After horrendous snowdrifts etc for the past two days I managed to do 7.2 miles outside, pavements generally clear, but trees down so lots of lorries out clearing debris etc. Should have been 8 miles but felt tired (familiar story eh?), but feel bad that I didn't do the full amount.
For me, 22 on Saturday is my longest then vaguely into taper! Starting to get seriously excited (and nervous/stressed/anxious etc)......
I confess, I'm leaving the office to head to the gym. Yep, I'm going to trial a treadmill. Hoping that my ankle prefers it to the roads at the moment!!
There are plenty of gym-goers who also read newspapers and magazines on the treadmill while carrying on lengthy conversations about Eastenders or Coronation Street. All while almost breaking into a trot. I think they are also the people that the recumbant bikes are aimed at.
10 miles done today on treadmill, slow but steady taking 2hrs 20mins. I dont think I will ever get used to treadmill running for that length of time. The shorter runs are ok on it, but a bit monotonous doing anything more than 6 miles at a time - especially at the pace I train.
Glad everyone is able to continue their training despite the bad weather conditions.
So! I've been reading an article called "mid-pace mediocrity" which is about the limited benefit of doing a run that is too fast to be a LSR and too slow to be classed as threshold or tempo or intervals. And it's messed with my head.
Went out for my mid-week half marathon (same mistake as Tenjiso, two pairs of gloves were not really required). Being a tad tired from my 20 mile race on Sunday followed by a challenging 7 mile threshold run on Monday, my pace wasn't exactly snappy. But, never wanting to be a quitter, rather than slow down and take it easy, I pushed on and strived for my normal pace. I think I found my mid-pace mediocrity. So, what do you think? Should I have slowed right down to get LSR benefits instead? Your views are held in high esteem....
had a rest day yesterday as i got up feeling tired and a little run down so will do a 5 mile recover run on the treadmill today then it’s 15 on Friday and out with Poohbear Saturday for her 16 mile run some great training going on especially well done to those who had all the snow we got away with here in Bristol I’m glad to say
Picklelilly - every run should have a purpose when you are training for a goal. Otherwise you end up running all runs at about the same pace or level of effort and make very slow progress. I've been there for too long, but am finally making great progress since following plans and sticking to the principles for each run.
For example, if you run your recovery runs too fast, then the quality runs will suffer and be less intense than they should be. I'm guessing this is the effect that "mid-pace mediocrity" refers to. There are specific benefits to be gained, i.e. increased endurance, lactate threshold, VO2max. You need to be running the right kind of workout to improve the different elements. Ensure you have a pace/ heart rate plan and know what the purpose of a session is before heading out of the door.
Toby - well done on taking extra rest/recovery when needed.
ONE MONTH TO GO!!!!
Are we only receiving an electronic copy of the marathon magazine? If so, that's disappointing. I'd at least like the key information in print without all the adverts and useless filler.
Tenjiso, they had said that the electronic copy was there major drive to reduce carbon footprint (and cost!). You could just print out the pages you require?
Hi - after some injury advice please !! My right calf is very sore - it is on the inside of the leg, about half way up the calf, just under the shin bone. Any ideas what it could be ? It has been tender for a while, but has not been affecting my running at all, it hasn't been sore at all while running, just a bit afterwards. Last night for the first time it was very sore during running (after 3 miles), so I stopped and walked in.
I put an ice pack on it when I got home but it is still very sore this morning, so going to give it lots of rest ... ideas will be welcomed, thanks to all !
Hey Salisbury Lad I may not help you but I can share your pain & frustration ... I have had a similiar pain on my left leg, Mine happened at brighton Half which was a month ago & I have not been able to do 2 miles since!
My pain comes up from inside of the leg to bottom of the calf it completey seizes up & the pain is horrendous I cant walk at all for few days after I just ice & rest it.
Ive seen Physio's which helped release hip flexes & calf muscles a week later everything was fine so I treid a treadmill run & 1km later bang again!
I've been advised tendernitous or shin splints or worse case scenerio Compartment fracture
I'm now waiting to see a specialist as I'm off work to ..
Gutted as now looking at deffering brighton Marathon as I only got up to 16 miles
I'd say rest up & hopefully yours is not as bad as mine
So! I've been reading an article called "mid-pace mediocrity" which is about the limited benefit of doing a run that is too fast to be a LSR and too slow to be classed as threshold or tempo or intervals. And it's messed with my head.
Went out for my mid-week half marathon (same mistake as Tenjiso, two pairs of gloves were not really required). Being a tad tired from my 20 mile race on Sunday followed by a challenging 7 mile threshold run on Monday, my pace wasn't exactly snappy. But, never wanting to be a quitter, rather than slow down and take it easy, I pushed on and strived for my normal pace. I think I found my mid-pace mediocrity. So, what do you think? Should I have slowed right down to get LSR benefits instead? Your views are held in high esteem....
Like that term! I call those miles "junk miles" which is diiferent from the way others use the term, but anyway.
