Manchester Marathon Training: Week 10

This training week has been a true physical and mental challenge, with moments where I have just wanted a break from running; and then moments where I have been reminded how much I love running.

MONDAY: my legs were really sore today and I could definitely feel I had ran 18 miles on Sunday. Going down stairs was uncomfortable, and my IT bands were tight. I cross trained very lightly for 20 mins before doing some much needed foam roller work, followed by my Body Pump class. 

TUESDAY: I had to switch my plan around slightly this week to fit with other commitments, this meant running my slow 9 miler today. My legs felt better but mentally I was feeling weary. The 9 miles therefore seemed long and 'ploddy' as I tried to keep my pace around the 9 min mile mark.

WEDNESDAY: today was horrible. I felt incredibly tired; when I woke up it was like I had not even been asleep, my legs were back to feeling really sore again, and the thought of running again later just seemed like torture. I felt so drained as I sat eating my breakfast I actually felt like crying! Last week was my highest weekly mileage of the entire 16 week training programme, and this seemed to have had a huge affect on my body, more than I ever remember during my London Marathon training last year. I managed to gather up some energy for intervals that evening though - I am not actually sure how! - 7miles with 3 x 1.5 miles of faster work. At first it was horribly uncomfortable and hugely mentally challenging, but slowly I found some of my old determination to attack it. Body Pump class after - not quite sure how I made it through this either!

THURSDAY: thankfully I felt a little more 
rejuvenated today, which I almost
​directly correlate to my friends 'energy boosting' baking! On the cards was a 5 mile run, with a fast 5k/3m in the middle. Fueled by 'power balls' (see image) I managed a 23.22 minute 5k sandwiched in the middle of the run. This is a good time for me, and the run helped lift my spirits.

FRIDAY: Rest Day

SATURDAY: Park Run - I had been looking forward to this all week, the thought of running it had weirdly kept me going even when I wanted to give up, and I was duly rewarded. Full blog to follow.

SUNDAY: today's long run was 15 miles with a half marathon 'race' in the middle. As was the case two weeks ago, I had not found a half marathon to run (Lincolnshire is sometimes not the best place to live for easily accessible races!) so was faced with the prospect of racing the streets of Lincoln again. Learning from last time I tried to run a more even paced 'race' rather than go off too optimistically. Not sure I achieved this too well to be honest, and I was not helped by the tiredness that really hit my legs at mile nine; from then on I felt like I was dragging my right leg along with me rather than using it to run! But, I did manage a 1:54:30 half time - thirty seconds faster than two weeks ago, although not the sub 1hr 45 my plan recommended. I knew I wouldn't be able to meet my plan's target though; my half marathon PB is 1:47 in itself, so instead I was just happy to have made marginal improvement, despite my legs being increasingly more tired. Onto next week, going to try and look after myself better and prevent extreme tiredness hitting me again. ​