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http://stevebirkinshaw-wainwright2014.blogspot.co.uk/

unbelievable running.

I would like some of those mountains transported here please.

Managed my first proper fell race on Saturday. Started and finished at Alwinton in Northumberland and i reached the end just before the rains arrived. I had a major energy trough after about 90 minutes and had to pause to drink some lucozade and eat jelly babies then was able to get up the final slope and into the finish. Really good fun day out despite being one of the smaller fields I have run in this year.

Looking at the Rydal Round next with the caveat that I need more proper hill / mountain miles in my legs before then. Anything within an hour / 2 hours of London just doesn't prepare you well enough.

and back to the running...

Got my first fell race this weekend, a low key loop in Northumberland. Really looking forward to it apart from the fact both achilles hurt after playing cricket on Sunday.

How did you go Juanito? I guess conditions weren't ideal.

I caught the A race, which was an interesting spectacle. Andy Vernon looks stacked for an elite distance runner.

Andy Vernon is a beast.

I ran 34.07, which is about a minute slower than what I was hoping for. I managed to isolate myself early on so the whole race was a battle between me and the home straight wind.

Great event though and a massive congratulations to Highgate Harriers.

ridiculously fast anyway.

sure it isn't tomorrow?

I was originally going to head up to Highgate to spectate but am now racing in the first race at 6pm. so if anyone is around the area of Parliament Hill area tomorrow evening you can cheer me on at 6pm and then have some beers and a barbecue while you wait for the seriously fast guys later on.

First ever 10,000m so we'll see how I cope with 25 laps of the track.

@satoshi I run at Ladywell, Catford. Kent Ac. definitely head along, track sessions have increased my speed considerably, as has running with other people who are faster and better runners than me.

Speaking of which next weekend is the Highgate Harriers night of the 10,000m pbs. Quite a few olympians racing and it should be good fun.

Did a 19.26 at Highbury Fields Parkrun today - new PB! Despite my Garmin reading the distance short, the organisers assure me the course distance is accurate within 5-10m.

Congrats on the sub 20. sun 19 now. :)

Contrary to the majority on this thread I have been running progressively shorter and shorter distances. half marathon to parkrun and then a 1500 yesterday, pretty different sensation the short sharp burn. Did it in 4:18:33 so pretty pleased.

Enjoy your Sunday long runs.

Didn't we have the technology argument about a month or two ago anyway?

yes. but there is always time for more...

I went for a run this morning. I did a parkrun in the middle of it. All good clean fun. I recorded it on Strava so that I had some idea of how far I went and what speed I went at.

Northumberland fells tomorrow.

the journalist has done a cracking cut and paste job from Steve Way's blog there.

I think I have a problem. I'm considering applying for a place in the Great North Run. This running bug is hard to shake.

There are much cheaper half marathons out there! Atmosphere at GNR is good though.

That's me- in the Rift valley, after one of several runs. It was magic.
Also ran up that mountain in the distance, and round the amazing crater, and scree run back down. (Longonot)
I thought the entire point was stopping people 'jogging', and embracing the more simpler form of running, which harks back to being childish and enjoying it.

fair point. That;s what is so good about books - different interpretations.

Holiday of a lifetime stuff. Very jealous.

yeah, it would be epic.

I saw it more as a find out how to be a quality runner; it felt like it should have been a decent runner out there trying to find out how to improve.

While I'm on the weird things in running is how / why Run Dem Crew, a friendly and welcoming club operates a waiting list system to get in? I'm not sure many other running clubs do. That is aside from the corporate sponsorship so Nike can pat themselves on the back.

BGR, funnily enough, is not a day trip. You need to spend a lot of weekends recceing beforehand to learn the route - it probably takes a commitment of about a year, esp if you're London based.

Don't know how a runner of Jurek's quality only just managed to break 24hrs.

We were talking about it post-marathon on Sunday and the consensus was a year to prepare, recce and attempt, with very little other running. Probably worth moving to the Lakes for a year really.

Jurek's attempt seemed a little last minute, trying to do it before the weather broke and after one of the other guys had raced over the weekend.

Feet in the Clouds is quality, more approachable than Running with the Kenyans. We can all get out into the hills but altitude training is a little more challenging. What frustrates me slightly about RwtK is what an average runner A. Finn actually is.

Scott Jurek did the Bob Graham round in 23 something,
he met Billy Bland, whos 13 hour record still stands.
lots of posts about it on ultrasites

surely this is a good thing? Shows how tough and demanding it really is?

one day...

Well done all VLMers.

Had a bit of a manic spectating day. Was at mile 7 for the elites and sub 3 hour pacemakers. Then ran up to mile 14.5 through the foot tunnel, just missing Mo but catching the 2:30 club athletes. This was followed by a breakneck chase across London to try and get to Blackfriars before the Elites, 6.20mile pace in thoroughly inappropriate clothing but we made it. Ran past the Run Dem house, which was fun. ANd then one of our clubmates came through to finish 4th Brit. So a good day all in all.

Beautiful beautiful morning for it.

Good luck. Enjoy. Push through that grim moment just after mile 20.

I'm going to take it easy to start but foresee a lot of dodging and weaving in my race...

Avoid the early miles dodging and weaving as much as possible. it uses up effort and energy. it will clear out soon enough and you will be able to run properly.

@jolyon: 20 minute jog, stretching, rest, pasta.

Good luck tomorrow everyone. If it is anything like today make sure you drink enough. the gentle breeze will help. Make sure you enjoy it. Not everybody can do what you are doing.

Did a 40 miler solo round London on Sat, followed by the Coventry Way 40 miler yesterday. Did 6h30 on Sat, which felt nice, but was clearly too fast, as suffered a bit yesterday. CW was nice, if extremely muddy and I idiotically wore road shoes. A hard day, but it's a while since I did close to 120 miles for the week, so no surprise. Will do more LDWA events, they're a lot of fun and have a nice vibe.

wow. Good effort.

I did the road relays on saturday followed by some slow miles on sunday and thought i had had a big weekend.

Congrats to all Paris runners. Hope the taper is going well for London marathoners.

Thanks for half marathon suggestions. White Peak is full for this year. I am looking at a great north run, bristol double header in september and enjoy some hills over the summer.

Beautiful morning in the kent countryside.

75:40 so a pb but outside target time.

I'm looking for another fast half marathon if anyone knows one?

i am keen. very keen. early May?