My Running Year So Far - by Micky Carrick

So we are in month 8 of 12, and the pressure is really starting to mount for quite a few reasons.  2014 has been quite a tough year so far for me, though I seem to be doing OK with the running so far, a lot better than some others anyway!  I believe my last blog post was done in February, so apologies for that and I promise some a more prolific output between now and the end of the year.

Here are some highs and lows of the year so far…

The Early Months

January was an excellent month for me.  Having worked out a bit of a plan in my head that averaging 45 miles a month (about 9.5 a week) to cover the challenge would be sufficient I decided that with it being cold, and winter a flying start would make the rest of the year easy.  I completed the month with a fairly satisfying 43.5miles under my belt, including setting a new highest number of miles ran with a 10.07miler completed on a freezing cold Saturday.

February was slightly less productive than January but still saw me complete some pretty decent runs.  The majority of which between 4 and 6 miles.  During this came my first visit to a new parkrun in the form of Gibside Parkrun.  For those in the North East area, it is a charming run on a National Trust site that is both beautiful and challenging in equal measure.  Why is it so challenging?  Well pretty much the first 1.5miles are completely up a very steep hill.  Second half of the run, the way down, is much more fun.  I ended the month of February with 32.1miles completed.  A pretty decent start.

Injuries

The next two months saw quite a big drop off in my productivity. The weather in March was pretty cold, and I began the month in quite lazy fashion.  A couple of visits to Newcastle Parkrun was about the best I mustered.  Having then decided that my game needed to be upped, I then decided to try a repeat of my 10 mile route from January.  All was going well until I pulled my calf muscle at about the 6 mile stage.  This signalled a walk home of about 4 miles, in the freezing cold, and a weeks rest completely from running.   I finished the month with the slightly pathetic sum total of 26.4 miles ran.

April wasn’t much better; having this ongoing calf problem I found I couldn’t really run for any more than 2 miles without severe pain and risking a more serious injury.  April was effectively a month of rest with some small runs sporadically throughout the month.  During this month I joined a new gym; the highly recommended Inline Fitness Gym in Blaydon.  After explaining my injury to John, the owner he got me a session with one of the physios from Newcastle Sports Injury.  After 2 very painful, but very productive sessions, the injury was much better and back on the road I went. 27.3 miles done in April.

On the Mend

After putting the depressing months of March and April (injury aside, I was also made redundant), I began to make some serious strides towards getting my output back on track.  I started a new job (enabling a run with colleague, friend and fellow 5000milerun peer Adam around the iPro Stadium, home of Derby County football club).  I completed another 10 miler, and found a new stock route that allowed me to run 3-5 miles pretty easily every couple of days.  May was also the month that allowed me to break my Newcastle Park Run PB twice (28:59 on the 3rd of the month, and 28:58 on the 31st). 

47.8 miles ran during May and I felt like I was back.

June brought what was my inspiration for running, the iconic Blaydon Race.  This was the second time I had ran the race.  For years I have been watching my friends complete the run and then doing the now yearly celebratory drinks and food at local pub The Runhead, without actually earning it.  Last year that changed and I completed my first (in around 55:50) – this year I seem to take all the outside corners and ran it in 56:14 – so a quicker pace, but slower time…

June was not quite as productive as May, a combination of working away (allowing me to run in such places as Heywood (near Manchester) and Delph (near Oldham)), the World Cup and beer meant I clocked an acceptable, if unremarkable 37 miles for the month.

Injuries Pt. Deux

July started with a bit of a bang, completed a strong 8 miler and getting out very regularly.  As festival season was on the horizon I decided it was time to try and lose a bit of timber before a weekend of drunken (and very muddy) debauchery at KendalCalling.  Getting out for the first time and running 3 days consecutively for a total of around 13 miles.  While this did wonders for my stats (monthly output 45 miles), it was also the first appearance of a now niggling ankle injury.  As I type this, 4 weeks after first feeling it, it seems to be on the wane and running having taken a few paracetamol and iboprufen seem to do the trick.

