Faster

Bluesquare · 13-09-2016 05:36PM

Hi TG

I am with you on the nerves - so far this week I have been hobbling with a dodgy calf , sniffing with the flu and now I feel sick like a stomach bug coming on !!

My schedule also seems a bit heavy with 20k scheduled for the weekend . I think i will need to cut it short a bit .

I go from thinking I've got this to why did I ever think I could do it !!!

Roll on next Sunday night !!!

tailgunner · 13-09-2016 07:42PM

Bluesquare wrote: »

Roll on next Sunday night !!!

Too right!

I'm just back from another easy run and have decided that my calf is fine but my shin is about to snap in half.

That'll be fine tomorrow, so I'll probably move onto convincing myself that I'm about to dislocate my hip or something.

I'm just going to try and ignore my brain for the next week or so.

Maximus Alexander · 13-09-2016 08:26PM

It's funny watching the pair of you descending into the depths of taper madness. So long as I pretend I'm not just looking 4 weeks into my own future. :pac:

tailgunner · 14-09-2016 10:11AM

Tuesday, 13th September 2016

5 miles
49:50
9:58/mi

Exactly the same as the previous evening. It was the hottest day of the year in England yesterday, but it had cooled a bit by the time I was running - to maybe 27 degrees or so. I'd have broken out in a rash at the thought of running in these kinds of conditions a few months ago, but I guess I've acclimatised a bit over the last few months. Didn't find it too bad anyway.

tailgunner · 15-09-2016 09:07PM

Thursday, 15th September 2016

8 miles
1:15:19
9:25/mi

I decided to do the MP session in the end. Mainly because I don't want a missed session hanging over me next week.

The plan was for 5 miles at MP, with a 1-2 mile warm-up and cool-down. Opted for a shorter warm-up. I had to do this as a commute again, and didn't fancy hurtling through the centre of Oxford at MP if I could avoid it, so it made sense to get the faster miles out of the way early on. I use the term "hurtling" loosely of course - my MP is roughly the same as TbL's nursing home special pace.

Anyway, it went fine. I'm finally beginning to feel a bit of freshness in the legs, and the niggles are better than they have been in days. It was very warm again, and the pace was a little slower than usual for the first couple of miles, but it picked up eventually.

Happy out really given the conditions, though I'd have liked to see how it felt in cooler temperatures, as it was far from comfortable this evening.

Finished up with a two mile cool-down. There's no recovery run on the plan tomorrow, so it'll be another evening of putting my feet up. I could get used to this tapering business.

10 days to go!

MP splits:

8:53
8:57
8:49
8:49
8:35

tailgunner · 17-09-2016 10:04PM

Saturday, 17th September 2016

10 miles
1:39:46
9:58/mi

Thought the legs might be a little stiff with no recovery run yesterday, but they felt great from the off. The taper must be working its magic. And not to jinx things, but the calf niggle has finally cleared up. The shin might have felt a small bit tender for a few minutes after I stopped running, but that's nitpicking really. It's definitely fine now and I had no problems during the run. Quietly confident I can put the injury worries behind me now.

As for the run itself, it was very enjoyable indeed. Had to keep reining in the pace for the first few miles, but it felt effortless. The heatwave is over as well, and it was such a joy to run in cooler temperatures. The weather forecast for Berlin next weekend is looking similar to what I had today - cool, overcast, light breeze, and a drop of rain for good measure. Fingers crossed we get something like that next Sunday morning.

Things are looking very positive all around. My inner pessimist suggests that things might be looking a little TOO positive, but he's no craic.

28 miles for the week. Yet another rest day tomorrow, and then the plan has 6 x 400 reps at 10k pace on Monday. I really don't think I have anything to gain from doing that at this stage though, so I'll probably do 5 miles with a couple of them at MP instead. After that, it's just a handful of easy runs for the rest of the week.

Firedance · 19-09-2016 09:46AM

tailgunner wrote: »

Things are looking very positive all around. My inner pessimist suggests that things might be looking a little TOO positive, but he's no craic..

