lads at Accrington Road Runners. Started doing speed sessions, gave up smoking and got my head down to the task in hand. In December I had a 2 pb's and felt excited when Runner's World came out with the training plans. Followed it to a T. Then came a

for the end of January is to be down to 12 and a half stone. This month I learnt that if you wake up with a sore throat, headache and blocked nose you probably have a cold and shouldn't be running a marathon.OctoberMe at the club speed session. The track work

's been a great, if sometimes challenging, experience.OctoberMe at the club speed session. The track work is starting to pay off Typical training week: Mon: 7 milesTue: Swimming Wed: 8 miles fartlek Thu: 4 miles steady Sat: 8 miles steady Sun: 2hrs30

in 2004. Ironman target: To set a PB.OctoberMe at the club speed session. The track work is starting to pay off Typical training week: Mon: 7 milesTue: Swimming Wed: 8 miles fartlek Thu: 4 miles steady Sat: 8 miles steady Sun: 2hrs30 cycling + swimming

speed session. The track work is starting to pay off --Typical training week: Swim = 0Bike = 140.5 milesRun = 66.5 milesOctober's training: October was an "on/off" month for training - I ran the Abingdon Marathon In 4.29 mid-month which meant a couple

away it's national treasures, ‘cos the jolly roger may well be heading that way in 2006!OctoberMe at the club speed session. The track work is starting to pay off Typical training week: Mon: 7 milesTue: Swimming Wed: 8 miles fartlek Thu: 4 miles steady

to focus the training superbly, especially the speed sessions.I have been euphoric over my 3:27 time as I had set myself a target of under 4 hours when I first decided to do the marathon! Thanks for all your help.Shepherdess, 3:57:09 This was my first

miles. But you had to keep going because of what is at stake.I managed four hours - to break that a few more miles in the bank and I think add more speed sessions, but I'm pretty pleased with it for a first.The organisation was superb shows that London

might be able to do.The next four weeks went by in a bit of a blur of longer and longer runs and mid-week speed sessions (with the odd weekend sparring session by way of cross-training), culminating in a late-March attempt at my longest run - three hours

3:00 TO 4:00 (Page 2) Page 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 --Acer, 3:44:50 What a day. After two unsuccessful attempts at sub-4 hour marathon running, a winter of hills and speed sessions paid off for me.The Best Moment: Realising that I could get a