Marathon Training Progress Update

Sadly since joining Olney Runners to focus my training I have yet to get out on one of their scheduled training days. It will happen but not today as the track session has been cancelled due to poor weather conditions and to be honest having run 14 miles yesterday a track session is probably not the best choice.

So big session for the week was the organised MK marathon 14 mile training run along the marathon route at race pace, the pace so graciously controlled by the pace runners.

MK Marathon organised Training Run

It was a cold, wet day with the forecast stating it was only going to get worse which to be honest did not boost my motivation to go out and run. But having paid my entry fee and as the rain was quite light, I ventured out to the meeting point at Oak Grove School where I was welcomed by a large number of fellow runners. My chosen pace was 8:30 minute miles which upon heading out started off a bit quicker than expected but settled down after about 3 miles to what it should be. 5 miles into the run embarrassment struck, somehow I managed to fall on a flat peice of redway path. Don't ask me how I'm still trying to work that one out myself, my stride just came to an abrupt halt and over I went. No serious harm done, no ripped leggings, a scuffed knee and broken water bottle was the end result. Those running with me were very helpful, they stopped and checked I was OK, got me to stretch out the knee before carrying on and also suggested I slow the pace and join the 9:00 minute mile group that were following as there was still a further 9 miles to go. As it happens I did slow the pace, 8:45 minute miles felt alot more comfortable and was still in the correct range to hit my sub 4 hour marathon target. I continued my run in the company of another couple, one who had a charity place in the London marathon, the other a place in the MK marathon and just like me had run this event the year before. I found running the marathon route uplifting because I was able to compare the better route conditions to how it was at the race last year. The complete run clocked up close to 14.5 miles due to a slight mishap with direction signs but I finished as instructed, feeling comfortable with more running in my legs.

Moving on into this week, I'm looking at completing my 50th Park Run at Willen Lake (Milton Keynes) with perhaps achieving a new PB for the course. I've also found a good running book to entertain me "Keep on Running" the highs and lows of a marathon addict by Phil Hewitt. It makes for amusing reading, I can relate alot of my experiences and feelings to what he writes so this should see me through to race day.

Till the next post...keep running!