Sydney Marathon Training: Week 2

It has been an interesting week - running has been good, bad, happy, frustrating, hard and enjoyable all across a seven day period. 

MONDAY: I started the week with the second session in my latest block of Strength and Conditioning for Runners. It was a really muggy evening and I found as I ran and exercised my chest and consequently breathing felt a little congested. The session focused on some arm drill work and I left with a mission to try to improve my running style - which I know quite often resembles a chicken, with my arms splayed out from my side and crossing over my chest literally like bird wings!

TUESDAY: early morning intervals of 6 miles with 3 x 1 mile reps. Fresh in my mind from last night's session I really focused on my arm drive. This focus helped take my mind away from over-analysing my breathing, which still did not feel quite right. I logged intervals of 7.19, 7.13 and 7.17 min/mile pace, which I was pleased were relatively consistent.

WEDNESDAY: a steady 6 miles with sub 8 min/mile splits throughout. My breathing still felt almost wheezy though, especially in the warm conditions, which was a concern. 

THURSDAY: another 6 miles, this time split across two runs. I ran a quicker 2 miles to the gym for a Body Pump class - 7:47 min/mile pace - and then a steadier 4 miles back at just over 8 min/mile pace. Even though I felt tired, I still tried to focus on my arm drive and running form. 

FRIDAY: Rest Day, and a trip to the Doctors to get my chest and breathing examined. Ever since I lost my voice a few weeks ago, I have struggled a little with my breathing, but now it had really started to affect me. My lost voice was likely to be due to a virus, which the doctor informed me now seemed to have left me with some asthma like side effects in my chest. I left with an inhaler to use for the next two weeks to try shift this lingering nuisance and return my breathing to normal. 

SATURDAY: a physically and mentally tough Lincoln parkrun. I just could never catch my breath as I tried to run fast and I felt like I was gasping for air. Mentally I also got a little anxious with how much I seemed to be struggling. I slowed, probably both consciously and subconsciously, and crossed the line in my slowest time for a long while; 21:54. It was frustrating, but I knew I couldn't have tried any harder, so it was more frustration with my body rather than my performance. 

SUNDAY: some happier miles after yesterday's disappointment. I ran with my friend for the first time in a few weeks, which itself felt great, and running together took my mind off the distance and also my breathing. On a longer steadier run I was pleased I could still chat away to my usual long run levels too! I ran 10 miles with my friend, then added 3 miles on at the end to reach my target 13 mile distance. I felt my legs finished strongly which I was pleased with, and an average pace of 8.21 min/mile was an improvement on last week numerically, but it also felt a lot more comfortable. Now just to try and get my breathing back to more comfortable levels!