Liverpool Marathon

This should be the post I tell you all about the event organisation and how the run went -It’ll be a short post then… I backed out in the final few days. The sensible side of me took over and I talked myself out of it due to lack of training plus hearing that my self-build conservatory was to be delivered the same week and with limited holidays off work left I thought my time was better spent building that instead of not being able to walk all week!

I’m gutted I didn’t take part in what sounds like a great successful day but I only have myself to blame. I didn’t train hard or long enough and my heart just wasn’t in it. A friend of mine said a Marathon is not something you can just do half-hearted and he’s completely right, it takes months of commitment and structured training which I completely lacked.

Training for London I had the motivation of my first marathon and every long run was a first which boosted confidence. For Liverpool the long training run became dreaded and boring and after being at work all week I wanted to spend time with my family instead of breaking up a Sunday with a 3 hour run then being good for nothing after it.

Recently I’ve found motivation and desire in other projects like my conservatory build and found my spare time was needed away from training for events to give something back to my wife and Isabella for supporting me for the last year and working the mornings, evenings and weekends around my training needs.

I think the best thing for me now and until next year is to have a free diary and not commit to any events, get back on my bike and in the gym and get back to training because I want to and not because I have to.

I think one Marathon a year is one too many…

26.2 mile run on Sunday anyone?

I must admit when I signed up for the Liverpool marathon back in January and with the year I had planned I thought I’d be ready to smash it. Now in the final week before the event and facing reality it’s just a case of getting round the 26.2 miles.

Honestly, I’m not ready to run 26.2 the way I want to and in the time I want but that could be a good thing. I’m constantly obsessed with times and pace and thinking I’m not quick enough and being disappointed with my results. This Sunday I’m just going to run nice and steady, even slowly avoiding going off to quickly and hitting the wall later on. Maybe even enjoy it!

Training hasn’t gone to plan due to lack of Motivation and other excuses but at the end of 12 months of training this is my 15^th Event of the year including 4 half Marathons and 2 Marathons so I think I’ll put the running shoes away for the winter and return to my deserted bike.

Wish me luck – I’ll need it.

English Half Marathon

Sunday 18^th September saw the 3^rd annual half marathon in my birth town of Warrington. This one has been on the radar for me since it was established but this year is the first time I’ve been available to run it and I’ve been missing out. Maybe I’m biased but this is a great event with and considering it’s ran on the same day as the Great North run it still manages to produce a mass turn out with an estimated over 2000 runners and attracts some quality too.

This year it was great to see a Warrington 1,2 and 3 in the fastest male with 20 year old Daniel Cliff taking the win in 1 hour 9 minutes. It got even better for the hometown with Louise Blizzard from Fearnhead taking 1^st place in the woman’s with a time of 1 hour 22.

It’s a tough start to the race undulating through the back lanes of Warrington up to Stretton peaking at a little over 300ft at 7 miles before you turn for home cutting through a few narrow off-road trails. With support on almost every corner and a well marshalled and organised route they’ve got it right here with a great event that will be around for a long time. Also it was great to finish with one lap of the track on Victoria Park where the many spectators roared you home. A nice shinny medal for the collection and a good quality running t-shirt in the goody bag was a nice touch.

For me it was an opportunity to test the legs before Liverpool Marathon. It definitely wasn’t going to be a PB day as my game plan was not to push it too hard and to go at a comfortable pace keeping my heart rate steady and mentally breaking down the course into sections staying focused and treating it like a marathon working on my lessons learnt from London and preparing me for Liverpool. Time wasn’t important which is unusual for me as I’m always spending hours working out potential times and different paces and looking for what I considered to be “respectable times”.

I learnt a lot from my first Marathon and didn’t achieve what I wanted as I got too ahead of myself and thought I respected the distance but really had no clue. I went off far too quickly aiming for a time and although going well up until mile 21 I paid for my naivety and inexperience for the remaining worst 5 miles of my life.

I’m more than happy with the way this race panned out and went to plan. I felt in control and comfortable running and unlike in recent weeks didn’t feel the need to stop. It’s giving a boost ahead of Liverpool and got me back on track as long as I stay disciplined and focused during Liverpool Marathon I should be able to make amends for London.

Garmin Stats:

13.17miles 01:47:35 Avg pace 8:10 Avg HR 171bpm max HR 178bpm Total ascent 1128ft

6 weeks until Liverpool Marathon – PANIC!!

