Reading Half Marathon here I come

Training has finished. There is nothing more to do now. The race beckons. Ready or not, I'll be running this Sunday in the Reading Half Marathon.

But I am ready. Less beer and better training have been paying dividends. Track sessions have become easier, and long runs have been longer. Hill sessions remain as murderous as ever, but that has always been the case, so no major worries there. All said, 13.1 miles is well within my grasp.

One last hurdle beckons. A big beer Friday! 'Last Friday of the month' beers and a leaving do that could be quite monumental spells impending doom for both my liver and race efforts. Its going to be tough. But if I keep fairly sobre and make it through the evening without pickling my liver (and have to spend Saturday in bed recovering) I should be OK for Sunday. I am meeting friends after the race and don't want to report a bad time, so hopefully that should help keep me in line. Time will tell.

Now I need to sort out a race or two for summer. Edinburgh Marathon and a 10K in London?

Ready for Reading Half Marathon

At last, a week of training to be proud of. I've made enough progress to feel confident of finishing my impending half marathon, and I actually feel fit for once.

3 more training sessions. Thursday hills was 'murder' as ever. However on Sunday, after dragging myself out of bed, into a freezing cold morning (cars were all covered in frost!!) and up to the track to meet the Sunday crew from the running club, we got ready for our weekly long run. Off we went. And less than 2 hours later I had ran what felt like 12 miles. And a wee check-up online suggests the route was actualy 13.4 miles. Yeh!!! I am there! I am ready! Result. And to complete the past week's efforts, this previous evening's intervals was so much less difficult than previously, and not finishing last was quite a bonus.

Reason for improvement:- less beer. Here endeth the lesson.

Now to apply for the Edinburgh Marathon??

11 Mile Run and Signed up for London Half Marathon

Nnnng!!! I am so unfit. Another hill session and another track session. Both completed, but not worth shouting about:( As for my long run, now that was a different matter. I totally smashed my 10 mile endurance target. An 8 mile trip to Brockwell Park and back then another 3 miles around the local park. 11 miles! Result.

Oh yeh, and I'm giong to need to keep up the training. I checked my email on Sunday morning and found I had signed up for the London Half Marathon in October. ****! I seriously need to drink less alcohol.

4 Weeks to Reading

Another week. Fitter, faster and further. OK, further.

I gave Hell a miss. Thursday was a nightmare of a day! It was cold, windy and I was sneezing all over the place. Run up and downa hill 6 times? Forget that!!

I made it out on Saturday though, for my long run, and what a result. The target was 8 miles. Over the local park and up towards and around Clapham Common, then back again. I was shattered! I had a blister that felt like sin. But I had run 8.88 miles! Superb. I'm well and truly on track. Next long run I'm going for 10 miles :-)

Next stop, Tuesday track session. I finished, but my performance was pooooor. Watching little 10 year olds fly past me didn't please me one bit. I would have done better if I didn't have a half-healed blister to contend with. Honest. Well that's my excuse, and I'm sticking to it!

Half way to a Half Marathon

A good week's training. Even with too much alcohol on Saturday, good progress has been made.

Another Thurdsay reminder of what Hell will invovle reminded me not to miss my weekeknd long run. After 6 missions up the slope I was dying. And I was being asked to attend the club long run on Sunday. The previous effort had been 11 miles! I said I would do my best to turn up, but had bad visions and thoughts of taking my travel card.

Sunday arrived. Unfortunately that followed Saturday and too much imbibing. I woke up 2 hours too late for the club run, and was no use to man nor beast. However with a few hours rehydration I set off for a 6.5 mile run - about 3 miles up on previous 2008 best efforts. I made it!! Two loops out past Wimbledon dog track and back - 6.72 miles in total. Superb. More than half way to my 13.1. mile target. For the first time this year I feel inspired. PB in March? Possibly.

Then intervals on Tuesday. As promised we were asked to run 4x1600m with 400m rest between each mile. Absolute murder polis! I thought my lungs were going to pack in! Still I made it. Another small step in the right direction.

In conclusion: So far so good. The prime directive of finishing the Reading Half Marathon seems likely. A bit more training and I'll be ready. Oh, and my fat post-christmas belly is begining to shrink as well. Sweeeeeet :-)

London Half Marathon

I've just heard there is going to be a London Half Marathon this year. The date I was given was October 5. The location is thought to be in and around the O2 in North Greenwich.

This is totally unconfirmed. It's the first news I have heard about it, and I can't find any mention of it on the 'net. However it was being discussed by fellow runners at tonight's hill training session, and the sources are far from unreliable. Some were against the idea because it would be a mass participation event, but I reckon it would be a cool idea, especially London has no half marathon race of its own. And if the atmosphere is anything like the London Marathon it will be lots of fun.

Update:
The race is called Run to the Beat - http://www.runtothebeat.co.uk. Runners will run to music that "will be scientifically selected to match the physiological and psychological demands of the half-marathon event". Music always helps me run further and faster, so this should be a good race. PB?? Count me in!

Light at the end of the Tunnel

Another week of effort. Another week of desparate exertion! But now I feel like I'm making some progress.

Depite no hill training over the last week or any long run I'm beginning to feel fitter. Instead of a bout of hills, (work got in the way) I ran a little circle around the Thames from Parliament to Waterloo Bridge. Usually I go as far as Blackfriar's Bridge, but not while I am fat and unfit.

Then, hiking in Dorset at the weekend, I missed my long run. Not good. But I'm telling myself the 35 miles of walking will help. Not sure about the beer though.

And earlier tonight, back to the track. 7 times 800m with 200m intervals. Toughest yet this year. However, I didn't feel as close to death as in previous weeks, so I assume I am beginning to make some progress. We were informed that next week is miles. As you will expect, we are all looking forward to the challenge. :-\