Focus

This is a quicky just in case I was presumed dead or missing in action...It's been a long old slog this last two weeks, great training, lots of miles but work has been draining what little life I've had and I'm counting down the two weeks until our next break. The miles have been coming along nicely with a cool  and round 90 clocked last week and some  emphasis on threshold work for the countdown to Lochaber. 

Tomorrow is Dewsbury 10k, not for me but for Mr RB. He's out for a 'time trial' to check the  training is on track for the key race in two weeks time; the Bramley 10M. As for me, I'll be doing the 20 miler the same day. I still wake up with night sweats wondering how I'll ever manage to race the full distance. Somehow I did it last year so I'm hoping I'll squeeze something near target pace out this time round. A long one tomorrow with an interesting tempo mix thrown in. Jack Daniels has some great ideas for livening up the long run. Wish me luck.

Oh Weary Me

Somehow I've got to Saturday without falling asleep at the wheel or something equally daft happening as a result of a hard and tiring week at work. The pending cuts are requiring signficant agility and creativity to deliver services with a lot less money. Everyone's stressed out and piling on the work as a result. Poor me us.

Intense days at work are followed by the too long 90 minute commute home followed by a wonder woman whirl into kit and out again to run marathon mileage. As a result I can't seem to get to 3pm on a Saturday without feeling the urge to drop unconscious nap. I'm avoiding any time sitting on the sofa today; as soon as I've parked my behind I'll be off with the fairies, snoring through Eurosport and dribbling on M's shoulder.

Energy levels will soon be restored with some good night's kip and lots of good food, starting nicely with home made pizza for lunch (yum). I've also got to get perky for my race paced effort in the Brass Monkey tomorrow. Instructions are clear; keeping  strictly to marathon race pace will provide a taxing training session, test my fitness at  target pace without detracting from the training week ahead. 6.18-6.20 is the plan and all being well I'll be able to repeat this in the 20 miler next month. It'll also be another week of 80+ in the bag. M on the other hand has some more serious running to do.

Lazy Days

What a lazy week it has been since breaking up from the office over a week ago. A flying visit from a southern friend was swiftly followed by a bit of shopping for a new bearmobile, (to replace the broken one) and then a few days generally getting my head round not being at work. I'm now facing week two; the days are whizzing by, gradually being filled with trips to the vet and ideas of sorting out that peeling paint on the front door... if only the sun would come back.

Running wise the training has been low key, except for a trip to Blackpool on Saturday; a rather lonely 3k for the club in the BAL Cup competition. The best bit was the warm up in and around Stanley Park; what a great place. The event felt like more of a time trial than a race with an easy win by nearly a minute over the 3k but  it's a speed session in the bank at least.

A return to a bit of mileage for this coming week, starting with a nice long Sunday run. As M and I skirted Kilnsey Crag and climbed the road to Kettlewell, thoughts turned to the Burnsall race in August and our first inspiring introduction to Old Runningfox, a fellow adventurer around these parts. This area has got to be one of the most beautiful places in the country and the running is spectacular whatever the weather. The Burnsfall Feast Sports day is a firm Runningbear favourite and offers something for everyone, whether its road running or fell racing or just lots of cake and silly games by the river. It's a nice day out in a truly gorgeous spot; get it in your diaries.

23 Sunny Miles

A tough week of training this week culminated in my longest ever long run. I ran 23 miles. Yes, 23 MILES. You read that right. I'm very proud. That's the longest distance I have ever run. Ever in my life. I was struggling to find an interesting route, the long flat 22 last week was mind numbing and not so scenic. Today I opted for something a bit prettier in the hope it would distract me from the potential slog. Starting out from Silsden with a few miles on the canal down to Shipley, it was then a left turn for the long haul up the dreaded climb on Hollins Hill (or more aptly named Hollins Hell), before a swift descent down through Guiseley to Burley and on to the Skipton Road home.

It was a great route choice, a bit tough, a bit muddy and some challenging hills but some fast miles in between. I felt surprisingly good after yesterday's time trial and think I'm building good strength after putting in all these road miles over the last few weeks. Average pace was 6.48/mile for the 23 which was a surprise after a couple of very slow miles on the climbs and muddy bits. I felt pretty human until 22 then had to work a bit on the final push home. M was very impressed and I was very happily fussed over for finishing my longest run ever. It was a great boost to the confidence that I can do this long stuff after all.

Silly Hills

I really should think it through a bit more before I start wittering on about 'wanting to be pushed' and training with faster partners to get 'dragged along' and experience greater training benefits. I certainly did experience the 'training benefits' today. I was a bit daunted by today's long run prospects. Not only did I know the pace was gonna be challenging over this 20 miler, I also knew it would be very hilly. Stewart M had forewarned me that this was a bit of a toughie but it would 'make me strong' for my marathon adventures. Most people would have heard the alarm bells ringing and the sensible sirens sounding loud and clear. He's such a nice bloke that I was somehow reassured that it would all be okay.