Doubt has entered my mind as I write this from my sick bed. I’ve been ill this weekend so again not been able to get out for my long run and I’m falling behind on my training. In the last 3 weeks my longest run has only been 8 miles and only averaging 15mile per week – way behind on my targets leaving me lacking in motivation and confidence.

One reason is August has been a very busy month for me. My small photography business has had its most successful month on record with 2 weddings and 2 portraits and with a full time job Monday to Friday my weekends have been focused elsewhere leaving my training bottom of the priority pile.

Another is I’ve just not been feeling good. Training for London did not go to plan but I was enjoying getting out and feeling good on my long runs, seeing improvement week on week busting my confidence and even with injuries holding me back I felt I was ready come race day. For Liverpool it’s the complete opposite, I’m not looking forward to the long runs and when I do talk myself in to getting out its hard work and my heads not in it so I’ll look for excuses to stop and stretch or cut the run short.

It can go either way from here, I can continue to feel sorry for myself or I can snap out of it and rediscover my enjoyment and competitive edge and get training. This week could be the turning point if I can shift this “man flu” and get out for a few decent runs. Next week is Warrington half marathon and will be a true test to find out where I’m at. I certainly won’t be looking for a PB but hope to run a steady race and get that buzz back that you get from these events and drive on the Liverpool then.

Let’s see if I can turn this around…

Finding my Running legs again…

I’ve just been looking over my training spread sheet that I keep and it’s been 17 weeks since the London Marathon. During this time my training has all been geared towards short distance and speed and now I’m trying to tell my body – mostly the legs that I want to go long again and they have not been happy about it for the last 2 weeks.

The first few runs although only short 3-4mile and slow pace seemed to be no problem when running but the next day my thighs where screaming at me and my whole body felt stiff. I guess I’d got too used to riding the bike and with running the impact on the tarmac was a shock to the system.

The weekend soon came round and I wasn’t looking for to a longer run. I hadn’t run over 6.2 miles throughout the last 17 weeks and my aim was to get out and run 6-8 miles. As soon as I set out the heavens opened and I got soaked in a down pour. I must admit I prefer to run in the rain – I always loved playing Sunday league football in the rain so I guess it must take me back to my glory days!

After 5 miles I felt ok so I opted for the longer route, the problem was there was no turning back and after 6 miles I didn’t feel so good anymore. My fitness was there but the legs weren’t interested, there was no rhythm, my form was all out so my shoulders and back started to hurt and if I had any money on me I would have got the bus home. I pushed on and after 7.62 miles I got home feeling deflated and sore and I’ve only got 10 weeks to turn this around!

The next week I was off work for a family week with a few trips planned and DIY products to take on. I always struggle to train when I’m off work, sounds daft because I have so much more time available but I think it’s down to Routine. When I’m in work I fit my training in at lunch which gladly gets me away from my desk or I use it as a way of getting to and from work. At home I’m with my family spending precious time with my 1 year old and can never work out the best time to go out.

I did manage to get out for a couple of runs in the week whilst Isabella was having her afternoon snooze but that meant sacrificing my down time when you can put your feet up and have a cup of tea and stop talking in baby language and crawling around on the floor – when did I get so old?

Sunday’s long run was approaching and I was feeling much better with how the shorter runs had gone but with an 8-10 mile run down on paper I still wasn’t exactly excited about it. With Isabella down for her sleep I got myself out there before I could change my mind and I’m so glad I did. I felt good, not great but heading in the right direction. I started to fatigue at about 7 miles but that was on a hill after 4 miles into a headwind so getting home after 9.32 miles I was feeling much more positive about the upcoming weeks and maybe I’m starting to find my running legs again.

Week 1 Stats:

Mon: 3M –27:19 Avg Spd 9:07m/m – 1M@10kmh – 1M@11.5kmh – 1M@10kmh

Weds: 4M – 32:04 Avg Spd 8:02m/m Avg HR – 151bpm

Fri: 3M – 24:10 Avg Spd 8:03m/m Avg HR – 147bpm 0.5M Intervals.

Sun: 7.62M – Slow outdoor – 1:08:20 Avg Spd 8:58m/m Avg HR – 149bpm

Week 1 – Total 17.62M

Week 2 Stats:

Tue: 4M – 35:23 Avg Sdp 8:51min/mile Ave HR – 142bpm

Thurs: 3.82M – 31:43 Avg Spd 8:18m/m Avg HR – 152bpm

Sun: 9.32M – 1:21:24 Avg Spd 8:44m/m Avg HR – 151bpm

Week 2 – Total 17.14M

Liverpool Marathon Training

Well the trainers are back out – took me a while to find them having not run now since Liverpool Triathlon 5 week ago and man did I feel it after my first session back!

