The Running Master

Thanks AMK.

If I were to even smell a pint I'd have no chance with that lofty goal of 15:22. Been off the drink for over 2 years. On the last final warning from the wife.

In November I'd say I was in and around 16 shape: I did a local 10k and went the wrong way twice and twanged my leg. But the lad who won the 5k (16:34) ran the first two miles with us before we turned off. That's what makes me think I was in about 16 shape.

I'm a good few pounds overweight and need to get them off sharpish. But I don't think it'll take long to get back in half decent base shape. Probably in about 17:30 shape at the moment.

I have a Forerunner 110 but I only use it to measure runs. The watch is kept for workouts. I run by feel. But I'd say the easy runs range between 7:15-7:45 pace. The LT run was probably 6 pace - normally 5:20-5:30. Tonight's progression probably got down to 5:40 pace but not for long: I didn't want to cross over the threshold.

So, give me a few weeks and I'll have some interesting session (runs that is) to post.

You've got me gasping for a pint...

Here's a link to Jake Krong's blog: He's a 1:05 half and 2:20:41 marathon guy. I liaise with him and help out with some suggestions for workouts. His blog's great, with loads of good stuff. You should really take a read.

There are quite a few guys on The Fast Running Blog that I help. Many of them have gone from 3:30/4hrs down to 2:30/2:40/2:50 in pretty quick time. But I'll post their details another time - just want to ask if they mind.

Many of the people on The Fast Running Blog are from Utah and many are Mormons. They are decent people and don't shove their beliefs on you. It's a good site to have a look around.

Monday 13th Jan
a.m. 7 miles easy with Paddy the Kenyan. PtK needed a recovery run and a bit of Stazza’s wit, charm, and modesty. I told him the Linford story, which I will post later in the week – made him chuckle. Good company and a great run.

p.m. 6 miles with strides. Did the first three miles at a fair pace and then dropped out some old man drills before doing 6x100m strides – shouldn’t have bothered. Left TFL complained, so I had to keep the pace easy but was able to focus on form.

AIS and a few dynamic drills before both runs.
AIS after both runs. Planned to do some functional strength work after the evening run but opted to release TFL, gracilis, and sartorius. Feel much better now.

I was going to be clever and respond with something about Kripke's possible worlds but I confused myself. Needless to say, I thought your post was very funny.

ThebitterLemon wrote: »

And I was going to originally post that I though I had wandered into some weird S&M blog but I thought it a tad impolite on my first post in your blog

Good luck with your training

TbL

I've just been over your place and left a few appropriately placed thanks:P
Watch that 'tibia'. You seem to be going well...

Tuesday 14th Jan
a.m. 6.5 miles nice and ez in the rain. One of the joys of dropping out the first run of the day at 9:40 in the morning stems from the knowledge that most of the population is thinking about the mundanity of their existence and dealing with the stress of that old Toad, work; while I, on other hand, am able to pootle around the streets and experience the beauty and joy of living a life less ordinary.

p.m. Blinking miserable 6.5 miles in the dark and rain. Left the old lady and kids eating a roast beef dinner that I prepared for them. I, on the other hand, didn’t sit down to my rocket, baby leaf spinach, and watercress salad with salmon and sweet potatoes (mashed with a handy sprinkling of cinnamon) until whatever o clock. Oh why does this life have to be such a slog?

13 miles. AIS before and after both runs. Strength work after morning run.

pconn062 wrote: »

If I ran marathons I'd take your arm off for that offer! You don't fancy editing the Stazza system to suit say a 1500m by any chance?!

Ah, I've been watching you closely and can see how keen you are to improve. When I was a teenager I went from 4:30 - 4:00 (1500) over a 12 week training spell with a very limited base. I'd been running 2 years, but mainly pretending.

If you get stuck into MD training with any amount of seriousness you can make big gains quickly - if you have the right make-up and I don't mean lipstick. Once you get in and around 4 mins for 1500m the training has to be much more consistent and tailored to make good gains. I'll have a look and happily help where I can.

menoscemo wrote: »

I don't really keep a training log anymore . Yeah i think a fastish marathon and a steady 50k would be too much so I'll just keep to plan of running both at 7:40/mile (ish). I have done this kind of thing a few times before, in fact of my previous 3 Marathon PB's I set 2 of them the week after a 30+ mile run (the first of which was a pretty hard 50k)....ok the marathons weren't my goal race (conn Ultra was) at the time but still....

