Especially when you're training for a marathon and you're still enthused and feeling good! I've had a couple of people say in the last couple of months ... oh, wait until you get to those monster weeks and you just can't be bothered getting out and running. Well, maybe I'm not at those weeks yet, but I'm still eager and enthused to get out and run every morning. I love feeling stronger, I love seeing my pace get faster, I'm loving the challenge.
Okay, alot of that gushing might be to do with the fact the last two runs have been great, throw in a bad one I might not be quite so gushy! LOL
Long Run Sunday - 24km
My furtherest run to date, but then again the next 10 weeks will have lots of those! I was supposed to run with Deirdre, but first of all I had to change to the afternoon because we took our oldest son into his new living arrangements (life as a varsity student!) and helped him move in, I kinda figured that huge moment in his life (and ours) was probably more important than running my long run in the morning when I'd like to. Anyway, we planned to meet at 2.00pm and run then. Deirdre rang me at about 11am in a fluster, they were having unexpected visitors that she couldn't get out of being there for so was rushing out of the house to go do her run then. Which left me on my own later in the day. Originally I'd kinda planned we'd run down the beach, because I know Deirdre likes that run, and I'm all for trying something new (and not being so bossy and anal all the time!). When I was on my own I decided to stick to where I knew and ran the river trail twice, it is about 10km long so with the 2km from home to the start of it and back again, that made my 24.
First Km I was frustrated, I was trying a new hydration pack (I usually carry a drink bottle which is really annoying), I had the pack to loose and it kept dropping off my shoulder AND my ipod was only playing in one ear. I stopped at about a half km to try and fix them - pretty unsuccessfully. I carried on, feeling rather annoyed ... by the time I got to the river I still hadn't fixed them but decided I'd cope until I got to the Main Road bridge where I was planning to stop and drink and have a gel anyway. By the time I hit the second walkbridge (about 5.5k from home) I was in a rhythm and feeling great. The Main Road bridge is the turning point for the river run (over the bridge and back down the other side of the river), so about 7km from home. I took the pack off tried to tighten it (but still not enough), had a drink, had a gel and was off again. For some reason, probably a totally mental thing, I love running down the return side of this trail, I always feel good :) I think I sped up a wee bit and was really enjoying the run. I'd also talked myself successfully into knowing that once I got to the main walkway bridge I'd have a quick walk and drink over and I'd be halfway then it was just up the one side and then back down the "fun" side and only 2km home after that. It wasn't until I got to the second walkway bridge again (about 15k) that I started feeling at all tired. Then it was just that 1.5km (which is the worst part of the run, lots of big river rocks along the trail that I'm always really scared I'm going to twist an ankle on) up to the Main Road Bridge. I walked across there again, again having a drink and my 2nd gel and then it was the "fun" side of the river back down to the start again. Made it to the walk bridge no problem, walked across and had a drink and then just had the 2km home. I'd be lying if I said that 2km was easy, but it wasn't too bad! Got home, and all finished - a great run. It took me 2:32 with an average pace of 6:21/km, I think I actually ran the second half faster than the first, which is good for me the serial start too fast runner!
I was pretty stiff the rest of the evening (and yes, rolled my eyes at unfit husband who was complaining HIS legs hurt because of the six flights of stairs we went up and down a few times while moving David into his new home). The worst thing was I kept waking up during the night with sore legs, what is with that? I'm thinking blood circulation or something? Woke up yesterday morning and my legs felt great ... bit stiff, but definitely not "sore".
Today - Tempo Run - 6.5km
Once again, this went well, I'm amazed I can run a long run Sunday and then find my legs all ready to go again on the Tuesday morning.
Fastest overall pace yet 5:23/km (35:17 for the whole run).
See? How can I not be enthused?
Remind me of my happy Pollyanna attitude when I'm moaning after a bad run!
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Survived!
