My wife and kids have gone away for a few days, so after I saw them off and did a few jobs, I decided to nip out on my bike for an hour or so. We've had a beautiful run of weather recently, and it was a beautiful evening.
I just went out on the Nesfield Road, down to Barden Tower and back.
Rather strangely, on the way out, I came across lots of mixed pound and euro notes, a set of receipts and a wallet on the road!
Collected them up (as they were blowing away) and when I get home found inside the wallet a driving licence, and managed to track down the owner. He was in fact a local man, who came round later and was much relieved to get his wallet back.
Sunday 31 May 2009
Saturday 30 May 2009
On the beach at Crosby
Visiting family back in Liverpool today. Managed to get out and do a tempo 6 mile run along the (compacted) sand at the Crosby seafront.
This stretch of beach houses Antony Gormley's "The Other Place" which is fantastc piece of installation art. It was great to run alongside these static, yet bizarrely evocative, iron men.
Everton FC were also in the FA cup final, so every other house in Liverpool was bedecked with blue banners, flags and balloons. Unfortunately they lost to Chelsea 2-1.
Tuesday 26 May 2009
Monday 25 May 2009
First Long Run
Just back from a weekend away in West MIdlands, celebrating the wedding of a couple of friends.
Before I left on Saturday though, managed a bike ride down to Burnsall and back. My Focus is back and working better than ever. The Headset is tight and I can for the first time feel the front wheel through the handlebars. Also the rear brake is running smoothly.
On the Sunday before the wedding I managed to get out for my first long marathon run. 16.5 flattish miles, along a bridle path and then a canal towpath. Averaged 7:33 and this was pretty constant, so quite pleased with this. Afterwards ate and drank myself silly and had a lot of fun at the wedding so a perfect day!
Before I left on Saturday though, managed a bike ride down to Burnsall and back. My Focus is back and working better than ever. The Headset is tight and I can for the first time feel the front wheel through the handlebars. Also the rear brake is running smoothly.
On the Sunday before the wedding I managed to get out for my first long marathon run. 16.5 flattish miles, along a bridle path and then a canal towpath. Averaged 7:33 and this was pretty constant, so quite pleased with this. Afterwards ate and drank myself silly and had a lot of fun at the wedding so a perfect day!
Friday 22 May 2009
Still running
Not been posting for a while but still running.
Although after Leeds Half I could feel it in my legs for a few days.
I ran the HDRL (http://www.harrogate-league.co.uk/index.php?year=2009) on Wednesday evening. Ran another good effort of 35.01 for the 5.7 mile course. Average 6.10 per mile. Started way too fast again and slowed. Good fun but hard work.
My bike has also come back (fixed) from Wiggle so am planning to mix my running with a few more bike rides over the summer.
Although after Leeds Half I could feel it in my legs for a few days.
I ran the HDRL (http://www.harrogate-league.co.uk/index.php?year=2009) on Wednesday evening. Ran another good effort of 35.01 for the 5.7 mile course. Average 6.10 per mile. Started way too fast again and slowed. Good fun but hard work.
My bike has also come back (fixed) from Wiggle so am planning to mix my running with a few more bike rides over the summer.
Tuesday 12 May 2009
Stiff legs and a recovery run
Just did a gentle mile (down to the station) yesterday morning, but today I did a 5 mile slowish recovery run off the train on the way home (Ben Rhyding and over Denton Bridge). My calves were/are still feeling stiff and also the bottom of my hamstrings. No more than should be expected though.
Only worked a half-day today as the afternoon was my eldest's birthday party. Looking after a dozen 10-year-olds in Pizza Express was quite a challenge but great fun!
Also noticed today that I am still sitting on top of the Ilkley Harriers leage. This is a handicapped points system organised by my club. Just a little fun really, and I'm only there as I've done more races than most other people, but still feel very proud!. It is calculated by...
"Your time relative to the winner's time is scaled by an age/gender factor as in the table (right) to calculate race points. Up to 4 races count in the category competitions (trail and xc, road, and fell), and up to 10 best scores (min 3 in a category) for the overall standings.
After 8 races, Paul O'Looney narrowly retains the lead from new challenger Richard Reeve, with Richard leading the Road competition..."
The latest position is always recorded at http://www.ilkleyharriers.co.uk/index.php?page=league, but as I may not be at the head of the league again, the today's position is held at http://www.ilkleyharriers.co.uk/assets/rl/2009-8.pdf.
Only worked a half-day today as the afternoon was my eldest's birthday party. Looking after a dozen 10-year-olds in Pizza Express was quite a challenge but great fun!
Also noticed today that I am still sitting on top of the Ilkley Harriers leage. This is a handicapped points system organised by my club. Just a little fun really, and I'm only there as I've done more races than most other people, but still feel very proud!. It is calculated by...
