Hello everybody and welcome to a new week! Minus Monday And look, another new month!!
Sometimes we don't feel like putting a whole post up but just want to share something small, so this is a great place for doing that during the week. It's fabulous to see everyone's training updates each week!
If you're new or a lurker this is a great place to say a little hi without the pressure of a full post.
Let us know how your training, running, racing is going...
Are you gearing up (or tapering down) for your Spring race? Tell us how it's going, let us cheer you on or soothe your furrowed brow. Have you in fact finished your Spring race and are currently collapsed in a heap on the sofa covered in fish & chips? Tell us about that, then. Salt and vinegar? Just salt? Ketchup?
Anyway, have an utterly amazing week!
Ju-Ju, Rignold, and roseabi
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Written by
roseabi
Ultramarathon
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No worries. Not a bash as such, but I am going away with my wife, kids, brother, sister and their families along with Mum and Dad for the bank holiday weekend together, so realy looking forward to it. A nice PB on Saturday would be a good bonus too!
Taper time for me. Sunday is race day and I am hoping I will not break anything. Am having some minor issues with my right foot but I am able to run ok once I get going. Weather has finally warmed up too, so it should be a nice day. Need to figure out some snacks that wont melt. My power bar was a chocolate mess on my last long run
Never tried those. Maybe I will give it a whirl. Another runner friend gave me a maple syrup gel pack that she swears by. Its just maple syrup and sea salt. That is right up my alley.
To be honest, it started last week, but last week I still put in 46.2 miles with an average speed of 7:55 / mile. Saturday I did my last long run, which went down from 20 to 15 miles. This week is actually recover week; all below 6 miles (with a long on Sunday around 10 miles). While the distance goes down I have more time to think and panic for the marathon (and the fact that I downloaded the altimetry profile does not help...)
Anyway, this week I will think about a strategy that is feasible considering everything...hopefully I will figure it out and will manage to get a nice PB (considering my current PB at 4h15, I hope in 4h....)
I'll keep you posted and, in the meantime, if anybody has experience on how to deal with a long up hill (or a few steep up hills) at the end of the marathon (mentally or with on the day suggestions - cause training is done by now please let me know your thoughts
My experience was that I had to walk up them This was my first marathon and it was very hilly throughout (the Beachy Head marathon), so I conserved my energy by taking it easy, walking as needed. It was never going to be a 4 hour marathon, but since it was my first it was a PB at least But anyway, be sure to pace yourself so that you have some extra energy for the hills at the end. And don't let yourself get too cold while you're waiting to start, because that will make you want to run really fast to get warm when you do finally get going. The forecast for Luxembourg looks pretty good though, so you should be ok...
I had pretty much recovered from the marathon by Wednesday, so I’ve done some short runs.
Now I’m gearing up for my June half marathon. I’ll go out for a longer run tomorrow - I haven’t quite decided on the distance yet. I should also manage two more runs this week.
Having my usual post race aimless slump. I always seem to start running shorter and shorter distances a few weeks after an organised run. So, signed up for local Sutton 10k May 20th and Harry Hawkes 10, which is 10 miles on a flat route June 24th. Should keep me going for the next few weeks.
Do we always want more time? Just a gentle 5 km jog to go on Thursday before my first race for over 30 years. 10km at Penmaenmawr on Saturday looking forward to it 😊
Back to swimming coaching and drills for me with my running/tri club last night, it was certainly hard work especially trying to get back into the right technique. But before that, we had some transition training which was all good fun and learnt how better to set my stuff out and get on and off the bike easier.
Oh and I entered a little 72mile sportive for this Monday! My first ever one and will be my longest ride ever. I might get round to doing some kind of run thing as well!
Current running project is the Monopoly Board, which is apparently 34 miles total, so am chipping away at it slowly... got my third half marathon of the year next weekend (Leeds), and am running with my club every Tuesday. So, nice and consistent overall! Also have entered the ballot for the London Marathon 2019... fingers crossed. Have a lovely week everyone!
Thanks Abi! I've also just put my name down for the longest part of the Jersey Round Island Challenge too (8.5 miles as we're doing an 8 person team this year rather than 5) - jerseyroundislandchallenge.com. Pretty excited about that one.
I haven’t! I have done a marathon before but it was in Jersey. If its your first, those denial feelings will probably stay with you until you’ve actually done it, it’s a massive mental battle but you’re totally capable and it’s such a great experience to go through, ignoring all the hard work and anxiety! Go for it.
