Touch wood things are going pretty well. Training is totalling 70-80 km per week with 1-2 longer runs, interspersed with shorter dashes and trundles. As a trainer friend said to me once, ‘Just get to the start line without an injury and you’ll be ok’. There is some truth in this of course, but with the Brighton Marathon coming up soon, followed by the two ultras in May and July, the mileage is key.
If you’re interested in running, the following section outlines my plan. Feel free to skip on!
#upandrun ~ hashtag on Twitter to follow and tweet
Last week I set myself a plan to run 1 x 30 km and 4 x 10 km, totalling 70 km. It felt good and was easily slotted into the working week. This week I am practicing two longer runs back to back and will continue with this trend. Today was just over 22 km and tomorrow I will do a minimum of 30 km on slightly tired legs. Either side will be a few 10 km runs when I try to push the pace.
There are 5 weeks until the Brighton Marathon (Sun 14th April). The last week or so will be tapering and fuelling. Prior experience of ‘the week before’ tells me that I need a good plan. This includes plenty of mindful practice, imagery, easy movements, eating well and rest. I have found it to be a twitchy time with a unique restlessness of mind-body. This will be a good test.
Soon afterwards comes the Isle of Wight Challenge. There will be a few weeks of continued training with back to back longer runs and again the tapering a week or two before the 2-day event at the start of May. A longer gap before Race To The Stones (July) means resuming the mileage in warmer weather.
One of the pluses of these ultras is the scenery. I have been to the Isle of Wight and enjoyed the spectacular views from certain well known spots. The Challenge allows for the experience of the complete tour! That excites me. As does the route from The Chilterns, across the top of the North Wessex Downs, along the ancient path–5000 years!
The Brighton Marathon #upandrun is a joint project, UP and CRPS UK. The money we raise through sponsorship, the quiz night (details soon), auction and raffle will support our on-going work to make a contribution to people’s lives and to encourage society to revise the understanding of pain.
Further, look out for the run of UP workshops. The aim is to offer these across the UK if we can raise sufficient funds. You can support us << here >> . If you suffer chronic pain or know someone who does, you’ll understand the importance of this project.
RS
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