Shock Result In The Falmouth Half Marathon

Well I surprised myself at the race.  I finished 4th place after being overtaken on the last hill.  My time was 1 hour 23 mins 06 secs.  This worked out at 6.20 min/mile.  I'm delighted with this time considering the course was mountainous to say the least.  My marathon plan was pencilled in for 1 Hour 24 min.


Full results here : http://www.cornish-hospices.co.uk/images/results%20%28race%20order%29.pdf


I was beaten by 3 affiliated team runners.  The winner came home in 1 hour 20 mins 53 secs so I wasn't a long way off. 


There was nearly 400 runners in Falmouth's first ever half marathon.  The event was very well organised.  When you finished your race you received a goody bag, pasty, banana, medal and a free massage.


My masseur was a large bearded man called Alex.  He did a great job removing the knots in my calves...


Overall I really enjoyed my first competitive race for nearly 18 years.  It was a great warm up for the marathon.

On your marks...

They're off!

Coasting through Mawnan Smith

Finished (nice pose)

Cheers big Al..

Do my arms look big in this?

Daddy and Lil Bo X

Bring on the Falmouth Half Marathon

I have been training really hard of late.  I had another 18 mile endurance run on Sunday which I completed in 2 hours 15 mins.  I struggled right at the death though with the last hill climb.  I had to walk twice.  I put this down to playing 90 mins of football the day before.  Football uses different muscles.  I have now given up football for this season as I can ill afford an injury before London.

My RNLI running vest turned up the other day.  My only complaint is it's bright yellow and this doubles the attraction rate of flies!  I'll have to keep my mouth shut! hehehe!  I'll be wearing this on Sunday for the Falmouth half marathon which I entered today.  I have to complete this in 1 hour and 24 mins according to my training plan.  I'm not sure this is possible with all the Cornish hills included.  Will give it my best shot!

I'm struggling with weight loss at the moment.  I have lost a stone since I started training 7 days a week.  I'm trying to get more carbs down my neck but with working awkward shifts I'm finding it hard to strike a good balance.

I had a nice easy 6 mile off-road run along the Maenporth coast today. It was quite a pleasant leg stretch after yesterday's hideous run.  Not much to look at though view wise as it was clampers with fog.

Tomorrow is another 6 mile run but this time it's on the road.

Training Ramps Up

Well after the marathon challenge on Friday I had a couple of days off to rest my weary legs.

Now I'm fully focused on my training schedule.

Mon - weights 100 rep challenge

Tues - Warm up, 1 x 2 miles fast, 6 mins easy, 3 x 1 miles fast with 3 min recoveries inbetween - Time 43:43

Wed - 6 miles easy

Thur - 7 mile farlek - Time 45:43

Fri - 3 mile easy - Time - 19:48

Today I have got a 6 mile off road with strides.  looking forward to that!

Next week is interesting with an 18 mile endurance run.....

Sainsbury's Fundraiser

On Friday 27th Jan I embarked on my very last fundraiser before the London marathon.  The day was a great success and I have to thank the staff at Sainsbury's store in Helston, Cornwall for their great support and letting me take over the front of their store for 6 hours.


Also I would like to thank Irish a.k.a. Michael McMahon for being my spokesman/water boy for the day.


Not forgetting all the kind people that came into the store and donated, many thanks.


We managed to raise £389.71 in total.


The day did not start very well at all.  1.5 miles into the challenge my calf went again but I cracked on at 9 min/mile pace and eventually finished in 3 hours 55mins.


So this leaves me £200 short of my target £2300.  With a bit more sponsorship I'll be there in no time.

Nicholas Reynolds, Paul Smith & Lee Field

Nicholas Reynolds, Paul Smith & Lee Field

Ned Nuzum & Paul Smith

We made the local papers

Just scanning through our local papers and we have made press.


http://www.thisiscornwall.co.uk/Paul-gets-treadmill-RNLI/story-14995112-detail/story.html

http://www.falmouthpacket.co.uk/news/photogalleries/archive/2012/01/25/general+news+%28bc_generalnews%29/9491133.Search_and_rescuer_to_take_on_treadmill_marathon_for_RNLI/

Left Calf Injury Threatens SOS Fundraiser

So I began my pre warm up to my 3rd marathon treadmill challenge on Monday with an easy 6 mile off temp run and low and behold the calf injury reared it's ugly head again....


