P&D Spring Marathon 2021

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  • TRTR ✭✭✭
    5.5m, 10m ~mp, 5.5m. The 5.5m allows me to get to flatter lanes for the mp. Did the same run at the start of march and the 10m was av 6.40, today was 6.37 but it was probably a bit less windy. Today was more 5  av 6.42 and 5 av 6.33 due to the breeze and undulations. Happy days after struggling a bit in recent weeks. Tough run and was pretty thirsty late on as i probably had a few too many frothies last night. Ill use the next % for the 13m version in 2 weeks, we'll see how they go on a known course.

    Been called fwd 10days and have my 2nd jab tomorrow, so a good time to have a few easy days after that.
  • Excellent TR - there’s nothing like a bit of encouragement that we’re moving forwards.  Good news on the jab too.

    I had my 2nd jab yesterday, a tiny sensation of stiffness in the arm so I’m using the other arm to lift tinnies(might have started a bit early) just to be safe.

    Usual Sat 5k, this time with a few club mates on a flat course, resulted in a 2nd fastest time (on the watch) of 17:37 Amazing the difference running with similar paced people makes. At 3k I was waiting for someone to say “we’ve put in a decent shift, time to back off”, but nobody did, very much reminded me of running Wokey with SQ.
  • TRTR ✭✭✭
    Macca - thats a pacey 5k. Youd be close to 17min or better in a proper race, thats some sharp running. Top boozing skills too. The jab obviously didnt rough you up. Hopefully i wont notice todays.

    Did another bout of s and c yday afternoon, so legs were a bit tired for todays turbo. Wu, 10x4min/1min, wd. Good warm weather training, made a big puddle.
  • NorthEnderNorthEnder ✭✭✭
    John- thanks for the tready tips. Not really used it much yet. 

    Macca - your ultra paces amaze me!

    AWC -  likewise. Choosing a 4000’ climb marathon- then having a poo on the way - that’s dedicated ultra prep. 

    Jools. Nice age group win - and unbelievable to be able to follow that with all those additional tough miles. 

    Cal - very best of luck getting back to 100%. 

    SQ - pacing a friend round a marathon is rewarding. Did a good job. 

    Good luck with that jab TR. 

    I knocked out a pretty tough 16:54 for 5K last night.  But before you all give me TOO many congratulations it was a Ross Barkley 5K - otherwise it would have been a rather massive PB!

    It was a club event for May - a virtual competition - which I finished literally at midnight on-the-dot on the last day. Rule is that you have up to 1hour to run 5K - and you can pause your watch as often as you like. So essentially I did 33 reps of approx 0.1miles at an average pace of 5:26. 

    I was quite shocked at that pace. And, of the results posted so far, it’s the fastest. Mind you, I am not sure I would have passed a drugs test. I think the youths in the car park at one end of my chosen stretch thought they’d have it to themselves  in the dark at near midnight. There was certainly plenty of funny smoke emanating from that vehicle - and my breathing was not exactly shallow as I recovered at the end of each alternate rep!

    That run will have to count as my 8m w. 4@HM pace - the first run of P&D 18/55. Manchester is now in range. 
  • TRTR ✭✭✭
    Ha ha, nice one NE, you should have done it downhill too.

    Back at it after my mini break with 14m tonight.
  • NorthEnderNorthEnder ✭✭✭
    Just knock out 14 on a Tuesday night, TR?  Not a bad effort.  (I did think about the downhill idea but decided it was too complicated!)

    I did a total of about 2,5m tonight... but was taking my first coached session for ages. Really enjoyed it actually.
  • TRTR ✭✭✭
    edited June 2021
    NE - i read of a barkeley where someone ran downhill and had their dad drive them back up again ( and again.......).......monday (or sometimes tuesday) mlr home is a staple. Much easier on a sunny spring evening for sure, theres plenty of cold, wet and windy mlrs in the winter.
  • Cal JonesCal Jones ✭✭✭
    NE - I often get a whiff of weed on my runs. Having smoked quite a bit of it in my uni days, I don't think it helps performance in the slightest, since I often got so stoned I could barely walk and talk.  :D
    Amazing pace there, nice work.

    I've been trying to get my fitness back - three more runs and some elliptical in the gym (the last one of those was an hour, which is basically an eternity on one of those infernal contraptions). Runs were 3, 4 and 6 miles. I still feel fatigued (heavy legs and working much harder to do 11 minute miles than I should be) so wondering if there is actually something wrong with my heart or if it's some sort of post infection or antibiotic-induced fatigue. Sore throat has gone anyway, so there's that. If I do feel good enough to attempt some faster stuff, I'm going to do it at the track as they've got a defib.  :D
  • TRTR ✭✭✭
    Nice to see you cal, hopefully you are on the up. Im defib trained.

