Berlin Marathon Training: Week 10

MONDAY: after completing my longest training run so far on Sunday I felt a little jaded when it came to exercise this evening. I managed some light cross training and foam roller work before my Body Pump class though, and definitely felt better for it.

TUESDAY: this week's interval run saw the return of longer intervals. After a few weeks of shorter, sharper bursts I found this a bit of a shock to the system. The plan was for 7 miles with 3 x 1.5 mile intervals, each to be completed in 12 minutes. I was pleased to run all three intervals in under 12 minutes, even recording a new record on my Garmin during the process for my fastest mile (6.67, see image); it was tough though. I felt really sick after the second interval, and actually stopped for a few seconds as felt myself beginning to physically gag! Thankfully, I  was able to gather myself and could continue, as I really did not fancy the long walk home!

WEDNESDAY: after finishing work late and then getting stuck in a tailback of traffic I switched my 3 mile run for today in order to fit in my Body Pump class still. I kept the run steady, as I am aware that a lot of my running has been quite quick recently, averaging 8.30 min/mile pace.

THURSDAY: a five mile tempo run, squeezed in before heading to play tennis with some work colleagues. My plan said the middle three miles should be at 8 min/mile pace, and at first I struggled to get going, running the first at 8.05 pace. I then seemed to wake up, becoming progressively quicker for the final two tempo miles and recording paces of 7.51 and 7.44 respectively, even when battling into a powerful headwind during the latter stages. 

FRIDAY: today Ben Smith of The 401 Challenge (401 marathons in 401 days) was in my hometown of Lincoln. I wanted to run with him, so planned to do the 9 miles I had been due to complete on Wednesday. However, on a beautiful warm and sunny day, and in the company of so many new, friendly and supportive runners who were also running with Ben, I found myself caught up in the occasion and ended up running the full marathon. I had ran 4 miles to get to the start of the route too, meaning I had racked up 30.2 miles for the day - my longest ever run! The pace was easy (approx 10.40 min/mile until my watch died on me!), there were lots of breaks and my body felt good - I simply could not bring myself to leave! Full blog to follow. 

SATURDAY: Rest Day

SUNDAY: with an unplanned ultra marathon on Friday I had to rethink my plan for today. My body felt ok after a day's rest, but I knew I should not push it. I wanted to run so compromised completing a gentle 5 miles at 9 min/mile pace. This run did however take my total mileage to 50 for the week - another new milestone for me in a week of records!