8 Weeks from now and the London Marathon will be all over. I should be on my way home, hopefully feeling triumphant if a little sore.
This has been a good week. I managed a steady sub 9 minute 12 miles in Bristol, followed that with 7 miles at 8.05 pace, then another 5 at 9.05. Today it was a long slow 17.7miles at 9.32 pace.
The 7 miles at 8.05 were with my mate David Moritz. It was really good to run with someone fast. I've been taking it very steady since coming back from illness but this was a good test. I thoroughly enjoyed it and need to add a tempo set to my weekly sessions.
Today was a mental challenge. I wasn't able to do the Gade Runners 17 miles down in Hemel Hempstead today so decided to take off on my own and cover the same distance.
Today was about building endurance. I had to keep the pace slow and keep the heart rate down. So the plan was for something around 9.30 pace. I expected that to be ok for 12-14miles but then the last few miles to hurt.
I did well at keeping the heart rate down and paid no attention to pace. Around mile 10 it was into the wind and uphill. The legs were feeling it but my nutrition is working well and a combination of SIS and Maximuscle gels kept m feeling fresh.
I reached the M1 and was surprised to see I was near 13 miles. I have 4 to go and don't feel too bad. I struggle along the side of a field which has just been ploughed but when I hit the road by Redbourn Golf Club I pick up the pace. I'm pretty pleased that my last 3 miles were my fastest. No records set but good to know I have more in the tank.
In the end its a 17.7 miler and it took 2:48. That's slow compared to 3 years ago when I was doing over 20 miles in 2:42. But I'm happy given I've only been at it for 4 weeks.
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