Road to Brighton Marathon: Week 2
Welcome to week 2's update on my 15 week training block for Brighton Marathon. This week has been an interesting week, with some inclement (horrendous) weather providing some challenges, and a busy couple of days at work meaning I had to ajust my schedule. I also missed my first run! I made it two weeks and due to time, had to skip one. Thankfully, it was just a 8km (5 miles for you heathens) recovery run and I don't feel it will have a negative impact on my progress. The key to this plan was always going to be flexibility, and proceeding with caution.
I'm actually not mad about missing the run either, as it makes the curve on this graph quite smooth and aesthetically pleasing, but I'm odd like that.
The week in summary:
Workouts - 5(↑0) | Distance - 67.92km (↑8.10) | Time 5h56m(↑50m) | Elevation Gain 284m (↓31m)
Monday - Intervals
Tuesday - Easy 16km
Wednesday - 13km Lactate Threshold Session
Thursday - 8km recovery run (skipped)
Friday - Rest day
Saturday - 24km long run (pushed to Sunday)
Sunday - Rest day
Monday:
Distance: 13.76km | Time: 1:12:33 | Pace: 5:18/km | Avg. HR 156bpm | Effort:Moderate
The Run: 4.25km warm up (extra distance as I ran to the park) with 25 minutes of interval efforts. Structured as 5:00, 4:00, 3:00, 2:00, 1:00, 4:00, 3:00, 2:00, 1:00 with a recovery of half your previous rep, this run is as hard as you want to make it, and then a cool down afterwards.
The Outfit: The Velocity jacket (to the surprise of exactly nobody), the flow tracksuit shorts (these will be getting released next week, the extra thickness was needed for warmth) The Core Tee underneath and for further warmth on the warmup, the flow tracksuit jacket, and a Zone 2 Beanie that came off and on throughout the run.
The Shoes: Back with the trusty Tecton X2's. I'm sure we'll see more diversity in this section at some point, but when it's this icy out, there's absolutely no risk taking.
The Verdict: Cold, horrendous, immensley satisfying. 50% of the loop we ran was covered in ice, to the point where we had to take the corners on the grass. At one point we had to dodge an out of control cyclist (who later fell off on the ice it was that bad) and conditions were brutal. That being said, we kept up a good pace, pushing towards the higer end of the target area, and I felt really strong. Greg was keeping up well with me, and Pete had a great second wind, despite struggling in the first half (turns out running to the gym, doing leg day, then running home isn't a great precursor to an interval session Pete).
This was the kind of session you absolutely love, when it's done. The best part is despite the ropey footing, the closest any of us came to falling over was in the slip and slide that was the car park after the run was over.
Tuesday:
Distance: 16.12km | Time: 1:32:35 | Pace: 5:07/km | Avg. HR 148bpm | Effort:Easy
The Run: Joined by Pete again who was a frequent attendee in my plan for the first half of this week. 16km, or 10 miles, all easy, with a few scary points thanks to the ice.
The Outfit: I went without a jacket for this one. Just kidding, I wore the velocity, as did Pete, because there's nothing better than matching jackets just for that cute "couples that run together stay together" look. (For readers who don't know, Pete and I are actually just good friends, and not lovers.) I combined it with the yet to be named tester short that we'll be introducing in the spring that I'm excited to release, as well as The Ascent QZ, The Run Smarter Tee, the trusty green Zone 2 Beanie and the orange Vantage Socks to match.
The Shoes: At -2C and icy, it was only ever going to be the X2s.
The Verdict: Not the most interesting of runs, but getting a ten miler in on the back of 2 intense runs (last weeks Sunday long run) is the core to a good training block. I felt accomplished afterwards.
Pete does have two arms, he's just standing with them behind his back.
Wednesday:
Distance: 13.25km | Time: 1:01:06 | Pace: 4:37/km | Avg. HR 155bpm | Effort:Very Hard
The Run: 3.5km warmup, 25 minutes at LT pace (4:00-4:10/km) 3.5km cooldown, with the added twist that it was still super icy out and we weren't sure we'd be able to get up to pace. Basically the same session as last week, with 5 minutes more at pace and the addition of ice. Because who wants an easy life eh? (me, please.) Joined by Pete again for this one for the third time this week.
The Outfit: I'm not apologising that I wore the velocity jacket for this one. Nope. It's what it's made for, it's super thin and lightweight, so it keeps you alive on the warmup but doesn't let you overheat during the main session. I had The Happy Tee on underneath to remind myself that I do, in fact, like running, paired with The Enduro Tights. I'm not sure how much truth there is in it, but when struggling with some hamstring soreness at a track session a few weeks back, someone suggested half tights, and luckily for me, I know a brand that does some awesome ones. (It's Zone 2 apparel. We sell amazing running tights. Go buy some.) Finallly finished off with a neck gaiter and a technical cap, it was too cold out for a bare head, but knowing it would be intense, I thought best to leave the beanie at home.
