Week Eight - Angry Goose

Week eight means one thing. We are half way there!

Whilst that still means some 200 miles to go before lining up on the 23rd April in London, it's a good hurdle to have overcome. 

Now there are a decent amount of miles in my legs, it's time to really crank up the milometer. 

Interestingly, I only have seven runs over ten miles left . 

YAAAAAAAASSSSSS.

In other exciting news, I received an email from someone at work the other day who wants to join Run Club. That will take it up to FOUR members. I'm already in talks to make it an evening thing to attract more members in the summer as I continue to take steps towards becoming king of the run clubs.

*Shameless weekly plug for the sponsorship page klaxon here*

(Thank you, thank you!)

Run #21 - Tuesday 21st February

Changed it up a bit today due to my presence being required for victory at bowling after work, so I ran down the canal by the office. It was raining and there was loads of people around so I didn't take any heavily posed photos as is the norm for this blog. The run was pretty uneventful - apart from nearly being flapped in to the water by a very angry goose.

Not sure what his problem was. Big flappy bastard. 

Anyway, steady 8.37's overall for five miles which was fine. Legs were pretty sore from Sunday, the mark up in distance at the weekend is definitely having a longer hangover at the moment.

Run #22 - Thursday 23rd February

Crikey, it is all change this week. Friday Run Club has had to become Thursday Run Club due to having important things-to-do on Sunday morning (suit fitting, yaasss) which has in turn moved the long run of the week to Saturday. All this is great, until you look at the weather forecast and Storm Doris is set to arrive about ten minutes in to Run Club. 

Bloody Doris.

So Kev and I, intrepid adventurers that we are, braved the conditions and set off. We got drenched for the first five miles or so and then endured a comprehensive blow dry by the pretty hefty winds after that.

I'm not sure if it was the conditions or my legs just hurting, but the first mile was 8.59 followed by 8.40 for the second - I was the proverbial ball and chain for Mr. just-did-a-half-marathon-in-one-hour-thirty-two. But we got it down to 8.23's over 7 miles in the hour so not too bad.

Run #23 - Saturday 25th February

Well, I said things were going to start getting serious and I can safely say that FOURTEEN miles this morning is serious. For a bit of context, it is the third longest run I have ever done - and yet there is still another 12 miles to find. 

Gulp.

After blister-gate, I bought some new socks which arrived in time for this and they performed admirably. Ages ago when I was just getting in to half marathons, I used to take these energy gels to have half way round for a bit of a boost. Over time I got used to not needing them and have since left them at the bottom of my drawer. Now, there's running for an hour and forty or so, then there's running for three hours and forty or so. 

So, I'm pretty keen to do anything I can to help. I dug one of these out today, the slight problem being it was 18 months out of date. 

Worth a go though.

Thankfully it was full of amazing strawberry banana goo that seemed to help for the last forty minutes or so, rather than something resembling toxic waste that caused problems in my stomach  - whether it was simply a placebo, who knows, but it was good and I'll continue with it.

The run itself was fine, just very, very long. I try to approach it mentally as blocks of 15 minutes rather than a shit ton of miles. 15, 15, 15, 15... I'm an hour in and 7 miles done. Getting past an hour makes a difference too. Then 10 miles. An hour thirty. The half marathon. Then we're done. 

Praise Jesus.

The pace was good throughout - an average of 8.28 which would be a 3hr 41 marathon. I'm expecting some harder moments which will slow it down but it's a good guide. My three quickest miles this morning were miles 12, 13 and 14. Which is nice to know.

Week nine and sixteen mile Sunday await next week. 

I'll sign off for this week with the song I played twice at 12 miles, because it seemed to give my legs some new found energy and it's fun to sing out loud in the middle of town.

BANGER.

Week Seven - Blister Club

Nineeee weeks to go!

We're really moving now. Week seven now, things are getting serious. Sunday Run Day is 12 miles this week, then 14 next week and 16 the week after. 

(Holy moly)

Now we're approaching being just two months out, it doesn't feel so far away all of a sudden and I am able to begin firming up plans for the weekend. The working plan is currently as follows...

