2006 - February

[glaconman]

The ayes have it Andy. That 20 was a bitch by the sound of it, and it's in the bag. I know my experience is limited, but I did a similar run from Keighley to Skipton and back this year. I hated it. But it set me up for a successful marathon alright. And there's every chance this run will set you up also. Keep going mate.

[marathondan]

Sorry to be boring Andy, but I have to agree with the others. In Zurich, you'll have better course, weather, atmosphere, and mental preparation. You have every chance of making your goal.

NB - of all your variables fiddled with, no breakfast before a marathon sounds like a bad idea to me. Unless it's caused you problems in the past.

[suzieq]

Not only are you on track, but you're also not old! You ran 20 miles in horrible conditions and did well. Sit back and congratulate yourself, that was tough. Under five hours is totally feasible - but I do recommend taking the walk breaks right from the beginning and you'll be amazed at how great you feel at the end. If you want to drop any walk breaks, drop them at the end when you know you only have a few miles to go.

And I do think you should eat well before you run. I find eating a couple of those instant oatmeal packages along with a piece of toast and peanut butter do the trick. But everyone is different and what works for one, won't work for another.

Suzie

[Sweder]

I think Suzie's on the right track. I'm going to try that strategy this weekend to see if I can up my performance over the last couple of miles on a hilly 18. I'm looking to boost my confidence before upping the anti in March.

Andy, your pain and self-doubt are tangible. You're not alone in harboring a nagging gremlin in your locker, however.
Is it possible you're under extra pressure because you've publicly identified your Holy Grail?

The folks here are right; we've run through some of the foulest weather I can recall and we're still standing. I believe you'll be fine if you give yourself a chance; it's not going to happen if you keep beating yourself up all the way to Zurich. You've got to relax a little, get the monkey off your back, convince yourself you really don't give a toss about the bloody 5 hours. Let go . . .

. . . use the force, Luke . . .




. . . I'll get me cloak.

[Mid Life Crisis Marathon Man]

. . . I'll get me cloak.

I thought you usually used a raincoat, Sweder?

[Sweder]

Obiwan wore a cloak.
No need for a raincoat here in Houston

[Sweder]

Funny how things turn out Andy.
I've not so much fallen off the wagon as under its wheels and into the ravine below the rocky trail. Hung over and fat is not what I'm looking for and April 9 seems horribly close. I know, I know, I've had some decent times this 'season', but I've got this feeling of impending doom and it won't go away. It mostly comes from a lack of belief in my 'less is more' mantra; if only I'd applied that in Mi Luna last night; the tapas kept pace with the exotic latin cocktails to such an extent that I had to visit The Gingerman pub to balance things up with a few pints of Black Gold.

As punishment I'm about to flog my unsightly girth around a local park before completing my misery with 10 hours dehydrating on the flight home. This Sunday's hilly 20 is not a happy prospect

Note for the optimists out there:
Remember, the light at the end of the tunnel might be an on-rushing train

Pip pip!

[El Gordo]

Hang on Sweder, you picked up a 10K PB just a couple of days ago....

Still, I do take some comfort from the thought that I've not been the only naughty one.

It's not really an alcohol thing with me. As I've often said, it's not that I drink much, or frequently, it's that my diet goes to pot. I find it hard to have a beer without gobbling crisps and peanuts, hard to have a glass of wine at home without wanting to get the cheese board out. It's these high-fat snacks late at night that seem to suck the enthusiam out of me at times. I wake up next day just feeling bloated and demotivated.

But let's not turn this into a crisis. It's a blip. In your case, if I'm honest, I don't think it matters that much. You'll get round Paris in a comfortable time. It doesn't matter overmuch if you're 5 or 10 outside your PB. I'm a bit more anxious because I'm likely to get hauled off the course, which I'll hate, but I suppose if it happens, it's not the end of the world. I'll just have to do an autumn marathon to get that qualifying time for next year.

There are worse things happening in the world than the temporary loss of rhythm in a running training plan.

[El Gordo]

And I forgot to mention that I did get out for a run today, so things are back on track now, as far as I 'm concerned.

Head down, this is it.

[Sweder]

There's a big difference between a quick 10K and the full monty
I'm honest enough to know where I'm at compared to this time last year and it's not close, either in confidence or general performance. I'd hoped to log at least three twenty-milers pre-Paris. One of those should be in the bank already, which means either three successive toughies (no step back) or one less run. I suspect it will be the latter, accepting a PB is not the main aim of the race. Perhaps a chilly hilly post-flight five will restore the faith.