Week 8 Complete - Half Way Point

I have now hit the half way point of the training plan, Week 8 complete of the 16 week training plan. Feeling good so far, with fingers crossed, I can report that I am not suffering from any injuries, just a little tired and some sore toes, but nothing that will divert the training plan.

It has been a pretty wet week, but once I am out there, the rain does not really cause too many problems, its the wind that is the killer.

Mixed the training up a bit this week, with the Tuesday night 'technical night' taking the shape of a couple of miles run to the Basingstoke running track, then 5 x 800 metres fast sessions, then 2 miles run back home. It was a good feeling on the track... maybe dreams of London 2012 are not yet over!!!!!

Saturday saw my longest run yet - 2.5 hours, with a distance of just over 17 miles. There was one of my mother-in-law's legendary curries waiting at the end of that run, so it made those last few miles ploughing through Oakley easier to complete.

Week 8 Target -> 34
Week 8 Actual -> 40

BMI 25.21, Weight 77.2 KG (12 stone 2 lbs) - exactly the same as last week....

8 weeks (56 days) to go!!!!

The Song that helped me ignore the rain -> Kings of Leon - Use Somebody.

Week 7 down - Personal Bests Tumbling

A good training week now complete. Due to missing a couple of training sessions last week, I started this week with a run on Monday (usual rest day) and carried on the usual frequency through the week, so I ran 6 of the 7 days this week. Really thought I had an injury coming on through Tuesday with a tight achilles, but that seemed to disappear through the week.

Went out on Saturday morning and ran 16.5 miles - the furthest so far (this is a statement I expect to be able to add for most of the training weeks). I added a 5.5 mile run on Sunday lunchtime, as the recovery from the 16 + was OK. Seriously starting to believe in achieving the marathon goal now!!

Managed to dodge the majority of the rain that fell around the South of England this weekend... Here's hoping I dodge the wet in week 8.

Week 7 Target -> 38
Week 7 Actual -> 43

28BMI 21:21, Weight 77.2 KG (12 stone 2 lbs)

9 weeks (63 days) to go!!!!

The Song that kept me from wanting to sit down halfway round the Sunday Run: Numb/Encoure - Linkin Park feating Mr Jay Z.

Less Than 10 Weeks To Go....

Mixed fortunes this week - on Sunday I ran the furthest/longest I have ever done (15 miles ran in just over 2 hours on Saturday morning). It was tough, but the recovery was good. I did not feel the expected aches and pains on Sunday. Really feels like I have reached a milestone - being the longest run I have ever done and feeling pretty much normal the day after. The old legs/ankles/knees were fine, but got hit with a bit if a cold on Sunday, so that restricted the running to one outing for the weekend. I missed a run in the week as well as my kit was in my locker at work and on that day, I forgot my keys... (sounds like a schoolboy excuse for not handing my homework in...). Still feeling the cough/cold as we start week 7 of 16, but hoping it will disappear pronto.

Week 6 Target -> 30
Week 6 Actual -> 28

BMI 21:73, Weight 78.5 KG (12 stone 5 lbs) - which is up a pound on last week... 2 sessions missed - a lifetime on the hips...or something like that.

10 weeks (69 days) to go!!!!

Week 5 Complete - Progress Steady

Week 5 wraps up with a steady showing. Completed the miles as per the training plan. I would like to say it is getting easier, but is isn't!! It's just getting more 'manageable' I would say. The legs are feeling weary by Thursday (with the Tues, Weds, and Thurs consecutive runs). Still feeling very good though, and very much focussed on the goal... The countdown now reads 11 weeks - 77 days!!! Sponsorship has been amazing, with an overwhelming response! Can't describe how good that makes me feel and how much that truly helps with the motivation.

The Sunday long run was good fun, we took on a 14 + miles route that previously we had only completed on our mountain bikes. Needless to say, covered in mud, and the old pair of running shoes that I wore might have to see the dark end of the bin... not sure they will recover. Good 'cross' training though, dodging bogs, tree roots and rotting leaves.

Target for this week: 31 Miles
Actuals for this week: 38.5 Miles

BMI this week: 25.37; Weight the just a shade under 12 stone 4 pounds (78 KGs)
The Song that kicked me up the hills on Saturday : Eye of the Tiger - Survivor (in true Rocky style)

Goodbye Week 4, Hello Week 5

Yep - can vouch for that. A very cold this week - enduring memory is of skipping frozen puddles around the routes where I live. Recognising now that 5 days of running equals 5 changes of running kit.... Let's be honest - no wife in the world is gonna keep up with that washing schedule, so it you see me (us) out - don't get in the slipstream.......

Week Target: 30 ish miles with some speed/hill work chucked in.
Week Actual:35 miles

BMI this week: 25.44; Weight 12 stone 4 pounds (78 KGs)
The Song that helped me skip the frozen puddles : Everlong – Foo Fighters.