what’s next…?

Its just over 3 months since crossing the line in Edinburgh, and into week 8 of my latest 15 week programme. The target, the @runforall Yorkshire Marathon on October 20th.

I’m expecting a scenic course around the historic town, but also will be targeting a PB. Edinburgh had gone very well, but it could have gone better had I had the confidence ( experience) to push the pace in the last 10ks.

My training programme building up to Edinburgh was based around a Marathon Pace of 8 min/mile, which should have sneaked my in under 3.30. As it happens I slipped back, averaging 8.03/mile with the clock just turning over to 3.32.

I had also stripped my diet right back. This meant no meat, no diary (no, eggs aren’t diary – unless you’ve seen a cow lay one?), no caffeine and no alcohol.

I am sustaining the no meat and no diary, but have been drinking coffee again, and have the very occasional beer (by occasional I mean perhaps 2 beers once per month!). I have now included maca into my diet – a South American root, renowned for its ability to increase stamina and endurance. I have stepped up the training frequency and volume, I am now getting out 6 days per week, pushing 2 structured sessions, 1 long run of up to 16 miles, and 3 recovery ‘easy’ runs of between 6 and 10 miles. The weekly mileage is now ramping up into the mid 50s, and next week (week 9) will hit 60 miles for the first time.

I am now training for a target pace of 7.40/mile, which would get me round the 26.2 miles in 201 minutes, or 3.21. This would be no small achievement, but I also very aware that it would put me 1 minute outside of my fathers marathon PB of 3.20.

I say PB, but he only ever ran one.

Training over the summer months has meant juggling running with family time, summer holidays and work. My trainers have accompanied me on a stag do, a family holiday, camping trip and even to several meetings.

Inspiration continues to come from reading about the endevours of Rich Roll, as well as watching James Lawrence (aka Ironman Cowboy) on Netflix), and catching Lionel Sanders on YouTube.