Epilogue - Daring Greatly

And so it ends, not with a bang but with a whimper.

3:06:54 - about a minute and a half slower than last time out, wasn't exactly how I wanted it to pan out. That's not the whole story though, the fact is that the training left me feeling in better shape than ever and I genuinely thought that something in the region of 3 hours was possible. On another day it probably was.

To avoid repeating myself, most of what I wanted to say is on the post I wrote for the club. Have a read of that HERE and then come back....

Done?

Right, it isn't all bad - there are lots of positives. Smashing a series of PBs en route has shown me the benefit of an actual training plan rather than the half-arsed attempts of previous years. It's something I can build on over Autumn and Winter. After the required rest, I'll be planning on not embarrassing myself in the Cross Country season and then look to post some properly quick times over some shorter distances. 

The simple fact is I don't regret trying to go for a quicker time, if it had worked I'd have looked like a genius. Sadly however!

When you are dealing with such fine margins, disappointment is a necessary part of it. It just makes me more determined to get things right on the next time out. Speaking of which - the London ballot is out in a few weeks. Maybe I'll be blogging again in the New Year...

Point of Departure

Three Days to Go

I'm writing this when I really should be sleeping, although I know that I won't be able to. Mainly because I'll be lying awake thinking of things I should be packing, or how I'm going to fall foul of the increasingly draconian baggage allowances.

Tomorrow I fly to Reykjavik so it's all over now bar the shouting. Just three simple tasks for the day:

1) Catch flight

2) Get to hotel (fingers crossed the online booking worked...)

3) Pick up race number from the Expo (assuming again that I can find it)

After that, it's sightseeing for a day and a half before an early night ready for the race.

Running has essentially stopped now until Saturday. I went out at club on Monday and did 6 and a half at 8 minute mile pace - probably the slowest of the entire training cycle, but necessary. I ran with a new member who recently ran his first marathon in 2:47, which puts things into perspective! Lots of support from friends which has helped calm the nerves - although the suggestion from one that I would run 2:55 didn't really help. The natural pessimist in me is now in full effect. 

There hasn't been any other running, 'The Plan' mentions a few short ones but I decided to deviate as before my last marathon I found doing almost nothing in the week before was the best policy. I did go to the gym tonight to try and burn off some nervous energy though.

Well that's it. I'll try and post something, wi-fi permitting, but if not my thoughts will have to wait until post-race.

I'll see you on the other side. 

The Event Horizon..

6 Days to Go

There was a time not too long ago when the thought of a 12 mile run of a Sunday morning would fill me with dread. Now, as I enter the last week of this training programme, it's a blessed relief. I thought that the old faithful route along the Rea Valley would be a nice change - before the marathon I used to   do it practically every week, nowadays I can't remember the last time I ran the whole way up to Northfield and back.

EDIT: According to the oracle that is Strava, it was at the end of March and I was twenty seconds faster than today. Ordinarily I'd be worried - but I hadn't had four months of 40-plus mile weeks back then. Actually, any excuse to be worried...

So that's just about it for the training. Next week is race week so Monday's club run will be little more than an exercise in calming the nerves, then a mandated session on Wednesday with a couple of miles at race pace before I put myself in the hands of Icelandair.

I've checked the weather and, barring a potential for showers on the day, conditions look damn near perfect. Training has gone about as well as it could. Even a natural pessimist like myself is struggling to find many negatives in the build-up.

Starting to get very nervous.

The Business End

8 Days to Go

The big day looms ever closer, this time next week I'll probably be entertaining thoughts of an early night before the race when in reality I'll be lying awake all night. Before then, I reached another milestone with my final session of speed work of the whole programme.

To the general bemusement of my running comrades, I decided to enter the annual BRAT 5k that takes place around Rowheath. People wondered why on earth I was doing it a week before the race but there was method in my madness. 'The Plan' called for 8 miles running with 3 x 1500 hard reps, so I thought that an actual 5k race would be an adequate substitute.

There is also the fact that this particular race and I have unfinished business. It was the first proper race that I ever ran - only a few weeks after joining the club and only to try and impress a girl. After wheezing my way around for the first time and cursing myself for my stupidity I developed a special hatred for the event - compounded by the subsequent three years when I failed to dip under 20 minutes on each occasion.

This year, the race again lived up to billing with a hard slog over two laps leaving me absolutely knackered at the end. That said, I did manage to knock twenty seconds off last year's time so a good psychological boost for next week. No doubt despite my protestations I'll be back again next year - who knows, I might even learn to pace it properly rather than going all guns blazing at the downhill start and frantically trying to hang on at the end...

One more 12 mile run booked in for Sunday and then it's basically all over bar the shouting. Time to start packing.

Final Tune-Up

13 Days to Go

We're almost there, and despite my initial scepticism, the race yesterday did me the world of good. The Stourbridge Stumble probably wouldn't be everyone's first choice of a tune-up run - seeing as it's mostly off road, very hilly and involves a fair chunk of running of sand - but it fit in with the plan so needs must in the circumstances.

Not for the first time during the training, I ended up running in some less than ideal weather. This time it was the heat (not sure why I'm surprised, it was August) however my previous runs home and in particular the Black Country Half meant that I was better prepared than some. Fellow Harriers Paul  Gorman and Mat Pollard seemed particularly affected by it which was a shame as they're both running well.

The race itself was the usual for Stourbridge - a steady start before a frantic dash to get a good position before the single file sections, holding off runners on the uphill sections before they passed me on the flat and then me passing them again on the sandy bit. This time I really felt the benefit of all the training as I spent the last mile in a bit of a battle with another runner before getting the jump on him in the last few hundred meters for a strong finish.

Overall, knackered but a good day at the office. So much so, I broke my detox rule and treated myself to a couple of Norwegian beers once I got home...

