After Sunday’s 17.6 miles, Monday should have been a rest day – but starting a week with a rest feels like a waste, so I treated my tired legs to 45 minutes on the turbo (15 minutes off for good behaviour).
They didn’t seem particularly grateful but managed 22.1km (13.7m).
On Tuesday I went out for the 8.4 miler (13.58km) I ran twice last week. In the spirit of trying new things, I used different shoes and kit – I’ll try various things over the coming weeks so I have a range of tried and tested options to cope with whatever the day itself might throw at me.
Planning and thinking ahead – whatever next.
Although not necessary for 8 miles, I tried some porridge for breakfast – which reminded me how important it is to practice in a way that reflects the likely experience of the event. I don’t normally eat breakfast and it left me feeling unpleasantly full – at least the marathon itself starts at 10 so I’ve time to digest on the day.
The run itself was pretty good – a little faster than the quicker of the two runs last week. Of course, I put that down, entirely, to the fact that these trainers are red.
I checked that running on Valentine’s Day would not prejudice the chances of getting to our 32nd wedding anniversary in June, and took a rest on Wednesday but Thursday was back to the now standard 8.4 miler.
I took off another 10 seconds per km. I’m now within 2 s/km of 4 hour marathon pace – but I’m having to push hard to get even this close for just 8 miles. I’m sure it was easier 20 years ago.
A week ago I was preparing to accept that I couldn’t get beneath 4 hours – now there seems to be the smallest glimmer of hope. It’s the hope that kills you!
An hour in the gym on Friday (all legs and core as the shoulder isn’t quite right yet) and all was set for the long slow run on Saturday ….
I had breakfast and took a little water (not enough) and some jelly babies with me. I had a run mapped out with a few escape routes if needed. In the end I didn’t use them but found it a real hard slog for the last few kms. I ran through the (psychologically important?) 20 mile barrier – 20.7miles (33.33km) but it wasn’t fast and it wasn’t pretty.
Sunday I spent a few hours being trained as a trainer for the cycle club’s initiative to get children and adults on bikes – then it was the Newport Velodrome in the evening (the Geraint Thomas Velodrome, no less).
I love riding on the track – the single speed has a great simplicity and the lack of any brakes is less of a concern when nobody has them. As always, I had a great time but there was little in my legs at the start and just about nothing two hours later – Geraint would have despaired at me.
| Week | Run | Cycle | X-train |
| 1 | 16.1m (25.9km) | 9.8m (15.8 km) | 2:00 |
| 2 | 18.5m (29.8km) | 13.3m (21.5km) | 2:00 |
| 3 | 20.7m (33.3km) | 65.8m (105.9km) | 1:00 |
| 4 | 22.2m (35.8km) | 13.7m (22.1km) | 1:00 |
| 5 | 24m (38.6km) | 13m (21km) | 1:00 |
| 6 (Christmas) | 13.2m (21.3km) | ||
| 7 | 25.6m (41.1km) | 62.7m (100.9km) | 3:00 |
| 8 | 14.6m (23.6km) | 13.2m (21.2km) | 7:00 |
| 9 (Skiing) | 15.51m (25km) | 12:00 | |
| 10 (Skiing) | 12:00 | ||
| 11 (Skiing) | 7.1m (11.4km) | 6:00 | |
| 12 | 34.1m (55km) | 35m (56.4km) | 1:00 |
| 13 | 37.5m (60.4km) | 13.7m (22.1km) | 2:00 |
| ‘Running’ totals | 249.1m (401.2km) | 240.2m (386.9km) | 49:00 |
(an Old Man in Lycra) 
Good to know that red works for shoes as well!
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