Sub 3

TR

Wardi - Shit happens........the choice was to grind out a much tougher than it should have been 3.15 or live to fight another day........crab ran well, great to see, he would have been quicker still as he's been unwell too. Cracking time on a tougher than you think course.

saintjason

Sorry to hear of the dnf today TR but sensible decision if you knew you were doing more harm than good. Hope you are feeling better soon and can refocus for a late spring race as you say. 

OuchOuch

Good call TR, you did the right thing, pointless running round for a time that means nothing to you if your suffering from an illness. Another day.  Really pleased form Crab, great pacing from him all the way around. 

TR

My RHR was 61 when i woke up today, it should be 50 or less, i assumed a similar reading yday was due to race day excitement. Ill take a day off today and see where we are, although with an unused taper i should be pretty fresh when my RHR comes back down.

TippTop

TR - gutting that you didn't get a good roi, but sounds like the only sensible decision. Have you got a back-up race in mind?

TR

TT - im pleased i havnt wasted myself for a below par time, but need to be smart about what to do next.....got to get well first.......back in 2020 we were entering small maras as we thought theyd still go ahead whem vlm was cancelled, so i have a place deferred from 2020 at the North Dorset villages mara, but its only 3 weeks yday, 5 or 6 weeks would be better. Or even go back to yeovil in june, but cant see anything about yeovil.......would need to do a long run or 2 before 3 weeks time ? Or I'll have been on a 5 week taper, guess i could do a couple of long runs and have a short taper? Depends how long it takes RHR to come back to normal.

TippTop

TR - totally agree on getting yourself well first. I guess that'll decide your next steps for you - if you recover quickly then 3 weeks to North Dorset seems reasonable in my book.

29m last week. 4m/6m easy double yesterday. This week will be simply about starting to get my volume back up in an easy manner. It'll be interrupted though as the pooch ruptured her cruciate (we knew it would go at some stage) so is in for an op which involves a few round trips to the specialist. 

OuchOuch

TT - Sorry to hear that about your dog, hope the operation is a massive success.

I've had my first ever marathon dream!  I have been thinking about running the Dorney Lake Marathon on April 24th (primarily as a chance to visit London and see some friends) and was really in two minds about it (only 3 weeks post-marathon etc, long-way to go) until last nights dream, as I did enter the marathon and came 3rd in a comfortable 2.51.29.  (Yes dreaming of 3rd is slightly troubling).

Recovery week went fine, no injuries, still a bit achey and just over 30m run.

Joolska

I think you should aim higher in your dreams, OO: why not dream of winning?

5 mile run/walk today.  My chest felt a lot better than yesterday, so fingers crossed I can try more than 1 minute of running at a time tomorrow.  Oh, and it turns out if you do naff all exercise for 4 weeks, even run/walking makes your legs ache.

saintjason

Good to see you on the mend and feeling better Joolska. Fingers crossed for continued improvements as you say, 

TR - that is a quick turn round but you've done it before and have the training banked. You obviously need to feel close to 100% before making that call. A reminder to the legs that its not holiday time is surely all you would need between now and 3 weeks time?

OO - I wonder what a psychotherapist would make of the 3rd place finish in your own dream? Similar train of thought as Joolska I guess. 

TT - nicely easing back into it. I didn't do half as much running but did a couple of indoor cycles which kept the blood flowing around the legs.

Ergo I felt good last night so ran 15k along the tow path which was probably 5k too much as calves in particular were not very happy by the end. 

Speaking of quick turn round racing I had a brief flirtation with running Edinburgh at the end of May as a number came up. I did some basic logistic assessments and concluded that I cnba with the faff of the shuttle bus back to the city post race in addition to the travel and accommodation. Then I ran 15k last night as previously mentioned and thought... nah.. not ready for that. 

I do have a couple of low key fixtures lined up in the form of the masters road relays in Sutton Coldfield on the 23rd and Great Mcr 10k in May as part of a work/charity event. Might have to bust out some km reps soonish as I think I am in aerobically decent shape but have no speed endurance whatsoever. This will likely be fully exposed at the shorter distance events.  