...which was a bit daft considering I still had to do a reasonably long run in the morning. I made it up and down the canal but it was a tough old slog. A combination of race fatigue, heat and a hangover didn't make for a particularly pleasant experience. Oh well, it was entirely self-inflicted so can't complain. At least I have the knowledge that it was the last long run I'll be doing. Until the big day obviously.

Soon be time to start packing...

Overthinking...

16 Days to Go

This is already getting ridiculous, I'm only three days into the taper and I'm already climbing the walls metaphorically speaking. It certainly wasn't this bad last year. Monday's club run was a nice, steady effort - apart from the first two miles which I did at a daft pace in order to catch up with Mike and friends. Not sure why I did this - it's obviously of no benefit, and there are lots of other nice people in the club to run with!

After a day off yesterday apart from a trip to gym, tonight brought another rep session. The plan of 5 lots of 600m runs was successfully executed over at Rowheath with extra points for dodging both the showers, a man flying a kite and the inevitable group of the youth. Managed to do the 8 miles and make it back before 7 o'clock which was a rare triumph.

Despite this activity, the mind is still racing ahead to the big day. I keep catching myself checking the weather forecast for Reykjavik - which is entirely useless since the race is still over two weeks away. There's meticulous planning and then there's a descent into outright madness! Hopefully Saturday's race at Stourbridge will help to burn off some nervous energy. 

It's either that, or start planning my Iceland itinerary...

Peak Performance

20 Days to Go

Made it! I'll be honest and admit that there were a few points over the last few weeks when I genuinely thought that I wouldn't, but today marked both the heaviest week in terms of mileage and the end of the hard weeks of training. From now on, it's tapering all the way.

A final 20 mile run was the order of the day, again along the canal into town before looping back through Summerfield Park - an unusual choice admittedly, but it did mean I could add another tick to my owl spotting list. Overall, it was a bit slower than previous weeks but that is probably due to deliberately trying to run the first few miles a bit slower so that I wasn't absolutely exhausted by the end. Unsurprisingly this didn't work.

Daft tactics aside, I still made it in a decent time and could reward myself with a big lunch and the knowledge that the next few weeks will involve progressively less running leading up to the big day. Of course the running will now be replaced by increasing levels of introspection. Have I put in enough training? Did I do it at the right pace? 

In the end, all this is entirely meaningless. There are only so many hours in the day and I'm pretty sure that I've spent far too many of them running in the last few weeks to the detriment of other activity. Ultimately, I've done as much training as I can. We shall see in a few weeks if it's enough...

That said, to stop myself going slightly bonkers through second guessing myself, 'The Plan' recommends a 10k race next week to clear the head. Handily, that fits in with the Stourbridge Stagger so a Saturday evening out beckons. 

Before that, I have to content with a new broom at work as our new boss starts in post tomorrow. I sense some meaningless charts in the offing...

Almost There...

23 Days to Go

I've made it to the final week of hard training before experiencing the twin dreads of any runner. On Monday it was getting lost - an impressive achievement considering there was a group of five of us and we were running in Birmingham where we all live. Still, made it back to the club having only run about two miles more than planned. Just remind me in future to ignore anyone offering an 'interesting' detour during a club run.

Tonight, brought an even worse fate - getting caught short whilst out on a run. Luckily I'd decided to do my reps over at Rowheath rather than Cannon Hill owing to the likely crowds post-cricket, so could just dip over to the Pavilion for my ablutions before resuming the 1km repeats. I don't think they were particularly quick (probably out that down to post-work malaise) but it's the thought that counts eh?

Tomorrow I think that I'll do the run home from work. It will probably be my last one for a fair old while which makes me feel a bit sad in an odd way...

As an aside, I noticed last night that there was a Reykjavik Marathon Strava group which of course I immediately joined. Sadly it was a bit underwhelming - comprising me and a bloke from Wallasey. Just hope that there's a bigger turnout on the day!

Towards the End of Things...

26 Days to Go

Almost there! Tomorrow is the start of the final week of hard training. To be honest, it's really only the thought of the imminent tapering that is keeping me going. It was a hard slog this weekend, not only with running but also having to drive up and down the M6 to fulfil my social responsibilities.

Switched my long run to Saturday morning and managed 18 miles (this was the prescribed distance - not sure I could manage the 14 at marathon pace though) on a simple route along the canal into town and back. I managed to dodge most of the bad weather - although I should really have taken my phone so I could have snapped some of the many Owls that it has now become my mission to visit.

An important lesson was learned on the way back as by mile 16 I was really struggling and convinced  that my pace was dropping off somewhat drastically. However when I finally stumbled home and looked, the running had stayed pretty consistent. It just goes to reinforce how important the psychological aspect of any race is - particularly stupidly long ones like marathons!

After that it was a dart up the motorway for Martyn and Jen's housewarming in Warrington. A really nice day and a good catch-up with the crew and assorted children. It must have been a good night as I woke up in the kindly provided guest room with one of their cats effectively asleep on my head. At least it kept me warm!

Strange times indeed. 

Groundhog Day

30 Days to Go

Wednesday is usually when I run home from work as the easiest way to fit in a run of a decent distance during the week. This means that I have the following conversation with someone in the office when I walk through in my running gear on the way out:

"Off for a run are you?"

"Yep, I'm running home."

"Really? How far is that then?"

"About ten miles."

"Well good luck with that then."

Since I only have a week and a half left before the taper begins, next week will probably be the last time I do it, so the two or so people who haven't had this thrilling conversation yet should probably form an orderly queue. 

The run itself was quite good - and done at a fair old whack. I even did a cheeky extra detour to Cannon Hill to make it up to 13 miles. It's probably not surprising, considering I could hardly claim to have been overworked today - very difficult to be motivated when you've spent the day say in a windowless office on your own. Seriously, this is the second day in a row. If it happens again tomorrow I'll just assume everyone else has been sacked in the latest round of cost-cutting, or the long mooted office move has actually happened when I was off on Monday.

