Having managed the prescribed five runs a week for the first four weeks of my trail marathon training plan, my prediction of not getting anywhere near that for the next few weeks was duly realised. Eight weeks of runs took twelve, thanks to an unholy combination of work, curfew and weather. And, it has to be said, a continuing lack of enthusiasm for speedwork and tempo runs.
I chucked in an extra 14km do-what-I-feel-like run when I couldn't stand the plan any more, and replaced a 17 mile (27.36km) run with a 14-ish mile (22km+) 876m (or so) elevation trail event three weeks ago. That's more or less half what I've signed up for in October!
While I've apparently still got plenty of time, especially as it's the holidays and I've very few work commitments, I'm not complacent. I did my first 30km last Sunday, and still have a 20 mile (32.2km) run to do. I'll start worrying about tapering - which is built into the plan - once I've cracked that and the other remaining long (HM or more) runs!
My aim is to get to the start line in reasonable shape, and if I can do that, to finish. Ideally I won't be last, but I'd take that over a DNF or worse, a DNS! Anyway, in eight weeks, I'll know.
"Bon courage !" to those who are also training, and happy running to all!
Written by
Cmoi
Marathon
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... and 20 training runs ... I read your title in a 'god I'll be glad when they're done' tone and think that was about right 😀 For someone who dislikes their plan so much, I am in awe at your determination. You are going to absolutely smash this and we'reall right behind you (most of us further behind than a few others, but we're all there 🤣)!!!
Your tone was spot on linda9389 , and I so appreciate your consistent support despite all my whinging.
Tbh I think I'd dislike any plan. Ticking off runs doesn't give me any satisfaction because for me they're just a means to an end. I'm naturally goal-focused, not process-focused, and better at self-motivation than self-discipline. I'm also poor at consistent effort, going at things in fits and starts is much more my style!
Haha. It's definitely easier to support than to do what you're doing!!! You're too hard on yourself - you have been very consistent, grudgingly so, but you've pretty much stuck at it 😘
Thanks again linda9389 . There's stuff in my upbringing and personality that has left me with a paradoxical and frequently unhelpful attitude to both achievements and failures, particularly my own.
Also, given that my past sporting achievements were approximately those of a tin of tomato soup, there's still an air of unreality for me about this whole running thing!
Good question Irishprincess . I'm mostly looking forward to tapering, simply because it'll make organising runs easier. Even though I've hardly any work commitments right now, the crazy weather is complicating things. I'm still technically ahead of schedule, but as we've not been away yet - we'll go off in our motorhome somewhere, sometime - I'm pretty sure I'll be juggling things again.
Oh wow - amazing focus, plan or freestyle, I’ve already watched with awe on what you are achieving and I would already imagine in great shape to continue and rise to the challenge you’ve set. Bon courage to you too 😊👏🙌
Thanks Over62 , appreciate your kind words. We'll see - I certainly feel a lot stronger in general, but tempo runs, or indeed anything that's supposed to push me in terms of pace and breathing, absolutely crush my confidence. I is a weirdo!
Thanks Frenc - it's mainly down to pig-headedness I think!
You made me laugh too, as when my teenage apprentice mechanics and butchers got their English exercises right they'd demand my approval: "Madame, Madaaame ! Je suis une machine, hein ? Je suis UNE MACHIIIINNNE!"
Thanks misswobble ! I can't find Hula Hoops over here, sadly. I'd normally never eat them either, but your post took me back to eating them off my fingers when I was a child. I shall go and seek a suitably celebratory alternative!
Wow! I didn't realise that you were training for a trail marathon you'll definitely smash it. I agree about the Hula Hoops I always take some with me on the really long runs.
Thanks Guinea70 ! I was never ever going to go near a marathon, until the Trail du Gévaudan (trailsaintjacques.com/epreu... got moved from June to October because of Covid. That suddenly made it seem feasible - I conveniently overlooked the fact that it meant training over the summer - so I signed up. Still wondering what I've gone and done!
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The one that didn’t go to plan 
10k to Half Marathon training: Week 1 Run 1&2
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Four weeks to go! HM training Run 25 - 10 miles 😀
