I had to jiggle the plan around this week as my normal long run would have been on Christmas Day, so I ditched Monday’s interval/fartlek run (yay...oh I mean, what a shame...) and started the week on Christmas Eve, wearing a silly hat 😁
- Run 1: 80 minute long steady run (before long drive). I tried to do a zoned run, keep my heart rate down, go slower, and it was, but it was supposed to be a lower zone, say zone 3. In the end I did keep my heart rate down but only to zone 4, so up to 160bpm which will do. There was an awful lot of traffic about so I finished off my run along a long footpath and into the main part of town by the theatre which is pedestrianised, this helped keep my heart rate down too and my hat made people smile 😁 As the run was slower than I’d usually run, it was just under 11km. I’m not still not very good at trying to run slowly but it’s the first long run I haven’t been in zone 5 at all.
- Run 2: This was a sneaky little run to say I’d run on Christmas Day, so completely off plan. Shouldn’t have really as the legs were very tired...ah well. We were in North Wales and there is a little bridge over the main dual carriageway that always reminds me of a bridge at home that I’d done the day before, so we ran over that and onto the coastal path and back. A nice little 25 minute run.
- Run 3: Back home. This was my ‘optional’ 20 minute run. After the amount of food I’ve consumed, it really wasn’t optional, so Katnap and I whizzed round a familiar route as fast as my creaky legs could carry me (i.e. not very!).
- Run 4: Before visiting my parents, we did Bury St Edmunds parkrun to stretch our legs after a long drive - boy it was muddy!! It’s been cancelled the past two weeks and I’m not surprised, it was a bit of a quagmire. I’d christened my trail shoes here a year earlier and they got very well used on this run, I nearly even lost one when the mud started sucking it away from my foot 🤣. Katnap came in fastest, despite slipping over, with youngest kitten coming in next in his (now not so) shiny new running socks. I went just over 30 minutes but I got a podium place for my age grade and I’d cut over 6 minutes off the previous run a year earlier so I was very happy. Eldest kitten got bamboozled by the mud and decided to (very sensibly) keep it steady, but he finished and was probably the cleanest of us all 😁
The week was finished off with my usual cross training at the gym. Would I have done all of this in Christmas week without my HM plan telling me to? Probably not! I can definitely recommend it - I’m so glad I started this early as these past weeks have really got me off to a flying start: this month has seen my most number of running miles. I am, however, starting to really look forward to my cut back week shortly after new year, I think my body really deserves it (but at least I’ll have burnt the Christmas calories off first!).
So New Year is nearly upon us. The gym will get very busy and we may get colder weather (it’s got to come surely?) but I know you lot will be out there plodding the pavements, trails and (in desperation) treadmills. Have a great 2020 everyone and keep safe 🎉🎉🎉
Written by
TailChaser
Marathon
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I can’t believe it’s working tbh (& I’m not completely wrecked!!), and Monday runs have been a revelation, they’ve really helped me get used to a longer distance as I’ve done two longer runs a week but just using time rather than distance. Finally 10k doesn’t seem such a struggle which I think I really need to put in a solid base as I rack up the miles over the rest of my plan. And I still get shorter runs if I fancy them, with the optional one.
Santa had a surprise up his big red sleeves!! I got a pair of Aftershokz! I think they will take a bit of getting used to (cheekychipmunks doesn’t get on with hers), they seem a bit marmite - I gave them a test run at the gym yesterday. The apricots will come - they’re out of season this time of year anyway!!
I gave mine a 6k run this morning and thought they were great. I could hear more around me, which was good as the prom was very busy.
I have the pink mini size and wore the strap under my ponytail. I practiced ringing UTS using voice instructions while in the house; very clever. I’ve just got to remember all the instructions without the leaflet. 😂😂
😂 I’ve got exactly the same problem Dexy! How are you supposed to remember how many/length of button presses?! I will have to have a practice like you. It’s normally eldest kitten who rings me on a run, so that will be very handy.
Mine are slate grey minis and they hide under my hair really well. I found a bit of damp (i.e. sweat!) seems to help them transmit better. When I was in the gym I had to dial the volume up to 11 to cover up the piped in music to begin with but I turned it down after a while. Looking forward to trying them outside (when Chris is back at work as I’m enjoying having company at the moment).
I got some twin skin hilly socks from my niece which were comfortable today too and a copy of Women’s Running from Oldgirlruns (some interesting things in there), a buff with a fleecy bit on the bottom but that’s for skiing really. I bought myself a shock absorber bra (no more zip moments 🤣🤣). Tbh once I’ve got my trail shoes I don’t think I need anything else.
Oh good idea on the shock absorber bra 😂 I bought youngest kitten some running socks as his feet hurt after the 10k, good socks make such a difference. I know what you mean, there isn’t much to get once you’ve been running a while, just replace what you wear out (I can’t believe I’m on my 4th pair of Brooks!). Trail shoes are a must at the moment though, with all the mud etc.
Mr Cheeky likes them though! I’m happier with my trusty Soundcore Spirits. Comfy with great sound quality. Not sure why I wanted to change them anyway! 😅
Excellent cheeky! My old ones just didn’t like to stay put in my ears and the volume was hopeless. It’ll be nice not to have to wear a headband to keep the things in and the cables flying everywhere!
Ryan got me a pair of WRZ in ear Bluetooth headphones. Never heard of them, but the younger generation seem to know their way around such things. Tried them this morning - they stayed in, couldn’t feel them and crystal clear sound. Success!
My own Half Marathon Plan is literally in tatters☹️. Our Old English, Molly, pinched it up from a work top and chewed it up! I found it this morning. Was this a caring act, designed to stop me returning to the plan too quickly, or a complaint about lack of attention? Nobody who knows the breed would be in any doubt.....she is a menace!
😂 oh no BC!! Thankfully(?) mine is all electronic (I’m a bit of a geek) but our cat would probably only sleep on it anyway if were paper. I think she was just keeping you from yourself 😂
You’re winging it really well Sandie 👏👍 I seem to need the structure as I get too many aches, pains, creaks and squeaks. It’s definitely done the job this month, so long may it continue! Heres to you and yours Sandie 🥂
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