Ups and downs: 10 weeks to London

It's quite hard to believe there are only 10 weeks to go until the London Marathon. I wish I felt fitter than I did at the moment but i'm trying to reassure myself with the knowledge that I am pretty sure I have felt similarly with 10 weeks to go for all my other marathons...the only one I felt great about at this stage I ended up not making the start line!

I'm also hoping that with the iron tablets and a few other changes things will start to come together.

The last week of training was a mixed bag; a session which went pretty well and left me feeling positive followed by a cross country race which momentarily made me feel like my marathon aim was ridiculously out of my reach. Thankfully, i never stay in this mode for long and my optimism has resumed...

The session, which I did on the road, was 6 minutes at tempo, 5 x 2.5 minutes hard, 6 minutes at tempo. I finished it feeling pretty happy; my tempo portions had felt comfortable at 5 and a half minute miling when they had slipped back up towards 6 minute miling during the time was feeling my worst over christmas.

The cross country was a different story...I travelled to London to compete in the Surrey League second claim for Herne Hill Harriers (a lovely club with whom I trained frequently when I still lived in London). The disgusting weather did nothing to help my uncharacteristically rubbish mood. I finished 7th and subsequently had to ask my friend to wait on the cool down whilst I collapsed on a bench...

Ironing out some problems: 11 weeks to London!

The start of my training for London marathon 2016 began with ironing out a few problems...quite literally.

I said in my post Frankfurt blog that i'd spent a lot of the training period feeling pretty fatigued and rubbish. Although I still think most of this was down to life stress, when I still didn't feel back to my usual self training in my more settled environment, I decided it was time to get my iron levels checked. Low iron is a common problem in distance runners, especially females, and I have been fairly prone to anemia throughout my running. With a lot going on, though, i'd neglected to get my levels tested for quite a while. 

I can't say I was surprised to discover that my iron levels were inadequate. Once the stress levels had reduced, I knew there had to be a reason for my sub par performances. It was quite a relief to be find out why i'd been getting slower despite hard training and why i'd been feeling unnaturally tired. So, with plenty of time to go until London I've started taking iron tablets in the hope of feeling back to my usual self. I'm making it my goal to get my iron levels checked a lot more regularly now as these things have a habit of creeping up on you.

So, although probably too soon for the iron levels to improve, I did seem to experience a bit of a placebo effect this last week. A much better week of training resulted; nearly 90 miles including two decent sessions and running the Watford Half Marathon at marathon effort as part of my twenty miler. The sessions included some intervals (some shorter sharper efforts, preceded by a ten minute tempo) and some continuous hill repetitions followed by two minute repetitions at a harder pace. I definitely felt a lot more like me by the Thursday hill session.

Downhill...too fast for the camera ;)

The Sunday long run was replaced with running the Watford Half at marathon pace, which I thoroughly enjoyed. The course was one of the hilliest i've ever done, which made for a fantastically challenging run. This did lead to marathon pace being renamed "marathon effort". I ran 78.29 for second place in a close finish, which I was satisfied with given the low iron diagnosis and having upped my mileage to nearly ninety in the week.

This coming week, i'll continue with some decent mileage and race either a cross country or park run on the Saturday. Sunday will just be an easier long run this week but i'll aim for two hours of running. My goal is to blog each week in the build up to London...

Muddy good fun...

With 78 days to go before the London Marathon (arghhh), here's a little update about what I've been doing over the winter. To summarize, it's pretty much the same as the rest of the year but with a greater proportion of time spent wearing head-to-toe mud or a silly costume.

Running around in silly outfits is genetic

In my opinion, this time (for those of us who divide our year into spring marathon/ autumn marathon/ other) is an excellent opportunity to have a little more fun with running. For me, this has involved; winning a race dressed as Mrs Santa, doing a long run in a 'Mountain Forest' (Worst. DOMS, ever) and getting extremely muddy.