    Was on the road early for work trip yday, was tired and hungry when i got back and cnba to run, did 20min s and c. But this week was looking a bit light as i had a zero monday too. So, back on it today with 10m inc 14x3min. Much better pace than recent weeks, so things are start to come together in the last wk. Think the s and c might be helping. 4 weeks til the b of the bang.
  • JooliganJooligan ✭✭✭
    edited June 2021
    I had something similar 2 years ago Cal. I barely ran for 2 months - just parkrun which got slower & would leave me wiped out. Had lots of tests: bloods, ECGs (including a 24hr one), ultrasound & even a CT scan of the heart - found nothing so I resumed training in September & gradually things got back to normal.
    Quality 5K NE even if it was a Barkley.
    Great pacing duties SQ. Sounds like you had a great day too.
    Fab 5K Macca. Had my 2nd jab a week ago too - slightly sore/stiff arm the next day or two nut other than that all good.
    Smashing performance AWC. That's a great finishing position. I've done the QECP parkrun so I've got some idea how tough that must've been.
    Solid as ever TR & you're right to throw in some faster work too. Think I've done far too much 8:xx plodding over the last year which is why my legs gave out after 22 racing miles at Shepperdine.
    Was back down in Devon over the BH w/e so plenty more hilly running including 22M along the SWCP from Minehead-Lynmouth Sunday. Took 4hrs so not fast at all but legs were OK for 8.7 Monday & 13.2 Tuesday with plenty of Devon hills. Flatter 14.3M yesterday averaged 7:58 when I stopped en route home. Off to the Brecons again this afternoon.
  • AWCAWC ✭✭✭
    Jools: Love Minehead to Lynmouth - beautiful scenery and pretty bumpy. You get some real good trails in - wish I was as close to some of those places.
    TR: good to hear things are starting to come together again - a 14mi on Tuesday night is some going. Although you are very consistent so I'm sure you bounce back very quickly.
    Cal: I find it can take a few weeks to get over a proper bad infrection so hopefully that's all it is nad you'll be fine again soon. Must say the look and thought of the elliptical is pretty uninspiring but I guess needs must.
    NE: interesting experiment with the Barkley and the weed :D
    Macca: great 5k time. Amazing the difference other people can make and how it changes your perception of effort and your ability to suffer.
    I'm just tapering along here with 9 days to race day. Off to Portland Fri-Sun so will get in a few final hilly runs and maybe some beach time as well going by the forecast!

  • Cal JonesCal Jones ✭✭✭
    Jools, that's good to hear - hopefully it'll be the same for me. (Fingers crossed!)
    TR - yes, me too. I could defib myself if needs be. Though I'd rather not, obviously.  :lol:

    Resting today as I had my 2nd jab yesterday too. Sore arm but nowhere near as bad as last time. I did, however, have a terrible night's sleep (which might've been the jab but more likely the fact it's got much warmer) so I've been quite wiped out most of the day.

  • TRTR ✭✭✭
    Jools - Brecons sounds good. I think my body has responded to some s and c, a bit of quicker running and a bit of hard turbo. I think i need to focus on trying to put the body through a fuller range of motion and pace.

    Enjoy yourself AWC - i was on the wayfarers way yday with the doggy, close enough for you to run on ?

    Cal - hopefullly you can crack on now

    12m this morning, rained every step of the way. But it wasnt cold.
  • Cal JonesCal Jones ✭✭✭
    Early morning 5 miler for me - still slow and unfit but I feel a little more normal now so I hope this is indeed the start of my recovery. (I also have a half marathon in July which I could cancel, but would rather not). 
    Then I figured I may as well go to the gym so I did half an hour on the elliptical and 20 mins of weights. Got caught in the rain on the way back, and of course I was wearing a sleeveless jacket. Happy about the lower temperature, though - last two nights have been poor, sleep-wise.
  • JooliganJooligan ✭✭✭
    Good news at last Cal. 🤞 Onwards & upwards from here on in.
    Look forward to the photos AWC.
    Good stuff TR, unlucky with the weather though. Glorious here in Gloucestershire again.
    13M of S.Wales mountains yesterday & another dozen on my local hill today.

  • TRTR ✭✭✭
    Cal - excellent days work. Steph Davis would be proud of you.

    More good hilly miles.

