Only 5 made it to the end of the block tonight, a tad disappointing given the efforts they had made during the 10 week session. However, one was forced to work a back shift at short notice, one has a problem with her shoulder popping out (karate injury that affects her running) and another had to miss due to the school holiday. The goal for the advanced group is to run for 90 minutes, and all five easily achieved that and indeed ran a bit more as I misjudged the route timing. From the CE Centre we ran to Renton footbridge then back along the cycle track to Lomond Shores, then turned along Luss Road to the Duck Bay/Cameron House entrance off the A82. A run through the grounds of Cameron House and surprisingly the three at the front turned UP the hill past the lodges. Nice to see as it is a tough wee climb. I followed with the two at the back and then we ran along the Main St back to the club. As we passed the magic 90 minutes mark I told the two girls they had the choice of easing off, having attained the goal or continuing as they were. The three in front at that point appeared to start racing! Now I like a wee challenge so, giving them about a 100 yards of a start I set of after them, catching them quite quickly, and continuing to finish at a pace in order to get to the Centre in order to applaud their effort as they finished. Just a wee touch of recognition that I like to give them for their efforts over the session. They covered exactly 9 miles tonight, probably the best effort of all the groups I've taken on the advanced programme. And two of them finished with a sprint!
Maybe not quite of the standard that features in the WHW blogs, but a tremendous achievement for the participants that Jog Scotland targets and it's a pleasure to be part of that success.
Showing posts with label Jog Scotland. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jog Scotland. Show all posts
Wednesday, 15 April 2009
Thursday, 2 April 2009
No Running!!
Damn. Wednesday night turned into a bit of a bourach (or should that be Boruc?). A bourach (gaelic) is a mess or a muddle hence the new spelling. Two of the jogleaders called in sick and another is in the US so I ended up with the beginners group for what turned out to be a slow mile on the cycle track and a walk back to the club before setting off anti clockwise to meet my own group for the final part of their own run of 1hr 20. Ticked all the boxes then headed home to watch the footie. Bed after that as I felt a bit tired but when I woke in the morning to take my wife's car to Lindsay's for it's service I had to make a loo stop. No more information, unless Dr Silke wants it! Suffice to say I haven't eaten since breakfast and have had sweats, shivers and other symptoms you don't want to know. So I must miss the club hill race (oh dear how sad never mind) although I have to go over to see the previous secretary (nearly said old secretary but she'd take that the wrong way) before she sets off to walk the WHW. If need be I'll hold a watch but I really think I'd better stock up with fluids and some tummy stuff......... men!
Wednesday, 11 February 2009
A testing run at JogScotland!
After Saturday's long walk in the hills I was a bit tender around the left knee, nothing serious but a wee bit worrying as I've had some bad experiences in the past with knees like footballs. Laying off running until Wednesday as a precaution, although I'd probably have gone to the club on Tuesday had I not arranged to travel to Embra for the Run and Become Training and Inspiration night. An excellent series of speakers, even if some did waffle on a bit :-)
Very informative and often inspiring, in particular the twins Pauline and Fiona whose enthusiasm for the race was infectious. My passenger for the journey was Jim Robertson who, much against his wishes was called to the floor with (Mad) Jim Drummond (25 goblets between them). Both very forthright with their views and although they have decent PB's for the race, base their preparations on good old fashioned LSD. Long, Slow, Distance. And LESD. Long Even Slower Distance! JR had previously warned me about running on the WHW training runs organised by John Kynaston, knowing, probably, that I couldn't live with the faster runners who take part. In hindsight, he was right. On the first run I got tight calfs running at what I thought was a comfortable pace for the distance, forgetting that I was on an alien surface with serious technical sections. I was knackered on arriving at Inversnaid and got injured on the way back. On the second, most of the group just ran away from me. Now that was fine, I don't expect people to wait for me, but it made it a long run although I turned back early and ran about half the planned distance. That's not to say I was slowest, but,I would have been much better starting an hour earlier. I wanted to be part of the "team" though and paid for it! I was glad to see that Ian Beattie also covered that in his talk and, although he still runs in the groups, doesn't get caught up in the "racing". JR made comment re these training runs, which I thought was a bit unfair, as no-one has to go on them, but his point that some may be put off by reading the times taken to run them and (compared to their own ability) may be discouraging runners was valid. However, that is where the information available to entrants these days, given the website, forum, blogs and e-mail gives us an advantage compared to those running a few years ago (see Ian Beatties talk).