Last week at Weight Watchers when we went around at the end to find out our week's goals ... I said "survive" ... I knew last week was going to be a busy one! I worked 8.30-5.00 on Tuesday, and then had a Stamping (card making) class at my house on Tuesday night, the usual delivering and folding the kids' pamphletts for their paper run on Monday, as well as organising class so I could come straight home on Tuesday and be ready. Wednesday I was in work early (I swear that either the women I work with have very low immune systems or are very good at making the most of their sick leave!), Thursday was pretty normal busyiness and yesterday I worked from 8.30-5.00 again. *phew*, I made it through the week in one piece though! I must admit, that eating wise I kinda lost the plot this week, I just couldn't be bothered ... and the fact that eating right is still such hard work, shows I have a long way to go. Actually, my weight stayed about the same all week, so that is fine - I didn't really "blow out" I just didn't eat "losing weight" good.
When I got up this morning and found that the girls' cricket was cancelled, I thought today might be a quietish day, but as the day goes on (and its only just after 10.00am) it is already looking like logistics muddle ... there is a good reason I call myself "Queen of Juggling"! I have delivering to do, which will probably take just over two hours, not too many at all, but I need to bike over the river and right to the other side of Waikanae Beach. But finding those two hours is looking complicated. Cameron needs to be dropped off at cricket at 12.30, which means I can't go now (which probably means I should hop in the shower, I was going to run, breakfast, bike and be home for a nice free afternoon), I need to do some shopping, a few last minute things for Mr 18yo who is leaving tomorrow and a hydration backpack ... which I want before tomorrow's long run. So its looking like cricket drop off, shopping, then home to do delivering - getting home in time to go out to dinner at 6.30. Last family dinner before Mr 18yo leaves! Such, is the story of my life. In fact, I've just realised that Cameron is at cricket, Josh is going to a party which means my two babysitters aren't home this afternoon ... hopefully David Jnr (18yo) is going to be, otherwise I won't be going anywhere! ... so next time a well meaning person says something like "gosh, isn't it amazing how you can fit something into your life if you really want to", can I hit them? (oh, and DH is working today)
Anyway, enough with the rambling.
This morning I ran 11km at Marathon Pace - it is really windy out there today, but running slower you don't seem to notice it as much! 1:07:21 (6:07/km).
Tomorrow is 24km - we're running it at 2.00pm, I never run at any other time except the morning, so I'm a bit nervous about it being hotter and my body not being used to it ... but it should be fine. It's another juggly day, David wants to be in at his hostel at about 10-11am and I'd like to see him off into the big wide world, so it was either leave really early to run (about 6.00am) - which actually, would have been my first choice, but Deirdre isn't a morning person plus her hubby wants to bike with his biking group at 8.00am anyway so afternoon worked better. Cameron is playing a rep match tomorrow which I was hoping to see some of, but that isn't looking likely at this stage!
Okay, off to find that shower ...
When I got up this morning and found that the girls' cricket was cancelled, I thought today might be a quietish day, but as the day goes on (and its only just after 10.00am) it is already looking like logistics muddle ... there is a good reason I call myself "Queen of Juggling"! I have delivering to do, which will probably take just over two hours, not too many at all, but I need to bike over the river and right to the other side of Waikanae Beach. But finding those two hours is looking complicated. Cameron needs to be dropped off at cricket at 12.30, which means I can't go now (which probably means I should hop in the shower, I was going to run, breakfast, bike and be home for a nice free afternoon), I need to do some shopping, a few last minute things for Mr 18yo who is leaving tomorrow and a hydration backpack ... which I want before tomorrow's long run. So its looking like cricket drop off, shopping, then home to do delivering - getting home in time to go out to dinner at 6.30. Last family dinner before Mr 18yo leaves! Such, is the story of my life. In fact, I've just realised that Cameron is at cricket, Josh is going to a party which means my two babysitters aren't home this afternoon ... hopefully David Jnr (18yo) is going to be, otherwise I won't be going anywhere! ... so next time a well meaning person says something like "gosh, isn't it amazing how you can fit something into your life if you really want to", can I hit them? (oh, and DH is working today)
Anyway, enough with the rambling.
