Week 7 Ramblings

Fall has started. Yep. While out on my runs these past couple of days I've noticed the leaves collecting on the pavement. The mornings are darker, the evenings ever so shorter. The air just a tad crisper.

I like the air when it gets like this. The breathing is easier and a sense of exhilaration fills my lungs and legs as I once more head up the first mile hill. What I don't particularly like is the shorter day. Soon I won't have the luxury of going for a late afternoon run and knowing it will still be light when I finish. I won't be able to get out extra early in the glorious sunrise, instead it will be a dark start BUT I will get to see the sunrise as I am out. That IS a bonus.

This is when I make myself even more visible with blinky lights and HVC (high visibility clothing). Just that little bit extra visibility gives me a little bit of a edge when out and about and the lighting is a bit dim.

Training is going well. Just finished a long run of 16 miles on Sunday and put my total up into the mid 40mpw range. Did a cool down of 2 miles to bring me back up the hills and home. Legs felt pretty good and have been doing the cold leg baths. BURRR....but it seems to make the tired calves easier to cope with. I have also arranged for another sports massage this week. So looking forward to it. Thought it would be a good idea with the Angelsey Half Marathon on Sunday down in Wales. Trying whatever it takes to be ready for this half.

Marathon paced mid week runs are now at 9 miles and that means I'm approaching the peak of the marathon training. I do get nervous when I head out for these runs. I guess it's the "performance thinking" kicking in. I want to be able to keep my pace for the entire distance. I focus hard and attempt to run even splits with a bit in the reserve for the final mile. I'll see how that works out this week as the distance is a mile longer then I've done yet.

I'm keeping pretty much to plan with the training. I've opted to run the NYC Marathon for a charity. Anyone reading this who would like to help out a worth cause, please give a minute to check out my just giving web page for the Hepatitis C Trust. http://www.justgiving.com/marysrunning

It's late now, and I see the rain streaking the window. It reminds of the the signs on the water rides at amusement parks: You WILL get wet on this ride! I think of that each time I go for a run in the rain.....
until next time...

Time To Update

It's now September, and summer is basically over. I wonder if there was really A SUMMER at all this year here in NW England. The hot weather didn't happen but for the very few days interspersed throughout about 3 weeks. That was it. Rain? Oh yes...lots of that!!

So getting to the point, training. NYC Marathon is now on the horizon and getting closer with each day. The stepping stones to that have been my day to day runs which now are increasing with mileage. I am using the plan I found that helped me last year. A modified version of the Hanson's Moderate and Consistent plan. It worked well for me in London this past April so I am hoping to see positive results on 2 November.

I participated in the Birchwood 10K, not my favorite distance, but I set a new PB (70:41) and that I am pleased about. However, towards the end my left quad muscle ached terribly and I needed to slow down which cost me valuable seconds. With stretching and treatment I am hoping to eliminate this from happening again.

Now I am looking on to the half marathon in Angelsey, Wales in a short 1.5 weeks. This will be a new experience running there. Looking forward to running in a new area. Of course my stomach gets a bit queasy when I think about it, but I just continue to put down the miles.

Then there is the Coniston Trail up at the Lakes. This will be my fourth time running it and I enjoy the change from road and the different locale. It's a challenging route but not as nutty as the Derwentwater or Garburn Trails.

Just a week after Coniston is the World Wide Festival of Races. I'll be doing a 20 mile training run that day of which I will count the first 13.1 miles as my World Wide Half Marathon. It will be a course of my choosing and one that I used last year.

Then on to the New York City Marathon. Now it is less than 2 months away. I figured that I have covered over 250 miles just in training for this race so far and might just complete another 250 by race day. There are some very high weekly totals looming.

How do I feel about this marathon? Hmmm.. I'm excited of course, I'm nervous, I'm wondering just how I will do, I wonder how the course will be, I wonder how the weather will turn out, I wonder if my family members who say they will be there show up, I wonder if any of my friends will be able to watch...guess I wonder about everything! The biggest concern is of course, will my training allow me to run the best time in a marathon?

This is when I have to trust my training, trust my experience, trust my routines....TRUST. Just pure and simple. I know I can run the distance, I know I can fuel myself correctly before, during and after the race, I know my body has the endurance for this. With this trust, I can push aside those concerns.

It's that one foot in front of the other mentality. Show up for each training run, each nutritional meal, each positive thought...and come race day it will all come together.I will TRUST this.