Here we are at the end of week 11, just 5 weeks to go. I'm a planner, I like to have a list and I like to tick things off my list and that's how I've approached my marathon training. If I do all the training and tick it off then hopefully the race should just follow on naturally.
I started the week feeling the effects of the Ashby 20 last Sunday, heavy legs and with various aches and pains. I did bootcamp on Tuesday which helped get me moving again. Wednesday's run went well, 6 miles at 9.32 pace although the first 3 miles were tough. Thursday was 7 miles so that was to be covered by a 6.8 mile club run, I wasn't expecting any problems with it. The weather was cold and I ran so badly and found it so difficult that I may as well have had a blue rinse and changed my name to Doris. It was like I'd never run in my life but had decided to borrow the legs of an octogenarian to give it a go. Undaunted I looked ahead to Sunday's 16 miles.
I'd like to say that Sunday dawned bright and sunny like a typical March day, but that would be a lie. Sunday dawned with a temperature of -2, 4 or 5 inches of snow and a wind direct from the North Pole. Despite the weather 11 of us met up for a nice relaxed long run of around 15 miles. It went wrong from the start, my Garmin had died, the weather was difficult and then there were snow drifts up to my knees. It was beautiful though and it's always fun to have a run and a chat with my clubmates, it was just the actual running that didn't seem to work. We all agreed that it was difficult and ended up calling it a day at 10.5 miles. It was the right thing to do as I couldn't have managed another hour out there running but it means I can't really tick my 16 mile run off with a clear conscience. In 'normal' conditions I could have done it without any problems but today just wasn't the day for it. It's the first week that I haven't done it properly and hopefully it'll be the last.
Next week holds a 7 and two 8s. I'm not going to predict how they'll go after this past week. Sunday's run will be happening in North Yorkshire, possibly up hills with some local runners which will be fun. I'll report back when I get home on Tuesday.
I think I need to address my diet now, I'm putting weight on which slows me down. I know what to eat but I eat too much of it and supplement it with far too many extras as I'm marathon training. All I need to do is be a little bit more sensible (or eat a bit less cake).
Sunday 24 March 2013
Sunday 17 March 2013
Don't trust the weather forecast
Week 10 has been what you could describe as a peak week. An easy start to the week with a 3.5 run on Wednesday, this turned out to be pretty quick and so I've reclassified it as a speed session.
Thursday's plan was 8 miles so I got to club early and did 1.5 miles before the 6.5 mile club session. Bearing in mind that I'd done Grindleford the week before I'd say I'd recovered pretty quickly and both midweek runs were pretty good.
Today was the Ashby 20, which was to be my longest ever road run. The weather yesterday was appalling, Sam's football match (25 minutes each way) seemed to last a good 4 hours in the wind and rain. The prospect of 20 miles in those conditions really didn't appeal. Every weather forecast I could find was promising cool, dry conditions with a gentle breeze-perfect running conditions. It was great to get up and find that the forecast seemed to be right, when I and the rest of the mighty team LERC arrived in Ashby it looked like a great running day. The first mile or so was lovely and I was getting nicely into my 10.00 mins per mile planned pace. I was running just behind two runners from another club when all of a sudden the man's legs buckled, he collapsed and started to shake or maybe fit. His poor clubmate was shouting "somebody, help me". I have no first aid knowledge at all but thought I should stop but as I turned round I could see that the marshall and another runner was already there so I carried on. At that point I was thinking "bloody hell, poor man. What the hell am I doing even attempting this?". It did unsettle me.
After another mile or so I heard the welcome sound of the travelling LERC supporters club complete with flags and cowbells, I belong to the most supportive running club in the world. It was about then that the drizzle started, I can deal with drizzle. Then the rain started, and the wind so that the rain was blowing directly into your face. In case that wasn't making it difficult enough we had some snow next, then finally a full on blizzard. I was actually glad when it went back to 'just' raining. Running wise it went fairly well, first mile 9.45, average pace 10.15 and last mile 9.58 with most miles in between close to my planned pace. Could I do another 6 miles after that? No way. Just 6 weeks until I have to though. Today's run took 3.27 so a 4.45 marathon might be possible, if I can just do those last 6 miles.
Next week is easy by comparison, 6 miles, 7 miles, 16 miles. Hopefully no snow, hail or locusts.