The camouflage method worked quite well

Mainly, I like to do a bit of cross country to show off my other talents. By this I mean my ability to end up muddier than everyone else. (As proof, I offer you a picture of me at the Midlands Cross Country; an earlier edition where I decided to add a triathlon element by diving head first into a bog).  My friends and family actually keep a special towel in the car for me to sit on post run. It's lucky that I have this talent going for me, because I'm not sure I have my cross country running ability.

I've realized over the years, I'm not really made for running on dirt. I feel a bit like Bambi...wearing ice skates. Whilst other people seem to skim across the mud, I seem to slip and slide my way along with odd facial expressions and frequent unladylike language... However, whilst I assume it wasn't pretty to watch (pictures of me where I seem to be imitating a windmill suggest this is true), there were a few races that I was quite pleased with. 

Regaining my Northamptonshire Country title, after a few years as a Surrey-dweller, was a definite highlight. A friend did comment after seeing me fall over twice whilst walking the course that he wasn't entirely sure how I even managed to stay upright. I proceeded to explain my interval method, which involves stopping to wade through a particularly muddy patch and then legging it to the next one...

Probably the cleanest I've ever been in a cross country race...

Last weekend, I came 7th at the Midland Championships. This was a great day out; partly because I managed to stay relatively dry and mostly because the MCAA did an excellent job of putting on a great race after the original location was flooded (they'd have needed a coastguard if I'd have done that one).

I have to say I was fairly pleased with the result on a tough course. I actually didn't feel great at all (a fact that was later explained by a blood test, which showed my iron levels are low). However, I am definitely looking forward to having my feet on some more solid ground. Although, if there are any muddy puddles on the streets of London, I'll probably find them...

via GIPHY

Things you should never say to a marathon runner

What we do isn't normal. Running more miles per week than a lot of people drive is considered a little strange by the rest of the world. Also, it can cause you to become tired...and therefore, cranky. Especially, when hungry.

So as we distance runner types begin to up our miles in preparation for our spring marathon, I thought i'd write a little guide on what not to say to the significant runner in your life. Or how to respond if it's you.

1. I don't know how you fit it all in

Often said in a way that suggests that they've got too many more important things to do; feed starving puppies, etc. Ask them what they thought of the entire Making a Murderer series they had time to watch because you're still on episode one. They were probably still in bed when you finished your first run.

2. Don't you/your legs feel tired?

Yep, all the time. I'm pretty sure I know how it feels to be ninety. If the lift was out of order at work i'd seriously consider a sick day.

                             

3. You'll/ I'd get injured

Aw, thanks for adding to my paranoia. I spend eighty percent of my time running imaging worse case scenarios for my various twinges (The other twenty percent is spent worrying about how two minutes slower than my marathon pace feels like i'm sprinting. A surprisingly low percentage spent worrying about the oncoming traffic in the road i''m about to cross with actual injury inducing potential). I'm so worried that the last time I wore heels on a night out, I stood perfectly still apart from going to the bathroom for secret calf stretching breaks.


4. You're looking thin. You need to eat more.

Guessing you haven't seen me eat an entire family sized pizza? It's pretty impressive. Running lots of miles makes me very hungry. Three meals per day doesn't work for me. I've had to add in second breakfast (first lunch?) and pre-dinner.

5. Don't you get bored?

No...don't you get bored watching TV? I get bored really easily; I've never had a job that didn't bore me to tears and I don't think I've successfully made it through a film longer than two hours. But running? Never.
                 

To be honest, if you do say any of these things, I wouldn't worry. We're horrendously lacking in fast-twitch fibers and have probably ran more than ten miles already today, so you'll be able to get away...                              

Frankfurt Marathon 2015: the one that didn't go to plan

It's taken me a while to write about this one...partly because I was on my post-race break (no thinking about running allowed!), and partly because I didn't feel too great about it.

