Colin

Colin passed away a few days ago.

I first came across him as the organiser of the Works Relays, dwarfed by a big board of results in the Rugby Club. Very serious, very focused.
I saw him at a distance at the various races, he was one of the 'greats' at TAC but sort of in the background.
And then he joined our running club. He said it was because he fancied a change, he didn't want to be competitive any more, he wanted to enjoy his running...
...it was clear from the outset that he could cope with anything we threw at him with ease. He was always on your shoulder on a training run. He was equally at home with absolute beginners as he was with those at the 'sharp end'.
We ran together at the Wellington 4 mile race, I hardly knew him. I kicked for home with 400m to go and left him in my wake "If I'd gone a bit quicker, you wouldn't have got near me" was his gracious reply :0)
He claimed he was past it; he loved to tell tales about the old days when training was brutal, but he was never condescending towards us. I remember him training well one Winter though and he stunned us with a fabulous time at Chester - I think it was 1.21. We just didn't believe it!
He was the complete Club man. He would turn out whatever the weather. I remember us both getting changed back into wet kit on a cold day at Sutton Park for the second legs of our relays. Brr. No complaints from Col though. We turned up once at Aldridge airfield on the coldest of cold days, he looked around the school gym, swore quietly to himself and just got on with it. It was the same when we went to Gloucester for the cross country, we both had a great run in the mud that day, round the abandoned fridges in the dip..
He went down in club folklore one training night after an accident with a young lad on a bike. He was bashed  right in the forehead and there was blood everywhere. But, plastered up, he was back again. One tough cookie. Then there was the night he had his shorts on the wrong way round, stepped off the path behind a tree to change them in broad daylight (the tree was thin, Colin was thinner, no one could see him)
..I only ever saw him tired once, at the Pontesbury Potter. We'd been out for hours, it was cold, it had been snowing, we had come down off Pontesbury Hill together. I was knackered, I'd done all of the navigating. He turned to me and said "How much further you reckon Al I'm really tired now.." He still didn't stop though, we dragged each other to the finish, in true Alf Tupper stylee..
He loved to do those long Sunday morning runs out near Kemberton. Get in a group with Col, and he would look after you no matter how slow you were or rubbish you were feeling.
The last 4 or 5 years I hadnt seen much of him, my last real running memory was when I was running Silkin Way top to bottom. I got into the Telford Town Park, feeling a bit rubbish, not looking forward to the run down to the river much, when he appeared from behind a tree....although he'd been out for an hour already... he ran all the way down to Coalport with me. He was great company, and when he'd delivered me at my destination he disappeared again into the afternoon. Boosh! Just gone..
I knew he was ill. But you never believe it in one so fit, you always thought he'd make a comeback one night, looking as pale and wasted as ever, ready to run the legs off you "till you tasted Iron in your spit". But sadly, no.
We paid our respects at the church, all runners brought back together, some after many years apart. We saw Col off on his last training run. Watch out for those kids mate!!

You run, you walk, you crawl. Then you go again.