CC2 - Speedy Goth

That's a shame TR, but it's definitely a good thing that you didn't bury yourself. Live to fight another day. 

Hope the dog's ok TT. 

I was back doing weights last night and my legs hurt today. They didn't hurt at all the day after a marathon, but after a 2 week break I have DOMS from lifting. Typical. Off out for a shuffle later to appease the muscles. 

Jooligan

Speedy recovery TR. You’ll be OK for N.Dorset if you’re good to go by the weekend.
Best of luck for your dog TT.
3:19:30 for me in Brighton.
Halfway in 1:35:23. Felt easy enough but wind, hills & warmth in town meant I wasn’t surprised when the piano turned up at 20M.

Passed Adam Holland in Hove - he was about 3M in front coming the other way. He finished 10th in 2:36! Incredible powers of recovery.
2nd day off running today - I’ve done bugger all exercise in fact. 

TR

Hope the doggy is ok TT

SJ - good idea, get on the old faithful 3 min reps.......3 wks is a quick turnaround, but i see it as i have to get healthy not recover. My legs will be thinking its holiday time as you say, i had the real easy last taper week, ran 13m much slower than mp and then had a couple of zeros.

CC - ive been trying to do the s and c before easy days, but the soreness lasts much longer some weeks.

Jools - top backing up that, Brighton is a tough route. You ran 2 strong marathons.

I'll try an easy run tomorrow and see how my RHR responds. Tricky as ive had colds for weeks but ran ok, but something must have been up as my 2m saturday was too hard, and then RHR was too high for a few days.......build back up this week, a normal week and then a taper week. If my HR doesnt respond quickly enough then I'll ave to find something else.

saintjason

TT - forgot to say earlier that I hope your best friend is ok after the op and finds a new lease of life. 

Jooligan - very impressive backing up at Brighton. Tough course by sounds of it with the added weather to deal with too. Job well done. Recover well. 

Speedy - I don't do a lot of s&c but am always telling myself I ought to do something. The last time I did some dead lifts and lunges with weights I couldn't believe the agony of my glutes. I guess that's to be expected from hardly using those muscles when I run. My son is into weights so I ought to join in with him. Work and life getting in the way all the time. 

TR - hope the easy run and hr data points towards an improvement tomorrow. 

Wardi

Jooligan.. those are fine marathon times a mere week apart, nicely done.

CC2.. hope that jog eases your leg muscles.😒

TR.. your raised RHR was very similar to mine when I had mild covid.  Hope you're back to normal fitness soon.

SJ.. good to see you speaking of competitive fixtures/races again.

Jools.. good signs of recovery, hope the improvement continues.

TT.. one of our close friends is a vet but poorly pets still upset her!  Good luck with your dog.

I did no running at all for 3 days while away, just a few circa 10m walks.
It has settled a couple of aches and strains that were lingering recently.
Back to it today with a decent 5m + 8m double.  Wet & chilly this morning but a balmy 14 degrees tonight for the club run.

TR

Wardi - when i tested positive for CV in Nov 2020 my RHR went up to mid 50s, so the weekend was 5 or 6 beats up again. I might have started testing too late last week, who knows.......on the plus side lets hope we've seen the last of the cold running weather.

TippTop

Cheers all. She has already had the other knee done so we know what to expect (basically a knee replacement for dogs - tplo if you're not squeamish!). Thankfully we are insured as it ain't cheap.

OO - great dream! 

Jools - glad to read you're improving.

Jooligan - impressive turn around after Manchester. Well done.

TR - what's your RHR doing now?

Wardi - big walking mileage. Good that the niggles settled down.

I'll be joining those of you on s&c soon - I've been converting the garage into a home gym and it should be fully ready by the end of the month. In the meantime I'm continuing to rebuild. 6+4 doubles both Monday and Tuesday. Will double again today and give track a miss until next week.

TR

TT - did an easy commute home so will check HR in morning to see if im recovering.

Looking at Kempton runfest end of may which would give me 6 weeks. Not sure on course though.

Wardi

TR.. Kempton sounds like a very flat route, bag drop on the day if needed.  Sounds like numbers etc are posted out pre-race too.

