London Marathon - Week 2 - 05/01/2015

M  10.03 miles (6:17mm)
T   5.6miles (7:11mm), 5.1miles(7:02mm)
W  13.6 miles (6:35mm)
Th  8 miles (7:03mm)
F
Sa  8 miles (6:16mm), 4miles(7:11mm)
Su  18.2 miles (6:56mm)

Total Mileage - 74 miles

Heart Rate average beats per mile - 885
Resting HR 45bpm
Weight 152lbs
Garmin Vo2 score - 65

Second week of serious marathon training and to be honest really not the best of weeks.  Have felt pretty tired most of the week and my HR seems somewhat elevated.  Maybe the efforts from the previous week.
Monday did not start off too bad with a decent enough club run from the Hornchurch track, but running this off the back of my longest run for almost 8 months the previous day was probably not the best idea.
Tuesday was my run commute day.  Everything prepared at work.  My backpack (with laptop, additional clothes etc.) did feel particularly heavy.  Made for a laboured run through a busy East London.  I prefer to run into work from Stratford following the canals, however time precluded this option and I therefore took a more direct run into work.  For the remainder of the day my left abductor was extremely uncomfortable.  Decision was made not to make the return run commute.
Once back at home felt a lot better and the 5 mile run in the evening did not present any problem.

By Friday I felt dead on my feet, so took an unschedule rest day.  Felt so much better for it on Saturday hence a speedy 8 mile ensued.

Sundays run was horrific.  Not my favourite route running up the A12, a bit dreary to be honest.  Made worse by the miserable windy weather and a late start to due to football commitments in the morning.  For about 10 miles felt like I was constantly battling the wind.  By mile 15 I was feeling pretty wasted and dehydrated (unusual).  Just glad to make it home and get in a nice hot bath.

On a positive note I did make all my running targets for the week.  8 runs as part of Jantastic and to get to at least 70 miles for the week.

Groin area from operation still grumbling a bit but manageable.  Hope the next week picks up a little, however weather does not look promising.

I hate the wind!!

London Marathon - Week 1 - 29/12/2015

M  6.02 miles (7:10mm), 4.22(7:23mm)
T   10.80 miles including 5 miles at Tempo (5:47mm)
W  8.04 miles (7:03mm)
Th 12.21 miles (7:08mm)
F    8.04 miles (6:41mm), 4.12(7:13mm)
Sa  6.19 miles (6:56mm)
Su  17.40 miles (6:57mm)

Total Mileage - 77.4 miles

Heart Rate average beats per mile - 876
Resting HR 43bpm
Weight 154lbs
Garmin Vo2 score - 66

I must be the most erratic blogger on the planet.  I am not a natural wordsmith which results in a lack of inclination to blog.  I will try and keep up some consistency this year (I hasten to add this not a New Years resolution).  I am looking to post at least once every two weeks, if not more often.

The blog is to keep me running and honest and as much as anything else.

So this is the start of the next Spring Marathon campaign.  Will be looking at consistent mileage with at least one and hopefully two quality sessions during the week.  I notice that in the past my mileage, although at a reasonable level, has been somewhat erratic. I will endeavour to make sure that I am more consistent this time around.

Having run a 2:38 marathon at Edinburgh in 2014 I am really keen to get as close to 2:30 as possible. The first shot will be at VLM, but failing that the second attempt will be at Berlin later in the year.

I do feel that I am still recovering from my Gilmores Groin operation, as I still feel tender in places where I should not after a long run.  I sincerely hope this starts to rectify itself soon as it is almost four months since the operation.

Finally I should make no bones that I have stolen both training and blogging ideas from Jason Cherriman and Steve Way - hope they do not mind.

Studies getting in the way of training

Weekly Summary 

Mon  -
Tue   - PM 9 miles (6:48m/m)
Wed  - PM 6 miles (6:59m/m)
Thur  - PM 7.3 miles (7.07m/,)
Fri     - AM 7.3 miles ( 5 at 6.04m/m and 2 at 7.11m/m)
Sat     - AM 6.16 miles (7:14m/m)
Sun    -

Total Mileage = 35.8 miles

So I missed my target of at least 40 miles for the week, but I do think I have an excuse.  I had to recertify a professional exam on Monday and was thus freaking out a bit on Sunday, and had my head in books all day.  Happy to say that I managed to pass the exam.

After the previous Sunday's awful run I decided to give Monday a miss. I was in fact suffering a little from DOM's and right achilles was somewhat tender.

Thursday was the first run I have run at lunchtime at work for what seems an age, good to get out to Canary Wharf and back, even though taking it easy.

Friday was the workout session for the week.  A jog to the gym and then a progressive run on the treadmill for 5 miles followed by a jog home.  The treadmill felt a lot harder than it should have, to think I ran this pace for 26.2 miles at Edinburgh but now it is taking its toll. Fitness is somewhat wanting, which is visible by the Heart Rate reported on this run.

