2:30

Tue 22 warm up 1.8mi 15:00 8:20min/mile (7.2mph)

Mon 21 gym session @ Monkton with Alyson W.

Sat 19 track session 1.71mi 10:24 6:05min/mile (9.87mph)
Track session @ Maiden Castle, Durham with Alyson Dixon. 300 (30 sec rec) 200 (60 sec rec) x 6
first rep 350m 1:12.56, 35.25, 1:09.52, 35.68, 1:09.38, 35.78, 1:09.65, 35.54, 1:09.39, 34.18, 1:08.55, 34.54

Wed 16 Penshaw Hill Race 5k 24:38 7:55min/mile (7.58mph)
first time I've done this one and its a cracker...nasty nasty hills, but lovely through the woods. 24.38 - not bad given the terrain.

Mon 14 VAANEE T&F meeting 1 mile 6:39 6:39min/mile (9.02mph)
Mon 14 VAANEE T&F meeting 400m 1:18 5:12min/mile (11.54mph)

Sun 13 1 mile 7:20 7:20min/mile (8.18mph) Great North Dog Walk 1 mile challenge 1 mile on the Leas with my folks' dog Alice.

Wed 9 race 5.9mi 43:10 7:19min/mile (8.2mph) Blaydon Race

Mon 7 VAANEE T&F meeting
200m 34.8 4:43min/mile (12.71mph)
1500m 6:00.8 6:27min/mile (9.3mph)
800m 3:01.5 6:02min/mile (9.94mph)

Sat 5 Northern Senior League Div 3E
400m 1:13.4 4:52min/mile (12.33mph) 4 x 400m relay 73.4 unofficial pb
800m 2:58.6 5:56min/mile (10.11mph)

Thu 3 track session 1.49mi 9:04 6:05min/mile (9.86mph) 6 x 400 1:31, 1:28, 1:37, 1:39, 1:28, 1:21
Thu 3 race 1 mile 6:21.4 6:21min/mile (9.45mph) Fetch Everyone 1 mile challenge

There were a couple of canny performances in there amongst all the naff ones...but I really don't run well in the heat - that's this months runners excuse July isn't much easier race-wise, with something on every Wednesday, but I've got a couple of them to target and a few I'm gonna do just for fun, heck I guess that's the best bit about running, the ones where you finish and say "You know what, I really enjoyed it...sign me straight up for next years race. I can't wait"

July - bring it on!

Happy running folks