Marathon training starts today

Well, this is it - the big day has arrived. Today is the start of my 18 week marathon training programme. This is where I'm going to make or break my dream of running an awesome race at London on April 17th...and then getting round at the Shakespeare marathon in Stratford, 3 weeks later.

On the Ben Does Life blog I recently read this post about his efforts in the Las Vegas marathon, which he ran on December 5th.  Part of the blog is about time goals for finishing a marathon:

"When a runner is training for a marathon (other than the first one, where the goal is to finish), he or she has a few different time goals.
A: The public goal – as the name implies, this is the goal the runner tells people when asked what his goal is. Barring a complete meltdown, this goal is easily attainable and would even be a slight disappointment to the runner.
B: The actual goal – Usually about 5-10 minutes faster than the public goal. The runner will tell close friends and family about this goal. It’s also the time that the runner feels comfortable striving for and thinks there is a reasonable chance of hitting.
C: The secret dream goal – The runner doesn't tell anyone this goal, because he knows that the stars would have to align and everything would have to fall perfectly in place for the secret dream goal to happen, and if a runner knows nothing else, he knows that during 26.2 miles, nothing ever falls perfectly in place."


Of course, depending on how training goes, the goals I set myself may change, but as of today, I have these goals for the London marathon (although at Stratford it will just be to get round and enjoy it).  Unlike Ben's public goal, mine though would not be a disappointment, nor will it be easily attainable...it's twenty minutes faster than my PB, and an hour faster than my last marathon attempt!
Public goal: 4hrs 41mins
Actual goal: 4hrs 29mins
...and as for C...well, I'm just not telling ;)

My marathon training schedule

Here it is - 18 weeks of early mornings and constant washing of running gear!

This schedule isn't too gruelling compared to some of the plans I've seen, and my maximum mileage in a week only gets up to 41 miles, three weeks before the big day.  I have three very long runs (a 20, 21 and 23 miler) and will try to swim once a week and go to the gym once a week for the duration of the schedule to get in a bit of cross training too.

I'm determined to stick to this, although I'm not going to beat myself up if I miss a day here or there, or substitute a gym day for a rest day when I'm feeling tired.  Although I desperately want to achieve my goal time in the London marathon, I want to enjoy the whole process too!

Feel free to have a look at my schedule through this link: My 18 week marathon training schedule

My mountainous half marathon

Today was my last race of 2010...the Bedford Harriers Half Marathon and I had an absolutely great time.    I had hopes of smashing my PB and having a sub-2hr run on this race, but very soon in, I realised that the course was incredibly (ok not quite mountainous) hilly, and there was no hope of achieving that...but still went out to try and get as good a time as I could.

It took me about 3 miles to settle into my stride, which is longer than usual, which I'll put down to not having run much in the last couple of weeks due to the snow, but once I got into it, I felt really comfortable as the miles passed...and also discovered that I'm actually better than many (of the people that run at my kind of pace) at hills.  There are a lot of pretty hefty gradients on my training routes and so I'm definitely used to them, but as I always train on my own, I've not really been able to compare my speed up and down them with other people.  Fantastically though, I actually found myself overtaking a fair number of other runners up and down the hills, and although I know it's all about running your own race...I did enjoy that. However, it's the exhilaration of the downhills which made the race so fun - my average pace over the 13 miles was 09:29/mile...during down some of the downhills I was going 2 minutes faster than that!  It was awesome & I absolutely loved it!!!

I'm still working on changing how I run, and only very occasionally did I find myself heel-striking - the majority of the race I was striking mid-foot and I really feel it makes a difference to my pace and how comfortable I am as I run. It's only a matter of time before I buy my first barefood-esque shoes! However, I do think that change in my strike is to blame for the burning pain that I had in my calves during the last half a mile - it was excruciating, and I really don't know how I managed to keep going...but I did, and pretty much as soon as I'd stopped running, it went away...so that's all right ;) I know I should build up slowly to the transition, but this is the first time I've really had problems from the change, so think I'm probably getting on alright.

Well, a great race, which was also incredibly well organised by the Bedford Harriers, and a great way to round of the racing season.  I still managed a PB too...I finished in 2hrs 4mins

The last race of the year

Sunday will see me running in my last race of 2010, the Bedford Harriers Half Marathon around Wooton in Bedfordshire.  It's a relatively big race field compared to some of the runs I've done, at 2000 people (I like running with lots of people) and as I've been so restricted with the ice and snow, I'm really looking forward to getting out and having a really good run...on safe roads!

With the race coming up it has made me a bit nostalgic about the year that's gone by.  Although I've been running for a few years now, this year has been defining for me, and so important in terms of my commitment and passion for the sport.

I ran my second London Marathon in April, and had a truely terrible time.  I hadn't trained enough, and really suffered on my way round, picking up injury at 21 miles and finally finishing in (what I considered) a very embarrassing 5hrs 41mins.  But that run made me realise that I really wanted to improve - bizarrely, even though as I crossed the finish line I swore never again, within an hour, I was more motivated than ever to see what I could really achieve if I put my mind, heart and soul into running...to truly become a runner.  So, that's what I've been doing - I've been regularly up at 5.30am to run, cross training, reading about running, buying the kit, and now writing about running, all to help achieve my target of a 4hr 15m marathon in the Spring.  To improve my marathon time by nearly an hour and a half is, I know, ridiculously ambitious, but I went from doing absolutely no exercise at all, to running a 5hr marathon in 9 months, so I think this is something that with enough effort and dedication to the cause, I should be able to achieve.  My PB this year for a half marathon is 2hrs 6mins, so I do think I'm on my way...

Since the marathon in April, I've run in 5 more races (and have the medals hanging on my wall to prove it!) - my race this weekend will be my seventh of 2010 - and have really immersed myself in the sport...as the title of my blog says, "these days, I call myself a runner..."

Finally, I ran in the snow

The alarm went off at 5.30am this morning, I snoozed, alarm went off again, I seriously thought about turning it off and going back to sleep, and then, with much effort, I successfully dragged myself out of bed and got ready for my run - my first since last Monday because of the masses of snow we've had.

It was minus 3.5oC outside, so not the minus five I was expecting, and an airing cupboard full of warm running clothes definitely added to my enthusiasm, and once I got outside I was actually really excited to be there, especially as there'd been a freezing fog overnight and the trees were all beautifully iced up - it all looked pretty and decidedly Christmassy!  Could still feel the chill through all my layers, but that's how it's supposed to be, and before long I was feeling pretty comfortable and very pleased with myself for finally having worked out how to dress for this weather...I think smug is probably the word ;)

Unfortunately the paths along all my usual routes are still covered in ice and I didn't want to risk a fall, so ran in the road until I got to the main high street, where the council have taken great care to get rid of all the snow, and it's completely safe to run on the pavement.  Not inspiring or picturesque mind...but not slippery either.  So, the plan was to run up and down the half mile high street until I got to my 6 miles target.

So, there I am, smug in my hat, gloves, ear warmer, two pairs of leggings, two tops and a sweatshirt, running up and down.  Until the weather decided that I was far too smug, and it started snowing...pretty heavily.  Within 5 minutes, I was making footprints in the snow that had settled!   Unfortunately, when working out what to wear to keep me warm, I'd completely disregarding the importance of keeping dry and an oversized cotton sweatshirt is not ideal when the snow's falling!

It was a lovely run though which I really enjoyed, and although I only did 5 miles in the end (which I think is not too bad given the dull, repetitive nature of my route!), I'm so glad I went out, and will definitely be running more this week - back on track! :D