​​Usually I sit and write a blog on a Sunday evening, reflecting on my week, consolidating my thoughts etc. Yesterday I ran out of time, which feels quite a joyous thing to say after recent months of finding almost ‘time filling’ activities. I logged a long run and then spent a long afternoon and evening visiting a friend and her family – actual people! – a simple thing which felt so wonderful.

I also almost instinctively held back on my blog due to the incoming London Marathon announcement which was due to arrive on Tuesday. I felt it would rather influence things so to speak! The announcement actually arrived today (Monday) and yet again it filled me (and it seems the overwhelming majority on social media) with frustration and almost anger. No update or definite decision on holding the race was given and instead a promise for another update by Friday 7th August.

At the last announcement I resolved in my head to focus on this five-week mini block of training, after which I thought I would know where I stand. I have tried to train as best I can, but to then find out I must prolong this uncertainty for further days and indeed runs felt exasperating. This is just me, lets not forget (as it seems the London Marathon may have) that we are still in the midst of a pandemic which has caused thousands of deaths and dramatic lifestyle changes for the entire population. Why is hosting the London Marathon even the right thing to do?

I will try not to rant; I just have to try and keep focused for a few more days. This past week of training has been tougher to do this though, and I have felt my commitment to the training plan being questioned by my logical mind – I have wanted to run, but why was I running what this piece of paper said? What is the point…? I did in fact deviate from my plan slightly, although still kept my weekly mileage as required, and it is perhaps telling that on the run where I really made myself adhere to the plan, I also really struggled mentally.

MONDAY: on what my plan told me was rest day - I enjoyed a near 7 mile run with a friend at a steady pace whilst catching up. It was a lovely start to the week, and I felt I did not need a rest day despite Sunday’s long trail miles. I did rest my legs on Tuesday though to prevent too many consecutive days of running.

Last week my body felt tired. I did some maths and worked out that so far this year I have ran 1,077 miles, which is definitely a lot more than my car has managed this year! Usually after a marathon training cycle I would have a bit of a break, people who know me will know this is definitely an ‘Alice version’ of a break, but I do tend to drop my mileage for a least a few weeks as my legs recover. This year I have gone straight from full on training for a marathon, to a consistent period of lockdown mileage of around 35 miles a week, and now into the start of marathon training again. I feel fit, there is no denying that, but at the end of last week my body also felt a little knackered.

Thankfully this week was a bit of a ‘cut back’ week in my training plan and I was also able to finally see my Sport Therapist, who confirmed what I already thought may be the case – my legs are struggling under my high mileage without any strength training. Yes, I have been doing weekly home exercise with body weight and resistance bands, but it doesn’t quite match up to the gym work I normally ensure I incorporate into my training. The gyms reopening gives me a chance to build some of this back up at least – I will need to make sure this is done steadily though, else I won’t be able to walk for weeks let alone run!

MONDAY: some adapted home exercise; my quads were still so sore from my long run on Sunday I tried to give them a bit of a break.

TUESDAY: a steady 5 miles – the first mile my legs felt really stiff still, but I loosened up with each mile, unintentionally getting quicker.

WEDNESDAY: although yesterday showed some promise, today my legs were stiff again, and an easy 8 miles definitely had to be taken easily. I was now practically counting down the hours until my Sports Therapy appointment on Friday!

THURSDAY: speed work this week was a little less demanding, with 8 miles of fartlek on my plan. This fitted well with the Run Club session we had planned, and I was able to incorporate my own miles with some leading my ‘running bubble’. For once working from home proved useful as I made myself close my laptop at 5:30pm and was out running within a few minutes. I ran four miles solo, with some quicker sub 8 min/miles, and then met my Run Club friends for another 4 miles including 5 x 1k reps. Running with others is a joy at the moment anyway, but it also really helped take my mind off my legs!

​FRIDAY: Rest Day – and ending my five month wait for a sports massage!

SATURDAY: although my legs felt much improved after some treatment, I did not want to instantly push them, so kept this week’s ‘not Lincoln parkrun’ attempt ‘confortably hard’ and with a couple of gradual hills thrown in.

