John McLaughlin’s Marathon Training

• Training Type: Slow 15miles
• Time Taken: 02:08:25
• Calories: 1842C
• Avg Heart Rate: 162bpm
• Avg Pace: 08:33 min/mile
• Weather: sunny & cool
• Running Shoes: The black ones

I really enjoyed this training session, I’m not too sure what it was, but the training session was just right.  The first 12.5 miles was a dream, however the last 2.5 miles was a different matter, my legs were starting to hurt, but worse than that I had literally run out of energy, I wanted to run but no matter what I tried, I couldn’t get my legs to move any faster than a snails pace, so I spent the last 2.5 miles, running and walking – mainly walking.

Its the Edinburgh Half marathon on Sunday and if I can produce the same run then, that I did for this training session I will be very pleased, as long as I remember to pace myself, it should be a good race.  Also as it is my first ever half marathon, I am already guarnteed a personal best  

• Training Type: Slow 7miles (actual 4.14miles)
• Time Taken: 00:34:35
• Calories: 500C
• Avg Heart Rate: 156bpm
• Avg Pace: 08:21 min.mile
• Weather: warm but windy
• Running Shoes: The black ones

Todays session was a great session, I only managed just over 4 miles out of what should have been a 7 mile run, however, the reason for this was due to the way I finished my long run on Tuesday.  As I have already said Tuesdays session wasnt a good session at all, when I got home, my legs were very sore, so the first thing I did (mistake number 1) was to have a warm bath, next I had some work that needed to be done, so I spent the day sitting in front of my computer (mistake number 2).

So I didnt do any stretching and then sat for most of the day, no wonder my legs hurt so bad.  Needless to say I wasnt looking forward to todays session.  My legs were sore, but I couldnt just not go for my run, so I did the best I could, but after 4 miles, I couldnt go on anymore, so I stopped and then walked home.  This actually seems to have done me some good, as I am sitting here typing this and my legs no longer hurt

Read the rest of this entry »

• Training Type: Slow 13miles (actual 12:19 miles)
• Time Taken: 01:55:29
• Calories: 1469C
• Avg Heart Rate: 166bpm
• Avg Pace: 09:28 min/mile
• Weather: cool and calm
• Running Shoes: The black ones

Due to having the sniffles, a sore throat and cough, I decided not to do any training over the weekend, well, thats not quite true, when I woke up on Saturday morning, I just couldnt face going out in the cold, so I didnt and I’ll use the same excuse for Sundays training session as well.

Well, today, I finally felt well enough to go for my Slow long run, but you may be able to tell from the stats above that things didnt quite go according to plan.  

Read the rest of this entry »

• Training Type: Brisk 3miles, wu/cd (I only managed Brisk 2miles    )
• Time Taken: 00:33:28
• Calories: 489C
• Avg Heart Rate: 153bpm
• Avg Pace: 08:17 min/mile
• Weather: very foggy
• Running Shoes: The blue ones

Since writing my post yesterday, as the day went on my legs started to hurt, but despite having a soak in a nice hot bath, I went to bed with sore legs and when I woke up this morning, I still had sore legs, however I decided to go for my run anyway.

That was probably a mistake, the 1 mile wu (warm up) was fine and I managed 2 miles at a Brisk pace, but just after 2 miles, my legs were so sore, I had to stop, I didnt want to go any further in case I just made things worse  

Read the rest of this entry »

• Training Type: Slow 5 miles
• Time Taken: 00:38:35
• Calories: 618C
• Avg Heart Rate: 161bpm
• Avg Pace: 07:43 min/mile
• Weather: warm
• Running Shoes: The black ones

It was a nice gentle run today, I still find it hard to believe that a few months ago, a 5 mile run would have just about killed me, but now a 5 miler feels like a stroll in the park.  I think it also helps when the weather is good, fingers crossed if the weather is as good tomorrow, I will be able to start running in shorts again.

My next session is tomorrow and its a Brisk 3miles with a warm up and cool down.

Read the rest of this entry »