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Manchester - Week 1

Manchester, the second coming ...
Week 1

The week in numbers ...

Miles ran: 44
Chocolate eaten: 1 large Toblerone, 2 Creme Eggs, 1 Yorkie
Diets started: 1 (back on the mushrooms)
Wine drank: 1 bottle
Cheese eaten: 0
Trainers purchased: 1 pair
Weight: Monday 12st1lb
Sunday 12st1lb

Monday 6th January

So here we are once again, at the start of marathon training and the next 16 weeks of my life all planned out. I've been ticking over since October, I've put weight on, I've been a bit lazy at training but on the plus side I've ran my first sub 20mins 5k since 2017.

Yesterday was the Trail Run and today I woke up very tired and really not ready for a week of marathon training but this is week one and no excuses.

Monday as always is rest day but it's also gym day and I haven't been to the gym for months. This is for a few reasons :

1 - I hate the gym

2 - I hate the gym

3 - I hate the gym

4 - I much prefer lying on the settee and not going to the gym
5 - I really hate the gym

But today I have to go and start doing some core work, I have a plan and I'm totally focused this time, I've downloaded an app, I've drawn up a programme of exercises, I have my gym gear laid out ready.

I didn't go to the gym.

I lay on the settee and watched Squid Games.

I'm not sorry.

Tuesday 7th January

Grand Prix tonight, I have a nasty handicap and have no doubt I'll be destroyed by the horrible group of runners I'm starting with, I'm in with a load of A teamers some of whom tried scamming their handicaps on the last one.

You know who you are...

And then joyful news that the GP is cancelled due to ice, what a damn shame. So it's a club session and me and G having to sort something out on a non icey part of the coast. Out for my now standard 4 mile warm up to Cullercoats and then to the clubhouse.

A lovely session of short out'n'backs with B team and it's great. I sit mid group for first couple of reps and then we hit the 3 mins, we turn and Rich F shoots off the front with Natasha close behind, I'm a good 30m or so back and running comfortable and holding a decent pace, no need for anything stupid as its cold and slippy and I don't want to get injured.

Fuck it, I absolutely destroy myself on the first 3 min rep just to catch Natasha and Rich

Was it worth it?

Yep.

Was I broken for the rest of the session?

Yep.

And this is why we all come to running club instead of running alone.

Wednesday 8th January

All about the easy miles on a weds, it's planned as 5 miles easy but recently I've been doing 10km easy on a Weds so thought I'd stick with that.

I did 7 miles.

Saw Steve who was also doing his 5 miles easy and he swore at me, I deserved it.

Home, mushroom and noodles for lunch, off out for a haircut, home, work, cook tea, work, tidy the house, work, shower, tea, draw London marathon ballot, squid games, bed.

What a day.

Oh and I also ate a Honeycomb Yorkie today, they are superb.

I think I also ate a Creme Egg.

Thursday 9th January

Oh joy of all joys, it's back to Threshold Thursday. Now I actually like threshold sessions, they get you fit and clock up decent mileage without you realising, the problem with them is they sneak up on you and by the end you're broken and its bloody cold again today and I'm sick of being cold.

I was never cold when I was fat.

Woke up and it was cold, had a cup of coffee and it was still cold, got ready to go out and weather said it feels like -9.

Who's idiotic idea was this.

Session was warm up and then 10 x 4 mins @ around 7:05-7:15 mile pace. I plan to do 2 reps up towards Cullercoats and 2 reps back down to the dome and repeat again and again. It's a headwind downhill and a tailwind uphill which I kind of like.

So rep 1 was 7:03 pace, bang on. Rep 2 was 7:07, perfect. Now it's 2 downhill at 6:59 and 6:59, too fast bit it's fine as back uphill for next 2 will slow me up a bit, 6:50, 6:59, shite.

4 left to go, focus and concentrate on getting these right. Number 7 another 6:59 followed by a 6:52, so settle down and get this one right.

6:54, twats.

Final one. 6:47, arse.

Now the blame for this is firmly on my musical soundtrack for the session, fast music makes me pick up the pace and listening to Fontaines, Fat Dog and The Sugababes is better suited to racing a parkrun than doing a threshold session.

Friday 10th January

Friday is always 4 miles easy and some hill strides.

To much work on today and just don't have time, so a day working, listening to 6 music and eating cream crackers.

And.... and....

It's new trainer day!

So for Manchester I got a pair of Adios Pro 3 in pink and purple and I love those shoes and then Adidas announce the Pro 4's out this week, so naturally I need a pair for my big birthday year of 2 marathons (more on that in weeks to come).

They are releasing them in white with black stripes, a classic good looking colour. Also in all black for that stealth look, again a good looking colour that looks good.

I order the limited edition Ekiden metallic silver and red version, it looks like I have robot feet when I wear them.

I want some red socks to match them, ideally with a metallic silver stripe.

I also ate another Creme Egg today.

Saturday 11th January

Parkrun day, no parkruns on.

No parkrun day.

I ate a large Toblerone instead.

It's similar to doing a parkrun as it's hard work and I feel quite sick afterwards and usually need a lie down.

Sunday 12th January

Today is the first long(ish) run of the plan. It's 14 miles at slow end aerobic, so that's 14 miles at 8:30 mile pace.

It's cold and icy, I double up on the long sleeve tops, jacket, double gloves and out the door to tiptoe along the ice to the bottom of the street and then get into the run. Head up towards Sluice for a loop and the pavements are pretty good and I'm cruising along, see the EMC crew out and get abused by them, then loop round and back along the coast where I see Steve and get abused by him. I'm starting to think people from the Poly aren't a pleasant lot.

Anyway, it was a shitty run.

I started too fast and instead of slowing up to get on the right pace I just kept going. Slowed up in the ice in Whitley and Tynemouth but still finished averaging about 20 seconds a mile too fast over the 14 miles.

I am, once again a bit of a twat.

Went home and listened to some Fat Dog.

Two multiplied by ten plus one, week one done.

That was a So Solid Crew reference because I heard them on telly the other day and it reminded me how utterly shit they were. They had over 30 members in the group, so many that they used to forget who was in there. I might have even been a member at some point, I can't remember and nor can 'the crew'.

Maybe I was Oxide? Or Lisa Maffia?

Week two I am determined to do it properly which means back to the gym, no more Creme Eggs and Toblerone and back properly on the mushrooms and noodles.

I've lost no weight this week so need to focus properly.

Whilst I'm writing this it's Sunday night and I'm eating a rock bun that Gail made today. It's my second one already and I'm planning on eating a third as I walk upstairs to bed.

I'm a disgrace.