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London Marathon Training Week 2 #2

7/5/2020

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​Despite the complete lack of certainty about whether the London Marathon will actually take place or not, this week I have continued to find myself motivated to follow my training plan and have ran well despite the distinct tightness in my legs (have I mentioned I REALLY need a sports massage!) Outside of running life, things have felt a little frustrating. Again I may have mentioned once or twice (!!) that I really do not enjoy working from home and there seems to be no end in sight in that respect, which feels a little suffocating, especially when other industries and offices are starting to move forward. Secondly, I realised that despite this week seeing the latest easing of lockdown restrictions from Boris, the things I really love still cannot happen – parkrun, going to races with friends, going to the gym and obviously being able to do my job normally. So, I have not met being able to go to the pub with any great euphoria at all! On the plus side though, we are starting a social distanced/bubble version of my Run Club next week, and whilst it will not be perfect being unable to see everyone and run altogether, I cannot wait for Thursday night.

MONDAY: some ‘at home’ exercises and strength and conditioning work.

TUESDAY: five easy miles to start the week; my legs felt like they wanted to go quicker, but I reined them in knowing I had some quicker runs ahead. Marathon training does require a bit more thought and discipline!

WEDNESDAY: I met my friend for a run today who I had not seen in months, we used to meet every Wednesday for an early morning run, but after my Chicago Marathon recovery period last year we slipped out of the habit. It was great to catch up and even when he mentioned he still needed to run early due to being at work it did not bother me; I welcomed some structure. Early did in fact mean 6am and I agreed to meet him where he lives just outside Lincoln. This meant I woke up at 5am and was running by 5:56am – most definitely the earliest in a long time! We ran nearly 6 miles mixing some country lanes with trails – my friend is still quick, so we averaged 7:46 min/mile which was conversational for him, but a bit more challenging for me, especially on trails!

THURSDAY: intervals this week were the same as last week; 7 miles with 4 x 1 mile reps. Thankfully it was nowhere near as hot as last week and actually had a fine drizzle in the air for some parts. Like last week I aimed for as close to 7 min/mile pace as possible on the reps and started well, kept the middle two reps fairly consistent, but again tired on the last, with splits of 7.08, 7.14, 7.15, 7.24 min/mile respectively. I was happy though and I had given my all; a passer-by seemed to agree with me and nodded approvingly saying ‘commendable running!'
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FRIDAY: Rest Day

SATURDAY: my Garmin annoyed me during this week’s ‘not Lincoln parkrun’ attempt. I tried my luck on my flatter, faster course, and despite the wind, I felt I was running relatively strong. My Garmin just never grasped GPS properly though and I ran much further along my normal out and back loop than normal. My time was therefore a little disappointing compared to how it felt – but there’s always next week!
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SUNDAY: getting my things together ready to run I could hear a wild wind causing various disruptions outside my window; another wind battering long Sunday run beckoned – great! With my sensible hat on I started steadily, not wanting to tire myself out and end up battling the wind, and my strategy worked. Throughout the 16 miles I logged my splits were very consistent, hovering around the 8:30 min/mile region. Less consistent was the wind which seemed to blow in all manner of directions (I think my post run hair justifies how wild it was!) but to be honest I felt able to cope with it tests. The miles also passed quite quickly, and overall I was pleased with how I coped with the next step up in long run mileage.

Onto Week 3... running well, but still not at all hopeful of the end goal! 
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London Marathon Training Week 1 #2

6/28/2020

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Week one of London Marathon 2020 training – take two. Its been hot, its been hard at times, but overall I have been impressed by how I have mentally applied myself to this second version of training; especially as I am still not optimistic that the race should or will be able to go ahead. The heatwave and a slight ramp in intensity has hit me a bit – this weekend I have been tired, not just in a running sense, but from lack of sleep and the general effort required to keep myself motivated and cool whilst working from my rather hot little house (this week has made me hate working from home even more!)

MONDAY: I switched up my home exercise routine a little this week, not only to relieve the monotony, but to focus a little more on some strength and conditioning exercises to compliment my running. I am missing the gym and also being able to have a sports massage, so I want to try and limit injury as much as possible.

TUESDAY: 5 very easy miles – the sudden rise it temperature caught me a little unaware and I realised I was running far too late in the morning to be able to do any of my other planned higher intensity sessions.

WEDNESDAY: I have not ran a tempo run since lockdown began, so initially I was a little nervous about this morning’s 7 miles, with the 5 middle miles aiming for 8 min/mile pace. I then reminded myself that I have actually been running a lot of my runs close to 8 min/mile without consciously trying during lockdown, so I had to be more confident in my current fitness level. The warmth did make the run a little more challenging, but I hit my target, with the middle miles all in the 7:50 min/mile region.

THURSDAY: this morning was a rather harsh introduction back into running some intervals; 7 miles with 4 x 1 mile reps is never easy, but at already nearly 20 degrees it was going to be an extra test. I was saved slightly by the fact the loop of streets I like to run intervals around was well shaded and I made sure to actively stop after each interval for a few seconds of the recovery period to try and keep both my composure and temperature down. Ambitiously I was aiming for the mile reps to be as close as possible to 7 min/mile pace, and I was quite pleased with my splits; 7.08, 7.00, 7.12, 7.17 min/mile respectively – my legs were feeling it on that last rep and on the cool down home afterwards!
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FRIDAY: Rest Day

SATURDAY: my not Lincoln parkrun attempt this week was a struggle; I was just so tired. I could feel it all over as I tried to find some pace. Unlike last week where I felt real energy and power running along my hilly course, this week I had to battle up the hills.
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SUNDAY: whilst the heat had significantly reduced today, a gloriously gusty wind replaced it instead. Owing to how tired I felt yesterday and with the conditions I knew to keep today’s longer run steady. I had 14 miles on my plan, which was not too much of a jump from my usual Sunday half marathon I have been logging during lockdown. The first 3 miles were awful though; my legs felt energy-less and my little rucksack filled with water felt like a huge weight on my back. I feared a long slog ahead. I tried to keep positive though and I did in fact grow into the run, my legs feeling a bit more life. I would not say I felt amazing and during those initial miles a few thoughts flashed through my head about just cutting the run short. However, that lingering prospect of the London Marathon actually happening kept my head in the game. How long can I keep it up... or will I need to keep it up for?
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Marathon Madness

6/21/2020

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So, the week I was waiting for arrived – the week London Marathon would be announcing their plans for the 2020 event. The Great North Run was postponed early in the week, and logic seemed to suggest a similar announcement would be arriving from the London Marathon organising team. However, for some reason all week I felt anxious about the announcement. I had a feeling deep down that it was not going to be what I wanted to hear – and if I am brutally honest what I wanted to hear was that they were postponing this year’s event and rolling all entries to 2021. My fears were unfortunately met, and on Friday morning I received a rather waffling email from the London Marathon about there ‘still being hope’ and how they were planning ‘creative ways to social distance’ and that ‘the world will be a different place in October’ – basically the London Marathon were again making no decision on the event and would update us further in late July.

If you know me and/or have been reading my blog you know I love the London Marathon, it holds a special place in my heart and has given memories and experiences that I will treasure for life. However, I no longer feel it is right to hold the event this year, we do not know what the world will look like in October, but I am pretty sure it will not be ready for gatherings of tens of thousands of people. As for creative ways to socially distance the event – I am also not sure how this will help keep the ethos and feel of the London Marathon, which we love for its spectator lined streets and the general mass participation craziness of it all.

​Perhaps my biggest frustration at the announcement was the seeming lack of consideration for the impact that marathon training has on people’s lives – we are now effectively faced with needing to start training for an event which still may not even happen. I am relatively lucky in the sense that I do not have too many other external factors to consider in my training, but I feel for people with families to juggle, work schedules which are currently nothing like normal, and even those who may currently not even be able to run outside – having to think about training amidst the current uncertainties we are all facing is tough.

I also have seen a few people commenting that if we love running, we should be pleased the London Marathon is trying to make the event happen. There is a difference between running and training for a marathon though, which probably only those who have trained for one will know what I mean. It becomes your life for 16 or so weeks and is much more than just doing a daily run. 
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So with five weeks until the next announcement I have today sat and looked at a training plan – it feels strange, that excitement is not there, I almost do not feel ready to commit, and being able to imagine race day seems a hard imagine to conjure up in my mind. Following my plan will also see me reach nearly 20 miles for a long run by the time of the next announcement – which could all be for nothing. I am too nervous just to say ‘sod it’ and sit back and wait for them to cancel; I do not really trust their decisions anymore if I am honest! I know I will train, but I also know my heart will not fully be in it. 

That’s my rambled rant about the future – who would have thought I could be so frustrated by a marathon still taking place! I think it shows the perspective that Covid-19 and lockdown has given me on life.

My head has been a bit all over this week, anxiety about the marathon, a sudden surge in work meaning my work/life balance was next to nothing for two days, and for the first time in ages I felt ready for a weekend to try switch off! Is it bad I cannot even remember where I ran on Tuesday or Wednesday? My watch tells me I ran two 6 milers, but I would not be able to confidently tell you my routes! Thursday I did enjoy a much needed run with a friend, an evening 8 mile loop which took my mind off lots and just felt fun and freeing. Saturday I also knocked 44 seconds off my hilly 'not Lincoln parkrun' course record; I ran with a real drive and could tell I was powering up the hills. My Sunday long run was a 13.1 mile muggy meander through Lincoln, contemplating the longer runs ahead of me  and how I really must start getting out earlier to beat the heat! 
 
So next week marathon training beings – in a week which is also predicted to be a heatwave. You just could not write it..!
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Time To Train?

6/14/2020

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This week has seen me pass the three month marker of working from home/lockdown life. It is crazy when I think about how different my life has been during this time, and whilst there have been challenges, I continue to be upbeat and have been quite reflective this week about the positive parts of lockdown and the things I have learnt to appreciate and value much more.

Running wise, this week should also be my final week of ‘no training’ with the 16-week countdown to the rearranged London Marathon starting on Monday and consequently the beginning of my usual marathon training plan. Am I starting marathon training on Monday? The short answer is no. We have been promised an update from the London Marathon next Sunday and I am both hoping and expecting that they tell us this year’s race will not take place, which feels quite strange to admit. I do not want to run the race if it will not feel like the London Marathon we all know and love, and, most importantly, I also do not want to put myself or others as risk – sadly I cannot see a way the race can safely go ahead this year. Whilst the announcement is due to be made only one week into training, I do want to exert any level of emotional attachment to training or to psychologically begin to think about the weeks ahead – it feels like wasted energy. If by some miracle the announcement is that the marathon is going ahead, starting training one week later will have no real major impact on me, especially when I am running well at the moment anyway. So, I await next Sunday’s news, as I am sure many thousands of other people are too.  

MONDAY: online exercise classes

TUESDAY: an easy paced 10k to kick off my weekly running

WEDNESDAY: speaking of marathon training, this morning I opted for a 7 mile loop I run often during my marathon training cycles due to its relative flatness and the long straight roads which allow you to build up some rhythm. I aimed to run a bit quicker today, keeping my splits in the low 8 min/mile region.

THURSDAY: this morning I had to get out running earlier than normal as I had scheduled myself a 9am video meeting at work (what was I thinking?!) I wanted to do some speed work as I have skipped speed sessions a little bit of late, and thought some hill reps would be a good way to motivate myself. I ran to a steep hill fairly near to my house and logged 10 x sprints uphill with a slow recovery jog down. It was short, sharp and intense and afterwards as I ran a cool down mile home my legs were knackered!
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FRIDAY: Rest Day

​SATURDAY: another Saturday and another week of missing parkrun – after however many weeks, I can safely say a Saturday morning 5k on my own is never going to be the same as going to my much loved Lincoln parkrun! The weather was calmer this week at least, so I reverted back to my flatter 5k course and tried to test my speed. It was hard work, especially on a surprisingly muggy morning when the air felt thick to breathe. I ran 21:35 which is a fairly reasonable time, but I cannot believe I managed 20:40 a few weeks back – my legs felt nowhere near up to that this morning!

