Vote for A.W - ASICS Target 26.2

Hello everyone!

So the public vote is open for this years ASICS Target 26.2 Competition! You can have a look at me and everyone else in the PB category here!

Just to give you all a little bit of a snap shot of me and why I want to be one of the final 5, here goes.

I've been running for years, I started when at university 11 years ago and it has spiraled out of control ever since. Over the last year I have become highly motivated to get the best out of myself and set the quickest times I can, this was mainly due to a knee injury which kept me from proper running for around 8 months. The consultant told me I should probably think about scaling the running back, thankfully he was wrong and I'm now running better than ever.

I have set new PB's at 5K (18.28), 10K (37.57) and half marathon (1.22.31) since then, but feel I have unfinished business with the marathon! I need to get my best marathon in soon in case my knees do pack in!

I think my best time of 3.06 is quite a bit under par and I'm hoping with the help of the ASICS team I can put that right and put together a quality marathon performance after 7 failed attempts to break the magic 3 hour barrier!

So, that gives you an idea of what I'm about and I look forward to answering any questions you may have about my running!

Just re read and realised I missed off my introduction!!

I'm Alex!

Evening Alex. Firstly congrats on getting through to the next stage! Was a good day and enjoyed our little pace exercise in the afternoon although you left me standing in the second half of the 5k trial!.

Looking at your PB's there isn't a lot between us at all so if you get through I will be following your thread and pinching any tips you can offer re your training plan etc......

Anyway, best of luck and obviously you can guess who I voted for!

J

Hi Jimmers, 

Bootcamp was a great day, and really enjoyed meeting you all. The two track sessions were great, although I only really enjoyed the 5K time trial when it was finished!!!

Thanks for you well wishes, and rest assured if I'm lucky enough to get through I will be sharing as much as possible on the forum from my training and the schedule set by the coaches.

Alex, it's good to see that you are putting in your best performances following a long injury layoff. I was out for 6 months earlier this year and told to consider stopping running... my recent PB tasted so sweet after coming back from that.

You get my vote for coming back strong after being told to stop... I know that feeling well  Good luck.

Do you think the quality of your training has improved or you just have more focus.... or both?

Hi Wacky,

I think to be fair its a little bit of both.

Since my injury I've been super focused on what I'm doing, making sure I have shorter term goals to keep me motivated. I have spent a lot of time strengthening in the gym too, firstly to rehabilitate after the injury, but I've kept this going to give me better all round condition. I think this is now really giving something back to my running.

It took me a long time to get my speed and fitness back, and at times seemed I was never going to get back to where I was which at the time was frustrating, but I persevered and eventually improved.

I now want to keep pushing myself as much as possible to give myself the best chance of nailing a marathon.

Hi Alex! You're super speedy! So ... if you don't get to Paris will you do a marathon next year? If so ... which one?

Hey RRR, 

My whole last year has been building myself back up to a spring 2013 marathon PB attempt. I've got my fingers crossed that that will be Paris as part of the Asics 5 with all their superb coaching and support....... but if not I will still do a marathon.

Hamburg was the one I had earmarked as it looks like a good, well organised race - and I've not been to Germany before!

Hi A.W

Well done for getting through to this round - you have my vote!

I think you have done brilliantly returning from an injury to set several PB's this year.

I am currently suffering from a couple of injuries - any tips for trying to stay positive when you've been told to take a few weeks off running!?

Hi Zoe,

Thanks for your support!

Running becomes part of our life so much it feels strange when we can't do it even when its only for a couple of days!!! Like you say you just have to stay positive when you get injured and not try to rush things, take time to enjoy other things you might not do when your running a lot.

I did a lot of rock climbing in my lay off, it gave me something else to focus on and enjoy!! Because I had something else I did'nt think about not being able to run so much.

Morning

 well done on getting this far

 what do you hope to gain from the forums and what do you think that you can give to the forums

Hi Alex

What sort of training / training plans have you used for your previous marathons, and what sort of weekly mileage were you running. What do you think was missing from your training to hit your goal time.

Hi Also-ran,

I've never really followed a structured training plan, I've kind of planned each week as I get there based on the 3 main sessions - long run, intervals and a tempo - and then built the rest around those sessions trying to progress week on week. During the build up I would get to around 55 miles at the peak, with most weeks being between 40 and 50.

I'm not really sure what was missing over those previous marathons, maybe not enough miles, maybe lack of a second weekly longer run (I've heard people say that a mid week run of up to 15 miles to be beneficial), maybe not enough basic speed. I'm just really not sure, that was part of my reason for wanting to take part in the Asics Target 26.2 comp. My other PB's suggest I can break 3 hours so somethings not right.

I think the structure of the schedule and the guidance from the coaches who have seen and done it all before will help make sure I'm getting the right sessions done at the right time.

Hi Alex,

Your HM time is good (same as mine so I would say that). I scraped a sub3 in October and the main change I had made was introducing a longer midweek run between 11 - 15 miles.

It sounds like you will gain lots from the competition prize in having a bit more structure and guidance so good luck to you; hopefully the unfinished business will be laid to rest!

Congrats on your sub3 in October Also-ran!!

I hope I can convert my half time the same as you, I dont mind how, as long as my next marathon time starts with a 2 I'll be happy!

Also-ran - I was just wondering if your midweek longer run you added was progressive or had a tempo section in or was it just done at easy pace?

Do you think that it was mainly this that made the difference in getting your sub 3?

Thanks Also-ran, will take a look at those schedules.

I've tried running the end section of my long run at MP in previous marathon build ups and always found it a struggle to keep that pace for too long - maybe its something else I need to work on?

Speaking of running, I have to get out for my tempo session now!!