Pacing should be in bands based on a current pb, for me easy pace is marathon pace (but actual rather than predicted) plus at least 45 secs a mile and up to 1:30 (anything slower is recovery), now a lot of slower runners or those who havent worked out their pace bands find this crazy but the long run is about two things - time on feet and capillary and muscle adaptation. You do more for your aerobic development by running that little bit slower AND you get the added bonus of less recovery time so the rest of your training week is not affected. I hope all that makes sense
Oh and mid pace mediocrity is useful sometimes! I use "steady" pace (the bit between easy and marathon pace) for the second half of warm ups before sessions and for pace work where I am doing a faster pace and instead of marathon pace where the cumulative mileage would be too tiring, e.g.:
3M warm up moving from easy to steady , strides, then session 2M @ HMP / 2M @ Steady / 2M @ HMP 5M easy / 14M steady / cool down
The last one was what I did on Sunday for my long run - so you can see it does have uses, but not as a replacement for easy running!
7 Miles (11.2km) steady run round Stevenage complete. (Burning 737 calories in 61 minutes) - still got some pain with my muscles above my left ankle, but able to run. Might do another steady run tomorrow so I dont harm my msucles in that area or do a gym session.
Excellent posts about pacing, very interesting reading.
I've only recently started ttrying to run my long runs and recovery runs at a slower pace, and it seems to be paying off. When I did a marathon 3 years ago, I started at sub-10 min miles, and ended with over 11 min miles, getting slower as the run went on.
Today I've just run 20 miles, and every miles was between 10.02 and 10.40, for an average of 10.21 min miles overall. I'm noticing the improvement from starting off slowly, and hoprfully it will help with recovery and not getting injured too.
Nice to run in the sunshine today after snow and gales on Tuesday - in fact I moved my LSR forward by 1 day as it's due to rain here tomorrow
3 x 10 miles this week so far. Problem I'm having at the mo is finding the time to do a longer run!
I plan on being up at 6 on Sunday and off out for 2.5hrs.
The rolling and stretching appears to be keeping the ITBS at bay
So so chuffed as the sponsorship money is starting to build up now and I really didn't wanna let anyone down (this is my first marathon and I'm running it in memory of my wee sister who tragically died a couple of years ago)
well did 4 miles in the end yesterday i am debating whether to do 20 today and then have a 3 week taper which is what i done in the past it will largely depend i think on how heavy it’s raining when i go out this afternoon
4.5 miles just done with a few fartleks thrown in for me this morning (although it's bliddy cold, windy and small hailstone things were falling from the sky!).
Final 20 due on Sunday which should ensure it pours with rain and blows a gale
I still say less is more at this point! I think short, fast runs are most useful at this point. Don't exhaust yourselves with too many long ones! I'm going to do a few more 15 milers and that's it (long run-wise) before the big day.
Comments
After horrendous snowdrifts etc for the past two days I managed to do 7.2 miles outside, pavements generally clear, but trees down so lots of lorries out clearing debris etc. Should have been 8 miles but felt tired (familiar story eh?), but feel bad that I didn't do the full amount.
For me, 22 on Saturday is my longest then vaguely into taper! Starting to get seriously excited (and nervous/stressed/anxious etc)......
12m MLR today. I actually overdressed as I was expecting it to be as cold as yesterday, so had a bit to carry Rest day tomorrow!
There are plenty of gym-goers who also read newspapers and magazines on the treadmill while carrying on lengthy conversations about Eastenders or Coronation Street. All while almost breaking into a trot. I think they are also the people that the recumbant bikes are aimed at.
10 miles done today on treadmill, slow but steady taking 2hrs 20mins. I dont think I will ever get used to treadmill running for that length of time. The shorter runs are ok on it, but a bit monotonous doing anything more than 6 miles at a time - especially at the pace I train.
Glad everyone is able to continue their training despite the bad weather conditions.
Hope those of you with injuries recover well.
Went out for my mid-week half marathon (same mistake as Tenjiso, two pairs of gloves were not really required). Being a tad tired from my 20 mile race on Sunday followed by a challenging 7 mile threshold run on Monday, my pace wasn't exactly snappy. But, never wanting to be a quitter, rather than slow down and take it easy, I pushed on and strived for my normal pace. I think I found my mid-pace mediocrity. So, what do you think? Should I have slowed right down to get LSR benefits instead? Your views are held in high esteem....
Morning all
had a rest day yesterday as i got up feeling tired and a little run down so will do a 5 mile recover run on the treadmill today then it’s 15 on Friday and out with Poohbear Saturday for her 16 mile run some great training going on especially well done to those who had all the snow we got away with here in Bristol I’m glad to say
Picklelilly - every run should have a purpose when you are training for a goal. Otherwise you end up running all runs at about the same pace or level of effort and make very slow progress. I've been there for too long, but am finally making great progress since following plans and sticking to the principles for each run.