SUNDAY: it was muggy again today and I tried to keep my long run steady from the start – I did not fancy struggling in the heat. I had mapped out a half marathon route and wanted to complete it and not feel the need to cut it short if I got too hot and bothered. My sensible approach paid off, and my paces were reasonably consistent in the 8:20 min/mile region. This meant that even when the sun broke out in the final stages of the run, making the heat suddenly soar, I did not suffer too much. If I am to be marathon training this summer a sensible approach is always required on hot long runs – so maybe this was good practice...?!
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Let’s see what next Sunday brings…
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Lockdown Lessons

6/7/2020

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I think it is safe to say over the past weeks we have all come to appreciate things in our life a lot more than we did before, or we have started to appreciate them in new ways. This week has emphasised to me just how important becoming part of a running club has been in my life. I have written about it before; but I was so apprehensive about belonging to any form of club for reasons I cannot really put my finger on, it just did not seem for me. However, being a member of Lincs S&C Run Club has added so much to both my running and life in recent months, and this week, despite not being at the stage yet where we are physically meeting as a club, I have really felt that sense of community and belonging.

One of our members - Tom - was undertaking a challenge to run seven half marathons in seven days to raise funds for the NHS, and throughout the week various members of the club were able to join him for socially distanced running. We also tracked his progress each day virtually on social media. His challenge really brought people together, gave us something to look forward to each day and to feel good about, and as someone else put, they had not seen so many happy smiling faces in so long. It is certainly something I will remember as a highlight when I think back to lockdown in years to come.

MONDAY: online exercise classes – I did these first thing in the morning today before my living room had a chance to warm up. That was the plan anyway – although it was still boiling. Is it too much to install home air conditioning during lockdown…!?

TUESDAY: today continued to be very warm still and I got out running a bit earlier to try beat the heat. I logged a steady 10k in the low 8 min/mile region, but what really struck me about running slightly earlier was the traffic on the roads! A few weeks back I had been weaving through an almost ghost town and now cars were whizzing past me almost disturbing my running zone. Again, perhaps I have taken for granted the peace lockdown has offered.

WEDNESDAY: with the knowledge I was joining Tom for a half marathon tomorrow as part of his challenge, today was supposed to ‘just’ be an easy 5 miles. I hit a quick rhythm from the start though and just never seemed to slow down. I was unable to join Tom until Thursday due to work commitments, but I did manage to get out and cheer him after my run as he ran past the top of my street. Stood at the top of my road scanning the horizon, waiting for a running figure to appear in the distance it almost felt like I was stood on the side-lines of a race again. I enjoyed my brief moment of overzealous cheering as he passed me and then headed back to the reality of a Zoom call!  
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THURSDAY: after a hot start to the week I was really pleased today’s weather was pretty much perfect for our half marathon – a cooler air, but still mild, and no wind. I am honestly not sure where the 13.1 miles we ran went to though; we were joined by another club member on their bike and later another runner for the final miles, and it all just passed so quickly. I also had no idea what pace we were running as it just felt really comfortable and chatty, and as long as Tom was running ok (which he was, despite this being his fifth half marathon!) that’s all that seemed to matter. As I jogged home afterwards I felt really energised and positive; it felt like a good thing to be part of and had given me a buzz that we all have probably not felt for a while. Tom went on to smash the remainder of his challenge and has raised over £1,500 in the process.

FRIDAY: Rest Day

SATURDAY: this week’s ‘not Lincoln parkrun’ was practically a 5k swim. I stepped out the door in fairly heavy rain, which then proceeded to quickly become torrential for pretty much the entire 5k – I could barely even see coming down one road as the rain lashed into my face! Despite it sounding pretty horrendous, it was actually quite invigorating in a weird way. I opted for my hilly 5k loop and shaved another couple of seconds off my course PB – so maybe the rain encouraged me to get home a bit quicker at least!
 
SUNDAY: having already logged a longer run for the week, I planned today’s Sunday run to round off my mileage. I set a target of 38 miles for the week, which left me a precise 10.6 miles to run. I pushed the pace a little more than a long, slow run as it was cool and drizzly, and for some reason ten miles also seemed short in my mind! It felt good just to turn the legs over a bit quicker though and I ventured onto some paths I had not ran on for a while, knowing the rain would make them less busy.
 
Amongst the positive running this week, personally we also had to announce the news that the Lincoln City Half Marathon was being postponed until 2021 due to Covid-19. I have been involved with bringing this event to Lincoln heavily through my work, who are one of the joint organisers, and it has involved a lot of time, energy and passion from myself and my colleagues. However, we know this is the right decision for the safety of all and to ensure a positive event can take place, so I do not feel too disappointed. Perhaps I even feel relief that I now know we do not have to worry about how to make sure we keep thousands of runners safe, that's if mass participation events are even allowed to take place by September.

2021 will be special in many ways, but let’s also keep embracing the positive moments and good in what we have now too. ​
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Finding Happiness

5/31/2020

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Friday 13th March was when I entered a ‘lockdown / non-normal’ way of life (a whole week earlier than most!) and after eleven weeks I can safely say this one has been my most enjoyable. Life is not perfect, but I find the small ease in restrictions that allow me to meet a few people and get out the house more often are a massive boost for my happiness. This is possibly why it makes me feel very frustrated when people are blatantly disregarding the fact we are still living in a pandemic, and I worry about repercussions down the line… I am still shopping each week for a vulnerable lady on a Saturday morning who has not left her house in all this time – it is not fair on people like her who are quite frankly becoming scared of the outside world and the behaviour of others. But I can only do what I can and try play my part.

Ignoring my Covid grumbles, this week I can say I have felt happy, the weather has been beautiful, and although it does make running a bit tougher at times, it has meant I can enjoy seeing friends outside and just generally being outside (which is good, as after so may weeks at home I have well and truly exhausted the tidying, cleaning, sorting, painting etc. I can do!) I have managed to log 35.5 miles and enjoyed a nice mixture of running experiences.

MONDAY: online exercise class in a hot living room

TUESDAY: I had planned to meet a friend for a run this morning and explore some local trails. The excitement setting my alarm the night before for an early morning run was real; it was great to be looking forward to the next day arriving. We met just outside Lincoln and proceeded to run a 10.5 mile route through some lovely local landscapes. I am not overly experienced on trails (I practically dust off my trail shoes each time I do have to wear them!) but I do enjoy them. It is running with no pressure, taking in your surroundings, concentrating on navigating along intricate pathways and just enjoying being outside and running. We were treated to some great views back across towards Lincoln that simply made you stop in you tracks – and the beauty of trail running is that stopping does not really matter.

WEDNESDAY: after yesterday’s slightly longer mileage and with the knowledge I had a rather tough looking interval session planned for tomorrow, I tried to keep today’s run easy, reverting to a familiar 10k loop.

THURSDAY: I had more plans to run with a friend today and we had agreed to meet in the evening to attempt a Run Club session of 14 x 400m. I would not have opted for this on my own that is for sure, especially on what was a warm evening of around 20 degrees. I loved it though, and although I was pushing myself and it did feel tougher at times, there was that shared experience and the chat we shared during rest periods which, some may say weirdly, made it pleasurable. As we ran up and down the same stretch of road we even made friends with the woman whose house we were resting outside and who seemed to rather enjoy chatting to us each time. ‘Are you training for the marathon?’ she asked (by which I guessed she meant London!) ‘Supposedly’ I said, practically rolling my eyes ‘but can you see it going ahead?!’ That’s another story…
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FRIDAY: Rest Day

SATURDAY: after a good week of running so far, today was less great. Another ‘not Lincoln parkrun’ but it was tough on a warm morning and with a hidden wind which caught me out along the river. I finished running and instantly thought – I miss parkrun!

SUNDAY: after finishing running today my instant thought was ‘I need to get myself into gear much quicker!’ Although I was out running fairly early, it was nowhere near as early as I would have been if my mind was fully in ‘training mode.’ It was 21 degrees by the time I was finishing and just too hot. I knew as soon as I started running it was warm so kept my pace nice and easy, stopping in the shade for a couple of water breaks. I ran 10.7 miles, which I planned to round off my mileage for the week at an even number, and the run served to remind me of just how testing long runs are during training in the summer months. Getting up early may seem strange at the moment when I never really have much planned for the rest of the day, but it will make running in the heat much more bearable!

Next week I am looking forward to joining another fellow Run Club member who is taking on a challenge to raise funds for the NHS by running seven half marathons in seven days – I am joining him on day five and am hoping for a slightly cooler day for us both! ​
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Running For The Mind

5/24/2020

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This week is lockdown week number 'who even knows anymore' and also another Bank Holiday weekend - really another one!? Perhaps more importantly, this week has also been Mental Health Awareness Week, which considering what collectively we have all been through in recent times, is probably more appropriate than ever. My work created a week long feature of articles and support, ending with final tips from our own members of staff on how we have been maintaining our mental well-being during lockdown. It did not take me long to think of mine, aside from being able to keep working (even if working from home drives me mad some days!) it has been running, and my friends and family who have helped me cope with the challenges presented. Running has always been key for my mental health, but perhaps more than ever it has mattered so much these last weeks in giving me freedom, a chance to feel a small sense of normality and an essence of control, and to simply feel like me. 

MONDAY: exercise classes with Run Your Marks, who somehow read my mind and incorporated some upper body exercises, which hurt but felt great at the same time!

TUESDAY: the weather started to warm up today, but getting out fairly early meant I was able to enjoy a steady 6 miles mainly at sub 8 min/mile pace. My 'normal' work schedule would see me setting off to run between 5:30-6am in the morning, but during lockdown it has been more like 7:30-8am - which will have to change as the temperature ramps up!

WEDNESDAY: today the temperature did indeed ramp up, and it was already nearly 18 degrees as I headed out to run. I knew I needed to keep this an easy run as I am not acclimatised to pushing myself in the heat yet. I ran a 10k at about 8:30 min/mile pace, but it felt a tougher; I was just so warm! I will adapt better, but these first runs are always a bit of a shock to the system, especially when the temperature suddenly changes. 

THURSDAY: I made myself get out the door earlier today as I wanted to do some intervals and it was still fairly warm. I opted for 10 x 200m reps with a minute recovery in between, and whilst it did not feel like I was flying along as sometimes it can during speed work, I actually logged some good times, including a couple of sub 6 min/mile paced reps.
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FRIDAY: Rest Day

SATURDAY: this weekend was windy - again. In fact it was very windy today, perhaps not the same gale force levels we saw back in February, but enough to not even make me consider attempting to push myself for an all out 5k along an exposed river. Instead my 'not Lincoln parkrun' was my city centre hillier route which I managed an unofficial course PB on. Not a bad alternative!

SUNDAY: when I woke this morning I was pleased the wind had died down a little, although it was definitely still present. I tried to plan a half marathon route which would not be too exposed, but in reality I knew that it was still going to be windy wherever I ran! In fact it seemed like I had a headwind for virtually 10 miles of my run, with the final 3 offering some shelter/tailwind. Why is it always the case that headwind seems far more apparent!? Despite the conditions I actually ran fairly well; I did not focus on my pace, but after finishing was pleased to see it had ranged between either just under or just over 8:20 min/mile. 

Next week I have a couple of arranged socially distanced runs with friends which I am looking forward too - actual plans during 2020! Combining running and friendship I know will be excellent for my mental health too. ​
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A 'Road Map' Forward

5/17/2020

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It has been a strange week – I feel like a lot has happened and changed, but at the same time things are still the same… if that makes any sense! I am sure everyone has their opinion on Boris’ address to the nation on Sunday night regarding the ‘road map’ for exiting the lockdown in the UK; personally I found it unclear and worrying at the same time – so open to interpretation with a reliance on common sense, which I am not sure some people do actually have these days! I was sat cringing at my TV as he waffled on, whilst also trying to make sense of what this meant for my life.

