Must admit I love all the faff and the logistical things that irk other people. But that’s London for me. It’s NOT like any other race. I go down Friday, come back Monday. So I make a full weekend of it. I love the train journey down, being like a little kid on the DLR when you’re near the O2 and you can see the race route beneath you. I like the Expo, the Fri eve shenanigans, a womble round a parkrun Sat morn then going for some food somewhere. I like just pottering round Sat afternoon, going for a coffee somewhere, going to a Tesco or similar to get our food for immediate post-race etc. Love the journey to the start and all the nervous expectation etc. It’s just a mega weekend. I fully get why people DONT like it and think it’s a logistical nightmare, but I just embrace and go all in. It’s the absolute highlight of my year, by a million miles!
Anyway, I did my 6 with 2 at MP earlier. Felt quite hard and my leg was dreadful. Magic stuff. The taper is serving me well. My MP today came in at 6’35 (slightly downhill), 6’45 (slightly uphill).
Think my plan early doors is nothing quicker than 6’40, nothing slower than 6’50 if I can. But I’ll let feel and HR be the main factor. See how I settle in. I’ve never ever had the ‘this feels easy’ thing for the first half. I always feel like shite for the first 10 miles. I don’t feel any better after 10, but at least I’ve only got 16 to go then rather than 26!
Oh and for those not on FB. I’ve accidentally dyed my hair neon green. I look like a cross between a Proclaimer and Orville.
DT - even I can't scupper a city centre race in London.
Expo trip done, horrendously delayed journey due to train trouble. But number collected. They make you go through the expo to collect your race T shirt now, which obviously doesnt have the word "finisher" on it.
I wear tights and compression shorts depends on weather. I'm 50 and in good shape an always feel more comfortable when held in place. I couldn't really give a monkies what others think as I probably look better and am quicker than 95% of them in my age group anyhoos.🤣
Wear what you feel good, comfortable and confident in
Oo, laps are a bus man's holiday for me. My session course, once into the maim body is a 2k loop. Sadly Gwent won't quite size up to Dorney views.
As for time, since March I've run pbs at 10m, 20m, 5k and on the long leg at road relays.
The 20m was run at 4 x 5m progressive blocks and averaged 6.08mm. If it's a good day in all respects then I'm hoping to be close to 2.40. Of course we all know what an unpredictable beast a marathon can be.
SQ - excellent stuff with the 5km/v40 pb! Well done! Why were there rumblings with the guy doing another 5km? Assuming he was staying out of everybody's way I fail to see the problem, though I've been sworn at at parkrun before for doing similar (I did also stay out of the way of everybody, but one chap took offence to me passing him).
SC - well done to Jr on his first sub-5! Nice low-key parkrun from you too.
SG - fair enough as I guess it must draw in a good bit of funding for them too. Good to see you getting back to sessions.
4 jog/6 easy yesterday. 8m easy at lunchtime earlier. Felt quite tired on all. Combination of a (for current fitness) high mileage weekend with my first session in ages in there, plus (particularly today) very mentally intense work stuff, and stupidly high winds! I've been reminding myself of one of Canova's quotes - "Never athletes can run very fast, if are not able to run, sometimes, very slow and easy". Plus I've allowed myself a significant period to rebuild general fitness before I expect to start doing proper workouts, so as long as I'm moving I'm going in the right direction.
TT - if you join before the race you get away with it, but yeah Marlow always seem to have had that rule. And a HM and now 10m and 7m properly takes marshals i'm sure.
Bit different to Handy Cross with a town centre 5miler I expect.
Sounds a decent sesh, just from the classically complicated mix of paces and timings
Casual parkrun from the SC - quicker than any 5k i've done in 18months or so.
SQ - downhill gradient first km in a 5k definitely asks for trouble doesn't it
You'll get that V40 pb down I'm sure.
Did my first proper sesh for what must be about a month.
Solid enough.
4x1mile off 2mins. No particular intention on pace rather than what felt a sensible effort. Considered it might be progressive, but was relaxed.
Bastad wind one direction probably explains some jumping around in paces.
6.09, 5.48, 5.58, 6.03
I'm not sure you ever feel the wind as such, but the 2nd one was probably the smoothest route.
Whereas the 1st one goes a cross a mini roundabout and then a slight incline first half which doesn't help. Usual couple of slight hazards and having to be cautious which never helps.
Ideally need to get these sort of reps quicker, but for a first leap in in ages that'll do nicely. Much better than the 12x30secs last week, with some of them over 6 pace!