Hi Angela, the good thing is that as you get fitter and a bit quicker you can fit more miles in to the available time. I'm aiing to run Sub 3:15 at Halstead to get a Good For Age qualification for the London Marathon the following year on my 50th birthday (if the dates are right!). I will try to break 3 hours at London 2014.
I would like Colchester to have a marathon as well. Although I live in kent I have a caravan at St Osyths so it would be convenient. I regularly cycle through Colchester in the summer on the way to St Osyths from Kent.
I've done Halstead in 2011 and 2012. It's a brilliant event. Back in 1994 I ran the predecessor to it - it was called the Essex & Suffolk Border marathon and I ran my PB there.
Halstead this year will be my tenth marathon. I did my first in 1986 in Paris. I've, also, done Edinburgh and London 4 times.
I like the look of the Bournemouth race. My memories of Bournemouth from playing hockey there was it was pretty flat and I see the website says the course is flat. I'm not sure I'll be running too fast by then though because I'm riding Lands End to John O'Groats in 10 days in August so the summer will be concentrating on cycling mostly.
I see you are following P&D and doing some of the exercises. It's a very good book and I use it as a reference a lot now. I'm following the 55-70 plan over 18 weeks. I think 44 miles per week is plenty for most. I'm old so I need to do a few extra!!!
The really good thing for you will be the rowing experience and the fact that you have previously trained that hard for a tough sport. Mentally you will be well ahead of most other runners and you will know your body will handle the work.
I like training in tough conditions. I always use it as a positive that many others won't be training and it will give me an edge on race day.
Clever manipulation of your fiance' to sell the Bournemouth weekend to him.
Keep up the hard work, but above all, enjoy it!