TT.. good to see you starting to tick over again.  Best of luck with the garage gym project!

10.7m today, t-shirt and shorts and I still got a sweat on!  Has spring finally arrived?  Easter weekend looks good too. 🌞

saintjason

TT - good news on the pet insurance. I got stung many years ago for our cat who needed a leg rebuilding due to being run over. Have had pet insurance ever since. Nicely getting back into the swing of things. I had a clear out of my shed/garage last year in prep for new treadmill and sons growing gym setup. 

TR - Kempton ticks the box from a time frame period. Is there a racecourse there? 

Wardi - great stuff being out there in shorts and tshirt. Good news the non run/walking weekend has cleared up some niggles.

Weather was great here this afternoon too. I finished half day for an extended Easter weekend. Took to the hills for 10km hike with 300m climbing and finished with a pub tea. Managed to get Mrs SJ and Jnr out too. Plans for more walking over the weekend with the odd run in the mix. 

TR

SJ/TT - my lad bought a squat rack and bench in lockdow, we already had weights, bars, pull up bar, paralettes

Kempton is on the paths round the racecourse, 5 laps. It says a mix of tarmac and gravel, but also mentions tight turns. 8.30 start which would be good it its warm.

OuchOuch

Marathon dream #2!!!  This time three Kenyans running ahead of me on a CCT marathon and if I am not mistaken I was running along with TR in places 4 and 5, or who I thought was TR, in an orange shirt!   I am still mulling over entering this race, so think I will put my mind to rest and enter. 
SJ - Sounds an ideal afternoon out.
TR - Kempton sounds a good option.
Wardi - That sounds a grand run too.
TT - I am copying that 6/4 double of yours, albeit slower.
Joolska - Good to hear your making progress. 

CC2 - Speedy Goth

I don't normally get DOMS from lifting, but I usually do it 2 - 3 times per week. I didn't do any for 2 weeks with taper and recovery from the marathon so I knew all about it on Tuesday and Wednesday! I kitted out my house with a full home gym when I had a broken ankle and couldn't do much other than weights. I no longer have a living room, it's now a gym.

Wardi

No chance of getting on Grand Designs then CC2? 🙂

OO.. what have you been taking to have such weird running dreams?  Good that you can remember TR's orange singlet.

SJ.  I do enjoy a long walk/climb occasionally.  Good calorie burner too.

My legs were a bit tired after 24m in 2 days so a steady 4. 3m recovery run today. 

TR

OO - have you entered?

CC - no doms at all, i can ruin myself if i try.

Wardi - orange singlet is long gone 

6m easy, unsurprisingly im still not 100%. Ive entered kempton as it gives me 6 wks.

OuchOuch

Wardi - indecision about running the Dorney Lake marathon.  
TR - Decision made and yes have entered.

7m tonight including 5 at a decent lick. Maybe another 3 or 4m fast on Sunday and then proper taper time again.

TR

OO - nice, 3 wks after Manch ? Goldrush will be there.

Kempton is run by the Richmond runfest folks, they have taken over the Worthing 1/2 too (ive run this a few times), its been moved April, and is next weekend (24th) so im in for a fitness test. Will play it by ear and see where i am, then its 5 weeks til Kempton.

OuchOuch

TR - Yes, 2022 is looking a bit like 2017 when run 2 marathons in April 3 weeks apart in more or less the sometime, and then Exeter in May  3 weeks after that. It will very great to see/ meet Goldrush,  we used to chat a lot on here in the day. Is he on the sub 3 start, I'd imagine so as he was pretty rapid. 

Good move opting for Kempton. 

TR

OO - he's had a few injured years so is hoping to tick his gfa box.

6m yday, 8m today so inching back to it carefully,  will try to go a bit longer tomorrow and see what happens.

Wardi

Hope the longer run goes well TR and the lurgy has gone.  Kempton is a good move by the look of it.

OO.. enjoy the last blasts before the taper.

I'm heading to Parkrun tomorrow for the first time in 3 weeks.  Conditions look ideal though I will have to see how I fare post covid.