Sub 3

RB - Berlin for speed & numbers of people to run with at that pace. The drafting effect of running in a decent pack could be worth a minute over that distance. I doubt you'd get that in a small, British marathon.

Would you rather finish, say, 150th with a 2:40 or 5th with a 2:41 though?

Odeon - well done; a very good time for your first "serious" marathon.

Have run in Berlin & Abingdon

Berlin:
Pros - flat, fast, former WR course, free beer at finish
Cons - in Germany, expensive trip, might be hot as it is nearest to summer

Abingdon:
Pros - flat, cheaper and easier to get to, you'll come in top 10, weather should be ideal
Cons - might be lonely, not high profile

RB- I totally agree with your comments,and know that this is merely the start. I have been posted 1 mile from home at work so no longer have the cycling (other than spinning in) to keep me fit. I did look out for you but couldn't see you!

I have just entered Cardiff so have amended the league table to include wooden spoon time and that as forthcoming event.

2006 Apr 2:44:20 London JEJ
2006 Apr 2:44:25 London CY
2006 Apr 2:46:46 Paris Running Bhoy
2006 Apr 2:48:43 London B&R
2006 Apr 2:52:33 London davidt
2006 Apr 2:52:38 London nigelj
2006 Apr 2:54:33 London Tmap
2006 Apr 2:55:23 London OuchOuch
2005 Oct 2:55:51 Cardiff CRAB
2006 Apr 2:56:05 London batfink
2006 Apr 2:56:06 London hilly
2006 Apr 2:56:24 London Gold Rush
2006 Apr 2:56:36 London OMFA
2005 Dec 2:58:18 Luton Cartman
2006 Apr 2:58:44 London Mrs Tricks
2006 Apr 2:58:49 London Vassy
2006 Apr 2:59:10 London ScottyB
2006 Apr 2:59:36 London Jason Harris 1
2005 Oct 3:01:54 Cardiff Dull Napoleon
2006 Apr 3:03:09 London Bubblecop
2006 May 3:04:18 Halstead That Boy Sure Is A Running Fool
2006 Apr 3:06:44 London NL
2006 Apr 3:06:51 London nichs2
2005 Oct 3:07:29 Abingdon Gobi
2006 May 3:08:42 Vienna Aitch S
2006 Apr 3:10:44 London DanA
2006 Apr 3:11:15 London Blisters
2006 Apr 3:12:47 London NDOW
2006 Apr 3:15:01 London Impossible is Nothing
2006 Apr 3:16:31 Rotterdam nrg-b
2006 Jun 3:19:52 Edinburgh Odeon1085

Forthcoming Events

2006 Jun Edinburgh Running Bhoy
2006 Jun Edinburgh Mystery Guest
2006 Jun Pennine 100 Dan A
2006 Jul IMDE Toucan
2006 Jul 50m Challenge G.R
2006 Jul IMDE Cartman
2006 Aug Boddington 50K Gobi
2006 Oct Cardiff NM2
2006 Oct Cardiff NDOW
2006 Oct Cardiff CRAB
2006 Oct Cardiff OuchOuch
2006 Oct Cardiff WW
2006 Oct Cardiff Odeon1085
2006 Oct Abingdon Dull Napoleon
2006 Oct Abingdon Blisters
2006 Oct Dublin Cartman
2006 Oct Dublin CRAB

Hail Hail

Now why didnt you mention the free beer thing yesterday Dan? That swings it!

Hail Hail

2006 Apr 2:44:20 London JEJ
2006 Apr 2:44:25 London CY
2006 Apr 2:46:46 Paris Running Bhoy
2006 Apr 2.47.23 Edinburgh Running Bhoy
2006 Apr 2:48:43 London B&R
2006 Apr 2:52:33 London davidt
2006 Apr 2:52:38 London nigelj
2006 Apr 2:54:33 London Tmap
2006 Apr 2:55:23 London OuchOuch
2005 Oct 2:55:51 Cardiff CRAB
2006 Apr 2:56:05 London batfink
2006 Apr 2:56:06 London hilly
2006 Apr 2:56:24 London Gold Rush
2006 Apr 2:56:36 London OMFA
2005 Dec 2:58:18 Luton Cartman
2006 Apr 2:58:44 London Mrs Tricks
2006 Apr 2:58:49 London Vassy
2006 Apr 2:59:10 London ScottyB
2006 Apr 2:59:36 London Jason Harris 1
2005 Oct 3:01:54 Cardiff Dull Napoleon
2006 Jun 3.02.01 Edinburgh Dan A
2006 Apr 3:03:09 London Bubblecop
2006 May 3:04:18 Halstead That Boy Sure Is A Running Fool
2006 Apr 3:06:44 London NL
2006 Apr 3:06:51 London nichs2
2005 Oct 3:07:29 Abingdon Gobi
2006 May 3:08:42 Vienna Aitch S
2006 Apr 3:11:15 London Blisters
2006 Apr 3:12:47 London NDOW
2006 Apr 3:15:01 London Impossible is Nothing
2006 Apr 3:16:31 Rotterdam nrg-b
2006 Jun 3:19:52 Edinburgh Odeon1085

