Abingdon Marathon

MG - 2:55! Not talking to you anymore

Tried a progressive 6 miles tonight, which went OK in terms of heart rate and perceived effort and all that carp, but still couldn't quite push to sub 7 for the last mile, so I am now feeling old. And my £20 each way bet on Vincenzo Nibali is also looking past it's best!

MG - best of luck with your target. Certainly Abo should be quicker than London, as no congestion, and according to my Garmin, Abo is about 0.3 mile shorter..worth about 2mins

CFB - I know the feeling...my legs still have not recovered from Sunday, which is irratating given I only really raced the last 4.1 miles, so just an easy 45mins for me this morning.

Hello all !!  I'm a 2011 AM runner just checking in to wish you all a great few months training.  Hope to see you on the day as I should be marshalling somewhere on the route.

Welcome Martin, what's up with you Chillies he'll only be a minute a mile quicker than us.  Times for Abo for me 3:16(2009), 3:21(2010), 3:26(2011), bit of a downward trend there.   Hopefully break the pattern this year, still aiming for 3:15.  7 treadmill  miles for me on tuesday meant to be at Furman long tempo pace which for me is 7:10 but ran 6:54 avg as it was on tready.  Meant to do 15 today but can't fit it in due to taxi duties(teenage daughter) so will run it tomorrow afternoon.

Chubster -  You running a mara this year?

Chillies -   Nibali pushing hard you could be OK.

Nice target Martin, that would be a cracking time!

Legs recovered AC?

Another good pace session there BB, what does your schedule have you on for your long run at the weekend?

Nice 14 Tuesday morning, with the last couple of miles through the olympic torch route which was being set out, meant a few faster miles  10 this morning, 3m easy to steady, 1m MP, then half a mile HMP, half a mile at the quick end of steady continuous for 5 miles, mile cool down after. 3 easy tonight in the rain again .  Plan is 3 and 6 tomorrow then 20 Saturday  should be biggest ever mileage week of 67ish.

Meep -  15 miles is my long run this week, following 18 week Furman plan, 1 speedwork, 1 tempo and 1 long run( at a quicker pace than  other plans) per week, plan recommends 2 x cross training sessions but I am doing stretching/core/drills. I know Furman is frowned upon for low mileage but this plan includes 4 x 20 milers.   Have previously broken down during mara campaigns due to overtraining/running slow runs too quick, so giving Furman a go for Abo to try and make it there in one piece. Impressive weekly total from you early in the campaign.

Martin -  How did the 5K go ?

Barry - NIbali might have rescued the each way bit of my bet today - what a final climb!

Martin - riding horses might improve the condition of your glutes but may not improve your marathon time

I'm probably going to miss Sunday's long run because I'm going to do at least 2 loops of the Box Hill bit of the Olympic cycling road race route tomorrow morning. I will probably be sore on Sunday.

Saw the torch on Tuesday at Ascot Racecourse - fantastic turnout, maybe 10,000 total in Ascot

Running? a couple of short slow runs to keep the cardio up - currently still relying on the hilly marathon 4 weeks ago to keep the fear away

Chubster - you will have to let us in due know course where you will be marshalling on the course, so we can say hi.

BB - hope the 15 miler went well. Be interesting to see how the Furman plans goes, given I have had 2 DNFs at Abo, due to overtraining injuries picked up earlier.

Meep - some nice running there. If your weekly mileage is already 67ish, what are you hoping to peak at? Best of luck with the 20miler on Saturday.

Legs better now thanks. Was due to do a 10x400m session at the club last night, however as the weather was not great, wimped out (again), and opted to do this session on the treadmill instead. Then a nice steady 7 1/2 miles this morning in the sunshine.

Not sure on Sunday's long run yet. Given I had a quickest run last weekend, and another quick run scheduled for next weekend, I think long and easy maybe the order of the day.

No 15 miler did n't go well, why is it the weather has been naff all week and when I run the sun comes out.  First 7 miles were good averaging about 7:30 but I think I underestimated heat and set off too quick, mile 8 I felt light headed and sick, stopped for a bit, started up again but no better so jogged home for a total of 10. Thermometer showing low 20's.  Got in had a drink and fell asleep. Still feel out of it even after something to eat and its been 4 hours since I went out  so something not quite right.  That run now in box marked "shit runs".  Hope everyone else's weekend runs go better.

Barry - shame about the shit run & hope you're not unwell. Otherwise, remember the shit run usually happens about ten days before the best run ever.

Martin - 2nd in a race? again, not talking to you  

Meep - 67 miles is big big big - 51 was my biggest week ever - what a lightweight!

I did the two cycle laps of the  Box Hill loop of the Olympic Road Race today (plus the out and back from mother-in-laws at Great Bookham). First gear for most of Box Hill both times, though I held it in 2nd for longer on the second circuit. That's two category 4 climbs!!! Legs feel pretty good, so I might try to pre-empt the DOMS by doing an easy 12 miles out to Windsor in the morning

Chillies, When you say you did the two laps today, i looked at the time of your post, i hope you meant yesterday otherwise your taking training times to the next level! You must be in a pretty good place fitness wise with the tough bike rides, backing it up with a 12 to reinforce it.

Hope your feeling better now Barry?

Read your race report on the SG thread, course sounded fun Martin!   Do you do your long runs on road or off road, what about everyone else?

Get off that treadmill AC

20 hilly miles done early, road grass and trail, including some shin deep mud/water, made it pretty good fun. 

Meep, yep, it was a late late post after a big curry/Cobra session  for a friend's 54th birthday - hence 12 miles became a bit of a nauseous 8 this morning. And tonight is a cocktail party for a friend's (2nd) engagement, so Sunday's long one might not be quite as good as it might!

You're right about my fitness level, but I seem to have no speed in my legs since 10K pb in May, and especially since the South Down Mara. Trying not to worry about it and just enjoy plodding

Martin -  Congrats on the podium finish, pacy running.

Meep -   Nice mixed terrain 20.

Went out this morning to retry my failed 15 miler from friday, a bit cooler and set off at a more sensible pace, plan called for MP plus 30 secs which would be 7:50's for me.  Gradually picked up the pace and last 3 were 7:20's giving an avg for the run of 7:38 so a lot happier today than I was friday.

Well done on your 15 Barry !! Speedy too !!

Nice 20 Mee Meep !!

Martin, I agree it is crreping up on us.....

I managed a 17.5 today to finish a 62 mile week. Thats a record week for me in terms of mileage, so this one will be nearer 45 cutback.... Its a start towards some longer LSR's over the next month or so me thinks !!!

Got 12 done this afternoon, with three in the middle at about 7:45's-ish, the first and last 3 at 9:00's, and the second  3 at about 8:20's. Feels OK. That's 36 running and 30 cycling for this week. Not enough of either  

AGF - big week there

BB - sounds like you had a great run today

Martin - you're right - just keeping a base level of miles up now - I've got a couple of races coming up (10K and 5.4 miles) so I'll try a bit of pace then!