Easy on Saturday, and missed out on Sunday.

Just read Matt Fitzgeralds book - 80/20 - That is 80% easy and 20% moderate to hard.  Looking at my training diary I think I maybe need to adjust these ratios.  I think I am probably at around 15% at the most for the hard sessions.

Picking up the training

Weekly Summary 

Mon  -
Tue   - PM 4.35 miles (6:29m/m)
Wed  - AM 8.1 miles (6:43m/m)
Thur  -
Fri     - AM 8.1 miles (6:48m/m)
Sat     - AM 7.26 miles (6:55m/m)
Sun    - AM 10.3 miles (7:10m/m)

Total Mileage = 38.1 miles

Decent block of training this week as I start to recover. But finished with an absolute mare of a run on Sunday. Sunday morning just did not feel right at all before I stepped out of the door. By the time I had got to 4 miles I was feeling completely dehydrated and with nothing in the legs.
 Hopefully this is transient.

Will look to get between 40 and 50 miles in the coming week, and then back onto consistent 50+ miles a week mileage.

Entered the BMAF 10 Mile Championship for March next year. Goal will to get as close to 56 minutes as possible.

October and I have not blogged at all for 3 months.

In terms of running, not much has been going on.  I notice from my previous post that I was struggling with injury.  And yes I was injured.

After a visit with the consultant I was diagnosed with Gilmores Groin, aka Sports Hernia, both on the left and right side of my groin.  An MRI was scheduled for the beginning of September (was on holiday in the US for all of August).

The MRI confirmed the surgeons originally diagnosis and an appointment for Surgery was made for September 11th.

Surgery completed and now have a healthy seven inch scar below my 'bikini' line.  Looks like I may have had a ceaserian.  The pain immediately after the operation was excruciating, but I was told that I had to make an effort to walk as much as possible and to follow a prescribed set of exercises from day one.  This included amongst other things, a set of crunches that brought tears to my eyes just thinking about them.

By the second week I was back running, albeit slowly and for short distances.

Now I am entering my fifth week post op, and although my fitness is not at levels it was in July, I am running reasonably well.  I have managed to get up to around 8 miles in one session at around 6:45 pace.  Am happy to report that this is not causing any discomfort during or after running.  It is going to be now until Xmas until I am back up to base fitness, but that should put me in good stead for the Spring Marathon season.

Oh no, am injured

Training has been very light for the last month or two.  In fact the two lowest mileage months in 36. 

The reasons behind lack of training are many fold.  One overriding reason has been a nagging pain in my groin area since completing Edinburgh in May.  Initially thought that this was due to an old inguinal hernia operation, however it was manifesting itself on both sides of my groin.

Running was not too bad, but the day afterwards was crippling.  Coughing and sneezing are to be avoided at all costs, and getting out of bed brings an onset of pain.

A visit to the Physio over the weekend, and now a referral to a Consultant.  The Physio believes the symptoms point squarely at Gilmores groin, a condition that does not react to conservative management.  Will have to see what the Consultant says on Thursday, but I fear that running further this year is going to be much compromised.

Its July and I have managed 3 blog posts this year.  This being the third, just goes to prove the point in my original post - 'I am not known for blogging'.

I thought I would review the goals I posted at the beginning of the year

1. Essex 20, get under 2 hours and 1 minute.  Achieved!  Well it could have been a little better as I missed getting under 2 hours by 3 seconds.  Won county medal for V40 and Open race.

2. Brentwood Half Marathon.  Get under 75 minutes agains.  Missed!  76:44 was the final time, was enough to get first vet, so another little trophy for the collection.

3. Essex Road Relays.  Missed!  Very poor result.  Strange race as I really did not feel at all well.

4. Braintree 5.  Missed!  DNS.  Decided fairly early on in the year not particpate in this race, as I had London, Manchester and Edinburgh lined up.

5. Greater Manchester Marathon.  Achieved!  Not that difficult to achieve really.  Great fun once again.

6.  Virgin London Marathon.  Achieved!  Have not enjoyed the London Marathon so much.  From championship start, completely stress free.  Easy first half in 1 hour 26 and sped up on second half for 1 hour 20 minute.  Massive 6 minute positive split

7. Halstead Marathon.  Achieved!  Only decided to do this on the morning of the race.  Ran it in a similar fashion to London.  Once again really enjoyed the race.  Finished fourth in 2:48.  Nice vet trophy to take home and first marathon as a V50.

8. Edinburgh Marathon.  Achieved!  Final time at Edinburgh 2 hours 38 minutes and 42 seconds.  Overall objective achieved.

One other race that should be mentioned, but was not part of the beginning of year objectives was the BMAF 10K at Kings Lynn.  Managed to win the BMAF Gold Medal for V50 in a time of 34:24.  Very pleasing result.

I also pointed out that I wished to be in the Top 10 of V50's in the UK.  On Run Britain currently number 7, ranked 4th for Marathon and 4th for 10K.