Post the Mud Runner I actually felt quite sprightly last week. Having decided to do more speed work to get a bit quicker I headed out on Wednesday lunchtime for a flat, fast run. 6 miles in 40 mins, with a bit of time lost stopping to read the route map was a pleasant enough way to spend a lunchtime, with plenty of room to get a bit quicker.
The rest of the week was just running to and from work (a total of seven miles each way). Thursday night a trail run with a head torch was ditched in favour of the pub. Saturday I did one of our regular hill routes along the Cotswold Way, and then we headed back to London for the rest of the weekend. A party on a boat on Saturday night ensured Sunday would be a lazy one.
And indeed it was. We went to the Ski show. The ski show always makes it seem like the ski season is nearly here, and this year was no exception. All the new kit, and the resorts advertising on their stands (the Chamonix Pavilion was a favourite) make the fresh snow that will soon be coating the Alps almost tangible. I resisted an expensive jacket this year, but did get a Cool Board. It is fun, and a lot tougher to master than the wobble ball I had. I look forward to mastering it, though the suggested squats while balancing are a way off yet! The other highlight of the ski show was the *cough* fashion show. It was better than it sounds! A very professional, exceptionally well choreographed, dance show. It was very entertaining. They didn't get on Cool Boards though.
Showing posts with label Mud runner. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mud runner. Show all posts
Monday, 25 October 2010
Sunday, 17 October 2010
Mudrunner
The Mud Runner was fun, if a bit.. damp. 100m in and we were in a river. It was cold, dank and frankly, very smelly. Coming out of it it took some effort to level the heart rate off - the combination of the sprint from the start to the water, followed by the shock of the cold, and the effort to stay upright in the water left me nearly breathless.
The rest of the course was hard. A mix of very hilly terrain and, as the name suggests, mud. It was biased enough towards proper running to be good, with the occasional wading and sliding a break from the hills. I could feel Saturdays run in my legs on the hills, though I noticed towards the end I was still running up hills thats lots of people were walking on. I suppose the thing about ultra running is that you might not start fast, but don't slow down much. It was actually quite a challenge to override the desire to pace myself. This year I have been carefully building distance, and focussing on making sure I start a run at a pace I know means I'll get to the end. I found myself wanting to do the same today, despite the fact that for the distance I could have cheerfully gone full (or close to) throttle. I have always quite enjoyed short, hard races. The sensation of finding a level that is only just bearable, and than holding that pace for the duration and being utterly spent when you cross the line is, in a masochistic kind of a way, a good one.
Today took me 1 hour 7 minutes, which shows it was a hard 10km. Ali reckoned I was about 40th across the line, from a 1000, though the race was started in waves (based on your estimated time). There were lots of photographers out on the course too, so I am sure there will be plenty of photographs of filthy wet people.
The day was rounded off with a trip to Cotswold Outdoor. Mmmmm new season ski gear...
The rest of the course was hard. A mix of very hilly terrain and, as the name suggests, mud. It was biased enough towards proper running to be good, with the occasional wading and sliding a break from the hills. I could feel Saturdays run in my legs on the hills, though I noticed towards the end I was still running up hills thats lots of people were walking on. I suppose the thing about ultra running is that you might not start fast, but don't slow down much. It was actually quite a challenge to override the desire to pace myself. This year I have been carefully building distance, and focussing on making sure I start a run at a pace I know means I'll get to the end. I found myself wanting to do the same today, despite the fact that for the distance I could have cheerfully gone full (or close to) throttle. I have always quite enjoyed short, hard races. The sensation of finding a level that is only just bearable, and than holding that pace for the duration and being utterly spent when you cross the line is, in a masochistic kind of a way, a good one.
Today took me 1 hour 7 minutes, which shows it was a hard 10km. Ali reckoned I was about 40th across the line, from a 1000, though the race was started in waves (based on your estimated time). There were lots of photographers out on the course too, so I am sure there will be plenty of photographs of filthy wet people.
The day was rounded off with a trip to Cotswold Outdoor. Mmmmm new season ski gear...
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