Humber Half

Tired as hell I sit here this evening with only a few words spare. I ran the Humber Half, and clocked it under two hours. Felt better than I did hitting 1:45 for the GNR.

I ran 9 minute miles for most of it. My right big toe ached with my lack of flexibility and practice, and my spine was twisted from a poor night's sleep a time ago. But three miles ago I found another gear, slowed my cadence and bounced to some nice 7:30-8 minute miles until I dipped easily under two hours. Felt good to run on guts again.

Of course, it wasn't a race for me. It was more training to begin training. A way to round of the year, I think. Still plenty to go, but I doubt I'll be able to do as much as I would want - need to do less. 

Half Marathon

This time last year I ran a half-marathon. I ended dehydrated and with a busted ankle and barely able to walk to my car.

This year my ankle aches and my spin is twisted. I have had minimal training and can barely stand up for two hours, let alone run the distance. However, I will, because I can.

I was supposed to drive to Hull tonight to see friends and prepare. But the tiredness of the day has taken me and I am instead at home.

So, tomorrow? Running a 2 hour + half marathon, I think. 

First 10k for a time

Today I ran the first 10k I have run for a long time. Almost a year, perhaps (or at least seven to eight months.)

While I have been injured, my greatest foes is apathy. Most evenings for the recent past have seen me return home to sedentary pursuits. Part of this is due to the pressure of work, and the need to teach at a standard that leaves me, at least, satisfied. Another part is my inclination towards such hobbies that see me sit down for many hours (painting, gaming, reading, writing.)

As part of my training, I have tried to change my running style. I used to sprint, and this used to do me well. According the current records, I would (have) run the 150th (or so!) fastest 400m for a junior athlete. There was no celebration for that, save a trophy purchased by my mum. You can be certain if I was considered to be the 150th best footballer, some more recognition might have been had. Yet the Olympic spirit isn't about recognition from others. It is about seeing what limits might be set, and realising how often those boundaries can be moved (or, occasionally, broken.)

The sprinting style I spoke about before wasn't smooth, though. I used to bully my muscle down the track - there was no fluidity or grace. I would grunt and shout and pound. Shin splints and nausea were the initial indicators of whether I had worked hard.

Although I have running middle-long distance for four years, my style has not changed. I aim to spend up, and to bully my body into moving fast.

That is, until recently.

First to change was my foot striking. Heel striking was my style until I researched and practised and began running nearer to the tips of my toes. It led to some injuries, but it also led to some fast times.

Next I changed the way I trained. Impact training was put to a minimum, and instead I regularly pushed myself to run fast and hard as soon as I could. I couldn't run slowly; I wasn't happy unless I was exhausted.

And so, several years on, I look back on what I have wanted to achieve. My running is not so much a sprint, and it is not so much a measure of constant intensity. It is beginning, now, to be something elastic. My arms do not swing in a constant motion, but instead almost imperceptibly propel me forward with a bounce. My knees now bend somewhat, absorbing the impact of my straight-legged-heel-crunch.

I have a half-marathon next week - I think it will be interesting to see just how able I am to run that. Slow running is something for that; as is ensuring that I have a bottle of water (and the inclination to stop at water stations to fill it) in order to save myself dying of thirst as one man literally did in the same race last year. 

Another observation

The rhythm of this term should be one of less lesson preparation and more reflection. It should be one of enjoying the company of my students and allowing them to reflect on how they have improved, and of what they need to do to improve next. Yes, I teach, and I teach well. But the days of waking up at 5:30am to finalise lessons should have passed.

As is often the case, last minute plans of organising meant that my school was down for one teacher to be organising by the LEA OFSTED. At least five teachers refused to be seen again, presumably burnt out by the rigour of it all. One teacher, in particularly, has yet to be seen (and is leaving for pastures new) but refused to help. For whatever reason, I stepped in.

Like with my running, there is always the urge to stop. Yet sometimes, despite this urge, I continue. I continue to run and to move and to teach even though there is a not-unsubstantial fatigue around me.

I remember, as the clock moves past 7am and I really should leave the house, of my 400m race when I was 14. I should write about that soon. 

Building up towards 10ks

The greatest thread to my fitness is the sheer amount of time I spend sat down. I think that I will actually plan out some of my fitness today - although I will complete some HiiT, and stretching everyday.

I have just, when writing this, entered two races. A 10k next week and the killer Humber Half the week afterwards. I don't feel capable of even running a 5k at the moment. But that's part of it, I think. I need to push myself again, and recover.