26 Days to go, less than 4 weeks !!!!!
Last week my Marathon News magazine and registration letter arrived making it now very real. I have a nasty feeling the next 26 days are going to go really quickly. The magazine is a really good read and really supportive letting us know everything we need to know with loads of training and preparation tips. (could have done with it about 4 months ago).
The best bit is that from today it's time to start tapering down the training, yay! Yesterday (Sunday 29th) was my last really long run. I used it as a dry run to practice pacing and hydration and fueling for the day.
I changed the route around a bit to give a bit of variety but made sure I still did 20 miles. The start was the same but I headed off into Plympton and back before heading down the embankment and the cut up through Tothill back into the town centre.
Ollie (see blog link on the right) thinks that drinking Lucozade has a psychological effect rather than physical, I don't care because it worked. I drank half a bottle before setting off and took a bottle with me. After about 10 miles I popped into a petrol station to refuel!
I reigned myself in at the start ensuring I kept a steady pace and although I thought I was running slower I actually got to my 10 mile point 10 minutes quicker and was feeling quite fresh. The knee seemed to be holding out ok, as a precautionary measure I had put a knee support on. The knee was fine but the support was starting to chafe on my thigh!
At about 14 miles the knee started to hurt a little, nowhere near as bad as before, but I dropped down to a fast walking pace in case. I also popped into a corner shop and bought some Ibuprofen, took a couple and 20 minutes later all was good.
I got home in just under 4 1/2 hours a bit slower than the last time I completed 20 miles however the big difference was last time I was on my last legs, this time I felt like I could keep going. In fact I went on to spend the next 4 hours tiling my kitchen.
So feeling good and confident about the big day. What I need now is some more money for the FSI, we reached the half way point (thanks Dad) but still a way to go. Please check out the website www.thefsi.org to see what it's all about. In a nutshell it's a charity inspired by Emma Harrison's experience on the Secret Millionaire in which she realised that small charities often have the passion to fund raise and run their charities however are missing some of the skills to make the most of the money they have raised. The skills that the large charities can pay for. The FSI provide that training and support for free. So raising money for the FSI is supporting the thousands of small charities across the UK.
Anyway gotta go speak to you soon.
Cheers
Snooky
Monday, 30 March 2009
Sunday, 22 March 2009
1 Month, 3 Days, 11 Hours and 37 Minutes to go..... That's 5 weeks!!!
What a week! I was off from the day job this week to redecorate my kitchen, I'll tell you redecorating is as a good a work out as you will ever get. By the end each day I was knackered and muscles ached where I didn't know I had muscles.
I lost another 3 lbs last week so that's 23 lbs since starting training, so back on track. Well until this week, because I am redecorating my kitchen, I haven't had the access to the cooker all this week which has meant a week of takeaways and sandwiches so if have lost any weight this week it will be a miracle.
Today's run: the plan was to do another 20 mile run in absolute gorgeous weather, it was so nice not to get soaked on the run. The run started well at a good pace passing other runners on the way, then about 12 miles in I opened up my stride and stepped up the pace only for my left knee to start hurting again. This is now becoming a bit of a worry, although I should have strapped it up knowing it was weak. I will from now on. I actually had to call for my wife to pick me up as my knee felt like it was seizing up and I didn't want cause any more damage.
It eased up in the afternoon when mowing the lawn so hopefully the damage isn't too bad.
Anyway better go.
Cheers
Snooky
What a week! I was off from the day job this week to redecorate my kitchen, I'll tell you redecorating is as a good a work out as you will ever get. By the end each day I was knackered and muscles ached where I didn't know I had muscles.
I lost another 3 lbs last week so that's 23 lbs since starting training, so back on track. Well until this week, because I am redecorating my kitchen, I haven't had the access to the cooker all this week which has meant a week of takeaways and sandwiches so if have lost any weight this week it will be a miracle.
Today's run: the plan was to do another 20 mile run in absolute gorgeous weather, it was so nice not to get soaked on the run. The run started well at a good pace passing other runners on the way, then about 12 miles in I opened up my stride and stepped up the pace only for my left knee to start hurting again. This is now becoming a bit of a worry, although I should have strapped it up knowing it was weak. I will from now on. I actually had to call for my wife to pick me up as my knee felt like it was seizing up and I didn't want cause any more damage.
It eased up in the afternoon when mowing the lawn so hopefully the damage isn't too bad.
Anyway better go.
Cheers
Snooky
Thursday, 12 March 2009
Injury worry!
1 month 10 days 11 hours and 28 minutes...