I joined Newport to get some new adventures.
One of the new adventures was an appearance at the FRA Relays, held at Church Stretton.
Regular readers of my moaning & whinging will know I am an unbalanced, irregular but devoted fell runner, having competed since the mid-90s and I've been an FRA member also since that time.
So, when the relays came up, it seemed like it was too good to be true. National relays, big event, just down the road. When would I get the chance to do this again?
I was not in the peak of fitness, to be fair, though I had taken part in a triathlon and a duathlon in the preceding weeks. Should be enough, I reckoned, to get me round.
Oh, boy. It soon sorted me out and showed up how unfit I really was.
I was teamed up with Ian who is a genial chap. I figured out he would be waiting around for me a fair bit; so did he because he took his mobile phone with him to take a few pictures!
We were on Leg 2 of the Relays, which has since got a fair bit of press about being really hard. I'm sure it was hard, but how it was harder than a Lake District or Scottish or Welsh run I don't know. As I usually strut my stuff in the Peaks it compared fairly well.
To the race: We waited and waited for our leg 1 runner to appear at the top of the hill, eventually there he was, large as life. Yikes! we were off, and straightaway up and out of the Rectory Field, ahead of us we could see the runners walking up Ashlet. Blimey. No shame there then.
We got up on to the plateau and climbed up the road to Pole Bank in good order. By the time we were off Pole Bank I was going well, but ever so slightly worried about the next bit. Ian was bounding along..
We skirted Round Hill and Minton and then took a sharp drop to the stream below Callow. Ugh. The climb up Callow almost finished me. I worked so hard, I was on my hands and knees. Knackered by now, the skirting round Grindle and drop into Ashes Hollow went by me in blind acceptance. Every step was a trudge towards the fast-disappearing green vest in front. Once I got down into the valley agh no! back up Ashlet. This time I used the fence to haul myself up. Ian was surprised I was right with him here.
Off Ashlet for the last time, sharp drop into the valley for CP5. I hit a muddy patch and came down on my arse. But it didn't hurt by now....We picked up the pace in the last half mile and narrowly finished in front of the Mercia Ladies (B ) team but what a great day. I was absolutely battered.
Big thanks to Ian for dragging me round. Maybe next time I wont be so slow :0)

...let my mojo go...

September drifted into view. Days got shorter, the sun got weaker, there was dew on the car in the mornings. And my mojo went, too.
Events this past month:
North Staffs Cross Country
It was the 1st Cross country of the season and it was miles away at Winsford, which I thought might be a little quaint place in the country but turned out to be a much bigger place. No running for me as I took my place as Newport's team manager for the day. We had 3 youngsters out, 3 ladies (needed 4) and 6 men. They all ran fabulously, the course was flat & fast, one of those where you complain about it not being muddy enough but one where you run almost as hard as you do on the roads. For some reason I had no pangs of remorse whatsoever about taking or not taking part. If this is all I do, the roll on the next one!!
Ludlow Triathlon
Of course, the stated reason for not doing the cross country was that I had Ludlow Triathlon the next day. It was my first Tri since 2008 and I had bought an Aldi trisuit especially. The day was cloudy & cool but just about stayed dry. The swim: tough as I expected it to be, all style went out of the window by the 2nd length and it was just horrible. The bike: well, I thought it was ok. I was never overtaken and I overtook all those people who had come out of the pool before me, which is a result really. The run: never more than steady but it went by really quickly.
The tri suit held together and I really enjoyed the day, what a pity its the end of the triathlon season now :(
Newport Duathlon
1 Week later and I'm at the Newport Duathlon. It was cool and misty but I knew it was going to warm up so I risked the t-shirt rather than extra clothes.
Run#1 - this seemed to go ok, fairly steady plod rounf
Bike - as usual I enjoyed the bike, I was thinking about Run #2 though..
Run#2 - Last year, there was walking. Not so this year. Ran from start to finish, though it was hard graft.
Overall, 2 minutes quicker than last year. A PB!
Will my mojo ever come back though?

End of Summer Season - Harper Scarper 5km

I've left it a few days before writing this little paragraph. Bit lazy, really!
The last Sexarathon series race was held this year at Harper Adams University College, replacing the much-loathed Madeley Matchmaker 5km. The Madeley race had to go as the Court Centre Sports Centre has also gone. Sad in some ways, but probably not missed much.
It was a beautiful late blue-sky Summer's evening. The old and new buildings of the college shone out in the sunshine. Here and there groups of young people were gathering for small sports events on the fields, or out working on the crops (HA is an agricultural college).
Here and there the older people were gathering for the race.
We too got together in small groups, comparing injuries and expanding waistlines, checking on series points, avoiding eye contact with our deadly rivals (well, maybe not the last one), warming up, stretching, diving into the fields for a pee..
Being a lovely warm evening in the country, there was that warm, sweet smell you get from field crops.
We made our way to the start and the field of about 200 were soon making their way out into the countryside, along a narrow lane before turning out on to a wide and undulating farm track. There was a short road stretch before a half-mile in the woods and back in the way you came out. It was over as soon as it began, really. Nothing too strenuous, nothing too hilly.
It's a shame I couldn't complete the whole series due to injury but I'll be back next year, I think I might have a new favourite little race.