It was however a relief to hear I could now ‘exercise unlimitedly,’ which does not mean I will now be running multiple times a day, but does mean I can at least run in the morning before work and then go for a walk in the evening again to escape my house a little more. It was only on Monday when slightly more clearer guidelines were published by the Government that I realised you could now actually meet one other person for exercise providing you social distanced – it almost felt too good to be true; I could actually run with someone!

I have spent a lot of this week getting my head around the new guidelines. Strangely I have realised I have almost become used to the lockdown way of life and to being by myself; I have formed habits and ways to cope over the past two months that have started to become quite engrained. I also do still have in my mind that whilst I want more freedom and I want to do things I used to be able to do, Covid is still very much apparent, we have to still respect this, and the last thing anyone needs is a second wave.

Anyway, enough virus talk! I have run well this week, logging just over 35 miles. My legs do sometimes feel a little tight at the moment, and I really am missing my sports massage, but know I probably need to try and spend a bit more time on the foam roller – I literally have no excuses at the moment!

MONDAY: online exercise classes at home. These have been great over the past weeks, but I will admit I am starting to miss the gym a bit now – I know in particular my upper body strength is declining and I lack both the equipment and motivation to try address this at home!
 
TUESDAY: lately I have been running a lot of new routes, so this week I reverted to one of my old 10k loops which I had not ran for a while. I ran just to feel, finding I sped up naturally as the run progressed to log some sub 8 min/miles, which felt comfortable.
 
WEDNESDAY: after enjoying revisiting some hill work last week, I have told myself to incorporate a few more hills into my running; I live near plenty so hardly have an excuse! This morning I ran a 6 mile loop with four different ascents in it; two longer, drawn out hills, and two a bit shorter and sharper. It was a great test and I find hills always motivate me to work harder when maybe I do not feel like trying to do this through running quicker on flatter terrains.
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THURSDAY: I joined forces with my sister today for some speed work – and by joined forces I do not mean we physically ran together sadly as she lives in York! However, we planned a session we could both try involving a pyramid of 800m, 400m, 200m, 100m reps with a mile warm up and cool down either side.  It was motivating to know someone else was out there doing the same thing and it was also reassuring when I got home and messaged her to say ‘that was flipping tough!’ that she felt the same! The final 800m was a real push on the legs, but that moment when the session is completed still feels so good.

​FRIDAY: Rest Day
 
SATURDAY: after 8 weeks of solo pavement pounding, today I met a friend for a run. I woke up looking forward to the day ahead and could feel almost a level of excitement about the prospect of running with someone – I have missed it a lot. We met in the afternoon at Boultham Park where Lincoln parkrun is based, although I planned an 8 mile route which meant we did not got through the park, as I want to save this moment for the first parkrun back. Although I planned the route I barely even noticed what streets we were running on, I just got lost in the rhythm of running and the conversation. It did not feel like 8 miles at all, and to be honest it was not hard to keep the 2 metre social distance required; even when we met other people on the same footpaths we simple moved to the road or single file (staying alert!) The run ended up being just over 8 miles and most of our splits were under 8 min/mile pace, although none of that really mattered today – it just felt so good to be doing something which resembled normality! Sat after my run at home I felt both a longing for my old life to return quickly, but also an appreciation and renewed hope that things will return slowly but surely.
 
SUNDAY: I woke this morning feeling a little less excited by the day – understandably! My legs also felt quite tired so I decided not to push my usual Sunday half marathon distance, which would also have seen me edge close to 40 miles for the week, but to run a 10 miler instead. It was a wise decision as it was warm out and my legs were not sharp, which was to be expected after some good runs all week. I knew I needed an easy run and just enjoyed some no pressure running.
 
Hopefully next week holds some more socially distanced running opportunities, as well as the chance for me to continue with running and walking during the day – it certainly helps as I am rather sick of working from home now and the sight of my kitchen table!
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Lockdown?

5/10/2020

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I question lockdown as this week has been almost as unpredictable for me as the weather this Bank Holiday weekend (one day 24 degrees and feels like summer - the next day 21mph winds and lashing with rain...!) Some days have passed quickly in my now near normal life routine, and I can almost forget that I am acting under restrictions about what I can do. Other days have drained me a little energy wise, despite spending far more time sedentary than before! I know its that constant mental requirement to keep almost pushing yourself to keep going - and the now seeming endless work zoom calls! I also question lockdown as other people's behaviour has started to bother me. I can honestly say I have adhered to the guidelines fully and despite spending nearly two months working from my kitchen table and barely seeing or speaking to anyone, I know its what I must do. It frustrates me when others are not.

Deep down I do feel positive though, my new appreciation for the things and the people who really matter to me means I am looking forward to the future. Daily doses of positivity as I like to call them (like baking delivered to my door by friends - see picture) also makes me feel the warmth and care from the communities and people I have around me. I also know I will come out of this stronger than ever - maybe not physically, as two months without the gym is going to hit me hard! - but mentally. Looking back at certain points in my life I would not have coped with lockdown, and whilst it still tests me, I am coping now. 

MONDAY: online exercise classes with Run Your Marks - who deserves another mention for delivering these free classes each week for the past months for anyone to access. 

TUESDAY and WEDNESDAY: both these runs followed the same kind of pattern; I headed out the door and did not really know what I was aiming to do - run fast? run easy? run steady? - I literally just ran. Both times I logged 10ks and each run was about the same average pace (8.13 and 8.11 min/mile respectively). I could not find any extra drive within me to make anything more focused from these runs, and I think I just wanted to embrace the freedom and time outside instead. 

THURSDAY: despite having a planned Run Club session I could try today, again I struggled to find the desire to push myself. I wanted to run, but I didn't have the mental energy needed to make a 'session' worthwhile. I found myself instead running to the local Common not far from my house and doing a large 5 mile loop around here. The uneven ground and trail like conditions tested me, but it was a break from the streets which I enjoyed the most. 
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FRIDAY: today should have been a Rest Day, but faced with a long three day weekend ahead of me (weekends are not my favourite at the moment!) I knew I wanted to get out and run in the morning as it would mentally set me better for the day. It was a beautiful day too and this motivated me to revisit the Run Club session I skipped yesterday, which was hills. I ran to a hill we have often used as a club and tested my self with 10 x continuous sprints, followed by a cool down loop home. I actually quite like hill sessions, and although at first it did feel a little odd running up and down on my own without club mates to motivate me, I was pleased I did it. 

SATURDAY: after enjoying yesterday's hill session I decided to mix up my 'not Lincoln parkrun' this week and planned a hilly 5k circuit. I ran as hard as I could on the hills still trying to push the pace as much as possible. It was tough but I enjoyed the burn in my quads - why I like hills so much I really do not know! I would take hills over running in the wind any day!

SUNDAY: speaking of wind - today was a dramatic change in weather with the aforementioned rain and a strong gusty wind. I held off going out for my run until at least the rain had eased and hoped it would not be too miserable out. It was gusty, and certain roads with a strong headwind did make me wryly laugh at times, but I ran well and it was one of those runs where my legs hit a rhythm which was so natural I barely had to think. This enabled me to take in some of the wonderful VE displays still adorning houses and just appreciate the cooling fresh air. I logged another half marathon distance with a 8.23 min/mile average pace. 

I am writing this blog pre the Boris 7pm address to the nation - so what lockdown looks like going forward may now be clearer (or not!) depending on when you are reading this. The current lockdown rule which has enabled me to continue to run has been an incredible bonus these past weeks, and this week I have managed just over 37 miles. Whatever Boris has to say, I hope we should all be able to continue to run going forward - keep our running strong and our heads stronger. ​
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A Stalled Journey

5/3/2020

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After last week seemed to pass by quickly, this week has stalled a little in the unknown lockdown countdown. It has not felt horrendously tough, it has just seemed long, and the routine I have been developing suddenly a little tedious at times. My pattern of morning running and then having enough work to do at home keeps me going, however it is the weekends which are becoming more of the dread - motivating yourself to get up and find things to do to fill a day is weirdly tiring. I am thankful I shop for a vulnerable couple on a Saturday morning as it gives me a reason to get going; they are always so appreciate of me doing their weekly shop, but I do not think they realise how much it helps me too. Sunday morning this week was a struggle though - I woke up and just felt so flat and it took me a while to find the energy to go out for a run, half putting it off, as I knew once it was done I was faced with finding more things to do at home...

MONDAY: if the 2.6 challenge was supposed to replace the London Marathon then the running challenge I set myself on Sunday did a pretty good job of replicating the intense DOMs and impaired mobility I usually get post marathon! Shuffling around my house during the day I was not sure if I could attempt my evening online exercise classes, but I gave them a go, taking comfort from the fact at least no one could see me! I actually fared better than I thought and went out for a walk straight after whilst my muscles were warmer to try and loosen up my body further. 

TUESDAY: my legs were better but still sore today, so easy miles were on the cards. I planned another new 10k loop and just enjoyed allowing my legs to move - it was a bit like a post marathon recovery run, although thankfully slightly less sickening than some of mine have been in the past!

WEDNESDAY: I decided to try and keep running a bit easier again today, Sunday's challenge clearly had tested my body and I needed to respect this. I ran 7 miles, and whilst my pace crept up a little, generally it felt a comfortable run. 

THURSDAY: I opted for a slightly easier (maybe on paper!) speed session today rather than our set Run Club activity and ran 5 miles with 10 x 300m reps and 100m recoveries. My sister gave me the session to do from one of her old training plans and it appealed as it was a different interval distance to run. The short recovery period meant the intervals came thick and fast, but it did make the distance fly by. My paces were also good and it made me feel like my legs may be back to normal again.
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FRIDAY: Rest Day

SATURDAY: maybe I was a little optimistic thinking my legs were 100% or maybe I was a little over confident buoyed by last week's speedy 5k. Whatever the case, this week's 'not Lincoln parkrun' was tough, and not an enjoyable tough. I started quick and it felt like hard work within the first mile, there was also a brisk wind whipping along the river which didn't help on the return of my 'out and back' route. I struggled home in 21:28 - which I know is not a horrendous time by any means - it just felt horrendous!

SUNDAY: after my battle to get out the door today my legs seemed to feel equally as lucklustre as I did. The 13.1 mile route I planned felt like a plod at times, and I just let it be that. My pace was not actually that slow for a longer run, hovering in the late 8:20s/early 8:30s but sometimes numbers do not correlate with how something felt. 

On a positive note, we did announce the full route for the Lincoln City Half Marathon this week which can be found here. I hope people appreciate how hard myself and colleagues have worked to create a diverse route, central to the city, which also has had to account for the nightmare that is the road network in Lincoln! The event is due to be held late September and I hope things will have calmed by then to allow it to happen, as I feel it will be a real celebration not just for runners but the city as a whole. Time will tell, but for now we remain positive. 
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The WeeK 26.2 Became 2.6

4/26/2020

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This lockdown thing is starting to scarily feel a bit too normal now isn't it? Maybe it is just me, but my life seems to have slipped into a routine of waking up, lying in bed for what feels like forever not particularly looking forward to the day ahead, but then somehow getting back into bed that evening and wondering where on earth the day has gone! Needless to say this week has passed quickly, which I know is due to the fact I have been busier 'at work' (aka my kitchen table). It is bittersweet really, as my extra workload comes from the fact we have had to furlough other staff and I am now taking on other's roles. There have been points of struggle though do not get me wrong; I am worried about a few friends who are finding things tough and yet I feel helpless to reach them. This week was also due to be the London Marathon and the influx of 'memories' I had popping up on social media from past events made me a little wistful. Berlin Marathon also announced its cancellation this week, and this was due to be held the week before the rearranged London Marathon date in October. This made me fearful of further cancellations ahead, and whilst I spoke last week about not minding races being off for a while, it was more the feeling of not having anything to look forward to which hit me - I guess it would just be nice to have something in the future to feel happy and confident about!

