Did one circuit of the Luton Marathon on Saturday

Sadly, it was on a bike! Andrew and I drove over at 7.30am on Saturday to get an idea of the layout of the course. When we got there it was -2 degrees C and we did a short warm up around the car park where it quickly became apparent that my calf muscle wasn't ready. Andrew had stuck his bike in the boot and so I rode the lap of about 9 miles and worked out the route whilst Andrew ran it. To say it was freezing was an understatement but Andrew did a very good time of around 1 hour 8 minutes and I finished with no further damage to my muscle.

However the next day the muscle felt great and today (Monday) there is no pain at all when I stretch and twist. Maybe, just maybe....

I'm itching to go for a short jog but will resist it and leave it two more days then on Wednesday and Thursday I'll give it a go. If it can't survive a reasonably short but fast run then there's no point in wasting my time trying to do 26.2 miles.

I will go for a cycle this afternoon.

I'll let you know how the run goes later this week. Andrew is looking good and strong and I think a 3.40 is on the cards for him.

Could be a disaster

With the marathon in Luton only two weeks away, I was out yesterday morning for a fast 13.1 miles as part of my tapering. I was running well and feeling fast and strong, happy to be clear of my recent hamstring problem at last, when I felt my calf muscle go. I was about 3 miles into my run and just stopped and yelled at the sky in frustration. 'Noooooooooooooh'!

I just can't believe it. I immediately stopped and walked the 3 miles or so back home, iced my leg and rested it for the rest of the day. This morning its still a bit sore (I certainly couldn't run on it and find going up and down stairs difficult) but has eased off considerably. I'm just hoping that it clears up in a few days rather than two weeks but it has really blown my marathon preparation. Between my ham string and my calf, the longest I've run in training for this marathon is 14 miles. Not good enough although i have the consolation of knowing that I can run a marathon and have stayed fairly consistently in training since my last marathon in June (Stockholm).

I'll keep you posted as to how it goes. Any quick fix cures for muscle tears please feel free to reply. Its a Grade 1 tear I think which is supposed to take 2-3 weeks to heal. I can't afford it to take that long.

Encouraging signs

I went for a run tonight - freezing cold and very dark. I decided to try something different. I ran around the town on my usual route which is about 4 miles long and did it in 29 minutes but when I got home I just kept running and repeated the circuit. Absolute torture! Running past your front door and just keeping going is murder... but I'm sure its also very character building. The second circuit I did in 31 minutes which I was very pleased with.
A strange thing happened though. Half way round my second circuit I just came to a stand still. I felt exhausted and out of energy. I was seriously worried that here I am 2 weeks before a marathon unable to run 6 miles without stopping. However, I reminded myself that I'm still fighting this virus thing a wee bit and so didn't panic. I started running again and pretty soon found myself getting into quite a strong rythm and in fact I began to run stronger and stronger until by the final big hill up to my house I was able to run straight up with no problems at all. If I hadn't stopped my second half would have been faster than my first. Great.

Do any of you have any idea what just happened tonight?

Still feeling a bit low

I meant to go for a 20 mile run on Saturday but by 6.5 miles it was clear that I just wasn't up for it. I felt very lethargic and, to compound my misery, my ham string became quite sore again! Andrew suggested that I just jog home and not make things worse. I did and I think he was right. Its tempting to think that your fitness is blown when you feel like this but I'm pretty sure that it hasn't. Its just the virus (or whatever is making me feel low). I rested over the weekend and went for another slow, short run with my wife tonight. No problems. Muscles (and blisters) fine and wanted to run faster but had to wait for my wife. I'm still a bit sniffily and slightly woosy but I think I'm on the mend but I won't get my long run in now which bothers me a bit.

Only three weeks to go so it will need an exceptional combination of circumstances to bring me a good marathon time, although I am pretty sure I'll get round okay.

That's my entry to the Luton Marathon Confirmed

At last I've committed myself to actually running the Luton Marathon. I've been unable to commit myself because I had a prior engagement on the second which I couldn't easily get out of but I've managed to do so now and it's full steam ahead for December 2nd.

I'm a bit scared that I've left my final training a bit late and will need to slot in a really long run this weekend. Its my birthday this weekend (yes its the big 50) so that means that I get to run in the vets in Luton. Whooppee!!

I'm not feeling very well just now and my muscles are a bit on edge. I did a half marathon yesterday and when I came back my thigh was a bit tight and is sore today. I've rested tonight and I'll try a quick run tomorrow night.