A rest day followed the strength session, then on the evening before our departure, I ran an ‘easy’ 6 miles back from Morzine with a soft toy warthog stuffed in my rucksack! My middle child had fallen in love with him earlier in the week and could think of no better way of spending his holiday money.

We travelled home via Amsterdam, rising at 6am for the transfer to the airport. Back home, with the kids in bed and having spent the day travelling, I headed out for an 8 miler. I was stiff and tired. Back to the reality of pounding the pavements I thought.

Sunday saw the long run. 1.5m warm-up, 10 miles at marathon pace, then 1.5m warm down. I finished the work part of the session, but started to struggled on the warm down. My right hip tightened, my knees throbbed and the ball of my left foot ached. The miles were starting to take their toll.

Following a rest day, I was back out this morning before work for 6 easy miles. My legs were heavy, and didn’t feel rested at all. The rest of today will be about rehydration, rest and protein. This definitely feels like the business end.

11 miles. That’s a warm up and warm down with 1.5m repeats in the middle.

It’s was another spectacular evening down at the lake, but the session was a lung buster in the cool air and by the final repeat my hip had started to lock. This was something that happened a couple of years back whilst training for a 13.1. On the recoveries I had to pause and stretch to release it before heading off again.

The uphill warm down back to the resort was a struggle, and I was greatful when my watch clicked over to 11miles and I dropped immediately to a walk. Tough session, but rest day tomorrow ( if you didn’t count the skiing!).

The downhills have taken their toll. Two days of skiing on very sore thighs had me thinking today’s ‘6 miles easy’ was not going to happen.

I got out and ran anyway. The first mile and a half were like having knives stuck into my quads every step. And there were 2600 steps. My focus shifted from my thighs to my feet once I started rounding Lac de Montriond. Running in snow meant that despite the beautiful surroundings I was only ever looking at the ground about 3 meters ahead. Staying on my feet was the priority – and it that wasn’t guaranteed as a stumbled along. I could however hear the intermittent buzz of chainsaws followed by crashing timber. If that wasn’t enough to keep me alert there was the all too close rubbles or at least four decent sized avalanches. Time to quicken the pace.

With six miles completed I slowed to a walk and headed back satisfied that I’d knocked some of the pain out of my legs ahead of the 11 mile strength session tomorrow.

When we got to the resort, the ski company were quick to tell us that they’d had 60cm of snow last week. Great for skiing. Not so great for the long run.

I came in from a great first day skiing knowing I had a max of 20 mins rest before heading out. My options for the route were confined to down the mountain road and back up again. Everywhere else would have involved trudging through snow. So I started at 1250m and after 5 miles I was down to 1000m, knowing that most of the last 5miles would be running up hill.

Once I hit Morzine I stashed a water bottle for the way back and started on what would be a 3 mile continual uphill slog. It passed surprisingly quickly with the distractions of the mountains around me and before I knew I was turning back after 8 miles and 72 minutes. I felt light as I skipped down the same 3 mile hill I had just worked hard to get up but constantly reminding myself of the last 5miles that awaited me.

Long runs are great for preparing mentally for the extended effort of marathon running, and I liked to use different methods of breaking up the time

I split the run up into 4 quarters, each 4 miles long. Every half hour I had an energy gel.

I only ever seemed to be 15 mins until the next 4 mile block ticked over or a I was due a refuel.

I looked out for the bright red hydrant that marked my water bottles hiding spot. Another distraction from the monotony. I drank it and headed back towards Montriand and the 3.5 mile climb that followed. My legs felt good and I was really enjoy turning the power on up the hill.

I arrived back at the chalet 20mins late for dinner. I gave my apologies, sat down in my sweaty kit and settled into the 4 course meal, still sweating.

You could view it as a problem or an excuse to skip a run. I thought squeezing 10miles in to a stop over in Geneva on our way to the ski resort would be difficult. It turned out to be the best run I’ve done this year.

The alarm went off at 7am (6am UK time) and I crawled out of bed trying not to disturb my two boys who I was bunking in with. I quickly dressed and left the room. I headed to the hotel restaurant to try and explain that I don’t want breaskfasr now, but perhaps later and could I just get some water? Eventually got it and knocked it back before heading into the cool morning.

I headed towards the ‘Centre Ville’ on my way to the tip of Lac Leman (Lake Geneva). It was a misty morning with the mountains hidden in cloud. Running through the historic city my head was spinning as I tried to take in the beautiful buildings and ignore the bewitching smell of bread and coissants emanating from the cafes and boulangeries.

I reached the grand Pont du Mont Blanc; it’s flags hanging limp – a super still morning. Great.

I turned off the bridge and ran along the promenade by the lake. The sun starting to break through the clouds in front of me. I was hoping it would lift the mountain mist and unviel the alpine back drop. But no.

