Week 9 – 18th March – 24th March

If this is the first time you have read this blog, welcome to the site. I am on week 9 of a 16 week training plan for my first (and only!) marathon on 12th May. You can catch up on previous weeks below.

I have also started up my JustGiving page this week for Motor Neurone Disease Association MNDA. My page is here

https://www.justgiving.com/page/leeds-foxtrot

It took some time to decide I was going to do a marathon but once I had made the decision, there was really only one choice of where to do it. I am sure everyone has been touched by Rob Burrows story. For me, the friendship and the bond he has with his friend Kevin Sinfield has been incredible to see. Kevin has done some amazing feats of endurance including 7 marathons in 7 days, running 101 miles in under 24 hours and 7 ultra marathons in 7 days, all to raise money for MNDA. So it feels fitting to be able to run for this charity and if you would like to support me, please click the link above.

I got a slight foot injury in week 8 so I took 2 more days rest into week 9, doing my first run of the week on Wednesday. However, as you will see the foot injury was much better with the 3 or 4 days rest.

I am very grateful to Kathryn and Maddie who mentioned to me on Sunday different ways to lace up your running shoes. I must admit I always thought there was only one way to lace them but there are so many to cater for different situations. I changed the lacing in all my trainers to the top right technique in the image below and my trainers felt fine after this.

Reminder – this is not intended as any kind of recommendation, it is purely my own thoughts and comments on my weeks training. You should seek professional advice for correct marathon training tailored to you. However I hope it gives you some kind of inspiration to try something different yourself.

Training runs

Wednesday 20th March

So the first run of the week was on Wednesday this week rather than Monday. I thought I should rest my foot for another couple of days. It was good to have a walk on Monday night instead and take some photos of my mates running. See the Monday night crew below.

So, to the first run back on Wednesday. It was a technical run and I was aiming for a Progressive run where each mile is quicker than the last, distend to build speed into your legs. It should build to the final mile being around your tempo pace. My tempo pace should be around 10 minutes 30 seconds per mile. You can see from the stats that I started a little too quick so mile 2 just let down the progressive but it was pretty close. Massive thanks to Emma for running most of this one with me and keeping me to pace.

Thursday 21st March

I thought I would fit in a little run on Thursday too, just to make sure everything was working as it should. I just wanted to stretch the legs a little in preparation for a long run on Saturday.

23rd March

Long run day and a little nervous after only doing 7 miles last week. It’s strange how that little setback can really set you back mentally. All of a sudden, you think you can’t run any more. Of course that is absolute nonsense but it was good to get out and run to prove it to myself.

The run was broken down into 3 back to back runs. Starting from Dalton Park a few of the Foxes ran down to the Town Hall in Seaham (just under 3 miles) where we joined up with more Foxes and did a further 5 miles and back to the Town hall. Then we joined up with the normal Saturday group run and did just over 5 more miles to round up to a Half marathon.

Saturday was also KMacs birthday, so it was her birthday run. The other thing about Saturday was it was very windy, especially on the seafront and going up Byrons Walk. A couple of weeks ago we ran 17 miles in the pouring rain and I think I would rather do that than run against the wind. A very tough run.

My watch also didn’t sync with my phone so I had to upload the run manually and then re-pair my watch to my phone. Hopefully that is a one-off!

Nutrition

I took the usual Squashies, dried apricots, a Hi5 sachet and dextrose tablets on the Half marathon run on Saturday which is working quite well now. Eating something about every three miles or so.

Progress to Plan

Still staying ahead of plan, only 3 runs this week but good to take a step back and I do think the rest did me good so will come back stronger for it.

Key Learning

All the advice I got last week was spot on. It was good to take 3 days out to rest the foot and just chill. I also learned new ways to tie my laces to ease the pressure around the injured area and my shoes didn’t fall off – who knew!

Fave of the week

Thanks this week again to everyone who asked how I was, sent messages of support and gave me the advice. It was good to take a step back, as you all said, and I feel better for it.

• Thanks to Kmac for also taking a step back in her training this week for a couple of days.
• Thanks to Emma D for Wednesday nights run. It was important for me to get that run under my belt after some time off and Emma kept me on plan and chatted to me the whole way.
• Thanks to the foxes for Saturdays run especially everyone who did the whole half marathon.

Fave of the week has to go to Emma D. I really appreciate you sticking with me and pacing me all the way.

20 miles covered this week but a decent long run on Saturday in the wind ( it must count double in that weather). Looking forward to plenty of miles next week.

Please donate to th link above if you can.

See you next week.