First week of marathon training complete

I will leave Katie to post her own more detailed updates if she wants to, however I can say that today we both successfully finished our first week of marathon training. It came with its ups and downs but overall was a great week. 

After Wednesdays run I did a 7 miles run on Thursday and then 10 miles on Saturday (including parkrun) and 14 miles today. In total this week I ran around 26 miles with the buggy and 26 miles without the buggy, Amelia was mostly good but happy that we have planned to do most of our long runs with Mia only having to come out for 6 miles. 

parkrun was a bit annoying this week, I was on for around 20 minutes with the buggy, hopefully my first sub 20 as it was our first outing back on the winter course. In all honesty I think it was slightly too warm for me to get a sub 20 but it would have been close had I not got a puncture. I think I must have picked up the puncture by or at halfway because by the time I got back to a turn the buggy just didn't turn due to the puncture. All things considered 20:38 given the puncture is a very good run and I am sure I should be getting under 20 minutes with the buggy soon, or at least a buggy PB. 

All I will say about Katie is that she smashed it out of the park and ran a cracking new PB. 

Today was the 14 mile long run, which should not have been too hard and it wasn't despite the 10 miles yesterday and doing the first 11 with the buggy I also had company for the majority of the run, this both meant the time went faster but also that I was running slower. 

So in total 52 miles for the week and although my plan may not have been strictly adhered to my plan is just that a plan, things don't go to plan life and family get in the way. Really not sure what I am doing this Wednesday as I normally do 6 miles in my lunch break but I am coming home for a show that Mia is doing, then Katie has an interview (fingers crossed) and then we have our running AGM and then we can go for a run but I would rather not go a 10 miles mid-week run my myself. Katie works Tuesday nights so I can't go out early so bit worried that I might drop some miles there but if I do I do that is all part of running, getting a good balance. 

Injury

One of the potential issues for next year is injury. We have both been lucky to not really have had any injuries over the last 18 months that we have been running until now. a few weeks ago my old achilles problem meant I felt slightly sore and Amelia jumped on me and things started to go downhill. I did some very easy weeks however on the last of those easy weeks after a tough parkrun my achilles again took a hit from Amelia and became really stiff and painful.  

As a result of the above I took a week off running and spent it icing, compressing, testing and looking after my ankle. I walked as little as I could and then decided to go to parkrun and run with Katie as that is a much easier pace for me. There were a few aches as I went round but nothing bad and even better the rest of the weekend I continued to improve. Another couple of easier weeks to get back into it and I doubt I will bomb round too hard at parkrun. The delay in my training does mean I am not likely to be anywhere near peak fitness for the Disney Half marathon or the Brighton 10 mile race but my goal was always the Poppy Half marathon and hopefully I will be ok for that, or somewhere near PB shape. 

Next year however things will be slightly different, I need to average somewhere near 42 miles a week, take out a week for recovery after the marathon which will likely include minimal running and you are talking about another mile a week. every week I don't run adds another mile to the remaining week or more depending on how things are going. My plan is that marathon training at the start of the year will get me above that average and being down the requirement for the rest of the year. 

Injuries will come and that is what will make the 2191 miles such a challenge other than actually running the 2191 miles. I will do my best go get some walking in to replace running if I can when injured but health comes first so I will try and get as close to 2191 miles as possible. If I can't make 2191 then 2000 would still be amazing but I really want that 2191. 

Fingers crossed for now that my achilles is improving quickly and it has reminded me to stay on strength exercises and not to do too much speed work, the best foundation for running is lots of base miles and this has worked for me so far and speed can wait until I am back to 100%. 

Searching for Custom Vests

I am currently searching for custom charity running vests, I have had a few quotes but most places are geared up to providing kit for bigger events and charities so asking for a small number of vests doesn't seem to compute.

I have found one place that is quite reasonable and looks promising, just a few more places to hear back from but I am fairly certain I know who I will go with and I think the company has a good reputation.

Wish us luck, it will be great to have some British Dupuytren's Society vests to help raise awareness of the charity, at the very least some people at parkrun will probably ask about it.