Royal Victoria Marathon (9-weeks out)

The calm before the storm; I think that phrase best describes my recent week of training. After a reasonably solid two weeks, I used the last seven days to recoup. Truth be told, I don’t feel like I needed the break. Apart from a tight back (which I’m taking care of – thanks Jaymie), my stride feels comfortable and relaxed, and I’ve been managing to log some decent sleep. I suppose it’s better now than to have it forced upon me.

I have a tendency to take each day as it comes, never looking too far down the road. I believe this to be a good quality, particularly when I’m my own coach. That said, it wasn’t until late in the week then that I noticed what lay out in front of me. Four of the next five weeks are monstrous, the bread and butter of my marathon preparation and they’ve snuck up on my like the damn rabbits to my vegetable garden. Perhaps there was some reasoning behind that scheduled rest?

As for the last few days, well, the week rounded out as it started… with some relaxed easy running. I had considered swapping Saturday’s w/o for a 5k track race on Friday evening, but when my sister volunteered to baby-sit, Ally and I took the opportunity to get out of the house (together) for what felt like the first time in months, perhaps longer.

Saturday morning rolled around then, and it was with some trepidation that I drove down to the Oak Bay Track and started a light warm-up. Three weeks earlier I had run a similar session, only this time around I was to add another repeat, 5x1200m at 5k pace.

I don’t know why, but I was nervous about starting the workout. I jogged on the spot for a moment, shook my shoulders out, toed the line and the rest was history. In the end, the session turned out to be quite boring or at least to dull to write much about. I felt like I had a metronome beating inside me, and very uncharacteristically for me chose not to check my splits. Rather I concentrated on a controlled comfortable effort and when I finished I felt I could’ve run at least one more: 3:59, 4:00, 3:57, 4:00, 3:59.

The highlight of the week though was yesterday morning. Carter picked me up and we drove out to Thetis for a great trail run. I can’t remember the last time I was out there, obviously too long.

Here’s to the week ahead and a some solid running, happy trails!

Training:

Wednesday: easy 42:02

Thursday: easy 43:48

Friday: steady 57:02

Saturday: 1:07:55 with 5x1200m (400m) 5kP

Sunday: easy 1:19:40

Weekly mileage: 5h36’43”, +/- 78k or 49 miles

Cruel and Unusual

With Ally away this weekend at a hen party, Isla and I have been given complete run of the house. Papa gets to watch his choice of movie while nursing a cold beer and the wee one can enjoy plums and blueberries to her heart’s content. Sadly, without the extra pair of hands the prospect of me getting out for a run let alone a workout on Saturday was doubtful. Sunday, even less likely. With this in mind, I took advantage of a late start at work and squeezed in a track session early this morning.

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Surprisingly, as I drove toward Oak Bay, it felt as if every ounce of energy was being sucked from my body. The enthusiasm I displayed as I slid out of the car was reminiscent of a child at bedtime. Completing a solid workout was in doubt.

As I sat on the bleachers lacing up my flats, I watched Seamus was finish-up his workout. He didn’t look nearly as fluid as when he was knocking off a multitude of 27” 200s a few weeks back, and we concluded that there must be something in the air… I had my out. If Seamus couldn’t run well that morning, why should I begin?

Not wanting to delay the inevitable, I decided to forgo the usual strides and hopped straight into the first repeat. It was half way through the first lap that the right-hand side of my back seized, completely taking my breath away. I cruised for a few strides, trying to decide whether to pull the plug but my determination (stupidity) won out and I carried on.

Although I could feel the strain during the remaining intervals, running didn’t seem to make it any worse. I stretched my back during each recovery, would toe the line and then run a controlled 1200. The consistency was uncanny: 4:01, 4:01, 3:59, 3:59

Typically in a session like this, I would split the first 200 in :37, complete the 400 in 1:22 and have to sprint to make up a 3-4” deficit on the last lap. Today, I split almost every 400 on 80” and was surprised how relaxed I felt, particularly during each closing lap. Welcome to the weekend.

P.s. My back is now worse and the idea of chasing around a highly energetic 15 month old child is going to be a challenge.

Training:

Thursday: easy 45:31

Friday: 1:07:35 with 4x1200m 5kP (400m)