Tuesday 28 July 2009
Langbar again
Rest yesterday and this morning out on my bike - a rare outing by Stefan midweek and we did our standard for Tuesday of over Langbar.
Sunday 26 July 2009
Weeton Show
Off today to the Weeton show - no exercise as I was heavily hung over. I decided not to do the trail race, but instead was going to enter the "owner who looks like their dog" in the dog show!
In the end that class was cancelled so was spared the embarassment (and the chance to make the family laugh at my expense).
My eldest entered the "Child Dog Handler" competition and won a credible third prize in her first attempt at such a thing. She is very brave doing such things and not at all phased - I'm always very proud of her for having a go.
It is the first time I have ever been to a country show - sheep, dogs, horses, best sponge cakes, odd-shaped veg, ferret racing and a mad fell race. A strange combination but a lot of fun. Our friends our showing their sheep at the Malham show and we are going to go, and I may have another go at "owner most like dog" as well as the fell race!
In the end that class was cancelled so was spared the embarassment (and the chance to make the family laugh at my expense).
My eldest entered the "Child Dog Handler" competition and won a credible third prize in her first attempt at such a thing. She is very brave doing such things and not at all phased - I'm always very proud of her for having a go.
It is the first time I have ever been to a country show - sheep, dogs, horses, best sponge cakes, odd-shaped veg, ferret racing and a mad fell race. A strange combination but a lot of fun. Our friends our showing their sheep at the Malham show and we are going to go, and I may have another go at "owner most like dog" as well as the fell race!
Saturday 25 July 2009
Favourite Ride
Out this morning in beautiful weather for possibly my favourite ride: Burnsall, Littondale, Halton Gill, over to Malham and back via Embsay - about 65 miles at a fair pace.
In the afternoon it was round to Mark's to watch the Ventoux stage of the TDF (Contador secured his second victory).
Tonight we are off to a party to round off a perfect day!
In the afternoon it was round to Mark's to watch the Ventoux stage of the TDF (Contador secured his second victory).
Tonight we are off to a party to round off a perfect day!
Thursday 23 July 2009
Getting tired
Did another bike ride yesterday (Barden and back) and today I tried running intervals with Richard (4 x 3/4 miles).
However, my legs seem to have finally given up running fast. I just feel so fatigued after several hard weeks (well comparatively for me) that it ended up a plod. Still, nice to get out, and after a long run planned for Saturday, I'm going to have an easy week before the Pendle Pedal on August 2nd.
However, my legs seem to have finally given up running fast. I just feel so fatigued after several hard weeks (well comparatively for me) that it ended up a plod. Still, nice to get out, and after a long run planned for Saturday, I'm going to have an easy week before the Pendle Pedal on August 2nd.
Tuesday 21 July 2009
Langbar Tuesday
Rest yesterday, and this morning I managed to get out on the bike. Down to Cavendish and back via Langbar. Quite a fast pace, but I'm still feeling tired! Looking forward to an easier week next week.
Sunday 19 July 2009
Tough Bike Ride
Out on my bike with the Early Birds this morning, with a select group consisting of Stefan, Richard Malir, Rogan, Mark.
A tough route out through Addingham Mooorside, out to Carlton and then onwards into Lancashire (not quite sure where we got to), returning via Silsden, and then a tough climb out towards East Morton, finishing up past Dick Hudsons and Cow and Calf and home.
A tough, tough route. My legs were struggling and I was last up all the climbs, but really enjoyed it.
A tough route out through Addingham Mooorside, out to Carlton and then onwards into Lancashire (not quite sure where we got to), returning via Silsden, and then a tough climb out towards East Morton, finishing up past Dick Hudsons and Cow and Calf and home.
A tough, tough route. My legs were struggling and I was last up all the climbs, but really enjoyed it.
Friday 17 July 2009
Race Plans
Out for an EB ride this morning. Pouring rain and on my lonesome again. An oddly ivigourating experience!
