The Acid Test

This week was for me, a key week that I felt would gauge the chances of me running my planned marathon on the 1st June.

At the beginning of the week I did a couple of circuit training sessions to assist me on working on strengthening my glutes, lots of squats involved. The more I can strengthen my glutes and other leg muscles, the more I can even out the load from my running and ideally reduce the stress on my knee. Well that's the plan anyway!

On Thursday I went for a lunchtime run with a mate of mine (Geoff) who is running the London Marathon. We did just over 5 miles (in SNOW!!) We went at a steady pace of just under 8:50 min/mile.

Lunchtime Run

As we were chatting on our run, we got talking about the weather and he said that despite being fed up with the weather, hoped that come Marathon day the weather was still miserable as that is what he had done all of his training in. I can see his point and I am sure a lot of people will be in the same boat. Having completed all the training in quite frankly miserable weather, it could be a a bit of a shock to the system if it is hot on 21st April. As I will be up in London supporting the many people I know running the London Marathon, I don't mind it being a bit chilly, but I would prefer it not to be raining as I wouldn't want my beer to be diluted!

On Saturday, I once again ran Bromley Parkrun. As part of the Adidas sponsorhip deal (who provide the free technical t-shirts once you have completed either 50, 100 or 250 Parkruns) they were holding a competition for a chance to win a pair of the new 'Boost' running shoes for anybody who managed a Parkrun PB. Nothing like a little incentive :-)

So I decided I would try and beat my PB of 21:53. Alas I could have done with a bit of a boost as I came up short by 9 seconds only managing a 22:02. At least I didn't fall on my face metres from the finish line this time!

Parkrun Stats

Saturday afternoon, I was interested in running of a different kind, the running of the horses that I had backed in the Grand National. Max my 3yo boy picked his first Grand National horse and proudly knew the colours of his selection Ballabriggs (who I had also backed) and it was nice to go round my parents and all watch the race together as it was something I remember doing as a kid. But there was to be no glory for me or Max :-( and he kept asking after the race had finished where Ballabriggs was?

Sunday, I took part in the Paddock Wood Half Marathon. Probably not the most sensible idea going for a 5k PB the day before a half marathon, but I am sure my wife will tell, I am not the most sensible of people.

Sunday like Saturday was a glorious sunny day. Mich, Max & I drove down to Paddock Wood. Mich dropped me near the start and then made her way to a pub near the half way mark where some other friends and family of PWRs were gathering. I met up with a crowd of about a dozen PWRs and for the first 4 miles or so, we all ran together, it was like critical mass as the black and white PWR vests jogged along in unison. We began to spread out as we all had our own pace plans. For a lot, this would be their last longish run before the London Marathon. I ran with with a bloke called Christian (also running the London Marathon), who I had met once before through a mate on a night out and he recognised me as I was the bloke that was escorted out of a bar/club for falling asleep (but that is another story) Anyway Christian is also friends with some of the PWRs - small world.

Me on the left (in case you didn't realise), Christian in the grey.

We ran the first 10 miles together, before he pushed on near the end. I didn't want to push any harder than I was going as I was concerned about my knee. I had some minor aches and twinges in the last couple of miles and I think that a half marathon was probably the limit distance wise at the moment without pushing it too far. I completed the race in 1:44:04 just under an 8 min/mile. (Christian finished in 1:41:46)

Paddock Wood Half Stats

The race was very well organised, lots of friendly marshalls. I particularly liked the touch that at the first sponge station, there was a man in the stocks to encourage you to dispose of your sponge in a confined area. Upon a quick enquiry, he said he had only been hit in the face twice. I very much doubt he would have been there if the weather had not taken the positive upturn otherwise hypothermia would have been a distinct possibility. The course was very flat and was a very pleasant run through the Kent countryside and a very colourful medal to boot.

Sunday afternoon Mich, Max and I had a very nice afternoon catching up with some friends and even had the delight of standing in warm(ish) sunshine eating ice creams! who would have thought it

So, I passed the acid test (just) I am a bit achey and I am still conscious that there is some inherent weakness in my right knee, but I think that is more to do with the legacy of the keyhole surgery I had about 6 years ago and the fact that my right knee will never be 100%. So I will just build my mileage slowly over the coming weeks.

Until the next time
TJH