Berlin Marathon Training: Week One

So here I go again; the journey to Berlin has begun. To be honest I expected this week to feel different; the start of marathon training usually fills me with real excitement and a new extra level of drive. I have of course been committed to training this week, and have loved the structure of having a training plan already, but I just did not get that extra special feeling. I have also already spectacularly failed in my vow to eat less chocolate this training cycle - I am human and it is my absolute weakness! There are many weeks to come of course, and the realisation of full marathon training will undoubtedly hit me, and right now I am just happy to be on this journey back to Berlin.

MONDAY: I started my marathon training with a quick 3 mile run on the treadmill at the gym; a decision made purely so I could take my friend’s birthday present to give to her at our Body Pump class! I absolutely hate the treadmill, so this is good sign of our friendship that I was willing to withstand the dreaded machine to ensure she had her birthday gift!

TUESDAY: back on the road and back to intervals. I enjoyed this run a lot; 5 miles with 4 x 800m reps, and felt like I was running with real passion, which was also demonstrated in my interval pace splits which were all 7 min/mile or below. Abs class at the gym after, which I am going to try and keep up throughout my training. 

WEDNESDAY: 4 steady miles averaging 8.11 min/mile pace - too quick compared to what my plan recommended, but I always struggled to put the brakes on in these early stages of marathon training so have come to expect this now. Body Pump class after. 

THURSDAY: incorporating my run with going to vote in the General Election (by the look on peoples’ faces in the Polling Station I was probably the only one to do this in my area!), I ran another 4 tempo miles. I planned to run a 9 min/mile warm up and cool down, with two 8.30 min/miles in the middle. In reality I ran splits of 8.39, 7.54, 7.54 and 8.02 - see above re rubbish pacing!

FRIDAY: Rest Day

​SATURDAY: after a few weeks of volunteering and a spot of parkrun tourism last week, I was pleased to be back running my home Lincoln parkrun event today. I woke with enthusiasm and eagerly drew back my curtains, only to be met with miserable grey skies and lashing rain - I must have resembled a small child as I threw a mini strop and cursed Mother Nature. Obviously I still went to parkrun, and was very happy to log a time of 21:30 which is close to my best times, and was also pleased for my friend who recorded another sub 22 minute time (see soggy post run image). Huge thanks to the Lincoln parkrun volunteers for braving the awful conditions and making our wonderful event happen still. 

SUNDAY: a nice, comfortable 10 miler with my friend; my legs felt fine and the miles ticked by almost effortlessly and without me even really noticing as we chatted away. There will be a lot more challenging long runs to come that is for sure, but this week I welcomed a nice introduction back to the tradition of 'long run Sundays' during marathon training. Next week the miles increase and I aim for my chocolate intake to decrease!!