Well, how did that happen?
I thought I had loads of time over the rest of spring and summer to do a few different things before training for the second marathon this year but the time has whizzed by, and I’m already at the end of Week 1 of round two!
I had hoped to do another little block of speed work, like I managed for a 10K plan last year – and I’ve done zilch. I had hoped to get myself in the hills to try this fell running business – I’ve had one go, this Wednesday, and I’m not sure it’s for me because it’s scary business. I don’t mind being last, which I was by a long way, but I easily getting lost and the precipitous downhills felt treacherous. Jo, from the club, said that it must be like childbirth, the further away you get from the memory, the more you think that it can’t have been that hard! So, we’ll see.
But I’ve managed to keep on running and more importantly, enjoy my running. Putting no pressure on myself, and not worrying about it (too much) when I had no energy. And there are always days like that.
My plan, in this fifteen week build-up, is not to follow a plan, or at least not to try and follow someone else’s plan. What I found with the spring training, was that there were too many local races and runs that didn’t figure in the off-the-shelf training plans. So I was constantly adjusting it anyway. Plus, I’m still far away from any serious training, because I’m sure there will be a lot of walking in my marathon. Therefore, for now, I’m just going to make it up as I go along.
Today, I went out for a really nice, easy peasy, zero pushing, three and a half miles. I had felt a nice cool breeze when I started, but the underlying mugginess soon revealed itself. This will be the biggest difference between my spring and autumn marathon training. Running in the warmth.
Also, today, I had a tiny reminder that I would be getting on a bit by the time I run the next marathon. I’ll be hitting the big 50 at the end of September, which, on the plus side means I’m on the next Age group in running, which may make me get closer to the podium. But judging by the whippets in our club at that age, I’m not so sure. The reminder was that I needed a wee about five minutes into my run, and … well I wasn’t quite able to hold it all in before I got to the end. No embarrassing wet patches level of leakage, but I knew. So a good reminder to keep at those pelvic floor exercises before I need to grab a pack of Tena Ladies.
So despite the fact that I’m not following a plan, I thought I’d show what I do, in the same way as last time, because, if nothing else, it will be a useful diary for me.
| Day | What I Did |
| Mon | 20 mins Yoga With Adriene 10 mins Strength and Mobility (Not going to the classes any more but using a range of the exercises at home) Run: 5.34 miles [8.59 km] Pace: 10:39 min/miles [6.46 min/km] Supposed to be easy, turned into a progression run |
| Tue | 20 mins Yoga 10 mins Strength and Mobility Club Handicap Run: 5 miles [8:04 km] Pace: 9:21 mm [5:72 m/km] Top of my current ability there. I think I rinsed myself thanks to Sue who paced me to begin with. |
| Wed | 20 mins Yoga 10 mins Strength and Mobility Fell Race Run: 4.97 miles [8 km] Pace: 16.:17 mm [10:05 m/km] Wow! Thank goodness for tail runners to keep pointing me in the right direction! |
| Thu | Nothing at all |
| Long Slow Run Run: 12:31 miles [19.81 km] Pace: 12:23 mm [7.6 m/km] Did this in the morning after two cups of tea. Ate a Veloforte bar between mile 9 and 10. Bit tired by the end but not too bad. | |
| Sat | Parkrun volunteer and nothing else. |
| Sun | 30 mins Yoga Gentle round the block Run: 3.55 miles [5.71 km] Pace: 11:31 mm [7.03 m/km] |
Total Elevation: 2,594 ft [790 m](most of that was on the fell race)
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