Forthcoming Events

2006 Jun Pennine 100 Dan A
2006 Jul IMDE Toucan
2006 Jul 50m Challenge G.R
2006 Jul IMDE Cartman
2006 Aug Boddington 50K Gobi
2006 Oct Cardiff NM2
2006 Oct Cardiff NDOW
2006 Oct Cardiff CRAB
2006 Oct Cardiff OuchOuch
2006 Oct Cardiff WW
2006 Oct Cardiff Odeon1085
2006 Oct Abingdon Dull Napoleon
2006 Oct Abingdon Blisters
2006 Oct Dublin Cartman
2006 Oct Dublin CRAB


Just amending the list.

Best Result in the last 12 months - stop showing off ;o)

2006 Apr 2:44:20 London JEJ
2006 Apr 2:44:25 London CY
2006 Apr 2:46:46 Paris Running Bhoy
2006 Apr 2:48:43 London B&R
2006 Apr 2:52:33 London davidt
2006 Apr 2:52:38 London nigelj
2006 Apr 2:54:33 London Tmap
2006 Apr 2:55:23 London OuchOuch
2005 Oct 2:55:51 Cardiff CRAB
2006 Apr 2:56:05 London batfink
2006 Apr 2:56:06 London hilly
2006 Apr 2:56:24 London Gold Rush
2006 Apr 2:56:36 London OMFA
2005 Dec 2:58:18 Luton Cartman
2006 Apr 2:58:44 London Mrs Tricks
2006 Apr 2:58:49 London Vassy
2006 Apr 2:59:10 London ScottyB
2006 Apr 2:59:36 London Jason Harris 1
2005 Oct 3:01:54 Cardiff Dull Napoleon
2006 Jun 3.02.01 Edinburgh Dan A
2006 Apr 3:03:09 London Bubblecop
2006 May 3:04:18 Halstead That Boy Sure Is A Running Fool
2006 Apr 3:06:44 London NL
2006 Apr 3:06:51 London nichs2
2005 Oct 3:07:29 Abingdon Gobi
2006 May 3:08:42 Vienna Aitch S
2006 Apr 3:11:15 London Blisters
2006 Apr 3:12:47 London NDOW
2006 Apr 3:15:01 London Impossible is Nothing
2006 Apr 3:16:31 Rotterdam nrg-b
2006 Jun 3:19:52 Edinburgh Odeon1085

Forthcoming Events

2006 Jun Pennine 100 Dan A
2006 Jul IMDE Toucan
2006 Jul 50m Challenge G.R
2006 Jul IMDE Cartman
2006 Aug Boddington 50K Gobi
2006 Oct Cardiff NM2
2006 Oct Cardiff NDOW
2006 Oct Cardiff CRAB
2006 Oct Cardiff OuchOuch
2006 Oct Cardiff WW
2006 Oct Cardiff Odeon1085
2006 Oct Abingdon Dull Napoleon
2006 Oct Abingdon Blisters
2006 Oct Dublin Cartman
2006 Oct Dublin CRAB

Well done MG and Odeon.

DN I always thought the heat never affected me too much but as the (artist formerly known as) Font Of All Knowledge I thought the Edinburgh boys would struggle. Think I'll lump you in with CM now - good bloke but don't ever listen to a word he says ;o)

GR I think it was the TV blaring out News24 they objected too. And as for 'keep up the tests might try a couple myself' - don't overdo it now!

Hail Hail

Thought it was best result in the last 2 days!

Hey all

Good to see you Sunday CM and the 10min pb. You managed to sneak a few seconds off me on the bike but seemed to take a bit out of you on the swim. I started the swim and some guy was leading with me but after 400m I was on my own and by the turn bouy I had caught some from the previous wave and near the end of the swim caught a few guys from the wave that went 10 mins before. I was first on the swim and couldn't see anyone behind for at least 30 secs. Managed to stay in the lead (I know that as nobody passed me) until the end of the bike when one guy went past and I took him later then he took me and put about 10 secs into by the time we got to 2nd transition. Then come the run I was trying to run him down and was getting closer inch by inch. At the finish he was 4 secs ahead. Shame is the other waves that went later there were 2 other guys who went faster so I ended up 4th in 35-39 Cat and 39th overall with 2.14.13. Only 4 secs between me and 3rd and 31secs between me and 2nd. Wish I ran a little harder as stayed in the comfort box due to the heat and cramping in my quad on the nasty hill. The guy with the water hose (no jokes please) was very welcome.