Ageism in sport

The Olympics and Paralympics were very good. Very, very good indeed. Let's hope they do "inspire a generation".
But I've got a small point that's been niggling away for some time now.

Why aren't there any serious 'games' for older people?

Both the Olympics and Paralympics are about excellence, the Paralympics also about the triumph of the human spirit over adversity perhaps. But aren't these the same sort of arguments that can easily be applied to older athletes? Substitute "disabled" for, say "60-year-old"?

Some would say older athletes have had their day and should move aside and help the next generation. That's fine if you have had a fulfilling career but what about those who came into sport later in life, and what about those who don't just want to jog about or play badminton or golf socially.(I'm picking sports at random, don't take offence!!). Older people are often tough and resourceful, and can perform to a surprisingly high level. We can all be deadly serious about our sport. Many is the time I've had a sobering lesson in a 10k or half-marathon from a 60+ year old as they run me into the ground.

Youtube, and the rest of the media from time to time come up with stories about "100-year-old marathon runner" and clips of 80-year old sprinters, and they are all done very tongue in cheek. Turn it round, substitute "disabled" for "80-year-old" and it's not so easy to snigger or be as patronising.

UK Athletics is very ambivalent about older athletes. They are all very well getting involved in RunBritain, they are encouraged to get involved with coaching, yet when UKA realised they were paying for over V35 category medals in the FRA Championships they promptly backed out their support. This is not inclusive at all.

Similarly, we often get stories like this appearing in the press. Let's all have a laugh at the middle-aged blokes who want to get back on a bike. Mid-life crisis, blah blah blah.
Climbing off my bike on Sunday after another few hours in the saddle, looking at my sweat-stained kit (from Aldi) and my dirt and grit stained bike (£475 back in 2004) I'm not jealous in the slightest. If it gets more people on bikes, good luck to them.

Ageism really is one of the last frontiers. We should encourage older citizens to compete if they want to. We shouldn't ridicule them. We should look to follow their example. We should be inclusive to all in our society and we should be "Inspiring all of our Generations".

wimmin

Tri training has begun - Swimming at the local pool.

Now, I have to say that in previous years I HATED swimming. I would never go swimming on its own, I only do swimming as part of Triathlon "training".
"Training" is a loose term I use to describe the struggle to complete 400 metres of so in a pool before hauling myself out and getting on the bike.
Before taking on my first Triathlon (2004) I could hardly swim at all, but somehow over a few years, I acquired enough skill to tough it out. Amazing what you can do when you put your mind to it.
So, I checked the old diary and found that I hadn't been 'proper' swimming since 2008. Lounging around in the pool in Cyprus doesn't count, mate.

Hopes weren't high for yesterday's debut session. Just keep going, try not to look too much of a prat and when you need a rest, take a rest. My advice to myself.
But it actually turned out ok. I was slow, but after a fashion I completed enough lengths and I hadn't stopped midlength gasping for air or spluttering as per normal. I did have a funny moment where I dived to retrieve a ring which turned out to be a cracked tile though, but that's what getting cheap goggles does for you :-)
It was so good, I went back THE NEXT day. As both of these sessions were 7am this made it even more impressive. In session 2, I was able to complete the 400m without stopping and in fact I did another block of 400m. I really enjoyed the swim, too. It wasn't quick but who cares? Now I know I'll get round the triathlon in one piece :0)

Jelly Belly

Found this to fix ma jelly belly
Core H video

me. marathon runner. lapsed.

