Some time ago I came across a really fascinating article (https://medium.com/running-with-data/perfect-pacing-at-the-london-marathon-95f09db2ac5c) written by Barry Smyth, a data scientist from Ireland. At the time the article wasn’t stuck behind a paywall, so to summarise what Barry did as the introduction outlines was: The article itself was a great read, Barry took all of the above data, … Continue reading The Marathon calculator
As brutal as Boston was, Valencia was beautiful from a personal and professional point of view. I’ll add my thoughts on the personal first, then the professional. I’ve never paced a marathon well – this was my 7th. Too often I go off too fast – this being the case for the last 2, London … Continue reading Valencia – Beautiful
Week 11 – Solid progress 9/10 week Best week to date – in terms of embedding some pace, feeling good and running well. Monday 20/11: Speed sharpness – this feels like it has really helped over the last couple of weeks. Executed a lot more proficiently than last week. Same run – train to Herne … Continue reading Valencia 11/12
Week 10 – Solid progress 8/10 week Getting closer now, last long workout in the bank and time to taper. So volume gradually dropping whilst maintaining intensity to avoid any feeling of flatness Monday 13/11: 30 mins of Yin Yoga, slow and easy stretching out of body followed by cyclic hyper-ventilation day. 4 rounds of … Continue reading Valencia 10/12
Week 9 – Another 8/10 week 4 full weeks of 100k – getting a little creaky / cranky from time to time, but as always with running consistency is what makes the best inroads into fitness/ pace and performance. Monday 6/11: Rest, very welcome after the long run the day before. Rest day = Cyclic … Continue reading Valencia 9/12
Rather than go over my Valencia training last week – which is going well, consistent and helping me find my level for Dec 3rd – I’m going to outline my periodised approach to S&C, for an ideal, everything works well, marathon build. There are lots of different ideas/ advice / suggestions around strength work. Some … Continue reading Strength for marathon builds
Week 7 – Another 8/10 week 2 full weeks – hopefully building some consistency and stacking day on day. What will this lead to? No S&C this week and I’m now undecided whether to pick it up between now and Valencia, maybe having a break to come back to post Valencia / pre Snowdon strength … Continue reading Valencia 7/12
Week 6 – Another 8/10 week A full week that built nicely and saw some success / enjoyable runs. Hopefully a sign of things to come over the next 6 weeks. Protein powder definitely making a difference to my healing. I reviewed my running back in 2020 – when I first managed to break 3 … Continue reading Valencia 6/12
Week 5 – A 8/10 week Bouncing back well from the disappointment of the last week – really, really enjoyable week of training. Hard in parts, easier than expected in others. Time to kick on. Maybe the introduction of protein powder (Huel) – who knows, but I have been worried about the rebuilding of muscle, … Continue reading Valencia 5/12
Week 4 – A 7.5/10 that went down to a 1/10. Injury comes back to plague my treacherous body. I wonder if the cold I suffered last week did enough to tweak muscles & create an environment for my left calf to pull / tear / strain as it did mid June. Regardless it happened, … Continue reading Valencia 4/12
BreatheToMove 