5 Days to go

It's been some time I know, but the training has been going well to a certain extent. I have missed a few runs due to shifts at work but have managed to get in all my long runs to date. Only a couple of easy runs to go and the big day on Sunday. A start at 08.30 and hopefully weather permitting a pleasant day. There has been a lot of talk with regards to the course change, which now incorparates a 10km loop and 2 out and back 10 mile. Not what we all signed up for but at the end of the day a marathon is a marathon. It will be one less of the five I'm doing this year. I'm going down the day before to register and to drive the route to get an idea of what I will be putting my body through on the day. Staying in a hotel with my wife and son who will be supporting me on the day. Hopefully some photos will be taken and I will post them on my blog. So toes tapped and knee support on. It will be a stroll in the park....Not!!
Will post a blog after the day to tell how it went and to look forward to my next marathon in May. The Essex and Halsted.

Keep on Running

Sorry for not writing for some time, just been too busy. I have been running when I can and been quite happy with my interval and long runs. I'm beginning to get back up to my pace I was before my month of. I'm aiming for a 8min40secs mile, which equates to approx 5min30sec Km. Tomorrow I'm running for 3 hours and trying to aim for 30-32km. I will blog my run tomorrow and will try and get back into a routine of blogging after my run.
Today I bought a pair of Trail running shoes for the Woolecombe and Eden Project marathons I'm doing. Went to a great little running shop in Norwich called The Runners Centre in Nelson Street. The owner Peter couldn't have been more helpful and fitted me with a pair of Pro Grid Jazz 13. Well recommended.
Well of now and will write again tomorrow after my run.
Don't forget any donations to my cause Help for Heroes would be greatly appreciated. Please follow link below.

http://www.bmycharity.com/5marathonquest

Catch Up

Sorry for not getting around to my Blog, just that work has been intense of late. But anyway, I've managed a few runs incorporating Fartlekking and interval training. I'm still trying to get back to my times before the break I've had, although my last run on Tuesday for an hour and a half I managed the times I'm looking for of 5min30secs. It's just the case of building up my stamina again. The new trainers (Brooks Adrenaline GTS11) are working out fine. I am finding that I'm getting some chaffing on my left foot middle toe so I will be tapping them up on my next run, which incidentally, I'm running tomorrow. Tomorrows run will be a 2hr45min run, so will be running with my Camelback and 5 gels with some jelly babies. I will be running around Hornchurch/Upminster area so just hoping there will be no rain!! Anyway I shall be blogging the outcome tomorrow, so until the. Goodnight

First Long Run of the Year

Well the first long run of the year, and the first since the beginning of December 2010. The run was from Potter Heigham, Norfolk via Hickling to Sea Palling and along the coast to Waxham, Hornsey and onto Winterton. All in all a total of 25Km. The run itself was dry at least with quite a head wind on the back half, but you would expect that especially in Norfolk. The first 30min was a gentle pace just to warm up at a pace of about 135-140bpm, then 1hr50min normal race pace at 145-155bpm. The first 4kms splits were in the 6mins but the next 14kms under 6min, the last few kms varied in the 5mins and 6mins. All in all total time of 2hr30min at an average pace 6min01sec per Km, not quite where I want to be, I'm aiming around 5min30sec to 5min45sec but considering this was my first long run for a month not bad. The new shoes worked out well, although I did tape up all my toes which did help. Overall a good run.

Click Workout Details for a overview of run.

Easy Run

Just the 30min run today. 10min warm up jog at slow pace about 135bpm, then 20 mins normal pace about 145bpm, then a 10min cool down. Wet and windy today, always seems to be here in Norfolk. Managed to get my pace down to a respectable 5:36sec average per Km, which is more like I'm used to, but the proof of the pudding will be my long run tomorrow for 2:30hrs. I will be just glad to get through it. The forecast is not looking good and is meant to be heavy rain, but fingers crossed ah!
I did christen my new trainers today, Brooks Adrenaline GTS11. First time I have run in Brooks and found them to be very comfortable and cushioned under the foot. I also tried a pair of XSocks which I can highly recommend, even though they cost £15.

Well not much to say today, all on tomorrow now. Wish me luck.

Hard Going.....

Hour run today (12/01/2011) incorporating a 15min warm up jog then a 1min race pace, approx 150bpm, then a 2min fast pace, approx 165bpm, repeating this 10 times then into a 15min cool down. Distance covered was 9.67km at an average pace of 6:13secs per Km. I know this wasn't about time and race pace, but still feel as if I'm running slower. My heart is working harder at a slower pace but I'm hoping over the course of the next 2-3weeks my pace will improve to what I was running previous, averaging 5:30sec per Km, which will just bring me home in under 4hrs, and I mean just. I will just have to work hard I suppose.

Conditions were wet but not raining with no breeze which helped because I probably would have been even more slower. 

Don't forget this is all in aid of the Help for Heroes so please feel free to visit my charity page and sponsor me.

http://www.bmycharity.com/5marathonquest

I'm Back!!

That was a hard run today. My first run for a month, laid up with flu and a minor operation so this was the earliest I could return, and wow what a difference a month makes. I was running 5min30sec splits per Km. now running 30secs slower per split. I managed a 11 km run today of road on a track. I started of with a 10min slow jog to warm up then a 10min normal pace about 145-150bpm then a 40 minute faster pace at 155-165bpm, then finishing of with a 10min cool down. I could certaintly tell the difference. I had a shortness of breath and felt worn out after an hour. I just hope that I will be able to pick the pace up to where I was in the next few weeks as my first marathon for the year is on the 3rd April in Sussex.
Again if anyone is interested in sponsoring me in the 5 marathons I'm running this year for Help for Heroes, just follow this link.

http://www.bmycharity.com/5marathonquest