Training done - only 26.2 miles to go

My training has finished. The weekly long runs are, for now, over. Having managed another 18 mile long run, only the race remains.

Its been a mission. Having woosed out on training over the Christmas/New Year time I had some serious work to do. Fortunately though I think it has all gone alright. Work and social commitments have occasionally got in the way, but to no great effect. Now, after hundred of miles of pounding the streets I have only another 26.2 miles to go. Edinburgh beckons.

Early Scotland v England

As a point of interest/trivia, every year there is a Scotland v England competition as partof the Edinburgh Marathon. Each runner picks their team of choice. Last year Scotland won by 2 minutes 2 seconds. You won't be surprised to hear I am running for Scotland. Let's make it two victories in a row!

Penultimate long run - too hot...

Second last long run before the 26 miler. And I'm still scunnered!

The week had been HOT!! I ran twice at 6am during the week to keep ot of the heat and, hoping to run 18 miles, and my long run was going to be another early start. Waking at 7:30, I took about 40 minute for rehydration before heading out. After 20 minutes warm up I was off.

The aim was 18 miles. And I wanted to head out to meet some friends at 12:00. It was going to be tight. Not wanting to carry any water I had loaded up with cash and set off for my forst watering hole, 6 miles in. I made it and refuelled. This carried on, runing, keeping in the shade as much as possible. Without too much bother I found myself at the 17 mile stage. But I was beginning to tire.

Last mile. I had 15 minutes to fnish within 3 hours, which should not have been a problem. Then I 'hit the wall'. All my muscles screamed with pain. Every movement became an aching mission to move the next step forward. The, to add insult to injury, one of my friends from the running club drove by, slowing down to tell me I wasn't puting in enough effort. Jeez!! I kept quiet and didn't swear. Eventually the next 15 minutes passed and I was home. 18.1 miles, done. Thank goodness that was over.

Now? Time to carbo-load. Pasta and bread frenzy begins.

Bank Holiday - Where's the rain?

I feel wrecked. Another run in the heat-trap that is London. I'm burned, aching and wishing there was more than 20 days until the big one in Edinburgh. And it was a bank holiday! So, where was the crappy, cloudy weather?? I could really have done with it.

Today was the May Day bank holiday. For the benefit of non-UK people, this is the public holiday on May 1 or the first Monday thereafter. Typically it means guaranteed rubbish weather. For a long distance runner from non-tropical Scotland this is far from a bad thing. However, this Monday bucked the trend. Sun and 21oC both appeared as predicted.

Maybe I should have started earlier. Running 11am -1:30pm in the heat was probably a bit stupid. OK, I admit it, really stupid. But I did manage a 17 miles and have a nice glowing tan..., which is nice. Still, it was daft.

Two more long runs to go. Eek!!

17 miles in London heat

What a run! I'm still recovering. After weeks of not really getting any better I've pushed onto 17 miles. And considering the punishing heat I'm quite pleased with this effort.

Now I have 3 more long runs before heading up to Edinburgh. Next week I'm aiming for 18 miles. Having never gone beyond 17.5 miles in training this will be most pleasing. My optimism is growng and hopefully a good race time beckons :)

At last, 16 miles

I did it. I ran a 16 mile training run. It was a bit later than hoped, but now it's done I am confident of at least finishing in Edinburgh. I ran solid for 16 miles in my first marathon - London 2001 - and ever since have related that feat to being sufficiently fit to go the distance. Now to build on that foundation :-) Target: finish in under 4 hours. My PB is 4.01.

This is Battersea Power Station, on the bank of the River Thames. Built in the early 1930s it is now a defunct empty shell. Despite this, it is a listed building and revered London landmark. Seeing this marks the 6 mile point in my favourite long run route.

London Marathon Day

35,000 runners ran the London Mrathon today. Having run in 2001, experienced the superb atmosphere, and been rejected for the past four years, I was slightly envious. But I wasn't ready to run 26 miles, so I wasn't too concerned. Plus, I have the Edinburgh Marathon to worry about.



Having taken a week off because of a sore knee, I needed to do some serious training. The plan had been 16 miles. Nobody was up for the trip to Thames Embankment and back so we headed out to on a 10 mile route southwards, my plan being to add a few miles on at the end.

We set out. How many made it back I won't know until Tuesday (track day). Four of us took the 'wise' decision of taking a detour to add on a few miles and toughen up the course. Hmmm.. That quickly went awry. Rain, traffic and wrong turnings split us up and after about 30-40 minutes we became 3, then 2, and then I was on my own. I kept going, rain lashing down, not really knowing where I was going.

After a calculated detour I made it back to base. Noone was about. The continued rain and lack of a clubhouse (being refurbished) meant there was nothing to hang about for anyway. So I went home catch up on the the Marathon.

My distance? I can only guess. Roughly 13 miles?? Not ideal, but I'm back with the plan and looking to a good run next week. 16 miles? I hope so, if only so I don't get bored promising it to myself. LOL.

Oh yeh, and I've just applied for next year's London Marathon. This will be my 5th year in a row that I've applied to run my second London Marathon. I loved it in 2001 and seriously hope I get in again this time. We shall see...

Ceilidh-induced pain and snow in London hinders 16 mile plans

This weekend was an important two days for London and athletics. It is the last weekend before the London Marathon - last chance for participants to manage a training run before a pre-race week of rest. Also, the Olympic flame is being carried across the city in a 31 mile relay. And, I hoped to manage a 16 mile long run. For many of us none of this went quite as planned.

London has been eveloped in snow! It usually only happens about once in every 3 or 4 years, but this is the second time in 3 weeks! I woke this morning to see the white stuff falling past the window, covering the ground and putting paid to my plans. However, after Friday night, this may have been a blessing in disguise.

You probably guessed it from the title, I went to a Ceilidh on Friday. After dragging myself up on Saturday afternoon I felt my calves and my knees like never before. I was in bloody agony!! A Saturday long run was right out! And today I felt not much better, the snow being almost a relief.

Anyhoo, I eventually dragged my sorry ass out for a run this evening. After some stretching, I staggered round the local park a couple of times. That's 4 miles. Rubbish!! Nowhere near what I wanted. But, hopefully next week we'll do the same as last year - head into Embankment, watch a few minutes of the London Marathon before running back to base. That's roughly 16 miles :-) Wish me luck.