Why did I enter the London Marathon Ballot? What was I thinking?

I looked at some race training schedules today and to be honest, I was scared and baffled all at the same time. In years gone by (aka “the Golden Age”) I wouldn’t have looked at anything like that, I would have just gone and bashed out the miles, and well, the results are there for all to see. And laugh at.

But now I’m older, and presumably wiser. And I’m well out of the game, too. Recent efforts to train for the Wenlock Marathon aggravated some long-term injuries which I’m only just getting over. The memory of my sitting at the roadside with 3 miles still to go, holding back the tears of pain, on my last long training run will live long, although I now think it’s “funny” and “character building”.

So how the hell to I get from where I am now to, where I would like to be? Some realism is called for here. In my head, I still have the potential to run under 3 hours. My body though would probably give another opinion, if asked. I looked at one sub-3 schedule and it said “race 5km, 18.45/ run 3 miles in 18 minutes” in week 1. Hmm. It’s been a while since I ran sub-20, never mind a sub-19 (see my ‘training diary’ post earlier, that will tell you).

On the one hand, even if I manage anything like the training I did before, then surely I will get the same results ..at best. I’m probably better aiming for the Good For Age time of 3.15. But in my defence M’lud,  I can run quicker than sub-3 pace (6.50)…but just not for 26.2 miles.

The theory goes, it’s just the stamina that needs building up, so we can maintain the speedy pace over a longer distance. Yes? We’ll see. I am clearly barking mad. And delusional. Only an outright rejection by Virgin London Marathon is going to save me. And I’ve got a feeling that ain’t coming this time..

And while I’m on. This GFA (Good for Age) malarkey is a load of tosh. If I was a lady, all I would have to do is to run sub-4.00. But as I’m not, it’s sub 3.15. That is the standard for everyone from the age of 41, up to the age of 59. This seems an extremely harsh call by VLM, no doubt it’s an attempt to keep as many extremely un-photogenic 50-somethings in varying states of undress and distress off the streets of London as possible. And for that, I suppose, we should all be grateful.

got mah training diary right here, right now.

This picture has absolutely nothing to do with the blog post. Its Mick & Marc (I think) cheering Lord WIggo on to victory at the Olympic Time Trial. 



Great Days..




..I have kept a training diary for 20 years on & off. More on than off.

Other than to tell me when events have taken place (e.g. the Anywhere 5km fun run) and what my time was, at first glance it seems like it has served little purpose. I mean, who wants to re-read 17 entries of “4.5 miles steady” for the month of May 2007?

There have been times when I have stopped altogether for a month or so, when mr mojo has truly deserted me. There were also those times when I tried to record my efforts in some other way (step forward, Excel spreadsheet). These didn’t last too long though, although I have recently gone back to using the excellent Fetcheveryone website training log, more out of convenience and a desire to join the unofficial training league than owt else.

The real value to me though is two-fold; firstly, stepping back from the day-to-day stuff and look at weeks/months, you get a picture of a particular ‘block’ of training; what sessions were involved, how many speed/ hill sessions, how many long runs, how many off-road etc and, with any information gathering exercise, patterns start to emerge. Not accounting for decline over the years due to age, given no injury or illness issues and if I am the same running weight, over a similar time period, the same training *should * produce the same results.

The best example of this is that I have, over a 7-year period, after 3 month’s training (Jan – Mar) of on average 45 miles per week, much of which was 5 – 7 miles run at tempo pace (in a group) with few if any specific speedwork sessions, with one long, slow run at the weekend ranging from 12 – 20 miles, peaking with 3 consecutive 20 mile runs (one or more of which was a race) I could near as guarantee a 3.20 – 3.30 marathon run anytime after that during April or May. Put your money on me, folks.

Of course, looking at the cold stats now, it’s easy to say that with a few more longer, quicker runs to replace some of the tempo sessions and also more longer runs at the weekend I would have turned the 3.20 into more like a 3.00 but given the time constraints I had I was very much on the limit, and it was a remarkably consistent set of performances.