So lucky for me I have been off work this week have carried out the R.I.C.E principal.


Rest 


Ice 


Compression


Elevation


To say my missus is already fed up with me is an understatement!  " Are you icing that leg again"?  "No we haven't got any bandages" " That much Ibuprofen can't be good for you"!  "What are you doing with my rolling pin"?


To answer the rolling pin question:  Apparently using a rolling pin up and down your calf is good for the strain?  You can buy a professional massage device called "The Stick" but it's £40.  A rolling pin will suffice!  http://www.the-stick.co.uk/ 


So fingers crossed I'll be able to carry out the challenge even if it's a slow pace.  It's the fundraising that counts and not a PB.


Radio Cornwall are coming to interview me too....

Almost a sub 30 round the Culdrose Triangle

I ran at race pace today around the Culdrose Triangle which is an undulating 5 mile run around the outskirts of Culdrose Naval base.

They always say if you break the 30 minute barrier then you are going some....

Well my PB for the route is 28 mins 41 secs which I achieved at the tender age of 18.  Now almost 38 and 3.5 stone heavier I still see this as a challenge.

In 2008 I managed to break 30 mins and come home in a time of 29 mins 48 secs.  I have never managed it since.

I timed on run in the tail end of 2011 and recorded a time of 32 mins 11 secs which was pleasing.  So with all the marathon training I'd thought I would give it another shot. 

So I ran it today and came in at 30 mins 3 secs.  To say I was gutted would be an understatement but I was happy with the time.  It just goes to show how far my training has come on!

I also ran 10 miles on the treadmill yesterday afternoon @ 8 min/mile which probably didn't help my cause today.

So overall I have been pleased with my training!

The new trainers have been broken in and are fantastic!

I'm still awaiting a time for my Sainsbury's Treadmill Challenge which I should find out tomorrow morning.

Also I have been in touch with a lady called Amy Caldwell who runs all the PR and media for the SouthWest and she is going to put out a press release about me and my fundraising efforts which will be great.

Well that's enough for me.....

Video Analysis Time

I've been told to get my gait checked my a specialist using a treadmill and motion cameras.  


I booked in with PB Running (Personal Best) in St Austell http://www.pbrunning.co.uk/


The shop is run by Andy and he spent 50 minutes with me giving me some great advice about what trainers I need to run the marathon in.  It turns out I was running in the wrong trainers and that I'm a Neutral pronator.


I ended up buying a pair of Asics Cumulus 13 for £85.  Andy also offered  me a good discount if I needed another pair for the marathon.


Here are my new trainers.

So now we are in the New Year and the end of the month I'll be taking part in my 3rd treadmill challenge hopefully.  I'm still waiting for written confirmation.


The fundraising is going well.  I'm up to £1500 now.


I ran my best 6 miles in 0:39:49 at a pace of 6:38 mins/mile on 2nd Jan.  I just need to add more mileage now.

Treadmill Challenge @ Helston Sainsbury's 27th Jan 2012

Well I have had a verbal confirmation that I can use Sainsbury's of Helston to carry out my next charity fundraising event.  I intend to do another marathon on a treadmill just inside their store.  


The actual date 27th Jan 2012 is the RNLI SOS fundraising day so that will tie in quite nicely.


As for training it's going very well.  I'm up to 10 miles on long distance now and my 6 mile pace is now down to 6:45 min/mile.  I'm quite pleased with the times.


My wife and I have booked our London accommodation for the marathon.  We have booked a Travel Lodge for 3 nights.  We are about 0.2 miles from Tower Bridge.  We are going up Friday and coming home Sunday.


Greggy and Donna are coming with us which is great news.  Greg is a veteran of the race and the pair of them know London inside out.  This will be nice company for my wife who has never been.  Greggy unfortunately did not get in this year.