• Head down to London on Friday night on the train
• Go to the London Marathon Expo at the ExCel to pick up all my gear, race number, etc. I may even have a session with a physio to patch my legs together as best as they're going to get
• Drink loads of water
• Have a pasta/carbs party somewhere in London in the evening
• Drink some more water
• Have a terrible sleep
• Up early doors, force myself to see off some Weetabix and a banana
• Get to the start line
• Run
• Run
• Run
• Finish
• Cry
• Eat and drink everything
• Have a shower and come home

As you can see, it's a fool proof plan. 

I am so very lucky to be building my own support team who are going to be with me for the weekend and strategically placed around the course to chuck jelly babies at me and keep me going.

If you fancy joining the party, the more the merrier, I'd love to have you there.

In other news, the great people at Cancer Research have sent me a nice sponsorship pack. I'm thinking about doing a cake sale at work and the sweepstake thing too (3hr 48 is where the money is kids). It's nice that it's starting to feel real now and isn't just my life being consumed by running in the dark and the cold.

Inspired by this, I have opened up the Just Giving page and have set the target at £1,000. As always, no pressure at all on this... if you want to donate then I love you. If you want to donate but things are tight, don't worry, there is still ages to go, and if you don't want to donate, well... you can just chuck me a pack of jelly babies instead.

Every little helps.

The page can be found here.

Run #18 - Tuesday 14th February

Happy Valentines day kids, fairly slow recovery five miles (8.52's). Dead interesting how the other week I only had to do seven miles on Sunday and then was able to bomb round on Tuesday. Do ten miles the other day and it's a whole different ball game. Makes sense I suppose. 

#Recovery

Run #19 - Friday 17th February

Well, Run Club was down to two this week as an unnamed member decided he fancied a lie in instead. Life is all about choices boys and girls, and it seemed a day with the kids during their half time was deemed a higher priority - crazy, I know. Anyway, this run was groundbreaking for me as it is the first run ever that I have just merrily chatted all the way round. Until now, I have steadfastly refused the concept of conversation on a run - mainly because I thought I'd not be able to breathe. Turns out I can breathe and it's actually a really good distraction. Before I knew it we were 45 minutes in and nearly home. Great days. 

It also meant I could say 'slow down knobhead!' so it didn't descend in to the seven minute mile madness of last week. A good 8.13 miles at 8.09's which was fine for such a distance. 

Generally the body is holding up pretty well, I've got a developing blister situation but got some of them magic Compeed thingy's so hoping that boxes that one off.

Oh, and absolute incredible timing in the god awful showers meant there was no one else in them. JACKPOT. 

It was like being at home.

Run #20 - Sunday 19th February

So today marks the start of the big 'uns, and at 12 miles, this is the longest distance I have ran since 25th June last year. One of the most complicated things for this distance is working out a bloody route, but mapmyrun.com has saved the day. Some strong negotiation skills with Mum and Dad to drop me off and pick me up 12 miles later and we're away.

I was really determined to make an effort on the pace today, I can't be burning up eight minute miles for the long runs otherwise I'll just fall apart, so I targeted 8.20-8.30's and it went really well - only the last frigging mile out of that time frame, and it was an 8.18!

*monkey hands over eyes emoji*

I actually think it is easier to get my head in the right place for longer runs - you've got to run for ages, shut up, ignore the distance and just keep going. Having a good playlist helps of course, and now I know I can hold a conversation whilst running I have taken to SINGING out loud. Which is quite good fun and keeps the spirits up when tanking up some ridiculous hill. 

WE CAN'T GO ON TOGETHER, WITH SUSPICIOUS MINDS

(SUSPICIOUS MINDSSSSSS!)

Now, I gotta tell you kids. Training for this and the fun of Run Club... it isn't all glamour, you know. I alluded to a blister situation on Friday. I want you to come on this journey with me, I really do, but with all the highs there are some... well, trickier moments. 

Soz.

I'm pretty sure a) I need some new socks and b) I'm running out of skin to go through. But it is ok, week seven is in the bag, 135 miles in to the training plan and only nine weeks to go!

