Return of The Bug
Have you seen this film? It's a disaster movie, the one with the recurring nightmare of the guy who can't train because he keeps getting flu.
OK, I'm not dying, but my slight cold has turned into flu again so there's no way I'll be out for my 12 miles tomorrow. I guess I'll have to slip a few days (hopefully not as much as a week) and miss out a few short runs to catch up.
The week had been going OK - fast 3.5 and 7s on Tuesday and Wednesday lunchtime, although I missed my Thursday due to sheer laziness. Since then, the only thing I've been running is a temperature.
Still, worse things happen at sea, can't expect it all to go smoothly, etc etc. Should be back on track soon.
Monday, January 24, 2005
OK, I'm not dying, but my slight cold has turned into flu again so there's no way I'll be out for my 12 miles tomorrow. I guess I'll have to slip a few days (hopefully not as much as a week) and miss out a few short runs to catch up.
The week had been going OK - fast 3.5 and 7s on Tuesday and Wednesday lunchtime, although I missed my Thursday due to sheer laziness. Since then, the only thing I've been running is a temperature.
Still, worse things happen at sea, can't expect it all to go smoothly, etc etc. Should be back on track soon.
The perfect banana
The perfect banana is bought slightly unripe, firm and with just a hint of green. It’s then ripened in the open air for a week, by which time it’s a rich yellow, still moist and blemish-free but with no hint of fibrousness.
And such a fruit is what accompanied me on my Saturday afternoon long run of 7.5 miles. It seemed to go down fine, and taking on energy in such a natural form rather than some kind of gel thing did give me a little burst of moral superiority. Unlike the figs or the crackers, it didn’t need much chewing, and didn’t crumble to dust.
But according to this, to get 30-60 g of carb per hour I need 1-2 small bananas per hour, or between 4 and 8 bananas for the marathon. Do I really want to carry a pound or more of bananas with me, and will my digestive system cope for four hours with all that fibre? Well, I do think that whipping out a banana mid-race has a certain style – it even comes with its own carrying pouch – so I’ll persevere with les bananes for a few long runs and see how I get on.
Otherwise, the run wasn't bad – foolishly, I thought that because this was a shorter run it would be easy, but of course even 7.5 miles isn’t meant to be fun. But after about 40 minutes I finally got into a rhythm, and within no time another week’s training was put to bed.
Thursday, January 20, 2005
And such a fruit is what accompanied me on my Saturday afternoon long run of 7.5 miles. It seemed to go down fine, and taking on energy in such a natural form rather than some kind of gel thing did give me a little burst of moral superiority. Unlike the figs or the crackers, it didn’t need much chewing, and didn’t crumble to dust.
But according to this, to get 30-60 g of carb per hour I need 1-2 small bananas per hour, or between 4 and 8 bananas for the marathon. Do I really want to carry a pound or more of bananas with me, and will my digestive system cope for four hours with all that fibre? Well, I do think that whipping out a banana mid-race has a certain style – it even comes with its own carrying pouch – so I’ll persevere with les bananes for a few long runs and see how I get on.
Otherwise, the run wasn't bad – foolishly, I thought that because this was a shorter run it would be easy, but of course even 7.5 miles isn’t meant to be fun. But after about 40 minutes I finally got into a rhythm, and within no time another week’s training was put to bed.
Thank you Thank you Thank you
I may have been resting, but my sponsors haven't. In response to my big email, the pledges have been flooding in, and the original target of £1250 has already been beaten! Thank you for your donations everyone, together we're giving a little bit of help to some people we've never met.
Resting
I've got a bit carried away with resting this week. I completed the second half of my double run on Monday, leaving a meeting at 1700 to get changed and make the 1741 train, 4 miles away. I made it with about three minutes to spare (faster than 10K PB pace).
So by Monday night I was two days ahead of schedule and looking forward to putting my feet up until today. Also, the training plan shows that this is a step-back (reduced mileage) week, which further contributed to my relaxed frame of mind.
However, even without any running, the intervening days have seemed anything but relaxed. And after a whole fornight of perfect health, I've caught another cold, although nowhere near as bad as the last one (I'm sure that this exercise level is reducing my immunity). So today I felt like I could do with one more day of rest. I'll do a quick 2.5 tomorrow and then my shortened long of 7 on Sunday. Consider it extra preparation for doing nearly 75 miles in the following three weeks.
Monday, January 17, 2005
So by Monday night I was two days ahead of schedule and looking forward to putting my feet up until today. Also, the training plan shows that this is a step-back (reduced mileage) week, which further contributed to my relaxed frame of mind.
However, even without any running, the intervening days have seemed anything but relaxed. And after a whole fornight of perfect health, I've caught another cold, although nowhere near as bad as the last one (I'm sure that this exercise level is reducing my immunity). So today I felt like I could do with one more day of rest. I'll do a quick 2.5 tomorrow and then my shortened long of 7 on Sunday. Consider it extra preparation for doing nearly 75 miles in the following three weeks.
