Craig's London Marathon Journey by cgood2411

Its been a while since my last post. And there are a few reasons for this, March has been the killer training month the increase and intensity of the training last month really took it out of me. I found juggling the training, work and social commitments hard and that is why I just couldnt find the time to write a post - I know it sounds silly but thats really how I felt. When I did have a 15 minutes spare all I wanted to do was....nothing.

So on to the training, I really havent enjoyed the speed sessions in interval and threshold running.  I used to like running fast but these I have dreaded!! On the other hand as tough as it was I banked my longest and quickest runs in March. Early March I completed 24 miles in 3 hours and then late March I completed 25.2 in 3:03. I am so pleased with them efforts alone but also wedged in between them runs were two 20 milers both in 2:20. I know people say you shouldnt bank that mileage before the marathon and that you should peak at 18-21 mile mark but all I have done is stick to my training plan which is based on time not distance. Although the  runs were difficult (im playing that down here) it has giving me the confidence that I can complete the full 26.2 miles, and in a time much quicker than I hoped. Im now aiming for sub 3:30 if I dont complete that I will be disapointed!

This last month really has been tough and im glad its over and im tapering now. the completion is in site and im already looking forward to that first beer after the finish!  I have given up drinking , well aside from two misdeamournors in in Jan and Feb and it has affected the social life somewhat. My friends are counting the days down to until they get their mate back! On the plus side the last month has seen a drop in weight, I weigh in now at 10st 12 (im normally 11st 4) and its noticied on my body. the V's have started to show which is great just before summer! haha. I have eaten lieka horse though and I just hope this subsides when im not training no more! Literally this month all I think i've thought about is running, eating chocolate and sleeping!!

My injury, well Im pleased to say i have managed my ITB well. Ive stretched it as instructed and its done the trick. I have managed to train and manage the pain. That said, I have been taking Ibuprofen before my long runs! I know its not good but needs must!

So now im tapering, fund raising (I nearly have hit my target after a big push in March) and planning the day! Hopefully Ill have a lot of people on the day up to support me and join me for a good drink afterwards

12 days to go nearly there...

I think ive been lucky so far, I have seemed to have swerved sore nipples, bursting blisters, crippling cramp and many of the other common running related injuries. My training has been tough, i have pushed myself so im surprised. Perhaps I was just lucky with the kit I bought or im just a naturally fit long distance runner...unlikely.

Well I came crashing down with a thump a couple of days after my last post. I got an injury that prevented me from training and restricted my walking!  There has been a dull pain at the top left leg where the femur joins the hip. Its been there on nearly all my long runs after about 10 miles but I never thought of it as any more than just a running ache, I had after all upped the training and your body is going to naturally hurt. If it doesn't your not training properly,  right? Anyway, after I completed my long run. 20.5 miles. it felt more sore than normal and painful when coming to the end of the run. The next day I could barely walk. Gutted, sums up how I was feeling rather nicely.I really thought i'd done something svere enough to rule me out the race.

So I booked in to see a physio and stopped training for three days. Physio diagnosed me with Iliotibial Band Syndrome and informed me of new cure - not sure why I even thought there would be a magic pill. The injury has happened because of the constant running on uneven surface, pavents are not even and roads are curved and these are the two surface all my running has been on. I discussed with the Physio and the correct course of treatment is rest however this isn't an option because this is the most important month of training. So, we devised a plan to help me manage it whilst keeping up the training. I have lots of stretching to do daily and must apply RICE where possible. Im also due for a spot of deep tissue massage next week. I managed to get in my long run after a few days of rest as these are the most important. I was pleased I completed my longest yet, 22.5 miles and was relatively pain free. I could feel it but it wasn't enough to stop me. If it can continue like that ill be chuffed. I think im going to have to drop a training day in the week which isn't ideal at all but if it enables me to run the long runs its what im going to have to do.

Fund raising has been better over the last couple of weeks. I have however made a real push and pestered hard. Im still facing a lot of 'I wills' and subsequent donts but I shall persevere and hopefully get a late flurry. Im busy trying to think of other fund raising ideas but to be honest they all involve me doing cringey things which I cant bare!

Ok, so although the training is going well, I have to admit it is starting to get hard. The last two weeks have seen me complete a long run on Saturday followed by a game of football on Sunday. Im not sure of its the introduction of football or the fact that im 7 weeks in to a tough training plan but the following week im feeling like a I need another rest day. When I have been going out running I've found that little things are starting to hurt and I ache a little more the following day.

This week I have been severly hampered from my football match on Sunday, I strained my groin (not obvious during the game, only after did I notice) and that has left me unable to train for three days, which puts me behind on my plan especially as I took an extra days rest last week also. Not good really but I think up to this point I have built up a good level of fitness so as long as I dont miss too many more training days I should be ok. Im hoping to get out tonight and have my next rest on Monday.

I've been looking at half marathon events to take part in before the marathon, but with my other weekend commitments this is proving to difficult to find one that is local enough. Does it matter if you dont get a practise in before VLM?

On the fund raising front, I have had no new sponsors since my last post. I have canvassed more and had lot of people express interest in sponsoring but havent actually done so yet. I wonder if this is going to be a continuing theme...I hope not as I dont want to have to pay the pledge myself!

In other news im keeping off the grog where possible, I havent drank for a couple of weeks since my blow out after my last post. Not drinking does effect the social life there are events im not going to because I know I wont enjoy without having a drink and a late night. Perhaps thats a little sad on my part but I cant go out all night ont he cokes when friends are slurring and talking loudly  and generally acting up! Stilll its only four months out of a whole life time of partying which in put in perspective is nothing.The plus side is the that im losing pound sof my body and not my bank account!

Now in my 5th week of training, I clocked up a very decent 17.3 miles last Saturday running from Wickford to Billericay to Basildon and then home to Wickford. I completed in 2:04 minutes which is a time Im over the moon with. Again, if I can keep that pace up on the day for the duration i'll have be grinning more than a Cheshire cat..!! Since Saturday though I have to say I have struggled, Monday was horrible - 40 minutes fartlek training. I actually couldn't stand it. Tuesday was intervals of 15 minute paces, the threshold pace interval was agony and seemed to go on and on and being in the rain - not good! Wednesday was 45 minute steady run which was better but by last night I was cooked and couldn't get out. Ankles were hurting, shins were hurting and I could barely keep my eyes open. So, rest day completed im feeling as fresh as a daisy for the weekends effort. Ill be hoping to complete 21 miles on Saturday and Sunday will be my first football match since Christmas. Normally after football on a Sunday i need two days to recover so will be interesting to see how I get on having done a long run and football.

This week I've also started Fund Raising for my charity. Its a tough one because its never nice asking people for money, and these days so many people are competing for sponsorship money you can understand why some people don't like being pestered. But I think im just going to have to develop a thick skin and pester!! I think as the weeks go by I may have to start getting more creative with my fund raising attempts. So far, sponsors haven't been as fourth coming as I'd hoped but then the event is still some way off. I have had around 9 people sponsor me and raised just over £200 so I have had some generous donations....so thank you all of you that have sponsored so far. It is a good cause!

Other news, my new car has been in the garage this week with a £500 repair bill waiting for me. Nice. West Ham made three deadline day signings, no world class names but as long as they do the job ill be happy. Lets hope for three points against Burnley tomorrow! Hoping to catch up with friends on Saturday as i've been a bit of training hermit this week. Ill have a couple of drinks but wont go mad. I hope!