Week 8

[Antonio247]

Week 8 1st-7th March. I´ve gained nearly one kilo, which is not bad since I ate a lot of sweet things in the trip in Barcelona and I only trained two days. My weight is 82 kilos.

Tuesday. It´s wonderful to go for a run again after five days. I went out at 9.50 pm leaving from Sierra Alhamilla road. It was colder than usual since the temperature indicator showed 7º Celsius / 44º Farenheit. However, it was a nice night with a starry sky and nearly full moon. I went to avenida del Mediterráneo and then went down to the sea front getting to the end of the first part in 23´40´´. Then I went along the sea front to my usual start point at Almadrabillas park meeting some other runners. When I was getting to the finish a dog that was with its owner and other people came towards me without barking, so I slowed down but the dog didn´t look fierce and went back to its owner when it was called. It took me 40´30´´ to get to the park doing the sea front distance in 16´50´´. I continued until I had done 46 minutes in all and around 6,5 kms. Then, I did some stretching.

[Antonio247]

Thursday. I left home at 6.40 am. It was a bit colder than usual 7º Celsius according to the temperature indicators in the streets although on the way back they indicated 9º . I went from Almadrabillas park to the end of the Rambla which is a bit uphill. It took me 24´10´´. When I reached the landing up there in the staircase at around 7.10 morning was breaking. Then, I went downhill to the park in 22 minutes continuing along the sea front one more kilometre and back doing one hour in all. At the sea front I met a few people running. I decided to complete until minute seventy, doing around 10 kms. I should have done nearly 13 kms ( 8 miles ) but it was a bit late for me.

[Antonio247]

Saturday. I went out for a run at 9.50 am. It was a lovely morning-20ºcelsius/68ºFarenheit. I started at Almadrabillas park. I had my legs a bit stiff but they got better after plodding a few minutes. I went along the sea front to the bridge on the dry river Andarax. It took me 21 minutes. The sea promenade had taken me 16´30´´. I met a few runners who overtook me or were going the other way. I got back in 41´55´´ continuing to the “Cable ingles”, an iron deck built in the nineteenth century by the British to transport mineral from mines in the province of Granada to the ships. Then, I went back to the park where I continued untilminute 50 doing around 7 kilometres in all. Then, I did some stretching and went home where the song “Hotel California” was being played on the radio in the kitchen. I had two oranges and two mandarins as the first part of my breakfast while listening to that beautiful old song. After having a shower, I had a cup of cocoa milk and two slices of bread with olive oil as the second part of my breakfast while listening to other old songs such as “Strawberry Fields”, which apparently was composed by John Lennon in Almería while shooting a pacifist film here because the house where he was staying in Almería reminded him of Strawberry Fields in Liverpool.

[Antonio247]

Sunday. I started at 8.15 am. It was sunny although a bit windy. I started at Almadrabillas park and went along the sea front to the university. The wind was against me. I felt heavy, slow and tired. I also felt some discomfort in my right foot sole. I walked one minute in minute 25. It took me 43´40´´ one way. On the way back, I did a walk break in minutes 50 and 65 getting to the start point in 89´30´´. I continued until minute 91. I took my heart rate, 130 beats a minute. Then, I did some stretching. I should have done 16 miles but I´m feeling exhausted lately. Actually, I did around 12 kilometres.

Summary of week 8. I went for a run four days but I didn´t go cross-training. I should have done 32 miles/ 51,2 kms but actually I did only 35,5. I´ve got a cold and I´m feeling a bit tired. Nevertheless, I expect to manage to fulfil Hal Higdon´s novice marathon schedule although I find it difficult to do the long runs at weekends. I´m going to take part at Elche half marathon on 28th April. I should do one 20 mile run several weeks before the marathon on 25th April.

[Riazor Blue]

Hi Antonio,
Things are going well I see. Keep the training going, it's one month now of good preparation, keep it going now and you will be super- prepared come the 26th April.

You'll have to take the nephew on the 20 miler to keep you company. I see we are both competing on the same day again. They say that the Elche half is the oldest half marathon in the world. I don't know if it's true, but this will be it's 34th year or something like that.

[Antonio247]

Thank you, Brian, for your support. Congratulations on your wonderful training. I´m sure you´ll get your PB in Madrid.

I´m feeling better but I still have some discomfort in my right foot sole.

Congratulations for Depor victory in Torino, Italy.

Antonio

[El Gordo]

Interesting story about "Strawberry Firelds", Antonio.

You may not be aware, but Strawberry Fields was the name of a large mental hospital in Liverpool. I believe it's now closed.