Get ready

I did the last of long runs in preparation for the Loch Ness marathon today. I wasn't quite as sharp as last week, but I don't think it matters. There is nothing I can do now, but to rest well and be fresh for the Big Day next Sunday.
Friday: 6 miles
Today: 12 miles
This week: 49 miles

Coming together

When I started this blog, I wrote that in preparation for the marathon I am following the book called "Advanced Training" by Pete Pfitzinger and Scott Douglas. This is the third time that I am following their training schedule, but once again I am impressed that this is a very well thought-out plan. I am saying this now, because even at the start of this week I felt so tired that I was not 100% sure if I would recover enough to run the marathon next week. After the diet of easy runs, however, I think I am getting my strength back!

Yesterday: 6 miles
Today: 10 miles
This week: 31 miles

Last of intervals

As soon as I started running, I found a flaw in logic in my entry yesterday. (Running really clears up your mind!) If you cannot maintain the 5-km pace for a mile, obviously, you are not running at the 5-km pace! But this is what happens anyway when you start the interval training. Today I began way too fast, going a mile in 5 minutes and 55 seconds. I know this doesn't sound much, but I am not a sprinter and my legs were completely destroyed by this run. The second lap was 5 minutes 59 seconds, and the third and last lap 6 minutes 8 seconds. Boy it was hard! I didn't remember one-mile VO2 Max was this hard.
Happily, this is it for the interval training in this training - until next time I will train for a marathon!

Today: 7 miles
This week: 15 miles

PS I just bought a new CD by Crowded House called "Time on Earth". I have been a fan since their second album in 1986, so I am biased, but despite the long absence their new songs are very good indeed.

Week 1

Yes, Week 1! This means there are less than two weeks left before the race. Boy doesn't that sound good? (Yes it does!) 16 weeks down, two to go. This week's training diary shows all relatively easy runs, except for one day on which I will have to do VO2 Max runs consisting of 1600 meters times 3. Well I guess that's not really an interval training (I mean, I won't be able to run at 5-km pace for a mile!)

Today: 8 miles
This week: 8 miles

Running well, but still tired

My weekend long run went well again yesterday. I was satisfied that I managed to run at the fast pace last weekend, but my pace was even faster this week. It is reassuring that I am running quite fast without really trying. I think this is thanks to all the VO2 Max training I have put in. (Usually you cannot run any faster when your heart rate cannot cope, not when your legs give out)
So that's very positive. On a negative side, I am still suffering from general tiredness. Then I checked my diary again and I seem to always have a breakdown at this point of training - it must be accumulation of fatigue for the last three months. I guess that's why they recommend to start tapering off three weeks before the race.

Friday: 8 miles
Saturday: 15 miles
This week: 56 miles