Hey, I Put Some New Shoes On…

Posted on June 19, 2013 by James Clay

…and suddenly everything is right.

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The lovely people at On, who I spoke with at the Virgin London Marathon Expo and Write This Run, have very kindly sent me some swanky new Cloudrunner trainers!

There are a lot of new technologies in running shoes at the moment. Shoes that make you bouncier, minimalist shoes, minimalist shoes that make you bouncier, there are several brands claiming to have the answer to all your running problems, and they may all be right.

But what I like about On is that their technology makes sense and their claims are very believable. The Cloudrunner is specifically designed for the slower, high impact force runner and so should be the ideal marathon trainer for me heading towards Bournemouth in October. The sole is built of 15 individual rubber ‘clouds’ that apparently provide excellent cushioning and response.

Running on clouds

Running on clouds

Once the clever design has absorbed the impact, it gets even cleverer! Inside each pod is a corrugated design of interlocking teeth. These provide the stable platform to allow the foot to propel you forward.

Teeth...this stuff really is like rocket science!

Teeth…this stuff really is like rocket science!

According to On this “promotes an efficient running gait to maximize performance”. They also recommend the same shoe for road and trail running, which means I’ve finally solved the problem of running 2 miles to my favourite training hill..hopefully.

I’m yet to take them for a proper spin, but first impressions are very good, and if they perform as well as they look I could be reassessing my aims for the marathon.

A little bit beautiful

A little bit beautiful

A first review will follow soon, and a long term test report will come later in the year.

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The Tricky 18th Consecutive Blog Post…

Posted on June 18, 2013 by James Clay

They warned me this day would come.

When I first signed up for Juneathon they told me “you’ll end up doing some really short posts, some you aren’t proud of, it’s inevitable”.

Well today is that day. But it comes not because I’ve run out of things to write about or haven’t done anything to share, quite the opposite!

Today I trained harder than I have in months, and it’s been exciting. So much so it’s inspired a blog topic that deserves proper planning and preparation.

Today I’ve been talking to triathletes about how to get it right in training and on the day. Lots to share, I’m looking forward to writing that post.

Today I received some great kit from a great brand. I’ll be doing a ‘first look’ review soon, but I need to get a few more test runs done, so at the moment it’s all in note form.

All that happened today, and that’s why I’m knocking out this post via my phone, flat out on the sofa with a grin on my face. I’m really excited about some of the posts coming up, and I hope you are
too!

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A Little Belief Can Go A Long, Long Way…

Posted on June 17, 2013 by James Clay

A while ago I thought up a ridiculous running challenge that would have taken 2 months and around £12,000 to complete. The idea is still there, rolling around my think tank, and maybe one day…

But that idea then spawned a simpler and cheaper version. I did a little research and realised there was also potential for a new world record, mainly because no one had been daft enough to do what I was suggesting, and so the idea stuck…

On Saturday I was at a bbq with friends I have known for decades. We were stood around the kitchen (which is where most British bbqs have taken place for the last few summers) and the conversation had turned to running and challenges. One guy had recently done his first triathlon and caught the bug, another was part of last year’s Deloitte Land’s End to John O’Groats ride and was telling us about his experience. I mentioned my vague idea, which involves running 480km with a support team, mobile home etc expecting it to just drift away on the conversational tide…

“So when would the clock start and stop?”

“Would you go through the night?”

“How long would you need to recover between runs?”

Suddenly there were questions, followed by answers, and the skeletal plans I’d been mulling over started to flesh out a bit…

“My old man has a motor home we could use”

“I’d drive for you”

“My wife is a logistics expert, she could help with the planning”

The conversation didn’t last long, and the drinking and eating meat continued for many more hours, but I woke Sunday with a head fuzzy from both overindulgence and possibility.

My vague scheme warrants further thought, there are people supportive of the idea and the challenge is one they think I’m capable of overcoming.

It’s amazing what a little belief can do!

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Shoes Make The Man

Posted on June 16, 2013 by James Clay

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On the left a nice lace up brogue, the right a Caterpillar boot.

These shoes are pretty much interchangeable, both appear most often with jeans and a shirt, but they each make me feel completely different. The trusty Caterpillar, I’ve had a pair of those for around 15 years now, replacing them every few years with an almost identical pair. They are sturdy, warm, dry. When I put them on I am ready to get on with whatever the day throws at me, whether it’s walking miles, lifting furniture or sitting in a pub. They can go from dawn to dusk and not be cope with whatever the situation. The delicate brogues though, they change everything. They come out when I fancy a sartorial lift, I’m trying to make an impression or I want to smarten up. They are for evenings when I know the pub is my destination, or days when I need to be thinking a bit more professionally.

