As I write, I am without my Garmin Forerunner simply because I left my cradle and charger behind me in Kerry. I feel bereft. Today I left the house wearing my iphone on my arm, my polar HRM and watch and felt that I should I have had another watch too because the iphone and polar watch did not seem reliable. In the event, they did the job. I also carried a water bottle in a pouch on my tummy. I did feel a bit stupid going for a 5mile run in Co. Kildare dressed as if going to battle. I felt a bit like robocop.
I carried the water bottle because I know that I am not drinking enough during the day. That is my resolution for this week, to pay attention to my consumption of water during the day so that I don't need it on the shorter runs.
Today was exciting because I discovered the possibility of extending my route near home, by quite a few miles, using the grounds of a local boarding school which was quite busy with walkers today. I'm delighted.
How is my running? I am exhausted. I suspect that I may be overdoing it somewhat. Last week alone I did 42 miles running and 41 miles on the bike. I also did the Moll's Gap on Saturday against a very cold wind and it took a lot out of me, although I loved the sail down afterwards clipping speeds of 7.45-8.45miles/minute. And that was keeping the HR below 85%. I am continuing to run at the lower end of Pfitzinger's Heart Rate Intensities (Table 1.2), i.e. General Aerobic and Long/Medium Long. I did my best to keep the first half of Saturday at the lower side of the Long/Medium Long (74-80%), although this was a struggle and made for an awful slow pace (double figures). I then opened up for the second half to touch almost at the 85% range. I enjoyed the bit of speed on the way down.
I cannot say that I see an improvement. I am running at much the same as last year, just over the 6minutes per km range, although for greater distances and probably more consistently closer to, if not less than, the 6minutes per km. Yesterday and today, I do feel less motivated, discouraged and weary. Can I really run a full marathon in less than 4 hours. I am furiously doing sums trying to figure what is needed: at least 9minutes a mile (not calculating for slow down or anything). In the meantime, can I bring down my HM pace to 8minutes 20 or thereabouts? I am not a fast runner. I am a strong runner, I think, but not fast. I find myself wondering when I should begin to do some speed work for the May Bank Holiday marathon? Should I do any speed work while building the miles? I read again and again, not to. That I should keep it a steady, slow pace. This makes sense because the increased mileage is taking its toll too.
My stats since the last post:
Thursday: 7.15 70mins 15 secs 147bpm 09:50mile pace (using 74-84% intensity)
Friday 5.24 56:28 135bpm 10:47 (using 70-81%). Slow hill in mile 2.
Saturday 12.7 126mins 147bpm 09:56 (using 74-84% intensity). 7m climb;5m descent.
Monday 5.01 51mins 137 10:12 (70-81% intensity)
No comments:
Post a Comment