Posted in Dublin Marathon, Great North Run, marathon, non-linear periodisation, training
Tags: Dublin Marathon, Great North Run, injury, Paris
I haven’t blogged for a while, but with good reason. Two weeks ago, I moved up to the full version of my training plan. However, this proved to be a bit of a disappointment. Well, that’s a bit of an understatement actually. It was terrible. The training through the week was exhausting but not at a level I couldn’t handle. Then on Friday things fell apart.
Whilst training for Paris, I noticed a twinge around my knee. I ignored it until after the race, then treated it by doing some special targeted stretches for two weeks. However, after the first week of intensive training again, this old injury returned, but this time it was much worse. With a week to go before my Yorkshire Three Peaks attempt, I decided to rest for that week and use it as an informal taper week.
That Three Peaks attempt has since put paid to any hopes of running in the next few weeks. I must have pulled a muscle or something similar whilst scrambling down Ingleborough, which I didn’t really notice at the time, but now it hurts whenever I walk for longer than fifteen minutes. It would be impossible (and foolish) to do any running in this condition, so until I can get this problem resolved, there will be no running for now.
All of this has left me tremendously demotivated. I definitely won’t be able to break my 10K PB in the Leeds 10K (in three weeks) and the length of time my recovery needs may seriously jeopardise my plans for PBs in the Great North Run and the Dublin Marathon in October.
Posted May 29th, 2009 by Simon
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Posted in Dublin Marathon, Scarborough, marathon, non-linear periodisation, training
Tags: Dublin Marathon, fartlek, headland, marathon, North Bay, Northstead Manor Gardens, Scarborough, South Bay, training
For the last two weeks I’ve been following a very gentle schedule of three-mile runs three times a week and a six-mile long run on Sunday. Now, however, I’ve decided that I’m fit and well recovered enough to step it up a gear.
So this week I’m starting my full training schedule. I’ve also decided, following my performance at the Paris Marathon, to use the non-linear periodisation system again. Hopefully I’ll be able to smash my marathon PB by running the Dublin Marathon in 4h30m00s – that’s my goal anyway.
Friday’s schedule called for 5 miles easy with 6 x 30 second fartlek intervals. The first time I saw what mileage I had to cover, I thought it sounded like a big ask. I’ve still got memories of how tiring this session used to be, especially with the fartlek intervals, which really knackered me out.
However, once I got out there I discovered I didn’t really need to put in any extra effort into running the five miles (except for running around the headland – the wind was quite strong and was a struggle to run against sometimes). What really pleasantly surprised me though was my peformance during the fartlek intervals.
The last time I regularly did this kind of session, I looked upon intervals with some trepidation because after each interval I was always exhausted. This time though I managed to breeze through them. I was even able to increase my pace in each progressive interval, which was something I definitely couldn’t have done last time. Previously I would start out running each interval really fast and then slow down through tiredness in each following interval.
So after the first week back to “normal” training, I’m generally quite impressed with my state of fitness. As usual, I seem to have underestimated my ability again, as I appear to be fitter than I give myself credit for. Using this training plan to train for Paris seems to have really boosted my general levels of fitness, aerobic endurance and stamina. Not bad!
Posted May 12th, 2009 by Simon
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Posted in Dublin Marathon, Leeds 10K, Scarborough, The Three Peaks, marathon, training
Tags: Dublin Marathon 2009, Leeds 10K, The Three Peaks
I’ve just received an email from the Dublin Marathon 2009 newsletter with title “Start training for your marathon attempt now!”. After running three marathons in less than a year, I’m feeling a little worn out. I was hoping for a little bit more time to enjoy running for it’s own sake.
I’ve been in near-continuous training for nearly eighteen months now, with the odd few weeks resting here and there after each marathon. So after Paris I wanted to really relax and recover and not actually train for anything. I’m not saying I don’t want to go running anymore – I just didn’t want to start training for another event so soon.
Unfortunately my Three Peaks attempt has put paid to that somewhat. It’s only four weeks away and requires it’s own level of training (walking the equivalent of a marathon over three of Yorkshire’s highest peaks). However, I’ve already committed to it and I don’t intend to renege on this promise.
If I started training for Dublin now, that would give me (roughly) six months to train. Considering that I’ve run several marathons before I think this is more than enough time for me. In fact, I’m even willing to gamble and not start marathon training until the end of May. Training for the Leeds 10K (on June 21st) will be in full swing by then anyway, so I hope I’ll be more rested and be back into that competitive running frame of mind by then.
Posted May 1st, 2009 by Simon
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