First #BloodyCyclists, now #BloodyRunners?

I'm sure most of you will be aware of the recent fuss (and rightly so) about the motorist who used the hashtag BloodyCyclist and went on to boast about how they had knocked a cyclist off their bike...

Well, I had a somewhat similar experience on my run today, fortunately for me though it didn't end in me being flattened by a car. The story goes... A car had just turned onto the road I was running along and it was just about level with me. Now, I knew there was a turning up ahead that I would be going straight over, but the driver could be turning at. Due to this, and with the car at my shoulder I kept checking their indicator light to make sure they weren't turning. Nope, nothing, so I placed one foot on the road...

...Guess what happened next? Yep, the driver decided to turn. I slammed my breaks on as I didn't particularly want to be road kill and shouted at them (their window was open) "argh, indicate will you hey" (not in a pirate voice I should add) and scurried on homeward. I tweeted about this experience and it seems it's a total pet peeve and annoyance to other runners too:

Why is it such little care is given by motorists? -Or are some people just really bad drivers? As a driver myself I'm always conscious of runners and cyclists - why can't everyone else be?

Has anyone else ever had any near misses?

Walton Hall Park 5 miler 2013

My second race in 3 days gave me a bad-ass affliction of DOMS galore, which weren’t actually delayed in their onset… Two days after the Port Sunlight 10k I returned to Walton Hall Park, running club’s base during the winter months, for a 5 mile race.

This was my first ever 5 mile race so I was guaranteed a personal best, and I think I speak for most runners when I say, I love a good PB!

As expected this was an excellent turn out from fellow club runners, as well as other local running clubs. Due to this it felt like it was some kind of club championship (/in my mind’s eye an Olympic race as we were all in our racing colours).

I had two goals for this race: don’t go out too fast, and complete the 5 miles quicker than I completed the first 5 miles of the Liverpool Spring 10k race. This meant my time to beat was 33:29.

I didn’t start near the front which meant I wouldn’t get carried away too much. The temptation was there to join the faster members of the club but I knew I’d only regret it if I injured myself from over-doing it.

My starting point worked to my advantage as the faster runners in front of me seemed to run off into the sunset (leaving me behind, boo hoo!) while I maintained a steady pace over the first kilometre – 4:02; a little fast but no sub 4 minute kilometres were going to be happening today!

The course followed a one small loop, two large loops strategy which I quite liked, as it allowed me to see runners up ahead, as well as being able to gauge when to make a move on the final lap for a sprint(ish) finish.

Having not raced a 5 miler before I wasn’t sure how to pace myself but managed to settle down into a rhythm and ended up in a bit of a scrap with another runner (not a fight scrap, an I’m going to beat you scrap). This helped take my mind off constantly checking my Garmin for my pace.

It was quite fun having a mini race with another runner as I was trying to pull away from him whenever the opportunity arose, only for him to appear at my side like a shadow... But a really, really tall shadow in neon yellow and calf compression socks.

This bit of competition meant my pace varied; kilometre two was my slowest at 4:15, then kilometre three was my quickest at 4:01. Small lap done it was on to the final two...

The large laps of the race showed the same pattern in terms of pace - a slower middle kilometre due to a slight and prolonged incline (4:13 & 4:12) either side of quicker kilometre splits.

So, coming through the final lap I knew that I needed to try and push on at the peak of the incline to finish with a good time. My plan was to do this coming up to the peak of the incline as there was a sharp turn straight afterwards.

The latter stages of the incline approached, I stuck to the inside and pushed on. There was still half a kilometre left at this point so it was just an upping of pace, but it seemed to work - I pulled away from neon-compression-socks-man and gained, then passed, two other runners.

It came to the final bend and the home straight and I raised a sprint and passed one more runner as I watched the clock tick closer to 33 minutes... and...

...I finished in exactly 33 minutes.... Nearly 30 seconds ahead of my target

Final Race Stats

Time: 33:00
Position: 51/257
First 4km: 16:31
Second 4km: 16:29 (a good negative split! -Especially considering there was an extra 0.12km here too)

Garmin Here

A really enjoyable race, excellently organised, and a refreshing route - no roads, just park pathways. I will definitely be competing in this next year.

