Andrew's EU Blog from Brussels

Wahoo! Yesterday I completed the 2008 Sheffield Half-Marathon in a time of 1 hour 48 mins and 43 seconds. Although this is six minutes slower than my time last year, I am delighted, especially in the torrid rainy conditions.

Despite starting way too quickly and setting times of 8 mins and then 7 mins for the first two miles instead of my intended 10 mins, I settled into a good pace and was at the five mile mark before I knew it. Thanks to a well-placed Nadia cheering me on at the half-way point, I upped the pace heading back into the city and after passing brother Neil and housemate Richard at the City Hall (aka 9 miles) I looked at my watch and realised I was heading for a very similar time to last years'.

The final few miles is a horrible slog, and with very few supporters anyway regardless of the weather and most of it being up-hill, I was starting to struggle but kept telling myself I'd come this far and that I simply could not stop now.

The feeling I had crossing the finish line was admittedly not was good as it was last year, but was an extremely welcome relief. Now I can focus on the rest of my university work and obtaining the grades to continue to my MA course - which I am absolutely certain as each day progresses is exactly what I want to do. I also too have a nice engraved medal sat in front of me, in the unlikely event I need anything else to encourage me on. (!)

Movement today was a bit of a struggle, but as my housemate quoted to me shortly after the finish: "Pain is temporary but pride lasts forever". So roll on next year??

See also: I've done it! (2007 half-marathon)

Labels: Half-Marathon

Posted by Andrew at 10:01 PM | Permalink | Comments

After having to postpone my training for a week last week because of a crazy workload, my schedule resumed today and meant I had an 8-mile run to do. Through the course of the night and morning the snow fell over Sheffield (again, and most definitely not for the last time) so I feared I may not be able to do it again because it would be too icy.

Fortunately the snow didn't settle and so I set off on my run at just gone 12.40pm. I finished my run at 1.55pm, completing the 8-mile, mostly uphill, mostly ran in a blizzard and strong head-on winds, route in exactly 75 minutes. Obviously I've delighted with this time, even more so when I remembered that I didn't do any running at all last week and the last 'big' run I did before that was only 5 and a half miles... What was even better about the run as I didn't feel overly tired at the end and could have probably continued for a few more miles, but I thought it was best to stop and take it easy!

In the evening I headed off to watch Chris take part in his local pool league. Normally I head along as a bit of support, but I manage to get a surprising amount of work done in the pub, which is why I do go. This week however I was asked if I'd fill in for one of the regular players who hadn't showed up. I said I would but they shouldn't expect much. They put me into the doubles and the first match of the doubles. We were playing the team top of the league at their 'home' pub on their own 'home' table - where they hadn't lost all season - thankfully I didn't know this before I got to the table.

I really hoped my doubles game would be irrelevant as the match was already decided but our team had done extremely well and were 3-2 down heading into the two doubles matches (first to 4 frames). Obviously, me and my partner had to win or we'd lost. Nice. Anyway, we both played well and I tried desperately hard not to play as aggressive and powerful as normal and I somehow managed it. Then it happened: we were both down to the black ball; if we potted it we'd bring the match to 3-3 and force the game into a decider. If they potted it they'd win.

The opposing team attempted to play safe but failed to hit the black against the cushion, which left me with a chance, a really tough (and to be honest, stupid) cut shot to the bottom pocket. This kind of shot has always been my favourite so I was confident I could get it. I hit it softly and it rolled oh so very slowly towards the pocket. It took forever to get there and we all thought it wouldn't drop, but after a short pause it did and I'd won the frame for us.

We went on to lose the final frame and so the match 4-3 but I think you'll agree it wasn't a bad debut on the pool circuit. Who knows, I may even be asked to play again next week...

Labels: Half-Marathon

Posted by Andrew at 12:07 AM | Permalink | Comments

Today was a good day. After a nice morning swim, I scored a goal for the shefbase as we recorded our first 'proper' victory of the season! Since tearing the ligament in my thumb a month ago I've not been playing in goal for the last two weeks in order to allow it to recover and so today I played upfront for the shefbase team.

