Back Running Again

Managed to get out last night for my first run in eight days... Thanks mainly to Lynda, when she realised via txt that I hadn't run she phoned and said "Get Out Now!" so I duly set off and managed 7.18 miles and so pleased I ran (though not a comfortable run) didn't feel like a rested athlete. It had the desired affect and entered 4 races on my return. Finished work today early 10:45 because we weren't allowed to work beyond 40 hours due to Monday being a bank holiday.. Relaxing afternoon watching the Giro de Italia now to get out for a run. Ran along east side of Rhein to far bridge through City Centre then back along 50 Bus route, felt sore and heavy legged.. hoping to feel better Sunday morning...the lay off as done me no good at all. Still no confirmation of entry to race.. I've sent email making an enquiry.

7.18 miles
7.84 miles

53:21

Week 14.99 miles

Just waiting to let lunch digest then I can get out and run, managed to do a short easy 4 miles run on Monday evening just to stretch my legs. Had dinner at Paul's as Andrea and Alex are here for 1 weeks holiday. Yesterday Tuesday decided to relax and use it as a Rest Day Showed the holiday couple round Basel for the day, we walked home after a couple of beers and lunch in town. Once home received a call from Jason at S.Com offering 5 day's work at Jet, though Lynda's coming for the weekend I cant really turn it down.. So back in at 8am tomorrow.
At 14:30 went out for a run, I'd been looking on Google maps to see if their might be a riverside route on the French side of the Rhein, their is, though it would take me on a longer run than I'd planned. Decided to go for it (especially with working over the next 5 days) Its a cycle path than runs between the Road and Rhein past Village-Neuf as far as the Hydroelectric Dam then crosses to the island and back, started to ache after about an hours running, kept giving myself targets were I planned to stop, but each time I reached one decided to continue, legs feet etc all a bit sore by the time I got back. 13.43 miles in a very easy 1:34:11. Had a good long soak in a hot radox bath.
4 mile + 13.43 miles
1:34:11
Week 17.43 miles

Race Day

Up at 6:35, toilet back to bed, nodded off then alarm woke me at 7, quickly prepared coffee, two slices of toast with marmalade then settled down to watch Amir Khan-Malignaggi Fight I recorded.. Into the 6th round now, hoping it doesn't go on to long want to put it on DVD for Fran.. and Lynda's going to call anytime...and I'm getting rather nervous, toilet visits due. 9:20am Just about to set off looks ideal weather conditions at the moment, decided to put peddles back on my bike so I can ride in, nerves have really kicked in now but I'm really looking forward to it. 9:45am Locked bike up behind changing area Sport Hall up near the Munster, got ready went outside stretched for 20 minutes then started a warm-up. 10:40am  Headed down towards the start area, coming down the hill from the Munster sure I saw Fran going by on his bike so jogged onto Mittlere Brucke caught Fran just as the 10k Race was coming over the bridge. Said I'd see him after and jogged back to Marketplatz, thoughtfully the organisers had positioned plenty of Portoloo's on the square so I did my last toilet trip, while waiting a girl noticing my Blackburn Harriers Vest said she was also from Blackburn. 10:55am In ideal conditions I joined 676 others in front of Basel Town Hall positioning myself 3 or 4 rows back from the front and waited for the gun to go off.

11:00am Got away without any drama and soon got into my stride before heading over the river and onto the eastern embankment of the Rhein once the 2nd km marker arrived I’d settled to run on the shoulder of a young French guy with a leading group well ahead and others spaced evenly between, 6k crossed the boarder into France passing a couple of runners, 7km still on the shoulder and a long a stretch ahead the us the nearest runners some 150 metres up the road and the leaders up to 550 metres further on. After 8k we climbed the steps to the worlds longest cantilever footbridge and crossed into Germany, between 9-10k up a drag the French lad pulled away and I couldn’t react, through10k in 38:07 and into a Park at 11k I had to really concentrate and try to keep my rhythm as I started to ache, not helped by being alone and unable to see the nearest runners ahead. I felt a was slowing as I reached 14k then started to hear the sound of someone catching me, this had a positive effect and I dug in and over the next couple a kilometres I used the clapping of people in the park as a guide a gap was growing behind me. I knew as I past the 16k I wasn’t going to improve on my 2008 time, at 17k on the long stretch of embankment a could see the French lad starting to come back and though tiring I had a target ahead. I eventually passed him climbing over the final bridge at 20k.. Past the Cathedral and a slight downhill main shopping Street. I crossed the line in front of the Town Hall in a disappointing 1:22:19 My mate said their was definitely a 50+ guy ahead of me, so I didn’t hang around, got my bike and cycled home to the pub.