Worryingly, I did spend a portion of time on Street View having a look at portions of the marathon course.

This is not the behaviour of a rational man...

Back in the Club

Week Fourteen - 32 Days to Go

Like 50 Cent almost said, tonight I was at the club for the first Monday run in about three months. I felt a bit like the new boy at school as there were lots of people who I'd never seen before in my life! Luckily, Mike Scotney was back from his holidays so I could have a bit of a catch-up and have someone to run with. I got back into the swing of things pretty quickly - mainly because the main topic of conversation was the amazing medal I received from the Windmill Half yesterday. I can see a coach trip to next year's race so that everyone else can get their hands on one...

The route itself was good old Cannon Hill Park - which I seem to run all the time with all this training. By now I'm half convinced that I could probably do it blindfolded. I was hoping for a nice easy run, but it worked out at about 7:15 pace. Mike blamed me, but I'm pretty sure he was in front for most of it! Either way, good to be back and running with a group.

Back to work tomorrow which promises to be as fun as running into a gale force headwind. Pretty sure that everyone else is off so no doubt a large pile of effluent is sat on my desk awaiting immediate action. I haven't even got leftover food from Ramadan fast breaking to look forward to! 

I would normally say what my running plans are for the rest of the week, however since I've been away all weekend and left the 'The Plan' at home, I'm not exactly sure. As I'm building to the end though, I'm not exactly expecting a pleasant surprise...

Last Big Effort

33 Days to Go

Final big warm-up race today and like the Black Country Half a fortnight ago, the weather put paid to a really quick time. I headed up the Fylde Coast to sunny Lytham to take part in the Windmill Half Marathon and although the temperature had dropped from the last few days, there was a really strong headwind to contend with.

The course was almost pancake flat, so good practice for the terrain at Reykjavik, but the wind was about 20 mph and thanks to the race being two laps meant that just over half of it was run straight into it. It became pretty apparent after about six miles that this wasn't going to be a PB day - in fact checking Strava afterwards, the wind-less sections were well ahead of my best time, but were cancelled out by the windy ones. 

So I ended about 45 seconds off my PB, but I wasn't too disappointed given the conditions. Most importantly I managed to pace things properly, wasn't overtaken by anyone, and finished strongly. Two more weeks of hard training and then the blessed relief of the taper. Overall, I'm feeling quietly confident of a decent showing on the big day.

Actually, the best thing about today was the amazing medals they were giving out to all finishers. I'm pretty sure that you'd have to go a long way to find a better one..

Getting There Slowly

38 Days to Go

I made it through the weekend, not sure how but I did. The decision to try a 20 mile run after work on Sunday was admirable but completely stupid. Dragging myself along the Rea Valley path to the general bemusement of the public wasn't particularly pleasant - but at least I was sensible enough to go the opposite way round to normal so that I had to run down Church Road rather than up it.

On the plus side, I've found that mowing the lawn is a good warm-down exercise!

The weekend took it out of me so despite finishing the acting, I didn't head to the club on Monday or got the gym and instead just fell asleep for two hours. I did make the committee meeting, and it was nice to get a bit of praise for my recent results, although in a way it's putting added pressure on me for a good time.

Not much else exciting running wise this week. Some form of tootle out tomorrow, a spot of marshalling on Thursday and then a trip back up north for the weekend. I plan to have a relax and a few shandies with friends, run the second tune-up half marathon in glamorous Lytham and even have a bit of a run around the old haunts if time permits. 

Work wise, confusion still reigns. It appears that I still have a job, although I am not exactly sure what it involves anymore....

Getting the Monkey off your back...

42 Days to Go

It's getting closer. Just as Monday's play became a horribly tangible reality a few weeks ago, so the Marathon begins to loom ever larger. I was shocked at work today when I looked and saw that the race is now only seven weeks away.

Luckily today has been a successful, if busy one. The play was absolutely amazing, fluffed lines and missed queues aside (to be honest, no-one in the audience really noticed). Hopefully we will be doing something else as a group - I've even embraced the modern world and joined a WhatsApp group with some of them! Handily, the proposed day for more acting shenanigans is Wednesday - which means that I can finally return to Bournville for both club training sessions!

Another big milestone reached this week, with my first proper sub-40 minute 10k race at Droitwich for the third Worcestershire Midweek Series event. To say I was surprised is a bit of an understatement, particularly after I only remembered about the race on the morning. I also didn't have the best warm-up with the longest jog from the car park to the start that I've ever seen and a course that was a lot more undulating than advertised. Despite this, I managed to drag myself round in a great time - probably spurred on by the approaching Bournville pack and a man who appeared to be twice my age!

After a first ever Yoga session at the club last night (which taught me two things - I don't stretch enough, and that yoga bloody hurts) and a dash out after work tonight, I'm set fair for the weekend. Unfortunately this means two days of work and what is down in the schedule as the longest run of the whole training programme! Assuming I make it to Monday morning in one piece, I think I'll be in a good position to place a time estimate for the big day - especially with the last big warm-up race in the diary for next weekend. 

As an extra bonus, I'll be likely in so much pain come Monday from all this running that it might distract me from the meeting scheduled for the afternoon to finally reveal the future details of my employment. Bad news can always be digested much easier with lactic acid build-up...

The heat is on...

48 Days to Go

Blimey, it's been hot!

I managed 13 miles home from work on Tuesday evening after deciding it was likely to be the coolest  evening this week - that said, I still managed to down a litre bottle of water on the way back. Just as well, otherwise it would have been a particularly unpleasant experience. Wednesday was supposed to be a VO2 max workout, but a combination of the hottest day of the year and final rehearsals for the stage debut (Tickets still available) rather sensibly put paid to that.