This morning I ran 11km at Marathon Pace - it is really windy out there today, but running slower you don't seem to notice it as much! 1:07:21 (6:07/km).
Tomorrow is 24km - we're running it at 2.00pm, I never run at any other time except the morning, so I'm a bit nervous about it being hotter and my body not being used to it ... but it should be fine. It's another juggly day, David wants to be in at his hostel at about 10-11am and I'd like to see him off into the big wide world, so it was either leave really early to run (about 6.00am) - which actually, would have been my first choice, but Deirdre isn't a morning person plus her hubby wants to bike with his biking group at 8.00am anyway so afternoon worked better. Cameron is playing a rep match tomorrow which I was hoping to see some of, but that isn't looking likely at this stage!
Okay, off to find that shower ...
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Quick Catch Up
Very quick (lucky I type fast!) ... thought I should update somewhat in case anyone thought I'd got lost on my long run or something!
So after my mammoth delivering/biking effort on Saturday, Sunday was long run day - 22.5km, the furtherst I'd run! and actually it wasn't so bad, it took us 2:26 which was pretty slow, but slow is what I'm supposed to be aiming for on the long runs, so all good. My only slight worry is that I was definitely tired and done by the end of it, and really it was only a km and a bit more than a half marathon, so I hope I can go faster without it ending badly at next weeks half marathon. My legs were definitely tired during the run, I felt good breathing/fitness wise, but my legs definitely struggled. So got home, rather tired, dehydration headache (bad me, I've been good up until now at avoiding that) and then had to go out later in the afternoon for what turned out to be another two hours on my bike. Actually, that was probably the best thing, my legs felt good after that - biking definitely loosens those muscles!
Monday was cross training - NO delivering (explains the big amount over the weekend), I did my spin class that night - I looked after my legs a bit there, I didn't put as much into as I could have :)
Tuesday I tried a "proper" tempo run - 6.5km, 1st km warm up, then approx 4km fast and then 1.5km warm down. It all went good except I didn't really slow down that much for the last 1.5km! But I did my first "longer than 5km" run under 5:30/km - yay me :)
Yesterday was my mid-week longish run, 11km 1:01:43 - felt pretty good, I'm feeling strong :)
Today is up the Maungatooks for my hillwork. It will be a slow hard one, my calf muscle is feeling quite tight and I know I'm tired ... we'll take it as it comes :)
Right, girls are waiting for their lunches to be made!
Oh! and big relief, DH got paid half of what he is owed ... enough to pay the extra curriculum activities (girls' dancing, gym, Cam's soccer, cricket etc) AND more importantly, I can book accommodation for our trip, yay!
So after my mammoth delivering/biking effort on Saturday, Sunday was long run day - 22.5km, the furtherst I'd run! and actually it wasn't so bad, it took us 2:26 which was pretty slow, but slow is what I'm supposed to be aiming for on the long runs, so all good. My only slight worry is that I was definitely tired and done by the end of it, and really it was only a km and a bit more than a half marathon, so I hope I can go faster without it ending badly at next weeks half marathon. My legs were definitely tired during the run, I felt good breathing/fitness wise, but my legs definitely struggled. So got home, rather tired, dehydration headache (bad me, I've been good up until now at avoiding that) and then had to go out later in the afternoon for what turned out to be another two hours on my bike. Actually, that was probably the best thing, my legs felt good after that - biking definitely loosens those muscles!
Monday was cross training - NO delivering (explains the big amount over the weekend), I did my spin class that night - I looked after my legs a bit there, I didn't put as much into as I could have :)
Tuesday I tried a "proper" tempo run - 6.5km, 1st km warm up, then approx 4km fast and then 1.5km warm down. It all went good except I didn't really slow down that much for the last 1.5km! But I did my first "longer than 5km" run under 5:30/km - yay me :)
Yesterday was my mid-week longish run, 11km 1:01:43 - felt pretty good, I'm feeling strong :)
Today is up the Maungatooks for my hillwork. It will be a slow hard one, my calf muscle is feeling quite tight and I know I'm tired ... we'll take it as it comes :)
Right, girls are waiting for their lunches to be made!