MONDAY: home exercise classes 

TUESDAY: I am enjoying creating new running routes at the moment; all too often when I know I am waking up to fit my run into a precise schedule before getting ready for work, I revert to similar pathways to save time and out of ease. This morning's 10k was therefore a joy; a new route and my legs just happily ticked along at 8 min/mile pace which felt so natural - if only it was London Marathon week after all!

WEDNESDAY: easier miles today, again winding through Lincoln on different roads to cover nearly 7 miles. 

THURSDAY: with the motivation of a planned Run Club session I seem to be using Thursday's as my chance to do more of a 'session', usually taking the form of intervals. This week I ran 5.5 miles with 12 x 200m reps and 200m recoveries. My paces were good again and maybe that sense of being outside and freedom right now makes pushing myself to go quicker feel more natural, rather than a chore or something which has to be done. 

FRIDAY: Rest Day
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SATURDAY: I am not sure what came over my legs this week but I ran my fastest 5k time for over a year at my 'not Lincoln parkrun' attempt. I have been off pace across the past however many weeks of lockdown when I have tried to go 'all out' for a 5k, but this time something just clicked. My first mile was quick, as was my second, and I then fought really hard to hold on for the final mile, sensing a good time could be had. I finished in 20:40 which I was very pleased about!

SUNDAY: obviously today should have been the London Marathon, but instead of feeling sad about it, I took on the 2.6 challenge the organisers of the marathon and other race companies have promoted to offer support to charities during this time. I work for a charity and I know the struggles we are facing, so it was logical for me to do something on the day I should have been testing myself over 26.2 miles. After a lot of brain storming I came up with the idea of running the 'Lincoln 26' which would be 13 miles with 13 of Lincoln's toughest, steepest hills included. I was worried when I planned the run that it may not be enough of a challenge and not fitting of asking for donations from people, however I was very wrong! I planned a 6.5 mile loop which I repeated to incorporate my chosen 6.5 hills twice. The centre of Lincoln features a number of steep and quad killing climbs, notably the famous 'Steep Hill' but also some hidden gems like 'Motherby Hill' and 'Carline Road.' After the first loop my legs were already tired and running back to tackle some of these hills again I knew would be a test. The challenge really motivated me to keep plugging away though and ticking off the inclines. Weirdly it did not feel like I had ran that much distance, but I felt those hills for sure, and arriving home my legs felt spent, pretty much like stopping at the end of a marathon! 
If you would like to put a few pounds in my fundraising pot then please visit here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/my-2-6-challenge-e6889c19-5ba9-4c2b-a7a0-27922ed57d7d
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What does next week hold - who really knows! I just keep trying to take it all one day at a time. 
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The Power of Running in Lockdown

4/19/2020

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It is hard to describe how life is at the moment; some days I almost surprise myself by getting through the day like this has always been my life, and it is quite normal to only speak to people via a 'Zoom' video call. Other days I wake up and lie in bed and really struggle to want to get up and try tick off another day in this countdown with no fixed end point. This is where my running really helps me, and I have perhaps realised this more than ever across the past week. 

When I have been lying in bed thinking 'do I really want to get up?' it is the desire to feel that rush from running which makes me throw back the covers and get my act together. When I arrive home after a run I feel far more equipped to face another day; mentally stronger, I have more energy and I feel more like myself. Running itself I therefore do not miss - I still have it and it is still something I love very much. I have also reflected this week that it must be the first time in perhaps 5 years that I have not been training for an event or having a few weeks of recovery before another training block starts. I am enjoying this freedom and perhaps it is what I actually needed (shame it took a worldwide pandemic to make me realise it!) What I do miss from my running though is being able to share it physically with others, there is something so powerful about that and I know as soon as we get back to being able to go to parkrun, run with friends, and take part in Run Club sessions my passion for running with be heightened even more. Races may be further away on this unknown timeline - but I can wait for these. 

MONDAY: home based exercise classes with a big focus on working the glute muscles (it hurt!)

TUESDAY: when I woke I was already sore from last night's online classes, so I laced up my trainers with no pressure other than logging some easy miles. I started steadily, my sore muscles taking a couple of miles to warm up, but then I hit a real rhythm and found myself picking up the pace naturally. A few glances at my watch told me I was heading towards logging a near perfect progression run, and that then became my focus. I logged six miles starting at 8:33 min/min and ending at 7:32 min/mile. It felt effortless, whereas if I had gone out with that intention in my mind I think it may have been a different story!

WEDNESDAY: after yesterday's run turned into a bit more of a harder effort than I had planned, I really tried to keep my pace comfortable on this morning's loop - I do not want to knacker myself out, especially when running is so important to me at the moment. I enjoyed a nice 7 mile meander around the historic quarter of Lincoln; it is so quite and peaceful it really is the time to appreciate the beauty of my city. 

THURSDAY: my Run Cub continues to support our members by posting weekly run sessions which we can complete and share our results/how it felt with each other. This week was a tough little interval session of 10 x 400m reps. The cycle path along the river near me is perfect for this type of run, and I can run a mile exactly to the start of the long straight section as a warm up and cool down - it is almost as good as the track (almost!) Speedwork felt a bit more challenging this week, but looking at my splits afterwards they probably told me why; I logged some really quick times on the efforts and with very little variation throughout the 10 reps. I was pleased, and the feeling after a hard run is still very rewarding. 
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FRIDAY: Rest Day - my mood on rest day is noticeably very different at the moment, I wish there was something that gave me the boost that running does but which also gave my body a chance to recover!

SATURDAY: after being nominated by a few people in the 5k challenge raising money for the NHS, I decided I had better give my 5k 'not Lincoln parkrun' a good shot today. I took a mile to get up to speed, but my final two splits were much more akin to my most recent parkrun times, logging at 7.02 min/mile and a pretty rapid final mile of 6.38 min/mile, leaving me with an overall time of 21:45 - my best since lockdown started. 

SUNDAY: a half marathon seems to have become my staple Sunday distance since lockdown started; I like the challenge of plotting a different route each week around Lincoln! I have no time pressure on these runs and just enjoy being out and actually seeing different scenery other than my house! I counted how many other runners I saw this week - 30 -  and it also made me feel less alone. The 'no pressure' approach seems to be working as I ran a 8.23 min/mile average comfortably and finished in 1:49:49. A few years back this was my half marathon PB, and now I can run this for 'fun' - I guess personally it was a bit of a sign of how I have developed over the years and a bit of a reflection of where running has taken my body and my confidence. It really is so powerful. 

Three further weeks of lockdown were announced this week, which I do not think came as a shock to anyone really. I do not feel too daunted by the days ahead, I know they will not all be easy, but I also know I will get through it. What the long term future looks like is perhaps more scary for me right now; I do not want this way of life to become the 'new normal' and I personally worry about my own employment, which I realise will be a concern held by so many. We can only control what we can at the moment though - and I know being able to run will continue to be a crucial part of my coping mechanism. 
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One Month On...

4/12/2020

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A month has now passed since Friday 13th March, when the impact of the Coronavirus really started to make itself known on my everyday life. On this day my workplace closed down its normal functioning and my Spring marathon was postponed; I can still remember walking home that day feeling like a massive part of my life had been taken away from me. Little did I know what else was to come. Now the impact of said virus is being felt with such impact in everyone’s lives, and in particular the postponement of a running race feels a lot less significant.

Lockdown does not get easier for me, but I am continuing to find better ways to cope with it. This week I have been helping a number of vulnerable and isolated people with shopping; I am volunteering my time through Run Your Marks Community Champs, a scheme my friend is coordinating to mobilise local runners, and we have also created a Community Response Team within the charity where I work. Shopping often takes up to two hours for one trip with the queues both outside and inside supermarkets; it is surreal really, but already I am coming to expect that ‘nipping’ to Tesco for someone will take up my whole morning. Not that it really matters, it helps me to get out of my own space for a while and being able to reach out to someone who is struggling makes my day feel a lot more worthwhile.

Although I am adapting to the ‘new normal’ there is a part of me that also does not want this all to become too normal – I miss my ‘old life!’ Technology is great, and I continue to keep in touch with people via messages and have ‘Zoom’ calls through work and with friends and family, but it is not the same as being able to spend time with people you care about and doing things you love together. It really brightened up my day this week when a couple of friends dropped some Easter treats at my door and I was able to talk (from a distance!) to friendly faces for what felt like the first time in weeks, I do miss that the most whilst being on my own. 

Being able to get out and run this week has felt even better in the improved weather we have been experiencing; warmth is still a bit of a shock to the system, but again I adapt – changes in life is something we all have to get used to, especially at the moment!

MONDAY: home exercise classes – even jumping around my living room is feeling a little less random now!

TUESDAY: my body felt sore and weary from yesterday’s classes, which were quite leg heavy. Perhaps the joyful thing about not being in training for anything is that there was no plan telling me I needed to try and run some intervals etc., and instead I headed out for a steady loop, which ended up being 6.6 miles. The first two miles were ploddy, but then it suddenly seemed like my body woke up and I found myself running more like 8 min/mile pace toward the end.  

WEDNESDAY: this week we were able to announce some hopefully brighter news in the running world – the next stage of the Lincoln City Half Marathon route. I have been working on this event with colleagues at my work for over a year now, and it is due to be held in September. We are hoping we still stand a good chance of bringing it to Lincoln and feel that both runners and the city itself will actually embrace something celebratory like this even more by this point – more information about the event and the route can be found here. However, in order to release this news, we needed some accompanying photos – which we did not have. ‘No worries’ I said, and laced up my trainers and headed out to run some of the route and take selfies with key landmarks. This run therefore was not about anything other than photos, and I enjoyed an interesting new challenge! I still logged 10k in distance – although it was very stop start!
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THURSDAY: after a couple of days of easier running I felt ready for some speed today and headed down to the river path near me for some intervals. I like shorter reps, so chose to do a 5 mile session featuring 8 x 400m reps. I just loved it; a warm morning meant for running in vest and shorts, and whizzing along a completely empty cycle path in the sunshine I felt free. My enjoyment probably reflects the paces I hit during the efforts, which were all well under 7 min/mile.

FRIDAY: Rest Day – still one of the hardest parts of Lockdown is resisting the urge to run all the time, especially with the prospect of a four-day weekend looming.

SATURDAY: on another gorgeous day I headed out for another attempt at ‘not Lincoln parkrun’. I really went for it this week and pushed myself hard but was a little disappointed to run a time well off my usual parkrun range. I think I find it tough to almost race on my own and on random streets, I need the buzz of being around others, the support they give me etc.

SUNDAY: I loved today’s long run and it was my best for a while. It was very warm again, but I prepared well and took water with me, which is such a mental boost. I planned a half marathon route and set off nice and steadily, knowing I needed not to overdo things in the relative heat. My legs just slotted into a natural rhythm the whole way round, and my pacing was spot on without me even thinking about it, keeping in the 8.20 min/mile region. I was thinking about other things though as I ran. One was the sheer number of other runners I saw out (all adhering to guidelines, running solo, and giving other walkers lots of space). There must have been over 20, when it is quite common for me to only see a couple of others on a Sunday morning. It made me think that I hope these people are finding some comfort from running in this time and realising its therapeutic power. I also ran past the hospital and I could not help but feel a little emotional as I thought about what it must be like inside. Slightly more light hearted, I could feel the sun burning my shoulders and thought I definitely should have put sun cream on! Whilst I also dreamt amount the Easter chocolate I was going to enjoy later at home.

I seem to be running between 30-35 miles a week at the moment; this feels ok and like what I need. Will things change in the weeks ahead in terms of how/if we are allowed to run… maybe, so for now I embrace it and face the prospect of adapting to more change if and when it comes. ​
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Lock Ups and Downs...

