Night Running
Jan1520127:19 p.m.
Really must get into the habit of blogging a bit more regularly, I login and update statuses and then suddenly realise I haven’t blogged myself!
In my defence there seem to be so many things to update when you are running. Have my own stats database, Jantastic on Marathon Talk and Facebook. Have cut back on a few of the other areas.
Anyway, week has been good. Found out earlier in the week that I got my place in the GNR in the Daily Mirror early ballot of 3000 places. First time for me, but definitely an event that I have wanted to do for a while. Started looking at travel and accommodation, cant believe how much they charge and how quickly flights and hotels book up – this far in advance. Anyway, accommodation all booked now. Will sort out travel nearer the time, not flying as only 1 seat left on the Sat flight and its extortionate.
Have been managing to do runs and fit around my work travel. A colleague in Edinburgh wants to run a Marathon and has been asking for help and advice. Also got a 4 miler with him this week during a lunchtime, good excuse to get out and not work.
Been building up some mileage each Sunday. Last week it was a 12 miler, aim this week was 15. Always get my gear ready on Sat night when I am planning a long Sunday run, so I dont disturb family when I get up. Didnt sleep too well and was up at 6am. By 6.30 I was out on the roads. What I hadn’t taken into account was that the sun didn’t rise til 8am. When you run in town its fine, due to the streetlights but leaving town for the country roads, it seriously got dark. I should have run with a head torch, but didn’t take this into account.
3 miles in and its real country, very dark and quite spooky. Mind then plays tricks, went from the potential of dogs chasing me through to a big cat!!! Certainly helped the speed and heart rate in those early stages. Disturbed an owl who was out hunting, wasn’t sure who was the most freaked out by our encounter. Was thankful of getting back to main roads with lighting. By the time I was back on country roads it was daylight.
Good test of distance, 15.01 miles (and trust me the .01 counts) in 2hr 14min. Just over 9min miles. Not worried about speed just wanted distance. Will probably stick at this as I am not marathon training and dont want to incur too many injuries.
Happy Running all.
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Comments (6)
Jenny1961 'Good that you got a GNR place Martin. I'm put off by the price of accommodation though- I'm fortunate that for the VLM I don't have to book accommodation but will have to do so for many of the other ones! Re running in the dark- it's a bit of a nightmare really. I tend to run on roads lit by streetlamps but the tendency is now for councils to use alternate streetlamps to save costs so I'm often plunged into blackness and I hate it! I've no idea if I'm going to put my foot into a whopping great big hole!' added 15th Jan 2012
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judith 'Congrts on the GNR place. Done it 6 times and still keep going back absolutely love it. 6:30 is mornong but as I leave by 7 a few times a week when its dark it still feels like the middleof the night. It will be daylight soon can't wait.' added 15th Jan 2012
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Nick 'Good running, Martin. I find, as I get older, I like running in the dark less and less. I'm hoping, by the time I resume training, the days will have lengthened enough so that I can at least start in the daylight.' added 15th Jan 2012
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malcolms 'Good news on the GNR place - we'll have to meet up in Newcastle as you'll no doubt be in South Shields way before me. Good distance today. I'm a regular "night" runner in the morning. ' added 15th Jan 2012
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Johnf 'Well done on your GNR and on getting accommodation, almost as hard as getting the place. Running with a head torch is spooky enough in the country, see all those little eyes looking at you from the hedges and bushes.' added 16th Jan 2012
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onthefloor04 'Well howay that lad! The night time running is par for the course with my club although we're on traffic free roads around Blenheim Palace, that said doing it on your own can get a bit spooky. I turned back once after just half a mile as I got scared...pathetic really.' added 17th Jan 2012
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