But it’s also easy to pick out smaller blocks of useful training; from 2010/11 I know that two months’ worth of steady run + speedwork or hills + 8ish midweek + longer at weekend (av 35-40 mpw) (most of it done alone) is going to get me low-40 min 10k and a place in the Cross Country team. Whoopee! I have a recipe for (relative) success !

So am I going to carry on with it forever? Will it be like the classic outbursts of angst you see in Ron Hill’s famous diaries? Probably not..

“1^st September 1973. Got up early. Seem to have a broken leg. Ran 20 miles steady in plaster. Doesn’t hurt as much as I thought it might”. (..I may be slightly misrepresenting the great man here :0)  ).

Olympic Trip #2

Photos from 2012 Olympic Marathon are here  Enjoy!!

The ramble of Training

Summer.
Should be a good time for training, yeah?
Well, for some reason, call it Holiday-Olympic-Cantbearseditis or whatever, it's bloody tough.

You'd like to think I'd come back from holidays all fired up, but it's been a bit sporadic. Probably not helped by this knee injury stuff either.

Last week's results were poor, to day the least:
My speedwork session was a bit poor, I usually run 1.8k out and back with a minute's rest. It's slightly downhill going out and I was reasonably happy with 9.45 but the return leg was 10.20 which is a new low. However I know this is a baseline and things ought to improve.
The Dales Dash on Thursday was a bit weird, with Dave dipping out of the main route, leaving Mike to set the pace; I was 3 minutes down on my usual time, having gone out far too quickly, and by the time I got to the big climbs back from the river my legs had gone. However, one great thing; I tried on my knee support strap for the first time ever. And it was amazing. Ran downhill, quickly, pain free. Maybe things aren't so bad after all.
Friday saw me back in the gym, setting new PBs on the treadmill, bike and rower in a desperate attempt to work up an appetite for the chippy.
I entered Ludlow Tri (End September) with Mike and also Newport Duathlon (7/Oct) and so I need some bike and swim miles. Kicked off on Sunday with 30 hilly miles round Cressage, Sheinton, Ironbridge.
So, to sum up. Sporadic. But at least I'm running.

Olympic Trip #1

We set out from home at early o'clock to go down to That London to see the Olympic Marathon. It was the last day of the Olympics - and we just couldn't get enough.

We were SO early, we got to Stanmore before the tube started running. While we were waiting, Alan almost had an accident while slipping off the toilet seat (not fixed. Yay. time to crouch),

The platform was dotted with volunteers and spectators all off to the games, it was a time of quiet excitement. Co-incidentally, Dave had planned our route so the Tube took us right into Westminster and our proposed standing area, right opposite Big Ben, so no changes were needed. This was good, all coming together at the moment...

a picture of the others in the Kenyan Supporters' Club

We were quickly adopted into the group of fans on the corner and treated like lifelong friends!! We guarded our spot jealously, as the early morning joggers, runners and cyclists took a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to go on the traffic-free roads, the signs were still being set up, the streets were being cleaned etc.
We were 'adopted' by the Kenyan supporters and generously given some shirts and flags (well, Mike blagged them really) and we had to promise to support their man. This left us in a quandry as we had also promised to support the Spanish, Irish and our brave lads from GB (and Guernsey) - but what the hell, we had time for everyone.
While all this was going on, the Japanese were busily making their own banners, painting themselves up and devising new ways of getting themselves onto the TV. Of course, we dispatched someone to join the fun..

Pretty soon the streets were clear... and the security guards were in place. We befriended Boniface who was a smashing bloke, from Kenya (of course) and Dave delighted in telling him about his Arsenal fandom, where he was hilariously denounced by another Gooner fan..
..'I was at Wembley in '71 when they did the double'
...'So was I sir, and I can safely say I don't recall seeing you there'

The helicopters, the photo crews, the motorbikes announced the arrival of the race...

