Sub 3

Dids - re Abingdon. Depends on what you want from a race really. For me it has the feel of a very well organised club 10k or similar. Similar atmosphere really - pretty relaxed, pretty easy logistically etc. You could feasibly roll up to the venue 15 minutes before the off, chuck your bag in the tent and walk straight to the front of the starting pen. It's organised by a running club so all the marshals/helpers etc know what they're doing (most are runners themselves I think). I like the course (flat, with 2 x 9 mile loops plus a bit to and from the stadium). Sporadic support but very enthusiastic when it's there. Very very easy for any spectators/supporters you may have to follow the race and to get to see you at a variety of places. Hot showers after and a decent field at the sharp end so usually a group to run with (I ran 2'53'03 and finished 35th i think). I just like it cos it's small, relaxed and superbly organised. But if you really like your big city experiences then it's prob not for you.

Simon - Seems to be a couple of us running Dublin on the last Monday of October.

MG3 - Coro's request for a typical training week is pertinent.  Your ability to comfortably run a 1:22:30 half on a long run makes me wonder if you don't do all your training at or about LT pace, i.e. do you vary your training paces/efforts much?

Good luck to PP and other racers this weekend. 

Is that the first time the word triptych has been used on this forum? Love it!

Just entered for the Abingdon marathon  So if I make it that will be 18 months after being told by a surgeon never to run again. LS21 this isn't a gay lumberjack comment but it will be great to see you and reacquaint, though I expect to be seeing the back of your shirt (Ed. that does sound a bit dodgy) for the first minute and not again until I finish long after you.

Nice little run this morning in the heat along the beach to celebrate life and stick two fingers up at the naysayers. Not sure if I'm building a LD style Thai fan club, but they do seem to wave and smile at this odd Englishman.

First mega sleep of 2013 - finally feel human again!  Just the small question of 11M including 6 @ HMP to do, then a rehearsal and a concert.

Marcus: rest assured the cross-examination is to try and help you.

HR - what are you doing in Thailand ? what heppened to the teaching and writing ?

Jools - how long is a mega sleep ? you sleep loads normally.

2hrs on the turbo. Hope to bag another longish run tomorrow morning.

I only normally get 7or 8 hours a night, TR - about average!  A mega sleep is 9 hours and the extra hour makes all the difference

Moving on, tempo runs alone on tired legs are never great, are they?  11M incl. what was supposed to be 6 @ HMP, but seeing as the fastest mile was 6.37m/m and the slowest was 6.48m/m (!) I think it was really closer to MP.  Breathing was fine, but the legs just didn't want to know...

Hi TR thanks for asking. I'm teaching at Roehampton Uni but taking my own research sabbatical to finish my second book - so the writing's the big thing for me. It's with my Agent at mo' so will be returning soon to the UK hopefully to meet publishers. I've also used the time here to toy with ideas for book 3. End of November I was fed up with not being able to finish No.2 and just decided to come out here and crack it, and have some fun same time Great country. Mad but great!

(edit book 2's a crime thriller)

Jools - A few MP miles in the bank is no bad thing.  Good effort.

TR - Nice. I intend transferring from the exercise bike to the turbo over the next week or two, to start getting used to my TT position for the duathlon.  Living room fan at the ready!

I changed my bed-time not too long ago in a deliberate attempt to get more sleep in. Usually 8.5 hrs or so on a good night these days.  Impossible to say whether it's had much positive effect, other than my sleeping patterns are very regular and I rarely feel to drowsy during the day (save for post-lunch on a 20 mile Sunday!)  Took it pretty easy on the ales and got a solid 8.5 - 9 hrs in last night, with a 4 mile jog this morning, so no excuses for not being fresh tomorrow.

TR - Nice turboing.

Jools - seems like a decent work out all things considered

PP - good luck tomorrow, kick it hard e.t.c

HR - sounds like a lovely run

370 miles for the month, finished off with a decent track session on thursday, then 8 miles at 5.26's this morning

LD Thanks. It's The Boy in the River (Pan Macmillan). Made it into the Sunday Times top ten for a while. Your wires are good in that they're planning to turn it into a 3-part TV prime time drama but many a slip 'twixt cup and lip and all that - will believe it when I see it frankly. Had my fingers burnt once too often.

Great run AW. A 1 min pb: great result.

Jool s- 9 hrs, I thought you were going to say about 12.

HR - I thought writers had to go to bleak places to get inspiration, not Thailand.

PP - not sure about turboing in the living room, but probably better than freezing and steaming at the same time like i do in the garage. Noticed today that I was putting up steam that was condensing on my metal pull up bar hanging from the rafters. I suggest you get some sort of waterproof mat to put on the floor. 

well done on the big miles there SL, good pace from LJ and AW too, sub 37 is very sub3 worthy.

Dids - have you got the pre long run supplements chilling ? I have some Fursty Ferret and then a few cold lagers planned, got to make sure that I do a long run slightly de-hydrated !

TR - I'd love to have a garage to turbo in but only rich people have garages in Blackheath!  I did a fair bit of turboing indoors before the op and it wasn't too bad.  Massive towel draped over the handlebars and top tube and turn the heating off for a bit.

A.W - cracking PB!  Was that up and down Dorney Lake?  I've done a windy duathlon there and although it's pancake flat I don't think I'll be rushing back.

PP - Yes, up and down Dorney Lake twice! Very windy one way, nice back wind the other!

Well done, AW - very encouraging to take 1 min off your 10k time.  Should mean a nice big improvement in the marathon time!

Great effort AW. The idea of racing anything less than a HM send shivers down my spine. I find the shorter stuff brutal.