Hi, long time no speak, I did start to write a blog on Thursday, but fell asleep while typing, so here's 2 in 1.
So, Thursday I ran to work and back. The run in was great and it probably would have been my fastest time if it hadn't been for the traffic lights. I managed to do the 5 miles in 52 minutes, 1 minute outside my best. I was on target to also complete my quickest return, getting to Wolesley Road in just over 15 minutes. Then about half way along Wolesley Road I got a sharp pain down the outside of my left knee, not enough to pull me up but enough to slow me down and cause concern. I decided to walk the rest of the way. That evening my knee stiffened up and getting up and down the stairs became very difficult and I got even more worried.
Friday there didn't seem to much improvement although walking on the flat was fine stairs and hills hurt.
So today, the knee was feeling much better and going up and down stairs felt free, however there is still a niggling twinge there, so a decision had to be made, run, walk, rest or something else. With the twinge still there I decided to not run or walk to ensure the knee got rested, but I had to train. I decided to go for a swim, I swam for two hours and then the family arrived and we messed about in the pool for another hour and a half. When we got home it was down to an afternoon of gardening in the glorious spring weather.
So no long run this week, but my body certainly got a good workout, the thing with swimming is that you don't realise how much of a workout you are getting until you get out of the pool. I got out of the pool and all of a sudden I felt like I had done 10 rounds with Tyson.
The knee is feeling better, so hopefully I will get out and run a couple of times this week.
That's about it for now, speak to you soon.
Cheers
Snooky
Hi, long time no speak, I did start to write a blog on Thursday, but fell asleep while typing, so here's 2 in 1.
So, Thursday I ran to work and back. The run in was great and it probably would have been my fastest time if it hadn't been for the traffic lights. I managed to do the 5 miles in 52 minutes, 1 minute outside my best. I was on target to also complete my quickest return, getting to Wolesley Road in just over 15 minutes. Then about half way along Wolesley Road I got a sharp pain down the outside of my left knee, not enough to pull me up but enough to slow me down and cause concern. I decided to walk the rest of the way. That evening my knee stiffened up and getting up and down the stairs became very difficult and I got even more worried.
Friday there didn't seem to much improvement although walking on the flat was fine stairs and hills hurt.
So today, the knee was feeling much better and going up and down stairs felt free, however there is still a niggling twinge there, so a decision had to be made, run, walk, rest or something else. With the twinge still there I decided to not run or walk to ensure the knee got rested, but I had to train. I decided to go for a swim, I swam for two hours and then the family arrived and we messed about in the pool for another hour and a half. When we got home it was down to an afternoon of gardening in the glorious spring weather.
So no long run this week, but my body certainly got a good workout, the thing with swimming is that you don't realise how much of a workout you are getting until you get out of the pool. I got out of the pool and all of a sudden I felt like I had done 10 rounds with Tyson.
The knee is feeling better, so hopefully I will get out and run a couple of times this week.
That's about it for now, speak to you soon.
Cheers
Snooky
Sunday, 8 March 2009
Run of two halves!
1 Month, 17 Days, 11 Hours and 27 Minutes to go.........
Hi, long time no speak, I have had a bad week for training this week, both with running and eating, the reason is simple ... time! Last week I was working both Saturday night and all day Sunday as I had a stand at the West Country Wedding show at Plymouth Pavilions, although I didn't run I was on my feet for seven hours, and my training helped out because normally my feet are killing me with an hour to go, but not this time my feet were fine.
During the week I couldn't run to work as I had the auditors in and I didn't think it would be appropriate to be "glowing" while sitting next to them, later in the week I had the kids while my wife had work commitments so again I couldn't get out. So today I had to make up for it.
I took a couple of bits of advice today, from Steve who's training for the Marathon Des Sables in Africa who suggested I upped to 20 miles and drank Lucozade sport on the way around, Kat Harrison who suggested we changed our route, I did all of this I planned a 20 mile route on the marathon route finder, it started with 4 mile lap of Saltash before setting off across the bridge and doing a slight variation of my 16 mile run in reverse.
I started off just after half eight, the sun was shining, I was dressed for the cold. but by the time I had done the lap of Saltash I was way too hot, so I took a quick detour back to the house and dumped my sweatshirt, a decision I was to regret in the second half of the run. So off I went across the bridge, once I got to the other side I took some more advice, this time from the marathon website. I stopped and re-stretched, while I was stretching I had a nice chat with another runner who's training for the Plymouth half marathon. I carried on at a good pace and headed through Central Park, found new bit of the park I hadn't ever seen before and I ran through Mutley, down North Hill and into town, feeling good and still making good time.