4/5/2020

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Another lockdown week passes - although it feels far longer than a week to me! This is however my third week of 'abnormality' with my work having closed normal operation a week ahead of the UK, so maybe that's partly why. Although I am adapting in many senses, there are still days or moments within days when I literally just lose that forward thinking/positivity for a moment. It feels tougher and especially the inability to be able to count down the exact amount of time we will be in this situation - the unknown. I think what I miss most at the moment is waking up and truly looking forward to my day; I was in a lucky position before where I was actually able to say this was the case, but now its more a case of getting through the day, sometimes wishing hours away. It still also remains challenging being alone and the lack of 'real life' human interaction - but through my virtual networks we continue to check in with one another, and this is support which will never not help. 

Running has been helping me keep that consistent routine and I feel much more ready to face a day after some morning miles. That moment when I get home from a run and soak in the post run endorphins is probably when I feel most like my usual self at the moment. I am not really following any plan with my running, although I am trying not to over do things, as it could be very easy too, especially with the amount of home workouts being thrown in my face every time I log onto my phone! It almost makes you feel like you need to be doing tricep dips on the bottom of your stairs every spare minute of the day! I guess I am simply just doing what I want and at whatever pace I feel like on the day. I am doing some home based stuff to try and keep my strength up, although realistically nothing I can achieve at home will replicate my usual weights class at the gym (that first class back is going to hurt!)

MONDAY: home exercise classes from 'Run Your Marks' - I am still enjoying the fact these are streamed live and therefore gives a structure in my day and a feeling of being in a class with others. It helps get the week off to a good start. 

TUESDAY: a lovely 10k run where I went out with no pace in mind, but found myself getting progressively quicker and enjoying that sense of pushing my body a little.

WEDNESDAY: I planned a 7 mile loop today and as soon as I started I could feel my legs were a little weary, so I kept it comfortable, enjoying being outside and the fresh air and freedom!

THURSDAY: this week we should have been on the track at Run Club, but we shared the planned session anyway and I tried to replicate it on the streets. I got out early when I knew the river path near me would be virtually empty and logged 10 x 200m reps up and down. After my first 200m sprint along the path I did think to myself that this was going to be quite an easy session - by the 7th I had other thoughts! My splits were really consistent though which I was pleased with despite the dramatic change in perceived effort, and it was certainly not a run I would have attempted without the virtual Run Club motivation. 

FRIDAY: Rest Day 
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SATURDAY: I tried something different for this week's 'not Lincoln parkrun' and incorporated my run into doing some shopping for a lady called Hilary who I had been connected to through the Run Your Marks Community Champs scheme. It felt so rewarding to do something for someone else, and also quite entertaining wandering around a supermarket trying to locate items on a list - like I was in some very strange gameshow! Utilising running miles to help others during this time is a great idea and something I was very keen to sign up to - a bit of parkrun community spirit channelled into my Saturday morning!

SUNDAY: the weather was glorious today; blue skies, sunshine and a warmth we have not felt in months. Tough during a lockdown really, but even more reason to celebrate a run. I mapped out another half marathon route, and whilst I enjoyed the Spring like sounds as ran a little more rurally - I am definitely not used to warmer weather for running yet! I found it much tougher even at a comfortable pace and was dying for a drink for the final 4 miles! It should have been Manchester Marathon today and I had planned to go and watch friends take on the race - I kept thinking as I ran it would have been perfect spectating weather, but I was pleased it was not the day for my planned marathon - too warm (how did we all run that London Marathon in 2018?!) I also spent a lot of my run hoping people were adhering to the Government guidelines despite the weather - I live in a terrace house with a backyard just about big enough for a small table and chair (not even sure if when I sit there I am actually 2 metres away from my neighbour over the fence doing the same!!) and whilst I would have loved to be enjoying the wonderful weather out with friends - there are much bigger things at play now, which infuriates me that some people still cannot see. 

As we enter another week I do not expect it to be straightforward and I am sure some challenges will present; everyone out there probably has their own different battle depending on their circumstance. Try and keep as positive as you can - I do not think it is possible 100% of the time, but do not let those moments when you feel a bit lost with it all overwhelm you, that is what I am trying to do. 
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Entering Lockdown...

3/29/2020

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I think it is apparent that my running blog is going to turn more into COVID-19 survival blog over the foreseeable weeks (months?) - it is hard to focus on much else right now! The past seven days have seen the UK enter a period of 'lockdown' which has further impacted by life and running. It had to be done, and despite the challenges I now face, I am pleased the Government is taking these measures to essentially save people's lives and protect the NHS - I have friends who work at the local hospital, and they are always in my thoughts. 

Lockdown rules thankfully permit daily exercise, which as I watched the Prime Minister address the nation, I have to say I was immensely relieved about. It might sound selfish to essentially be pleased to be able to run still, but it certainly helps safeguard my own mental well being in this all. The rules did outline however that exercise can only be completed with members of your household - when you live by yourself that is not a massive difference! So sadly runs with friends have now stopped, and I do miss them. The extension on my Run Club sessions being cancelled, as well as parkun bring cancelled was also announced this week - I miss these too - and my next race currently looks like it may happen in June (although I think this is still optimistic). But I can still run, and that morning escape out the house is something I am very grateful of right now.

Personally, this week has been a bit tougher - there is the obvious lack of social contact (living by yourself in all this really is rubbish!) and then there have been concerns around my work. Socially, I again have to be so extremely grateful for the network of friends I have who do keep checking in on me; it is not as fulfilling as seeing people in person, but it certainly is comforting. My work situation did for the first time in all this bring me to tears this week though. I was faced with discussion around being 'furloughed' for three months, and the notion of losing my job even temporarily felt gutting, let alone the financial implications despite the Government support on offer. Thankfully as I write this, I still have my job, although some of my colleagues have been furloughed. I worry for them, I still worry about my own small workplace, but I am going to do all I can to try and help us survive this. 

Running remains key to my own personal 'survival' and I have managed a good week of 36 miles and moreover, can say I enjoyed every step.

MONDAY: shifting some furniture around in my living room I made space to complete my first home gym session following a couple of Faecbook live exercise classes from my friend 'Run Your Marks' I liked tuning in with others, it gave a small sense of being part of a group still and I also felt less ridiculous for jumping around in my living room!

TUESDAY: I had DOMs already from my home exercise classes, so opted for a steady run. The first mile I was stiff, but once I warmed up I found I was hitting low 8 min/mile paces really naturally and enjoyed a lovely 10k run. 
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WEDNESDAY: again I surprised myself today, heading out once more for a planned steady run, I logged 7 miles with an 8:15 min/mile average pace. I probably have some marathon training benefits in my legs still, but it is also funny what you can achieve when you do not obsess over pace all the time!

​THURSDAY: as if to tease us, this week has seen some warmer Spring like weather - so in order to maximise this, I headed out a little later for my run today, enjoying the sun along the local river bank. I intended to push myself and took on the weekly planned session from my Run Club, which was a 50 minute 'out and back' run aiming to get back to the same start point, or further. I made it exactly back to the bottom of my street and was really pleased with my splits and pacing, mostly in the 7.20 min/mile region and achieving 6.6 miles in distance. I do not want to push myself too much at the moment, but a bit of hard effort still felt good. 

FRIDAY: to make sure I do not over do things, I want to try keep one rest day a week still. This is tough as I also want to not feel too trapped in my house. A daily walk is permitted though - although I have to say it does not quite bring the same mental benefit to me as running!

​SATURDAY: another 'fake Lincoln parkrun' mixing up the course to try and avoid the strong winds! The wind was unavoidable and where I live in Lincoln it is also hard to avoid a hill unless I just run up and down one road - and we are not at that point yet! - so whilst I found it hard to find much pace, I was pleased to spot a few other parkrun faces out (from a distance!)

SUNDAY: back to Sunday long run days and I set myself the goal of running a half marathon today - just for some purpose really! The weather was so mixed, I started in sunshine and although I had actually hid away my watch, I realised after I was running quite quickly. Then came the hail/snow, and then the wind really picked up for the latter part! I embraced it all though, just winding through the streets, which I have to say were eerily empty. I felt much more tired after my longer run than I expected - so good job I had to stay at home!

I hope the week ahead allows me to keep running, if further restrictions come into place I respect it will be for good reason, and I shall embrace my miles whist I can. ​
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Adapting To It All...

3/22/2020

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​Well, where do I really start with this week?! It is hard to even comprehend how things are right now. There are moments when life almost feels normal, and for me, these have stemmed from when I have been able to get out and run and that feeling of escapism across the miles. Then I return home and the reality hits that things are definitely not normal!

It has been a week of adaption for me personally, as my work switched to being home based from Monday. Working from home and the impacts this has on my day-today job function I think was also the main trigger for me to realise how serious this situation is becoming. Since Monday I have only been going outside to run or go to the shop for food – it is not easy trust me, but it has to be done.

Monday was a tough start; I didn’t leave the house all day and spoke to no one – I felt like I was self-isolated! How was I going to cope with this? I have though, and as the days have progressed, I have found ways to cope more effectively. In a work capacity we have got better at having work video calls, and it has been good to share a few words with colleagues and check in with them. I also made the conscious decision (prior to the government making it compulsory) to stop going to the gym – it did not feel right to gather in a large group in that way, and have therefore begun to open my mind to home exercise options. 

Running wise more cancellations inevitably came this week; races are virtually non-existent now until June (can we even guarantee this?!), England Athletics called a halt to all running groups which meant my Run Club had to stop, and then parkrun was cancelled. It may appear difficult to find some positivity amongst this, especially as these aspects form such a large part of my life. However, I do not feel too bad; yes I have moments when I lie in bed and think what the hell is happening and what does the future look like! But I think if we are honest, we all feel like this at times right now. However, across this week I have truly realised what a wonderful life I do have in Lincoln, the friendship networks I have, the communities I belong to, particularly in a running sense, and how much I genuinely love my job. My positivity comes from the joy I have about eventually being able to get back to all this and how much more I know I am going to appreciate my life.

Amongst the madness and uncertainty, I have managed to log 46 miles of running this week – which is almost akin to what I would have been doing as part of my marathon training! It was not intentional, but I have just relished any opportunity to be outside, and its all mounted up. I have not pushed myself though, I had already decided at the start of the week this would just be a finding my feet week, and I had no plan or structure to follow. I want to say a huge thank you to my friends from Lincs S&C Run Club who have joined me for some runs this week – some people may disapprove of me buddying up with people to run, and I admit it’s probably not perfect – however on all occasions we have kept well distanced and stuck to non-busy, mainly rural routes. I also think I would have lost my mind if I had gone without any form of personal contact these last few days, especially as I have been adapting to this new way of life. Guidance may change soon, people’s circumstances may change, and I may be required to run solo or not run at all, so I appreciate the time we have shared.  

All my days appear to blur into one at the moment, so I am pleased I can recall my running at least!

MONDAY: a bit of a rest day and slight try at setting up a home exercise area – which basically meant dusting off my gym mat and playing around with some resistance bands I have!
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TUESDAY: after nearly two days of being indoors and on my own, tonight was a much needed run with a couple of Run Club friends; I logged 7.5 miles in total but to be honest could have kept running all night as it just felt freeing.

WEDNESDAY: I went out running early today, not my usual pre work 5:30am early, but I logged my miles before settling down for a day in the home office (aka my kitchen table). It was a good head clearing session; 6 miles with a few hills, just to set me up for the day.

THURSDAY: 6 more miles sharing a few with Run Club friends.

​FRIDAY: Friday is usually my rest day, but I was not going to turn down the offer a run with another friend from Run Club. We headed out mid-afternoon in some lovely sunshine; it was great to get out of the house in daylight and is one perk of home working! We initially planned 10k but when my friend suggested we could go further I was more than happy to stay out longer. I logged 11.5 miles in total, a bonus long run, and all whilst keeping well spaced along the cycle path.