Thursday's plan was 8 miles so I got to club early and did 1.5 miles before the 6.5 mile club session. Bearing in mind that I'd done Grindleford the week before I'd say I'd recovered pretty quickly and both midweek runs were pretty good.
Today was the Ashby 20, which was to be my longest ever road run. The weather yesterday was appalling, Sam's football match (25 minutes each way) seemed to last a good 4 hours in the wind and rain. The prospect of 20 miles in those conditions really didn't appeal. Every weather forecast I could find was promising cool, dry conditions with a gentle breeze-perfect running conditions. It was great to get up and find that the forecast seemed to be right, when I and the rest of the mighty team LERC arrived in Ashby it looked like a great running day. The first mile or so was lovely and I was getting nicely into my 10.00 mins per mile planned pace. I was running just behind two runners from another club when all of a sudden the man's legs buckled, he collapsed and started to shake or maybe fit. His poor clubmate was shouting "somebody, help me". I have no first aid knowledge at all but thought I should stop but as I turned round I could see that the marshall and another runner was already there so I carried on. At that point I was thinking "bloody hell, poor man. What the hell am I doing even attempting this?". It did unsettle me.
After another mile or so I heard the welcome sound of the travelling LERC supporters club complete with flags and cowbells, I belong to the most supportive running club in the world. It was about then that the drizzle started, I can deal with drizzle. Then the rain started, and the wind so that the rain was blowing directly into your face. In case that wasn't making it difficult enough we had some snow next, then finally a full on blizzard. I was actually glad when it went back to 'just' raining. Running wise it went fairly well, first mile 9.45, average pace 10.15 and last mile 9.58 with most miles in between close to my planned pace. Could I do another 6 miles after that? No way. Just 6 weeks until I have to though. Today's run took 3.27 so a 4.45 marathon might be possible, if I can just do those last 6 miles.
Next week is easy by comparison, 6 miles, 7 miles, 16 miles. Hopefully no snow, hail or locusts.
Monday 11 March 2013
Better late than never
Sorry for the delay in this week's round up, it's been a busy old week but better late than never.
The 4 mile and 7 mile runs last week were both a lot harder than I would have liked but with no real reason. The weather was really horrible on Thursday, very cold and very wet so that didn't help but still doesn't really explain why I found it such hard going. My hands were a bit painful and so were my feet so I was worried that I was about to have another flare up of whatever this weird illness/non-illness thing is but it didn't really come to anything.
The main event of the week was the Grindleford Gallop, a 21 mile offroad/fell race in the lovely Derbyshire Peak District. I had been viewing this as simply a pleasant long run with a bit of mud, it's main purpose was time on feet so useful training. With just over 24 hours to go the weather forecast was for blizzard conditions so the race organisers sensibly decided to insist on full FRA kit. Fine, except I didn't actually own many of the required items and actually that made the whole race a lot more scary. Friday was spent frantically borrowing and buying various items of equipment, I was very proud of myself for managing to get the whole lot to fit in a 2L bumbag- no rucksack for me. Saturday morning was drizzly and cold, perfect running conditions. Four of us had decided to run as a group, sticking together with the aim of enjoying the run rather than breaking any speed records. The run itself was beautiful, there were hills, mud, snow, laughs, cake, scenery, views, rain and more mud. We covered the 21 miles in an official time of 5.13, running time around 4.30. I was surprised how good I felt at the end, I still hadn't reached the point where I wasn't enjoying it. Looks like the training is really having an effect. That is now my longest run to date. I love this sort of run more than any other.
The week ahead holds a 2 mile (so actually 3.5 mile) run on Wednesday and an 8 mile run on Thursday, not sure how I'm going to do that one but it will get done. Sunday's long run will be as far removed from last weekend as you can get, it's the Ashby 20. The Ashby 20 is a 20 mile road race, on the plus side you get a hoody and a cheese cob when you finish it. You can fill in the minuses for yourself, the clue is in the title "20 mile road race".
Laters taters.
The 4 mile and 7 mile runs last week were both a lot harder than I would have liked but with no real reason. The weather was really horrible on Thursday, very cold and very wet so that didn't help but still doesn't really explain why I found it such hard going. My hands were a bit painful and so were my feet so I was worried that I was about to have another flare up of whatever this weird illness/non-illness thing is but it didn't really come to anything.
