Suffered a serious lack of energy and enjoyment this morning when I spent a long time walking because I definitely wasn’t running. Yesterday killed me and my normal 1:40 run up Signal Hill turned into 2:35.
Running notes
Route: My flat to Kloof Nek, Signal Hill and back
Time started: 09:15
Total time: 2:35ish
Total distance: 15km
Temperature: 22˚
Runner’s condition: Grumpy
As the title suggests this was neither easy, nor fun.
I was last again and struggled to keep up for most of the 3 hours we were out. The wind added to my black mood and the decision to run up Boyes Drive and away from where the cars were parked on the front at Muizenburg was quite frankly sadistic. Everyone took a dip in the sea whilst misery here brooded over a can of Coke. A week after my pathetic Peninsula and I still can’t run for $£@*.
Running notes
Route: Muizenburg beach car park down through Kalk Bay and Fishoek, to Sun Valley up Ou Kaapse Weg and right down through the golf course to Clovelly, back to Fishoek via climb up Boyes Drive.
Time started: 06:05
Total time: 2:50
Total distance: 25km
Temperature: 20˚
Runner’s condition: Dead
Left them to the last minute because the EVIL plan upped them to 1km repeats. Groan.
Running notes
Route: My flat to Bellevue Street, 1km hill repeats at 30% x 4
Time started: 6:15am
Total time: 1:50
Total distance: 14km
Temperature: 18˚
Runner’s condition: Tell me again why I’m doing this?
So after yesterday’s downer, the plan said to rest. As the title indicates, I ignored it and went out anyway. It should know by now I have my day off on Tuesday.
Running notes
Route: Kloof Nek car park to the Lower Cable Station turn at the end of the tarmac on Tafelberg Road and back (I did walk up to the Cable Station due to my poor tired and sad legs)
Height climbed: 180m
Time started: 17:45
Total time: 1:25
Total distance: 12.5km
Weather conditions: Bit breezy
Temperature: 25˚
Runner’s condition: Still miserable
I underestimated the course (I hadn’t done the A to B route before), I underestimated the wind, and I underestimated how tired an international flight made me this week.
So by 15km I knew for sure I wasn’t going to get the PB I’d been working so hard for, and was on track to get in the last two months. For those of you that aren’t long distance runners, it takes a herculean mental effort to turn that negative thinking around to enable you to run another 27km knowing that you have failed to reach the goal you’ve visualised for so many weeks. To drop off the pace and quietly give up is pretty tempting I can tell you.
I readjusted my expectations of crossing the finishing line in the 40s and pushed for a decent sub four. In the twelve or so marathons I’ve run I’ve only gone under four twice so you would think I’d be pleased.
Despite this, its tough not to be hacked off that I couldn’t push myself that extra 10% (over the 100% I was running). Fact is I lost my concentration because I was bitching inwardly about running into the 35kph wind which sucked that extra bit of energy I needed. I know I was good enough to do it, I just couldn’t do it today.
On a lighter note, as I was waiting downstairs for my lift to arrive at 4:15am, I had the misfortune to bump into a bunch of drunk twenty-somethings on their way to bed. ‘Oooh’, they said as they clocked my running kit and race number, ‘you’re running a marathon now?!’ I smiled somewhat nervously as youngest rummaged in her handbag for her Blackberry, ‘Can I have a photo with you and my friends?’. OMFG, I’m now wedged between drunken snaps in The Assembly and her BFF vomiting over the balcony.
Race notes
Route: Start Somerset Road, Greenpoint bit of a loop in town and then straight out on Main Road through Woodstock, Newlands, Wynberg then to Lakeside, Muizenberg, Kalk Bay, Fishoek and finish at the Naval Sports Ground in Simonstown.
Height climbed: 100m
Time started: 05:15
Total time: 3:55
Total distance: 42.2km
Weather conditions: Sunny and headwind of 35kph
Temperature: 25˚
Runner’s condition: Disappointed
Wasn’t so sure about the EVIL plan telling me to run a speed session the day before a marathon.
