The Next Challenge

This time last week I had my rejection letter for London 2011 and started thinking about what my targets should be for the year now I had found out.

Here I am a week later and I think I have the first four months taken care of. Certainly planning to do a track marathon in Llanelli, Brighton Marathon and London over three consecutive weekends next April should keep me occupied for the time being. At least if the training doesn't the fundraising will. Have set a target of £6000 between Rob's school, The Children's Trust and Phab Kids respectively.

The Children's Trust

Phab Kids

Unfortunately Rob's school, despite it being a registered charity, doesn't have a sponsorship page so will only benefit from tangible donations. There should be plenty of them with what I have lined up though so no worries there.

So why three marathons in three weekends I hear you say? Well I was always going to run one next Spring and although I love running I love it even more if it is for a good cause. Bearing this in mind I was a little concerned that the kind people who donated last year may be a little loath this year if I was just doing 'another marathon' so I raised the bar a little. Is all about keeping things fresh and pushing my boundaries a little.

So my blog starts again here today to document my fundraising efforts and training and then post next April to let you know my progress in future exploits, with Ultras and lots lots more on the radar.....

Just let me know if I start boring you ;-)

Robin Hood Marathon

An eventful day which ended with a PB and a few ales @ Dad's birthday surrounded by lots of family I rarely get to see. All good really.

Was good to briefly meet a few Fetchies before and mid run. Just managed to shake FD's vaseline free left hand and introduce myself prior to him being whisked away by Radio Notts pre race. Wonder how it feels to do 100 marathons? Congrats to him for that. Was then passed by Malc26.2 in his naughty schoolgirl outfit @ about mile 16, he did ask if I was going with him but at his pace was never happening. Then Gymfreak passed @ mile 22 doing her second marathon in two days, fair play she looked fresh as the proverbial daisy and made plenty of sense when she said to 'keep going is nearly over' shame my legs wouldn't listen too great. Is nice to see friendly faces and was a major boost seeing family @ various points mile 15 through 19, thanks to them for the support. Now I'm obviously no marathon veteran but I found the overall support a little disappointing although reading other comments from more seasoned competitors seems was quite good, is difficult for me with only London to compare to.

So how did my race go?

Felt quietly confident pre race although legs immediatley felt heavy once started but after a mile that feeling had passed and was strong, going through mile 17 was averaging 8.34mm and happy, miles 18-21 I averaged 9.20mm and started to feel it but still comfortable but last 4.2 miles averaged 10.26mm and that was through gritted teeth. The last 4 were worse than London and that was with a better preparation so what was the reason?

1. Going off to fast? Although I was aiming for 8.30 - 8.40 pace and trained accordingly?
2. Although was quite hilly first 10 there were as many downs as ups but they still take it out of you?
3. Was a little warm, around 20 degrees, ran in warmer though.
4. Bit of a stressful weekend with youngest in hospital Friday night and then making the decision when they released her @ 8pm to go to Notts then and have a restful Saturday rather than travel early Saturday morning. Ended up arriving well after midnight and grabbing about 6 hours interuppted sleep and another interrupted sleep Saturday night because of youngest's cough, poor baby, and, I guess, pre race nerves.

So I guess any of the above could have contributed to the death @ 22 miles although I am aware that is the typical place to hit the wall and is probably just another one to put down to experience. Still a pb is a pb, 2 marathons now, both sub 4, something I never imagined I would do so don't want to sound like I'm complaining because I'm not just trying to avoid it happening again next time (did I say next time?)...

Vegetable Curry

Was the best part about tonights race, I suppose the fact it is over so quick, bit of munch and back out again tommorrow is a good thing.

Really didn't enjoy the race though, legs were screaming within seconds of starting and was just hard all the way. Must stop moaning though, had consistent sub 7mm splits and a pb by nearly a minute and a half, and that without any specific 5k training and no speed work for about 4 weeks, so should be happy.

Question is will I get my sub 21 by end of the summer, will need to find about 13 seconds per mile. Sounds easy when I put it like that...

Rocky Road

Made a batch friday night in anticipation of trying it as fuel on my run this morning. Was only 10 miles so thought it was short enough to try it in case of any problems. Must say it was fantastic, much easier to digest than previous favourites chocolate muffins or flapjacks. Only problem now is whether I make a batch every weekend or just buy a slab from starbucks. Kids are already addicted to it, is very nice, and is a little calorific.

