We that are true lovers run into strange capers

Well, we didn’t make the cut for the Great North Run this year. I got an e-mail from Liz’s brother-in-law saying he hadn’t got a ballot place either so why not enter the Great Langdale half instead? Result. We ran it the year before last and it was a mighty strange running caper. Breathtaking in more ways than one. I managed 1:38 last time, but not sure I can match that again, I’ll have to get in some serious hill work as there are loads of ups and downs and not many straights. Seem to remember joyfully overtaking lots of other runners in the final mile last time and repairing to the pub that overlooks the finish line for a couple of well-deserved pints. Half way down the second pint I recognised a group of runners I’d overtaken so smugly; they’d run it twice and were just finishing the second lap of their full marathon. Chastened.

It’s good to get my head out of the marathon trough and have a look at some running later in the year. I’m back in harness with marathon training with no pulls, strains or niggles to report. The cynical side of me would describe my current state as being between injuries, but let’s make the most of it. Had a tough club training session on Tuesday evening. Rick decided that Kirkstall Hills wasn’t sufficiently testing so had us running all the way up several of them and then carrying on up over two road junctions to give us some long slogs rather than the “normal” short, sharp ascents. Finished off with a two mile charge back to base trying to keep up with some improbably quick youngsters. 7.7 miles in 70 minutes – seemed a lot harder than that.

Wednesday was a day off, but had my running fix by going to a University of Leeds lecture delivered by the Brownlees and their coaches with Tom as compere. They came across as humble and laid back, but very hard working. Didn’t feel inspired to widen my athletic exercise to incorporate swimming or cycling though.

Thursday was a gorgeous winter day so I cleaned up the trail shoes and headed out over the fields to Cookridge and then back on a circular route via Pinfold Lane. Took it steady (4.23 miles in 37 minutes), but pleased with that considering I had to slow down for about a zillion stiles. Also did some trip-trapping around the boggiest bits and pussyfooting around those open gateways where the cattle have trampled it into a quagmire.

Feeling good for the Liversedge half – not sure if a hilly half is ideal preparation for a flat marathon; people I race against finished between 89 and 92 minutes last year so it can’t be that bad can it?