Returned from Colorado on Tuesday and have had a couple of short (4 mile) runs to test the legs. Seemed ok at about 8min mile pace. Today did 12 miles in the sleet/snow on a undulating/hilly road circuit and was delighted to be averaging 8min 40sec miles. I felt really strong and my last mile was 8min 20sec.
It seems the altitude was having a major effect out there BUT, having run 7 times in the 2 weeks I was in SLC and Denver, I seem to have gained condition. Todays run felt very easy all the way through despite horrible running conditions.
Back on track for Lochaber Marathon in April!!
Slab
Nice one Slab, sounds as though you are in good form after returning from on high.
Good to hear it's going well on your return. What pace are you aiming for at Lochaber Slab?
I may be getting some benefit from the 2 weeks at altitude. I'm back to Denver in June which might help for the Ultra in July and SLC in August.
UD - I'll be happy with anything under 4 hours. Viewing it as a training run for Clyde Stride. You?
I'll should be happy to just to get around, given my lack of experience and that it will also be training for bigger things. Trying to supress my unfounded competitive urge but if I'm honest I'm aiming for the 4hr mark also. (In my case though it will be to hit it rather than go under).
I think that'll be tough enough for me and hopefully not wipe me out for the Dukeries a few weeks later, both will be warm-ups for Clyde Stride.
Yeah, CS is the biggy (literally) for me too. It is tempting to go for a fast one in Lochaber though because it is a flat course, mmmmmmmmmmmm. But no, I will be happy even at 3hr 59sec.
After CS I am booked to do the GSR in Sept' and I am possibly going to try to get an entry into Beijing in Oct' as my son is living in China at the moment and we plan to visit this year.
After today's run, and given that I never really intended to run a marathon, I've definitely decided to use it as a training run rather than race it. Primarily because I don't want to stuff up my other plans for what will probably be only a few minutes off a time that was never going to be great. It'll be a PB anyway so why ruin the rest. I must admit to mentally struggling with the intensity required for a marathon, whereas I can get my head around walk breaks etc for an ultra.
Today was a biggie for me at the end of a big week, going to take it relatively easy next week.
Good thinking re the marathon time. How long was your run today and how did it feel? I went for a run with my wife today. She jogged along happily for 3.5 miles and I did some interval sessions jogging back to her for a chat every 3 minutes or so. Very sociable.
Interesting point about mental focus re Marathon v Ultra. I've done marathons before (granted many years ago) and don't worry about the mental factor there. I DO worry about the focus required to keep going for around 8 hours though.
Only 10 weeks till Lochaber by the way!!
Today was 'interesting'.
LSD (for me) run on the road: 19.25 miles, 1096ft of ascent with a 3.5kg pack. First 5 miles was spent skating about timidly on black ice. Couple of bouts of heavy rain. Finally got to my destination for a lunch date in 3:02. Finally felt as if I was running smoothly for the last 1.25 miles which was done in 9'41 (not sure how that happened!). That was with a couple of walk breaks and a couple of toilet breaks.
That brings this weeks total mileage (including the 9 miles on black ice last night) to 48 miles.
Lochaber is certainly looming large on my mind.
Impressive. My weekly mileage (bearing in mind I was travelling Mon' and Tues') was only 24.
Note to self - Must run further!!
Note to self - should probably (read definitely) run less!!
(I really haven't been running long enough and it doesn't make me any faster anyway)