Thursday, 25th March – 31 days to go

After a warm sunny day in Leeds/Wakefield we head off for our evening distance training group session in Bradford. We’re at the Horsfall Stadium again and although we set off in plenty of time we still get there late. I must be some sort of traffic magnet as the roads seem clear until I get there, then suddenly I’m surrounded by other cars that don’t appear to be going anywhere.

True to form, it starts to rain when we get out of the car. Steve is already into his pre-session talk when we meet up with the others. We’re doing a pyramid session with runs at about 5k pace or slightly quicker. 200 metres then the same jogging, 400 metres then the same jogging, 600 metres then the same jogging, 400 metres then the same jogging, and finally 200 metres and a cool down. Steve talks about the difference between aerobic workouts and anaerobic workouts. It seems to make perfect sense when he’s speaking, but as soon as he finishes I have no idea what kind of session this is. I must have the attention span of a goldfish. It’s just like being at secondary school again.

When we head back out the rain has got heavier. Bradford must have it’s own monsoon-like micro climate as there’s standing water on the football pitch and the rain doesn’t let up for the whole session. After a warm up and the session starts I decide to follow Tony and Adrian (what’s he doing back in our group?) and let them determine the appropriate pace. I’m not really on it and can’t ever seem to quite keep up with them. I can still feel some tightness in the hamstring, but it’s not as bad as it was. Despite the rain, I’d have liked to be out there longer, but I know that the talking about what we’re doing is important as well.

The building intensity into my training isn’t going as well as I’d have hoped. The niggle with the hamstring has been inconvenient. Also, last Sunday’s 10k and next Sunday’s 10k at Wakefield have replaced long runs and that probably wasn’t in the best interests of my marathon training. Still, it’s a compromise as I have other objectives from running as well as running a good first marathon. When I hear about the first marathon times of runners who are loads quicker than me I’m quite encouraged as I think I’ll be closer to my optimum time. Worryingly, I’ve already started to think that because of my nature and outlook I’m probably better suited to an autumn marathon. Isn’t Rick planning on running Nottingham this autumn?