Another week has passed, a few more boxes ticked and a bit more confidence in my ability to do this. Yet, a few more doubts creeping in as I feel a little vulnerable due to a nagging hip injury that has made walking an issue today. It seems the week has a fair blend of ups & downs, a roller coaster of emotions when it comes to getting to October 7th in peak condition to smash it OR just to get to the line, get round…uninjured.
This weekend’s event was the Great Yarmouth Half Marathon. I hadn’t run this event since about 1996/7 as an overweight fat lad trying to shift a few pounds. I can’t actually remember the time I got nor can I remember most of the run. I can remember going up the hills twice as fast as anyone else due to my rather large quad muscles but that’s about it. Anyway, the course had changed albeit in the same countryside location – around Lound & Somerleyton and it was nice to have a relative lie-in on a Sunday morning!
I arrived at Ormiston School in Gorleston at about 9:15 – some 45 minutes before the run began. In fairness I ususally get to events over an hour beforehand but there was no need really because after a quick run round the school field I was ready to go…with some 30 minutes to spare. After a bag drop, a gel and an energy drink it was time to go.
My strategy was simple, go slower to start with and pick up speed towards the end so that I can trawl in people in front of me. I cruised round the lap of the school field and then headed out onto the roads but still managed a 4:45 first kilometer. “Traffic” was still stopping me from getting into my stride so I pushed through to get a clear space in front of me. 4:50, 4:48, 4:50….there was a common theme here. I seemd to have found my groove so I was determined to stay in it. In fairness I wasn’t even looking at my watch until it beeped per kilometer and each time it was telling me I was sub-5mins. I kept thinking to myself that i’d stay with the people who I caught up next but after about a minute I pushed through and headed for the next person or group.
After 12km I was in Somerleyton Hall grounds and the heat started to take it’s toll so I eased off a bit but still notching up 5 minute k’s even though I had “bought” myself a couple of minutes average to still go under 1:45hrs. I walked through the 16k water feed station to down to cups of water and tip another over my head and carried on – but I could feel the legs tighten up and I had to concentrate at keeping to this pace. The pad of my left foot started to hurt and my left calf felt pretty tight but I was so near the end I just carried on. I went past a few people I had caught earlier but after my walk at 16k they passed me again so I was determined to get them back. I came in at 1:43:13 I think.
As soon as I stopped my calf tightened and I limped around the finish area like a cripple, it was only later when I got home my hip injury played up and here I am a day later having issues just trying to walk normally. Short term – it was great to get another half marathon under my belt in prep for next week’s Monster Half and Barcelona (of course) but long term this has placed serious concerns regarding my hip’s ability to handle a marathon.
Moving on….
This week started with a river swim at the Lido on Monday evening, quite a few people ditched their wetsuits, however I wasn’t confident of 2k without so kept mine on. Quite a few people were in there including some Rock Estate lads who also had some Stand-Up Paddle Board support so a pretty good atmosphere all-round. UI managed to keep to the plan and think about my stroke, it’s still a bit slow but i’m getting there.
Tuesday was a Ramp Test on the Wattbike, as this was the first session of my last big block it generally always starts with a fitness test of some sorts to see what my wattage is for the next few weeks. After a decent warm up and a minute by minute gradula increase on the resistance I got to the point of exhaustion at around 24 minutes and the predicted “FTP” was pretty much the same as I had been using for the last couple of months!
Wednesday was a treadmill run for an hour where my hip was still playing up and then a swim set of 2400m. Suzy seems to suggest I’m a bit behind on my swimming as the 3800m target is only 7 weeks away. I’ve got bored of the swimming pool sets and have preferred the outdoor stuff but I needed to get my head down and do this set – so I did.
Thursday was my 2hr tempo and 30min run set and I hit the numbers spot-on and was fairly content with my run. I had been foam rolling the hip and legs so it seemed to have paid off as my run wasn’t as painful compared to yesterday.
Friday was supposed to be a 75-min steady bike ride but work and other commitments go the better of me so I sacked this off to do on Sunday afternoon after my half marathon. Besides, I had a near 5hr ride in the morning.
I was up at the crack of dawn Saturday to put in my 4:45hr ride. I set off to Beccles, Bungay, Haleston, The Pulhams, New Buckenham before turning with the wind through Mulbarton, Norwich, Loddon and then Somerleyton & Corton to clock up 87 miles at an average of 18.6mph. Not bad for keeping it steady around 200-220w range.
Sunday was obviously the Yarcoland Half Marathon and the 75-minute ride in the afternoon.
Training Peaks Geeks Zone….
13.5 hours training time. 939 TSS.
Fitness -114. Fatigue – 136. Form -6.
Swim – 4420m. Bike – 290km. Run – 39km.
Next weekend sees me doing (hopefully) the Monster Middle – a half Ironman Distance event, just like Belgium in perhaps better weather conditions and less hills!
This week looks like it’s more about recovery & rehabilitation as opposed to ticking a few running session boxes.