Treat Yo Self

London Marathon Training
Week 13, Day 2

Following some sage advice from one older and wiser than me I decided to take all the pressure off myself for this run, and to treat myself to just running without a care for time or pushing myself or any of that nonsense.

Basically, the objective was to just get out there, get the miles done and get back home. So I did.

In fact, I didn’t even stray that far from home, and that was a huge psychological victory in itself. I don’t like running near home because the temptation to cut the run short could be too great, but today I decided to see if I could.

Settling upon doing 10k, enough of a distance to get a workout without knackering myself, I started off as usual at the top of the Antrim Road with a strong wind blowing in my face, ran around the Park’n’Ride then down the Ballee Way towards the Wakehurst Playing Fields whereafter I just did lap upon lap of the football pitches.

Boring, unexciting, uninspiring but a decent exercise in battling my running demons. I didn’t really feel like going out, and I couldn’t really shake the lactic acid (or whatever it is) out of my legs although the longer I went on the more settled I felt which, I suppose, is a positive. I wanted to give up after each mile but I didn’t.

As I said at the outset, I wasn’t terribly worried about my time so I decided relatively early on to run the entire route at marathon pace and, encouragingly, I did. In fact, I was bang on the same pace I managed during the Hastings Half a week or so ago. If I can manage that in London I’ll be a very happy chappy indeed.

I was also, without trying, quicker than I was during the London Winter Run in February – and I pushed myself during that particular race.

Today’s run meant March equalled my most miles in a month, so another little run out tomorrow will see me set a new monthly record. Pace wise, March was also my quickest month ever, improving by nine seconds per mile on February … I have to be pleased about that.

If you’ve enjoyed following my progress so far could I be so bold as to ask you if you’d consider making a donation to my chosen London Marathon charity this year – Asthma UK? No amount is too small, and all donations are received with such heartfelt thanks. My fundraising page can be found here. Thank-you so much.

London Marathon Training (214 miles – 43 runs)
Week 1 – 12.2 miles (4 runs; average 3.1 miles per run)
Week 2 – 9.3 miles (2 runs; average 4.7 miles per run)
Week 3 – 17.7 miles (4 runs; average 4.4 miles per run)
Week 4 – 18.8 miles (4 runs; average 4.7 miles per run)
Week 5 – 14.9 miles (4 runs; average 3.7 miles per run)
Week 6 – 18.7 miles (4 runs; average 4.7 miles per run)
Week 7 – 20.3 miles (4 runs; average 5.1 miles per run)
Week 8 – 23.7 miles (4 runs; average 5.9 miles per run)
Week 9 – 18 miles (3 runs; average 6 miles per run)
Week 10 – 21.9 miles (3 runs; average 7.3 miles per run)
Week 11 – 24.6 miles (4 runs; average 6.2 miles per run)
Week 12 – 3.1 miles (1 run; average 3.1 miles per run)
Week 13 – 10.2 miles (2 runs; average 5.1 miles per run)