Week 7

have had a strange week this week. I had two evenings at work again which meant that my training was disrupted. Tuesday I got home after parents evening at 6:40, let the dog out and was back out again at 6:50 to do a quick interval session. Was more like fartlek really as this was supposed to be an easy interval week. Wednesday I did the harder tempo run. Thursday was the spring concert so I couldn't train and felt so wiped out by Friday I could have fallen asleep standing up. So I decided to give Friday night's medium run a miss in the hope of being fresher for Sunday's long run. Saturday I still felt really tired, but made sure that I ate a good meal because the late nights had also meant that for a few days I ate nothing but sandwiches, which I know is not ideal. Today I did my first ever 20 mile run. I had been dreading it because it seemed like such a long way and I have been told horror stories about the distance. But, I applied my positive mental thinking and viewed it as just 2 miles longer than last week which helped a lot. I had bought myself a camelbak yesterday and took a couple of gels out with me as well. And I did it! I finished in 3:03 and it actually felt easier than last week's 18 miles. I even feel like a proper runner today because I have my first blister Wondering if it might be caused by my running gait changing from wearing my orthotics. I wasn't wearing my orthotics today and wore my stability trainers instead. It wasn't even the distance because it came on by 8 miles. One thing I have noticed recently is a change in my stamina. Last summer when I did long runs, I started to struggle at 7 miles and was fine again by 8. Today I didn't start to struggle until 10 miles and was fine again by 11. Next week is Wakefield 10k and I am looking forward to testing the marathon training leads to pbs over shorter distances theory...

Week 6

10 weeks to go... Did my longest run ever this morning - 18 miles. Did 3-12 with Michael and it was nice to have company . The route I had worked out had a couple of big hills and several more longer but less steep ones so my legs and bum are really complaining now! The last 6 I did on my own and was fine up until the last 2 when my legs started to really tire. The last mile seemed to go on FOREVER! I got back and walked around the kitchen (didn't dare sit down in case I couldn't get up again ) wondering how on earth I would be ready to run another 8 miles on top of that. But, when I think about it sensibly, I have only ever done three 16 mile runs and 16 today was easy so maybe after I have done my 20s I will feel better about the distance. Speed was okay - did it in 2:40 averaging 8:54 which I am pleased with. I tried the easy tempo / hard interval thing this week and that also worked well. Wasn't quite sure what an easy tempo run would look like so I did a shorter distance at fast tempo then another mile or so at slightly slower speed. My intervals this week were really good. I did 6 x 800m with 200m recovery. Three of them were at sub 7 pace (one was even 6:46!) and the other 3 were just over. It was getting dark by that point though so I had to slow down to avoid breaking my ankle in the pottholes on the track I use. My easy 3 miles of parkrun on Saturday morning turned out to be not quite so easy as Kara did a fantastic 27:53 time averaging 9 minute miles. Really proud of her! Less miles this week due to having to be at work late twice this week and it will be the same for the next two weeks, but am trying to move things around to get the miles in. Total: 39.68

Week 5

am posting this a day early because I have had a fab run today and am feeling positive . The rest of the week, my legs have felt incredibly tired and I ended up abandoning my interval session on Thursday because they had turned into lead weights and refused to move quickly. I think it was because I had run every day since Sunday and have also been wearing in my orthotics (which has meant my calfs were tight and sore as my feet and legs adjust to a 'normal' position). I have also been very tired and experiencing the same thing as Kay in waking up ridiculously early despite being so tired. Anyway, I was apprehensive about my run this morning to say the least and really had to force myself out of the door. BUT - it was brill! I went on an undulating route, got lost when I ended up on a farm track which was also very muddy, and had fun trying to move forwards in the wind. The invisible treadmill running must have been very funny to watch as I was running incredibly hard and literally moving nowhere! At one point I think I even went backwards as well. It took me 2:29, but I didn't mind considering the conditions in places. So this week I have done 5 recovery, 7.8 medium run with run club, 3 tempo, a few intervals and 16 mile long run. I will be finishing the week with a 5 mile recovery run tomorrow evening bringing the total for this week to 41 miles.

Tough Challenge

This is certainly the toughest challenge I have faced both physically and mentally, but I need those challenges to keep me going . I do tend to set myself high targets and, following a conversation with Tom, I think I will have to set myself a lower target for Edinburgh. Two reasons: 1) I don't think I am capable of a 1:35 half marathon yet and I know I really need this to achieve 3:30. 2) I really want to do London and if I can get under 3:45 I will get a gfa place and if I aim too high and miss it I could blow my chances of a London place. I am doing my physio and stretch exercises as often as possible although I don't have time to do it every day. I have done this volume of training before although not at the same intensity I don't think and had no problem with it except being a little more tired. So I was trying to work out what was different and came to two conclusions - I am working more hours than before and I am having difficulty refuelling straight after a run. This is because most of my runs are done after school while madam is in aftercare or clubs and I can't eat until I get home which could be an hour later. If you have any ideas as to what I could take to eat in that 20 minute window I would be grateful. Please don't suggest nuts though (the packet I bought with hope after our marathon meeting went home with Kay last night!).

Week 4

Well it's a quarter of the way through training now and I have had a good week's training. Tuesday was a tempo run along the route Kay suggested which worked much better and I was able to hold the pace. Wednesday was a recovery run. Thursday was 6 x 800m intervals which was not easy, but I managed the right pace in all but one. Friday was my medium run of 7.5 miles (all I could fit in while madam was at Brownies). Today I was aiming for 14 miles, but missed a turn on my route, tried to make up the distance later and ended up at 15 miles. Mileage for this week: 37 I know that I am achieving the speeds and distances required by my schedule, but I am wondering whether I can possibly be ready in time. Today's long run was tough going and my legs felt very tired. It was a hilly route and quite windy this morning, but I had thought that the training I have been putting in over the last year or so would have meant that that distance would have felt like relatively easy. I did manage to pick up the pace at the end and finished in 2:13. Is it normal to feel like this at this stage of training? When does it start to feel like it is coming together?!

Podiatrist Visit

I finally got a name for my knee problems today - I have equinus. This means that my foot doesn't flex properly at the ankle and my foot points downwards. It could be something I was born with, or caused by walking on my toes for 33 years! I have been fitted for orthotics and she tried some templates under my heels and I was amazed at the difference just 4mm made - I could actually bend my knees! Thinking about it, it is no wonder I have difficulty with hills. If my foot doesn't flex upwards and my knees don't bend, I can't possibly have the power needed to push my body upwards. I'm going to awfully disappointed if these don't turn out to be a panacea when they arrive in a couple of weeks!

Week 3

have been really sensible this week (for a change!). I didn't feel brilliant on Tuesday so stayed near home instead of run club and cut my run a bit short as well. I also took Wednesday as a rest day which meant two in a week which is a bit unusual for me. Thursday I attempted a tempo run, but I think I was still feeling the after effects of the bug I had because my legs did not want to move as fast as I needed them to. Also found that there where I thought would be fairly flat near work wasn't that flat. Need to try to find somewhere else for future runs. Friday was much better and I did a 4 x 1 mile interval session. Got some strange looks from the police as there was an accident on the route I found to run around so had to run past them 3 times. Saturday was parkrun and I took it easy. Today was a 12 miler which I really enjoyed. Quite a hilly route, but I finished in a reasonable time and completed the week on a high note. More reasonable mileage this week at 33 miles which my knee has been grateful for I think. Podiatrist visit on Tuesday afternoon and I am really hopeful that they will be able to help me complete the higher mileage I know is coming up very soon with little or no pain.