Today as part of my Active Canaria promotion tour I ran the Lurig Challenge hill race in Cushendall. The 6km race was won by one of Ireland's biggest talents Joe McAllister of St Malachy's in 28.50 and I finished just over a minute behind in 3rd place. I was pleased with my performance as I have only been able to train a few times since the Mount Enta race earlier this month. Even though it was a short race it was one of the steepest ascents and descents I have ever raced on. Runners had to run to the top of Lurig Mountain (1100 feet) and then hurtle back down again into Cushendall.
More to come later...
If you want to see a photo of yourself from today check-out Alison Hill Photography, where you can purchase the digital file of your photo from as little as 99p (perfect for Facebook profiles). Online from tomorrow.
Saturday, 14 August 2010
Monday, 19 July 2010
Grant and Stone High Wycombe Half Marathon 2010
With the choice of the Milton Keynes Half Marathon, the Swanage Half Marathon (which I was 3rd in last year) and the Grant and Stone High Wycombe Half Marathon I was spoilt for choice. Whilst I am in the UK I am based in Welywn Garden City, so I decided to run the High Wycombe Half Marathon and am really glad that I did. Handy Cross Runners did an amazing job and it was truely one of the best organised road races I have ever run.
(PHOTO: Alison Hill)
As for my performance, well things started off OK. I was a little stiff and sore after Tuesday's orienteering in Stanborough and the Bamford Village Fell race on Wednesday certainly took its toll on my gluts. I was hitting my target splits for the first several kilometres, but after about 7miles I started to really suffer in my hips, especially in the down hill sections... I am putting this down the 5mile (1000 feet) fell race on Wednesday night.
At about 9 miles I heard a pitter patter of footsteps behind me... I thought 'that doesn't sound like a man' and I turned around to see Sarah Gee, one of Britain's best female marathon runners! My male ego jumped in and I sped up to try to stay in front of her, but this did not last for long! I was extremely impressed with her pace and even more so now after 'googling' her and looking at how she has improved from a PB of 89mins in 2004 to a PB of 75mins in 2010, and she is in her 40s!!
(PHOTO: Alison Hill)
I managed to finish quite strongly and finished in 6th place (5th male).
The race was won by Eddie O'Gorman in a time of 1:13:16 which was a very respectable time considering how undulating the course was. In second spot was John Herbert in 1:13:58 again a very good time (Herbert only took up running 18months ago).
Check out Active Canaria for great deals on winter training.
Bamford Village Fell Race
On Wednesday night I ran in the Bamford Village Fell race near Sheffield. Even though this is a small race it attracts some of the best fell runners in the country.
(PHOTO: Alison Hill)
The race is an 8km 'up and down' with 300m climb. I found the race difficult from the start, partly due to my training being a little sporadic since being back in the UK. However I enjoyed the race and finished in a respectable 7th place (31.00mins).
(PHOTO: Alison Hill)
Check out Active Canaria for great deals on winter training.
Monday, 28 June 2010
Gran Canaria's first Sprint Orienteering Race on Europe's most Southern Map
On Saturday 19th June new orienteering club O-riéntate and Active Canaria held Gran Canaria's first ever Sprint Race on Allan Bogle's new map (Gran Canaria's first ISSOM map and also Europe's most Southern orienteering map.
Although there were not as many competitors as was hoped (clashed with several other events) the day was
a great success for orienteering in Gran Canaria, bringing the level of organisation to 'a new level'.
Aside from the Principal race which consisted of a Prologue and Final, the organisers also held an event for beginners (Ven y Prueba- Come and try) and also a race for children.
The Prologue started at 10am from Faro 2 shopping centre in Maspalomas, with two runners starting at the same time and running different loops before punching a central control and then running their second loop. The fastest time in the Prologue was Fran Herandez in a time of 18.58, closely follow by Gran Canaria's resident Finn Mikka in a time of 20.55.
In the come-and-try event there were some very impressive times from new orienteers Alison Hill and Mike Kneeshaw (who would have placed very highly if they had ran the Principal race).
The final used a chasing start format with Fran starting first followed by Mikka. Fran had a very impressive final extending his lead to just under 5 minutes. Although making a few mistakes in the final Mikka was able to hold of Pedro who had an amazing final.
Although there were not as many competitors as was hoped (clashed with several other events) the day was
a great success for orienteering in Gran Canaria, bringing the level of organisation to 'a new level'.
Aside from the Principal race which consisted of a Prologue and Final, the organisers also held an event for beginners (Ven y Prueba- Come and try) and also a race for children.
The Prologue started at 10am from Faro 2 shopping centre in Maspalomas, with two runners starting at the same time and running different loops before punching a central control and then running their second loop. The fastest time in the Prologue was Fran Herandez in a time of 18.58, closely follow by Gran Canaria's resident Finn Mikka in a time of 20.55.