I pulled up bang on the button at 10am eager and a bit nervous for the start for this long pack run. After a bit of a bender last night celebrating XC success one or two were a bit ropey and so bowed out of the full 20M. We were joined too by Nigel B from Keighley who is a very useful runner [he got me round the brass monkey HM last year in 76mins] but he was also turning back at 10M. It then sunk in that I would be alone again chasing Stewart at eyeball popping pace but this time on the horriblest, hardest and never-ending hills out of Bingley to Oxenhope, on to Haworth and back.

It was hilly alright. It was silly hilly. All of this whilst trying to respond to the pleasant chat and marathon talk. You can imagine I'm sure. My legs were pretty much blown half way round and the knowledge of another hilly 10 to follow was a mental challenge that would make a Mensa member's eyes water. Anyway, my determination and eagerness to be fit and strong for my first marathon somehow got me round. I was even feeling reasonably human up to mile 19 but then the last one, with the last sting of a climb just finished me off. To top it all I have no Garmin record to show off how good I did. Mental calculations approximate around 6.55 miling average today. Not so bad going given the climbs that were conquered and the massive training week I've had. So, another biggie in the bag, another week running strong, another run with the fast boys survived. Thankfully a recovery week next week. P.s. Well done to blogger boys at the Dewsbury 10k today, great runs were had in what was a very classy field, (congrats MH), results here.

Snow Good

It was a wise move to get my middle of the week long run done and dusted this morning with the return of the white stuff tonight. I got going fairly early for the steady 12 miler from Addingham, out to Burley and back. The route was a tad dull and again the tormentor followed me from Lancs to revel in blowing me backwards on the return leg along the Skipton road. After clipping along at a comfy 6.40 pace on the way out I was puffing to hit 6.50s into the wind on the way back.

A healthy sub 7 average in the end made me feel virtuous enough to have a naughty & nicely sized lunch including a bit of pudding. I'm getting a but comfy in this daytime training routine and am fantasizing about what life would be like as a pro athlete; run, eat, run, nap, run, eat, sleep. Oh, what a life it would be. Reality is soon to kick in though; only 4 days of leisurely living left to go before the money earning machinery kicks in again. Am I too young to be thinking of retirement...?

Return of the Long One

It felt good to be back today. A return to some proper training and an escape from the ice and snow. M and I scheduled in a long one with a faint hope the roads would be clear and we could taste how it feels to run unhampered again. Ah the tarmac. I know that sounds daft and a bit 'moany' but, as pretty as it is, this white stuff is a pain to run on. Literally. You're kind of stuffed in the absence of a treadmill in your garage or a pay-as-you-go gym on your doorstep. It felt truly fantastic. Two miles before Askwith village I was turfed out into the cold whilst M drove up the hill. Planning an 18 miler I aimed to collect M and Co. then return for an out and back route from Askwith to the A59. All undulating and twisty, it made for a fine long run route, except for the small number of very grumpy car drivers unhappy sharing this motorists' rat run with a pack of runners.

So. A refreshing return to training it was. An average of 7.08/mile over the distance with some fine hills proved taxing enough for me today after well over a month since the last long one. A taste of the coming weeks and a delicious morsel it was too.

Shopping Suspension

M & I were on our way out on a serious mission this weekend. To kick this marathon training off in true style a bit of running shoe shopping is called for. I'm looking to do a deal with 4 pairs; a bulk buy in the hope of getting a bit of a bargain. Frustratingly this white stuff has got in the way both days this weekend. I'll have to stick to the 12 mucky pairs sitting in the porch for the first week. Poor me. Meanwhile today was the last run of this recovery phase; another slippy, snowy 6 around the village. We've given up on the nice kind of running adventures for the time being and are crossing everything that the evil stuff thaws soon.

On a more exciting note (depending on your anorak tendencies), below is a bit of a preview of my intended approach to VLM. After lots of spreadsheet faffing and fiddling I've decided to have faith in someone else. I've taken Pfitzinger's schedule as my guide. I've embedded the file for those who are keen as mustard to get a sneak preview, (you know who you are). I've not detailed the miles, being a bit undecided yet on how high I can safely go but have written out the weekly structure. Its my first marathon and a drastic departure from my usual approach to training. A bit of a gamble you might say and I may end up looking very silly by April 25th. Any road, we'll see how it pans out. So. Day 1 tomorrow it is. An easy 5. Perhaps with crampons on. Check out THE PLAN. Only 112 days to go.