Alice's Adventures in Running Land
  • Home
  • About
  • Blog
  • Contact

Brighton Marathon Training: Week 6

2/3/2019

0 Comments

 
Wintery weather and icy conditions have been another feature of this week - I am starting to wish I was back marathon training in the middle of a summer heatwave again! Well, maybe not - but some above 0 degree running temperatures would be nice please mother nature!

MONDAY: the official start of my next block of Strength and Conditioning for Runners. It is always good to be back at these sessions, and I am constantly learning about my body and how to maximise my running, as well as enjoying being with a group of liked minded people.

TUESDAY: today I was out running before the street lights had even been switched back on along some of my local streets. My alarm had gone off at 5:10am as I had to squeeze my miles in before an early start at work. Intervals at least woke me up, and I ran 5.5 miles with 15 x 200m reps and 200m recoveries. Normally this number of intervals drains me, but this morning it felt manageable. Pace wise I literally just ran as fast as possible, with the majority of reps hovering around the 7 min/mile marker. Body Pump class in the evening. 

WEDNESDAY: another early start, not quite as harsh as yesterday, but I was out running before 6am again. The weather conditions were almost akin to last Wednesday, and an overnight frost had once more left very icy pavements to greet me. The 7 easy miles on my plan therefore had to be kept very easy again, averaging 8.46 min/mile. I can't say I enjoyed this run - it was so cold and I was fed up of tiptoeing cautiously - I just wanted to run carefree!

THURSDAY: with the forecast saying this morning would be -6 degrees I did not even bother setting an alarm for a pre-work run; I knew the pavements would be like ice rinks. A freezing fog never lifted all day, and by the evening I still was not confident running tempo miles on the streets. Reluctantly I headed for the treadmill. If I am running on a treadmill you know it is the last resort! I ran 7 miles with the middle 5 miles at a faster pace - it is difficult for me to assess exact pace on a treadmill as I very rarely use one and the settings are so different to what I am used to; so I simply ran to feel. Body Pump class after. 

FRIDAY: Rest Day 
Picture
SATURDAY: drawing back my curtains I was very uncertain as to whether I would be running parkrun today - my street was white with frost and ice, and I could not imagine Lincoln parkrun's Boultham Park venue would be much better. I kept refreshing the website, but no cancellation was given, so I made my way to the park, half expecting to be the only nutter there. I was wrong, 267 people, plus the wonderful Lincoln parkrun volunteers, braved the elements for our weekly 5k. It was very slippy underfoot, and I think we all knew that not only were we running out our own risk, but that speed was not on the cards for today. As soon as I started running the skies opened with snowfall, it was like running in a snow globe as flakes tumbled around us (see image). I found a pace and rhythm I was comfortable with and navigated the course with care. I probably felt safer running here amongst a crowd of friendly faces than on some of my early morning solo ice runs! I finished in 22.36 - which was a lot better than I predicted in the conditions. Today was really not about time though, it was a memorable parkrun not just for the wintery weather, but for the dedication and care of the running community to make the event happen and to look out for one another.  

SUNDAY: a long run of two halves - quite literally. I had 16 miles on my plan; the first half to be steadier and the final half to be quicker. Whilst the ice was melting, it was still bitterly cold as I headed out, so much so, the freshness of the air made my eyes water. The cold got to me during the first 8 miles; although I was running around 8.10 min/mile pace, things felt slow and as if I was prolonging my exposure to the elements; I feared this was going to become a slog of a run. As the second half approached, I debated in my head if I actually had the energy, drive or desire to push myself - not a great mindset to be in! However, as my watch ticked over 8 miles it was like a spark was lit inside me; my legs woke up and my body suddenly felt warm and alive – I even had to take my gloves off as my hands were sweating! Where this spurt came from I am not sure, but my final 8 miles were all sub 8 min/mile pace, and I relished the sense of being strong at the end of a long run. I hope this strong feeling continues - just not the feeling of being cold please!
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Alice's Adventures In Running Land

    Read about my adventures in running land...


    December 2021
    November 2021
    September 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014

    Categories

    All
    2015
    2016
    2017
    2018
    2019
    2020
    2021
    Ashby 20 2019
    Bassingham Bash 2015
    Bassingham Bash 2016
    Bassingham Bash 2017
    Bassingham Bash 2020
    Berlin Marathon 2016
    Berlin Marathon 2017
    Boston Marathon 2017
    Brighton 10k 2015
    Brighton Marathon 2019
    Cambridge Half Marathon 2018
    Cambridge Half Marathon 2019
    Cambridge Half Marathon 2020
    Chicago Marathon 2019
    Clumber Park Half Marathon
    Doncaster 10k 2017
    Doncaster 10k 2018
    Doncaster 10k 2019
    Doncaster 10k 2021
    Finsbury Park 10k 2015
    General Running
    Great Newham Run 10k 2016
    Great North Run 2015
    Harewood House Half Marathon 2017
    Hedgehog Half Marathon 2018
    I Am Team GB
    Leicestershire Half Marathon 2018
    Leicestershire Half Marathon 2019
    Lincoln 10k 2015
    Lincoln 10k 2016
    Lincoln 10k 2017
    Lincoln 10k 2018
    Lincoln 10k 2019
    Lincoln 10k 2021
    Lincoln Colour Dash 2015
    Lincoln Half Marathon 2016
    Lincoln Half Marathon 2017
    Liverpool Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon 2015
    Liverpool Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon 2016
    Liverpool Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon 2017
    Liverpool Rock 'n' Roll Marathon 2018
    Lockdown 2021
    London Marathon 2015
    London Marathon 2016
    London Marathon 2017
    London Marathon 2018
    London Marathon 2020
    Manchester Marathon 2016
    Milton Keynes 20 Mile Race 2018
    Newark Half Marathon 2017
    Newark Half Marathon 2018
    Newark Half Marathon 2019
    Newton's Fraction Half Marathon 2019
    Normanby 10k 2020
    North Lincolnshire Half Marathon 2018
    North Lincolnshire Half Marathon 2019
    Nottingham 10k 2016
    Oxford Half Marathon 2015
    Parkrun
    Park Run
    Peterborough Marathon 2021
    Robin Hood Trail 10k
    Round Sheffield Run 2016
    Round Sheffield Run 2017
    Round Sheffield Run 2018
    Round Sheffield Run 2019
    Round Sheffield Run 2021
    Royal Parks Half 2016
    Santa Run 2014
    Santa Run 2015
    Santa Run 2018
    Santa Run 2019
    Sleaford 10k 2019
    Stamford 30k
    Sydney Marathon 2018
    The 401 Challenge
    The Royal Parks Half Marathon 2016
    Thoresby Half Marathon
    Winter Run 10k Liverpool
    Woodhall Spa 10k 2018
    Woodhall Spa 10k 2019
    X Runner 2015

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
Photo used under Creative Commons from marksteelenz