Tapering

Just in case you've clicked on this for a bit of insight, or you're a mate wondering what I'm going on about by the word tapering, here are a few links to explain. But it's mainly about recovering from the excess training before the marathon.

Here are the links:

From Marathontraining.com

The BBC website

Runner's World

and another Runner's World one focussing on what you shouldn't do.

Well done fella

I've just taken a phone call from my mate JB.  He ran the Paris Marathon today.  He finished in 4 hours 36 mins. It might not be what he originally wanted to do it in but it's brilliant for a first timer.  I'm now waiting to chat with him all about it when he comes back.  He said he hit the wall with 10 miles to go and didn't really get out of it.  Crossing the finish line must have been the best feeling in the world. Well done JB again. 

A big fat lie

Yesterday I lied.  At the end of my blog I said I was going to go out for a 10 mile run. I didn't.  

I was out for around an hour running and walking and plodding and working myself into a frenzy for just shy of 6 miles.  I started out with the sun in my eyes, then when I found shade it would often blindingly let the sun back onto my eyes, then I was hit with inertia and started to worry about the world, his brother and his work, and then I was passed by several other runners.

All in all it wasn't a happy time and it made me a grumpy old moody grump for the rest of the day.

I've now put it down to experience and forgetting about it.  Note I've not quite forgotten yet. But I got an email from a fellow Barnardo's runner last night answering a few of my tapering worries and after I received that the world seemed a brighter day.  He's tapering with only a few short steady runs and eating lots of carbs.  He didn't do anything like 10 miles this weekend and will only be doing a 4 miler mid week.  So I'm only doing 3.

Things go up and down very quickly with my marathon moods.

I'm not sure if this week is going to be the longest or shortest ever. Probably a bit of both.

In-Seine

I ran 5 miles on Thursday evening.  After the elation of the night before of running a personal best for the mile this run was struggle.  My mate JB who's running the Paris Marathon on Sunday called to say he was at my house just as I had started running. He was early and I was distracted all the way back home thinking I should be there quicker.  When you know you should be somewhere and also know you need to control your pace it's not a good place to be.  Anyway I got home eventually and we continued to bore my wife to bits about pasta, 10K runs and comedy clips from the internet. 

John has taken a different approach to his first marathon than myself.  Where as I have soaked up every ounce of advice from books, blogs and previous runners he's tried to do his way and closed his eyes and ears to what everyone (often conflicting) has said.  He's younger and fitter so will be coming home, hopefully, in around 4 hours.  Bon Luck and Good Chance for Sunday mate.  

I'm now off to run to Tower Bridge and back.  My last 10 miler before the big day and my penultimate run.

Thanks

Thanks goes to Si for giving me £4 a mile to run the London Marathon.  My Barnardo's fundraising target has almost been made and if anyone wants to push it past the 1600 mark, be my guest.

Shoot the runner

I ran 3.5 miles tonight.  I'm tapering so trying to keep it slow and steady before April 13th.  This was more difficult than it sounds.  I was trying to keep to the pace of 10 minutes per mile for the first two miles which is what I want to run the first 3 or 4 miles of the marathon in.  But unfortunately my pace kept creeping up.  

It's weird. Four weeks ago I was struggling to run anything faster than 10 minute miles and now when I want to keep that pace it's virtually impossible.  I think it's nerves. Everyone I talk to who is running the marathon is just itching to get to the starting line now.  Yesterday, someone quite bluntly, as I was telling them about what's going through my mind, simply said: 'You just need to get it over with now, don't you?'

Yes.

Anyway, after the two miles of watching my speed I just let myself go and ran home.   I knew I was doing a decent pace but to my knowledge it was nothing out of the ordinary.  But when I got home and pressed End Workout on my Ipod Paula Radcliffe popped up to tell me I'd just run my fastest mile.  That's ridiculous, when all I wanted to do last month was go out hard hoping to try and improve my shorter distance time and simply couldn't. 

Anyway its given me a boost. A boost that seriously doesn't explain the bad mood I've been in all night. Weird things are afoot.

Oh, and Kasabian's Shoot The Runner came on at the end of my run which I though was apt for tonight's blog.

Will the real Lance Armstrong please stand up?

If you look right, you'll see my fundraising has almost hit target.  Thanks goes to all of you who have given money to my Barnardo's justgiving page, joined in with the pub quiz or promised me some cash.  Some wonderful people have given me one hundred pounds (Thanks Anna, Sar and number 6), which brings me on to another point.  Not how wonderful some people are, but guessing who gave what.  I know who number 6 is now, even though he tried to deflect me by saying he never plays number 6 but number 3 on the rugby field.  I got through his defense in the end and a big thanks goes to JL.  But who has signed themselves as Lance Armstrong on my justgiving site? It harks back to my first blog post and unless Lance Armstrong is paying British taxes I know it's not the legendary ex-Mr Crow. So Lance Armstrong please stand up and be counted, who are you?