Race bling:

Final Note

I really, really, enjoyed this race, probably more so because my previous race left me feeling like I didn't enjoy myself. I was happy with my pacing, my time, and whilst it was hard going and I know I've still got a long way to go in terms of fitness to get back to where I was last year, I enjoyed the feeling of not being able to go any faster.

Port Sunlight 10k 2013

This was my second race of the year… Two weeks earlier I’d completed the Liverpool Spring 10k in a time of 41:52 which I was very happy about. However, since then I hadn’t trained much due to shin splints and so had only plodded about for a few tentative miles.

Despite this my prep for the race had gone well; carb loading the night before rather than apple loading (in the form of cider), an early night’s sleep, and the prospect of a course where “road quality is very good and flat throughout”. I was feeling confident I could better my Spring 10k time.

I rolled up on the day and got chatting with club members before a quick warm up and off to the start line. It was a nice day for it – not too hot, but warm enough so that I was feeling comfortable in my skimpy running vest (what a mental image)…

We were soon off, and, as I’d started near the front, was swept along with the fast runners and completed the first kilometre in 3:59 – I felt fine… My subsequent two kilometres were equally quick times; 4:09 and 4:03 respectively.

It was around then that the twisting and turning nature, as well as the slight (slight is relative here) increases in gradient of the course knocked me for six. I suddenly couldn’t get my breath back and I slowed right down.

As I knew the course was a two lap affair I tried to get my breathing back under control for the half way mark. Due to this I slowed for the 5^th kilometre quite a bit, despite this I delivered the first half of the race in a not too shabby 20:47. (Kilometre 4 & 5 in 4:14 & 4:22).

Problem was, I couldn’t catch my breath.

So, I decided rather than flog myself for a certain time, just go at a pace that was fairly quick and give myself a workout. You’d think this would allow me to enjoy the rest of the race.

It didn’t…

Enter 8km guy… A local resident who nearly made me go all animalistic on his arse (not in a sexual way – even if I had wanted to I wouldn’t have had the energy) by exclaiming ‘not far to go now’. I feel my self-control at not shouting back at him ‘there are two bloody kilometres left, <expletive>’ was excellent.

The highlight of the race on the last lap was seeing fellow club runners going the opposite way and high fiving them, sweaty handed and all…

 

None of my last five kilometres were under 4:30 except for the very last one when I pushed on and tried a sprint finish.

I crossed the line with a time of 42:37, a full 45 seconds slower than Liverpool Spring 10k. I wasn’t a happy bunny!!

Final Race stats

Time: 42:37

Position: 112/1217

First 5km: 20:47

Second 5km: 21:50

Garmin Here  

A good race – though not quite as flat as advertised. Well organised and a good mix of running ability amongst the entrants. I liked the way you would go past runners going the opposite way and give/receive encouragement from fellow club runners.

Race bling:

Final notes

I was really disappointed and a bit angry with myself just after completing the race, mainly because of the time I posted, which made me feel like I didn’t enjoy it. However, at the half way point I was very happy, it was just the latter half, and I’d consciously made a decision to not over exert myself.

On reflection, I should be happy I completed the race in a half decent time considering the lack of running in the two weeks leading up to it, and how much I struggled. I’m back running again, and there is no better feeling in the world!!

Garden gnomes and Barcelona half marathon

A long, long, time ago, I can still remember, how that... Dammit David this isn't American Pie...

Ok, so a long, long, time ago, (and for the record I can still remember) when I had fully functioning knee ligaments and a half decent level of fitness I was contemplating racing abroad.

The Barcelona half marathon to be exact. Why you ask? Well...

1. I've always thought it would be amazing to run abroad

2. I absolutely love Barcelona - my favourite city in the world (with the exception of Liverpool, obviously)

3. The race generally takes place around my birthday - 25th February for the inquisitive amongst you.

I was dead set on running it this year but my knee had other ideas, so I had to forgo that master plan. Now however, it is open for entries and is 9 days before my birthday. 