Oh! and big relief, DH got paid half of what he is owed ... enough to pay the extra curriculum activities (girls' dancing, gym, Cam's soccer, cricket etc) AND more importantly, I can book accommodation for our trip, yay!
Saturday, February 6, 2010
I did a Marathon Today
Well, does 4.5hrs on my bike delivering count, its the same amount of time I want to run the marathon in! ... Yeah, four and a half hours, and I didn't finish - that's what I get for taking Thursday off as well as my usual Friday, and a big load of envelopes turning up on Friday. It's going to be a fun long run tomorrow ... I've been drinking lots of water, plus Powerade, I didn't push it at all, kept the bike on a nice low gear for easy riding ... lets hope it all worked!
So my 11k Marathon pace run this morning? It went great! You can see from my Nike+ graph that I was a bit up and down trying to keep the pace the same, but overall it came out at 6:10/km which is about what I was aiming for. It was a nice run, I was able to sing along to my ipod and just enjoy, not that I don't enjoy my other runs, but there is something about running slower and easier that makes for a nice run :)
Tomorrow, 22.5k (14mile) ... will be the longest I've run (as will most Sunday's long runs from now on), Deirdre and I are running together ... we both agreed to go out half an hour later, I found it hard getting up this morning and feel I need a bit extra sleep, she is going out to a party tonight and is expecting to feel it in the morning. I think we'll both be happy to go slow tomorrow, me because I've probably over done it, her because she will be probably slightly dehydrated, fine pair we will be!
I still have about an hour or so delivering to go so I'm going to have to drag my tired legs out later tomorrow to do that as well, after I've run. I tell ya, if it wasn't for the ice cream and apple slice I had for "lunch" at about 4.00pm after I finished on my bike, with all that exercise I should look like a stick!
So my 11k Marathon pace run this morning? It went great! You can see from my Nike+ graph that I was a bit up and down trying to keep the pace the same, but overall it came out at 6:10/km which is about what I was aiming for. It was a nice run, I was able to sing along to my ipod and just enjoy, not that I don't enjoy my other runs, but there is something about running slower and easier that makes for a nice run :)
Tomorrow, 22.5k (14mile) ... will be the longest I've run (as will most Sunday's long runs from now on), Deirdre and I are running together ... we both agreed to go out half an hour later, I found it hard getting up this morning and feel I need a bit extra sleep, she is going out to a party tonight and is expecting to feel it in the morning. I think we'll both be happy to go slow tomorrow, me because I've probably over done it, her because she will be probably slightly dehydrated, fine pair we will be!
I still have about an hour or so delivering to go so I'm going to have to drag my tired legs out later tomorrow to do that as well, after I've run. I tell ya, if it wasn't for the ice cream and apple slice I had for "lunch" at about 4.00pm after I finished on my bike, with all that exercise I should look like a stick!
Friday, February 5, 2010
A few thoughts
Rest day today, love rest day! (actually, sadly, I'm starting to miss running on a rest day ... my husband must be right, I'm addicted!).
Anyway, a few things on my mind ...
Ha Ha! About 20yrs ago when I was a lot thinner and Dianna was just a bit bigger we used to get mistaken as each other all the time (she is 6yrs older than me, so not sure if its a compliment to me!) ... then she got thinner (we're about the same build, but she is about 52kg (115lb)), and I got fatter and it didn't happen quite as much ... now I'm not as fat, its starting to happen again.
Tomorrow is Marathon Pace day ... we'll see how that goes - I've given girls' cricket duties to Husband, I also have a s**tload of delivering to do, so the plan is to run and then go out on my bike, I suspect it is a good four hours worth ... probably not the best thing to do before Sunday's long run but I don't really want to do them afterwards so I haven't got a lot of choice, I'll take it easy and hope that it doesn't tire me out too much before Sunday.
Anyway, a few things on my mind ...