    After only 1 run (14m) and 1 turbo sun to weds, i rescued my week with 10m inc 3min reps Thurs, 12m yday and 21m today. The 21 was done as 10 easy, 11 approx 10%. Good warm weather training. 1 bottle water, 1 bottle luco, 1 gel and plenty of sweat.
  • JooliganJooligan ✭✭✭
    Strong end to the week TR. Do you think the couple of days off might have enabled you to finish that strongly?
    Another mountain dozen for me today - it’s going to be a big week as I’m back there again tomorrow for 23 (ish).
  • Cal JonesCal Jones ✭✭✭
    Strong work, Jools and TR. I look forward to getting back to decent mileage again - and hills when I'm ready.

    Anyway, progress for me, too. I had a lazy day yesterday (just a walk up to Streatham Lidl to stock up on ice cream as it's cheap and they have some interesting flavours. Got some Asian ones in at the moment - I will not be trying the wasabi flavour, I'll tell you that much). I also had the excitement of witnessing a fox catching a squirrel through the back window, and then having a tug of war with one of her cubs over it. I really hope the poor little bugger was dead by that point, it was pretty brutal.

    So today, I had in mind that I would try for 8 miles and headed back to the Wandle, mindful of the fact I'd had to bail out there last time I tried that route when I started feeling bad. Today was better...I was still working a little harder than I'd like for the pace but I managed to keep going so I could continue through Wandle Park to Collier's Wood and from there along a trail called Mead Path which comes out at Figges Marsh near Tooting. I noticed a funfair there so did a loop of that to check out the rides for my mate, Stevie (who loves funfairs), so in the end it was 9 miles when I got back. 
    Based off my watch, there was noticeable cardiac drift but the first four miles were close to my normal zone so I think things are improving. It was around 14-15 degrees and a bit muggy so my heart would have had to work harder anyway. I think I'm just really deconditioned after all the time off so I'm not concerned at this point. 
    Anyway, it's a good start and something to build on. (Hamstring is still a bit grumpy but it's not at all bad now - I guess the extra downtime did it some good).
  • 15West15West ✭✭✭
    Hello all. Just kicked off P&D 55-70 18 week training plan for Manchester. Did a threshold run this morning, first time I've tried to run at a faster pace for a couple of years, so was a bit daunting, but once got going wasn't too bad. No idea on what my actual paces are as have not raced for ages, so just run it on how it felt and the 4 LT miles were 6:40 which is probably about right. So...maybe I could attempt sub 3 in the autumn, we'll see. Bit bummed off that Manc marathon is just after the cut off times for GFA for next year's
  • TRTR ✭✭✭
    Nice one jools, how did you get on today? Was probably a bit fresher thursday, but was defo on tired legs for the 11m of +10%. Made a few changes recently (hopefully to do my body good).......trying to put a little more quicker running in, up the s and c a bit, weekly turbo and some protein powder after tougher sessions - hopefully the body responds.

    Cal - excellent progress, good work. Lovely to see.

    Westy - good man, keep ticking those weeks off. Who knows what will happen with gfa times, massed number races seem a long way off. You could always get yourself a gfa at one of the CV safe TT type races, i did just that in April.

    Thought of running today as id missed a couple of runs last week, but stuck with the usual turbo. Made a mess of myself and had a sit on the floor for a few minutes afterwards.
  • SorequadsSorequads ✭✭✭

    Good new on the second jabs. Had mine a couple of weeks ago and it feels quite liberating. 

    Great consistency, TR. 

    Great 5k, Macca. Especially on ultra training. It was so good to run Wokey with you. The first 11 miles at least 😆

    Haha - enjoyed the 5k time, NE. Good session!

    An hour on an elliptical, Cal 😱

    Good to hear, Westy. Shame about the Manchester date re GFA. I hadn’t even looked at training dates for London. I need to get the calendar out!


    First post in a while after a fun yet busy half term. A couple of days away on the south coast, with a lovely run to Pagham Harbour, before a turnout at the Cleeve Cloud Cuckoo race on Wednesday evening.

    This is a a brutal 5.5M trail affair, set in on the stunning Cotswold escarpment, looking out towards the Malvern Hills and the Welsh border. A stunner of an evening, albeit over 20C even with a 7.30pm kick off - well past my bed time!

    The climbs are tough, with some technical descents to give no respite. We were set off in four waves of 50, with each wave 15s apart. I was in the second (randomly selected) wave, so had plenty of runners to pick off in the opening couple of miles. 

    It felt hard work trying to overtake in the opening uphill mile, although I suspected many had gone off too hard. Caught a few on the first long and most technical ascent, before having to resort to a bit of a walk run up the steepest of climbs. Genuinely questioning my sanity at this point, feeling sick and wanting to stop. Why do we do it!

