Smudge’s Week
This week has seen the progression to a training regime made up solely of pure running, as although I’ve been enjoying yoga and cycling, on the day neither of them are going to help me too much.
With this in mind, I intended to run 10k each day, followed by a longer run at the end of the week as I now believe I should be in a position where I am at least running 26 miles over the course of a week.
In the end however, I didn’t have time to run every day so instead ran 10km four times and ended the week with 10-12 mile run.
Despite feeling great from all the training, I am still struggling to give up drinking and smoking which means I’m still pretty far away from where I want to be.
Frozen Peas For Smudge
Monday:
10km run. Took it easy and felt great afterwards.
Tuesday:
10km run, went for it a bit this time but after about 8km ran out of steam so went back to jogging at my usual pace.
Wednesday:
10km run at a gentle pace for the first 5km and a stronger one for the second. Legs felt stiff for the first mile, but fine afterwards.
Thursday:
Didn’t have time to do any training.
Friday:
Ran 10km at a medium pace. Felt fine throughout.
Saturday:
Didn’t have time to train.
Sunday:
Mapped out a 10 mile run from my flat, into the city centre, around Salford, to the Quays and back. Ran at a gentle pace but twisted my ankle half way there so mixed the rest of the journey between walking and jogging lightly. Also got lost so probably did 2-3 miles more than I had mapped out. Spent the rest of the day with a bag of frozen peas on my ankle.
Sponsor Smudge here: justgiving.com/Sam-Jones11
Follow Smudge on Twitter @Smudge_Jones
Rakhi’s Week
Annoyingly, I seem to pick up a new injury every time I do a long run, so since the last installment, I’ve done more swimming and fewer mid-week runs to try and take the pressure off my legs, ankles and feet.
Having said that, I’m now resigned to the fact that my shin splints and other injuries probably aren't going to get better until I stop running completely, so I’ve stocked up on Ibuprofen, protein shakes and recovery drinks and I’m determined to push on through.
With that in mind, I psyched myself up to do an 18 mile run last weekend with a friend who's also training for the marathon.
My mate had planned an excellent route, which involved going miles away from my house. At this stage, I can’t be doing long runs anywhere nearby as the pull of home gets too strong.
So instead we ran all the way out to the airport, and around the adventurously-named ‘Airport Orbital Cycleway.’ It’s an eight mile off-road track around the airport through tunnels and bridle paths with planes passing by overhead. The distractions were plenty and whilst it was by no means easy, it was doable thanks to the surroundings.
Pheidippides: don't share his fate!
I was pretty amazed that we completed the 18 miles in two hour 40 minutes, and we’d been taking it pretty easy so as not to overexert ourselves. When I signed up for the marathon I put that I’d like to complete it in around four hours, but now I only care about getting over the finish line and have given up trying to run fast.
My mum thinks I’m mad for doing it altogether, and the other day a particularly supportive friend reminded me that Pheidippides, the Greek messenger after whom the event is named, dropped dead after running the 26 miles it took him to deliver news to Athens of their win at the Battle of Marathon.
I doubt that’ll happen but if I do make it over the finish line, I’ll be donating cash to RAPAR, a Manchester-based human rights charity which works hard to help vulnerable refugees who are at risk of having their rights denied.
Every little helps so visit my MyDonate page if you feel you can spare a quid or two to help RAPAR continue the excellent work they do.
Only six weeks to go.
Sponsor Rakhi here: mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/rakhisinha
Follow Rakhi on Twitter @Rakhi_Sinha
