March 2013

[Sweder]

March madness looms. Long runs joust with work travel and care plans on my ludicrous calendar. Cloning can't come soon enough in Swederville.

February ended with a bit of whimper. Following Sunday's monster effort I squeezed in a couple of mid-week circuits in the field behind our house, working the hills in a series of leg-stretching 800 metre loops.

March is where the hard yards lurk. Adi and some of the JSJers scheduled a 20 miler this Sunday, along the seafront from Brighton to Worthing and back. Ideal prep, fairly flat, all hard-top. I'd planned to bag a new pair of road runners for the occasion, but fate has decreed that I head to Amsterdam on Sunday, returning on Monday afternoon. Hell's teeth.

Saturday is my turn bedside so my choices for this weekend's long run are a) start super early on Sunday or b) run on Tuesday. I'm thinking of a) for several reasons. First up, the obvious one: it'll be done with. One idea is to leave home at around 6.30am, head straight up the W and on via the Snake to the Marina to meet the rest of the JSJers at 8. I can run with them to the top of the YBR then drop down into Kingston Village and home on the road. I tried this pre-Connemara and it worked out well. I just need to figure out my run time to the Marina. If I get back home before 10 I'll just have time to shower, grab my gear and head to the airport.

Another option is to go early, run to Ditchling and back, then take the hounds up to Blackcap. That only gives me fifteen miles, but if I push the pace it'll be a decent work-out.

Can you hear the cogs spinning?

[marathondan]

Early doors Sunday sounds like a plan. The sky will just be getting paler around 6.30. Better start making a list of metaphors now...

Sitting on a cramped plane is always a great way to recover from a long run, too.

[Sweder]

It's all gone Pete Tong. I have to take the 8.10 flight, so whilst I'll get to appreciate the sunrise it won't be in shorts bounding up impossibly steep flinty trails, it'll be hunched over a steering wheel charging up the M23.

Bugger.

[Mid Life Crisis Marathon Man]

Sounds like we're both on a tricky obstacle course through to race day. Best of luck Sweder!

[Sweder]

Sounds like we're both on a tricky obstacle course through to race day. Best of luck Sweder!

Cheers MLCMMan, same to you. We know by now that we'll both make the start line. It's just with this being my last ever road marathon I really wanted to line up in the best shape possible. I guess I'll be greeting the dawn on Tuesday : )

[Bierzo Baggie]

Cheers MLCMMan, same to you. We know by now that we'll both make the start line. It's just with this being my last ever road marathon I really wanted to line up in the best shape possible.

I said the same a few years ago .. never say never again The marathon really is a killer though, you'll need all the mileage you can get ...best of luck to you brave man!

[glaconman]

Just make every day count Sweder. And if you can't run, or have to reduce mileage, then make sure you're eating well (I mean sensibly) and resting well. It's all part of the equation. Keep focused and good luck.

[marathondan]

Just make every day count Sweder. And if you can't run, or have to reduce mileage, then make sure you're eating well (I mean sensibly) and resting well. It's all part of the equation. Keep focused and good luck.

I like this idea. When you're resting, you're still training. I did some good training this weekend.

[Antonio247]

Best of luck with your training, S.!

[Sweder]

Another very poor running week, sandwiching a couple of early morning outings between trips to Amsterdam and Aberdeen. My daughter's 18th (celebrated last night) was cause enough to down a few pints of Badger's delicious Firkin Fox. My conscience remained crystal clear as I drank, slinking out of the shadows to wring its bony hands this morning. C'est la vie. I'm aiming for a decent long run this Sunday. 'Decent' will be anything over 18 miles, preferably hilly. I hope to get a full week in next week, but I'm not holding my breath.

[Sweder]

Nice piece in the Independent today on Lewes FC match-day posters

   

[marathondan]

Nice piece in the Independent today on Lewes FC match-day posters

Lovely stuff. Interesting that these appear to be the work of a committee - I assumed there was a fanatical and talented graphic designer behind them. Shame about the writer's poor grasp of the football league structure though - clearly this wasn't from the sport pages.

[Sweder]

Up at dawn to bash out a lively twenty miler over the Jog Shop 20 course.
Dry, cold, overcast with a wicked breeze and sticky underfoot, eight hardy souls set off into the east.

We took the cliff top trail to Saltdean, scaled the North Face, suffered a cruelly exposed Yellow Brick Road, scrambled up and down the Big W, crested Castle Hill, danced through Death Valley, slipped up the Snake, hammered out Reservoir Road, walked Windmill Hill and rode the gentle undulations from St Dunstans back to the Marina. 3 hours 5 minutes (plus drinks breaks), followed, for me, by a mile and a half pre-training warm-up with the Rookettes, all before midday. Legs were a lot better after a light running week, even the heartless W didn't hurt too much. Another couple of these before month's end and I'll be ready for Brighton.

   

[marathondan]

Strewth mate, I hope the ladies went easy on you!

[Sweder]

Strewth mate, I hope the ladies went easy on you!

It just was a leisurely lope around the town. In truth it helped free up my tightening legs (around 45 minutes after we finished the 20). The ladies went on to fitness training - hurdles, parachutes and other medieval torture. I sloped off to the nice warm dressing room to look at formations and line-ups for Thursday's cup final v Brighton. We have a tactics board with coloured magnetic discs and everything

[Mid Life Crisis Marathon Man]

Strewth indeedy, matey. You're already ready for Brighton I should say - 32km on that course is more than enough to see you round Brighton in good form.

Jealous I am. I mean really? Coloured discs and everything?!

[Sweder]

So. Cramping/ knee swelling at plus 20 miles.
I know it's coming, we all know its coming, but what to do?
Ibuprofen is a given, but there's limited mileage in popping those all the way round.
Shoes, clearly. I'm off out on Thursday to seek out my 'last ever' pair of pavement-pounders. Apparently Addidas have a new critter on the market. Bounce or Boing or summat. Will report back as and when I've suffered the sales pitch/ tried them on.

I've run all winter in shorts and long socks. They're not strictly speaking compression socks but they are stretchy and give my calves/ calfs a rare old hug, so do much the same job. Come rain or shine this will be my racewear of choice.

Anything else? Perceived wisdom? Dietary precautions?
All suggestions gratefully received.

[Bierzo Baggie]

No wisdom from me ....just encouragement. When's the big day?
Like the sound of the Boing Boings!

[Sweder]

April 14th, one month hence.
Gulp.

[Mid Life Crisis Marathon Man]

Anything else? Perceived wisdom? Dietary precautions?
All suggestions gratefully received.

Are you still gunning for sub 3:45?