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Shades Marathon Training
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NB also sponsor Callum Hawkins so he's in good company.
Weather here is slightly better,just over 20° now and sat outside in shorts and tshirt,love the locals still in coats and heavy clothes.
Expo all done,nice and easy pick up,got a jacket,makes a nice change from tshirts,very thin but looks nice and will do to keep another layer before races.
Tunde did come and meet me - I've not run with him since before Christmas so that was nice and we had a coffee after.
Iain - just run at long run pace. If you go too fast you will have a very painful last 60 odd miles. Plan your walk/food breaks and try and stick to your plan.
</div><div>Anyone done the Hampton court half? That’s what I’m running tomorrow. Strangely nervous that ill discover I’m not on track for marathon pace despite all my mileage
Didn't sleep brilliantly. Turns out my Travelodge was the base for several teams of junior gymnasts, and I was on the floor where most of them were based. They were up talking until very late!
Anyway, alarm went off, I got myself sorted and made the drive over to Race HQ. Not having done a Pheonix event before it was all new to me, but I think probably most of the other runners have done several. Davey was there in his 100MC Chairman role, handing out race numbers etc, and he ran too.
I had a quick look around and the majority of people were using road shoes, so that's what I went for too, and that was the right choice. It was one of those mornings where it was a bit difficult to decide on clothes. Car was saying 11deg at 8am, but there was a strong, cold wind. Lots of people were really dressed up with long sleeved tops and jackets, but I just went for a T-Shirt and gloves, which again was the right decision for me. Not too hot and not too cold, once we got underway.
This one is 8x out-and-backs. I think today was probably busier than what he normally organises as it was chip timed, whereas these events are usually not as far as I know. But my main worry about this was the mud and indeed, as Iain said, the first bit was pretty muddy. Also, parts of "out" leg was into a strong wind, which of course when we came back the other way didn't seem to make hardly any difference to an improvement in pace. Same old story
Although the terrain isn't really to my liking I felt I was running well within myself early on, and in the early stages I was thinking I may carry on for an extra couple of laps. Some of the bits that aren't muddy still had a camber, or cobbles, or uneven surfaces, or large puddles, r geese, or dogs, etc etc so there always seemed to be something to focus on which made it hard for me to "switch off" and get into a rhythm, but I was enjoying it. I got to half way in 1:54 so a comfortable sub-4 was on if I could keep going at that kind of pace.
Maybe I'm easily annoyed but I was getting a bit peeved by some of the runners. A lot of it is quite narrow and even narrower with the puddles etc, but some were walking 4 or 5 abreast and just seemed oblivious that there was a race going on and some people were at least trying for some kind of time. But apart from that minor annoyance, it was okay.
When I started I had two plans. One was to get a comfortable sub-4, even though it's not my ideal terrain, and the second plan was to carry on for a couple of extra laps at the end, even if it meant walking bits. I got the sub-4 with a 3:50, so fairly evenly paced I think, but the last lap or two were a struggle into that wind. I don't know if the wind was getting stronger or I was getting weaker - probably the latter to be honest - so at the start of my 8th lap I decided I was going to stop and not carry on today, so I just made it to marathon distance. In hindsight, going into these events with a "I'll see how I feel" attitude for going a bit longer probably isn't the right approach - I think really I needed to make my mind up beforehand and just go with it. Sitting here now, I know I could have carried on, albeit slower, but I just didn't fancy it. Never mind.
I can't say I'm a massive fan of the course, but I'll keep it in mind for if I need some emergency numbers in the run up to 100. It's picturesque with nice boats etc, and maybe it's better when it's drier, but I can't say it's a favourite.
The medal is nice. It's smaller than what that picture makes it look like, but I like it.
Fortunately the drive back was uneventful and everything was on time....and I didn't stop for a KFC!
I'm not surprised you stopped at marathon point, I agree the 'I'll see how I feel' means not going any further, I'd do exactly the same.
Annoying about the runners blocking the course, I suppose they don't do any training and can't understand anyone wanting to try and get a good time, must have been frustrating.
I'm very impressed you skipped the KFC.
Rcouture - Cal is also doing Hampton Court tomorrow, think she's done it before.
Just stick to your race plan and you'll get a good PB and the marathon training will have done it's stuff, enjoy it.
Keith - will maybe see you at Plym Trail then, a long trip for you and you'll have to go to the pub for your roast dinner now.
Steve Edwards was there as we said. He completed his 900th and the average for those 900 is an incredible 3:19:20! He struggled today though by the looks of it as he finished in 3:44.
My official time for the table is 3:50:32.
SE works so hard to complete his marathons within the target times that he's set for himself and I know there are times when he's carrying an injury and tired but he's not one to complain.
I would imagine he'll ease up a little for a while to recover his energy levels before going for the 1,000.
Read this article about Mo before
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/athletics/2020/02/22/mo-farah-admits-lying-links-disgraced-coach-jama-aden/
Says in there,there is a new panorama about Salazar out Monday,wonder if this is Mo trying to get ahead of it.
Had a nice chilled day today,its a nice city and the weather is glorious,looking the same tomorrow afternoon.
Cal/Rcouture, best of luck today too.
Been searching around for a Seville stream, but haven't been able to find one. Edited, there are a couple on YouTube if anyone is interested.