I can wear the same outfit all day but change the shoes I’m a completely different person.

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The same is true of my runners. Above, from left to right, are my trail shoes, my ‘fast’ shoes and my long shoes. The shoes I’m wearing define the runner I am going to be that day. They will define my expectations, my pace, my approach. I can wear the same shorts and tops every time I run, but the shoes I wear determine the man I am going to be that day.

Today I wore the blue ones, what have you worn?

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Mission Accomplished?

Posted on June 15, 2013 by James Clay

On Friday I set myself two goals in 12 hours:

  1. To swim a total of 300 metres in the pool for the first time ever
  2. To run my local Parkrun in a new PB

Here’s how I got on…

1 – The pool was empty. I had three lanes to myself (and my mate/trainer/lifeguard Greg) so I was straight in and going for it…with mixed results. The first length went okay but I was a little breathless at the end, so I tried slowing down on the way back and it all fell to pieces! The same happened with my next two lengths, and I realised that I was suffering from a very mild form of panic. Logically ridiculous, in a public pool with lifeguards I was never in danger, but I wasn’t thinking logically. Every time I took on a mouthful of water or missed a breath I thought “if I do that 150 metres in to a lake I’m sleeping with the fishes” and the panic would throw my stroke and timing off completely compounding the problem.

So, I moved from the centre lane where I had been to the side lane, to give myself the mental safety net of being able to see the side. Once again I struggled, although on these two lengths I was able to stop, tread water and go again. I struggled to get my breathing right straight after treading water so that’s something I need to work on.

Battling the disappointment of not gliding up and down the pool like Flipper, I decided to put discretion before valour and moved back in to the end segment of the pool where I could swim widths.Firstly I worked on head placement, I’d been watching Greg and another swimmer and realised I was putting my head much further in the water than them (staring at the bottom of the pool) so I worked on keeping my head up more and sighting along the surface of the water, meaning I had less far to move to get clean air with my breaths. I also wanted to try something new with my breathing again, and changed from bi-lateral every three breaths to breathing every second stroke. What a difference! I’d worked out I was finding it easier to breath on my right and I was suddenly in no hurry to get through the strokes for the next breath. I did a couple of widths like this and didn’t have a single problem, so to finish the session and my 300 metres I jumped back in the lanes and eased out the last 25 metres like I’d been doing it all day!

The key now is to remember how that felt, remember that there is no reason to let my mind run away when it should be swimming, and have another go at pushing out 12 lengths in one go. Reckon it could be Sunday/Monday before I get back in the pool…and I’m looking forward to it!

2 – I did something I’ve never done before this morning. I jogged the mile to Parkrun, incorporating heel flicks, high knees, side steps, skipping and lunges. I looked like a fool, but when I got to the park with 2 minutes to spare I felt ready to run all those little niggles I feel in the first mile had been worked out already. Instead of joining the scrum near the back of the group I lined up with the speed demons at the front and come 9am I set off at a ridiculous pace and still had people passing me. I kept the speed up for the first lap, even managing not to slow on the grass section as I have a habit of doing. Looking at the watch I was travelling well (I’d set the screen to only show me the time so I could judge my pace each lap rather than constantly checking it) but it was still going to be tight if I wanted a PB. Lap 2 I started to struggle. By half way round my breathing was ragged and I was having thoughts of stopping to catch my breath. It was then I thought what it means to challenge myself and how I couldn’t let negative thoughts win the day every time, and so I slowed my breathing down and focused on it for a minute. I ran through a quick mental checklist – my legs felt okay, my trainers were comfortable, my lungs were working, I was actually in good shape – and found no excuses not to keep running and even to do so faster. As I went in to lap 3 I took a glance at the watch, the PB was on. I’d like to say I threw everything at the final lap, but in hindsight I think I actually let the watch dictate and I felt able to relax a little. I’m sure I have a few more seconds I could find if I concentrated, but…

I just ran the Parkrun in 25 minutes dead, 55 seconds under my PB! (this is on my watch, still waiting for the official time)

So, that’s both goals acheived, to differing degrees, but I’m claiming a successful 12 hours of exercise! It seems that setting short term goals works, so here goes with another one…

I will make it to a big telly in time for the Lions game in 50 minutes and I will get riotously drunk with my closest friends

Well, we can’t be athletes ALL the time. ;o)

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