August carried on in a similar vein, managing the injury with painkillers and trying to limit my running to flat courses and shorter mileages.  Not ideal with the GatesheadTrail 10k and Great North Run in sight…  As I write this blog post I have currently completed 23 miles in August so far (22/08/2014) but plan a 7-13miler tonight and another next week to ensure I hit 50 miles or so for the month.  Fingers crossed the ankle holds out and I can complete the world’s greatest half marathon.

For those interested, my current aim for a time would be 2:12 if fully fit, 2:20 if the injury stays as it is or 2:30 if it flares up anymore…

Thanks for reading.

A New Favourite Race by Micky Carrick

Following being plagued by ankle problems during late July, August began quite well once the management of the ankle pain began to become easier.  I completed a strong 8 miler, followed by a parkrun with fellow member and over for a few weeks from Canada, Phil.  It was on August the 16^th that the inaugural Gateshead Trail 10k was compete.  I lined up alongside around 1,000 other runners at a windy field in Blaydon to take in the sights of the Derwent Walk.

Still feeling the ankle injury I plumped myself in to the 60-70min time group and set away with a bit of a limpy jog.  After the 3km marker (placed early at around 1.5miles) I realised that the ankle was actually holding up very well on the predominantly flat course.  Uphills were a struggle, but it was going rather well.  As the KM’s rolled by I noticed that in the group I was running with I was looking, and breathing, a lot more comfortably than most.  I then saw my nemesis.  Some lad in a bright neon pink top.  Less of a nemesis really, more of just some dude I thought if I were to beat, it would have been a good day.  Plus his top made it easy to keep an eye out for him.

I set about catching the lad, taking about a mile to reel him in, at the halfway stage I was about 20 seconds in front of him, and my heart sank about a minute later as he strolled passed.  I put it out my mind and kept on with my own race, and shortly after found him to be walking as I took the lead again.  This was the last time I saw the guy in the very pink top, until the end coming in about 6 minutes after me.

Anyway, back to what was happening around me.  I had formed my own breakaway group.  I felt like a Romanian cyclist who has decided to have a go at winning a stage in the Tour De France, only to be inevitably reeled in by the professionals.  Despite the ankle pain (awful at this point) I noticed that if I kept running at around the same pace, I would have a chance at coming in under the hour mark.  I kept going, and began to catch the next group of runners.  This time, many good looking females and even some good looking dudes, who a year ago I would never have dreamed to be able to run a 10k comparatively with.

With the finishing line less than a mile away I noticed that I was sailing past this group of people too.  I ended up in a bit of race with two lads who were clearly in much better shape than I.  As I turned the corner back in to Blaydon Rugby Club I could see the end in sight.  Approximately 300m from the finishing line, my friends (2 from the challenge, Jonny and Sheekey, along with their partners Kate and Cath) were roaring me on.  From nowhere I sprinted passed the two lads, and then the next 2, and then some girls, and finally beating 2 lads in Tough Mudder T-shirts just before crossing the line.

My time: 59:54.  

I had achieved a time better than that which my timing bracket demanded.  I was over the moon with this.  I spent the rest of the afternoon wearing my GT10 T-shirt and the amazing Medal/Bottle Opener with pride.  I can’t wait to try this race again next year.

The Medal - Worth the pain alone.

Sheekey, Micky, Jonny with mascots Cath and Badger.

A belated race report Liversedge Half Marathon (09 February 2014) by Jonny Lowes

The idea to enter this race was not my own and if I’d had any idea of the elevation gain I’d encounter I probably wouldn’t have been so quick to sign-up. Interestingly it was one of my former RAF Regiment brothers who’d suggest we compete in his local half. What a great idea, I’d get to kill two birds with one stone, see my mate who I don’t get to see often enough and I would be able to tick-off my second half marathon of 2014. Well of course my mate didn’t get round to entering, strange that, but luckily for Cath and I we were made very welcome by Stew and his girlfriend Madeline. We went out for a nice Thai meal and I managed to abstain, something that is becoming increasingly easier after a successful dry January!