After a nice strength workout at club on Thursday, and a quick blast on Friday, the stage was set for the Birmingham Black Country Half Marathon on Saturday. It's a straight point to point along the canal from Wolverhampton back to Brum with the flat terrain pretty similar to Reykjavik so a decent choice for a tune up race.

My plan was to try and maintain slightly quicker than the planned marathon pace - which with the temperature in the mid twenties was going to easier said than done. When I signed up for the race, I was mindful that previous years have seen the race extended to about 14 miles due to a repair enforced detour, so set a conservative estimated time in anticipation. As it happened, the canal was now fully fixed so the race was back to the right distance but my estimated time was useful as it gave me a constant stream of people to run at.

The race was tough in the conditions, but I consoled myself with the knowledge that the marathon in eight weeks will be run in temperatures at best half of what they were today. My overall time of 1:30:58 was pleasing as well - it meant that I was slightly quicker than marathon pace as intended. The mileage was pretty consistent as well, with most within five seconds of each other. The only outlier was the one involving running through the infamous canal tunnel at Coseley. 300m in the murky darkness is faintly terrifying.

So just a long run to brave tomorrow and then another week of training ticked off. My reward in the evening will be a trip to gig for the first time in months and then the play on Monday. Having a social life again following the Uni course is taking some getting used to!

Running Whilst Ginger

53 Days to Go

A pretty uneventful rest of week running wise, I needed the period of recovery after recent efforts and it seems that most of the runs were roughly the same pace - which either means that I'm not overtraining or I've become defiantly one paced. Time will tell...

The biggest difficulty this week was the delayed onset of summer and the warm weather. For a ginger person like myself, it's never pleasant and even worse when exercising. The sweat begins to pour off me almost as soon as I leave the house so carrying bottles will probably be the order of the day from now on. I might even scare the neighbours by switching to a vest for my runs out.

A quick swap of the schedules for this week thanks to juggling work and tune-up races. According to 'The Plan', the first of two tune-up Half Marathons should be in two weeks however due to having to work that weekend I've instead opted for that old perennial the Birmingham Black Country Half Marathon this Saturday. I've therefore switched two weeks of the schedule - giving me a mini taper prior to the race. 

On one hand, the fact it's down the canal and therefore pretty flat in a similar way to Reykjavik means that it should be good practice. On the other hand, if the warm continues as anticipated then it could be less a race and more a war of attrition!

"A tide in the affairs of man..."

Week 10 - 58 Days to Go

A couple of days off from my weekend exertions so now back into training with abundance. Yesterday was the seemingly simple matter of an eight-ish mile recovery run. Unfortunately, the practicalities of running in warm weather when a bit ginger haunted me in abundance and it was a hard old slog - although bizarrely checking afterwards appeared to be almost exactly the same time as  the last occasion I ran the particular route. Strange indeed.

Today was tempered by the double whammy of a washing machine diagnosed as broken beyond repair and confirmation of changes at work. How this will affect me I am yet to find out, except that it will almost certainly hamper my ability to do my job. Roll on the end of the Masters course when I can hopefully secure alternative employment...

I tried to take my mind off things with the run - supposedly nine miles with 6 x 800m reps in the middle. Thanks to my woeful judging of distances, the choice of doing it on what passes for the track of Rowheath meant that by the time I got back I'd actually done about 10 and a half miles. Oops. 

On the plus side, the reps were consistently paced and no-one was about when I did them to laugh at me!

Rest Day tomorrow. I'm in two minds whether to head to the club or simply gym it. Variety is the spice of life after all...

Triumph and Disaster

61 Days to Go

The end of a pleasant week off, and I'm currently sat in my front room trying to drag out the last few hours before my return to the house of fun. All in all, it's been a good week with doing as little as possible being just what was required. Some good news on Friday with the release of the first year Uni grades where I just scrapped a first! Maybe the latest University tables, where Birmingham has dropped a few places are onto something.

Of course, you don't want to know about that - you want the latest instalment of the running adventures... 

Two solid training runs, and thanks to some spectacularly bad planning, two races (on consecutive days) were on the agenda. Friday evening brought my favourite race of the year - the Blakedown Bolt, 10k of multiterrain around the Clent Hills. It's a small race, but there was a good turnout from the club and thanks to the recent good weather conditions were almost bone dry underfoot so it was on for a good time. 

In the end I was about 90 seconds quicker than last year, probably buoyed by a combination of the enhanced training and being chased down by a particularly quick ginger chap (if nothing else, I am determined that I should be the fastest ginger runner in any race!) who is one of those annoying people who seems naturally fast without any training. As usual, I enjoyed it - even the ridiculous hill and stile combination at mile five.

With less than 24 hours rest, I then had to tackle the final Fourmidables Event, which necessitated another drive into the wilds of Shropshire - again the heavy rain. With the results of previous races meaning that, barring a catastrophe, I was guaranteed to finish second senior male - I could ease off a bit. We started in driving rain and annoyingly my Garmin decided not pick up a signal for the first half mile so I couldn't really pace myself properly.

Over the first two miles, I passed a steady stream of runners before the course went defiantly off road for the next section. The heavy rain meant that it was extremely slippy underfoot but I managed to stay ahead of the chasing pack - even lucking out when I crossed a field just in advance of a herd of cows, forcing those behind me to stop and wait. 

After a short climb, the rest of the course was pretty much steady or downhill but nevertheless I felt it in the legs after the day before and was glad to cross the finish line at the Gnosall Carnival to a smattering of applause. I have to say that I was impressed with the old-school nature of it - there was even a coconut shy and a tug of war competition. 

Impressively, I managed to get slightly lost on the quarter mile walk back to the car park which meant that went I finally got home, a well-earned rest was on the cards.

Today should have been a long run, but erring on the side of caution after two straight days of hard running, decided that it would almost certainly be an invitation to an injury so took to DIY instead. Despite my recent triumphs, I was brought back to earth with a bump after arriving back on Saturday to discover that my washing machine had decided to break. My rudimentary skills couldn't do anything so it looks like a repair bill is coming my way...