Monday update
The runs are all merging into one now if I don't post an entry every day.
Thursday - 3.5 miles at lunchtime, as I recall it was very smooth and just what I needed after 5 hours in front of a screen.
Saturday morning - long run brought forward from Sunday. I was low on Hovis crackers so had to supplement them with malted milk. Biscuits are proving to be a problem as they do disintegrate - a lovely mix of flavours after about 10 miles. I think I'll try bananas next week. The run was not bad, just what is becoming your average run of the mill 10-mile run. I broke 90 mins for the first time, which was nice but not important.
Today is my getting ahead of schedule day - I'm travelling by train, so am doing the run/ride/run routine in both directions (1.75 miles from house to station, 4 miles from station to work, x2) to clock up 11 miles in one day and get a day ahead. Plus Monday is normally a rest day, so by tonight I'll be where I normally am by Wednesday night. I was on the 0546 this morning!
The sponsorship emails are flooding in faster than I can reply to them: thanks everybody, I'll be in touch very soon.
Friday, January 14, 2005
Thursday - 3.5 miles at lunchtime, as I recall it was very smooth and just what I needed after 5 hours in front of a screen.
Saturday morning - long run brought forward from Sunday. I was low on Hovis crackers so had to supplement them with malted milk. Biscuits are proving to be a problem as they do disintegrate - a lovely mix of flavours after about 10 miles. I think I'll try bananas next week. The run was not bad, just what is becoming your average run of the mill 10-mile run. I broke 90 mins for the first time, which was nice but not important.
Today is my getting ahead of schedule day - I'm travelling by train, so am doing the run/ride/run routine in both directions (1.75 miles from house to station, 4 miles from station to work, x2) to clock up 11 miles in one day and get a day ahead. Plus Monday is normally a rest day, so by tonight I'll be where I normally am by Wednesday night. I was on the 0546 this morning!
The sponsorship emails are flooding in faster than I can reply to them: thanks everybody, I'll be in touch very soon.
Hello, friends old and new
Over the last couple of days I've sent out a big email to everyone in my address book to ask for support. The replies are starting to come in steadily. Hello to lots of people I haven't spoken to for years! It's great to hear from you. Thank you for being so generous - the totaliser has jumped up by over £160 in a day or so.
PLEASE remember to click the ads over to the left, and to come back again to see how the training is going.
Wednesday, January 12, 2005
PLEASE remember to click the ads over to the left, and to come back again to see how the training is going.
Update
Yesterday lunchtime: the first fartlek of the year, 3.5 miles. A really enjoyable run in light to medium rain, and another PB for this circuit.
Today 6.30 am: a medium-pace 5.25 miles near work (my old circuit from before moving house). Comfortable.
The two-week break to get over the cold seems long in the past now. Which is really good, because doing five miles before breakfast made me realise that the mileage is going to start creeping up every week now – something I’m not used to.
Sunday, January 09, 2005
Today 6.30 am: a medium-pace 5.25 miles near work (my old circuit from before moving house). Comfortable.
The two-week break to get over the cold seems long in the past now. Which is really good, because doing five miles before breakfast made me realise that the mileage is going to start creeping up every week now – something I’m not used to.
Crackers
I was wondering how to fit in some cross-training at the weekend, as required by the training schedule I'm following. I needn't have worried - it just comes naturally. Yesterday I walked approximately half a mile to the park and back, at toddler pace. Then, I cycled into town and back, a total of about three miles, some of it uphill. If the local pool had been open, I would have thrown in some bouncing in the toddler pool as well. I think that's the kind of hardcore cross-training the author had in mind.
This afternoon was my long run; I did 10 miles instead of the prescribed 9 as I'd already done a few 10s. It was fine thanks, completed a few sec/mile outside of 4 hour marathon pace, and with some steady rain at the end which made re-entering the house like stepping into a sauna - great! A sauna that provides post-run home-made bread with butter and honey, that is.
I tried out a new on-the-move food after discovering some in the larder in a snack attack during the week: Hovis crackers. About 70% carbohydrate, lightweight, don't need much chewing - a couple every 2.5 mile lap seemed to go down well, with plenty of water. Somebody please tell me if this is a stupid thing to do, because at that rate I'll get through a whole packet in the course of the marathon.
Another week beckons.
This afternoon was my long run; I did 10 miles instead of the prescribed 9 as I'd already done a few 10s. It was fine thanks, completed a few sec/mile outside of 4 hour marathon pace, and with some steady rain at the end which made re-entering the house like stepping into a sauna - great! A sauna that provides post-run home-made bread with butter and honey, that is.