In terms of price the race is about €25, and flights are looking like £130 return. So not a mega expensive excursion.

I really do want to do this, and once I've got a few more months fitness under my belt (and my current run in with shin splints has gone) I will look to book it.

You're probably wondering about the garden gnome reference in the post title? Well... When I left for work last Tuesday, on stepping out the house a garden gnome was right outside my door.

I put it at the front of my drive so that the rightful owner could reclaim it (I assume one of the local types had though it would be funny to take it from someone's front garden and placed outside my door.

Anyway, come Wednesday the garden gnome was still there, so I have decided to befriend him... Very smart he is too:

He's currently taking up residence in my living room, though he will be moving outside in due course so he can enjoy my back garden

On a final note, I've got another 10km race on Sunday, and, regardless of my shin splints I'll be running in it. I'm also meant to have a 5 mile race 2 days later which my running club organizes.... I'll post afterwards to let you know how I get on...

"Never look a gift horse (aka a garden gnome) in the mouth"

It was windy...

Since Sunday I've been feeling the shin splint like symptoms all week that I started feeling a couple of week ago. It's nowhere near as bad as it was but I am definitely aware of it. Therefore I've been icing & ibuprofen-ing it as often as possible.

Due to this, this week I've just been running on my own and only being doing low mileage, which is a bit frustrating, but a couple of weeks of easing back on it is nothing in the long run.

Anyway, today after work I decided to go for an hours bike ride. It was windy. Very windy. Especially on the way back which made it hard work - but I didn't mind that. Anyway, I got in from the ride and I looked like this:

 

Don't you wish your hair looked this big? Fortunately it has since been tamed to look like the semblance of a normal head of hair. My hand also looks massive - they're average size I can assure you (I'm not even going to make the 'you know what they say about people with big hands' joke...)

 

I'm sure we all look a little windswept every now and then after a bit of exercise, right?!

One for the future

This one isn’t quite about running, and I’ve had this in draft for quite a while, wondering whether I should post it or not…

How do you put into words exactly what you want to say, while portraying the story without coming across as tortured or bitter about something? When it hurt at the time, and you weren’t given closure, but had to move on anyway?

I’m the type of person who will do the right thing, even if it’s the hardest thing to do. I don’t shy away from my responsibilities; I know that for every greatness in the world, there is often an equal and opposite force of shitiness ready to unleash hell. I also know if you’re lucky it’s not quite equal and opposite.

You can’t just go through life enjoying the sun and not expect to have to deal with the rain.

When new elements of your life begin, whether that be friendship, job, love, you always know there will be a honeymoon period... You’ve just got to hope that when things settle down the movement from honeymoon period to ‘the norm’ isn’t drastic.

If it is, how do you deal with it? –How do you deal with it when you're not even aware of it?

I always try to be honest and open; invariably it can lead to getting hurt, but it means there are no regrets. If you are open and honest you are not making any false promises. Hopefully, people will come to learn and appreciate that. For me, that’s the right thing to do, despite my faults I’d never intentionally look to hurt anyone.

That’s probably why when someone isn’t honest with me, especially someone I care about, and who is supposed to care about me, I find it very difficult to deal with. I would never be mad at someone for having a change of opinion or feelings; we all change over time, and no one should feel they have to stay unhappy in fear of upsetting someone.


Of course not everyone is like that, and some people will walk away from situations that they've caused you to put a lot of time, effort, and feeling into without explanations or a single utterance... In those situations, what do you do?

Well you move on, and that’s all you can do. Only, you have a lower opinion of people. Hopefully, not everyone, and hopefully, it doesn’t stop you from opening up or being yourself around people, but it will often make it a little more difficult.

Do the things you love. Run, read, be with family, friends... Remember what makes you happy and do it... Hope things get better, hope you get better, because it's a very short life we have.


I think I've run out of words, or at least half meaningful and cohesive words...

I’m normally quite good putting things into written words, especially when I have strong feelings towards something….. But this has taken a few sittings, I wanted to write this in an appropriate manner, get how I was feeling across, without allowing any natural bias I had to put anyone in a bad light – despite feeling like the wronged party (there I go again with the natural bias)


I guess this is my attempt at that.

