Lowering the limit to increase motivation

So..... I've gone and done it again.  I've set myself a new challenge to keep myself motivated.

After 18 months of riding high on the euphoria of finishing the Brighton Marathon in April 2011, I thought it was about time I got my arse in gear again.  Not that I've been doing nothing since then.  No, but I have let my body slip into comfortableness when I run.  I've silenced my inner voice urging me to carry on when the going gets tough and just stop and walk.  Why push myself? Why hurt?

Now, even a five mile run is a struggle for me and newbies are striding on in front of me and my self esteem has got the better of me. I don't want my fitness to slide anymore than it has so drastic action was taken a month ago.  I signed up for the Reading Half to be run on Sunday, 17 March.

I've done it before.  Twice before in fact.  Once when I was about 23 when my time was around 3 hours and 30 minutes.  Being young, I didn't think it would be hard.  13 miles? Nah.  So what if I hadn't got a training plan and missed most planned Sunday runs?  And so what if I'd only done three miles as a continuous run?  I was young, fit and healthy.  It would be a breeze.  Reality hit me smack between the eyes on the day.

My only memories of it was absolute elation when I crossed the finish line because the torture was over. Oh and an old lady (well, grey haired and about 60 I'd say) over taking me at around nine miles who gave me some encouragement to keep going.  I do have the official photo somewhere of me looking like death, dressed in thick jogging pants and top with a headband to finish the look off.  Well, it was the 80s and they were in! And yes, I was hot.  Very hot, but not in the 'drop dead gorgeous' way.  I was dripping with sweat in all that heavy gear.

So a bad memory which I laugh about now. I'm surprised I ever ran again it was so traumatic.

The second time was in 2010. I entered it because my partner did it the year before.  We were going to run it together, but he had to pull out.  I didn't have a time goal in mind - I just wanted to finish it as it was the first I'd done since the disastrous one all those years ago.

I'd kept the 2.10 hour pacemaker in my sights all the way around, but over took them with about three miles to go. I daren't look at my watch as the nerves would've kicked in so I finished in a respectable time of 2.03.  2.03!  I kicked myself for not looking at my watch then as I could've pushed it a bit more to get under two hours.

So there's the challenge.  I want to do the Reading Half in under two hours.  It can be 1.59 for all I care, but it has to be under two. I will be three years older too, so that in itself will make it tough.  The old body is starting to creak these days.

I found with the marathon writing a blog helped me as I felt accountable not only to myself, but to anyone else who may be reading the blog.  I'd look a twit if I didn't actually take it seriously and didn't train as I should.  So this is why I'm reactivating the blog. I've put it out there.  People may be watching.  I'm watching.  It's down to me now.

I'd love to have you along side me while I train.  You'll keep me motivated. You'll stop me rolling over on a Sunday morning when I should be out doing hill repeats. You'll stop me pouring out the second glass of wine when I've already had one.

As a thank you, I'll try and dig out the 80s photo which will be worth following the blog just for that!

Until next time........

The six Ps

Anyone my age will have heard of the six Ps, that being ‘Perfect Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance'. And I can’t think of a better mantra to see me over the marathon finishing line.

I did come across a more eloquent way of putting it recently:

Everyone in life has to face these two choices, the pain of discipline or the pain of regret.  The difference being, the pain of discipline weighs ounces, the pain of regret tonnes.

I know the marathon is going to be the hardest thing I’ve done in my life.  Fact. And I want to try and make it as painless as possible. I’m not kidding myself that it’s not going to be painful. I know it will be, but I want to make the pain the difference between getting your bare foot trodden on by a shoe and being trodden on by a studded football boot.

So I’ve got a training routine,which I know I can’t waiver from or I’ll suffer big time on the day. 

Here it is:

• Monday – 5-6 miles at an uncomfortable pace.  This run will give me the extra legs when it gets really tough on the day
• Tuesday – no training, although I may start doing the Ryan Giggs' fitness video (yoga based), but don’t tell Brian who I bought it for!
• Wednesday – 9-10 miles steady comfortable pace (although there’s always a hill or two that gets me out of my comfort zone)
• Thursday – 7am:  45 minute circuit workout followed at 6pm with interval training.  The circuits will give me a strong core, which will make running easier. The interval training will give me the extra legs for when I’m flagging. Both sessions are tough going but I know they’ll help me on the day.
• Friday – 30 minute swimming lesson to strengthen my legs even more, but more importantly, strengthen my arms.  It’s too easy to forget how much your arms help with running.  And ‘yes’ I have tried running with my arms pinned to my side.  Comedy gold moment.
• Saturday – long run at a comfortable pace.  This run is about time on my legs, not time on the clock. The marathon will probably take me 4-5 hours, which is a long, long time. I think about those long shopping days before Christmas when my feet are killing me at the end, even with a few coffee breaks thrown in.  I have to get my body used to being up and working for that length of time if I’m going to make it over the finishing line.
• Sunday - rest day.  These bones need it!

The only change to that routine will be the miles on the Sunday run.  They’re going to go up!  I say that with fingers, toes, legs and arms crossed because I may get an injury or I may get the dreaded lurgy that everyone’s coming down with. But, I’m being positive.  I heard on the radio the other day that people who exercise for 30 minutes a day, 3 times a week are 46% less likely to get a cold than people who don’t. I've still got everything crossed though!

And in true Harry Hill style, I’m going to finish each blog off with………..

Training highlights of the weeeeeeeek (sung in Harry Hill TV Burp tune)

For the first time in my life, I swam one full length of proper front crawl (head in water, breathing to the side)! But it was just the one.  After that I drank most of the pool.

Heard a woodpecker on the long run.  The countryside surrounding Andover is full of wildlife.  No doubt wildlife will get lots of mentions on my highlights.  Here comes the next one.  We saw the most adorable Shetland ponies, which were only about two feet high. I wanted to stop and stroke them, but I didn’t think my training partner would’ve been too impressed if I broke our stride.  Instead we just made girlie gushing noises much to the embarrassment of Alan, her husband and our route guide.

That’s this week’s blog.  Hope you’ll come back again next week.