SATURDAY: today became a double run day; I woke up first thing and headed out for my own solo version of parkrun with my Lincoln parkrun vest proudly adorned. This was the only time I really tried to push the pace this week, it was tough with some headwind and also without the parkrun support, and I was way off usual 5k time, but it still felt good to stretch my legs out a bit. Sat at home, another Run Club friend messaged me asking if I wanted a run (I truly am thankful for all these offers) I admitted I had already ran, but again was keen not to turn down the chance of chat and fresh air. We ran a 10k together, and although fearful I would be a little weary, I could have kept running all day again.

SUNDAY: my legs were tired today, I think the week and my mileage hit me, so I was never going to run long despite it being traditionally Sunday long run day. I headed out for another 6 miles, out and back along the river, literally just enjoying being out and not pushing my legs. I could feel I was tired and the last thing anyone needs to do now is open themselves up to any form of illness.
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I have no idea what the next 7 days will hold – does anyone? But again I really want to thank people within my network for their support this week, whether its been sharing some socially distanced running or messaging me, its all helped. We are in this together – its cheesy but we are – and I too have tried to reach out to as many people as possible across the past few days. If I can help anyone I will try.

​Keep safe, keep positive, keep running.
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Cambridge Half Marathon 2020

3/19/2020

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It has taken me a while to sit down and write a review of the Cambridge Half Marathon. Firstly there has been so much going on in the world since the event on Sunday 8th March, and subsequently there has been a lot to get my head around, not just in a running sense. Secondly, it feels a bit bittersweet thinking back to this weekend, as I am not sure when I will get another weekend like this for a while now…

I had planned to take on Cambridge Half Marathon as part of my London Marathon training, but it was also an opportunity to have a weekend together with my sister and her boyfriend, themselves keen runners. They travelled down to visit me and on Saturday we had volunteered at Lincoln parkrun as part of the Barcode Scanning team, and then had gone to watch Lincoln City’s match in the afternoon. We fuelled up in the evening on pasta ready for an early start to drive down to Cambridge on Sunday morning for the half marathon event.

I had taken part in Cambridge Half Marathon twice before, but it was a new event for my sister and her boyfriend. The past two times I had ran had seen some pretty dire weather; the first year the ‘beast from the East’ had threatened to thwart the event, and last year it was wet, grey and miserable. Despite the conditions, I have always ran well at Cambridge Half Marathon and enjoyed the event; it’s a very large and popular half marathon and whilst I tend to head to more local events these days, it is sometimes nice to experience that ‘big event feel’. I was also looking forward to racing 13.1 miles again, after a period of longer runs mid-marathon training, it felt like a nice challenge to have and a bit of a test of where my body was at.

Despite being a previous participant, this year the half marathon featured a brand-new route. I have to admit I paid very little attention to the route change prior to taking my place on the start line; I just like to go out and enjoy a race rather than over analyse the course! However, my only slight complaint about the Cambridge Half Marathon in previous years had been just how congested it was at the start. I was therefore pleased to see a waved start had been implemented for this year, and it proved to be far more effective.

Huddling on Midsummer Common waiting for the start of the race I briefly discussed race goals with my sister and her boyfriend; I wanted a sub 1:40 time and for once I was very clear about my focus. I intended to start steady and try and have something left to push at the end - you know, that famous race strategy..!

After the ‘go’ signal was given for my wave, I spent most of the first 4 miles taking in just how different the course was – perhaps my lack of pre-race course studying paid some benefit here as it completely kept me away from thinking about physically running! We ran through some residential streets before weaving through the stunning campus of University of Cambridge’s King’s College. I was running well, maintaining a good pace and my confident start had definitely been boosted by the well-lined streets and enthusiastic support from the crowds.

At around 5 miles the course headed out to the village of Granchester, as it has done before, but this time in the reverse direction – for me it felt a bit like the novelty of running one of your usual running routes in reverse! After a confident start however, miles 5-7 were tough; there was a strong head wind and running along an exposed road meant for no shelter. I was joking with a friend the weekend before the event that a half marathon was actually my least favourite distance to race and I had no idea why I sign up to so many, and that conversation was at the forefront of my mind – I felt like texting her and saying this is why I hate half marathons! Turning out of the wind and with a slight downward descent into Granchester I found my rhythm again and after hitting 8 miles I solely focused on maintaining my pace until the 10 mile point and reviewing how I felt here.
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I am not sure what changed, but at 10 miles I felt like a new runner, the remaining 3 miles felt like a small number to tick off and I could feel the energy lift both in my legs and mentally. I began catching runners up and setting targets of people to overtake. Between 11 and 12 miles the course then returned into the centre of Cambridge and the crowds lifted me even more. I was also strangely helped by a police motorbike who seemed to decide it was going to ride alongside me or a while and without knowing became a bit of a personal pacing vehicle! At 12 miles I got my biggest boost though, I turned a slight bend and saw someone I thought I recognised in the crowd. As I was squinting at the faces, they then burst up like a jack in a box and shouted ‘Go Alice!’ It was my friend from Run Club and I was quite impressed I had actually semi-identified them before they made themselves known!

​With a mile left to go now I really pushed the pace; I knew I was running very strong as I passed a lot of runners (I actually ran a 7 min/mile for my final split it turns out!) The final stretches looped past another University of Cambridge campus,  Jesus College, before turning into the home straight. I was pleased this section of the old half marathon route remained; a long, straight and wide road heading toward the finish archway. It reminds me of The Mall at the London Marathon every time and I feel such energy as I run along it. I knew a sub 1.40 time was in the bag at this point, I was just chasing down any last remaining seconds.

I crossed the line in 1:37:48 and instantly felt really happy, especially with my strong finish. My half marathon PB is 1:35:23, so I was a little away from that, but then I had not expected to be on form for this either, so was not disappointed. I waited just after the finish arch for my sister to finish and we went and found her boyfriend, who had crossed the line a while before me. Perhaps my only slight gripe about Cambridge Half Marathon remains this finish section; you have to walk a long way before being offered water and some people may be in urgent need of drink. Eventually mulling over the race over our plastic cups of water (maybe another area of improvement here too!) we were all pleased with our performances, although my sister who is generally pretty hard on herself perhaps wanted a little bit closer to the 1:40 marker!
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I have to say, the new Cambridge Half Marathon route was great, keeping the same atmosphere and also incorporating some great landmarks and spectator points. With the new waved start, I definitely recommend it as a half marathon to experience. Cambridge Half Marathon is not cheap to enter however and the hefty entry fee nearly put me off this year, but maybe as a special treat it can be one to include in your racing calendar.

Looking back now Cambridge Half Marathon weekend certainly feels like a treat, and I hope there will be another race for me to enjoy sometime in the months ahead and when the world is ready. ​
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A Blog About It All...

3/15/2020

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This should have been a summary of week ten of my journey to the London Marathon, but instead I find myself reflecting on what is a very strange and uncertain time for the world. No one's lives are being unaffected by the spread of the Coronavirus, and as this week progressed, I knew the chances of the London Marathon happening were fading by the second. To be honest I am glad it has now been postponed; and postponed is the key word for me. A cancellation would have been devastating for myself and others, especially those who have longed to complete the London Marathon for many years. It was also starting to become a very anxious time waiting for announcements on the race, and every time someone mentioned the virus I felt my own anxiety levels rise, waiting to hear what the latest development had been and how it would affect me. Lastly, it was also the right decision to postpone the race for the well being of all; I would have not wanted to take part under such uncertainty and under the fear of putting others at risk; it would have tainted the experience.

Friday 13th March was a tough day for the news to hit as many Spring marathons were also postponed on this day. In fact marathons seem to fall like dominoes and I found myself messaging a lot of my friends throughout the afternoon as each of our respective races announced their postponement. I had not even had the chance to see the decision had been made on the London Marathon myself, as friends and family messaged me the news. Although not the best news to be passing on to me, I was touched at people's care that they knew this would mean something to me, and that they also had a desire to check I was ok. 

So am I ok? The truthful answer is yes; in marathon terms I am totally fine with the news. To be honest, how well I am coping with the fact my main focus in life has suddenly removed is a really big thing for me; had this happened maybe last year I think I would have slipped into a very sad place very quickly. It is a testament to how I have progressed personally these past months. I am sad of course about a few things, mainly being unable to share what would have been the next six weeks of training with my Run Club friends. I have honestly loved my last ten weeks of training, my own solo training runs and my recent running adventures with friends, and I do not feel my efforts have been wasted at all - I am developing as a runner but also have made a lot of happy memories along the way. I am also sad I will not be able to cheer my friends on at their own Spring marathons, and in particular we had planned to go on mass to spectate at Manchester where a large number of Run Club members were due to be running. Hopefully we may still be able to in Autumn. I am also sad for my friends, especially those who had their first ever marathon lined up - none of them are disputing the decisions which have been made, but there are still emotions they are feeling which they are entitled to have. I have tried to be there for people and offer as much positivity and words of encouragement and support. I would have needed those a while back. 
So where does this leave me? I will be taking up my place for the rearranged London Marathon date in October, and I am very pleased my fellow Run Cub friend who was also due to run London can also make the new date. I was looking forward to a race weekend together, and now it has just been shifted back a few months. In terms of training, I feel like at the moment until things become clearer in the world, there will be no races and I will not seek anything either. My next booked event is a local half marathon at the start of May, followed by a 20 mile trail event which we have entered as a group from Run Club later in the month. Therefore I have a need to keep some distance within my training, but I will undoubtedly scale back a little, especially without the drive of my big goal race. 

Personally, the uncertainty in the world across the next few weeks does scare me a little. Forget marathon training, but I do need to be able to run for my personal well being, and the thought of any form of 'lockdown' and being house bound is something I fear. Since Friday, I have also been instructed by my work that I must work from home for the next three weeks, and have to cancel virtually all face to face meetings and events I had planned. It was tough walking home on Friday having lost my marathon and what felt like losing my job; I love running and I love my job, so it was a double whammy almost. I also live by myself and it feels quite lonely to think of being at home for that length of time. I am being honest about how I feel with people though, and have already had offers from friends to join them for runs in the week so I can at least see and talk to some people! Its a very weird time, and I completely appreciate the need to try and protect vulnerable people in particular, but I do also want to try safeguard my own health and happiness as much as possible, especially after working so hard to feel good again. 

Anyway, enough 'virus talk' - I feel I need to sign off London Marathon training (part 1!) with a bit of what I achieved this week, as I most certainly did not give up! 

MONDAY: Body Pump class

TUESDAY: a tough session of 7 miles with 3 x 1.5 mile reps - a mile and a half is a long way to push the pace and it certainly asked a lot of me!

WEDNESDAY: after a very long day at work on Tuesday and a tough run, I was grateful of 'just' 5 steady miles today, although was shocked to see these averaged 8.15 min/mile and still felt comfortable. 

THURSDAY: a double run day with 8 morning miles at easy pace, followed by a precise 3.6 miles later during a continuous hill based session I led at Run Club.

FRIDAY: Rest Day

SATURDAY: a very pleasing morning at Lincoln parkrun, as not only did I get to share my happy place with some of my colleagues and friends from work, but I also ran a sub 21 minute time (20:53!) and finished as first female, feeling strong and possibly running off Friday 13th's frustrations. 

SUNDAY: I was due to be running Ashby 20 today with a few friends from Run Club, however it was cancelled, and I instead I found myself heading out for a solo 20 miles of my own. The organisers of Ashby 20 had set up a virtual Facebook group encouraging people to log their own 20 miles, and to be honest that was enough of a challenge and incentive for me. I could not quite motivate myself enough to push the pace like a race, but I was pleased to see that I held 8:30 min/miles quite consistently throughout. There were a few slower miles in there, which directly correlated with when my motivation started to waiver, meaning my end average pace did end up at 8:40 min/mile, but it was my commitment that impress me the most. 

