Marathon Training Week 2

This week has been a mixture of snow, illness and mild discomfort.

The snow that fell late last week managed to hang around until Wednesday. This meant having to plan my running routes to stay on or near main roads where the snow had melted and footing was more secure. Running on the snow takes more effort and can make what is meant to be an easy paced run feel much tougher.

I've been feeling a bit rough for two weeks (sore throat, stuffy nose, the usual stuff) and on Tuesday I woke up with a voice that wasn't a million miles away from Barry White. My chest was tight and my head felt like it had lost a boxing match to a breeze block. As much as I hate missing training runs I realised that the best course of action was to get back in bed and recuperate.

I felt better later in the week so recommenced my running. Fortunately the snow had now melted and running became easier. I started to feel a slight twinge in my right shin. A touch of shin splints? Not sure, could easily be the muscles adjusting to the training schedule, especially given over two months of slow base training since my last half marathon. I've run on it several times now and although the pain is not strong it only lasts for about a mile before disappearing. It'll be worth keeping an eye on it, and hopefully it will fade away over the next few months as my legs get stronger.

This morning I ran 11 miles for my weekly LSD run, following the route of the Ealing Half Marathon. There are a couple of hills but nothing too taxing. You can see the route below:



Next week is not too different but I hope to be able to run some intervals on Tuesday. A 13 mile run awaits on Sunday. I think I'll take a tried and tested route along the Thames at Richmond and back along the opposite bank.

Still haven't worn a long sleeved top yet!

Location:Ealing,United Kingdom

Marathon Training Week 1

Right, where were we?

It's been over a year since my last entry on this blog. A year in which I tried and failed to train for the Edinburgh marathon by getting injured 5 weeks into the training programme. I then spent a couple of months recovering and putting on about a stone in weight (14 pounds or 6kg depending on your unit of preference). Then I fulfilled a long held dream and cycled from Land's End to John O'Groats during two weeks in the summer (you can see the whole story on my other blog mikelejog2012). Then I decided to enter two half marathons to finish off the year. The Ealing half marathon and Run To The Beat which is held down by the O2 in Greenwich. I managed decent times in both (sub 1:40) and had no hint of injury.

I've spent the last two months base training and looking for a spring marathon to enter. My annual attempt to get into the London Marathon by ballot failed again so I searched for something nearby and decided on the Richmond Park Marathon which is held on the 5th of May.

This then was the first week of my sixteen week training plan. I'm going to be training by pace rather than heart rate because my heart rate monitor has been rubbing my skin and causing it to go dry and hard. So I'm going to give it a rest for a while for my skin to recover.

This first week has managed to coincide with not only me having a sore throat and head cold for the past week and a half but also a cold snap that has meant the temperature hasn't risen much above 0C for the entire week. I'm not sure if I'm being obstinate or stupid or a bit of both but I'm still wearing shorts and a short sleeve running top. It may seem a bit odd but I soon warm up and don't really notice although I have had some looks and someone in the street even shouted out that I was mad. I'll see how it goes but my stubborness makes me think that I will see out the winter.

My schedule has me running six days a week with a rest day on Friday. I might shuffle this around a bit as I'd prefer to have a rest day on the weekend.

This week was pretty easy with no speed work (lucky given how dark it still is in the mornings and the fact that we've had snow for the last three days). This culminated in a 10 mile long run on the Sunday which will increase week by week with the odd 10k race or half marathon (if I can't find a race to enter I'll just try to race against myself around the streets as best I can).

Here's this morning's 10 mile long run:

I'm hoping to make this a weekly blog again as I enjoyed writing it the last time I was training for a marathon. Fingers crossed it doesn't end in the same way!

Location:Ealing,United Kingdom