So I woke up to what I’d describe as horrendous weather. Strong winds and chucking it down with

rain. The previous night the course had come up in conversation and I’d taken some local knowledge that hinted there may be a hill or two. The combination of the weather and hilly course really threw my race plan, unlike the previous HM in York (Brass Monkey), I knew I wouldn’t be able to run even 8min/mile splits. So I readjusted, by using my heart rate monitor and adjust my pace to keep my heartrate between 160-170bpm in the first half of the race, and slowly increase to over 180 in the latter stages.

The first half went okay, the race has a quick downhill start then up and onto a part of the course

known locally as Windy Hill, which tells you everything you need to know about it. Mile 1 was

completed in 7:13, but as I made the way up the first hills my pace decreased to a plod. Miles 2 – 6

came and went in 8:15, 8:47, 8:35, 8:20 and 8:01. Some serious hills took its toll on the pace between miles 7 and 10, with the splits 9:24, 8:26, 8:49, 9:14 with heart rate in and around mid to high 170’s bpm. This was hilliest part of the course with a total elevation gain of 112 meters over the 4 miles. Some short and steep, others long and slow.

With the final three miles to go I managed to pick the pace up a little with an increase of the heart

rate up to over 180bpm but with a small elevation gain of 37m and the last 5km in 25:45. Hard race, very hill. Total time 1:5028. Probably could of ran it slightly quicker, but overall happy

enough with my effort. Importantly I felt that it was a harder course than the GNR and I had

completed it 2mins quicker than my GRN time.

Would really recommend the race, it is well organised and a tough one to keep you ticking over and

your fitness up in the winter.

I Like Graphs by Phil Heron (10/04/14)

After a truly awful start to the year, I've picked up the pace once I had the 'all clear' to run from the physio.

The Canadian football season doesn't start until the end of May, so I'm using the turn in weather (no snow on the ground) as pre-season. Every time I think of 'pre-season', I see in my mind Micky Quinn running his pre-season distances with a bin liner on to sweat out the beer. None of that for me, though. I'm just running everywhere I can get away with - running to football training, running to physio (!), running to the cinema, and running with my mate James in training for a 10km.

A few good runs during the week, and a big distance on the weekend has made me hit around 20-30 miles a week. The graph shows the massive change a few good solid weeks make. That blue line is getting closer.

It is going to be 15 degrees today in Toronto, too. Get in.

February by Jonny Lowes

As I sit here reflecting on the first 2 months of our challenge both January and February were very different, but with notable similarities. Though what the mind is drawn to is not all about the running.

Inevitably the other wonders of that rich & colourful tapestry we call life creep in and either enrich our running experience, or more commonly mess our plans. Our hopes and aspirations meandering right up shit creek, our paddle aloof.

Similarities worth remarking on:

January started and ended in injury

February started and ended in injury

The weather showed consistency, being generally crap with a smattering of terrible

A half marathon in January

A half marathon in February

But if January was  summed up as the month of firsts, then February is a month of broken stuff

A sore shin/calf

My perennially torn hamstring,

A kaputten phone,

A dead laptop

A sat nav that was replaced by Garmin, but the replacement was as much use as the previous one

After running a good Half Marathon PB in my second ever HM and the first of 12 in 2014, I was airing on the side of caution with my recovery time. Racing on the Sunday, wisdom dictates that you should rest for half the days of the miles you’ve just ran. So let’s agree for a HM that should be just shy of a week. So two days later after feeling remarkably well recovered I decided to give harriers a go.

The session that was on offer was the 6x 3mins with 1 min recovery that broke me in December. However, now wise to my previous mistake, I had devised a cunning plan. If I ran the 3 mins slow, this would be a good “active recovery” session.

A consistent theme the keen eyed amongst you may have spotted what I know to be good for me and what I actually do are very different things. After the 3^rd interval, having ran 1.5 miles the mathematicians amongst you will be able to work out that’s 06:00min/miles, which I assure you for me is FLAT OUT. Predictably with the half marathon in my legs the distance I was covering faded but got through the session relatively unscathed. Or so I thought.