We were due to play the team bottom of the league this afternoon so we knew a win would be important and we managed it. Everyone on the team played really well - best we've played all season - as we ran out 3-2 winners. The scoreline flatters them a bit really because we dominated the game and I, for one, am guilty of missing a lot of chances that could've made the score more emphatic.

As it was, the three goals we scored were enough. My goal, the team's second, I shall be reliving for a while yet. I decided to play as a lone striker so not only would I draw a defender upfield with me but I could use my pace to chase any forward balls.

This tactic did mean I was dumped onto the floor on a couple of occasions, but on others I was able to beat the defender and get a shot away, usually sending it wide of the goal. However, for the goal I received a long ball from the goalkeeper, beat the defender for pace and hit the ball first time on my right-foot across the goalkeeper into his bottom right-hand corner. Textbook. I'd tried this same thing a few times before in the match so it was third time lucky!

Next week I should be ready to head back into my normal position between the posts, but after today I don't want to - I enjoyed it too much!

PS. check out the shefbase.com for details of our brand new and exclusive new competition!

Labels: Half-Marathon

Posted by Andrew at 10:33 PM | Permalink | Comments

Today was a really lovely hot and sunny day and as I am heading out this evening, I had to do today's run under the midday sun. Maybe that wasn't the greatest idea I've ever had but I did it anyway, and ran 6.5 miles in exactly 60 minutes.

What makes this time feel even more impressive as the majority of the route was uphill because I had stupidly plotted the route on Google Earth which of course doesn't show the hills...

Anyway, I'm feeling surprisingly alive this evening. I thought my knees would be unable to manage a concert but they will and I'm looking forward to seeing the Cribs once more! What my knees feel like tomorrow, well that'll probably be a different story!

Labels: Half-Marathon

Posted by Andrew at 5:53 PM | Permalink | Comments

I don't think I'll be going for my run today... An inch of snow has fallen overnight which although makes Sheffield look really nice, makes it very dangerous for me to run, especially as my route is unavoidably up and down hills (last night's run was bad enough as I got caught in some sudden hail storms).

On Thursday night I ate out at a Morroccan restuarant with Nadia and the waiter there predicted snow in the next few days. At the time I just laughed and joked that it was getting cold enough by the joke's now on me! Incidentally the food was amazing and was well worth its pricetag and well worth braving the elements and hailstorms to get there!

Sheffield Wednesday are playing at home to Ipswich today - I wonder if that game will proceed or will be another I head down for to find its postponed... Oh joy.

Labels: Half-Marathon

Posted by Andrew at 9:38 AM | Permalink | Comments

Last night I felt a sudden urge to go swimming so this morning I decided I would go and see the University swimming pool. This urge is very unusual as I've not swum in a very very long time, and so needless to say I struggled!

I decided I would head down to the pool early as not to lose more of my day when I should be working, and so set off around half-past seven. Yes, 7.30am does in fact for a student - I actually like walking in the early morning when the city is dead.

Anyway, the pool was lovely and warm, but I wasn't too happy about having to share one smallish lane with about four other swimmers who were clearly better and quicker than me. Because I didn't have my glasses on I didn't notice that I was swimming in the "fast lane", so I very quickly changed onto the other lane that was busier and not much better.

I managed 8 lengths of the 33m pool, which although doesn't sound a lot, felt like a lot! I've not swum in so long that I'm not sure whether it was simply because I was out of practice or just very fatigued which was why I struggled. What it certainly did was wake me up, but made the rest of my body very tired indeed, so perhaps it's not too bad when I need to sit at the computer and type all day...

So would I go again? Maybe. I did enjoy it, but I'd rather I wasn't surrounded by so many people and I had gone hoping that by going at that time in the morning I would have a quieter pool...

Labels: Half-Marathon

Posted by Andrew at 9:51 AM | Permalink | Comments

Last year I completed the Sheffield Half Marathon wearing number 1920, I have found out this morning that this year I will be running wearing the number 523.

I officially start my training schedule on Monday and is going to be more difficult I feel this year because I'm going to be preparing myself in a much colder environment, amongst more hills and a busier university timetable in comparison to last year out in Bordeaux.

Suddenly the challenge of beating my previous time feels like a tricky one...

