2014 - Here We Go Again

Bupa Great Manchester Run 2014

60@60

It is nearly a year now since I turned 60 and celebrated by challenging myself to run the Great Manchester Run 10k in less than 60 minutes under the label 60@60 (#60at60 on Twitter because of the '@').

After the resounding success of the run, 58:28, my drive to keep running faded though I had developed a liking for it and occasionally ventured out for short jogs.

10th January 2014

Christmas had passed, winter lethargy had set in and I was aware that I currently had no goals in mind. Thinking about this, I thought, actually, I rather enjoyed taking part in the Great Manchester Run. So I entered for 2014.

Training

I went for maybe 2 runs then let apathy get a hold once more.  I had been working on a contract for a few months but when that ended in March I had time on my hands and no excuse. I thought I'd head back to payasugym and book myself some sessions at my convenient local gym with pool. Horror of horrors, it was no longer available and as I wasn't paying membership fees I bought three sessions and cashed one in to use a local leisure centre. The treadmills were fine but to use the pool involved changing to move through the building then changing again to use the pool, and anyway, the pool was closed as a school was using it! 

Not impressed, I lost interest and by the time I thought I should retry my remaining 2 sessions had expired.

So, all my training has been road. It has been interesting to observe my starting fitness, I was quite different to when I first started 2 years ago when I needed to alternate walk / run even 1 km as my lungs couldn't supply. This time, I found breathing much easier and was immediately able to do a couple of km continuous. Alarmingly, I discovered that the achilles injury suffered 2 years ago was still an issue and it was that that forced very gentle increases but with a combination of stretches, strapping and ice packs I have managed to keep going. I do miss combining with the swimming which definitely helped with lungs and knees.

Mid April I was just about getting myself fired up when I realised that the event is Sunday 8th May, I had it in my head that it was end of May... Aahh Panic!

So, the past couple of weeks I have been getting in a minimum of 3 runs per week, currently around 4-5 km so I still need to ramp up. I've been running about 10 kph so am happy I should manage around an hour though I wasn't intending working on any target time this year. In the latter stages of the event last year, my heart rate was over 205 bpm and I'm not convinced that it was a safe thing to do.

Today

If you'd asked me a week ago, I'd have been full of doubt but the last week has really turned around and my stamina is up and my heart-rate reassuringly down. Yesterday, I completed the Bramhall Parkrun 5k in 28:33 which really pleased me. Bramhall is a tough course with a variety of gradients and a great test so this was an excellent result for me. I also had a max HR of 186 at a stage that I was pushing 198 last year (see comment above about safe?)

I'm now having to fight thinking I could even beat last year's time; it'd be amazing but I suspect stupid.

Sponsored

I was just doing it for the fun of it this time but once I became sure I would get there and after an enquiry from a neighbour I decided I would go sponsored again but not aiming high. Last year I raised over £450 for St Ann's Hospices in memory of my Mum and a school friend Sheila Waddington who had benefited from their fantastic care but if I can manage £50 this year that would be great.

So, if you would like to support St. Ann's Hospice, you can use my JustGiving page or Text as follows:



   Or, Text GEDX69 followed by amount e.g. £2 to 70070 

Running for St. Ann's Hospice in memory of Margaret Donovan (Mum) and Sheila Waddington.