Paris marathon 2013 here we go! A.W's Sub 3 attempt!

Steve - what a pain about the wristlet. Hope it doesn't cause too much inconvenience.

Snow is really bad here now. No chance of running on roads or indeed driving to park where I often run so decided like KR to run XC. Luckily I can go straight out the back door onto trails through the woods. Wanted to run for two hours but the trails were badly rutted under the snow and I kept turning my ankles over so binned it after 1:35 having done 11.25 miles. Really enjoyable though. Ended week at 48  miles which was a bit down on what I intended but ok considering the snow. Bit worried about what I'm going to do this week!

KR - what footwear do you use for these runs? I wore XC spikes but not much support but didn't think I'd get away with trail shoes.

Am I missing something? All Steves posts have gone?

Good weeks running AndyV. I dont envy anyone putting in a session like that on a treadmill!! At least you had the cricket to distract you!

Good 14 this morning KR. Like you I'm not too sure how my speed work will go this week!? Meant to be doing 400's, not sure I'll get great speed if its still like it is today!! This week looks good training wise if I can get out and do all the sessions, will post up the week ahead in a bit.

But first........

Today's run!

As my 10k was off, we substituted with 2 hour LSR.

I decided to run the entire run without checking my watch for distance, pace and time for the whole run and just run on feel. Wanted the whole run to be easy and conversational.

I had an idea of my route and thought it would take about 2.10 for about 16 or 17 miles, but I had a bit of an issue with my directional sense however and ended up over running by about 30 minutes! (sorry Steve)

It actually was ok under foot, wore my trail shoes and had plenty of traction for the most part, but wasn't really pushing the pace at all. The nice thing was that there wasn't too many people about due to the conditions, so didn't really have much dodging to do!

Finished in a touch over 2.40 for just over 20 miles at an average pace of 8.03 minute miles. Didn't feel as comfortable as last weeks long run, but today was not fueled by gels and I just took on water.

Week six looks like this!

Mon: Jan 21st: Rest or 5M easy

Jan 22: 20 x 400m in 80-85 starting every 2 minutes 7M in total

Jan 23: 10M steady in 7:30-8:00

Jan 24: 8M build up run - starting at 7:30s and moving down to 6:15s

Jan 25: 5M jog or rest

Jan 26: Training day: 8M in total

Jan 27: 18M relaxed in 7:30-8:00

week total: 56M

I went longer than planned today so I can't tell you off AW. Annoying re lost money and oyster card but my own fault. I wore inov8 and grip ok apart from on a few descents but with either feet expanding or shoes shrinking got a few blisters on top of feet second half. Are my posts back?

Sorry to hear you lost your stuff today Steve.  Complete pain in the butt.

I've been wearing my XC spikes this w/e and they've been great.  parkrun yesterday morning was quickest for a while (but nothing to get excited about).  I then did 9 miles along the river in the afternoon and 12.5 this afternoon.  I made the mistake of wearing running tights, a long sleeve vest and a waterproof jacket this afternoon and the combination, together with the snow, made it hard work. Had originally planned to do a bit more but decided that approx 25 miles on the spikes this w/e was probably enough and have done 60 for the week as a whole.

This week's schedule looks good but not sure I'm capable of the 20x 400's at that pace at the moment and definitely can't do the 8miles finishing at 6.15 pace!

Good running Golfer - agree don't want to run too far in spikes - they are not really built for long runs. NB the 6:15 pace is only for the last mile or so - not sure I could do that session at the moment

KR - the plan was to run 5-6 miles on mostly road to a good area and then do an off road loop and didn't really want to repeat the road part back but had no choice and at least it wasn't really road on the way back wit the snow.

A.W wrote (see)

Post for Ruth,

This is my food diary from today before and after my long run!

7am - large bowl branflakes (65g) with sultanas and skimmed milk. Coffee with skimmed milk.

9.15am - 20 mile run - 2 GU gels and 400ml of water during.

12.30pm - 300ml skimmed milk with Benko (chocolate milk powder).

1pm - Cup of tea with skimmed milk.

1.30pm - Beans on toast with ketchup. (1 tin beans and 3 slices of sour dough bread)

3pm - Glass of water.

4.30pm - large chocolate cookie, handful nuts and dried fruit and an orange. Cup of tea with skimmed milk.

7pm - 2 slices parma pizza, chicken breast sandwich (griddled chicken and griddled sour dough bread), curly kale and baked beans. Ketchup in sandwich. Glass of water.

8pm - Cup of tea with skimmed milk.

8.30pm - Homemade vanilla gelato (skimmed milk, vanilla extract, agave)

Morning

I was starting to feel we where never going to get the snow but that feeling has now well and truely gone. I stay in the Scottish Borders and I reckon this is the start of it for us! I have not been running for the past 3 months for various reasons and just started back 5 days ago so could be a very interesting run this lunch. The first six weeks back are always hard but the snow just makes it that bit harder again!

I think your 300ml of milk and Benko (my house is call Benko!) followed up by bean on toast is great recovery, lots of protein and lots of carbs- excellant. Would have liked to have seen lots more veg/salad in meals. Lots of veg mean more antioxidants, more dietary nitrates (what beet juice has got famous for!) & more fibre. Lots of veg is always a win win situation for runners and non runners alike!

How many gels at at what stages are you planning on having these in Paris?

Doing great!

Hi Ruth,

I bet that's lovely up there, what a great place to go running! Except when you have a foot or two of snow I guess!!!