For example, if you run your recovery runs too fast, then the quality runs will suffer and be less intense than they should be. I'm guessing this is the effect that "mid-pace mediocrity" refers to. There are specific benefits to be gained, i.e. increased endurance, lactate threshold, VO2max. You need to be running the right kind of workout to improve the different elements. Ensure you have a pace/ heart rate plan and know what the purpose of a session is before heading out of the door.
Toby - well done on taking extra rest/recovery when needed.
ONE MONTH TO GO!!!!
Are we only receiving an electronic copy of the marathon magazine? If so, that's disappointing. I'd at least like the key information in print without all the adverts and useless filler.
Hi - after some injury advice please !! My right calf is very sore - it is on the inside of the leg, about half way up the calf, just under the shin bone. Any ideas what it could be ? It has been tender for a while, but has not been affecting my running at all, it hasn't been sore at all while running, just a bit afterwards. Last night for the first time it was very sore during running (after 3 miles), so I stopped and walked in.
I put an ice pack on it when I got home but it is still very sore this morning, so going to give it lots of rest ... ideas will be welcomed, thanks to all !
Hey Salisbury Lad I may not help you but I can share your pain & frustration ... I have had a similiar pain on my left leg, Mine happened at brighton Half which was a month ago & I have not been able to do 2 miles since!
My pain comes up from inside of the leg to bottom of the calf it completey seizes up & the pain is horrendous I cant walk at all for few days after I just ice & rest it.
Ive seen Physio's which helped release hip flexes & calf muscles a week later everything was fine so I treid a treadmill run & 1km later bang again!
I've been advised tendernitous or shin splints or worse case scenerio Compartment fracture
I'm now waiting to see a specialist as I'm off work to ..
Gutted as now looking at deffering brighton Marathon as I only got up to 16 miles
I'd say rest up & hopefully yours is not as bad as mine
Like that term! I call those miles "junk miles" which is diiferent from the way others use the term, but anyway.
Pacing should be in bands based on a current pb, for me easy pace is marathon pace (but actual rather than predicted) plus at least 45 secs a mile and up to 1:30 (anything slower is recovery), now a lot of slower runners or those who havent worked out their pace bands find this crazy but the long run is about two things - time on feet and capillary and muscle adaptation. You do more for your aerobic development by running that little bit slower AND you get the added bonus of less recovery time so the rest of your training week is not affected.
I hope all that makes sense
Oh and mid pace mediocrity is useful sometimes! I use "steady" pace (the bit between easy and marathon pace) for the second half of warm ups before sessions and for pace work where I am doing a faster pace and instead of marathon pace where the cumulative mileage would be too tiring, e.g.:
3M warm up moving from easy to steady , strides, then session
2M @ HMP / 2M @ Steady / 2M @ HMP
5M easy / 14M steady / cool down
The last one was what I did on Sunday for my long run - so you can see it does have uses, but not as a replacement for easy running!
7 Miles (11.2km) steady run round Stevenage complete. (Burning 737 calories in 61 minutes) - still got some pain with my muscles above my left ankle, but able to run. Might do another steady run tomorrow so I dont harm my msucles in that area or do a gym session.
PSC - I will be wearing Fetch vest or t-shirt at Brighton Get more support than club vest.
Excellent posts about pacing, very interesting reading.
I've only recently started ttrying to run my long runs and recovery runs at a slower pace, and it seems to be paying off. When I did a marathon 3 years ago, I started at sub-10 min miles, and ended with over 11 min miles, getting slower as the run went on.
Today I've just run 20 miles, and every miles was between 10.02 and 10.40, for an average of 10.21 min miles overall. I'm noticing the improvement from starting off slowly, and hoprfully it will help with recovery and not getting injured too.
Nice to run in the sunshine today after snow and gales on Tuesday - in fact I moved my LSR forward by 1 day as it's due to rain here tomorrow
Sat here with cold pack on calf, drinking orange squash. ROCK AND ROLL !!!
Before anyone asks, no I don't have a pipe or slippers ...
3 x 10 miles this week so far. Problem I'm having at the mo is finding the time to do a longer run!
I plan on being up at 6 on Sunday and off out for 2.5hrs.
The rolling and stretching appears to be keeping the ITBS at bay
So so chuffed as the sponsorship money is starting to build up now and I really didn't wanna let anyone down (this is my first marathon and I'm running it in memory of my wee sister who tragically died a couple of years ago)
Morning all
well did 4 miles in the end yesterday i am debating whether to do 20 today and then have a 3 week taper which is what i done in the past it will largely depend i think on how heavy it’s raining when i go out this afternoon
4.5 miles just done with a few fartleks thrown in for me this morning (although it's bliddy cold, windy and small hailstone things were falling from the sky!).
Final 20 due on Sunday which should ensure it pours with rain and blows a gale
If anyone is interested 2014 marathon will be 6 April 2014
Tracey, no, I take a 2 week full-on taper but like my last 20 miler to be 4 weeks before a marathon then I'll do 15 next week.