Week Commencing 23rd February
Week 8 done and dusted. February is complete with me topping 204 miles. Quiet happy with that considering its a 28 day month. Also the first half of London Marathon training is complete. Its been a very tough two month grinding out the miles through the peak of winter. But this week has been a bit of a crappy week really. A slight weight gain. Fell off the tracks a little with my nutrition. Also my running this week has felt like I'm running on sand. But at this stage I must think about what I have achieved so far in the past 8 weeks. My mileage has had a steady climb to 57 miles injury free. I've lost 9lbs in weight. Feeling a lot fitter than I did at the start of the training. I am far from where I would like to be but I won't stop trying. At this stage of the training I am still going to go into London looking for a PB. Officially its 3:11 although I have ran a 3:03 at Sunderland before. So the sub 3:10 target will be my primary target. Still got 8 weeks to go. Plenty of time to hammer the speed and get into better race shape.
Also this week I finally got confirmation from England Athletics that I am good to go to compete for the Darlington Harriers from the 1st March. So anything I race from now on with be for the club which I am pleased with. I could be running my first race as a Harrier as soon as next Sunday!
Onto this weeks training, Monday the usual steady 5 mile recovery run was done. Usually run this one by myself but Keedy managed to join me on this weeks. Felt awful on this run in fairness. I just out it down to very tired legs from the previous days race. Tuesday I was down at the track running 1600m reps. I ran 4 intervals with a 2 minute recovery and found it very hard going. I think I was still tired from the half marathon I ran last Sunday at Blackpool. The reps really felt like a long slog rather than a comfortably hard effort. I ran these with Chris so that kept me going. Wednesday I was out with Brian again running a 12 mile medium long run. Again this run I felt quite tired and sluggish. I averaged 8 minute mile pace overall on this run and that pace should feel quiet easy now but its not. Thursday was my final day working for Fleet Factors. I fell off the wagon a bit with my nutrition and was eating nibbles at work as well as some chocolate cake. I was back at the track doing another speed session on the evening which was four minute intervals. Felt a bit better on this session and ran some good consistent reps. A good rest day Friday as I was off work too. Saturday I opted for a lie in and ran a steady 7.7 mile run with Keedy. Another sluggish run out. Today (Sunday) I headed up Hamsterley Forest and ran a good 18 mile trial run with Michael. Despite the hard undulations the run seemed to pass over quickly as we had a good chin wag. Probably a very easy effort for Michael but I felt very worked on the hills. Had all weathers and even a brief sleet/snow shower on the tops but it got out nice towards the end.
Monday - 5 mile recovery @ 8:40 pace
Also this week I finally got confirmation from England Athletics that I am good to go to compete for the Darlington Harriers from the 1st March. So anything I race from now on with be for the club which I am pleased with. I could be running my first race as a Harrier as soon as next Sunday!
Onto this weeks training, Monday the usual steady 5 mile recovery run was done. Usually run this one by myself but Keedy managed to join me on this weeks. Felt awful on this run in fairness. I just out it down to very tired legs from the previous days race. Tuesday I was down at the track running 1600m reps. I ran 4 intervals with a 2 minute recovery and found it very hard going. I think I was still tired from the half marathon I ran last Sunday at Blackpool. The reps really felt like a long slog rather than a comfortably hard effort. I ran these with Chris so that kept me going. Wednesday I was out with Brian again running a 12 mile medium long run. Again this run I felt quite tired and sluggish. I averaged 8 minute mile pace overall on this run and that pace should feel quiet easy now but its not. Thursday was my final day working for Fleet Factors. I fell off the wagon a bit with my nutrition and was eating nibbles at work as well as some chocolate cake. I was back at the track doing another speed session on the evening which was four minute intervals. Felt a bit better on this session and ran some good consistent reps. A good rest day Friday as I was off work too. Saturday I opted for a lie in and ran a steady 7.7 mile run with Keedy. Another sluggish run out. Today (Sunday) I headed up Hamsterley Forest and ran a good 18 mile trial run with Michael. Despite the hard undulations the run seemed to pass over quickly as we had a good chin wag. Probably a very easy effort for Michael but I felt very worked on the hills. Had all weathers and even a brief sleet/snow shower on the tops but it got out nice towards the end.
Monday - 5 mile recovery @ 8:40 pace
Tuesday - Speed - 4 x 1600m intervals on track. 6.7 mile covered
Wednesday - 12 mile medium long run @ 8:00 pace
Thursday - Speed - 2 sets of 3 x 4 minute intervals. 6.6 mile covered
Friday - Rest
Saturday - 5.75 mile steady @ 8:06 pace
Sunday - 18 mile long run @ 8:21 pace
This weeks weigh in : 175.5 Lbs (Starting weight 184.5 Lbs/Target weight 160 Lbs)
Lost so far since 3rd January: 9 lbs
Lost so far since 3rd January: 9 lbs
Weekly mileage - 54.4
Week conclusion and looking ahead.
Week conclusion and looking ahead.
8 weeks to go! Cmon!!!