- Weigh in day today. 69.5, finally at the bottom end of where I've been for the last 12 weeks, hopefully I can get below that now. I've been thinking about my eating and I'm going to try and make a few changes, actually sticking totally to WW points would help, I have too many little cheats that I like to deny to myself are happening.
- I'm obsessing over the 2011 Disney Marathon ... seriously, I've said it before, how amazing would it be to run 42km on the day of your birthday that you turn 42yo, and then even more amazing if it was at a place like Disney? I told my husband last night that we should take the kids to Disneyland next summer holidays, then threw in the idea that perhaps I'd run a marathon at the same time. So obsessed that I've looked at the entry page and wondered if I should just enter and then worry about details later ... oh yeah, I still haven't actually run a marathon yet, I might swear never to do another one after London! Oh and, 2 adults, 4 adult fared children and one child fare = BIG money ... but still, how amazing would it be?
- Here's the Facebook message my older sister left me yesterday -
"hi just had to tell you something before I go grocery shopping...I was running this afternoon and a lady in one of those kapiti health white cars stopped me..she was quite excited...she said to me " youre Lisa arnt you? Youre running London Marathon, I saw your write up in paper"..I then told her no im not you that im ...your sister...she was surprised and asked me if i was going to london with you...i said no that youre taking your hubby....funny...come to think of it i have had people say hi to me lately and i dont know them..lol"
Ha Ha! About 20yrs ago when I was a lot thinner and Dianna was just a bit bigger we used to get mistaken as each other all the time (she is 6yrs older than me, so not sure if its a compliment to me!) ... then she got thinner (we're about the same build, but she is about 52kg (115lb)), and I got fatter and it didn't happen quite as much ... now I'm not as fat, its starting to happen again.
Tomorrow is Marathon Pace day ... we'll see how that goes - I've given girls' cricket duties to Husband, I also have a s**tload of delivering to do, so the plan is to run and then go out on my bike, I suspect it is a good four hours worth ... probably not the best thing to do before Sunday's long run but I don't really want to do them afterwards so I haven't got a lot of choice, I'll take it easy and hope that it doesn't tire me out too much before Sunday.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Four down, one to go ...
That is children, out of the house to their respective education facilities! Got to say my 18yo who is the last one to return to school (as I type he is just coming home to disturb my lovely, first time in seven weeks, quiet house). Anyway Mr 18yo is off to university this year and is driving me nuts ... even though we've talked (and yes, nagged and nagged) about saving money for the last couple of years he has been way more interested in socialising etc than actually saving. So now, its crunch time ... and of course for some reason its all my fault. I think I'm supposed to be sad, or something, about him leaving home in a week ... but after having more words, again, this morning ... well I can't see me missing him in a hurry, sad yes that the first one is leaving, sad that he is going to go live in a hostel with four other people who might just get annoyed at the same things I do (dishes that don't go in the dishwasher, towels that get dropped on the floor etc)? no! He needs it. To remind me that we're not really bad parents and a most of it is down to personality? The other four seem more than capable at saving money and picking up after themselves!
Anyway ... I needed to get that off my chest ... and I bet you thought this was a running blog!
So on to running ... THANK YOU Morgan and Andrew for your comments - Morgan you had me in a slight panic, tempo? speed? hills? Eeeek! I'm just concentrating on getting the miles in LOL But actually when I look at my running week, I DO do a tempo run each week, usually at least one of my short run days I concentrate on pushing myself and seeing how fast I can run it ... I went and read up on tempo running, and although I'm not doing it exactly right, I am pretty much doing what I should be *phew*. As for hills, I've got slack, and knew that before you commented, and fixed it today (more on that later). Andrew, I always like your perspective, I think we've come from the same "place" so its always good to hear what you've got to say :) Anyway, with the pace thing - I'm going to try and run my 11k on Saturday at 6:10/km pace ... this is probably a bit faster than marathon pace, but I want to see how it feels and I'll be making sure we run the 22.5km on Sunday nice and slow. After I've run a half marathon race in a couple of weeks I think I will be able to work out better where I'm at.
This weeks runs?