On to todays run and was so much easier to pace myself aiming for 65%whr (140bpm) than yesterdays nightmare.Certainly seems that around 10.10mm is right pace at that whr for the mo. Really enjoyed the run, beautiful weather and very quiet on the coastal path. Have got a problem with big toe left foot though, have diagnosed as turf toe and think may have strained it doing calf raises Thursday night.

Will test the toe with an easy mile @ 5.30 in the morning before a weights session. Hopefully, and I'm sure it will, be fine and I can do my 4 easy tomorrow night and smash my 5k pb Tuesday night.

Duck Duck Goose

Crap run this morning. Must persevere though with it though. These things happen. More of that later.

Whilst running past the duck pond behind the leisure centre I saw a family of geese with lots of ickle babies, which was nice. Well at least it was until Mother Goose felt threatened by my elephant foot falls thudding towards her and decided to start flapping her wings and hissing at me. No wonder my hr was all over the place. Never have been a fan of birds. Thankfully 20 metres further on Mother Duck and babies weren't so bothered. It must be birdy baby season?

So what was the matter with the run? You tell me. Supposed to be 5 miles at below 60%whr so less than 133 bpm but ended up averaging 135, not a great discrepancy in the general scale of things and not something I will beat myself up over but just didn't enjoy the run, was so slow to start with but more importantly so difficult to find a good rhythm which to me is key to enjoyment. So what caused this is the question I ask myself and I have a few ideas.

1. It took a little longer to get the heart rate down, usually half a mile, was about .75 this morning. Not completely sure why but had my day off eating healthy yeaterday and ended up waking this and heading out this morning with indigestion. Is nearly enough to persuade me just not to have days off at all.

2. Was windy, obviously have to work harder?

3. After a few mild undualtions during miles 3 and 4 it was a real struggle to get hr under control.

4, Maybe it was just the killer geese.

I guess HR consistency will come with time, just have to persevere as I said. We all have bad days eh...

Where's the sun gone?

12 days since buying running glasses and have worn them once and that was because it was easier than carrying them in VLM. Not saying wasn't perfect running weather today, cool and overcast with the odd patch of light drizzle, but I want to wear my glasses. I may stamp my feet now.

Moving on, another 5 slow miles in the bank, exactly same heart rate as last night, averaging 140 which is 65% whr but 15 seconds a mile faster. Guess consistency will come with time, is still bloody slow, but I, being the inquisitive type, still wonder as to the reasons why there is such a variance. It seems quite clear now however that, looking at heart rate, in training for VLM I was doing my LSR's at what should have been my PMP which is why I was struggling to do the long tempo runs at 8mm pace, was aiming too high. Anyway not to worry, you live and learn.

Glad to get the run out of the way though because I can now get bangers, mash and beans out of the way and pace up and down waiting for the biggest Spurs game I remember seeing for a long while. Come on the Lillywhites.....

Back at it...

...Thought the end of VLM was going to be end of blogging days but signing up to Robin Hood marathon and making a few key training decisions has led me to decide that I shall continue so you will have to put up with my drivel a while longer.

So why another marathon I hear you say? Well why not, loved everything about London, the training, the anticipation, the run for the best part and the feeling of finishing. I'm never going to be a speed merchant over the shorter distances and whilst I will compete over 5 and 10k I think this is where my future lies. Just please no one suggest the U word.

In terms of training the major decision is regards HR training. A few of you hardy blog reading souls may remember me toying with the idea about a third of the way into my London training only not to go through with it. It just didn't seem right making such a change with 10 weeks to go to my first marathon. This time I'm determined to give it to end of the year at least to see the improvements are worthwhile. First few runs have been pretty slow but am still out there enjoying myself so can cope with that.

Second change is more to do with diet, my stomach has struggled to deal with eating crap for a good few years so am going to stick properly to a good diet, but lots of it, as much as possible. Don't get me wrong though I shall have a day off a week or it may become a little demotivating. Alcohol shall be for special occasions only as, the same as with the food, the stomach is not a fan of beer or cider and I'm not a spirit man.

Last change I'm proposing is to get back on the strength training, obviously focusing on the core, twice a week as I really let that slip over the last 6 months.

So there we have it, a new race, a new plan. I want to run to the best of my capabilities over next few years and feel this is the way forward. Major ambition at moment is to do all of the major marathons by 2014 which means a GFA for Boston at some point. Onwards and upwards....