London Marathon Training: Week Four

How have four weeks passed already!? It is now just 12 weeks until race day… madness!

MONDAY: Body Pump class

TUESDAY: tonight’s intervals seemed tougher than past weeks, predominantly due the fact I felt under fuelled and lacked a bit of extra energy. Nevertheless 6 miles were completed with 5 x 1km reps at roughly 7.20/7.30 min/mile pace with 200m recoveries in between.

WEDNESDAY: what should have been a welcomed 7 easy paced miles was actually a lot harder in practice. Whilst I managed to rein in my pace a little, averaging 8.40 min/miles, it was tough. The bitter conditions felt like they were eating away at me, and without the distraction of something like intervals my mind was unable to get away from the fact it was cold and miserable! I felt tired as I finished at the gym but completed Body Pump.

THURSDAY: Rest Day

FRIDAY: another 7 miles alternating between slower and quicker miles. I wasn’t really relaxed on this run either; my rest day yesterday had been due to a sore foot and I was thus slightly paranoid that something was going to happen as I ran. Thankfully I survived, alternating between 8.30-8.40 min/miles and faster 7.30-7.40 min/miles.

SATURDAY:  today I had organised a Classathon fundraiser at my gym for my London Marathon charity, Project Africa Athletics (see images). The four hour session included back to back Body Pump, Body Attack, Body Combat and finally Yoga classes. I completed all the classes alongside the company of so many wonderful other people who supported my event. I lost count of how many took part throughout the entire four hour session, but a hardy eleven others also joined me in the full four hour marathon. We challenged ourselves, we laughed (and not just at my appalling flexibility in Yoga!) and we sweated a lot! The day reminded me of why I love group exercise classes so much and also the number of people I have met through taking part in them. After running it’s the next best thing!

SUNDAY: as half expected, I woke up today with a body in bits following the Classathon. Everything aside from randomly my quads either hurt or was sore. I was so grateful I had arranged to run with my friend today (who had also participated in the Classathon) as the prospect of 15 painful miles alone would have definitely been a struggle! We tried another new route this week, which threw us a few surprises along the way including black ice, wooded sculptures and free roaming deer, all which helped distract us somewhat from our aching bodies. Towards the end I could really feel my body starting to protest, but we made it, and with a surprising average pace of 8.43 min/miles. Alice’s marathon training tip of the week – a four hour Classathon is not good long run prep… however it is a lot of fun!