Liverpool Marathon is now only 11 weeks away so not the ideal amount of time to prepare but after my London Marathon training experience I felt I hit my peak at 10 weeks and then after that things started to go wrong. Maybe I’m saying that as a way of making myself feel better and forgiving myself for not running over the last 5 week. It’s a kind of excuse but I’m sticking to it.

I’ve spent the last week coming up with a training plan based on lessons learnt last time out and sessions I really enjoyed doing which surprisingly where hills and fartlek. For London I followed the Runners World plan but my body couldn’t take the miles 6 days a week not to mention finding the time. This time I’ve opted for 4 days a week with a good mix of sessions and not too much too soon all working towards hitting my peak come race day.

I’m hoping over the first couple of weeks I can find my running legs again after concentrating on my Cycling Time Trials. I was putting in some great improvements in the build up to Warrington R.C 25 mile TT but unfortunately I had to back out last minute due to unforeseen circumstances. My attention is now fully back on running with the main aim of making up for my bad London Marathon run as I know I can do much better. Also coming up is the English Half marathon which is my local Warrington half that I missed out on last year so looking forward to that hoping for a sub 1:40 if the training goes well.

I best hit that tarmac then!

Return to the Kilton 8.75…

After seeing great improvements over 3 continuous Wednesday nights on the flat Rainford 10 course I wanted to head back to the harder “bumpy” Kilton course to see if I could achieve the same improvements or at least smash my PB.

My first Kilton 8.75 miles this year started with a PB of 25:33 avg spd 20.55mph back on the 11^th May. My next attempt on 25^th May was slower at 25:41 but I hadn’t really been doing the miles so I was reasonably happy just that I’d improved from last year.

June was different, with Liverpool Triathlon round the corner I had to make more of an effort so I got my golden ticket from my wife to let me out on Wednesdays to do the TT’s and at the weekends it was 20-25 miles of intervals. Still nowhere near the mileage I would like but bear in mind I still had to get my running and swimming in too. It seemed to be working though as I took my Rainford time from 28:21 avg spd 21.2mph to 26:34 avg spd 22.6mph.

The true test came on 6^th July on my return to the Kilton setting myself the target of averaging over 21mph. I got there early as usual and the heavens opened, rain hitting my window screen so hard I thought it was about to shatter. There I was, sat in my car in an empty car park wondering what the hell I was doing – I must be mad. Luckily the rain eased but it was still wet and very windy so maybe not the best night for a PB. I got myself warmed up and down to the start line already soaked through. My number was up and off I went flying down to the roundabout wind assisted which could only mean one thing, head wind on the way back! I always struggle on the way back as there’s a bit of a bump over the motorway and it always zaps my legs and tonight it was into the wind too! The wind was relentless and it was a battle all to way to the finish line. About 2 miles to go I felt it was going to be a slow time but just keep the effort and gave it everything. I crossed the line feeling Ill and on the verge of passing out but when I checked my Garmin for the first time it was all worth it seeing 21.something through my blurred vision. For some reason I didn’t look at it again and decided to wait for the results to be read out. Andy Meade 24:09 it felt like I’d won, time’s like 20:48 and 19:58 where being called out but I had the biggest smile on my face knocking 1m24s off my PB and averaging 21.7mph I was well chuffed.

Never fully satisfied I set my target the following week of hitting avg 22mph and the conditions looked perfect. According to the forecast there was little wind and stood in the car park pinning my number to my jersey I was in agreement. It was a different story once I was racing though, head wind from nowhere on the way out made it a lot more difficult than I have ever rode it and just when you’re thinking it’ll be fast coming back in, I’d used that much energy on the way out that I wasn’t feeling strong enough to push on. The wind did assist me up over the motorway so I wasn’t completely spent and then I managed to get settled into a rhythm maintaining a good speed and even found a little something extra for a downhill all out finish. Again this week I waited for the results, Andy Meade 23:52 another 17 seconds off my PB. It wasn’t till the next day on the North Cheshire website that I’d hit my target just hitting an average speed of 22mph.