Race Report: Liverpool Spring 10km

My first race of 2013, and since my knee ligament debacle took place in Sefton Park, which is 235 acres in size and has been designated a Grade III Historic Park by English Heritage (thank you Wikipedia)...

Prior to the race I'd only completed two half decent interval sessions with the club, as well as my own training around my local routes. Due to this I didn't have any idea what my speed or stamina across 10km would be like, with the exception of a couple of sub 45 minute training runs on my own.

I had a dream on the Friday that I completed 10km in 35 minutes (and that included having a walk in the middle), there was no way I was going to achieve that - or if I'll ever be able to !

As this was the first Liverpool Spring 10km there had been I didn't know what the course would be like, other than a note on the website saying that the course had been changed slightly due to the number of runners, and that there would now be a stepped section (yay!)

I turned up nice and early and was pleased that the sun had come out and that I wasn't shivering on the start line as seems to be the case for most races.

It was a quick start and 3 of my running club mates were ahead of me - not bad if I could keep it that way I thought. The first 3 kilometres went fairly fast, which I completed in 12:12. The course was proving to be quite twisty and turny, with terrain changing from tarmac to grass to trail type pathways.

I was feeling ok until just after the 4th km; this is where the steps mentioned on the website came into play. They sent my heart rate through the roof and took a couple of kilometres for it to come back down again.

This meant my 5th kilometre was completed in 4:18 (5km time 20:33) and 6th in 4:22. At the 5 kilometre point the course looped back round to complete another lap.

Despite this drop in pace I managed to get one of my running club mates into my line of vision up ahead, so focused on trying to close that gap - though I was a good 200m behind them.

In truth, at this point I was done in; I'm pretty unfit compared to how I was last year when I posted a 10km PB of 39:29, and the first 5km, as well as the stepped area took it out of me. I did get a second wind and completed kilometre 7 in 4:05, but that would be the fastest kilometre I completed of the latter 5.

As this course was a two lap course that meant, yes, you guessed it, the dreaded steps again! They came into view during the 8th kilometre and after tackling them for a second time sent my heart rate sky high again. My running club mate was now 50m ahead of me and I did all I could to reel him in as much as possible so I could go torpedo on his arse (not that kind of torpedo on his arse...) on the home straight.

It was very warm now as the sun was beating down... (Naturally I'm expecting bronze coloured skin tomorrow - reality will be burnt skin, in the shape of my running vest) I was feeling the effects but was happy to see the finish line come into view. I was really panting at this point and was trying to reign myself in to not sprint off too early.

With about 70 - 50m to go I went flat out; I was gaining on my running club mate... Gaining, gaining, gaining...

I crossed the finish line... Did I finish 4th or 3rd out of my club? Photographic evidence below:

Yes I did, by 1 second! My finish time was 41:52; sub 42 minutes, a time I am extremely happy with, and 3rd placed Liverpool Running Club competitor.

Final Race stats

Time: 41:52
Position: 71/1500
First 5km: 20:33
Second 5km: 21:19

Garmin here

Overall a really good race, excellently organised and marshaled, though a tough course - but exactly what I needed to test out my knee and get my heart, lungs and legs working to get some of the cob webs blown away.

Race bling:

Footnote / confession 1

Throughout the race report I constantly mention my running club mate being ahead of me and trying to catch him. I would not have begrudged him finishing ahead of me and, in truth, it's probably because of him that I managed a sub 42 minute time as he really made me push myself every single step of the way, particularly my sprint finish. I'm not driven by trying to be the best at my club - just the best I can be, and today, I was able to do that, within my current fitness capabilities.

Footnote / confession 2

My prep for this race hadn't been the best - I did something I've never done the evening before a race; I went out drinking. Now, whilst I only had several pints it is something I would never ever normally do. However on this occasion I felt I had to make an exception.

Due to this I was feeling a little dehydrated so perhaps could have gone a little faster had I prepped in my normal manner, but, I turned up and I ran, and I worked my backside off, so I'm not going to be too hard on myself.