Tuesday - 6.5km (35:59), tempo run! LOL (next Tuesday I'm going to actually do it properly, run a slower 1km to warm up, 4km pushing it faster and then 1.5km slower to warm down :)).
Wednesday - 11km (1:02:19), probably a little fast, but I tried to stay comfortable the whole run and it all felt good.
Thursday (today) - 8.5km (52:05) - back to my hill work! I had a look and it was 5th of November since I last did this run ... I think I stopped before the half marathon and then never got back into it. So with the kids back at school it is easy to drop them off and then drive up to the carpark and get to it. The last couple of times I did it I managed to run all the way up ... today it was a definite run/walk ... but still faster overall than three months ago. If its a beautiful sunny day next week I'll definitely have to bring my camera ... first 2.5km is rolling valley hills, next 1.8km goes from 50m elevation to 279m elevation ... it is a beautiful view from the top, well worth running up for, but hard work!
Tomorrow is rest day - yay!
Anyway ... I needed to get that off my chest ... and I bet you thought this was a running blog!
So on to running ... THANK YOU Morgan and Andrew for your comments - Morgan you had me in a slight panic, tempo? speed? hills? Eeeek! I'm just concentrating on getting the miles in LOL But actually when I look at my running week, I DO do a tempo run each week, usually at least one of my short run days I concentrate on pushing myself and seeing how fast I can run it ... I went and read up on tempo running, and although I'm not doing it exactly right, I am pretty much doing what I should be *phew*. As for hills, I've got slack, and knew that before you commented, and fixed it today (more on that later). Andrew, I always like your perspective, I think we've come from the same "place" so its always good to hear what you've got to say :) Anyway, with the pace thing - I'm going to try and run my 11k on Saturday at 6:10/km pace ... this is probably a bit faster than marathon pace, but I want to see how it feels and I'll be making sure we run the 22.5km on Sunday nice and slow. After I've run a half marathon race in a couple of weeks I think I will be able to work out better where I'm at.
This weeks runs?
Tuesday - 6.5km (35:59), tempo run! LOL (next Tuesday I'm going to actually do it properly, run a slower 1km to warm up, 4km pushing it faster and then 1.5km slower to warm down :)).
Wednesday - 11km (1:02:19), probably a little fast, but I tried to stay comfortable the whole run and it all felt good.
Thursday (today) - 8.5km (52:05) - back to my hill work! I had a look and it was 5th of November since I last did this run ... I think I stopped before the half marathon and then never got back into it. So with the kids back at school it is easy to drop them off and then drive up to the carpark and get to it. The last couple of times I did it I managed to run all the way up ... today it was a definite run/walk ... but still faster overall than three months ago. If its a beautiful sunny day next week I'll definitely have to bring my camera ... first 2.5km is rolling valley hills, next 1.8km goes from 50m elevation to 279m elevation ... it is a beautiful view from the top, well worth running up for, but hard work!
Tomorrow is rest day - yay!
Monday, February 1, 2010
Marathon Pace?
Okay, I'm not sure how many marathon runners are reading, but I'll throw the question out there ... Marathon Pace? How do I work it out?
I've studied the McMillan Calculator, I'm aiming for a 4hr30min goal (6:30/km) ... based purely on that is what "I" see as a respectable, first time, runners marathon, believe me I also know that just finishing, at any time will be an accomplishment! But 4hr30min is what I've also put down for London which is where I'll end up when put in corrells etc.
S0, studying the calculator - 4hr30min is probably about right (pretty lucky considering that a few months ago that was pretty much a pie in the sky dream number plucked out of no where!).
Now, studying the Higdon (Intermediate 1) programme I'm following - I'm failing in the pace department, on Saturdays I should be running at marathon pace, I'm not, I'm just running at a comfortable pace which is way faster than marathon pace. Sunday's long run I should be adding 30-45sec on to marathon pace, I can't seem to make myself run that slow (although as I hit longer runs, maybe that becomes easier?).
So, experienced runners I guess I'm asking am I completely failing training by doing what feels comfortable at the time?
