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TR -- the problem with doing my last big run 6 weeks out is that I think the adaptations from it would be wearing off by race day; and it doesn't take me anything like that long to recover from them. (Hope your calf is OK by the way.)
Joe -- I enjoyed the report!
I have actually entered the Meridian 100km on 21 May now, which is also the UK championships. It will be a real step into the unknown for me -- but I'm probably overdue to try something a bit new and risky. It makes me rather schizophrenic training-wise though, as I'd normally do a proper taper for Wings for Life (this Sun), but now I've got an eye on both races I'm a bit conflicted. So I did a 'swift half' this morning before jogging to work to make it a big miles day reminiscent of marathon training, but will probably take tomorrow off and then do little taper runs; then WfL will effectively be a big training run for the 100km two weeks later. I know they're too close to each other (agree with you here TR!) and VLM to be optimal, but at least I should have a fair stab and learn from my first experience of attempting the 100k.
Padams - nice parkrunning and excellent pacing duties - sounds like you really helped him out on the day and I'm sure he really appreciated having you there. A much deserved day off.
A couple of easier runs for me today before a trail race on Wimbledon Common tomorrow evening.
Dan - Great stuff, pleasing and frustrating in equal measures.
CW - I agree with TR, get that long run done sooner rather than later, I'm tempted by the 50K but think it's a step too far at the moment. shame is wasn't 5 months ago....
Hi Tr, glad to hear things are progressing.
Great pacing job Padams, hope the dog is ok.
LMH - How are you feeling?
CD - you are a machine.
20 yesterday, aerobically I'm strong but my legs are letting me down. Need to toughen them up quick smart.
Stuart - that's a bit how I felt at London, engine was great but legs fooked. Things are improving by the day thanks. Managed ten miles this morning and it's getting faster every day too. I just have to keep pushing the boundaries and hoping I don't get to the place where the knees swell up again. Getting out of bed this morning was better than yesterday though so I think they are responding well to not being mollycoddled. Would like a crack at some more ultras myself but probably not a good idea now.
Charlie - how about your last really long (26 miles or more) run three weeks out from marathon day then just a 20 (max) two weeks out?
Has anyone run the Robin Hood marathon? Thinking of it as an autumn alternative to Abingdon.
Bingo, that is precisely what I did (and usually do). I have no concern that running 26 at T-3 weeks at a training pace is detrimental, but I would be concerned that doing my last one at T-6 weeks would mean the benefits would have worn off a lot by race day. Actually even 2 weeks out would probably be fine for my last 26.
I did a total of 27M yesterday, which I am quite sure is detrimental to Wings for Life this Sunday, but will hopefully remind my muscles about fat-burning endurance for the 100K. Rest today though, I'm trying to have all of my cakes and eating them so I still plan a mini-taper for WfL.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/6078671_Effects_of_Tapering_on_Performance
CW - Don't know how you do it. I ran 8m yesterday with 4 at what I think is MP and the legs were certainly rebelling.
LMH - show those legs whose boss.
SL - Like the 20m, your smart must be my supersmart.
TR - when you re-use those safety pins suspect it will be emotional and also supersweet.
Exeter marathon booked for May 23 - so tapering again. A very un-London like experience, maybe 150 runners on paths around the river and most likely the debut to use my Garmin and its running partner feature to pace me round, as last year ran 20 miles on my own just passing 3 other runners and a few ducks/ swans, felt like a Sunday morning long run. So if you have any tips on this, fire them my way.
Charlie - even with my superhuman powers of recovery (ok, I'm alright for an old woman) I know that 20 miles two weeks out would hinder my race. How about an experiment - move them all back a week so the 26 is four weeks out and the 20 three. I hope you don't mind but your split personality training (work harder/taper) does make me smile.
Just a couple of short runs today - legs feel a little bit tight but not bad considering.
Padams - That's the kind of recovery I can only dream of...and wake up sweating...(suspect you could do that recovery though).
5 miles at 8.14m/m this morning. The fastest I've run since VLM...
Do you have any races planned Padams?
What's next for you Joolska?
7.5 miles progressive run tonight, made me realise how tough it is running 7 mm. Rest day tomorrow.
- Midweek summer league (10k generally) starting next week, 5 fixtures over May/June
- Ride London 100 in July (got a team of 4 of us)
- Bearbrook 10k in August
- possibly 12 hour race in September (need to build up some brownie points probably!)
Jools - yes, he paced another runner around and shared the win in 2:42 IIRC. He's doing the Wings for Life thing that CW is doing this weekend (but he's doing it in California), then a few weeks to Comrades which is his A race I believe.
Jools/padams - sounds like some good targets there.
LMH - I think you should do Yeovil
I did race 1 of 3 in the Wimbledon trail series last night. No specific focus on these, just good training, so jumped on the bike for 25 miles in the morning.
5 miles, undulating with some nasty little inclines, lots of narrow twisty-turny paths. Was nice to forget pace and just race whoever was there. Ended up in a right battle with a chap from Fulham RC in the last mile, thought I'd cracked him with 800m to go before he started edging back in the closing stages, just held him off but I was absolutely spent at the end. 5th place @ 5.50mm.