My previous marathons have gone pretty much exactly as planned; I trained hard, I tapered, marathon pace suddenly felt like a jog and I hit my target time. Marathon number four was a bit of a different story. I trained hard, I tapered, and marathon pace felt like...well, a sprint. 

I felt horrific from the start, to the point of actually wondering how I was going to make it to the finish from 10k, and finished about five minutes slower than I was aiming for. Five minutes isn't terrible, I know, but I really believed I could do it. After struggling from the start to stick to my rehearsed 2.34/2.35 pace, I finished in 2.38. 

Rocking the Saucony arm warmers - still feeling alright here

The thing that frustrates me most is that, despite being probably the fittest i've ever been, I can honestly say I spent every single moment of the race feeling terrible and pleading with my legs to keep going. Having experienced the lovely feeling of being relaxed to 30k in my other three marathons, this was a bit of a nasty shock.

Looking back, i'm pretty sure I know what went wrong; the last few months have involved some pretty big life changes and I definitely spent a lot of that time feeling tired and fatigued. Although, I had occasional flashes of relative brilliance, where I hit my best times ever in training, I spent most of the marathon training cycle feeling pretty rubbish. 

My (very wise) coach Nick had told me many times that to run well, I needed to be happy and relaxed with life. Up until the last four weeks pre-race, work and life stress meant that, although the training suited me perfectly and I didn't miss a run throughout, my fitness was hidden by non-training influences.

A race I enjoyed a lot more - winning the Rugby 10 as part of my last 20 miler

I like to see the positive in all things and I can definitely still take a lot from the build up. I had some very enjoyable wins in races; coming 3rd overall, and 1st British women, at the Great Eastern Run in 76.05 as part of a 20 mile run was definitely a highlight and I developed a new found love of using races as part of long runs and training.

The biggest positive of all, though, was that seeing the negative impact the stress was having on my running motivated me to make some changes and finally, with some help and word of wisdom from some fabulous friends and family, follow my dreams. I have moved away from London, back home, and have started a Masters in Exercise Physiology. I'm sure this will mean I am ready to finally chase the sub 2.34 in the Spring :) 

So, lesson learned, one of the most important thing to remember is, to run well you have to be happy and relaxed in life...and don't be afraid to follow your dreams even if it involves some big changes...

Here we go again! (Marathon Training Week One)

It's that time of the year again. The time when I get to indulge my sadistic love of long long-runs, big interval sessions and basically, running for miles...and miles.

Marathon training has officially begun; I can wave goodbye to my sorry impersonation of a track runner (no one was fooled) and races where I feel like I am sprinting the whole way (anything less than a half).No more arguments will ensue between me and my legs (Me: "Ok, we need to go above marathon pace now", Legs: "Marathon pace? Ok!").

I can't say i'm sorry to see the back of a decidedly unspectacular summer season, the highlight of which, was probably a park run pb where I reached the giddy heights of running at around 15 whole seconds faster than my marathon pace and a local 5 mile race, which I managed to win in a finishing sprint for the first time (probably) ever (cue shocked face, see below).

So, in case I haven't yet made it clear, I am VERY excited about marathon training. This week will hopefully be a decent 80 miles or so after tomorrows long run, which hasn't felt too bad at all despite being back at work.

I resumed my usual life-combined-with-marathon training acrobatics; coordinating clothing changes (sports bras and summer clothes don't work), using running as a means of transport (very satisfying during a tube strike) and fitting in double days around a full time job and trying to maintain a social life (the sign of a true friend is one that doesn't mind if you turn up for a coffee wearing trainers and ten miles worth of sweat).

Starting marathon training also means that my sessions don't tend to fit in with the groups I like to run with (of which there are many, I'm a fan of running club promiscuity). Previously, I've tried to make it work ("ok, you run to here then you can cut cross and join in here"/ "i'll do ten more when you're done"). However, this tended to make things needlessly complicated so I gave up and asked the lovely Geoff of Herne Hill Harriers if I could just do my session at the same time, fulfilling my need for a good half an hour chat before and after. Session one was a good session of faster intervals followed by tempo.

