The Wanna Blista Social Club.

Well done RC. Great improvement over the last few years. Just shows what can be achieved with a decent period of consistent injury free training. Take note GBM!

MARATHON WEEK!!!!!!!

JMC--No need to take note, i'm part way through a long term plan. My aim after Amsterdam is, after a short recovery, to continue with the high mileage and to go quicker at VLM than i do this weekend. I've never done 70 mile weeks before and i've never done decent back to back marathon training plans before so i'm curious and excited about what i will be capable of by next April. Anyway, thats in the future and all that matters right now is Amsterdam. Come on!!!!! 

GBM-so no decorating this week or standing at the top of ladders BUT should you have a problem and can't make Amsterdam, i'm available to take your place at short notice

Thanks for the well done comments.

Perfect conditions yesterday, so after a year of injury free training as JMC said I thought a good PB was a realistic target.

 Set off  just quicker than my target pace of 6.30's and entered the tunnel at mile 12 with a 6.28 av. However Garmin's don't like tunnels and with my heart rate monitor playing up I didn't have much to go off, so just ran on perceived effort but passed half way on 1:25.

 Good atmosphere and support on leaving the tunnel which is more than i can say for much of the route which was sparse. Mile 18 was a steady slog up towards Sefton park and after a loop of the park it was back towards the city with a nice down hill pass the 25 mile marker and a flat half mile or so to the finish.

Not the fastest marathon but still good Pb potential.

J8 - Have you been on the Raki?  2:49 next realistic target.

PPP--I don't feel fed up/bored/insulted/feel patronised by everyones advice as i know you all mean well and i will just ignore you anyway!  My planned race pace throughout most of my training plan was 6.40 which would give me 2.55. This was because i was having major back problems and it was seizing up along with my glutes, hamstrings and slowing me down towards the end of long runs. So the plan was to have 4 or 5 mins in the bank for when that happened on race day. However my back suddenly got better about 6 or 7 weeks ago so i've tweaked my plan to 6.45 pace. I know that 6.40ish to 6.45ish is neither here nor there but i'm running an ultra cautious race and going a minute slower in the first half may make all the difference in the final stages. The reason for being ultra cautious is because this is my 6th sub 3 attempt and i see no point in running any quicker than i have to in the first 20 miles in case it all goes wrong again. I know that all my previous attempts have failed due to insufficient mileage/training and not because of poor pacing but i'm just being sensible.  If everything goes to plan, i have a brilliant run, feel ok at mile 20 then i will kick for home and maybe i might be able to squeeze a 2.55 something but we all know that marathons don't always go to plan so i could feel rubbish at mile 20 and be clinging on to do 2.59.59 or i could even fail completely. Another reason for being cautious (this isn't a case of getting in an excuse early or being negative or being mentally weak!) is that i've been trying to shake off a virus for a couple of weeks. Its not much of one but it is affecting me slightly when i run, snot, tight chest, coughing etc and i can be as positive as i like but its bound to have some effect on Sunday. But i'm hoping the effect it has is miniscule and that i'm currently in such good shape that i can run sub 3 even though i'm not quite feeling 100%.  Right now 2.55, 2.57 and 2.59 are all sub 3 to me and i will take any of them. Then onto VLM for an attempt at a fast/silly time! 

RC, well done again, your targets are spot on. Even J8 always says knock 2-3 mins off each time, so he must be on some loopy juice.

GBM, you can't really do any more and you'll only not make it if your back goes, but I have good feelings this time (I was lying every other time). You know what they say 6th time lucky

GBM-should you be running with a slight virus? did i mention i could step in with very little notice , actually from our conversations, there are no reasons why you shouldn't go sub 3, just look out for those pesky bikes, if i don't see you beforehand, Good Luck.

Been away from the thread for quite some time. It's been mad busy at work with the Olympics and a big influx of students this summer/autumn so I've just not had  time to fit in any regular quality training to do races any kind of justice. Coupled with the fact I have been struggling with a bad back which has now turned into a chronic bout of Plantar Fasciitis it's not been a good time running-wise lately. I think a conscious transition from stability shoes into neutral has caused the issue so I'm switching back to see if it goes away.

My gripes aside I've just had a quick read back over a few pages to see what everyone's been up to. Congrats to NI for the sub-70 at Lake Vyrnwy, respect to J8 on making it 3 out of 5 world majors under 3hrs and to RC for a great run and PB at Liverpool. Steady as she goes RC although you know you could take a chunk off that time with a less undulating route than Liverpool. Well done to everyone else who's been racing. 

GBM - I know you'll stick to your plan. Every marathon I've done has always felt better when run even-paced. Just make sure you're fully fit this week before the big day. I know you don't want to hear this but if you're still struggling with that chest then don't run. Your legs might feel all bouncy and great during the taper but if you can't get the oxygen into them at peak effort on race day then it's going to be feel like purgatory after only a few miles. An arbitrary marathon time is not worth risking your health over, sorry

PPP - I've just entered Manchester instead of London. Can't really justify the cost of travel, accomodation, etc when Manchester is on the doorstep and looks to be flatter and possibly faster too. 

Oh, almost forgot to mention using the discount code MEN5 gets you an extra £5 off the entry fee

UB--Welcome back!  There is no chance of me not doing Amsterdam. This virus peaked for a few days about two weeks ago and there are a couple of symptoms still lingering but its not that bad. And i've still got 6 more days to get rid of it! I wish my legs felt all bouncy and great though!!

UB, welcome back.

Although Manchester was rubbish organisation, it flatter than London and the support was remarkable given to atrocious weather, so on a good day, a great event and the course is now much improved.

Saying that, I've not entered.

I thought about Manchester but Mrs Bob and the mini-Bobs like going to VLM.  They'd never watch me running round Sale and Trafford.  It's also a rare chance to run in a top level race.

I think that VLM is actually downhill?  Championship entries open today .

Ignore the taper fever GBM and go get that 2.55!

Well done RC!

Village Bakery Half entries are open in case anyone is interested.

JMC- I see you got beaten at Marple park fun run at the weekend

Nice photo here of JMC trailing well behind Kevan, a small dog and an old guy with a stick walking sideways ... when does the XC season start?

Yeah but you'll notice Kev is giving it his all and I'm just jogging along with his dog!

I could have taken him but felt guilty cos he had put the effort in all the way round. I was hoping his dog would give me a bit of a boost but it was useless, it kept on wandering all over the place.