With only 5 more Kiltons left in the season I’ve now set my sites on the North Cheshire Clarion most improved title. Currently held by Giles with a 2m05s improvement this year I think I’m currently in second place with 1m41s off. So to have any chance of winning I need to at least knock off another 25 seconds and average 22.4mph and that’s without Giles improving further. It’s a long shot but something to aim for. I also wouldn’t mind getting back on the Rainford to see if I can break 23mph on there while this weekend if I’ve got in I’ll be trying my first official 25m. Should be fun!

Garmin Stats:

6^th JULY – 8.70mile 24:18 avg 21.5mph avg HR 171bpm max HR 179bpm

13^th JULY – 8.71mile 23:57 avg 21.8mph avg HR 173bpm max HR 179bpm

Photo’s from Liverpool Triathlon 2011

 

 

 

Rainford 10 TT – June 22nd and 29th

I’ve definitely caught the TT bug and the last couple of weeks have seen some great improvements for me over the classic D10/1 Rainford 10 mile TT course. After my disappointment at my puncture at 9 miles a few weeks back I was determined to go back the week after and see if the average 22.4mph I’d managed to hold up until that point was a fluke or not.

Wednesday 22^nd June I headed over to Rainford for round 11 of the 2011 season. As the sole representative on the night for North Cheshire I was fired up and managed to get a nice early start time at number 3. As I was getting ready I met a guy from Manchester Tri who was doing the course for the first time so feeling like a regular I talked him through it and rode with him down to the start line. I went my separate way for a warm up as his nice bike and Zipp wheels suggested I wouldn’t be able to keep up.

At the start line I wished him luck and as he was number 4 I asked him not to pass me too soon but he did, less than 2 miles in… zoom into the wind he was passed me and gone. I just got my head down and concentrated on what I needed to do. I approached mile nine having flashbacks and turned into the wind, I felt I was on for a good time but struggled to keep the speed up into the wind, I just kept pushing and crossed the line in 27:04 averaging 22.2mph.

Back at the car packing up I asked my new buddy how he got on to which he replied “not bad”. It was a different story when the results where read out and he had the fastest time of the evening at 22:49. Turns out after talking Triathlon with him he does the Olympic distance in Sub 2 hours!! Has won a half Ironman event and is currently training for Ironman UK.

Wednesday 29^th June I wasn’t sure whether I had recovered from Liverpool Triathlon or not but the wife was having a friend over for a catch up so I took the free opportunity to have a go anyway. After recent results I’d set my next target at averaging over 22.5mph. Another early start at number 2 this week and was feeling good after an 8-9 mile warm up with NCC member and work colleague Gary. It was tough this week; the wind was strong with twice as strong gusts, great when it’s behind you but the last 3 mile was in your face and my legs where feeling it and in the last mile I had nothing left and even crossed the line shouting out the wrong number. I shouted my last week’s number 3 instead of 2. I cycled back to advise the Time keepers of my mistake and they made they made a few calculations and told me my time 26:34, another 30 seconds off my PB averaging 22.6mph. No wonder I felt ill!

The night soon turned sour though as we returned to our cars to find 6 or 7 of them had been broken into and bags, wallets, phones were missing. Luckily I was missed out but Gary was not so fortunate having 2 windows smashed and his bag stolen with Keys, credit/bank cards gone too. That sick feeling soon came back for different reasons, how can one human being do that to another?

Garmin Stats:

22^nd JUNE – 10.07mile 27:09 avg 22.2mph avg HR 168bpm max HR 175bpm

29^th JUNE – 10.05mile 26:35 avg 22.7mph avg HR 167bpm max HR 176bpm

So in 8 weeks I’ve knocked off 1 min 46 seconds and there’s still another 10 weeks of the season to go. Next goal is to break into the avg 23mph and then I might treat myself to a TT bike – shhh don’t tell the wife.

Liverpool Triathlon 5150 Series

I had high hopes going into only my 2^nd Olympic distance triathlon, not only from fitness and form but also from being a part of the 5150 Triathlon series debut in the UK. 5150 got its name simply by adding up the 1.5km Swim, 40Km Bike and the 10K run equalling 51.50km. You may also see it written as 5i50 as it’s run by the same owners and organizers of the Ironman/Ironman 70.3 series.

After doing this event last year there where certainly area’s for improvement the main one being the lack of mats down to run/walk on from the swim to transition. I would of thought the World Triathlon Corporation responsible would have been on to this and made the appropriate amendments but unfortunately it was just the same only with more advertisement banners up which ironically if you had laid them down they would of covered the distance from the water to bike no problem and would of made the journey at least a little more comfortable.

