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Happy Run to Work Day... One Year On!

4/6/2015

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A much more encouraging start, weather wise, for Run2Work day 2015, one year on from the first day of the initiative 12 months ago that was distinctly more soggy!

A different route too... Last year I enjoyed splashing through muddy puddles along the tow path of the Ashton Canal but as that is currently shut in sections while they resurface it (no more puddles!) I took the road route. Still a pleasant, sunny, 7.5 mile run to start the day, though I have re-christened it 'Breakfast at Work Day'!


A swim and sauna tonight I think and that'll wrap it up for Juneathon the 4th!
sunny start
A promising day on the horizon!
Breakfast at work... Yummy.
Breakfast at work... Yummy.
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Two Legs Good; Two Wheels... Different

26/7/2014

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I have for some time now (read some years now) been mulling over the possibilities of getting myself on two wheels for the sole purpose of cheaper, faster travel. I walk most places (one of my favourite things about Manchester!) but know I could save money on trains to work if I cycled. An abject fear of roads has been the main thing stopping me up until now but recently I have decided to stop mulling and start pedalling. I think it's been a combination of increased confidence through more outdoor running and the better weather that has finally given the decision a push but the main catalyst has been the Run2Work days; after all if I can run to work in a hour (for free!) then surely I can cycle there and back in less time than that? Having made space in my flat to comfortably store one, I had one less excuse and I have been lucky that a friend has lent me her old bike to trial and be totally sure I am comfortable with using before taking the plunge. Yesterday I took my first test cycle on my run to work route, mostly along the Ashton Canal, and back. Success! Funnily enough, it wasn't a whole lot quicker than running but certainly less tiring and I had no issues cycling back again.
Test to Ashton
First Cycle to Ashton!
Now here's a stroke of luck; at the race on Thursday, as I was getting ready to warm up, I managed to accidentally hit a random setting on the Garmin that offered me an option to 'ride'. I didn't have time to investigate that any further at the time but before setting out on Friday, I did a bit of research and discovered that Garmin have recently released an update for my model (FR620) meaning I can use it to track cycling too!  Talk about serendipity! Aside from this, my main discoveries have been that whilst I dislike running on cobbles, I really hate cycling on them, however it is more convenient in that I can easily carry a bag. You really notice the hills and any uneven ground far more though. I am not currently on first name terms with my posterior. Having said that, I had such a good time that when the possibility to go for a gentle evening run with a friend popped up the same day, I decided to cycle to her house. The long way... and back! I'm so glad I've finally done this and I really think it's going to open up a lot of possibilities! Days off in the hills, cycling to nicer running routes, getting about more cheaply and of course faster in some cases too. I'm away again next week but I'm very much looking forward to getting my own and really getting some practice in. I think I've already started getting my head round traffic a bit more and I'm certainly learning when to stand up in the saddle! *bump_wince*

Heaton Park Lion
Start at the Lions! Rarrrgh!
It seemed fateful then that yesterday evening, the suggestion was made to attend Heaton ParkRun. I have only ever been to South Manchester before as it's a bit closer so I can run there and back as a warm up and cool down. Heaton Park is about 5 miles away though so it's fine if I fancy a half marathon distance run by the time I've gone there and back with the 3.1 mile (5k) run tacked on. I had tested the route some time back during Juneathon but never actually made it along on a Saturday morning. Well; no need to worry about distance under feet if I have the option to ride there, so I hopped on the bike and off I went! I allowed an hour as I was vaguely aware it would be uphill but it only took me 30 minutes. It's amazing how much quicker roads are than canal tow paths! The cycling clearly did my running performance no harm anyway; I didn't PB, in fact I didn;t even manage sub 20 but I did place Third Female (32nd overall) so I can't have done too badly! I then spent most of the cycle home singing Queen (no prizes for guessing which song!) at the top of my voice and no doubt confusing the hell out of most passers by! I certainly feel like it's been a productive couple of days; a whole new horizon for my transport options and 2 top 3 gender position finishes for Salford Harriers!
NMPR Results
North Manchester ParkRun Results
Heaton ParkRunners
Heaton ParkRunners at the Finish
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An Experiment...

8/7/2014

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On the last Run2Work Day, I wondered what it would be like to approach a run-commute from the other end and run home. Today seemed as good a day as any and being a Tuesday, this would take me past the athletics centre at the Etihad Stadium where the Salford Harriers would be meeting for their weekly speed interval session on the track. As such, the other half of the experiment was what it would be like to do a speed interval session off the back of a six to seven mile 'warm up'. Always up for a challenge and being the sort of runner who naturally runs negative splits I figured this wouldn't be too strenuous, since I always run the two miles there and back from my flat anyway.
Canal exit
The Concealed Entrance!
This was also an opportunity to try and work out from the other direction why exactly I have ended up getting a bit confused getting from the Ashton Canal up on to the road on the two occasions recently when I have run to work. coming form the other direction I thought, might help me work out what the heck was going on. Sure enough, less than a 5 minute warm up from the college, I found myself able to access the canal exactly where I had expected to exit it when running from Manchester. I think this photo is a pretty good visualisation of why I missed it though! You really have to know what you are looking for! Hopefully things will be a bit smoother at that point next time!
Apart from a couple of light showers (not really any bother) the run down went well and I was pleased that I managed to time it exactly right to arrive at the centre for 6.40; the time at which I get a slightly reduced entry rate! I felt warmed up after 6.74 miles and good to go. Unfortunately, the others had also gone out on a warm up and we didn't get started on the speed work until about quarter past 7 by which time I was well and truly cooled down and starting to flag. I did complete the session (6 sprinting reps each of 300, 200 and 100 meters) but I wasn't running at my strongest. In fact, I might even have walked home if I hadn't been quite hungry by then and just wanting to get back as fast as possible!

