LOCH LEVEN HALF (PHOTO DUTY) - AND "ART".

Yesterday was the Loch Leven Half Marathon. A race that I really enjoy and have done a few times.
However, being half way through my "taper" for the marathon next week I thought it best not to race.
Anne was though, as were a few others from the club, so I went along to spectate. Now - being on a taper doesn't mean no running at all, so I decided to don running gear - take a nice steady trot out to the three mile mark - take some photos - then trot back to the end to watch the runners coming in. A nice outing and a nice six and a bit mile run. "Simples".
Quite pleased with some of the pictures: (http://picasaweb.google.com/stu.hay/LochLevenHalf15thMay2010?feat=directlink).
Loch Leven is a really picturesque route but while, individually, none of the hills in it are too bad when you combine them all up its quite a testing one. Especially on a windy day like yesterday.

On the way home we took a slight detour to look at some "Art". Or to be more specific contemporary sculpture.
I really like a lot of contemporary sculpture, and I particularly like the work of Antony Gormley. I always get a kick out of the Angel Of The North when we are travelling down, or back up, the A1.
So, I was interested a few months ago now to learn that one of his newest pieces is being constructed close by in Macmerry just off the A1.
In fact this piece has been visible from the A1 for some time and it's been fascinating to get glimpses of it during it's construction (it is going to be dismantled into manageable pieces and shipped and then reassembled in Holland).

The piece is called "Exposure" and consists of a colossal 25.6m figure squatting.
It was strange to see it in this context. Obviously it isn't "in situ". I don't know where it will be placed (on a hill like the Angel?). At the moment, it's inside a fenced works yard surrounded by industrial storage boxes and crates and is also surrounded by girders (used during it's construction).
At the moment it looks trapped and caged. I couldn't help thinking of orange boiler suited figures in cages.
I'd like to think that once placed where it is ultimately intended it will give a sense of freedom and space.
I did find a photo of, what I assume is, a model of the finished thing. I think it looks wonderful.

WELL I WONT BE WEARING THOSE FOR THE RACE

Yesterday’s run was rather short and gentle, in keeping with my taper plan. Because I was working from home I was able to go out for a wee trot at lunchtime – only to come home to a large envelope through the door marked “Edinburgh Marathon”. My number, compuchip thingummy-jig, final details etc had arrived. Brings it all home and a bit more “immanent”.

Anyway, later on in the afternoon I was up the stairs (on the phone making a work related call). I happened to look outside, down by the back door where I had placed the clothes horse with some washing on it to dry – the sun having finally decided to make an appearance. Anyway, while I was making the call I noticed that one of the clothes horses was shaking.

Finished the call and went downstairs… Only to discover Fatso the cat rolling about, claws flapping wildly, shrouded in my favourite (and oldest) pair of Nike shorts that he had pulled off the lowest rung of the dryer!!

They were all catches in the inner linear and all covered in cat hairs!! Little sod got one hell of a fright when I opened the door and he scarpered pronto, dragging the beloved Nike’s half way along the garden with him! Ended up throwing them away. And they were only six years old!! Hardly even “worn in” yet!

I loved those shorts – even if there were certain marks that wouldn’t shift in a wash. They were a sort of “badge of honour” it was a six year accumulation of sweat and effort …… and I hope that cat catches something off it!!

DONT LOOK THEN.

Away to the dentist this morning for a wee check up.
Got there a bit early and thought I'd kill time by savouring some of the earthly delights on offer in Dunbar's beautiful and vibrant high street. What with all the beautiful and elegant "daytime people" that inhabit the street at this time, the casual observer could be forgiven for mistaking it for a Parisian Boulevard.
Anyway. I was there - I might as well look at the shops. Lesson learned? Never, ever look in charity shop windows at their CD collection when they're not open - Courtney Pine "I've Known Rivers"..£1.
"Wayhay" I thought, I'll pop back once the old teeth have been picked, prodded, scraped and polished.
Or that was the idea. Shop doesn't open till 10.
I'll try and get back at the weekend. I might be wrong but I don't think there's a huge demand for Courtney Pine records in Dunbar.

Shame I didn't get it though. It might have raised my spirits slightly. Even although we all knew it was going to happen - the sight of a Tory outside number 10 has left me feeling scunnered.
Still, as long as Posh Dave leads his minority government with the same humility and disregard for personal advancement as Wee Eck leads his, we should be OK.
Doesn't help that everybody seems to be resigned to the fact that we will probably have to go through the whole sorry thing again in about a year.

