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Peter Kellam writes with a suggestion.
The debate we never seem to have had in Ace is the Thursday night session.
In one way this is a brilliant format, its routine nature means that you know when, where and what the score is. However, in other ways it is a missed opportunity as it tends towards burn up, with those who won't admit that they are operating at or near race pace firmly in denial.
Perhaps we should put it for discussion how the Thursday evening should run—ritualised fartlek (sounds damned painful); non-agression pacts/zones; heaven forbid variety of routes from week to week!
We welcome your comments.
Perhaps, rather like grid and magnetic north when map reading there is a case for all adopting two start points (but not all adopting the same two), particularly as we have technology like lap timers on our watches. Start point either at the bridge or the bus stop, depending on which way you are dressing that day. Start point two to be at that point on the course when the red mist /warp speed / dreams of the home straight in the final lap of the Bislet Games 10,000 come into play. I have convinced myself of this as a good thing for the summer run, where I start the watch at the turnaround, but cannot cope with this though for the winter route (perhaps because the turnaround is less distinct on a much this circular route, or is a strange sort of 'g' shape?). That way I feel I can cut out the vagaries of the first mile which can vary between anything from gamely tagging behind a Dave Williams' special Le Mans start to agreeing that perhaps that now we have reached Llandaff Bridge we maybe ought to break out of a walk.
Posted by Peter -AT-REMOVE_THIS- 24/1/2003 8:16 pm GMT
Merely multi-tasking Mick, a skill I've recently acquired. Practise makes perfect!
Posted by Simon -AT-REMOVE_THIS- 24/1/2003 5:44 pm GMT
an interesting acedemic debate would be to study the relationship between the level of aggression expended on the club run, and the amount of spare time members have to write comments on the website when they should be working!
Posted by mick -AT-REMOVE_THIS- 24/1/2003 1:59 pm GMT
True to form, last night we briefly discussed our intentions, than managed to run a few minutes quicker than we'd discussed. And once again, I loved it. Anyway, to answer those questions Peter,
1. For some bizarre reason, I have always started my watch at the bus stop, and stopped it under the bridge. If I was to change my timing (and there is no reason why I shouldn't) I would start and finish under the bridge. At least that way you avoid the risky business of racing across the access road chasing a time.
2. Roath park junctions? Most definitely a threat, as John and I proved last night when we both interpreted a driver's intentions a different way.
3. We have yet to see any solid evidence that running the winter route in reverse makes you go blind. It would however, brand you a social outcast and sissy for dodging Penylan hill...or so I've heard.
Posted by Simon -AT-REMOVE_THIS- 24/1/2003 12:53 pm GMT
Glad to raise a little bit of debate. I agree with all of you. I love Thursday nights, especially when I'm running well and will fully admit to being a burn-up instigator at times (burn-up being a very relative term).
What works brilliantly about Thursday is the routine - when I changed from Cardiff one of the prime reasons was that you know exactly where you are - the fun starts at 7.00pm and you can have a pint after.
My challenge now is trying to pull one out of the bag on a Thursday on the rare occassions that I am there, as Wednesday is generally track now. The logical thing would be to find a realistic group for their pace, which is what the majority of the club do; and something that as a club we can offer in great diversity.
I think the club night burn up is a fact of life in all clubs that go out on the road across the country and should be regarded as a part of the harrier tradition.
Just to keep this thread going, you might like to consider and comment on the following:
Where should one start one's watch - bus stop or under the bridge?
Roath Park road junctions - opportunity or threat? (ditto shoelaces)
Does running the winter route in reverse make you go blind?
Hope those of you who were out tonight - you should be spread out and cranking it up somewehere round Heath Park as I type - had a good one.
Posted by Peter -AT-REMOVE_THIS- 23/1/2003 6:55 pm GMT
Peter has raised an interesting point which has been discussed before but I think it somes down to what the individual member needs out of a "club RUN". For myself, all my daily runs are on my own with my watch and I run as I feel, but this can lead to evenings of ploddong. I find, like Simon, that the chance to dp a better, faster, under-slight-pressure run once a week helps and I need to run with others to achieve this. This is why we huddle around till we are all assembled, even if it's after 7 before we start, but even then within this group, we can still pick fast or easy pace, long or short route, that evening and to me this adds to my weekly training. Anyway, I cannot always keep up with Peter on club nights, so maybe he is "racing" on that evening!!
Posted by Barry -AT-REMOVE_THIS- 23/1/2003 9:51 am GMT
Hmmm, interesting one. I understand exactly where you are coming from Peter, as occasionally we have been known to "whoop" it up a bit. I quite like a burn out occasionally on a Thursday, although I am more inclined these days towards running as you feel. No matter what, I always like to feel I've worked on a 'Croups run (and I usually have!). Perhaps we ought to lay out our intentions in advance, and then (tougher still) stick to them.
New or potential new members please note, we are not all sado-masochists, these comments particuarly apply to the last 10 or so men who leave the changing room after 7pm. Honest!!!
Simon
Posted by Simon -AT-REMOVE_THIS- 22/1/2003 7:33 pm GMT
A very interesting debating point, Peter, but I'm afraid human nature is a very difficult thing to change. Do you think Dave Williams or John Cox will slow down on request? - I think not.
Partnerships in training are built on trust - there are some people I'd invite out for a long Sunday run or a track session and some I'd steer well clear of.
As for a variety of routes - well, some people do their own thing, which is fine, but having a known club route is obviously beneficial for new members - I'd like to think we're a caring club and I'm sure we are (except on the odd occasion on a Thursday when the shower is cold!)
Posted by mick -AT-REMOVE_THIS- 22/1/2003 5:50 pm GMT
I happen to like the single route policy, it saves a lot of faffing about. But, after a few years in the club, I admit that it gets a little boring.
As for non-agression pacts, they're struck every time before a major Saturday race, and some of us, like me, seem to form them every week. It's all in the changing room negotiations. ;)
Posted by Dave -AT-REMOVE_THIS- 22/1/2003 4:50 pm GMT
Last updated 26 December 2005
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After reading all the comment`s posted on this subject i have to add mine.On a thursday night you have all heared the usual in the changing room "I HAVE THIS WRONG WITH ME" or "I HAVE PULLED THIS" and thay all say i`m going to have an easy run tonight.Then when you get outside you see them in their racing kit,and you know that it`s going to be a fairly hard run.So i say to you all it is good to come to club on a thursday night and have a blast, but just remember the old rule if you have trained hard the night before run easy or change your hard nights so you can run as hard as you like on a club night.As off course it is supposed to be a SOCIAL evening after.
Posted by John cox -AT-REMOVE_THIS- 13/2/2003 11:49 am GMT