Labels: Half-Marathon

Posted by Andrew at 10:01 AM | Permalink | Comments

I did it! I have completed the Sheffield Half Marathon! And I did it in quite an unbelievable time considering it was my first ever competitive race - 1 hour 42 mins and 54 secs, which it turns out was even enough for 962nd place too so was within the first thousand to finish! Even better :-)

Overall I enjoyed the run and the weather I thought was pretty perfect for running. I had planned on running with my friend Mark the whole way around because we'd done a few training routes together in Sheffield, but I dropped back at the start because I always start quickly and so managed to successfully pace myself well over the first few miles.

Annoyingly I was not able to collect water at the first two drink stations as there were no full cups there ready but I made sure I got some at the third stop past Hunters Bar - at the seven-mile mark, by sprinting ahead of the large pack in front!! I am obviously very pleased with my run. I'm absolutely delighted that not only did I manage to complete it well under my target of 2 hours but I also managed it without ever wanting to pull up and walk.

But what struck me most about the run was the effect of people at the side of the road applauding. I'd never really thought about it but it really does make a difference and really helps you keep going, especially when you see someone you know cheering you on! The atmosphere along Ecclesall Road was absolutely unbelievable as was the support through the city centre, and to run over the line with a trumpeter in the stadium playing the Rocky theme tune, it was a very fitting finish.

I'd therefore like to thank those who turned out, especially my amazing family who made the very long trip North to see me.. and despite the tiredness that afternoon, me and Mark still made it to the pub that evening for a pint of the appropriately named "Triumph"...

So will I do another race? Probably. Will I do the Sheffield Half next year? We'll see...

Labels: Half-Marathon

Posted by Andrew at 9:49 PM | Permalink | Comments

This weekend is not only my last weekend out here in Bordeaux, but it is also the final weekend of my training schedule and so I was due to attempt running 13.1 miles either yesterday or today. Well, I did it this morning, and I'm over the moon. I managed to run this much easier than the 10 mile I did last weekend (then again it was 10C cooler today), and what is even better is that I ran it in less than 2 hours (1h 50 to be exact)!

I'm extremely delighted and to think that 12 weeks ago I really struggled to run 2 miles! The half-marathon is now only 3 weeks away, and to be honest I can't wait!! I'm now off to relax and rest in the sun!

Here's the route I ran:

Labels: Half-Marathon

Posted by Andrew at 11:34 AM | Permalink | Comments

"CONGRATULATIONS - YOUR ENTRY HAS BEEN ACCEPTED FOR:

EVENT DETAILS: Sheffield Half-Marathon
20/5/2007 9:30am
Don Valley Stadium, Sheffield
Event website: http://www.sheffieldmarathon.com"

Now it is official, I'm running it! It is now the end of week seven of my training schedule and that meant today I had to run seven miles, which I managed to do in exactly an hour. It was extremely hard work and I am sure that a strong headwind for the middle 4 miles and the rain did not do much to help, but I managed it! There are now only 62 days until the Sheffield Half Marathon, I am still feeling confident (if not a little tired still!).

Labels: Half-Marathon

Posted by Andrew at 4:13 PM | Permalink | Comments

Today marks the end of week 5 of my training schedule and I have to say that I'm extremely pleased (and surprised) with my progress.

Each Sunday, the length of the "big run" increases by a mile and this morning was my first run at the distance of 6 miles and despite the heat, high sun, stupidly planned uphill stages and a strong head wind for the first three miles, I managed to run it in 49 minutes! Last Sunday was a 5 mile run, but as I was recovering from my very early flight back from Manchester I ran that on Tuesday instead (in a time of 42 mins).

My strength has improved and so has my fitness, and I'm actually enjoying doing this training! The purchase of some decent running shoes while back in Sheffield is a definate positive thing, but here are a few of times, which show my progress very nicely:

2 miles (24th Jan 07): 16 mins
3 miles (30th Jan 07): 24 mins
3.5 miles (13th Feb 07): 28 mins
4 miles (4th Feb 07) : 38 mins
5 miles (18th Feb 07): 50 mins
5 miles (27th Feb 07): 42 mins
6 miles (4th March 07): 49 mins

76 days until the half-marathon...

Labels: Half-Marathon

Posted by Andrew at 10:55 AM | Permalink | Comments