I did the 10 mile last year, which follows part of the route, and there was only one hill - a gradual incline - but it was right near the end so felt like Everest 😂
Yep, it would be my first, if I were to actually go through with it. That’s reassuring to hear - I will probably remain undecided until about October! 🙈
I reckon go for it. If you want to follow a 20 week training plan you’ll need to start that in about 3 weeks - if you’re already at the Half Marathon point the training should be really quite easy compared to if you were starting from scratch. If you agree to it now, think of all the times you can say to people “oh yeah I’m running a marathon this year, no biggie”.
You’re right - I’ve set the end of May as my cut off to make a decision about a training plan, whether I actually go through with the real thing or not.
This will be my fourth half since January and I’d been averaging 25 miles a week since December so I should have been at a really good starting point but I’ve just had eight weeks out with a sprained ankle which has made me doubt myself a bit. Will see how Sunday goes, I think.
I understand the injury fear, totally get it, I broke my toe two weeks before my first half marathon, such a mental and physical setback. 👎🏻 Hopefully you’ll be inspired by Sunday and will be ready for the full whack; you’re literally already miles ahead of where you even need to be in terms of training, so you definitely could handle a Marathon! If I don’t speak to you before next week, good luck and have fun! 😁
Lol -for 57 years I thought I was 100% Irish. Then a cousin pointed out that TECHNICALLY as our parents were born before Independence and we're UK Subjects we are "Half British" 😁
I was just looking at my most recent strength workout on Strava, the type of workout I call "Windsurf". It occurred to me that at some point soon I am going to actually go windsurfing, so that'll be confusing...
Aha! It's a strength circuits training plan aimed at windsurfers, but I thought it was appropriate for running too (although I've ended up modifying it a fair bit!). Actual windsurfing on Strava can only be added manually as with swimming. But perhaps someone will take some pictures of me that I can add...
No fish & chips for me but I did indulge in some sushi after my HM yesterday and was woman down until this morning...
But on to the next run we go...
May holds a few races on the cards and I will have to start upping the mileage due to me deciding to enter my first full marathon (23 Sep): capetownmarathon.com/the-ev...
Good way to finish my last day as a 25 year old
Not sure if you want to add some races to the events for May?
I am working steadily through my Asics HM plan. Decided this week to delay buying new shoes until after the HM as a treat. My current ones have done about 450 miles all on roads/pavements. The tread has worn off the back of the heels but they are still really comfy and I get no blisters or foot/ankle/knee problems so I am pressing on with my old faithfuls.
Well done. I think that these mileage-on-shoes ideas are largely myths generated by shoe manufacturers, but that's not to say that you shouldn't treat yourself to some new ones! Go you!!
just completed my first half at chester on sunday and my legs have just returned to normal today, next week will be 5k * 2 and a 6k to ease me back in then the following week going to start introducing intervals, speed work and strength training with a key of getting my strides per minute up to a decent level ... and whilst i am resting this week what am i doing ... ? Eyeing up a load of half marathons for next year to compete in
i always do something for charity and for the last couple of years i have supported guides dogs for the blind cymru as my wife is blind and has become a first time guide dog owner, the chester half was run in support of them this year and the banner picture is from last year when i did a zip wire challenge at bethesda north wales on the zipwire called velocity (zipworld.co.uk/adventures) it goes up to 90 miles an hour at over 500 feet above a disused slate quarry lake, i hate heights but the experience was immense and i'd do it again
I celebrated my first runniversary this week! One whole year of running, three Half Marathons completed, almost 1,000 miles covered, dozens of friends made and most importantly, countless lessons learned. I finally feel like I’m back to full pre-injury fitness levels and I enjoyed a social run with the middle group from my running club, having dropped back into the slower group post-injury.
This week sees another ‘first’ for me as I’m about to embark on two races in six days - another 10k summer league race on Tuesday followed by my fourth HM of the year on Sunday. I’m also going to see Skidrow Marathon at the cinema on Wednesday with some running buddies. Me, addicted?! Never! 🙈
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And look, another new month!!
But anyway, be sure to pace yourself so that you have some extra energy for the hills at the end. And don't let yourself get too cold while you're waiting to start, because that will make you want to run really fast to get warm when you do finally get going. The forecast for Luxembourg looks pretty good though, so you should be ok...