I have a Half planned for 4 week out that would be run at PMP (as part of a 20-22 miler) but I am committing the cardinal error of racing another half 7 weeks out .


Thanks for your advice all the same!!

I wouldn't worry too much about doing a half 7 weeks out - I'm sure you'll be fine.:)

TFBubendorfer wrote: »

You still owe us that one!

Once the kids are tucked in bed tonight, I will begin...

Marthastew wrote: »

I spotted your name on the ARist in the spotlight thread and I was keen to see who the new yoda/tergat is..... definitely worth my trip over here to your log!
Very best of luck with your goal and training.
The Stazza System sounds very interesting... I'm off now to research a good 2015 Spring marathon...........

Thanks, but I think you've mistaken me for somebody else - most people, when they refer to me, would say, 'Yada, yada, yada,' rather than 'yoda'.

'Did you see what I did there, Pinky?'
'No Brain.'
'I've duped them pinky. All of them.'
'How Brain?'
'They will think I'm a beautiful human being, humble and modest to boot.'
'Yes, Brain, I see.'
'Now then Pinky, I've lulled them into a false sense of security. We can now take over The Boards.'
'How Brain?'
'Well Pinky, when I start my gig tonight, you can start killing them, one by one.'
'What gig?'
'I'm doing Bedtime Story with Stazza.'
'That's very clever Brain, but will they suspect anything?'
'No Pinky, they're runners - self obsessed; they'll be too busy foam rolling their ITB's and admiring their skeletal frames - they'll be too preoccupied to notice you. And they'll be under the spell of my magic words.'
'How nice Brain. What's your story called?'
'Good Christie Hunting.'
'Brilliant Brain. Brilliant.'
'And when they're all dead, we'll bring in Paddy the Kenyan.'
'Is he your imaginary friend, the one training for the Tralee Marathon?'
'He's real. Now, scoot.'

Good Christie Hunting

In Memoriam - Dr Bernard Henry 1965-2007

Without fail, every Tuesday and Friday lunchtime Dr Bernard Henry would saunter into the clinic, strip down to his boxers, adopt the prone position on the treatment couch, and enjoy the pleasure of Stazza’s masterful hands. Bernard never paid for a massage or treatment. Not because he was 6”6’ and a good bit more, nor was it because he was an elite 200m runner for Thames Valley Harriers. To be in the presence of Bernard Henry was recompense enough for any service provided. A beautiful man.

But on this day, I witnessed a darker side of this beautiful man, a side that would have made Mike Tyson quake in his little black boxing booties and think twice before accepting a challenge to a fight to the death. And as we all know, everything is about fights to the death and arm wrestling.

Working on Bernard was always a bit of a wrestle for me. The muscularity of the man and the size of his limbs made it difficult to work on him, especially given the fact that I’m a mere 5”7’. Granted, because of my skills in the noble art of pugilism, you’d want me on your side in a tear-up. All the same, Bernard was tough to work on.

When I close my eyes and try to recall the events of the day, I see Bernard’s beautiful black body glistening in the sunlight; the soft scent of grape seed oil inhabits my nostrils and the smoothness of his skin soothes my mind as I begin with effleurage. Above his head, a fuss of dust mites frolic and skirr. And if a genie were to suddenly appear and transmute me into one of the mites, I suspect their soft whispers would laud the muscularity and unspoken ease of the man.

As my hands move from effleurage to petrissage we talk about many things. Maybe Nietzsche, maybe Keats, possibly U.S. history; he loved a good oxymoron. Whatever about the warm up, the conversation definitely moved onto British Athletics.

‘Who do you prefer, Coe or Christie?’
‘Coe, without a doubt,’ I say.
‘Why?’

I go on to expound my opinions of Christie, which are merely founded on reports in newspapers and magazines that state certain things have been proven.

Slowly, he turns on the bed. I take my hands away and think, what’s this all about. The mites skedaddle. The sun disappears behind a cloud and a chill fills the room. I study his face. White teeth that would shame an American. Eyebrows that hint that this is a man that takes male grooming seriously. His eyes have a look that cast a spell you’d imagine only the devil Himself could cast. This is not the icy stare of respect and fear that fighters meet in the centre of the ring. There’s a vacancy in his eyes that suggest he has the answers to questions he hasn’t even asked, yet.

‘Linford’s my best friend.’


To be continued.