"Your time relative to the winner's time is scaled by an age/gender factor as in the table (right) to calculate race points. Up to 4 races count in the category competitions (trail and xc, road, and fell), and up to 10 best scores (min 3 in a category) for the overall standings.
After 8 races, Paul O'Looney narrowly retains the lead from new challenger Richard Reeve, with Richard leading the Road competition..."
The latest position is always recorded at http://www.ilkleyharriers.co.uk/index.php?page=league, but as I may not be at the head of the league again, the today's position is held at http://www.ilkleyharriers.co.uk/assets/rl/2009-8.pdf.
Sunday 10 May 2009
Leeds Half Marathon
First big milestone my journey to next year's London marathon was today - the Leeds Half.
Despite still feeling Thursday's race in my legs, we set off in good spirits at 7.30 for the 30 minute journey into Leeds. We ended up taking a car full (7 of us all together - me, Emma, Ady, Richard, Paul, Jane B and Jacqui), and the car was full of wonderful pre-race chatter. A mix of nervousness, anticipation and excitement.
The conditions were a lot better than I feared. The high winds from the last week had dropped and it stayed dry. Quite humid though (85% the BBC was forecasting).
After pelting out too fast on Thursday, I tried to keep it under control early on - both my speed and HR. A few of us had decided to start in the "fast" pens at the front so it was quite difficult not to get pulled along.
The first half of the race is really quite hilly, with the back half mostly downhill. I din't have my Garmin on, but knew I was pacing at about 6:30 for the first half, and I managed to keep this up, slighly bettering it on the downhills despite getting quite tired.
Ended finishing in 1:24:00, which I was very pleased with. This beat my previous best of 1:27:48 (done in Keyworth Turkey trot of 2004).
Using the Runners World predictor, this forecasts a time for the marathon of 3:02:00. I wouldn't have to improve by too much to start getting a forecasted time of 3 hrs, so at this early stage of my 12 month training plan, it puts me in a good position.
Despite still feeling Thursday's race in my legs, we set off in good spirits at 7.30 for the 30 minute journey into Leeds. We ended up taking a car full (7 of us all together - me, Emma, Ady, Richard, Paul, Jane B and Jacqui), and the car was full of wonderful pre-race chatter. A mix of nervousness, anticipation and excitement.
The conditions were a lot better than I feared. The high winds from the last week had dropped and it stayed dry. Quite humid though (85% the BBC was forecasting).
After pelting out too fast on Thursday, I tried to keep it under control early on - both my speed and HR. A few of us had decided to start in the "fast" pens at the front so it was quite difficult not to get pulled along.
The first half of the race is really quite hilly, with the back half mostly downhill. I din't have my Garmin on, but knew I was pacing at about 6:30 for the first half, and I managed to keep this up, slighly bettering it on the downhills despite getting quite tired.
Ended finishing in 1:24:00, which I was very pleased with. This beat my previous best of 1:27:48 (done in Keyworth Turkey trot of 2004).
Using the Runners World predictor, this forecasts a time for the marathon of 3:02:00. I wouldn't have to improve by too much to start getting a forecasted time of 3 hrs, so at this early stage of my 12 month training plan, it puts me in a good position.
Thursday 7 May 2009
HDSRL Race 1
The first Harrogate District Summer Race League race of the Summer today.
A 5 mile road race which is part of a series organised by and for local clubs (http://www.harrogate-league.org.uk/).
Went off fast but faded badly - still got round the 5 mile course in 30.23 (49th out of 305).
Monday 4 May 2009
Another easy 5 miler
Had another fairly easy run down to Addingham and back at about 7 min mile pace - felt pretty good.
Ilkley Carnival today (bank holiday) so nice day with family, and then a few days rest with teh odd short (1 mile) run before the HDSRL race on Thursday!
Neck still giving me a bit of trouble but easing off.
Ilkley Carnival today (bank holiday) so nice day with family, and then a few days rest with teh odd short (1 mile) run before the HDSRL race on Thursday!
Neck still giving me a bit of trouble but easing off.
Saturday 2 May 2009
Oh, me neck!
Woke up with a crippling "kink" in my neck this morning. I've been struggling with back/neck/arm ache all day. Hopefully will go in a day or two.
Have self-diagnosed lots of ibuprofen and a bottle of wine before bed tonight to relax!
Still, went out for a steady 6 mile run with Richard at 730. Nice easy tempo. Nothing hard between now and the Leeds Half which is a week on Sunday.
Saw a few of the Harriers on the way back doing some efforts on the Nesfield road.
Have self-diagnosed lots of ibuprofen and a bottle of wine before bed tonight to relax!
Still, went out for a steady 6 mile run with Richard at 730. Nice easy tempo. Nothing hard between now and the Leeds Half which is a week on Sunday.
Saw a few of the Harriers on the way back doing some efforts on the Nesfield road.
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