Sadly, although I may have improved the running in recent months, it's not by enough that a professional career beckons. Looks like I still need the day job to bring the money in. Speaking of which, sleep beckons before my triumphant return to the workplace. It could be a long day.

Rest and Recuperation

Quite an easy week so far - not in terms of the running, where I've been maintaining some high mileage - thanks to having a week off work. Thanks to my Masters course, this is probably the first bit of leave I've had in about eight months whenI haven't had essays or required reading to occupy my  time. I must admit to feeling slightly bereft waking up on Monday morning without any required tasks. Bereft, but not exactly unpleasant!

Running wise, it's been pretty straightforward. The free time has allowed me to follow 'The Plan' to the letter - which involved the usual Monday gym session before Tuesday's recovery run was split into two separate sessions in the morning and afternoon. It felt alright doing it, but I'm not exactly sure of the benefit. I guess time will tell...

Today I managed just shy of 14 miles, on the good old Rea Valley route. It was a hard slog due to the muggy conditions which are of course one of the hazards of marathon training through the summer. Still, made it round at a consistent pace.

Tomorrow is a nice easy day, helping out with the marshalling of the club beginner's course final race,  and then the social evening (if I remember to take some cash!). All of course just the warm-up for Friday's main event, the Blakedown Bolt - my favourite race of the year!

Unexpected Benefits

Week Eight- 68 Days to Go

So another week down, and I feel surprisingly positive - and not just because I'm now off work for a whole week! My initial worries over foolishly having two races in a week have subsided, mainly because sensible scheduling meant I could put in two great performances. It was especially good considering that the first run of the week that was meant to be a recovery run turned out to be about thirty seconds a mile quicker than it should have been...

Wednesday was the second Worcestershire Midweek event - the 12k at Arrow Valley in darkest Redditch. With the weather having been very dry, the warnings that I'd been given about the muddy parts of the course didn't come into play. Instead the biggest issue was how pitted the off-road sections were - as the two people ahead of me who turned their ankles could attest. Luckily I missed the worst parts and managed to build a bit of a head of steam - so much so that I not only caught up with Andy Hall at the end of the first lap but managed to overtake him and keep ahead until the end of the race. Unexpected but really pleasing considering that generally he's a lot quicker than me.

On Thursday I was going to just go for a gentle run, but was persuaded to do my bit and take part in a  new rep session at the club that paired up quicker and slower runners for a joint run. It was really enjoyable - although foolishly I forgot to start the old Garmin so not exactly sure how far I ran. All I know is that it wasn't particularly quick after the previous days effort!

After a rest on Friday, I braved the torrential rain of Saturday morning for the Newport Carnival 10k, the penultimate Fourmidables event. It was the best race - probably due to the weather. The race coincided with the annual Carnival and the plan was for all the runners to head down Newport High Street to be cheered on by the assembled crowd. However, the rain seemed to understandably drive many away, so there was only a ripple of applause as we all passed. I didn't seem to check the time for the rest of the race, so it came as a bit of a shock when I stumbled over the line, feeling absolutely dreadful and having been comprehensively beaten on a sprint finish, to find that I'd run a PB. It was probably helped by the fact that the offroad element was minimal and the last mile was basically downhill - but nevertheless I'll take it.

Following that little fillip, Sunday's long run down the canal into town and back was no bother - if you discount the stiffness in the legs and the exhaustion after mile 15. Despite that, I managed a consistent pace and slightly longer than last week. I'm looking forward to a rest day tomorrow, and a proscribed recovery run on Tuesday (bizarrely schedule in two parts).

At least not having to go to work as well should make it slightly easier!

Canals

75 Days to Go

Well that's another week down and so far things seem on course. Thursday was a recovery run down at the club - depressingly everyone else was committed to the rep session so another steady plod on my own was the order of the day (this is starting to become a familiar experience!). I had a catch up with Mike afterwards - he was planning on running the Worcester race that I decided to dip out of (and actually ran a really good time, so a great result!).

Friday was a switched rest day following my exam exertions on Monday so I just went to the gym and started looking forward to my first weekend with absolutely nothing planned in about eight months.

Sadly, this didn't mean a completely relaxing day - there was an inordinate amount of shopping and tackling of the overgrown jungle that is my garden to be done. Nevertheless, I still managed to get in the mandated seven mile run. For reasons that weren't exactly clear, this was supposed to be done in the afternoon which meant braving Cannon Hill at the busiest time of day. Luckily I managed to find a secluded part to do some 100m strides away from prying eyes.

Sunday morning brought the longest run so far and I thought that I would take advantage of the decent weather by hitting the canal out towards Stratford. Shamefully, despite living in the area for almost five years, I've never run out further than the Alcester Road. Every year I take part in a relay race from Stratford to Brum and know that the final checkpoint is at a pub called the Bluebell Cider House which is about eight miles out of town, so decided to make for that. 

It was a really nice run, incredibly quiet almost as soon as I cleared the part of the canal near Maypole, although my rudimentary distance calculations seemed worryingly off as the miles ticked by and the pub showed no sign of appearing. Thankfully, after an hour and a half it suddenly appeared from around a bend, so after a quick refuel (I have learned to my cost that energy gels don't agree with me - energy sweets on the other hand...) I set off back.

Psychologically, it's always easier on the return even though its obviously the same distance, and I managed to maintain the same pace even as the miles began to stack up. That said, the final one back up the Alcester Road was a tough slog but I managed to get in done. So 19.5 miles in the bank for the day and 56 for the week - and crucially not feeling absolutely obliterated in the aftermath!