I turned round after 5 miles – my half way point. I often run out-and-back when away from home as it’s easier to judge the distance and you know what’s in store for the second half, so no surprises to catch you out. I notice how cold my hands were – I was irritated with myself for leaving my gloves at home. If they are suffering now, what will it be like up at the resort?

Back at the hotel to wake the family and get on with the holiday… ( at least until tomoorow’s run)

It’s Sunday morning and my alarm wakes me. It’s 6.30am. To me it’s really 5.30am, thanks to the start of British Summer Time.

11 mile tempo run time.

After dragging myself out of bed I was instantly energised by the bright sun beaming low across the clear blue sky on to my face.

I started out on my warmup towards the park, my feet patting along with the impossible pace of the woodpeckers knocking in the trees. I changed up the gears settling into my goal marathon pace. Over the bridge and into the trees by the lakeside. I enjoyed the view of the super still lake as I ran its length completely alone. Until I noticed a motionless deer in the trees. I looked across, and as if pretending she wasn’t looking, she tossed her head in the opposite direction and scrambled away.

Pace check – a touch slow, but to be expected on the rough terrain. I pushed harder and got back on track. The rest of the run passed with relative ease and I soaked up the surroundings until I ran back into the village which was just starting to stir. The climbing centre were out and setting up there mobile wall ready to challenge the tourists. I was done and thankful for the inspiring change of scenery.

Rest day tomorrow. Shame.

It’s a 36.5mile week this week, and work commitments and kids’ weekend activities mean I have 23 of those miles to shoehorn into the next 36 hours.

4miles just finished, and an early start tomorrow to get an 8 miler in before we leave for a weekend trip at 9.30am.

Sunday will be another early start with an 11miles tempo session in the beautiful Lake District – my favourite place to run. So not too much of a hardship!

This thought jumped into my mind this morning. I’d just dropped my son at school and headed out to a speed session on the track. I could have just gone back home and had a coffee. I was shattered and could definitely do with a sit.

With my 1.5mile warm up done, I started on my first 800m repeat. My mind ran through the checks … start time, target finish time, run tall, relax, shoulders down … On my recovery lap I sucked in the air and thought of nothing. Next repeat – same again. And again, and again until the track work was done. I did my last recovery lap, satisfied that I’d put in a good session, and looked forward to the steady warm down.

I started the 1.5m warm down and realised that I’d not thought about my doubt since the session started. My legs recovered quickly from the work and now seemed to swing effortlessly beneath me. I felt a million times better than I did when I started. For today, that is my answer. I know that it may be different tomorrow. In fact tomorrow I may struggle for a reason, but I will know that there is one and that will do for me.

I was up and out by 6.15am this morning. My legs felt loose and strong. It was only a 4 mile easy run, but I had put in 22 miles over the weekend (8 mile then a 14 mile) so keen (and concerned) to see how I had recovered in my day off yesterday.

Since starting this marathon training back in January, I have been amazed how comfortable it seems. It is all about running slowly. It seems backwards, but that appears to be the key to running quicker for longer. The slower pace keeps you heart rate lower, and allows your body to burn more fat as fuel, rather than carbohydrate. This means you can run for longer as fat stores last longer than your carbohydrate stores. As your body responds and becomes more efficient you gradually up the mileage and sharpen the pace whilst maintaining the lower heart rate and higher fat burn.

Its genius really. But as the training progresses towards the business end the speed and tempo runs kick in and really push you. I’m hitting my paces in these, and being strict on my easy days. And so far so good.

Finally I’m counting down to my debut marathon.

https://www.edinburghmarathon.com

Only 700 miles of training to fit in around work, family and life! Then there’s the 26.2miles to complete. My target? To finish it. Actually, to finish it and enjoy it. If I’m being honest, I’ve got a time in mind. If I finish it, enjoy it and beat my time, then I’ll look for the next one to enter.

So far it’s gone well. No injuries (kiss of death!?) and I’m really enjoying it. The challenge comes when juggling the kids activities – two weeks ago I found myself 10 miles into a 12 mile run in Leeds battling against gale force winds and horizontal hail, all against the clock so I return back to John Charles sports centre before the boys’ afternoon swim races started!

I don’t think I’d ever given up on the idea of running a marathon but my 40th birthday had come and gone and my last half marathon ended in the back of an ambulance just after the 12mile point and that scared me. In fact it really scared me. I felt totally out of control. I’d followed a training plan I’d read in Bart Yasso’s excellent book ‘A life on the Run’. I’d done everything right, but didn’t take on enough water. Everything went black. At Christmas just gone my wife bought me a copy of Runner’s World. There was a beginners marathon plan that lasted 18 weeks and maxed at 16 miles. The Hanson Method…https://hansons-running.com.

I could handle that.