After my race on Sunday my legs felt tired so I had an easy run on the Monday and a light massage off Clare. I remember a time long, long ago when I was young and I had bouncy fresh legs, Id go down to the track do 800 meters warm up blast a session 800m warm down, get home, go to bed and wake up ready to go again. It was also possible in those days to race a couple of times a week and have no problems, now however, it’s another story. I race on a Sunday and it takes me best part of a week to get over it.
On Tuesday I had an easy jog in the morning then a session in the evening, the session was 5x1000m. My legs felt good on the first couple of efforts but soon started to get tired, I dug deep to keep the rep times up. I probably dug a little too deep and paid the price for it. I finished the session and drove home. I’m a lucky man, Clare knows me well. I was so tired that I spent the night sitting in the chair staring at the TV like a zombie too tired to move. Clare made the tea and endless cups of coffee and recovery drinks, she’s a star and a massive help with my running. Even though Clare run’s and races herself, the days she isn’t racing she dashes around the course shouting me on and is there at the finish with dry kit and recovery drinks and a good reminder to warm down. This sort of support makes a massive difference.
Wednesday I ran into work, still feeling a bit tired from last night but at least it’s downhill and gravity is a great friend. However it was a different story going home. I’d been feeling tired all day, but I still had my run home to do. Rite from the start I felt tired and I have to say I was really tempted to walk, I was trying to think of excuses and reasons why I could walk, but I kept on running.
Thursday morning I decided to rest and save my legs for my session in the evening. I yawned all day at work, the stairs at work were a struggle and I felt rough. I think pushing hard on Tuesday on tired legs had left me using up my reserve tank and I was still running on empty. I always say that it’s best to listen to your body and I often do, if I get a cold or get a niggle I rest up, but I try not to miss sessions. Even though I felt tired I still wanted to do my training, but Clare made me see sense and we went for an easy 3 mile from home.
On a Friday myself and Clare usually go to the track and do drills, core and short fast but relaxed efforts, we planned to do the same today, however I decided to do last night’s session on the way to the track. I did 10 minutes of easy running followed by 20 minutes close to race pace then 10 minutes easy. I chose to do my effort on my way to Maiden Castle because it’s mostly downhill so I’d be able to run faster than race pace but without burying myself. As soon as I set off on my easy warm up I felt good, the effort went well too. It’s 4 mile to Maiden Castle, I got there inside the 20 minutes (well just inside). I felt fresh and revived after my rest day and I was glad that I’d taken the time off, better to do a good quality session a day late rather than a poor run, depleting myself further.
I got to the track just as Clare was starting her warm up. We did a mile followed by the Drills. After 30 years of running I’ve just started doing drills, luckily for me Friday morning is possibly the quietest time on the track. I’m not the most co-ordinated and often get my drills wrong, tripping over my own feet or losing rhythm and forgetting what I’m supposed to be doing, Clare has a good laugh at my expense, but I’m sure I must be improving.
Thursday morning I decided to rest and save my legs for my session in the evening. I yawned all day at work, the stairs at work were a struggle and I felt rough. I think pushing hard on Tuesday on tired legs had left me using up my reserve tank and I was still running on empty. I always say that it’s best to listen to your body and I often do, if I get a cold or get a niggle I rest up, but I try not to miss sessions. Even though I felt tired I still wanted to do my training, but Clare made me see sense and we went for an easy 3 mile from home.
On a Friday myself and Clare usually go to the track and do drills, core and short fast but relaxed efforts, we planned to do the same today, however I decided to do last night’s session on the way to the track. I did 10 minutes of easy running followed by 20 minutes close to race pace then 10 minutes easy. I chose to do my effort on my way to Maiden Castle because it’s mostly downhill so I’d be able to run faster than race pace but without burying myself. As soon as I set off on my easy warm up I felt good, the effort went well too. It’s 4 mile to Maiden Castle, I got there inside the 20 minutes (well just inside). I felt fresh and revived after my rest day and I was glad that I’d taken the time off, better to do a good quality session a day late rather than a poor run, depleting myself further.
I got to the track just as Clare was starting her warm up. We did a mile followed by the Drills. After 30 years of running I’ve just started doing drills, luckily for me Friday morning is possibly the quietest time on the track. I’m not the most co-ordinated and often get my drills wrong, tripping over my own feet or losing rhythm and forgetting what I’m supposed to be doing, Clare has a good laugh at my expense, but I’m sure I must be improving.
Clare’s session was 6x300, I ran it with her, she was running hard, but for me it was relaxed which worked out for me after my hard effort, a good way to wind down. We finished the 300’s then moved on to our core exercises. I’ve done core on and off for a while now, core is one of the things that I feel really helps my running.
Like I mentioned earlier when I was younger, I’d do my session go home and that was it, now I eat the right foods, do drills, core, get regular massage and wear recovery clothes. The older I get the more I have to do to just to keep on running well, if only I’d done all this when I was younger!
Like I mentioned earlier when I was younger, I’d do my session go home and that was it, now I eat the right foods, do drills, core, get regular massage and wear recovery clothes. The older I get the more I have to do to just to keep on running well, if only I’d done all this when I was younger!
On Saturday morning I ran into work, feeling a bit tired again but better than earlier in the week. After a busy day at work I set off home, tonight I did a fartleck, about 6 efforts varying in length and mostly uphill, I felt a bit heavy legged again, but after yesterdays effort and a busy day at work I wasn’t surprised. I finished my run home by coming through the Vale, a nice way to finish any run.
Sunday was a nice morning, so I enjoyed a long run into work about 11 mile. I ran through Quarrington hill, Bowburn then a loop around Croxdale and Shincliffe woods, it was cold but the sun was out and I felt good. On my way home I was met by Clare on her run and we ran the rest of the way together, a nice way to end the week. Topped off with a Sunday roast, perfect!
Sunday was a nice morning, so I enjoyed a long run into work about 11 mile. I ran through Quarrington hill, Bowburn then a loop around Croxdale and Shincliffe woods, it was cold but the sun was out and I felt good. On my way home I was met by Clare on her run and we ran the rest of the way together, a nice way to end the week. Topped off with a Sunday roast, perfect!