In the come-and-try event there were some very impressive times from new orienteers Alison Hill and Mike Kneeshaw (who would have placed very highly if they had ran the Principal race).
The final used a chasing start format with Fran starting first followed by Mikka. Fran had a very impressive final extending his lead to just under 5 minutes. Although making a few mistakes in the final Mikka was able to hold of Pedro who had an amazing final.
Circular de Tejeda
It has been a very long time since I have up-dated this Blog (I am sure not too many people have noticed), partly due to being very busy with work etc. and partly due being disappointed with my last race, Circular de Tejeda.
About one month ago I ran a race called Circular de Tejeda in Gran Canaria, which was a 38km trail race with alot of climb. From the beginning I was not on form and found the early (set by Ismael Molero Bethencourt) pace hard! Which was surprising as it was the perfect sort of race for me, steep climbs and rocky.
It was not long before Ismael opened at gap and I really had to struggle to keep him in eyes’ distance. However suddenly (around 15km) without realising it I was back together with him, we ran together for a few kilometres, however I found it difficult to hold my pace and started to drop back again. I found the next few kilometres very hard and started to cramp. To add to the misery I also took a wrong turning and ran about 500m in the wrong direction before realising that I made a mistake. When I got back on track I had been caught by the 3rd placed runner…and mentally I was defeated! I hobbled the next 5km, feeling really dehydrated and cramping badly. And if things weren’t bad enough I took another wrong turn (not my fault…the taping during this race was the worst I have ever seen)…and to cut ‘a long story short’…after several phone calls to the race organisers I could not understand where I was supposed to run and decided to drop out of the race and hitched a ride back with the red-cross. Not a good day…but a lovely course…
It was not long before Ismael opened at gap and I really had to struggle to keep him in eyes’ distance. However suddenly (around 15km) without realising it I was back together with him, we ran together for a few kilometres, however I found it difficult to hold my pace and started to drop back again. I found the next few kilometres very hard and started to cramp. To add to the misery I also took a wrong turning and ran about 500m in the wrong direction before realising that I made a mistake. When I got back on track I had been caught by the 3rd placed runner…and mentally I was defeated! I hobbled the next 5km, feeling really dehydrated and cramping badly. And if things weren’t bad enough I took another wrong turn (not my fault…the taping during this race was the worst I have ever seen)…and to cut ‘a long story short’…after several phone calls to the race organisers I could not understand where I was supposed to run and decided to drop out of the race and hitched a ride back with the red-cross. Not a good day…but a lovely course…
Monday, 10 May 2010
First ever ULTRA
On Saturday I ran my first ever Ultra Marathon*. For a long time I have wanted to test myself over this type of race, physically I knew I could complete the distance, however I was unsure if mentally I could (especially after the disappointment of the K42 last month).
There was no particular reason why I choose Maraton del Norte (Marathon of the North) to be my first ultra, in fact I only completed my entry 3 days before the race. However it came at a time of the year when I did not have any other target races, and it also would give me the option of running next year’s Trans Gran Canaria (all entrants must have completed a race of 50km+ in the preceding 18months).
The race followed a 60km course through the mountains surrounding Arucas, Terror, Firgas and Valleseco and was a mixture of small trails, paths and roads. At the same time there was a mountain bike race taking place that started 15mins before the foot race and also a 30km race (bike and foot). As there was such a small entry in the 60km running race my goal for the race was not position orientated, I set myself the challenge of running 6hr30 (and I also, a bit arrogantly, decided that I wanted to beat some of the cyclists).
After missing the start of the race by one minute I had a faster than planned opening, but soon was in front of all the 60km and 30km runners. To help make me remember to hydrate properly I set my watch to beep every 15mins (something I will use again), and I also made sure I regular took onboard energy gels and bars.
After about 10km I started to see mountain bikes in the distance in front of me, I didn’t change my speed but I soon started to pick off the trailing cyclists (much to their disappointment). On some of the steep rocky trails mountain bikes find it difficult to find traction and it was easy to run faster than they could cycle.
The first half of the course was lovely, with breathe taking views over Valleseco, and the time flew by. After 1hr15 of running I asked one of the cyclist that I spotted had a Garmin (GPS) how far we had gone and he told me 16km, so I knew I was running faster than planned. However I was feeling good and decided to remain at the same pace. It was amusing when I passed spectators that thought they were watching a only a bike race, I told one old man that I had lost my bike!
