I have now completed 3 months of training in my attempt to run a sub 3 hour marathon. My running coach gives me a 4 week program to follow. He reviews my key sessions each week, gives me feedback and then generates the next 4 week program. These are generally made up of two keys sessions each week, a high intensity interval run and a structured long run. With 5 days of training each week, the other 3 days have been low intensity runs to increase mileage, endurance and aid recovery. Although I have a sneaky suspicion that the weekly mileage is going to increase in the near future.
Running has taken on a new meaning. I'm now running to meet targets, paces and distances. It's become a serious business. It's a mixture pushing myself hard, meeting the set objectives, some mild feelings of anxiety and also relief when things go well. I'm taking this challenge very seriously. There's no point in doing it half heartedly. It's a process that I have total faith in and am excited to see where it can take me.
My running schedule has top priority and my social life has to take a back seat. Whenever a social invite comes in, my first thought is 'will it fit in with my training?' For example, boozey Saturday nights are pretty much out until the end of October! Even our holidays are based around where is good for running. Our main holiday this year is two weeks in Vancouver which, as well as being a fantastic destination for a outdoor based holiday, is a great place for running. We've even sneaked in a 14km race whilst we are there
I'm very lucky that my wife is a runner too, so she can understand my commitments and tolerate my inability to do everything that we used to. In fact, Zoe is being inspired to up her game, she can't have me leaving her for dead in races now can she!
I'm pleased to say that my training has gone well so far. I've been able to hit all the required targets and my level of fitness, endurance and speed has increased significantly. As part of my training program, my coach has integrated some races along the way to provide short terms goals and useful feedback on my levels of fitness and speed. These races have been strategically chosen, are mainly on flat courses and spread out across the 8 months of my training build up for the marathon.
The good news is that I have managed to achieve some good results in the three races that I've completed as part of my training. My last 3 races are as follows:
North Lincs Half Marathon: 1hr 29mins 18sec (PB)
Hull Park Run (5K): 18min 59secs (PB)Leven 10K: 39mins 56 sec
There's still over 4 months of training and racing to go before the Yorkshire Marathon on 20th October. A long way to go with a lot of hard work. Planning each week around my training to make sure I can tick all the boxes. Just need to stay healthy and injury free. So far, just a sore achilles which only lasted a couple of days.
Bring it on😎