I got to the part of the embankment where the lovely 4x4 driver like to soak me and guess what.... No puddle!! I was well happy!! This is where I realised if there is a god he hates me, I got around the corner, the sky turned dark, the wind picked up, the temperature dropped by about 10 degrees and the heavens opened, It was raining razor blades, by the time I got to Marsh Mills I was soaked though and freezing, I struggled on heading straight into the wind, the rain was going in my eyes and was really starting to sting, then as fast as it started the rain stopped and the sun came back out. I then started the climb up the most evil steepest and longest hill I have had to do on my training so far. I have run down this hill twice before but never up!! by the time I got to the top my legs were screaming for mercy!
I plodded on and then back came the rain and wind even colder and harder than before and again I had run straight into it, at one point after Crownhill I had to hide behind a wall, at this point I seriously contemplated calling my wife to come and get me, but to be honest a combination of wanting to complete the 20 miles and my fingers being too cold to work my phone I set off again face to face with the elements. I managed to stagger/jog back through St Budeaux and to the bridge, stopped and popped into the loo to call my wife to start the bath running and when I came back out the sun was shining again!! So as I dried off on my last leg back to the house and warmed down by walking the last mile I gained the satisfaction that I had completed 20 miles in just under 4 1/2 hours.
The big lesson today I think about long distance running is not always about the legs, I think it's about making sure your mind can keep telling your legs to keep moving.
Oh by the way the bath was ready and was great.
Right gotta go.
Cheers
Mike
Hi, long time no speak, I have had a bad week for training this week, both with running and eating, the reason is simple ... time! Last week I was working both Saturday night and all day Sunday as I had a stand at the West Country Wedding show at Plymouth Pavilions, although I didn't run I was on my feet for seven hours, and my training helped out because normally my feet are killing me with an hour to go, but not this time my feet were fine.
During the week I couldn't run to work as I had the auditors in and I didn't think it would be appropriate to be "glowing" while sitting next to them, later in the week I had the kids while my wife had work commitments so again I couldn't get out. So today I had to make up for it.
I took a couple of bits of advice today, from Steve who's training for the Marathon Des Sables in Africa who suggested I upped to 20 miles and drank Lucozade sport on the way around, Kat Harrison who suggested we changed our route, I did all of this I planned a 20 mile route on the marathon route finder, it started with 4 mile lap of Saltash before setting off across the bridge and doing a slight variation of my 16 mile run in reverse.
I started off just after half eight, the sun was shining, I was dressed for the cold. but by the time I had done the lap of Saltash I was way too hot, so I took a quick detour back to the house and dumped my sweatshirt, a decision I was to regret in the second half of the run. So off I went across the bridge, once I got to the other side I took some more advice, this time from the marathon website. I stopped and re-stretched, while I was stretching I had a nice chat with another runner who's training for the Plymouth half marathon. I carried on at a good pace and headed through Central Park, found new bit of the park I hadn't ever seen before and I ran through Mutley, down North Hill and into town, feeling good and still making good time.
I got to the part of the embankment where the lovely 4x4 driver like to soak me and guess what.... No puddle!! I was well happy!! This is where I realised if there is a god he hates me, I got around the corner, the sky turned dark, the wind picked up, the temperature dropped by about 10 degrees and the heavens opened, It was raining razor blades, by the time I got to Marsh Mills I was soaked though and freezing, I struggled on heading straight into the wind, the rain was going in my eyes and was really starting to sting, then as fast as it started the rain stopped and the sun came back out. I then started the climb up the most evil steepest and longest hill I have had to do on my training so far. I have run down this hill twice before but never up!! by the time I got to the top my legs were screaming for mercy!
I plodded on and then back came the rain and wind even colder and harder than before and again I had run straight into it, at one point after Crownhill I had to hide behind a wall, at this point I seriously contemplated calling my wife to come and get me, but to be honest a combination of wanting to complete the 20 miles and my fingers being too cold to work my phone I set off again face to face with the elements. I managed to stagger/jog back through St Budeaux and to the bridge, stopped and popped into the loo to call my wife to start the bath running and when I came back out the sun was shining again!! So as I dried off on my last leg back to the house and warmed down by walking the last mile I gained the satisfaction that I had completed 20 miles in just under 4 1/2 hours.
The big lesson today I think about long distance running is not always about the legs, I think it's about making sure your mind can keep telling your legs to keep moving.
Oh by the way the bath was ready and was great.
Right gotta go.
Cheers
Mike
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