Track & Field Championships 2011 & hill session

Hello hello,

Another week, another race.

Or in this case, three races for the price of one at the NE Veteran's Athletics championships at Monkton last weekend.  I was hoping to target the 200m for a personal best, but the wind was against us in the last 100m, so that was pretty much out of the question, and, I had results to do again (in my role as the VAANEE T&F secretary), so it was like other league meetings with me running from the box down to the start line.  I did manage to get some assistance from the super lady volunteers Steph (Tynedale) and Liz (Houghton) - thanks girls!!  so at least I did get to jog around a bit before a couple of the events.

First up was the 400m.  To be quite honest I just did this as a bit of a warm up race for the 200m, so I wasn't surprised with a disappointing 4th place in 84.0 seconds.  I dunno what it is with 400m, it seems three times more difficult than the 300m, yet it's only 100m more.  It prolly doesn't help that I feel like I've got a bit of an arse & thigh weight addition over the last month or so (with my rubbish eating habits before our house move), so much so that I look like I could have possibly eating too many of Helen & Tom's MyPy produce #apprentice.  On the plus side we have moved now, so I should be eating a fair bit healthier.

The next race on the agenda was the 200m.  The wind had knocked hopes of a pb, but I do feel like I've got it in me to go a lot quicker, so I was pleased with an overall 2nd place in 35.2, and a 1st place in my age category.  Since my pb is 34.4, and I still jumped like I'd been shot by the starting gun instead of running when I heard it, I'm pretty sure I could manage 33.x or even 32.x

The 800m was only really on my list of races because I didn't have time (or feel up to) the 3000m.  Again I got round in a pretty naff time of 3:11.0, which is dire given my best time of 2:55.  Managed to walk away with a few medals anyways, so at least it wasn't a wasted effort.

Full results are available here on the Sportsoft website

Watergate 10k was on my list of must do races for this year, but since it fell on the Sunday after we moved house, and I'd left Andy in a sea of my junk & boxes on the Saturday, I thought it prudent to fore go the race in favour of a morning sorting out rubbish & furniture.  This was a pretty good plan, as we really needed to find certain important items amidst the chaos. 

We found time to play in a couple of golf comps recently including a mixed competition on the Sunday afternoon, and a Texas scramble on Monday evening, played like a muppet on Sunday ('cause I was knackered and aching from humping boxes around) and the ok-ish on the Monday.  Both were canny though, and although I'll never be as good as the guys playing in today's little competition in Royal St George's, I am improving.

Tuesday

My favourite session.  Springfield Bank (Field Terrace).

It's a not-too-savage hill session we normally do in the winter, but Evil Coach Darth Jim must have decided that we've already had our summer, and that hill training is back on the menu.  My aim was to keep with Mick 'rapidly returning to form' Joyce for as long as possible, without letting Frankie 'the machine' Devlin lap me.

Set off at a steady pace, running alongside Mick for the first 4 reps, but then he managed to get away from me on the fifth hill, and I was unable to get the distance back.  I did manage to keep the gap no more than 50m though, so I was happy enough with that, and the finishing time after 12 reps of 31.49.  Last time we did it I got round in 32:10, so at least I haven't lost too much fitness, or I'm getting back.

Well done to the rest of the gang for working well and completing the session :)

Just waiting now to see what crazy session we'll be doing on the track tonight!

Happy running folks!

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