Some final thoughts before I start my official marathon training.
Tired legs & SC
This is new to me, but with my return to running I’m discovering tired legs. If I run longer distances (and by longer distances I mean anything above 5-6km), my legs get really weary. In my previous running life this was never an issue. Maybe because by the time I got to doing longer distances back then, my legs were already accustomed to the pounding. Or maybe it’s muscle loss due to my – ahem – age.
But it means I am going to need to prioritise strength training,
which I always said I would do after how much it helped me two years ago when I
was on a training plan with Own Your Run.
It’s not something I’m good at, it feels like time consuming enough committing to a marathon training plan, but to then find time for more exercise. At the same time I want to do everything I can to get me through the distance, and I need to keep reminding myself of that.
Hills
I was fortunate to get to spend most of December in Bristol.
Which is brill. But which has been a real challenge to my running, mainly because
Bristol is full on hills! Prior to going
I knew it was going to be tough; its always tough getting out the door for a
run, but if you know you’re surrounded by hills its even more daunting.
So in November I found the only hills near me and forced
myself up them in prep. Did it work?
Well yes and no. Yes I got out and ran, less than I wanted
but more than perhaps I would have done if I hadn’t been training for a
marathon. I did struggle with the hills
big time, in all my runs I don’t think I made it up them in one go.
But on the plus side, despite all the walking, my times/paces
have been pretty good. I know from my Clapham
days that hills are brilliant for fitness. And I know that my running on the
flat times have increased the last few weeks (quite often I look at my watch whilst running I’m in the
low 7mkm/6.45+ mkm paces). So I know it’s going to have served me well when I’m
back on the flat. On the other hand, now I’ve built up some hill training I’ve
got to keep it up. So often what scares me about running in new places is the
fear of inclines (and I’m not talking mountains here, I feel every mm of an
incline when I’m running) so I want to keep up the hills. I think a few Richmond
park sessions will be on the cards.
New year’s reso’s
It can be controversial, but I like new year, I feel like it’s
a good time stamp to say goodbye to things and hello to things (my birthday is
in June so I feel the same way about that date). This year I have made new year’s
resolutions, not all running related, but I feel like I should log the running
(fitness related ones here).
·
At least one S&C session a week (52 in
total)
·
Complete a marathon (obvs)
·
Trail run race (after the marathon just in case
I break my neck)
·
More park runs; I’ve not done a park run for
almost 6 years – I’m not the biggest fan of them (too many people) but I want
to do some as a way of running in new places, without thinking about the
routes.
·
Blog each week of my Marathon Training.
Let’s see how many of those I can tick off in 365 days.