I tried out a new on-the-move food after discovering some in the larder in a snack attack during the week: Hovis crackers. About 70% carbohydrate, lightweight, don't need much chewing - a couple every 2.5 mile lap seemed to go down well, with plenty of water. Somebody please tell me if this is a stupid thing to do, because at that rate I'll get through a whole packet in the course of the marathon.
Another week beckons.
Too many running blogs
It's official: there is a running blog epidemic. And most of them seem to have started around November last year. I'm as guilty as anyone. To anyone who has a running blog dating from before November 2004, I salute you: where you lead, others follow.
I just took a look at Spud's blog, as newly-promoted in the Runner's World FLM Forum. It should be a good read - from complete beginner to marathon in six months. Anyway, I take a quick look at his blogger profile, interests include Guinness, all well and good, wonder how many other people list that as an interest? Click on Guinness... hey, there's quite a few! At random, let's pick the second one in the list... list of blogs... uh-oh, she's got a blog with "run" in the title... aaargh! It's another marathon blog!
Thursday, January 06, 2005
I just took a look at Spud's blog, as newly-promoted in the Runner's World FLM Forum. It should be a good read - from complete beginner to marathon in six months. Anyway, I take a quick look at his blogger profile, interests include Guinness, all well and good, wonder how many other people list that as an interest? Click on Guinness... hey, there's quite a few! At random, let's pick the second one in the list... list of blogs... uh-oh, she's got a blog with "run" in the title... aaargh! It's another marathon blog!
Early run
0530 Get up, fall into running clothes
0630 Arrive office, run 3.5 miles
0700 Shower and breakfast
0730 Start work
A good start to the day. The weather was relatively mild, and I went at a more sensible pace than yesterday. It felt like I'm almost back to normal after my cold. Let's see how I get on with the long run at the weekend.
Wednesday, January 05, 2005
0630 Arrive office, run 3.5 miles
0700 Shower and breakfast
0730 Start work
A good start to the day. The weather was relatively mild, and I went at a more sensible pace than yesterday. It felt like I'm almost back to normal after my cold. Let's see how I get on with the long run at the weekend.
Lunchtime
I just completed 3.5 lunchtime miles – this is going to be a very regular event.
After the first few flying strides, as I zipped past colleagues wrapped up in scarves and overcoats, I found it very hard going. Maybe after a couple of weeks off I’ve forgotten that even a good run isn’t really much fun. Even a good run isn’t really enjoyable until it’s finished. I felt very unfit, the way I felt when I started light training back in September.
Then approaching half way, I suddenly realised that I’d been thinking about something else for about five minutes and was running on auto-pilot. I was smooth and relaxed. It didn’t last that long – just until the next hill – but it was another surprising little reminder in my re-learning how to run.
I’m most definitely not going to say “running is like life” – but this short half-hour adventure had good times and bad, surprises both pleasant and unpleasant, times to dig deep and times to enjoy the view. What a load of melodramatic nonsense.
And the final surprise? The stopwatch showed I’d averaged one minute and five seconds PER MILE faster than my previous two runs. No wonder it felt hard.
After the first few flying strides, as I zipped past colleagues wrapped up in scarves and overcoats, I found it very hard going. Maybe after a couple of weeks off I’ve forgotten that even a good run isn’t really much fun. Even a good run isn’t really enjoyable until it’s finished. I felt very unfit, the way I felt when I started light training back in September.
Then approaching half way, I suddenly realised that I’d been thinking about something else for about five minutes and was running on auto-pilot. I was smooth and relaxed. It didn’t last that long – just until the next hill – but it was another surprising little reminder in my re-learning how to run.
I’m most definitely not going to say “running is like life” – but this short half-hour adventure had good times and bad, surprises both pleasant and unpleasant, times to dig deep and times to enjoy the view. What a load of melodramatic nonsense.
And the final surprise? The stopwatch showed I’d averaged one minute and five seconds PER MILE faster than my previous two runs. No wonder it felt hard.
BBC2 Documentary
FLM runners, if you want to be on telly, start preparing your marathon story now. See the BBC website. Includes a nice picture of the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign mascot - imagine running 26.2 miles in that (one day, maybe).
Tuesday, January 04, 2005
New Year update
Saturday – another post-cold 2.5 miles. Didn’t feel very comfortable, probably because it was only an hour after lunch. Think about pre-race eating strategy! On the plus side, it was about 10 seconds per mile faster than the previous two days.
Sunday – 5 miles, felt comfortable, same pace per mile as Saturday. I’m still about 40 sec per mile slower than my "normal" (randomly determined) training pace and it feels like it will take quite a while to regain that.
Monday – scheduled rest day.
Tuesday – unscheduled rest day! (Unless I get time for a run tonight). I need to plan whether my midweek runs will be before work, at lunchtime, or the evening, and stick to it. With the mild panic of returning to work after a week and a half off, the plan still requires some more planning. I felt that just getting out of bed two hours earlier was more than enough effort for today.
