W/C 18th January 2010

Posted at 14:23 on Feb 25, 2010 by Michelle White

W/C 18/01

Started the week feeling relatively confident with two short runs – predictably, as the week progressed and I moved into the longer runs, life became harder…  

One of the biggest problems I am facing with my training programme is fitting in the actual running.  With a demanding events based job where I am often working evenings and weekends, slotting in enough training each week is taking some serious dedication.

This week I stuck to my plan and in a major feat of organisation ran four times.  I ran on Tuesday evening at the gym for 35 minutes – easy peasy – that treadmill really does just bounce you along.  I ran on Thursday morning – a 7am start, freezing cold and pitch dark for 50 minutes – it’s pretty miserable but okay.  Saturday the sun is out and I ran for an hour and 10 minutes – it’s a hard run up and down hills but it’s a clear crisp morning and feels suitably exhilarating.  Sunday is my day for doing a long run – every Sunday I will run for a longer period of time and this is how I hope to build up the stamina and mileage to complete the marathon.  It’s very cold and I feel tired after a long, stressful week at work and the hill run the day before.  I persevere and complete an hour and 30 minutes, which feels quite tough – my legs are killing me by the end of it.  The niggling voice in my head keeps telling me that at this point I wouldn’t even be half way around the marathon – a friend (who isn’t doing the marathon) says something cheerful about harnessing a positive mental sports attitude – a suitable response fails me.

Other supporting activities completed this week include two Pilates classes – I’m a huge Pilates fan and can honestly say that since I started about five years ago my running has improved ten-fold.  Knowing how to engage my core muscles correctly has really helped me to improve my running posture and maintain it through the longer more gruelling runs.   

In addition to this I have started to keep a food diary in preparation for my meeting with Maximuscle Sports Nutritionist Lynn Clay – who is tasked with kicking my diet into shape.  I’m a strict vegetarian and feel slightly scared about what Lynn might reveal about my diet lacking all sorts of essential fats, nutrients, proteins and so on. Lynn has very kindly sent me a document entitled ‘Common Vegetarian Deficiencies’ I read this and am immediately convinced I have all of them.

Next week:  More food diary, schedule anxiety, long run: 1hour and 45 mins.