I think I might Joe! Need to persuade dearly beloved that he doesn't mind a weekend at his parents, an early start, waiting around for a few hours and then driving us home though. Nice racing. I'd love to see a mile beginning with a 5............
Lots of shorter stuff for both Joolska and Padams them. Have you done Ride London before Padams?
12 whole miles this morning. Only one knee now taped (though it's the other one making very loud noises doing the stairs) and the average pace is coming down (though it's still quite slow - 7.33). May enter a local 10k that's next Sunday.
OuchOuch -- my top tip would be don't get lost! It sounds like the kind of event where you may have to navigate a bit. I prefer to follow a pre-plotted wiggly line on my Garmin on such occasions, which save one from any great disaster.
LMH -- you're right, I'm superimposing training for one thing on a taper for another in ridiculous fashion :-). Incidentally, I remember Marigold PBing at London after (I think) doing a 35M training run the weekend before, when he was really in training for 100K. Though as Padams points out his powers of recovery are rather good...
Well raced there Joe.
I am mainly tapering now: a little tune-up of 1.5M @ MP and a few hill reps in a 5M run this morning, after a rest day yesterday. Just a little further than I'd have gone if I didn't have another race on the horizon.
Glad to see people are well and recovering nicely from the Marathon exploits.
Great to see TR posting! Your ears must have been burning on VLM day, cos your name was mentioned quite a few times at the Red Lion. Glad you're well, and getting a few miles in.
Dan/CD - top work at Richmond. 2 cracking times given the week(s) preceding, and a nice bit of pot-hunting. Splendid.
CW - absolutely crackers. I'd expect nothing less
OO - glad the calf seems ok. Likewise LMH - glad you're getting back to it a bit.
SL - nice LSR. Not sure what you're training for actually? You doing another mountain ultra in Summer?
padams - nicely done at MK! Sounds like you did a cracking job re the pace-making.
Joe - well raced yesterday. Sounds like a grandstand finish!
Not much happening here TBH. 10 days or so of rest and my leg doesn't feel that much better. I bit the bullet and went to see the physio on Tue. Complete waste of money. The prognosis was my back is tight and hamstrings really tight. No shit Sherlock. £42 down the pan. Still getting really bad nerve pain in spite of rest and lots of stretching. Tempted to go and try a few miles later on actually, just to see how it feels. Am currently about 3 stone heavier than I was on VLM day! All my willpower re cake, choc, ice-cream etc has gone for a burton so I'd best get back to doing something.
About your back, see an osteopath.
OO.. re the Valencia entry, I got an email from them advising.. 'do not worry, send the absent information from your inscription to add please'. Nuff said, all booked & paid for. Just need to persuade LMH & Joe to come too. Speaking of whom good to see you're managing some miles without falling to bits LMH, hope the knees & everything hang together.
Nice racing Joe!
I couldn't possibly intrude Wardi but nice of you to think of me:-)
Wardi - sorely tempted to test the water with the wife re: a weekend in Valencia but I'm 99% sure what her response will be.
CW - Goodluck at the Wings for Life.
In a bid to toughen up my legs, I decided to run a 5.5am +17.2pm double yesterday followed by 5.30am 17 this morning into work, a lovely headwind made it extra hard. I'm so excited for my 5 miler later, I imagine the pace could be a personal worse. Fortunately, I'm refuelling this evening with curry and beer.
Wardi/SL - the good news is, I received a subtle hint this morning that the girlfriend is taking care of Valencia for my birthday after my not so subtle hints about wanting to do it (we each organise a trip away to a race each year, sometimes as part of birthday celebrations). So it looks like it might be an Amsterdam/Valencia double. Just the small matter of the Outlaw and Ironman Wales first!
CW - good luck in WFL. I'll look out for you in the results, got a few mates running although they won't be anywhere near you I suspect.
A 20-minute FTP test on the bike for me this morning (am I allowed to say that on here..?), will have an easy jog tonight, then I fancy a hit-out at parkrun tomorrow, would love a sub-17 (best is 17.12 set the week before London - that was a solo TT though).
Happy Friday everyone!
Joe - Amsterdam & Valencia after the other two would be an impressive set. I did IMW after Outlaw a few years ago and there wasn't a chance of a half decent autumn marathon after that. Your powers of recovery seem pretty decent though if you can go sub 17 tomorrow - I'll be happy with 18-something!
Good luck with WfL CW, expecting good things.
SL - I love running so early doors, albeit for about 5 or 6 miles though. Impressive.
LS21 - I hope the osteo does the trick for you. My sister in law is one and a GB rower and advises runners to use free standing weights to improve core strength. I do a 3 minute sess daily. Food wise, like a saint, keep on staring at an enormous pack of M&Ms but the good devil on my shoulder says 60 calories/1 second. Resisting for now. Post Exeter ave it.
CW - Have a great race tomorrow.
Joe - Sub 17 would be fantastic. I did a few Oly tri's last year, loved them - I think they really help marathon running. 'May' try a Half IM sometime this year.
Does anyone listen to Running Commentary? http://podtail.com/podcast/running-commentary/ I got a mention in todays at 1:06:08 - so proud!