SUNDAY: this week’s long run was a refreshing change which saw me run with someone else, leave Lincoln, and also run on trails! I ran as part of an organised trail run through my friend’s business Remarkable Running, and he had plotted out a 30k route starting in Woodhall Spa and venturing out into the Lincolnshire countryside. I loved getting out exploring, and the route had lots of different elements from tracks, to fields and woodlands, which were all cleverly mapped together. I switched off from pace and distance and simple enjoyed being outside. I would never be able to plan a route like this on my own, and part of the enjoyment was the fact I didn’t have to think about where I was running and could simple enjoy the experience. We finished back in Woodhall Spa around lunchtime, and on what was now a gloriously sunny day, enjoyed post refreshments in the town centre. It was a great day and adventure, and something I highly recommend others try if they find themselves a little lost or lacking with running focus at the moment what with everything going on in the world!
 
Next week should be the final full week of training before the next announcement from the London Marathon is due. I will approach it with focus, but I am very open about the fact I hope this is my last week of marathon training for 2020. ​

This week my running has fallen into one of either two camps – felt really good or felt really tough. There has been no middle ground! The tough runs my legs have just felt so tight; I bang on about a Sports Massage, but I am used to having one every month or so, and thus it’s been hard going without for nearly five months, especially when I have probably been running more cumulative miles than ever before during lockdown. I think my legs are hitting their limit! My prayers seem to have been answered though as the announcement this week regarding the further relaxing of lockdown restrictions means that Sports Therapists are now able to do hands on treatment. With my quads now at the ‘unbelievably tight’ stage I am literally counting down the days until my appointment, which I have managed to book for Friday.

MONDAY: home exercises and strength and conditioning - seems I may also be able to return to the gym soon!

TUESDAY: despite being ‘easy’ miles, this run fell into the ‘tough’ camp. My legs just had no energy, which meant that even though I was meant to be keeping the pace down, 8 miles still felt like a bit too much of an effort.

WEDNESDAY: I met my friend again this week for another 6am run out in the countryside just outside Lincoln. Considering how rubbish my legs felt yesterday I was a little doubtful if I would be able to keep up with him this week! However, my body felt like a totally different person, and I ran along strongly, keeping to the quick rhythm. A few times I glanced down at my watch and saw for sections we were even edging into sub 7-minute mile territory! We finished with 6 miles and an average pace of 7.18 min/mile – I could not have done that yesterday.

​THURSDAY: this was both a ‘good’ running day and a double running day, with the long-awaited return of my Run Club in the evening. My solo morning run was intervals; just over 4 miles with 6 x 800m reps. I actually ran these on a very small loop of streets near my house, logging laps almost like at a track – I prefer this approach for interval running as it means I can switch off thinking about where to run and put all my energy into just running. I was pleased with my splits, which logged 7:16, 6.50, 7.06, 6.26, 7.06, 6.50 respectively, and my legs felt powerful throughout.

Then, after another day of the dreaded ‘working from home’, I could not wait to get out again and meet some of my friends from Run Club! It had been four months since our last Run Club session, and despite the fact we were all split into small groups across Lincoln (following Government guidance of course!) it was great to be able to run together again. A miserable, grey and damp evening brightened instantly by being amongst and running with friends! I have missed it, and I look forward to when we can become our bigger community again.  

​FRIDAY: Rest Day

SATURDAY: I woke this morning and even lying in bed I could feel my legs were heavy and tight. With a long run looming tomorrow, I did not even attempt a quick ‘not Lincoln parkrun’ and instead plotted a completely new 5k loop, with a couple of gentle hills, which I ran steadily. As I ran, I knew my decision was wise - my legs definitely had no speed in them!