    Slowly worked by way into the top ten, although I couldn’t quite be sure with the different waves. The final hill takes you to the trig point, the highest in the Cotswolds, before a final kilometre back to the finish. I just crested the peak in front of the leading lady, and then had a tussle with a chap who managed to pull away from.

    After a spot of recovery, jogged a mile warm down along the course to cheer everyone on. I’m sure to others it feels like I am taking the piss, but most smile or grimace in return to my shouts 😆

    A lovely beer and chat for what is probably the most sociable I have been in 16 months. And then surprised to have found I came six, with bottles of wine given to the first six! Trail running, especially when paths are in good condition, really is the best. 

    Padded the race day out to make a 60M week. And just entered the Cheltenham Festival (half marathon) this coming Sunday - inspired by good reviews of the RunThrough team. Looks quite hilly with four laps around the racecourse. 

  • JooliganJooligan ✭✭✭
    Decent return to speedier running Westy.
    9M is good Cal. I’d agree with your assessment & attitude. You’ve proven form when it comes to consistent training which will see you right in a matter of weeks.
    Brutal turbo TR.
    Excellent turnout SQ. Really enjoyed the report. Fingers crossed this is the beginning of the return of socialising with running rather than a temporary reprieve from months of loneliness.
    23.5M & 6,500’ for me yesterday in the heat of the day. Left me on 98 for the week so did another 3M a few hours later. Walked up my local hill following the steepest footpaths then ran back down the lanes.😆
    Week to Sunday was 101M with 16,300' but if I take the rolling 8 days Sun-Sun it's 123 with 20,000'!!
    The last few mountain runs have been recces of the South Wales Traverse (75M challenge which visits every 2,000ft peak in the Brecon Beacons) Yesterday was the first section which is the toughest as it’s slightly more ascent/mile than the rest & has the least proper paths. It took us 5:46 including pauses for photos & fuelling.
    I'm planning to do the whole thing on June 19th starting at 4:30am & aiming to get under 20 hrs
    I did the final 23 miles a fortnight ago after the fell race & that took me about 5 hrs and I reckon on about 5:30 for the middle section based on my supporting roles. Add in 45 minutes for rests & an hour for cumulative fatigue gives a rough estimate of 18 hrs so hoping the extra 2 hrs will be cushion enough.
    Going to have an easier couple of weeks now for sure, especially next week.
  • TRTR ✭✭✭
    Sounds like a nice half term SQ, top bombing in the cuckoo race, always nice to bag a prize too. Hope the 1/2 goes well.

    Wow jools, youve been putting some graft in recently, 100m week including all the climbing on top. That traverse sounds tough, i did wonder what you were brewing up for.

    Legs were pretty achey today as expected given my last few days, so 10m easy commute done. No point grinding out an mlr today.
  • Cal JonesCal Jones ✭✭✭
    SQ, I've done a lot of Runthrough events - I started running them when they were relatively new and still do now as they have lots of races in and around London. They're well organised and the medals are fun (you also get a nice handmade flapjack, as well as the usual drinks, bananas and snacks).

    Jesus Christ, Jools! :open_mouth:

    I did 5 miles today, just around the common. Already warm at 6:30 when I went out. HR is moving in the right direction, especially as I was a little quicker today (still slow but most of my miles were under 11 this time). Still a way to go - unfortunately I am nowhere near fit enough to do the evening race before my birthday next week (well I could, but it'd be a jog around) but I'm hopeful I can do the half marathon mid-July. Wouldn't be a fast one anyway at that time of year so I'm not too concerned with time at this point though I would like to be under 2 hours. I need to do something about my awful stride length as that seems to have regressed during the lay off. Not that it was ever a decent length to start with.


  • SorequadsSorequads ✭✭✭

    Jools - wow! Both on the incredible eight day stats, and the challenge ahead. What an experience that should be. Very best of luck - hope the weather, logistics etc all play ball.

    10M easy on achey legs is warrior like, TR 💪

    That’s useful Cal, thank you. Could you have at least some races in the calendar. 


    Back to the grass track today. Slightly windy, but had at least recently been mowed. All set for sports day tomorrow!

    With Sunday’s race, I fancied something varied, but not brutal. Settled on 10 minutes tempo into 6 x 400 hard off 200 jogs.

    10 minutes at 6:20 pace. As tempo always does, felt pretty hard. Possibly a bit too punch for half marathon pace this weekend, especially given the rolling nature of the course. 

    400s were a bit of a surprise - couldn’t seem to break 1:30 with several a second over or bang on. Nonetheless, the effort was there. Lovely to run in the sun in on an empty track in view of the cathedral 😃. Mind you, knackered since. 