One thing the 5150 series did is make this a much higher profiled event attracting some big names into the elite field including the current Ironman UK champion Fraser Cartmell. Unfortunately we were to share the same fate and have to settle for second best as he lost out to the day’s winner Stuart Hayes in 01:49:18 and I was once again beaten to arch enemy Liam Bennett. Liz Blatchford won the ladies with an impressive 01:57:46.

My day started with a 6am alarm call and although I was well organised the night before I still managed to clatter about the house getting ready and waking baby up in the process. I’m not much of an early eater but after forcing breakfast down and racking the bike up I was on my way across town to pick up Liam.

Due to start a 9 o’clock it was fast approaching 8am and we were only just getting to the car park. Luckily we just made it into the main car park right next to the transition area. With only a short walk to registration which was smoothly operated we were back on time and in the transition area when I realised I’d left my number in the car. Liam had also left his water bottle so after a quick dash there and back we were now running a little late. They start letting you in the water at 8:50, we didn’t even have our wet suits on! Panic was over when we joined the back of the queue and then got in the water, after working up a bit of a sweat just to get there on time it felt refreshing instead of the usual shock of cold shouting up my body.

I positioned myself on the outside hoping for clear water and was just discussing this with Liam when a guy behind shouted in the style of Murray Walker “Go Go Go!” Then the masses of arms and legs started thrashing about, what no countdown or hooter like last year I thought to myself as I threw my arms forward and kicked my legs joining in with the mayhem. Not even 100 meter in and I couldn’t catch my breath, every time I popped up to take a breath I’d just get a mouthful of the Mersey. Bodies everywhere, arms hitting and pushing you, legs kicking you, and I’ve paid money for this. After about 200 meters it funnelled down and the carnage well and truly kicked in. If you’re a strong swimmer like Liam you can get yourself ahead of this massacre but for someone like me it’s every man for themselves!

Clear water finally came and I could get my head down and concentrate on swimming instead of surviving. I got myself into a rhythm and just kept going, wanting this bad swim experience to be over. The end was in sight and it didn’t seem like I’d been in the water for 30 minutes so I thought I’d clocked my target time. After a few stumbles getting out of the water as my feet found themselves again, I managed to get my wetsuit down to my waist and checked my watch, I was disappointed to see it approaching 35 minutes! Transition didn’t go smoothly either; still slightly light headed I struggled getting the wetsuit off and was glad to finally get out of there and on the bike.

I was at home on the bike and confidence came souring back as I passed other riders. I caught a glimpse of Liam on the other side of the road early on my first lap knowing he was around half way through his first lap, I estimated he had 10 minutes on me already so I had my work cut out to catch him. I got my head down and hit some nice speeds wind assisted and they felt strong into the wind keeping up my average speed. Each lap I saw Liam and the gap was closing and as I started my final lap I thought I might just catch him. I almost did too, I entered the transition area to see him scoffing some jelly babies and off he went to start his run just as I racked up my bike. I’d managed to get the gap down to about 30 seconds.

I zoomed through T2 and set about the chase. It wasn’t until the turn at half way through the first lap I saw Liam again and the gap still seemed about 30 secs but I was running low on energy but determined to give it all I had I kept pushing. I could feel myself slowing and I walked through a drinks station to take on water, by now it was getting hot too and I was struggling to keep up the pace. I started lap two with a second wind but it barely lasted a Kilometre, then a stitch in the last few Kilometres didn’t help matters. I saw Liam again just before he turned off for the finishing straight and gave him a high five as we passed each other and said well done, good running.

I wasn’t sure of my run time and pace but felt overall I was quicker than last year so as I turned for the home straight I was happy to see the clock under 2h 45. Not quite the 2h 40 I’d hoped for but after that swim I was more than happy I Knocked close to 7 minutes off my PB. I didn’t beat Liam but I had him scared and I’ve certainly closed the gap. Of course he was waiting for my at the finish line where we showed our respect with the traditional man hug. To steal Dr. Claw’s catch phrase, “I get you next time, Bennett! Next time”

Photos to follow – still waiting for them to go online.

Results:

Andy Meade

SWIM – 33:51 T1 – 3:24 BIKE – 1:14:37 T2 – 1:23 RUN – 51:23 TOTAL – 2:44:36

Liam Bennett

SWIM – 24:31 T1 – 1:49 BIKE – 1:24:08 T2 – 2:19 RUN – 48:19 TOTAL – 2:41:04