Regarding pace: I’m a bit of a hippy, so I’m trying to stay away from over-technologising my training, hence the absence of heart rate monitors, GPS units, etc (and why I’m writing a training diary on the internet, obviously). However, I do need to think a little bit about pace, and make sure I don’t train too fast. I’m optimistically hoping to beat 4 hours for the marathon, which is 9:10 per mile… and which is just about my current (post-cold) training pace. So really, for the long runs, my previous pace was too fast, and I shouldn’t be looking to get any faster.
One moment of note during my 5 miles on Sunday. Just into the second lap, I felt a familiar sensation… all over my legs – hamstrings, quads, knees, ankles, hips – little pains were appearing. Nothing serious, just the odd twinges that go with regular running. These had been absent while I’d been resting, and it was strangely comforting to feel them again. Training for a marathon is, for me, something very much out of the ordinary – the kind of daft experience that reminds you that this is real life – and the little aches that I feel as I walk around the house or office constantly remind me of that.
I’m well aware of the proverb "Be careful what you wish for", so let’s be clear – it’s just LITTLE aches and pains I want, OK?
I've also formally adoped the Hal Higdon novice programme into my training plan.
Finally, an utterly heartwarming interview. And a follow-up.
Saturday, January 01, 2005
Sunday – 5 miles, felt comfortable, same pace per mile as Saturday. I’m still about 40 sec per mile slower than my "normal" (randomly determined) training pace and it feels like it will take quite a while to regain that.
Monday – scheduled rest day.
Tuesday – unscheduled rest day! (Unless I get time for a run tonight). I need to plan whether my midweek runs will be before work, at lunchtime, or the evening, and stick to it. With the mild panic of returning to work after a week and a half off, the plan still requires some more planning. I felt that just getting out of bed two hours earlier was more than enough effort for today.
Regarding pace: I’m a bit of a hippy, so I’m trying to stay away from over-technologising my training, hence the absence of heart rate monitors, GPS units, etc (and why I’m writing a training diary on the internet, obviously). However, I do need to think a little bit about pace, and make sure I don’t train too fast. I’m optimistically hoping to beat 4 hours for the marathon, which is 9:10 per mile… and which is just about my current (post-cold) training pace. So really, for the long runs, my previous pace was too fast, and I shouldn’t be looking to get any faster.
One moment of note during my 5 miles on Sunday. Just into the second lap, I felt a familiar sensation… all over my legs – hamstrings, quads, knees, ankles, hips – little pains were appearing. Nothing serious, just the odd twinges that go with regular running. These had been absent while I’d been resting, and it was strangely comforting to feel them again. Training for a marathon is, for me, something very much out of the ordinary – the kind of daft experience that reminds you that this is real life – and the little aches that I feel as I walk around the house or office constantly remind me of that.
I’m well aware of the proverb "Be careful what you wish for", so let’s be clear – it’s just LITTLE aches and pains I want, OK?
I've also formally adoped the Hal Higdon novice programme into my training plan.
Finally, an utterly heartwarming interview. And a follow-up.
Marathon Year is here
My marathon year is here... only 105 days to go!
Santa brought me some new Asics Gel 1100 shoes and a copy of Hal's book. And after 16 days of rest, my cold has finally gone.
Thursday and yesterday I tried a couple of short 2.5 mile forays to get back into the swing of things. Thursday wasn't much fun - I felt generally sluggish and unfit, plus I quickly developed a new niggle in my right ankle, so I was cursing the new shoes and generally feeling anxious. Last night was much better though - no sign of the niggle, so the shoes are in the clear - and everything felt much smoother and more relaxed.
I continue to be amazed at how I feel while running is unrelated to my speed - compared with the night before it felt like I was flying round, but the stopwatch said exactly two seconds faster (weird enough to be running times 0.1% apart two days in a row, I think).
So, another 2.5 later today, 5 tomorrow, and then try and pick up where I left off next week.
Santa brought me some new Asics Gel 1100 shoes and a copy of Hal's book. And after 16 days of rest, my cold has finally gone.
Thursday and yesterday I tried a couple of short 2.5 mile forays to get back into the swing of things. Thursday wasn't much fun - I felt generally sluggish and unfit, plus I quickly developed a new niggle in my right ankle, so I was cursing the new shoes and generally feeling anxious. Last night was much better though - no sign of the niggle, so the shoes are in the clear - and everything felt much smoother and more relaxed.
I continue to be amazed at how I feel while running is unrelated to my speed - compared with the night before it felt like I was flying round, but the stopwatch said exactly two seconds faster (weird enough to be running times 0.1% apart two days in a row, I think).
So, another 2.5 later today, 5 tomorrow, and then try and pick up where I left off next week.
