My Forum

I think you'll find marigold that DanA is VERY reliable at london...

well done old no 7  sub 3 is a great achievement without all the stars lining up etc

So on friday I'm driving up to do the 3 peaks and I get a text from a scottish friend telling me that he's going to that 50 something mile race - jesus I thought!

As I'd quit my job on friday too I tried to level the playing field and show no respect whatsoever for the 3 peaks. 12 pints and no tea on friday meant sat was going to be tough 

And good god it was. How they can call it a 'running' race when you cant run most of it is beyond me! 31mins for 5k, 1.01 for 10k, and then I got slower. my 'mate' who'd jibbed out on the run on the morning also did not show with electrolyte anti cramping drink for me, so having cramped and cursed my way up the 2nd peak I wasnt impressed. 

But hey ho, I'll take my medicine, was great to finally finish (4.35!!) and once I'd stopped shivvering I could get back back out on the beers.

Great weekend though and I'd do it again but not after london, my legs were a little heavy! 

Do you know what, as bad as it sounds I'm glad she got beat stupid records. I put a few faster miles in when supreman was near me on sunday too, as he was pissing me off. I think I'm getting old and cynical!

Cheers stu I'm gonna have to stop eating so much from next week!

Cw well you can run now then, if you wanted to? maybe

LJ, yes yorks 3 peaks fell race, thanks it was supposed to be my a race but things conspired to make london the A race. this one is a bit of a boozy weekend with a hardish run in the middle, looking forward to it, but expecting a tough day! 

I actually didnt run with a HRM for a change, usually I'm stressing about it being too high, making it higher...

I will wear it again though. I think gadget free also helped me, stop me looking at the pace all the time I had a rough idea I was at low 6s and I did a quick calc from 24- 25 that I'd droped to 6-25s which isnt a bad pace when resisting cramps

If analysising about performances and cramps and training, well here is last 3 years not sure what to make of it really

2010 - 2.44 (78 halfway and then bomb) lots of cramping. Training was reasonable mix of MP and prob 10 20+s

2011 - 2.47 (77 halfway and then bomb) lots of cramping. Training was lots and lots of quality lots at mp and faster not so many long runs 8? at 20s including 1.58 20 miler)

2012 - 2.43 (80 halfway) twinges for cramp. Training was very little MP - probably ran more mp on sunday than in the whole training) long runs over 20 - about 18!! However my quads were actually hurting from very early on. could be that lack of MP or carrying big heavy bag on the saturday and across greenwich park

So from that it seems that MP (obv) gives you the pace, and the longer runs cramp avoidance? I'd really tried to avoid the cramp this time magnesium supps, nanas in the last week, plenty of electrolytes gel startegy etc. So the training could be a red herring. 

Either way for next one, I will do more MP on road, and more quality and look to keep the endurance. 

I also didnt do EH20 and I have only done one 10 mile race on the back of an 80 mile week. PErhaps racing would have toughened up the quads too 

Hope that info may help people?

Yes Indeed I do sweat like a (fat) pig especially if the sun is out, and I think its an actual problem

Also if the electrolyte balance is upset, its possible that the body can pee out water to restore the balance. I stopped to have a couple of electrolyte tablets in a bottle at 20 as Id just started twinging for cramp. Managed to keep it at bay but only only just 

thanks for the kind words

Marigold I'm taking the spaniels for a jog tonight I feel like I can and they are looking very pissed off with me for the lack of running. And I need to get sorted out for saturday