To conclude, the experiment was semi-successful. I got more familiar with the run to work route, still did the session anyway and demonstrated that I can pace accurately when needed but I might not make a habit of it as it did affect my track performance I think. If I do that again, I think I'll leave later and avoid the big long cool down, or maybe take a gel with me so I can re-fuel quickly before the session!

The best bit about the evening was getting my official club kit shirt! I'm looking forward to wearing that soon and "representin' my bredren, yo!"  though we'll have to hope I go a bit quicker than tonight or else they may not want me on their stats anyway!
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Run to Work Day - Take 2

3/7/2014

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Run2Work RouteAh yeah, so that random wiggle at the end...
Today was the second national Run2Work Day and I was very pleased that the weather, whilst not as nice as yesterday, which would have been perfect for running to work, was a great deal nicer than June the 5th, which had been decidedly wet and muddy! I am extremely lucky in that it is less than a mile from my house to the Ashton Canal, on to which I can easily drop down from the road and whizz along to... erm... well, Ashton. Which is where I work. Wouldn't really be running to work if I didn't now, would it? It turns out public transport isn't the only thing you can 'miss a stop' on though and aside from all the mud, the hiccup last time was that I turned off the canal a bit too early, confused myself and got ever-so-slightly-lost before eventually finding my way. It wasn't a huge diversion but not the sort of stress you want before a full day of teaching... It also sent me off onto a route where I'd had to run up the central reservation of a dual carriage way, which is less than safe. This time I was feeling very proud of myself when I kept going past the point of confusion, only to discover that I had then gone too far instead and was well on my way to Stalybridge! One day, I would like to run to Stalybridge, but not when I have arranged a 9am meeting with my new manager. Thankfully, Northern Folk are a friendly bunch and I was able to get directions which took me back onto my planned route thus avoiding scary roads and getting to work with enough time to shower, breakfast and still have time to check emails! I'm not sure if it was the impending meeting or the breakfast calling that encouraged me to run an average of about 8 minute miles but that seemed a reasonable speed for the distance. I love the bemused manner in which people give you directions when you're out running, especially when to their mind you're quite a long way away from your destination. As it is, I'm used to people thinking I'm a bit odd so this doesn't phase me, otherwise I might have ended up in Huddersfield. It finished up being 9.44 miles today thanks to that little diversion but that's OK, I wasn't late and it was an enjoyable mile!

Ashton CanalOn a route like this, why wouldn't you run to work?
Last month, I was a lot more worried about actually making it to work; the fact that the students have finished now and it's only staff development, meetings and planning (Hah.'Only.') made it lot less stressful. It being my second time on the route helped too so it felt like much less of a mental challenge. Because of this worry on June 5th, I completely forgot to take any photos (I don't really like stopping anyway) so the only visual records of the event were a rainy pre-run view of Manchester from my flat and a couple of euphoric if muddy selfies (ugh) in the college gym shower room! This time you get some snaps to illustrate exactly why I think I'm so lucky with the route. Though admittedly I elected to avoid the more industrial sections of the canal, they are still just as interesting to run past! Maybe I'll get some of those next time! All in all, A pretty text book run, all things considered, though I became a little concerned at about 10am when I realised I'd been so busy getting to my meeting that I'd not stretched! I took a 15 minute walk at lunchtime though which seemed to help loosen up what had become 'joint of ham' legs. I forgot to leave my compression socks at work too so I went hard core and left it to chance! Having said that, in June I'd come second in a 5k race the night before and this time I actually took a rest day (well.. I did a yoga class but that doesn't count, right?) so I probably had less to recover from anyway.

No saved money today as I have a season ticket this month but that's not really the point is it!? I also still found it a little strange to be preparing Thursday's breakfast on Tuesday night so I could leave it in the 'fridge on Wednesday and I had to check about 5 times before leaving yesterday that the right things (house key, work key, train ticket, wallet, clothes, towels, etc.) were in the right places but it seems I navigated all that safely. That's the only bit that makes it complicated really, the level of planning required, otherwise I'd do it more often. I won't be in work for the next one (7th of August) and I'm not sure how practical the September date will be as first week of term is manic enough as it is but I think I might try running home one night next week. All I have to do then is take in my kit, change in the loo and pick my stuff up the next day, which seems to cut out a lot of aggro. I'm less likely to get lost at the other end too! If that works then I might do that in September instead. In fact, it occurred to me that if I did it on the right day, I could jump off the canal at Sports City and use it as a warm up for the Salford Harriers Tuesday track session! Now that's a plan!
|Portland Basin
Almost at Ashton (approaching the Portland Basin)
Boggart Hole Clough 2
Return to the Boggart's Clough Hole!
Speaking of which, Thursday is Club Run night from the Blue Bell for the Salford Harriers and I was keen not to miss tonight, having missed last week due to the Todmorden 5k and so It's just as well I hadn't totally knackered myself. I've heard running twice a day is something quite a lot of people do anyway so I decided to suck up any worries or aches and just get on with it!