So a rest day tomorrow and then next week brings two (spectacularly poor planning on my part again) races - the second Worcester Midweek at Redditch and then the penultimate Fourmidables event on Saturday. It breaks up the long runs I suppose - but its still a good job they're only 10k a piece!

Normal Service Resumed

Week Seven - 79 Days to Go

First post in a while after an enforced absence - last week was a mandated recovery week, which meant less running. Handily this was a good thing as on Monday I sat my first and only exam for my Masters this year. Having not had the pleasure of a written exam for about 13 years, it was a fairly terrifying experience - compounded by the fact it all took place in an old gym which gave me flashbacks to my GCSEs!

Anyway, out of the way now so nothing else to occupy my spare time apart from training and rehearsals for my stage debut (here on the 6th July). Yesterday I went out and managed a five mile threshold run along the canal. As per usual, I was for too quick - which made for an undignified spectacle on the last mile. Even more concerning was that the five miles finished just by a children's play area - the one place you shouldn't really stand around panting and sweating profusely....

Tonight was my now customary run home from work, and as is now also customary the weather was very pleasant. It was so nice (and to be honest I felt in such good shape) that I added an extra mile and a bit on the end to make a half marathon distance. The pace was pretty consistent, save for the inevitable road crossings and having to negotiate a small army of ducks in Highbury Park. It seems the recovery week has done the trick, so far 'The Plan' is doing the business.

The next few days are planned to be easy runs, building for the weekend. For reasons I can't really remember, I've entered a 10k race in Worcester on Sunday morning. However, I think that I may be giving it a miss - although I think I'm in the kind of shape for a sub-40 minute time, it probably won't be any use for the training regime which calls for a 18-plus run on the Sunday. Besides, the Droitwich 10k is booked in for a few weeks time. Hopefully post-marathon I can reap the benefits of the training and post some quick times over the shorter distances.

Poor choice of words for a blog about marathon training but best not to walk before you can run!

The Agony and the Ecstasy

Week Six - 88 Days to Go

One of the key things pointed out in The Plan is try and prevent real life intruding on your training where possible. Unfortunately, when this includes your football team making the Play Off Final for the first time in 21 years thus setting up a first ever trip to the new Wembley Stadium; certain sacrifices have to be made. I'm sure Mr. Pfitzinger would understand...

As such my training after Hagley went a bit to pot so I could accommodate the trip. I went down to club on Thursday evening, but the low turnout meant I went for a steady run on my own. Which also meant that I paced it horribly and went too fast. Ideally I need to find someone else who is marathon training, or at the very least willing to do the long runs with me so that my pacing stays remotely sensible. 

Friday was a long day at work with no running, so to burn off nervous energy before the big match I did about nine miles at a fair pace on Saturday morning, knowing full well that there would be nothing on Sunday regardless of the result. 

I won't bore anyone with a match report but suffice it to say that conceding an equaliser with the very last kick of the match before losing on penalties is exactly the sickener you'd expect. With a day's hindsight though I can apprectiate what a magnificent season it was - to go from being 20 seconds away from relegation to 20 seconds from promotion in twelve months is a fantastic achievement by anyone's yardstick. As they say though, you must experience the lows to appreciate the highs - so let's hope for better next season.

Big Day Out at Wembley

As today was a Bank Holiday, I attempted the long run. In the end I managed fifteen miles (including a brief detour for a toilet break) but it was hard work. I can only blame post-play off ennui so much though, it was probably just one of those days. 

For the rest of the week a combination of work, revision and the occasional run is planned. Hopefully this will be the last of the weeks where slight rescheduling is necessary. By this time next Monday I will have ceased to be a student (until September) so my life will hopefully have some semblance of free time restored...

"Crisis? What Crisis?"

Week Five - 93 Days to Go

Although willing to be proved wrong, it seems my fears at the back end of last week may have been misplaced. The two runs so far this week have been great, with a surprisingly good showing tonight at the Hagley 10k. I don't think that I'm psychologically cut out for running - being one of life's natural pessimists added to the inevitable niggles that come from training leaves me thinking that I am permanently on the verge of falling apart...

Anyway, back to tonight and the first race of the Worcestershire Midweek Series. I had wanted to try this last year but it sadly didn't fit in with my marathon training. This year however I thought that a few Wednesday night races would break up the training monotony so travelled over to Hagley for the first event.

I  must admit, it is a nice part of the world. Seemingly quiet and rural it reminds me a bit of home - albeit infinitely more hilly. The race was two laps over mainly bridle paths utilising parts of the Stourbridge Stagger/Stumble course. Armed with some inside knowledge that the best option at the start was to go hell for leather due to the race quickly turning left onto a narrow path, I was initially worried that I'd be able to maintain the pace. I think familiarity with part of the course helped and as I finished the first lap in just over 20 minutes started to focus on ensuring that I was the first Bournville finisher.

Lap two was certainly tougher, with the field spread out there were fewer opportunities to catch your breath behind a slower runner on the single file parts and the long uphill sandy section had been significantly churned up. Nevertheless, I managed to weather the storm and after engaging in a futile battle with a much quicker runner, crossed the line in 40:14.

My initial delight and slight confusion in seemingly almost running a 10k PB on a multi-terrain course was soon halted when I realised that the race was about .15 of a mile short of the full distance. That said, despite not admitting to any obsessive qualities, I later worked out what the time would have been over the full distance and it would easily have knocked a minute off my best multi-terrain time.

So overall, a pleasing couple of days training wise. I wish the same could be said for work - a 10-6 shift tomorrow will hopefully allow me to get back for training at the club barring any traffic madness. Based on my last late finish on club night however, I may be lucky to make it back before nightfall...

Ebb and Flow

96 Days to Go

I mentioned in the last post that this week would likely make or break me - the overall verdict appears to be somewhere inbetween.