The main event of the week was the Grindleford Gallop, a 21 mile offroad/fell race in the lovely Derbyshire Peak District. I had been viewing this as simply a pleasant long run with a bit of mud, it's main purpose was time on feet so useful training. With just over 24 hours to go the weather forecast was for blizzard conditions so the race organisers sensibly decided to insist on full FRA kit. Fine, except I didn't actually own many of the required items and actually that made the whole race a lot more scary. Friday was spent frantically borrowing and buying various items of equipment, I was very proud of myself for managing to get the whole lot to fit in a 2L bumbag- no rucksack for me. Saturday morning was drizzly and cold, perfect running conditions. Four of us had decided to run as a group, sticking together with the aim of enjoying the run rather than breaking any speed records. The run itself was beautiful, there were hills, mud, snow, laughs, cake, scenery, views, rain and more mud. We covered the 21 miles in an official time of 5.13, running time around 4.30. I was surprised how good I felt at the end, I still hadn't reached the point where I wasn't enjoying it. Looks like the training is really having an effect. That is now my longest run to date. I love this sort of run more than any other.
The week ahead holds a 2 mile (so actually 3.5 mile) run on Wednesday and an 8 mile run on Thursday, not sure how I'm going to do that one but it will get done. Sunday's long run will be as far removed from last weekend as you can get, it's the Ashby 20. The Ashby 20 is a 20 mile road race, on the plus side you get a hoody and a cheese cob when you finish it. You can fill in the minuses for yourself, the clue is in the title "20 mile road race".
Laters taters.
Sunday 3 March 2013
Whooah, we're halfway there
8 weeks into a 16 week training plan, looks like I'm halfway there.
The plan for the week was three runs of 7 miles each. Wednesday was a pacy 7 miles with a friend, a faster friend so it was a quicker pace than I would have managed solo. Thursday's 7 miles was actually 6.25 as I was very pushed for time and tired. I've been single parenting this week as Pete's been working away, I somehow managed school, work, bootcamp (me), football training (Sam) and two runs as well as keeping the pair of us clean and fed.
Today's run was the highlight of my running week. I ran with 2 friends and we did 8 miles offroad, the weather was perfect, the views were brilliant and the company was great. In my opinion you've hit the right pace for a Sunday run if you can hold a detailed discussion on Emma Bridgwater crockery as you run. It's not something you often see in the marathon training manuals but it is a fact.
The plan for this week is 4, 7 and 16. In reality it's going to be 7, 4 and 21 as I've entered the Grindleford Gallop on Saturday. The Grindleford Gallop is 21 miles scenic off road running, it sounds tough and it's not quite the standard road run in the plan but it's time on feet and it's endurance training.
Eight weeks in and I am feeling fitter and stronger than I did a couple of months ago. If the next eight weeks go as well as the first eight then I should get to the start line feeling well prepared. Even if it all goes to plan 26.2 miles still sounds like an awfully long way to run.
The plan for the week was three runs of 7 miles each. Wednesday was a pacy 7 miles with a friend, a faster friend so it was a quicker pace than I would have managed solo. Thursday's 7 miles was actually 6.25 as I was very pushed for time and tired. I've been single parenting this week as Pete's been working away, I somehow managed school, work, bootcamp (me), football training (Sam) and two runs as well as keeping the pair of us clean and fed.
Today's run was the highlight of my running week. I ran with 2 friends and we did 8 miles offroad, the weather was perfect, the views were brilliant and the company was great. In my opinion you've hit the right pace for a Sunday run if you can hold a detailed discussion on Emma Bridgwater crockery as you run. It's not something you often see in the marathon training manuals but it is a fact.
The plan for this week is 4, 7 and 16. In reality it's going to be 7, 4 and 21 as I've entered the Grindleford Gallop on Saturday. The Grindleford Gallop is 21 miles scenic off road running, it sounds tough and it's not quite the standard road run in the plan but it's time on feet and it's endurance training.
Eight weeks in and I am feeling fitter and stronger than I did a couple of months ago. If the next eight weeks go as well as the first eight then I should get to the start line feeling well prepared. Even if it all goes to plan 26.2 miles still sounds like an awfully long way to run.
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