JEJ

Looking forward to Unilever Du/Relays. Must get out on the bike before then though.

Well done to the punters who ran in Edinburgh and the tri-mongers too. In that heat your performances are very, very impressive.

A woeful number of miles for me last week as have just got over a miserable virus that has forced me to the refuge of my sofa to watch a lot of football. It has helped the weight loss plan though as am down to a spindly 82.5kg now. Hoping to womble a few miles tomorrow.

P.S. Congrats to JEJ, CRAB and DN for not passing up the easy gag opportuntity, a dealing dolly to each of you.

P.P.S. I've been dumped from the forthcoming events log, what did I do wrong??

BB 82.kg. Wooooaaaahhh. Give us a twirl.

JH1 Didn't he do well.

And just for you DN ran a couple of miles at 6m/m pace and recorded a SPAM rating of 182. (Although I now rate SPAM performance with the same importance as weather conditions.)

Far too hot to race yesterday, so I ended up taking it very gently for a clear third place overall.

The first 2 went through the mile marker in 4:40, so thought it wise not to try and follow them. Result was 10:49 (5:21 split), which from memory was about the same as my 2M split in the MK half marathon back in March; worrying - but then temperatures did hit 32C yesterday.

My cycling is improving though, although don't think I'm anywhere near JH1 form - will have to see if things even out once 2 x 2.5km are added to the equation.

Ran first string over 5k for my club in the Hertfordshire Veterans Track league last night (The Generation Game?)
First time I've ever been given that honour, and considering it was against a field mainly in their early forties, and my first track race in a year I felt
very pleased to have walked off in 5th out of 7 in 18:42. Set off at 6 min mile pace and never really managed to change up a gear
as I'd hoped to do at the end. Next year I move up to the V50 category where the winner ran 16:53!

Talking to a coach at the event I was surprised to learn that a track 5k is considered to be more demanding than a road 5k, as you
are effectively working the same muscles throughout the race. Whereas the undulations on the road use different muscles and hence
you get some rest from the relentless punishment. I always did wonder why the ranking standards for the road were always stiffer than for the track.

DN, I assumed that was due to the higher numbers of people who compete in road 5km rather than 5000m?

JEJ The guy who told me was a grade 4 coach, so should in theory know what he is talking about.

On another subject. A bit worried at the moment, it seems that my back problems have returned, after a four year absence. Not certain if the track race last night has brought it on, but it has only just started this morning, a dull pain in the small of the back to the left side of the spine, and it is gradually getting worse.

Thankfully it doesn't stop me running, it just means that I cannot sleep at night. Fingers crossed it doesn't worsen.

Some stats for the number of UK people running sub 15 mins either on road & track

Year 5000m 5km road
2005 128 68
2004 127 79
2003 132 N/A
2002 144 N/A

so a lot more people seem to do it on the track, which backs up my thoughts about track being quicker than road. I for one find it far easier to run quickly in spikes.

DN,rest that back! i trained through the winter on a strained illopsoas , which meant i could run, but afterwards the pain and stiffness got worse and worse. I have been injured for about 6 weeks now as a result of running whilst injured. im improving very slowly but am still some way off running as yet. Rest it now..dont train on injuries you will regret it.

DN - Reference the back pain sounds very familar to the pain that sidelined me for 6 weeks. Does the pain originate in the buttock area and is the pain only apparent when applying weight? If so suspect the sacroiliac joint which I believe joins the pelvic bone to the tailbone. The cause in my case was a jarring shock that occured going through a water station. The remedy was 3 visits to the osteopath, where it took him all of 5 mins to diagnosis. Fingers crossed since the last visit 4 weeks ago I am back running. Hope this is of some help

MJ/nj Thanks for the advice and feedback. Rest assured, I'm monitoring the situation closely
and will not be doing anything over the next few days should my condition deteriorate over the near term.
It's not so much pain more discomfort, in the middle of the back, and I'm sure is muscular rather than skeletal.
Still a bit puzzzled about what caused it. If it really was the track, why did I sleep so well last night?
Could it really be caused by the heavy sack I carried out for the binmen this morning? All a bit of a mystery.

JEJ Interesting stats. It might be interesting to sound out MG2 on the matter, to see what he says.
I was convinced that the track would be quicker, and was very surprised when told otherwise. It is interesting that for 5k
the standard is lower on the track for the younger runner, but gets lower for the road as you get older. Might
be a clue that it has something to do with road running being faster for the old boys.

{resists the obvious heavy sack gag}

I'm an old man with back trouble and all you can do is think of jokes.

Not even one word of sympathy GR?

My oh my standards are certainly dropping on here.

Would never have happened on the Sub 3 FLM 2006 thread.