Thankfully, Jen, who suggested I join the Harriers in the first place, was able to get back in time to give me a much appreciated lift. Though there is a bus from outside my flat directly to the club house, a lift and a natter is always nicer. We got a bit left behind by the group tonight though and had forgotten to ask where we were going so we ended up forking left so we didn't get lost and making our way back to Boggart Hole Clough for a couple of laps before returning to the club house. Everyone had left already so it's just as well I had already managed to get one of the committee members to sign my application form for the Leadership in Running Fitness course I hope to do in September, else I'd have had to wait until Tuesday!
So an interesting experiment that paid off. That's the first time I've covered more than 17 miles on a work day! I am also quite pleased to find that my legs feel less tired after the evening run than they did before (or for that matter during!!) it. I think I get now how the whole running twice a day thing could be beneficial. Not sure it'll become part of my training plan though!

Hill Rep Friday tomorrow, but  I'm wondering if I should sneak in another speed interval session instead in preparation for the next 10k race in just over a week! Decisions, decisions!
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Run2Work Day!

5/6/2014

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PictureYay! Liquid Sunshine! Let's Run!
The view that greeted me from my window this morning was not one to inspire a few early morning miles… But it could have been worse. Drizzle is better than a downpour and bleak is better than windy (my least favourite running conditions!). So, after faffing about a bit more than usual in an act of mild procrastination I laced up, zipped up, put up and headed out from Manchester city centre along the Ashton Canal to... Erm... Well, Ashton funnily enough! A bit damp, sure, but at least it wasn't cold! I was also really very pleasantly surprised to find that I felt totally fresh; no residue of last night’s race in my legs; I was good to go! The miles slipped by smoothly as I waved a 'good morning!' to a couple of other runners and a few barges, pranced past puddles, brushed by branches and dodged dithering ducks. The good thing about the wetter weather in England at this time of year is that everything looks so green and lush! I also appreciated all the wild flowers, especially 'Tudor style' roses. Beautiful and almost enough to counterbalance the puddly muddles! (Muddy puddles in case you weren't sure!)

Of course one of the advantages of running is the time to empty the mind and let your thoughts be as free as your feet. Though I rarely listen to music whilst running outside these days (I'll save my Runner's World prize to ease monotony on the treadmill!) I do often find songs and lyrics coming to mind and today's sound track was the Levellers song The Boatman. I was particularly in mind of the lines 'on the canals and the rivers free, no hasty words are spoken', though the verse about being a rover and 'If the road was not for me then I would choose another' might be more appropriate generally for running as well as one or two other current 'Life Things'!
Fuddy Meet!The result of one too many puddy muddles!
Either way, it must have put me in a literary state of mind and as I've been experimenting with mantras for stronger running lately (I know, it sounds weird but it kinda works if you're in the right mood), I even composed a bit of hippy poetry as I avoided angry geese! It goes like this;

       Feet like water. Mind like sky.
       Part of the universe; I can fly.
       Feet like water, Over wet, green Earth
       Mind like sky, For a mental rebirth.


I'm not asking you to accept that as the best poem ever but hey, it was part of my run and encapsulates my mood quite well! Anyway, airy-fairy musings aside and ignoring the fact that I got mildly, not lost, just a bit diverted, due to an error in route planning towards the end, the fact is I had a great run! Oh and got to work, saving the grand sum of 10p as I only need a single ticket today!

Made it!Made it! (and it turns out I <3 art and running!)
It turned out to be a jaunt of 8.49 miles and I did it in just over an hour and 8 minutes (an average of 8.03 minutes per mile according to the Garmin!). I was also very grateful to the cleaning staff for opening the college gym shower for me extra early though I can't pretend to have been overjoyed by the discovery that there was no hot water. Still, when you've just run through 8 miles of mud and rain a quick cold shower doesn't seem like much of a hardship, especially when the alternative is being covered in aforementioned mud for the whole day! 'Twas but an additional invigoration!

A quick breakfast waiting for me in the 'fridge and it was off for the second challenge of the day; inflicting four intensive life drawing workshops on a bunch of teens! 

An awesome start to a Thursday! I won't do it every day but I wouldn't rule out developing a bit of a penchant! Maybe I'll try running home one day next week... If the weather's better!


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    Glittermouse is a visual artist, educator and practising Buddhist who also likes a bit of a run from time to time.  In 2014, she realised others could benefit quite a lot from her reflections on running trials, tribulations, triumphs and trip-ups… so she added another volume to her package of blogging adventures.
     
    You can find out more and source links to other projects on the 'home' page of this site.

    Mandala

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