Legs, Bums, Tums & Pain

After Friday's long run, I opted made it to a spin session in the evening and like after every session, walked away deafened by the music from Kate's sessions. By Saturday morning, I decided I needed a change from the usual run/cycle brick session, and as I walked past the studio, saw a Legs, Bums & Tums class about to start. After a positive scan, ensuring I wouldn't be the only male, I sneaked into the back of the class, and before long my naive incling of this being a class for overweight middle aged women was quickly revoked.

Cycling after this session on Saturday was agony. By Sunday, I not only looked like John Wayne but was also walking like him aswell. This session is not for the faint hearted nor ideal for hard steep runs the following day. I'm sure it worked something, but I now feel like half the man I was (ahem).

So, Sunday's dedicated day consisted of an 11 mile run with Niall and Paul at 7:15am, towards Brocket Hall, Lemsford and the John Bunyan pub in Wheathampstead, followed by a series of diagonal cross country routes, carefully picked by Niall. My quads held up for the duration, before embarking on a 45 minute cross-training blast at the gym, in preparation for my hour long session with my coach. A productive session with lots of strength and flexibility work.

The afternoon involved a quick trip round the farmer's marker - I came away with two farmers (both at very good prices), listening to Joanne Newsome's album, and then a final 90 minute spin, x-train and abs session at the gym.



By Monday, the easy long run transpired into a slow, painful trot (although only 4 mins slower than usual for this 13.5 mile loop).

I feel the end is nigh....

A New PB & Eighteen Miles High

Well, having not blogged for weeks due to extreme business and the loss of use of my fingers, I can confirm that training has been going well. Last Sunday I conquered the famous Berkampstead Half Marathon renowned for it's hideous hills and fantastic decline in the final mile along with Niall and Kenny and achieved a new PB in the process. 87:20 was the official time, placing 69th out of some 1191 finishers. Disappointing to know that the same time last year would have placed me in the top 30. But a fantastic race all the same with cracking weather and scenery.

The preparation on Brighton's hills during the week leading up to the event definitely came into play. I also qualified for a guaranteed entry into the NYC Marathon 2009 in October, which I will definitely be competing in. Sadly Tokyo is a no go due to the GBP's poor value and Japan's high prices. If you know a way of reclaiming entry fee's, do let me know.

So with only 4 weeks to go until Rotterdam I figured now would be a good time to get in a long run, so embarked on an 18.3 mile trot this morning, finshing in 2:18 - four minutes down on my previous attempt but put this down to too many miles these last few weeks, the race 5 days ago and noisy neighbours. So injury free and tapering is key for the coming 30 days.

MaMeeting, MaDinner, MaLaga

Monday started prompty at 4:55am with a 10.3 mile run (1:16) towards St. Albans and back at a recovery pace, before darting off to Gatwick Airport to catch a flighr to Marbella (and no - to all who follow so that you may rob my flat, it is occupied in my absence - hehe). So the plan was a taxi to St. Albans then the train all the way to Gatwick, but with your life in First Capital Connect's hands, it is never that simple. Power failures meant all trains terminated at Kings. However, managed to sprint to Victoria and got on the Express, meaning I only lost 25 minutes. Viva Espana!

Sunday Muddy Sunday

So the Sunday session starts religiously outside Niall's hopuse at 7:15am every Sunday, with a brief discussion of the session hgeld by email or messenger in the week, followed by a route dispensed the night before. Myself, Niall, Kenny and Paul all started off towards Luton, then back on the Nikky Line heading towards Redbourne, before cutting into Beesonend Lane, heading back toward West Common, Crabtree Lane and finally home. A muddy 10.78 miles, made all the more difficult by yesterday's hill & sprint session. I struggled to maintain the pace at times, but attribute this to sore calf muscles.



So returning to Niall's, I head staright for Fitness First, St. Albans, to continue with a combo of cross-training and stepping at a high intensity, before an hour of strength training commences. Three hours solid and I am cooked, heading home for toast beans and eggs - the perfect balance for recovery and to aid tonight's cycling session in St. Albans.

All I can say is at least it wasn't raining, and it was amazingly bright early this morning. Is spring on it's way? hmmm....

A Valentine's Tri

After weeks of St. Albans' hills wither being too icy, snow covered or dark, I was finally able to get a good hill session in early this morning, with some fast flats, and a sprint through the market to finsih (which attracted a lot of attention due to me being on the road and heading for the traffic).

So after clocking 1:27 for 12 miles going steady, a quick transition at Fitness First and then straight into a 45 minute spin session. A good session, but feeling the burn!

Next to Starbuck's to meet the folks and refuel with a vat of coffee, followed by a leisurely lunch in London Colney, a spot of shopping then home to watch Eagle vs. Shark with Jermaine Clement from Flight of the Conchords. Cracking Kiwi action! Definitely exhausted from this week's intense training and long hours at work, but recovering for a 10 mile race-pace x-county run tomorow with Niall (http://fitscottishbloke.blogspot.com/) and the gang, followed by a session with the coach and cycling in the evening.

A good relaxing Saturday all in all.

Rotters Marathon Coming Up!

Got a call from Lynn at Adidas yesterday offering me a place in the Rotterdam 2009 marathon. A tough field, but apparently fast course so hoping for a sub-3 time. Only a 8 weeks to go, and a great city. More to come...

Rest Day? No Way!

So today's session wasn't anything to write, tweet, Yammer or email home about, but woth Blogging all the same. Feeling the burn from the previous day, I resorted to the gym for some plyometrics, core work and a tad of cross-training. Then off to Starbucks for an Americano and email chaser.

Happy Days!