And the noise... was.... utterly fantastic!
Being at Mile 1 also meant we were near Mile 9, 17 and 25 - so we were able to see the race develop. Apparently we were on TV at 17 miles :-) I shall sign autographs if required.

Here's Scott Overall (GBR) at 9 miles.

He was going really well here and we had high hopes he would carry on through the field, but it wasn't to be.
Mike disappeared at this time to the floor, in search of food. While this was happening a midget tried to take the oxygen from him by leaning on top of him to take photos. He was swiftly removed.

As the race developed, the group behind us changed from Kenyan, to Dutch, to Italian, to Mexican. They were all there for the craic.
Team Ercall Kenyan Stompers continued to cheer everyone on, all the little countries who had sent their best runners to pound the streets in the hot, hot sunshine. Costa Rica, Lichtenstein, PRK. The Lesotho man managed to stay in front of the broom wagon. Just. Forza!
What was amazing from a running point of view, was that even the stragglers were knocking out 2.30-2.40 marathons. Some stragglers. Puts our efforts into perspective.
We tried a two-man Mexican wave for a Mexican runner (Dave wouldn't join in..) and we even got the Koreans to smile and give us a thumbs-up.
Eventually, sadly it was all over. We said goodbye to our new lifelong friends and set off for the tube home, to be followed by getting lost in the Northamptonshire countryside in search of a pub which had changed its name, where in our Kenyan shirts we were then treated like celebs. But that's for another day.

AVR

Well from now on, the Stompers will be associated with the Axe Valley Runners. There is no logical reason for this save our trips down to the South West from time to time, and also because it is so bizarre it is right up our street. Oh yeas, and they didn't charge much. And they are a bit mad. As I am about to misquote someone "There will be a corner of Shropshire that will forever be the Axe Valley".

Prize Winner

Wenlock Olympian Triathlon,
July 2012

Mike celebrating a 3rd MV60 place.

Looks like a good day's work!!

The Olympics, Old Father Time, the Rain....

15th July. St. Swithin's Day. If it rains today then it will rain for 40 days and nights. Oh, blimey.
It's also the main day of the Wenlock Olympian Games. The Wenlock Games are acknowledged as the modern forerunners of the Olympic Games. Oh yes they are, stop arguing at the back there..

<--This is William Penny Brookes. No doubt he had us in mind when he thought that "every grade of man should have opportunities to become mentally and physically fit". (snigger)

Much Wenlock was heaving on Sunday with people, cameras, TV cameras and more people when we turned up, ridiculously early - or in good time, depending on your point of view.
Mike was taking on the Wenlock Olympian Triathlon, so we went along to see how a real athlete went about his business. Dave & I decided that, due to our injuries, the 7 Mile Road Race was the extent of our efforts and that was going to be tough enough,  thank you very much.
We cheered Mike on to a stirring effort which at the time of writing we believe to be 3rd V60. The wall of Fame on the right-hand-side will be updated as soon as we know for definite. YAY!
And so to the Road race. My own knee was a bit sore and Dave was complaining, well he was just complaining really, as is his want.
Eventually, at 12.30pm we kicked off, the route having been shortened by some 300m due to the sports field being a bit boggy. Soon we were out on to the road and this was all going swimmingly, even more so as we splashed through a few puddles on the way. The road up to the Wyke took it's toll out of Dave though and I stood on the top while I waited for him, having a little chat to Scott who had ridden out there on his motorbike to come and see us.
We got going again ...but it was clear that the hills were taking their toll on my mate's venerable legs, with some long slow climbs becoming long, slow runs, but eventually we were on the road back down into the town and our speed and spirits picked up. Phew. Because there were so many folks around, it felt like a really special atmosphere running through the town, and I thought Dave might have saved something for the final hill (I was  wrong).
Do you know? they've sorted out the trail to the back of the Gaskill Field now.. no longer mud, it's really rather nice. I waited up here again for Dave and we ran in together to a large crowd, a well-deserved Olympian medal and some jelly babies :0)
Later celebrations/commiserations/post-run analysis continued at HQ over a pint. What a blissful day, and no - it didn't rain............