It's getting colder...

Well this week has been bloody miserable training wise.  The weather has been awful!  The rain has been horizontal and the wind has been cold.  However I have trained through even though football training was called off on Tues night!


Monday - 6 mile run around the coast at a reasonable pace.


Tues - 100 Rep challenge in my garage


Wed - 8 Mile run including Lidl hill in an Hour...


Thurs - Day off (Painting Lilia's room)


On Wednesday my new head torch turned up to give me some much needed light for these dodgy Cornish roads..  http://www.petzl.com/en/node/16804


It is very good good, although I was hampered by a massive down poor.  The strobe light on it is very good also.

Training Going Well

Well I'm starting get serious now....  I'm having to run at night now after the kids have gone to bed as it's the only time I have until I get back to work.


I managed 8 miles on Monday in an hour which included Lidl's bypass hill.


Tuesday was football training which Gus the second team assistant manager took.  I struggled due to Monday nights run.


Tonight I ran 6 miles in 42 mins around Falmouth coast.  It was another late run.  Got back just after 9 P.M.


Not sure what to do tomorrow as Dawson my lad is playing football.  I will probably do some weights in the garage gym.

Mr Ecclestone Receives His Prize

Last night was Mawnan AFC 75th Anniversary.  I used this evening to present Mr Robert Ecclestone with his £50 prize from the Lucky Lifeboat Station game.

Lucky Lifeboat Draw

Today on 771 Squadron the Commanding Officer, LT CDR Canning kindly drew the winning lifeboat station during our engineering shareholders.  The lucky station was Criccieth and the winning individual was Mr Robert Eccleston of Mawnan Smith FC much to the disgust of the 771 Engineers whom believed the draw to be fixed!

The winning individual receives the prize of £50!

771 Co drawing the winning station

A big thanks to the CO and everyone who purchased a station to aid me with my fundraising.   The total amount raised from the sweepstake game was £180.  Many thanks for your support!

New Trainers & The Training Continues

Well my Old Asics have finally bit the dust and I have been to JJB and bought some more Asics.  The NB ones I ordered from Sports Direct did not fit unfortunately...  So here is a link to what I went for - http://www.jjbsports.com/asics-gel-virage-5-structure-mens-running-shoes/running-shoes/shop/fcp-product/20913

So after my Wales visit I had a day off on Friday then back to work on Saturday to start my week of nights but not before 120 minutes of football for my team Mawnan Smith.  We played Titans in the Percy Stevens Cup.  They are two leagues below us but you would have never knew it from their performance.  So after 90 mins at 1-1 it was extra time followed by pens.  We eventually won 3-1 on pens with Titans missing their first two.  A good work out all in all.

Sunday at work I hit the gym and had a weight training session.  I did the 100 reps but replaced the flat bench with an incline + dumbells.

Monday was a 6 mile road run which took longer than I thought but I had not long finished a chicken Korma. I ran that in 46 mins.

Tues was football training and I took the lads for a good hour and gave them a 100 rep variation which included burpees and Bastards.  Greg first team manager then hit us with some ball work.

Tonight I decided to add another mile and half tonight.  I did 7.5 miles in 56 minutes which wasn't to bad.  There is a long way to go and a lot of miles to come....

Starting To Build The Miles

Well I haven't blogged for a while due to lack of training...  So I'm back on the road again now.  I have just finished a course in St Athan, Wales and managed 3 training sessions.  Included in those 3 sessions was a 7 Mile run on the treadmill in 50 mins.  I wanted to hit 8 miles in an hour but my dodgey calf started to tighten up so I stopped.  Felt good the next day so I will try to build that mileage up now and strengthen that calf.

I also ordered some new trainers today as my Asics have given up the ghost and have probably been contributing to some of my injuries.