The first 50km went by very quickly, and I reached 50km in about 4hours, however this is when my problems started. I came to a road junction and could not see any arrows or tapes marking the route, I started to run down a road that looked liked the obvious route, however after 2 or 3 minutes I realised I must have chosen the wrong road and had to retrace my steps. After remaining so composed up until this point, this mistake, lead to the first cracks. My 15minute reminder beeped from my watched and I ignored it, and carried on without drinking, this turned out to be a big mistake! At about 55km I could feel the signs of cramp in my legs, and still I didn’t drink! When I remembered to drink I didn’t think of adding some of my hydration salts, my cramp got worse and worse! With 2kms to go I started to walk, and the cramp eased off, I lent on a wall and stretched out the backs of my legs, this seems to make the cramps disappear and allowed me to continue for another few minutes before it returned. I was forced to continue this process for the rest of the race (walking, stretching, jogging, CRAMP, walking, stretching, jogging, CRAMP, walking, ...). My sprint finish must have looked very ungainly with my grimace and straight legs, however I did finish! 5hours 22 minutes, over 30 minutes in front of 2nd position. The last 10km had taken me 1hour 20 and were definitely the most painful kilometres I have ever run.
Once I crossed the finish line I hobbled to the physio and collapsed on the floor in severe pain, my muscles were visibly contorting below my skin! And all I could think of was when I could run my next Ultra Marathon.
*Ultra Marathon- any race over 42km, usually 50km and above.
(PHOTO: Alberto Cardona)
The race followed a 60km course through the mountains surrounding Arucas, Terror, Firgas and Valleseco and was a mixture of small trails, paths and roads. At the same time there was a mountain bike race taking place that started 15mins before the foot race and also a 30km race (bike and foot). As there was such a small entry in the 60km running race my goal for the race was not position orientated, I set myself the challenge of running 6hr30 (and I also, a bit arrogantly, decided that I wanted to beat some of the cyclists).
After missing the start of the race by one minute I had a faster than planned opening, but soon was in front of all the 60km and 30km runners. To help make me remember to hydrate properly I set my watch to beep every 15mins (something I will use again), and I also made sure I regular took onboard energy gels and bars.
After about 10km I started to see mountain bikes in the distance in front of me, I didn’t change my speed but I soon started to pick off the trailing cyclists (much to their disappointment). On some of the steep rocky trails mountain bikes find it difficult to find traction and it was easy to run faster than they could cycle.
The first half of the course was lovely, with breathe taking views over Valleseco, and the time flew by. After 1hr15 of running I asked one of the cyclist that I spotted had a Garmin (GPS) how far we had gone and he told me 16km, so I knew I was running faster than planned. However I was feeling good and decided to remain at the same pace. It was amusing when I passed spectators that thought they were watching a only a bike race, I told one old man that I had lost my bike!
The first 50km went by very quickly, and I reached 50km in about 4hours, however this is when my problems started. I came to a road junction and could not see any arrows or tapes marking the route, I started to run down a road that looked liked the obvious route, however after 2 or 3 minutes I realised I must have chosen the wrong road and had to retrace my steps. After remaining so composed up until this point, this mistake, lead to the first cracks. My 15minute reminder beeped from my watched and I ignored it, and carried on without drinking, this turned out to be a big mistake! At about 55km I could feel the signs of cramp in my legs, and still I didn’t drink! When I remembered to drink I didn’t think of adding some of my hydration salts, my cramp got worse and worse! With 2kms to go I started to walk, and the cramp eased off, I lent on a wall and stretched out the backs of my legs, this seems to make the cramps disappear and allowed me to continue for another few minutes before it returned. I was forced to continue this process for the rest of the race (walking, stretching, jogging, CRAMP, walking, stretching, jogging, CRAMP, walking, ...). My sprint finish must have looked very ungainly with my grimace and straight legs, however I did finish! 5hours 22 minutes, over 30 minutes in front of 2nd position. The last 10km had taken me 1hour 20 and were definitely the most painful kilometres I have ever run.
Once I crossed the finish line I hobbled to the physio and collapsed on the floor in severe pain, my muscles were visibly contorting below my skin! And all I could think of was when I could run my next Ultra Marathon.
*Ultra Marathon- any race over 42km, usually 50km and above.
Thursday, 6 May 2010
1st Maraton del Norte (Gran Canaria)
I have decided (rather last minute) to run the Marathon del Norte on Saturday.
There are a few reasons behind my decision to run this race:
1. I would like to run Trans Gran Canaria next year, and to be allowed to enter you have to have run a race of 50km or more during the preceding 18 months.
2. I want to test myself to see if I can run this distance, I am sure physically I am capable, however it will be the mental challenge that with be toughest.
3. This year I turn 30 :( and I have for a long time I have wanted to run an Ultra Marathon before I turn 30.
This seems like the ideal Ultra Marathon to choose to be my first, as it is relatively 'low profile' so I will have no pressure on me, it is pretty short (for an Ultra) and the course is not 'too' demanding physically.
It is also a long time before any target races I have coming up.
OK..time to CARBO-LOAD
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