A pretty good training week following the Half last week, plus a chat with a quick runner

I feel I have done some good sessions this week, following the disappointment of the Half mast week.  On Tuesday I went out and did 9 miles at my target Half Marathon pace, which was a nice confidence booster after last weekend.  I'm still convinced I've got a sub-1hr40min in me, but I've got to get it done as I know "talk is cheap".

Wednesday was a "reccie run" of the Ladies 10K I'm marshalling at this morning and the purpose of these runs is for the ladies to run the course, and the men to know their marshalling points.  My wife is thinking about doing the race this morning so I'll be on the look out for her.

Due to time constraints this week I found myself having to do back-to-back longish runs, which I haven't done before. Anyway, I did 10 flattish miles (9min/mile) on Friday night after work and then tagged along for a club run on Saturday morning where I got 15.5 in (10min/mile, including regrouping), with plenty of hills. I'm quite pleased actually as I felt ok and feel I've got my long run 'out of the way'.  I know it's not the same as say a 20 miler but I'm happy and I did have 2 or 3 cheeky beers on saturday afternoon!

On the club run yesterday I got talking to a runner who in his day was quick (2hr34 marathon). It was fascinating talking to him and I know techniques may have changed since his day as his PB was 30 years ago.  Basically though when I asked what his key sessions were, he did LSRs at 1.5min/mile over his goal pace and did extremely tough (his words) four or five by 1 mile intervals where the intervals were maybe 30-45 seconds quicker than his goal pace.  This session was great for the mental side of things as well, knowing he could push through the pain and maintain a pace.  Those were his two main weekly sessions, plus a 10 mile "time trial" where he knew the mile markers (this was before GPS), which was also tough.  He did reel off his other sessions, and I didn't spot any rest days although I may have missed it.  He was doing 65ish miles a week at this point.

Interestingly, he said it wasn't initially a conscious decision for him to do his LSRs at the pace he did. He kept very detailed notes and when he went back over them at one point he noticed the 1.5 mins slower than goal pace calulcation, so stuck with it.

He also said that what worked for him didn't work for others that were at his kind of level in his club, and vice versa. He just did what worked for him. For example, he trained himself not to take any water at all when racing a marathon as he said taking water slowed him down. People at his club said he should be taking water as they thought he'd do even better, but he tried it and it didn't work for him. When he did ultras, he did take "liquid food" but I'm not sure what that was.

He did share my view about the shame that there were no British men who turned up for the recent World Championships and he put the blame squarely with the "suits" who run athletics, who he doesn't think care enough about road running and do little to bring athletes on.

I felt a bit embarassed talking to him about my goals when he asked me (sub-4 mara and sub 1:40 half) as they are very slow compared to his times, but he was great and unassuming and just happy to chat about things.  His main goal at the moment is to do 1500 miles this year (which he is on target for), and I beleive he is doing the Club Championship and chipping away at a timed course he runs regularly with the club.

He did write a great piece in the club magazine a few months ago so I'm going to dig that out and have another read through.  The level of hard work and dedication to get to these sort of times is amazing.  I just worked out what a 2hr34 marathon would be - that is averaging under 6 min/mile!  Unbelievable.

Bridgwater Half Marathon

Bridgwater Half done in 1:49:34 (that's from my Garmin; official results not out yet), which is 10mins slower than I was hoping for, so not a great day at the office today.  On the positive, it's a good event and it was well supported/marshalled etc.

If the event had been on Saturday AM instead of Sunday I would have been a DNS because I was having stomach issues that would have meant running would have been, erm, dangerous (if you get my drift).  However, the issue cleared up late on Saturday and I had done my best to rehyrdate myself enough.  I was up for the race come Sunday and was feeling relatively good at the start line.

The first 6 miles were fine and I was on target to sneak under 1hr40 for the first time (PB is 1hr42).  I felt in control and felt I was going to be able to push on in the second half, but then at around 9 miles I had some stomach pain that unfortuantely just stopped me dead in my tracks and I just had to pull into the side of road.  After a few seconds I started walking (in total I walked for nearly 3/4 of a mile) and from 10miles onwards I knew any time was out of the window so I was just doing what I could to finish.  In the circumstances, those last 3 miles were tough but I'm also pleased I managed to complete the race.  This running malarkey is funny because this time last year I would have been happy with sub-1hr50 but it wasn't what I hoping for at this even.  I think in hindsight even though I felt okay at the start line, it's clear I wasn't fully over my stomach issue.  My mind was playing tricks on me as well (I was swearing to myself, not out loud I hasten to add!) and at that point I was beaten mentally as well, I'm afraid to say.

I think the course is pretty good for a PB attempt, so maybe I'll go back next year and have another crack at it.

So in summary, Bridgwater is a good event which didn't come right for me personally on the day but I know I'm running relatively well so I'm hopeful this is a minor blip.  Onwards and upwards!