4 years old.
Jan0420125:38 p.m.
Sorry Realbuzzers that the blog has dropped by the wayside recently. I had planned to update it on Boxing Day when it would have been 4 years old, but the festivities over took me.
It is hard to imagine though, where I was 4 years ago. I had just been given a Nike+ gadget for Christmas and was keen to try it out. Those first few runs were embarrassingly slow and painful – not that I’m much faster now, but SuperCaz, Martin Sal, Skye Trekker were commenting almost from the start and somehow that kept me going.
4 years on, 14 half marathons later, I am now in “training” for the VLM.
Since I last posted I have settled into a routine of intervals runs on Mondays – usually 5 miles split into 10 blocks of 0.5 miles – 0.4 miles run at pace and 0.1 recovery. My rule is that I will never do the pace bit slower than the last one – so the run gets faster as it goes on.
Wednesday I run with Kate who is also doing the VLM for Parkinsons again. We are running faster than we did last year and this morning we did a 9 miler together. She was pulled up the hills by her dog, I just seemed to find it easier as the run went on.
Thursday is my “tempo” day – this time 4 miles – each mile done at a set pace as far as I can so that the last one is somewhere near 7.2 – 7.5 mph.
That leaves the weekends for a long run. Christmas Eve I did 13.2 miles – actually very close to my half marathon PB pace!! And then new years eve did 15.25 miles- the furthest I have ever run. I can’t say that I enjoyed the last few miles. I foolishly started early, with no breakfast and in the dark so had no idea how fast the early miles were, but by mile 10 was running out of gas and the last few miles were quite slow with some walks. But it was a 30 mile week, and I hope to do the same this week.
I’m running for Oxfam – www.virginmoneygiving.com/malcolmstone
Enjoy the running everyone.
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Comments (5)
SeanG 'Well, your blog is 2 days older than our Little One! Well done on the 15.25 and 13.2 mile runs. They are good distances to be doing this early into your schedule. Just remember to take a "step-back" week every 4th week or so if you need it.' added 4th Jan 2012
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Johnf 'Good running Malcolm and love the comment "I seemed to find it easier". What have you been told, and told other people, breakfast is the most important meal of the day.' added 5th Jan 2012
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Dungey 'Well done on your long run Malcolm, those last few miles of any longer run are a challenge. I prefer to run before breakfast.' added 5th Jan 2012
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ClareVR 'I enjoyed reading about how far you have come, I too have enjoyed looking back this year and looking forward to whats ahead. It sounds like your Marathon training is going well, and I wish you the best of luck with it all. ' added 5th Jan 2012
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Alaistair 'Stick with it and you will eventually start to enjoy those longer runs...hope you training for VLM continues to go well Malcolm...' added 7th Jan 2012
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