Training Log Archive: Whitesheep

Event: Abingdon Marathon
 

Abingdon marathon - 59th place.

Overall really pleased to have made my target of sub-3. The pacing was just about right with a 1:22 negative split: first half 1:29:23, second half 1:28:01. Most of the time gain came from a quicker stretch after halfway when I joined in with the (slowing) 2:55 train.

Got lucky with the weather which was perfect, and the course is flat as promised (although with a lot of kerb-jumping that felt pretty brutal by the end!).

Didn't feel quite 100%, so very glad to have a) got myself into better than 3hr shape and b) not gone off any quicker. Legs felt a bit heavy from the start and I'm sure the early miles felt better at the Maidenhead 1/2. Not really sure why - probably just lack of sleep and using up too much nervous energy over the previous couple of days. But it doesn't matter. I ran the fastest I could have on the day, and very close to the fastest I could have realistically hoped for after a 21 minute 5k in January!

Self-indulgent race report for posterity...

0-6 miles - 6:48, 48, 50, 47, 46, 48.
Lots of people went off very fast (too fast…) and I was quite happy to let them go, although even this took me through the first few miles at the quicker end of what I'd planned. I knew one of the leading ladies was aiming for 2:55 so it was useful to keep her in sight, about 30s ahead. At this stage the pace felt easy and legs were OK - although it was a bit disappointing not to feel fresher than I had at Maidenhead. Saw Em at 5 miles, and it was all smiles.

6-13.1 miles - 6:52, 42, 44, 46, 46, 46, 48 + 1:11 (includes a bit of extra time for earlier splits when Garmin a bit off)
A small climb out of town to start with, such as there are any at Abingdon. Here I came together with a guy called Nathan and we paced each other until the last few miles. My plan was to start picking the pace up here, but I didn't really feel comfortable - legs were feeling heavy, although I was still breathing easy. So kept it steady.

13.1-20 miles - 6:42, 39, 50, 36, 49, 39, 44
Started to get a bit tactical. I wasn't feeling any better but we ran a couple of quicker miles to latch on to the 2:55 train (which by now was down to 2:57 pace) just up the road as I thought it would be useful. Glad for the encouragement from Em just as we were catching up to them. Their pacing was faster but a bit erratic. Think there were a few in this bunch still hoping for 2:55 and they would occasionally push up to that pace before falling back. The quicker pace was a bit tough on the legs and I started to feel like they were getting tight. A definite low point when we went past 18 miles and I'd misremembered and was expecting 19!

20-26.2 miles - 6:48, 52, 51, 49, 51, 51 + 0:50
2:55 lady went off the front at about 18-19 miles, chasing down the 2nd and 3rd ladies ahead. With her gone the pace started to drag and I started to pull clear at around 23 miles just by holding steady, although it felt like I was putting the hammer down! From 20 miles on I was pretty sure I would go sub-3 but I had to give it everything on the last stretch through town - especially to climb the kerbs and back up the subway. The last few twists & turns through the park felt like they'd gone on forever and a lap of the track has never seemed so daunting. Amazed at how quickly I went from marathon pace to unable to walk!

C • Get in 8

Bit of light jogging pre-start and did I bollocks do a warm-down!!!

Easy jogging, easy drills and strides out to marathon pace. All felt good.
So nice to get out for a jog, felt much calmer out in the park than sat at home - although that may also have something to do with the rugby finishing!

C • Have a good one! 1

Steady run along Millbank

2x1 mile at marathon pace as part of a steady run. With hindsight I'd have done this differently, the first felt too much like hard work after less than a mile warm-up, but by the end of the run I was happily cruising at marathon pace.

C • training graph 4

A very easy no-impact loosener on the x-trainer.

pilates - good session this week.

5x600m reps off ~2 min recoveries on the playing fields near home. Nice fast pace but overall not too intense, around Yasso 800 pace.

Times: 2:02, 2:05, 2:01, 2:06, 1:59 (quite a gusty headwind, mainly on the evens).

+ recoveries since they were so long.