2 Weeks Out
BREAKING NEWS: I NOW HAVE A PACER!!
Since Holly isn’t fully recovered at the moment, she’s dropping her elite place to pace me. This could be a blessing or a curse :)
Monday: Upper body lifting only.
Tuesday: 7 miles
Wednesday: Session
On Tuesday morning, I tweaked my back. This block has been plagued with injuries and illness and I almost feel that, since my first build was totally free of either, I probably deserve to feel as so many do when preparing for a marathon. You might be thinking “You’re a strength guy, why are you dealing with injury?” The answer to that is simply that strength is not the only factor at play when an injury has occurred (as mentioned in our latest eGuide). Prior history of injury, for example, plays a large part and, as such, I did some pretty stupid strength and non-strength related things in my twenties. Landing on my head whilst attempting to snowboard and incurring a cervical spine injury. Confusing 15kg with 10kg plates in a new gym and attempting to squat what I thought was 220kg - but actually turned out to be 230kg unevenly loaded on to the bar and cracking two ribs. My first attempt at a 180kg squat on a recently mopped floor… the list goes on (also, see above pic for torn bicep from excessively heavy eccentric bicep curling. Yes, I’m an idiot)
The body adapts and contorts to facilitate your ability to move (note: move, not move well), and there will forever be issues I have to deal with, regardless of how strong I am.
That being said, I decided to warm up with Holly on Wednesday morning. If it hurt, I would call it quits. If it felt ok, I would start the session.
It really hurt and so I decided to start the session (seems I haven’t learnt a thing since my twenties)
Luckily the pain subsided pretty fast and so we hit the session together.
30 mins at 4:12 per k followed by 10x1 min on 1 min off at 3:48 per k and finishing with 30 mins at 4:12 per k (MRP)
Wore the new ASICS Metaspeed Edge Paris. Good lord, what a shoe. The session felt boring, which is mind blowing. The pace was so doable that my biggest issue was the tedium of having to stare at a treadmill screen for 30 mins. The fast reps were completed outside and felt equally comfortable. This is the elusive session I have regularly referred to over the past two builds. The confidence booster - of which I’ve now had two!
I’m not the smartest person in the world but I’m not a complete dummy; anything could happen from now until the end of the race. If I hit 2:59:59 then I will be over the moon - I’m under no illusion that, if I do manage to go sub 3, it’ll be a walk in the park.
Thursday was another 7 miles and Saturday was the final session.
4x1 mile at 3:50 per k (10k pace) off 2 mins jog recovery. Back in the Metaspeed Edge and feeling like I’ve run in this shoe forever (which is a good thing!)
On Sunday, Holly and I ran 10 miles together. Whilst my HR was low, I could sense the pollen in the air. It feels like it’s harder to get oxygen in. Hopefully the pollen count won’t be a factor in the heart of Manchester. The weather for the day looks great at the moment, 12kmph winds, a bit of rain and 8-10 degrees celsius. Let’s hope nothing changes…