Sunday 18 January 2015

The first few weeks...

So with Christmas, New Year, Birthday out of the way the focus is on training hard and getting ready for this years races.

St Peters Way is only six weeks away and training is going well. Have been out for some muddy trail runs and feeling so much stronger than this time last year. Last weekend I ran an out and back section of the Essex Way and coincidentally I had done the same run almost a year ago, I was 17 minutes quicker and running into a strong headwind for much of it. I remember struggling with the route last year as it wasn't long after Lindley had started coaching me and I had messaged him saying how rubbish it had felt! 

Tuesday was hill training day, call me strange but I really enjoy hill sessions, these were particularly muddy (mud seems to feature quite heavily in my training at the moment!) but they felt good and I managed to stay on my feet! 

Thursday this week I had a three mile tempo run to do at 8minute miles and just about managed that, tempo runs were 9/9.5 minute miles a year ago. It has been good looking back at my journal from last year and really can see the progress I have made.

Today I ran legs 1&2 of St Peters Way with Lindley and Naomi, it was a lovely morning of running, if a bit muddy!

        Route description checking on St Peters Way

The weather and company were good and the fifteen miles flew by. My Brooks Cascadia that I have been running in for nearly a year have finally died and trying to decide whether to get another pair or some inov8 roclites, thinking maybe another pair of Brooks as those and my Drymax socks have been a great combination which have left me blister free over the past twelve months.

Physically I am fitter than I have ever been, and a good 9lbs lighter than a year ago so I know I have the fitness to achieve my goals. I just need to keep believing I can do it and get strong enough mentally to overcome the low points in the tough races that got the better of me last year. I know this year how tough the races are and that completing them won't be easy but with an extra dose of stubbornness and 100% focus and Lindley's continued support (and kick up the bum when required!) I believe my goals are achievable. 

      A muddy start to 2015! 

Have a great week everyone and happy running xx  


No comments:

Post a Comment