Berlin Marathon Training: Week Six

Last week running felt a bit of an effort with life, which is quite an unusual feeling for me. This week running returned to being just what I needed to get me through the week... 

MONDAY: Body Pump class

TUESDAY: lots of little intervals today, which normally I do not tend to enjoy. The thought of running 6 miles with 16 x 200m reps and only 200m recoveries definitely did not fill me with too much happiness as I programmed them into my Garmin pre-run. Once I got into the running rhythm though I really took to the session; my pace was pleasing too, with exactly half of my intervals at sub 7 min/mile pace and the other eight only just over 7 min/mile pace. The only downside was the miserable wet weather which left me soaked to the skin when I arrived at the gym for an abs class (see image!)

WEDNESDAY: a ten mile mid-week run is always a bit of a test; a test to fit it in with life, and a test on your body. During my last marathon training cycle I gradually got used to them, but this run was still a bit of a shock again. It seemed like I was out forever time wise, although my legs coped well and my pace was much quicker than my plan suggested, averaging 8.29 min/miles rather than 9 min/miles - probably too fast, but it felt like I was plodding quite easily at the time. Body Pump after was the bigger challenge, once I stopped running I was tired and an hour of weights was not really what I wanted. I find it good training though to demand more of my endurance when I am already tired, both mentally and physically, so I stuck with it. 

THURSDAY: my body was weary today from yesterday's efforts and again looking at my plan and seeing a 7 mile tempo run with the 5 middle miles at half marathon pace was not too joyful! I pushed out my doubts though, and just went for it, with the middle miles logging at 8.08 (including over half a mile of uphill running!), 7,48, 7.34, 7.42, 7.53 min/mile pace. The last tempo mile required sheer grit not to just give up and let myself slow down, and I think one of my strengths is being able to override this feeling and simply just not give in! It was a hard run, but it felt good. 

FRIDAY: Rest Day

SATURDAY: another dreary 'summers' day meant for a wet Lincoln parkrun. During the initial few hundred metres, my body felt tired again and I was thinking today is going to be an effort! However once more I pushed away this notion and got into my stride. It also really helped that so many of the volunteers and fellow runners I passed gave me a little cheer - its crazy how something so small like that can just lift you! My first lap was also really quick for me, even despite my initial reservations, logging at 6.56 min/mile pace. This spurred me on further to see what I could do. I slowed marginally for the second two laps, but kept them both quite consistent, and managed to stop the clock at 21:26, presenting a very soggy barcode to the volunteer scanner!

​SUNDAY: even by my standards today was a bit mad! I was volunteering at an event all day, so to get my planned 13 miles in I opted for a very early run - 6am. This meant waking up even earlier (4am) to eat breakfast - it was madness really! The run was not the greatest, it took me about 5 miles to feel awake, then when I did wake up my body hurt, and I also missed having some long run company especially on such quiet streets. I did it though - but probably not something I will ever try do again, especially with then being on my feet for eleven hours afterwards! As I type this my legs are in bits - endurance training?!