I have ordered these http://www.sportsdirect.com/new-balance-mr828og-running-shoes-mens-219010

They will keep me going until I buy my marathon trainers around Christmas time.  I quite fancy these to do the marathon in.  http://www.sportsdirect.com/asics-gel-kinetic-3-mens-running-shoes-211142

The fundrasing is ticking along quite steady.  I only have 14 more lifeboat stations to sell then I'm going to get my boss to make the draw for the £50 prize.  £675 raised so far!!  Please donate and help me.....

Training Resumes

Well I managed to get through another 90 mins of football.  Mawnan played Falmouth Albion at home.  We won the the game 3-1 but again we struggled to get going.

So this week I have resumed the training schedule.  I have cycled to work twice this week which totals 50 miles so I have had a good week for CV.

I also managed to do the Spartan 300 challenge which was hideous.

To finish the weights this week I did another 100 rep challenge.  So all in all it has not been a bad week.

I have also started another fundraiser.  It's called the lucky lifeboat game.  Basically friends choose a lifeboat station around the British Isle for a £1 with a chance of winning £50.  There are about 235 stations to choose from so it's not a bad way to raise money.

Tomorrow sees Mawnan come up against Gwinear Church Town in a league match.  Let's get another 3 points!

3-2-1 I'm Back In The Room

Well having iced my calf muscle all week I managed to get through 90 minutes of football today.  Had a late fitness test and came through with flying colours.  I'm pleased I did play as I had quite a good game and saw loads of the ball.  Linked up well with Damian Stevens.  Unfortunately the result let us down, we drew 2-2.  We went 1-0 then 1-1 then took the lead gain.  We were just a bit slow at the back and didn't take enough chances at the other end....

We were away to Mousehole which is a long way to go to come away with a point!

I'm still pleased though touch wood.  No reoccurrence of the calf strain!  So after Sunday day of rest I'm resuming the training!

Still Injured (Just!)

Well I was on a course In St Athan, Wales last week and I intended to train all week.  Monday was ok I took a friend of mine Dan Peacock through the 100 reps circuit and I think he enjoyed the routine.  Tuesday was a disaster again.  I went for a run and 15mins into the run my calf went again.  So as per normal I ran on hoping to run it off.  Managed to get back to the base but next morning I was limping again...  So no CV for another week.

I'm hoping I will be fit for Saturday's opening game against Mousehole!

I carried on training on Wednesday but doing some shoulder weights.

I have not done anything until today which was the 100 rep exercise again.  I really need to get over this injury and get some more mileage into my legs.

Well I'm off now to get the ice pack and tlc my calf (Moo).

Disaster as injury strikes

Well I suppose it was inevitable playing football!  I ran out for a pre season friendly warm up, kicked a ball and pulled something in my left thigh.  Greg the football manager said run it off, so of course I tried.  I started the match on the left hand side of midfield against Wendron FC.  After about 10 mins my right calf went dead and after 30 mins I had to come off.

So I really haven't done any CV training for a while.  I did some weights at work whilst on nights.  100 rep challenge and the bear.  Then we went on a family camping trip to Padstow and I never trained at all.  I'm ready to hit the ground running during a weeks course in St Athen nr Cardiff.

I'm missing another pre season friendly next week at Perranwell.  My pre season football has not gone very well to say the least.

Well let's hope next weeks training goes well!

Back In The Training Groove!

Well I started training again the Sunday after my 2nd marathon.  I did the 15 min exercise called the Bear.  This hammered my quads which was probably a bad idea since I had a pre season football match the next day.

Monday night Mawnan Smith played Mullion's Combination Team.  We lost 2-1 but should have won the game which was very encouraging for the first team manager Greg Renfree.  I scored the only goal for our side and played a full 90 mins.

Tuesday was a rest day as I was walking like John Wayne.  The football certainly tested a few unused muscles..

Wednesday I did the 100 rep challenge but again I replaced the bench press with press ups.

Thursday was another rest day due to not being able to walk properly.

Friday I started my night shift so I drove to work with my racing bike on the back of my motor.

Saturday was a double training session.  I cycled 12.5 miles to home after work.  Slept and then cycled back into work again.

My plan tonight is to hit the chest and tri's with my work collegue Gaz Hood.