I'm now about a quarter of the way through my 12 month journey to London in April. I've had a generally strong 3 months and am pleased with fitness, although my performances have plateaud since the early part of the year improvements.
I'm trying to plan out my races and overall training regime over the next three qurters of the year, and I'm settling on this plan:
Pendle Pedal 2nd August 2009
Yorkshire Vets Relay Champs 27th September 2009
Helwith Bridge Duathlon 4th October 2009
Lanaster Half Marathon 8th November 2009
Abbey Dash 22nd November 2009
Chevin Chase 26th December 2009
Auld Lang Syne Fell Race 31st December 2009
Brass Monkey January
Spen 20 March
London Marathon 27th April 2010
This breaks the year into the following themes:
July - Cycling, enjoying being on the road during good weather (!?) in prep for Pendal
August - November - Working on speed, help with Helwith (4m/25m/4m), Yorkshire Vets (3m) and Abbey Dash (10k). Aiming for 1:22 - 1:23 for Lancaster Half.
November - January - Start mixing in some hills and off-road, build leg strength, strength endurance - leading up to Chevin and ALS which are both IH league counters and may give me chance of a top 3 finish if I do well.
January - April - Bringing it all together, with all of April tapering
I'm aiming to do long runs (16m-22m) at least once a month during the whole period.
Sounds a plan.
I'm now about a quarter of the way through my 12 month journey to London in April. I've had a generally strong 3 months and am pleased with fitness, although my performances have plateaud since the early part of the year improvements.
I'm trying to plan out my races and overall training regime over the next three qurters of the year, and I'm settling on this plan:
Pendle Pedal 2nd August 2009
Yorkshire Vets Relay Champs 27th September 2009
Helwith Bridge Duathlon 4th October 2009
Lanaster Half Marathon 8th November 2009
Abbey Dash 22nd November 2009
Chevin Chase 26th December 2009
Auld Lang Syne Fell Race 31st December 2009
Brass Monkey January
Spen 20 March
London Marathon 27th April 2010
This breaks the year into the following themes:
July - Cycling, enjoying being on the road during good weather (!?) in prep for Pendal
August - November - Working on speed, help with Helwith (4m/25m/4m), Yorkshire Vets (3m) and Abbey Dash (10k). Aiming for 1:22 - 1:23 for Lancaster Half.
November - January - Start mixing in some hills and off-road, build leg strength, strength endurance - leading up to Chevin and ALS which are both IH league counters and may give me chance of a top 3 finish if I do well.
January - April - Bringing it all together, with all of April tapering
I'm aiming to do long runs (16m-22m) at least once a month during the whole period.
Sounds a plan.
Thursday 16 July 2009
More Tired Intervals
Trid our usual set of 4 x 800s today but I felt really knackered.
Managed 2 at a slower than usual pace, and then a couple of easier ones with a 400m burst at the end. Let's call it a Fartlex session instead and not worry.
Richard M is getting faster though.
Managed 2 at a slower than usual pace, and then a couple of easier ones with a 400m burst at the end. Let's call it a Fartlex session instead and not worry.
Richard M is getting faster though.
Wednesday 15 July 2009
Bike in the rain
I heard heavy rain when my alarm awoke me at 550am this morning. I knew there would be a poor turnout of EBs, but decided to go for it anyway!
Just a nice gentle leg stretch (alone) down to Cavendish Pavillion and back, and on the early train to work.
Talking of Cavendish, Mark won his fourth stage of the TdF today (his eighth in total). It was a tough uphill finish but he powered his way through to take the win.
He is some boy!
Just a nice gentle leg stretch (alone) down to Cavendish Pavillion and back, and on the early train to work.
Talking of Cavendish, Mark won his fourth stage of the TdF today (his eighth in total). It was a tough uphill finish but he powered his way through to take the win.
He is some boy!
Tuesday 14 July 2009
Double Whammy
I rested Sunday as I had lots of family things on and had been through a tough week. So instead I thought I'd mix things up a little and do my monthly "long road run" on a Monday night.
