As this week began I had to quickly get my head down and forget about my half marathon disaster last week. It was clear the race was a result of having logged some big weeks, and I just couldn't recover for it.
I found some satisfaction in entering it in my training diary as '2 mile warm up, 10 miles at MP (baring in mind the wind), 3.1 miles warming down'. This was a far more positive entry than 'terrible race...felt awful...no energy etc'.
On Monday and Tuesday I jogged and to be honest felt bloody rough. I was having some fairly negative thoughts towards my upcoming marathon and this wasn't good, I needed to shake out of it quickly. By Wednesday I was feeling improved but by no means over it. I got better as the week went on.
I'd decided on just runs all week, no sessions. I needed to get myself in good order before pushing on and a session would have just dragged me back again. I increased the pace at the end of some steady runs, and did a bit of fartlek during my run on Saturday morning. I was feeling better by now, tired between runs, but fine once out the door.
I was delighted with my Sunday run. I felt strong and was moving really nicely. I cranked it up for the last four miles to 5:50 pace - nothing excessive but it felt good. I started to get right up for race day again.
Four weeks to go and I can see me getting through another fairly high volume week unscathed now before reducing things towards a taper.
M - AM - 5.1 mile, jogged it. Tired, PM - 5 miles in Brentwood at 7:04 pace. Legs screwed.
T - 10.5 miles at 6:38 pace. Quads just numb.
W - AM - 8.15 miles at 6:25 pace with last two miles well under 6, PM 6.4 miles steady and tired
T - 11.5 miles at 6:18 pace - Started slow, last six miles at sub-6 pace
F - AM - 8.3 miles steady feeling ok, PM 6.7 miles steady
S - AM 8.9 miles including 10 x 1min/1min fartlek. Woke up feeling knackered but fine once running, PM 6.7 miles at 6:50 pace
S - 22.85 miles at 6:26 pace - felt great. Last four miles faster ~5:50 pace
100 miles