Sub 3

That still didn't work, did it? Grr. 

You can't go out, 'cos your roots are showing

CC2.. didn't realise you were Notts based.  Do you know forumite Marmite Master from Redhill Runners?  (Initials BB).

I've been upgraded to 20:15 (19th) in the 5k, and as I beat all the V50's too I think I will have a glass of wine later.

Nice work on the steed TR.

Is Marmite Master the same person as Mmm Marmite? If so, yes, I know who he is but I've only ever seen him at races I think. I don't make it to club* much these days and I suspect he's too speedy to bother training with club much anyway. That said I did run with club last night. With the speedy boys group. It was their 'easy' Friday run, which made it a good 60 to 90 seconds per mile quicker than I'd run that same route if I were running it 'easy'. 

*Redhill is my 1st claim for road and XC. I also train with Notts AC under Trev Muxlow and they're the ones with the funny length intervals and static recoveries. Redhill doesn't have such structured training - more of a 'turn up and run' kind of club. I'll be joining Notts AC as 1st claim 'track only' next spring with a view to concentrating on track and XC for the rest of 2013 after VLM. 

Just had my health MOT at the gym and apparently I'm the fittest I have ever been. I also seem to be 2cms taller somehow, but I'm glossing over the inaccuracies and concentrating on the good bits. Alrighty Munich, let's 'ave ya!

Lord Dids, that made my day. Love the hairdresser who got sacked and the trainee nurse. The interviewer was completely out of his depth and seemingly horrified that everyone bought their clothes in charity and second hand shops or made them themselves. I still do that sometimes. I wasn't doing it in 1984 though, I'm afraid I'm too young. 

Wardi, I was scanning barcodes at York Parkrun today - shame I didn't get to say hi!  Bit involved when everyone starts coming through.  Great run, btw.

Doing 'strides' to keep the speed in form nowadays, last medium-long run tomorrow - a week before Liverpool. I feel like my muscles have been a bit low on glycogen over the last few days, but I'm reckon it's probably a good thing before I supercharge them next week. Running such short distances (6, 4, etc) slow, it doesn't change the workout. 

Hope everyone has a good long run tomorrow, if it's on your schedule!!

CT.. I was the first wrinkly one to finish   I had a FLM 'finisher t-shirt on, not that you would probably remember of course!  Good on you for volunteering.

Dan.. cracking long run, must be nice to feel the wind in your hair again after that pesky calf problem. 

CC2.. yes that's the fella.  He once ran the first 5m of the Hull 20 with me then shot off into the distance to do 15m @ MP!  BTW I do like the expression ''I'm afraid I'm too young'.

Wardi - nice running, well done in park run

Dan - your friend as been up to a new challenge: http://www.ukclimbing.com/news/item.php?id=67482

TR - how far do you go in 3-4 hrs?

Just a very easy 30 mins here, lovely morning. Been run down with body ache etc from a cold since wednesday so just taking things easy. That 30 easy mins seems to have blown a few cobwebs out though.

CC - fittest you've ever been is good, hope it converts.

DanA - cracking long run, great to see you back there.

RS78 - very wise. I did 57M in 3:06 y'day. ~45M on a rolling route and then some hill reps to finish. I'm hoping to keep regular 3hr rides in through the autumn/winter, but will have have to retreat into the garage when it gets too dark and icy early doors.

easy 8M earlier, back wasnt too bad, should still be able to do my 1/2 next Sunday, no fast running until then though.

DanA - Nice long run. Sounds like you need an egg timer and a yard stick.

Finished off marathon training with 70 for the week and a good weekend. 15 yesterday including the first Mid Lancs XC League fixture at Burnley. It was a bit soggy underfoot, but the sun was out for most of the afternoon so it was quite good fun.

Followed that with 24m this morning averaging 6:57m/m. Felt good and it was perfect conditions - cold, clear and still.

Feet up now for the taper.

Evening all.

Wardi - I remember it well, most enjoyable 20M race I've ever done, but the best bit was definitely the first 5M I ran with you. Well raced at the Park Run mate.

CC2 - we've chatted on a couple of occasions, think I might have posted some inappropriate comments on your facebook pictures in which you were sporting some rather fetish-oriented gear.

Marmite, you wouldn't be the first or last to do that!

Lord Dids, I take it there's a back story to the club thing?! Personally I am proud to wear my club vest in races, but I don't *have* to wear it. You get a discount on race entry for being a club member though. 

Never fully embraced Goth-dom, although I was a fan of early/mid 90s industrial - Ministry, Front Line Assembly, Die Krupps, Prong, Front 242, plus various German bands of varying degrees of stupidity.  I remember being on a coach with all the Goths from Swansea (who, as you might imagine, have more reasons to be miserable than most) to a goth club night in Cardiff, and me and the driver were the only people without make-up.  I was the last to get off the coach, and the driver looked at me with a great deal of relief.