Week zero! ditch yer man he'll do you no favours on the day - PMA all the way TG, you can do this, you're gonna have a super debut marathon I can feel in my old bones

Is the bag packed? passport? tickets? race number....

tailgunner · 19-09-2016 10:04AM

The fact I had to google what PMA means speaks volumes!

Nah I'm feeling pretty confident now in fairness. Even the weather forecast is looking good, so I have no excuses!

Bluesquare · 19-09-2016 11:31AM

Love your positive mental attitude - need to get me some of that !

I am getting excited though.

Enjoy the week rest!

tailgunner · 19-09-2016 11:37AM

Thanks, you too! Looking forward to a few short handy runs.

adrian522 · 19-09-2016 11:51AM

Maybe ditch the 400's and do some easy miles with some 100m strides instead? Keep the legs turning over but won't need any recovery really.

nop98 · 19-09-2016 12:42PM

adrian522 wrote: »

Maybe ditch the 400's and do some easy miles with some 100m strides instead? Keep the legs turning over but won't need any recovery really.

+1 to this. I read a few posts ago that I had worried you with my "too many miles" observations, apologies! I'd follow Adrian's plan for just easy miles and some gentle, gentle strides. Good luck and above all, enjoy it.

tailgunner · 19-09-2016 12:45PM

Thanks nop, I had worried myself to be honest. Your observations kept me from doing too much that week if anything!

tailgunner · 20-09-2016 11:13AM

Monday, 19th September 2016

5 miles
50:05
10:01/mi

Followed the above advice (thanks!) and did a few easy miles with some strides in the middle. Lashed rain for the whole lot of it, which was quite pleasant for a change. Legs felt good.

tailgunner · 21-09-2016 08:49AM

Tuesday, 20th September 2016

3 miles
30:41
10:13/mi

More very easy miles. I'm over the worst of the taper madness now, just want to get the show on the road really. I think I've done everything I can do at this stage, and the rest is outside my control.

Speaking of which, the weather forecast is starting to look increasingly warm for Berlin over the weekend. No crazy heatwave or anything, but I might need to review my target. I think sub-4 is still on the cards, but the margin may well be in seconds rather than minutes. Hopefully the weather won't be too bad, and it's way too early to be making any major decisions anyway.

Rest day today. I'll do another short, easy run tomorrow before heading to Gatwick. Flying out early on Friday, so I'll have plenty of time for a leg loosener around Berlin before the main event on Sunday.

hillsiderunner · 21-09-2016 08:56AM

Good luck! Looking forward to the race report.

Firedance · 21-09-2016 09:34AM

The very best of luck TG, we'll all be rooting for you, have a fantastic day, looking forward to the report!

Ososlo · 21-09-2016 09:59AM

Great training block. You're deserving of a superb debut. Hope all goes to plan. Only bit of advice is that if it feels too much too early on for whatever reason, slow down and run by feel, forget the watch, and try to enjoy it. You only have one first....

jake1970 · 21-09-2016 11:25AM

Best of luck TG, have a great and enjoyable debut marathon.

Kennyg71 · 21-09-2016 01:13PM

Best Luck TG, have a good one, enjoy the PB beers.

The Muppet · 21-09-2016 07:05PM

The Very Best of Luck TG, I hope all goes well for you, Enjoy

mbarr · 21-09-2016 08:49PM

Your training has been great, have a fantastic marathon and soak up the atmosphere

FIFA2004 · 21-09-2016 09:21PM

Good luck Tailgunner!!! Can't wait to read the report!

tailgunner · 22-09-2016 06:54PM

Thursday, 22nd September 2016

3.11 miles
30:29
9:48/mi

Yet more easy miles, but I sneakily did four or five minutes at MP near the end. Felt great.

Will do one last easy jog tomorrow or Saturday depending how I'm feeling.

Thanks for all the well wishes. My race number is 34091 if anyone is interested in stalking my exploits on Sunday!