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P&D Autumn Marathon 2018
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Great LR Spoons & good to see you're developing the parkrun habit
Your body should certainly be ready for the 75-85 Macca.
More good miles AWC.
Your 10K sounds similar to my XC Hazel: muddy & hilly. Loads of guys were losing shoes it was that bad. Seen a photo today of someone running with an X-Talon in one hand
I'm definitely in recovery mode. Did an easy 4M on the TM at lunch today keeping an eye on the HR so it didn't go over 136 & bailed on tonight's swimming too in favour of an early night.
Nice racing Hazel, sounds like you're in a good spot to start the new training cycle.
Good to see things clearly on the up Spoons. I saw that long run on Sunday - great pace, after a hard run the day before. Really promising.
So another trip to Valencia. I'm telling you now, if you want a good 'autumn' marathon, in my opinion, there is no better. The course is, without doubt, the fastest in Europe, and I'm saying that having done lots of the big European races. It's so flat, with loads of long straights and plenty of runners to pull you along. Conditions are usually perfect, a bit cold at the start, rising to about 13-15 degrees but lots of shade on the course. Organisation top notch. Awesome city. Can't recommend it enough. I'm planning on going back most years.
I'd arranged to run with a mate from the club, targeting his first sub-3. His PB was 3:11 but he's always had much more potential than (sub 18 5km). 44 years old, so he was worried he was running out of time (I reassured him he wasn't). As mentioned, perfect conditions, and I just told him to run with me and not worry about anything else.
We went through halfway in 1:28:45, but to be honest, I was worried, because he was already telling me his legs were feeling awful. But we kept on trucking, and he showed a ridiculous amount of resolve, with me offering various words of encouragement in his ear. The last 6 miles of a marathon are always hard, whether you're on the limit or not, and I was more than ready to finish.
We crossed the line in 2:58:10, with a nice little buffer in hand. It was a pretty special moment, quite emotional, and awesome to share it with him. Not long after, Katie crossed in 3:09, another minute shaved off her PB. This was despite doing very limited training since Chicago (no sessions, one long run (17 miles) in 2 months). If she can get to the end of a decent training block and get some kinder conditions in London this year then she's going to fly.
Great weekend away all in all. There was about 50 of us from the club, and I ended up having far too many beers on Sunday with Katie having to escort me home - whoops.
It's really helped in getting my head in the right place and I'm looking forward to getting back to some good training.
Jools - sounds really tough. I quite like a rough and technical offroader but I don't really fancy those super muddy races. Seems to be a real British thing. Sounds like a bit of recover is a good idea. Christmas Bazaar was good by the way, nothing too bizarre, only just realised my mistake when reading back.
Well done on getting into Berlin Spoon and Chick. And well done on not getting into that ultra Macca and AWC.
Spoon - Good work on building the mileage again and good pace for that long run.
Hazel - good work on the 10k. Sounds like fun.
Good long runs AWC and FBT.
Macca - I can't see the point of dropping back to 55-70 miles after your big mileage this year.
Got out for a 19 mile long run on Friday and deliberately took it easy as my legs were still sore from the Wednesday track session. Didn't end up doing XC on Sunday as my wife had to work so did a steady offroad 13 mile run yesterday morning which was pretty muddy and slippery. Only fell over twice. Just trying to get over 100k every week.
Whoa it’s been ages since I had a catch up.
Valencia looked a great trip, Joe. And brilliant to help your friend to his first sub 3. You’ve definitely sold it to me. Now if you could have a word with my wife… Nice to hear Katie PBing again already.
Great long run, spoons. Solid community-spirit with the drunk saving as well. Sounds a wise decision to rest up whilst ill, and no doubt you’re in a much better place for it now. Fantastic news about Berlin – really pleased for you and for chicksta (great LTing by the way).
Having met you a couple of times, HA, I really can’t imagine you getting mad. But then I do vaguely recall a story involving an estate agent’s board. Well done to your son in the santa dash. Your long running is going great – should really set you up for London. You should definitely do Wokingham. Treat your wife to a stay at Reg’s.
Great to hear you’re at Wokingham too, Reg. I assume to 31+M plan is with tri training around it?
Jooligan that was a huge amount of sweat loss. Did the treadmill survive? Great photos from your fell race. And an outrageous amount of climbing over that distance. The thought of the quad pain after that… Good news about Snowdonia. I am going to hold fire this year and see how things pan out. Plenty of places for sale if I remember correctly.
