Started my London Marathon training this week.
I'm trying out a 20 week training plan based on the principal that I have the speed (ish) but lack the stamina at the full distance. The sight of me 'running' the last three miles of Abingdon and London marathons looking like I was carrying an elephant on my back probably illustrates that perfectly.
So, three days in and that's one steady run, one long run and one rest day. Nice to have a rest day so early on - I might even start with one next time.
Why does this training this make me a hypocrite? Well, back in March I wrote a break up letter to Marathon training. It all got a bit hard and a bit sore and bit repetitive and I stomped off like a hormonal teenager worried that his girlfriend is too good for him.
But then I did London. Not well, I'll grant you, and not without pain either but I enjoyed it. So I had the summer off, focusing on some fun triathlons (a mere holiday fling compared to the commitment of a runners' relationship with their sport) and I ran purely for enjoyment.
Now I'm ready to scrap again. So goals for this year:
1) More stamina - get those miles in
2) More strength and conditioning (for which you can read *some* Strength and Conditioning)
3) No junk miles - just four or five quality runs backed up with big rides on my bike