Telly Excellence

Two items this week:

(1) Comrade Alan's venture back to Newport for the Summer Handicap. This was always going to be a big ask, with rickety knees and a general lack of fitness, but sometimes you have to take advantage of a glorious Summer's evening sunset as, well you just don't get many of those, do you?

The course was as tough as ever. I think it's quite tough. Run up from the Wheatsheaf Pub, turn up the drive to Lilleshall Hall, turn off along Pitchcroft Lane before taking in a loop of fields near Sheriffhales, whcih brings you back onto Pitchcroft Lane, then there is another loop out towards the A518 before picking up the old Church Aston lane back to the old A41 & the Wheatsheaf. Anyhow, the old legs kept going quite well but there was never much under the bonnet and I was always scared the jabbing pain in the leg would return. Not so. Whoopee! It was a painfully slow time but there was a fair bit of water about. It would seem that Sheriffhales now has it's own Lake District. I couldn't catch many other runners, I suffered the indignity of being asked if I was last (I wasn't) but I didn't mind really. A useful step on the long road back. (2) It's the run up to the Olympics (are we going to get prosecuted for using the name?) and so the telly is positively bristling with sporting programmes. I've seen the excellent Michael Johnson presenting one on his theory that Black slave descendants have made the quickest runners due to evolution. Good theory but the programme was I thought a little stodgy and could have been wrapped up in half an hour. The BBC's series Stronger Higher Faster has been excellent and from a running perspective the shows on the 100m and the 1500m were a real treat of archive running. My favourite this week though has been 'Born to Run' about the Kenyan running boom and looked at just what the secret might be. Turns out it's a combination of living at altitude, really hard work, a need to succeed to get away from poverty and some inspirational coaching from Brother Colm O'Connell.

Dave_stomper

Pictured before a recent Tuesday run, Comrade David posing for the camera in the Club kit.
Impressive, eh? Rather inevitably, it was raining, rather inevitably it was humid, rather inevitably David had too many clothes on so this meant a stop and a kit change half way round. Sigh.
However, on a happier note, the beer was good.
As I'm writing these few words, I'm thinking about the physio exercises and the next run. July will be a rehabilitation & training month for me, but I'm hoping to be really back by the Autumn time, suitably fit, well and inspired by the Olympics. Until then I'm working hard on the road, in the gym and with the Theraband and the Tennis Ball :0)

Cooper testing #1

So, Comrade Mike goes out in the Monsoon that is the English Summer and has a crack at this Cooper test thing. After a warm-up, you give it yer all for 12 minutes. Turns out his stats were rather good. 2220m - not bad for a v60. V02 max = 38.1 . Considering it wasn't actually ideal weather, the lad's done good :)

Out

Sports News: I'm out of the Over The Edge Marathon & on the injured step. Visit to Physio soon. Oh well, more time for me to paint the bathroom door and play the ukulele. No, honest.

A testing time

You cheats.
You big bloody cheats.

When I was at school, you promised me no-one would have to work any more, all our domestic chores would be done by robots, our time would be our own, we'd be able to go on holiday to the moon, we'd all have personalised jet-packs and there would be monorails everywhere. I especially liked the monorail thing.
what happened?
I don't know, but as a natural optimist I'm still waiting.



So, anyway, what do you know about the Cooper Test? It's all here and basically you run as hard as you can for 12 minutes. This tells you 2 things as far as I can see: (1) you can work out your VO2 max (2) 12 minutes is a LONG time when you are flat out. Comrade Dave has brought it to my attention as a way of training us up to take on future challenges. If we do, I shall take pictures, but I warn you - they won't be pretty.