I've been home from my holidays for about a week and a half and completed 9 runs. I have come to the not very earth-shattering conclusion that I am very much a temperate weather runner. Going out for a run at 6am and the temperature is about 12C is much, much better than running at temperatures twice that.
Both of my pairs of running shoes have come to the end of their lives. They've now gone to the big running shoe shop in the sky, otherwise known as the local charity shop. I'm now using two pairs of running shoes that I had used for about a month before I had to pull out of marathon training because of injury. Why I had bought new running shoes when I started another training plan instead of using these two pairs I cannot fathom but at least I'm using them now.
I'm also taking what may be a risk. I bought a pair of race shoes back in 2010. I used them to run a 10k and a half marathon (getting PBs in both) but after using them I had peroneal tendonitis. They are incredibly light but I used to overpronate and this is what my physio believed caused the issue. It's been almost three years since then and my running style has altered. I think I am now a bit more of a neutral runner. With this in mind I have used them for an 8 mile run and a 4 mile run. Both times I came through with flying colours. I think I'll use them once a week until the marathon with the hope of using them for the actual marathon itself as I believe the lightness of the shoe will give me a big advantage come race day (such hubris!).
I've followed the training plan religiously since I've been home. My long runs have been 18 miles (with 14 at marathon pace) and 17 miles respectively. Because my watch was being fixed I had to guess my marathon pace. By the time I got home, loaded the route up into the computer and checked it I found that my guessed marathon pace was 4:45 minutes per kilometer which is about 15 seconds quicker than what I should be running if I want to get under 3:30 hours in the marathon. Result! Not that I am going to run at 4:45 per kilometer but it's nice to know that I am capable of it.
This morning I ran 17 miles down to Richmond Park, around the trail path along the edge (following the marathon route from 5 months ago, albeit in reverse) and back via Kew Bridge. My watch (third time replaced, third time lucky?) ran out of battery for the last three miles (my fault, should have checked last night) so I had to run them effectively blind although I've been running the streets around here for the last five years and know the distances very well. I had run a 10k "race" yesterday so today's run was on tired legs to simulate the last miles of the marathon. I enjoyed it a lot. There were moments when I wanted to just stop and walk but kept going instead and managed to complete the 17 miles in 2:21:06 which is a good pace even if the last 3 were estimated.
Next week is my last major week of training ending with a 20 miler. Then it is three weeks of taper until the race itself. Looking forward to the taper, it will almost feel like a holiday but without the stupidly hot weather!
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