Free rain

I was so up for a run last night and yet somehow by the time I left work it just didn't happen, then this morning I woke early, again ready to run but promptly fell back asleep for another hour. I finally woke and feeling more lethargic than I would have liked I got into my running kit, pulled on my Nike Free's and headed out the door. The plan was for a 5 mile run with the 3 miles in the middle to be at tempo pace. After my warm up my legs felt fine but I just didn't seem to be able to pick up the speed right away, it took me another mile to get my legs into tempo running mood and my pace soon picked up. Coming down the gentle slope away from Chislehurst I spotted another runner in the distance, gradually I was gaining on her and before long I had left her in my wake - doesn't really matter so much but it just put my mind somewhere other than my pace and the increasing drizzle that was coming down from above. Before I knew it I was on the homeward stretch with less than half a mile to go and the rain started to come a bit harder now, I kept at my warm down pace and finished up comfortably. It is so strange how a 5 or 6 mile run can feel like practically nothing when in the latter stages of marathon training... not long to go now! 

Taper Speed

Hmmm, well this all seems somewhat contradictory to be doing a speed session in my taper but I am sticking to the plan and will follow dutifully in the hope that it leads me not only to a marathon B but also a sub-4 marathon. That's it I said it... that's what I want, I can hide it no longer, I want that sub-4. I know I am ready and that I can do this, the long range weather forecast is looking quite favourable so my only problem now could be those over optimistic runners (perhaps in some cases deluded) who will set off fast and stop dead in their tracks directly ahead of me!

So tonight I hit the treadmill, 8 x 400m with 100m walk breaks in between, I set the pace at 7:13 min/mile although it is quite possible that I should have eeked out a little more but thought better of it. As ever the runner either side of me were (male) trying to match my speed not quite sensing that I was doing speed intervals - he didn't do well, and (female) was matching my distance, albeit that hers was in km not miles - what an inspiration I am. With my beetroot and slightly smug face I headed home to commence the pasta fest that would only increase over the next 10 days or so.

Chiefs Fifteen

For the past few days I have been back home in Sheffield for one of my oldest and best friends weddings and as Chief bridesmaid I was using all the energy usually reserved for running in sheer giddiness of the event! It was indeed a fantastic day and as you can imagine my duties did not allow for a sneaky run but with London now only two weeks away it was time to get back on plan and do the scheduled 15miles today. It helped that I has had a good 12 hours sleep last night in wedding recovery and finally headed out at about 11.30am this morning - usually the time I am finishing up my Sunday run. 
My route was haphazard to say the least and included an emergency pit stop in Norman park at almost exactly half way through the run but I made it and at my desired pace as well... my legs still seemed to be trying to pull away faster than the intended pace so all being well they will be like that on the next Big Day (22nd April). 

Grin up North

So after a few days of enforced rest after my PB last Sunday (and none stop work) I finally got out to run on Thursday morning. I was up in the t'north at my pop's house so as is customary I went out with Beau Diddle (very lovely running buddy and canine) to get my legs moving again on the trail at the back of the house. Now this trail is very popular with all the local dog walkers, strangely none of whom are women, all in fact are stereotypical older gents with flat caps and mostly small dogs and yes... whippets! And do you know what, every single one of them without fail had a good morning and a kind word to say... quite odd for me as quite often in the south us runners are snubbed, surprisingly even by other runners. 
Beau was only able to manage her standard 2 miles before she was distracted by the fun smells in the bushes so I returned her to the garden and carried on for a few more miles. My speed was okay but due to the persistent cold that has been trying to take hold I was forced to blow my nose so frequently that I soon gave up on the idea of an eight miler and settled for 5.5miles.

Smashed it! (Paddock Wood Half)

This morning I knew I was going for a PB and I knew there was a good chance, my training had been going well, I'd done better than expected at my recent track sessions and Paddock Wood Half Marathon is a fast flat course to boot.
Yesterday I had spent some time looking at best and worst case scenarios for my average pace for the race - what I needed for a PB, what I need for a sub-1:50 and a variety in between.
I awoke before my alarm and ate my porridge as set out the night before, got into my kit and then got a lift to the station to meet Simon and Eleanor to get the train. We arrived shortly after 9am, met Emma and Karien in the car park and strolled to the start. The sun was shining, it was a beautiful day and my hands were shaking - had I put too much pressure on myself to get a PB with the marathon only 3 weeks away?
As we lined up at the start I was still feeling nervous, I was answering Simon in random noises and grunts but not very coherently I'm sure as I focussed on the task ahead. The clock struck 10am and we were off!
I settled into a good fast (for me) pace and trotted along weaving through the crowds for the first mile or so before the field spread sufficiently. I then looked at my watch and saw I was running at a sub 8 min/mile pace, this was too fast, I may burn out so I made myself slow down. I continued this battle with my legs trying to pull me faster and my brain saying it was too much, for a while at least before I settled. My average pace was around 8:16 min/miles by now and I was over the moon... I might really do it, I might get under that 1h50 barrier if I could keep this up. My breathing was good, I wasn't in pain, I was pushing but it felt right.
At the half way point the marshal called out 54min58 - I was bang on schedule, and by the gun time too so I knew I could do it I just needed to stay strong and focus. By my watch and chip time I was closer to 54mins. By the 10mile point I knew had a PB in the bag at 1h21 minutes and still feeling good.
Mentally I was now in my 'less than a parkrun to do' phase in my head, this always perks me up! Gradually starting to pick off runners one by one I kept going relentless now in my pursuit of a sub 1h50. The last part of the course was the same as the start so I knew what was left to come, as I rounded the corner into the home straight with less than 200m to go I spotted my hubby and started waving, I called out to him that I had definitely smashed my PB and then went into the home straight sprint... 1:47:43!!! POW I had done it.
I was bouncing off the walls when I emerged from the finish area medal in hand and working out I had knocked a huge 7 minutes from my previous PB so immediately went to have my time engraved on my newest medal, awesome!