Deliverance

Fivemarathons is featured in the latest edition of Christies’ “Successes” magazine. Rob’s article (reproduced below) reminds us all of the importance of Christies’ work and why they need our support. Commented Rob, "It was a privilege to be asked by Christies to write some words for their mag. Barbara had treatment there which undoubtedly extended her life and gave us precious time together we would otherwise have been denied.”

I’m writing this week’s blog from my garden in Shap, enjoying some long awaited sunshine. The thermometer on the wall is reading an implausible 33 degrees; a full 40 degrees warmer than several of my long training runs in December and January. While I’m certainly not going to complain about the better weather, it does bring issues of its own. To run 20 miles in minus 7, you don’t actually need to drink a great deal, but to run 20 miles in plus 33 degrees, you can easily get through two litres or more. Given that every litre weighs a kilo, carrying sufficient water, and carb gels, for the entire run isn’t realistic; not if you’re trying to run at a reasonable pace, anyway. I’ve tried various options. Driving the route first, and hiding bottles along the way, works but it’s incredibly time-consuming to drive the route twice (stashing bottles and retrieving empties) and run it as well. Alternatively, I’ll leave several bottles on my front wall and organise the run into 4 x 5 mile laps, grabbing a new bottle each time I pass the house. If I can arrange it, the easiest option is to get a friend to cycle the route with me, and dispense the carb gels and water as we go. What I’ve billed as a scenic cycle through the Lake District, no doubt soon loses its appeal when the reality of cycling up several steep hills sinks in. Simon, Roxana and Jon have all kindly taken on cycling duties to support my training. 

I’m just back from white water canoeing in the Scottish Highlands. The weather, scenery and rivers were fantastic, but three solid days of paddling has done nothing for my marathon training. Imagine going to the gym and your instructor suggesting that you get on a rowing machine for 7 – 8 solid hours every day for 3 days; getting out to run 18 miles the day afterwards was always going to be a big ask. I managed to grind out the distance, from Stirling to Dollar, on the hottest day of the year so far, but I certainly found it hard work. 

Speed training with Laith on Tuesday nights is going well, even if it’s the hardest part of my training regime. As an example, we run 5 x 5 minute intervals: flat out for 30 seconds, followed by 30 seconds recovery, 30 seconds flat out, followed by 30 seconds recovery, up to 5 minutes. Five of those, with three minute recoveries in between. 

Laith first offered his invaluable coaching advice as far back as 1984. Laith and I were in the same House at school, and he was keen to ensure that I had every chance of winning my 400 metre race at the annual sports day. He’d done his research and knew the background on the other runners. At least two were quicker than me, so he knew we’d have to get our tactics right if I was to have any chance of crossing the line first. As soon as he knew the draw for the lanes, he set about working out what to do. I would run in the second lane, the two quicker runners would be in lanes 3 and 4. Laith knew that I would need to get a good start, ready to be released by the gun. For the first hundred metres, I had to run steadily, but not flat out. I simply had to ensure that lane 1 stayed behind me. I needed to be on the heels of lane 3 by 200 metres, then past him around the bend and ready to go flat out in the last hundred metres. Having done his homework, Laith felt the chap in lane 4 would be tying up in the final straight and I’d get my chance. As it turned out, he’d got it absolutely right, and the race went like clockwork. I crossed the finish line and ran straight on to my Auntie Moll, who had come to watch. I was so proud; not because I’d won, but because she was so pleased. She died of cancer just over a year later, and I now remember those 400 metres every time I race.

Barcelona, 1 March 2009

London, 26 April 2009

San Francisco, 26 July 2009

Berlin, 20 September 2009

New York, 1 November 2009

This week’s training schedule:

Monday, 1 June 2009   Rest

Tuesday, 2 June 2009    6 miles easy

Wednesday, 3 June 2009   3 miles easy

Thursday, 4 June 2009 VO2 Max test

Friday, 5 June 2009 Rest

Saturday, 6 June 2009 4 miles easy

Sunday, 7 June 2009 16 miles steady

Christies is the charity which provides funds for, and supports, the work of the world renowned specialist cancer centre, The Christie, in Manchester (see www.christies.org). Macmillan provides practical, medical, financial and emotional support for people affected by cancer and campaigns for better cancer care (see www.macmillan.org.uk).

www.justgiving.com/fivemarathonschristies 

www.justgiving.com/fivemarathonsmacmillan 

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Check out the detailed training plan at  http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=rAoVZM-fPWZYSSUSJwrmzWg