I really hoped to do my best time since winning the M40 category at the Chester Half in 2001… but two weeks prior to my 53^rd birthday do I just have to accept that what once came so easily will never be again.

I’m pretty shocked at the degeneration its only nine short years since after a lengthy period of not running 4/5 years I started running again due to a 9 month driving ban and managed a 1:13:06 Half and 33 minute 10k.

Finished 13th overall, 2nd from 112 in the M50 age category 2:35 minutes behind winner.
13.1 miles
Time 1:22:19
Week 53.6 miles

Up and about by 7am after a disturbed nights sleep, showered then breakfast of Muesli, Banana, Greek Yoghurt, Coffee. At 10:30 got ready to run nice and easily to the Stucki Shopping Centre, Kleinhuningen to pick up race number. Headed out via Weil am Rhein knowing this route would give my legs a little stretch and the distance out and back would only total 3.3 miles. A miserable looking morning as I headed out but surprisingly warm once you got going. Couple of trestle tables had been set up outside Ochsner Sports with quite a bit of activity going on so early in the day, wonder if they'll reach last years numbers by tomorrow morning? I cant see it, when online registration closed Wednesday they had 458 for the Half, last year 708 took part. Ran back via Markuaf for bread. Showered, lunch of 2 Boiled Eggs, Crisps and Mayonnaise Sandwiches. Just about to start watching today's 7th Stage of the Giro, will have to record second half as I'll be off to meet Fran to watch the FA Cup Final... No beers for me today obviously.. find it easier and easier not to drink, which can only be good.

3.3 miles

24:00 mins

Week 40.5 miles

Showers held off managed to get out at 12:30... today was always going to be a very easy run, just had to decided how far and which route.. Ran over to Kleinhuningen then along Altrhenweg which turns into Unterer Rheinweg this being the last 5-4km of Sundays Race, up onto Johanniterbrucke up past Uni Hospital along Missionstrasse past Kannenfeld Park past track at Rehab Centre into France at Novatis boarder down into Huningue then over footbridge into Germany and home. Had a good stretch then hot bath.. followed by Cheesy Potato Cakes made from left over Mash.
Now relaxing in front of today's 6th Stage of the Giro d'Italia on Eurosport2.. love to follow Professional  Cycling especially the Grand Tours and One Day Classics... Earlier in the year Lynda and I went to see one of the Spring Classics taking the car via Eurotunnel to Northern France to catch several cobbled sections of the Paris-Roubaix one day race, known as the Queen of the Classics, it was a real privilege and marvellous experience to be close up to some of the worlds superstar cyclists.
According to the Race website competitors for Sundays event can pick up race number including chip from Stucki Shopping Centre tomorrow between 10-3pm. So I'll probably have a easy little jog over tomorrow morning, just to stretch the legs as I basically don't want to do anymore training as such.. and it'll be one less thing to worry about Sunday morning.
7.1 miles
Time 50:58
Week 37.2 miles

Training

Ran steady from home to Kannenfeld Park Gates (3.46 miles) the circuit inside the park is 0.57 miles or 917 metres.

Then I ran 3 x 917m with splits of 3:12 (5:37 pace) 3:11 (5:35) and 3:13 (5:38) I gave myself approx 1 minute recovery after each circuit. How the hell did I once race at sub 5 minute pace!!

Ran back via University Hospital over Rhein then along the eastern bank of the Rhein under the Dreirosenbrücke bridge (this is actually part of Sunday's race route) down through Kleinhunigen and home Routes 7.15 miles

8.86 miles

Time 59:28

Week 30.1 miles

3 Day's to Drellander-Lauf or 3 Countries Run..Race in Basel, Switzerland

Woke at around 9am, to the sound of rain accompanied with the sound of church bell's.. realizing it's a national holiday here in Germany across the boarder in Switzerland and guessing across the Rhein in France. After yesterday's short (3.93mile) very easy recovery run I've got to get out for a decent training run especially with Sunday's Half-marathon looming.