W/B 16th March and 23rd March

So how was I feeling the day after the Silverstone Half Marathon?

Actually quite ok!! Bottom of left foot hurts as normal, but not feeling too bad. Had a lovely leg massage with Dee and took it nice and easy, just a walk in the High Street and some lunch with mum as didn't get to see her on Mothers Day.

Back to work tomorrow and booked in for Combat as long as legs hold out - you just never know really.

Got quite excited as I got selected again for another Adidas Boost Camp at the London Marathon Store on Sat 21st, so looking forward to that again and then by midweek I got told they'd made a cock up and so now I'm not going - turning negative into positive means I can go for a run with Kate, maybe only 10-13 miles but I shall run both days at the weekend now so more training (you only run about 2 miles at the boost camps anyway!).

So legs held out quite well and managed a good workout at Combat, so plan for the week is a little run maybe Weds or Thurs, spin Friday and a run both Sat and Sun, got to get the blood flow back again, and amazingly I feel great :-)

Well nothing ever goes to plan but never mind. I ended up not running during the week (no real fitness problems just shattered mentally from work) but I made no excuses for spin and really enjoyed getting back to Chris' class it's always a good one, although she did ask where Jay was:-) (he was at work honest!!). Legs felt great too, I was quite surprised.

So am watching the sun disappear this Saturday morning (always goes when I'm running) and no doubt it's going to rain too, but hopefully when Kate gets here in an hour of so, our run will still be good training.

So had planned a route depending on how we were feeling etc. and we did the route to plan - just over 11 miles. Was nice to run with someone, you forget where you are, although ofcourse I knew the route only too well really.  Went through sun and rain and lots of wind, and I got really bad pains in lower stomach after about 4-5 miles so had to walk it off, but was soon back running again. Quite a bit of traffic around and workmen going that little bit later, but a run no less.  Chatted all the way round no probs so that means pace is about right I think - well for me anyway:-)

May use a change of tact tomorrow and do a cycle ride instead of another run as doing two runs next weekend (although that may change you never know). If I plan to do a few 6.5 milers during the week plus combat etc. I should be fine hopefully. Miles maybe not in the legs all at once but def. in the legs.

So did a good nearly 13 miles on the bike this morning with Jay, and I haven't riden my bike since last year so I was pretty chuffed with that. Top gear, didn't have to go down bar once or twice on an incline so can't knock that.  Was surprised legs held out, different muscles to running but even so you know you've worked after a run and a cycle ride thats for sure - well thats if you work hard anyway.

So plan of action this coming week. At least 2 x 6.5 milers I think after work and already booked in for combat on Tuesday, unsure if will do spin Friday this week but am  planing either one big 20 miler on weekend (but no Jay for support as he's working) or 2 x perhaps 12 milers will just see how legs are.  After next weekend its only one more weekend of long runs then tapering begins. Scary only 35 more days to go.

So first 6.41 miles round the block run smashed for the week, felt good, think it was a bad day at work so ran quicker:-) haha. Was nice to get out jacketless, but still with my fleecey top on, shades (as it was still sunny, well light) and no gloves - makes all the difference to my mood thats for sure.

 

 So managed combat Tuesday, legs felt good although still hate the lunges and so thought yep easily run again tonight.  But sometimes you just aren't in the mood, I still managed my normal round the block route about 2 mins slower than Monday and was going to give up at 4 miles but made myself continue and I did it, but just didn't really enjoy as much tonight.  Am now stressing over trying to run 20 miles over weekend, even if includes some walking.  I've done about 3.5 hours running so far anyway so have that in my legs and probably did less last time around and still managed ok so am sure will be fine but just need to prove it to myself first I think.

The sun was shining tonight but it was still cold!!

So I did it, 20 miles, but boy was it hard on the old feet. Breathing wise no problems what so ever, just the bottom of my left foot, even the old ankles held out this time.  I taped up where I've been getting blisters and that worked (until I took them off afterwards anyway), but the bottom of my left foot is really painful.  I bought some extra padding to try and it did work for most of the time to be honest, I just think I flattended it after pounding the streets so had to re-adjust it about 3 times on the way round which was a pain and slowed me down obviously. Then I did have to walk a bit due to the foot but used this when was taking a gel which worked out quite well about 6.5 miles (was planning 5 but didnt work out), 12 and again probably about 16. Even stopped on route back at a shop to get more water as made sure took money with me this time (just in case I needed to get a taxi home!). So no taxi home, bit of walking but wasn't worried about that really just wanted to get the miles in the legs and be out for a long time so just under 4 hours is about right and pleased with that as it included a few stops etc. And what makes it even more amazing was I did it on my own with just my music for company as Jay is working this weekend.

So also got my final joining instructions for the marathon as well, and a bit of deja vu moment as I'm starting from the Blue zone again at Blackheath:-)  Unfortunately Kate who I ran with last weekend is starting from Red but my second cousin Michelle who is also running and doing so well in her training is running from blue too, so you never know we may be in the same start zone, I can't remember what I put down as a time and don't know what Michelle put either.  Think last time I was in the last zone which was fine with the fun runners, it doesn't really matter infact it probably does you some good as if you run with people that are faster than you, you do have a tendancy to try to keep up and it never works in the end.

So its 28 Days to the Marathon today and I was so glad I did my long run yesterday as I think I would have struggled today thats for sure, the wind is howling and the rain is coming down. Amazingly my legs actually feel ok, no ankle pain (just the ball of my left foot) but I can put up with that. Even with the lost hour of sleep I still feel pretty good so roll on the next week of training.