I ran the SVN moonlight challenge and managed 50k in 6:56:02. I did walk a lap with a friend which took us almost 2hr 30. I had a good race ans agm looking forward tiki the madness that is Viking 100.. will do a more detailed write up later today..
Very sad that woman from the 100MC has gone missing, doesn't look good. I don't know her.
I looked for a tracker for Seville yesterday and couldn't find one, I did find live streaming though from the race website but didn't mark it as I knew I wouldn't be able to watch it.
Ian - yes I heard there are more revelations to come in Monday's programme about Salazar, all I've seen about it so far is Warner (head of UKA) advising Farah to leave Salazar and Farah not taking the advice.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/athletics/51583857
Hope you're running well
Iain - well done, what was the course like? Hope the foot is OK, any pain?
10 miles for me this morning, lovely and mild 13 degrees, was windy in places but good running weather. Did another hilly route and in the valley at Compton I could see the damage last week's floods have done. Was expecting to have to run through flood water but just a few big puddles so managed to finish with dry feet.
Gym later this morning.
Felt ok yesterday but had a couple of headaches,then this morning my legs had no energy at all,even walking to the start was an effort,not a great sign.
Decided to not go for the original sub 3 as I wasn't feeling right,by 10k I knew it was going to be a tough day so resigned myself to it.At half I could feel my stomach churning and I've never had that before,tried to carry on but at 16 knew if I didn't stop I'd have an accident,nipped in to a local cafe who let me use the toilet,hoped that would be the end of it but at 22 it happened again.I've never even had to stop for a wee before never mind twice for a number 2.I must have some type of bug or something as I'm normally really good with my stomach,by 24 I literally had no energy and walk/jogged the last bit.
Really disappointing as i had a good winter and felt strong until yesterday,as I'm typing this I feel sick and weak so the flight home tonight mightn't be the most comfortable.Time for 3:22:29.
Delighted to see JM with a 2:10:05,puts him 3rd at the minute in the Olympic rankings so hoping he makes it after the commonwealth debacle.
10 miles for me this morning. I don't usually do that many miles the day after a marathon but legs were feeling good, plus it's a bit of practice for my back-to-backs in March. Looking back through my notes I haven't done a double marathon since August 2019, but today's run went well and legs feel fine. Only slight thing was that I was very thirsty in the last 2 miles or so, but that's probably because I didn't prepare as I would usually for a back-to-back plus I went out last night with friends, so I've no concerns about that. When I got back I drank some water with electrolytes so hopefully I'll be fine.
Ian - hope you're feeling better soon and the flight home isn't uncomfortable.
Sounds like you've picked up a bug. You did an admirable performance in the circumstances.
These things happen, we can't always be feeling great on race day.
Great news about JM, hope he gets a place in the marathon at Tokyo.
Big G - you're recovering better and more quickly each time.
Iain, that's a good sign.
Well done on your runs, Big G and Shades.
Hampton Court didn't go to plan. When I looked at the weather forecast this morning, the winds had been upgraded - 40s rather than 20s, which worried me.
It didn't seem too bad initially and I did my usual over enthusiastic start (8:16) then over-corrected for mile 2 (8:40) before hitting a couple of miles in the 8:20s (I was shooting for 8:30-35). But then I started to slow. Aside from another 8:29 at mile 6, I just kept getting slower. It wasn't helped by a windy stretch down the Thames to Hampton Court which made it harder than it should have been. I was still roughly on target at mile 10, but after we passed Hampton Court and turned back the other way, I figured we should get a tail wind. Wrong - it was even worse! I don't know how that's even possible since we were going in more or less the opposite direction, but it did me in. I only managed just under 9 minute miles for the last three, despite working hard, and came in at 1:53:53 which was not only nearly a minute slower than Kingston and Farnborough, but also a few seconds slower than my Hampton Court time from last year.
I felt really tired after - still do - and my feet were hurting and left glute was aching. I remember feeling a lot more sore after doing the windy Big Half last year.
Well, never mind. Can't win 'em all. It's still my fourth fastest half and if I was only 8 seconds slower than last year when conditions were perfect, it's not all bad.
This does leave me wondering whether I should try to find another half between now and Manchester where I can test myself without weather getting in the way. I'd be interested in your feedback on this.
Nothing you can do about the weather and it's just so unfair that you can do an 180 degree turn and still have to run into a headwind.
Yes, as long as you're not injured do find another half before Manchester so you can be assured that you're in great form.
Original plan was to sit in the sun drinking beer this PM,but as is still felt crap I decided sun wasnt the best option and came for an exciting 5 hour wait in the airport instead.Slightly better mood now,originally I was thinking I'll do Barca and Boston and give these up but knew/hoped that would fade.It is just so hard sometimes when you sacrifice a lot and put up with training in all crappy weather just for that to happen.At the end of the day its only running and there's far more important things to worry about.
Ian, there were times last year when I was wondering if this was all worth it, and I had to remind myself I was doing this for fun. I can imagine that for you with juggling work, getting the miles in, getting time off work, the expense of getting out there etc for it to all go wrong is a real kick in the teeth. But you'll bounce back - no question. Also, remember that only 2 or 3 years ago you'd have been totally over the moon with that time. It's a really great time in the circumstances and when it all comes together on the day, I'm sure you'll do well.