And we are done, the 3 mile (round Bridge of Allan) and 2 mile (track) warm downs were taken care of without incident and I am ready to go. Hal, you promised me that if I did your programme then I would be able to finish this with something to spare, so time to show me the money.
Speaking of which - fundraising target of £500 has been met right on queue, so that is a nice fillip and the gear is all washed and ready. Myeloma UK have been excellent and I look forward to meeting the other runners. I also have sufficient self-interest to join them for their pre-race photo-call on Sunday morning.
I've elected to use the Asics shoes, as the New Balances have now done over 500 miles and will probably not give me the support I need.
The programme totalled 486 miles, but I was over 520 for the 18 week period by race day, so no one can say I haven't put in the miles and I have done all but one of the long runs, and certainly all the looooonnnnggg runs. The family have done well to tolerate all this nonsense, including the rather dull chat about it all, and I hope their day out is up to scratch too.
Expect a full report on the event itself. Bet you can't wait.
Monday 5 May 2008
Week 17 - Don't push it, don't force it.
We are in full taper mode now, so did a sneaky 6 miles on Monday - golf course, quarry, Kersebonny - and I let the rest of the week take care of itself with a quick 3 miles while no. 1 son played footie and 4 miles in my lunch hour on the Wednesday round Bridge of Allan. The club session was a simple warm up and an easy run.
The weekend run was scheduled to be 8 miles. The fact that we were away camping with the kids had to be factored in, but given the 7am start on these trips and the fact that the we'ans were tucked up in their sleeping bags fast asleep, we were able to slip out for an hour along the cycle lanes of Dumfrieshire, around Hoddom, in the morning sun (the frost had gone by then!). It did involve some hills, but nothing too hard.
Of more concern is a niggling groin pull (not normally cause for complaint) that will need to be properly rested before race day, which is now upon us. A week of guzzling and stretching lies ahead. I still have half a birthday cake to eat.
The weekend run was scheduled to be 8 miles. The fact that we were away camping with the kids had to be factored in, but given the 7am start on these trips and the fact that the we'ans were tucked up in their sleeping bags fast asleep, we were able to slip out for an hour along the cycle lanes of Dumfrieshire, around Hoddom, in the morning sun (the frost had gone by then!). It did involve some hills, but nothing too hard.
Of more concern is a niggling groin pull (not normally cause for complaint) that will need to be properly rested before race day, which is now upon us. A week of guzzling and stretching lies ahead. I still have half a birthday cake to eat.
Week 16 - Groundhog Day
We are beginning to ease off now, though it doesn't feel like it. Monday was a wee session of strides at King's Park, just to annoy the golfers and a job back along Kersebonny.
Wednesday saw me jog over the Pendriech dam, to get some hill work in and finish in good order. This was also the day of the Dumyat Hill Race, an annual event for me. Not this year, I'm finely tuned for flat racing and a hill race this close to marathon day would be asking for trouble - would Shergar have been asked to jump fences? Exactly. I did miss not doing it, though, especially as I had promised to assist my friend in getting a good time and with all this training I might have beaten my own best. Next time....
Thursday saw an easy enough diagonals session at the club (while, somewhat bizarrely, running through every Bill Murray, Chevy Chase and Steve Martin film we could name).
With the long, long runs now complete, the 12 miles over North Third with Lesley on Sunday seemed straight forward enough. It is certainly a bonus of the long mileage to be able to do 10, 12 or 14 miles with some ease. I'll need to find a way of maintaining that.
Wednesday saw me jog over the Pendriech dam, to get some hill work in and finish in good order. This was also the day of the Dumyat Hill Race, an annual event for me. Not this year, I'm finely tuned for flat racing and a hill race this close to marathon day would be asking for trouble - would Shergar have been asked to jump fences? Exactly. I did miss not doing it, though, especially as I had promised to assist my friend in getting a good time and with all this training I might have beaten my own best. Next time....
Thursday saw an easy enough diagonals session at the club (while, somewhat bizarrely, running through every Bill Murray, Chevy Chase and Steve Martin film we could name).
With the long, long runs now complete, the 12 miles over North Third with Lesley on Sunday seemed straight forward enough. It is certainly a bonus of the long mileage to be able to do 10, 12 or 14 miles with some ease. I'll need to find a way of maintaining that.
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