Sunday, March 30, 2008

Tuning up

Two week to go today!

I chose the lower mileage, fast pace option for this weeks running.

Total 62.46km @ 4:44

Monday - 10k @ 4:38 -6k progression from MP to tempo pace
Tuesday - 10.4K @ 4:57 recovery
Thursday - 11.3k @4:32. 7k tempo @ 4:10. Felt great, cruising at 4:10s could have gone on
Friday 10.4k @ 4:50 recovery
Sunday 20.2k @ 4:43. Went a little faster than intended - mixed up end of daylight saving so went out an hour early. Ran alone and got sucked in to running the second 10k at MP.

Anyway. Speed has been tuned up a bit. Looking for similar week this week, although more MP and shorter long run.

Bring it on!!

Sunday, March 23, 2008

last big(-ish) week

80k this week - taper begins

Tues 10.4k recovery @ 4:58
Wed 10.3k @ 4:32 - included 4k tempo 4:10s jog then 2k 4:00s
Thurs 10.5k @ 5:00 recovery
Friday 13.4k @ 4:54 with hill rpts on Bold Park
Sat 10.6k@ 4:55 recovery
Sun 25k approx 4:55. Ran with Rob and we cut it short today. Certainly felt fairly heavy in the legs after the weeks 2 quality sessions and some pretty heavy work aroung the garden preparing to open our home for sale next weekend.

Much discussion with Rob re taper, what sessions to include, especially this week 3rd week out. ?shorten distance and maintain pace. ?easy runs most days. ?how long to go next weekend.

The books I've read seem to be sending mixed messages- firstly saying that the best results are seen with doing less running in the last 14-21 days, but then putting hard sessions in their programmes.

We'll see. It's been a good preparation and I don't want to ruin it by doing too much in the last couple of weeks.

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Nearly there

A somewhat frustrating week last week - had the energy but not the time.

Prime example was Friday - got home from work 6pm, due to leave for dinner 630. I raced out the door to do a 20 min VO2max session which was probably of little enefit and large risk.

Saturday was 8 hours in the garden putting a new lawn in and putting gravel down the side - I guess thats cross training.

Anyway - 75.1k in 4:51 average

Mon 10.13@5:03 recovery
Tues 10.27@4:38 with 7k at tempo/subtempo
Thurs 16.96@4:50 hilly longer midweek run last 10k at MP
Fri 4.5k@4:16 - 9x300m intervals
Sun 33.2k@4:57 - slower long run. first 20k with Rob who was recovering from virus. Felt great

Seven 30k+ runs now, probably one more next Sunday before commencing a taper.

Sunday, March 09, 2008

5 weeks to go!

85.5km this week in 4:48 average.

Felt pretty heavy in the legs all week, essentially did no quality work, just plodded through.

Mon 11.25@ 4:48
Tues 10.17@4:59
Wed 10.32@ 4:57
Thurs 10.66@4:53
Sat 12.94@4:50
Sun 30.18@4:39

This mornings run was the exception. Rob & I went out intending to do 24k at MP. My legs were still heavy so we started off pretty slowly, but gradually wound up the pace. After a first 4k at about 5min/k the remaining 26 were at 4:36's average. A few stretching stops for Rob's hamstring were the only interruptions. I felt pretty good at the end although the legs were beaten up a bit, and I declined the cooldown jog with Rob and headed home for an afternoon of gardening.

30k run with 26 at MP - bit of a confidence booster!

Sunday, March 02, 2008

Sniffles

In a manner I should have predicted, I developed sore throat and nasal congestion after last Sunday's 36k effort. This has been a pattern anytime I run half marathon or longer at anything faster than easy pace.

Research reveals I am not the only one. A significant percentage of runners get these symptoms after a long run or race (47% after one Ultra). It may not be infection but rather an allergic type process, although the immune system does dip after a sustained hard effort.

So what to do? I need to do some runs of this type in a mara buildup. Vitamin C has some beneficial effect and I will certainly make that a more regular thing. I also think I have previously been a bit too reserved in running with these symptoms. But as I know all too well, I continue to push too hard at some times when I shouldn't, but feel good.

So on to this week. Took Monday and Wed off due to symptoms, and only did one 'quality' session - 6k tempo on friday. Todays long run was controlled. I wanted to run shorter with some periods at MP. Once again a very humid morning made things tough.

Tues 10.3k @ 4:55min/km
Thurs 10.3k @ 4:50
Fri 10k @ 4:27 with 6k tempo 4:15
Sat 10.3k @ 4:56
Sun 27.5k @4:53. 1st 12k 5:00s,3k @4:45s, 4k @ 4:35s, last 8k 4:50-5:00s

So a quieter period continues - but last 9 weeks average 83.3k per week, versus 42.7 for the equivalent leadup weeks to Perth Mara last year!Only 3 hard training weeks to go!!