Howdy, Stranger!
Categories
Options
Shades Marathon Training
The materials in this website are in no way intended to replace the professional medical care, advice, diagnosis or treatment of a doctor, qualified personal trainer, therapist, dietitian or nutritionist Runners's World, Part of the Hearst UK well-being network © Copyright 2017
Comments
Big G - don't forget physio today
6 miles this morning, chilly but not frosty, legs OK.
Rcouture - Good news the knee is OK.
Shades - I also looked at Shepperdine as it's meant to be a fast course.
6 miles with strides and 4 mile double yesterday and 7 miles today. Shakeout of 3-4 miles on Saturday, calf feels fine, so all good to go I guess!
Shades, yes, it is imprinted on my brain this time 1.15pm
Just been to see Dad own at Totnes and they had him out of bed and on a chair. That is the first time in literally months (no exaggeration but I think it was early-Jan was the last time he was out on a chair), so that is something. No plan for him as yet though.
I, however, do have kind of a plan brewing. After taking to everyone (OT, physio, doctors, nurses) they have all basically said whether I am here or not makes no difference to them in terms of their plan. They won't discharge him (either to home or a care home) without the appropriate plans in place (i.e, he won't just be chucked out). In trying to figure out what has been stressing me out, I realised it was the length of time me being away - we had planned to be in Ireland for 12 days (plus a couple of days either side, at least). I have just called Caravan Club and they can move my return ferry for a nominal fee, so I am considering that, and only stay in Ireland for maybe 5 or 7 days. I think that would make me feel happier about the whole thing as if I feel I need to get back, I can do so much more easily. I will speak to OH about it a bit later.
The only other nagging issue is that if they come up with a plan that Dad doesn't like, and it all kicks off due to that (which has happened in the past). I have spoken to his partner about this prospect, and she is here to placate him if he starts getting argumentative about any plans. Basically, he does not want to go back into a care home, even if it is only temporary, but if the home care isn't available straight away, that is what may happen. This is not a subject I have felt able to bring up with him as yet.
That's good news on the calf and just at the right time. Weather looks good too.
Big G - I hope the physio has a definitive answer to that perplexing knee problem.
I didn't realise you had planned to be away from home for such a long time. So shortening your trip would be a good option and you'd still get to do your 💯 when and where you want.
Is your Dad in Totnes hospital? My Mum was there for a while, great for visiting, park up and pop upstairs. Instead of walking miles of corridors at Torbay.
You know you can get round a marathon, of course you may have omitted to tell him that too. 🤭
I’ve had email confirmation that I should have race number 100. I need to go to a different desk to pick it up, rather than the usual desks.
That's fabulous news about Belfast marathon and that you and OH have made the decision to go. That worried/nervous feeling will probably last until the start gun goes on race day, that's the point that you know you can finish.
VIP treatment having to collect your number from a separate desk.
5 miles this morning, lovely morning but a sharp north wind in places.
Keith - I would have have a pizza and a burger after that running! Sounds like you're recovering well! Have you signed up for next year yet?
Ian - great race report and congrats for sticking to your plan, always a great sign when you know what you're capable of. Of course we love it when we run 10 mins faster but so often wheels fall off and miss our targets. It sounds like a great race, the closest I think I'll make it is Boston Lincs.
Good luck Steve! Hope the legs have enjoyed the taper and massage!
Shades how's the legs, ready for Sunday?
Cal now you've done the 100 are there any other challenges you're doing, I know compass North, South, East, west and alphabet are popular challenges and can do bingo at the same time!
Been a weird week, Monday was a final bit of digging roots of the bush in the garden, also booked a holiday for next April, back to Turkey to the hotel we loved in 2018, have question marks over the timing due to the potential of not being that warm but we're restricted to school holidays with Elle's job.
Massage on Wednesday which was quite late before Sunday's run, 5 mile shake out last night went okay, although got a bruised feeling above my toes. Niggly glute is still there as a dull ache but hopefully it behaves as it has done on all my longer runs.
Had news on the work front but doesn't really give us an answer on the future of the company. Basically another 2 month limbo time hopefully its fate is pretty much decided and just need to sign over a few things.
Hope the glute is OK, is it the gardening that set that off?
You'll be picking up your pension before your employers finally announce the future of the company
My legs feel OK. However, it's likely that Sunday will be a DNF for me. I was hoping to be able to ask for an early start. Last year due to Covid staggered starting times we could ask for an earlier start and I was moved up to start with the fast guys. I did do a sub 5, had to work hard for it and not sure I'm quite there this year, whether there'll be any aftereffects of the two 50k races last weekend, I don't know.
The race info email reads....
We know that training for a marathon requires a lot of commitment. Due to the 5 lap nature of our route, if you are a bit unsure of your fitness we suggest you come along and make a start - it's easy enough to drop out after a lap or two if things aren't going right for you.
So I've read that as no early starts which is OK with me, I'm quite happy to give it a go and if it doesn't go well I'll have still have had a decent 15 or 20 mile run. I'm not bothered about a DNF, much better than a DNS, nothing is ever achieved by not trying. A sub 5 now would be a London GFA time for me due to my advancing age so I accept that it might be harder to achieve.
If I DNF I'm sure I'll still get my free coffee and sticky bun 
Defo worth the trip on Sunday, go with the mindset of a long supported run but can always carry on if you feel good. Talking of DNF saw Steve Edwards ran his slowest run for a few years yesterday in 3:49. 932 marathons at an average sub 3:20 and no DNF. He needs to get himself to some hilly ultras!!!!