    All in 8.5M at 7:00 pace. Will keep it pretty easy now through to Sunday. 

  • AWCAWC ✭✭✭
    TR: I've been on the WW a few times around Bishops Waltham. Nice trail but I tend to stick to the SDW & Monarch's Way as they are much hillier. Good consistent training from you as usual
    SQ: sounds like a fun trail race, particularly with a 6th place and bottle of wine. The trails at the minute are pretty dreamy. Good luck for the HM at the weekend.
    Cal: glad to see the recovery is progressing and HR is coming down
    Jools: The SWT sounds like an awesome day out and you've been smashing out some great vert to get your legs ready for that. Sunday-Sunday with 20k ft is super impressive. I think I've managed 30k in a month max and that felt like I was running uphill daily!
    Westy: glad the threshold went better than expected. Good luck with the build up
    I'm just tapering away for the weekend so not much to report here. Packed most of my kit today. I've found doing it early rmoves a lot of stress for me and means I can enjoy the build up to the race better.
    Dad flies in from Belfast on Thursday as he and my sister (who lives in London) are crewing for me on the day. Always nice when its a family affair!
  • TRTR ✭✭✭
    edited June 2021
    Good to see you getting there cal. Do those races, there'll be a training effect. I must have been too late when ive run the Goodwood marathons as there hasn't been any of those flapjacks by the time ive finished (all the shorter distance runners probably hoovered them).

    SQ - you sound in decent shape. That might end up as hmp.

    AWC - yes, we didnt see many hills. Nice to have your dad as support (again?).

    The run commute logistics meant that 3min rep day needed to be today or Thursday, ive my eye on on my 3 wk out 13.1 mp saturday, so today was 3min day. Id only done last wks session on Thursday and sundays S and C doms was peaking a bit but onwards and upwards. 10m inc 14x3min, much better pace again for this run on the undulating commute route, after struggling a few weeks ago.
  • NE - well done on the 5k, fast leg turnover even if a RB.

    Cal -  good to see you stringing a few runs together.  The heat won’t have helped perceived effort, hopefully you can toe the start line of a race sometime soon.

    Westy - good luck with the plan, we need at least one person following P&D on the thread.😀

    TR -  well done on making a mess of yourself, sounds like a top session.  Good to see paces improving even with increased mileage.

    SQ - well done on the prize.  I’ll drink any old cack wine but there’s something about a won / earnt drink that takes it to the next level.  I wonder if the grass track is marked out consistently, but as you say, the effort was there.

    Jools -  that’s some great stats, 123m and 20,000 ft - should set you up well for the SWT which sounds like a great adventure.

    AWC - like Jools, you’ve got some decent sessions in those legs recently.  Looks like it’s warming up nicely this weekend, at least with an early start we can get some miles in as the Sun rises.

    Taking it easy here too although the traditional 2@MP felt tough in the heat.  I took another tumble a few days ago and neatly peeled off the fresh skin on my knee that had almost healed from 2 previous tumbles.  A bit gross but I just wish the other knee would take its turn for a change.
  • Cal JonesCal Jones ✭✭✭
    I think we always fall in more or less the same way, Macca - my left hand and knee always get it more than the right. I'm right handed so it could be a subconscious reaction to protecting the hand I use more, I guess. 

    SQ - I've the Harry Hawkes half in July (it's usually a 10 mile race but they are making it a half this year, I guess to make up for the fact there was no Hampton Court half in Feb) and the Big Half in August if they go ahead. The Summer Run in September (this is the postponed Winter Run...that one was cancelled last year due to wind and then this year due to Covid)...I think I'm in for Ealing half as well. Not sure. Then either Chicago or Manchester marathons and Valencia. So, quite a lot, depending on the Covid situation and my own health and injury status. I'll do some shorter stuff as well, when I'm ready.

    Good luck AWC. Smart getting prepared early - it takes some of the stress out of it.

    Quite pleased with my run today. I did 8 miles and overall pace was quicker. Ran some new roads (well not quite new - I'd covered them on walks while I was injured) so got some new Strava segments. HR was still quite high but then I was averaging below 10:30s which is 30 secs per mile faster than I was doing last week. 
    Hammy had a bit of a moan too but it'll get a day off tomorrow. I need to get on top of my rehab as I neglected it while I was ill as I had no energy.
  • TRTR ✭✭✭
    Macca - i always all on the same knee. I think its the same lazy low foot that catches. That taper session always sets you up well. You'll cruise an autumn mara after this Springs events.

    Nice one cal, thats a decent step fwd.

    Wooden legged 10m home tonight, as per monday no point going further, nearly taper time and ydays 3 min session was decent.
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