Never bemoan a PB, Scott! Well done. Think you’ll be good to go for Telford, especially with the enforced rest in you.
Similar for you, FBT. A good bit of rest will do no harm. Best of luck at the weekend.
Good 10k, Hazel. Well done.
Macca you know you’ll do (at least) the 75-85M plan. Your consistency will do you really well. Have you a goal for Manchester?
Tried to spice up a MLR last week, with 6 x 2 min hill reps and a few strides thrown into a 15 miler. Another Mona Fartlek over the weekend, but too much drinking to give any improvement. A few more hill reps yesterday and then I’m hoping for a long run tomorrow after school. Then the really big race: the first of two santa dashes this Sunday. Looks quite a challenging off road and hilly 8k. Quite excited for it!
Jools I meant to say I admire your resolve, I think I would have sacked off the rest of the weekend after the stiff legged warm up. That climb in the first mile of the fell race is crazy.
Some good mileage banked there HA, sounds like you got the xc experience with the falls.
Good luck with the Santa dash SQ, in full Santa Suit ? If so, pics are obligatory.
Agreed HA (and Jools & SQ)on its pointless dropping down mileage for the endurance phase. I think its the difference between 6 days per week against 7 that worries me but I guess dropping the odd recovery run here or there if necessay wont amount to much.
SQ - off the back of a spring 3:14 and a 3:23 I'd like to sub 3 again but recent 10 mile mp sections are around 2:55 pace so that might be a realistic target (touch wood).
Indeed - full Santa suit. Should fit nicely with my newly acquired belly. Planning on setting off far too fast. No one will know it’s me anyway.
Good long run this morning - furthest since Abingdon. Wanted to squeeze it in to make room for this year's A race - the aforementioned santa dash on Sunday. Ran it mostly at easy, a little steady and 2 or 3 miles progressively to MP at the end. Enjoyed exploring some new (to me) cycle paths, before combining with a more well-trodden route. Bumped into spoons, which is rare for the areas less frequented. All in 18M at 7:07 average pace. Weights and a little spin on the agenda for later.
In the new year, I might consider doing my long run on a Wednesday. Rather risk disrupting work than family time.
Spoons, HA, Tom, Reg. All worthy contributors.
I think there are plenty of people worth a nomination: Jools, AWC, Macca, SQ, Scott, FBT. But maybe we should have a bit of a female touch.
Hazel/Chick - you want to do the honours?
No lost shoes as far as I saw in my race on Sunday Jools - not quite that bad.
Nice long runs by FBT, SQ and HA.
Good pacing work by you in Valencia Joe and congrats to Katie for another PB. I think you and others have almost sold Valencia to me for next year.
Good luck for Telford - Scott, spoons, Jools and anyone else?
And good luck also for the Santa dashing this weekend SQ. +1 for a picture.
Congratulations on not getting into the WSER macca.
After a good opening week for P&L I've promptly fallen off the plan as due to CBA I ditched the planned LT intervals yesterday and only struggled out for a short recovery. It is not an issue though as I have no goal race to force me into a strict timetable. I should try to see the thing through though if it is to have any effect. So out later for the intervalls then.
For opening the Spring thread I vote sponteaneously for macca. I will more be lurking this time as I'm not Spring marathoning this year, so I shouldn't take the honours. Will take a break from marathons until the Autumn at least and try to do some damage to some shorter distance PBs.
Great mileage over the summer Macca, that base will serve you well. I’d definitely go for the 75-85 plan.
Top work from you, Katie, and your mate, in Valencia, Joe. I definitely fancy giving Valencia a go one day.
Solid training HA.
Having briefly enjoyed Joe’s enthusiastic support at Brighton last year (was it really only last year!?), FBT, I’m certain he’d get your there!
Funny to bump in to you SQ, I think I literally did a double-take as I wasn’t expecting to see anybody, let alone you. Very solid long run pace there.
Good call on the new thread Joe. Hazel I wouldn’t worry, I started this one, and didn’t even end up running an autumn marathon!
As planned I’ve jumped in to base-building with a busy week including a few doubles, and I’m up to nearly 90 miles over the past 7 days although I will back off a little for Telford now, for about 80 miles for the calendar week. Pretty pleased with how it’s gone so far, legs don’t feel too battered so they still have some endurance in them, and my feet are feeling pretty good too. Still a little stiffness and soreness in the morning, but no worse than before, and feeling good on runs, so fingers crossed.
