Another full week

Well, another great week of training. Two 4 mile sessions during the week and a brilliant run on Sunday with my mate, Stevie Oatcake. The weekly "long run" wasn't too long - only 8 miles, but it did include the climb up to the top of the Roches in the snow and cloud! All a bit difficult underfoot - snow drifts, and lots of rocks kept pushing the ankles over but we did it and had a nice fast run down afterwards. Plenty of energy left at the end for a bit of speedwork, then back to the car and home.

A full week of training

Much better this week. Out on Tuesday morning early for a 3 miler, 8min22sec average, then Thursday night, 3.5 miles 8min18sec. Cycling on Weds night and Friday night, 50 mins each night. Then today we actually got to do the run along the canal to the Harecastle tunnel and back - 16 miles, 2hr 22min, 8min55sec average. If, and its a big if, I can do that pace for the marathon I would hit my target of under 4 hours.

Click the link below to see details of the run

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Hooray, a run!

Long Sunday run this morning. Much of the ice has gone, but still had to run on the roads to be sure, although at 8am it's nice and quiet. We did a big loop from Trentham up through Newcastle all the way to McDonalds on the A34 (Chesterton-ish I think), then right turn all the way along to Wolstanton marsh, down to the canal to see how that was, and it was horrendous, back into Stoke and through Hanford and back home. Just over 12, probably the slowest ever, Stevie had overdone it in the week and I felt like I'd done nothing so we were both going gingerly. Anyway, great to actually be running, hope to get some sessions in this week, and get back on track for the marathon

cricket and cycling

OK, the title's a little bit of a fib - I was WATCHING the cricket while I was cycling. I did half an hour which seemed like hard work, and according to the little computer thingy I had cycled 3 miles. 3 miles in half an hour!! I must be a bit slow.....

On yer bike

Well first go on the bike last night and not too bad at all. Got a £60 one from Argos, but its quite good quality, little onboard computer thing to show you distance, calories, heart rate etc. Sat in the front of the telly with its resistance set to just 2 of 8 and did a mile and a half. Not much I know but taking it easy for the first try out! Down to -7 according to the car today so not looking like much running this week, we'll see about Sunday

No training

Well, its snowy and icy again and so I've missed my first mid-week run, hope it improves for Thursday or Friday. Been out and bought a cheap exercise bike in the hope of keeping my fitness up if not my miles! Its frustrating as I'm up to approx 20 miles a week, and want to get out there

Long run in the frost

Well, after my fall two weeks ago its the first long run and its freezing cold and icy again. Out with my friend Stevie Oatcake we attempt the canal to do the route to the Harecastle tunnel and back but once again it is too slippy. Fortunately I don't fall this time and we get off the canal at Stoke, up Hartshill Bank, through Newcastle-under-Lyme, up another bank to Clayton, down and under the motorway and into the back of Trentham Park and home. It was 11.6 miles and took 1hr 49 mins, so a slow pace of 9min24secs, but given the conditions it was OK. My favourite bit was taking off up the hill to Clayton at 8min pace, although it knackered me out for the rest of the run! Hope to be back to full training this week, will update after next run