My midweek long run went well, just shy of 14 miles and almost pleasant in the sun and with a slight breeze. Casting my mind back to my first marathon, and the training that appeared to take place entirely in driving wind and rain, I realise that so far I've been fortunate with the conditions that I've been running in. I also realise that by writing this I have cursed this for the next few months.

On Thursday I went down to the club and decided to take part in the rep session, but trying to maintain a slower pace. The session was one of the favourites - Kenyan Hills down at Cotteridge Park (the hilly part appeals to the sadist in me). I stuck with Simon Newman, who is running ridiculously well after all his training for the Manchester Marathon a few weeks back, it really helped and was a good steady session - although I have to take issue with Strava which claimed that he was faster than me despite us running side by side for the entire time!

Come Friday I was looking forward to a good run after work - if for no other reason that to work out the frustration over the latest high farce at work. Sadly, disaster struck - I noticed through the day that my foot was getting increasingly tight and by the time I drove home it was pretty noticeable. Cursing my luck, I knew a run was out of the question and sat inside to stew.

All kinds of thoughts run through my mind - injury? overtraining? I wasn't planning to run on Saturday anyway but a rational mind would just have a few days off and see how it went. However, as a runner I am anything but rational so I strapped the offending appendage for the rest of the day and resolved to test the waters on Sunday.

As it went, on Sunday morning I felt ok so gingerly set out for a long run. Things got better as they went on - for the first time I probably did the run as intended with a slow start and then speeding up as it went on. Several hours later, sat watching Match of the Day, I don't feel any ill effects so we will see what tomorrow brings.

Certainly the last few days leaves me in a bit of a quandary. Friday could be a bit of a blip or the start of something more serious. Consulting 'The Plan' it seems that currently I fall between two stools - quicker than one plan, but maybe not fit enough for the next step up. I may try sticking to the intensity of the current plan, but reduce the mileage slightly. This will require some mental effort on my part which I'm not happy about.

On an unrelated note, I went to see this on Saturday. It was bloody great.

On a second unrelated note, this much?! For a League Two Playoff?!

First Day Back

Week Four - 101 Days to Go

Just a quick entry tonight, I have been woefully neglecting reading for the solitary Uni exam in a few weeks, instead I've spend the night aimlessly browsing the internet and posting unnecessarily vague announcements on Facebook.

The rest over the weekend appeared to have done the trick, the nine miles this evening felt alright (apart from the first couple obviously) and I finished it off with some 100m strides along the old Cannon Hill gravel pitch - much to the amusement of a group of rude boys and a bemused father playing cricket with his kids. Humiliation is part and parcel of running, probably due to the ill advised lycra.

Checking good old Strava afterwards I noticed it was at a quicker pace than last week, even with the extra mile, so quite pleasing. The real test will come tomorrow with the big run back from work. 'The Plan' calls for 14 miles. I think it's doable, but with the mileage increasing steadily, and with the prospect of the longest run so far pencilled in for Sunday, I feel this week will either make or break me. 

Fingers crossed. See you on the other side. 

The Morning After..

What a difference the few days since my last post have made! We've had a General Election, so as far as I know my job may already have been outsourced the lowest bidder - currently I'm sat on my Parent's sofa in a state of blissful ignorance.

My trip to the old country has been for an old friends wedding, a really pleasant day out catching up with everyone was had. The weather came good and much was consumed - as a consequence of course there was no running this weekend. This is perhaps a good thing as I think that I may have twinged a muscle during my attempt at the Sherrifhales Shuffle last week so a couple of days rest may not be the worst idea in the long run.

My last actual run was Friday morning before I set off - supposedly another 4 mile threshold session however I dropped off quite dramatically after the first mile. What was supposed to be run at half marathon pace ended up being about twenty seconds slower. I blame post-election malaise - the bloody Tories ruining my running along with everything else...

No other non-running distractions planned at weekends before the big day now (except for a couple of contractually obligated working weekends) so it's full steam ahead. Seeing some of my club mates posting some impressive short distance times much better than my current ones has awakened that pesky competitive instinct. As a result, I've taken the opportunity of a change in my work shifts to enter a cheeky 10k race in Worcester at the start of June.

I should really be doing a long run on that day, but I'll sort something out and damn the consequences...

The Hump of the Week

Halfway through week three of 'The Plan' and two longish runs in the bag - although it was particularly poor planning on my part that tonight's 13 mile effort coincided with my having to work until 6 o'clock...

The day started with us being graced with a visit from the newest member of the Senior Leadership Team. Management Bingo full house was declared when she vowed to spend a significant amount of time with us (translation: "I will only be here to deliver bad news or when one or all of you drop in the shit" - which on current form will likely be quite soon). After that it was knuckling down to the usual spreadsheets and things.

The run home was surprisingly pleasant, with the gale force winds having subsided and just cloudy grey skies overhead. I do have a sneaking suspicion that the weather in Reykjavik this August will be quite similar.

I managed to keep a nice steady pace, although the last few miles through Cannon Hill were a bit of a slog - probably due to the late hour. At the moment I'm glad that the training is through the summer as excessive long runs in the dark would probably break me.

Tomorrow is a nice easy day helping out with the Beginners Group at club as well as fulfilling my democratic right to cast a meaningless vote in a safe seat at the General Election. At least it will give me the mandate to complain for the next five years.

Or eighteen months on current polling predictions....

The Sheriffhales Shuffle

110 Days to Go

As promised, a reasonably quiet weekend - except for the frantic dash to complete all my outstanding chores. There was at least the cathartic release of returning an enormous selections of books to the library having finished my last outstanding essay (although it was slightly dampened by having to then take out another selection to assist with revision for next month's exam!)

Whilst Saturday was quiet, Sunday meant another reasonably early dash out to darkest Shropshire to run the Sheriffhales Shuffle, which was the second race of the Fourmidables Series which I signed up for almost on a whim due to the faint promise of personal glory.