14 big bad miles await next Sunday, where the hell am I going to go for that?

Week Six - Seventy Days

Ten weeks to go, kids!

Week six marks the start of the second chunk of training. The miles are going to go up fairly steeply from here on in - in seven weeks time I am slated to run 22 miles on Sunday run day.  

Let's go.

A few weeks ago (Week Three, blog fans) I mentioned that now I finally had a bit of confidence in my knee not blowing up, I was able to start thinking about a charity to run for. Whilst there are a number of intrinsic reasons why I want to run a marathon, it’s also a hell of an opportunity to raise money for something. Most people’s reaction to running 26 miles is on a similar level of repulse to finding a spider in your cornflakes, so it’s an easy sell to get people to spare with a few hard earned pounds to boost the totaliser.

(As an aside, I might make one of those massive thermometer-sign-thingys and stick it on the front of the house and/or the big pillar next to my desk at work).

But what charity? That is the question.

It’s so important to find something that means something, that you can draw the last ounces of motivation from when it gets really tough.

Over the last few weeks I have spoken to a number of people about charities that mean something to them. One such person suggested Cancer Research. Now, of course, such a charity is always an option such is the devastating effect cancer has on people every day all over the world - but it isn't a charity I have ran for before. So immediately, it was a real potential.

Then, that very night I watched episode 11 of the third season of The West Wing. Now for anyone who knows me remotely well, I will tell you that The West Wing is the finest television ever made and is my go-to watch at all times. 

This particular episode revolves around President Bartlet’s State of the Union speech – an annual event where the president reports on the condition of the nation and outlines the agenda and priorities for the year ahead and beyond. 

'Over the past half-century, we’ve split the atom, we’ve spliced the gene, and we’ve roamed Tranquility Base. We’ve reached for the stars, and never have we been closer to having them in our grasp.'

'New science, new technology is making the difference between life and death, and so we need a national commitment equal to this unparalleled moment of possibility.’

'And so, I announce to you tonight, that I will bring the full resources of the federal government and the full reach of my office to this fundamental goal: we will cure cancer by the end of this decade,'

That episode is from 2003. Obviously it was a fictional television drama and obviously cancer wasn't cured by 2010. But President Obama announced a similar initiative in January last year, a $1bn 'moonshot' to cure cancer, and assuming good ol' Donald J. Trump doesn't siphon it off to build his big wall, then why can't cancer be cured one day? 

Let's be honest, running a marathon isn't a challenge. It's what fit and healthy (albeit somewhat mental) people do as a hobby, or for a sense of personal achievement. Facing up and fighting against cancer is the challenge - they are the truly amazing people. 

So let's run a marathon and raise as much money as possible to help cure cancer as soon as possible then. Yeh? Great.

Run #15 - Tuesday 7th February

Tuesday run went up to five miles this week as things begin to ramp up a little even on the recovery run. A jaunty 8.12 min/mile pace and more actual daylight at 5pm. Good stuff.

Run #16 - Friday 10th February

Friday Morning Run Club is taking over the world, one person at a time. Steve was back for week two, whilst marathon runner Kev joined the party too. It was cold and it was snowing, but now that run club is an actual thing you've really gotta embrace it and drag your sorry state out of bed at 5.30am. 

Now, Kev is quick. I knew this. So made sure to have a conversation before, running for an hour, probably around 8's I said.

'Yeh, sure mate, happy to go at your pace.'

May I present Exhibit A.

Kev is a liar.

7.18! I haven't ran that fast since last JUNE! 

But it was good, and further confirmed the theory that running is better with others. As always, Friday Morning Run Club welcomes new members and I will continue the peer pressure campaign to those already beginning to wobble...

Oh, and 100 miles up for the year. Bazinga.

Run #17 - Sunday 12th February

Well, surprise surprise it was a) cold and b) raining again this morning - the weather has been pretty shit this week. But alas, no problem. Ten miles in the bag at 8.07's. It's still too quick but I think once the longer 12, 14 and 16 mile Sunday run days kick in that pace will drop back to 8.30's. Felt good though.

