October mileage
Just totalled the mileage for the month - 122 miles. Wow wee, thats a lot of miles for me. In fact the most I have ever run in 1 month. Go me :)
October 2011
20 posts
Marathon training schedule
Given I have a healthy dose of fear for my first marathon (London Marathon, April 2012), I am giving myself as much time as possible to gear up. I found a Higdon training schedule, tinkered and extended it to 29 weeks. I’ve just started week 5.
Both wkly sessions with my running club (Crystal Palace Fun Runners) are included in the training schedule. My pace is somewhere between the medium and fast group but I’ve been pushing myself so have joined the fast group. Albeit pretty much the slowest in the fastest group.
Each week I tell myself that maybe I should take it easier and stay in the medium group for a session. Then somewhere between deciding this and actually starting to run with everyone I find myself with the fast group again!
Each session I push myself hard and barely keep up with everyone. I question my sanity and whether I should drop back, wait for group behind and go join them. Somehow I manage to keep it together and get through each session with the fast group. I’m tired by the end of it and my mile splits are slower at the end but the point is I make it. My legs haven’t fallen off!
Even having only been marathon training for a few weeks, I do feel stronger. I’ve still not run more than 13 miles in one go but I’m not far off running a 1/2 marathon each wkend now. The body seems to complain a little less each week and I recover enough to run again on Monday.
Get me - a runner. I still have to pinch myself. Really do not recognise myself. Thing is, I know there’s more inside me to give to this running lark. And I really enjoy it now :)
500 miles
Broken the 500 mile milestone for this year’s mileage. Am chuffed, never thought I’d be a distance runner. Still don’t recognise myself sometimes compared to the former me.
No sleep so no run today
Didn’t sleep at all last night. Was tossing all night and really don’t think I dropped off at all. Hence was cream crackered today at work and am not going the monday Crystal Palace Fun Runners session. A shame but I’ll run by myself tomorrow instead.
I put the sleeplessness down to the powerade I drank on my 10 mile run yesterday. The damn energy drink contains caffeine. And I polished that bottle off at 6pm ish. No wonder I could not sleep last night. Urgh!
My next race - Men'S Health Survival of the Fittest - 10km obstacle course. Battersea Power Stn, London. 12th Nov 2011 →
mhsurvival.co.uk
Course map - check out the obstacles. Really not looking fwd to the mud & getting soaked. What have I signed up for :(
No longer summer
How cold is it out there?! Not really looking fwd to running this evening as its the 1st time I’ve run this time of year (only really took up running in March 2011). Should be ok once I get going but better make sure I warm up properly. Don’t wanna pull anything :(
Coughing coughing coughing
Finally admitted to folks at the running club (Crystal Palace Fun Runners) that I’m a former smoker. Can’t really hide it given my coughing whenever we pause for breath (I’m fine when I’m running though).
It was nice to finally just let out there. Even nicer when Barry (like the quickest runner at the club) said he used to smoke too. So not just me as the former ‘bad person’.
I’ve been clear now since June and glad thats all behind me. I don’t get cravings and hardly ever think about it. So go me :)
I honestly don’t know how I used to run when I smoked. Giving up was the best thing ever. My lungs are still clearing out but I have patience. My breathing and lung capacity can only get better :)
Wednesday session - Crystal Palace Fun Runners →
connect.garmin.com
Ran with the fast group this evening. Should have known better given the name of the route - Long Lane.
Those boys can run! They were pacing sub-7 min miles at times. Started off keeping pace with them ok then about 4 miles in I started struggling a little. And why is it when you struggle you seem to get cars, buses etc turning into the road you want to cross?!
Anyways, dropped behind a little. Was finding it tough especially as I wasn’t sure of the route so was worried about being left behind. I shouldn’t have though as the guys were kind enough to wait for me. Given I was always last I didn’t get much chance to catch my breath though. Evenso I pushed myself to continue and not fall behind too much.
I had thought about dropping down to the middle group not long after we started this evening as I had a inkling the pace would be too much for me. But glad I stuck it out. Av pace of 9:58 min over 6.4 miles. Must of burnt myself out as the pace felt much quicker. But I guess the only way to run faster is to make yourself run faster!
And its kinda cool being the only female running in the fast group. I am going to work hard to get better so I can really hold my own in the group :)
October time trial
Just seen the October time trial results for my club (Crystal Palace Fun Runners) and stoked at my result - 7/20 and was the fastest female! 4 miles in 35:44. Thought the mile or so uphill on Crystal Palace Pk Rd had whooped me but seems everyone found it tough.
Next month I’ll do better :)
Britain's Mo Farah named European Athlete of the year →
news.bbc.co.uk
Well done Mo. Totally deserved I reckon.
7/7 2011 races done
Did the Big Fun Run 5k in Victoria Park today. Time 29:09. Nowhere near a PB but given the 29C temperatures I’ll take it. Seemed to lose all my energy in the last mile. I really do not cope well in the heat! And, I’m not sure I’m fully recovered from last wkend’s 1/2 marathon yet.
Anyways, this marks the completion of all 7 races I had originally planned for 2011. Am pleased to have completed the challenge I set myself albeit a little tired right now.
Tomorrow sees me knuckling down to my Gold Challenge (2012km in one year by the start of the Olympics). This includes the London Marathon in April. Too tired to think any of that through right now.
Time for a nap….