Back to training for the first time since the marathon today.  6 miles in the evening plus a one-mile race with my 5-year old this morning (his first ever race, very proud - didn't walk once).

Dan A - nice long run.  If it was only 22, maybe you only struggled in the last 4 then?

Wardi - nice parkrunning, getting closer to 20...

Andy - that's a mammoth weekend!

LD - nice half.

Nice training AndyD.

I'm a training hermit and would probably have Unattached Harriers as first claim like TR were it not for the egotistical lure of a champs start at VLM. Having said that I had fun running (and having a bit of banter after) a club-only cross-country yesterday (~5M in 28:41 for 15th place out of a few hundred, respectable if not scintillating, and my team won). It's been nice to do the odd track race and Xmas party, too. I certainly don't get back the GBP50+ annual subscription by savings on race entries though.

With a warm-up and cool-down it was about 13M yesterday, and this week I'm tapering for the GER, which I'm treating as an 'A' race even if I'm not really in peak form.

I also ran a half yesterday, the Badger Half which is mostly hilly, mostly sticky & rutted off-road, the sort of course I don't usualy get on with but it's local and it was a nice day.  Finished 4th just inside 1:24.  Apparently the winner was around 8 minutes down on his flat half times so based on that I'm fairly pleased with that a few weeks after IM.

Saturday was a little easier, CD Jnr was running his 50th parkrun and it was my 100th too.  I ran with him because I'd promised him ages ago that he'd get to his milestone first, which he did by a second!  Wet & muddy around Banstead after the rain but he got close to his PB, and enjoyed himself in the process.

A little report from me after the weekends event.

Round Ripon ultra 35, Now in its 3rd year and after being dominated by Ripon runners since the outset it seemed like a good idea to have a go. 
The weather over the last few weeks has been very wet with localized flooding along the banks of the River Ure which the route follows closely for the first 15 miles heading upstream to Masham. Much talk was on the course condition due to being largely off road, Mud was expected or even flooding! But by and large it was pretty good. Hackfall woods were quite muddy but it never really dries out in there at the best of times. The course leaves Masham towards Ilton, then Dallowgill, Grantley, Sawley via footpaths and even a little tarmac it wasnt too bad either, Yes there were large puddles, Lots of slippy mud and it certainly became more undulating. A perfect summer and dry autumn would have helped with the times perhaps. But the mixed muddy terrain helped make it a great event on what was a perfect autumn day. What also surprised me during the recces was how much of the course i didnt know [im local]  It really is beautiful to run through and i urge anyone interested to pick a section [or all of it] and go run it. Fantastic route!
New Course record was created by Robin Carter in 4.46.04
I did 5.40.35 coming 10th.
Certainly the toughest event i've completed. My longest run to date. My emotion at the end truly showed how tired and happy i was. I think it put to bed some of the demons of my failed bgr from last year. I needed to finish this to reset the head from one of a long distance failure! Im pretty pleased, first objective was to finish and then look at the time. I hoped for 6 hours so smashed it 

Looking forward to Snowdon now, last long run done and now get some speedwork and marathon pace stuff to concentrate on before leeds 10k. 

Not had a chance yet to read all your weekend goings on but im sure i will be impresed as always.

CD - that sounds like a great run on that course. Well done to you and CD jnr too on the parkrun milestones.

CW - £50+ membership fee? Ours is £12.50 and for that you get the track sessions, two handicap races a year, summer league paid for (seres of 10k races), about 15 XC races paid for, entry into various relays paid for, subsidised social events etc. Fancy joining?!

Nosemi - well done in the ultra, sounds tough!

Nice training/racing by others too (TR, LD, Dan, Wardi). Not a bad effort by Killian as well!

16M for me on Saturday morning, and 53M cycling on Sunday morning. A very relaxing weekend apart from that - sat at home quite a bit for once, and had an 'end of season' curry with all the cycling guys and partners, which was good fun.

Nosemi - blimey, that does sound tough

CW - I'm getting a pair of these: http://img.runningwarehouse.com/new_product/I8MD300-1.jpg Tried the X Talon 212s but didn't like the fit. These 300s have got a little bit more in them for protection on the fells but are still a souped up lighter, racing version of the older version which probs suits my build more. Out of interest what size do you wear in relation to other trainers, they seem to be quite a big fitting. Trying on a 11.5 and 12 later on.

Padams - nice running/cycling combo

Lovely day up here again, might do something short later after Uni. Starting to feel better again but not quite there.