The idea is that I do this for now once a month, building up from 15 miles through to about 22 over the next 5 months or so.
So I set off last night at about 815pm, heading out via Denton to Otley, and then up on the Bradford Road out of Otley to Menston, and then turning back on the A65 by The Fox back into Ilkley.
About 16 miles I would guesstimate (my Garmin was discharged). I did it in about 2 hours which is the right sort of pace for my long training runs, but the last 3 miles were pure torture with my legs really seizing up. Still I did it.
I think it felt so bad as:
- it comes on the back of a hard couple of weeks
- I hadn't eaten much (well enough) in the day
- I'm just not used to running in the evenings.
I think I need to give these long runs some more priority (eg rest for 48 hours before and eat well).
Just to top it off, eight hours after getting back from the run, I was off on my bike to join the EBs on a nice ride down to Barden and back.
Actually haven't felt too bad today though!
The idea is that I do this for now once a month, building up from 15 miles through to about 22 over the next 5 months or so.
So I set off last night at about 815pm, heading out via Denton to Otley, and then up on the Bradford Road out of Otley to Menston, and then turning back on the A65 by The Fox back into Ilkley.
About 16 miles I would guesstimate (my Garmin was discharged). I did it in about 2 hours which is the right sort of pace for my long training runs, but the last 3 miles were pure torture with my legs really seizing up. Still I did it.
I think it felt so bad as:
- it comes on the back of a hard couple of weeks
- I hadn't eaten much (well enough) in the day
- I'm just not used to running in the evenings.
I think I need to give these long runs some more priority (eg rest for 48 hours before and eat well).
Just to top it off, eight hours after getting back from the run, I was off on my bike to join the EBs on a nice ride down to Barden and back.
Actually haven't felt too bad today though!
Saturday 11 July 2009
Saturday EB Ride to Burnsall
7 of us out on an EB ride this morning in glorious weather.
Went to Burnsall, returning via Langbar and Wheatley Lane. Home before 9am!
Went to Burnsall, returning via Langbar and Wheatley Lane. Home before 9am!
Friday 10 July 2009
6 miles
Thought I'd finish off a good week of training with a 6 mile easy-ish run at about 7:30 pace and a couple of hills.
The canal is closed off for a section at the moment so will force me to try out some other routes. Today I ran up to an around Gotts Park.
The canal is closed off for a section at the moment so will force me to try out some other routes. Today I ran up to an around Gotts Park.
Thursday 9 July 2009
On my bike again
I thought I'd give my legs a little rest so have spent the last three mornings on the Early Birds 630am ride.
Tuesday was some fast intervals back from Cavendish to Addingham and then Turners lane.
Wednesday was a trip as far as Barden and back via Langbar.
Thursday was a solitary ride to Cavendish and back.
The TdF is on at the moment which really inspires me to be on my bike.
Tuesday was some fast intervals back from Cavendish to Addingham and then Turners lane.
Wednesday was a trip as far as Barden and back via Langbar.
Thursday was a solitary ride to Cavendish and back.
The TdF is on at the moment which really inspires me to be on my bike.
Monday 6 July 2009
Slow intervals
Yesterday was a rest day, but ended up helping some friends with their small herd of sheep.
Spend the afternoon running round a field trying to herd them into a pen!
Today I opted to go out with the Richard for some intervals on the canalside. My legs were shot to pieces and I staggered round 4 x 1/2 mile intervals at a slow pace.
Spend the afternoon running round a field trying to herd them into a pen!
Today I opted to go out with the Richard for some intervals on the canalside. My legs were shot to pieces and I staggered round 4 x 1/2 mile intervals at a slow pace.
Saturday 4 July 2009
Wharfedale TTT Race 2
Today was the Whafedale TTT race 2 - the race I'd reccie'd a week ago and a League counter.
In the end the weather was fine and I ran a strong race to finish 13th.
