Week 12 - Sicknote.. :-(

I guess I have to call this the worst week so far in my marathon training. I blogged this time last week about the joys of getting my personal best over the half marathon, and was looking forward to this (week 12) week of training. Alas, it was not to be…. I contracted some sort of stomach bug, which made itself very obvious about midnight on Monday. I was laid up in bed all day Tuesday, and did not really recover until Friday. Still – rather go down with something like that now, and not in race week.

Needless to say, the training suffered. I was able to get out on both Saturday and Sunday, posting 11 miles each day. Going out on Saturday was really tough, my legs did not know what hit them. Sunday was as little better.

Got a little boost in the week when the letter turned up with my London Marathon number. If you are watching, I will be running as # 39401, probably with the Get Kids Going charity vest on.

Have hit 45% of the sponsorship target. Big thanks to all that have donated. We are collecting at http://www.justgiving.com/Ian-and-Robin-do-London and are so close to that magical £1,000 (50%)!!

Week 12 Target -> 43
Week 12 Actual -> 22

BMI 24:39, Weight 74.7 KG (11 stone 10.7 lbs) – not a good sign – a kilo lost to the damn virus this week

4 weeks (28 days) to go!!!!

The Song that really pushed a weak body around this weekend: Don’t Stop me Now – Queen.

Week 11, First training Race - Personal Bests Busted!!

This week – and today in particular, saw me pretty much smash my personal best at the Half Marathon. I complete Fleet Half in 1 hour and 37 mins (17 secs…) the course was actually 13.28 miles from start to finish, so I might even be able to claim a 1hr 36 minutes half marathon. This has beaten my previous PB by about 3 minutes. I started the race thinking that I would try to take it easy, and not try to hammer a PB as I did not want to risk injury. Once the miles started to drop in at 7min 20 secs per mile, I started to believe that I could keep it up, and keep it up I did!!

Feeling OK now as well (writing this about 6 hours after the event). I think it was worth it pushing myself. I quickly got into the mindset that it was now or never. I have never been this prepared for running in my life, so really put the effort in. Might need more that 1 day rest this week….

Did not hit the target miles this week, as the race was (only…) 13 miles, and the training plan was asking for a longer run, but will make that up through the coming week.

Have now hit 40% of the sponsorship target. Huge thank-you to all those who have donated. Really means everything to me as I prepare for the race. If you have not had the chance and would like to donate – please goto http://www.justgiving.com/Ian-and-Robin-do-London

Week 11 Target -> 49
Week 11 Actual -> 41.5

BMI 24:69, Weight 75.6 KG (11 stone 12.7 lbs) – it still goes down!!!

5 weeks (35 days) to go!!!!

The Song that made sure I got some of the big midweek miles done.. :..
Feel Good Inc by the Gorillaz

Week 10 Down - Some real miles to talk about..

Through this week I have been watching the documentary about Eddie Izzard, the English (Welsh?) comedian who completed 43 marathons in 51 days last year. Found it incredible, and very inspiring as I try to build up to just one! If you get a chance, I recommend watching it.

I hit 20 miles on the Saturday run this week. The start of the week was really hard as I had a very sore ankle, as I had aggravated the ankle sprain that signalled my retirement from football in the summer of last year. I iced it every night last week and it got better really quickly. I was back out on Tuesday night doing speed work around the athletics track.

I thought 20 miles would kill me, but surprisingly, I felt OK on Sunday (again with the help of an icepack in Saturday night following the 20). OK enough to get out for another 5 miles (although that might have been the pull of my ne running top and SKINS ankle guards!!). After this week, I am pretty sure I can bolt another 6 miles onto the 20 to complete a marathon. Not sure what my body will do after 20 miles though, that test will come with my 22 mile training run in 2 weeks.... I can't wait.....

Week 10 Target -> 35.5 Miles
Week 10 Actual -> 45 Miles

BMI 24:75, Weight 75.8 KG (11 stone 13 lbs) - still going down!!!

6 weeks (42 days) to go!!!!

The Song that reminded me of when I was young and would never dream of doing a marathon : The Housemartins – Happy Hour

Week 9 Down - Breaking the Back of It

The training got pretty intense this week, but to help that along, the sun came out!!. I completed 5 runs this week and I think 3 of them were in glorious sunshine. Incredible how much that helps – or at least helps you get out there. Once running, it still does not seem to get that much easier.
Sunday saw me run 18.5 miles. Obviously the furthest I have ever run. It was just over 2.5 hours of running. It actually did not feel as bad as I expected. I notice that at about 15 miles, it’s like someone had taken the ‘springs’ out of my legs… I can quite happily run, but there is no ‘bounce’ left. This means I certainly cannot accelerate, so that is a good note for the marathon – I want to put any pace on, it has to be in the first half.

I have been shuffling around the house this afternoon, as there are a few old injuries to my ankles from 25 years of playing football that are threatening to show… I will just ignore it and hope that they clear up tomorrow morning… rest day tomorrow…phew!

This week, I am putting a ‘thanks-you’ out to my long suffering wife and baby boy! Their support means everything to me (as do they) and I can’t wait to be around on BOTH of the weekend mornings, but that will have to wait unil May :-(

Week 6 Target -> 42

Week 6 Actual -> 41

BMI 24:85 (officially NOT Overweight now I am under BMI 25!!), Weight 76.1 KG (11 stone 13 and a bit lbs) - finally I crack the 12 stone marker!!7 weeks (49 days) to go!!!!

The Song that got me through a lot of solo training runs: The Prodigy – Invaders Must Die!! (I needed that aggression this week…. )

Until next week...... when I expect to report 20 miles done…