Finished

It went really well – I finished in 808th position.

Up until about 21 miles it was really enjoyable – absolutely exhilarating, the crowds and the atmosphere were fantastic.

The last three miles were a real struggle, but I managed to keep running and I managed to beat three hours which was my aim.

I started off too quickly, I did the first 5km at 6:20 min/mile pace. I realised this and settled down to about 6:35/6:40 pace, which I managed to maintain until it started deteriorating in the final six miles. I was down to 7:15 pace by the end, but was still well within three hours.

So, I was pleased.

My legs are very stiff today.

Here ends my blog.

Run stats: 176:54 minutes, 26.2 miles - 6:44 minutes per mile

Early morning trot

I was scheduled for a 30 minute very easy jog last night. Louise and I went out with Diane and james last night, so I went this morning for a jog round Oaks Park with Ronnie. I am now just about to head up to the Excel Centre in th Docklands to register for Sunday's race and see if I can get my starting position moved forward.

Run stats: 25:26 minutes, 3.35 miles - 7:36 minutes per mile

In Oaks Park with Ronnie

Kane had an early night this evening, so Ronnie and I were able to go out to Oaks Park almost immediately after I finished work.

The schedule recommended a long warm up and cool down either side of ten minutes at race pace. We ran a long circuit round Oaks Park, starting off exceeding slowly - after ten minutes I ran at what I hoped was race pace, then after ten minutes of that we jogged slowly back to the car.

Run stats: 3.35 miles. 10 minute section, 1.45 miles - 6:54 minutes/mile

One week to go

I did my last Sunday run today. Kane and I went over to Mark and Jess' house in West Norwood, Kane stayed with them while I did a five mile loop. Jess picked out a route which turned out to be very hilly!

My legs feel fine now - no pain at all. However I feel a little lethargic, apparently this is to be expected during the tapering stage.

I have lost 23 pounds in weight since I started training 14 weeks ago, it would be interesting to know what my ideal race weight would be as I am still losing weight now. I suspect I would shed another 10 to 15 pounds, if I trained over a sustained period of time.

Run stats: 34:52 minutes, 5.21 miles - 6:42 minutes per mile

Thursday night jog

It is nicer running in the evening now that the clocks have gone back. It's a bit warmer as well - I enjoyed tonight's jog.

Since I've been winding down the training I've been feeling a bit of pain behind my right knee. I don't think it's anything too serious, it doesn't really hinder my running. It's just enough to give me something to worry about though.

I played a gentle game of football on Tuesday - due to the paucity of the opposition, and I rested yesterday. I will rest again tomorrow, then run over the weekend.

Run stats: 32:23 minutes, 4.5 miles - 6:58 minutes per mile

Short easy run

Louise is working this evening, so I finished work early and dashed home on my bike, leaving myself with just enough time for a short 25 minute easy jog.

It was very unfulfilling, but I suppose that is the nature of cutting back on the training.

Run stats: 23:24 minutes, 3.22 miles - 7:16 minutes per mile

Last long(ish) run

I drove over to Dave's this morning for our last run together before the marathon. Dave had worked out a ten mile circuit going round and through Peckham Rye Park, Brockwell Park and Dulwich Park. The pace was fairly sedate and the run was enjoyable. I feel it is going to be a long two weeks before the marathon.

Run stats: 85 minutes, 10 miles - 8:30 minutes per mile

Last fartlek session

The sessions are being curtailed now as I enter the tapering stage of the training. The hardest thing is to keep the eating controlled and drinking alcohol to a minimum. I find as I train less, I am more tempted to indulge - the last thing I want to do is put on four or five pounds in the last three weeks.

Tonight was supposed to be 60 minutes of easy fartlek. My legs were aching a little from football, but that soon disappeared. I couldn't help but push myself and it wasn't really an "easy" session at all.

Run stats: 65:41 minutes, 10.14 miles - pace is irrelevant

Run to football

This evening I played football again. I also jogged to the venue which is 3.5 miles whilst Olly took my bag for me. The run was a good warm up and we won 9 - 3 against limited opposition.

Run stats: 22:02 minutes, 3.48 miles - 6:20 minutes per mile

Sliding through the mud

It was snowing when I woke up this morning.

Louise dropped Ronnie and I off at the bottom of Box Hill and we replicated the run that we did with Dave three weeks ago. By the time we started the snow had stopped, but it was still bitterly cold.

The route was very muddy and I had trouble keeping my footing for large parts of the run. I deliberately kept the pace slow and by the time Ronnie and I reached home we were muddy but pleased. That is my last long run before the marathon.

Run stats: 152:39 minutes, 18.3 miles - 8:20 minutes per mile

Update for the week

I've been a bit slack in updating this diary of late.


Monday
It's been a strange week. My legs felt weary after my 21 mile race on Sunday, so I gave Monday's recovery jog a miss.


Tuesday
Instead of a 45 minute steady run, I played about 45 minutes of 5-a-side football. It was my first match for about six months, it was a good game and a 7 - 7 draw.


Wednesday
I felt shattered. I think it was a combination of the long race on Sunday and playing football, which puts totally different stresses onto your legs from what I have been used to. Kane and I helped Gill move house this evening, so I didn't have time for a run anyway.


Thursday
I still felt tired today. I had a gym session scheduled for Weds pm, doing 15 min session intervals, so I did that on this evening. The gym was very quiet and I did 4 x 15 minute intervals at 15 km/h with 2:30 minute recoveries with a warm up and cool down. By the end I was tired, but pleased with the work I'd done.


Good Friday
I went with Kane to see my Grandma today, when we returned I went for a steady run. My legs felt fatigued again, probably due to the hard gym session on top of football and Cranleigh on Sunday.

Run stats: 66:06 minutes, 9.6 miles - 6:53 minutes per mile


Today I am resting before a long run tomorrow. Tomorrow I intend to run very slowly.

Cranleigh 21

This morning Dave and I competed in the Cranleigh 21 mile race. It is a pre-London Marathon race hosted in rural Surrey. The race is on roads and consists of one nine mile lap followed by two shorter laps of six miles.

I had arranged with George to drop Kane off with him for the morning while we ran. As I arrived in Ashtead to drop off Kane I realised that I had forgotten by running shoes. So Dave and I had to return to Sutton before heading down to Cranleigh.

It was touch and go as to whether we would get to the startline in time. I drove quickly and we just missed the start by two or three minutes.

This meant I had to run through the whole back end of the field before I could settle into a rhythm with my running. As a result I ran the first mile too quickly in 6:20. After a couple of miles, I settled down and started to enjoy the run. The first nine mile loop was very comfortable. The start of the first six mile loop was a little tough, but I think that was mainly psychological, as there was still so far to go. Again I settled down and was comfortable until the last mile and half when I was feeling tired, but it was easy enough to hang on to the end.

The running conditions were cold and wet and the nipple rash was so severe on my right nipple that there was a circle of blood on my running vest.

With the times I am currently posting, I am becoming increasingly confident that I should be able to run 3:05hrs or thereabouts for the marathon. My main hindrance will be my starting position which will be with other runners trying to run four hour pace. I will ring the organisers tomorrow to see if I can get my starting position changed.

Run stats: 142:58 minutes, 21.2 miles - 6:45 minutes per mile