SUNDAY: my slightly more cautious approach yesterday did not pay off today. Whilst my legs felt better pre-run, during the run they were not great at all. From mile one they were tight and never loosened – I likened them to planks of wood which I stiffly had to try bend and keep moving. At times my quads reminded me of the final few miles of a marathon; that heavy tightness that doesn’t get any worse but just makes each step feel like a monumental effort! Somehow, I got through 18 miles; there was just this little voice inside my head willing me to keep going on! At one point I was at a section of my route where I could turn for home and cut the run short at about 9/10 miles, or start another loop which would mean I was ‘all in’ for the full 18 miles. I paused for a second, but found myself heading for the loop – am sure others may have headed for home, especially with the fact that the marathon I am training for is by no means certainly going to happen! Whilst my legs felt rubbish, my pace was slow and it was a tough few hours out running, I am pleased my mental strength is still apparent. 

So that's Week 3 of this second version of training complete and another 43.5 miles in the legs. Two more weeks of training until the promised next announcement from the London Marathon… ​

​Despite the complete lack of certainty about whether the London Marathon will actually take place or not, this week I have continued to find myself motivated to follow my training plan and have ran well despite the distinct tightness in my legs (have I mentioned I REALLY need a sports massage!) Outside of running life, things have felt a little frustrating. Again I may have mentioned once or twice (!!) that I really do not enjoy working from home and there seems to be no end in sight in that respect, which feels a little suffocating, especially when other industries and offices are starting to move forward. Secondly, I realised that despite this week seeing the latest easing of lockdown restrictions from Boris, the things I really love still cannot happen – parkrun, going to races with friends, going to the gym and obviously being able to do my job normally. So, I have not met being able to go to the pub with any great euphoria at all! On the plus side though, we are starting a social distanced/bubble version of my Run Club next week, and whilst it will not be perfect being unable to see everyone and run altogether, I cannot wait for Thursday night.

MONDAY: some ‘at home’ exercises and strength and conditioning work.

TUESDAY: five easy miles to start the week; my legs felt like they wanted to go quicker, but I reined them in knowing I had some quicker runs ahead. Marathon training does require a bit more thought and discipline!

WEDNESDAY: I met my friend for a run today who I had not seen in months, we used to meet every Wednesday for an early morning run, but after my Chicago Marathon recovery period last year we slipped out of the habit. It was great to catch up and even when he mentioned he still needed to run early due to being at work it did not bother me; I welcomed some structure. Early did in fact mean 6am and I agreed to meet him where he lives just outside Lincoln. This meant I woke up at 5am and was running by 5:56am – most definitely the earliest in a long time! We ran nearly 6 miles mixing some country lanes with trails – my friend is still quick, so we averaged 7:46 min/mile which was conversational for him, but a bit more challenging for me, especially on trails!

THURSDAY: intervals this week were the same as last week; 7 miles with 4 x 1 mile reps. Thankfully it was nowhere near as hot as last week and actually had a fine drizzle in the air for some parts. Like last week I aimed for as close to 7 min/mile pace as possible on the reps and started well, kept the middle two reps fairly consistent, but again tired on the last, with splits of 7.08, 7.14, 7.15, 7.24 min/mile respectively. I was happy though and I had given my all; a passer-by seemed to agree with me and nodded approvingly saying ‘commendable running!'

FRIDAY: Rest Day

SATURDAY: my Garmin annoyed me during this week’s ‘not Lincoln parkrun’ attempt. I tried my luck on my flatter, faster course, and despite the wind, I felt I was running relatively strong. My Garmin just never grasped GPS properly though and I ran much further along my normal out and back loop than normal. My time was therefore a little disappointing compared to how it felt – but there’s always next week!
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SUNDAY: getting my things together ready to run I could hear a wild wind causing various disruptions outside my window; another wind battering long Sunday run beckoned – great! With my sensible hat on I started steadily, not wanting to tire myself out and end up battling the wind, and my strategy worked. Throughout the 16 miles I logged my splits were very consistent, hovering around the 8:30 min/mile region. Less consistent was the wind which seemed to blow in all manner of directions (I think my post run hair justifies how wild it was!) but to be honest I felt able to cope with it tests. The miles also passed quite quickly, and overall I was pleased with how I coped with the next step up in long run mileage.

Onto Week 3... running well, but still not at all hopeful of the end goal!