After the snow and cold of last week, this week we have beautiful sunny sun all week long. I’m working hard on the basement though, so can’t catch my tan. So motivated by our project, have to physically stop myself from getting back on it after dinner.
Drive down to London Thursday night with the fam, everything is easy. Spend the whole day on Friday on my parents’ sofa, falling asleep through Star Wars.
Check in at Hilton Hotel Saturday afternoon, nice room, sharing with Paul Navesey, one of the favourites for the race tomorrow, who has been flying recently and is a genuine nice guy. I can say this assuredly, because I have to ask him a cheeky favour, if he wouldn’t mind my mate (who is also racing tomorrow) coming to kip on our floor. Paul doesn’t hesitate to accept, when he could very well tell me to eff off. He even gets stuck in helping us try and work the sofa bed. We all fail though.
At the race briefing we are given a brilliant pep talk from Tim Hutchings, one of the best GB Cross Country runners of all time, and also 4th in the Olympic 5000m. I have to go over and talk with him after, he was also coached by the legendary Frank Horwill. We talk about Frank in reverential tones, but there is an unspoken bond with all of Frank’s athletes, no one coached their athletes harder.
The week up to Brighton Marathon goes just about as smooth as it can possibly go. I have made a few tweaks to my carbo loading since the nightmare of Berlin 2018 (read post here), and they have worked really well my latest 3 marathons. If you are interested in not shitting yourself in marathons, here are my top 3 tips;
If you drink a lot of coffee normally, as I do, don’t go cold turkey on it in the weeks before race, then drink it again race day. That is asking for trouble. BUT, you can limit your intake to 1-2 cups a day.
Don’t starve yourself of carbs in the week before mara, then carbo load like crazy in the final few days. That is also asking for trouble. But, if like me, you find heavy carb meals make you bloated and groggy, try and eat less carbs on your easy days. More protein, fats and vegetables.
And then the biggy! DON’T eat a massive carb dinner the night before race. Instead, increase your carb intake at lunch, and maybe snack through the day, moderately, then have a normal sized carb friendly dinner.
Race report coming soon!
| 8/04/2019 | AM | PM |
| Monday | 3 | REST |
| Tuesday | 3 | 4 x mile (1min rest) in 5.15. 7 miles total |
| feeling easy light smooth | ||
| Wednesday | 3 | 3 |
| everything smoove | ||
| Thursday | 5 | |
| Drive to London, easiest drive ever | ||
| Friday | 3 | REST |
| do nothing on parents sofa all day | ||
| Saturday | 4 miles, including 5 x 100m strides | 2 |
| train to Brighton, nice room in Hilton, everything easy | ||
| Sunday | Brighton Marathon – 2.28.13 (9th). 27 miles total | |
| TOTAL: | 60 miles | tm = treadmill |
Non-Running Highlight Of The Week:
Watching finale of Fleabag, say no more.
Best Thing On The Internet This Week:
Brilliant, absorbing story. I’ve been struggling to get into fiction, this helps!
Thing I’m Digging This Week:
Rule 1 is the best;
Lobsters have been in existence for 350 million years; long before dinosaurs existed, and probably long after we’re gone (if we don’t eat them all). So do as lobsters do, walk to your full height with your shoulders back.
Wait, what? You’ll have to read the book.
The new ON Cloud 50/50, out now.
Click here to check out the ON range
I do half my training on the smooth and powerful NoblePro. Click here to see their treadmills