Lots more veg I can do, I guess I can be a bit lazy and just go for the carbs at meals!!

At Paris I was planning on taking a gel at 6, 11, 16 and 21 miles. That will be a little under every 35 minutes. Does this sound good to you? Up until Paris I will run all but 1 of my remaining long runs without gel, and in that 1 long run that I do I will just make sure the gels still agree with me before race day. I'm hoping that way I will get the best kick I can from the gel.

Back from my easy run today, feel really good energy wise. Not at all drained after yesterdays 20.

I do however have a bit of tightness on the back of my knees around the tendons, and a little bit of soreness below my ankle bone (that went away after half a mile). I'm the aches and pains are because of the slipping and sliding every now and again on the snow and ice yesterday, or maybe 20 miles in my trail shoes - the most I'd done previously in them was about 6 or 8 miles in one go. I will foam roller and stretch again later and see how it is, I don't think its a problem.

I'm hoping I will be able to find a suitable stretch of road or pavement that is clear for my 400's tomorrow, but will just have to play it by ear and see when I'm out. I'm trying to get my head round 20 reps!!! I'm not sure I've ever done that many!

Hi Alex,

I was just saying on Ady's thread - I can't believe how little you lot eat, or should I say how much I eat in comparison. Given that Ruth seems happy I'm wondering if I'm eating too much. 

Even Mrs Malcs is now concerned about her diet and she thought she ate like a sparrow

How come you're not piling on the pasta every day? You must be burning 1000's of cals - does this not all have to be replaced? Possible a question for Ruth.

Anyway, I have been mainly lurking on Ady's thread because reading your mileage and speed just makes me sick . Sounds like you're progressing amazingly well so congratulations on training so far. I'll be at the Spitfire in March so hope to say hello then. Have a great time with the others on the weekend!

Ah apologies I should have read back - I can't keep up with you all, you're such prolific posters!

Well good to know that you're not starving yourself but surely there must be a big calorie deficit? You must average well over 3000 cals burned on training days and much more on LSR days. Maybe I'm missing something but your food diary entries I've seen appear to be way below those levels. Are you just conveniently forgetting to note down the large bar of Dairy Milk?

Of course I may have it completely wrong and I'm the one eating over 3000 cals a day

Your gel plan looks ok but Ruth's the expert. I tend to take one at the start to save me carrying it and then 12, 17 and 20 plus some Lucozade.

I did around 5 today in the snow - snow was deeper today and slower on grass but ok on paths where more compact. was able to go out hour later this week and more light because of snow. The back of knee discomfort is probably the pull of the snow and should ease.

re the 400s - use the first five or so as warm up and they should be at the slow end of the range or even slower.  if the ground isn't 100% stable and is slowing you, totally ignore the times and focus on effort but running relaxced and as naturally as you can.

No worries Malcs,

Certainly don't starve myself, could never do that I love my food too much!!!! Your probably right on the average daily calorie output, although I'm not sure how much difference it make if your an efficient runner or not? Not that I'm saying I am efficient, but I'm sure if you are your energy usage will be less.

Well, that was certainly the hardest run to date on this marathon campaign!

Scheduled run was 20 x 400M reps in 1.20-1.25 starting every 2 mins. 7 miles.

Actual run was 20 x 400M (splits below). Total of 8 miles.

Thanks for the tips Steve, It was pretty lethal in parts on the pavements! I managed to find a stretch of pathway along the canal by London Zoo that was perfectly clear and about 600 meters long and straight, so perfect! Although I knew it was going to be a mental challenge knowing I was going to have to complete 10 out and back sprints!

And a challenge it was! The hardest part was the first 6 or so, all that kept going through my head was "I've got 20 of these to do, this is bloody hard work!". Once I got to 10, although I was getting more tired, I knew I had less to do that I had already done which helped me mentally rattle through the rest!

It was tough by the end, I'm not sure I would have got another 2 done before my pace dropping like a stone!

Here are my splits!

1.20, 1.22, 1.19, 1.18, 1.20, 1.20, 1.19, 1.21, 1.18, 1.18, 1.19, 1.19, 1.19, 1.20, 1.19, 1.21, 1.21, 1.21, 1.19, 1.22

Very happy with how the run went and the consistency of my reps, and although tired at the end of the session, I don't feel completely knackered and my legs feel fine.

I feel loads stronger during a session like this than a couple of months ago.

One question though Steve, I'm not going to have to do more than 20 x 400's over the next couple of months am I?!!!!

All power to you AW. Sounds like a beast of a session there. Great consistency on the reps.

No outdoor running for me. More snow falling over West Berkshire tonight 

A question to the forum: Is it worth me getting some trail shoes?  Are they generally any good on snow covered roads/pavements?

well done on the session AW - great running - good speed which you held to the end.

In retrospect, 20 was probably too many in january as you can't do more later in the schedule. But you can do them faster by having longer recoveries. I certainly couldn't have got anywhere near that despite being fairly sure I am comfortably in sub-3 shape. Our Track was out of use. so we did eight hills of under 200m on path and then six flatter efforts along trail path - I thought was nearer 800m but was closer to 600m. 

Andy V - yes trail shoes or inov8s are better in these conditions. I wore my cross-country spikes to track with the metal spikes removed - while there were lots of snow on Blackheath and where we did session, there was none through Lewisham where I ran where normal trainers would have been fine.