Anyway,nice to put faces to a few names I see on the blogs and forums and look forward to meeting many more.
Back to running tonight, and after procrastinating all day about doing an easy run to try my knee, decided to go over early to JogScotland and run with Jim's group that starts an hour earlier than mine. Lottery on and papers bought saw me a bit late and playing catch up, before jogging slowly to say hello to the girls in his group. Stayed with them, on a three(ish) mile loop, with a few strides to see how the knee reacted and pushing hard up a couple of hills I detoured onto. Everything was fine so I took 12(!) out in my group, including the daughter of a "Flinger". Watch this space as she is a nice runner who is probably a good runner in the making. All managed the first run of the "Advanced level 1" with ease although it was a bit fast in places for a couple, but after explaining that I was there to run with them and not push the fast ones they settled into it and I fully expect them to stay on course.A couple of efforts where I ran from back to the front to keep the leaders on course gave the knee a good try out and absolutely no problems experienced. Must stop turning dramas into crises!
Very informative and often inspiring, in particular the twins Pauline and Fiona whose enthusiasm for the race was infectious. My passenger for the journey was Jim Robertson who, much against his wishes was called to the floor with (Mad) Jim Drummond (25 goblets between them). Both very forthright with their views and although they have decent PB's for the race, base their preparations on good old fashioned LSD. Long, Slow, Distance. And LESD. Long Even Slower Distance! JR had previously warned me about running on the WHW training runs organised by John Kynaston, knowing, probably, that I couldn't live with the faster runners who take part. In hindsight, he was right. On the first run I got tight calfs running at what I thought was a comfortable pace for the distance, forgetting that I was on an alien surface with serious technical sections. I was knackered on arriving at Inversnaid and got injured on the way back. On the second, most of the group just ran away from me. Now that was fine, I don't expect people to wait for me, but it made it a long run although I turned back early and ran about half the planned distance. That's not to say I was slowest, but,I would have been much better starting an hour earlier. I wanted to be part of the "team" though and paid for it! I was glad to see that Ian Beattie also covered that in his talk and, although he still runs in the groups, doesn't get caught up in the "racing". JR made comment re these training runs, which I thought was a bit unfair, as no-one has to go on them, but his point that some may be put off by reading the times taken to run them and (compared to their own ability) may be discouraging runners was valid. However, that is where the information available to entrants these days, given the website, forum, blogs and e-mail gives us an advantage compared to those running a few years ago (see Ian Beatties talk).
Anyway,nice to put faces to a few names I see on the blogs and forums and look forward to meeting many more.
Back to running tonight, and after procrastinating all day about doing an easy run to try my knee, decided to go over early to JogScotland and run with Jim's group that starts an hour earlier than mine. Lottery on and papers bought saw me a bit late and playing catch up, before jogging slowly to say hello to the girls in his group. Stayed with them, on a three(ish) mile loop, with a few strides to see how the knee reacted and pushing hard up a couple of hills I detoured onto. Everything was fine so I took 12(!) out in my group, including the daughter of a "Flinger". Watch this space as she is a nice runner who is probably a good runner in the making. All managed the first run of the "Advanced level 1" with ease although it was a bit fast in places for a couple, but after explaining that I was there to run with them and not push the fast ones they settled into it and I fully expect them to stay on course.A couple of efforts where I ran from back to the front to keep the leaders on course gave the knee a good try out and absolutely no problems experienced. Must stop turning dramas into crises!
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