UPDATE: The news in briefs (well, running shorts):
Summer 10K – missed due to distraction by swimming, and general summer slovenliness. I felt out of sorts over the summer, really missing marathon training for the first time (three spring marathons in a row now; it’s become a habit). Next summer I need something else to motivate me.
September – 9 runs and 39 miles, starting to get back into the routine.
Injuries – after completing this year’s marathon I went back to an older pair of shoes, determined to get 1000 miles out of each pair rather than the recommended 500. The plan was to keep the newest pair for 10 milers and above. My current pair is up to 950 miles, and as a result I have one sore ankle and one sore sole. Therefore resting for a week, and then back into the newest shoes. Proceed with caution.
Home brew madness –
this is what I’ve really been doing all summer
Autumn half marathon – I still have my eye on the Marlow half in early November, although there may now be a diary clash in play. If my ankle settles down I should be fit enough for a decent jog round a half, even if it's not this one.
Spring marathon – I have a place for London next year and so the usual routine will start in December. The plan is to run non fancy dress and try for a PB (set back in 2005, when I was a significantly younger man). I'm hoping to get some good base fitness in before then, and maybe crank up the training intensity this time.
Triathlon – one idea for motivation next summer is a short triathlon. I think taking on a summer triathlon would be healthier than trying to increase to two marathons a year. I’m still listening to the Marathontalk podcast on my long runs (when they happen – else in the car) and they often talk about having long term running goals. Well, how about this for a wacky plan? A half ironman triathlon in 5 years time (summer 2017). (That’s 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, 13.1 mile run, 8.5 hours time limit.) Given I can barely cover 100m freestyle right now it seems bonkers, but then again I went from 0-26.2 miles running in 4 years. I won’t be able to fit in any swimming or cycling over the winter due to marathon training, so those disciplines will have to go out of the window till May. But I think I can wing a mid-distance tri (750m swim, 40K bike, 5K run) next summer without much technique, even if I come last. We all know that the longest journey starts with a single step.
Maidenhead half marathon – I missed the inaugural running of this event in September, but it apparently went well without me and it will go straight on the calendar for next year. I’m wondering whether Gus might fancy a crack at it.
Marathon 2013 – fancy dress will be back. Assuming my London number doesn’t come up, I’ll be back in Brighton or maybe I’ll try out the new Milton Keynes event. Current fancy dress idea summarised in two words: Bernie Clifton.
So there we have it. Currently in a step-back week to rest the ankle, hopefully I’ll be back into a decent routine next week and will start posting some updates. Elsewhere, it’s great to see MLCM putting in the best running of his life, and the Sussex Two cranking it up, in their own distinctive ways, in advance of the assault on Tasmania. Antonio is going great guns, and I heard a rumour that Swiss Andi is planning a spring marathon too. And then there’s Almeria… Good times ahead!
The rest of 2011 - between marathons