IN A MELLOW TONE

Well, today was the last long run of my buildup to the Edinburgh Marafun, and to use that oft quoted medical term - my legs were shagged.
My "plan", for what it was worth, was to have a fairly "heavy" three week period that included the Edinburgh to North Berwick... then to taper. And for what it was worth I have stuck fairly closely to my plan. However, I think I have underestimated the E2NB a wee bit. To be honest, although its "only" 20 miles, if you go at it full pelt it can still take a lot out of you.
The rule of thumb (for marathons) that I stick to is that it takes a day for every mile that you race to fully recover. Now, that doesn't mean that you cant run for 26 days after a marathon... lordy no! Often I run the day after. What, I think, it means is that it takes about 26 days to fully recover full race fitness.
So, as I say, while the E2NB is only 20 I think the same basic principle applies it does take a wee bit to fully recover the fitness in the legs (maybe not as long as 20 days). And given that as well as the race I ran every day last week including a 10 mile run at race pace on Tuesday and the fastest run I've ever done the 6.77 in the "Dear Green Place" on Thursday it's probably not too surprising that the legs still feel heavy today doing 21 miles.
I shall take my taper a bit more seriously than I have in the past this time I think.

I am also going to prepare for my race with the help of "the Lords music"...Jazz!! Last week before the E2NB I was listening to Gerry Mulligan and Ben Webster's version of "In A Mellow Tone". A wondrous thing to behold... Webster has such a deep, rich, velvety tone from his tenor sax that it's really at the lower end of the tenor spectrum, while Mulligan conversely makes the baritone sax "floaty light"! The two don't quite "meet" tonally - but come as close as dam it and compliment each other wonderfully. It swings!! I think I listened to it about three times in a row. Don't know if it helped get me "in the zone" for a run - but it didn't do any harm.....
So... I would not race with an MP3 player - BUT, I have 4 mp3 players. Including an old 128mb one that really is on it's last legs (probably couldn't buy a 128mb one these days). So what I think I'm going to do is put some tunes on it. Listen to music up to just before the gun goes off... then chuck it (obviously I've got some crappy throw away earphones too).
Last year at Edinburgh they had some moron with a microphone who was trying to "gee up" the crowd for about an hour before the race. Think Id rather listen to my own stuff.

EARLY

Strange run at lunchtime today.

Well I say lunchtime, but it was actually earlier (I had someone coming to my office to see me at lunchtime – most inconsiderate).
Anyway. I realised that if you do the same run, regularly, at the same time – you start to get used to seeing the same people at the same times. You regularly pass (or are passed by) the same people, obviously out doing their usual run as well. I know the runners who acknowledge my nod or “hello” and I know the ones who don’t (so I’ve given up trying).
But this was half an hour earlier – and it really threw me. Either different runners altogether or the same runners in different places.
Luckily, unburdened by employment or responsibility, the junkie dole scum were still nestled under the bridge (safe now that the “art” has been removed).
The other thing that made it “strange” was using Ian’s Garmin GPS that I’ve borrowed for a wee while. Now I can use a Garmin, but I’ve not got used to using a Garmin. If that sounds strange what I mean is that I do know how to turn it on, set it up, start it etc… BUT I’ve not yet got used to having so much information readily available on my wrist. Time? No problem… get that with my watch anyway. Heart Rate? No problem… get that from my HRM (and, if I’m honest, I’m getting fairly good now at guessing my three “zones”).
But speed?? Minute mile pace?? Ya beezer. It’s great fun… but it’s also a potential for disaster.. I need to learn not to keep looking at it.
Because every time I look at it I think “ooh... could I pick it up a bit here?”. Bottom line is – a short quick run is the last thing I need right now. Just coming off a fairly high mileage and high effort week and getting ready for my last LSR this weekend before the taper.
So why did I push it to 6:20 pace for 6.77 miles? Madness. Three fairly “heavy” weeks training wise lately, so for once I’m almost looking forward to tapering down.

SPRING CAN REALLY HANG YOU UP THE MOST.....

Not a big fan of Spring. Or Summer either, if I'm honest. All that "new-life-bursting-with-promise" guff just gives me the boak.
I'm an Autumn and Winter type of a guy. Fits my morose and miserable personality better some how.
What's worse than the alarm going of just after five?? I'll tell you what - a load of bloody birds, coos and sheep kickin' off at the back of four!!
Anyhoo... I've another reason not to look forward to Spring and Summer this year.
Three very large fields around our bit have been turned over to rapeseed this year.
I was out for a wee bit of a run at lunchtime and you could taste the pollen in the air - never mind smell it.

