That’s better. The same run as yesterday, but this time a full 70 seconds per mile faster, and much more comfortable. Last night’s Pilates session had lubricated a few joints, and as always, I felt strangely taller and more stretched today. The trouble with Pilates is that I do it for an hour a week, and forget about it for the rest of the time. I think it’s supposed to be a life-changing leap. It invites you to breathe differently and to rethink your posture, but I remember this only for that one hour slot. But still worth doing.
I got talking to a lady who runs a walking group in one of the local villages. Perhaps I’ll join in. Walking is one of those things that we vowed to do when we moved here, but haven’t done much. We went off for a cobweb-blasting stroll on New Year’s Day but just one mile in, M detected a blister and the mission was aborted. On Sunday I walked for nearly 7 miles as my weekly cross-training session, and it reminded me just how enjoyable and healthy this can be, even though most of the benefit probably drains away in the compulsory extended pub inspections en route.
Arrangements for Copenhagen continue. I’ve now booked and paid for the flights and accommodation, and entered the race. It’s a done deal. I’d been wondering what sort of time I should be aiming for. My two previous marathons have taken me 5:50 and 5:15 respectively. I have to go for a sub-5 hour marathon this time, but exactly what? Fate has answered my question. My race number is 450, so my target is now 4:50.
This means a pace of 11:04 a mile. That may seem slow, and indeed even I run faster than that on my standard runs. But it’s the consistency that’s tough for me. Almost anyone could run a mile in 11 minutes, but to do it steadily for 26 consecutive miles is the challenge. One of the many things I want to do differently and better in the training this time round, is to pay more attention to pace in my weekend long runs. I need to reduce the fluctuations, and learn how to keep it steady the whole way round.