In terms of an aches and pains update, my knee is really good right now, whilst my 'overactive glutes'/hip misery continues despite stretching more than Stretch Armstrong. Oh, and I've got a beaut of a blood blister on my foot (soz) thanks to a worn out pair of socks. They will be disposed of, don't you worry.

I'll set up a Just Giving page in the next few weeks, but thank you for the ongoing support. See you at Week Seven Run Club.

Week Five - Daylight and Gin

Week Five is in the bag and so is the first chunk of the training plan - hallelujah. As with every thing, breaking it down in to more manageable chunks makes it seem far less daunting and far more achievable which is a good balance in anyone's books. 

The first five weeks, up to and including this week, have provided solid foundations from which to build upon as D Day approaches in April. Quite unlike my Berlin preparation, this time round I am not blazing out 14/15 mile runs on the weekend without suitable recovery time and a decent middle sort of distance run in between. As you can see in the handy summary below, Tuesday is most definitely the recovery run (usually at about 9 minute miles), before Friday morning (a.k.a. FRIDAY MORNING RUN CLUB) is the middling sort of distance that I was missing first time round which is ran at a quicker pace circa eight min/miles. Then on Sunday, the bigger one. This will now start to increase by two miles per week starting at 10 miles next week, culminating at 16 God forsaken miles at the end of Week Nine - chunk two.

So, we're 87 miles down at an average pace of 8.23 which is not too shabby. I will be making a more concerted effort to run at 8.30's on Sunday's from next week - it is always a fine line between wanting to run at planned pace vs. wanting to get it over with as soon as possible. 

In any case, it is encouraging. As is my general fitness. My knee feels strong - which after the problems that back-to-back runs caused in Week One is as big a surprise as it is a relief. My aerobic capacity seems to have not suffered too badly for the layoff in the second half of last year and I am feeling good on hills. My back is fine now after last week, but it has sparked off my old hip/glutes issue that I've had before. Not a problem when actually moving but standing up and the first 25 yards of walking isn't pretty. I don't think anyone is ever 100% when training like this so it is just a case of managing it and keeping moving.

This week I have signed up for the Silverstone Half Marathon on 12 March (Week Ten) which is a recommended practice run pre-London. I will run this at 8.30s and not do anything daft.

*One quick note, and a retraction I'd like to make much like some shitty rag printing rubbish. Whilst I am not a rag and write the best weekly blog going, I did say back in Week One that writing this gave me 'something to think about out on the roads other than how great it's going to be when Liverpool win the league'. 

Ahem.

Well, we haven't won a frigging game since then so I am retracting such a foolish remark, and instead dreaming about winning three points again. Cheers lads, up the Reds, etc.

Run #12 - Tuesday 31st January

No dramas. 

APART FROM DAY LIGHT AT 4.50PM. 

HAVE THAT WINTER, YOU BASTARD.

(4 miles, 9 min/miles recovery run).

Run #13 - Friday 3rd February

Now, on more than one occasion I have been mocked that FRIDAY MORNING RUN CLUB can not be a 'club' when it is just me in the club. Well lookie here. An actual human, who isn't me, running at 6.40am on a Friday morning. 

Great days.

I managed to successfully peer pressure my pal Steve to join my club (he's training for Silverstone FYI, not a lunatic). It was so good to have company on a b-e-a-utiful morning. It was also a solid 10'c warmer than last week's -3'c fiasco. 

7.55 miles at 7.57 which is pretty sharp relatively speaking.

Run #14 - Sunday 5th February

Well, first things first. Had a great gin last night. 

I did not feel all that great by the time 4pm came around, but thankfully it was only an hour run today. Another one for the 'running well the day after boozing' research files I think, 7.54 miles at 7.58's. Decent.

So there we go, the first five weeks are done and it's gone better than I thought it would. So yay for that. Still a long old way to go, but it's good to start well. 

As last week's playlist was so good it has won itself another week. I've also realised how hard it is to build 25 song playlists every week, sooo... it might be a case of updating a core playlist rather than a new one each week. Soz.

Cheers.