HM training week12 day2: 20mins zone2, 15mins zone3, 15mins zone4

Very very tired. Tapering can’t come too soon. It turned out to be a lot of zone 3 running today. I managed less than 3 minutes of the 15 minutes I should have spent in zone 4. Just couldn’t do it. I wanted to stop running and go home - I didn’t, but I wanted to!

On a positive note, I just bought a useful thing for my phone. It’s called a buddy pouch and it attaches to your waistband via a magnetic flap. The standard one fits my iPhone XS perfectly and is loose enough in the front mesh pocket to be taken in and out easily on the move. Zipped back compartment for gels, credit card, keys or whatever. Very comfortable fixed to front or off to the side of waistband. I shall wear it for my HM.

[AlMorr Half Marathon]

Tiring run for you today Flick, but congratulations on not stopping when you wanted to, that buddy pouch sounds great, as for me, I reran run 3 of week 5 of C25K with Laura, nice easy pace and no nervousness as when I ran it the first time in May 2018. 😊

[Hidden in reply to AlMorr]

Ah, that is still one of my milestone runs. I remember I seemed to float along. I couldn’t believe I’d actually run for 20 minutes without stopping! I had sexy voice Michael Johnson.

[AlMorr Half Marathon in reply to Hidden]

When I ran it the first time I did not have the Smartphone I have now, so all I used was the timer on my old phone.

[Clairecandothis Marathon Half Marathon]

It is warm Flick and tiredness is kicking in. I seem to have lost my ability to stay in zone! Today's run was zone 3 and I was in zone 4. Lack of sleep and a headcold are not helping me but I think we both now just need to run our runs really. I have 17 days and 6 runs left..... be kind to yourself. Rest time is coming soon xx

[Hidden in reply to Clairecandothis]

Only 5 degrees when I went out! But I find that harder than the heat 🙁 I would love to talk to anyone who has done these Polar training plans before. But you’re right, we need to just get on with it. I had absolutely no push today. A lot of pressure at home due to circumstances, and I find that draining too. Today the emotional burden was like a huge weight on my back, making it harder to run. Xx

[Clairecandothis Marathon Half Marathon in reply to Hidden]

Sometimes a run can be therapeutic but sonetimes it's another chore. You have a lot going on at home as well as being tired emotionally and physically. And some runs just don't work. But you stayed out there rather than give up so this will probably be the run you remember at any tough moment in your half.

I know I'd love to ask Polar! Their predictions are optimistic! 🤣🤣 Unless we train at one zone and run in another? I'm not sure I can run 4 hours in zone 4 though! But adrenaline on the day who knows Flick. They are the experts.....

I hope home becomes a little easier or you find a way to relax from it at least xx

[Hidden in reply to Clairecandothis]

They have predicted my HM time based on my VO2 Max. I shall be amazed if I run it in 2.40, given I’m pushing to get 8.5min/km nowadays!

Thank you lovely ❤️I’m relaxing! 😊 dossing around playing with my phone and reading xx

[Sadie-runs Half Marathon]

Aw Flick, big hug. To be honest, the Polar plan does sound a lot tougher than the plan I followed - but I am sure you will be all the fitter for it, and won’t get injured like me!

I always feel my emotions affect my runs. When I was going through redundancy, I was quite angry and adrenaline fuelled - as a consequence, my runs were fast and energetic. When I feel depressed, they can be slow, and very hard work. This just proves to me how much running is in the head...

You are going to enjoy your taper. All the hard work done and just the event to look forward to and enjoy. 😘

And that sounds like a great purchase!

Sadie (does not) runs 😂 xxx

[Hidden in reply to Sadie-runs]

Thank you lovely dearest Sadie. Hug much appreciated ❤️❤️❤️

Talking of Adrenalin, towards the end of my run, I saw two elderly gits spraying roundup on plants growing on the street side (gardens behind) of a stone wall. The plants were pretty, they harbour insects that birds eat, and roundup contains glysophate. I was so angry my hr boosted up into zone 4 and I sprinted faster.

I hope you are running again soon xxx

[GoGo_JoJo Ultramarathon]

Good work Flick, I'm off to look at buddy pouch 👍🏻😉

[Hidden in reply to GoGo_JoJo]

thanks Jo

[Sarararara]

Your daily reports are a fascinating insight into the HR training plan as personally I don’t think I’d have the necessary control and dedication.

I’m curious about distances though- what is the longest run on the plan? (other than the HM of course)

[Hidden in reply to Sarararara]

Hi, this is only one way of training. There are lots of different types of plan, and some people don't train at all as such but just extend their runs bit by bit. Because the plan I'm doing is based on heart rate zones, it goes by time, not distance. the longest run is two hours in zone 2, I think. Because it's a slow run, it probably won't take me further than 10 or 12km. I was worried that i wouldn't be able to run the distance on race day, so i did a just under 17k (10.5 miles) run back in the summer and found I managed it and could have done the extra distance to make the HM, so the plan does work. It's increased my stamina and endurance. What I've noticed, though, is that my pace has dropped - but some other people doing long distance training have said the same.

[Sarararara in reply to Hidden]

Interesting, l wish I had the self control to run in the lower HR zones but I lack the iron discipline.

Will you continue after your HM or go freestyle?

[Hidden in reply to Sarararara]

Can’t wait to get back to long trail runs taking photos. But I think I will start my runs in zone two and accelerate gradually. I might also do some hr based intervals from time to time on short runs. I’m fitter than I was 50 years ago!