What a week... and I do not fully know what the future weeks will hold. I do know I am going to try and keep as positive as possible, and reach out to others if I feel I am struggling. The offer of my time and support will also be there to anyone out there too. Keep safe and keep running x
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London Marathon Training: Week 9

3/8/2020

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This week has presented more of a mental challenge than previous weeks, which has solely been due to the press coverage and constant debate surrounding a certain virus which is in the UK. I am not going to add to the talk too much here, however the speculation around the potential cancellation of the London Marathon is hard not to worry about, and I feel for everyone in the same boat as me with upcoming marathon events that they have dedicated so much time and passion towards. I know I have to just focus on what I can control, and that means putting all my energy into my running and remaining positive.

MONDAY: I was due to be away with work on Tuesday so knew I needed to fit a run in today, which I usually like to leave as a running rest day after Sunday's longer run. I chose the shortest option on my plan; 3 easy miles before my Body Pump class. 

TUESDAY: slightly annoyingly after rearranging my entire training week, my work trip was cancelled today..! I stuck with an interval session though, wanting to get my harder workouts logged early in the week to allow for maximum recovery ahead of the Cambridge Half Marathon on Sunday. This week involved hill repeats and I will admit the prospect of tackling these without my Run Club support (we incorporate regular group hill sessions into our programme) was a little less enthralling! I opted to run a well known route within Lincoln called 'Rolling Hills' which is 10k consisting of the major inclines within the city centre region. I chose this as I knew once I started I would make myself stick to the route! It was tough, some of the hill climbs it involves are very steep, but I was pleased I did not stop on any of them and that despite my initial unwillingness, my mental strength came through. 

WEDNESDAY: an easy paced 8 miles on a very chilly morning. The icy air meant I kept my watch well hidden under layers, and despite feeling like I was plodding along quite slowly, I was somewhat surprised to see at the end I was running around the 8:30 min/mile pace.  

THURSDAY: my Run Club session this week was at the track, and I knew I had to be strict on myself and not push too much as my legs would pay the price in the following days. Thankfully, we had a session which I could hold back a little on, with 2km repeats planned. I aimed to run these around 8 min/mile pace and just see how many I could log. In practice I seemed to naturally slot into the 7:45 min/mile region though, so chose to hold this pace across the reps I completed, finishing with 5 miles distance in total. I had ran steadily, but not stupidly. 
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FRIDAY: today's miles were just for me really; I did not want two consecutive rest days and also wanted to maintain a certain weekly mileage level, so laced up for 4 easy miles, again finding this to be around the 8:30 min/mile region.

​SATURDAY: Rest Day - and a lovely morning volunteering at Lincoln parkrun on a specially themed International Women's Day event (see image).

SUNDAY: Cambridge Half Marathon beckoned today and a chance to test myself over a slightly shorter distance than of late. I knew I wanted to race this event and give it my best shot, and I was pleased with how my body performed. I wanted a sub 1:40 time and met my goal by finishing in 1:37:53. This was my third Cambridge Half Marathon, but first on the brand new route, and I really enjoyed the fantastic support and atmosphere the new course offered. Full blog to follow - but a positive step forward in my training again. All about keeping positive. ​
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London Marathon Training: Week 8

3/1/2020

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Eight weeks of training under my belt means I have hit the half way point in my sixteen week training plan. This milestone feels a good time to be reflective, both of where I am in my running and also how I am feeling in general. Training wise I have absolutely no complaints; my focus for this plan was to build upon my endurance, get more longer runs in and feel strong and comfortable across longer distances. I feel I am achieving this so far; I increased my long run distances much earlier in my plan than normal, and at this half way point I already have two 19 milers and a 20 miler under my belt - on all three I felt strong too. In terms of my own personal feeling; I probably feel the happiness I have felt in quite a long time - this fact actually hit me this week. After a couple of years in which sometimes my big cheesy grin was a little less genuine that perhaps it appeared, this realisation felt truly freeing and a moment I feel quite proud to admit. 

MONDAY: Body Pump class

TUESDAY: today was a very long and busy day in which I crammed a lot of different elements in - someone at work even commented how many different hats I was trying to wear in one day! It started with my 5:30am alarm for intervals and ending getting home just after 10pm following my Run Club's AGM. It was a fulfilling and productive day, however it did knacker me and led to an unscheduled rest day on Wednesday. Running wise my intervals were strong and I headed to my now favourite paved circuit near my house to run 5 miles with 12 x 200m reps and 200m recoveries; a lot of my paces were in the low 7 min/mile region or just under.

WEDNESDAY: Rest Day - I had some easy miles on my plan, but waking up feeling tired, under fuelled and with a headache, I just knew there was zero point in putting my body through something which would probably only make it feel worse, rather than enhance my training. 

THURSDAY: after a break yesterday I came back strong today with a double run day; starting with 5 easy miles in the morning and adding a further 3.5 miles at Run Club in the evening. Our Run Club session was some very testing steep hill repeats, the kind you would really struggle to commit to unless running in a group! I have to admire everyone's determination to tackle the gradient - it certainly was not easy! - and my fellow club mates definitely inspired me to push myself. 

FRIDAY: Rest Day
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SATURDAY: as I crossed the finish line at Lincoln parkrun today I felt a little like I had missed an opportunity - my watch read 21:02 and I was so close to a sub 21 minute time again. I had not looked at my watch whilst I was running, instead using others around me as markers and running to feel. I felt I was running consistently but not necessarily that speedily, hence not paying attention to my watch! I had something left at the end and I feel I could have snatched those few seconds if I had pushed that little bit earlier! It is by no means the end of the world, and in fact I should really feel pleased that I was close to a sub 21 minute time without feeling like I was pushing myself 'all out.' One opportunity I did take today though was to run a Leap Year parkrun - the first ever one, and the next will not take place until 2048. I hope I will still be running laps around Boultham Park then. 

SUNDAY: my longest run of training so far - the first 20 miler. I did not feel daunted by this though; having a couple of 19 milers already banked it felt achievable and I knew I was ready for it. However, as has been the pattern for the past few weeks now, Sunday appears to be the day when Storm something-or-other decides to really batter the UK. Strong winds prevailed yet again today and certainly made the run tougher than it could have otherwise been. My absolute saving grace was running the full 20 miles with my friend from Run Club - we took it slow and steady, pacing according to the conditions and enjoying chatting. The miles passed so quickly, and I know if I had been out there battling away alone this would not have been the case. The toughest part was the final 5 or so miles which were almost all directly into the strong headwind. It felt like at times we were running literally on the spot and getting nowhere fast! I tried to keep the mood light at this point by finding as many positives about the situation as possible - I actually amazed myself how well I achieved this! The most obvious one though was that the conditions, although testing, were good training and will prove beneficial on what will hopefully be a perfectly still and tranquil marathon race day in eight weeks time...!
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Stamford 30k

2/24/2020

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‘Love Running? Love the 30k’ was the message printed on the ribbon of the Stamford Striders St Valentines Day 30k race medal – some may say it’s a bold statement to make, but I have to say after my first experience of this event, I agree.

I am sure February 2020 will be remembered by most of the running community as a month of storms and strong winds, especially those in marathon training! The Stamford 30k itself is usually held on the Sunday closest to Valentine’s Day, however with Storm Dennis raging strongly, the event had to be postponed by one week. I did not originally have a place in the race (too slow to register before it sold out!), however the new date fell in my favour as a few spaces became available. I was really looking forward to my first race of 2020, especially with several friends from my running club also taking part, and even the warnings from a number of previous participants about the ‘hideously hilly’ course profile did not dampen my enthusiasm. 

As race day arrived the wind still prevailed, and the forecast was for up to 40mph gusts – great! Rain also threatened, and on what was due to be a rather exposed rural route I began to think I could be in for a tough time! I travelled to the event with some friends from Run Club and we remained relatively relaxed though; we all were treating this event as part of our marathon training cycles, so not necessarily approaching it as an ‘all out’ race or chasing a particular time. The race start area, set at local school in Stamford, was a bustle of runners and it felt good to be back in that environment again. Our biggest debate was what to wear; it felt milder than of late, however the wind would be cooling, and if we got caught in heavy rain showers it would certainly add a chill factor.

After a busy week I welcomed the 11am race start - which meant for a little bit of extra time in bed! – and as we huddle by the start line, the sun suddenly decided to shine boldly through the clouds. I already knew I was going to be too warm! As usual, it is only really when I am stood in the start pen that I begin to contemplate seriously my strategy for the race ahead of me; I never like to overthink it too much! I chatted to my friends and commented that I thought I could run between 8:20-8:30 min/mile pace, which would be steadier than a long, slow run pace but not too ambitious considering the weather and the course - although this would depend on how strong that wind really was and if the hills completely destroyed me!

The Stamford 30k course is indeed very rural and to be honest a lot of the course blurs into one in my mind; countryside roads and open landscapes. The hills however cannot be forgotten as they are pretty much relentless, constantly up and down with very small sections of flat in between. The wind was apparent, particularly in the first couple of thirds where it was either whipping from the side, or for a few a few miles, coming head on. It doesn’t sound like I would be ‘loving the Stamford 30k’ at this point, but I was, and my body felt strong against both the challenges.
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Another factor which boosted my enjoyment of the race was running the whole duration with my friend from Run Club. We had not specifically planned to run together, but just slipped into a natural pace alongside one another, and we chatted almost constantly as we ticked off each kilometre marker. My friend had taken part in the event a couple of times before and as we neared the final few kilometres assured me we had beaten the worst of the hills by now. However, as I turned a corner to see another long climb looming on the horizon, I pointed and laughed ‘what about that one then?!’ This sums up the Stamford 30k, there are so many climbs it is virtually impossible to recall or remember each and every one of them!

As we hit the final couple of kilometres I was pleased with the strength I still felt in my body; at no point had I wanted to stop, give up, walk or thought I would not make it to the end. Weaving through some residential streets as we headed back to the school to finish, I enjoyed the shared sense of power between my friend and I. A marshal on a bike was also following us into the finish and his enthusiastic support towards us both (which almost bordered on the comically scary!) caused me to beam a huge smile across my face. The marshals on the entire course were all actually incredible and must be applauded for standing out in those conditions!

The final few hundred metres of the Stamford 30k is around the school field; it is a tough little test at the end and the uneven surface demands some concentration on tiring legs. The actual finishing metres were directly into the strong headwind; ensuring no sprint finish could be mustered! I headed toward the finishing mat still side by side with my friend and the commentator urged us on, trying to encourage one of us to beat the other. We were so in sync now though that even any attempt at a surge to the finish meant we crossed the line at the exact same point.

Reviewing my watch, I could see we ran an average pace of 8:23 min/mile, which for that course and in the conditions we were met with, I was very pleased about. The Stamford 30k was indeed an excellent training run, and my performance has given me confidence that my current endurance is developing well. Running with my friend certainly increased my enjoyment levels too, and being able to meet other friends from Run Club afterwards and share race stories also added to the experience. My favourite comment was from one of our members who said she never would have felt as good running that course if it had not been for the confidence hill sessions at Run Club had given her, which was really good feedback to hear.

Stamford 30k means I have my first race of 2020 under my belt, a new medal hanging on my medal board and a pretty cool long-sleeved finisher top to add to my running gear collection. I have started the year positively and I now look ahead to a few more evens I have scheduled as part of my London Marathon preparations - I do indeed love running. ​
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London Marathon Training: Week 7

2/23/2020

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I started this week feeling a bit run down; a cough niggled, my head hurt and I was tired. After a 50+ hour working week previously, as well as 40+ miles of running I think my body was just telling me to slow down a bit. I listened, which meant taking the first few days of this week steady, especially as I knew I had a big weekend of work and running ahead. Managing life and training can be tough, and I am sure I have far less variables to juggle than some people do!

MONDAY: Rest Day - I felt fatigued today, and with some flexibility in my usual working schedule, decided to shift my weights class to tomorrow and have a complete day of recovery. 