Running notes
Route: My flat to Keizersgracht Street for the 30 mins fartlek session and back
Time started: 10:35
Total time: 30 mins
Total distance: 4.5km
Weather conditions: Hot
Running notes
Route: My flat up to De Waal Park and back
Total time: 30 mins
Total distance: 4.5km
What is it with the sodding weather? I go from freezing to being blown about the reservoir this evening – I actually had to hold my t-shirt down before the south easter ripped it off. Luckily nobody saw my wobbly bits because I was the last one in the park this evening. I managed to get thrown out by a security guard at 7pm, who tapped his wrist energetically – the universal hand signal to indicate that he was locking up – no point in speaking in this howling gale.
Running notes
Route: Very slow jog in De Waal park around the reservoir.
Time started: 18:35
Total time: 30 mins
Total distance: 5km
Temperature: 24˚
Runner’s condition: Tired from the London night flight, and not going to over exert myself before Sunday.
Catching the flight home tonight, so got in an hour and twenty which mutated into an hour and forty five when I took a wrong turn in Bexley Village and compounded my mistake by taking a ‘shortcut’. Was cold and miserable when I got back.
Running notes
Route: From the parents house through Barnehurst, back through Bexleyheath to Bexley and then a more zig zag route back.
Time started: 8:50am
Total time: 1:45
Total distance: 16km
Temperature: 5˚ and drizzle
Runner’s condition: forgot the bloody gloves again, despite doing this on Sunday as well.
I went out in shorts this morning despite the drizzle and freezing wind (because I hate running in leggings on long runs) and ended up getting hooted at. OMG – did he not realise I’m old enough to be his mother?
Running notes
Route: Out with my sister from the parents house through Welling, then by myself to Shooters Hill over the A2 and then to Blackheath and back
Time started: 8:45am
Total time: 1:55
Total distance: 18km
Temperature: 4˚
Runner’s condition: effing freezing (forgot the gloves)
So I didn’t bother to go for a run this morning and went to the shops instead. Out this evening to make up for it.
Running notes
Route: The parents house to Crayford through Dartford and on towards Greenhithe and back.
Time started: 16:10
Total time: 1:40
Total distance: 17km
Temperature: 8˚
Runner’s condition: Fine
I’m beginning to wake up looking for excuses. It was raining. Again. And that old bloke at the bus stop was staring which was somewhat uncomfortable.
Running notes
Route: The parents house down Gravel Hill, over the A2, through Old Bexley onto the North Cray Road to the roundabout and back.
Time started: 8:10am
Total time: 1:20
Total distance: 12km
Temperature: 11˚
Runner’s condition: Bored
Bloody lamposts weren’t evenly spaced, and it was raining.
Running notes
Route: Round the block from the parents house to Long Lane and Russell Park
Time started: 10:20am
Total time: 22 minutes
Total distance: 4km
Temperature: 8˚
Runner’s condition: Wet
Trekked across town this morning on a variety of errands, so by the time I got home it was dark.
Grim.
Running notes
Route: The parents house down to Crayford and back
Time started: 16:40
Total time: 40 mins
Total distance: 7km
Temperature: 7˚
Runner’s condition: Grumpy
The evil plan has started to taper towards the marathon in two weeks, so has only given me four repeats today. Problem is I can’t find a bloody hill that is long enough or steep enough to run. I picked Gravel ‘Hill’ which is 5 minutes from the parent’s house rather than the half hour trek to Shooters Hill and did it 6 times to make up for the pitiful incline. I was still home within 40 minutes which demonstrates my lack of effort.
Running notes
Route: The parents house to Gravel Hill. 6 repeats at about a 15% incline and not more than 300m
Time started: 9:10am
Total time: 40 minutes
Total distance: 6km
Temperature: 2˚ (Had a frost this morning)
Runner’s condition: Sigh
Comrades and other short stories 