Still fighting on

This has been a difficult couple of weeks. One day I am running strong and fast, the next I am hobbling along with foot pain or a trapped nerve in my shoulder, or gut rot. I am keeping up the speed and recovery runs, and increasing overall distance, but have fallen by the wayside on the long runs, which have, for the last couple of weeks at least, coincided with the other problems. Which, for marathon training is not great, because it is the long runs that build the endurance - the other runs just help with pace and strength.

You can see the last week's runs here

Back in the saddle

the new year has got off to a slow start, mainly because of the ongoing foot injuries. They are improving, but I took a slow week in my training schedule last week to rest up the joints.

I am also trying out a new training app from Tribe Sports. Not so good at letting me embed the run in the body of the blog, but it does give a good breakdown of my training runs, the latest of which was a shorter long run this morning at http://tribesports.com/users/stevef1/training_logs/790587.

This week I get back in the saddle with some more serious training runs again, and just hope and pray that these foot injuries do not flare up again!

New Shoes!

After a few weeks of excruciating foot pain for up to 24 hours after a run, tight calves and sore muscles, the signs were all there that I needed new running shoes!  I was missing training runs just to get the soreness and inflammation down before my next run - signs I needed to sort something out! Daft to have left it for so long, but I finally realised that my shoes were the problem - I had probably done a good eight hundred miles on them - twice the reccomended distance before a change.

So, here they are - Brookes (as all my running shoes have been over the last few years), Glycerins - a mid weight shoe, with a touch more arch support than my previous Brookes Ghosts. I am preferring a more minimal, less structured shoe, as it makes me run on the midfoot, which has strengthened my running technique and put less strain on my hips and knees.

The proof of the pudding is in the eating though, so (in yet another storm, with driving rain and gales) I took them out for my long run of the week, and can say that not only was it a good run, but in the 36 hours since, I have had no more than a normal level of stiffness and muscles soreness.  A salient reminder that the only bit of running kit you need to really spend time and money choosing is your running shoes!

Embankment full of runners

It's been difficult keeping up the training with Christmas and New Year festivities, but I have got in a few substantial runs - see http://www.sportypal.com/Results?user_id=40244 for a rundown if you're interested.

Today was one of the rare sunny dry ones at the moment, so a good day for a threshold run along a runner crowded Embankment.  Seems everyone was running today - for many the first day back at work after the holidays. Perhaps it's part of the January get fit kick that so many succumb to after the excesses of Christmas and New Year.  Or maybe its all the others, like me who are training for marathons and are trying to get their head back into their training schedule.  Either way, good to see fellow pavement-pounders out there by the Thames.

Running Log: Gale force winds force shorter runs!

OK, not the brightest idea, but you make your plans without necessarily counting on extreme weather conditions. This was planned to be a straight 15-18km run, but ended up being cut into a 6km simply because I was fed up of running into gale force winds and horizontal rain.  Good workout (especially running uphill), and good to have a tail wind and gentle downhill for the last 2-3km, which meant I could really hare it on the home stretch.  Quite bracing, but I am not a great fan of trying to run in gale force winds!

Last Working Day Run of 2013

Lovely, cold & sunny (about 7-8C) - so perfect tourist weather! Decided to go round the near deserted back streets of Southwark instead.  Great running conditions - wide, long and straight pavements, not too many main roads to cross (always a bug bear with urban running!).

Today's run was accompanied by 'The Infinite Monkey Cage' podcast and a truly fascinating (and occasionally very funny) discussion on conservation, which was not all yohgurt weaving and anti-human angst!

Week Two

Training is now properly underway! Well, to be honest it has been since August, I am just using a proper plan now.  My most recent (recorded) run was Tuesday, doing a threhold run around Southwark (avoiding the Thames tourist trap!)

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I have fitted in a couple of short, early morning recovery runs as well, but always forget to to log them (my brain is still not fully working at that time of day).  Run accompanied by the Kermode and Mayo film review podcast (which clocks in at 1hr:40 or so and therefore best suited to a long run - and a good Kermodian rant is ideal for getting the heart rate up and pace over my marathon target).  I have a range of other podcasts and audio books lined up, but am probably going to have to get used to doing long runs 'zen style' - sans soundtrack, as this is the normal practice in official races for safety (and sociability). But while it is cold, wet and dark, the soundtrack is essential company.

Hello to Jason Isaacs, by the way.