The Shoes: Having walked the route around the park an hour before, I knew with one exception on a corner, we could mostly have an ice free route. That meant I got to spring for the Adidas Boston 12s, my go-to tempo shoe at the moment. They handled very well on the dry patches.
The Verdict: This was one of the hardest runs I've done for a while. It had warmed up to 5°C, but the wind factor made it feel like -4°C, according to strava. I definitely believe that too. Pete and I had to keep tucking behind one another as there was only narrow section that were ice free, and probably both appreciated the brief respite from the wind.
This being the 4th 'high load' run day in as many days, my legs felt very heavy during this, with my right quad deciding to go to sleep at one point, and refusing to come awake despite my vigorous slapping. I wouldn't recommend it as a technique if this is something that you struggle with (if you know a good technique for when this happens, please let me know). Again, I really enjoyed it, and our average pace for the pickup was 4:01, with all but one km coming within one second of the 4:00/km mark. Felt like a good session (when it was done).
Thursday:
This was supposed to be an 8km recovery run, but I ended up working until 11pm, and was due to start work at 6am in the office the following day, so thought I should prioritise my sleep.
Friday:
Now this actually was a designated rest day, but again ended up working something silly like 16 hours, so didn't feel very restful. With the little sleep I got, I resolved to do my recovery run at parkrun the next day, and do my long run on Sunday.
Saturday:
Surprise, surprise, it's snow and ice outside again and parkrun is cancelled everywhere within a 40 minute drive. You didn't get up early enough to accomodate this so what are you going to do now? Bonus rest day?
Yeah, I took a bonus rest day, and honestly it was the first day I actually felt like I rested.
Sunday:
Distance: 8.65km | Time: 49:04 | Pace: 5:40/km | Avg. HR 137bpm | Effort:Easy
Distance: 16.12km | Time: 1:30:51 | Pace: 5:38/km | Avg. HR 151bpm | Effort:Easy
The Run: No, I'm not some professional runner doing a double run day. I had a simple 24km long run on the cards, but left the house this morning in road shoes. The first km from home was reasonable and there was no ice I couldn't avoid. A little bit later in though and I was thinking I'd have struggled even in trail shoes. After nearly going over one time too many, I ran in the road to get home with the intention of either finishing my run later or going on the treadmill.
As I find the thought of the treadmill abhorrent, I went back out, in more appropriate clothing, trail shoes, and a relatively barmy 6°C (feels like -1°C, thanks wind) to get the run finished.
The Outfit: First time round, the velocity jacket, Ascent QZ, Enduro Tights. Second time round, The Enduro tights, The Pathfinder Waterproof Jacket (finally named the awesome quarter zip waterproof, and will be releasing it next week) with The Glide Tee underneath for a bit of extra warmth, wearing The Vantage Running Sock both times.
I need to stop a minute here and hype up our running sock. I know they're good socks, genuinely wouldn't have them for sale if I didn't believe that. I know they're thick, feel cushioned and they're breathable. Both Caitlin and Pete wore them in 27°C+heat for Berlin marathon and said they felt great and cool the whole time. But it was only today, running in them where I feel like I gave them enough credit. I stepped in an icy puddle, completely submerginig my foot in icy water, and by the time my shoe had drained, my foot felt warm again. This wasn't an accident, it happened multiple times (I couldn't find my good head torch, no judgement please). I got home and declared how great they were to Caitlin. I messaged Pete, and it turns out he said the same thing today to his partner. Admittedly as I sit here now typing this, they're probably starting to smell a little, but that's my fault for sitting in my running clothes to type this blog post up instead of jumping straight in the shower like anyone reasonable would.
The Shoes: First time round, New Balance Rebel V4 - great shoe, big mistake. Second time round, the trusty Tecton X2. Should have been my go to from the off.
The Verdict: Because of the weather today, there was no pace goal for this, and despite splitting it into two runs (or maybe because of it), it felt like a slog. I've been very grateful to be running lately, but was definitely lacking some of that spirit today.
Really appreciating the hood on the Pathfinder Waterproof Quarter Zip on the walk back after my run finished.
All hail the Vantage Socks. Genuinely wondering if these are the best things we sell? Should we just sell socks? Call it the Zone 2 Sock - Crew (I don't have a rhyme for ankle/invisible socks, the business idea is dead)
Weekly Summary
As I write this I'm trying my hardest not to let what was a slog today influence my thoughts on the week as a whole. It was a trying week, both domestically and in the intensity of 4 heavy days on the trot, but it only gets harder from here, and that sense of perserverance and intensity is a big part of what I love about training and running in general. Plus I think I've recently started getting something akin to a runners high after a hard session. Turns out I was running all this time without it like some kind of maniac.
I think it's a further 12km or so on the plan next week, fingers crossed my mood will be uplifted by Derby Runner interval sessions returning. Only one rest day next week too, so more hard work to come. Thanks for reading, and let me know if you think of any fun sock puns, I'm a sucker for them!