The next day I had noticed at work that my calf was sore. On inspection, a bit of pressing and prodding it seemed to be the connective tissue between my calf and the shin. It was sore to the touch, but something I’d experienced before. A week prior to running a PB at the Newcastle Parkrun, I’d tried the Sunderland (BOOOOOO) Parkrun course at Silkworth, with the same pain in my calf/shin. A few days rest and I was right as rain, then I ran a PB the following Saturday.

So the sensible thing was to have some rest. What I did was purchase some Compressport Calf-Guards. Surely spending £26 on some scientific sexy red short tight socks, with their veno-muscular compression technology would stop this from getting worse and enable me to run? Well 4.5miles later I was hobbling round a local route way behind my girlfriend (nothing new there some of you say), I decided the experiment with the expensive and rather fetching compression socks had not been successful.

With another half-marathon to run in 2 weeks I cut my milage back, trying to run a few quick 4 milers and getting out on the bike to keep me ticking over. Frustratingly, I knew this was an over-use injury, which in my experience healed quicker than a rip or a tear, but still needed rest. So after a couple of short runs and now just a week to go I had a decision to make. Should I sack off the 10 mile long-run I had planned and rest up to race day, or run it and hope I’d recovered in time. Surprisingly what I actually did and what I knew to be good for me were the same, I settled on the non-running option, cross-training to keep my fitness levels from dropping too much.

It was hard to take knowing some of the 40 or so mile lead I’d built up over the other lads would be clawed back, but there you go it happens, that’s running. I got to the start of the Liversedge Half Marathon 2014 hoping that not running for 1.5 weeks was the correct strategy.

Race report to follow, at least I knew I’d get there no problem with my replacement sat nav, thanks Garmin........shame I wasn’t able to save all the data from the previous one as my laptop had packed up.

The First 100 Miles by Mart Carrick

As I have just passed the first 100 mile checkpoint, I thought I would write an update.  I have slacked on this - writing only one update about the time my bag opened on Blackfriar's Bridge and all my clothes fell out - and for that, humble reader, I apologise.

The first 100 miles have been pretty steady.  I worked out that if I run home from work, it is exactly 5 miles, so I've been doing that twice a week and grinding out some weekend runs as well, upping my total fairly quickly.

There have been a few weeks when I've been a bit lazy, though.  Most notably last week, where after turning 30, it took me a week to recover.  I am not a young man anymore!

The only injuries I've sustained so far have been a bit of chaffing from my work bag while running home, and bleeding nipples.

Yep, bleeding nipples.

This is something that has happened to me quite a lot, actually.  Once in my old gym in Waterloo, I was running on the treadmill.  My nipples were sore but I didn't think to look down at them.  Then, after my run, I was walking to the changing rooms, and a woman looked at me with a face that said "I am absolutely horrified by something about your personal appearance, but from the look on your face, you do not yet know what it is yet.  But you will.  Soon."

I looked down, and not only had both of my nipples bled, but they had bled A LOT.  And they had bled a lot, on two of the white stripes of the Newcastle United top that I was wearing in the gym.  This made it look like an AC Milan top, and I laughed.  But then I realised that I had literally rubbed off the front skin of both of my nipples, and I stopped laughing.

My nipples were constantly erect for two months.

Anyway, 100 miles done, feeling good, hoping to get my 5 mile time down under 42 minutes before the end of the year (it's gone from about 51 minutes to 47 in the three months so far).

Marty Outy

Phil's February by Phil Heron

In the very same week that donations started coming in for the 500 mile run, I picked up an ankle injury playing football (Feb 5th 2014). I would like to say that my ankle buckled stretching to poke the ball home to pick up a much needed three-points, but sadly I went over trying to cross into the middle. Unmarked.

I've had another ankle examination and I've been ruled out of playing football for another month.

BUT, the doctor and physiotherapist said I can start running this week. Granted, it will be building up from 1km, to 1.5km to 2km, etc, and I'll be wearing a brace, but I will be starting to contribute.

I've made a video of my physio sessions -

I will be back, and I will complete the challenge. 

Owen Heron