March 2012

[marathondan]

Week 11 continued...

Friday - another tempo slog around the muddy field, this time in dense morning fog. My splits were more even - in other words, I probably didn't try as hard. I never really enjoy the tempo runs while I'm doing them - I try to maintain a somewhat uncomfortable pace - but in these conditions, in road shoes, they're really no fun at all. Still, it's all grist to the mill, and I feel that this is one of the most productive sessions - an hour or more outside my comfort zone.

TdJ (for the sentiment as much as the driving beat): Metallica, The Frayed Ends of Sanity

Sunday - struck out around 7.30pm for 18 road miles, with the minimum temperature forecast for 3C.

Main audio distraction was the usual Marathontalk podcast, including Part 1 of a decent interview with Steve Cram. His words "in athletics you'll get found out; you can't just turn up on the day and hope it will come right" rang long in my ears. On the training talk slot they talked about marathon race pacing, and again waxed lyrical about negative splits. Could I do one? I just don't feel that setting off say 30 sec/mile slower would leave enough in the tank to finish anywhere near normal pace. But I have two real long runs left - 19 and 20 miles. Maybe I'll map out mile markers and see if I can at least run the whole thing with even splits, see how it feels. Maybe I'll be surprised.

All was well and good for 15 miles, the pace inevitably dropping, but less sharply this week, only around 1 minute per 5 mile lap. Marathontalk had been and gone, along with Thinking Allowed and the rather average Newsjack - the difference here being that if you don't like it, you can try and do better. Heading into the short 3 mile last lap I paused to walk and switched to the 80s party hits to pick up my mood. Happy Hour kicked in, all well and good, but I realised that I'd be listening to all the same songs in the same order as last week, so again walked to change to shuffle. This resulted in a back twinge severe enough for me to let out an audible yelp. I walked on for a bit, I stretched, I tried jogging, but I was stiff and sore and the temperature was probably now down at that 3C. I didn't want to risk a back strain like last year so decided to can it after 15 miles. It's a shame, because I really want to get the miles in my legs, but on the plus side after 5 minutes walk home I felt in great shape (if rather cold). The back was fine the next day, so it was probably the right decision. If I hadn't stopped, I quite possibly could have made it without any problem. We'll call it the Curse of the Housemartins...

It also made me realise, as always happens at this point in the year, that by race day my shoes will be coming to the end of their life (500 miles). Fortunately I was able to secure a pair on eBay for £40. They should arrive in time for the 19 miler.