Pace hasn’t been anything to get excited about, although this morning the heart rate was back where I’d want it, and the pace better, so hopefully getting there. No idea how Telford will go, I'm in the first sub-40 race and fear I may be close to last! The write-up on Fast Running described a forecast of still conditions, but the forecast I’m looking at is for 16 mph winds and 30 mph gusts!?
Oh, and I also passed 15,000 miles of running since I started in 2012 yesterday! Nearly 85 days worth of running
FBT I think it's 8k. Off road and hilly. So no idea what time I'll run it in - definitely a have a go and enjoy it affair. What time do you start on sunday? Best of luck.
Hazel would it be worth booking in a half (or other distance) to give the motivation to stick to plan? Depends what you want from it, really. Great plan either way.
You've built that mileage nicely, spoons. Amazing how a few doubles make it shoot up. I just read that Fast Running pre race write up for Telford. Agree with you, I'm not sure where their predicted calm conditions come from. A friend of mine, Chris Davies, is still the record holder there with around 28 minutes I think. Very unassuming guy and it was only after googling him I realised he was quite nippy - I think running int he Commonwealth Games qualifies you for that.
A few strides this morning in filthy conditions. Fortunately the artificial rugby pitch was a great surface to do it on.
SQ - Weekday long runs work really well for me. I would like to get out for long run on the weekend at gentlemen's hours but I much prefer to not worry about running on the weekend and just relax with the family. I'm sure when the kids are grumpy teenagers they won't want to spend time with me on the weekend so it's good to make the most of it while they're young. I don't feel like it really affects me much at work either.
Good luck in Telford Spoon and Scott and good luck for the Santa Dash SQ.
Good luck for the big one this weekend SQ. I'm backing you to take the win.
Likewise the SS combo in Telford.
FBT - happy to offer my services where I can!
Bit of running and swimming this week, nothing too drastic to report.
Valencia blog is up; https://spragginsblog.wordpress.com/2018/12/07/valencia-marathon-02-12-18/
I'm definitely going back next year. And every year. Has to be the best marathon out there. And I've done a few..
I'm with Hazel on opening the new thread as I won't be doing a spring marathon either, just a half. BTW, nice hardcore 10k from you last weekend, Hazel. That's a really good time on such a tough course.
Good luck at Telford, Boys.
Well my streak on coping well with the P&L sessions ground to an abrupt halt today. Was supposed to do 10 miles with 3x1200 and 3 x 1000 but couldn't even complete the 3rd of the 1200s. Cut my losses after 6 miles in total. My A race isn't until 7 April so I've plenty of time and work stress / insomnia is my excuse for being rubbish.
Have a good weekend, all.
Have made the the most of the last few days off work by bingeing on fast food and sugary treats! Not done that for a while.
I think that's what I've been suffering from too Chicksta.
Telford 10K for me today: not as good as I was hoping for when I entered or even a couple of weeks ago but not the disaster I was beginning to fear either. After a week of 7M easy runs once a day I was hoping to remind the legs how to turnover in a race so banged parkrun in the middle of yesterday's 7. It was blowing a gale across Pontefract racecourse but even so I was bitterly disappointed (& decidedly worried) when I couldn't even come close to breaking 20 minutes.
The wind continued to howl unabated all night with lots of rain thrown in too which added to my feelings of despondency. I was one of the first to arrive at the car park as I'd slept in the car just 5 minutes away. After some foam rolling to ease the stiffness & glute activation exercises I went & reccied the course. 4 easy miles later I was a tiny bit happier as the wind, which had eased slightly, didn't seem too bad on the course but I was worried the wet leaves might make traction tricky at race pace & a flooded section on the out & back looked like it could prove hazardous however I went back & rolled some more before heading off to see the Elite race power past at 5.5K. Saw Spoons & a couple of other folk I know. Cheered them on before heading to the finish to see the winners come in. It was an exciting finale with the winner overtaking the leader just a couple of metres before the line.
I then jogged back up to the start. Started too far back for once & my usual relatively sluggish start meant I couldn't take full advantage of the downhill as it was too crowded for me to open up my long stride properly. Still the quickest half mile of the race mind. Ran OK & went through half way in about 19:10 but lost focus a bit on Mile 5 which cost me my sub 39. Finished in 39:03 just 4s quicker than I managed at Poole on Boxing Day last year after a 100M week + an Xmas day parkrun
https://forums.runnersworld.co.uk/discussion/347953/p-d-spring-marathon-2019/p1?new=1