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Session number two was a medium - long run finishing off with some marathon pace. I tried a different strategy to get company on this one; Battersea Park is a fabulous mecca for running and if you just turn up and start running laps at marathon pace, you’ll probably find someone to run with or atleast chat to (hopefully, a fellow runner not a creepy dude or one of those 'naked runner's' you here about).

The third session, was some delightful Kenyan Hills, aka, run up at threshold effort, turn round and try and run down at the same effort...windmill arms to stop falling over, slow down to prevent accidents and then run up faster to compensate until it nearly turns into hill sprints (i’m trying, Nick, I am). I felt really strong and Kenyan-like after this session...until I walked back from town with shopping and had to stop for a rest whilst walking up a much less steep hill anyway.

Finally, Sunday was a long run with some marathon pace at the end. My legs were feeling a bit heavy but I some good scenery and company helped me get through. The marathon pace was more marathon effort given the presence of hills and cattle grids every 100 metres or so.

Finding my feet (and losing some clothes) again

I feel like I need start every post with an apology for not blogging for a while...

Yet again, it’s been a very long time since I updated my blog. I’m usually pretty good at not letting life get in the way of my training....but this talent doesn’t seem to transfer to writing. Maybe it’s because I have to sit still to write. I probably should invest in one of those treadmill desks.

So to bring you up to speed on what has happened (before I turn this into a blog about how bad I am at blogging) since last time I updated have:

• Run Frankfurt marathon as an elite and got a shiny new PB of 2.37
• Competed several cross country over the winter and not fallen in/over anything
• Finally beaten my half marathon PB with 75.37, winning the Wokingham half this February
• Injured my long-suffering left ankle and had 2 months off, missing the Brighton Marathon, which had been my focus for the whole winter
• Spent a few weeks on crutches, bemoaning the lack of crutch-adapted cup holders and my inability to coordinate my arms and legs whilst using them
• Returned to running, experiencing the delirious happiness of that first 10 minute jog (it doesn't last)

So at the stage of writing this, my return to full fitness is going well (*looks for wood to touch, panics due to lack of wooden things). This is apart from my slight inclination for chaos, which I put down to being out of practice; I managed to run home with my bag open, leaving a trail of clothing behind (I'm yet to run into a homeless person wearing my skirt).

Anyway, after building up the mileage again since returning to running at the beginning of April, mid-June I like I wanted to test my fitness, so agreed with Coach Nick to do a 10k as a training run.

Doing a race as ‘training’ for me, means that i’ll spend the whole week telling myself it doesn’t matter how I do, because I’m running hard in the week/days before and probably doing some reps/ more running after. Invariably, though, i'll still get annoyed at myself when my time is less than ideal.

However, I'm pleased to report this time I let myself give myself a rare (small) pat on the back. After a long-ish warm up and a decent days training the day before, I managed to win the Richmond 10k in a time not too far off what I ran last year.

Unfortunately, in true chaotic Hayley fashion, I then completely failed to turn up for the presentation. On trying to complete the rest of my ‘long run' post-race, I got myself lost...It turned into a very long run. This did cheer up my dad who got to go up and collect the Senior Women prize. Apparently, this caused some confusion...I must add in a special mention for him here as it was his birthday, Father’s day AND he beat his time from last year by over a minute.

Running dad's are awesome

Since then, I’ve had some really promising sessions, which suggest that I can have a decent summer season despite the early injury. I’m not really known for my speed so when I say ‘decent summer’ it is in relative terms...(and by ‘not really known for my speed’ I mean that the pace I run my 5k is pretty much my marathon pace).

One thing I have avoided for quite a while (since I was a teenager actually), is track... Somehow (hypnosis, mind control...?) I seem to be running a 3000m on the track on Saturday. Let’s hope I can remember which way to run around it...