2014 10k Challenge

I have this crazy idea of running a marathon in 2014...  Problem is I really struggle to keep myself motivated to train, so I have come up with a cunning plan.  Another goal to train for which will keep me going towards the main target of the marathon.

I know it makes no sense, if I can't keep motivated for one challenge how is setting two challenges going to help?  I don't know either...

The 2014 10k Challenge is to run one 10k race/event in each month of 2014, my first one is on the 19th Jan, the Brass Monkey 10k at Rockingham Race circuit.  I have not trained for about a month now, and not trained properly for over a year, so to be running 10k in a little over 3 weeks is ambitious bordering on stupid, so I'm not expecting a great result in this one.

My aim is to blog my training for the 10k challenge and the Marathon as well as my archery training if I find the time to do any. 

Form, continued

Well I didn't have to wait long for my new release to arrive, it landed on my doorstep this morning. After the initial nervous first draw and WHOA! as the arrow went I settled down. As luck has it the current issue of Bow International has a good article on finding a consistent and repeatable anchor point, so armed with that advice off I went down the garden.

And already after shooting for a couple of hours with it I'm converted to the thumb release. I was messing about trying to settle on an anchor point and to be honest I'm still experimenting with that one, but it's all good practice and strength building, an hour a day for a few weeks should get me on the right track.

I want to do things right this time around so have put any plans of shooting in 'opens' or other competitions this year out of my mind. I want to take my time and get my form and technique right. I'm looking at booking a session with Duncan Busby in a few weeks to get myself and the bow checked out and take hopefully some good pointers.

Rediscovering my form

Finally we have a bit of decent weather so it was high time I got out in the garden and started working on form and stamina.  It's been a long time and on the few occasions I have shot recently I'm beginning to lose my form after as little as 2 dozen arrows.

So the aim for now is to bring that strength and muscle memory back up to speed and work on the magic formula of the set up and routine of the shot.  The former is my main concern at the minute as I am waiting for a new thumb release to arrive and am still using my wrist release currently, so obviously my routine will be changing soon. 

I'm not shooting for scores yet, not even sight marks as it's pretty pointless until my set up is finalised.  I had an hour or so in the garden this afternoon at between 10 & 20 meters with very pleasing results.  I am concentrating on my set up i.e stance and pre shot routine.  Then holding the sight (once drawn) in the gold and trying to keep it steady for approx 5 seconds prior to release, I figure this will help my strength and stamina and keep me away from punching the trigger as soon as I wander into the gold.

I wasn't writing any scores down but after an hour I was probably averaging about 28.5 per 3 arrows @ 20m I'm happy with that for now.

Cant wait to get going with the thumb release once it arrives, and looking forward to the new Mybo stabilisers from Merlin which are out any time now, then I'll be working on the rest of that routine and finally getting some sight marks down.

Merlin XT

Changes

Quite a lot of water has passed since I last wrote, cycling is no longer a part of my life, I'm still a fan of pro cycling and will continue to watch, but riding a bike no longer gave me the buzz I require from a hobby.

So a clear out of the shed and bottom draw in the wardrobe, 4 bikes, loads of parts and accessories and a draw full of clothing have gone, yes even the beloved Project Peugeot.  I did finish the Peugeot, took her out for one ride and then dismantled her.  The sad fact is the bike was worth much more as parts than a complete bike.

I will also maintain my presence with Beeston CC as a paid up member as that club has a fond place in my heart having being with them from their early days and being a big part in the first 2 or 3 years of existence.

So what replaces the bike you may be asking....... well I have returned to a previous passion of mine, archery.  This was partly fueled by my son who enjoys the sport and wanted to get more involved, the thought of doing something with him really was a big persuader.  Plus I felt that after leaving the sport 4 years ago just as I was getting good I have some unfinished business, and plans to shoot in national shoots, something I never got round to before.  I am looking forward to getting out there with my lad and achieving those ambitions.

Project Peugeot

Gave the frame and forks a good polish today in preparation to building the bike up.  I have decided against painting the frame and instead embracing the bikes 36 or so years of knocks and scratches.  There is a lot of history on that frame and in a way it would be a shame to sand it all away and paint over it.

I have polished the frame and forks as if they've just come out of the paint shop, I know a bit about this as I used to paint cars.  So a good dose of rubbing compound followed by finesse and then a silicon wax on the paint and autosol on the chrome has given the bike a deep shine without making it look all shiny and new, perfect!

Managed to get the forks back on using the original headset which is still in good nick, as was the bottom bracket which will be going back in too.

Still a lot to do, I need to clean all the simplex gearing and wheels up and source cables for gears and my lovely new Weinmann brakes which I picked up last week, these really will finish the bike off a treat and are exactly what I've been after for months.

Quite excited to see this bike beginning to be reassembled at last.

Cardiff Half Marathon

Last Sunday 7 of us ran the Cardiff Half Marathon as 'Team Cerys' in memory of baby Cerys who sadly left us after only 12 days of life.  Team Cerys included Andrew Fennell (Cerys' Daddy), Julian & Jason Fennell and 'Chiz' Bradley (Cerys' Uncles) Myself and Kelly, we ran the race in aid of Little Hearts Matter.

Crossing the finish line

After taking up running last winter as a way of keeping fit whilst off the bike during the winter months training for a proper event started in March this year after we decided to do something incredible for Cerys.  Some of us had never ran previously, others had experience of running the 13.1 mile distance.

We all trained hard over the summer getting ourselves as ready as we could for the 'race' last Sunday.  My target was to finish and I would have loved to do so within 2 hours, that was my personal target for the day. 

The day came, it was a very cold morning, first outing for the ice scrapper this autumn as we left our hotel a few miles from Cardiff.  After a quick stop at McDonalds for some hot porridge we headed into the welsh capital.  The organisation was excellent although some signage for the baggage drop area would have been good, we just followed the crowd and found it.

After stripping down to shorts and T-Shirt in temperatures of 2C we headed for the start.  By now thankfully the sun was up and warming things up, not a a cloud in the sky, at least it would be a dry race.

I set off well and after 5 miles was feeling good and going well within 2 hour pac, by 9 miles I started to slow a little but was still ahead of schedule.  The drink stations were well manned and placed as was the energy gel station, I was well hydrated.  Too much so, I needed a wee, I can hold this in until the finish I was sure.

My full bladder began to cause me problems, I was going to have to go, it was slowing me down.  I found a spot to divert off route and relieve myself.  That was much better as I set off again.  Problem is though once you stop running even for a few seconds you lose your momentum and rhythm.  This was not good after 11 miles, I checked my watch, the 5 minutes I had in the bag were gone, I was behind 2 hour pace and feeling worse for wear.  To top my misery we turned a corner and bang, what looked like a wall ahead of me.  In the grand scheme of things I admit it wasn't really that much of a hill, but for 200 metres or so it was quite a steep incline.  At the top we passed the 12 mile marker and I tried to push on but there was nothing left, I just kept going as best I could.  The 13 mile marker and a sharp left turn into the finish straight I managed to find some energy and ran as fast I could across the line.... 2:00:24.....24 seconds outside, I had pulled some time back in the last mile, but not enough.

Yes I'm happy with my time considering, but I can't claim a sub 2 hour time, so yes there is going to have to be a next time....