TUESDAY: a day of rest meant I felt far more prepared to tackle today's interval run, which was 6 miles with 10 x 400m reps. Perhaps it is down to the track work I have been doing in recent months with my Run Club, but I am finding intervals far less intimidating than previous training cycles, and I actually look forward to them! I ran well and logged a few sub 7 min/mile paces for some of the interval reps. Body Pump class in the evening. 

WEDNESDAY: with less evening work commitments this week I chose to allow my body some extra time in bed in this morning and went running after work. I still much prefer morning runs, but I felt any chance to maximise extra rest was needed. I had 7 miles on my plan, suggested to be at 8 min/mile pace. For now the third consecutive week, the wind was rather blustery and made the first few miles a real challenge to hit this pace. Turning away from a direct headwind, I managed to find some rhythm though, and some quicker miles meant I finished the run with an 8:05 min/mile average pace - I will take that!

THURSDAY: 8 easy miles, made a little tougher by (you guessed it!) the wind. I had ten miles on my plan, but 8 miles felt enough today, and I was also conscious I was increasing my mileage more than my plan suggested at the weekend due to taking part in the Stamford 30k. In the evening I led a track session for Run Club, which I thoroughly enjoyed, and I was grateful of the personal rest from any further miles. 
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FRIDAY: a steady 3 mile progression run, starting at closer to 9 min/mile pace and finishing nearer to 8 min/mile pace, shaking the legs out a little in preparation for a Sunday's race.

​SATURDAY: Rest Day - in which I was pleased to still be able to squeeze in volunteering at Lincoln parkrun before heading to work. I hate to miss parkrun in any capacity!

SUNDAY: my first race of 2020; Stamford 30k. After the event was rearranged due to storms last weekend, I was really pleased to gain a space in the race, and had opted to run it instead of a half marathon I had originally entered. I felt the longer distance was more suited to my current training stage, I had never tried the event before, and I also had a few friends from Run Club I could share the day with (see image). The wind still prevailed (honestly - enough of the wind now!) and the hilly course profile I had been warned about certainly lived up to its expectations, but I was really pleased with how strong I felt. I didn't push myself 'all out' but ran steadily, logging the full near 19 miles running alongside my friend from Run Club. Considering the wind and the hills I was very happy with an 8:23 min/mile average pace and the distance flew by with my friend's company. Full blog to follow - but I really enjoyed another long run and sharing the experience with friends; I cannot emphasise how good this feels compared to the relative struggle I faced with long runs during my last marathon training block. A happy ending to a tough start to the week. ​
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London Marathon Training: Week 6

2/16/2020

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'I love running in the wind' said no one ever - this has been one of my favourite quotes of the week. If anyone truly likes running in the wind then fair play to them! I personally hate the way the wind makes everything feel so much harder, and especially when training for a marathon, I do no think any runner needs that! After Storm Ciara last week, the windy weather remained throughout this week, and by the weekend Storm Dennis decided he wanted a piece of the action..! Despite the disruption I have managed to log 43 miles for the week and am feeling strong and happy; just no more storms now please!

MONDAY: Body Pump class

TUESDAY: this was the worst day of the week in terms of battling against the wind. It was very strong and meant I had to dig deep to produce a tempo run. I had 6 miles on my plan, with the 4 middle miles at half marathon pace. Ideally I wanted closer to the 7:30 min/mile region for the tempo section, but it was such hard work, and I settled for just trying to log some sub 8 min/mile splits. I managed this feat; but even that was not easy, and it felt at times like I was running against sheer resistance!

WEDNESDAY: a midweek ten miler is always a sign for me that marathon training is getting serious. The wind persisted, although slightly less strong, which meant a few miles were a bit more challenging than they should have been. I kept my pace easy though, focusing on mileage and form rather than speed. 

THURSDAY: my interval session for the week was a due to be hill repeats and this coincided perfectly with a hill session we had planned at Run Club. After a mile warm up it was then into a very challenging block of hill repeats, sprinting as fast as possible up a steep incline and recovering on the downhill. We completed four sets of 8 minutes and as each set passed I could feel my legs tiring and having to push myself more to maintain pace. It was tough and certainly not a session I would have attempted without the support and motivation of being in a club environment. A recovery jog home left me with 5 more miles in the legs - and ready for tomorrow's rest day! 
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FRIDAY: Rest Day

SATURDAY: my efforts during Thursday's hill session were still in my legs today; I was a little tight and stiff. I gave parkrun my best shot, but I think I knew I would need fresher legs to really be challenging a good time. The wind was also starting to build again and the rain started to lash as I made my way around Lincoln's Boultham Park - Dennis the Menace announcing his arrival! I finished in 21:21, which I think was the best my body was capable of this particular week. 

SUNDAY: during the night I had been woken by the wind howling and rain splattering violently against my window, and as I buried deeper into my duvet I thought to myself that planning a long run on Sunday was probably a stupid thing to do. The only reassurance I sought was from the fact I knew I would be running with some of my friends from Run Club; their planned race had been postponed, so their loss had actually meant I gained some much welcomed long run company (and a place at the rearranged Stamford 30k for next week!) Meeting up with my long run crew on Sunday morning the wind had actually settled a little and the rain had stopped; maybe we were not so crazy after all! In fact, throughout the vast majority of the 19 miles we completed, the weather was far kinder than we could ever have hoped; some sections were windy, some rain did fall, and certain paths were very wet and boggy, but it could have been so much worse! 19 miles is my longest run yet of this training cycle, but it did not feel it; the company and chat meant the miles flew by, and my legs really felt strong. By the end of the run I was tired, but still had more to give. My overriding emotion was actually contentment rather than fatigue; it is amazing what an enjoyable few hours chatting and doing what I love with like minded friends can result it. Dennis certainly did not defeat us!
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London Marathon Training: Week 5

2/9/2020

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Another week has passed, and I will be honest, it has flown by! It has been a very busy week for me work wise and I knew I would need to make conscious effort not just to get my running in, but also to make sure I looked after myself. It is something very easy to let slip in the whirlwind that is life - let alone when you throw in running 40 odd miles a week into the mix!

MONDAY: Body Pump class

TUESDAY: rather than a form of interval run, this week my plan specified 7 miles of fartlek aka 'speed play' (I learnt this way back in GCSE PE!) On runs like these I tend to plan a hillier route which naturally demands my body to work harder on different gradients/run at different speeds. I quite enjoyed the change, and I personally find it much more effective way of approaching fartlek training than just running and trying to make myself go faster on certain streets etc. 

WEDNESDAY: Tuesday had a been a long day work-wise; I got to work for 8:30am and arrived home just before 9pm. When my alarm went of this morning to run I just did not feel refreshed, physically I probably could have ran, but mentally I was tired. I was not due to be working in the evening, so decided to try an evening run. Post work it was then a different story, mentally I felt much more recharged to take on 8 miles, but physically I was weary from a busy day. My 8 miles were supposed to be slow/recovery, and it was just as well, as I could not have upped my pace from a steady plod even if I wanted to!

THURSDAY: it was track night at Run Cub tonight, so I was pleased to allow my body the extra recovery and to be able run in the evening again. I am much more of a morning runner, but with club it is different as the inspiration and motivation of others pushes me. Having said this, after another full on day at work, as I sat in my car at the track I felt I had no energy, a weary mind and it was also flipping freezing! I did not feel 'up' for the session, and even less so when the pyramid set we were running was outlined to me; it was tough. This is when the magic of running kicked in though; as soon as I started to run everything was forgotten and suddenly I became focused on just me and my strides. I slotted in with a few other club mates and  we tackled a 1600m, 1200m, 800m, 400m, 200m, 100m descending pyramid, with 400m recovery in between each distance. Together we kept a strong pace throughout and I was really pleased with my splits. I left the track feeling energised and strong, very different to how I arrived. 

FRIDAY: Rest Day
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SATURDAY: my original plan for this week was to, as usual, run my long run on a Sunday. I was already dreading this a little though as I was due at work for 10am, which would mean needing to be out the house for 6am and getting up at 4am to eat... slightly crazy I know. I was then alerted to the predicted arrival of Storm Ciara on Sunday with a threat of 'danger to life' winds. It was all sounding a little dire! Thankfully I was saved by the offer of a long run on Saturday; and it turned out to be a really good alternative in many ways. Some of you may have read in past blogs that my workplace, Lincoln City Foundation (who I love working for even though sometimes I am very busy!), have partnered with Curly's Athletes to hold the Lincoln City Half Marathon in September 2020 (more info here: www.lincolncityhalfmarathon.co.uk) On Friday, one of the guys at Curly's said they were coming to Lincoln to try the parkrun and did I fancy doing a recce of the half marathon route after wards. It may as well have been a rhetorical question! So that is what I did; I ran my Lincoln parkrun (in a conservative 24 minutes, which was actually really enjoyable) and then headed out for 13 more miles testing out the event route - which will all be revealed in the forthcoming weeks! I loved running with someone and the distance flew by, and it was also exciting to imagine thousands of people running these steps in a few months time. I ran quicker than my normal long run pace of late, around the 8:20 min/mile marker but felt really strong. I loved the route too - but maybe I am slightly bias!

SUNDAY: with 3 miles left to run this week I had the intention of getting these logged before going to work. However, Storm Ciara sounded scarily violent outside my window and I decided to wait until later in the day and review the conditions. When I got home later on it was still very windy, however I was mentally a bit worn out from a sixth day at work and I really just needed some form of release and I guess some 'me time'. I laced up for 3 easy miles, with my pace very much dictated by the wind direction! It was what I needed and a nice way to end a busy but rewarding week. ​
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London Marathon Training: Week 4

2/2/2020

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Four weeks of training logged and 40 more miles of running achieved this week.  A few people have asked me how my training is going and I can only speak positively. I also feel a change in myself this marathon cycle; I feel more relaxed about training, and whilst I am pushing hard in the physical running sessions, away from pounding the streets, I am calmer in my mind, more content and just generally happier. It is a balance in past years I openly admit I may have lacked a little. 

MONDAY: Body Pump class

TUESDAY: I was eager to attempt my intervals today as I was giving my new trainers their first run out. I had 6 miles with 6 x 800m reps on the plan and really enjoyed it; I have found a nice stretch of pavement which I can run in loops, and whilst some may find this boring, I like being able to just focus on the session. My trainers felt great and I hit good splits for the interval reps, the majority sub 7:30 min/mile pace.

WEDNESDAY: I was joined by my sister and her boyfriend for this morning's just over 7 mile recovery run, as they were staying with me in Lincoln to deliver a sport science presentation to my Run Club. It was good to have company, especially over chatty, easier miles, and it helped to make recovery miles feel a little less laborious and was much easier to keep pace under control. 

THURSDAY: a day of two runs; up first, my own 5 mile tempo run, with the middle 3 miles hitting half marathon pace. Later it was my turn to lead at Run Club and I had a hill session planned, incorporating loops to challenge all members (see image). I love taking my turn to lead; it is not abut my own miles (although I do log some of course!) and I genuinely get real joy from supporting and encouraging others to achieve and progress in their own running goals. 
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FRIDAY: Rest Day

​SATURDAY: a breakthrough in parkrun terms, as I logged a sub 21 minute time again, finishing in 20:53. Importantly, I felt really strong in doing so. For me this shows my training is coming together; time is one thing, but the feeling of power and strength in my body is more satisfying. It is always helped being encouraged by the parkrun volunteers on the course too, and I was lucky to have support on a number of twist and turns around the Lincoln parkrun course today, which helped give me an extra push.

SUNDAY: I am keen to build my endurance base more than ever during this training cycle, so today was another 16 miler, trying to get my body comfortable with running for longer. I felt strong for the vast majority of this run, which pleased me, and I did not look at my watch and just let my legs turn rhythmically around. I had a couple of miles where my legs tightened, but towards the end I felt like I could even have pushed the pace a little more. I averaged exactly the same time as last week, 8.30 min/mile, and the consistency in my longer runs is also a marker of progress in my mind. ​
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