Sandy's Study: July 2011

Earlier in the week, I responded to a plea from Edinburgh parkrun for volunteers. I couldn't run it as my wife had scheduled her regular haircut for a similar time, but agreed that we could take a child each when we went our separate ways, thus enabling me to volunteer (2 kids would have been a bit much!).

Zoe came along with me, she already likes running events (and wants to run parkrun but we think 5K is still a bit beyond her, so we're asking her to wait another year or so...) and we brought her bike so she could cycle about. It was pouring with rain for most of the time we were there, but it did ease off very nicely for the time people were running, which was good. Always good to see a few other familiar faces there too. When I was injured, marshaling at parkrun was one way I managed to feel like I was still a part of the running scene, so I'm a big fan.

The concept itself is brilliant too - it's free, timed and with a welcoming atmosphere for all runners. I think it's important for strengthening the running community and I hope it helps bring new runners into the sport. There are the mass marketed events too, the 'great runs' for example, and they all play their part. But personally speaking I'd far rather people came in via the parkrun route, where running is free and marshals do it to give something back and contribute to the community, rather than for a wad of cash. Only works if people do volunteer though - so if you run at events like this (heck, even if you don't but want to see what it's like or just help out at something worthwhile) please consider volunteering regularly. Just now, with summer holidays, they aren't always finding it easy to cover all the roles they need to so it would be good time to put yourself forward if you haven't before.

Anyway, sermon over...

Not running parkrun did not mean I was off the hook for the day. I had to fit in a long run this weekend, and knew that my Saturday night plans meant it was unlikely I'd fancy it on Sunday... so was nervously watching the weather all day for a break in the rain. Finally decided that there was no point and that I'd just have to deal with the fact I was going to get wet! As it happened I got incredibly lucky. Was out for 2 hours and it was entirely dry the whole time. Started pouring again about twenty minutes after I got back in. (And hasn't stopped much since...) Maybe this was my reward for the morning's volunteering stint! Worth a shot...?

Anyway, wasn't my most exciting long run ever, just had to bank the miles and went east along the seafront path up towards Prestonpans, and back along the other side of the racecourse at Musselburgh. A few photos below:

Looking back along coast to Arthur's Seat and Edinburgh

Prestonpans

Musselburgh racecourse

Good ol' Ma Foremans

Was getting pretty tired in last mile or two, but that's me back up to 13 miles now so still making progress and building the mileage up for Berlin marathon at end of September. Much harder than it used to be, and I'm doing these long runs slower than I used to as well, but my confidence is building again and hopefully the more I do the easier it will get. I now know I'll be able to get round the Haddington half on 20th August! Also thinking of doing the Scottish Gas 10K at start of August so I can gauge my time on a slightly easier 10K than at Crieff last week.

Was at Stockbridge later that day, this shows how much rain had fallen. I've run along that path before now. Not an option this weekend...

And, finally, on a related note - I'm delighted that my slowest ever 10K has been captured, and captioned, on video by one of the Portobello WAGs.... On a serious note though, I really liked the video, good record of a friendly Scottish club race. Thanks Jennie for putting it together. Shared below for anyone who wants to watch it.

PRC Crieff 10k - 10 July 2011 from Portobello Runners on Vimeo.

The same time will mean different things to different people. So 58 minutes, for example, could be reason for elation as someone's first 10K under the one-hour-mark, or as a new half-marathon world record for the likes of Zersenay Tadesse.

I say this because other people I know will no doubt say my time today was respectable enough. But for me, today's 51 minutes 54 seconds is my slowest *ever* time for a 10K race. By several minutes. So in that regard, I'm not exactly where I want to be. My first ever 10K (after about 10-15 years of fairly consistent abuse to my body, including heavy smoking... and then resulting weight gain after giving up the smokes..!) took about 49 or 50 minutes in 2005. By Spring 2010 I was running 10Ks in nearer 42 minutes. But obviously injury and age have combined and damn it is tough to come back!!

However.... in the interests of balance, a few further considerations. First, for most of the past year I couldn't have done a 10K race at all - at times I couldn't even have walked it comfortably. Plus, this was a tough course, lots of climbing and uneven trails, and most definitely not a PB course.

It was also a VERY nice course. Lovely forest trails and spectacular views across the valley to the hills on the other side. And great to take part in my first club championship race of the year! Great atmosphere, good turnout and some excellent results for fellow club members, lots of tasty cake and sandwiches at the post-race spread. Add to that a whisky glass and a miniature Macallan 10 year old in the goody bag (which, to be honest, would be enough to get me back to this race on their own) and the fact I've lost nearly half a stone over the past 2 months since I was able to pick up my training properly again, and you pretty much have *all* the many reasons why I love running. So from that point of view, I'm exactly where I want to be. More of the same, please.