I've pasted the Ilkley Harriers report below:
"Wharfedale TTT, 3/4/5 July
Saturday, 'A' medium fell race, 12 m, 3000 ft
1 Gareth Hird, Wharfedale 1h37.34
5 Jim Ryder 1h42.42
6 Duncan Cooper 1h44.29
13 Paul O'Looney 1h49.47
20 Kevin Gooch 2h02.14
38 Chris Oxlade 2h11.51
39 Rachael Gooch 2h12.58
40 John Pickering 2h15.35
46 Clare Smith 2h17.47
47 John Coates 2h17.47
49 Steve Weston 2h19.43
Paul O'Looney reports on Race 2 ... a good turnout of Harriers made it to Kettlewell on Saturday for the second race in the Bingley Harriers TTT 3-race series (Tarmac, Tussock, Trail). Despite some bad weather forecast, it was in fact a clear day with no rain, and good visibility all around the route.
It is a challenging 11 mile (3,500ft) course around Great Whernside with some difficult uphill and downhill sections.
Some storming Harrier performances saw Jim Ryder pick up the MV40 prize (5th overall?) and Duncan Cooper building on his recent excellent form to come in just behind in 6th place, posting his first top-ten finish in a race.
After Clare Smith's tremendous efforts in getting round the 3-peaks after having just come out of a plaster-cast, she again displayed further heroics in struggling round after turning her ankle before half-way. For her troubles she ended up with an ankle the size of a pineapple, but also picked up the LV35 prize.
Kevin Gooch's attempts at a good time were ruined by poor advice from some walkers who sent him in the wrong direction coming off Great Whernside (and no, they were not my family in disguise trying to jeopardise his points scoring in the League!). Steve Weston followed Kevin's lead and ended up running considerably further than everybody else.
All in all a great event, well managed by Bingley Harriers, over a tough but spectacular course.
The Saturday race was a counter in the Ilkley Harriers Running League and this 'mountain stage' gives Duncan the 'polka dot jersey' while the 'maillot jaune' reverts to Paul O'Looney."
In the end the weather was fine and I ran a strong race to finish 13th.
I've pasted the Ilkley Harriers report below:
"Wharfedale TTT, 3/4/5 July
Saturday, 'A' medium fell race, 12 m, 3000 ft
1 Gareth Hird, Wharfedale 1h37.34
5 Jim Ryder 1h42.42
6 Duncan Cooper 1h44.29
13 Paul O'Looney 1h49.47
20 Kevin Gooch 2h02.14
38 Chris Oxlade 2h11.51
39 Rachael Gooch 2h12.58
40 John Pickering 2h15.35
46 Clare Smith 2h17.47
47 John Coates 2h17.47
49 Steve Weston 2h19.43
Paul O'Looney reports on Race 2 ... a good turnout of Harriers made it to Kettlewell on Saturday for the second race in the Bingley Harriers TTT 3-race series (Tarmac, Tussock, Trail). Despite some bad weather forecast, it was in fact a clear day with no rain, and good visibility all around the route.
It is a challenging 11 mile (3,500ft) course around Great Whernside with some difficult uphill and downhill sections.
Some storming Harrier performances saw Jim Ryder pick up the MV40 prize (5th overall?) and Duncan Cooper building on his recent excellent form to come in just behind in 6th place, posting his first top-ten finish in a race.
After Clare Smith's tremendous efforts in getting round the 3-peaks after having just come out of a plaster-cast, she again displayed further heroics in struggling round after turning her ankle before half-way. For her troubles she ended up with an ankle the size of a pineapple, but also picked up the LV35 prize.
Kevin Gooch's attempts at a good time were ruined by poor advice from some walkers who sent him in the wrong direction coming off Great Whernside (and no, they were not my family in disguise trying to jeopardise his points scoring in the League!). Steve Weston followed Kevin's lead and ended up running considerably further than everybody else.
All in all a great event, well managed by Bingley Harriers, over a tough but spectacular course.
The Saturday race was a counter in the Ilkley Harriers Running League and this 'mountain stage' gives Duncan the 'polka dot jersey' while the 'maillot jaune' reverts to Paul O'Looney."
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