After last weeks holiday I knew I had to really get my training back on track this week. I trained most days, achieving a total of 61 miles for the week which is my highest since the ultramarathon.
I aimed to hit the ground running, so to speak, so threw myself into a club training session on Tuesday at Gateshead Harriers and was pleased that I was able to pick it back up after a week of lazing around in the sun. I followed it up with a 10 mile run of my own, with 5 miles hard in the middle for good measure. Unfortunately, during a recovery run on Thurs morning a knee injury, that flared up just before I went away, returned. I was determined enough to battle through a hill session on the evening.
I aimed to hit the ground running, so to speak, so threw myself into a club training session on Tuesday at Gateshead Harriers and was pleased that I was able to pick it back up after a week of lazing around in the sun. I followed it up with a 10 mile run of my own, with 5 miles hard in the middle for good measure. Unfortunately, during a recovery run on Thurs morning a knee injury, that flared up just before I went away, returned. I was determined enough to battle through a hill session on the evening.
The injury seems to be the classic runner’s knee. I had a rest day on Friday and made a commitment to myself to use my foam roller more often. I also started to do some exercises to strengthen the muscles around my kneecap.
After a rest day on Friday, I decided to attempt a parkrun. I finished third at Sunderland but only recorded a time of 18:29. This was disappointingly a second slower than the time I recorded a few weeks back on the same course. I started well, but faded dramatically (particularly on the finish hill) – it could be that the hard training this week was catching up on me.
To finish the week I was back to the long run. With the New York Marathon in November I have to keep my long runs… well, long! I did 20 miles in the sunshine (it was warm out there), with 6 of the miles in the middle ran at sub-marathon pace. Thankfully the dodgy knee caused no trouble at all
I feel happier having got a full week of training done, but my niggles and lack of progress measured by the parkrun time is a concern. Only one more proper week of training to go before I taper – the sub-1:20 target is looking shaky.
After a rest day on Friday, I decided to attempt a parkrun. I finished third at Sunderland but only recorded a time of 18:29. This was disappointingly a second slower than the time I recorded a few weeks back on the same course. I started well, but faded dramatically (particularly on the finish hill) – it could be that the hard training this week was catching up on me.
To finish the week I was back to the long run. With the New York Marathon in November I have to keep my long runs… well, long! I did 20 miles in the sunshine (it was warm out there), with 6 of the miles in the middle ran at sub-marathon pace. Thankfully the dodgy knee caused no trouble at all
I feel happier having got a full week of training done, but my niggles and lack of progress measured by the parkrun time is a concern. Only one more proper week of training to go before I taper – the sub-1:20 target is looking shaky.