Can I give more? The answer is usually yes

aquinn wrote: »

Oh and you are now Masters category I believe. Don't tell anyone else.

Not on the roads. Have 3 years as a Male Senior left, hence I don't do XC(not really).

Firedance wrote: »

Jayzis P he'll be getting notions about himself, Prince Tang

No prefer the Sultan of Tang!!

Murph_D wrote: »

Some nice running there, B. I keep having to remind myself that this is your marathon debut you're doing, and as such you're in uncharted territory (for you). Don't worry about those occasional runs when it feels like you can't put one foot in front of the other - in my experience they are totally normal now and then as your body struggles with all the adaptations it's going through. Take it as a good sign! I often find the last few weeks the worst, which can really mess with your mind. Keep up the great work!

Cheers D, uncharted territory is right, this week will be my first ever 50 mile week when I'm done. The body was very tired I have to be honest a few weeks back with the consecutive 40 plus mile weeks. Again that's a first for me, but thankfully the tiredness is not as bad this week as the mileage increases and body adapts to it. Big run Sunday with 6E, 5ST, 5MP, it doesn't faze me but again it's all new territory.

I have to give credit to Luke for getting me here though as if I done it myself I would have got it arse about face and ended up injured by now.

Friday 26.2.16

Rest, overnight stay with the missus in Tulfarris in the foothills of the Wicklow Mountains. Some beautiful food and sure herself wasn't bad company I suppose. Zero alcohol, I must be taking this marathon stuff seriously!!

Saturday 27.2.16

30 mins recovery, took this ultra handy, 3 miles covered in a cool, crisp Spring evening. The farmers are cutting the ditches, longer days are obviously ahead of us.

Sunday 28.2.16

17mile Progression@8.12min/miles in 2hrs 19mins 24secs

This was suppose to only 16 miles but more about that later. Up at half 7 and shovelled some cereal and a banana into me before hitting the road for this. After reading on the Rotterdam thread earlier in the week of gradual drags and flat roads I wanted to try mimmick Rotterdam as best I could doing this. Drove to Thomastown Harbour and my favourite place to run the Royal Canal, reason being this is Summit Level for the canal and consists of 6-7 gradual climbs over locks and flat canal path for the rest.

Hit my starting point at about 8.10am, take a gel and have 3 others in the belt to take along the way. Rotterdam outfit on to, but with base layer and hat as it was cool out. Whack the iPod on to Radio 1 to follow the Election coverage(yeah seriously sad I know) and off I go. Run was to be broken down as follows:

6E, 5ST, 5MP

Handly into easy pace and the drags over the locks come into play over the first 3 miles heading West for Mullingar. Take a gel at 4 miles and pass few dudes out fishing, from my knowledge of the canal, they wouldn't be catching much. All good, under the M4 motorway bridge at Mary Lynch's pub and continue towards Mullingar, plenty of wildlife about to take my mind off it I counted 6 Herons in total as I ran, impressive looking birds. Finish the 6E just after Downs Bridge and gradually shift into ST pace, system check again and all feels fine.

Meet few dog walkers and cyclists here who are as happy and chirpy as me and say hello. Mile 7 hits just shy of Baltrasna Bridge and the run in to Mullingar, bang I've been shot in the right calf, where the fook did that come out of? Slow down and eventually stop, stretch the calf out and massage it as best I can manage. Continue on but it's still niggling away, little rise over Baltrasna Bridge and it gives another dart, slow right down, starting to get worried, it's a long long walk back to my car!! Reach my turnaround at 8 miles and stop to stretch and massage bit longer this time, nearly in Mullingar town at this stage.

Start again and head for home, less niggly now, but still apprehensive about the MP miles that are ahead. Finish the Steady miles and its eased off still feel it, burning sensation but nowhere near as bad few miles back. Into MP quick enough, meeting runners now in 1's and 2's going in the opposite direction to myself. Last gel at 12 miles, calf is manageable and pace feels very comfortable, more and more runners passing and I daydream a bit on mile 3 of MP as you'll see. Pass a runner with two miles left, pace is still comfortable. Calf easing off. Back down the drags now along Summit level, quads feeling it a bit but nothing to warrant worrying about.

My last projected half mile is flat, gliding along, sun is up now and shining off the water in the canal, gloves and hat have long been taken off and are tucked in my gel belt. Swans swim in groups of 3 & 4 looking for food, group of 10-15 runners gather at my starting point waiting to head out. Hope there run is as good as mine was, get to my car watch hits 16 miles, throw hat & gloves on the bonnet, feck it I say there's another MP there and I run another enjoying every step. Back to the car and I reluctantly stop, enough for today B. MP splits were as follows:

7.31, 7.29, 7.18, 7.29, 7.26, 7.31.

Calf is so so but never gave out on the MP section which I'm delighted with. Good long stretch and stand in the canal for 3 mins to aid the legs, TbL wouldn't be asking me to go skinny dipping today!!!

Just over 50 miles for the week, highest weekly mileage total ever that's one thing I'm sure of. Happy with how the week went. T minus 7 weeks today peeps!!