The last of my small employment pension schemes matured at the end of last year. I know the pension fund in the past had a sizeable deficit which the company were trying to pay off over several years. The administrators of the pension fund changed a few years ago and I no longer had any info on the status of the pension fund. I had a lot of trouble claiming my pension, incompetent administrators, but I battled on and eventually all sorted. Which is good as the company I'd worked for has just gone into administration, sad, not their fault but true casualties of the pandemic.
I know Steve (the Godfather) quite well, and he's a lovely guy. His biography is a good read, I'll lend it to you, when we meet. Big G is right, Steve is very focussed and if he's carrying an injury or just not having a good run, he really does give it his all and digs very deep. He's not interested in ultras at all, he came down to present the prizes one year at DD, so he may have run it then, not sure.
We all have our own goals and targets, his is to run all his marathons with an average of sub 3:30, I expect he's got a few Guinness book of records listed to his name.
Big G...hope the plan pans out.
Rob...I finished the compass challenge when I got you to take me to Westmill! (Still keen on Jersey Farm, though...need that letter J!)
Another niggle warrior here. Knee and groin have kept me from running the last couple of days...I did a 6 miler on Wednesday and knee started up but didn't warm up like it did when it was grumbling before the marathon. Just did gym yesterday and groin was horrible and achy all day so I decided I'd just walk today in case any of the glute and ab exercises I've been doing made things worse. Still hoping I can run at parkrun tomorrow so fingers crossed the rest day will help. (The knee is definitely acting up because something in the groin is dodgy, and in turn the SI joint isn't right, so it's all connected. If it doesn't let up I will have to get a massage or see my phys, though I'm loathe to do so this month as my rental agency decided to take all my money this month so I've had to raid my ISA to pay this month's bills and food).
I've had to briefly stop the gym work as my 3 races in 10 days is probably as much as my legs can take. I do plan to go back to the gym next week, but will be light stuff as I have a marathon next weekend and the one after.
Cal - sorry to hear that one niggle has lead to another and then another and now you're feeling a bit crocked. Sounds really uncomfortable 😞
Shades I listened to Steve's marathon talk podcast when he was on 500. He rated Stevenage marathon as the worst he'd done. I didn't think it was too bad, it's basically my training running area when in the office. I like that Steve promotes the events he runs (other than Stevenage) as small businesses/ races can do with all the help they can get. Pensions are complex things, hopefully I wont have to chase too much for mine being with Unison and HSBC.
Rcouture We're going to Icmeler and I ran to Marmaris and back a few times during my trip. Icmeler is very quiet in comparison. Enjoy the massage, hope the knee behaves, sometimes it's just mental how if we're out of normal pattern it affects everything and how we feel.
Cal let me check the diary but late may/ june should be okay for JF. Your rental agency is my Elle, she raids the joint account... ordered herself a portable speaker to use when marshalling on Sunday at Dorney... Spose I'll benefit as will run past 8 times.
But those that are below scheme's pension age will only receive 90% of pension due when they come to claim.
I didn't think Stevenage marathon was that bad, I had a decent run there despite the dizzying amount of underpasses. Just shows how a bad run can influence your opinion of an event.
He invited us all to his 500th, I didn't go, I've forgotten where it was. He might well go for a bigger event, such as Brighton or Manchester for his 1000th.
There'll be no slacking on Sunday with Elle shouting encouragement with her portable speaker 📢. 😃
Cal, I’m sure you can get back towards those times and as you say, a sub-2hr Half would be a great first step. Fingers crossed you can get along to parkrun tomorrow.
Had my sports massage earlier which was very nice. It’s quite dear so probably won’t make a habit of it!
I'm 4 months away from my state pension and very efficiently of the DWP that is all in place, amount and date of payment finalised, which is good as I can finalise my budget for the rest of the year. I have to stop living off my savings from then.
Must be a long time since OH visited NL.
I think we're going to have a summer of motorway nightmare driving. That's stressful when heading for an airport.
Rcouture - you don't have to have sports massage, it won't improve your running. Of all the research only one recent study said there might be some evidence that it helps a little, all other research shows no benefit.
However it is proven to be good for mental health, people that suffer with anxiety find it calms them and they feel it helps them. Which is why when tapering marathon runners are stressed and go for a massage, they think it's for their legs, it's not, it's to calm them.
As long as it's not your HRM battery it sounds to me like you are exhausted and not necessarily all from your training. Take it easy for the next few days, a rest day or two and short easy runs, get some sleep. Your body should naturally bounce back after that, I'd stop the heavy strength work too, maybe just light weights and a short session, and maybe some gentle stretching. No speedwork until you feel 100%, there's no point doing speedwork on tired legs. If you try and squeeze another long run in when you are feeling like this you will get injured. You've done plenty of long runs and you want to be on that start line bouncing full of energy and raring to go. I don't think you need a 3 week taper, look how well you ran your 20 mile race with no taper at all. So back off for a few days and see how you are then.
Rest day for me today.
Up early to walk the dog today and it’s quite fresh with a strong breeze out there. Planning to get along to Bolberry Down parkrun today, and then hoping to see Dad at about 10 (you have to book a slot these days, but reception doesn’t open until 8am, and you can’t book the day before).
Before you go away can you let me know any other May marathons you're doing, I already have Belfast listed