5th August 2007
Shipley Park-Nutbrook 8 Mile
Conditions: Hot, Sunny
Run Type: Long
Notes: This was my first long run in over three weeks having suffered yet again with my long term hamstring injury. Even with my new slower pacing I am still getting some acute pain the following day of a run. For this reason was not going to push myself too hard on my long run, and jeopardise next week’s workouts.
I opted for a semi planned run today, so after the now normal routine of one mile warm up and then some light stretching I set towards the Venture and out along Heanor Road towards Ilkeston before cutting back into Shipley Park at Ilkeston Hospital. After that it was all guess work. I had looked at the various trails using Google Earth and from what I could see there were so many ways to get back home that I would simply run and see where I end up, which can be quite exciting, as well as giving me chance to fill in the gaps of Shipley Park.
I was taking extra notice to my pacing and heart rate on today’s run as the temperature was very high and by 10am it was already one of the hottest days of the year. As I ran through the woods towards the Venture the trees created a shade which was a very welcome break form the heat.
At mile two as the course led out onto the main road the sun was out in full flow and it was very hard running conditions, but I simply slowed right down as I approached any kind of hill and I never suffered once, or thought for a second that I should not be doing this in these conditions.
The third mile came and went and then I was off the main road and back onto the trail and I was happy about this as I have really enjoyed my past few runs in these new surroundings. As I entered the trail I saw a runner from Heanor Running Club and he informed me that the trail we were on led to Nutbrook, so I simply stayed behind him and followed him all the way into the village.
As I passed through Nutbrook I continued to follow the runner down slack lane which lead to Mapperley Reservoir, and it was here that I started to piece together where I had ran to and where I was heading. I looped around Mapperley Reservoir and then took a very steady climb up towards Shipley Hall before a long decline back down towards Ozzie’s pond. I actually enjoyed the hill considering I am resting an injury and the heat.
On the way back down the hill I decided that I would end this run at eight miles as the sun was getting very hot and I did not want to be sore and unable to run on the Monday.
In closing this was yet another very successful and thoroughly enjoyable run. I am running slower but far more effective than I ever have before. I am finally running my easy runs as they should be run.......with ease!!
Run time: 1:24:25
Pace: 10:34 / mile
Days to New York Marathon: 90
“The true runner is a very fortunate person. He has found something in him that is just perfect.”
New York City
"Running 26 miles around this place.....I can think of nothing better"
The Five Boroughs
"There's more to this place than Manhattan"
Staten Island
"Only the first half mile is spent on Staten Island as you immediately leave across the Varrazano-Narrows bridge into Brooklyn"
Brooklyn
"Almost half the race is spent in Brooklyn, where many different neighbourhoods and cultural changes are passed through"
Queens
"The race enters Queens at exactly the half way point by crossing the Pulalski Bridge, over Newton creek, where you get your first amazing view of the City. The next 3 miles are spent here until crossing the challenging Queensboro Bridge over the East river."
Manhattan
"The first of two visits into Manhattan comes at mile 16 as you leave the Queensboro Bridge. Greeted by thousands of screaming spectators makes this one of the most memorable moments of the race, before the 4 mile stretch up First Avenue towards the Bronx"
Bronx
"At mile 20 you cross the Willis Avenue Bridge into the Bronx where little over a mile is run before returning to Manhattan across the Madison Avenue Bridge, where you see the Yankee Stadium, which has to be the highlight of the short trip across the Harlem river"
Manhattan 2
"As you arrive back in Manhattan the course proceeds down Fifth Avenue for 3 miles before entering Central Park for the final push and that moment that will last forever."
Varrazano-Narrows (Staten Island-Brooklyn)
Pulalski Bridge (Brooklyn-Queens)
Queensboro Bridge (Queens-Manhattan)
Willis Avenue Bridge (Manhattan-Bronx)
Madison Avenue Bridge (Bronx-Manhattan)
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