The weather was terrible when I woke up and as I drove up the M6 I thought of those club mates who had paid the extortionate sum of £25 to run the Birmingham 10k in the pouring rain and no chance of a decent time. Thankfully for me, the rain stopped as I entered more rural climes and by the time I'd parked up, the first hint of blue sky could be seen.

The race itself was 7 mile of multi-terrain and like all multi-terrain races, the Shuffle started with a nice easy part to lull you into a false sense of security - in this case a half mile section along a road before heading straight into fields and a steady uneven climb that really spread the the competition out. Soon we were thankfully back on firmer ground and heading through the middle of the Lilleshall complex (worryingly with an archery competition in full effect) followed by a long descent along the road which helped to get the breath back.

After about four miles I realised that one runner was making a concerted effort to catch me and by about four and a half was very inconsiderately trying to slipstream me as we started the second big climb. I moved to one side to force him past, so as we forded the hill and turned back onto the road we were effectively level. It was then I realised to my delight that he had effectively used all his energy reaching me, allowing me to push back past him as we reached the six mile marker.

The final mile was either downhill or flat and I knew the chap wasn't going to get back at me. Looking back later, the final mile was 6:15 which bodes well for future weeks. In the end I finished tenth in 48:58, averaging just under seven minute miles. Sadly, my plans for Senior Male glory in the series looked to have been scuppered by an inconsiderately quick sod who appears to have decided to enter the whole series. Oh well, at least I'll never be short of towels at this rate..

Although 'The Plan' wasn't exactly followed today - I was supposed to do 14 miles with seven at marathon pace, seeing as the Shuffle was just about 7 miles I can probably ignore the warm-up and just count the race as sufficient effort. That said, nagging doubts mean that I may take advantage of tomorrow's Bank Holiday to do a long run....

The Long Weekend

112 Days to Go

I've finally made it to the first Bank Holiday of May, the last week may have seemed like it lasted for  about four months, but I still made it!

So the second week of training is almost over, with only a few minor changes due to seemingly never-ending car issues (thankfully now resolved). I managed just shy of 9 miles on Wednesday before my induction into the terrifying role of Communications Officer for my running club. It's a good job I've started this blog or I would have been entirely at sea. As it stands, I think I'll be able to survive until Christmas when I have to set up some online payments - then it'll probably be best to go and hide for a few weeks.

Yesterday was a gentle run at club, about six miles at 8 minute mile pace with Rich and Stu. Rich gave me a thorough debrief of his London Marathon experience - it does get quite sobering when someone else mentions that a sub-3 hour marathon basically involves doing 6.52 per mile for 26 miles. I must admit to living somewhat in a state of blissful ignorance, probably still being on a high from last weekend's exploits so it helps to focus the mind somewhat and help to set realistic goals. 

Today I managed about 9 miles down the canals, starting at a steady pace and building up towards the end - even managing to make it up Alcester Road without embarrassing myself! All in all, a productive week - now for a day off before tackling the Sheriffhales Shuffle on Sunday. It's the second race of the Four-midables Series and after the debacle of the first one, promises to be possibly the best marshalled race in the world...

Here we go again...

A rest day as prescribed on Monday, although I did head to the gym to try and stretch out the sore muscles after Sunday's exertions. In the evening, acting class started again for the final term. I spent ten minutes of it pretending to cook a meal in a variety of situations. As you do.

It's only the second week of training and already real life has started it's infernal meddling. The car was in for it's MOT which it unsurprisingly failed. My reaction however showed how the running has begun to obsess me - not "how much is it going to cost?" but "how am I going to manage my mid-week long effort without running home from work?". The first world problems of average club runners eh?

Today was eight miles with ten sets of 100m strides thrown in for good measure. The hardest part was finding somewhere of suitable length were I could accelerate unimpeded. Thankfully I had a brainwave of using the asphalt pitch at Cannon Hill. It worked like a charm - and with no-one around to offer a helpful critique...

Tomorrow I'll try to get some form of longish run in before I have my indoctrination into the role of Club Communications Officer. Soon all the passwords will be mine and I will control everything!

(I am aware this makes me sound like some sort of low rent Bond villain)

Reflections

117 Days to Go

So the first week is safely out of the way. Consultation of 'The Plan' shows that completing the first one should be done without feeling too tired. I agree with this assessment, the legs are still slightly sore but that is probably due to this morning's attempt at the Shakespeare Half Marathon.

I had the race booked in before I decided on this ridiculous marathon based course of action, but seeing as the training called for 15 miles today I thought that doing 13.1 quickly would be about the same. It also helped psychologically - last year Stratford was my final tune-up race before the Liverpool Marathon so I reasoned it would be good to do it at the start of this training cycle to gauge whereabouts I stand in the scheme of things.

Pretty well as it turns out - a PB by 46 seconds was unexpected but very pleasing. Managing to roughly maintain the pace over the majority of the course (except for the ridiculous hill) shows that the stamina is heading in the right direction and passing fellow Harrier Jon Hammond - who is usually much quicker than me -  after 10 miles confirmed it. As it happens I was only passed once, and that was by the obligatory elderly marathoner with the leathery teak skin.

The only note of concern (there has to be one, it's in my nature) was how energy sapping the final three miles along the Greenway were. It was completely flat and a bit dusty, which will be similar to the final 10k at Reykjavik. I was struggling this morning so dread to think what it will be like in similar conditions after 20 miles and then twice the distance. I'll have to be in decent shape if I'm not going to fall at the last hurdle.

A job well done then. Tomorrow I'll be taking advantage of the complete lack of supervision at work to finish off the final Uni essay of the year. In the evening, acting class starts again for the final term with the terrifying prospect of an actual performance at the end of it.

I know nothing of what is planned - except that it is likely going to be a bit of Brecht. As a vaguely uncultured Northern type I also know next to nothing about his oeuvre, but as long as it can be performed in a Preston accent I should be ok...