Nymac thursdays

 Under the new coaching plans set up by the club this weeks Thursday session was a tough hill reps session. As it's Redcar half this weekend and York next week quite a few members were taking it easy this week. I was just planning a slow 10k so made an offer of anybody wanting to do the same could join me. After arriving at the squash club it's noticeable how many more members are taking part in the sessions at the moment which is great to see. About a dozen or so chose to take the route I was doing although they all completed it quicker than me?  Suppose everyone prepares in there own way.

Last long run

after months of training we come down to the last long run of the schedule, it's two weeks until York and we're about to cover a distance I have never tried before. I chose Redcar sea front as today's location as next weekend it's the Redcar half which Chris is taking part in and secondly because it's the flattest place I could think of,no hills at last!
We set off on a misty damp morning determined to stick to the 10 minute miles plan we have decided on to get me through the distance of the marathon. After a short visit to marske and back then a boring stretch of the trunk road a quick visit to the Locke park loo was in order. With things a little more comfortable now we had along the prom for another visit to marske with things going well. Into miles 18+ we were into unknown territory for me but we have trained well recently so I had to trust my legs. Into the 20th mile I actually started to feel comfortable again, wether it was the thought of the finish I don't know but was pleased to feel as well as I did when we completed the 20 miles.
Very pleased now it's out of the way and a great confidence boost, taper time now!

Finishing touches

with the NYMAC training going from strength to strength I'm still in the final weeks of my training plan so still not able to take part. Just over two weeks to go our latest run is a ten mile run around Nunthorpe. Half way around the run we pass the faster group who are on a tempo 8 mile run in The opposite direction, looking good and committed. I struggled through this run as I'd run 8 mile two days earlier but Chris seemed comfortable. We reached the squash club after 9 miles and after a quick chat it's club members Doug and Barry we set off on a cool down run passing the 6 mile group who were all looking happy in there steady pace. Roll on Monday when I attempt my longest ever run.

Autumn long run

there have been a few changes in NYMAC personnel in the last week or so, which I think take our coaching sessions in a new direction. The first of these sessions was Tuesday. As I had only run the great north two days earlier I wasn't ready to take part in the track session laid on by Paul but I was keen to meet up with the group to show my support. There was a great turnout for he session which is a nice boost for all involved.
After saying hello to the members I headed off on a short "recovery " run which was very much needed. Two days later it was back to the next of our training runs. Chris had arranged the route which involved double backs to save on carrying drinks and gels etc. Today's aim was to slow the pace right down and see if we can improve the distance. Just ten minutes into the run we were hit by a huge unplanned rainstorm which pretty much decided we were doing this run cold and wet, great!
After I few reminders we eventually got into the slow pace planned which really helped with the stamina side. Things were going well until around 12 miles when again the heavens opened and we were soaked for a second time. This was to be the last straw, soaking wet, cold and tired legs from the weekend meant we cut short around 14 miles, slightly less than planned but I nice confidence booster with the pacing feeling a lot more comfortable. With the longest training run up next week the pacing is now crucial to lasting the distance I have never covered before.

Great north run

The Great north run is not everyone's cup of tea as a race, the numbers are high, the entry fee is the highest of the year and with the start and finish 13 miles apart logistically a pain. Last year was my first year of entering and was my first ever half marathon, it was a little bit of a shock the whole day but this year I feel a lot more prepared.
Sensibly we park at South Shields and take a packed out metro to Newcastle giving us plenty of time to queue for toilets and baggage buses, once organised, a nice stroll down to the start line to relax and spot a few minor celebrities who have somehow managed to blag a nice front block start!
A big positive from last year is that you only have to be in your starting area ten minutes before the start, this means less standing around in a cramped area, not good before your about to run for nearly two hours!
Seven minutes after the official start we manage to actually cross the start line and it's soon nice to be  out in the open roads until the crowding of the Tyne bridge. As usual the crowds are huge through Gateshead and it's a nice boost early on when your just finding your pace. Obviously I have trained and prepared for this years run than last but was still finding i kept holding back to make sure I lasted the distance. I felt comfortable most of the way round even the long uphill section through South Shields where most runners get found out. I crossed the line in 1hr 48 which was around 30 seconds slower than last year but I had plenty left in me and probably could have ran some more which is more pleasing than the time. Chris, who I have been training with got a huge PB which was pleasing after running the training miles with him.

Midweek long one

Normally doing a long run four days before the great north run would be out of the question for me but as we are now inside the last month before York there's a lot more miles needed to cover. A very carefully thought out ten mile route is planned which includes minimal hill running and a nice downhill section in Ormesby. A late start meant our last few miles were in the evening darkness, the first time for a while, we have become so used to long runs in the warm sunshine that it takes a while to adapt again to night time running. Time to dig out the bright tops and head torches.

Tees Pride

Tees Pride is one of my favourite races of the year, nice and local with a great crowd both participating and spectating. I only decided to enter at the last minute this year as it's very close to next weeks Great north run but I couldn't miss it. As per most years there's a huge entry from NYMAC with over 50 members taking part. The race itself didn't quite go to plan, I felt quite tired and was struggling from the water station just past half way. I backed off a bit for the end of the race and jogged up the longer than you think home straight past the finish line. I was quite frustrated with myself and looking back didn't enjoy the race as much as I normally do. I was only 40 seconds or so behind the recent Darlington 10k time but I was really disappointed with my effort because I know I could do better. Looking back, yesterday's Parkrun probably didn't help and I won't make that mistake again.