Just what I need on top of my asthma ... itchy eyes and a runny nose.
Roll on October....

EDINBURGH TO NORTH BERWICK

I don’t know if my interval session on Thursday night really did me any good… but at least I know id didn’t do me any harm.

Woke up yesterday to rain battering off the velux window in the bedroom and the sound of a moderately stiff breeze blowing over the roof. Of all the things I really wanted to do, I’d be lying if I said running twenty miles, into the wind, from Portobello prom to North Berwick was one of them. Well “tough”, because that’s exactly what I was doing.
We still had time for a fairly relaxing breakfast in front of the telly watching an episode of the Sopranos on DVD (there’s nothing like a bit of mindless violence to start the day!). A shower, change into the kit, a final check of the bags and we were off.
We met Theresa and Brian at North Berwick and then we all travelled to the start in their car. I must say that Brian was very calm and composed for a man about to run that distance for the first time. I’ve done this race a few times now and still get nervous. More so this year, as every other year I’ve done it there has either been no wind at all, or whatever wind there has been was in our favour. As we travelled to the start, we could tell that the wind was picking up – and blowing the wrong way. Still. It’s a race and the conditions are the same for everyone.
Got registered, made some final adjustments, toilet stop, bag onto the baggage bus and started my modest warm up before heading off to the start line.
The start line of a race is always a good place to meet others, share a few words and generally just try to keep your mind off the task ahead. Well, that’s what I do anyway. I know some runners just like to keep themselves to themselves, focus and get into a “zone” or whatever.
I was surprised to see Pete Buchanan of Portobello at the start line. There can’t be many who do a 53 mile race one weekend then feel up to a 20 mile race the next!
Now. I had a “game plan” yesterday. I had planned on trying to run the race at my hoped for marathon pace (6:40).
“Best laid plans…..” and all that…
The gun went off and my brain just went off into race mode. Though even I’m not that daft that when I clocked the first mile at 6:06 I thought it prudent to apply the brakes a tad.
The first five miles were still a good bit faster than I wanted, but I found myself in a little group (that included Pete B and a guy from Dundee and a bloke from Carnegie – the later two were to become my “close friends”). Despite the wind the first five miles weren’t too bad as people appeared to be willing to “take turns” at the front and share the pace.
However, at some point our little group was reduced to three. Me, Dundee guy and Carnegie bloke (I honestly can’t say when the split occurred). Anyway, by the second feeding station we were down to three – with me in front. A situation that was to remain for the final ten miles.

Now. The wind was “stiff” it wasn’t a howling gale, but there definitely was a stiff headwind for almost all of the way. And I ran into it, like Quasimodo with a two man hump on my back. I know there are no rules against it and I don’t want to complain (too) much, but if you’re running in a group, into a head wind either take a wee turn at the front or drop back a wee bit. I reckon that for ten miles we ran in a line, with me at the front, and never any more than six foot separating the three of us.

I was starting to feel the pressure on as we got to Direlton and decided to take a leaf out of cycling tactics.

At the 18 mile mark I dropped the speed right down… they slowed down to. I veered to the left, right into the fence line to try and make it obvious I was leaving room to pass … they veered too.

OK. If that’s how it’s going to be. I slowed down a bit during the last mile and tried to conserve just a wee bit in the tank for what was inevitable.

As we drew into the new finish for this race (on the putting green by the shore), Dundee guy made his move. I immediately tucked in behind him, waited all of two or three seconds then went round on the right and sprinted like hell for the line, and beat him for 7th place overall (maybe the interval session on Thursday did help). Clocked 2:08:37 so managed to knock about 6 minutes off my time for last year.

Luckily, for me, it turns out as well as 7th I also managed to bag 1st MVO45 place!!

Stood about and watched a few other runners coming in before taking the advice of Richard, who was down to watch (after his VLM race last week) and tootled off down to the shore line for a very, very cold paddle – a bit of a poor-man’s ice bath I suppose.

As well as the slight change to the route (new finish) there were a few other changes to the race this year. There is a marquee at the end for water and juice. Also Mars Bars (a donation, I believe from HELP - may the lord smile on them). Importantly the marquee offered welcome shelter from the cold wind.

Then, once the runner has made their way up to the sports centre for a well earned shower, there was a nice spread of sandwiches and coffee. Much appreciated.

Today saw me heading off into them thar hills with Ian for just over 13 miles at a very steady pace… me to recover from yesterday and Ian because he’s tapering down for a 61 mile race next week.
Try to keep the mileage fairly high over the next week or so then start my taper for Edinburgh.