Week 6 of 13 (4th Feb - 10th Feb)

WEEK 6
Mon AM - Conditioning work
Mon PM - 11m (8:00 mpm)
Tue - 1.6km w/u. Interval Session 6km @ 5:43 mpm, 3km @ 5:41 mpm, 2km @ 5:35 mpm, 1.6km @ 5:36 mpm, 1.2km @ 5:35 mpm, 0.9km @ 5:33 mpm, 0.6km @ 5:26 mpm, 0.4km @ 5:18 mpm
Wed Lunch - Weights - Cleans, overhead squat, deadlifts
Wed PM - 8m (8:00 mpm)
Thu -2.25m w/u, 31 x 400m (c. 1:40 per 400, 20 secs rest), 2.75m w/d
Fri - Rest / Yoga
Sat - 12 x 1.3m + w/d (alternating 8:00 mpm and 6:30 mpm) - Total 18m
Sun - 16m (8:00 mpm)
TOTAL MILEAGE - 76.5

Tired this week. I am quite suprised I actually got round to doing the blog as for the first time I really didn't want to. I thought I should be re-energised after holiday. Oh well I guess that's what a week back at work does to you. All in all a positive week, the only session that didn't go to plan was today's planned 30 miler. Physically I felt okay, but a busy weekend socialising left me feeling a little fried. I also had a few personal things to sort out that were playing on my mind. Training isn't always physical and I decided cutting the long run short and using the extra time to sort a few things out and relax would pay dividends. More time to relax and let the mind repair. Besides an 18m / 16m back to back run isn't too bad going.

I have been finding recently I've been getting more and more stressed about running and training and fitting it all in. Partly this is due to an increase in training over the past 6 months, but also I've had a bit of a change in mindset. I used to be positive, adaptable and quite a good problem solver when it comes to fitting all the training in. However it seems I now just get in a strop when it doesn't go my way and I have to juggle things round. I'm pleased I've come to this realisation and I'm trying to make active steps to manage the training load more positively.

On the training front, I was particularly pleased with Tuesday's session. Long rests on these reps, between 4-6 minutes but this was a big accumulation of sub 6 minute pace running. I just wish it was summer again. These sessions at the track were much more enjoyable in short shorts and a vest. Thursday's track session was an interesting one. On paper 31 x 400m doesn't seem that appealing. I was running them off of 2 minutes. The quicker I ran them the more rest I got. I used this session as a opportunity to try and dial into "Barry pace". If I can manage 1m40 a lap at Barry I will be very happy.

Saturday I had an easy 18 miles planned, but with a 30 miler scheduled the following day I couldn't really face the prospect of plodding around. So I went against coach's recommendations and changed the session into some kind of fartlek session of a closed 1.3m loop. It was a good session alternating one fast loop with one slow loop. However, maybe it was part of the reason I jacked in today's big one. All a learning experience.

Next week will be a tough week and I really need to make sure I get the whole week done. This is because the following week will be a taper down for the Barry 40 miler. Whilst I want Barry to have limited impact on training I am realistic. Running 40 miles on the track will damage me. Sessions of note next week are a "to failure" session which I will provide more details on next week and a 37.5 mile super plod.

Last but not least, I got the call this week that I have been selected to represent England in the Anglo Celtic Plate. I am still awaiting details for the rest of the team but this is fantastic news.

Mileage so far: 39, 73, 102, 31, 29, 76

Week 4 of 13 (21st - 27th Jan)

WEEK 4
Mon Lunch - Conditioning work
Mon PM- 5.5 miles easy, treadmill
Tue - Weights, Cleans, Overhead squat, Straight deadlifts, upper body conditioning
Wed - 15.75 miles (7:40 m/pm)
Thu AM - 6.2 miles (8m20 m/pm)
Thu PM - 4 miles (8m20 m/pm)
Fri - Rest
Sat - Rest
Sun - Rest
TOTAL MILEAGE - 31.5

Bonjour from the slopes of the Alps! Now on a ski holiday so the running stops for a week. Hurray!

After what was described as an "intimidating week" last week we can only say that the mighty have fallen. This week was always going to be a reduced mileage week and although I was going to try and squeeze in as much running as possible, the loss of Saturday and Sunday for my ski break was always going to hamper the mileage.

The ski holiday couldn't really have come at a better time, my right calf has been tightening up for a week or so. So much so that on Thursday's planned 9 mile run I had to cut it short and finish with only a 4 miler. It certainly wasn't debilitating but it was starting to feel like it was going to become a problem so I cut short rather than plough through. A running imbalance has given me problems with the calf before. The first time this happened it took me 3 months to get over it, the last time it happened it took me only 3 days. So I'm hoping experience has shown me how to manage the niggle. The problem with Thursday's 9 miler is that it was a point to point, office to home run so I needed to get the missus (superstar!!) to come pick me up whilst I stood in the Shell garage drinking a luke warm vanilla latte and looking a complete tool in my fluorescent kit and skin tight leggings.

This wasn't the only thing that didn't go to plan this week. On Tuesday I had planned to run in the evening but really wasn't feeling it. Outside was snow and ice, which is no fun, inside is a treadmill which is no fun either. I was driving to the gym and with about 1 minute before the turn home I had a change of mind and decided that the sofa and a bowl of cereal was indeed a more appealing option. Must be a little run down, motivation flagging and a small niggle.

So I think the less said about the rest of the week the better. Next week, mileage will again be low. A nice week of active rest on the slopes should see the fitness stay in place. I have packed my XC spikes though...planning to try and do at least one outside run. Might be tricky as I'm half way up a mountain but the  slope from our appartment to the main slopes looks perfect for hill reps :-)

Next week will be quite exciting as I am expecting the England team for the Anglo Celtic Plate to be finalised and communicated, so I will await an e-mail or phone call with either the good or bad news. I will share the news as soon as I know. We have now booked our accommodation and flights for the trip to Perth. The whole family is coming up which is fantastic. I thought it would be quite a tough sell to be honest, "hey geys, fancy travelling all the way up to Scotland and watch your little/big brother/son run around a park for 8 hours. All you need to do is stay there all day and make sure I'm well fed and watered and I will probably be miserable at best". They all said "yes".

Mileage so far: 39, 73, 102, 31