I AM going to try and run Saturday's run at marathon pace, I can understand that it is important to get the body to feel the pace and get used to it.
The long runs, I've slowed down, but I'm not sure I want to slow them down any more than I am?
Also, I started running a year ago. As I get fitter and thinner (ha! not much thinner for the last 2-3mths but still working on it!), I get faster and stronger. In two months am I going to be faster and stronger than a 4hr30min marathon? Or is this about where I'll be, because really 2mths isn't long - maybe I should take now as my base line for pace?
I think I'm lacking endurance training, but that could be the nervous, OMG I've got long runs coming up, can I do it? But maybe I'm dreaming about a 4hr30min marathon ... when I hit that 30-42km mark my body could very well fall in a screaming heap and say HAHA what were you thinking, I don't have an extra 12km in me ... and I could very well limp slowly to the end.
So? Suck it up, follow the programme, it works, and stop thinking about it so much?
OR follow how my body feels on the long runs and weekly short runs, but work at marathon pace on Saturdays?
and um, yeah, all of sudden reality is setting in and I'm suddenly scared I'm doing it all wrong!
So - tonight - spinning class, should I admit the mild panic I felt when I rang to book only to find the class was full? Oh no, I have to do that I want the scales to go down, Oh no I have to do it, it is cross training day and the programme said an hours cross training would be good today ... I don't think I'll admit that to my husband, he already thinks I'm now addicted to this running lark - I'd hate him to be right! LOL ... oh and they rang soon after to say someone had rung and cancelled so I've got a spot *phew*.
I've studied the McMillan Calculator, I'm aiming for a 4hr30min goal (6:30/km) ... based purely on that is what "I" see as a respectable, first time, runners marathon, believe me I also know that just finishing, at any time will be an accomplishment! But 4hr30min is what I've also put down for London which is where I'll end up when put in corrells etc.
S0, studying the calculator - 4hr30min is probably about right (pretty lucky considering that a few months ago that was pretty much a pie in the sky dream number plucked out of no where!).
Now, studying the Higdon (Intermediate 1) programme I'm following - I'm failing in the pace department, on Saturdays I should be running at marathon pace, I'm not, I'm just running at a comfortable pace which is way faster than marathon pace. Sunday's long run I should be adding 30-45sec on to marathon pace, I can't seem to make myself run that slow (although as I hit longer runs, maybe that becomes easier?).
So, experienced runners I guess I'm asking am I completely failing training by doing what feels comfortable at the time?
I AM going to try and run Saturday's run at marathon pace, I can understand that it is important to get the body to feel the pace and get used to it.
The long runs, I've slowed down, but I'm not sure I want to slow them down any more than I am?
Also, I started running a year ago. As I get fitter and thinner (ha! not much thinner for the last 2-3mths but still working on it!), I get faster and stronger. In two months am I going to be faster and stronger than a 4hr30min marathon? Or is this about where I'll be, because really 2mths isn't long - maybe I should take now as my base line for pace?
I think I'm lacking endurance training, but that could be the nervous, OMG I've got long runs coming up, can I do it? But maybe I'm dreaming about a 4hr30min marathon ... when I hit that 30-42km mark my body could very well fall in a screaming heap and say HAHA what were you thinking, I don't have an extra 12km in me ... and I could very well limp slowly to the end.
So? Suck it up, follow the programme, it works, and stop thinking about it so much?
OR follow how my body feels on the long runs and weekly short runs, but work at marathon pace on Saturdays?
and um, yeah, all of sudden reality is setting in and I'm suddenly scared I'm doing it all wrong!
So - tonight - spinning class, should I admit the mild panic I felt when I rang to book only to find the class was full? Oh no, I have to do that I want the scales to go down, Oh no I have to do it, it is cross training day and the programme said an hours cross training would be good today ... I don't think I'll admit that to my husband, he already thinks I'm now addicted to this running lark - I'd hate him to be right! LOL ... oh and they rang soon after to say someone had rung and cancelled so I've got a spot *phew*.
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